‘…the next walk we are planning to head over on to the Wainuiomata Coast Road to the Rimutaka Forest Park. We will park in the car park at the Catchpool Stream. There is a gentle climb and then down to a picnic area by the Orongorongo River (2hrs return)

We would like to get off pretty promptish after Church so for car sharing lets be ready in the car park for 12.30.’

Come join us if you can!

The theme for this year is ‘Heart of a Pilgrim’ and the guest speakers will be Pam Markey and Laura Anderson.

Pam spent the years of her life from age 7 –17 on the mission field with her parents in Zimbabwe, Africa.  After graduating college she married George Markey who became pastor of the first Calvary Chapel in the Midwest before moving to Ukraine as missionaries in 1992 with their eight children. In 1999 they adopted their ninth child. During the fourteen years they spent in Ukraine the church they planted in Kyiv resulted in many other churches being planted in other cities in Ukraine. In 2006 they moved to Biskek in Kyrgyzstan, George was taken ill in Bishkek in January 2007 and Feb 2007 went to be with the Lord.  Pam is on staff at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Vajta, Hungary.

Laura originally served with her husband Tim at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara, where Tim was ordained in 1990. During the 1990’s the Anderson family served as missionaries in Eastern Europe following the collapse of communism.  Pastor Tim and Laura answered the call to Pastor Calvary Chapel Burbank,California in July 2001. Where they currently serve. Tim and Laura have been married 25 years and have five children.

Please contact Becky Pham for more info – becky@phamilynews.net.

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and He shall stand at last on the earth.
Job 19.25

As we study through the book of Job, we see that he lost all his children, his wealth and livelihood and even his health – all in a very short time period.  And as Job and his friends debate, we see Job often sinking into depression and despair – not because he lost everything.  But because he doesn’t sense the presence of God anymore.

But amazingly, we also see Job rising up to some mountaintops of faith.  In Job 1.21, after he learns of his losses, he proclaims – ‘…the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’.  Amazing faith!

And here in today’s verse, after Job has hit bottom, he suddenly shoots up to the mountaintop of faith and proclaims – ‘For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth!’  Stop to think about what Job is saying – it truly is amazing faith!

First, notice that he says he KNOWS – he is certain of it.  He is not just hoping or wishing for it, but knows it!

Secondly, he knows and is certain that his Redeemer LIVES!
Job is not putting his faith in a dead Redeemer, but a living One!

Next he says it is MY Redeemer.  Did you catch that?  Job makes it personal – not just any Redeemer, but MINE!

Lastly, Job knows for sure that his Redeemer is coming back to earth; that his Redeemer will one day stand on the earth!  Job has faith that his Redeemer will COME BACK for him!

What amazing faith from a man who is suffering immense trials and tribulations.  And remember, Job lived literally centuries before Jesus!  In fact, he likely lived before Moses and the Law!  That makes his faith even more amazing!

But let’s ask ourselves – how is our faith?  In trials, can we also like Job proclaim – I know my Redeemer lives?  Or the Lord gave and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord?  How is our faith in light of knowing Jesus and having God’s Word?  Do we know our Redeemer lives?  And that He is returning for us?

David Pham

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and
tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Matthew 28:10

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father;
but go to My brethren and say to them,
‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
John 20:17

A couple weeks ago, we saw that Jesus calls us “servants” and “friends” and what special relationships these are.  As I was reading in my devotions this week, I came across these passages where Jesus calls us His brothers!  It really spoke to me – this is an even more intimate and special relationship. Why or how?

Because it is a BLOOD relationship!  Brothers are related by blood.  It is the blood that makes this a unique relationship.  Sure, brothers can be friends and they can even be servants to one another.  But friends and servants cannot be brothers in the true sense of the word, unless there is a blood relationship.

So consider what it means when Jesus calls us “My brethren” – what is the blood relationship that we have with Him?  Ahh, we have a glorious relationship with Jesus based on blood that was shed at the Cross!  We are Jesus’ brethren based on His blood, which was poured out for our salvation!  In fact, not only do we have this blood relationship with Jesus, but with all believers of all countries and all ages!

The apostles Paul and Peter and John are my brethren.  Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, the Wesleys, George Mueller, Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis and Billy Graham are my brethren.  Believers throughout the world are my brethren.  You are my brethren.  All because of this unique blood relationship we have with Jesus!  So consider what the author of Hebrews wrote…

For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one,
for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:
“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
Hebrews 2.11-12

David Pham

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job,
that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,
one who fears God and shuns evil?”
Job 1.8

This past Wed night, we started going through the book of Job.  And in Job 1.8, we saw that God called Job ‘My servant’.  Now, that might not seem so significant to us, but did you know that God called only 11 people or groups ‘My servant’?  Here they are…

Abraham (Gen 26.24)
Moses (Num 12.7-8)
Caleb (Num 14.24)
David (2Sam 3.18)
Isaiah (Isa 20.3)
Eliakim (Isa 22.20)
Israel the nation (Isa 41.8)
Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 25.9)
Zerubbabel (Hag 2.23)
Jesus the Branch (Zech 3.8)

And here in v8, we see Job being called ‘My servant’.  Amazing, isn’t it – out of the hundreds of people in the Bible, only 11 are called ‘My servant’.  And each time this phrase is used, it refers to a relationship that person (or group) has with the Living God.  A relationship that is deep, intimate and full of faith.

But do you know what is also amazing?  Jesus calls us His servants too!  He told the parable of the servants who were given 5, 2 and 1 talents in Matt 25.14-30.  And what did the master say to the first two servants?  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your lord’ (v21,23).  One day, we will also stand before Jesus our Master and hear these words – ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.  Glorious!

And what is even more amazing – Jesus says in John 15.15 that He no longer calls us servants but friends!  Awesome – we are not only servants, but also the friends of Jesus Christ!

David Pham