Secret Service agents – given the responsibility of identifying counterfeit currency – carefully study legal currency, so that they can quickly nail bad money.

As followers of Christ we are always to beware of bad doctrine – false teaching – that does not line up with Scripture.

In fact, Jude said, “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith…” – this means to become doctrinally strong – knowledgeable in the Word. As Paul advised Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” If we do this, we will be able to identify false teaching quickly.

Read and study your bible – there is no substitute.

Let me suggest two other resources to help you become doctrinally strong:

The ESV Study Bible – the best study bible I have ever seen – I highly recommend you purchase one – you then get access to the online version too! http://www.esvstudybible.org/

Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know by Wayne Grudem. This book is a very helpful and concise book on the basic keys of Christian doctrine from a respected theologian. http://amzn.to/coHiRw

You may be a biblical neophyte – or an experienced, well seasoned bible student – regardless – there is always more to learn. Get going – get learning – today! Your life will be incredibly enriched and you won’t fall victim to heretical teachings!

Peace,
Dave

In one of my assignments, they asked us to consider how Christ suffered for us. I immediately thought of the cross, as I'm sure most Christians do. However, the point of the lesson was to broaden our understanding of the life of Christ. We know very little about his childhood, but there are some passages that give us some insight. One verse that really stuck with me is

Isaiah 53:3a "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering..."

Jesus was a man of sorrows. He was familiar with suffering. In other words, the cross wasn't his first experience with suffering. I don't know about you, but that's huge for me! I've always really connected with

Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."

Knowing the humanity of Christ is powerful. He understands us...he can relate to what we're going through. But for some reason, I've always put suffering into a different category...as if it wasn't part of the life of Christ (apart from the cross of course). Suffering is a product of living in a fallen world. John 1 teaches us that Christ left heaven and took up residence with us on earth. Christ entered our fallen world and as a result experienced life just as we do, suffering included. Perhaps we could "rewrite" Hebrews 4:15 to say something like "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our suffering, but we have one who has been subjected to suffering just as we have-yet all his suffering was undeserved."

It's powerful for me to understand that my savior has walked in my shoes. He "gets" what life is like for me and offers me hope. If you are in a place of suffering, I hope that you can connect with the savior who is acquainted with your sorrow.

Grace,
Chris

Crazy Love - a great book by Francis Chan, is the basis for our discussion at Soul Purpose - our Thursday morning men's ministry. I've just started reading and so far it is most excellent. There was a link in the first chapter to this video. Check it out.

How could you not stand in worshipful awe of our God?

Peace,
Dave

1. The way she says "daddy" (doesn't pronounce the middle d's)

2. The way she "helps" me w/ chores

3. Playing hide & seek

4. Reading bedtime stories (Doesn't get much better than Dr. Seuss!)

5. Praying with / for her

The list could go on and on, but these are the things I love right now. I'm so excited for our next addition to the family. Our baby boy is due in 3 weeks...which means he could decide to join us any day now. I'm looking forward to learning to be daddy to my boy.

Grace,

Chris

Man, would that guy be a pain in the neck to have around ACC!

Today I thank God for the incredible team of elders he has allowed me to work with here. These men sincerely want what God wants for our church. They are humble, flexible, prayerful, loving, pensive and true to the word of God; I consider each a good personal friend.

As we lead our church please pray for us. Our team needs courage, wisdom and ever-increasing hearts for God, His people and the unchurched.

The ACC elder team: John Beckley, Ray Demich, Dale Hugo, Jim Johnson, Ken Kerr, Jim Ray and myself.

Please note: Not a Diotrephes among us! That, my friends, is by the mercy and grace of God!

Peace,
Dave

Ephesians 2:1-9 (NIV)

Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Praise God!

Grace,
Chris

How did I respond?

I think my exact words were: “I know you weren’t talking to me fat man, cause I’ll take you down.” Though my window was open – I don’t think he heard me. (Could he read lips?)

I guess I have too many Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Bronson, Eastwood type movies in my memory bank.

A few hours before this little altercation, when I was starting my day I prayed that God would be glorified in me on this fine, sunny Monday!

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

Yeah, I can be a jerk sometimes. James also said that the tongue is “a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Constant watch must be kept over my heart, my mind, my attitude. As a follower of Christ I am to bless others – not curse others. I need God in this challenge of taming the tongue.

I have confessed my wrong to God. Check. I need to apologize to Karen and Lacey for my bad example when I get home this evening. Check.

I kind of hope that dude in the truck doesn’t choose to visit ACC this Sunday. If he does, I got some explaining to do. Check.

Peace,
Dave

Sunday, October 3rd, the Wheeling Park District is putting on it's annual Heritage Classic 5k / 10k & 1 mile walk. You can find out more about the race here. ACC is getting on board as a sponsor for the race and would love for you to get involved as well. There are 2 ways you can get involved

1 - Sign up for one of the events! The 5k (3.1 miles), the 10k (6.2 miles), or the 1 mile walk. You CAN do it and we'll help you! A little over a year ago, I couldn't run a mile...last May, I completed a half marathon (13.1 miles). We're hoping to get 10-20 people to join us. I'm putting together training programs and organizing group runs so you won't have to do it alone. If you are willing to commit to the training program, you can do it! (Bonus: we're planning to order some cool "Team ACC" shirts to wear in the race)

2 - Sign up to be a volunteer for the race. An event like this takes a ton of volunteers. They need people to man water stations, help with course set up, and various other race day operations. We'd love to have a group of ACC people serving.

If you are interested in joining us, please leave me a comment, join our group on Facebook - "Team ACC - Heritage Classic Run" (announcements and training programs will be posted here), and/or call the church office.

Grace,
Chris