PETERSON FAMILY - Christmas 2013

FACING DOWN THE GIANT

The army of Israel gathered at the Valley of Elah to face the Philistines, who were determined to destroy them. All in all a pretty fair fight, until their giant champion from Gath named Goliath stepped forward. Imagine the sheer terror of the Jewish people as they took in the awesome size of this man; standing over nine feet tall, wearing a coat of mail weighing one hundred and twenty-five pounds, and carrying a spear the size of a weavers beam! No normal man could match his strength or ability - in the natural it was hopeless. However, there was one young shepherd who knew that He served a supernatural God, who no one could stand against. Of course the young man was David, who proceeded to convince King Saul to allow him to face this formidable foe. David then grabbed his sling, his shepherds bag, and five smooth stones. The scripture tells us in I Samuel 17 that David approached Goliath and declared, "I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts . . . this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand!" It is important to note that David didn't simply walk toward the giant, he ran! His faith was so firmly planted in the protection and power of God that he hurried toward the battle, and as his first stone sank deep into the Giants forehead, Goliath fell like a mighty tumbling tower. David proceeded to take the giants sword and slay him, giving the spark for the rest of the Jewish army to shout in triumph and pursue the Philistines to victory.

What is your giant today? It may be fear, sickness, disease, financial hardship, or family struggles. Whatever it may be, take it to the Lord through the prayer of faith, and trust Him to defeat the giant. James 5:16 tells us "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." God will will guide you through the challenges, fully meet your need, and use you in a mighty way. When you start to feel overwhelmed and alone, remember that God is with you, and He will fight on your behalf! We can be assured as David boldly declared in I Samuel 17:47 - "The battle is the Lord's."

A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

Today if you were to ask ten people on the street if they were a "Christian", probably close to half of them would say "yes". In fact, about 40% of Americans attend some sort of church, (not all of which are fundamentally Biblical) and many people in our country would still consider us a Christian nation. The tragic fact, however, is that we have pushed God out of our schools by removing prayer, out of our courthouses by removing the Ten Commandments, and to a large extent out of our government through liberal laws and legislation. America has taken assertive steps to move away from the moral principles of God's Word which our country was founded upon, and is re-establishing itself as a secular, humanistic society - with more hope in science and technology then in the providence of Almighty God. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then I'm sure you would agree that we need a Holy Spirit Revival in America today. However, the problem of worldliness over godliness goes beyond the secular realm of the unbeliever. A nationwide survey completed by the Barna Research Group concluded that only 4% of Americans now hold an actual Biblical Worldview. This may not shock you, as many in our country do not believe in God, but here's the big surprise; only about 9% of people who consider themselves a "born again" believer hold a Biblical Worldview themselves. This statistic is astounding! 

The sad reality is that many churches and even mainline denominations have allowed a secular, humanistic agenda to creep in and compromise the pure truth of God's Word. Many misguided pastors and politicians have chosen to part and parcel out the Word of God - selecting what they will and will not apply and believe. This simply will not work, for we know that with God it's all or nothing. This brings me to the focal point of this entry; the need for a genuine Biblical Worldview. You may be asking, "what exactly is a worldview?" Quite simply, it is the theology, ideology, and philosophy held be an individual which serves as their context and approach to their understanding of God, man, and the world. A "Biblical Worldview" is based on the infallible, perfect Word of God (the Bible). When we believe that the Bible is entirely true - not just parts of it - then we allow it to be the foundation for everything we do in life. II Timothy 3:16 tells us this; "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction of righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 

Here are four fundamental facts that every Christian believer should believe and follow, in order to truly hold a Biblical Worldview, and make a difference in this world as Salt and Light; 1.] The Bible is the inspired Word of God, perfect and complete (II Timothy 3:15-17, II Peter 1:20-21.) 2.] There is one God, eternally existent in three persons; God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 45:5, Matthew 3:16-17, Ephesians 4:4-6.) 3.] Only Jesus Christ provides forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life (John 3:16, John 14:6, Romans 10:9.) 4.] We are called to love God, love people, and make disciples until Christ returns (Matthew 22:37-40, 28:19-20, John 14:1-3.) We are called to live authentic faith, so let's know what we believe, and live what we believe, as we shine our lights for Jesus Christ! Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven."

THE END TIMES

For those who consider themselves a student of eschatology, the study of prophecy and end times, then the current state of our world has probably not taken you by surprise. Those with no Christian faith may begin by asking, "What makes Christianity and Biblical prophecy any more credible than those found in other religions? Quite simply, the fact that no other "religious" book other than the Bible has proven to be infallibly true. Whether you point to the prophesies in Daniel chapter 2 of the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman empires which would rise and fall (given as he interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream), or the predictions given in Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 36 about the rebirth of Israel as a nation (which was fulfilled over 2500 years later on May 14, 1948), the Bible time and time again has proven to be true. In Matthew 24 Jesus gave us specific signs to indicate when his return for his church was drawing near. He told us "Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world... and many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people."

Today as I post this article, the country of New Zealand just experienced a 6.3 sized quake, and 4 countries in the middle east are currently experience serious revolts - with Egypt having just overturned its government. Certainly many false prophets have appeared and led millions astray through false religions, and famines continue to claims millions of lives in the continents of Asia and Africa. The moral decline of our nation has been obvious and dramatic, with Biblical principles being pushed out by lobbyists and politicians, and the concept of "relative morality" becoming the norm in our society today. The formation of the European Union and United Nations have demonstrated the feasibility of a one world government, and the economic instability of the American dollar and the Euro creates a case for the concept of an international currency solution - a final solidification of the global marketplace. So with all of this calamity taking place and prophesies being fulfilled , what is the church called to do? What should our response be? The answer that Christ gave to us in Matthew 24 is clear and to the point; keep watch, be ready, and faithfully serve the Lord each day! Share his truth and show his love in a practical way to those around you, and live each day with eternity in mind.

No one except God the Father knows when Jesus the Son will return, but as we see the signs of the times, we can be confident that we are truly living in the end times - the last days before the second coming of Christ. He is returning to judge the earth and establish his reign with those who faithfully follow him (II Peter 3, Revelation 19-21). It is up to us to apply the instruction found in Colossians 3:23, and live "whole heartily, as unto the Lord." Jesus is coming soon - are you ready for his return?

HERITAGE SINGERS - "Stronger Than The Weight" - Me In 1989

DAD - He Committed His Way To The Lord

My Dad, Rev. Mervin K. Peterson, went home to be the Lord on Monday, November 1st, 2010. He was a loving husband to my mother, a wonderful father to me and my brothers, a great father-in-law to our wives, and a terrific grandfather to our children. My sons referred to him as "Papa Merv", and his big voice and crazy sense of humor would always brighten up our holidays together. My Dad was my mentor, confidant, and best friend - one of a kind. He had just completed 50 years of ministry, serving as a pastor, missionary, evangelist, and teacher - always willing to answer the call of God. Never before had I experienced the profound sense of grief and loss as I have over the past two weeks, and yet through it all I have rested in the peace and assurance that my Dad is in Heaven with God, enjoying his rest and reward. The Bible tells us in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, "We do not mourn as those who have no hope . . . we shall be caught up with the Lord in the air". In the gospel of John chapter 14 Jesus promised us that he has gone to prepare a place for us (his followers), so we can one day live with him there for eternity. This gives us tremendous peace and joy as believers in Jesus Christ, knowing that we will be reunited with our loved ones who died knowing Christ as their Saviour, as we receive our inheritance in Heaven. This is in stark contrast to those who don't know God, and have no hope of eternal life in glory.

My Dad's life was dedicated to loving God, loving people, and making disciples of Jesus Christ. He lived each day to the full, for the glory of God. His favorite passage of scripture is found in Psalm 37:5-6, which states, "Commit your way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and make the justice of your cause like the noon-day sun." Through a committed life of faith and trust in the Lord, my Dad was used in a powerful way to impact many lives for the kingdom of God. Surely the justice of his cause continues to shine bright! I'll always love you Dad, and I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.

~ Scott

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

I'll never forget the winter that my car radiator blew. I had landed my first position as a young associate pastor; barely making enough to live on, yet excited to be serving nonetheless. God had gifted me with certain abilities which I was utilizing in ministry; unfortunately auto-mechanics was not one of them! My car started acting strange, and sure enough my radiator was broken. I had enough money to buy the replacement, but little extra necessary to pay for the expensive shop time for repair. Thankfully, a dear brother in the church congregation offered to help me install the new radiator, which translated into him doing the work and me holding the wrench! I will always remember his sacrifice of time and energy, working out-doors in the cold in order to fix my car.

Isn't this an an example of the New Testament Church, of which every Christian believer today is a part? In Acts chapter 2 the model is given through which people came to Christ every day. It states that believers broke bread together, prayed together, studied God's Word, and made sure that everyone's financial needs were met. Especially in today's troubled times and economic uncertainty, the Lord is calling us to help take care of each other. Jesus said, "they will know you are Christians by your love". The greatest thing which will draw people to God is true agape love in action, sacrificial and unconditional. Are you showing God's love through the things you say and do? Remember, witness all the time - use words if necessary!

WHY WORRY?

We certainly have a lot of cares and concerns as North Americans. Like pins tumbling down in a bowling alley, we worry about our lives falling apart. Naturally we get concerned about financial challenges, health issues, family problems and the like, but there is a difference between concern and worry. Worrying is our indulgence into fear, continually wondering "what if?" Add to these typical struggles in life a difficult economic environment where families are simply trying to make ends meet, and you are left with a perfect storm of fear and worry. I recall years ago when after four years of service, we felt God moving us on from the congregation we were serving. We put in our resignation and stepped out in faith, waiting for God to open up our next door of opportunity. The only problem was we had a house we couldn't sell, and significant medical bills left over from the birth of our son. It certainly seemed like an opportune time to worry, and honestly I won't say that we didn't dip our feet into that pond! However, true to his promise and character, God directed us to a great new ministry position, and all of our needs were met.

Our heavenly Father doesn't want his children to succumb to fear and worry. In fact, Jesus challenged us in Matthew 6 with this question, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" He goes on to say, "So do not worry . . . but seek first his (God's) kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (that you need) will be given to you as well." He goes on to tell us in chapter 21, verse 21-22 that we will receive answers to our prayers when we have faith and do not doubt. Faith is the opposite of fear. We must make a conscious decision and choose to put our faith in God and his Word. For the believer in Jesus Christ there is instruction in Philippians 4, as it tells us; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." The same chapter goes on to provide this promise; "my God will supply all of your needs, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." The key is to present your needs to God, rejoice, and believe that he will fulfill the promises of his Word! The Lord always has and always will be faithful, so what are you worrying about?

MERCY RAIN - By Scott Peterson

A DECEMBER POEM

Looking back through the year during Christmas holiday

pondering the journey I've traveled each day

mountain top peaks of joy and blessing

valleys of pain, need, and testing

cherishing moments with family and friends

living by faith around every bend

through it all I continue to live and learn

the divine truth I still discern

though we travel through valleys in this life that we lead

never fear, God is near, and will meet every need

By T. Scott Peterson

ALL THINGS FOR GOOD

Have you ever felt like you are in a hockey game, getting beaten badly? Maybe you just had "one of those days", where everything seemed to go wrong, for no apparent fault of your own? I have had a few of those days myself, and though they are not enjoyable, I do find peace and assurance in this one important truth; "God works all things for the good of him who is called to His purpose"(Romans 8:28). Consider that statement for a moment - God is using all the events which occur in our lives, both positive and negative experiences, and is bringing good from it all! Now we either embrace and believe this or we don't, but personally I choose to take God at His Word. However, there is an important key to this promise being fulfilled; we must be living daily for Jesus Christ, living to fulfill His purposes, not our own. This is not to say that we have to be perfect; simply surrendered to His will and living for Him with our whole heart. Remember, God isn't so concerned about our perfection and He is our direction - following Jesus every day! Over time we can see how God uses our challenges to bring about something good, although we usually don't see how all of the pieces fit into place - only the Master Builder sees the master plan. Nevertheless, we do see enough evidence to know that God is genuinely at work in our lives, guiding our paths and our footsteps. Psalm 37 tells us that "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God." What a comfort it is to know that God is directing my life, opening and closing doors, and helping me to fulfill my divine destiny each day!

LOOKING FOR A SAVIOUR

On January 20th the eyes of the world were set on the inauguration of America's first African American president, Barak Obama. It would seem that millions of people from countries all around the world are looking to President Obama as the individual who can save us from our financial problems, our environmental predicaments, and our international war proliferation. Finally, our countries can get back on track with stability and prosperity, right? Well, time will tell. David Gregory, moderator of "Meet The Press" reported on the disdain and disrespect certain people demonstrated to President George Bush on the day of his departure from the White House. Fatigue from the war effort in Iraq and frustration over the economic crisis had reached a boiling point. But wait a minute, wasn't there a democratic senate helping to make decisions for the U.S. while Bush was in office? Wasn't the lack of regulation for Wall Street taking place while Clinton was in office as well?

We need to understand that the challenges we face today were not created by any one man, nor will they be solved by any one man. It was a collection of greed, mismanagement, and poor decisions which created this mess, and recovery takes time, wisdom, and unified leadership. We need to pray for our national leadership, but we also need to ask ourselves this question: can Barak Obama and the American government assure us that we will be safe, secure, and provided for? The answer is no, only God can. On the day he was sworn into office, President Obama quoted a passage from I Corinthians 13, which states, "When I was a child, I talked like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things." Chapter one of this same book states, "He (God) will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus told us in Matthew 6 to "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things (that we need in life) will be added unto you." I believe in these tenuous times God is going to draw more and more people to the reality of His truth, love, and safety. Is your hope and trust in the real savior of the world?

SCOTT, KARI, COULTER, & SPENCER PETERSON

THE POWER OF PRAISE

The popular slogan "have an attitude of gratitude" may sound quaint and sweet, but there is a powerful biblical truth behind it which can significantly improve our daily lives. Although you may become irritated at somebody who refuses to be negative and share your misery, it's a good idea to consider the reason for their joy! The enemy is intent on bringing people down, especially those who are living for Jesus Christ (I Peter 5:8). If you have been serving God for at least a little while, you have probably learned the importance of putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) complete with Truth, Faith, and the Word of God, so you are ready to defend yourself against spirtual attacks. However, one important area that we tend to forget about is the Power of Praise. When Paul and Silas were being held in a Roman prison for preaching the Gospel, they certainly could have had a bad attitude and a bitter spirit. Instead they chose to praise God for His goodness, and the power of God invaded the jail and broke their bonds free! (Acts 16) Even if you are dealing with more than one challenge at a time, remember that our blessings far outnumber our trials, every time! Worship ushers in the presence of God, filling our hearts with peace, power, and joy. We all experience challenges at various times in our lives, and God is faithful to help us through all of them. Philippians 4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always . . . with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." The chapter goes on to promise that God will supply all of our needs. Do you see how Praise, Peace, Power, and Provision are all tied together? Start praising God every day for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. Even in the trials of life, you can thank Him that He is in control, working all things for our good and His glory! (Romans 8:28)

THE KEY TO HAPPINESS

"I'm so sick of my job!" "I feel so depressed." "Life is so stressful!" Statements like these are common place among people I minister to as a local church pastor. It seems that many people, christian and non-christian alike, are stuck in a rut in their every-day lives. A job transition or relationship change may seem to be the answer, but usually it isn't. There is a key to happiness that the follower of Jesus Christ has access to, and it is this; Joyfully Give Jesus Your Best! Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." It can be un-fulfilling to work for an earthly boss or go through the mundane routines of life, but if we do things wholeheartedly as unto the Lord, then suddenly life has true significance! As you give your best and "bloom where you're planted", you will shine your light for Jesus and make a positive difference in this world.

WHAT MATTERS MOST

Life can be confusing, hectic, and exhausting. We try to maintain our priorities in their proper order, but they easily get muddled in the mayhem! Sometimes we overload our calendars by trying to do everything (some things necessary and others not so much), including every child's sporting event, PTA meeting, and extra shift at work. The problem with this lifestyle is that we become spread too thin, and important areas in our life begin to suffer, such as quality time with our family or prayer time with the Lord. It helps bring clarity of purpose when we simplify, living selective to be effective, so I decided to give my personal belief on What Matters Most in this life. Many things come to mind; God, family, friends, freedom to worship, enjoying life, helping others, and for some, winning the Superbowl! For me it boils down to fulfilling the two "Greats" given by God; 1. The Great Commandment ~ Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12), and 2. The Great Commission ~ Go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28). Everything we do in life should serve to accomplish these two great mandates given by God. It may not always be easy, in fact, it can be down-right challenging. But Jesus helps us everyday through the instruction of His Word and the counsel of His Spirit speaking into our hearts. The road is hard, but the reward is great - eternal life in Heaven!