Sunday Services: 10:30 AM
505 South Sixth St. Burbank, CA
91501

FaithView, For Storm Riders:
“I thought, ‘age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.”—Job 32:7-9

I get the youth component of this passage. I’ve been around the church long enough to be on both ends of it. I’ve been told not to let anyone (when it was still a living/breathing thing) despise my youth, and I’ve been careful not to reject someone solely because of their age.

Ignorance, stupidity, foolishness affects all ages. Wisdom is not only found in the old but the young as well. Discernment is not only found in the young but the old as well.

Hooray, hooray, hooray…life is good, let’s go home.

But…“But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.” …That’s the nut to crack with this Scripture.

The spirit in a man, in this case, the Spirit of the Almighty is what provides understanding. What is the spirit? The Holy Spirit. What is understanding? Holiness.

I marvel at how the church (church universal) takes up one cause after another to remedy with its goodness. To fix and set right with its wisdom.

If ministers, believers, theologians, scholars–and all that makes up “the church bubble”–are still caught up with race, justice, privilege, class and sacrament (beyond baptism & communion)…then they are behind the curve.

They are like the Polish cavalry, circa 1939, attempting to stop German tanks. They are fighting battles that do not need to be fought, against an enemy that is guaranteed to win.

“Don’t fight against these ills? How insensitive! How blind!”

When we use our strength, and wisdom, to bring about victory over racism, injustice, privilege and class struggle all we’re doing is going after the symptoms and not the cure.

As ridiculous as it is to fight tanks with horses, it is equally preposterous for the church to try and change the world without utilizing the ultimate weapon.

Holiness.

Holiness, a life of surrender to the Lord, precludes us from having bigotry, biases and attitudes about our rights being superior to others. Holiness causes us to look at the individual. It causes us to measure the heart as the Lord would measure the heart.

Our theology of holiness prevents us from discounting someone because of their age. Holiness prevents us from rejecting someone because of their race or economic status.

But that requires a personal relationship with Christ. That requires a disciplined prayer life that causes us to examine our hearts, our aims and our desires. We are flesh and blood, carnal, the inheritors of original sin (if you still believe in that sort of thing)…We will always purposely, or ignorantly, seek what lifts us up; what makes us feel good, but convince ourselves we are making a difference for others.

It is the spirit, the breath of the Almighty, that gives us wisdom to see people where they are at. To see only the exterior is folly, fruitless and will, ultimately, lead to failure.

Holiness is what will change lives…Holiness, coming against the evils of our day, will give us victory.

Boom!

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A VBS Unlike Any Other:
Our VBS director Seana Zilbert ran her first “official” teachers/workers meeting this past Sunday. We say “official” because Sean’s has been putting together VBS for 2017 since last August.

Breaking News: You can sign up your child and their friends here on our website. Look the button up top, click, and follow.
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Burbank Faith now has a Twitter account. You can follow us at; @BurbankFaithNaz

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Eric Canto has posted a digital recording of Sunday’s service on the church’s Facebook page.
The music is great…the speaker…might be a little hard on the eyes.

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Note:
VBS Goes to Rome: The theme for Vacation Bible School this year is “Rome: Paul & The Underground Church”
The dates are June 26-30…Look at your calendar…share with your friends…Pray for Seana Zilbert, who is directing…Make plans to volunteer.

July is Camps Month: Remember July is camps month…Junior High, High School & Kids.
District Assembly is July 12-14
(It is one month later this year due to General Assembly (Indianapolis) being held June 21-30.)

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Did You Know?
On This Date…

…In 337, Constantine Emperor of Rome, the guy who made Christianity legal, dies at 47.

…In 1819, Joseph P. Webster, American sacred music writer, is born. During his lifetime, Webster composed over 1,000 pieces of music, including the still popular hymn in “The Sweet By and By.”

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Church Calendar:
March 22:
All Church Prayer Time: 7—to—7:30 PM
Worship Team Practices: 7:30 PM
Adult Bible Study—Judges 13—7:30 PM
March 25: Collectible/Antique Sale 8:30 AM
March 26: Sunday Service, 10:30 AM…Sunday evening “Prayer Hour” from 6-to-7:PM
March 27: “Riders On The Storm”—7:PM
March 28: Women’s Bible Study—7:PM
April 1: Men’s Breakfast at Harry’s, 8:00 AM
April 16: Easter Sunday
April 29: March For Autism
May 13: Ladies Tea
May 14: Mother’s Day
May 21: VBS planning meeting, following morning worship.
May 29: Memorial Day
June 26-30: VBS Week

As believers, we have to remain in continual prayer for all of our first responders…all our leaders…not a political party but for those carrying the heavy burden of leadership in our country and communities.