For the past several weeks I have been reading a book by Robert Lewis entitled The Church of Irresistible Influence. The book is about the church building bridges to the community. In this book Robert Lewis references  Matthew 5:14 where it says a city set on a hill can not be hidden. He says the church should become a strong,well-traveled link between heaven and earth in the community.
     It is time that the church becomes relevant again. Use to in a community, everyone planned events around the church schedule. Now it seems the church has to plan around everyone else's schedule. The will need to earn back its way into the hearts of the people and become relevant once again.
     The church has to show how much it cares for the community and start taking care of the community again. It may picking up trash, opening a food pantry, or walking the streets getting to know your neighbors. It is time for the church to make a difference once again.
     Over the next several weeks and months Cliff Terrace is going to be making a difference. We are going to be building bridges to reach out to the people around us. If you attend Cliff Terrace, then come make a difference with us. If you attend another church, then do something in your church to make a difference. We have to do something now.

     I just wanted to take a few moments and remind everyone of a few things coming up in the coming months.
     First of all I wanted to tell everyone about an exciting new series that we will be starting August 28th. It is called not a fan. completely. committed. follower. It is based off the book not a fan by Kyle Idleman.
     One day I received a pastor's resource with an opportunity to receive a free movie event to this movie that was coming out called not a fan: a follower's story. In order to receive the movie event for free I had to watch the movie.It changed my life. I had to repent for becoming just a fan and not a completely committed follower.
     I knew right then I had to share it with the congregation of Cliff Terrace Church. So on August 28th we will begin the series not a fan. I believe you will be changed in how you view your relationship with Christ. Each week we will have a connect group to go along with the series. Following the series on October 2nd we will have a special movie event, which I believe will change your life. Do not miss this series. Get involved with everything that has to do with this series.
     I also wanted to remind our men that we will be having a Men's Retreat on September 16 & 17 at Sunshine Mountain Retreat Center in Mountainburg, AR. Our speaker for this weekend is Marty Cluck. The cost is $25. You can pick up your tick at the information center in the foyer of CTC.
     On October 1st we will be taking a trip to Fayetteville for Bikes Blues and BBQ. We will be working along side the Pantleos, missionaries to America's Bikers. We will leave the church at 7:00 am and will be returning at 5:00 pm. This will be a great outreach you don't want to miss this.
     On October 15th we will have a missions banquet. This is the first time in a long time that our church has had a missions banquet. Make plans now to be a part of this. The cost for this event is $15 for an individual, $25 for a couple or $40 for a family of four. Tickets will be available soon. You do not want to miss this great night. Begin praying now, asking God what he would have you do for 2012 in your missions giving.
     Looking forward to all these great events. Can't wait to see how God will bless each of you.

     This past Sunday, July 31, I made a challenge to the congregation of Cliff Terrace. The challenge was for them to set something aside and give it on the following Sunday.
     I said to them that there are some of them that hasn't gave in the offering because they couldn't afford to give. I asked them to set something aside even if it was $5, $10 or whatever the amount was. I asked them to pray and ask God what He wanted them to give and to make it the first thing they do when they get paid this week.
     I then challenged those that had been giving from their net to begin giving off their gross. I asked them to make that the first check they write before they paid any bills.
     I then challenged those that had been giving on their gross to ask God if he wanted them to give above that.
Every member of the congregation received an envelope to take home for them to set something aside and bring to church with them next Sunday.
     I believe with our faithfulness and our obedience to God and his word that we will hear testimonies of how God has blessed the congregation of Cliff Terrace.
     I know that God is performing miracles at Cliff Terrace and they began this past Sunday morning as our church treasurer was picking up some trash in our front lawn a car pulled up and ask him if he attended Cliff Terrace. Our treasurer said yes and the man handed him an envelope with a check in it for a significant amount. That check was enough to meet almost two weeks worth of bills.
     As I have been challenged myself in giving more to God and learning to obey him. I am seeing God perform miracles and blessings. I know that God has blessings in store for the people of Cliff Terrace if they will be obedient to him.
God is still in the miracle performing business. He is doing mighty things and we are the recipients of them. God is there to give us blessings when we listen to his voice and obey.

Maybe some of you remember Wide World of Sports on television. It ran from 1961 to 1998. In the opening introduction to the program the tag line was "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". Unfortunately, many people today walk in defeat. We think on the negative thoughts of the day, instead of the positive. We look at the gloomy side of things instead of the bright side of things. Don't we understand that today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Not just today, but each and every day, we should remind ourselves that it is the Lord's day today and I am not going to let the enemy get me down.
Victory is ours and we can walk in victory. Walk in victory is a simple phrase that is repeated in sermons and friendly advice, but what does it mean?
It means the difference between joy and sorrow. We have choices to make every day. I can choose to let my circumstances rule my emotions or I can choose the higher ground.
Habakkuk 3:19 says, "The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." Though my circumstances have not changed, the second that I choose joy instead of sorrow, hope instead of despair I open up opportunities for God's blessings to flow.
Walk in victory each day. Don't let the enemy steal your joy today or any other day. This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

For the past several months, Cliff Terrace Church as been on the Acts 2 Journey. Our desire is to become the church that God wants us to be. We are no longer moving along without a purpose, but we are striving to become a healthy church.
During this process we are discovering what a healthy church looks like and we are learning how to create a healthy church environment. We have discovered the vision of our church and are currently in the process of developing our core values. We are wanting to be the church that God intended us to be.
On Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:30 am, we will be taking a Spiritual Assessment of our church and discovering where we are as a church spiritually. We are asking that everyone join us on this date. Make special plans to be in attendance. This is a very important step in the Acts 2 process.
We know and believe that God has big things in store for Cliff Terrace and we want to take each step seriously. Please help us with this by coming and giving us your feedback.
If you are reading this because you are looking for a new place of worship, we would love to have you give us a try. We are moving forward, enjoying the journey of where God is taking us.
Mark your calendar and be with us Sunday, August 21 at 10:30. Looking forward to being with you then.

Lately I have been thinking about the cross. I recently viewed a movie about taking up the cross of Christ. The movie was not a fan. a follower's story; this movie had made me start to view things in my life a little different. This movie so impacted my life that I am planning a movie event for our church centered around this movie. This movie made me think, am I just a fan or am I a completely, committed, follower of Jesus. I had to examine myself. I don't want to just be a fan of Jesus, but I want to be a completely committed follower. All of us can be just that.
A couple of months ago I received this email from my wife. I never truly though about it until recently. The email is called "How to Work in Any Environment" by T.D. Jakes

1. Do not expect to be appreciated; your only expectation should be to get a paycheck. Do not come to work to have personal relationships. Do not allow what you do to affect who you are.
2. Do your work well, but remember your mission. God put you there to be a Light.
3. Seek opportunities to change the atmosphere without commenting on the problems. You have a God to talk to. You are on an assignment. Quietness and competence shall be your strength.
4. Do not let your environment get inside of you. You should influence it, not let it influence you. Stop going to work to be fed. You did not come to receive; you came to give.
5. Increase your capacity to work with different personalities. God will often bless you through people you do not even like!
6. Remember, where you are does not define where you are going. This will deliver you from frustration. God has a plan for your life. Keep your eye on the prize. When Peter did this, he was able to walk in what other people sank in!
7. Get the optimum results with minimal confusion. Be effective without making the environment worse.
8. Do not be associated with one group or clique. Labels limit your usefulness. God wants you to work with everybody, but be labeled by nobody. Use all your gifts.
9. Always keep your song near you. Keep a consecrated place in your soul. Hold on to your praise.
10. Understand that God anoints you for trouble. Put on the whole armor of God before going to work.

I have found this to be very beneficial. My prayer is that you take up your cross in the workplace and don't let people question your Christianity there.

Pastor Greg