Terrie and I came to the Antelope Valley nearly twenty-three years ago for the purpose of sharing the truth and hope of Jesus Christ.  Since that time, we have seen the Lord do some incredible things through the ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church. Throughout the years, it has been a privilege to come to know many of our community leaders and work alongside them as we seek to further the Gospel.

A few months back, Mayor Rex Parris contacted my office to inform me that the city council had selected me as the 2009 Citizen of the Year for the city of Lancaster. Needless to say, I was deeply honored by this recognition. To God’s glory and to our church family’s credit, I am thankful for the impact we have made in our valley.

The Citizen of the Year Award was presented yesterday during our regularly scheduled evening service.  This was truly a special time for me as Mayor Parris, Sheriff Lee Baca, Senator George Runner, and others gathered to present this award.

With many special guests and first-time visitors in attendance, it became apparent to me that God had orchestrated this moment so that the Gospel may be presented.  After the award was given, I brought a message from Matthew 5:13–16, where we find the two-fold duty of the Christian in the community:

1. We are to preserve society.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.—Matthew 5:13

2. We are to present the Saviour.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.—Matthew 5:16

In the midst of a morally corrupt and spiritually dark society, may we each live in a manner which glorifies the Saviour.

To read news articles about the award and view the video of the service, visit:
http://www.lancasterbaptist.org/citizen_of_the_year.asp

It is always exciting to see how God’s will for our college students unfolds in each of their lives. As a part of His plan, God allows most of our students to find a spouse while at Bible college. A month or so ago, as I was preaching in college chapel, I took some time to share with our young people the following marks of a mature dating relationship that honors God. I hope these thoughts will be a blessing to you.

The marks of a mature dating relationship are as follows:

1. Regular times of prayer and Bible reading as individuals first, and sharing Biblical truth as a couple.

2. Respect and honor for all parental standards and preferences, as well as college rules.

3. Relationship encourages strengthened academics.

4. Enjoy being with godly friends and those in authority not on a quest to be “alone”.

5. Relationship development does not impede work ethic bills are paid on time.

6. Preaching and teaching is gladly received.

7. Friends and acquaintances are strengthened spiritually because they know you.

8. Respect for each other would not allow for crass speechgodliness is not just a church word.

9. Use of technology is not obsessive when others are present the relationship is secure enough to allow work time without interruptions.

10. Realization that saying “I love you” is meaningless if the relationship is not mature in the nine principles listed above.

It came as no surprise, this past Tuesday morning, that President Obama signed an executive order to lift the ban on stem cell research, as was promised on the campaign trail.

Surrounded by an audience of scientists, religious and political figures, as well as his White House staff, President Obama made this statement before signing the order: “Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek.” What can be guaranteed is the certain destruction of human embryos. With the federal ban now lifted, human life will be dissected and tested like lab rats.

President Obama went on to say that he is seeking “a day when words like ‘terminal’ and ‘incurable’ are potentially retired from our vocabulary.” As well-intentioned as our President may be, the Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Ultimately, God is the giver as well as the taker of life. He should be the sole authority in when to begin and end life, not man. When man takes the power of God into his own hands, consequences are sure to follow.

As our nation’s leaders degrade the value of human life, may we as Christians continue to uphold the principles of God’s Word. May we stand firm on God’s teachings of the sanctity of life. And may we continue preaching the infallible truths of God’s Word.

One of the exciting changes in our ministry this year has been the addition of a New Members’ Class. When we began the class three weeks ago, it was thrilling to see over ninety people in attendance who have either recently joined or who are interested in membership at Lancaster Baptist.

Of course, baptism is the door to the church.  Acts 2:41 says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”  Only when a person has been saved and baptized can he or she then be added to the church. While this class does not make one a member of Lancaster Baptist Church, it does ground new members and inform those who are interested in membership through the teaching of basic doctrines and practices of the local church.

This four-week class will run multiple times throughout the year. During our time together so far, I have had the opportunity to teach and share the history of our church, the doctrinal distinctives to which we hold, and the purpose of our church family.  This has already proven to be a profitable time of both growth and fellowship, and I Iook forward to completing this first set of classes next week and watching new Christians continue to mature through the various adult Bible classes.

I praise the Lord for the miraculous work He is accomplishing at Lancaster Baptist Church! I believe there are unique opportunities to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage them in their faith in the weeks and months ahead. In the midst of an economic turndown and difficult times in our nation, it is important that we remain faithful to do what God has called us to do.

Growing up, I had some memorable incidents with go-karts. It was always a lot of fun to race them around with friends and pretend to be a “grown-up” with my own car. All of the go-karts I drove fit into one of two categories. The first category were those with inhibitors (or governors),  a mechanical device that—for obvious safety reasons—would limit the flow of fuel into the engine, and therefore keep the go-kart from traveling at its maximum potential speed. The second category had no such mechanical restrictions. The flow of fuel was fully open, and the go-kart would travel as fast as the small engine would carry it. Now, while the first type might have been more safe and sensible, you might guess which type I enjoyed driving most.

Too many believers are living their Christian lives with limiters constantly restricting the flow of God’s grace and power; they are not reaching the full potential of the purpose and plan that God has for their lives. These limiters can be wrong attitudes, wrong influences, or sin that we harbor.

I challenge you to look into your life and ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern the inhibitors in your life that keep you from reaching your full potential and usefulness for God. Confess and forsake them and start living your Christian life with the fuel line of God’s empowering grace wide open!