San Bernardino Community Church

ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN

Pastor Sam — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:33:55 +0000

It was the Apostle Paul who gave us this idea. He knew how to talk with kings and walk with poor people. Today some people have called that kind of versatility hypocrisy. Sometimes God just has to give us a visual object lesson to understand His ways.

I received a wonderful lesson this week while traveling from place to place to conduct meetings. The lesson is California. I have come to the conclusion that if you want to see every state in the U.S, just travel California. It has it all. The deserts of Arizona, the farm land of Illinois, the hills of the Dakotas, the palms and beaches of Florida and Hawaii, the snow capped mountains of Colorado, the rolling hills of Tennessee and more.

Versatility and flexibility are evident in every creative work of God’s hands. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. This is not some liberally minded promotion of a tolerance doctrine that accepts every behavior as acceptable to God. What I am seeing in both God’s nature and Paul’s admonition to become all things to all men, is a sensitivity to see others that are different and still find a way to show the love of Christ in a way they can comprehend.

Now, back to California. The old song, “California Here I Come” ends with the lyric, “Open your Golden Gate, I’m coming home to you”. Perhaps God would have us be so approachable and compatible with those different from us that we could say, “Here, we open our golden arms, you can feel at home here, you can feel love here and you will find God here.” Whether they are king or pauper, Christ will help us be what they need where they are.

Pastor Sam Pawlak

SBCC MINISTRY NEEDS

charlotte — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:35:11 +0000

There are a few areas of our church where help is needed. Please consider where God would use you in the ministry here at SBCC.

Children’s Ministries has need of loving adults to teach on Sunday morning and in our Girls Club on Wednesday Night.

The Sound Ministry would like to train some adults to assist with this ministry.

The Easter activities, Walk to Remember and the Saturday Easter Jubilee will require many workers. Please consider where you will be involved.

Children’s Giving to Haiti

charlotte — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:54:51 +0000

Our children gave $91 to help with Haiti relief. Way to go, kids!

Reflection on Weekend for God

Pastor Sam — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:29:57 +0000

What a wonderful Weekend for God we celebrated this year. It was the 5^th year that we have taken the first weekend after the New Year to dedicate ourselves to the Lord for the rest of the year. Our guests this year were Darryl and Sherri Beebe from the state of Washington. The combination of their powerful personal story and sound teaching on forgiveness opened our hearts to a level of trust and faith in God that we so need in this present day. Many have shared that they were able to build bridges of forgiveness and received both emotional and in many cases, physical healing. If there was any one truth that we brought from those four services and two breakfast meetings it was that “God often withholds his hand of immediate relief so that he can fulfill a greater purpose that we won’t see at the time.” The statement that hit us the most was “ God had to withhold his hand of rescue while His own Son was suffering on the cross so that he could TIP THE SCALES in our favor and provide eternal salvation for all who would receive Him. I trust we can remember this year when suffering comes our way and it appears God does not jump to our rescue immediately, that He may be withholding our instant relief so he can tip the scales in favor of a purpose greater than ourselves. My dad used to say, “He does not always come in a hurry but He always comes in time.” We all, like the apostle Paul, want to know him in His glory but we also must be willing to enter the fellowship of His suffering especially when He has a purpose beyond us. Be encouraged this year. Rejoice with every victory and when necessary suffer like a good soldier and know beyond any shadow of doubt God will see us through and we still win with Him.

BOYS AND GIRLS MISSIONARY CRUSADE (BGMC)

Maise — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:53:16 +0000

You may occasionally see our children with small yellow plastic barrels bringing money to children’s church. Or you may be asked to help fill one of these barrels, called “Buddy Barrel”. This is the method our children use to save money for their missions program, BGMC. From the beginning BGMC had two stated goals: to provide literature for the mission fields and to educate children about the role of missions in the church. This has grown to include other ministries to children such as orphanages, feeding programs, water wells, school supply distribution and children’s camps. This year is the 60^th anniversary of this program which has given more than $85.3 million since its beginning.

When the program first began in 1949, wooden barrel banks were chosen as the collection containers. This evolved into Buddy Barrel becoming the mascot or symbol for BGMC. (They are now plastic.)

At SBCC, BGMC Sunday is the first Sunday of every month. This is the day the kids bring in their money and the children have a missions lesson. So far our kids have contributed $664.00 this year. WAY TO GO! We encourage you, as parents, to participate with your children by making sure their barrels are full and returned each week on BGMC Sunday. Our children are making a difference because even pennies saved can make a big impact to missionaries around the world.

SBCC Website to Replace Connections Newsletter

Maise — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:29:37 +0000

We are living in a technological age, and more and more of our information comes to us by the internet. We now have a website which we are continually working to update and make user-friendly for our church family and those looking to find a church in our area. With that in mind, we have decided to discontinue the monthly newsletter in paper form and direct you to the website, www.sbcchurch.net for information. This will enable us to update on a regular basis information you need as well as include testimonies, missions reports, etc. as information comes to us.

We will continue to publish the bulletin each Sunday with announcements and information you need. But you can go to the website at any time and find information and times, etc. for church events. (How many times do we all misplace our bulletin and newsletter and have to call someone to find out the information?)

How does the website work? When you pull it up you will see some fun pictures, basic information and tabs at the top to bring up all you need to know. You can click on Events, Ministries, Calendar, etc. Pastor’s Blog will have articles from the pastor.

Check out the website and know that we will be working to improve it continually and keep it up-to-date. Also, it is a great way to introduce friends to our church and ministries. If you don’t have internet access, check your bulletin each week and, yes, you can still call the office for any information you need.

Christmas…When the season for others becomes a lifestyle

Pastor Sam — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:17:21 +0000

This is the time of the year when we gather from our family those Christmas lists. I would like to give you my Christmas list for this year but with a little different approach.

Instead of what I would like for myself I want to list a few things I would like for you to have this year.

The true knowledge that no matter what you are going through, God has your situation in His hand even if you can only see the back side of the quilt He is creating for you and your family.

That you would be able to see, from your heart more than your eyes, that you are so loved by so many.

That a shelter over your head, a bed to sleep in and a table to eat from places you in a more wealthy state than half of the world’s population.

That you have been given ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to receive every message God is sending you through His word and your friends.

That your family be more a comfort than an aggravation in your life.

That your church be more a blessing than an obligation you feel.

That your pastor be more a shepherd than a general.

Above all, that Christ will be there with you for that first morning coffee. I ask that each day of the new year you will find time to meet up with him at lunch, that He will be the unseen guest each evening for dinner and that you feel His warm blanket cover you and His gentle kiss on your forehead as you retire each night knowing He loves you like you were His only child.

My you know and display the greatest truth of this season:

JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME!

WHEN I’VE MADE MY LAST MOVE

Pastor Sam — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:57:20 +0000

I lived in the same house for the first 10 years of my life. I have now lived in 43 different dwellings in the last 51 years. Sometimes the ministry is not so different than a career in the military. My wife and I have just moved into our latest place of residency. Moving is never easy on backs, schedule or relationships. I would say here that my wife and I have made this move in the most wonderful love and harmony ever. Maybe the next 43 will be even easier. With that said, if I were a divorce lawyer I would just follow U-Haul trucks around on Saturday. Plenty of potential clientele when couples are moving. If you want a good argument, just move something together.

Now after 11 trips to the Goodwill store, parting with the past and 7 trips to the toxic waste drop-off, because you can’t just throw that stuff in the garbage anymore, the truck has been loaded and emptied and we’re moved.

One day I will make my last move. All the little prizes I’ve gathered will be left (you will never see a hearse pulling a u-haul trailer); the toxins and dangerous elements (that is called sin) will be properly disposed. The moving truck will actually be the enveloping arms of my Redeemer, the moving crew will be the Heavenly Hosts and my house will actually be the place I have been searching for all my life. John 14 says “In my fathers house are many mansions…I have prepared a place for you…I will come back for you and where I am you will be also. Someday—My last move.

Youth of the Month Brian Derryberry!

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:36:42 +0000

Brian Derryberry joined the SBCC youth group at age 11. According to his mom, he gave his life to Jesus at age 12 and was baptized the same year! A great start for sure. He joined the dance team, learning how to also do human videos. That is where he really started to get noticed. He was so shy at first, but kept with it and became in important part of the dance team. His other passion is sports. He plays Varsity Baseball and Football for Yucaipa High School, who just happened to be the 2009 League Champions.

Brian will graduate in 2010 and has received an offer to attend Univ.Calif. Riverside (UCR) and play baseball for the college team. For Brian, this is a “dream come true.” He is very close to his family and friends and is happy that this opportunity will afford him the luxury of staying close to home.

Brian’s motto is “pay it forward”, which he does by showing small acts of kindness to friends and strangers everyday. His favorite scripture is Psalms 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever. “ Needless to say, his mom and dad could not be prouder of their all American son.

Brian and older sister Jacque Derryberry.

WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION?

Pastor Sam — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:25:48 +0000

These are the words of Christ, some of his last on earth. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV.

It is a great CLAIM – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

It is a great ORDER – “Make disciples of all nations:”

It is a great FORMULA – “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

It is a great CURRICULUM – “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.”

It is great COMPANY - “I am with you always.”

There is absolutely nothing that is greater to the heart of our Savior than reaching every person on planet earth with the knowledge that He is the one who died for their sins, He is ready to receive them as His own child and guarantee His peace for them in this life and eternal life with Him.

If that is the most important passion to our redeemer then it must become the most important cause of His church. What does that mean? It means that when October comes to SBCC and we conduct our annual Missions Convention it must be the most passionate event for every member of this church and every department. Every one who calls this fellowship of people their church will be fully involved in the missions convention October 24^th and 25^th. I urge you, in Christ’s love, and because it is His passion, circle these dates. Please don’t let any other family, work, or social event take precedent over this weekend. See all the details in the missions column on the back of this newsletter. It is what Christ asked us to do!

THE GREAT COMMISSION WAS NOT JUST A NICE SUGGESTION!