Walk His Way

Had to bring my wife's car in for servicing yesterday, which required me to leave the vehicle at the Ford dealer for the day. They provided me with a loaner for the day. As I got into the car and started it, I turned on the radio, and a familiar song was playing. It was Aerosmith's classic, "Walk This Way." Although I had heard that song thousands of times since it was released in the 70's, it had been awhile, and I couldn't help but remember how much I use to like that song. As I sat their and listened I thought about my own youthful days of unbridled lust (which really is the theme of the song) and what the Lord in His mercy delivered me from.

Over the past few weeks at the CORE Church of Troy we've been we've been focusing on our "Pedestrians:walking through life" sermon series. I couldn't help, as I listened to Steven Tyler singing "Walk This Way..." how much the song really fits into what we've been talking about in this series. 2 weeks ago we learned what it looks like to "walk by faith, not by sight." This past Sunday we looked in Galatians 5:16-26 and focused on walking in the Spirit and the fruit of such a walk. We also looked at the negative side, or, walking in the flesh, and the results of making those choices. As we come to the third week of our series we will be looking at hindrances to our walking by faith and walking in the Spirit. One of the major league players that wars against our souls is lust; more specifically, our sexual desires, which left unchecked will take a person deeper and deeper into a world of darkness and self-centeredness and further and further away from the will of God. So many places in Scripture hit on this very subject. Proverbs warns us against sexual immorality in many passages. Jesus said that lusting for a woman is as bad as committing the physical act of adultery. Sex, money and material gain are the big things we most often lust after. This is why John wrote,

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17) NKJV

Jesus calls us to a new way and a new life that is all about seeking Him and His kingdom and putting the world's ways and ideas away from us. God's way leads to life. The world's way, which is run by satan, leads to death and desruction. Each of us has the freewill to choose. So be aware when anyone, whether in songs or some other form of communication, invites you to "Walk this way."

hanging out with some real men

tuesday evenings at the CORE Church is men's group. Men don't easily open up too much but tonight we were all in a sharing mood, sharing worries and concerns as we are focusing on "What is a personal relationship with God?" we're using a discussion guide from RBC/Discovery House Publishers. It seemed like we were shifting off the theme when I realized that's what a personal relatrionship with God is...that's what makes it and keeps it real; when we can go to him and to one another w/our weaknesses and worries. Real men sharing real stuff w/a real God and learning from one another. And that, my friends, is what we call "discipleship;" discipling one another as we seek a more intimate, personal relationship with the Living, Triune God

Pedestrian Outreach Center Update

• We are in the middle of our third week since opening the Pedestrian Outreach Center.
• Word of mouth is traveling. More people are coming in for free coffee, refreshments and conversation. We are also giving out bread and milk to families in need.
• Additionally, all this week we have been serving lunch to neighborhood kids who are on spring break from school. We will continue to serve a daily lunch for pedestrians from 12:00-2:00pm consisting of sandwiches, baked goods and other assorted items. We are in the process of hooking up a stove and sink so that we can begin offering hot meals for lunch.
• We now have internet access and a computer terminal so that pedestrians can search for jobs, sign up for and/or check e-mail, etc.
• We will soon be installing a large bulletin board where employers, landlords and community agencies may post information for pedestrians.
• Life Groups are coming soon. This will be a weekly small group that meets for the purpose of discussing life issues from a Biblical perspective. Many of us are battling with one or more issues that dominate our lives and keep us from living a free, abundant life that Christ came to give us. For more info call us at 518-274-8080

We desire to be a blessing to this north central Troy community and throughout the city of troy and to pedestrians as they walk through daily life. If you or someone you know needs our services, or simply to chat about life or whatever is on their heart, come on in to the Pedestrian Outreach Center, currently open Monday through Friday, 11:00am - 2:00pm.

Need private prayer and/or counseling? call Pastor Dave Lewis at 518-526-6079

How can you and/or your church get involved with Pedestrian Outreach Center?

1. Pray for this vital, frontline, inner-city ministry
2. consider volunteering an hour, an afternoon, etc. We are praying about eventually extending our current hours of operation from our current time of 11:00am - 2:00pm to 8am - 3pm. Additionally, we would like to impliment a summer time and afterschool (in the fall) childcare program. This provides great opportunities for those who have a calling to children's ministry.
3. consider helping us financially through one time gifts or regular giving. Checks can be made payable to CORE Church of Troy, ear marked for Pedestrian Outreach Center.

Hosting an Imposter Screening at CORE Church if Troy

As much as an inside look into the Christian music industry, The Imposter is also a story of redemption and self-discovery. Featuring original music from Kevin Max and Jeff Deyo, a new version of "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kerry Livgren (with Kevin Max on vocals), four songs from the outstanding Christian band Downhere, The Imposter will reach your heart like no other movie has before. The Imposter is produced by Dan Millican and Jeff Rodgers. Email them at dan(at)s-films.com or jeff(at)s-films.com. If you have questions and would like someone to contact you,click here

Just ordered our licensed copy and we will soon host a movie night featuring this film. Details forthcoming!

Pedestrians walking through life together!

We are all pedestrians at some point in our lives. Often the term applies to our lives many times, at various intervals. In a literal sense, pedestrians are those who travel by foot. In a spiritual sense, we are all pedestrians, walking through this life. Some of us know where we are going, while others have gotten lost along the way, while still yet there are many without direction or destination. Those of us who have found the true path that leads to life have a calling and responsibility to reach out to those who are lost and/or still searching. Psalm 1 comes to mind,

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands is the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2but his delight is in the law of the LORD,and on his law he meditates day and night.

3He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.

4The wicked are not so,but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked will perish.

Pedestrian Outreach Center is born!

Flooded with fresh vision and renewed passion, God has impressed upon me a name change for this new vision that is more encompassing. Alas, Pedestrian Outreach Center is born.

The vision God has given me for this new outreach is expanding to a more encompassing, wholistic ministry. Pedestrian Cafe implies food and beverage, while Pedestrian Outreach Center will include a cafe, but allows more to be offered. The ministry mission is to "help people walk through life." pedestrian was the word that came to mind as I was thinking and praying about everyday, ordinary people, walking through life, yet finding it difficult to reach their destination. Sometimes pedestrians have no direction or destination and walk through life rather aimlessly (been there...done that). The goal is to point people in the right direction by meeting them where they are at and helping them see God's plan for their lives. I'm seeing not just a place for people to come and flop, but a place where real people can find real help with the real problems that keep them from moving forward in life.