OK I know it has been so long since I last posted but I have an excuse: I started bible college! I moved out of the house in early September and moved to York and have been at the Calvary Chapel Bible college here since. It has been crazy busy so far and the adjustment to the student life has been hard but my time here has been amazing so far.

Every semester the college has outreaches to various places. Two trips really stood out to me: The first was to King’s Lynn! I had the chance to go back home and I really wanted to! I was tempted by the thought of my bed and my family and my Mum’s cooking. The second was to Romania. I know now that the only reason Romania was on my heart was because God wanted me there because I never would have picked that on my own. But here is a brief summary of the trip, which one I went on,  and what happened:

“When the outreaches were put out, I had originally planned to go back to my house. I wanted to be able to see my family and have a break but God kept putting Romania on my heart. I had pretty much reserved myself to the fact that there was no way of getting enough money for Romania. A few days before my Grandpa called me and I told him about the outreaches. I very briefly told him about Romania and then went on to talk about other things. That night my Grandpa called my Mom and gave her a talking to saying that Romania was dangerous, and a waste of money, and that she should not allow me to go. This just cemented my plan of going back to King’s Lynn.

The morning of the outreach, I put my name down to go to King’s Lynn but I just felt like it was wrong. I opened my laptop and saw an email from my Grandpa. Opening it, he said he wanted to pay for my trip to Romania. I was blown away! My Grandpa is not a believer and it was crazy seeing God give him a complete change of heart. So I stood up and changed my name from King’s Lynn to Romania.

For the first few days, I was struggling. Outhouses, fleas, and cockroaches are defiantly not my thing and to add onto that, I had the thought of “I could be at my house right now” during the time there. I was praying to the Lord in a place of “Why am I here?” I knew God wanted me there because He clearly opened the door but I just felt lost and alone. In my morning devotions I read 1 Corinthians 1:9: “God is faithful…” and God really just spoke to me that He is faithful to be with me no matter where I go. After reading this it was time to do devotions with the group and the verse we read was Genesis 26:24 “…Do not fear, for I am with you…” and I just felt peace. God spoke to me that even though I was in a foreign country where they don’t speak my language, He was right by my side and He was faithful to never leave me or forsake me.

After this, I had the chance to teach the kids in a gypsy village in a town called Valeni. My group had a day where we were just preparing for the week and so we all broke off to prepare our studies for the week. I wanted to pour out what I had been learning so I put together a study with the disciples in the storm and Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego showing that Jesus is right next to us in our storms. I had been outside and it got cold so I decided to go back in. When I did I saw Kirsten, one of the girls on the team, with a felt board of the ocean. I asked what she was teaching on and she said the disciples in the storm! I was so blessed to know God had given me my study and confirmed that by giving the same to Kirsten. After that I went to the next room and saw Kate surrounded by bits of red and yellow paper. When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was putting a craft together for her message which was on Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego! I was so encouraged by the unity God had put in our group.

God really confirmed his faithfulness and goodness to me while I was in Romania. He is beyond faithful to us! Christ was faithful, to the point of death on a cross! He has demonstrated His love for me and I really fell in love with Jesus on the Romania trip.”

I hope to update this blog as often as I can so keep checking back. Please keep praying for the church in King’s Lynn!

“I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?”

Galatians 3:2

• With this post I want to explore the Spirit and what it means to receive the Spirit.
• There are 3 Greek prepositions concerning the Holy Spirit which are important to know: Para (With), En (In), Epi (Upon). The Holy Spirit is with us before we are saved. We know this because the Spirit convicts us of sin and draws us to God. (But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt [fn] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.- John 16:7-11). When we are saved the Holy Spirit came in us. (And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory.-Ephesians 1:13). Baptism of the Holy Spirit is when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Now there are so many verses where the Holy Spirit comes upon someone, that if I were to write them out this post would be huge so I will write out a few and list the rest. (But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."-Acts 1:8)
• Luke 3:21-22, Acts 2:4, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 9:17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:1-7.
• Some believe you must speak in tongues to be truly baptized by the Holy Spirit.While this is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not all of the verses listed above resulted in that particular gift. Some resulted in no immediate gift at all!
• Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and 1 Peter 4:10-11
• Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Helping Others, Leadership, Mercy, Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miraculous Powers, Distinguishing Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, and Boldness.
• I want to share how the Holy Spirit effected my life. When I graduated fifth grade, my Grandpa got me a guitar. After realizing you can’t just pick up a guitar and play it, it sat in the corner of my room being used as something to hang my clothes on. A few years later, a friend taught me my first chord and suddenly I began growing in my knowledge of guitar. The guy leading worship at a men's study moved away so I began playing guitar (The same 1 song every week) but I was terrified of singing so I didn’t. I was then invited to go to a worship leaders conference at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. During the final teaching, the pastor discussed baptism of the Holy Spirit. I knew that was something I want but I felt the Lord tell me to wait until I got back home. The day after coming back, it was the Men’s bible study night. The men laid hands on me and I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. I must confess I was still scared to sing. My Dad says I turned to him and said “Dad I can’t do this!” and he replied “You don’t have to anymore. The Holy Spirit will.” That was the first night I ever sang in front of a group. Since then the Holy Spirit has been growing my gift of worship.
• 3 Random things about the Holy Spirit:
  The Holy Spirit was present during creation- Genesis 1:2
   The Holy Spirit is the author of prophecy- 2 Peter 1:21
   The Holy Spirit resurrected Jesus- Romans 8:11
 
• What the Spirit’s job description is:
  Our Comforter/Testifies of God-John 15:26
   Convicts us of sin-John 16:8-11
   Intercedes for us-Romans 8:26-27
   Reveals the things of God- 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
 
 
• "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for [fn] a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"- Luke 11:9-13
 
 

“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” Galatians 3:1

· The word Paul uses here for foolish is not “Moros” which means someone who is mentally deficient. He uses “Anoetos” which means someone who can think but fails to use their power of perception. Perception is understanding so basically Paul was saying God had shown Himself to the Galatians through Jesus being crucified before their very eyes, but they were choosing to ignore understanding and believe that they could be saved by the law.

· I think we can take comfort in the fact that living by faith was hard at times, even for those who had seen Christ crucified. Even the people who had been around him and maybe even touched him, they were struggling with their faith when trials came up.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” 1 Peter 1:6-8

The Galatians were having a crisis of faith. It was do or die time. Paul was saying “You can’t live on the fence between God and the Law.” Trials like what the Galatians were going through, a conflict between what they knew was right and what they had know their whole lives, trials like that come to build our faith, not tear it down.

· Throughout the Bible, there are verses that really show how powerful our faith can be.

· “He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

· “Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.” Matthew 21:21

· Our faith is powerful! Trials don’t keep us from it, but make it stronger!

· “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1.

· “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

· “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.” –Martin Luther King JR. There are things we won’t know until we stand before God. But we have the word. And that’s the step. And we have faith that this step leads somewhere. It would be foolish of me to NOT believe this. We have all seen God work in our lives and so our faith is acting upon that and taking the first step.

“But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Galatians 2:14-21

• So basically Paul is saying “Why are you trying to put the Gentiles under the yoke of bondage, under Judaism, when you yourself have been set free?” “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."-Matthew 11:29-30 A relationship isn’t binding. It’s freeing! His burden is light if you are willing to learn.
• Peter’s problem was pride. He was worried about how the Jews from Jerusalem would view him if he was hanging out with Gentiles. So he separated himself from them and in doing so put the yoke of bondage back onto himself. God is so good that even in the times of us being disobedient (Which Peter was being), He helps us out of it. God sent Paul to stop him from this.
• Paul isn’t saying that the Gentiles are sinners and the Jews are not. That is totally contradictory to what he wrote in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. No one was perfect not even the Jews. Paul is talking about the eating of foods the law said were sinful like Pork.
• If there was one man on Earth who would know how justifying the law was, it would be Paul because he kept it to a tee. In the sense of the law, he was blameless. But in the sense of the Word, he was to be blamed. The works of the flesh hold no credibility before God. So Paul is saying “Knowing we can’t save ourselves, (Only Jesus can), we believe in HIM, so He can save us and not our works. My deed’s cannot save my flesh.” The gap between man and God cannot be bridged by works and deeds. It can only be bridged by the acceptance of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
• In the first part, Paul says God doesn’t approve of sin. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:8. God doesn’t love our sin, He loves us. If Paul had tried to rebuild or go back to his former life which he had destroy and crucified with Christ (Will go into that a bit more in the next blog post), he would be a transgressor. The old life has dead.
• While trying to be justified by faith, Paul was dead. The law was unkeepable so he was condemned. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”- James 2:10. So if you stumble in even the smallest point of the law, you are guilty. And the price is death. So he was dead so he could live for God.
• What a mind blowing concept that we have been crucified with Christ. I can admit that there have been area’s in my life where I have been like “I have this, I give you, POOF it’s gone”. Many other areas are a constant struggle. I did a little research on crucifixion and here's what I found: a crucifixion didn’t instantly kill. It took anywhere between hours to days. The war against the flesh is a constant one, which will be fought your whole life until the day you stand before God.
• The old life is gone. The self-serving, self-centered life is dead. The new life, with God at the head lives.
• This all comes back to God’s unfailing love. Jesus gave himself away so that I might live. Jesus bridged the gap between God and Man by dying for all of mankind. If we could earn our way by good works, well then the Saviour of the world died in vain. But our works cannot save us, only Jesus can. Trust in Him with all your heart!

“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.”

Galatians 2:11-13

• So here, Paul opposes Peter to his face where just a few verses ago he took the disciples aside privately. This is a big change in the way Paul handled two issues. There are two possible reasons for this:

1. To know the first, we have to have a look into what was happening at the time when Paul opposed him. We need to look at the setting. They were having an Agape Feast (Love Feast). Basically everyone brought some food and they had a pot luck. Not only was this one of the only good meals some of the people would have in the week but it was a time of unity among various believers from different backgrounds. This was unifying the Jews and Gentiles. So Peter, by only eating with Jews, is causing a division in a feast that is meant to be filled with love.
2. The second is that Paul saw Peter slipping back into following the law. So when it says “Pail withstood him to his face” it wasn’t like he got all up in his grill. Paul cared enough for his brother to let him know and you can bet money that his response was in love. Peter didn’t want the Jews to see him in a bad way, so fearing them, he ignored the Gentiles.

• “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”-Proverbs 29:25.  Living your life for the approval of man binds you from doing the will of God. To be in His will you need to be sold out! Snares in life will come but we put our trust in God who is our shelter and fortress.
• Peter was allowing the Jews to enforce their gospel that the Gentiles were unclean. “About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."-Acts 10:9-16. God knew that this day at the Agape Feast would come and He was preparing Peter for it. After His time on the roof, Peter joined in fellowship in the house of Cornelius with Gentiles. So Peter began to really enjoy the fellowship of Gentiles until these Jews came and swayed him. And even Barnabas! Its kind of like Acts 17 where there was a victory, then a defeat, then a victory, then a defeat. Satan used the fear of man to attack the work of God, which is a weapon in his arsenal to this day! So watch out and know that the fear of man brings a snare!
• “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”- 2 Timothy 1:7

It has been eight months. It seems like just yesterday, but eight busy months have passed since we moved from Kings Lynn. The Lord has done amazing things in and with our family since we left, so we thought it would be a good time to share what has been happening in those eight long months.
Leaving was a very sad decision for us, and it was only because we felt it was the Lord's leading that we were able to make that decision; we prayed very hard that He would give us the strength to make another move across the world, and we saw the Lord clear the way before us. Before we even packed up the house, the Lord provided a job interview for me, so I flew to Boulder, CO to talk with a company about managing a coffee shop; I started work there three days later. I have a friend that I knew moved to CO not too long ago, but wasn't sure where he was living, come to find out it was about 20 minutes from my new job and I was able to stay with him long enough to find an apartment to rent. The Lord also provided a car for me to use through our good friend Alex Spampinato, which was a huge blessing. So in a matter of days, I found a job, a place to stay then a place to live, and a car. What a huge God we serve! Carleigh and the kids joined me soon after, and we have since started settling in to our new life here. The job is still going well, and I enjoy every day. The biggest blessing here though has been our new church. We found a small church in our town called Whitefields Community Church, which is a solid Bible teaching church full of on fire people. We have been able to get involved in childrens ministry, website and graphic design ministry, and setting up for Sunday mornings. We have been blessed getting to know our pastor Pete Nelson, and his family, and look forward seeing how the Lord can use us; simple sinners.
We have been reminded once again about the faithfulness of the Lord. When looking at the possibility of moving from England, we were very sad, and couldn't understand how this could be God's perfect plan for our life; but once again we get to see (even if it's only little by little) God's plan coming together. And even though we still miss all of our dear friends in King's Lynn, we undstand all the better What our Lord says in Isaiah - ""For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."" (Isaiah 55:8-9)

"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And they praised God because of me." Galatians 1:13-24

• First off, forgive me for not posting! I have been down with the flu and have just started getting better. I didn't forget about you guys!
  
• Paul was the best of the best. Before being saved, he was going all out for Judaism. He was raised and lived his whole life to further Judaism. Philippians 3:4-6 says "though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." He was living the life everyone wanted. He had done everything perfect and was advancing in Judaism straight to the top. When God met Paul on the Damascus road, he did a 180 and left all of that behind because he "counted them as loss for Christ." He dropped reputation, pride, friends, and his future in Judaism to follow Christ.
  
• After his conversion, Paul didn't go to man or go to the apostles to learn from them. He went straight into the deserts of Saudi Arabia and spent 3 and 1/2 years studying and listening to God. He didn't want to have any influences from man in his teachings but wanted to sit before God and just listen. So this gospel Paul taught was birthed through a time of intimacy with God. This shows the importance of alone time with God. We cannot grow if we aren't listening for that still small voice of God. James 4:8 promises that if we draw near to Him, he will draw near to us and meet us where we are at just like he met Paul where he was at.
  
• The reason Paul had all the answers is because he was searching for them in the Word and through prayer. James 1:5. God will give wisdom to those who ask for it. And he has given us all the answers in His word but we need to dig in and search them out.
  
• After Paul's 3 and 1/2 years in the desert, he returned to Damascus as a teacher instead of a persecutor . He spent 3 years teaching them before finally going to Jerusalem.
  
• Paul stayed with James for 15 days. This is not James brother of John the fisherman because that James had already been martyred before Paul arrived. This was James brother of Jesus who wrote the book of James. After Jerusalem, Paul went back to Tarsus and went back to his old profession of tent making. Again this seems like a job where he would have plenty of time to think and talk to God. He grew in his relationship with God because he spent time with Him. If two people get married and never talk to each other, the relationship will never work. Every relationship requires that intimacy. Draw near to Him!
• The church in Jerusalem was a little fearful because of Paul's old life. He has harshly persecuted the church and we responsible for many deaths. But when they received the report that he was serving God they rejoiced. Paul's story gives me hope. That God would take someone who imprisoned and killed HIS people and not only use him for His glory but to love him. This shows we can never mess up to the point of no return. He will always love you and will never leave you nor forsake you.
• I encourage you to make alone time with Him. If you set aside that time He will make the most of it! Not only will you grow in a deeper relationship with Him but you will, like Paul, begin to have those answers.
  

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" Galatians 1:11-12

After reading this, I begin contemplating the authenticity of the Bible. I have always heard arguments where people say "The Bible was written so long ago, we cannot prove its accuracy." or that there is no historical evidence of in favor of the Bible. So I decided to take a day and scour the web to try and find if our Bible 1. Is the Word God intended for us to have and 2. Has any historical standing.

When compared with other works, I was very surprised! Here is what I found:

OLD TESTAMENT:
Up until 1946, the oldest complete copy of the Old Testament was "Codex Babylonicus Petropalitanus" from AD 1008, more than 1,400 years after the Old Testament was completed. In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. These scrolls close the gap to about 200 years. So in that gap when man could have added whatever he wanted, such as prophecies about Christ, did he? The answer is: No! There were no changes between "Codex Babylonicus Petropalitanus" and the Dead Sea Scrolls. This shows the Jewish people were great at keeping records and that the Old Testament we have today is completely reliable and trustworthy.

The Bible mentions the Hittites forty times, but for centuries there was no secular record so they were presumed to not exist. In 1906, a German archeologist uncovered what is now known as the Hittite Empire capitol. This shows the Bible knew things before any human ever did!

NEW TESTAMENT:



WORK WRITTEN Earliest Copy Time Span Number of Copies

• Herodotus------------488-428 BC-----AD 900------------1,300-----------------8
• Thucydides-----------460-400BC-----AD 900------------1,300-----------------8
• Tacticus--------------AD 100---------AD 1100-----------1,000-----------------20
• Ceasar's Gallic Wars--58-50 BC-------AD 900------------950------------------9-10
• Livy's Roman History-59BC-AD17----AD 900------------900------------------20
• New Testament------AD40-100------AD 130------------300------------------5,000 Greek, 10,000 Latin, and 9,300 others.
  

Hello, My name is Jerry Dayton and I am new to this blog because I just arrived in King’s Lynn last Thursday.

Coffee Outreach
The outreach on Saturday went very well. We served tea, coffee, doughnuts, and these sausage rolls that were served cold and I wasn’t brave enough to try. Mac and I also played/practiced worship for about four hours, while the rest of the team shared and ministered to the guests from the community. A couple of our first visitors were a pair of Bobbies, with whom God gave us great favor. They were not just impressed with what we were doing, but they informed us of a website we could visit to announce our activities as a church to the community. Then after enjoying their refreshments, they returned to their work of patrolling the town center, all the while telling people about the outreach. They said they plan to attend the opening service tomorrow. Overall I believe we had more than thirty people wander in for a dry space, hot drinks, a bit of food and warm conversation. That is not including our team of about nine. Unlike last time when Mac said people quickly ate their food and left, people milled about for quite a while, some for even a couple of hours. It was a blessed time of actually engaging with the community and many said they planned to return in the future. I thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue diligently because people are pretty skeptical. The comment was made today that if we are giving away free food, there must be something wrong with it. (Like it’s poisoned) I kid you not. And one couple said that if we have so much money that we can give away free food we could give them the money instead. While this sounds strange and even a bit amusing, so many here are hurting and desperate for connection.

Our First Service in the Church Building
I cannot even pretend to relate to the struggle and sacrifice those who have arrived before me have endured and overcome. The Proffits have worked extremely hard to carve out a place of ministry here in the hard soil of King’s Lynn and I was amazed to see it in action. I am not sure if my goose bumps Sunday morning were from the cold or the incredible sound of voices echoing off the old brick walls of the warehouse turned church as Mac lead worship. Vince continued in the book of Acts and as the trek took us to the end of chapter fourteen it fit our situation perfectly. After all the prayer and waiting on my visa it was a blessing to sit with my pastor at the feet of Christ, bathed in His Word. Having been given the honor of passing out communion, the sweetest moment of the service for me came when I offered the juice to a new fellow in the church. The joy on his face over partaking of the Lords sacrifice was overwhelming because many churches here will only permit you to join in communion if you have been baptized into that specific church. Oh how we take for granted our freedom of worship in the states. After service we fellowshipped, ate pastries and drank tea. There is always tea. Then after more than an hour of enjoying each other’s company church still was not over because most of those in attendance migrated back to the Proffit’s home for a late lunch. Marie prepared fabulous traditional English soup, perfect for warming the soul from the inside out on such a cold and rainy day. The Proffit family were joined by Tony, Sherry and myself from the states, Alex who came down from the bible college in York, and a handful of members of the church in King’s Lynn. We talked, Laughed and played games well into the night. The sense of community as the body of Christ, and the feeling of family are indescribable. God’s hand is clearly at work, but there are still so many unreached hearts in this place. Please go to war on your knees for the people of King’s Lynn

Hello everyone!

Nehemiah 9 is such an encouraging chapter of the Bible. Here the people of Jerusalem have just rebuilt the wall and in the previous chapter they reconnected with His Word, and now here in Nehemiah 9 they are connecting with God through prayer, and I am so encouraged.
The people prayed to God and they reflected on all that He had done for the Jewish people, going all the way back to Abraham. They listed the faults of the past but more importantly they listed God's faithfulness. And man is His faithfulness great! Every time the people failed God stayed strong.
"Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; for You are God, gracious and merciful." (Nehemiah 9:31)
And as I look back at the last few years, I see continually the Lord's faithfulness throughout every aspect of Calvary King's Lynn, from getting the Proffit family to England, to starting a Bible Study in our home, to now having a building of their very own. And so I am convicted to continue to pray for Calvary King's Lynn and those that are serving the Lord there. As we look to the future, and wait to see what the Lord is going to do in the city of King's Lynn, my hope is that those of us praying for this town would be convicted to pray faithfully, myself included. I pray that we would not grow weary in praying but that we would do our best to stay faithful to the call that God has for us in this church plant.
Let us come together as one body and pray without ceasing for the Lord's work in King's Lynn.

Carleigh

Fall is here. The Walks is covered in bright leaves. I love the feeling of leaves rustling past my feet. The residents of Kings Lynn are adorned in sweaters, scarves, and wooly jackets. The seagulls are so beautiful in the gloomy skies. The cherry tree in front of our house is bright pink, orange and yellow. The changing seasons remind me of this scripture.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what has been planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep and a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silent, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Life mirrors the seasons, and there's a purpose to every season we go through. We see children born, and we see children die. We see the farmers sow their seeds, and then fields ripe for the harvest. We see buildings torn down, for newer ones to rise in their place. We have times of weeping, and wonderful times of laughter with friends. We mourn, and we dance. We gain, and sometimes we lose everything. We see many young men and women shipped out to go fight in the middle east. As we go through this economic crisis we see people who had businesses, and investments, now homeless. Many of you who are reading have lost a home, or are barely holding on to the home you have.

My family was invited to the Vineyard church, by the Pastor and his Wife. During worship we sang a song called “Forever You.” I was in the process of writing this blog, and it fits perfectly. Here it is:

“Even in a world, where nothing stays the same.
There is still a truth, a truth that still remains.

Forever You will always be
Our God on high, the Lord in me
The King of hope, the Lord of love
The Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God


Even though the heart, always seems to change
There is still a love, a love that stays the same.

You will always be exalted
King of Kings and Holy Father!”


“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 Our hope, forever. No matter what. The death of a friend or family member, losing your job, house, a unsuspected illness. In ever circumstance He will always be God on high, the Lord in you. The King of hope, the Lord of love. The Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God. Place all you cares, and needs in His hands. Know that your circumstances are a season, but God is forever. During every season He is.

Please pray for us here at Calvary Chapel Kings Lynn, pray that as we enter our new building we would look to Jesus to supply our every need. Pray that through having this building we would be able to introduce the people of Kings Lynn to Jesus, and His unchanging love. That we would be able to comfort all with the comfort we have received from Jesus Christ. Pray that God would use the seasons we've been through. To minister to the people of Kings Lynn who have lost a house, business, or job. Who are sick, dying, or who have lost a loved one. All those who are in need, homeless, without food, or running water. To the widows, the orphans and abused children. That we would be a light in the darkness.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Amen, thank you.

Calling all Saints!!!!!

Ruth Graham, beloved wife of Billy Graham once said “If there are any tears shed in heaven, they are going to be shed over all the answers to prayer for which no one bothered to ask!”

I am sending out this newsletter with such hope! I am standing in faith and calling on each of you, to stand in faith with each of us here in Kings Lynn. We need your prayers. “...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16b

It is with great joy that I write to ask you to pray with us for a building!!!
It is a building in the town center, across from the bus station. We have been praying for a building to become available in this location for a year! The building is across from the bus station, a taxi ramp, a grocery store and the museum. It is next door to a pub and the phone company. The building has big double doors, that when opened, will allow people waiting for a bus, taxi, or coming to or from town, to hear the Word of God and worship music!

Jesus said “...if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Here is the mountain we need our Jesus to move... we need one thousand pounds just to get into this building. The landlord is asking for three months rent up front. Then, there is work to be done inside, all of which is cosmetic. Further, there is a need for a cross, sign, lighting and seats. Eventually, there will be a need for a sound system.

By faith, I have told the realtor that we will rent the building and I am trusting God. On a side note... I tried to rent a building from this landlord about nine months ago, but he would not rent to me if I was going to make the building a church! Although he was resistant when I met with him this time, he said yes!!! The building can be used as a church!!! God is moving in this place and our prayers are being answered!

We trust the Lord to meet all of our needs here, but I do ask that you pray and consider how the Lord might have you partner with us. Nothing would bless us more than to know that you have committed to pray with us for this work.

Pray for God's favor with this building and how it can be used to impact this community for His Glory. I have enclosed photos, so you can “see” what you are praying for. Also, pray for wisdom in how to proceed and what is needed. You all know, I have never done this before, so I am going forward in the Lord's grace, because this is HUGE for me!

Finally, if the Lord leads you to make a donation or love gift, you can drop it off at Calvary Chapel in Phelan, Calvary Chapel in Apple Valley, or you can contact me directly.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21)

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now...” whoo hoo! I'll keep you posted, God Bless You!

So, it has been quite a while since the last blog entry, and for that I apologize. It has been a crazy couple months, that have tried our patience and our trust. Carleigh, the kids, and I have moved back to the states after what we felt was the Lord's direction, and have just settled down in our new house just outside Denver, Colorado. As I look back at how the Lord brought us from our comfortable home in Southern California, across the ocean to England, and again back to the states to a place we had never even been, I was just thinking about God's plans, and how different they are from ours. We could have never planned all this on our own, and there isn't enough room on this page to go into all the little (and big) details the Lord worked out on our behalf, and it had me thinking about one of my favorite verses. Jeremiah 29:11-13 says:

'For I know the thoughts I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart'.

God says He has a plan for each and every one of us, and He promises it is better than anything we could come up with on our own. When things seems too dificult, we need to remember these promises, and know and trust that in the big picture that only God can see, it is what is very best for us. We can take comfort in knowing that we truly serve a loving and gracious God.

above is a picture of our new home (not the literal barn, but the area :-)
Boulder County, Colorado.