Thursday, March 10, 2011
FEED MY SHEEP An Easter Resurrection story
The fishing boat is bobbing gently on the lake, a hundred yards offshore. Occasionally a wave slaps against its side though the lake is surprisingly still this morning.
Though it is very early, the six fishermen in the boat are stripped for work, the gleam of sweat on their backs just visible in the glow of dawn. All night they have put out their net, then pulled it in again, time after time. Time after time. They labor all night to earn a living. But not this night. This night they haven't netted a single fish.
Dawn is upon them now, the sun just breaking above the hills east of Galilee. Their hopes of fish to sell are gone with the night. Maybe they should try another net or two before they quit. Maybe they'll be lucky.
On shore, the sleepy village of Capernaum is beginning to stir. On its rocky beach the fishermen can see the glow of a small fire. Occasionally a breeze brings them the aroma of fish cooking. Peter's stomach remembers its hunger, and his mouth can almost taste the savory fish.
Who's tending the fire? It's a man. Peter can see that much. He looks familiar, but Peter can't place him.
Now the man brings up his hands and cups them about his mouth. A moment later his voice reaches the boat:
"Boys," he shouts. "Put your nets out on the right side of the boat and you'll find some...."
"Every landlubber thinks he's an expert fisherman!" fumes Peter. But they are ready to put out the net again. Why not the right side this time? What do they have to lose?
All of a sudden the stillness of morning is broken by the writhing of trapped fish and a tremendous tug on the net that, for a moment, threatens to capsize the boat. The men are instantly alert and position themselves to pull in the thrashing net. They must have caught a whole school of fish -- on the right side of the boat!
Peter looks up from his exertion to the man on the shore. John, too, is straining to see him. "It's the Lord!" shouts John. "It's Jesus!"
The others are struggling with the net, but Peter doesn't care. He grabs his clothes, dives into the lake, and swims with powerful strokes until the water is shallow enough for him to run splashing the rest of the way.
Dripping, he drops to his knees before Jesus -- the risen Lord, the man he has spent three years following, emulating, serving.
"Bring some more fish," says Jesus. So Peter runs to the boat, now nearly ashore, and helps haul in the net. They count 153 fish! Amazing!
Jesus calls to the men -- disciples with whom he has shared many meals. "Come, have some breakfast!"
They squat around the fire and wolf down the bread and the fish Jesus has prepared. Hot fish! Hot bread after a long night's work!
Fish and bread. Bread and fish. Why does this seem so familiar? Peter wonders. And then he recalls the day when, only a mile or two from here, Jesus had fed the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish. Peter and these very men had carried basket after basket of fish and bread to the crowd until all were full.
Jesus, the great Feeder of men is feeding them again this morning.
Now Jesus calls him aside. "Do you love me Peter?"
With pain, Peter remembers how three times he had vehemently denied Jesus just before his crucifixion. He can hardly look Jesus in the eye. He mumbles, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
"Peter, feed my sheep," says Jesus. Three times Jesus asked Peter to reaffirm his love -- once for each time Peter had denied him. Three times Jesus reaffirms Peter's call to ministry. Jesus not only forgives Peter, he restores him fully to his confidence.
Years ago, Jesus had told Peter and his colleagues, "I will make you fishers of men." Sure enough -- together they had ministered to many thousands of men and women, boys and girls on what amounted to a three-year spiritual fishing expedition.
"Feed my sheep."
Not physical food. Jesus is talking about spiritual food -- teaching, praying, leading, exhorting, serving. Jesus is asking for Peter's love, but with that love, obedience too.
Peter knows what he's saying. Jesus had once described the crowds as harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
"Yes, I love you, Jesus," says Peter clearly, lifting his eyes to meet the Master's.
"Then feed my sheep," says the great Feeder of men. "Peter, I need you to feed my sheep for me."
"Yes, Lord, of course I will," whispers Peter, as his eyes flood with tears. "You can count on me."
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Presented by Father's Heart and Almaz Church
Come join us for an informational meeting, slideshow and reception on Friday evening, March 18th, from 7:00 to 9:00 at Church of the Messiah, 816 Kempsville Road, Chesapeaake, VA or Saturday morning, March 19the from 10:00 - Noon at New Life Providence Church, Room 145, 1244 Thompkins Lane, Virginia Beach, VA-it could change your life!
Is God calling you to serve the Least of These? So you long to be part of the Great Commission? Come and meet Pastor Sasha and hear about his vision for the unloved orphans of the Ukraine. Then learn how you can be part of an upcoming Missions trip for onr week in June to visit with these orphans, play with them, hug and love them, and help make their world a little better, while teaching them about eh Love of a Father will will never leave them no forsake them!
You can answer God's call with: Here am I, Lord, send me!
If not you, then who?
Attached please find a flier about an upcoming reception for our friends from Ukraine where people will be offered short term missions trip and orphanage support opportunities. Also please feel free to contact me immediately if you have any questions or need further information. Please feel free to download and print or forward this to anyone you think might be interested.Thanks so much!
Blessings,
Dave Daulton
FATHER'S HEART, INC.
3808 Poplar Hill Road
Suite D
Chesapeake, VA 23321
757-513-1819
david_daulton@yahoo.com
Is God calling you to serve the Least of These? So you long to be part of the Great Commission? Come and meet Pastor Sasha and hear about his vision for the unloved orphans of the Ukraine. Then learn how you can be part of an upcoming Missions trip for onr week in June to visit with these orphans, play with them, hug and love them, and help make their world a little better, while teaching them about eh Love of a Father will will never leave them no forsake them!
You can answer God's call with: Here am I, Lord, send me!
If not you, then who?
Attached please find a flier about an upcoming reception for our friends from Ukraine where people will be offered short term missions trip and orphanage support opportunities. Also please feel free to contact me immediately if you have any questions or need further information. Please feel free to download and print or forward this to anyone you think might be interested.Thanks so much!
Blessings,
Dave Daulton
FATHER'S HEART, INC.
3808 Poplar Hill Road
Suite D
Chesapeake, VA 23321
757-513-1819
david_daulton@yahoo.com
Monday, March 7, 2011
Pastors Conference In California
Pastor Sasha & Pastor Nick are in California this week for the Shepherds Conference with
John Mac Arther. How exciting is this? Very...John Mac Arther is one of the best teachers, preachers and speakers of our time. This is an awesome place for Preachers to go and learn and fellowship with other Pastors and re group. They are amongst like minded men seeking out God's teachings for their life and the lives of their congregations. To keep their sheep from going astray and preach the truths of Jesus our Savior.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (NAS)
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I solemnly charge you…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (NAS)
The Shepherds' Conference is an association (not a denomination) of churches rallying around the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the importance of expository preaching, and the centrality of a biblical philosophy of ministry. The conference serves as both a resource and an encouragement for pastors and Christian leaders around the globe.
A Resource
God in His goodness has blessed Grace Community Church with a wide variety of affiliated ministries (such as Grace To You, The Master's College and Seminary, Grace Books International, and Logos Bible Institute). By working together with these ministries, the Shepherds' Conference can offer participating churches a vast assortment of ministry resources. In fact, because the potential is almost limitless, we are continually adding benefits to our resource list.
An Encouragement
Beyond providing resources, SC seeks to cultivate camaraderie among its members at both a national and global level. This goal will be accomplished in several ways. For example, our website features both an internet discussion forum (in which pastors can instantly communicate with other like-minded leaders) and an online classifieds section (allowing churches to list job openings, ministry needs, and prayer requests for free). Devotionals for personal encouragement, practical articles for pastoral ministry, contact information for other Shepherds' Conference website members, and a united commitment to the truth-each is a vital component of our spiritual support network. By joining the Shepherds' Conference, churches are encouraged to find that they are not alone.
A Movement
To be a resource and an encouragement-that truly is the heart behind the Shepherds' Conference. Our desire is not to build our own kingdom, produce Grace Community clones, or start our own denomination. Rather, SC's goal is to stand for the truth of God's Word by partnering with other biblically-minded churches for the glory of Christ. Thus, in the midst of postmodern confusion, we hope to ignite a movement among Christian leaders back to biblical absolutes.
After the conference the Pastors will fly up to Virginia to visit with David Daulton and his team & church. Dave Daulton represents Father's Heart Inc. There, Pastor Sasha will explain what he does with orphan outreach all around Ukraine. Hopefully his wife Olya & Baby can join them.
John Mac Arther. How exciting is this? Very...John Mac Arther is one of the best teachers, preachers and speakers of our time. This is an awesome place for Preachers to go and learn and fellowship with other Pastors and re group. They are amongst like minded men seeking out God's teachings for their life and the lives of their congregations. To keep their sheep from going astray and preach the truths of Jesus our Savior.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (NAS)
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I solemnly charge you…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (NAS)
The Shepherds' Conference is an association (not a denomination) of churches rallying around the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the importance of expository preaching, and the centrality of a biblical philosophy of ministry. The conference serves as both a resource and an encouragement for pastors and Christian leaders around the globe.
A Resource
God in His goodness has blessed Grace Community Church with a wide variety of affiliated ministries (such as Grace To You, The Master's College and Seminary, Grace Books International, and Logos Bible Institute). By working together with these ministries, the Shepherds' Conference can offer participating churches a vast assortment of ministry resources. In fact, because the potential is almost limitless, we are continually adding benefits to our resource list.
An Encouragement
Beyond providing resources, SC seeks to cultivate camaraderie among its members at both a national and global level. This goal will be accomplished in several ways. For example, our website features both an internet discussion forum (in which pastors can instantly communicate with other like-minded leaders) and an online classifieds section (allowing churches to list job openings, ministry needs, and prayer requests for free). Devotionals for personal encouragement, practical articles for pastoral ministry, contact information for other Shepherds' Conference website members, and a united commitment to the truth-each is a vital component of our spiritual support network. By joining the Shepherds' Conference, churches are encouraged to find that they are not alone.
A Movement
To be a resource and an encouragement-that truly is the heart behind the Shepherds' Conference. Our desire is not to build our own kingdom, produce Grace Community clones, or start our own denomination. Rather, SC's goal is to stand for the truth of God's Word by partnering with other biblically-minded churches for the glory of Christ. Thus, in the midst of postmodern confusion, we hope to ignite a movement among Christian leaders back to biblical absolutes.
After the conference the Pastors will fly up to Virginia to visit with David Daulton and his team & church. Dave Daulton represents Father's Heart Inc. There, Pastor Sasha will explain what he does with orphan outreach all around Ukraine. Hopefully his wife Olya & Baby can join them.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A conference dedicated to the personality of the Holy Spirit took place in the church "Almaz"
On February, 26 the «Almaz» Church of Evangelical Christians in Kiev held the conference on the topic «The Holy Spirit, His nature and actions», which brought together 280 people from different cities of Ukraine in order to study God’s Word nearly. This was a record number of participants among previous conferences of «Almaz» church, which indicates on the one hand that many Christians today are interested in biblical teaching about the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, a tendency to increase the number of participants also shows the longing to study God’s Word and know the truth. And it’s certainly cause for celebration.
Conference about «the Holy Spirit, His nature and actions» took place in the course of «Pneumatology» of «Almaz» Church Bible School. Throughout the day, the pastor-teacher of the Church Nikolay Skopych reviewed in detail the biblical teaching about the personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit, his actions and manifestations in the Old and New Testaments. Considering many serious perversions of biblical teaching on this subject in the contemporary Christian world, pastor Nikolay also spoke in detail on important issues such as baptism in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and His role in the revival of man. He noted that a proper understanding of the Third Person of the Trinity and His influence is extremely important for a successful spiritual life as for the individual Christian and the whole church. And all sorts of deviations from the truth of Scripture in this matter could lead to the collapse of Christian spiritual life.
The study of the personality of the Holy Spirit is not limited to this conference, but it will be continued at the regular session of the «Almaz» Church Bible school, to be held in April and will focus on the Holy Spirit in
Christian life.
Conference about «the Holy Spirit, His nature and actions» took place in the course of «Pneumatology» of «Almaz» Church Bible School. Throughout the day, the pastor-teacher of the Church Nikolay Skopych reviewed in detail the biblical teaching about the personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit, his actions and manifestations in the Old and New Testaments. Considering many serious perversions of biblical teaching on this subject in the contemporary Christian world, pastor Nikolay also spoke in detail on important issues such as baptism in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and His role in the revival of man. He noted that a proper understanding of the Third Person of the Trinity and His influence is extremely important for a successful spiritual life as for the individual Christian and the whole church. And all sorts of deviations from the truth of Scripture in this matter could lead to the collapse of Christian spiritual life.
The study of the personality of the Holy Spirit is not limited to this conference, but it will be continued at the regular session of the «Almaz» Church Bible school, to be held in April and will focus on the Holy Spirit in
Christian life.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Pastor Skopich Holy Spirit Conference
Tomorrow I will preach on "The Importance and method of execution by the Holy Spirit".
about 15 hours ago via TwitBird
Today at the conference studied the Holy Spirit, His nature and actions. " It seems God has greatly blessed us. It was 280 people, a record.
Holy Spirit Conference Pastor Skopich
Conference on "The Holy Spirit, His nature and actions"
Date: February 26, 2011
Time:
Registration: 09.00
Home 10.00
Completion: 19.45
Speaker: Nicholas Skopich, pastor-teacher of the church "Diamond"
Venue: International Exhibition Center, Brovarskiy Avenue 15, Kyiv
Detailed information about the conference, see here
Conference on "Great is our God"
Date: 09/08 April 2011
Speaker: Nicholas Skopich, pastor-teacher of the church "Diamond"
Venue: Temple Church Central HB Str. Green, 11 B, Lviv
Location: PA Lozinski, p.lozynsky @ gmail.com
Date: February 26, 2011
Time:
Registration: 09.00
Home 10.00
Completion: 19.45
Speaker: Nicholas Skopich, pastor-teacher of the church "Diamond"
Venue: International Exhibition Center, Brovarskiy Avenue 15, Kyiv
Detailed information about the conference, see here
Conference on "Great is our God"
Date: 09/08 April 2011
Speaker: Nicholas Skopich, pastor-teacher of the church "Diamond"
Venue: Temple Church Central HB Str. Green, 11 B, Lviv
Location: PA Lozinski, p.lozynsky @ gmail.com
Discipleship Outreach and working in the orphanage in Chereshenky village.
For the lat 2 years Almaz church has been attending an orphanage where more than 170 kids live. Their age is from 3 to 17.
All these children were abandoned. Many of parents are drug addicts or alcoholics and were deprived of their parental rights. Some parents live in tremendous poverty and cannot take proper care of them. Some children were born with severe physical or mental disorders and parent shad either no desire or no opportunity to take care of them.
The team from Almaz visits these children every month though it takes 4 hours to get there. During these short mission trips all the kids in the orphanage heard the Gopsel. 7 of them came to Christ and started theyr life joyrney with Jesus.
Now the team from Almaz goes there not only to share the Gospel but also to make disciples. We help the orphans to learn how to read the Bible and how to leave new life.
There are so many obstacles on this way but God helps us to overcome all the barriers and bring the Good News to these children.
On the pictures you can see our team teaching orphans to dance, reading the Bible with them and answering their questions.
All these children were abandoned. Many of parents are drug addicts or alcoholics and were deprived of their parental rights. Some parents live in tremendous poverty and cannot take proper care of them. Some children were born with severe physical or mental disorders and parent shad either no desire or no opportunity to take care of them.
The team from Almaz visits these children every month though it takes 4 hours to get there. During these short mission trips all the kids in the orphanage heard the Gopsel. 7 of them came to Christ and started theyr life joyrney with Jesus.
Now the team from Almaz goes there not only to share the Gospel but also to make disciples. We help the orphans to learn how to read the Bible and how to leave new life.
There are so many obstacles on this way but God helps us to overcome all the barriers and bring the Good News to these children.
On the pictures you can see our team teaching orphans to dance, reading the Bible with them and answering their questions.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Andrey Vostrikov
Andrey Vostrikov and his coach Pavel Koroliov (2008)
The mother of Andrey Vostrikov, the gymnast who is a disabled person of group 1 and a six-time champion of the International Special Olympics in Beijing is forced to raise money, primarily via the Internet, to make it possible for her son to carry on his participation in sporting competitions. It comes out that the Olympiad sportsmen with Down syndrome have no call on state support.
Andrey Vostrikov is 24. He is a six-time champion of the International Special Olympics in Beijing, a five-time champion of the European Games in Rome, a repeated champion of Russia, the winner of 65 medals in artistic gymnastics and a disabled person of group 1 with Down syndrome.
Details
Find Us Faithful...stuck in my mind while here serving across the world with other Christians
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
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