Jesus rebuked some of the people of his day for their inability to interpret the signs of the times. “You can discern this-worldly events, such as the warnings in the sky that a storm is on the way, but you are so dense regarding the signs of God’s times, he told them.  Jesus then relates events that would continue through all of time, such as wars and rumors of wars, Jerusalem surrounded by armies, many professing Christians departing from the faith, etc. The one primary sign announcing the end is the spread of the Gospel throughout the world (Matthew 24:14). The last 2 or 3 years, and especially the last two months, have seen a significant escalation in these events.  Israel is surrounded by armies, this time with capabilities of wiping out the entire nation, if not held back by Israel’s military.  Russia is once again taking the spotlight of international concern, but with very little restraint.  The international community seems paralyzed with inaction. Martyrdom is increasing, as many Christians are paying with their lives for refusing to renounce Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Meanwhile, the Gospel is penetrating into more and more kingdoms of the world.  There are relatively few places where it has not reached. On a pastoral note, are you ready for Jesus return? Do you have a regular prayer time when you talk with him — both talking and listening?  Often our prayers involve our doing all the talking. No relationship can continue that way.  Try that with your wife, or husband! Do worship and witness have top billing on your agenda? When did you last invite a neighbor to church with you?  According to most recent surveys, 80 to 90% of people asked by a neighbor to go to church with them, would go.  In light of God’s word — and all that is transpiring in the world today — we have some work to do! Jesus said, “The fields are white already to harvest…get to work while it is day! The night is coming, when no one can work!” The night — not for the believer but for the unsaved — may be here sooner than we had expected.  Be ready!

REV. DR. RICHARD L. SHAW, PASTOR

Nobody can honestly, with eyes wide-open, doubt that our beloved America is embroiled in deep, seemingly irreversible crisis. Hostility to the Cross and all that it represents has deepened over the last 10 years and continues to do so. In June 2011, the Pac10 moved to invite the secular institutions from the Big XII to join the Pac10 in a super-conference.  But the oldest educational institution in Texas, a Christian university, Baylor University, was excluded!  Secularists at the University of California said clearly, explicitly, publicly, vehemently that there is no place for a Christian university in this athletic conference! No other reason — just that it was Christian!  This is one of many examples of the marginalization and exclusion of everything Christian from our culture. What is the answer to this, in our once-Christian culture?  Let’s start with an analysis about how we got there in the first place.  We have substituted moralism — legalism — for the message of the Cross.  The fundamentalist churches have their list of taboos, and the liberal churches have theirs.  But moralism is different from morality, and taboos are different from godly living. The cross, resurrection, and Presence of the Holy Spirit bring strange and life-changing power and motivation, inexplicable in any other way.  Religion is only a list of moralistic and societal rules without the power of the Cross. The cross shows us what we really are — sinful, proud, self-serving egoists in rebellion against a holy God. But on the other side, a loving, forgiving God who went all the way to the cruel death of crucifixion and abandonment, so we could be saved and have the power to live a life that would bring others to embrace the Cross, and also be saved. No wonder the song-writer could pen the words, “In the Cross of Christ I glory…”

REV. DR. RICHARD L. SHAW PH.D., PASTOR

What in the world is going on? Can we handle one more crisis? The flood of immigrants at our border with Mexico — wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and now Israel with Hamas. The radical Muslim group ISIS is set to attack Jerusalem, vowing that the United States is next. How many well-placed nuclear bombs, smuggled into the U.S. by terrorists, would it take to effectively eliminate our country? And they say it’s not “if” they destroy the U.S., but “when.” In addition, numerous internal difficulties such as a confused health -care system and serious economic and employment woes. What should be our response to these crises and imminent crises? We could panic and have a nervous breakdown! We could spend time and energy finding who to blame for the disasters! Or, more positively, we could get more serious about our dedication to God and the work to which he has called us. Worship, witness, service, and prayer could become unmovable top priorities, never giving way to any lesser call. Distraction from these is the Devil’s most effective weapon in our spiritual warfare. World crises have been reversed many times in our nation’s history by spiritual revival. A promise originally given to ancient Israel is equally apropos to us today — “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal the land.” Let’s claim that promise!

REV. DR. RICHARD L. SHAW PH.D., PASTOR

On this Fathers’ Day, 2014, it is good to ponder the meaning of “fatherhood”. Being a father means more than providing the biological substance to create another human being.  In fact, many are fathers who are not so biologically, but are very much so relationally, sociologically, psychologically. Fatherhood is important enough to God, the Heavenly Father, to be included in the 10 Commandments, where God calls upon offspring to honor their father.  “Father” is one of the many descriptive titles of God, expressing his relation to the world of humanity, and in a special way, to all the redeemed, He is our Father in a special way. The one prayer the Lord taught his followers addresses God as “Our Father.” As visible representations of the invisible God, we are to reflect the fatherly character of our heavenly Father.  God is the Father of providence and protection, who feeds even the birds of the air and clothes the lily of the fields. And when we pray, it is to God as our Father that we pray.  None of us earthly fathers can come close to the fatherly qualifications of our heavenly Father.  But we are called upon to impartially love our children, provide for them as best we can, protect them from a sometimes hostile world without over-protecting them. Dads, we have a lot of work to do to fulfill all that.  We need all of God’s grace that we can receive.  And God bless all of our Dads at Calvary.  You’re not perfect, your fatherhood will find plenty of places to call for forgiveness. But our heavenly Father is patient and loving, and teaches us as we follow Him.

Rev. Dr. Richard L. Shaw PH.D., Pastor

There is an old cliché’ that it is better to remain silent and have people think we don’t know anything, than to open our mouths and confirm it! Silence may be a better choice  in other areas also. We, although not necessarily intentionally, use our tongue often in hurtful ways. This same tongue, that one moment Christians use to bless God and sing praises to his Name, sometimes instead of uplifting others and bringing encouragement is often releasing a careless word here or there that causes a brother or sister in the Lord undeserved pain or embarrassment. On occasion, even in a situation that could only be described as gossip! James 1:26 says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” We should be cognizant of the words we speak; we all have heard the excuse “oh they shouldn’t let that bother them” or “they took that the wrong way”. Those statements can be a cop out to avoid the realization that maybe that is an area of our life we haven’t yet let Christ control. Romans 12:2 tell us to “… be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This renewal should include, as Psalm 34:13 advises, “to keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.” Proverbs 10:19 says “… he who holds his tongue is wise” This, of course, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t correct or rebuke when a brother or sister is in open sin – we are exhorted to do that in many areas of Scripture, but we are to be careful in not expressing anything that may either put someone down or make them feel unworthy. Favoritism is also condemned in Scripture, and showing favoritism verbally is something we can be sure God does not look favorably on. Let’s commit to, as we move forward toward the goal of “nevertheless not I, but Christ”, choosing our words carefully and not even taking the chance of offending our brother or sister in the Lord. Remembering Christ’s words ” As you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me”…

Rev. Larry Sassmann

Another Easter has come and gone.  It was a time of reflecting on Jesus’ Resurrection and what it means to each of us, and to the world in general.  But the whole purpose of Easter is missed if, after the holiday, its message has gone the way of the Easter bunny!  For the message of Easter is no passing fad, but a life-changing world-transforming reality.  Easter means the transformation of the human body of the dead Jesus to the glorified body of the risen Christ.  For all who die in Christ, it is the same.  Our dead bodies will be transformed into living, glorified bodies at the return of Christ.  Easter represents a valid past event which calls for faith—the promise of divine intervention in a messed-up world—which offers hope—and the demanding of a new communal relationship—which provides love. So Easter is the faith, hope, and love of the Christian reality.  As such it is highly relevant today.  Indeed, nothing is more relevant than the reality of Christ’s Resurrection.  When it is received by faith, it becomes a present reality of joy, peace, and power.  It raises us above the mundane problems of earthly existence, not by taking us around them, but by giving us a new power to overcome them.  We are not to ignore this present world and concentrate on the next; we are to face the world and change it!  The Spirit-filled Spirit-empowered Christians are the Church of the Resurrection and have been given the power to conquer and rebuild.  Don’t be conquered by the world and its attractions or its assaults, but be a conqueror by the mighty power of the Resurrection life in you!

REV. DR. RICHARD L. SHAW PH.D., PASTOR

We are soon to join many millions of Christians worldwide on a joyous celebration. Bells will be ringing, choirs will be singing their anthem, drums will be beating, parades will be marching, and liberty will be proclaimed. What could possibly be causing so much excitement? This has been going on for centuries! It is not a new fading fad. What could possibly arouse so many totally different cultures and gather them around it? One thing – a resurrection. A Man has come back from the dead! But this is no ordinary man. This is the God – Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, fully God and fully Man, who dies for us, pays the full penalty for our sins, and rises from the dead. Jesus conquers sin – it can no longer deceive and destroy. Jesus conquered death by dying – and need no longer terrify, or fill with despair and desolation. Jesus has risen! He is alive! Put your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior, and let His peace rule your heart. The incarnation life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is history’s greatest miracle. And it is not just a dream, not fantasy, not wishful thinking. It is based upon irrefutable historical facts. As to the evidence of Jesus resurrection, we will be giving a seminar on it at our church Wednesday April 23, 2014 at 7pm in the conference room. Plan to come and bring a friend or two or three. Many people have questions about God and Christianity. The resurrection
of Jesus is a good place to begin. Then each Wednesday at 7pm, we will continue the study miracles throughout the world. Pray for the series and plan to bring friends – atheist, skeptics, doubters, and seekers – all are welcome. We hope to help Christians to be better equipped to defend the Christian faith. Questions are encouraged. Refreshments will be served.

Written by REV. DR. RICHARD L. SHAW PH.D., PASTOR