FAM Pastors

Sitting around

dhanvey — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:26:25 +0000

I’m sitting here in my office today thinking of some words that I have contemplated this week. Fear, Loss, Alone….Who new such small words could create such turmoil in our lives. The great thing about these words is that they are not the final word in our lives. As believers in Christ John 16:33 tells us to take courage, because He has overcome the world!

He has the last word!

Trying to face your life through the battles of the world alone is like a solider fighting a war alone. You would be defeated before you ever even began to fight. Find someone to encourage you, some one who is stronger than yourself. Someone you can be honest with. These are words that can become bigger and bigger if we let them. Remember a new day will come tomorrow and His mercies are new every morning!

GOOD THING FOR ME cause I will need them!

Jason

Flannel Graph’s Sticking Power

dhanvey — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:58:53 +0000

Some of you maybe thinking what is flannel graph? Others of you are ancient enough to know what I am talking about. If the ancient ones would indulge me long enough to explain flannel graph to the internet generation, then we can all be on the same page and get on with this blog.

Flannel graph is one of the cheesiest teaching tools ever invented. My mom used it to teach Sunday school class when I was a kid. It was basically a big board covered in green flannel cloth. Then the worst graphics designer at the curriculum company was given the assignment to draw the people represented in the various Bible stories. They were made into cut outs and more heavy duty flannel was placed on the back of them so they would then stick to the big green board. It made the Bible stories and their characters come alive!

No, I’m not kidding, it really did make them come alive. Actually, it was more mom’s story telling ability then it was the scary looking cut outs. Anyways, we went through the whole Old Testament in a year, and my outlook on scripture would never be the same.

As a result, when I am faced with a circumstance in life that needs Biblical guidance, and let’s face it for me that is daily, I don’t type a topical word like “courage” into a Google search and look for all the verses that have “courage” in them. I try and think of Bible stories where characters were faced with the need for courage and see how they handled it. I end up reading great stories about boys who fought lions and bears only to stand the ultimate test of courage and kill a 9’ 2” giant. Stories about a beauty pageant winner who dared to enter the king’s court without being summoned at the risk of her own mortal demise.

I am reminded that the same God they serve is also my God who hasn’t changed a bit since these stories were written. If they could do it through His power, then so can I. In fact, God had these true stories written for just that reason. In our time of need we wouldn’t just have to go find a verse, but we could find a person who has walked in, for what is to us, unchartered territory.

Whatever situation you may be facing in life right now there is a Bible story that applies to you. All you have to do is find it.

Turns out flannel graph doesn’t just stick to big ugly green boards, it also stuck in one little boy’s heart and mind. For that I am eternally grateful.

Freedom In Him,

John (8:36)

Recurring thoughts

dhanvey — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:35:43 +0000

I have had one of the most random, recurring thoughts today. It won’t go away. It’s one thing for something to just pop into my head and a total other for it to keep coming back over and over again during any quick moment when my mind is at rest from the busy tasks that are at hand. If I wasn’t so skeptical I might even be tempted to believe that God is trying to talk to me, especially considering the message of the thought. Oh, I haven’t told you what it is yet, have I.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

Okay, so I should probably leave my skepticism behind. As soon as I typed it out it became pretty obvious that this is God speaking to me.

The last few days have been an absolute rush of thoughts, emotions and questions. In times like these it can be hard for God to get a word into us edgewise. Eventually, He has to just plant a thought that won’t go away. Interesting that He chose this one.

In the midst of all of our thoughts, emotions and questions we just need to stop and think about His greatness. By focusing in on how big He is it greatly diminishes our own perspectives and even challenges.

Nothing has ever shocked or surprised God, and for that He alone is worthy of all the praise we can offer.

Thanks God for random, recurring thoughts!

Freedom In Him,

Pastor John (8:36)

Happy Mother’s Day

dhanvey — Sun, 10 May 2009 04:29:45 +0000

Many of you know that I am blessed with an amazing wife. She is truly the backbone of this family. I can’t even imagine how she is able to handle four very active boys with a big kid like me running around, but she does! I believe that Christ has given a Mother a unique and special gift. It is called a “Mother’s heart”.

An unknown author once said “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever”. I lost my Mom over 14 years ago. She was a constant creative, loving influence in my life. Now, I have the joy of seeing my wife become that same constant for my sons.

So as we celebrate Mother’s Day, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on a special Mother in your life and remember the words of the Apostle Paul:

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ~ I Cor 13:4-7

Blessings, dave

Welcome!!!

dhanvey — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:19:09 +0000

We are so glad that you have dropped by our new BLOG PAGE!

From time-to-time, our pastors and executive staff feel inspired to share a message of wisdom or encouragment. This BLOG is a place where we can drop in and express our thoughts and openly share what God is up to at Faith Alive and in each of us.

Feel free to subscribe to an RSS feed and stay up-to-date with the latest information or stop by the Storybook page and start a discussion about your visit.

You can expect random POSTS to be published by our team Steve Bellavia, Shannon Joyner, Matt Stewart, John Smith, Jason Jackson & Dave Hanvey.

Be blessed and enjoy your visit!