Gaylord E-Free Broadcasting Ministry to begin March 23

Our purpose as a church is to MEET as many people as possible right where they are (spiritually, geographically and culturally) and help MOVE them to where God wants them to be.  As a result, we have made the focus of our vision to saturate Otsego County with the Gospel and let it bleed over into all of northern Michigan.  A major part of this vision is technology as we seek to reach every available person by every available means with the Good News.  Our technology upgrade is now complete and we are ready to begin our broadcasting ministry.  Praise the Lord!   

We have tentatively picked Sunday, March 23, as our first broadcast Sunday with our new camera system.  On that Sunday we will look to begin broadcasting live the sermon part of our Contemporary Services down to the Classic Service in the chapel.

Why are we broadcasting the sermon down to the Classic Service?  It is our desire to see our Classic Service grow in both numbers and effectiveness.  Currently the worship portion of the Classic Service is abbreviated each Sunday so that there is time for the attendees to walk from the Chapel down to the Gospel Center in time for the message.  Broadcasting the message down to the chapel will allow more time for worship in the Classic Service and it will allow for the Classic Service to flow uninterrupted.  All of this together will enhance the worship experience in the Classic Service.

What if people still want to be part of the Classic Service worship but watch the sermon in person in the Gospel Center?  There is certainly no problem if there are some who would still want to attend the worship portion of the Classic Service and then walk down to the Gospel Center in time for the message.  The only difference will be that there will not be a set time in the Classic Service when those who would like to walk down to the Gospel Center will be dismissed.

Will this broadcast be quality?  The main reason we have not yet started the broadcast is to ensure the quality.  We wanted to be sure that the quality was set before launching this phase of our vision.  Not only will the picture be high definition in quality, you will find the quality increased in that you will be watching the speaker up close rather than from a distance.

What else will this broadcast technology allow for?  Along with broadcasting down to the Chapel we will also be able in the very near future to begin doing a quality video live stream of our worship service on-line as well as having video archive of services and messages available on our church website.  Down the road we will also be able to consider expanding our broadcast ministry to television as well as satellite campuses. 

We also continue to be excited about how we see the Lord working in regards to our Radio Ministry.  Currently, along with the three services that we have here at the church each Sunday, there is also the possibility for us to share the Word of God with thousands of others each week through the following avenues:

Pastor Scott has a weekly live radio show on The Eagle 101.5FM each Wednesday morning at around 8:20 where he talks about real life from a Biblical perspective

Our 9am Contemporary Worship Service is broadcast live each Sunday morning on The Eagle 101.5FM as well as streamed live on The Eagle’s website at www.radioeaglesports.com

Every Sunday morning at 11am our FOLKS LISTEN show is aired on The Promise FM (90.5).  This is a 30-minuted taped and edited broadcast of Pastor Scott’s past sermons.  FOLKS LISTEN can also be heard on-line at www.thepromisefm.com

PLEASE BE PRAYING THAT GOD WILL USE ALL OF THESE EFFORTS FOR HIS GLORY!

What Does Forgiveness Look Like?

I received a Facebook message this weekend from an old friend of mind who asked me my thoughts on this question, 

"How do you know if you have truly forgiven someone?  I've prayed with a sincere heart to forgive someone for a hurt they have done but thoughts of the hurt still come to my mind from time to time."

I think we were all taught a very unbiblical concept as kids when we were told that forgiveness means you “forgive and forget.”  As a result, whenever we “remember” a past hurt we struggle with the question, “Have I really forgiven that person?”

The truth is that the concept of “forgive and forget” is nowhere to be found in Scripture nor, in my opinion, is it even possible.  I can remember my past hurts – especially the big ones.  So if forgiveness isn’t forgetting, what is it?  

In 1 Corinthians 13 we learn two things about love.  First we learn that love is patient.  The word “patient” describes being wronged, having the power to retaliate, but choosing not to do so.  I think this is a great definition of forgiveness.  Forgiveness is not forgetting.  Forgiveness means that when I remember the hurt, and I am tempted to bring that hurt back up in order to use it as a weapon to get back at the person who hurt me, I choose not to do so.  That is forgiveness.

  

1 Corinthians 13 goes on to say that love "keeps no record of wrongs."  I think it is a similar concept.  I may remember past hurts, but I don’t intentionally keep that memory tucked away in my mind and heart with the motive to use it against the person at some point in the future.  Forgiveness says, “Even though I remember how you hurt me, and even though I am tempted when that memory comes to use it as a weapon against you, I choose through the power and grace of God not to do so.”  That to me is Biblical forgiveness and as well as a quality of Biblical love. 

A book that really helped my wife and I when we went through a time in our ministry when people hurt us deeply was R.T. Kendall’s book, “Total Forgiveness.”  It’s a good read for anyone who wants to know more about what forgiveness looks like!