West Texas Missioner: March 2013

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

MINUTE FOR MISSION: RESSURECTION OF THE LORD, EASTER. ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING - The prophet Isaiah speaks of a time when a new creation will come to pass, when “they shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. . . ; they shall not plant and another eat” (65:21–22). Haitian farmer Childeric Placid, who also serves as a facilitator and community trainer with longtime Presbyterian Hunger Program partner the Mouvman Peyizan Papay, had the opportunity to taste the reality of this promise as the result of a seed-and-tool program funded by the One Great Hour of Sharing after the 2010 earthquake: “The seeds, when they arrived, were deliverance for me. I was able to plant corn and Congo beans. I’m eating the [harvest] even now, and in the future I will be able to plant the saved seeds, and I’ll eat again. Yesterday, I ate from my garden. Can you imagine? You have a product at your house that you made; you didn’t have to buy it in the market to be able to eat. I’m not like other people that don’t even have a cup of beans. Do you see how you’d feel? How you’d feel like you are a man? That’s what this is for me.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Sunday, March 31

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Advent Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Sunday, March 31
Easter Sunday: Will you serve the King?

The day that changed history began like any other. The sun arose over the Holy City as millions were still crowded into Jerusalem from Passover. The death of Jesus of Nazareth was not an unusual event—Rome cruci ed its enemies and insurrectionists all the time. The authorities were certain that their plot had succeeded, that this upstart was dead and gone. But with that single sunrise, the cruci ed carpenter became the resurrected Lord.

The stone rolled over his grave was but a pebble compared to the Rock of Ages inside. Hardened Roman guards trembled and fainted. Cowardly disciples became fearless apostles. A edgling band of frightened followers became the mightiest movement the world has ever seen. Eleven men became more than two billion believers today. All because of Easter.

His disciples' changed lives are testimony to the reality of the resurrection. Men who denied Christ to servants now preached him to the highest authorities in the land. People don't die for a lie, but more than a million Christians died in the rst generations of their movement, all of them for the One they knew to be their risen Lord. On the day he returns to this planet, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

A poet said it this way:

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an o ce. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While he was dying his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth – his coat. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today he is the centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not a ected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
Is he your King? Where will you serve in his Kingdom?

Prior to founding the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, James C. Denison, Ph.D., was pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, a 10,000-member congregation in Dallas, Texas. He also pastored churches in Midland and Mansfield, Texas, and in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University. He is also the the author of seven books.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Rolling Mission

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

The new and improved model!

Want to take one for a test drive? During normal business hours, visit the lobby at the Texas Street entrance of First Presbyterian Church-Midland, at the northwest corner of Texas and A streets, on the west side of downtown Midland. You can give the gift of mobility. The cost of $72.00 is a bargain to us ... but it is a life-changing gift to impoverished and disabled recipients ... and for a limited time, your contribution will be matched, reaching not one - but TWO recipients. Please note on your check "Wheelchair Matching Gift."

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 30, 2013

SEATTLE PRESBYTERY OF WASHINGTON - Founded in 1991 to facilitate short-term mission trips to Tijuana, DOXA is the fruit of a long-term partnership between several Seattle Presbytery congregations. DOXA provides logistical support for teams while giving them space to do their own travel prep and to organize their work and free time as they see fit. Eric Stelter, president of DOXA’s board, explains its impact in Tijuana: “We’ve been there now for 20 years and, with no strategic plans and all-volunteer everything, have put up around 1,600 homes housing some 7,000 people—a city built and financed almost entirely by high school students in Presbyterian church youth programs.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Saturday, March 30

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Saturday, March 30
Holy Saturday: Will you crown the King?

On this day, Jesus' body lay in its borrowed tomb, awaiting the resurrection that would prove that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). Today we know what happened on Easter Sunday. Has it happened in your heart today?

When a monarch is crowned king or queen in England, four steps take place. First, the previous monarch dies. In that moment, the next ruler becomes king or queen. Second, the new sovereign is presented to the people, who acclaim him or her their ruler. Third, the monarch swears an oath to uphold the law and the Church of England. Last, the ruler is anointed with oil, crowned, invested with regalia, and receives the homage of the realm and its subjects.

It is the same with making God our King. First, the previous king must die. We choose to die to ourselves and live for him. Second, we make Jesus our ruler each day. We begin each morning by giving it to him. We ask his Spirit to take control of our lives, to lead us and use us that day. Did you do this today?

Third, we trust his plan and purpose for us. As the English monarch promises to uphold the law and the Church of England, so our monarch has promised to lead us in his "good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). We trust him to do what is best with our lives all day long. Have you surrendered your life to his perfect plan for this day?

Fourth, we worship him as our King and ruler. Not just on Sunday, but every day. The Bible says that we "enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4). When we worship him, we connect our lives to his power and purpose. Then he guides, empowers and blesses us as his subjects.

Have you joined the Fifth Great Awakening? In other words, is Jesus your King today?

Friday, March 29, 2013

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 29, 2013

GOOD FRIDAY MINUTE FOR MISSION - My grandma smuggled me from China to Burma when I was three. The purpose, according to her, was to rescue me from the torment of the Cultural Revolution. My grandparents were Burmese citizens, but there were no provisions for them to bring their families to Burma legally.

I was adored as a little boy for being able to sing many Chinese national songs and recite poems, but now, in Burma, I was hushed each time I opened my mouth to sing: “Stop singing those songs! The Burmese will find out that you are from China, and the police will put you in prison and then send you back to China. Do you know what the Chinese Communists will do to you? They will hang you upside down on a tree, peel your nails off, and rub salt on your fingers.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Friday, March 29

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Friday, March 29
Good Friday: Are you grateful for grace?

"Good Friday" should be called "Black Friday." On this day the most scandalous betrayal of justice in human history took place. But when we remember what happened on this day we'll know why we call it "Good Friday" today.

After Jesus' illegal trials, he was stripped and tied to a post, then scourged with a long whip in which were imbedded nails, lead balls, and pieces of shell. They ripped the fl esh from his back; many men died under such torture.

A crown of razor-sharp thorns was pressed onto his head, impaling his scalp and forehead. He was forced to carry a wooden cross to Calvary. There nails were driven through his wrists and ankles into the wood and he was left to die. He could have called ten thousand angels to his side, but he refused. Instead, he died there for you and for me.

Never again wonder if you are loved. God thought your eternal life worth the death of his only Son. If you had been the only sinner on the planet, Good Friday would still have happened, just for you. Someone asked Jesus, "How much do you love me?" He answered, "This much," as he spread out his arms and died. All for you. Just for you.

Have you joined the Fifth Great Awakening in gratitude for such grace?

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

MAUNDY THURSDAY MINUTE FOR MISSION - Menaul School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is one of the PC(USA)’s historically racial ethnic schools. It serves students in grades 6 through 12 and offers a first-rate educational experience for college. Menaul School has also been seen as a mission school since its founding in 1896. Even though it is a private school, many of the students who attend receive tuition assistance. The school receives gifts from individual churches and support from the Christmas Joy Offering, one of the four special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Thursday, March 28

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Thursday, March 28
Maundy Thursday: Wopuld you be a catalyst for awakening?

"Maundy Thursday" comes from the word for "mandated." On this night during Holy Week, Jesus did a very strange thing. After the Last Supper, he took off his outer robe and wrapped a slave's towel around himself. He then crawled on his knees to the first disciple. He took the man's dirty, smelly, mud-caked feet in his hands. He poured water over them and dried them with the towel wrapped around his waist. He then crawled to the next, and the next, and the next. He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny him, and Judas, who would betray him, and the other disciples who would abandon him.

Now comes the "mandated" part of Maundy Thursday. Jesus told them, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:14, 35).

If God is moving in your life, will you share what you are experiencing with those you infl uence? By addition, if I were to help one person encounter spiritual awakening every day until I retire at age 65, more than 4,000 people would be empowered by God's Spirit. However, if I could lead one person to make God his or her King today, then tomorrow each of us helped one person to be a Kingdom Christian, then the next day each of us helped one more, how long would it take for awakening to circle the globe? Thirty-three days. Growing by multiplication, more than eight billion people would join the movement of God's Spirit.

Whose feet will you wash today?

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Come church with us this week? ... Crestview Baptist - Midland

I just received a postcard from Crestview Baptist Church of Midland, asking everyone if they are getting tired of living in the past, and reminding them that the power of Jesis Christ is the power to be changed and to be free.

"Join us starting Easter Sunday, March 31st, for our series 'Getting Past Your Past.'"

They have a traditional service at 8:30, and contemporary services at 10:00 and 11:20 a.m.. Crestview Baptist is located on the west side of Midland, outside W. Loop and Thomason Drive (just south of Grande Communications Stadium).

It's a special week ahead for all of us ... for us at First Prez, for our brothers and sisters at Crestview Baptist and around the world ... and for YOU, too. Come church with us this week?

In the News ... "Election of new pope is important to Catholics, non-Catholics"

By Jimmy PattersonSpecial to the Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - I am not a scholar. Nor a theologian. I simply sit in the pews next to a billion other people like me. When all of us heard the news that Jorge Mario Bergoglio had been elected pope on March 13, replacing the brilliant theologian Benedict XVI, most of us likely did not have an immediate response. Like everyone else who sits with me in those pews, I had to be told who he was, where he was from and what his charism was. Google was no doubt atwitter the day he was elected with exorbitant numbers of people checking out this Pope Francis guy.

• read the rest of this column

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 27, 2013

OLYMPIA PRESBYTERY OF WASHINGTON - From the story in Mark 6, we know that Jesus takes what is available and blesses it to become what is needed. And yet the story leads us to wonder what it would have been like to be the disciples gathered around Jesus, unable to fulfill their understanding of God’s call to mission and ministry, and have Jesus ask, “Well, what do you have?” Were they bewildered? Anxious? Excited? Whatever their initial response, Jesus’ question moved the disciples from naysayers to active participants in God’s miraculous provision.

In a season of transition and change, Olympia Presbytery, eager to discern prayerfully God’s resources and leading, has been engaged in many conversations.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Wednesday, March 27

SPECIAL NOTE: Dr. Jim Denison is in the Tall City this week for AWAKE 7:14, March 24-27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Midland Center
• CLICK HERE for more information

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Wednesday, March 27
Silent Wednesday: Have you listened to God today?

In the 1970s, we were exposed to 500 advertisements a day. Today the number exceeds 5,000. Between smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, and hundreds of 24-hour television channels, our world is never silent.

Today is Holy Wednesday. On this day, there is not a single recorded event in the life of the Lord Jesus. He apparently spent the day in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem where he had been staying in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Here he rested with his disciples and friends in quiet and solitude, preparing for the horrifi c events soon to come.

We all need a "quiet Wednesday" in our lives, a time of solitude where we draw close to our Father. Our theme Scripture calls God's people to "turn from their wicked ways" — this commitment requires us to listen to the Spirit as he shows us our sins and leads us to confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

The "desert fathers" were a medieval group of men who forsook their homes to live alone in desert solitude. Someone asked one of them why he had made such a drastic change in his life. The monk poured water and some sand into a jar. As he shook the jar, the water became clouded and murky. But as he allowed the jar to rest, the sand settled to the bottom and the water became clear again.

How clear is your soul today? How clear would you like it to be?

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

AWAKE 7:24 ... TONIGHT, in Midland and on the web

SPECIAL NOTE ...

Can't make it to Midland, Texas tonight for AWAKE 7:14? No problem ... follow the event online, LIVE, going on NOW

CLICK HERE and enjoy!

WHAT IS AWAKE 7:14 ...?

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 heal their land.
2 CHRONICLES 7:14

In the spring of 2011, the Midland Prayer Breakfast Team felt led by the Holy Spirit to ask Jim Denison, President of the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, to come to Midland to lead us in a time of focused prayer and learning for the purpose of awakening in our hearts and in our city.

AWAKE 7:14 is not a seminar or an event. It is a movement birthed by the desire to seek God's face for repentence and guidance in these troubled days. It is our desire to provide individuals and churches with resources, while letting the Holy Spirit guide us in this journey.

AWAKE 7:14
Midland Center
March 24-27, 2013
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Childcare available each evening, for birth through age 5, at First Presbyterian Church-Midland and First Baptist Church-Midland.

For more information, visit the AWAKE 7:14 website.

Reports From Lulwanda: Program Coordinator's Report for February 2013

Natalie Rolfe serves Lulwanda Children's Home in Uganda as program coordinator: organizing and coordinating the programs of the Home, school, and clinic; overseeing sponsor connection and relationships (on the side of the children); and hosting American visitors that come to the Home.

February, 2013

"Hello again. Having been on my furlough for a few months, it is so wonderful to be back “home” in Uganda. February was a great month of “welcoming” at Lulwanda ...

... It was a wonderful and productive time. Everyone at Lulwanda is always excited and blessed when visitors come. So the invitation is open for you as well. From all of us in Uganda, we would love for you to come see what the Lord is doing at/in this place."

CLICK HERE to read the rest of Rolfe's February, 2013 report.

In the News ... "Ministers' Lectureship set for April in Midland"

Staff Report
Odessa American

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The 54th Annual West Texas Lectureship April 13-18 at the Lee Street Church of Christ, 101 N. Lee Street in Midland. Ministers from several states have prepared 30-minute lectures to present using this year’s theme: "Upon This Rock — Back to the Basics!”

The above information has been provided by The Lee Street Church of Christ and distributed by the Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau. This event is projected to bring in $288,000 in direct visitor spending to the Midland economy.

For more information, contact Howard Adams, Lectureship Chairman, 432- 520-7777 or 432-935-1427.

• read the rest of this story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 26, 2013

PRESBYTERY OF NORTH PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON - We are not a church.” This is not something you would expect to hear from a group called Wellspring Ministry, but stick around and you’ll hear a lot of unusual lines. “We’ll be happy if everyone who comes here eventually stops.” That’s the thing about the young-professional adult ministry based in Seattle launched by the Presbytery of North Puget Sound. Wellspring serves as a waypoint for weary Christians—in particular, Korean American Christians who find themselves burned out or lost in the shuffle among the Puget Sound’s plethora of bilingual, bicultural churches.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Tuesday, March 26

SPECIAL NOTE: Dr. Jim Denison is in the Tall City this week for AWAKE 7:14, March 24-27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Midland Center
• CLICK HERE for more information

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Tuesday, March 26
Holy Tuesday: Are You Seeking God's Face?

Current federal laws fill more than 23,000 pages. Texas' Constitution has grown from 23,500 words at its adoption in 1876 to nearly 90,000 words today. Which of our laws is the most important?

On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus returned to the temple to continue teaching the people. Here a lawyer asked Jesus to identify the most important of their 613 laws. If he named one, they would accuse him of rejecting the others. Jesus responded with the Great Commandments: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). The highest priority in life is loving God, then loving others.

Jesus' opponents were the most religious people in the land. On Holy Tuesday we learn that religion is not enough. Going to church or even preaching sermons and leading congregations is not enough. God wants a personal, intimate relationship with every one of us. He wants to be King of every part of our lives, not just our religious activities.

In our theme Scripture, God calls us to "seek my face." His word tells us to "look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always" (Psalm 105:4). Have you sought his face for awakening today?

Monday, March 25, 2013

ChinaAid: Vicious Persecution of Churches in Heilongjiang and Shandong, Presbyterian Federation of Beijing Calls for Prayers

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Vicious Persecution of Churches in Heilongjiang and Shandong, Presbyterian Federation of Beijing Calls for Prayers
Distributed by ChinaAid, February, 2013 ...

HEILONGJIANG and SHANDONG, CHINA – Recently, the persecution of churches in Heilongjiang and Shandong has again come with a force, breaking up the brief quiet after the Chinese New Year. In this persecution, Christian gatherings were raided, attendees harassed, a pastor was beaten, and missionaries were detained.

Presbyterian Federation of Beijing has made an urgent appeal for prayers for the persecuted church in Heilongjiang and for assistance in hiring lawyers to intervene according to law.

• more on this story from China Aid

In the News ... "Local church encourages artistry for Easter"

Dub Cree's cross

By Michelle Brownstone, Reporter
Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Grab your paintbrush and get ready for CrossRoads Fellowship’s Crux event.

Crossroads Fellowship, 6901 Texas 191, is inviting the public of all ages to design a cross for Good Friday, March 29.

“They are developing and creating their own interpretation of the cross,” Crossroads Fellowship Pastor Griffin Jones said. “We have a creative team and we began talking about ways to engage our congregation and the community. It emerged from conversations related to the series for the weeks leading up to Easter. Jesus made seven statements from the cross during the time he was crucified so the series is going to impact each of those.”

• read the rest of this story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 25, 2013

PRESBYTERY OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST, OF WASHINGTON AND IDAHO - The declining membership and giving numbers that have characterized much of the country are also true of the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest and its 47 congregations (totaling 7,319 members). However, the presbytery saw decreases not only as an occasion for grief but as an opportunity to assess the “loaves and fishes” they offer to the Lord Jesus for his ministry. Following the retirement of its executive presbyter, the presbytery seized the opportunity to engage in a mission study.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Monday, March 25

SPECIAL NOTE: Dr. Jim Denison is in the Tall City this week for AWAKE 7:14, March 24-27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Midland Center
• CLICK HERE for more information

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Monday, March 25
Holy Monday: Is Your Heart a House of Prayer?

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus found money changers at work in the temple area. They sold sacrifi cial animals to the crowds that came for Passover. In addition, they changed Roman currency (with its idolatrous images of the emperor) into temple currency. However, they charged exorbitant prices for their animals and in flated exchange rates for their money.

So Jesus "overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves" (Matthew 21:12). He then said, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers'" (v. 13, quoting Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11). God did not call his temple a "house of preaching" or a "house of programs," but a "house of prayer."

Our theme Scripture calls us to "pray" for awakening. Your life is now the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 3:16). Are there "moneychangers" at work there? Or is your heart a "house of prayer" today?

Sunday, March 24, 2013

AWAKE 7:24 ... Kicking off TONIGHT, in Midland

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 heal their land.
2 CHRONICLES 7:14

In the spring of 2011, the Midland Prayer Breakfast Team felt led by the Holy Spirit to ask Jim Denison, President of the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, to come to Midland to lead us in a time of focused prayer and learning for the purpose of awakening in our hearts and in our city.

Come church with us this week? ... First United Methodist - Midland

I just received a postcard from First United Methodist Church of Midland, inviting everyone to celebrate new life at their Easter Celebration on Sunday, March 31. They will have traditional services at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. that day in the Sanctuary, and a contemporary service at 10:45 a.m. that day in the Fellowship Hall. First UMC is located on the east side of Main Street, between Ohio and Illinois avenues, in downtown Midland.

It's a special week ahead for all of us ... for us at First Prez, for our brothers and sisters at First UMC and around the world ... and for YOU, too. Come church with us this week?

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 24, 2013

MINUTE FOR MISSION: PALM SUNDAY - As at so many schools, athletics are crucial to the social structure and school pride at my own, Ballard High in Louisville, Kentucky. When a big game approaches, we cheer and laud our team, overflowing with excitement. The players are universally given better treatment than anyone else in the school for a brief period of time. We even refer to ourselves as being part of the team. Anticipation tides us over until the game. Soon, game day arrives.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Lenten Devotional for Sunday, March 24

SPECIAL NOTE: Dr. Jim Denison will be in the Tall City for AWAKE 7:14, March 24-27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Midland Center
• CLICK HERE for more information

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: '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 their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Sunday, March 24
Palm Sunday: Is Jesus your King?

On the first Palm Sunday, more than two million people crowded into the Holy City, many of them with special excitement. The question on everyone's lips was, "Will Jesus come?" If we could combine the excitement of a presidential election with the anticipation of Christmas Day, we'd have something of the electricity in the air that day.

The crowds lined the narrow streets of Jerusalem like a parade and threw their cloaks on the road. They cut palm branches and spread them out before him as a king. They shouted at the top of their lungs, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But on Good Friday, their cheers would turn to taunts, their worship to cries of "Crucify him!"

Meanwhile, the authorities were outraged. He was a threat to their power and position. They were in charge of Jerusalem and the nation, and they didn't want to share their power with anyone, least of all a country rabbi from Galilee.

On this Palm Sunday, where are you in the story? Is Jesus your Lord even when he's unpopular? Is he your Lord even when he threatens your plans? Is he your Lord even when he doesn't do as you wish? Our theme Scripture calls us to "humble ourselves." Would you humble yourself before Jesus, crowning him King over every part of your life? Is Jesus your Sunday hobby, or is he your Monday King?

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Traveling Mission

A TassaTag is a 4” x 6” bright, heavy, hand-woven cotton luggage tag that helps you spot your luggage more easily while reclaiming children's lives. It is practical, environmentally sensitive, fair trade, and with it you can make a difference.

With a TassaTag you support ECPAT-USA. This is a non-profit children's rights organization whose mission is to protect all children from commercial sexual exploitation, and is the US Chapter of Thailand-based ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) International, working at the community, national and international levels.

With a TassaTag you support The Regina Center in Nong Khai, Thailand, which provides education and income generating skills and opportunities for women. All proceeds from sales are returned to the producers. The project enables women to stay in their villages and keep their children in school, which are two major strategies in reducing sex trafficking.

• CLICK HERE to learn more about this project

• CLICK HERE to learn more about sex slavery and trafficking

• CLICK HERE to order TassaTags

With a TassaTag you will be part of the ECPAT project by increasing the recognition of the TassaTag logo as a symbol against the sexual slavery and trafficking of children, raising greater awareness of this major illegal trade around the world, and being a voice positively addressing a serious children's rights issue.

Come church with us this week? ... First Presbyterian - Midland

I just received a postcard from First Presbyterian Church of Midland, inviting everyone to celebrate Holy Week, with a variety of activities at First Prez between now and Easter Sunday, March 31st.

Palm Sunday, March 24
Special guest, Dr. Jim Denison, will join us in worship

Worship, 8:15, a.m. in the Sanctuary
Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.
Combined Worship with contemporary "Bridge," 10:55 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Children’s Choir Concert and Musical, 4:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Holy Week
Awake 7:14 Gathering
with special guest, Dr. Jim Denison
March 24-27
Each evening at Midland Center from 7:00 to 8:30

Childcare will be available for birth thru 5 at First Presbyterian from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm each evening
Maundy Thursday, March 28
Worship, 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Good Friday, March 29
Worship, 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel

Easter Sunday, March 31
Worship, 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Worship, The Bridge Service , 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel
Children's Easter service, 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel, followed by an egg hunt

First Prez is located on the northwest corner at the intersection of W. Texas and N. A streets, on the west edge of downtown Midland.

It's a special week ahead for all of us ... for us at First Prez, for our brothers and sisters across West Texas and around the world ... and for YOU, too. Come church with us this week?

In the News ... "Prayer gathering to come to Midland Center"

Audrie Palmer, Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Local churches are coming together to hold the first citywide, four-night prayer gathering in downtown Midland.

The "Awake 7:14" event, an ecumenical spiritual awakening, will be led each night by the Rev. Jim Denison, former First Baptist Church of Midland pastor and current director of the Denison Forum in Dallas.

Prayer services will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday at the Midland Center, 105 N. Main St.

• read the rest of this story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 23, 2013
PRESBYTERY OF CENTRAL WASHINGTON - Thanks to the power of small-town communication, a new resource center has opened in Waitsburg. This center is a faith-based effort of congregations of several denominations to provide assistance to neighbors in need. In the past, a small room in the basement of the Presbyterian church was used for a community food bank. The local ministerial association provided leadership and organization for it. The space was always too small and access difficult for many, and with the increasing need of new families to serve, something had to be done.

CLICK HERE to read more.