Pastors and Directors Blog 
A Second Hand Relationship
September 15, 2009
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalms 34:8
I never realized how much stuff I experience stuff secondhand. One huge way I experience things secondhand is stories. I have friends who tell these amazingly funny/sad/exciting stories and it will sometimes leave me thinking: man, I wish I could have been there. Have you ever said that to yourself? I have a buddy who took a roadtrip up to Minnesota, but what was so cool is he did it on a motorcycle. I thought that was so cool. He told me a few of the stories along the way, and I muttered that fateful sentence: man, I wish I was there. It is so much better to experience something firsthand; whether that's jaw dropping sports highlights, incredible concerts, really funny moments, or life changing speeches it is always better to have that firsthand experience. I realized something else I experience secondhand a lot, and that is God. I realized today there are times in my life when I am content reading about God and what He is doing instead of engaging Him myself. I have perfected the art of really taking to heart what God has been doing around the world but not pursuing that in my own life. A question for all of us is this: when was the last time you didn't settle for learning about God and instead pursued Him, yearning to engage Him? I want to encourage you: do not settle for Satan's lie that just reading about God is enough. God makes it clear through the psalmist He wants us to taste Him, He wants us to reach out to Him, and to call on Him and experience Him; He dares us to seek Him out and see what He does. Who knows, maybe something crazy will happen. Maybe God will answer!
Konnection
May 8, 2009
I was reading Acts 2 about the early church. In verse 46-47 it says
[The early christians were meeting] day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
This reminded me of our purpose in having worship on Sunday is our “in the Temple” time when we all come together. But, then it says ‘breaking bread from house to house’ and I take that to mean it is important to meet in each others houses and homes too. Is that too literal? Will there be the same benefits today for us? Ask some of the over 300 people of CFC that are in one of our many small groups that meet in homes, restaurants, or offices. I know I get a lot out of mine, both in caring fellowship and what I learn in bible study.
So, if you are not in a small group, may I invite you to join in a Small Group? At CFC we call the small group bible studies that meet in neighborhood homes “Koinonia Groups”. Koinonia is Greek for the ‘fellowship among believers and Christ our leader’. These groups are for bible study, prayer, and association with other Christians in order to build each other up in Christ.
Make Plans to attend the “Small Group Connection” immediately following the Sunday May 17 second service. We will meet to answer questions at 12:30 in room 406, and even have a sandwich there to enjoy while you meet others in your local neighborhood. Many are interested in meeting you and getting a new group going, too. Just call me at 615-8500 x145 to reserve a spot so we can order a lunch for you. See you then.
Easter Sunday!
April 9, 2009
Earlier this week I found myself in chapter 53 in the book of Isaiah. So often I wonder what Christ, the man, was really like as he spent his time on this earth. Isaiah paints a picture not like a modern day Charlton Heston but a man who "had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him" and there was "nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him." What a picture of humility especially considering that He had many more options available to Him that would have been so much more impressive to those around Him. And as I consider my own life, I am reminded of my sinful nature that is so much apart of this world. Yet despite that fact, He chose a life of humility giving Himself to those around Him. He knew the torture that awaited Him one day and that it would lead to a gruesome death. But in the end, there was nothing of this world that could hold Him from fulfilling His promise and this Sunday we celebrate the Risen Christ. We know that one day we will see Him in all His beauty and splendor as He reaches out to us, brings us close, and gives us a hug from a loving Father.
I Want You To Go To Camp!
March 5, 2009
I can remember specifically all of my church camp experiences growing up. Not necessarily because I got to spend a week away from home doing whatever I wanted, but because of what God did to me and what He taught me while I was at camp. My first camp experience I can remember feeling like I could finally tune directly into God’s presence and just worship and talk to Him. Why?
Forest Home Camp: I Want You To Go To Camp! from Catalina Foothills Church on Vimeo.Because camp provided an environment where everything I did and almost everything I talked about was centered around the person and love of my God. We are going to provide, through Forest Home, the same kind of experience for all who go to camp this year. We’re going to engage God on a daily basis, and we’re going to do it with our friends and leaders. As a result, everyone who experiences camp will be able to go home and continue on with what they learned during camp through the accountability and challenging of their friends, because they were in the same environment and were plugging into God on a constant basis, too. I can almost guarantee no one who comes with us to Forest Home camp will leave unchanged by God.
Dont You Care?
February 28, 2009
I'm going to throw out a word and I want you to answer to yourselves if you've felt this way before: unappreciated. I'm sure there are a lot of you out there who have felt this way or you have made another person or several other people feel like this (I am guilty of both). I feel like I have some sort of unspoken right to some sort of thanks or praise when I do nice things for people I care about. In my mind it just makes sense; I go out of my way to do something nice for someone and in return they offer me some sort of "thank you" or "here take my private jet" or "here's a million dollars." Now, seeing that the last two will NEVER happen I mostly just settle for the first response I wrote. There's a story in Luke that is slowly becoming one of my favorite stories in the Bible because it has so many layers. If you want you can turn to Luke 11 with me and the story starts in verse 38. Almost all of you have read this story, and I've even talked on Sunday about this story so you might be thinking, "Well I'm done with this." But wait! I think we're going to unravel a whole new layer in this story. So, Jesus comes into Mary and Martha's house, and as we all know Martha starts running around like a madwoman and Mary just decides to chill at Jesus' feet. Martha 
becomes irked beyond no end and comes to Jesus and says something VERY interesting: (Luke 10:40) "Lord, don't you care..." Martha feels very VERY unappreciated by Jesus. Now, I want you to insert yourself in Martha's place. Now, think about your day to day life. Most of you are extremely busy, and are having trouble just finding time to relax during the day. However, your youth pastor, senior pastor, and mailman are all saying, "Are you getting to spend any alone time with God? How have those times been going?" Now is the time for the "you've gotta be kidding me" look. After your convo with whoever you might feel a little convicted, so you look to God and you ask Him: "God, don't you care about that I'm doing all these things for you? Don't you care I'm taking care of the kids in the nursery? Don't you care I'm going to YoungLife and Campaigners? Don't you care about how busy I am doing all these things for you? Don't you care about all the things I'm not doing? Don't you care about the friends I don't hang out with because you told me not to?" We fell like God doesn't appreciate all the things we're doing for Him. Maybe you aren't like me, but I've done this. I look to God and ask Him why on earth He's trying to add one more thing like quiet time when I'm trying to serve people for Him. However, the story of Mary and Martha paints a beautiful picture of how wrong we have been for so long in where we put our time and our priorities. Martha is the perfect picture of all of us today: running around and doing all these things we think Jesus wants (and for the most part these things we do are really good things and they bless a lot of people). However, Jesus corrects Martha and tells her to look at Mary and what she's doing because she's chosen what is necessary. So many of you think you don't have enough time to spend with God, but really think about what you're saying...you're saying my time studying, with my girlfriend, in sports, and serving are more important than my time with Jesus. Jesus made it very clear: what is necessary, what is best is a vibrant and intimate relationship with Jesus where we spend time with Him. This takes precedence over all other things. If these are Jesus' words then what are we doing? Well, we're doing everything but what God desires for us to do, and eventually we will burn out, dry up spiritually, and/or become angry with God. If you want to find fulfillment...if you want peace in the midst of all the stress of school, sports, and whatever else then you need look no further than your bedroom with your Bible open and you on your knees. This is all that is necessary in this life. Oh, and by the way, God does care.
Prayer I
February 28, 2009
If you are anything like me, when it comes to prayer I feel like a failure. Why is this? Is it because of the various teaching I have heard on prayer which teach you simple steps to follow which will guarantee you God’s ear? Is it because of the books I have read which promise me prosperity if I have a diligent prayer life? Maybe I just have no idea how to pray, or maybe prayer is made too difficult. What is prayer anyway, and how do I do it? To answer this question, let’s look to the one person who has the answer.
In the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus praying. While He is praying we see the disciples looking on going... wow... that is neat. I want to do that. In fact, to quote the Bible, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray...” Jesus then answers them. How does He answer them? Does He say:
Step 1: Get on your knees.
Step 2: Take your left hand and place it in your right hand.
Step 3: Close your eyes.
Step 4: Clear all the thoughts in your mind
Step 5: Learn and remember this acronym
Step 6: Well... you get the idea
No! What does He do? He prays. He prays the Lord’s prayer. A, simple, easy to understand, 15-20 second prayer. This prayer teaches us so much.
First, it teaches us that prayers do not need to be complicate. While well constructed prayers can be quite beautiful, a simple prayer is just as beautiful to our God. Why? Because prayer is not about us. God’s ear is not open to us because of our prayers, but because of His love for us.
Second, prayers do not need to consist of big spiritual words. The words which we use will not encourage God listen to us anymore or any less. God loves us and hears our prayers because of who He is. The simple words of a child are just as beautiful as the eloquent words of the greatest preacher.
Third, just as God loves a 30 minute prayer, He also loves a 15 second prayer. The length of our prayer does not determine if God will listen to us. God’s ear is always open to us. In fact Matthew 6:7 says, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.”
We do not need to be intimidated by prayer. A good prayer life is just a conversation away. After all, God hears us and and loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is!
Andy Tracy, Dir. College and Career
Extreme Makeover Christ Edition
February 4, 2009
I’m standing in front of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Project. Many of you heard it was coming to Tucson and lo and behold it came to my neighborhood. For the last several days I have been watching this whole, amazing process. Last Thursday morning I was standing right here and there was nothing but dirt. The entire house, the foundation and everything, had been removed. They started from scratch and now five days later there is a 3600 square foot house. This afternoon the Bell family is returning and it’s going to be amazing.
Last Sunday, as I was driving to church, I thought I could use this as an illustration. I thought about the fact that Scripture says: “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). When Christ really comes into our life he does a complete makeover, a radical extreme makeover. He gives us a brand new nature. He doesn’t just patch us up. This house couldn’t be just patched up, it needed to be completely remade. So that is what God is after in our lives.
C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity, says that God comes into our little cottage and starts knocking out a wall and making a few renovations. An lo and behold he starts to do the whole thing over with towers! We cry out “what are you doing?!” He says “you thought I was going to live here in this little cottage but I am making a castle fit for a King.” When the King of Glory comes in he makes us completely new. We have a new nature and an old nature, and as Paul says in Romans 7, there’s a great struggle that goes on between our old and new natures. But remember Paul’s great cry is who will free me from this struggle, this wretched body, this wretched man that I am. “Thanks be unto God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).
So think about that.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Extreme Makeover CHRIST Edition.
That’s who we are. We’re trophies of His grace. God Bless you
Upcoming CFC Missions Conference
January 8, 2009
One of the great things we are attempting is to increase our awareness of world missions.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
The purpose of the Missions Conference is:
- To update you on the mission organizations and missionaries that we support
- To discuss the directions of future support and priorities
- To provide you an opportunity to support the mission programs in prayer, financial support, and even personal involvement where appropriate.
Jesus' great commission to the disciples applies to us today. Our focus should be on Tucson, the Southwest, North America, and the World.
The conference will have information for CFC members and friends of all ages. A detailed agenda is provided below from which you can select which events you would like to attend. Again, I encourage you to participate in as many programs as possible.
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
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