New Beginnings: Born Someplace Between His-story & Hope
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| The Dove is symbolic of purity & peace! |
The Genesis of it all for us began in Texas & Utah. Kelli raised Episcopalian & Southern Baptist later marries a young Navy man who was reared in the Mormon community. Roughly ten years into our marriage I hit great depths of despair while operating as a Deep-Sea Diver. That’s when I met the real Jesus of the Bible. And we received spiritual discipleship from the First Assemblies of God—Red Hill Oahu, Hawaii.
Dove Creek First Assembly, as some of you know, was founded
during the 21st Century Pentecostal movement in 1936 some 30 years after the
Azusa street revival in Los Angeles by A.J. Justice & his wife,
Madeline. Sent to plant & pastor by
the General Council of the Assemblies of God, Springfield MO. The original facility for assembling was made
of logs hauled by the local men of the church from the Blue Mountain in
Monticello, UT. Forty years later Pastor
Edward Phelps, his sons & local men built the roof we now observe overhead. There was a period of church closure for some
time until Rocky Mountain Ministries network sent men to re-open. Praise God for the shelter we have to gather
within!
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| Photographer
likely 76' member of church |
I’m very excited to learn about all of the rich history here
at Dove Creek and I look forward to sharing our family history with you! We’ve been longing to be here for 10 or more
years. Our Daughter Bailey is with her
husband Daniel in San Diego, California.
Rearing our 4 grandchildren; Daniel Jr., Rosabella, Skyler &
Jynelle. 12, 10, 7 & 4. We love and
miss them dearly and thanks to technology we hear and see them almost daily.
God plans with purpose.
I believe God’s plan for us is to make Jesus known here in the region of
Dove Creek because all have been born into the world, but not all in the world
have been born again unto the Spirit.
Exo 1:8-22, Mat 11:25-30, Exo 6:6—8, Exo 3:1-5,
Pro 27:17, 1Jo 3:1-3, Jos 1:8-9, Jn
16:25-33. 8 Scripture Locations from the
NIV.
Some common attributes present with new beginnings are the
following:
1. Fear, pain &
discomfort.
2. Changes &
resistance to change.
3. Plans, Purpose
& Hope.
The steps are being ordained by God. We firmly believe that only God could have
orchestrated such an opportunity such this.
He is faithful, The Alpha & Omega.
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| Local Dove Creek Press Story published in 76'. |
1. Fear, pain & discomfort.
All are Born naked into this world with nothing but kicking & screaming! With people who care.
A) Moses was born into a hazardous & hostile situation when all children of his generation were targeted in an effort to prevent the continued growth of the enslaved Israelites. Fearful that they would overtake Pharaoh. All this before being invited to sacred ground at the flaming bush.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.""
Read Exodus 1:8-22
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/exo/1/8-22/s_51008
B) New beginnings can be scary
for ALL of us. Exciting none the less,
but with excitement comes various challenges and reasonable growing pains. With this in mind, let us agree upon
this. If He can bear the wages sin
paying debts of mankind upon the cross, He is reliable to free us of the
burdens we may face together this coming fall, winter & spring. Face them we will do, but not without
dependence upon the rock of our salvation.
Jehovah Jireh! The Lord’s
Provision Shall be seen! Let’s love the
Lord and fear God remembering that there is no fear in love, but perfect love
casts out ALL fear.
Read Matthew 11:25-30
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/mat/11/25-30/s_940025
"yoke"
occurs 60 times in 53 verses in the
NIV. Yoke Illustration:
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| "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me" ~Jesus the Christ |
C) Unlike Moses we have this
perspective of Jesus the Christ in mind.
We have the redeemer. The
Israelites and Moses were waiting for rescue.
We have a different perspective on history here in the 21st century.
Read Exodus 6:6-8
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/exo/6/6-8/s_56006
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| John Baptizing Jesus. Image By David Zelenka Under CC BY-SA 3.0 |
2. Changes & Resistance to Change.
“Repent & be Baptized for the Kingdom of God is near” John the Baptist. Despair and the need for rescue. We have a choice to make today. Just like in the day of Jesus’ launch into
ministry we can resist the coming changes, or we can accept them and
deliberately engage to adjust ourselves proactively to the coming growing
pains. Lord willing the pain will be
less if we get involved and allow regenerative strain to occur.
A) Like Jesus Moses was strategically placed into the adversarial court to provide God’s chosen people the way of escape. He didn’t ask for this assignment. He resisted the changes initially. Imagine being Moses. Different than the royalty with whom he was raised and taught the practices of the Egyptian’s. Moses being more like those who were being oppressed. When he recognized the misery of his fellow people he acted in violence and escaped to Midian. He later accepted his assignment, but not before the various growing pains and delay.
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| Moses placed in the water & saved by faith in God's Spirit! |
Read Exodus 3:1-5
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/exo/3/1-5/s_53001
Our shoes are removed today in honor to those who went before
us. In honor of the One True God who has
been leading this congregation’s collective conscience for 87 years.
Somewhere near 2018 before my credential certifications came
to fruition. I didn’t have a flaming
bush experience, but I did get impression from the Holy Spirit that the Lord
may send us near the region of the Henry Mountains in Utah. I was reminded of this vision when Dove Creek
announced the open Pastorate to the public.
Personally, among all of the options we faced for our future, when I
considered the opportunity here at Dove Creek First Assembly a surpassing peace came over
me. Unlike the other options.
God plans with purpose.
I believe God’s plan for us is to make Jesus known here in the region of
Dove Creek because all have been born into the world, but not all in the world
have been born again unto the Spirit.
B) In facing new beginnings let us not simply go
with the flow thereby going through the motions, but please join hands, hearts
& minds in the Spirit to GROW THROUGH the motions. Let’s reject passivity and proactively help
one another to sharpen our identity in Christ Jesus. We’re not here to change Dove Creek First’s
Identity, we’re here to sharpen, strengthen & contrast our identity in the
Image of God.
On the other hand, let’s all avoid being so rigid in our form that we fail to build our spiritual muscles together as on body of Christ. Resistance is good but doesn’t always produce the results we’re aiming to gain.
"As iron sharpens iron, so
one person sharpens another." ~NIV
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/pro/27/17/s_655017
Let’s REACH beyond what we know to what he has planned for us
by Rejecting passivity, Expecting God’s greater reward, Accepting
responsibility, with Courage & Humility. This acrostic is simple REACH!
R-Reject Passivity
E-Expect God's Greater Reward
A-Accept Responsibility
C-Courage
H-Humility
Tombstone rolled away! The Resurrected Jesus.
3. Plans, purpose & hope.
God plans with purpose!
We are all born into the world between history & hope. God has a future we can hope for!
"All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." ~1Jo 3:3 NIV
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/1jo/3/1-3/s_1162001
A) When Joshua received his assignment from
Moses, he too experienced these common environmental & social challenges
of Fear, pain & discomfort. Changes & resistance to change. What did God tell Joshua? 1:8—9.
"8 Keep this Book of the Law always
on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I
not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you
go.""
~Jos 1:8-9 NIV
Joshua was a witness to the various actions by the Creator to
deliver and rescue His chosen people from oppression and death. He was tasked with reminding the Israelites
and their coming generations of the remarkable wonders & works of God the
Creator. He was tasked with ensuring
they would not forget the God of their ancestors.
B) When Jesus was born into the world reared by
Mary & Joseph, he like Moses was born into a hazardous & hostile
situation. His life and the many
children of his generation were also targeted by a King. King Herod feared the loss of his throne
because of the prophesied future arrival of new Jewish King, the Jewish
Messiah.
Now we here at Dove Creek are not being targeted as Moses
& Jesus. We’re not in a hostile
environment, but the children coming into the world are being targeted in various ways. They also like us come into the world naked
kicking and screaming. We must protect
and provide them the comfort & direction they need. We must teach them how to be victors & NOT victims!
The work of God is a serious responsibility.
Let us remember what Jesus told his disciples according in
John 16:33
"I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""
John 16:33 NIV
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jhn/16/25-33/s_1013025
Again, God plans with purpose.
I believe God’s plan for us is to make Jesus known here in the region of
Dove Creek because all have been born into the world, but not all in the world
have been born again unto the Spirit.
Conclusion:
Born here someplace between history & hope this new
beginning that we are entering into interdependently as a family of God is not
hostile. This isn’t a hostile coup! It’s been planned by God & God's people with purpose &
prayer. My family & I have been accepting our
L.O.T. for the last ten years finishing Naval service and serving in God’s
Kingdom Ministry. Along our journey we’ve
simply Listened, Obeyed & Trusted (LOT) in His way not leaning on our own
understanding. The steps are being
ordained by God, now Kelli & I stand here on Holy ground before you ready to serve and
come alongside you to serve the greater region of Dove Creek & Delores
County. We firmly believe that only God
could have orchestrated such an opportunity such this. He is the faithful Alpha & Omega!
We carry the message of eternal life!
E-Expect God's Greater Reward
A-Accept Responsibility
C-Courage
H-Humility
God plans with purpose!
We are all born into the world between history & hope. God has a future we can hope for!
"All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." ~1Jo 3:3 NIV
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/1jo/3/1-3/s_1162001
A) When Joshua received his assignment from
Moses, he too experienced these common environmental & social challenges
of Fear, pain & discomfort. Changes & resistance to change. What did God tell Joshua? 1:8—9.
"8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.""
~Jos 1:8-9 NIV
Joshua was a witness to the various actions by the Creator to
deliver and rescue His chosen people from oppression and death. He was tasked with reminding the Israelites
and their coming generations of the remarkable wonders & works of God the
Creator. He was tasked with ensuring
they would not forget the God of their ancestors.
B) When Jesus was born into the world reared by
Mary & Joseph, he like Moses was born into a hazardous & hostile
situation. His life and the many
children of his generation were also targeted by a King. King Herod feared the loss of his throne
because of the prophesied future arrival of new Jewish King, the Jewish
Messiah.
Now we here at Dove Creek are not being targeted as Moses
& Jesus. We’re not in a hostile
environment, but the children coming into the world are being targeted in various ways. They also like us come into the world naked
kicking and screaming. We must protect
and provide them the comfort & direction they need. We must teach them how to be victors & NOT victims!
The work of God is a serious responsibility.
Let us remember what Jesus told his disciples according in
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""
John 16:33 NIV
https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jhn/16/25-33/s_1013025
Again, God plans with purpose.
I believe God’s plan for us is to make Jesus known here in the region of
Dove Creek because all have been born into the world, but not all in the world
have been born again unto the Spirit.
Conclusion:
Born here someplace between history & hope this new
beginning that we are entering into interdependently as a family of God is not
hostile. This isn’t a hostile coup! It’s been planned by God & God's people with purpose &
prayer. My family & I have been accepting our
L.O.T. for the last ten years finishing Naval service and serving in God’s
Kingdom Ministry. Along our journey we’ve
simply Listened, Obeyed & Trusted (LOT) in His way not leaning on our own
understanding. The steps are being
ordained by God, now Kelli & I stand here on Holy ground before you ready to serve and
come alongside you to serve the greater region of Dove Creek & Delores
County. We firmly believe that only God
could have orchestrated such an opportunity such this. He is the faithful Alpha & Omega!
We carry the message of eternal life!
 |
| Prairie Sunlight is a painting by Richard Wallace which was uploaded on April 8th, 2012. |
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