GGCF Reopening Letter

Dear GGCF family,

Though we have not seen each other physically much over the last 2 months, I have received cards, emails and texts from many of you, and have spoken by phone and visited as well. I hope all are well and prospering in the Lord.

I'm encouraged by hearing how you have been able to engage the online and physical community during this time with the message of hope. 

Thank you for looking out for each other and for those in need. That attitude goes well with the scripture in Philippians 2:3-4, " Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

I would like to update you on things that are taking place, or will be taking place soon:

*A reopening team is meeting to discuss the eventuality of gathering together again here at the building in Silver Spring. Once restrictions are eased, we will not be able to go back to business as usual, but we will gradually open up with common sense.

*Outdoor services are part of the plan. Weather permitting, for the first few weeks we will hold our Sunday morning services on the lawn of the church.. This is what is recommended in the governors guidelines. If  bad weather is forecast, then we will, most likely, add an early service to keep the numbers down. The GGCF chapel is permitted to hold 155 persons.
The guidelines of the State of Maryland, for the time being, are that we must limit the chapel to half capacity.

*We will require all attendees to wear face masks for now indoors, and we will encourage appropriate distancing indoors and outdoors.

*The church already has hand sanitizing stations, but we will add helpers at the door with spray sanitizing solution.

*The building, including restrooms, flat surfaces, chairs, etc. will be sanitized before and after services.

*There will be no food and beverages served, but we will have bottled water available at no cost.

There are still a few details to be sorted out such as seating and children's ministry. We will communicate on those and other subjects soon. 

If you have any suggestions or would like to help with the physical preparations, let us know. Please communicate through our email, Answers@ggcf.info.

I know we're all looking forward to those "elbow bumps" and virtual hugs. Stay healthy and know you are cared for.

Pastor Shibley

Is God A Liar?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

In the quoted passage, the Apostle Paul is saying something astounding.
God gave up His Son for me! That’s a huge thing.
It seems, as we read this passage, that to God, my life is as important as His Son Jesus’ life. 
That is EXACTLY what He’s saying, and it is repeated many times in His Word.

Some get confused though, because they are blind to the goodness of God in their lives.
People ask, “Where’s my stuff? or why did this happen to me?”
Perhaps we have this mindset because we tend to be spiritually nearsighted.

Many believers were subjected to great difficulty BECAUSE they followed God,
rather than because they didn’t. Look at Jesus’ followers in the New Testament.
Look at the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament.
They had trouble. I mean real trouble.
God has a way, through the writers of both the Old and New Testaments, of showing
the reader the truth about what it means to be a believer.
It means that God won’t lie to us.
It means that if I’m going to be a disciple, I must understand that God might use me in a way
that will make me very uncomfortable, or worse. Joseph went to prison.
Paul went to prison. Peter was crucified. James was thrown from the temple roof and stoned.
They, among many others, were used to advance The Kingdom of God, but there was a price to
be paid for their obedience.

What does that mean for us? It means, look out! It means, forget the
“God owes me something I want” attitude.
Forget the thought that God is going to give you everything you ask for. He won’t. 
He gave up His own Son. We are now his sons. He’ll give us up too if it means bringing
the knowledge of Him to the world.

God is honest. His Word is filled with people who took His path but found it to be very
difficult. We are told, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

So yeah, feel free to blame your difficulties on God.
Joseph did when he said to his brothers, “you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20. In other words, God let it happen for His higher
purpose. At least He won’t lie to you. He puts the truth right out there for you to see.
This is how He shows His love for us. He treats us as  sons to whom He'll tell the secrets
of the kingdom. This means that we must learn to be responsible to carry this message of love
to people, even though the cost to us might be high.

The question that remains is a question of faith. Is God for me, or is God against me?
Despite the hard times the people in the Bible faced, the record shows again and again that
God is for us. He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus, His own Son, to die for us while we
were still sinners.

He doesn’t make it easy, but He will never lie to us. Men turn the truth of God into a lie
according to Romans 1:15, but Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

God is a “Man of His Word.” Be a person of trust and obedience.
Look to the finish line and see what things await you when you arrive.

Cross Vision

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:14-16

 

The Apostle Paul in the few words above describes what it is to live the cross life.

Jesus made Himself of no reputation, meaning no notoriety, no far reaching fame, no long-term credit for the things He did. He lived with a stain on Him. He was smeared and slandered as a disgrace and received reproach from His own people.

All this was acceptable for a greater cause. It was the cause of cross vision. Everything Jesus did took Him one step closer to His divine mission; wholehearted commitment to death on a cross.

No one could deter Jesus from His vision. Peter tried when he rebuked Jesus for stating plainly that He would be killed. Jesus in turn “rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”” Mark 8:33

Everything would come against Jesus, but He would hold fast, never wavering, in His commitment. In the end “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8

Here we are in the middle of a “crooked and perverse generation” being called on to “shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” Paul’s exhortation is to hold on. It is to look at Jesus’ obedient example and make it our own, not letting the vision of the cross escape us because we were blinded by the cares and distractions of the world.

Let God continue to work what He wants and work out the things that hinder you from moving forward in His cross vision for your life.

Who Am I?

                                                                             

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. 1 Samuel 17:50

Overlooked

   David was doing his job watching the sheep when suddenly there was a shout from his oldest brother Eliab. “David, come! The prophet Samuel is here with father and he wants to meet you!”

David quickly scampered down the hill and to his father. All his brothers were standing before the old man, the prophet Samuel. Samuel moved toward him. In his hand was a horn filled with oil which he promptly emptied on David’s head. He had been anointed by the great prophet Samuel in front of his father and all his brothers. “Had they been anointed too?” He thought. “No, only he had, and the others were looking at him disapprovingly.”

David would find out later that his father had called all his brothers, except for him, and they had all been looked over by The Prophet but none had been chosen to be anointed. He was neither angry nor surprised that he’d been overlooked by his father. After all he, was the youngest of the brothers and as such had the least natural right to be picked by Samuel. He was content with who he was. He knew God. What more could one ask for in life?

Have you ever been overlooked? It’s a terrible thing to know that you have the skills to do a job but someone else was selected over you.

Years ago, God began to impress his calling upon me to be more active as a minister. Our church was approaching the time of our annual international convention, when many missionaries and pastors from churches in the U.S and overseas would return home to Baltimore, MD. It was the biggest event the church hosted all year. I decided to take the week off to assist the head pastor. “He would need my help” I thought, and I would be there for him at his side. I let him know of my availability. A week later one of the chief organizers of the conference said to me, “I hear you are available to help for the week of the convention.” “Yes, I said.” The organizer then replied, “We were hoping you could run the convention bookstore for the week.” I said I would consider it, knowing the whole time there must be a mistake. I had a higher calling. I was certainly meant to be by the pastor’s side helping him. I called the pastor and told him what had transpired. I was shocked when he said, “It shows how highly that you are thought of to be asked to fulfill such an important role.” Right then I realized it was most likely the pastor who, knowing I was available for the week, suggested the organizer ask me to run the bookstore. For a moment or two I felt overlooked, but then I decided to embrace the idea. I said yes and began right away to organize a team. Finding cases upon cases of books storage in closets, we pulled them all out and along with the existing stock sold all the books, tapes, t-shirts, CDs and every other thing that was there. We pulled in thousands of dollars on good discounted merchandise that blessed the conference attendees, and helped the church budget.

Feeling overlooked is nothing new. It happens often. When it does, let it pass over you like a flying dodge ball. Never leave it up to someone else to discover your strengths, gifts and talents. It may never happen. When you see something that needs changing, change it. Be ready to be used by God because you don’t know when your time will come. It’s your job to be encouraged by the Lord, to shine and be motivated by the fact that He knows who you are and what you can do. After all, He made you.

 Misunderstood

   David brought food to his three brothers and to their captains who were engaged in battle against the Philistine army. When he heard the insults of the Philistine champion, Goliath, he wasn’t pleased, and he noticed an intense apprehension among the soldiers. Everyone backed away when Goliath spoke his curses. Fear was thick like smoke in the air. David heard some soldiers say, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely, he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” (a) The boy quickly picked up on these words. “Can you repeat that?” He said.  His brother Eliab was not happy. He saw his brother as a punk. He wondered why Samuel had anointed him, the youngest of the brood. He accused the shepherd of being prideful and just wanting to come to see the battle. He misunderstood his inquiry.

Though David was interested in the battle and was asked to bring news to his father about it, there was much more to this lad. Wanting to defend himself to Eliab he realized it was no use, so he ignored him and went on asking questions. “It’s not right for the army of Israel to live in fear” he thought. He just wanted to help.

I have watched more than a few Hallmark movies sitting next to my wife with a box of tissues on our living room couch. It seems although there are many variations, that the basic formula for each movie is about the same. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl falls in love with boy. Girl sees boy with another girl and assumes boy is in love with that girl and not her. A break-up ensues. All is lost and we are destined for a sad ending to the movie. But alas something happens to cause the hurt and disillusioned girl to realize that she had misunderstood the situation. Boy is not in love with the other girl. All is not lost. Boy and girl realize they are still in love. Wedding bells are ringing in the distance. The end.

Being misunderstood and having people question your intentions is a hard thing to endure, but be ready for it. Not everyone will trust you, and many will question your motives as did Eliab concerning his brother’s inquiries about what the king had promised for the one who would kill Goliath. It’s interesting to note that none of King Saul’s mighty warriors had volunteered to go out and fight the daunting foe, even with such a booty awaiting them if they won. “The race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong.” 

Underestimated

   Eventually David’s words caused a stir in the Israelite camp. King Saul heard them but quickly looked at David and assessed that he was not able to defeat Goliath who was a “man of war from his youth.” But David fought back. He made an argument for going. He placed all his trust in the Lord. Saul could not stand in his way. Even though no one thought David could beat Goliath, and most were getting their running shoes on for a fast retreat, David would not be underestimated. His question was, “How can God lose?” David didn’t feel slighted because he was underestimated by his king. Instead he was undeterred and had an expectation that God would help him win the battle.

At this juncture in his life, Saul is a picture of failure. Here is the man who stood head and shoulders above every man in Israel. He was the natural leader, yet he was crushed under the weight of indecision and fear. Saul’s faith had left him because he didn’t keep God as his strength. He was more interested in numbers and strategy for he thought those were the things that would bring victory. He would observe a boy that day who was much more of a man then he was, not because of his strength, but because his mind was thinking right.  These were David’s thoughts: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (c)

The faith that we see in David is not unfounded. It’s based on his experience with God. David drew on that experience. The Lord helped him defeat the lion and the bear. When he tried on Saul’s armor it didn’t feel right. Saul’s strength did not translate to David. Though we appreciate the mentoring and help we receive from others, there comes a time where we must walk with God alone. This was that time for David. That time will come for you. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (d)  Be willing to speak in faith. Believe the impossible. Testify to what God has done in your life. He was the same God then as He is now. He never changes.

Mocked

   David took his familiar staff, the same staff he used to herd his father’s sheep, and knelt to take five smooth stones from a brook. He put them in his shepherd’s bag. He also had his sling. Nothing he brought to the battle was unfamiliar. They were the tools he used every day. He then ran toward Goliath. It would not be a battle of sword and shield, but one of faith and confidence.

The mockery began as Goliath, who was used to mighty men running from him, marveled at the sight of little David running toward him. “How stupid are these Israelites sending this child to fight me.” He thought. “I will eat him for a snack!” He poured out insults at David and at Israel. It seemed to him and probably to everyone in the Philistine army, and most, if not all in Israel’s, that his mockery was merited. Really Saul? You’re going to let this kid fight a mighty man of war? What about you? You chicken!

Boldness becomes the child of God. When your life is intertwined with the Word of God you live in a new reality. It is a reality that can’t be mocked. It is a truth unseen by most believers and unbelievers alike. Don’t miss it. God will give you opportunities to let his light shine through you. Let Him shine. Close your mouth and let Him speak. Lift your hands and let Him work. Move your feet and run at your enemy. All the mockery thrown at you will come to nothing. Let the world spit. Let those closest discourage you. David took Goliath’s own words and used them against him. Do the same! Let the  mocker be mocked. Move toward Goliath with no fear and watch him fall. Your enemy will become irrelevant in the face of faith.

David was overlooked by his father, misunderstood by his brother, underestimated by his king and mocked by his enemy. Though he suffered through it, trying to be understood, he in the end prevailed because he knew who he was. He was a child of God.

You may feel overlooked, misunderstood, underestimated and even mocked. Do what David did. Look to the Lord for your identity. Then build yourself up in the truth of what God’s own words say about you. When the Devil mocks you in whatever form he presents himself, mock him back!

Freedom

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34.

As Jesus suffered on the cross, suspended by three nails, He cries out this prayer to His Father. The man who was rejected by Israel was pleading their case to God. Jesus was not only rejected by the nation but when His life was offered to be spared by Pontius Pilate, the crowd chose Barabbas to be released and Jesus of Nazareth to be crucified.

All the disciples He chose scattered. Only one even tried to defend Him at His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. One of them betrayed Him to the High Priest who was looking for a reason to have Jesus killed. The Lord’s brothers and sisters were nowhere to be found. The Roman soldiers mocked and beat Him, and the religious crowd did the same in their high mindedness. None but His mother, John and some other women seemed to be concerned with His suffering. In fact, by the accounts in the gospels they showed callousness without pity.

Yet Jesus forgave. He forgave before anyone had a chance to understand. He forgave them before they realized they needed forgiveness. They shouted crucify, while he plead for their pardon. 

Indeed, Jesus is our great example. In Forgiving Jesus was free from any burden, any anger, free from grudges He might hold against those who hurt Him.

What about you? Are you free from the emotional weight of retribution? Are you waiting for the day that the one who hurt you gets their punishment? Are you praying that they will feel the pain that you are in?

Jesus let it go. You can let it go too. It’s not easy but you have the example of Jesus. It wasn’t easy for Him.

 “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.” Luke 11:4.

 Freedom is found in forgiveness.

A New You

Used Up

Years ago I found a wooden podium next to the dumpster at the Middle School we rent for our church services. It was used up, broken and ready to retire to the dump. Without hesitation I grabbed it and put it in the church van with the idea to revitalize and use it back at our office.
One of my assistants was a carpenter and I asked him to fix it, but it never happened. I think he didn't have a vision for it. I asked a man in the church who I knew had skills and he said he would do it but he never did. He must have thought it was a lost cause and not worth the bother. So it ended up in the attic of our office building.

New Life

A while later I remembered the broken podium and I said to myself I can repair it. So I brought it to my house. At the lumber store I bought some wood to trim the corners and a piece of plywood to put a new bottom on it. I sanded off the old stain, then cut the trim and nailed it. I even made a cross out of some one inch pieces of flat pine. I found some plastic wheels so we could roll it around. After a few coats of stain I varnished it and brought it back to the church office. The podium was reborn as a Christian preacher's pulpit.

Out of the Closet

It still didn't get used much and it was sometimes in the way. It often ended up in the storage closet.
One day I noticed that my church pulpit, the one that was made by a very skilled carpenter, had some severe damage. It must have gotten banged up while it was being moved to our trailer at the end of a Sunday service. Did I mention we have a mobile church that meets in a school?
We had to temporarily retire it. I tried to use a music stand, a small table and a tall table as a pulpit but nothing seemed to be just right. After about five weeks I thought "Why don't I use the pulpit in the Church office?" Since then we've been using it in church. The wheels squeak a bit, but over all it serves the purpose. It holds my Bible and notes just fine. This podium that was a day away from the trash heap and then languished for several years in the attic now had a new mission; a holy purpose.

Worthless to Invaluable

In the letter to Philemon, Paul describes Philemon's runaway slave Onesimus as unprofitable. He was not a good slave. He didn't do for Philemon what he was supposed to and he fled to Paul in Rome. Paul, in prison, led Onesimus to the saving knowledge of Jesus.He then sent him back to his owner and told Philemon to treat him right because he was not just a slave but now a brother in Christ. Philemon was to receive him as a such. Paul even said that if he owes you anything, he, Paul, would pay it.
Onesimus was taken from the trash heap. He was useless to his master; broken because of his situation, but now he was more than refurbished, he was made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says it like this, "Therefore if anyone be in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things become new." He was now an invaluable member of the body of Christ.

Religion Can't Do It

We were in the dumpster of sin before we knew Christ. People gave up on us and we may even have counted ourselves out. Religion tried to refurbish us. It strove to clean us up but there is no cleaning something that is dead. Ephesians 2:1 says we "were dead in trespasses and sin." Religion for a dead man is like putting lipstick on a corpse. It might look better, but it's still expired. Morality cannot revive, it cannot change, it cannot be fruitful. Religion can only give the appearance of life. Jesus makes us alive! He gives us new life. In Him we are born again. We are not just re-purposed. We are brand new!

Remember you have a new life in Christ. Live as free women and men who are not tied down to a list of rules and regulations. According to Galatians 5:1, that is a tangled web of slavery.
You are new, fresh, children of God, living with all the privileges of your Father's mercy and grace. You might feel like you are not being used right now; that you aren't needed. Be patient. Be faithful. Be a follower. The day will come when you see your purpose, then a door will open and God will reveal the plan of His new creation in you.

Church is Home

 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

Consumers or Members

In a church you should never be a number.

You should not be marketed to.

You should be loved, cared for, listened to, prayed for and visited.

You are a brother, a sister, a family member, a member of the body of Christ.

I once heard a nationally known preacher say that when he preached on Sunday morning he was making product. After each of the 4 Sunday services someone would critique and change the message to make it better based on the reaction of the congregation and other factors. This type of production does help market to vast audiences and sell many copies of a given series, but as Christians do we want to be seen as consumers or church members?

Who's Your Pastor?

When you listen to preachers on the radio and television you are
often hearing good teaching, but don't elevate the teaching or the preacher above the pastor who is caring for your soul;

the one who preaches the Word at your church,

the one who led you to Christ,

the one who calls to see how you're doing,

the one who visits you when you're sick,

who cried with you when you were steeped in sin and wanted out,

who dedicated your kids,

who counseled you about marriage,

who baptized you,

who taught you the principles of the faith.

Not a Customer

Our life with God is a relationship not a commercial transaction.

Our relationship with the church needs to be the same.

You're not a customer to God.

The pastor is not the proprietor of the business.

Dinner With The Family

Worship is not like going to an Italian Restaurant one week and to a French Restaurant the next to experience the different flavors of each.

Sunday worship is coming home every week for dinner with the family at Mom and Dad's.