Becoming a Global Christian

How do you become a ‘Global Christian’ from Central California? How do you expand your horizon beyond the San Joaquin Valley? It’s easy. Just come to Bear Creek Church. Starting September 6th we are going on a journey called, ‘Around the World in 30 Days.’ This will be an exciting adventure as we examine what God is doing in Africa, India, Asia and Latin America. We will be challenged by the awesome work of Compassion International. Compassion is caring for over 1 million children in over 25 countries through the generous sponsorship of people like you and me. On Sunday, September 13th you will have the opportunity to sponsor a child in a Latin American country for only $1 a day. Dotti and I sponsor Dayana Raquel Lazo Palomino. She just turned 6 years old. Last May I was able to meet her while visiting Peru. Dayana lives with her family in the mountainous community of Villa del Sol Chosica, home to about 7500 residents. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, mud walls and sometimes corrugated roofs. Most adults are unemployed but some work as street vendors who earn an avearge of $3 a day. Dotti and I are making an impact in Dayana’s life and you will have that opportunity too. The mission of Compassion is to ‘release children from poverty in Jesus name.’ I am so excited about our September adventure and I look forward to you joining me.

City Council Invocations

Many of you who live in Lodi are aware of the controversial issue regarding the public invocations at the beginning of the city council meetings. I have participated in these prayers for years. Here is the inside perspective. A few years ago, the City of Burbank, California, was sued in court by a group because they allowed prayers to God in Jesus’ name to be mentioned. Those suing the city of Burbank contested that the city was endorsing certain religions by allowing prayer in Jesus name, etc. It went through the appellate court system and the ruling to ban any sectarian or denominational prayer was upheld. When this case law lissue became ‘law’ in California, many cities adopted a ‘prayer policy’ in order to stay within the law. The City of Lodi has this policy. For several years, many of the local pastors, myself included, ignored this policy. The City of Lodi did not attempt to inforce it either.

About three months ago, an anonymous person contacted the ‘freedom from religion foundation’ in Wisconsin. This group watched over 50 different invocations and noted that many times local pastors used the name Jesus Christ. They wrote the City of Lodi and threatened a law suit unless the city enforced its policy on invocations.

Now the issue has gotten all blown out of proportion and at least three different outside organizations have come to town to defend their positions. In my estimation, it has now become a three ring circus. NO ONE is mentioning the fact that we, Christians, Muslims or atheists, do not have a legal RIGHT to pray at city council meetings. The Lodi City Council has ‘allowed’ pastors to pray…but we do not have a legal or constitutional right to pray as part of the local city council meetings. It’s been a privilege.

So, what then shall we do? Pray! Pray for the City leaders that they will have wisdom in dealing with this legal matter. This is a legal issue not a spiritual issue. Pray that the wonderful name of Jesus is not futher damaged by these outside groups. Pray that threatening, caustic emails from apparent ‘christians’ cease. Pray that the unbelievers who sit on the sidelines and watch this ‘religious fiasco,’ do not get turned off to the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ, because of these outsiders actions and words. It’s too bad that these outside groups did not allow the local evangelical pastors, deal with this issue in cooperation with the Lodi City Council. May we all adhere to the words of James when he said, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV.

Dotti and I just returned from New York City where we were visiting our son Matthew and his wife Gemma. We had a wonderful time with our kids. Matt works for the United Nations and he and his team are developing a special project/presentation that his group will present at a conference in Marseilles, France next November. Gemma is working as a counselor to families who are stuggling with various life issues.

We also had the opportunity of visitng two very special and unique churches in New York. One is the church that Matt and Gemma attend. It’s called the Journey Church and it was started by Nelson Searcy in 2002. Over these past years the church has grown and they now meet in three different locations, six times each weekend. The service we visited meets in a local high school in Manhatten. Sitting in the service, it brought back many memories of our old days at Bear Creek High School. The following Tuesday night, we visited the historic Brooklyn Tabernacle that is pastored by Jim Cymbala. At their Tuesday night prayer meeting, they had about 3000+ people for the two hour long service. It was such a spiritually charged service that moved me to tears through most of it. The church’s ministry is focused on intercession and you could certainly feel the Lord’s presence in that place. Riding the subway back to Matt and Gemma’s apartment, I commented to Dotti how wonderful the Lord is and how He continues to use all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. These two church ‘styles’ are very different from each other, yet, each one serves its purpose in God’s great and growing Kingdom here on earth.

As we move through these summer months, let’s make sure that we are doing everything we can do to advance God’s Kingdom here in the San Joaquin Valley….From Galt to Manteca, from Lodi to Stockton, may more and more people find the Good News-life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bear Creek Water

Several months ago our church launched Bear Creek Water. The purpose behind this project is to raise money by re-cycling aluminium cans and plastic bottles. This money will be invested in building water wells in third world countries. Our first well will be dug in collaboration with our missionaries Ron and Donna Mueller and their work in Angola with the Assembly of God World Missions. In a very short amount of time we have raised several thousand dollars. Over these past months I have experienced a born again re-cycling transformation. Up until Bear Creek water, I always threw my cans and bottles in the garbage. I knew others re-cycled, but I did not have the time or the interest to do it! But I’ve been ‘re-cycled born again.’ Now I am actually on the prowl for cans and bottles. I was recently observed stopping along Lower Sacramento Road to pick up some plastic bottles thrown there senselessly by some driver or passenger. The other day at the gym, while in the locker room, I put a couple of plastic bottles left on the floor, in my gym bag. I was going through the locker room gargage can when the custodian asked me what I was doing? I politely told Adan I was looking for bottles and cans!!! If I can change and become a gatherer of plastic bottles and cans, you can too!! Join us in our Bear Creek Water project! Together we can build water wells all over the world to first provide clean drinking water so we can then present the true and living water, Jesus Christ.

June 19th

I was reflecting on an article by J. Lee Grady regarding a dark spot in our American history called slavery.
June 19th is a day called Juneteenth. It is a date commemorating the emancipation of African American slaves by President Abraham Lincoln. It was only 150 years ago that America had millions of slaves all throughout the south. Dotti and I were in Mobile, Alabama a year ago. Mobile was one of the last places where slaves were sold. In 1860, historians estimate that there were nearly 4 million slaves in America. In Mobile, there is a museum that offers a sobering look back at American slavery. There is a re-creation of the interior of a slave ship, showing how these men, women and children were stacked like cord wood and chained to eachother in a frighteningly narrow hold. Its hard to fathom that we treated our fellow human beings like that. But we did. In 1969, while riding a 10 speed bicycle from Miami to Seattle with a group called Wandering Wheels, I remember using segregated rest rooms throughout the south. I still have pictures of them.

Well, thank God we have moved passed that. But as the church of Jesus Christ we can never let our guard down in standing for justice, compassion and the dignity of human life. As a church, we will continue to link arms across racial lines and work to bring dignity and justice for all. Remember the words of Paul in Galatians when he said, ‘Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law.’

One Prayer

I am so excited that One Prayer is finally here!!! Bear Creek Church and nearly 1600 other churches across our country and around the world are participating in this great month long event. The idea behind this event is found in the words of Jesus in John 17:21 that says, ‘…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Through the wonders of technology we will be watching the same messages all over the world for the four Sundays of June. The first Sunday, we will be blessed by a message from the founder of One Prayer, Pastor Craig Groeschel. Craig started Life Church in Edmond, Oklahoma in 1996. Today, Life Church meets in eleven different locations with nearly 20,000 people attending each weekend. Craig and his wife have 6 children and he is the author of three books. His message this Sunday is ‘God is…..Love.’ I know you are going to be touched by his teaching. I am also looking forward to your feed back each week as we introduce a new guest speaker during the month of June!!!

Marriage

Let’s really cheer our California State Supreme Court. They finally got it right!!! Yes, last Tuesday they voted, overwhelmingly in favor of the people’s will. Marriage is still defined here in California, as a relationship between a man and a woman. I want to remind us all that over 70% of our African American brothers and sisters voted for Prop. 8. The gay marriage movement is not about civil rights. It is about the definition of marriage. For nearly 5000 years marriage has ONLY been defined as a committed relationship between a man and a woman. In California we recognize domestic partnerships that give any two-some absolute rights to jointly own property, receive benefits, receive inheritances, visit in the hospitals, etc. A marriage ceremony will not give a gay couple any more rights than they have now….except a marriage certificate. I am thankful that our state supreme court upheld the vote of the electorate this time. Until the masses of people stop ‘trading the truth about God for a lie,’ (see Romans 1:25) we will see this issue surface again at the ballot box or the judges chambers. Let’s pray and do the work of the Lord in bringing spiritual Biblical transformation to our state!! I also want to thank the Lodi News Sentinel for their front page exposure last Wednesday.

Isn’t our modern day travel tremendous??! A week ago today I left Sacramento at 6 a.m. That same Monday night at 11 p.m. I was checking into my hotel room in Lima, Peru. I had the opportunity to spend several days with Compassion International observing their life saving and changing ministries to nearly 48,000 children in Peru!! They are doing an incredible job in bringing spiritual transformation to that country. Their mission statement is ‘Liberating children from poverty in the name of Jesus.’ Compassion is Christ centered, child focused, church based and commited to integrity. They take a holistic approach by teaching the spiritual, physical, social-emotional and the cognitive aspects of life to children from the earliest ages and right up through young adults. Today, Compassion International is working with nearly 1 million children in over 25 countries. Dotti and I sponsor a little 5 yr. old girl who lives just outside Lima in an area called Chosica. Her name is Dayana Raquel Lazo Palaomino. Her mother works at the local church cleaning the facility each week. She has two older sisters and one younger brother. I was able to spend several hours with Dayana and her mother last Wednesday afternoon. As I flew back home on Saturday I couldn’t help but give thanks to God for raising up visionaries in the past who have made Compassion what it is today. Let’s really think about how we can transform our community for Christ. Don’t let the huge size of the need, keep you from doing something. We can’t fix everyone, but we can do something for someone. Who is the someone that God wants you to reach out to today?

I am excited about a wonderful opportunity that the Lord has given me. Early next Monday morning I will be flying to Lima, Peru to spend a few days with our friends from Compassion International. I will be able to see, first hand, their ministry and explore the possibilities of us collaborating with them in the future. Currently, our children’s ministry sponsors three third world children through Compassion. Pray for me that I have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Lord is saying. Pray for my health too. Don’t forget that on Mother’s Day, we have a very special speaker: Dotti is going to be sharing a message the Lord has given her and I know it is going to impact your life!!!

A week ago tody I went and received several shots in preparation for my missions trip to Peru. Two days later we had a fantastic 20 yr. celebration of God’s work at Bear Creek Church. The next day, Monday, I caught one of those awful colds. When I get a cold like this, I just have to sleep it off. So I spent a couple days in bed. My personality type cannot sit at home without going crazy. I am wired to be out in the community doing stuff. So, while lying in my misery, I pulled out my i-pod and listened to some of the great speakers/preachers of our country. While listening, in between blowing my nose, I was really inspired to take my/our spiritual lives up a notch and to challenge you to do the same. I had extra time to pray, to journal and to reflect on my personal journey with the Lord. I realize I may only have 20 years left and I have so much more I still want to do for the Lord!! Time is short. Life is short. Let’s re-double our efforts in these coming days for the Lord. And, I thank God for a cold, that forced me to slow down, take time, be still, listen, pray and meditate on all God has done for us!!!!

20 Years

When I think about Bear Creek Community Church…the main thought I have is “Look what God did!!” Isn’t God good!!?! Yes He is. God took a dream that he gave Dotti and I and He birthed a great church! We started out as a small group of seven people, meeting around a dining room table, in a house in North Stockton. We had our first service at Delta Sierra Middle School in April of 1989. At the end of that year we had about 90 people attending the church. 21 of them are still with us!! Some have passed away and others have moved away. But our small group of seven, grew to a larger group of 90. From Delta Sierra Middle School, we moved to Bear Creek High School. Wasn’t it nice of the Lodi School District to name the high school after our church??? (not really) While meeting at the high school, God led us to 10 acres of prime real estate right between Stockton and Lodi. Ten years ago, we moved into our much loved Tent. After we were in the Tent for two years, we expanded it and went to two services. In 2007, we moved into our new Worship Center and we have seen God’s hand steadily upon all that we do! We now have a 1,000+ people attending on Sundays and God continues to transform people’s lives. This Sunday, April 26th we will celebrate what God has done and is doing. We dreamed. We prayed. We believed. And God did it!!! Thank you Lord for these past 20 years!!!!

Pastor Bill