West Park Baptist Church

Loving God, Loving People, Impacting the World

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Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 6

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Friends, I realize it’s been many days now of social distancing. I hope among many ways you are seeking encouragement that these articles with Global Perspective have served you well. Today we get a glimpse into the risks the Covid-19 virus has on the refugee community in Europe and ways believers need to focus no matter what challenges they face. Read on for today’s Global Perspective.

The Refugee Community and the Corona Crisis

Over the past several years, God has given me the privilege of working with the refugee community in Greece. Within this community, a minimum of 7-8 nationalities are all blended together at any given time.  Languages, cultures, religions and traditions swirl around me and watching these people work to find their feet in their daily uphill climb has impacted me in more ways that I will ever be able to write.

When the crisis of COVID19 began to reach Greece, its spread to the refugee camps became a major concern. They have lost so much already and often live in crowded conditions with lack of access to consistent proper nutrition, and a sickness like this could spread like wildfire. With great sadness, we proactively decided to close our day centers and gatherings during the last three weeks and limit our movements in and out of the camps to protect them from contamination.

Tonight, I sit here at home beginning week 3 of restricted activity, and, like so many of you, it feels strange to have so little control over my schedule, work, social activities and travel with no guarantee these conditions won’t last for many more weeks to come. Some moments this feels like a great chance to “catch my breath” or work through the growing list of things that always seem to be piling up. Other moments, it can start to feel like everything is out of control and things will never feel “normal” again.

God is using this time, though, to remind me of the lessons He’s taught me as I’ve had a front row seat to witnessing human response to crisis within the work and ministry He’s called me to…here are just few lessons that are hitting home right now:

Lesson 1 – Hospitality and sharing with others is not only possible, but actually an essential part of life even during times of crisis. Yes, we may have to be careful with our resources, learn to waste less, and streamline our spending to what’s truly essential, but at the end of the day, finding a way to share something of ourselves or a portion of what we have with someone else brings true joy…to all involved.

Hebrews 11: 16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Lesson 2 – A positive outlook and proper focus may not change your circumstances, but it will change how you experience them. When times are hard, it can take a lot of energy and emotion to process even the simplest of daily activities…and there’s no shame in that.  But as we are walking through difficult circumstances, it is crucial to find ways to still find things that we are thankful for and create ways to laugh and enjoy moments with those around you (at a proper distance, of course!). My friends here have taught me that when all else fails…ending the day with music and a bit of dancing can always put a smile on your face.

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

Lesson 3 – When life seems out of our control, what we truly believe will be tested. In times like these, life’s distractions fade away and what or who we are truly trusting in becomes evident. If our faith is grounded in Christ, then these times can work to refine us and deepen our belief. But if our faith has been in something or someone other than the God of the universe, we can find ourselves feeling lost and in search of what truth we’ve been missing. God very well may be using this time of crisis to affect many for eternity!

1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Lord, help us to see these days through your eyes. Give us peace that you are in control, and always have been. Give us compassion for others and use us as salt and light in these trying times. Show us how to not just survive the weeks ahead only to return to “normal life” but help refine us and change us for your glory.

Written by S.

Week 1-Day 1: Family Tensions Around the Table

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The holidays usher in a time of family connection and renewal of our closest relationships. Our hope is for a Norman Rockwell-style perfect family gathering.

But what if the reality is closer to WWIII for you and your parents?

What if your adult children won’t even send you a Christmas card let alone come visit you for the holidays?

Maybe a prophet like Elijah could help you.

As the Old Testament draws to a close, God says these final words through Malachi to a people at war with him and with one another:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (Malachi 4:5-6).

God will win in the end.

That’s a great source of hope for all who put their trust in Him and a source of terror for those who tragically do not.

But before the end, God shows mercy again and again. He calls us to Himself in special ways. One such way was a prophet who was to come before the final day: Elijah. Ultimately I believe this coming of Elijah will be in two stages: First in John the Baptist (see Luke 1:17) and much later second at the end of history (see Matt 17:11).

What does the ministry of Elijah or John the Baptist or any other prophet have to do with your family tensions and mine?

God aims to capture the hearts of fathers and children.

In Malachi’s day parents were estranged from children. Children, younger and older, were not respecting or honoring their parents. In our day not much has changed, and you may either be feeling that estrangement or perhaps even the cause of it.

Please pause today and pray to God once again. Seek Him humbly.

Every prophet truly sent from God calls the parents, the children and everyone else to repent before Him, to humbly fear Him (Mal. 3:16). When John the Baptist came, he called on people to look to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who came to die for those who had rejected Him and rebelled against Him. He is the hope the prophets point us to. Jesus Christ is the answer to our family tensions and troubles.

So, friends, I don’t have any practical tips for how to manage your family tensions around the table. But I know the one who can transform the hearts of all in your family. Will you yield to Him this December? Will you seek Him for the heart transformation that will unite you and your estranged family members around the worship of the King?

Through Christ, God has proven that He’s already turned His merciful heart toward you.

Why Community?

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As we begin the new ministry year, we want to emphasize the importance of being in community. Community is essential to the life of a spiritually healthy believer for at least four reasons.

Community reflects the nature of God

God is himself a person in community. As Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we see that God exists in relationship. Since we are created in His image, we are made to exist in relationship, too. We are not meant to be alone. In fact, from the beginning, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18), so he created the family. In the New Testament, we see this idea of family now extending to the church (Ephesians 2:19). The church is meant to be a global, timeless family, and we are invited to contribute to and enjoy our new forever family.

Community reflects the work of Jesus

Our forever family came together at a great cost to Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:16 reminds us that Jesus lived, died, and rose again to “reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross.” The “both” mentioned there refers to Jews and Gentiles, two people groups who lived in opposition to one another. No one could bring them together. However, Jesus broke down the barriers between people groups by taking the penalty for their sin and removing the greater barrier between all people and God. True, healthy, growing community is the fruit of what Jesus has done for us, and our communities are at their best when we remind each other of Him.

Community helps others

When we participate in community, we participate in helping others. Being “in community” is synonymous with sharing each other’s burdens and blessing. The word for community or fellowship in the New Testament is “koinonia,” which at its root has the verb “to share.” This is exactly what the early church did. We read, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and the prayers . . . and all who believed were together and had all things in common (koina). And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:42, 44-45, ESV). In Acts, community took on very real and practical dimensions, and it should today as well.

Community helps us

Finally, we should remember that community helps us, too. We need the love and support of others (Galatians 6:2). We need the accountability and challenge of others (Galatians 6:1). Even the Apostle Peter needed this (Galatians 2:11). To practice the “one anothers” of the Bible, we need others. To experience the “one anothers” of the Bible, we need others. Jesus himself prepared his disciples through life together in community. So, it must be essential to our own development.

This year we want to encourage you to engage deeply in community. Be it an Adult Bible Fellowship, a Growth Group, a D-Group, or some other community group, don’t sit on the sidelines and miss out on the gift God has for you in his community, the church.

~Pastor Derek