ChurchApplied

It Is No Secret

I spent some time walking around Pasadena, CA today taking photos. While doing so I came across street performer, Leo de Vlugt, getting ready to play his saxophone. He's been playing on Colorado Blvd. and in the Old Town area for 19 years.

Leo de Vlugt, street performer, Pasadena, CA. Photo by Rich DuBose

While talking with him I felt impressed to give him a donation and do a little video of him playing. The end gets really good. I was blessed. Watch and hear Leo play.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

ChurchApplied: In Motion

What if every Adventist member found a way to actively share their faith--daily? What if it wasn't a production, a program or an event as much as it was a way of life? What if we figured out how to apply "church" to our daily lives? We would be changed and our communities would be changed.

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The Christian ideals of unity, brotherly love and forgiveness are freely discussed in our sermons, church meetings and events, but often they never get beyond the walls of our church buildings and into our homes and communities. By God's grace we need to start "applying" what we profess so that we can truly be what Jesus intended--"the salt of the earth." In essence, our theology needs to be translated into biography.

"ChurchApplied: In Motion" is the video side of a collection of information resources published by Church Support Services. The purpose of the series is to inspire and move Seventh-day Adventist members within the Pacific Union Conference to act on the Spirit's call to translate their faith into biography.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Wrong Side of the River

Every morning I'm reminded of the fact that I'm a law breaker. Sometimes I trick myself into believing that I'm not that bad. I'm certainly not as bad as those who deliberately cheat, steal and lie. Am I? Sometimes I almost talk myself into believing that. But the thing that brings everything back into sharp focus is the fact that I'm dying. Slowly, but surely. That's proof that I'm on the wrong side of the river.

River Crossing - Photograph by Studiomill. All rights reserved.

The question is, does sin have its hold on me? Am I dominated by it? Does it get its every wish in my life? The truth is, sin is in charge as long as I refuse grace. One cannot accept the idea of grace and still be dominated by sin. Grace always wins out.

"When the law came into the picture, sin grew and grew; but where sin has spread, grace is there to cut it down and defeat it. No matter how much sin crept in, there was always more grace." Romans 5:20 (The Voice)

The question today and every day is "do I believe in God's grace, and am I allowing it to fill my life?"

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

The Benefits of Pain

A number of years ago a story appeared in the news about a little girl who lived in Toledo, Ohio. She was like most little girls in every way except one. Her parents noticed when she was just a baby, that when she hurt herself she never cried. At first they didn't think much of it. They thought she had a high threshold for pain, or that she was just really brave. But as time went by they became concerned.

Girl fretting - Dreamstime Photos. All rights reserved.

Finally her mother took her to a doctor where it was discovered, after several examinations, that she had a rare disease of the nervous system that prevented her from feeling any pain. The doctors cautioned her parents that she could never be left alone, for she could severely injure herself and never feel the pain.

Even pain can be a gift from God for our protection and good. The Psalmist prayed, "The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses" (Psalm 25:17) NASB. I like the way The Message reads, "My heart and kidneys are fighting each other; Call a truce to this civil war." Instead of praying for freedom from distress (and pain), perhaps we should just praise God that our pains (self-inflicted or otherwise) remind us of our need for Him.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services