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

FaithView, For Storm Riders:
“But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no savior except me.”—Hosea 13:4

If anyone is allowed to have attitude it’s the Lord, right?

When we complain, honestly—based on what we’ve been blessed with—we don’t really have a leg to stand on. Our complaining comes off more like whining and ingratitude.

God’s not whining here; God’s not complaining, God is asserting in the Scripture above that he’s the one that saved us. With Egypt serving—for us in the present day—as a metaphor for the chains and slavery of sin. He is our Savior.

Why does God get a little hot when we ask him to stand in line behind smaller gods who’ve done nothing for us?

I considered this and two thoughts came to mind.

First, he created us. If you want to live in some weird ambiguous limbo of believing God is the creator of everything, but you still evolved out of some pre-historic blend of elements then knock yourself out. I won’t take away your salvation, and I won’t argue about it…but good luck living victoriously with man’s logic. My faith compels me to believe I was created uniquely, distinctly in his image for a specific purpose. It’s a positive thing to remember and a great thought to cling to when stuck in traffic on the 405-101 interchange.

Second, he gave his son for us. John 3:16 says he gave his son for us. He gave his perfect, flawless, sinless, guiltless son for us. Did he give his son for us while we were doing some kind act? Did he give his son for us while we were mowing the church lawn? Did he give his son for us while we were thinking deep thoughts on how to end world hunger?

No. He gave his son for us while we were still sinners. So not only did he give his sinless/perfect son to be hung on a cross…He gave said son for wretches that were still joyfully living in sin—living in rebellion against him.

If I had done all that for someone, anyone, there’s no way I would stand in line behind a lesser god. There’s no way I would just smile, shrug and think, “Well, I tried.”

I’d get angry.

I asked this question on Facebook last night: Is there anything that puts you in the RED faster than someone wronging your child?

The responses came quickly. Sixteen reactions (via “Likes”) agreed that nothing put them in the Red (Red as in ready to explode, grab a weapon & shout “Redrum! Redrum!”) faster than someone wronging their kid.

Sixteen comments followed. Ten were one-word responses of either “no” or “nope.” One of the best was; “I go from Gandhi to Homie the Clown in 0.25 seconds.”

It’s simple when something unjust happens to our child we see RED…It falls like a curtain and nothing else matters.

How mighty and awesome is our God that he was able to endure—for our sake—what happened on the cross. The physical beatings, the humiliation and all the pain that Christ went through…Why?…Why would he do all that for us? Why not just snap his fingers and uncreate all of us? Why not just strike us with plague? Why not just unleash an Angel Army and have them put all our heads on spikes?

I can tell you with all honesty…The initial heat/RED that I feel when one of my daughters is wronged (and I’m far from unique in this matter)…Makes me want to put someone’s head on a spike. To destroy the offender immediately and if they suffer…then let them suffer like no one has ever suffered before. No one harms my child.

And yet… “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16 (just in case you didn’t remember)

Why would he do that for someone as despicable as me? Oh, and before you get offended by perceived negative thinking/energy, potential self-loathing, I’ll reiterate the description of myself as being despicable when compared to my Savior.

It’s hard to understand God. It’s hard to grasp his beginning, his plan, his thoughts…hardest of all is to figure out why he would give his son for me…us.

Why?

I can’t completely figure it out…Better still, I can’t completely get my small mind around it…but I’ll take it on faith…He did all that he did because first and foremost he loves us…He loves me…

How could we ever acknowledge by voice, deed or submission any other Savior?

Boom!
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Department Leaders: Be sure to get your year-end reports to Jackie K. for the church report coming out at the end of this month. Matt, Bill, Seana, Pastor Joe T., etc. etc…

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A VBS Unlike Any Other:
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 created a Burbank Faith channel on YouTube and has placed all of our recent services there. Go check it out.

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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 will all have separate camps at Granite Ridge.

District Assembly is July 12-14
(It is one month later this year due to General Assembly (Indianapolis) being held June 21-30.)

SrHi Camp: July 16-21
Kids Camp: July 23-28
JrHi Camp: July 30-August 4

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Did You Know?
On this date…

…In 1976, Chicago Cubs centerfielder Rick Monday rescues US flag from 2 fans trying to set it on fire in the outfield at Dodger Stadium.
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Church Calendar:

April 25: Women’s Bible Study—7:00 PM
April 19:
All Church Prayer Time: 7—to—7:30 PM
Worship Team Practices: 7:30 PM
Adult Bible Study—1 Samuel 18—7:30 PM
April 27: Board Meeting: 6:30 PM
April 29: March For Autism
April 30: Sunday Service, 10:30 AM…Sunday evening “Prayer Hour” from 6-to-7:00 PM
May 1: “Riders On The Storm”—7:00 PM
May 6: Men’s Breakfast at Harry’s, 8:00 AM
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.