Heaven Is Waiting

Based on the novel Midway to Heaven by best-selling author Dean Hughes, this Christian romantic comedy will lift your spirits with its lighthearted tale of growing up, letting go, and opening your heart to the idea of making a fresh start. 

Resource Review sponsored by Bender's Parable Christian Store

VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy

VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy is a heartwarming tale that retells the classic The Little Drummer Boy story. Based on Ephesians 4:32, which says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” the DVD offers a timeless message of hope during the holiday season, and will feature multi-Grammy and Dove Award-winning artists BeBe and CeCe Winans, singing their version of the iconic “The Little Drummer Boy” song.

A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling

Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She had intended to study medicine in Chicago or Grand Forks, but when a disaster wiped out a major portion of her family's income, Astrid stayed home instead, receiving hands-on training from Dr.Elizabeth.Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he's never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town, he seeks to court her. Astrid is attracted to him, and when the opportunity unexpectedly opens for her to go to Chicago for medical training, she finds it difficult to leave. Love blossoms through their letters, but upon arriving back home, she makes a heartbreaking discovery. Will she have to give up love to pursue her dream? Find out in “The Measure of Mercy.”

Resource Review sponsored by Bender's Parable Christian Store

Elmwood Drive Pictures

UNITE contributing photographer Matt Brown captured some great shots from Friday's release concert for Elmwood Drive at Creekside Assembly of God.

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Resource Review: Invisible Empires by Sara Groves

'Invisible Empires' follows Sara's 2009 album 'Fireflies and Songs'. "Fireflies is very much like a girl and her piano," says Groves of her previous   album, "and I knew this record was going to be a little bit bigger than a girl and her piano. I like to write pop songs, I like to write bigger songs. I like strings and guitars, so I guess when I went to go write this record I didn't feel like this was going to be Fireflies Part II."

Sponsored by Bender's Parable Christian Store

Resource Review: All Is Grace by Brennan Manning

It has been over twenty years since the publication of "The Ragamuffin Gospel," a book many claim as the shattering of God's grace into their lives. Since that time, Brennan Manning has been dazzingly faithful in preaching and writing variations on that singular theme - "Yes, Abba is very fond of you!" But today the crowds are gone and the lights are dim, the patches on his knees have faded. If he ever was a ragamuffin, truly it is now. In this his final book, Brennan roves back his past, honoring the lives of the people closest to him, family and friends who've known the saint and the sinner, the boy and the man. Far from some chronological timeline, these memories are witness to the truth of life by one who has lived it - "All Is Grace."

Resource Review sponsored by Bender's Parable Christian Store

TCT Announces "Race to the Finish"

TCT Kids, a division of TCT Television based in Marion, Illinois with satellite offices in Orchard Park recently announced the February release of "Race to the Finish", a Christian movie that will be premiering February 24, 2012. The movie confronts and contributes to the ongoing discussion around bullying, something our community has become all too familiar with after the loss of a Williamsville North High School student this year.

In the movie bullying is not overcome by force but by acceptance, faith and love. The movie premiers at 7:30PM February 24 and runs one week starting the 24th at the Flix Theater in Lancaster. Tickets will be available starting February 6 at www.dipsontheatres.com.

TCT Television Network, one of America’s most watched faith channels, funded the 1-hour drama which details the true story about a young man named Harlan; a mentally handicapped boy who was abandoned by his mother after his father was imprisoned for burglary. His grandparents then raised Harlan.

One afternoon Harlan was being attacked by neighborhood bullies; when 16-year-old boy, Paul, returning from school, jumped in and defended him, only to get himself beaten up. This unusual, yet divine meeting became the genesis for one of the most encouraging stories ever told.

A few days later Paul was playing street football with friends as Harlan watched. Paul invited him to play, despite the jokes from the others. Harlan went for a pass, sprinting past defenders and all the other players, as if they where standing still.

Paul realized Harlan had a God-given gift and talked him into using that gift to run track, teaching him to compete in the 100-yard dash. Paul faced ridicule from classmates for his association with “that lamo” and became insecure about teaching Harlan; after all he was only 13. Throughout the training process, Paul and others learned about God’s love through Harlan. Their bonds of friendship gave them the courage and determination to carry on and their faith in God was a light to all that would see this miracle unfold.

Production began in Amherst, New York on Friday October 7, 2011. Joining the cast is Nancy Stafford “Matlock” and “St Elsewhere” along with Peter Kent “Terminator” franchise, “True Lies”, “Total Recall”, and directed by Greg Robbins “C Me Dance”, “Stuck in the Past” and “Pastor Greg” sitcom.

For more about Race to the Finish, log on to www.racetothefinishthemovie.com or facebook

Elmwood Drive CD Release Tonight

Indie worship band Elmwood Drive led by Corey Coogan on vocals and guitar is celebrating the release of their new CD tonight at Creekside Assembly of God in Amherst, NY with special guests Attic and others. Elmwood Drive is made up of:

Corey Coogan - vocals, guitars
Jimmy Wilson - guitars
Michael Seccharioli - Drums
Billy Wilkins - bass
Andy Beilman - guitars, vocals
Corey Buck piano, rhodes, vocals
Eric Winfield - keys, pads, percussion

 

The passionate group is in their fifth year together with a sound that is fresh and exciting and although their focus is on who we worship first, they haven't lost sight of the balance between musicianship and spiritual sensitivity. With vocals led by Corey Coogan, driving guitar parts by Andy Beilman and James Wilson, creative rythyms courtesy of Billy Wilkins on bass and Mike Secchiaroli on drums, and an atmosphere of keys created by Corey Buck and Eric Winfield, this 7 piece band is sure to bring everything they have and leave it all at the altar. Elmwood Drive's live sound can only be rivaled by their desire to see people's lives changed and to see God work through anointed and self abandoned worship. Be sure to keep an ear out for these guys and see how God is moving through their ministry.

 

Resource Review: Dara Maclean, You've Got My Attention

Musical depth and Christian joy have rarely come together as compellingly as they do in the music of Dara Maclean. Her s is a joyful mix of pop idioms and eternal truths, danceable beats and the good news. A singer of incredible grace, power and control, as well as a gifted songwriter, Dara has put together, with the help of Dove Award-winning producer Ian Eskelin, a debut CD that is as fresh and vibrant as any in recent years.

Resource Review brought to you by Bender's Parable Christian Store

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother's heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn't know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. She has given up a relatively comfortable life--at a young age--to care for the less fortunate of this world. She was so moved by the need she witnessed, she's centered her life around meeting that need. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of "adopting" 13 children in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family. Hear her story in “Kisses from Katie.” Resource Review sponsored by Bender's Parable Christian Store

Mission: Finding Life in the Word of God. Study, Meditate, Listen, Pray, Speak.

Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him.Psalm 105:19 (NASB)

Do you read the Word of God for information, or revelation? Do you approach it as the transformative power in your life, or do you simply read it as a resource? Do you try to bend it for your own purposes, or do you allow it to bend you?
     Today’s instructional climate encourages knowledge through education for the purpose of using what you know as a tool to better yourself. We are encouraged to read the latest book with the template on “how to”, watch the latest life coach video, or listen to the most innovative speaker on how to maximize your life. Though there is nothing inherently wrong with these things, there is an underlying mindset that in order to succeed you must gain knowledge and manipulate it for your purposes.  We are encouraged to even approach eternal truths the way a scientist puts his experiment under a microscope. Henry Nouwen wrote:

“My growing suspicion is that our competitive, productive, skeptical, sophisticated society inhibits our reading and being read by the Word of God.”

  I liken this to eating your food without savoring or chewing each bite. Like taking a food supplement that has all the right nutrients but not taste or relish.
The Bible has even been used in history to justify the most atrocious acts on humanity. Some Christians wield the Bible the way a person wields a gun. They look for proof texts, to justify their position and use that knowledge to beat on people. In the world of Bible scholars the one who knows how to dissect the scriptures the best wins. Some use the Bible only as a resource to enhance their life or to solve some dilemma. Others use it only for comfort during hard times, or even to yield riches and wealth. What is wrong with this picture?
Even we Christians can use the Bible in a way that is self serving and manipulative. Just give me the five principles for success in the Word and I will do it.  Instead of being read by the Word the way Joseph was, we merely read the word for it’s informational-how to value, but never as God invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good”.
It is clear that the way God views His word is different than just a resource or a set of principles to help us be better people. “The word of the LORD tested him. (Joseph). This was a process Joseph could not control or dissect in a laboratory, but could only submit to.  He couldn’t master teachings on 3 ways to get out of prison. He could only surrender to the Word of God. That is indeed humbling to our flesh.
The saints and mystics of old approached the Word of God in a way that is not informational, but revelational. “Lectio Divina” is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or holy reading, and has been practiced by Christians and Catholics alike.  It is a way of approaching the scriptures that calls a person to study,meditate, listen and, pray and (even sing) and speak from the Word, from their heart.
This is vastly different from approaching the Word for what it can do for us. Submitting to the Word means that the Word doesn’t just do something for me, but it does something to me.
It’s not what we read, but how we approach what we read. Do we approach it with a full cup of intellect, or a cracked empty cup meekness?
Approaching Gods word is a lot like feasting. First you take a bite, (read) then you chew, (meditate) then savor, (speak it) then you digest making it part of your body. (It becomes part of your life)
  As we come to the Word, do we say: “Lord lay I open my heart, my thoughts, and my life. Transform me into what I must become”?

Lou and Louisa Perez both grew up in New York City and met in the first Church Lou pastored in Schenectady, NY. In 1999 they started Destiny Christian Church in Niagara Falls with the vision of taking Church outside the four walls. Visit their website at www.destinychristianniagara.com.

Resource Review: Make Your Move by Third Day

Third Day delivers its soul-stirring 11th studio album, MOVE, showcasing the band at their melodic and lyrical best, peering insightfully at life within the church as well as pointedly seeking to understand the needs and questions of those without faith. It's an often difficult balance to achieve, but Third Day succeeds in speaking candidly and hopefully to listeners. of every stripe, challenging each not just to a place of faith - but a place of faith in action.

Resource Review: Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey

Your company is only as strong as your leaders. These are the men and women doing battle daily beneath the banner that is your brand. Are they courageous or indecisive? Are they serving a motivated team or managing employees? Are they valued?

Your team will never grow beyond you, so here's another question to consider. Are you growing? Whether you're sitting at the CEO's desk, the middle manager's cubicle, or a card table in your living-room-based startup, "EntreLeadership" provides the practical, step-by-step guidance to grow your business where you want it to go. Dave opens up his championship playbook for business to show you how to:

- Inspire your team to take ownership and love what they do

- Unify your team and get rid of all gossip

- Handle money to set your business up for success

- Reach every goal you set and much, much more.

Resource Review brought to you by Bender's Parable Christian Store. 

Marketplace Ministry: A Mobile Outreach Focused Ekklesia

By Joseph Mattera

As we examine the New Testament, we see that Jesus called for the formation of the ekklesia in Matthew 16:18. In Greek culture an ekklesia was the ruling body that governed the polis or city state. Thus Jesus didn’t create a new word but borrowed from a common political word to describe His goal for those who would be His disciples: that they would represent His kingdom will on earth with binding and loosing powers that would govern the heavenly principalities (Ephesians 3:8-10, 6:10-18) and thus transform earthly communities where each ekklesia was established. This is a great difference in function from the typical congregational idea of simply assembling together as found in Hebrews 10:25.

The idea of conversion was not merely meant to fill seats for church growth on Sundays but to nurture disciples who would turn the world order upside down (Acts 17:6). Since the late 19th century the idea of church as a ruling ekklesia has largely been lost and replaced with rescuing sinners from this world and living secluded pietistic lives to make it to heaven. We went from changing the world to resisting the world, from engaging the world to protecting ourselves from the world.

This is totally contrary to the original Greek meaning of the word ekklesia, which means being called to engage the world and govern it. Now, pastors are happy to have a lot of people show up on Sundays, whether they affect the culture or not. Thus, church attendance in this nation is at an all-time high but cultural effectiveness is at an all-time low!

If the church is going to recapture its cultural commission of discipling nations and having global influence, as found in Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19, it has to learn the difference between building an ekklesia and a mere congregation that assembles together.

This also explains why God has had to raise up some parachurch ministries that function more like “special forces” with a call to reach cities. It may not be a pure New Testament model, but until local churches stop being inwardly focused and effectively reach their cities, God will continue to call special forces out of its ranks.

This also explains why sometimes a smaller-sized church can have more cultural influence than a megachurch that compromises the gospel. Many megachurches are not ekklesias but are merely gathering places that have very limited influence in the heavenly and earthly realms.

Furthermore, this also explains why some churches experience more strategic-level spiritual warfare and others don’t; mere congregations have lower-level spiritual warfare than those that function as the ekklesias of communities.

The following are some of the contrasts between the two concepts: 

§ The ekklesia challenges the status quo; the congregation assembles to find peace in the midst of the cultural environment.

§ The ekklesia demands a commitment that involves the vocational calling of all its members to represent the kingdom in all of life; the congregation demands a commitment that involves Sunday ministry and church programs.

§ The ekklesia trains people for all of life; the congregation trains people for church life.

§ The ekklesia effects change in the surrounding community; the congregation only affects change in individual souls.

§ The ekklesia is at war against demonic entities in the heavenly spheres; the congregation is at war to have church growth and bring deliverance to some individual members.

§ The ekklesia sends out people to serve their communities; the congregation calls for their communities to attend their Sunday worship experiences.

§ The ekklesia is only satisfied with bringing the kingdom on earth; the congregation is satisfied if their members have joy in their hearts.

§ The ekklesia expands kingdom influence by converting people to be Christ-following disciples; the congregation appeals to the felt needs of people so they will continually depend on a 90 minute Sunday worship experience to feel good about themselves.

§ The ekklesia is outwardly focused on stewarding the earth; the congregation is focused on making it to heaven.

§ The ekklesia engages in Spirit-empowered humanitarianism; the congregation on Spirit-empowered pietism.

§ Those in an ekklesia know they have been sanctified to serve others; those in a congregation believe they are saved for the sake of sanctification.

§ The ekklesia embraces God’s sovereign human design for the saints since their physical birth (Ephesians 1:4); the congregation only honors what God has done in saints spiritually from the time they were “born again.”

§ The ekklesia preaches Jesus rose from the dead to “fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10); the congregation preaches Jesus rose from the dead merely to save individuals from hell.

§ The ekklesia believes in a divine cosmic plan that includes this present earth; the congregation believes in a (postponed) cosmic plan that (largely) excludes this present earth.

§ The ekklesia disciples whole nations (Matthew 28:19); the congregation disciples individual ethnic people groups.

§ The ekklesia has a vision for the whole community; the assembly for their whole congregation.

§ The ekklesia aspires to influence each of the seven cultural mountains of society; the congregation aspires to function only in the mountain of “religion.”