For those who don't know me personally, I am part of Calvary Chapel Three Crosses, which I have called my church home for about 3 and a 1/2 years.

After almost a whole year of looking for a church, I landed here in late 2006 and it has been such a blessing to be a part of this true body of believers.

One problem that I had with the churches here in Las Cruces is that so many of them were just either following the tradition of "doing church" or don't teach the Word of God as it is.

My Pastor has been my discipler, mentor and more like a big brother figure and that is what has helped me grow so much in the Lord and I have got to know him as well as his family in a personal level and they have opened their home and family to me like if I was one of their own.

I just wanted to share this you because at this moment I am so glad to be a part of a true fellowship that follows Christ and is TRUE to the Word of God. We are not the perfect church and we will never be, but the Holy Spirit is present in this place.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Here is what my Pastor posted today on the "Verse of the Day" blog.

The Verse of the Day is a co-operation between my Pastor and I to encourage believers to read their Bible and study the Word of God. It started as a simple text message and now we have it online as well.

At that time I said to you, "You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as many as the stars in the sky.
May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!
But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?
Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you."
You answered me, "What you propose to do is good."
So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you--as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.
And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien.
Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.
And at that time I told you everything you were to do.
(Deutoronomy 1:9-18)

As Christians we need to strive for spiritual maturity for many reasons.
First, God has commanded us to do so.
Secondly, as God blesses the body of Christ and adds to its numbers so does the demands upon the leadership increase greatly.
There is a great need for spiritual leaders and servants in the church, but there are few to be found in this world of "What's in it for me attitude."
We need to disciple Christians, but Christians must also desire and seek to be discipled.
As we allow God to work in us, He is able to work through us to meet the needs of many.

Have a Blessed day,

Pastor Dwayne Thompson

Calvary Chapel Three Crosses

Here is something I read this morning from my email. I get a daily devotional from Pastor Raul Ries, the service is free and anyone can sign up for it.

What is says is awesome and I feel like it ties along with what I posted yesterday about being discerning on the people that serve at the church and are leaders.

Spiritual Leaders
“ ‘How can I [Moses] alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints? Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’ ”
Deuteronomy 1:12-13

Notice the qualifications for godly leaders— wise, understanding and knowledgeable people. Each tribe was to choose men from amongst themselves, within their tribes.

What is he telling us? We are not to choose people who we do not know. People have to prove themselves before we can choose them as leaders.

In the ministry, you really have to know who people are, not just while they are in church, but outside of church. That does not mean you appoint leaders who are your best friends. It has to be based on qualifications—spiritual qualifications.

The blessings of God come only when someone is tested. When the real test comes, are they able to endure, so God can really use their lives, fully and completely?

Whether in ministry or business, we must choose leaders who have proven themselves to be men and women of integrity, in any situation.

The three most important ingredients in Christian
work are integrity, integrity, integrity.
—Charles Colson—

Hey, I just wanted to invite you all to check out the verse of the day blog that my Pastor and I co-write, our desire is to encourage readers daily through the Word of God.

Check it out at CC3C Verse of the Day Blog

As I was reading my Bible this morning before heading out to the gym and starting up my day, I picked up where I had left in my personal study of the book of Acts and there was something that grabbed my attention that I don't think I had ever noticed before (don't you just love how eventhough you read something in the Bible, God always has something new to show you?):

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(Acts 2:1-4)

This event marks the great even called "Pentecost", in which the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles and the new (first) members of the church of Jesus and the thing that struck me about it wasn't the misconception of "speaking in tongues" (which is a whole other study in itself), but what it says in verse 1: "they were all with one accord in one place."


How many times have we witnessed division in the body of Christ because of a simple disagreement? I know I have seen my share of people disagreeing with something that the pastor or a member of the congregation says and that causes people to leave or to be bitter because they did not see the point that was being made.


At Calvary Chapel Three Crosses we have had groups of people who don't get things done their way and leave, I am sure that happens in every church. People come in expecting certain things, and when they don't get done, they leave and move on, only to find the same problem repeated over and over again.


God never wanted us to be so divided and something that hurts me the most is to see churches being divided over small disputes. Yes, there are a lot of churches that teach wrong doctrines that do not go in line with what the Word of God says, but there are also many, who teach the same truths, the same Gospel of Jesus Christ, that by one small dispute are divided or want nothing to do with each other.


A very admirable thing that I have seen my Pastor do, along with a few other Pastors, is try to unite the different churches in the area. While right now they are only starting with other Calvary Chapels, the plan is to expand to other denominations as well. We've had a few church conferences that we do together and it is always great to spend time with other people that are just like the verse says "in one accord". What a vital thing that gets so missed!


Now going back to what I was starting to say before, about the people that leave the churches because they disagree, I have this verse to share:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
(Matthew 7:15-16)

There are many wolves in sheep's clothing in the church today, we have even had quite a share of these at CC3C and you must beware not to be fooled by what they might have to say. We've had people that get involved with the church, even start serving in ministry and suddenly one day they reveal their true colors. Not only that, but they snatch out other people as well and take them from the church. It is a very sad reality, but it is a true one. I have learned (the very hard way), to look at the fruits of the lives of people, as many times it is easy to use big words to look "spiritual", but deep inside they are only baby Christians who want things their way.

It is easy to get hurt if things don't go your way, but I don't think that God wanted us to divide ourselves from the body of Christ, as we are all one body, just as Romans 12:4-5 says:

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

If we are not in one accord and in one mind like the first church of Acts, how can we function appropriately as ONE body, the church?

I made this flyer/ invitation for the Young Adults Study at my church. I am posting this up not to brag on how awesome I am with photoshop, but as an open invitation to anyone who is interested.

Last week, as we were preparing for Easter, I was talking with my cousin and his fiance and the question came up: "What the heck does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ have to do with a silly rabbit that brings colored eggs and chocolate?"

I decided to do some research and look it up and this is what I found. Beware, some of this content is slightly disturbing and has caused me to not ever want to even mention the Easter Bunny when I have kids of my own.

The name “Easter” has its roots in ancient polytheistic religions (paganism). On this, all scholars agree. This name is never used in the original Scriptures, nor is it ever associated biblically with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For these reasons, we prefer to use the term “Resurrection Sunday” rather than “Easter” when referring to the annual Christian remembrance of Christ's resurrection.
Ancient origin
Most reference books say that the name “Easter” derived from the Eastre, the Teutonic goddess of Spring. Although this relationship exists, in reality, the origin of the name and the goddess are far more ancient - going all the way back to the Tower of Babel. The origin begins not long after the biblical Flood.
.
The Easter Rabbit or Hare
The rabbit is well known as a sexual symbol of fertility. In various parts of the world, religions which developed from Babel also associate the rabbit with periodicity, both human and lunar (Egypt, China, etc.). As you may remember, the Mother Goddess Semiramis (Easter) is associated with the Moon. In other words, the Easter bunny symbolizes the Mother Goddess. Annual Spring time fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband Nimrod.
The Easter Egg
Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of these traditions. Easter egg activities have become a part of Western culture. Many would be surprised and even dismayed to learn where the traditions originated.
“The egg was a sacred symbol among the Babylonians. They believed an old fable about an egg of wondrous size which was supposed to have fallen from heaven into the Euphrates River. From this marvelous egg - according to the ancient story - the Goddess Astarte (Easter) [Semiramis], was hatched. And so the egg came to symbolize the Goddess Easter.”[11]
The idea of a mystic egg spread from Babylon to many parts of the world.[12] In Rome, the mystic egg preceded processions in honor of the Mother Goddess Roman. The egg was part of the sacred ceremonies of the Mysteries of Bacchus. The Druids used the egg as their sacred emblem. In Northern Europe, China and Japan the eggs were colored for their sacred festivals.[13]
The egg was also a symbol of fertility; Semiramis (Easter) was the goddess of Fertility. The Easter egg is a symbol of the pagan Mother Goddess, and it even bears one of her names.
Summary and Conclusion
“Easter” is simply one of the names of a woman who mightily deceived the world and whose religion has caused untold suffering and misery.[14]She was clearly an enemy of Christianity, and her son Tammuz was ananti-Christ, a false messiah that ultimately deceived millions.
If you are Christian, it is not difficult to discern the bizarre deception and confusion that Satan has successfully orchestrated. For example, notice the embarrassing irony in these traditions which are practiced innocently by most people. They are repeated year after year, because they have become traditional and their origin is unknown to many.
 On the day commemorating Christ's resurrection, Americans roll decorated eggs on the White House lawn and pretend the Easter rabbit hid them. The same ritual is practiced at some Christian churches.
 “In Lancashire [England] on Easter eve boys and men have been in the habit of touring the towns and villages as 'Pace-eggers' begging for eggs before performing the 'Pace-Egging' or Pasch (i.e., Easter) play.”[15]
 In Greece each person in a group bangs his red EASTER EGG [not knowing that it is symbol of the Goddess] against the eggs of all the others present in turn, saying 'Christ is risen,' and receives the reply 'He is risen indeed.'"[16]
The seductive symbols of ancient ungodly religions inspired by Satan have been incorporated into people's everyday lives, even to this day - continuing to obscure the truth of God .
One might wonder if there is a better way for Christians to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection, the most important of all Christian holy days. In retrospect, it seems obvious that it would have been a better witness to the world if Christians had not attempted to “Christianize” pagan celebrations - adopting the name “Easter” (Ishtar/Semiramis) in remembrance of Christ. Jesus has been obscured by painted eggs and bunnies. Attention has been shifted away from spiritual truth and toward materialism (clothing, products and candies with the wrong symbolism). Stores merchandise the name of Easter (not “Resurrection Sunday”) and sell goods that have nothing to do with Christ's death and resurrection. Christians naively use symbols and practices that unknowingly perpetuate ancient anti-Christ traditions - symbolic customs followed by the same religious cults that inspired the destruction of great numbers of Christians and Jews. Is the Devil laughing at us?
Many church bodies recognize the problem and make every effort to keep the focus of Resurrection Sunday totally on Jesus Christ and the Good News that He brought.

Isn't this crazy? We need to beware, just like it says in this verse:

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

The Resurrection of Jesus


This is the most important event in the whole history of the world and yet so many deny it ever happened. People all over the world claim that the idea of the Son of God coming  back to life sounds OK, but they won't admit that it is true.

To me, it is the basis of my faith and walk with Christ.


What does this mean in the life of a Christian?


Instead of focusing on the events that took place that we all know, I will focus on what this most amazing even mean to the true Christians.

I have known people who have called me names because I claim the Risen Christ, and in fact, I used to be one of those calling Christians names before coming to the Lord. As I have stated in other posts, sometimes when I look at my past, I can't help but to feel sorry and saddened about how my attitude once was towards the One who gave His Own Life for my sins.

As we celebrate this Easter, let us not forget the reason why we celebrate. Yes, you will probably see many who are there just to fulfill what they believe as a religious duty, but us as true children of God must remember that this season is all about the Perfect Man, the Son of God, the One who was prophesied in the Old Testament coming to this world and giving Himself ransom,  and then resurrected in the third day.

This is the Good News of Jesus Christ.

He came to the world to pay for our sins. I don't know how many times I have to say that before I get tired of saying it.

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

Many will spend this day and then go eat a meal with their family and after the "religious day" is over, they will go back to their lifestyle of sin believing that they are "saved" because they went to church, but to us, the true believers, this day means everything to us, at least to me.



As the message of the Gospel and the prophesy was completed, Jesus left this world after 40 days and ascended to Heaven to be back to His throne with the following words:

And being assembled together with [them], He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," [He said], "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
(Acts 1:4-9)

Jesus did not leave this world without instructing their disciples on what to do next, and just as this applied to the original apostles, it applies to us to.

Too many Christians today are too comfortable with just sitting on their pews and warming the seats, claiming that they know so much about the Bible but do not invest their time in others who might not know as much. God has given me a passion for discipleship, I believe that we are called to do so. There are several examples of discipleship in the Bible and He even mentioned it in the "The Great Commission".

Jesus called us to be disciple-makers, to spread the word of God. This passage has so much in it that it would require a whole other study to go through (which might be coming in the near future).

I pray that as you go to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, do not forget what Jesus did for you, it is more that anyone in this wicked and selfish world would do. Many fix their eyes on false hope or "change" instead of fixing their eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Have a Blessed Easter!

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!




----------------------THE END----------------------------------

As mentioned in the previous post, this is a 3 part study on the Arrest, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the ONLY reason for Easter (not some silly bunny who brings colored eggs to children).

We move forward and look at the cross. It was the payment, the atonement for those who had commited the most hideous crimes in that time.

Something I find interesting is how the people picked Jesus over Barabas, a psychotic murdered in the following passage:

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" [They] all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"
Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather [that] a tumult was rising, he took water and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see [to it]."
And all the people answered and said, "His blood [be] on us and on our children."
(Matthew 27:15-25)

It is a sad thing that the same people who were expecting the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament was the One they were condeming to be put on the cross to die.

Little did they know, that they were trully killing the Son of God.

He was beaten, tortured, humiliated, forced to carry His own cross...and He did it all without saying a word.

The perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world hung on a cross.



I find it interesting how so many people stay at the point of the cross. Yes, what Jesus did, poured His every last drop of blood to be the perfect sacrifice is important, but so many Christians and even non-Christians look at this picture of His death and remain there. We must remember that this is not the end of the story.

The people mocked Him, yelled out their insults...Jesus did not say a word. I think one of the most touching moments in the whole Scripture are His last words:

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last.
(Luke 23:46)

This was the completion. Our sins, past, present and future were paid in this very moment, in this important moment in the history of the world.

God, shone away from Jesus because He could not bear the sins of the world on His very own Son.



As many people get prepared to celebrate His death and His resurrection, we must not forget that He did not remain in death, He rose again as we will continue our study on the third and final part of the series.

With this, we begin a 3 part study on the betrayal, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the reason why we celebrate Easter.

This first post is divided in 2 sections.


1. The Last Supper:

When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?" He answered and said, "He who dipped [his] hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(Matthew 26:20-30)

What a clearly amazing scene in the life of Jesus, as He sat down with the disciples partaking the first Communion ever, He gave clues about what was to happen. I like the reaction of the disciples as He told them that He would be killed and how they were so sorrowful because they loved Him so much. They were looking at the physical side, they did not want this great man, whom most of them know who He was by them, to leave their side.

Something that has always jumped out to me is the part when all the disciples are sitting on the table and are asking "who is the betrayer" and Judas boldly asks Him "Rabbi, is it I?". I had a recent conversation with someone at church about this particular question. You see, Judas was already planning to betray Jesus, he had been contacted by the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, so for Him to ask that to Jesus seems almost like an oxymoron. I love Jesus' answer "You have said it.", it is almost as if Jesus was giving out the answer discretely in a way that only Judas would know. I believe that if things would have been different and Jesus answered the question that all the disciple were asking, they would have jumped on Judas and things would have been different.


An important thing here is the beggining of Communion. This was the first time that it was ever even mentioned and that is what makes it so symbolic and powerful in the life of believers and we are called to do so as believers (read 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). We are called to do this in remembrance of Him and is such a powerful and personal thing that only the true believers should practice.


After this was all done, things progressed to the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.


2. The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus.




The Gospel of John gives a beautiful account of the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In fact, it dedicates a whole chapter to what Jesus prayed to His Father in Heaven (John 17).

But while this was happening, a big commosion of Jews and Pharisees was forming, as they prepared to arrest Jesus and see Him put to death.

Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are [you] still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."
And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."
(Matthew 26:45-49)

The movie "The Passion of the Christ" opens with this exact scene as it marks the beginning of the death & resurrection of Jesus.

It is amazing how God had planned everything in such a perfect way, the same people that Jesus had come to save were the ones that were wanting to kill Him. Many people judge Judas and say "how could he do that to Jesus? Did he not pay attention to who Jesus was after spending all this time under His teaching?". I believe Judas played a primordial part in the death on the cross of Jesus Christ. God had set Him apart for that purpose.

Greed is always a terrible weapon that Satan uses to get to people. Judas was promised 30 pieces of silver in exchange for Jesus.

Yet God had everything perfectly set up for His plan of Salvation to be completed.

This concludes Part One of the series, we will pick up tomorrow as we look into the death on the cross

I would like to take a moment to invite you all to our special Resurrection Sunday Service. Pastor Dwayne will be teaching on the Resurrection of Christ. We will also have a special re-enactment of the Last Supper as we partake of Communion together as a church.





Directions:
We meet at the intersection of Bataan Memorial West (frontage road) and McGuffey Street.
4301 Bataan Memorial West
From Hwy 70 WEST
From Hwy 70 West, exit on Mesa Grande Drive. Make a U-Turn by going under the overpass to get on Bataan Memorial West(frontage Rd). Drive about 1 mile. Calvary Chapel Three Crosses is on your right on the intersection of Bataan Memorial West and McGuffey Street (one street past Jornada Rd).
From Hwy 70 EAST
From Hwy 70 East, take the Mesa Grande Drive exit. Stay on Bataan Memorial West (frontage Rd). Drive about 1 mile. Calvary Chapel Three Crosses is on your right on the intersection of Bataan Memorial West and McGuffey Street (one street past Jornada Rd).

Hope to see you all there.