By Brian Walters, Director of Adult Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

First and foremost let me be crystal clear, nothing is impossible for God (Jeremiah 32:17). What may seem impossible for man is possible for God. God is omnipotent (Isaiah 14:24-27; Luke 1:37; Eph 1:11) so He can do whatever He wants as long as it doesn’t go against His holy will. Also, know that God won’t do anything to thwart His own purpose or anything that will cause Him to commit a sinful act.

So why does God ask us to do impossible things? If you were one of the disciples and Jesus asked you to feed over 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17) how would you respond? Maybe something like, “That’s IMPOSSIBLE!” Many people think God would never put a person in an impossible situation, but I would argue that God may just do that, like He did with the disciples in Luke 9 so that we will learn to put our faith in Him, to believe Him, to trust Him, and to make His name known.

Let me provide a few examples from Scripture to prove God can put us in impossible situations so our faith and trust in Him will grow or so others can come to know Him.  Do you think it is impossible to love someone who is persecuting you?  Well, God calls us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44).  Or can you rejoice regardless of the condition or trial you are in? It is easy to rejoice in God when everything is going great. However, God calls us to rejoice always (1 Thes. 5:16) no matter the trial we are in. By loving others no matter how you are treated, and by demonstrating joy throughout trials, God uses these situations to make His name known to non-believers. Christians are called to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-15).

Or how about Job?  This guy lost his family, all of his property, and ended up covered from head to toe with loathsome sores. To top it off, his friends didn’t even support or encourage him — they made his life even more difficult. Job’s case is a great example of how God may put us in an impossible situation and we may never even know why we were put in this situation. God was testing Job’s faith to show Satan that there are individual’s in this world whose faith won’t crumble when facing situations that may seem impossible.

God may ask us to do the impossible so we learn to trust in Him alone. Our brother Paul was imprisoned, beaten many times, stoned, shipwrecked at least 3 times and was in danger from his own people (2 Cor. 11:23-27) and through all these trials he trusted Lord to deliver him. In fact, he boasted in his trials because they showed how weak he was and how strong and mighty God is.

There are countless examples in Scripture of individuals being put in what we would deem as an impossible situation, but that is what God wants so His name can be known, and so our faith will grow. James tells us that God uses impossible situations to shape and mold us to look more like His son Christ (James 1:2-3). God wants to strengthen our faith and show us our faith through trials. If we are honest with ourselves, I bet every one of us would state that we don’t like being in difficult situations, but this is part of life. Folks, there is no such thing as the Prosperity Gospel. Nowhere in the Bible does God promise to bless all Christians with wealth and good health. This life is about serving the Lord.

So next time you are in an impossible situation turn to God.  Trust in Him and know that He has a purpose behind everything He does, even though we may not know that purpose on this side of heaven. Most of all, God wants to put us in impossible situations so He gets the glory He so richly deserves.

by Jim Supp, Campus Pastor @ MBC Loudoun

I don’t know if you keep up with “Reality TV” or not. Personally, I try to avoid as much of it as possible, and pray that what takes place on these shows ISN’T true reality. (If it is a reflection of reality in our world then we are in big trouble.)

Recently I saw a news piece on the latest happenings in the life of “Reality TV” star Kim Kardashian, of the TV hit Keeping Up With the Kardashians. You may remember that she married NBA basketball star Kristopher Humphries in a 10 million dollar celebrity packed ceremony. (Her engagement ring alone contained a 20.5 carat diamond worth an estimated 2 million dollars.) What a fairy-tale spectacular it was indeed.

The news piece I saw wasn’t about the wedding however, it was about the divorce. The DIVORCE??? Yup – after only 72 days the Princess of reality TV and her Prince called it quits. And of her divorce after a 72 day marriage (don’t miss this), Kardashian states “You just have to listen to your intuition and follow your heart. There is no right or wrong thing to do.” And so goes the trend in our culture. There is no right or wrong thing to do. Just follow your heart.

Well what does the Bible say? God’s word tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Ms. Kardashian needs to be reminded that our hearts are not the authoritative source to guide us through life. There is a right and wrong and it is contained in God’s word, not our hearts. The Bible tells us that when a man leaves his father and mother and gets married, the two become one – an indivisible union in a covenant relationship with God – Ephesians 5:31. In our world, marriage has become a disposable arrangement that is daily cheapened by the sheer numbers of those who are quickly leaving it.

The Bible also teaches that, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). As believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand what God wants us to and reveals His will for our lives. So, while we cannot expect those who have not accepted Christ as their personal savior to understand and practice His teachings, it is imperative that we as Christians maintain a biblical worldview in spite of our culture’s attempts to pervert that which God intended to be pure.

I’m not saying that its easy to maintain a biblical worldview in a crazy culture. Make no mistake; it’s a daily battle for all of us. But I do pray that this quick commentary helps you recognize the many opportunities we have to be salt and light in this crazy culture while maintaining a biblical world view.

By Brian Walters, Director of Adult Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

Prior to becoming a pastor I worked for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  My boss Tadgh Smith had 4 simple rules he lived by at work and they are listed below.  I wanted to share them with you all because I believe they are very wise and in a sense some of these rules have some underlining biblical undertones.

1. Never tick off a client, especially one w/a gun like a law enforcement officer. :)  You never know where you may run into that person again.  Who knows, that person could end up being your boss down the road.

The Bible tells us, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29). Or how about Luke 6:31, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” If we are called to even love our enemies and speak things that only build others up then our words as well as our actions should be full of love and grace. If we strive to always have our words and actions filled with the grace of God, then the chances of us ticking someone off or hurting them become far less.

2. Never make your way at another’s expense.

As Christians, Jesus is the individual we strive to model our lives after.  Jesus never put his needs before another. Jesus said, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).  If we are always seeking to put other’s needs before our own this will help us not to make our way at someone else’s expense.

3. Always appear to be willing and able, even if the task seems insurmountable.  If you have a problem with the task approach your boss w/your concerns in private, but always appear willing and able in front of others.

Philippians 4:12-13 says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Know this friends, if God is calling us to do something, He will provide us all the tools we need to do it. We don’t want to demean our managers before others.  We don’t want to disrespect our managers in front of others either.  When we don’t appear willing and able when our bosses ask us to do things in front of others it may portray us in a negative light and in turn may affect our ability to witness to others and may make an unbeliever’s perceptions of a Christian be negative.

4. Always, no surprises.  You think this one would be a no brainer, but this one can be really tough if you work in a high paced, high output work environment.  So make sure your management always knows about possible hot topics that may arise.

I think this particular rule is just common courtesy and I’m not sure if it has any biblical undertones besides this. When your boss knows about hot button issues/topics they can better defend you and they are also not caught off guard either. My experience tells me that good managers watch out for their employees, so reciprocate this back to your boss.

So do you have any additional rules that guide you or that you live by in the office or at home that would help others out?

by Susie Battle, Director of Ministry Teams @ MBC Loudoun

Thank you, MBC Loudoun!

We are so grateful for the Lord’s provision for our Weekend Host Teams.

Weekend Host Teams help prepare people to encounter Christ from the street to their seat. While we encompass a variety of teams, we’ve been recruiting most recently for Ushers and Welcome Center Hosts. And the Lord was gracious! He provided for almost every need we had. Thank you to each of you who signed up – you are an answer to prayer! We look forward to serving the Lord with you.

We are praying for just two more people to join the Welcome Center team and four Saturday night ushers.

God is good, and it is a joy and a privilege to serve Him!

By Brian Walters, Director of Adult Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

As a parent of a newborn, it is very important to talk to your child with a gentle and loving tone as it helps calm them when they are crying. Your baby is able to quickly identify the sound of a human voice over other sounds from the moment they are born. In addition to your tone of voice, your body language is also an important way you communicate with your baby. So as I’m baby talking with our two week old baby girl the other day, you parents know what I’m talking about, my wife comments, “Oh good, you are learning to control your tone of voice.”  We both looked at each other and laughed, but there was definitely some truth in my wife’s comment… let me explain.

When communicating with another person over 80% of all communication is non-verbal. We pick up on this non-verbal communication, as noted above, from the day we are born. I know my tone can be harsh at times when I am frustrated or under stress, so I realize I need to be intentional about my tone of voice around my daughter but I am also looking forward to seeing how God uses this to help me improve my tone of voice when communicating with others, especially my wife. :)

Who hasn’t heard the following words from their spouse or a friend, “I know what you said, but your body language and tone did not communicate the same message as your words.” If you’re honest with yourself I’m willing to bet you have made the same mistake I have in allowing your tone of voice to communicate something different that the words you were saying. Did you know that when divorced couples were asked, “Why did your marriage fail?” 86% said, “Deficient communication” (Now You’re Speaking My Language, Gary Chapman p.7). If that statistic doesn’t hit home I would be asking God why.

My point is that communication is essential to understanding what is going on with your spouse or with your friends. Not just any communication, but healthy communication is key to reaching a deeper level of intimacy in your marriage, and really, all of your relationships. We should strive for communication where our body language and tone match with what we are saying; remembering that none of us are mind readers and shouldn’t assume our spouses know what we really mean when our tone and words don’t sync up.

So this week let’s work on healthy communication habits with a loved one, it could be your spouse, a child, or even a parent or sibling.  Each day share 3 things with your loved one and how you feel about them while keeping in mind your tone and body language as you discuss them. Remember your loved one is not your enemy.  Our goal is to get to the point where we can speak the truth in love and where we can be honest with one another but not condemning, open but not demanding.

by Wendy Jo Melcher, Access Coordinator @ MBC Loudoun

For all the volunteers who helped out on October 14th at Loudoun’s Break Out. I have a comment I would like to share from a parent who was blessed by you all. (I have changed the names in the commentary)

…. Just wanted to say thanks for Friday. We had a great time with the Smith Family. That is the first time we have EVER had a meal with them and talked without kids and being interrupted 1000 times and we have known them since our son was 1 year old (7 years)! I am hoping we can do it monthly.

You guys rock!

For those who don’t know what Break Out is, it is a program that gives parent of children with special needs a much need evening of respite. This program also gives these children and their siblings a night full of fun activities. These activities, which are broken up into 4 stations, include arts & crafts , games, Moon Bounce, and Free time. Then, we have a snack time followed by a movie. If this sounds like something you would like to get involve with, please feel free to contact me at wendy.melcher@mcleanbible.org

by Amelia Sipress, Associate Director of Ministry Teams @ MBC Loudoun

Can you imagine what it is like to live with a child who has special needs? This is what we challenged the congregation with when we asked them to join us on October 8, 2011 for our Second Saturday Event where we prayed for the families who have a child or children in Access Ministry.

We heard about these families day to day lives. Can you imagine having to make arrangements with the school system to have someone who will take your daughter or son to the bathroom (and the school system not having the resources to accommodate this)? Can you imagine having a daughter or son that has multiple physical and mental disabilities – but the doctors cannot pinpoint exactly what is wrong? Can you imagine how helpless you would feel as the provider and care-taker of your baby? It made my heart break and opened my eyes to help me understand what these parents have to go through.

As I watched the room break up into groups and go silent in thought and prayer, I was hit with a sense of unity. People were gathered around listening to stories and praying for our Access families. This is what the church should look like – getting together on our knees.

We are nearing the end of Building His Church: A 50 Day Spiritual Journey and this prayer night was a powerful indication to me of Hudson Taylor’s quote, “You must go forward on your knees.” The only way that we are going to move forward as a church is by prayer on our knees. I feel like this 50-day journey is the start. By praying for the people that are in our congregation and being there for each other, we are obeying the call of Jesus, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40).

As we move toward of the end of this journey, let’s continue to pray for our brothers and sisters.

From left to right: Ava, Sherry, Tae and Julia

By Brian Walters, Director of Adult Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

So any day now my wife (AnnieLaurie) and I are expecting our first born child. For the past year we have been getting ready for this great life change we are about to experience. I’m super excited and super nervous for the day of her birth. Yes, I said her as we are having a girl. Lord willing the mistakes I make as a father will be far fewer than the great memories our daughter will have of me when she is older. So I simply want to hear from you all as to what you think a first time dad should know, do, or even be ready for as they prepare for this stage in life.

Some of the things I’ve heard to date are prepare for at least a couple of weeks to several months of sleepless nights as this is a rite of passage for all fathers.  I’ve been told during the first couple of weeks to make sure my wife has nothing to worry about except for feeding the baby and sleeping. By the way, Lord willing we are breast feeding so I can’t really help out with that one, but I know I can change lots of diapers for her. :)

So what are your thoughts and advice to help out this soon to be dad?

by Susie Battle, Director of Ministry Teams @ MBC Loudoun

Some suggest that maybe a day is like a thousand years, and that maybe the 7 days of creation (or 6 with a day of rest!) were really ages, and so maybe creation and evolution can co-exist.

Lon addressed this question with an argument about the Hebrew word for day, yom. He taught that 7 days mean 7 days – that evening and morning make up a day, not an age.

Our road trip to the Creation Museum supported this conclusion and highlighted another challenge to creation and evolution co-existing.

Evolution purports that we started as amoebas and such, then became animals, then ended up with man, right? And along the way, natural selection and survival of the fittest result in weaker animals dying off and stronger ones surviving…all the way to man. So in evolution, we have

Death (with bunches of Species, then) Man

But the Bible claims a different order. Romans 5:12 tells us: “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin.” So first we have man, then sin enters the world through man, then death enters the world as a result of sin. The order of events according to Scripture is

Man (then Sin, then) Death

So either death came first or man came first. But it seems that both orders cannot be simultaneously true. It seems chronologically impossible for evolution and creation to co-exist.

… just one illuminating tidbit from the Creation Museum! Many more are waiting for you.

Road trip!!

by Amelia Sipress, Associate Director of Ministry Teams @ MBC Loudoun

We’ve all had a friend call us to vent about something that has left them feeling utterly hopeless and discouraged. In fact, I think we’ve all felt this way at one time or another – like everything seems to be against us and nothing is going right. I was reminded of this the other day when I found myself on the phone with a friend who is experiencing this. For a long time, I just listened and didn’t say anything. Then, after some time, I felt a strong urge to encourage.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It’s easy to look at the circumstances surrounding us and feel a sense of impending doom. However, God’s word tells us to lean not on our own understanding. I know it’s easy sometimes to focus on the temporary things surrounding us and to interpret the situation as hopeless. That’s just it though – we are called to trust the One who sees the whole picture and to stop making our own interpretations and conclusions. Trust in Him.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)