Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, was passing along a street one day when a begger stopped him and pleaded for alms. The great Russian searched through his pockets for a coin, but finding none he regretfully said, „Please don‚t be angry with me, my brother, but I have nothing with me. If I did I would gladly give it to you. The beggar‚s face flamed up, and he said, You have given me more than I asked for. You have called me brother.
Covenant Life is all about sharing JESUS!
A Ship
by Pastor Tony McAfee | August 10, 2011
A ship, like a human being, moves best when it is slightly athwart
the wind, when it has to keep its sails tight and attend to its
course. Ships, like men, do poorly when the wind is directly behind,
pushing them sloppily on their way so that no care is required in
steering or in the management of sails; the wind seems favorable,
for it blows in the direction one is heading, but actually it is
destructive, because it induces a relaxation in tension and skill.
What is needed is a wind slightly opposed to the ship, for then
tension can be maintained, and juices can flow and ideas can
germinate; for ships, like men, respond to challenge.
James Michener, Chesapeake
Father's Day 2011
by Pastor Tony McAfee | June 10, 2011
June 9, 2011
On this Father's Day we offer these words of tribute to Father's, and since the backdrop of this tribute is in the Church, it will be with Godly Fatherhood as the focus of our attention this morning.
For the young son,
Dad stands for all he wants to be in life "when he grows up".
He watches with eyes and ears that record how Dad lives, whether it be in the
home, on the job, or in their time of recreation as a family. This recording
takes place on a daily basis in his life, as one day he will push
"play", and become a Dad himself.
For the young daughter, Dad is her knight in shining armor with the
responsibility to protect her, yet tender enough to shower her with his
unconditional love when she needs to know he's there. For her, Dad
remains "Daddy" through the turbulent years of teenage trials, then
with a falling tear and trembling lips she kisses "Daddy" on the
cheek at her wedding in hopes she is marrying someone who will love and protect
her "just like Daddy did".
Some Dads have become the leaders of their family without a Godly example in their home as they grew up, yet have determined in their own hearts to start a legacy of love so their own children will have a good example to follow. Like Joshua challenged the people in 24:15b, he states these words, then does all he can to live up to the commitment: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
The Godly Father recognizes his own shortcomings and failures from time to time as he shepherds his family, and will be humble enough to draw upon the strength of his Heavenly Father for help and guidance. 2 Corinthians 12:9a "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." The Godly Father is not ashamed to admit to times of weakness and insufficiency, and yes, even shed a tear or two at times as he faces the challenges of life and leadership of his family. He looks forward to looking up to God and confessing his need to the one who is all-sufficient and all-knowing.
We applaud you Dad, as you sacrifice for your family in so many ways, yet also encourage you to give your most valuable asset to your Children as much as possible which is of course, your time. Those special times of playing catch in the back yard may provide some wear and tear for the lawn, yet will grow a great relationship. Those early mornings of fishing together may not yield much for the dinner table, but the conversations while fishing will be quite a catch for both Dad and Child. Taking time for a “date you’re your daughter” will provide her an example of what to look for in manners and actions when she begins to date.
There is a statement that says "time is of the essence", and this is indeed the case when Dads and Kids interact.
Thank you for working, planning, caring, disciplining, teaching, and yes, learning about being the best Dad you can possibly be. In a world that says "can't", thanks for saying "can too!"
Most of all, thanks for being "Dad" and trusting your Heavenly Father to guide you in the journey.
Happy Father's Day!
Water Baptism Invitation
by Pastor Tony McAfee | March 4, 2011
Join us for a special class for Water Baptism on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 PM during the mid-week service hour.
One of the most evident testimonies of the Salvation that has taken place on the inside is the act of Water Baptism on the outside. It is our way of showing the world what has taken place, as well as identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Even Jesus Himself set the example when he came to John the Baptist asking to be baptized in the River Jordan. We know it was not because He was a sinner, but He was setting the example for believers to follow, and we should follow Him into the Baptismal waters in direct obedience. The Bible says in Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
It signifies a much deeper commitment than just a few shallow words regarding your walk with Christ. Our time together will be very informative. We will share with you all the details needed to prepare you for this huge day in your spiritual journey.
Let me encourage you to invite family and friends to the service. Moms, dads, grandparents and siblings are always honored at our baptisms. In fact, it’s a great way to introduce them to your extended church family.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm in the hospitality room located above the foyer.
Pastor Tony
A New You For A New Year
by Pastor Tony McAfee | December 31, 2010
I read this week of someone's wishes for a New Year.
To leave the old with a burst of song;
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the things that bind you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that's past;
To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the not worth while of the days grown old;
To dare go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that's new;
To help your brother along the road,
To do his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world's good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas! Facing the Future with Faith
by Anthony McAfee | December 24, 2010
A True Leader
by Tony McAfee | November 23, 2010
TIMOTHY
This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” I Timothy 3:1
Dwight D Eisenhower, the thirty-fourth president of the United States, once spoke about the character qualities of a leader: “In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter if it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office.
Those are high standards, indeed. The apostle Paul instructed the young pastor Timothy to look for such qualities in those he assigned as elders in his church in Ephesus.
Timothy found himself in a tricky situation as a young pastor serving saints older than he was. Still, he faced the daunting
responsibility of picking the right leaders for his congregation.
Paul instructed Timothy to look for leaders who had good personal lives, and character qualities such as self- control, wisdom, hospitality, and gentleness.
Timothy understood that God had called all believers to live by a higher standard than the world around them. He also understood that the Lord had set even higher standards for him and his leadership team. He knew that being a church leader meant consistently demonstrating the kind of character he wanted his congregation to emulate and the kind that motivated them to follow.
If you were to join Timothy’s church today, would you qualify as one of his leaders?
It is no small thing to be a leader-in your home, at work, or in church. If you aspire to a position of leadership, then you are called to a high standard of conduct. You make your every step match your every word.