May 3, 2009 by PastorMark.

PREPARED, By Pastor Mark Boucher

The world is undergoing tremendous changes right before our eyes. We can observe such things as: the push toward a global economy and a one-world financial network, the increased moral decline, and the growing importance of Israel in world politics. These issues (and many more) can be read with your newspaper in one hand and your Bible in the other. So much is happening so quickly that we can get caught up in the news of the moment and forget the importance of “heart preparation.”

Jesus knew exactly what would happen in the world as we approach the time of His second coming. The parable of the fig tree, spoken by Jesus in Luke 21:29-36 focuses our attention on the most important end- time issues. What are these and how do we maintain a readiness of heart? What do we need to avoid?

Jesus began the parable by saying, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees” (Luke 21:29). By observation, we discern summer is near when the trees start sprouting leaves. God’s prophetic “calendar of events” centers on the nation of Israel, God’s fig tree. In 1948, the nation of Israel miraculously sprang up from the ashes of history. What other nation in history, once dissolved, has come back into existence? God has plans for Israel—in spite of man’s opposition. Jesus said, “this generation (or race) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Luke 21:32).

With the coming tsunami of end-time events, Jesus directs the believer to heart issues. He warned, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap” (v. 34). A heart “weighed down” means to be burdened or depressed. Instead of keeping our focus on Jesus, we are tempted to fixate on the “winds and waves” of problems, and we begin to sink.

Jesus specifically mentions three heart problems that can weigh us down and prevent our being prepared for His coming. First, He talks about dissipation. This word and the next, drunkenness, are closely related. They refer to the problems and headaches caused by a life led by fleshly, evil desires instead of the Holy Spirit. Instead of being sober and sharp, a careless believer slides into the same excesses as those without God. Almost everywhere we look, the emphasis is on losing self-control and casting off decency and self-restraint. Jesus said, “Be careful.” Those who know Him will not get sucked down into the world system but will pursue a life of purity and integrity of heart. Drinking, drugging, and secret sins of the flesh may provide a fleeting thrill, but they will bring your heart down and put a wall between you and God. It’s not worth it!

Jesus also told us to be careful about “the anxieties of life” (v. 34). Make no mistake, the problems and difficulties of life will increase before Jesus returns. We prepare our hearts in these trying times by keeping a close walk with Jesus and staying in fellowship with His people. There’s an expression that goes “everybody’s into something;” that something, hopefully, is a passionate pursuit of Jesus and His Word. I get nervous when I see Christians who are not hungry for Jesus. The void of the heart must be filled by Jesus or something else will take His place.

Jesus ended the parable of the fig tree with these words, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (v.36). In the end, will you be left standing or will you be just another casualty of our culture?

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March 2, 2009 by admin.

PASTOR RAFAEL ON WORSHIP, Pastor Rafael Oliveira

I love history. I love how it unfolds and how God takes care of His people according to His master plan. I especially love it when the people involved put their trust in the Lord—even though they cannot see the future.

Consider King Hezekiah. In the first month of his reign, he reopened the Temple and summoned all of the Levites and priests to consecrate themselves and purify the Temple. After the consecration, the city officials were assembled, and Hezekiah commanded the priests to make sacrifices to atone for the sins of Israel. As the burnt offering began, the Levites—stationed in the Temple with all their instruments—led worship. The entire assembly bowed down and worshiped God Almighty. What a service that must have been!

Fast forward fourteen years. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, threatened to destroy Jerusalem and utterly humiliate King Hezekiah and the people. Hezekiah readied the city for the attack, but most importantly, he went to the Temple and prayed to the Lord. His prayers for deliverance were answered, and the Assyrian army was annihilated!

Prayer is a powerful weapon. But, just as a weapon without ammunition is powerless, prayer without faith is just a nice collection of words or a religious act. King Hezekiah prayed. He did not see the future, but he had faith in God. And…God delivered His people.

I would like to encourage you to pray. Pray with faith. Use the worship time during Sunday morning and Wednesday night services to pray the lyrics that we sing. Worship God through your prayers as the instruments play. Pray to be delivered from the “Sennacherib” in your life so that God’s name will be glorified. Believe me, He will deliver you!

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March 2, 2009 by PastorMark.

HOLD STEADY,By Pastor Mark Boucher

Some years ago I was driving in New Jersey just after a snowfall. It was during the morning, and I crested a hill with the bright sun directly on the horizon ahead. The sun’s intense glare and the reflection off the road’s fresh white snow left me driving blind! My first impulse was to slam on the brakes and veer off the road. However, on snow, this would have been a sure accident. I also thought about stopping, but realized cars behind me could crash into me. Here’s what I did: I prayed (the fast kind), slowed down the car, and kept going forward the best I could until I could see again.

I believe our nation is driving in an economic whiteout. We are lurching all over the road, and fear is in the driver’s seat. The continuous flow of bad news tempts us to drive off the road or stop altogether… options with unhappy endings. In times like this, God desires His people to hold steady, trust in Him, and continue to do what is right.

Did you know that Jesus frequently spoke about money and possessions? In fact, about half of His parables have to do with finances, and one in ten verses in the Gospels deal directly with money. I want to turn your attention to one of Jesus’ stories which challenges me deeply—the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Here are some principles from this amazing parable that can help us make it through difficult times.

First, remember God is the source of everything. The Lord describes himself as “a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them” (v. 14). Our God is not poor or stingy. He supplies us with all we need for life, service, and fruitfulness. Our Father loves to share His “property” with us.

Second, God requires us to invest what He has given. “The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more” (v. 16).  The correct use of the talents didn’t require a degree in economics. The servant simply invested the master’s money. The money, of course, can also refer to our time and talents—whatever God has allowed to come to us in this life. He gives to us so that others may also be blessed. God told Abraham, “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).  Investing is the opposite of hoarding.

The last principle is this: “Act in faith, not in fear.” In the parable of the talents, two of the servants invested their master’s money. They believed their master would return, and they did the wise thing. Both were commended as “good and faithful.” A third servant, however, carelessly misjudged his master. He lost faith in his master’s promise to return. When called to give an account of his neglect in investing the master’s money, he replied, “I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground” (v. 25). The consequences for this servant were not good!

As I reflect on the economic condition of America, I have determined to be the kind of person who keeps doing what is right with the money God has given. I purpose to keep honoring my Master by giving Him the tithe and by giving offerings. I believe if God could provide for the prophet Elijah by using ravens to bring him food, He can take care of His people today. Our faithfulness through difficult times allows the resources of heaven to keep flowing our way, which, in turn, becomes a powerful witness to a fear-filled world.  Keep holding steady!

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January 16, 2009 by PastorMark.

Building Core Values

Preaching and Teaching in January and February

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January 16, 2009 by PastorHarv.

CHANGE…COMING!
By Pastor Harv Meppelink

We have heard so much about CHANGE…politically speaking, of course!
But more than politically, no matter who we are or what we do, we experience change every day. There are changes in the weather. We change our clocks—from daylight savings time to regular time…and back again. We change the oil in our automobiles. We make changes in our diet…in order to lose weight. We take a different road to work…just to break up the monotony. These are just a few.

But can we carry “change” too far? Some people think it applies to their marriage: “I’m tired of my spouse. I’ll look around for someone else!” Some think it applies to their car: “I’ve got 100,000 miles on this car. I’m going to get a newer one.” And some think it applies to church: “I’ve seen how this church operates, and I want to change churches!” Yes, we can carry the “change” notion too far.

God does not change.

In Hebrews, the author said, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (13:8). His promises never change. His power never changes. His salvation through Jesus never changes. His promise of heaven for those who follow Him to the end of their life has not changed! One thing is certain: You can count on God, our Heavenly Father.

There is great pressure today upon the truth of God’s Word in the very atmosphere of our nation. Ridicule, mocking, misuse of the body, attempting to educate the mind against the pages of the Bible just might increase in this new year. And I want to shout to those who refuse to believe, “You might think that the Bible is “politically incorrect” or that we don’t need this “old stuff” anymore, but just wait! There is a day coming when the God of the ages will call all of us to accountability! On that day, the powers of darkness will be destroyed!” Who will do this? God! Even now, we are so close to that final day when Jesus will return in the heavens!

The Bible says, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The blind need a guide. They need to be brought to Christ, the Light of the world. The text continues, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (v.6).

We have a new year ahead of us. That’s 12 months, 365 days, 8,760 hours of opportunities to change for the better and to make a difference for eternity. Let’s make 2009 a year of LIGHT!

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November 23, 2008 by admin.

The C.H.A.T.* Corner

Recently, I received photos of my parents taken in the early 1940s! As I gazed at them, time slipped away, and I was taken back to my childhood. It seemed to be a kinder, gentler time. A time when we could hop on our bikes and be gone for hours and no one worried. A time when we knew that everyone watched out for one another.

Something has changed! We’ve retreated behind the safety of the walls of our church and homes. For many, the sense of neighborliness and community have faded away. But we are called by Jesus to be “salt and light”! This means that we need to look outside of our walls. Remember, we stand on the Word and we are protected by the armor of God!

I’ve realized recently that my life is a church! What kind of church do I model for everyone that I come in contact with? In those unguarded moments, what do the lost see in me? Are my actions and my conversations in line with God’s Word, or is it still all about me and what I want?

What about you? Have you asked yourself recently, “Who can I serve in my world today?” What a great way to show the love of Jesus and to teach our children about discipleship! Perhaps it’s a phone call, a brief visit or card in the mail to someone who is alone or just had a baby, or just lost a job! Perhaps it’s donating time to help someone with yard work or a household repair. Maybe it’s providing a simple ride to the store or to a doctor’s appointment. How about it? Why not get involved and do something for someone else? God will open the doors! Are you willing to step out and serve? Show the love of Jesus and build relationships!

Sally Dyer

*Church Health Advisory Team

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November 23, 2008 by PastorMark.

REFLECTIONS FROM HOME
By Pastor Mark Boucher

On Monday morning, October 13, I received the news of my father’s death. Although expected, his death produced a jolting shock inside of me. There is a certain finality that settles in. “I won’t see him ever again in this life.” As I prepared for the funeral, I found myself reflecting over lessons I have learned from my dad’s life. Let me share some with you.

It is so important to come to grips with the family of our birth or our upbringing. God is the One who establishes when and where we are born (Acts 17:26). There is no “ideal” family in this broken world of sin, so we need to cultivate a grateful heart for what God gives. As a young college student, I was tempted to blame my father for the ways he failed. In Bible College, I was exposed to well-adjusted Christian families and realized how dysfunctional mine seemed to be. But God always has a plan.

Those who grow up in difficult circumstances can turn them into opportunities to learn how to trust God. Another benefit of trials from own home life is that God uses them to help me empathize with other broken people and families. Although I would have loved having a Christian father who nurtured me in the Lord, I have learned to accept and love who and what my father was. Concerning his faults, my attitude has become, “He did the best he could; he only followed the model of his father and upbringing.” Trusting God meant I needed to forgive my father and see him through the eyes of Jesus. As I reflect on how much Jesus forgives me, it becomes easy to let go of past hurts and disappointments.

I have made a choice to be grateful for what my dad was, and not just focus on what he was not. Dad was a man who believed in working hard and staying together. He provided well for us and loved my mother, his wife, until her death. He was a respected business owner and developed a good reputation in the community.  For all this, I am grateful.

When I do reflect on his sins and failures, I do so with the freedom of having forgiven him through the power of my Lord. While visiting him in the nursing home, I could talk to him with love and respect because my Heavenly Father more than made up for what my earthly father lacked.

The Bible contains many stories, principles and commands concerning the importance of fathers. The death of my father reminds me how vital it is for me, as a father (and for all fathers), to live for Jesus and leave a godly legacy to those who follow. One way to do this is quite simple…just talk to your children. When Nicole was around two years old, I remember several occasions when she was fussy and crying. I recall going over to her at these times and just talking to her. It wasn’t what I said (she couldn’t understand much then) but it was my voice that seemed to help her distress and halt her crying. She did not comprehend my words, but my voice reassured her that I was there and that I loved her.

Many years have passed, and our daughter Nicole is now 19. This past summer Nicole and I set aside a Daddy/daughter day. I’ll never forget that day. We shared and talked about God, life and the future. Nicole allowed me to speak into her life, and I allowed my heart to listen to her concerns. Although I never did this with my own father, I have the privilege of walking a different pathway than how I was raised. By the power of Jesus, we can change!

In our culture, Mother’s Day always eclipses Father’s Day. Many children, no matter how old, harbor bitter thoughts toward their fathers. There’s a saying that goes, “Everyone in prison hates his father.” As Christians, we are empowered to love, which is always the greatest course of action. Love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

God’s love enables us to forgive and pray for the best for everyone, including our imperfect parents. My prayer for those who still have earthly fathers is: “Lord, please turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). God bless you!

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September 1, 2008 by admin.

How do you explain pain that takes away your total physical and mental health? How do you explain the moral effect it can have on your life? You can’t. I have learned that the joy of the Lord exists even in the deepest of pain.  One of God’s promises to us is, “And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). I lost my ability to walk for one year and five months. I started with a cane, then a walker and was facing the possibility of needing a wheelchair. But on May 25, 2008, Jesus healed me! Today I can walk and run. Glory to God in the Highest!

Submitted by Dionne Barros

Note: Many of us know Dionne and can attest to this account. Dionne was in pain daily and could barely walk. We praise God for this miraculous healing!

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September 1, 2008 by PastorMark.

A DIFFERENT FUTURE
By Pastor Mark Boucher

Some say, “Just live for today. Jesus will return soon, so why plan ahead?” The Bible teaches us right and wrong ways to look at the future. In the Book of James, the author warns believers against presumption. Apparently, some were boasting of what they would accomplish and how much money they would make. James corrects their attitude by reminding them, “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow….  Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:14-15). The key here is the Lord’s will. Other Scriptures reveal His will for us to plan ahead in the right attitude.
The Book of Proverbs, God’s “high concentration” book of wisdom, speaks often of planning for the future. Here are a few instances:

• “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3).
• “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
• “Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance” (Proverbs 20:18).
• “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

Jesus clearly teaches the necessity to plan for the future without worrying about it. Many of His parables address the issue of investing time and talents for future reward. He also speaks of sitting down to “count the cost.” To ponder the future and envision godly plans and goals comprises an important element of Christian living. Leaders especially need to look ahead. Without a vision for a different future, we tend to simply manage the status quo. From studying the life of Jesus, we see how he prepared himself and His disciples for what would come.
Future planning, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, leads to optimism and faith-filled dreams and visions. Sometimes present circumstances tend to drain and wear us down. As we think about what God has ahead for us in this life and throughout eternity, we persevere with faithfulness in the present. We know the future will be fruitful as we remain in Him.
The leaders and pastors of Leominster Assembly of God believe in planning ahead. During this summer, I have met with many leaders to explore where we feel God is leading us. Because of the lack of space, I will just mention a few areas.

1. Sunday Night Discipleship (SND)—We are specifically designing this gathering for the purpose of “making disciples.” With Pastor Harv and Jean at the helm, we will explore what Jesus taught His disciples as found in Matthew 5 and apply it to our lives as we become strong disciples. The format of the sessions is a blend of small groups and a larger group made up of everyone in the room. There will be an atmosphere of worship and fellowship. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall and gather at tables of 8-10 people. A vital component of SND will be connection with other believers through discussion, prayer, and fellowship. This starts Sunday night, September 7, 6:30-8:00 PM!
2. Wednesday Night School of the Word and Spirit (SOWS)—Pastor Dave and I have planned to reignite Wednesday evening by focusing on “meaty” Bible study which relates to everyday life. We are planning to present subjects (during the next six months) such as developing right relationships, maintaining a Christlike attitude, the core values of life, and discipleship dynamics. During these teachings we will depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us in spontaneous prayer, worship, and small group interaction. This starts Wednesday, September 3, 6:30-8:00 PM!
3. Small groups—Many of you experienced the excellent teaching from The Truth Project. Along with the special simulcast event (Saturday, September 27) we are planning to encourage some follow-up Truth Project small groups. Also, Men’s and Women’s Ministries are planning to offer various small groups. Pastor Harv, our small groups coordinator, is meeting with current HomeTeam leaders and will be training and mentoring new leaders. The HomeTeams are still meeting and welcome new people.

As we plan for the future, we believe God is going to give us great favor and fruitfulness. The Lord has great plans for His church; we must simply follow Him into the future.

Pastor Mark Boucher

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July 1, 2008 by admin.

We are blessed to have Pastor Rafael Oliveira on staff as our Pastor of Worship Arts since May. Pastor Rafael has extensive experience in ministry and music and also has a vision to make God known in the Leominster area through music and drama.

Pastor Rafael has been involved in music since he was five years old. His main instrument is the flute, and he plays six other instruments professionally (clarinet, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drums). He has led choirs, orchestras, music schools, and bands in churches and secular fields. He also composes, arranges, and writes music.

Pastor Rafael’s qualifications come from years of experience and study including Canada Christian College, Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, and Berean School of Ministry. He has had ten years of experience in sound, two years of experience directing video and editing, and five years of experience in church drama.

“I am originally from Brazil. I was raised in a Christian family in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I have also lived in New York, Boston, Toronto, Canada, and Cape Coral, FL. I have a heart for worship. I am limited, but my God isn’t. He has given me great dreams [for Leominster Assembly of God]: various types of bands and orchestras, several choirs (worship, church, women’s, men’s, youth), multiple worship teams, sound teams, video teams, a drama team, and, possibly, recording CDs from the church worship team.”

Pastor Rafael and Flavia celebrated their first wedding anniversary on July 7. Be sure to congratulate them and encourage them in their new marriage and new ministry!

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