the Logos

Memorial Day is the recognition of those who have died in service to this country. So as you enjoy a day off from work with food, friends, and family, please take some time to pray for those families who have lost loved ones. Today is the last day to participate in our Sunday School survey. Please help us with your input. Take the survey online or at the Welcome Center. VBS will be starting this week on Wednesday. Make sure you registered and come out for food, fellowship, and the Word. I will be speaking at Scott's Grove Holiness Church (Hwy 55) for their Pastor's Aide Service on next Sunday, June 6th, at 4:00pm. Everyone is invited to attend. Christ First Christian Fellowship Center invites everyone to the 2nd Pastoral Anniversary Celebration of Dr. Larry D. Snead with special guest, Pastor Maurice Wright (New Destiny) on next Sunday at 4:00pm.

Thanks to everyone who traveled with us to Lovingston Baptist Church in VA. And thanks for all who prayed for us. We had a great time helping Pastor Austin to celebrate his 27th Pastoral Anniversary. Reminder: the deadline to apply for The J. Allen Lewis Memorial Scholarship is May 30th. All 2010 seniors are invited to submit the application for consideration. Don't forget to register for VBS (which is every Wednesday in June). It will be the same content but spread out weekly over the month. Thanks to everyone who gave generously in today's love offering. The love offering will go towards the Oxford Children "Totes 4 Teens" project. I got the ESV Study Bible for my birthday and I love it! I highly recommend it. The study materials are phenomenal!

Women of Worship: Here are the locations & times for the remainder of your 6-week study on Patience: Mondays at 6:30 at Mt. Zion , Wednesdays at 11 am at 211 Cole Valley Drive in Cary, & Saturdays at 8 am at Mt. Zion. We need your input: Please take the current survey regarding Sunday School. You can take it online or pick one up at the Welcome Center. The deadline to complete the survey is 5/30. On 5/22, I will be speaking at Lovingston Baptist Church (in Madison Heights, VA) for their Pastor's 25th Anniversary at 4:00pm. All that can come are invited to join us. And your prayers are greatly appreciated. The Ignite Youth Ministry will be hosting a community outreach project to raise funds to purchase much-needed items for the Oxford Children's Home . Oxford's Children Home is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit residential home which exists to care for disadvantaged and neglected children. Children in the residential care program live in a family setting and receive qua...

Happy Mother's Day. Moms, we honor you! Often, you may feel insignificant and neglected, but I want you to know that your influence is great. A South African proverb says, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation and its destiny". The Couple's and Fine Arts Ministries will be presenting a stage play entitled "What's Love Got to Do with It? ... Everything!" on Saturday, May 15th, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Everyone is invited to attend and bring a friend. Admission is FREE. On 5/22, I will be speaking at Lovingston Baptist Church in Madison Heights, VA for their Pastor's 25th Anniversary at 4:00pm. All that can come are invited to join us. VBS is coming in June. We are trying something different this year: instead of 5 nights in 1 week, we'll have 5 nights over a month (every Wed. in June). Registration starts next Sunday.

The king was recognized as the ruler who had authority. It was his responsibility to govern the people and lead them into battle. A godly king recognized that he is merely a steward to rule and protect the domain that God has placed him over. A king can become arrogant and full of pride as King Saul did, when we forget that all that we have is given by God and really belongs to Him. When we forget this, it's easy for men to get prideful and self-reliant. Many of us are blessed because we are married to beautiful women who put up with us, have children, have a good job, bring home a decent paycheck, have a nice home, drive a nice car, etc. We can look at our entire "domain" and begin to credit ourselves with all that we have done. Remember, it is God who gives us the power to be successful! 1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV): But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Men are leader...

Whereas the prophet speaks on behalf of God to people, the priest speaks on behalf of people to God. The priest is appointed by God to represent men before God. In one sense, he served as a mediator between men and God. The priest represents man in the things of God. He leads the people to make gifts or offerings to the Lord. He leads men in prayer, worship, righteousness, morality, witnessing, and in the study of spiritual things. All too often, it is women who lead the families and churches in prayer, worship, witnessing, righteousness, and Bible study. This should not be the case! Men, we are to lead and represent our families and churches before God in prayer, worship, and spiritual study! Men should offer up prayers to God on behalf of people. Men are to be intercessors. We must pray for others. We must pray for our wives, children, siblings, parents, church, neighbors, co-workers, the unsaved, etc. We are to bring the needs of the people before God. Inter...

Often, we simply think of a prophet as one who foretells the future. But a prophet is also one who forth tells: brings forth the truth of God's Word. A prophet is to speak to people on behalf of God. He does not come with his own message but he speaks whatever God has commanded him. Men must proclaim the Word of God to their wives, children, brothers, sisters, parents, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and people in the church. This presumes that before men can speak the truth of God's Word to others that they know the truth of God's Word for themselves. Men cannot function in their role as prophet if they do not study to understand the Word of God. For all husbands and fathers (and those desiring to be), you are the prophet of your family. You are to be the primary teacher of God's Word in your home. Another duty of the prophet is to point out and identify sin. Men must boldly declare and identify sin (especially in our families and churches). Too many men ...

As a community of faith, let us continue to pray for one another especially those who are sick and experiencing bereavement. We have had several members who have lost their mothers recently. You can check our Family CARE page to find the name of those to pray for. Another opportunity to spread the Gospel & Serve the Community: Mt. Zion will minister at Cary Commons (Chatham St.) on Sunday, May 16th, at 2:00pm. We need Mini Faith in Action volunteers to clean & dust railings inside the nursing home during the time of the service. Supplies will be provided by the nursing home but you may also bring your own. Please sign up at the Welcome Center. We just wrapped up part 1 of the "Sharing the Faith" Bible Study series. We're starting a new series, "Lies That Go Unchallenged" this Wednesday at 7:00pm. Please join us.

There are 11-13 million more Christian women than Christian men. 60% of Christians are female. While I love my Christian sisters, where are the men? Where are the men who lead their families and lead in the church? I fear we will end up with a feminized church and generations of boys and young men who will equate Jesus to be nothing more than a breaded, effeminate man in a dress! But that's not the picture of Jesus we see in the Scripture. Jesus is a strong man. Yes, He showed emotion when He wept over the death of His friend but He always spoke with authority when He taught, regularly rebuked the Pharisees and the self-righteous, and even threw money changers out of the Temple. Jesus clearly demonstrated that He is Prophet, Priest, and King. So we need men who love Jesus! Jesus chooses messed up, ordinary men, and saves us! We need godly, bold, gifted, competent men to lead families, communities, and the church. This week I will blog more on man's role as prophet, pr...