Category Archives: Calvary Corner

Committed

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Committed

Christmas celebrations include the usual bring your kids to sit on Santa’s lap experience, gift giving and getting, helping the less fortunate, trees, wreaths, elves and eggnog. Even Santa’s ol’ lady gets a cameo appearance in some of the stories, yet it’s hard to find Jesus in Christmas. My point is that there are more than a few celebraters who suggest they revere Jesus Christ in their own way, but what actually is that way? Why is that way such a secret?

Some folks are honestly curious about Christ. They peer into the idea of Him possibly being a crucial character in world history, but they’re not too sure the Christmas story has any realistic value.

There is also a category of persons who are convinced that the Bible is true. They may appear at church gatherings especially on Christmas and Easter, or even a couple times a month. Upon examination, there appears to be very little or sometimes no spiritual fruit developing. Unfortunately, not all who are saved are disciples, although all who are disciples are saved. Jesus’ desire is for all Christians to be committed disciples.

Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples (John 8:31).” When our mind is filled daily with the word of God it penetrates our heart, transforming our will, actions, speech, thoughts and priorities of everyday life. These transformations are a result of commitment. Until we are committed it is impossible to be His disciple. Jesus began His ministry by making disciples out of Peter, Andrew, James and John. He ended His ministry by instructing His disciples to go make more disciples. The work of disciple-making was daily.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry He was occupied with making disciples. From start to finish He affirmed, “Follow Me.” Fully following Jesus proves we’re committed to Him, and that we truly are His disciples. Only committed Christian people are able to grasp the love, joy and hope of Christmas.

Get Yourself Committed
Pastor Huck

Blocking the Blessings

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“Blocking the Blessings”

Success often lies in the mastery of fundamentals. Coach Vince Lombardi once said, “"Football is two things. It's blocking and tackling. You block and tackle better than the other team, and you win."

A major problem I see in the modern church is that today’s Christian often blocks him or herself by ignoring the simplest of Biblical fundamentals. Giving ourselves a wink and a free pass on sins blocks the blessings we would otherwise enjoy.

Quietly allowing the Holy Spirit to expose specific areas requiring attention will open the door for removing these barricades.

1) Unconfessed sins will always hold us back and be a barrier to blessings. When we’re confessing our iniquities before God we are coming into agreement with God. He will point out behaviors that are displeasing to Him, and harmful to us in the long run. These need to change. The prophet Isaiah declared, “The LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God (Isa 59:1).” Please do not be casual with this.

2) Unrepented sinfulness will carry devastating consequences, and open doors for regular demonic influences. Demonic spirits are experts at exploiting our weaknesses. Allow the Holy Spirit to point out bitterness, unforgiveness, foul language or any pattern of lying. Are you casual with alcohol, drugs, or lust? Do you frequent places you know you don’t belong, or watch videos allowing immorality to flood through your eye gate? Casual sin kills, yet God has allowed power to flow through humble repentance.

3) Disobedience happens when we fail to prioritize our Lord, not keeping Him at the center of our lives. Obedience is not about purchasing blessings. It’s about positioning ourselves to receive blessings. Bring your sins into the light and tear down those walls which hold us back from all God intends for us. Choosing our way above God’s way will always create barriers.

Seek Him First
Pastor Huck

Revival or Awakening

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Revival or Awakening

While playing baseball for the University or Toledo I received two letters of invitation to spring training; one from the Dodgers, the other from the SF Giants. I had not yet graduated and was still loading trucks at U.P.S., but I just had to leave and find out how far I could go. If I didn’t take opportunity immediately, I would have been left wondering if I should-a, could-a, would-a made it, for the rest of my life.

I feel the same urgency today regarding revival and awakening. A revival pertains to the church seeking the awareness of God’s presence, to get to know His heart, being open to repentance, having hearts tenderized towards God, and leading of the Holy Spirit.

A revived church sets the stage for an awakening. An awakening affects an entire lost community and sometimes a nation. Every revival and awakening begins with intensified prayer and spreads through the church. Therefore, I am asking all of us to set aside Monday this week to fast and pray for lost souls.

Many who claim to be Christians today are so shallow in prayer that they have to pray to enter their prayers. I am not referring to our prayer list. This request is not for the purpose of church growth, but to receive a burden for lost souls in general. I want to get to a place in my relationship with my Lord, where my heart breaks for what breaks God’s heart.

I have to find out how far God will go, if He can find a congregation who will partner with Him in revival prayer. Remember; the effectual fervent prayer of righteous people avails MUCH.

4HisGlory
Pastor Huck

God Is Greater Than Our Heart

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“God Is Greater Than Our Heart”

Regarding those who are born again of the Spirit John wrote, “In whatever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things” (1 John 3:20).

The first issue to consider is that John declared a Christian’s heart can produce a convincing sense of condemnation. Because of sin we might feel an accusing conscience and ask ourselves, “Why did I ever think such an evil thought?” Or “How could I do that and still be a Christian?”

In reality, a condemning heart is not a bad thing if there is regular sin occurring in our life. The Holy Spirit brings a healthy conviction to our soul so that we respond by bringing our failures to God’s throne of grace. The idea is that we would then confess, repent, renounce, realize forgiveness for our sins and press forward, knowing with confidence that our relationship with God is on track.

The Bible declares, “As we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).By forgiving us in Christ, God conquers our condemning heart to bring assurance of our salvation. When condemnation has been removed, confidence with God abounds.

On the night Jesus was betrayed Peter took his eye off the ball and denied knowing Christ three times. The world says three strikes and you’re out, but not Jesus. Our Lord knew Pete was in desperate need of comfort and confidence in order to become the leader God intended him to become. In John 21 on the shores of the Galilee Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him, and three times Peter confessed his love. Jesus said, “Follow Me,” and the rest is history. Peter’s condemning heart was then replaced with confidence to serve his Savior.

Sometimes our heart condemns us but in doing so it delivers the wrong verdict.

God is greater than our heart.
Pastor Huck

Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

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“The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit”

When I was in grade school there were so many people coming to church that they had four services every Sunday morning.

The Scott Park Gang would even attend, wearing heel plates on Beatle boots producing a thunderous sound on tile, as twenty five of them would walk in fashionably late. My point is that back then, even the bad guys attended church services. According to recent research, the average professing Christian today attends church services 1.5 times per month.

The spiritual eggheads of America’s religious kingdom have decided that the solution is to conduct one hour services or less, build out elaborate coffee shops to compete with Starbucks, and provide bigger and better entertainment. Not one researcher suggested we invite the Holy Spirit to come back. BTW, you will never experience a one hour service around here. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are to be the main attraction and when God the Holy Spirit is in charge, you don’t need other allurements.

Paul closed out 2 Corinthians by praying, “… the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” We’re to be experiencing a personal, directed, empowered, lock step, vibrant fellowship with God the Holy Spirit. You can’t even be a Christian without being sealed with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon (epi) you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and even to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).” Have you received God’s life changing empowerment?

The many eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ were not even empowered to take the gospel to this world. The one hundred twenty praying in the upper room were empowered only as they were filled and in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit. Jesus never told the one hundred twenty, “Print business cards, build a web page, and start classes on self-improvement.” Nothing changed until they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

Be Filled and in Fellowship
Pastor Huck

GOD is

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“GOD Is”

An old man commented, “As I grow older, I care less and less what people think about me and more and more what God thinks about me. I expect to be with Him much longer than with you.” Now there’s a guy who knows God.

If Jesus Christ is your Savior, then you can declare like Daniel, “The people who know their God will display strength (Dan 11:32).” If you really know Jesus Christ, then you know that God is: OMNI-PRESENT: God is everywhere at all times.

With eight billion people on the planet God hears you pray like you’re the only one speaking. Pastora and I recently took three grandchildren to The Phoenix Children’s Museum. There are at least three hundred energized kids yelling and laughing. When my grandkids talk to me in there, they sound like Latka on Taxi. Squeaky, high pitched voices that I only sort of hear.

God hears your prayers and conversation like you’re seated with Him in a private booth in a very quiet restaurant. OMNISCIENT: God is all knowing. He doesn’t have to check Spanish translator, or You Tube for instructions on healing.

When my life gets dark, God still sees for me, and I can fully trust Him. “He knows what is in the darkness (Dan 2:22).” God knows all about the future and knows your best future is apprehended by following Him fully. (1John 3:20).OMNIPOTENT: God never looks at a dilemma saying, “I’m not equipped for that one.” Paul is exhorting us when he wrote, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever (Eph 3:20-21).”

In Christ Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3). In plain English God could say, “I’m present, I’m powerful and there is nobody smarter.

Letting the Whole World Know
Pastor Huck

Speaking Up Without Freaking Out

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Speaking Up Without Freaking Out

Every week on that corny game show, “Let’s Make a Deal,” Monte Hall would pick out his contestants by shouting (all together), “Come on down!”

When friends or relatives purchase a new home, they generally invite you to, “C’mon over,” to share in their excitement.

The first time you gazed at the Grand Canyon you may have called someone to say, “I know you’ve seen the photos, but you gotta see it for yourself!” The Grand Canyon is an unusual sight, but what’s even more unusual are the people born in Arizona who have never seen it.

When two of John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus, “Where are you staying,” He replied, “Come and see” (John 1:39). When Phillip invited Nathanael to meet Messiah Phillip simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:46). When Jesus asked the mourners where they laid the body of Lazarus they said, “Come and see” (John11:34). Debates were unnecessary. It’s easy to say, “Come and see.”

When meeting people we often say, “Pleased to meet you.” When we order dinner in a restaurant we might say, “I’ll have the number eleven.” When the waiter asks if we need anything else we usually say, “No thank you.” We simply speak up without freaking out. These are all simple one-liners we often repeat on a regular basis.

A lot of people have made assessments about the Grand Canyon without ever going there. They know nothing of the enormous expanse, the hiking, the elk walking through the parking lot, the funny squirrels that beg to eat from your hand, or how people from the Orient outnumber everyone else in the park; until someone says, “Come and see.”

Like Arizonans who have never experienced the Grand Canyon, the majority of people residing in Black Canyon City have never entered Calvary Chapel BCC. They may have heard good, bad, ugly or nothing at all. They may never know much about the miracle working God we have experienced until we say, “Come and see.”

People to People
Pastor Huck

Predestined To What?

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“Predestined To What?"

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians begins with a mile long sentence that rolls on like a cascading waterfall. He declares that a born again Christian is chosen, redeemed, predestined, privy to the will of God, has obtained an inheritance and is sealed with the Holy Spirit. So, in context, what does the word predestined mean here?

Paul wrote, “We are predestined to adoption through Jesus Christ (Eph 1:5).”In our family we have adopted children. They were chosen, paid for, trained by parents, included in an inheritance, and sealed with our name, Kusner. There is a waiting period before adoptions are finalized. In that time period our children were predestined to become members of our family. That day finally arrived.We who have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have been bought and paid for at the cross of Christ, or in other words, we have been redeemed.

We are currently living with a view to the finality of our adoption when our eyes will see Jesus. Therefore, as the letter to the Ephesians declares in context, born again believers are currently living a life on earth predestined to be adopted into the family of God our Father. I believe that God is sovereign, but not that He chose you or anyone, to fuel the flames of hell from before the foundations of the world, as though you would never have a freewill to repent of sin and confess your desire for Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 declares, “God is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 1John 2:2 tells us, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 2Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Begging to “be reconciled” infers a choice.

So choose wisely and choose Jesus Christ
Pastor Huck

Reflecting on God’s Blessings

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Reflecting on God’s Blessings

God has reminded us in Deuteronomy 8:17-18, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God, for it is He that has given you,” all the blessings of this past year.

This was a year when our congregation helped plant two churches, one in Puerta de Golpe, Nicaragua and the other in Las Costanias, Honduras. The bulk of the Honduran population lives a generally isolated existence in mountainous areas. Pastor Huck, Pastora and Chad traveled into these remote Indian villages to perform the dedication services, baptisms, and pray over the people who were previously meeting outdoors. We sent two teams packing Connex boxes loaded with supplies to Africa for Charlotte Barkley with Bush Telegraph Missions.

Another wonderful crowd enjoyed our Passover celebration revealing Jesus in the Seder meal. We had guest speakers like Daniel Ted of Christian Islamic Dialogue and Pastor John Higgins who was an eyewitness to the Jesus Movement beginnings at Calvary Chapel in 1965. Agents For Christ shared their class on evangelizing the United States and Teen Challenge, our locally supported mission, appeared twice sharing their miracle stories and conversions.

God provided for the completion of our rock wall in the sanctuary, the remodeled wall in the fellowship building and a larger stage. We were even able to purchase a much needed storage shed as well.

We enjoyed the blessings of Men’s and Women’s retreats this fall and “Brian Has the Bacon” made a strong comeback. Daisey Mountain Fire Department offered the AED and First Aid course. Dr. Paw provided a naturopathic remedy and prevention class to ward off colds and flus. The Young Adult Class with Chad has become a much needed launching pad for the younger generation to serve in our church.

We experienced well-attended “Come Home for Christmas” and “Christmas Candlelight Services,” and our worship team began to grow also. Therefore, it is only right to thank our Providing Lord for these blessings, and many more, lest we become spoiled brats assuming we did any of it by our own power.

Glory to God
Pastor Huck

Remembering the Christmas When

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“Remembering the Christmas When”

No matter what age you are, there are probably a few Christmas memories that stand out.

Do you remember a Christmas covered in three feet of snow, or were you born in Phoenix wondering what a white Christmas is all about? There is nothing like an ice storm that makes trees appear to be made out of glass, or needing to kick your frozen front door open.

I have old photos of my cousins as children dealing with Santa; some wearing smiles or tears and fears. I remember staring out the window as the largest snowflakes gently fell under the street light on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, in a very broken world not all memories come with laughing eyes and smiles. Reality can develop in drab shades of gray when tragedy strikes at just the wrong time of year. There are memories in the pages of my mind when loved ones were lost and the void of someone’s absence was felt at family gatherings. Well, that’s why Christmas happened.

God appeared in the flesh two thousand years ago so that your joy would be full. He came to bear our griefs and sorrows, to seek and to save, while reaching out to the gutter-most. Anyone can quibble about exact date for Christmas day or what the pagans celebrated, but they all miss the grace and the gift. Every one of us inherited original sin being passed down from Adam and Eve. Sin kills. It is this world’s most fatal disease and we’re all born with it.

After Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, this young virgin girl gave birth to Jesus, meaning He was never infected by Adams seed or sinful nature. He is our sinless innocent victim who willingly took our place and punishment, so we could live.According to Malachi 3:10 God keeps a “Book of Remembrance” recording every time believers talk about Jesus. Remember to keep Christ in your conversations and may there be volumes recorded and remembered about you this Christmas.

Do you really know Him?
Pastor Huck