HDC.indd   1 8/24/06   11:54:34 AM

HDC.indd   2 8/24/06   11:54:47 AM

HDC.indd   3 8/24/06   11:55:01 AM

Last month at our staff breakfast, we presented one of our pastors with the “Arius Award.” This prestigious annual award is given to the staff member who (we trust accidentally) made the most outrageous heretical declaration of the year. (Arius was a fourth century heretic.) This year’s candidates included Pastor Chris, who brought into question the deity of the Holy Spirit when he baptized one of our students “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Then we had Pastor Jeremy, who boldly declared during one of his sermons that Jesus had sinned. Another finalist, Pastor Jeff, in the middle of one of his passionate prayers during a worship set said, “Lord, we know that, with you, all things are impossible!” (He claims it was more like, “Lord, we know that, with you, all things are...uhm...possible,” but let’s not quibble over details.) All were worthy candidates, to be sure. But, this time, the hardware went to Pastor George, who was quoted in the Daily Press as saying that Dan Brown’s facts about Christ in the Da Vinci Code were accurate!

by Tom Mercer, Senior Pastor

HDC.indd   4 8/24/06   11:55:15 AM

bal·ance n, a state in which various elements form a satisfying and harmonious whole and nothing is out of proportion or unduly emphasized at the expense of the rest.

com·pro·mise n, a settlement of a dispute in which two or more sides agree to accept less than they originally wanted; something that somebody accepts because what was wanted is unattainable.

HDC.indd   5 8/24/06   11:55:28 AM

Unfortunately, most heretical dec-larations are not accidental. Pollster George Barna reports a trend in the Christian community that is much more disturbing than amusing. His research revealed that the most widely known Bible verse among adult and teen believers is, “God helps those who help themselves” (which is not in the Bible and is not even consistent with it’s foundational message). Further, less than one out of every ten believ-ers possess a biblical worldview as the basis for his or her decision-making or behavior. When given thirteen basic teachings from the Bible, only 1% of adult believers firmly embraced all thirteen as being biblical perspectives. He goes on to document a rejection of key Christian doctrines - only 35% of mainline Protestant church members believe Christ was sinless; 34% believe the Bible is totally accurate; 27% agree that works don’t earn heaven; and 20% believe Satan is real.

Yale theologian, George Lindbeck, chimes in. “When I first arrived at Yale, even those who came from nonreligious backgrounds knew the Bible better than most of those now who come from church-going families.”

Gary Burge, professor of New Testa-ment at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, writes in The Greatest Story Never Read, “In short, the spiritual life has become less a matter of learning than it is a matter of experiencing,” he says. “This has resulted in Christian ministries that put less premium on education than they do on personal development and therapeu-tic wholeness...Thus sermons become more therapeutic and less instructional; and the validity of what we do on Sunday morning is grounded in what we feel, not in what we think.”

But this trend, as alarming as it may be, does not necessarily represent a compromise of truth. Evangeli-cal churches, generally, do not blatantly deny the historic truths of God’s Word. It may simply be the upshot of a Christianity that has gotten way out of balance.

There is a clear difference between compromise and balance. Through the years, however, I’ve noticed that for most of us, a clear understanding of that distinction can be elusive. But it is an important one to clarify, if for no other reason than the Bible describes compromise as a very bad idea and balance as a very good idea. Balance is as im-portant to maintain as compromise is to avoid. A lack of the former always leads to the emergence of the latter. So, whether the issue on the table lies in the arena of doctrine, lifestyle or ministry, it’s an important discussion to have.

Here is an example from the world of theology. The Bible describes God as the only one true God. The Bible also describes God as existing in three persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, a doctrine historically referred to as the Divine Trinity. Compromise would involve denying either one of those revelatory truths, therefore accepting less than the Bible discloses. And quite a few well-meaning people who, like all of us, are incapable of intellectually reconciling those two con-cepts, have abandoned one or the other for the sake of human reason. Balance would involve accepting both of those ideas as true, even though we cannot understand how they both could be true.

Speaking to this subject of the Trinity, John Warwick Montgomery states the following in his book, How Do We Know There Is a God?, “The doctrine of the Trinity is not ir-rational. What is irrational is to suppress the Biblical evidence for Trinity in favor of unity, or the evidence for unity in favor of Trinity. Our data must take precedence over our models or, stat-ing it better, our models must sensitively reflect the full range of data. A close analogy to the theologian’s procedure here lies in the work of the theoretical physicist. Subatomic entities are found, on examination, to possess wave properties (W), particle properties (P), and quantum properties (h). Though these char-acteristics are in many respects incompatible (particles don’t diffract, while waves do, etc.), physicists ‘explain’ or ‘model’ an electron as PWh. They have to do this in order to give proper weight to all the relevant data. Likewise, the theologian who speaks of God as ‘three in one.’ Neither the scientist nor the theo-logian expects you to get a ‘picture’ by way of his model. The purpose of the model is to help you take into account all the facts, instead of perverting reality through super-imposing an appar-ent ‘consistency’ on it.”

Both those who favor the Trinity side of the equation and those who favor the unity side of the equation would call Montgomery’s view one of compromise when, in real-ity, it just balances all of the biblical data.

HDC.indd   6 8/24/06   11:55:41 AM

Or, take our salvation. The Bible describes one’s personal eternal salvation, not as an event, but as a reality that had been settled before any one of us was born. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4). The Bible also describes one’s personal eternal salvation as a reality that begins with the faith experience. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).

Compromise would involve denying either one of those revelatory truths. And quite a few well-meaning people who, like all of us, are incapable of intellectually reconcil-ing those two concepts, have abandoned one or the other for the sake of human reason, accepting less than the Bible discloses. Balance would involve accepting both of those ideas as true, even though we cannot understand how they both could be true.

Both those who favor the election side of the equation and those who favor the evangelistic side of the equation would view any apologist for the other side of that issue as being guilty of doctrinal compromise when, in reality, their position may simply allow all of the biblical data into their theology of salvation.

Living in the end times can be a challenge. While we watch the world self-destruct all around us, we are called to reach out to our relational worlds with a sense of balanced obedience. We all believe in the return of Jesus Christ. So, on the one hand, eager expectation of its imminence is re-quired. Unfortunately, as the same Christian prophecy “experts” re-release their same material for the umpteenth time, once again using new titles that reflect the most re-cent geopolitical buzzwords, many believers will lose their balance and begin making choices that focus on leaving the world instead of changing it! Predictably, on the other extreme, are those who operate with no sense of urgency, living every day as if Jesus had no interest in ever com-ing back. The key to obedience is balance. Live each day as if Christ was coming back tomorrow, but prepare for to-morrow as if He wasn’t. While both sides view the other as extremists, the only “compromisers” are those who ignore either side of that equation.

Those who diligently try to excel in their roles in both business and family know the struggle for lifestyle balance all too well. God calls us to work and He calls us to love. Compromising on either end isn’t necessary. Workers don’t have to be workaholics and lovers don’t have to be free-loaders. It is possible to wear both hats effectively or God wouldn’t have asked us to. But it requires the integration of balance.

(Continued on page 16...)

HDC.indd   7 8/24/06   11:55:55 AM

The City of Victorville is ready to give us a grading permit and we are accepting grading bids at this time. After what seems like an eternity, we are very close. The hurdle we have at this point is the Department of Fish and Game. Although we have received a letter from them stating that our application is complete, Sacramento needs to review it and give us their

approval. Needless to say, this has been a frustrating and tedious process.

In the mean time, we are setting up the construction trailers and preparing to demo the old CE building which is currently in the footprint of Pointe Discovery. As I write this update, dust is in the air from the work. As I stated last time, bids on the southeast parking lot and Arlette Street improvements are being accepted and any questions should be directed to Skip Ely at (760) 245-2415. The designated giving toward Pointe Discovery continues to be on target and we continue to look for ways to inform people new to HDC about how they can be involved in this exciting process. Please keep praying for this process, we need it now more than ever.

Visit pointediscovery.com for more info. Questions regarding Pointe Discovery or the future build out of the HDC campus can be submitted to george@highdesertchurch.com or call (760) 245-2415 ext. 219.

Above: An aerial photograph of High Desert Church.

HDC.indd 8 8/24/06 12:05:11 PM

HDC.indd   9 8/24/06   11:56:10 AM

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Thus begins the written word reflecting God’s relationship with man. The Old Testament is a very significant, and often overlooked, part of God’s revelation to us. The gospels provide us with the account of Jesus’ ministry on earth, but in order to have a full understanding of what Christ did for us we need to get “the rest of the story” so to speak.

The Old Testament, like the New Testa-ment, was not written as one book, but is a collection of books, 39 in all, that are gener-ally divided into five groups: The Law, His-tory, Writings, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets.

The Law, or Pentateuch, consists of the first five books of the Bible. These books begin with creation and conclude with the death of Moses. Many of us are familiar with these books from our childhood. We have heard stories of Noah and his ark, Jacob’s ladder, or David & Goliath. These are indeed powerful narratives, but they only touch the surface of what is contained in these founda-tional books.

HDC.indd   10 8/24/06   11:56:25 AM

After the creation narrative, Genesis gives the account of Adam, Eve, and the introduction of sin into the relationship between God and man. After Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge, their relationship with God was forever changed. They were expelled from the garden and all of mankind suffers the consequences of this original sin. In Genesis 3:15 we see one of the very first verses in scripture to hint of the saving work of Jesus: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your off-spring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (ESV). Sometimes called the protoevangelium, this passage foretells the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Another significant part of Genesis is the account of God’s relationship with Abraham, as it is through this covenant with Abraham that God’s special re-lationship with the nation of Israel de-veloped. “I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Gen. 17:6-7).

God sets apart the descendants of Abraham as a special people, and prom-ises that kings will be part of his line.

by Joel Lingenfelter, CFO/ Technologist

HDC.indd   11 8/24/06   11:56:40 AM

Israel did not have a king for over a thousand years after this prophecy was made, and it would be another two thousand years before the birth of Christ. God’s plan for the descendents of Abraham stretched over thousands of years! Ever wonder why God did something or allowed something to happen? Ever wonder how it could possibly be a good thing? Remem-ber that God’s ways are beyond our ability to comprehend, and He works on a scale much larger than even our lifetimes.

A great example of this principle in action comes from the life of Joseph, related in Genesis 37-50. Joseph was the favored son of Jacob. His broth-ers, jealous of his special status, sold him into slavery and told their father he had been killed. Joseph ended up as a slave in Egypt, where his attitude and hard work saw him rise to be the second most powerful man in the entire kingdom! God gave Joseph dreams that foretold of a coming famine, and his work in preparation ensured that Egypt had plenty of food during this trial. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food, and Joseph confronted them, say-ing “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Joseph’s brothers meant to do him harm, but in fact were part of God’s

plan to put Joseph in a position where he could do great things.

After Joseph died a Pharaoh arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph or what he had done for them, and he feared the Israelites and en-slaved them for four hundred years. The book of Exodus tells us the story of how God rose up Moses to lead his people out of bondage and into the promised land.

Everyone has heard of Moses, but often over-looked is the fact that Moses had very little self- confidence. He didn’t believe the he could be a great leader. When God told him of His plans to set the people of Israel free, Moses replied “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” As incredible as it may seem, Moses continued to argue with God that he was ill-suited to be His servant. Yet with all of his shortcomings, God turned Moses into a powerful leader who was able to stand up to Pharoah and lead the nation of Israel out of slavery.

Through Moses, God gave Israel the Ten Com-mandments, and ultimately, the law. Known as the “Law of Moses,” this set of instructions laid out, in great detail, how the people of Israel were to live. There were penalties for sin with prescriptions for various offerings to be made to receive atonement for sin. Consider this passage from Leviticus:

“‘If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding some-thing he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible. Or if a person touches anything ceremo-nially unclean... Or if he touches human... Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything...

12HDC.indd   12 8/24/06   11:56:53 AM

When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned and, as a penalty for the sin he has com-mitted, he must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. If he cannot afford a lamb, he is to bring two doves or two young... If, however, he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering... In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering’” (Leviticus 5:1-13).

Notice how detailed the list of sins is (for brevity I have removed a lot of detail “in the dots” so to speak, look it up for the full list!), as well as the offerings that must be made for atonement from those sins. The law doesn’t stop at things that are done knowingly:

“When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD’s holy things, he is to bring to the LORD as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering” (Leviticus 5:15).

The law makes very clear that God’s standard is im-possibly high for us to reach. We fall short in so many ways that sacrifices must be made even for things that were done unintentionally. Prior to the coming of Jesus Christ, God-fearing people were saved by obeying the law and by offering these sacrifices as prescribed in the law. Christ’s sacrifice for our sins was complete, and He provides the atonement for all of our sins, intentional and unintentional. Christ was the final sacrifice.

After the death of Moses, recounted in Deuteronomy 34, Israel was lead for a time by Joshua, and then moved into a period of judges and then kings. The most well known of these kings is David, who was “a man after God’s own heart”, but just like the rest of us, he was not perfect. David did many great things, but unfortunately many people choose to focus on his relationship with Bathsheba (A great reminder of our need to flee from sin). David’s exploits are recounted in 1st and 2nd Samuel and in 1st Chronicles, and he is credited as the writer of many of the Psalms.

Psalms and Proverbs are special books in the Old Tes-tament. Psalms preserves prayers and songs of thanksgiv-ing, praise, lament, and supplication. The poetic language and beauty, particularly in its original Hebrew text, of this book is remarkable. The Psalms give us an inside picture into the spirituality and mindset of some of the heroes of faith. During the pinnacle of his ministry career, Billy Gra-ham used to read five Psalms every day. He said of this practice “that teaches me how to get along with God.”

David was succeeded by Solomon. The Lord approached Solomon in a dream and offered him anything he wanted. Solomon replied that he wanted the Lord to grant him a “discerning heart” that he would be able to govern the people of Israel. God was pleased with Solomon’s request,

and granted him not only wisdom, but great riches and hon-or as well. Solomon went on to construct the first temple, a monumental task. The construction of the temple took over seven years and involved over two hundred thousand peo-ple! You can read the account of the temple construction in 1 Kings 5-6 and in 1st and 2nd Chronicles.

Solomon was a man who was blessed with extraordinary wisdom, as we saw above. The book of Proverbs records many of Solomon’s words of wisdom, and likely words from a few other authors as well. If Psalms is, as Billy Graham puts it, a book that teaches us how to get along with God, Proverbs is a book that teaches us how to get along with peo-ple. Solomon also wrote Song of Solomon, a rather explicit account of a marriage relationship. If you’ve never thought of the Bible as R rated, you’ve likely never read the Song of Solomon...

After Solomon, Israel was ruled by a long collection of kings, some effective, others ineffective, some who followed God, and some who were downright evil. This is period in which many of the prophets worked and wrote. The period of the kings came to an end around 586 BC, when Nebu-chadnezzar captured Jerusalem and then deported most of the Israelites to other parts of his kingdom. This period is referred to as the Babylonian Captivity.

The story of the return of the exiles and subsequent re-construction of the temple and city wall is told in Ezra & Nehemiah. During this time people needed a little encour-agement from the Lord, and the Prophet Haggai provided the kick in the pants! His words are recorded in the book that bears his name.

The recorded writings of the prophets, major & minor (in book length, not in importance!), constitute about one third of the books we call the Old Testament. Each of these proph-ets conveyed a message from God to His people. Much can be learned about God’s desire for us by reading these mes-sages in context. (Continued on page 16...)

HDC.indd   13 8/24/06   11:57:06 AM

TODAY’S LADIES BELIEVING & SERVING

Childcare available on Tuesdays only. Space is limited.TLBS: Monday at 6:15-8:45pm in the chapelTLBS: Tuesday at 9:15-11:45am in the gym

We welcome all ladies ages 18 and over. Don’t forget to email tlbs@highdesertchurch.com, or call Patti in the church office at (760) 245-2415, ext. 261 for more info. TLBS is now in session.

It is now September and we are winding down summer and looking a head to fall. For some of us, that causes us some sadness. Fall can make us feel melancholy. The days are shorter and we know that soon the leaves will begin to fall and out comes our sweaters and jackets. Fall is a time of change. Some people absolutely love change. I, for one, hate change. Maybe that is why fall makes me feel melancholy. But not all change is bad. God never changes, but He loves us too much to let us stay like we are. This is good change. Fall is also the time of year that ushers in the many bible studies and care groups around HDC. That is also true for TLBS, and although our look and name have changed, we are still good’ole TLBS. Now, instead of Training Ladies for Biblical Success, we are Today’s Ladies Believing and Serving.

This Fall we will be studying 1st Peter and how to count on God’s grace and peace, respond responsibly and to respect and submit to our authorities. Now wait just a minute! Who wrote this book? Peter? The same impulsive Peter who refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet, then insist that Jesus wash his whole body? Is this the same Peter that in Jesus’ most trying hour, denied that he knew him 3 times? Peter was a flake and a failure. This must be where good change comes in. Jesus saw Peter’s heart, future and purpose. He even gave him a new name to fit that purpose. The Rock! Now, Peter didn’t always act like the Rock, but Jesus knew what was coming. From the time Jesus came into Peter’s life, He began the work of change. He took a plain fisherman and transformed him. With that in mind, change doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Our Lord wants the best for us and we can trust His plan!

Remember that we are just pilgrims traveling through this world. We can trust in our Lord’s plan and persevere through all the changes in this place that often feels like a danger zone.

Registration will be taken at the church office or if registering at TLBS, please arrive early, so you don’t miss anything! Come, we’re saving a place for you this Fall! -Written by Sandy Runnels

 

SMILES (Statisfied Moms In Life’s Every Situation) Bible Study Thursday from 9:30-11:45am

Childcare provided for children of all ages on a first-come-first-serve basis. To obtain our program letter and registration form, contact Director, Nancy Franklin, or Assistant, Sharon Page, at (760) 245-2415 ext. 530 or at smiles@highdesertchurch.com.

Purpose Statement:“Moms Preparing Moms to Change Their Worlds For Christ.”

Our program runs concurrent with the school schedule. Every September through May we offer:

The Enjoyable – a wonderful hospitable environment, special events such as our Christmas Tea, the Valentine Friendship Tea, and Year End Luncheon. The Truthful – worship, Bible studies, classes on marriage and family using materials from Christian authors, and a newsletter.

The Helpful – meeting weekly in Friendship Circles made up of 8–10 women for accountability and prayer, an oikos event to reach out to friends, lending a hand to other ministries in the community and abroad, a notebook for all the years events and studies, and leadership training.

SERVING AS ONE(Bible study for singles 35 and older who have never been married or have lost a loved one through death or divorce)Meets every Friday at HDC at 6:30pm. No childcare available. Call Brenda for more details at (760) 241-3704

Groups continued on next page...

HDC.indd   14 8/24/06   11:57:07 AM

Monday from 7:00- 9:00pmCost is $30. (New season now in session)

“He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). John the Baptist boldly declared this truth about Christ our Lord. This absolute truth calls for us to put God first and should precondition our every Christian thought and action. Will you allow Jesus Christ our Savior to be the owner and master of your busy life? Saying yes is a God-called step to “Surrender.”

Come and learn steps that will allow God to take away those obstacles that impede a rich and rewarding relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Surrender is focused on your individual growth in Christ. It isn’t just a marriage class or a singles class, it is all of the above. If you desire for each aspect of your life (home, work, parenting, etc.) to improve-- join us. If you have gone through Surrender in the past, bring a friend or your spouse and go through it again this Fall. Guaranteed excitement!

OUTBACK FAMILIESThroughout the week. Call Todd Arnett in the church office at 245-2415 for more info or emailtodd@highdesertchurch.com

HDC.indd   15 8/24/06   11:57:14 AM

When a church is “Hands-heavy,” there may be a sincere commitment to serving our fellow man, both locally or even throughout the world. But service without clear biblical direction or evangelistic passion misses the entire point of the Great Commission.

Balance must be a priority, and not just because we want to avoid being a little top-heavy. When God’s children are zealous for only one of those three elements, we run the risk of destabilizing the unity of the body of Christ. Imbalanced people tend to perceive any efforts toward balance as the slippery slope of compromise. That kind of confusion, in turn, leads to finger-pointing and slander. And when the unity of the church is compro-mised, our mission is essentially terminated.

We have always sought balance in our ef-forts. Our core values reflect that desire, as we minister within the framework they provide. But to help us stem that tide of doctrinal il-literacy that seems to be creeping into the church at large, HDC will introduce several “Head” components this fall. On Wednesday evenings, beginning September 20th, HDC will host a new growth event called the Jour-ney. Encompassing a series of classes for kids and adults, this Journey will intentionally encourage greater biblical literacy within our communities. At Journey, kids will experience a brand new discipleship program where they will enjoy age-appropriate opportunities to dig into God’s Word. For adults, classes will be offered on many critical concern issues like marriage, parenting and dealing with anger. In Powell Auditorium, people will be led through a challenging book study of Colos-sians, focusing on our completeness found in the finished work of Christ. And, after years of conceptual planning, we will be launching the Oikos Bible Institute. Our vision for OBI involves the eventual provision of accredited college-level classes. For now, a certificated program of academic classes will give adult students the chance to delve deeper into their personal study of theology and the Bi-ble. Maybe this new Journey is just what you need to balance your life.

This past week, I Googled the word “bal-ance” and discovered 584,000,000 hits. I didn’t check all of them out, but the number itself was pretty telling. Everybody seems to want it. Nobody seems to have it. But we’re trying.

(Balance...continued from page 7...)

MINISTRY BALANCE

When it comes to our ministry, we must seek balance as well. For the past year, one of HDC’s Managing Associate Pastors, Pastor Kurt Thiel-en, has been working with our leadership team to develop a model of spiritual formation that incorporates better balance in our efforts as a church. Utilizing the “Head, Heart and Hands” concept, we are beginning to specifically define each element of our ministry to ensure that we do not destabilize the core of our mission by either overemphasizing or underemphasizing any one of those three.

HEAD, HEART, & HANDS

Head: The head is the center of study, learning and truth-finding. It is the compass that determines our beliefs and formulates a biblical worldview. In and of itself, biblical knowledge simply makes us arrogant, so it must be a means to a greater end. We must believe what Christ knew before we can fulfill His purpose for our lives. Heart: The heart is the place where passion de-velops. Without the connecting element of God’s heart, learning His Word seldom translates into doing His work. As our character and integrity develop, God’s Spirit replicates His attributes within us so that our passions reflect those of His Son.

Hands: The hands reflect the essence of the Chris-tian faith where, with clarity (head) and enthusi-asm (heart), we act in obedience to fulfill God’s purpose in the world.

Encouraging believers to learn biblical the-ology is the responsibility of every church. But when a church is “Head-heavy,” even though the congregation stands for orthodoxy, it lacks a pas-sion for Christ-likeness and actually becomes ir-relevant in a dying world.

When a church is “Heart-heavy,” a passion-ate expression of worship may drive the ministry. But without the guiding light of the Scriptures, those worshippers can quickly lose their focus on the God they truly desire to honor.

(Real OT...continued from page 13...) The writings of the prophets also hold a treasure trove of prophecies regarding the coming of Christ. In Isaiah 9:7 it is said that the Messiah will be from the line of David (compare with Luke 1:32-33). The book of Daniel has very precise calculations that tell of when Jesus would come, and the math works! Zechariah 9:9 proclaims “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” You can read the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in Matthew 21, John 12, or Mark 11.

Isaiah 53 details many things about the passion of Jesus. The prophet writes “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The entire chapter foretells Jesus as a suffering servant. The sheer number of prophesies in the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus’ coming, ministry, death, and resurrection are simply staggering.

There is far more to the Old Testament than we can discuss in one short article. It’s important to realize that “old” does not mean “out of date” or “unimportant.” The books we call the Old Testament were what Jesus and the apostles knew as Scripture, and they appealed to them as authoritative and important. In 2 Timothy 3:16 the apostle Paul writes of the Old and New Testament: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

HDC.indd   16 8/24/06   11:57:14 AM

NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR GRANDPARENTSA group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren has begun. For more details please call Allen and Beth Dillon at (760) 240-3246.

HDC MEN’S CONFERENCE (AGAINST THE GRAIN)Men! Mark your calendars for November 17th-19th for another weekend at Pinecrest Christian Conference Center (near Lake Arrowhead). Lodge accommodations are still available for $120. Register at the Island today.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMSCreation Station (infant through 2 years old), north side of auditorium during the weekend services.

Noah’s Ark Park (3 years through kindergarten), south side of auditorium during the weekend services.

Power Surge (K-4th grade), in the gym during the weekend services.

MERGE(5 & 6th grade) Saturday at 4:30pm & 6:30pm in room T-3 & T-4.

JR. HIGHJr. High, Saturday at 4:30pm & 6:30pm in T-1 and T-2.

SR. HIGH FUEL, Saturday at 4:30pm & 6:30pm and Sunday at 11:45am in the chapel.

ADULTSSEVEN COMMUNITY, Sunday at 5pm & 7pm in the auditorium.(K-5th grade program now available in the gymduring the 5pm service)

ADULTS HARBOR COMMUNITY,Saturday at 4:30 & 6:30pm, andSunday at 8:15, 10 & 11:45am

SENIORS FRIENDSHIP CLASS,Sunday school for retirement age at 8am in the chapel.

For more info on these ministries call the church office at (760) 245-2415 or visit highdesertchurch.com

ISRAEL & JORDAN STUDY TOUR Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to step back into the Biblical world. Pastor Kurt Thielen will be leading this tour that will explore the lands of Israel and Jordan in May of 2007. If you are interested in learning more about this experience, call (760) 245-2415 ext. 240.

Far Left: Guest Comedian- Michael Jr.

Left: Guest Speaker- Myles Gentzkow

HDC.indd   17 8/24/06   11:57:33 AM

Name: Jen Bethell

Position: Senior High Summer Intern

This summer Jen served as the senior high intern. Jen was involved in transitioning new female students, contrib-uted to the planning of our senior high mission trip, and assisted in the day planning of weekends and mid-week events. Jen will begin her college career this Fall at Vanguard University and plans on pursuing a career in reaching inner-city students.

If you are interested in investing in the lives

of students, please contact us at (760) 245-2415

ext. 261/262

by Tim Kuhl, Jr. High Minister

How many times have you heard your child complain about the fact that their friends just don’t seem the same anymore? Or that nobody really likes them? Maybe you have seen your child go from excited to angry to sad in the span of one afternoon concerning a friend. It can seem that friends rule the world of your child, and that world has more twists and turns than an episode of 24. Here are a few tips to help you understand what is happening in their mind, and what you and we can do to help.

A PARADIGM SHIFT For a long time friends were made and kept based on location. Meaning, if you live next door to me, or sit next to me, or my mom is friends with your mom, then you are my friend. Friendships were maintained through play, not necessarily through com-munication. So if you liked football, and I liked football, then we are friends. Simple attractions developed and kept friendships for children during their early years.As your child moved into adolescence, friendships began to be developed in new ways. Do you like what I like? Can you laugh at what I laugh at? Do you value what I value? It is a new way to play the game, and it is not learned easily.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL There is another factor that plays into making friends for an adolescent. The self-identity factor. As your child begins to form who they will be as an adult they are inse-cure of themselves. No surprise there, but that fact implicates friendships. If you ask your child what they are good at, or are like when happy, or which they could be, often they can’t describe themselves well. If, however, you ask them what a friend thinks they are good at, or like when they are happy, the descriptions roll more readily. This is because their identity is measured through the eyes of other people. They will choose friends who identify them the way they want to be seen. Again, this can be why friends change a lot. If you hang with skaters, but decide you don’t want to be seen as a skater, then change friends. Self-identity changes relational connections.

MOLDING THE CLAY So what can you do to help your child choose and keep good friends? Here are a couple of steps to take. One, affirm in your child on what they are good at. While they will look to friends to determine their identity, their perception of important people always begins with you as their parent. What you say carries more weight than 10

FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS FOREVER...at least until third period...

Name: Cody Vermillion

Position: Jr. High Summer Intern

This summer Cody served as the jr. highintern. Cody was afforded the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of event coordination, service planning, message delivery, parent relations,promotion, budgeting, and loving kids. He did an incredible job and we are grateful for his time with us. Cody will continue his college career and aims to be involved in full time

HDC.indd   18 8/24/06   11:57:40 AM

FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS FOREVER...

FUEL/ Sr. High(Re-Entry)

How do you live a Heavenly faith in this world?

Jr. High in Oct.(Oikos)

Who are we to pick and choose who goes to heaven? Doyou care enough about your world to tell them about Christ?

friends. By affirming them you help them grasp what they believe about themselves.

Two, affirm good friends. If you like what some friends do for your child, tell them. That forges the tie between them even deeper.

Three, get them involved in a small group here at church. We have groups for junior and senior high students that are gender-specific, adult-led, and small enough to get to know people. We teach values about relationships that can challenge your child to stick it out when things get tough, or move on when things aren’t healthy. Junior high groups are on Tuesday nights, and senior high groups are on Wednes-days. Their respective names are Tribes and ABS.

Be patient, and your patience will pay off. Your child will learn how to operate in groups of the same gender, and later in groups of mixed gender.Like a baby giraffe taking its first steps, these stages can be awk-ward and slow. But they are necessary for your child to become who God made them to be.

High SchoolSeptember 6th- Gym NightSeptember 20th- Area Bible Study Kick-off

September 29th- Renown (A movement...not an event)

Junior HighSeptember 12th- Tribal WarfareSeptember 19th- Tribal Warfare

Jr. High Tribes and High School ABS groups begin meeting this month!

Tribes meet Tuesday nights at HDC from 7pm-8:15pm.

ABS groups meet Wednesday nights in homes from 7pm-9pm.

HDC.indd   19 8/24/06   11:57:43 AM

$70

$70

HDC.indd   20 8/24/06   11:57:53 AM

Pastor Frank Mercer

disciples of Jesus were a diverse group and yet they were expected to be of one mind, to be in one accord and to live in harmony as they walked together with Jesus. And we should do no less. The “saint” is one whom God has set apart for a very special kind of fellowship with Himself. The Bible says that we are “His own special people, a people belonging to God, that (we) may declare the praises of him who called (us) out of darkness into His wonderful light” (I Peter 2:9). That’s why it is God’s plan and purpose for each of His children to be in fellowship with a local, visible group of believers! Each local church is to instruct the saints in biblical truth, to equip them to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, to baptize them in accordance with His Word and to teach them to go and continue the process -- daily!

3) The Saints were in Philippi. Those to whom Paul was writing lived in Philippi. But he also wrote to the saints in Ephesus, Rome, Corinth and other cities. Each one of those churches was made up of saints. So is yours. Our world is just like Paul’s was -- filled with sin, where iniquity and unbelief abound. We hear the blasphemy, the scorn of spiritual truth and the ridicule of God’s way of life, all from people living in spiritual darkness! God has given life to us...a joyful, dynamic people, who belong uniquely to Him. That’s why He calls us saints!

1) What kind of activities did the early church get involved in? (See Acts 2:36)

2) Which one of them seems the most important to you?

Dr. Frank Mercer, known through the years as “Pastor Frank” or simply “PF,” continues to be a faithful ambassador of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His clear and practical messages from God’s Word have encouraged people in their walk with Christ for seven decades. PF and his wife, MaryAnn, who now live in Oelwein, Iowa, pray every day for HDC, our staff and our mission. Connections is pleased to share PF’s insights from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, excerpts from PF’s devotional book, “Feasting on Philippians.”

FEASTING ON PHILIPPIANSPART 8 of a SERIESFocus passage: Philippians 1:1 Scripture reading: Acts 2:36-47

Paul is writing to the “saints,” all the people who made up the church family in Philippi. Never forget this: biblical saints, God’s saints, are alive here on planet earth...each having been redeemed through faith in Jesus Christ! The Bible uses a number of picture words to describe those who belong to Him: family, bride, vineyard, temple, building, kingdom, flock, body -- each speaks of those who make up His church, the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of His church and has given instructions in His Word on how we are to live for Him and accomplish His purpose in this world. This requires that we recognize that we live in “three atmospheres.”

1) The Saints are “in Christ.” Jesus Christ Himself is the source of the spiritual air we breathe -- it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The most important thing that can be said about a person is that they are “in Christ.” Without the Lord Jesus Christ, a person is spiritually dead, eternally lost and can’t please God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 14:6).

The great question of life is, how can God take a sinner, who has broken His laws, has rebelled against His righteousness, has been declared to be spiritually dead and has been sentenced to eternal separation from Him, and still make it possible for him to go to heaven? That’s a fair question! God, in His wisdom, designed a plan of salvation that did not compromise His holiness or His justice. It’s a plan that requires that everyone who enters Heaven must have first become a member of the body of Christ. We must be declared to be “in Christ.” Paul teaches us, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body” (I Corinthians 12:13). God brings an individual into a relationship with Himself through Jesus Christ and that alone makes us acceptable to God and provides eternal life.

2) The Saints are in the Church. Note -- it is “saints” plural! The “saints” make up a church family and they should enjoy being together for fellowship! You have heard the saying, “To live with the saints in Heaven, that will be glory; but to live with them here on earth, now that’s another story.” We laugh, but the

HDC.indd   21 8/24/06   11:57:56 AM

REASONS TO JOIN A GROUP THIS FALLHere are some great reasons to join a small group:

• Grow in your knowledge and application of Scripture• Deepen your relationship with fellow believers• Experience encouragement and support in life’s difficulties• Learn how to pray for and reach out to your oikos• Experience the joy of serving and helping others

Join a group on Sept. 9th-10th & 16th-17th or call the church office at 245-2415, ext. 240 and speak with Tim Wheeler, Pastor to Adults.

LIVING COURAGEOUSLY (Resumes in January)We provide support for those who are chronically ill. We meet the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month in the chapel at 6:30pm. Call the church office at (760) 245-2415 for more info. Childcare is provided through 6th grade at no charge.

PRISM WEIGHT LOSS CLASSAre you interested in a weight loss program based on biblical principles and lifestyle change and includes a source of support and encouragement? Call Tery Lucus at (760) 242-7422 or email tlucus@eee.org for more info.

FORGIVEN & SET FREE This is an eight week Bible study and support group for women who have had an abortion and are struggling to overcome feelings of shame, regret, anxiety, and depression. The group will meet off-campus and confidentiality will be maintained. Call Ginger Stolp at (760) 242-7343 or (760) 559-4887 for more info.

PURE L.I.F.E. FOR MEN & WOMENThese groups for men and women incorporate the use of restoration materials, spiritual disciplines, small group accountability, and prayer as a means to help men and women renew from a life of inappropriate sexual behavior. This program is committed to strict confidentiality. Women meet Tuesday evenings at 7pm off campus, call (760) 245-2415, ext. 240. Men meet Tuesday evenings at 7pm in T-1 & 2. Just show up. Men may call Steve at (760) 265-4317 for more info.

GRIEFSHARE If you’ve lost a family member or close friend, you’ve found there are not many who understand the pain you feel. We understand what you are experiencing and want to offer you comfort and encourage-ment during this difficult time. Through videos, small groups, and your own personal reflection, God will lead you on your personal journey from mourning to joy. Call Kay at (760) 949-7226 or Stephanie at (760) 559-9600 for more info.

DIVORCECARE Let us help you in the journey after divorce. Meets on Tuesdays in T-1 & 2 at 6:30pm. Call Marcia at (760) 596-0295 for more info. OVERCOMERS OUTREACHA Christ centered substance recovery group for men & women. Meets on Fridays at 7pm in T-2.

THE JOURNEY- SPIRITUAL FORMATIONOn Wednesday evenings, beginning September 20th, HDC will host a new growth event called Journey. Encompassing an array of discipleship events for kids and adults, this Journey will intentionally encourage a greater understanding of God. See our ad on page 20.

HDC.indd   22 8/24/06   11:57:59 AM

BAPTISM / OCTOBERAre you interested in being baptized at HDC? We have two baptism classes that you need to attend. The first class will give you info about the baptism and how to develop a personal testimony. The second is spent video taping your testimony. The first baptism class will be on Sept. 17th at 10am in the chapel and the second class will be on Sept. 24th at 10am in the chapel. The classes are in preparation for the Oct. 14th & 15th baptisms. Both classes are required. If you have any questions call the church office at 245-2415.

FOUNDATIONS LIFEPATH I Many Christians today live their lives, plan their schedules and use their resources completely disconnected from what they say they believe. This spiritual disconnect is the cause of so much of the stress and problems in our lives. Foundations I takes a fresh look at the essential truths of the Christian faith and shows us how these truths should be lived out in our relationships, character and work. Specific emphasis in Foundations I will be given to the subjects of the Bible, nature of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and creation. Call the church office at ext. 240 for more info.

PRAYER CHAINIf you are interested in being a part of the prayer chain, or if you have a prayer request, call Karen Sanchez at (760) 242-0273 or email it to prayer@highdesertchurch.com.

BEFORE YOU DIVORCEDon’t let the emotional intensity of a marriage crisis drive your decision. Before deciding whether to divorce or stay together, get help. Contact David at 245-2415 to find out more information about this group.

HOMESCHOOLERSHome teachers meet the first Monday of every month at 6:30pm in room 109 (no children please). For more info on activity days and field trips, contact Karen San-chez at (760) 242-0273.

WELCOME MINISTRY Join others in the joy of welcoming people to our campus and services on the weekends. If you are interested in contributing a few hours a few times a month as a greeter or usher, please consider being a part of Harbor’s Welcome Ministry. For more info about being a greeter, please call Christine Potts at (760) 955-6158, or if you are interested in being an usher, please call Ann Lind at (760) 964-9441.

EMAIL FOR MENIf you’re interested in receiving email from Band of Brothers (men’s ministry of HDC) and other great stuff (not junk mail), email Tim@highdesertchurch.com, and put subscribe and your name in the subject line.

HORN PLAYERS NEEDEDThe Harbor Worship Arts team is looking for trombone and trumpet players. Requirements: at least 17 years of age, available each Thursday night for rehearsal and one weekend a month. An audition is required to determine

The Harbor Worship Arts team will be staging an orchestra for the upcoming Christmas season. This will be the first time such a performance has been done at HDC. In other words, we need you! Auditions will be held soon for all instruments, including woodwinds, strings, brass and percussion. Ages 12 and up are welcome, but material will be geared toward an intermediate skill level, so beginners are not recommended. If you’re interested, call Melanie at ext. 204, email melanie@highdesertchurch.com or visit our website and click on Ministries.

HDC.indd   23 8/24/06   11:58:03 AM

PRESORTEDSTANDARDU.S. Postage PAID

San Dimas, CAPermit No. 410

HDC.indd   24 8/24/06   11:58:17 AM