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

FaithView, For Storm Riders:
“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”—Isaiah 50:10

The church takes a big swing and miss when it doesn’t encourage its people to trust in the Lord and to rely on him.

Too often it’s been preached, pushed and put upon all of us that sex, drugs and Rock & Roll were going to be the things that took us down as believers. While there is an element of truth to this—no debate there—it is a better argument for Churchianity than Christianity.

It was promoted that–You’ll live the righteous life by avoiding alcohol, drugs, pre-marital sex and heavy metal music. You’ll succeed and live a life of holiness if you don’t go to the movies or participate in dances. If you go to church on Sunday and sit still in your living room afterward, God will be pleased with you…And if God is pleased, a game of Uno, Rook or Skip-Bo might be permitted…but only after attending Sunday evening service.

Is my sarcasm coming through?

“Oh my goodness Pastor Joe T. is telling us drugs, sex and alcohol are not sinful…Let’s all pick our favorite form of debauchery and have at it.”

Okay, maybe you’re not thinking that…Twenty, twenty-five years ago I might have been called on the carpet for such a statement about Churchianity…And if I had said that as a rookie youth pastor I may not have been able to defend it.

Well, I’m twenty-eight years in the ministry now and I can back-up every part of the statement because I’ve lived it, seen it and ministered through it…(The blessings of being gray).

Alcohol, we know what it does. Pre-marital sex, we know the consequences it leads to. Drugs? Legal, or illegal, we get what it can do to a life. Rock & Roll? Alright, we see how it can consume thoughts and energies.

These things are easy…What is not easy is reaching the individual who walks in darkness but doesn’t know it. The person who clocks into work every day. The person who pays their bills, mortgage and taxes. The person who is good to their spouse and loves their children.

Yes, there are people who do all that and still walk in darkness. They meet all of Churchianities requirements and feel very comfortable about their spiritual condition.

We deal with this type of person far more often than we do the wasted, the stoned, the strung out or the homeless…How do we reach them?

We reach them with our witness. The witness of living a holy life in front of our friends, family and co-workers…every…single…day. Because these people—so wired together right now—will reach the day when they won’t have the strength to overcome. It could be at a deathbed; it could be during a terrible crisis…but no matter the situation…the best tool available to you won’t be your words at that moment…but the life you’ve lived in front of them every single day.

The demonstration of faith they saw in you during the time of your crisis.

They think and may very well ask, “How do you do it? How did you survive this horrible thing?”

Your answer won’t be found in Churchianity but in the Scripture above; “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”

Trust, faith, holiness…

You can pass out your soup, issue blankets, pick up trash, vote the way you’re told to vote and employ the buzz words of piety…But only a life of holiness will bring light into the darkness these “good” people are lost in.

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 1744, in London, composer George Frederic Handel’s famous oratorio “Messiah” was performed for the first time.

…In 1775, Patrick Henry proclaims “Give me liberty or give me death.”
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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.