J. C. Ryle, one of Victorian England's greatest evangelicals, a man who became the first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool in 1880, is an inspiration and theological guide for me. His writings and sermons seem to be so appropriate for the time in which we live, they address the problems that 21st century Christians face.
Listen to what he says in a sermon that has been preserved:
Next to praying there is nothing so important in practical religion as Bible-reading. God has mercifully given us a book which is "able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). By reading that book we may learn what to believe, what to be, and what to do; how to live with comfort, and how to die in peace. Happy is that man who possesses a Bible! Happier still is he who reads it! Happiest of all is he who not only reads it, but obeys it, and makes it the rule of his faith and practice!
Nevertheless it is a sorrowful fact that man has a sad ability to abuse God’s gifts. His privileges, and power, and abilities, are all ingeniously perverted to other ends than those for which they were bestowed. His speech, his imagination, his intellect, his strength, his time, his influence, his money—instead of being used as instruments for glorifying his Maker—are generally wasted, or employed for his own selfish ends. And just as man naturally makes a bad use of his other mercies from God, so he does of the written Word. One sweeping charge may be brought against the whole of Christendom, and that charge is neglect and abuse of the Bible.
I love that. You can be counted among the "happy" if you own a Bible, but even more so if you read it! Isn't it true that taking the time to read the Bible is often the most difficult thing we do? Some may get up early to do that, but there always seems to be distractions. And finding a time during the day, well if one is working, where does one find time? Late at night seems to be a favorite time, but how many people fall asleep or just read really fast to get it over with, as if it were a duty or obligation?
As I often say, "I'm the preacher and I struggle with this." Reading the Bible is the key to spiritual growth and no wonder the devil would try to remove it from us. If he can't make us bad he'll make us busy. So busy we don't have time to pray more than a quick "bless me or help me" prayer and too busy to read the greatest gift given to all humankind: the Bible.
The Bible is true and timeless. It is inerrant and authoritative in all matters of life. It is the key to a fuller understanding of who we are as humans and who God is. It is trustworthy and inspired. Don't miss out on the blessings and don't only buy a Bible, but read it!
See you this weekend. Remember we now have three worship opportunities every weekend. Saturdays at 6 (gather at 5:00 for conversation and connecting) and 6:00 for praise, teaching and communion. Sundays remain the same: 8:00 and 10:30. Don't forget to invite a friend or stranger!!

I am currently involved in two projects that are having an impact on my prayer life, my sense of where we are as a church, my role as a disciple in a non-believing society and who I am as a child of God. I am involved in something called the Truth Project and am reading a book by Francis A. Schaeffer entitled How Should We Then Live?
The Truth Project is helping me reflect on what my worldview is. A worldview, according to Wikipedia is " the fundamental cognitive orientation of an individual or society encompassing natural philosophy, fundamental existential and normative postulates or themes, values, emotions, and ethics." The Truth Project defines a world view as "a comprehensive set of truth claims that purports to paint a picture of reality; the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world." I think it is accurate to say that a worldview is the way that one makes sense of the world around him/her, through a basic understanding of who that person is as a human and how that person relates to God.
I have been amazed as I have participated in the Truth Project and in reading Schaeffer's book, with how different a Biblical world view is from what the world would have us believe. Early on in the Truth Project, we were told that the struggle we face is not one of flesh and blood (sounds like Paul!) but with the spiritual realm. There is a force at work in the world that would keep us confused and deluded about how it is we should see the world and because of that, how we should live.
The basic challenge living in the world that we live in is facing the pernicious lie that man is basically good and that his greatest need is to self-actualize and get in touch with his inner desires. The reason this is such a huge challenge is that we have been socialized in such a way that to even question this lie makes us seem like fossils, out of touch with a progressive society.
It is easy to see how this lie has spread throughout our society. One does not have to look only at New Age religions to see the impact that this lie has had. Even in the church one can hear a theology based on this lie being proclaimed. Instead of a gospel of radical transformation, a gospel of radical inclusivity is being proclaimed. Certainly there is nothing wrong with welcoming people into the church, but if we welcome people and do not offer them a challenge to confront their sinful nature and turn to God who has solved our sin problem through Jesus Christ, then the church has become a mouthpiece for this lie.
Schaeffer's book does an excellent job of tracing the roots of our current situation back to the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages and both the Renaissance and Reformation. I have been amazed as I contemplate both the good and the bad that have had an impact on our journey toward the present time. There have been times when the authority of the Church has claimed to take precedents over the Bible. There have been other times where it has been claimed that human reason is the ultimate authority. But through each of those times God has brought the church back to the place where the Bible is the sole authority and grace the guiding light. I truly believe we are in one of those times of re-formation now. The pernicious lie is still prevalent among us but it has been there throughout the history of Western thought and culture.
It would be easy to throw up one's hands in disgust about where we are as a society and wonder if there is a way back to the truth of God's Word. But going through both of these projects isn't making me feel hopeless. They are making me hopeful. God has not changed His job description nor has He said He won't use the Church any longer. It is our responsibility, though, to know how easy it is to be taken in by the lie, ask for forgiveness when we have, and make a fresh commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to spread the really good news: It's not about us or up to us. It's about Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

​Katy pastor uses virtual community to connect in church
New interactive worship service starts Saturday
By KIMBERLY PIÑA CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Sept. 2, 2009, 1:42PMSuzanne Rehak For the ChronicleChurch of the Holy Apostles, 1225 S. Grand Parkway, will hold Saturday one-hour interactive contemporary services with a 5 p.m. browsing/dinner and a 6-7 p.m. service, using Twitter. Donna Matthews, the church’s pastoral assistant, uses her PC to ask a question of the Rev. Darrel Proffitt to demonstrate how the interactive service might work.
While some preachers may frown upon the use of cell phones and laptops in church on Sundays, one Katy-area pastor is encouraging people to keep their wireless devises on so they connect through the Internet and social networking sites during a new service.
Starting Sept. 12, Church of the Holy Apostles, 1225 West Grand Parkway South, will kick off its first Saturday evening service called The Gathering Place. The 6 p.m. service will feature the same elements of traditional church including music, preaching, communion and prayer as well as an interactive component that will allow members and visitors to ask questions or make comments via the Internet.


“There's a virtual community out there and we're going to tap into how that might work for the church,” said Rev. Darrel Proffitt, the church's lead pastor. “It's more than just a virtual interactive service where you can ask questions through Twitter and Facebook, but will encourage people to develop a community throughout the week.”
 

Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have allowed people to stay in touch with friends and family, even celebrities and political officials, while keeping up with what they're doing at the moment. By posting frequent updates to their sites, people stay connected and informed instantaneously.
 

“I think people have tapped into the benefit of Twitter and other sites, and I think it's a desire for community, a desire to connect with people,” said Proffitt, who said he follows a number of people on Twitter. “The last place many people look for community is in the church so we're really trying to reach out to a part of the population that might not consider going to church.”
During The Gathering Place service, people can use their cell phones, laptops or other wireless devices to connect to the service's Facebook page, The Gathering Place, or Twitter site, Gathering_Place, through the free WiFi available in the worship area.
 

Proffitt said questions and comments through Facebook and Twitter will be sent directly to his laptop, and he will take time to respond to those requests during his teaching. If a question can't be answered during the service, Proffitt said he plans to follow up during the week to maintain connections with people.


“This is more than having people come to church,” Proffitt said. “We want to tell people we have a different way to love and live, and we have community where God is present.”
While the service is interactive, members and guests don't have to use Facebook or Twitter to attend or participate. Other opportunities for questions will be available, and the message will be the same that is preached Sunday but in a relaxed atmosphere.

Craig Vickerman, the church's pastor of youth discipleship, said he's excited about the new service and the service opportunities it will bring for people who are new or faithful members, including students in the youth group.
“A lot of our students are already involved on Sunday mornings — we have completely student-run youth services where students run the sound board, lead the music, do everything,” Vickerman said. “We still want people to come to church as a family and grow together as a family so some of the kids will probably serve at the Saturday night service and still come back to church on Sunday with their family.”


Vickerman, who served on the development committee that planned the new Saturday service, said he expects that The Gathering Place to attract people in their 20s and 30s since the interactive aspect appeals to the younger generation. However, he said the service is for anyone interested in growing in their faith and serving the church.


“As a church, we're trying to be relevant to people in our community and attract people who have never been to teach or who haven't been in a while,” he said. “It's for anybody interested in doing church in a new way and who are interested in serving and being active, not being pew warmers.”


Since 1994, Church of the Holy Apostles has been serving the Katy area. The church began as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas with 12 people meeting at a member's home.
Services were held at various Katy schools from 1995-2000 until the congregation moved into its new location in 2000 on the Grand Parkway. Membership has been consistently growing with an average Sunday attendance of about 500, said Donna Matthews, the church's pastoral assistant. Church leaders expect attendance to grow with the start of The Gathering Place service, Matthews said.


The new service will start at 6 p.m. Saturday but the church will open at 5 p.m. to serve coffee and a light dinner. Families with children are welcome and the dress is casual.


Church of the Holy Apostles also has two Sunday services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. as well as a healing service on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. and a contemplative service the first Wednesday of the month. Programs at the church include a youth group, adult small groups, Bible studies and mission trips to Galveston, Mexico and Uganda.


For more information about the church, call 713-502-6518 or visit holyapostles.cc.