the Logos

In the midst of earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and conflict in the Middle East, people are looking for some sense of peace. The risen Christ is the source of true peace. Jesus died on the Cross in our place. He died the death we should have died. He took God's wrath for us. He then rose from the dead with all power and authority. Death has been killed and sin has lost its power! Death has been put to death and sin has been dealt with! When you acknowledge your sinful state and turn to Jesus in faith, all of your sins are forgiven and you are at peace with God. "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." (Rom. 5:1-2 NLT) Christ is risen! The risen Christ gives peace! Happy Resurrection S...

On Saturday, 4/16, eastern North Carolina (including the Raleigh area) was hit by devastating tornadoes killing at least 24 people and causing major damage. Let us put our faith into action by showing the love of Christ to our neighbors. On this Easter Sunday, we will have two collection bins at Mt. Zion . One for food and the other for clothing. Please bring non-perishable food items for the food bin that we will donate to With Love from Jesus ministry. Please bring the following clothing items for the other bin... New underwear (women, men, children - all sizes) Pillows Pillowcases Teenage clothes (all sizes) Men's undershirts (all sizes) These items will be donated to a shelter for tornado victims located at Heritage High School. If you are not local but would like to give, please consider giving to Samaritan's Purse who is actively helping in NC right now. So as we gather on Sunday to remember God giving His Son to die for our sins and celebrate Christ's resurrecti...

We give thanks that none of our church family were adversely affected by Saturday's tornadoes . Please pray for those who have experienced great loss. And let's look for ways to love and serve our neighbors. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 12-14 Today's Country: Provinces of China Spend time in another context: We ministered at Cary Health & Rehab at 2pm Join us and invite a friend for our Easter Celebration weekend. Good Friday service from 6 to 7pm. We will be watching a 30 minutes film on the last hours of Jesus' life. Due to the graphic nature of the film, child care will be provided for small children (ages 6 and younger). Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at 1pm followed by hot dogs & fellowship Sunrise Easter service at 6am followed by breakfast & fellowship

On Tuesday, Gerald Vinson and his finance, Sharon Garrett and her son were in a car accident. Sharon died from her injuries. After surgery, Gerald is recovering very well. Please keep all in your prayers. As James said that our life is a mist. We are only here for a short time so let us make the most of our time to love God, follow Christ, and love and serve others. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 19-21 Today's Country: Provinces of China Thanks to all who participated in our poll. Our Good Friday service will be from 6 to 7pm. Thanks to all who came out to the ordination service today. Pastor Larry Snead brought a powerful message, "Christ-centered Leadership". A few key thoughts from the message... "Leadership doesn't stop after the service is over" "Leaders need to do as well as say" "We lose our motivation when we forget that our first service is to God" Congrats to the following who were...

Thanks to everyone who attended the Town Hall on yesterday . The next one is June 17. Radical Experiment 2011 Today's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 25-27 Today's Country: Botswana (66% Christian; widespread immorality) Communion for this month will be on Easter. We are having our Sunrise Easter service followed by breakfast. We are planning to have a Good Friday service this year. We are running a poll to determine the best time for the service. Please go to here to take the poll. Next Sunday is a full day. In the morning, we'll be celebrating my 9th Pastoral Anniversary. In the afternoon, we have an ordination service at 4pm. We will be ordaining deacons and Minister Walden.

Our next Town Hall meeting is Saturday, 4/2 at 9am. Submit your questions in advance!

Thanks to everyone who attended our first Theological Seminar on yesterday. It was a great success and we look forward to hosting more in the future. Radical Experiment 2011 Today's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1-3 Today's Country: Cameroon (54% Christian) Serve in another context: Ladies: We will be serving dinner to the ladies at the Helen Wright Center on 3/31. See the announcement for how you can be involved. Our next Town Hall Meeting is this Saturday, April 2nd, at 9:00am. The Town Hall will be an open forum for Q & A regarding the church, vision, mission, direction, etc. Click here to see how to submit your questions in advance.

How do you discover the Will of God?  Is it based on having a tingly feeling down your spine?  Join Mt. Zion for our first FREE Theological Seminar   on the topic, "Finding the Will of God," on Saturday, March 26th, at 9:00am.  Our speaker will be Dr. William Barber, Professor of Practical Theology at Shepherds Theological Seminary.  Please register online so we will know how many to prepare for. Posted via email from willieharris's posterous

Register today for our first Theological Seminar on the topic, "Finding the Will of God," on Saturday, March 26th, at 9:00am. Our speaker will be Dr. William Barber, Professor of Practical Theology at Shepherds Theological Seminary. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Judges 6-7 Today's Country: Brunei in Asia (65% Muslim; 11% Christian) Serve in another context: Mt. Zion ministered at Phoenix Assisted Care today at 2:00pm. I found this amazing. Another demonstration that God is Lord over all creation. The massive earthquake that struck northeast Japan on March 11 has shortened the length Earth's day by a fraction and shifted how the planet's mass is distributed. A new analysis of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan has found that the intense temblor has accelerated Earth's spin, shortening the length of the 24-hour day by 1.8 microseconds, according to geophysicist Richard Gross at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasad...

Pastor David Platt and a small team from his church, The Church at Brook Hills , has recently arrived in India. Platt included the following conversation that he had with a Buddhist monk in a blog post. This literally broke my heart. People walked in c ircles, reciting mantras and spinning prayer wheels, seeking the ever-elusive peace for which they long. In one conversation with a Buddhist monk, I asked him why he did what he did. He said, “Because I want to find peace and rest.” I replied, “How will you find peace and rest?” He answered, “I don’t know; I’m still searching.” This is why we pray for the nations. This is why we pray for our community and neighbors. So many people are lost and desperately searching for peace and rest. Jesus is our peace. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7 ESV) Jesus is our rest. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will...

Lent is largely a Catholic tradition. So what value does it have for Evangelical Christians today? The following post addresses the history, themes, and practice of Lent and today, Ash Wednesday, and how it can apply and be beneficial for our faiths. By Elliot Grudem and Bruce Benedict The Lenten season often provides Christ’s followers with more confusion than clarity. However, there is benefit to thinking about the themes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in preparation for Easter Sunday. The Lenten season starts today, Ash Wednesday. For many recognizing Lent, that day marks the first day of a 40-day fast from something. The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”). Many people have at least a day of feasting before the season of fasting. In the minds of many, Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street in New Orleans is a great picture of this: Party up to the last minute before the Lenten season starts. Get ...

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:20-23 ESV) We live in a fallen, corrupted, sin-cursed world. Natural disasters are a part of creation groaning as in childbirth. Jesus not only came to reconcile sinners back to God, but also to reconcile all things including this fallen world. As Christians eagerly await our redemption with new resurrected bodies, creation is looking forward to its redemption when God will create a new heaven and a new earth . More and more news is coming out about the devastation in Jap...

How do you discover the Will of God? Is it based on having a tingly feeling down your spine? We are proud to announce our first Theological Seminar on the topic, "Finding the Will of God," on Saturday, March 26th, at 9:00am. Our speaker will be Dr. William Barber , Professor of Practical Theology at Shepherds Theological Seminary . Sign up online or at the Welcome Center kiosk today. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Joshua 9-11 Today's Country: Bosnia (54% Muslim; 41% Christian) Ecuador Mission Trip: The 3/7 deadline has passed but you can still submit your application this week (after this week, the cost for the trip increases). Stop by Cary Church of God to pick up application form. By now, we have all heard about and seen some of the devastation in Japan from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake & resulting tsunami . It is said to be a 100 times worse than what happened to Haiti. So next Sunday's Love Offering will be for Japa...

Mt. Zion as a church family will be fasting for the Lent season which begins on tomorrow (3/9) on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (before Easter). Fasting is the voluntary act of abstaining from something for the purpose of growing in self-discipline. As Christians, we find our security and satisfaction in Christ. Therefore, we can give up something because Christ means more to us than whatever we are giving up. We ask everyone to join us for a partial fast for Lent. There are 40 days in Lent (not counting the Sundays). A partial fast is where you choose to abstain from certain foods and drinks instead of complete abstinence. The Bible tells us that Daniel abstained from bread, water, and wine for 21 days ( Daniel 10:3 ). Others may choose to fast from television, computer, newspaper, and hobbies. This will help you free up some time to spend in prayer and reflection. Also, we will anoint with ashes for Ash Wednesday right after Bible Study tomorrow (around...

Radical Experiment 2011 Today's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 21-23 Today's Country: Belgium Ecuador Mission Trip: Monday, 3/7 is the decision meeting at Cary Church of God at 6:30pm. If you plan to go on this trip then you must attend this meeting. $100 non-refundable deposit due and you will register with the team you want to serve with. The Lent season begins on Wednesday ( Ash Wednesday ) and ends on Holy Saturday (before Easter). Right after Bible Study (around 7:50pm), we will anoint with ashes. We ask everyone to join us for a partial fast (give up something) for Lent. There are 40 days in Lent (not counting the Sundays).

Radical Experiment 2011 Today's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1-2 Today's Country: Venezuela God answers prayer: Said Musa, the Afghan Christian we've been praying for, has been released from prison . Now pray for Shoaib Assadullah , another Afghan Christian arrested for giving someone a Bible, who may also be up for execution for his actions Ecuador Mission Trip: 3/7 is next meeting at Cary Church of God . A $100 non-refundable deposit will be due and you will register with the team you want to serve with. This afternoon we celebrated with Christ First CFC to dedicate their new church building. My message for this occasion was from 1 Peter 2:4-10 entitled "Living Stones for God's House". As believers, we are being built into a spiritual house. God's house is a spiritual house not a physical one. A physical house is not permanent; it ages, deteriorates, and wastes away but not God's spiritual house. The foundation of God's spiritual house ...

The Homegoing service for Sis. Anna Brown will be held at Haywood Funeral Home in Raleigh on Thursday at 12pm and will be preceded by the viewing at 11:30am. Radical Experiment 2011 Today's Scripture Reading: Numbers 21-22 Today's Country: Switzerland (76% Christian; 18% unreached, Muslim) Why we pray for other nations: Afghan Christian to be executed for his faith Spend time in another context: Mt. Zion ministered at Chatham Commons Nursing Home today at 2:00pm. Our first Town Hall meeting is Friday, 2/25 at 6:30pm. Town Hall will be an open forum for Q & A. You may submit your questions in advance . Mt. Zion is invited to celebrate with Pastor Larry Snead & Christ First Christian Fellowship Center for their Church Dedication Service at their new location ( 100 Jones Franklin Road, Raleigh ) on Sun., Feb. 27th, at 4:00pm. I will be delivering the message.

Mt. Zion is having its first Town Hall Meeting. It will be an open forum for Q & A. You may also submit questions anonymously: Place your question (make sure it is readable) in the new Prayer Request/Suggestion box at the Welcome Center this week. Please label it for Town Hall. Use the Contact Us form on the website. Enter your question in the Comments box. You can enter bogus info in the Name and email address fields.

I was sadden to hear that our longtime member, Sis. Anna Brown passed away this morning. I will let everyone know about funeral arrangements as I find out. Please keep the family in your prayers. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Numbers 5-6 Today's Country: Saudi Arabia (92% Muslim; 5% Christian) Spend time in another context: 2 opportunities to minister at area nursing homes. This afternoon at Claire Bridge and next Sunday afternoon at Chatham Commons . Our first Town Hall meeting is 2/25 at 6:30pm. Town Hall will be an open forum for Q & A. You may submit your questions in advance in 3 ways. Twitter: @mtzioncary and use #mztownhall Facebook: inbox me Email to townhall@mtzionmb.org

Giving statements are now available for pickup at the Welcome Center. We have information on both the Haiti and Ecuador Mission Trips on the Radical website . You can also pick up the Ecuador info at the Welcome Center. If you are interested in either trip, please sign up at online or at the kiosk. Cary Church of God is hosting an Ecuador Informational Meeting tomorrow at 6:30pm. They are located at 107 Quade Drive , right off of Evans Road. Radical Experiment 2011 Today's Scripture Reading: Leviticus 16-18 Leviticus can be a bit dry to read (with all the entrails, blood, skin diseases, etc). So it's helpful to read Leviticus with these major themes in mind: God is holy; rituals & codes deal with sanctification (holiness affects how we live); & the different sacrifices (burnt, sin, guilt offerings) deal with forgiving people's sins. All point to Christ who forgives our sins and sanctifies us by His atoning grace. Today's Country: North Korea (69% non-religiou...