On a Mexican Rivera cruise back in 1999, we were in the south pacific, when our room was lighting up and then it would go dark. I thought my girls were playing around with the lights. I got up out of my sleep to tell them to go to stop, only to find them sound asleep and realize the light I saw was the lightning from an on coming storm. The storm’s lightning was awesome to gaze upon until the storm made its way toward the ship. (Mind you this is around the time Titanic came out, I had visions of me letting go of my wife’s hand slowly descending under water!)

The storm caused us to stop what we are doing and pay attention. Storms get your attention. In order to overcome the storms of life we must first make a decision not to give up. It is a choice.  Giving up is a choice not a circumstance. You must first make a choice, a conscience decision, not to throw in the towel, not give up.

Secondly, we must look for Jesus in the midst of the storm. The book of Mark gives the account of the same storm in Matthew’s gospel but adds the fact that Jesus saw the disciple’s struggles. Many times we question whether or not God sees our struggles & efforts. The fact is He not only sees but He is praying for you! Imagine that. Jesus is praying for you!

The question however is not does God see my struggles, it is do you see Him in the midst of your struggles & storms? You see Mark 6:48 states that “He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning[h] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them.”

Masters Commission is starting back up again in September and we need Home openers for the new year.  Every year we rely people from CWC to help us to house our Masters Commission students for 10 months.  If you have spare room in your house and you would be interested in housing a student, then contact Pastor Nick, our Masters Commission Director.

On May 31, 2009 “Final Destination” returned to the stage of Christian Worship Center. Final Destination told the story of five individuals in their last moments of life. The story brought forth the reality of life after death. This reality compelled us to examine our lives and realize that the life we lead on earth determines where we spend our eternity. However, beyond the message of this compelling reality, it was the message of God’s unconditional love and everlasting grace that reached every heart across the auditorium. It was this message that brought healing to the broken and hope to the lost. The truth is that there is a God, He is abounding in love, and His sole purpose is to bring freedom and peace to our lives.

Pastor Nick preached a powerful message this past Sunday on "The Power of One".  Here is a short recap of the message.

Throughout history God has always had His chosen one. The start of mankind began with one man, Adam; from Adam the whole human race came about. When God needed someone to deliver the children of Israel out of the bondage from the Egyptians he called one man, Moses. When Moses could not take the children of Israel into the promise land, He called another man, Joshua. When mankind was lost in sin and needed a savior, God sent His one and only Son Jesus. God has always had His chosen one, but who will He choose now? The great men and women of the Bible have all passed on and now the one who God has chosen is YOU. We have a responsibility to change the world and God is looking to us to do our part; the “Power of One” is truly the power of you. “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this”? (Esther 4:14)

Recently, I faced one of the most exhausting times of my life, emotionally, spiritually & physically. It was a different kind of strain than I faced when Jessica passed away but just as intense. My energy levels for life and ministry were drained.

I was depleted.

Rockstar, Redline, Red Bull, Five hour energy are products common in today’s market but to my father’s generation it is foreign. We are the generation that has drained its batteries & depleted its resources. What was a strength for one generation has become a weakness for another.

What has changed?

Today’s generation wants what we have not yet earned. We have borrowed on tomorrow’s hopes & dreams and then mortgaged our futures. We are in more debt, worse shape and are over drawn emotionally more than any other generation. We consume more pharmaceuticals than any previous generation, per capita, to get up, go to sleep, remove pain and relieve tension and calm nerves. Just like a car, we cannot keep going without taking time to refuel. Like a cell phone we must recharge.

Stop for a moment and identify what recharges & drains your batteries. Make a list of those things that recharge you and those things that drain you. While we cannot avoid some of the things that drain us, we can be deliberate and strategic to plan activities that recharge us.

Let’s recharge our batteries & enjoy life at its fullest!

Listen To The Latest Message From ::Recharge::

The grey skies and cold weather did not dampen the resolve of the participators in CWC’s second annual Passion Parade in Milpitas. With over 75 cast, crew and marchers, the reenactment of Jesus’ march to Golgotha, caught the attention of all who passed by on the 1.5 mile stretch of Highway 237.  Some were moved to tears, others came out of restaurants & office building to catch a glimpse this moving event. 

The parade concluded at the Milpitas campus, where we hosted a Good Friday service. The service was highlighted by intimate worship, dramatic presentation of Jesus last words on the cross and then sharing in the Lord’s Supper. It was a moving tribute to the death & resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.