Posted at 05:46 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
"You have
many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men
skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and
iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with
you." 1 Chronicles 22:15-16
What
an amazing God! He assembles the team, He gives the vision, He supplies
the provision. Oh how wonderful it is to serve such a loving Master.
Truly, "His yoke is easy, and His burden is light." Not so, when we are
striving, doing our own thing and then asking God to bless it. Come
under the yoke with Jesus today. Let Him take the lead and simply walk
along side of Him. At Harvest Church Norfolk we are witnessing such an
amazing assembly of people "skilled in every kind of work." It is a
delight to watch!
Posted at 07:58 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 03:22 PM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

We had another great Harvest 101 last night. At these events we share some coffee and desert and then we get to know each other. This has become my favorite event because I get to hear everyone's story. We conclude our night with a quick overview of what Harvest Church Norfolk is all about. I am continually amazed at how each of us, though unique in many ways, share the same common desires, hurts, aspirations, regrets, hope, emotions ... and the list goes on. I always walk away with great hope because though we are all broken people, God really is putting us back together again. Though Humpty Dumpty couldn't be fixed, God is doing the impossible with us. I sincerely hope that we at Harvest can share in that process, that we can share life with you.
The first step toward healing is to toss our masks. We are all broken, and yet we have found the Remedy in the person of Jesus Christ. He grants those who will follow Him the ability to come into right relationship with God and with one another, to better one another, to mend. So here is the bottom line: When you come to Harvest, you can leave your mask at home. Come as you are, come get better, come be loved. We choose you. Of all the people in the world that we could pick from - we choose you. I can hear some of you saying, "But you don't know how broken I am." It is of no consequence. WE CHOOSE YOU EVEN WITHOUT YOUR MASK. We've discovered that we are all broken people, but God is putting us back together again.
Dreaming of a world without pretense,
Pastor Craig
Posted at 08:53 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

"Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year; and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed." Esther 9:24-28
God wants us to remember the mighty deliverances that He has done for us. Still today, the Jewish people remember how God delivered their people through Queen Esther. When we are faced with a new trial or crisis, we quickly tend to forget how God has kept us until now. God repeatedly instructs us in His Word to, "Remember..." Remember all that He has done for you today. You will find the courage and hope you need to move forward by doing this simple exercise.
Posted at 10:00 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Study shows percentage of Christians has declined — and more people say they have no religion at all.
Posted at 12:56 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
![[Reagan and Gorbachev]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/PT-AL023_Cover__DV_20090306120440.jpg)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123638337001957991.html
President Reagan did his part to share his faith, are we doing ours?
Posted at 11:16 PM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
U.S. Ready to Shoot Down N. Korea Missile
We are living in such volatile times. Today's headlines read like the response that Jesus gave His disciples when they asked, "When will the end come?" Folks, we are living in the 'last days." Want more proof? Just read the following exchange between our country and North Korea: The U.S. military
is prepared to shoot down a North Korean missile or rocket if President
Obama should give the order, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command said
Thursday. "If a missile leaves the launch pad we'll be prepared to respond upon direction of the president," Adm. Timothy Keating told ABC News." And North Korea's response? "If the puppet warmongers
infringe upon our inviolable dignity even a bit ... we will not only
punish the provokers but reduce their stronghold to debris," the
committee said in a statement carried by the country's official Korean
Central News Agency. Stop and consider that we have a new young president hungry to make his mark on history. Consider the historic implications of this decision that he will be asked to make in the coming days! Our world's economies are tanking and we are already overextended with our military. What will tomorrow bring? Jesus said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 (New
International Version) While the world is so focused on their economies, could this be the beginning of the end? Are you ready to stand before Jesus to give an account of your life, should He return this week? For those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, there is peace that remains in the face of such growing uncertainty in our world. Our instructions are straightforward and they bring us peace. Do you have such peace? You can be sure that you are ready for Jesus Christ's return. If you are not sure that you are ready to meet Him, you are not prepared. We can help if you will let us, but by all means, get ready, for HE IS COMING SOON.
Posted at 07:08 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Back to '02 for Dow
Plunging bank stocks and ugly economic data sent the Dow to its lowest close since October 2002
At times like these, I am glad that I am a faithful tither. I am tied to God's economy that has no need of a stimulus package. There are no Wall Street thieves to rob heaven's storehouse. Be faithful in your giving and God has promised to "open the windows of heaven" for you.
Posted at 05:31 PM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

How do two nuclear submarines carrying state-of-the-art sonar equipment bump into each other? | VIDEO
•French, British Nuclear Submarines Collide in Atlantic
You've got to be kidding me! How do you miss another submarine on your sonar? And what you do with the crews; send them back to Driver's Ed? I guess my take away from this story is just how fragile our world really is. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. My grandfather's advice still rings true today. He told me when I was just a child, "Son, if you live right, you'll die right." What simple, yet profound advice.
Posted at 05:23 AM in Pastor's thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)