Faith Walk blog

*MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE TONIGHT!

YOUR ILENT DEVOTION – THE FINAL FOUR!

I heard that there have been more than 25,000 different computers that have accessed the iLent website.  I also heard that it is a big hit in Southeast Asia where they have really latched on to this.  You can read today’s devotion and all of the devotions on our website:  www.faithwalkchurch.org or go to iLent.org for the devotions and more.  If you attend tonight’s event, we are anticipating about 1000 people gathering with many if not everyone you have seen/heard through the devotional being there as well. 

MAUNDY THURSDAY

We’re gathering with dozens of churches in the Diablo valley.  Come gather with 1000 people who have been Lenting together with you and using the iLent devotional.  This gathering is the culmination of learning to love and uniting together. 

——————————————————————————–

2008 Maundy Thursday Service will be March 20, 7pm this will be our corporate culmination to our Lent journey together

7 PM  
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
1801 Lacassie Ave
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 935-1574

WHAT IS MAUNDY THURSDAY? Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum meaning mandate. Maundy Thursday celebrates the new mandate - the new commandment that we love one another and inaugurated the new covenant.  What better day for us to gather!

WEBSITE UPDATE

Check out our website:  www.faithwalkchurch.org and see the improvements as well as a link to iLent devotional as well as newsletters, sermons, and more.  Now also with online giving just in case you can’t make it to church or would love to give conveniently and securely. 

PRAYER GATHERING TUESDAYS

We continue to receive answers to prayer!  The testimonies range from normal to incredible.  I encourage you to come and pray with us on a weekly basis, every Tuesday at 8 pm at Cathy’s place. 

MORE PRAYER – IHOP EAST BAY

I receive so much from The International House of Prayer, East Bay.  I have enjoyed incredible worship times amongst talented teams of musicians and singers with depth and heart.  I encourage you to take advantage of this incredible house of prayer, open Mon. through Fri. from 4 am – 4 pm.  IHOP, East Bay is located at Parkway Baptist Church, 7485 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA  94568.  You can get to know more about IHOP, East Bay at www.ihopeastbay.org.  They also have an Encounter God service every Friday at 7 pm.  Come to IHOP to commune with God, receive prayer, pray for others or simply find a place with tremendous spiritual atmosphere.  I can’t recommend this ministry enough.  Take advantage of the ONLY our exclusive regional prayer house!

EASTER SUNDAY OUTREACH

We have not yet begun to reach out to the area around us.  But, we have paved the way with months of prayer.  Now in March, we will begin with an Easter outreach featuring an Easter Egg Hunt.  Continue to pray and invite.  Invitations have been specially prepared for you to use as a tool.  Easter this year is on Sunday, March 23.  Invite others with a smile.  Use the invitations as a reminder.  After the service we will also have a BBQ for everyone.  It will be a great time to gather together as well as meet others in the community.

THIS COMING SUNDAY SERVICE

I encourage you to come early and take in the surroundings by praying and preparing your hearts.  We thoroughly enjoy the facilities and continue to pray for God’s presence throughout the region.  The worship service begins at 10 am.  I encourage you to come early, praywalk the grounds and settle your spirit.  We will be there from 9 am.  Invite others.  We are looking for many friends and connections will be made with many in the area.  Pray about who you will bring. 

Live Oak Elementary is located in the Windemere area of San Ramon. 

5151 Sherwood Way
San Ramon, CA  94582

Directions

Some of the search engines do not give an accurate turn by turn direction to get here.  If you can get to Bollinger Canyon, turn at Branch and head North.  About a half mile up the road, turn left.  The school will be to your right.  Go to the uppermost parking lot and look for the multi-purpose building.  That’s where the service will be held. 

Everyone, we are praying for an increase in our invitations and people attending our worship.  We have seen this increase begin already.  I encourage you to invite others and continue to pray for them even this week.  Specifically, we are praying for a minimum of 5 new families to join Faith Walk by the end of March.  Pray.  Ask.  Invite.  Hope.  And see God work.  This Easter’s message is entitled, JESUS’ RESURRECTION BRINGS NEW LIFE from Matthew 28:1-10.  See you all bright and early!

                                                                

YOU ARE INVITED!

You are all so good pray-ers!  I want to personally invite you all to a presentation of my dissertation.  It’s in SF, Saturday, April 12.  Pastors and professors from around the bay will be there along with a bunch of people I know in SF.  But I want to extend an invitation to you just in case you didn’t hear.

As part of the graduation requirements for the Doctor of Ministry program through Western Seminary, I will be presenting my dissertation on Saturday, April 12, 2008.  The dissertation surveys 13 of the largest Chinese churches in the Bay Area, including data from 51 pastors.  A Chinese Church Ministry Model focusing on key cultural and biblical issues will also be presented.  Diagnostic and candidating/interviewing tools have been produced for search committees, church boards, leadership teams and prospective pastors.  I look forward to sharing with fellow pastors, church leaders and lay leaders who have a passion for God and His church.  Though this dissertation is specific to the 13 Churches in the study, it has direct applications to Chinese and bicultural churches in general.  The findings may be especially helpful to current seminarians, churches seeking pastors and Asian churches as well.  Please feel free to come, bring interested staff and leaders.

Here are the details for the presentation:

What:  Johnson Chiu’s D.Min. Presentation

A Strategy for First and Second Generation Chinese Churches and Pastors to Clarify Cultural and Spiritual Perspectives During the Candidating Process

When:  Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10 am - 12 noon (with lunch following) 

Where: 

Hope Evangelical Free Church
2701 Noriega Street,
San Francisco, CA 94122
(corner of 34th)
 
Happy Easter!

                              

Johnson

GROWING INTO THE BLESSING OF GOD

This year, we have experienced a greater measure of blessing in our lives!  I mean that as an entire church.  I look at your faces on Sunday morning and think of different things that have gone on in your lives.  Without fail, problems, dilemmas, issues, roadblocks have all been cleared away!  It’s not one person or several but everyone!  We need to shout and give God more and more praise.  I want to reflect on this a bit.  When God’s favor is this clear and apparent among His people, you know it is not by accident.  God will have His glory and He has always wanted a people unto His own that will display it.  Look at this portion of Scripture that has now become so familiar to us:

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  (Ephesians 4:11-13)

I think of how gifted each one of you is and what you have meant to the Body of Christ.  You all have made a difference; and more importantly you have yielded yourself to the Lord first for Him to use.  You have not been “stiff-necked” but quite malleable and open and transparent in your walk with God and with each other.  I find that this is the environment God wants to find and thrive in. 

From my point of view, let me share a bit about our prayer gatherings.  People have attended; some have come and gone.  Some got it and some never did.  What is the difference now?  Why has he showered His blessings on us?  As I’ve shared with you Scripture and stories, I was not merely motivating you but trusting God that you would be equipped.  You all took it to heart and began moving in the area of faith.  Our prayers began to overlap and you sensed the Father’s heart and each other’s spirits.  I see you now as equipped in the area of prayer.  Of course, we are all still growing and learning together but you have made great strides.  I know because I have benefitted from you and stretching me and causing me to seek God even more.  After awhile, it was God in charge and we all basked in His goodness.  We have felt and known the delight of God on us. 

I want to say how excited I am to see our growth.  We’re maturing and it’s a delightful journey with Jesus!    

YOUR ILENT DEVOTION FOR TODAY!

It’s hard to believe but we are nearing Holy Week and the conclusion of Lent.  Thousands have benefitted and we continue to hear of great reports around the world.   The devotion has been viewed thousands of times in 259 cities, including Asia, Europe, Canada and Australia.  You will also find a whole lot of other stuff, including music, video, bible study guides, events that we will participate in together and more.  I’ve really appreciated how the writer/speaker for the day is linked to a YouTube video and there’s music and a prayer fore the devotional.  Enjoy blog and join the community of more than 4000 together seeking the Lord.

WEBSITE UPDATE

Check out our website:  www.faithwalkchurch.org and see the improvements as well as a link to iLent devotional as well as newsletters, sermons, and more.  Now also with online giving just in case you can’t make it to church or would love to give conveniently and securely. 

PRAYER GATHERING TUESDAYS

Wow, this week was monumental in terms of answered prayer.  We’ve had reports from those who will be here Sunday to share more.  These breakthroughs have been the result of weeks and months of praying together.  I’m looking forward to hearing an account from Albert tonight.  I’ve got a great account myself just from the last few days.  Take time and be blessed tonight.  What keeps coming to mind is that each person that attended our prayer times has had a testimony about a significant work of God in their lives – everyone!  I had just completed my Doctor of Ministry thesis, which I felt was impossibility last October.  Health issues, work issues, incredible timing issues for housing, etc. all were included in the stories the people in our church can tell.  He is alive, well and desires to bless those who call upon Him.  There is no substitute for gathering together in His Name.  I say that, borrowing the words of Paul, so that you will feel a bit jealous and join with what God is doing.  This past Tuesday was a time of celebration in my mind because of all God is and all he has done.  Yet, even in our celebration, God has more to bless and desires to give to us; namely more of Himself.  God leads when we gather!  His still small voice begins to sound like a large, clear invitation.  Even in prayer, God is answering prayer.  I encourage you to come and gather as the church gathers in power.  I urge you to come and connect with God through the gathering with others.  God continues to bless, answer prayers and give us His heart.  We meet tonight and every Tuesday, 8 pm at Cathy’s place.  If you need to call or email, please don’t hesitate.  We want you to know this is exactly for you!

MORE PRAYER – IHOP EAST BAY

I receive so much from The International House of Prayer, East Bay.  I have enjoyed incredible worship times amongst talented teams of musicians and singers with depth and heart.  I encourage you to take advantage of this incredible house of prayer, open Mon. through Fri. from 4 am – 4 pm.  IHOP, East Bay is located at Parkway Baptist Church, 7485 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA  94568.  You can get to know more about IHOP, East Bay at www.ihopeastbay.org.  They also have an Encounter God service every Friday at 7 pm.  Come to IHOP to commune with God, receive prayer, pray for others or simply find a place with tremendous spiritual atmosphere.  I can’t recommend this ministry enough.  Take advantage of the ONLY our exclusive regional prayer house!

MAUNDY THURSDAY

We’re gathering with dozens of churches in the Diablo valley.  Come and join hundreds who have been lenting together with you and using the iLent devotional. 
 

Maundy Thursday Choir? Invite your singers!

Anyone who would love to sing in a combined choir to show up for a short rehearsal on Saturday morning, March 15,

at 9:00 AM at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church

399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
——————————————————————————–

2008 Maundy Thursday Service will be March 20, 7pm this will be our corporate culmination to our Lent journey together

7 PM Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
1801 Lacassie Ave Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 935-1574

WHAT IS MAUNDY THURSDAY? Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum meaning mandate. Maundy Thursday celebrates the new mandate - the new commandment that we love one another and inaugurated the new covenant.  What better day for us to gather!

EASTER SUNDAY OUTREACH

We have not yet begun to reach out to the area around us.  But, we have paved the way with months of prayer.  Now in March, we will begin with an Easter outreach featuring an Easter Egg Hunt.  Continue to pray and invite.  Invitations have been specially prepared for you to use as a tool.  Easter this year is on Sunday, March 23.  Invite others with a smile.  Use the invitations as a reminder.  Feel like we used them all?  Don’t worry, we can always get more for you. 

THIS COMING SUNDAY SERVICE

I encourage you to come early and take in the surroundings by praying and preparing your hearts.  We thoroughly enjoy the facilities and continue to pray for God’s presence throughout the region.  The worship service begins at 10 am.  I encourage you to come early, praywalk the grounds and settle your spirit.  We will be there from 9 am.  Invite others.  We are looking for many friends and connections will be made with many in the area.  Pray about who you will bring. 
Live Oak Elementary is located in the Windemere area of San Ramon. 

5151 Sherwood Way
San Ramon, CA  94582

Directions

Some of the search engines do not give an accurate turn by turn direction to get here.  If you can get to Bollinger Canyon, turn at Branch and head North.  About a half mile up the road, turn left.  The school will be to your right.  Go to the uppermost parking lot and look for the multi-purpose building.  That’s where the service will be held. 

Everyone, we are praying for an increase in our invitations and people attending our worship.  We have seen this increase begin already.  I encourage you to invite others and continue to pray for them even this week.  Specifically, we are praying for a minimum of 5 new families to join Faith Walk by the end of March.  Pray.  Ask.  Invite.  Hope.  And see God work.  We continue the series this week, “The Church God Loves!” focusing on the Seven Churches of Revelation.  This week, we will look at, “The Problem of Tolerance” from Revelation 2:12-29.

YOU ARE INVITED!

You are all so good pray-ers!  I want to personally invite you all to a presentation of my dissertation.  It’s in SF, Saturday, April 12.  Pastors and professors from around the bay will be there along with a bunch of people I know in SF.  But I want to extend an invitation to you just in case you didn’t hear.

As part of the graduation requirements for the Doctor of Ministry program through Western Seminary, I will be presenting my dissertation on Saturday, April 12, 2008.  The dissertation surveys 13 of the largest Chinese churches in the Bay Area, including data from 51 pastors.  A Chinese Church Ministry Model focusing on key cultural and biblical issues will also be presented.  Diagnostic and candidating/interviewing tools have been produced for search committees, church boards, leadership teams and prospective pastors.  I look forward to sharing with fellow pastors, church leaders and lay leaders who have a passion for God and His church.  Though this dissertation is specific to the 13 Churches in the study, it has direct applications to Chinese and bicultural churches in general.  The findings may be especially helpful to current seminarians, churches seeking pastors and Asian churches as well.  Please feel free to come, bring interested staff and leaders.
Here are the details for the presentation:
What:  Johnson Chiu’s D.Min. Presentation

A Strategy for First and Second Generation Chinese Churches and Pastors to Clarify Cultural and Spiritual Perspectives During the Candidating Process

When:  Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10 am - 12 noon (with lunch following) 

Where:  Hope Evangelical Free Church

2701 Noriega Street,
San Francisco,
CA 94122
(corner of 34th)

                                                        

Blessed to be rooting you on!

                              

Johnson

**NOTE:  BASS CONVENTION BEGINS THIS THURSDAY!

***NOTE:  TURN YOUR CLOCK AHEAD ON HOUR THIS SATURDAY!

****NOTE:  NEW SERIES BEGINS THIS SUNDAY

DECISIONS DETERMINE YOUR DESTINY!

Wow, did we receive good news on Sunday or what!  God seems to bless all of us at the same time!  I think we could have gone the whole service with praise and thanksgiving.  It is characteristic with what God is doing among us.  I shared with you how the conference we attended was more than good; it was life-changing.  I wish I would have had the excerpt from David Crone’s book available to you but I’ll include it here for this week.  As for background, these decisions were not made because the church wanted to remake their purpose statement.  These statements came out of their growth and life experiences.  Essentially, they could not live any less than these decisions.  Many of you, if not all of us at Faith Walk have come to the same type of decisions and echoes what we are about.  I encourage you to take time to read these slowly and carefully.  Drink in the points and the implications for your life.  For us, it states for us our heart and desire in walking with the Lord.  Here are the decisions from David Crone and their church:

We have decided that teaching the Gospel without demonstrating the gospel is not enough. Good preaching,

good doctrine, and being good people is not enough.

We have decided that having a good church club is not enough, good fellowship is not enough, and just

being a member of that club is not enough.

We have decided that having good Bible studies is good, but not good enough, that just making it to

heaven is not our goal, and that knowing about God without truly knowing and experiencing God is meaningless.

We have decided that having good programs is not enough; that change without transformation is

intolerable, and that staying the same is not an option.

We have decided that gifting without character is futile.

We have decided that singing songs without worshiping is shallow and having meetings without God

showing up is pointless.

We have decided that having faith without works is not enough and having works without love is not

acceptable - that our function comes out of our relationship first with the Father and second with each other.

We have decided that reading about the book of Acts without living the book of Acts is unthinkable.

We have decided that confident faith is good and bold faith is better.

We have decided that hearing about the Holy Spirit without experiencing Him is silly, that believing in

His presence without seeing It manifested in signs and wonders is hypocrisy, that believing in healing without

seeing people healed is absurd, and that believing in deliverance without people being delivered is absolutely

ridiculous.

We have decided to be Holy Spirit filled, Holy Spirit led, and Holy Spirit empowered - anything less

doesn’t work for us.

We have decided to be the ones telling the stories of God’s power - not the ones hearing about them.

We have decided that living saved, but not supernatural is living below our privilege and short of what

Christ died for.

We have decided that we are a battle ship not a cruise ship, an army, not an audience; Special forces not

spectators, missionaries not club members.

We have decided to value both pioneers and settlers - pioneers to expand our territory and settlers to

build on those territories - but we are not squatters - people who take up space others have fought for

without improving it.

We have decided to be infectious instead of innocuous, contagious instead of quarantined, deadly instead

of benign.

We have decided to be radical lovers and outrageous givers.

We have decided that we are a mission station and not a museum.

Therefore:

1. We honor the past - we don’t live in it.

2. We live in the present with our eyes on the future.

3. We see past events - successes and failures - as stepping-stones not stop signs.

4. We pursue learning in order to be transformed, not learning in order to know.

5. We are people of engagement not observation.

6. We focus on what could be, not on what is or has been.

7. We are not limited to the four walls of this building. Our influence is not restricted by location - Not even

the nations are out of bounds.

8. We are more concerned about how many we send out into the world than how many we convince to come

into the building. This building is meant to be filled and it will be - but it will not be the measure of who

we are or the measure of our effectiveness.

9. We raise up world changers - not tour guides. We train commandos, not committees.

10. We are a people of our destiny, not of our history.

YOUR ILENT DEVOTION FOR TODAY!

We are at the half way mark for Lent this year.  Thousands have benefitted and we continue to hear of great reports around the world.  The hard copies are gone but you can still read the devotion online at www.ilent.org.  Also, the devotion has been viewed thousands of times in 259 cities, including Asia, Europe, Canada and Australia.  You will also find a whole lot of other stuff, including music, video, bible study guides, events that we will participate in together and more.  I’ve really appreciated how the writer/speaker for the day is linked to a YouTube video and there’s music and a prayer fore the devotional.  Enjoy blog and join the community of more than 4000 together seeking the Lord.

WEBSITE UPDATE

Check out our website:  www.faithwalkchurch.org and see the improvements as well as a link to iLent devotional as well as newsletters, sermons, and more. 

PRAYER GATHERING TUESDAYS

This past Tuesday, I was so grateful.  Each person that attended our prayer times on Tuesdays had a testimony about a significant work of God in their lives – everyone!  I had just completed my Doctor of Ministry thesis, which I felt was an impossibility last October.  Health issues, work issues, incredible timing issues for housing, etc. all were included in the stories the people in our church can tell.  He is alive, well and desires to bless those who call upon Him.  There is no substitute for gathering together in His Name.  I say that, borrowing the words of Paul, so that you will feel a bit jealous and join with what God is doing.  This past Tuesday was a time of celebration in my mind because of all God is and all he has done.  Yet, even in our celebration, God has more to bless and desires to give to us; namely more of Himself.  God leads when we gather!  His still small voice begins to sound like a large, clear invitation.  Even in prayer, God is answering prayer.  I encourage you to come and gather as the church gathers in power.  I urge you to come and connect with God through the gathering with others.  God continues to bless, answer prayers and give us His heart.  We meet every Tuesday, 8 pm at Cathy’s place.

MORE PRAYER – IHOP EAST BAY

I receive so much from The International House of Prayer, East Bay.  I have enjoyed incredible worship times amongst talented teams of musicians and singers with depth and heart.  I encourage you to take advantage of this incredible house of prayer, open Mon. through Fri. from 4 am – 4 pm.  IHOP, East Bay is located at Parkway Baptist Church, 7485 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA  94568.  You can get to know more about IHOP, East Bay at www.ihopeastbay.org.  They also have an Encounter God service every Friday at 7 pm.  Come to IHOP to commune with God, receive prayer, pray for others or simply find a place with tremendous spiritual atmosphere.  

  

BASS  CONVENTION 2008 – THIS THURSDAY TO SATURDAY!

The 45^th Annual BASS (Bay Area Sunday School) Convention is fast approaching, March 6-8.  Our church is signed up for you to attend.  Take advantage of these days of encouragement and equipping.  On Thursday, Anne Graham Lotz, founder of Angel Ministries will be speaking.  Also, Don Moen will be leading worship!  There are also more than 300 workshops on a variety of topics for you.  Read more about BASS here:  http://www.bassconvention.org.  Plan to go; we’ve already planned to go as a church.  Now, it’s time for you to mark it on your calendar to attend.

EASTER SUNDAY OUTREACH

We have not yet begun to reach out to the area around us.  But, we have paved the way with months of prayer.  Now in March, we will begin with an Easter outreach featuring an Easter Egg Hunt.  Continue to pray and invite.  Invitations have been specially prepared for you to use as a tool.  Easter this year is on Sunday, March 23. 

SPRING AN HOUR AHEAD

Before you go to bed on Saturday, remember to set your clock AHEAD one hour! 

THIS COMING SUNDAY SERVICE

I encourage you to come early and take in the surroundings by praying and preparing your hearts.  We thoroughly enjoy the facilities and continue to pray for God’s presence throughout the region.  The worship service begins at 10 am.  I encourage you to come early, praywalk the grounds and settle your spirit.  We will be there from 9 am.  Invite others.  We are looking for many friends and connections will be made with many in the area.  Pray about who you will bring. 

Live Oak Elementary is located in the Windemere area of San Ramon. 

5151 Sherwood Way

San Ramon, CA  94582

Directions

Some of the search engines do not give an accurate turn by turn direction to get here.  If you can get to Bollinger Canyon, turn at Branch and head North.  About a half mile up the road, turn left.  The school will be to your right.  Go to the uppermost parking lot and look for the multi-purpose building.  That’s where the service will be held. 

  

Everyone, we are praying for an increase in our invitations and people attending our worship.  We have seen this increase begin already.  I encourage you to invite others and continue to pray for them even this week.  Specifically, we are praying for a minimum of 5 new families to join Faith Walk by the end of March.  Pray.  Ask.  Invite.  Hope.  And see God work.  We start a key series this week, “The Church God Loves!”

                                                        

Walk in your destiny,

                              

Johnson