Paths to Run In

20 Years of Ministry at Crossfire

2009-05-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, 20 years ago, this month I arrived in Coburg, Oregon to Start my first Pastorate! I was joining my father and mother, John Sutton, about twenty adults and six children as we worked together to pioneer this church! I was ordained by Leon Willis and the Full Gospel Fellowship. I wanted to youth Pastor but we didn’t have any teens. The closest I had, was one person who was actually a year older than me. I began a Bible study for young adults (Crossfire Youth Ministries was born), did door to door evangelism, and became the Children’s Pastor. I had to work a full time Job but my passion was to preach the gospel and nothing was going to stop me! I developed, grew and changed. I am not sure in the early days if I was doing the teaching or if really the adults, children and everyone around me were simply teaching me. I learned so much. After a couple years of the back side of what at times seemed like the desert, God began an amazing move among the youth. We went from literally none, to one, then three and revival happened. I hit the momentous number of eight! Yes, I said eight, that is eight wonderful students who actually wanted to come together and fellowship around the things of God. Eight might not seem like a lot to you, but they were a God send to me. God left it at eight until I learned to care for each one of them. Until they changed from eight people, to individuals who I cherished the opportunity to love, serve, pray for and care for.

I went to the board and asked if they would help me buy a bus to pick up kids and do youth events and they laughed at me. They said, “what kids”, and I tried to quit! I knew that the board didn’t see my vision, so I resigned. They asked me to stay through the end of the summer. During that summer, God began to work on me! He showed me that I would have to love and take care of the people God had given me, then He would take care of the rest of everything! I asked for my resignation back and apologized. The board said that if I bought a bus, paid the repairs and gas they would pay the insurance. With the help of Morris Corley, we bought what would become the first of many buses (and Vans). It was a bohemia crummy that cost $600.00, We began picking up kids for kid’s church and I took twenty five to my first youth camp that me and a friend Started in Cottage Grove! (Summer Youth Camp was born).

Over the next year, over 100 youth gave their hearts to the Lord for the first time! Breaking the Ice Winter camp - BTI was born that year! Over the years we began to reach street kids, homeless kids, we worked in the schools through Release times for the Middle Schools and help encourage and promote High School Bible Clubs on every campus! I remember organizing the first See You at the Pole meetings, when we were sure we would be arrested, but we weren’t. Our little off-campus bible study at Sheldon High School was how we started on television. I made a call by accident to what I thought was the Community Center and found out that I had called the Sheldon Community Access Television Center. I found out that we could use this large room on the campus of Sheldon High school to have youth church in for free and all we had to do is show it on television. This was great because we were meeting in an actually remodeled chicken coop that was attached to my house! When the 75 to 100 youth would worship the whole place would shake. We moved to Sheldon with little intent to ever really show anything on television. After six months they told us to edit one of our shows for television or we would not be able to meet there anymore. We edited and aired our first television show. We edited the show at the wrong speed and the one hour show was over on twenty minutes. It looked like it was in fast forward and we looked ridicules. We thought no one would be watching, but we were wrong. Over the next three years, we would go from cable access, to Local TBN, to many different Local stations, (KLSR FOX being the most consistent) then to national television through Sky Angel and the Dish Network. The Phone has never stopped ringing with people who would like to ask Jesus into their hearts and would like to get to know Him better.

We had some great moves of God, amazing miracles and fruitful camps and crusades. Many diverse ministries and ministers have gotten their start over the years through Crossfire and Family Christian Fellowship. In 1997, my father came and told me that he would be retiring within the next year! We talked and decided I would continue as Youth Pastor but would also Start a Saturday evening church called Crossfire Church. It would be for all ages! After about a year, my Mother and Father retired from full time ministry, but stayed in the church (still mostly full time) to help and advise. They have been the greatest blessing a son and or Pastor could ever ask for. At that time we combined Family Christian Fellowship and Crossfire Ministries together, as they really were all along and I became the Sr. Pastor. Many years later we moved our ministry to Springfield and Living Stones Church combined together with us to make an amazing connection and force of restoration and compassion. God has expanded our vision from a desire to reach some youth to influence and minister around the World. The most important thing is what God taught us in the beginning. Every person is and individual, every person has extreme value to God and He has given us the responsibility to love, honor and serve one another.

It is amazing how much life can change in twenty years!Many faces have changed over the years, yet many have been there from the very beginning! My face, weight and hair have changed, but for the last twenty years we have together kept to the vision I had when I came: To do my best to bring Jesus to those who need it so desperately and to lead people in Worship and the Word! Over the years, there has been many ups and some very difficult downs, but God has always remained faithful! Many have said to quit, give up, or asked if it was worth it? More have said, endure, with God’s help we can do all things through Christ and it will be worth it! It has been worth it! I have never been more excited to live life, serve God and pastor the greatest group of people I have ever met. My whole family is blessed. Each one of us feel this way. I know I also speak for all my staff and their families when I say, We are very blessed to have served you over the last twenty years with our love, friendship, passions for Christ and everything God has given us! Thanks for the last twenty and I hope we can labor together for the next twenty plus years if the Lord tarries'.

What could have been?

2009-03-08T00:07:00.000-08:00

We too often live in yesterday! This is a deception of the enemy. God has called us to live today, for today. because yesterday cannot be changed except to cut lose from it through repentance, and begin living the life God intends you to live. I often have this statement come crashing into my thoughts and life. “What could have been?” I have learned that I cannot be scared of this accusation. This is truly an accusation, especially if we have things in our past that are not dealt with (Under the blood). This accusation holds us to our failures instead of let us learn from our failures and begin to grow from adversity into the bride of Christ God has called us to be. Rev 19:7 We all have to accept it for what it was and go on. We all have areas of our lives that we wish would have went different. We wish we would had listened to the Lord or maybe to the people around us.
There are so many Christians out there anchored to what could have been. It reminds me of the person who can’t seem to get a life outside of High School/College or the man who relives his life in the sports arena long after he can hardly get up off the couch. What was, means nothing without what is! What could have been may have been great or could have been horrible, but if all you have is what was, all you have is what is behind you. God is a God of today. Make a memorial of your past victories so if you ever pass that way again you can remember them and learn from them. Set up and alter for the same reason. It is a place of sacrifice and repentance that you must remember so you never go that way again, and if you do so you know how to get back. Let your past defeats be a lesson and again, not an anchor.
Last Wednesday night Stacy (she recently gave her life to Christ) made this amazing statement! I am not sure where she got it from or if it just came to her. She said, “I’m keeping my head up and my I am looking forward because I told the enemy to get behind me and I am walking on him, because he is under my feet. “ The enemy of our souls (mind will and emotions) needs to not have our attention. We too often get our eyes on our difficulty and past failures and then we are not able to be led by the Spirit of God like we should.
Heb 3:12-14 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. I love sharing about old times! My kids love old stories. I am not talking about that! I am talking about living. When someone gets older, one of the most important things is that they keep living and being useful. When you retire, it should be a great time, not a dead time! Keep living. When we have those monumental changes in our lives, then we recognize that everyday is a new day. Live every breathe, like God gave it to you because He did. Get the past behind you so you can live. So much boils down to being led by the Spirit. God is a very present (NOW) help! I hope we all come to a place of present time living. God is calling us to live kingdom lives now not someday.
I have to add this last little part about letting people drag you down! It seems that when you finally get past the attack of the enemy concerning your past, there is always someone who is right there to remind you or to slap you in the face with it! Set around you (your inner circle) are people of promise, who think, speak and live promise. People who will give you a chance to live today. That doesn't mean to shut everyone who is not a good influence out, but it does mean that we all need encouragers around us. People who will let you live today. Who give you room and don’t try and drag you down. We need to speak life! We need to speak the Word. Jesus didn’t just live 2000 years ago, He lives today. He wants to live in and through you today. Let there always be a chapter to the book of your amazing life currently being written. Let all that is written bring glory to God!
I have never been more excited to be living than I am today. God is up to some wonderful things and I want to live out the very words that God is currently speaking. There are always people who live in yesterday or are looking at tomorrow and miss today. Lets live today. There is an evil report about today, about the economy. Lies, lies and more lies. Today is the day the Lord has made I CHOOSE to rejoice and be glad in it! This is truly the best time in history to be alive. Don’t live in fear because it’s death not life. Live in God who has made us to be overcomers and more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! The real report about today is that the devil is a liar, God is alive, faith is the victory. Choose to live and live in the now that God has provided for you. If you have a job then rejoice, if you don’t then rejoice. Take full advantage of all that God has given you! -Pastor Aaron & Kristy Taylor

Quick Event update: God has allowed us to begin a full remodel of our building. We began by saying we were going to do all we could with what we had. We quickly came up against some things we could not afford. The great thing is we were not alone. Well, Friday we had a sewer backup due to a root that grew through our sewer line and now we are getting the remodel we could not afford through our insurance company. Praise the Lord for the crises because he turned it into victory. Everyplace we turn there is opposition but God keeps making a way through the opposition into the promises He has for us.
The church is growing and people are being added every week. I am amazed how God is working in the lives of so many and they are not only being saved but they are getting in and growing. We are seeing God adding to the church daily those who should be saved. All the ministries that make up Crossfire World Outreach Ministries seem to be growing and developing at an astonishing rate. Sure, the finances are difficult and the economy might be a obstacle, but God is being faithful. Through adversity people are seeking answers, they are seeking God. Praise the Lord in all things. Let us come together and praise the Lord because He is worthy of our praise.
We have had to postpone our Philippines missions trip until March 2010. Money is a huge factor and yet I know that God has a reason for it. I choose to rejoice in this. I am very disappointed because I really want to go and be an encouragement and strengthen our brothers and sisters in our Filipino churches but I am excited to see how God will turn this around for His glory. We are not allowing this to be a defeat but a victory. For this reason we are immediately sending $3500.00 that has been raised for the trip to the Philippines for their conference and construction of the church in Escalante. We also will be turning much of our attention to one of our Spanish churches that was burnt down by gang members less than one year ago. I believe we can finish the second floor and put a roof on that church by this summers end. Please keep this in your prayers and put faith to your prayers by sending a gift marked Mexico Church rebuilding project.

If you want to get involved, I want to encourage you to let your life make a difference. If you are wondering how you can get involved please call us and simply ask us how can I get involved. There is a place for you in ministry. God has made a place for everyone in His body. Let us work together in unity to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Don’t let anything hold you back and start while it is still called today.

Extra Update: Work on the Church is going great. This week we finished our deal on our copier and it will save us a great deal of money and let us continue to do our monthly Updates much cheaper than ever before. We also had a lot of dealings with our insurance company (due to our sewer flooding). It looks like if we are careful and do most of the work ourselves (with Volunteers) we may be able to do all that we had desired to do the sanctuary, foyer, café and kitchen. It will be a wonderful transformation. What an exciting time. As we do all we can, God is taking care of the rest! We have a great God!
We also had a great opportunity come up! As many of you know Circuit City is closing down. They were selling everything! We was able to make some unbelievable deals that will greatly benefit the remodel and our fireworks fundraising. We were able to buy what we were going to need, In addition we should have enough extra racking so that when it sells we should be able to get all that we got for free and make a few thousand dollars! For example we invested in some huge pallet shelving on Thursday. We bought thirty-eight sections for $3000 dollars, they threw in ten thousand dollars in glass doors for our sanctuary, Materials for extending our staging, wiring for our sound booth and stage, two buffers worth $1500 and about $1000 in cleaning supplies, paper towels, and bathroom hand soap. We spent the last two days moving this. One truck after another. Dave and Gail Thacker donated the storage facility and a huge truck to move it all. We have already sold five sections for $1750 and we have another $1000 spoken for. Praise the Lord! If you understood all that, we still have 28 sections of this very valuable pallet shelving and we only have a balance of $250. God has provided all these things we were needing for the church remodel. We still have many more racks we can sell and we are only $250 dollars from breaking even. That is a God kind of thing. I do have to say a very grateful thank-you to all of the faithful staff members, Masters Commissions Students and Crossfire volunteers who rallied together to make this miracle happen!

The real miracle is the miracle of God given life! We had that on Friday this week when we had two babies born in our church this week! One to Pastor Rod and Melanie Campbell—Sarah Rhyan Campbel a girl,7lbs 7oz, 20inches long and as sweet and her sisters and her momma. On the same day, but just a little later. Delivered in the same hospital and by the same doctor. Joe and Cara Capener had a big and wonderful baby boy. Kevin Silveria Capener, 10lbs 3oz (really), 21 inches long, and he is a great little/big guy! Pray God’s blessing on these families and also on these little lives! PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE THE LORD!

What a Wonderful Week!(Read to the end)

2009-03-01T03:56:00.000-08:00

I was just wanting to write you concerning one crazy week I have had. We have been spend all of our extra time in Sweet Home visiting my wife's uncle, Mike Reagh who has lung cancer. He was sent home with oxygen, and a hospital bed and told he had no more than ten days to live. That was lat Thursday. He has been up and down and his family has been able to come and see him. Yesterday we were told he had been feeling so well that he was up and riding a stationary bike so he could keep his strength up!
On Tuesday, I was trying to renegotiate our copier lease to save us the maximum amount of money when three different companies began to fight for our business. The owner of National Photo copy came in to make the bid because we were very (VERY) competitive on our bid so he wanted to come in and see if there was anything he could do. As he sat in my office with the flurry of stuff happening (like it does most everyday) he said I want to do something I never do. That sound like another salesmen except by this time I knew what the bottom of the barrel was, because the other two companies had dropped off and said that no one could go that low. The owner said , I am going to help you. I am going to pay off your existing lease, give you the maintenance and toner lower than I have ever given it to anyone, then he found an upgrade on a used machine and gave it to us at cost. I have to tell you, that we were already getting such a great deal on color copies that it was ridicules. Now we are paying much less and our 11x17 copies are costing us one third what they use to cost us! PRAISE THE LORD! I would love to tell you the exact price we got but I had to sight an agreement that I would not reveal the price because it is so low other customers might get upset! Praise the Lord!
Wednesday was a very busy day and most of the office and Pastors were getting ready for B.T.I. Youth Camp I had a good day and was able to talk with a company who is wanting to help us with an economic relief center. Which I will explain in greater detail once things come more together. We had a great Wednesday Night Bible study!
Thursday, John Sutton and myself had the opportunity to travel with some area Pastors to Portland for a meeting with some Portland Pastors about community outreaches. It was a great time to fellowship and to share ideas. I had a wonderful conversation with City Bible’s Pastor Frank Damazio. It was also great to hear the vision that Luis Palau has for Portland and the sounding cities. We then picked up our B.T.I. camp speaker who flew in from Dallas TX for our youth camp. He is a wonderful young man and I know that the youth will be blessed as well as everyone who comes Sunday morning as the Camp joins with us this Sunday. Thursday We had a very difficult news. Joyce Curly called and told us that Bill Curly, her husband, had died. Because of illness they had not been in meeting with us for a while but they always wanted me to know that they were with us in spirit! Please keep them in prayer. Thursday evening I arrived home just in time for a very exciting and special meeting with our children's Pastors Mike and Kia. There we lined out some changes and exciting plans for the future. Please keep our children's ministry in your prayers. I am excited about our ministry to the children but we have to have more people who have a vision of reaching out to the children of our community and church. This is a ministry I believe is very special to God’s heart.
Friday, (The day of Youth Camp) I got to work at 8:30 and found Jon Fargher in the main building with one third of our building flooded. This was devastating . We quickly began to get out the shop vac’s and start cleaning. I went to rent a water extractor and they gave me the name of a company they thought would loan us the equipment. When I called to talk with them, I happened to know one of the managers. He said I will head right over and take a look. When he got there he told me to stop cleaning. He said this was much more extensive that we might have thought. What had happened was a root from a tree had busted and blocked our main sewage line. One of our toilets got stuck and backed up the sewer all the way through the locker room floor drains. He said you can’t use this until we cut the carpet out and all contaminated areas. I asked how long would it take and he said he would get right on it, so we could have church this weekend. Now let me give you a quick history lesson. A few weeks ago I was complaining to God about how I wished I could completely remodel the church. You see God has supplied most of what we needed to remodel the building but I wanted to do it all at once. God reprimand me when I heard him say “I can’t bless you until you use what I have already given you.” I then told the church I needed everyone who could volunteer, to come help as much and as often as possible because we were going to start putting everything to use that we have. One huge area we seem to have no answers in was replacing the Carpet. So we determined we would just do all we can. Well, it you haven't put two and two, together. I will help you. Our insurance company said we don’t want to risk the possible health risk so tear out the carpet and we will pay to replace it all. The damage is pretty extensive so they will pay for some of the painting also. PRAISE THE LORD! We had absolutely no money and yet God has provided. If you are wondering why we needed to remodel. Well one example is we have some carpet in the building that has been in the building for over thirty years. We have replacement value insurance so they will replace it with updated commercial grade carpet. It might seem hard for some to see this as a blessing fro God, for you I say open your eyes because God has been and still is blessing the people at Crossfire! After a very busy day for me and the start of registration for Youth Camp we finally ended up the river at the camp site. We have some very fired up young people. The Friday evening meeting was really amazing. God touched and changed lives. My wife and I drove home that night because we have puppies we had to take care of.
Saturday Morning I received a Phone call from May Floyd letting me know that during the night Barbra Classen had passed away. Some of you might know Barbra and some might not. She attended our church for many years. She also kept me out of jail a few times when I was a kid. She worked in the Juvenile Dept and pulled a few string s for me. She kept saying I think he will come around. I hope I have. I do know that Barbra will be missed. I also know that she had a close relationship with the Lord. Please pray for the family as they deal with this loss! Kristy and I then went to the church to clean, replace some light bulbs put some stuff back in place that the flood had displaced. We (our building) might look a little rough for awhile but we are excited about what God is doing. Kristy and I finally made it back to the camp and we had w great meeting with the youth. God moved and we didn’t get done with prayer until late. God spoke to, anointed, and called young people on Saturday.
This morning I followed Jon, Casy and Michael back to the church so we could get the instruments, sound and chairs ready for tomorrow! I wanted to writ you this PRASE THE LORD before I went sleep. It has been a great week! God is just faithful like that. I only hit a few of the high lights of this wonderful week. Take the good, the bad and the ugly and no matter what, you can see God at work like he always is. Pastor Aaron

Upcoming Theme for 2009

2008-12-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

Last year God gave me a theme for the upcoming year! FORWARD. God had told me that no matter what we do, we need to keep moving forward. The word forward began popping up everywhere. It seemed like every time I turned around I would hear the word FORWARD. This was a valuable theme for the year and one I believe God wanted to engrain into our lives. He did just that. Last year was a year of change and some huge obstacles and we had to keep moving forward. The question was answered as to what are we to move forward to? Into the Kingdom of God. There is a dimension of life that we often miss. Even as Christians we are missing the “kingdom living” element. Where we are moving in the Spirit and the Will of God is being done daily. We often live in the flicker of light and call it God’s best, but we much continue to pursue (move forward into) the brightness of God’s best for our lives. I believe the theme is not over, but it is ingrained in our lives so we can continue to move forward, being led by the Spirit into the perfect Will of God (The Kingdom of God).
After nineteen years of ministry here at Crossfire I had only declared a yearly theme one time and it was last year. In the last three months God has began to impress on me to search the heart of God for a theme. I have felt this very strong about the elements of the theme but just this week God has given me a very strong wording to the theme. Making a difference! On the surface you may feel like you understand the theme but as this year begins you will see that there is a lot to this theme that may not have been evident to you at first. I knew God was wanting us to have a theme that was central around the moving of the Holy Spirit, but there were other key factors that God had laid on my heart. This theme is amazing for the day we live in. It has much to do with the moving of the Holy Spirit, the gifts He gives, how we are to relate to our World, how we are to reach out with the truth and how we are to discriminate, yes discrimination (not by color or race) but there is a very urgent need for us to begin to be discriminate in how we live our lives and relate Christ to others. You may understand a little better if you read the text from which we begin this journey. The main scripture reference is from Jude 22 (KJV). Please read all of Jude! Over the next two Sundays, I will be closing out the Forward theme and I will be unveiling the theme for the coming year. Please be in prayer for this because I know God is up to something huge this year. Thank you all for your support because we are making a difference. Pastor Aaron Taylor

Christmas Tree Fundraisers!

2008-12-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

We have had a great month and a lot of hard work! My wife, my inlaws, myself and some wonderful people from the church spent most of the month of December working down in Long Beach, California selling Christmas trees as a fundraiser for the ministry. During difficult times, you do whatever God puts before you so you can continue to do the ministry God has provided. It went well. I did not like having to be gone, but I do appreciate the opportunity God has given us to help build the kingdom and be a witness wherever we are. The economical impact was evident and we didn’t make as much money as we had hoped. When all the costs are accounted for we are hoping to have made eight to ten thousand dollars.
Masters Commission do the Christmas tree fundraising here locally and I believe they did well. They didn’t set any records but God was faithful as they did their best God always shows himself faithful! Thanks to everyone who purchased their trees from one of our Masters Commission Christmas Tree lots!
Ministry costs money and I appreciate all of you who faithfully support this ministry! We are making a difference. I am willing to do whatever it takes to win souls and see people discipled. Thanks again, Pastor Aaron Taylor

A Time To Cling To God

2008-11-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

A Time to Cling to our God!

Not long ago our now president elect talked condescending about those who would cling to their religion and their guns. I believe that this is a time in which we as a nation need to find and cling to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4). We must cling to what we believe in and cling to the God we love so much.
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deut 30:19-20 NKJV
During times of great change we need to lean not on our own understanding but instead trust and acknowledge the Lord to direct our world into these last days (Proverbs 3:4-6 & 2 Timothy 3:1-16). I am writing this following the historic election of our new President of the United States. I find myself in opposition to the ideals and beliefs of the majority of the House of Congress, the U.S. Senate and my very president. I must admit that while I disagree with most everything they stand for, I am proud of our country in one progressive area. The history of our nation has had many great days yet one of the lowest and most regretful has been the many years of black slavery, abuse and of segregation placed upon the African Americans of this nation. I am thankful to see that this nation has come to a place in its history where we can begin to see men and women without seeing color. To vote for Obama because he was a black man is just as wrong as not voting for him for the same reason. I am so very thankful that we have moved forward and in many ways proven we have moved forward. While nothing can repay for the wrongs of the past, this is a proud day.
My reason for personally not supporting Obama had absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin and everything to do with his voting record, and his ultra-liberal agenda. One in which he is very proud of. There was not one moment in the last two years in which I could have even considered supporting Barack Obama. This morning that has changed. We must unite together and pray for our nation, its leadership and our President elect (1 Tim 2:2-6). While I cannot support his stance on not protecting the unborn babies (who we must choose to protect) (Jeremiah 1:5 & Ex 21:22-25), the economy, the importance of the definition of marriage, and just about everything he stands for, I do believe that this is a time for change. I am not sure that this will be the change that will bring this nation closer to God. We can hope that in the coming months and years, the great moral divide in our nation will strengthen what we truly believe in. The Supreme Court Justices appointed by this coming administration will be very liberal in their thinking (except for a miracle). It is time to pray and cling to our God. I am most concerned about our American young people who have been indoctrinated into such a humanistic philosophy. It is time for the church to stand up just as long as we can. It is time for the church to be the church. To stand up for what is right and what is true. We must proclaim, teach and instruct with our example and unite that God is God and without Him we can do nothing. We are not a people without hope. God has not forsaken us. We must hear from our God and cling to His every Word.
Many will say, “Oh well, God sets up leaders and He takes them down.” I do understand that this is a true and scriptural way to look at this. I also know that in doing so, God is not always looking for our comfort but our repentance. I am ready for this county to see its evil ways and have a true change. It is time this county has a change from a nation that has a form of godliness and become once again, a nation who is truly under (ruled by) Almighty God. We as Christians must be dedicated to cling to the principles of God’s Word! God can bring about change, Godly change.
There is another way to see this outcome of such an ultra-liberal anti-bible/God election. We must have a basic understanding of the dominion God gave to man. The free choice God has given us. What I am speaking about is probably best understood by examining Israel's desire to have an earthly king. God did not want Israel to have an earthly king, but they insisted so God allowed it. It brought much heartache to Israel throughout their history. I believe this could be the case for this county. I find it hard to believe this president is God’s best for our nation. This historical lesson explains what was behind it when God told Samuel: “1 Sam 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me.” I cannot help but wonder if in the election of such a man, we as a county have show God Himself and the world that America has rejected God. You may feel that I am overstating this, but when you look at what he supports, openly believes and who he stands with among the ultra-liberal Democratic Party, the conclusion seems obvious to me. It is impossible for me to believe we have a Christ-like president elect by looking at his beliefs and the fruit of his voting record. What I do believe is that God can use this for His glory. But it is time for us, as Christians in this nation, to pray and to cling to our God and His every Word (Please read—1 Sam 8).
This is a great day of hope, not because of the election, but because God is not dead. He is very much alive and well and He is working about good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV
In this day, let us humble ourselves, seek God’s face and pray! 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chron 7:14-15 NKJV
Let us now, more than ever, cling to our God and live the great commission everyday. People need to know about Jesus. Politics will not bring about real change, but Jesus can. He will bring about the change we need, one life at a time. Please join me in doing all we can, to bring about the change only God can bring. How will they know? Who will send them? For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher (proclaimer)? 15 And how shall they preach (proclaim), except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Rom 10:13 KJV Let us take the message of change, the message of truth, to those who must hear the gospel. Pastor Aaron Taylor

Pastor Aaron's Weight Loss Challenge

2008-09-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

He may increase, but I must decrease! This has been taken out of the original context of John 3:30 to get the point across. I am humbly asking for your help in a few different ways. I hope these few paragraphs will help to explain. It is better to be involved and sacrifice in a project than to simply ask others to sacrifice. For this reason, I want you to know that I am all in on this one. In fact, I have never done or asked anything like this in twenty years of ministry!

I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH BEING OVER A HEALTHY WEIGHT FOR YEARS:
As most of you have known, I have struggled with my weight for many years. I am finding that as I get older, it keeps getting harder. This could drastically limit, not only my ability to live, but my ability to be the husband, father and minister that God has called me to be. I have tried to lose weight many times and I have often failed, occasionally succeeded and then I gained it back. This always seems to be a thorn in my flesh. While trying to deal with the weight, I also am constantly dealing with the financial deficit the church has been struggling with as well as the call and request for missions and outreach. Last year, my wife and I went without pay all year and cancelled all missions trips. The church was able to make a little headway on the deficit. We made a huge sacrifice, yet we watched the church increase in numbers and the financial giving decrease. This was discouraging but my courage doesn’t come from circumstances, but instead it comes from the one who is above all of those circumstances.

I NEED HELP, GOD’S HELP AND YOURS!:
I have spent much time in prayer about this and through that prayer, I have come to this conclusion and request: For me to deal with my weight, I need accountability and encouragement. I am humbly asking for you to sponsor me in my attempt to decrease that He may increase. I really want to be a better example and I need to be healthier. I am not planning any special diet or anything gimmicky. My plan for losing the weight is encouragement from you, accountability from you, eating very sensible meals and exercising. I am planning on losing 75lbs to 100lbs over the next six months with my doctors oversight. My goal is to do so before I leave on our 2009 Philippines trip in March. I then am asking for you to help me keep it off, as well as even lose some more over the remainder of 2009.

WHY SPONSORSHIP AND WHY DOES MONEY HAVE TO BE INVOLVED?:
Why should money be involved? Stress is one of the contributing factors to weight gain, as well as lack of sleep and bad eating habits. I have been working years off my life for the last three years just trying to make ends meet for my family, juggling to keep up on the basic expenses for the Church, as well as continue to do missions and outreach. Most of this is simply due to the fact that less than twenty percent of people tithe or give some kind of substantial, faithful, financial gift within the body of Christ. This puts a large burden on a very small portion of people. I feel that I need to step back from doing so much outside fund raising and put my time into ministry but you have to take care of your family and ministry costs money. I believe that if we can deal with this deficit of over one hundred thousand dollars we could make the month to month budget work. I was asking God, “what more can I give? This is the answer to that question: If I can view the Sponsorships as a way to provide for the ministry then I believe I will be able to devote the time necessary to successfully lose the weight, have more time for ministry and together be more productive as a church.
Where does my sponsorship go?
We at Crossfire have made a very diligent attempt to make sure that 100% of all financial gifts go right to where they are designated. Let me make it clear that absolutely no, (as in none), of this money goes to me. Below you can make three choices to where the money goes for this event.
First Choice available is: for debt reduction/elimination. So that we can get our ministry out from under the financial strain we are in right now. We really need to make some headway this year.
Second Choice available: Is to support the outreach in foreign countries as well as support our missions outreach scheduled in march 2009.
Third Choice available: Is to support both. 50% of your contribution will go to both the debt reduction and the other 50% would go towards Missions.

What can You expect to receive from this:
Supernaturally, I know for a fact that God blesses those who give to see the expansion of the Kingdom of God. You will receive a monthly letter describing how things are going, how much weight I have lost and how many inches I have lost as well. The letter will also give the names of the ones who are supporting me in this attempt to get the church caught up on its bills and continue do missions and outreach around the world. This will be an eligible donation for tax deduction. You can also expect a Pastor who is healthier, and able to live longer and be more productive with much less stress in his life.

If you would like to sponsor me in my weightloss per pound, please contact us at 541-870-7203 and we will send you all of the necessary information for you to sponsor. Thank-you for doing what you can. This means so very much to us and I am excited to be able to turn my attention towards ministry and less of my thoughts and energy towards fundraising.
Pastor Aaron Taylor

Summer 2008 Update

2008-09-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

I would like to give you a basic update of some of this summer’s events and what God has been doing among us.
We began the summer anxiously awaiting our fireworks fundraiser. This is a very lucrative fundraiser for the church and it is an avenue that God gave us years ago to help us raise a significant amount of money in a very short time. God has also gave us an incredible team of staff who have a heart to do whatever necessary to see the work of God continue. We ran 5 Fireworks locations this year and I am proud to say that it was a success. Our numbers were down a little this year because of the economy, but we still did very well and we are thankful to the Lord for opening the right doors for us this year to have the locations we had and giving us a successful season.
Along with fireworks, one of the highlight of every summer is our youth and children’s camps. We had our 16th annual Summer Impact in August and we saw God move on our young people in such a sovereign way. We had a really incredible group of young people this year who seemed to come ready for God to move, and He did. We had a Masters Commission director from Alabama be our guest speaker for Summer Impact and the theme for Camp was: Refuge. That theme showed to be very prophetic. God began to pour our His love on these youth and we saw many run to Him and truly make Him their refuge. Praise the Lord! He is so faithful! Along with Youth camp, we cannot forget Kid’s Camp. The theme this year for Kid’s camp was the Amazing Race and man was it. I am not sure if it was more of a race for the kids or the staff (chasing the kids down, haha! Just kidding). We were able to see our children learn about running the race of life to win and running for an eternal cause, being a child of God. I am thankful for the children’s ministry within this church because they really are training our children in the ways of the Lord and giving them a solid foundation.
Last but certainly not least, no summer would be complete without some babies being born. We have had our own little baby boom here at Crossfire. I think at one time last Spring, there were 10 women pregnant. WOW! Since then, they have all had their babies and there are 4 more pregnant. We are building a church the right way, raising them up from babes!
On the homefront: Kristy and I and the kids have had a very eventful FULL summer. It has literally been non-stop. We went directly from fireworks to camping for 2 weeks then directly to youth camp, then kid’s camp and immediately following that started football for Jet and then school started. Jet and Haley have started at a new school this year. Haley is in the 6th grade and Jet is in the 8th grade and they are at Willamette Christian School. This was a whole new experience for them with people they’ve never met before, but they have met the challenge with open arms and are adapting well. They are excited about their new school and are doing very well so far. Lauren is a sophomore this year at Marist High School. She is anticipating a difficult year academically but she is up to the challenge. She finished last year with an overall GPA of 4.03. We are very proud of her. Jet is playing Pop Warner football again this year and is doing incredible. Haley is playing volleyball for the first time ever at her new school and we are learning that she really has a knack for it. And Lauren is in her school’s Winter Play. Maverick is growing like crazy. He is almost 5 months now and is changing so much. He has to be the happiest baby ever. He giggles all of the time now and is trying to crawl. We are excited to see him grow and change. As for Kristy and I, we are blessed. God is doing great things in us and we love each other each day more than the day before.

Miracles & A Move of God

2008-09-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

As I told you before, I would be writing to let you know the miracles that God is doing within us (our church and body). Since returning from Lakeland, Florida, we have seen may miracles. Let me preface, I don’t believe that the miracles and the move of God that we have been seeing is because of Lakeland, but we definitely came back from there hungry for a move of God in our church body. We have been seeing great things. God has miraculously healed several people within our church. One specific testimony I would like to share with you is one of a little old lady in our church named Lucy. Lucy had been struggling with severe back problems for many many months. So bad in fact that she was unable to lay down to sleep. One Sunday, she began to pray and seek God for her healing. Afterall, why not her, so as she began praying, she felt her back get really warm and it felt a little better. She left the service that day standing in faith for a complete healing, and sure enough as the day went on, God COMPLETELY healed her back. It is still completely healed to this day. Praise be to God. This is just one of the many miracles that we have seen God do in the physical.
Not only miracles have been happening within our services, but also we have seen such a sovereign move of God in our midst. We have begun over the last six months or so having a Worship Night about once a month. It is where we get together and corporately (without any time constraints) we just take time to enter in corporately and just soak in the presence of God. Wow! It has been incredible. We have experienced the divine presence of God like never before. It is always amazing to me to see God meet us right where we are at when we take time to meet Him where He is.
We are very much anticipating a continued move of God and we are welcoming it with open arms. Lord have your Will and Your Way within us. Continue the work You have begun in us. Amen

What a Great Day!

2008-06-03T00:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, That is all I can say, when people ask about how Sunday went! Sunday morning was amazing! I am thankful for the outpouring of the Spirit of God. God has complete love and compassion for His people. Sunday Night was wonderful also. I am beginning to receive testimonies of the miracles and how God spoke to so many. I will try and share them with you tomorrow or tomorrow night. If you would like to add to the testimonies please send me an email so I can pass on to others what God did for you on Sunday. I would love to hear from you big or small and you can be an encourager and faith-builder to others.
A special thanks to those who have been praying for our Fireworks Fundraiser! Chris and I went to make a presentation to the Springfield City counsel and mayor. They were favorable and seemed appalled that the existing laws that they had made put us in a difficult position. Please pray for us as we draft up some new proposals to changes to the current laws!
I would also like to give a special thanks to the people who volunteered to paint up at the United States Basketball Academy. Their efforts saved us a lot because we owed them money from our last Breakin' the Ice Winter camp. Thank you to Rod Campbell for heading up the team who painted.

We love you and are believing God’s best for you!
Pastor Aaron & Kristy

Florida Revival Trip - Last Night

2008-05-30T23:35:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful day and tomorrow we flight out early for home! We left early this morning to Fort Pierce to meet up with Leann Rawlins. As I mentioned last night, she is a woman who was saved and delivered from drugs in our church many years ago and we wanted to visit together while we were here. We had a great time visiting and hearing how God is using her and Randy here in Florida. We left Fort Pierce and headed straight to the meetings in Lakewood.
We once again had a wonderful outpouring of God’s spirit at the revival meetings. Two more were raised from the dead tonight bringing the total to eighteen. One right here in Lakewood Medical Center and the family was there to testify about it. He had been considered brain dead since Wed morning. They were going to pull life support and before they did they prayed. God brought the man back to life. He is off life support and communicating with the family with no signs of any brain damage. Many, Many miracles and great times of worship. God is really up to some great things all over. This is starting to break out all over America and even throughout the World. Remember the miracles are the results of the outpouring, and faith when the Word is proclaimed. It’s not a man, it’s not a method, it’s God being God and being true to His word. God chooses who He will anoint and when He wants to anoint them for His purposes. Todd is anointed but it is starting to spread like wild fire all over the world.
Because it is late and we have to get up early to start our long flight home, I want to share a word God gave me and then I am going to get some sleep. While the meeting was going on tonight God spoke to me an amazing word. He brought to my mind the story of when Elijah called down fire. Then God said “I have allowed the prophets of death and destruction to have their time to bring fire. All they could display to the world is pain and terror. The world is not impressed with the power of their gods. God is using the Church to display His fire and this revival will be a witness to who God is, worldwide. The anointing of God is being poured out all over the world and it is with power. God, Himself, is beginning to let the world know that He is the one and true God, before the second coming of Christ.
I am excited for Sunday morning, but even more so, I am excited for Sunday night at 5:30 pm for Preparation Prayer and 6:00pm for our worship night. I believe if we will show up hungry, God will show up in His power. Let us come on Sunday having made ourselves ready. Let us seek His face and not His hand. If we seek His face God will give us His hand if we simply ask. I will see many of you Sunday. Begin to prepare yourselves right now for what God is wanting to do.

Please email, phone or tell those who are hungry about Sunday evening. Let them know to begin to prepare themselves now and be expectant.

It's 2:44am EST here. We are going to go to sleep so we can get a few hour of sleep, if you are still awake and recieve this tonight, please pray that Maverick sleeps the next few hours.

We love and miss you Pastor Aaron & Kristy

Florida Revival day two!

2008-05-30T01:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a powerful night. God did some amazing things. Miracles were abundant. The presence of the Lord was even more abundant. Signs followed. Where the Spirit of the Lord is we can expect miracles. The Lord gave me a very special Word and I am very thankful to have received it. Please accept this as from the Lord, for us as a body of believers and get this Word out!

“Breakdown barricades and be a bridge builder!” This was a word God gave me and I believe it is for right now. God is calling us to be people who call forth the good/God in people (because we know God is good). Division is easy but unity takes the Spirit. Anger and bitterness come easy but forgiveness and love are of the kingdom/Spirit. Build up, Build up, Build up people in my holy faith. God is calling us to be bridge builders, kingdom builders, HIS kingdom. Speak truth, speak peace, speak love and unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. God is wanting to pour out His Spirit on us without limit, so let us not limit Him, Crossfire family of believes. Let us begin to make ourselves ready as a bride would make herself ready to see her Groom and King. Let us begin to pray, seek His face and speak holiness, love, peace, truth with our brethren. Those in the faith and to those who are without. Bridge builders, that we might find our way together into the kingdom presence of the Lord. Life, life, life. This is the Word of the Lord to us! Our lives will be found in the Kingdom of His Presence!

Right before I hear this from the Lord, God told me to call Dennis Wallen and pray for a creative Miricle to begin in His Kidneys. So I did and he recieved it very well!

Right after I heard this Word from the Lord, a Pastor (Frank Castanet) and Ministry leader (Dale from Last Resort) who are both form Eugene OR came up to say Hi to Kristy and I. They were very excited about what God was doing. After talking for a few moments I invited them to join us on Sunday night. I hope they can. I believe this would be great. God gave me an opportunity to build a bridge within moments of giving me a word about building bridges and Breaking down Barricades. When we do this in the natural and within relations we also are doing it in the Spiritual. Let us pour out the love of God on others so God can pour out His love on us! NO LIMITS to what we are willing to do and there will be no limits to what God will do!

A few nights ago God spoke to Todd about a man who he knew nothing about named Bob Rogers. The Lord told Todd that this man was going to take Kentucky for Jesus and he would have a powerful hub of the Spirit. Tonight Bob Rogers showed up and Todd introduced him to everyone (Todd had met him tonight for the first time). Bob is a pastor of a Pentecostal/Charismatic church of over eight thousand people. God is already using him mightily. On our way home from the meeting we debated if we should stop and get something to eat. We stopped at IHOP to get a bite. When we went in we were sat next to Bob Rogers and two other pastors. Long story short. We made a real spiritual connection. It was awesome. Pastor Bob Rogers gave me a Bible that he had just printed at their new publishing company. It is really a wonderful thing. One of his associates was a pastor from Chicago Illinois, James Horvath. God gave him a vision of the Philippines and especially Bacolod City. He will be in Bacolod in ten days doing a city wide crusade. For those who don’t know, this is where our covenant churches are headquartered. Ronni and Salomie Binas Pastor there and we have forty-five churches on the Island of Negros (Bacolod is the capital city). We actually called the Philippines from that restaurant to establish a connection. It is awesome how God works. Pastor James wants to partner with us and help facilitate the Gospel to that area together. God is building bridges.

TONIGHT I RECIVED THIS RESPONSE TO LASTS NIGHTS, PATHS TO RUN IN (It really encouraged me along with others responses):
Pastor Aaron,I am passed ready!!!!!!!! Yeah!! I am so excited that you are where you are and receiving what you are receiving!! I can't wait till you come back! ! The warfare has been pushing me to my limits. Let's get this show on the road!I will be praying that I will be ready for whatever the Lord desires to do, and that the people will be hungry and ready, also. I believe this will be stronger and bigger than anything the enemy could attempt to put in our way. This isn't a beautiful visitation by a vulnerable Father, as the last outpouring. This is the will of an ALL Powerful God who desires to set up a throne of His authority in this city and region, (nation). The desire of a Savior who wants to set the captives free. The determination of a Warrior King who will see the enemy dethroned and destroyed. An Almighty God who desires to display His Glory and Power to and through His people and to those who do not know Him. The passion of a Bridegroom desiring intimacy and oneness with His Bride. This outpouring does not belong to the church. It exists solely for the purposes of a majestic King who is taking back what is His. His reputation, His church, His children, His Way. It is the expression of WHO HE IS. IAM THAT IAM. The restoration of all that His heart has desired for this age. I just can't believe that I get to be a part of it. It humbles me to my very core……

(SHE THEN WROTE SOME PERSONAL THINGS THAT GOD GAVE HER FOR KRISTY AND I THAT WERE VERY ENCOURAGING).

(I will be there Sunday and Ready!)
I am honored to be a part of this with you. So, count me in.
We love you!Susan Christian

I hope you all are feeling this way and are preparing yourselves for an outpouring of God’s Spirit! I am Hungry are You?

TOMORROW: It is right now 4:50am EST (so much for getting caught up on sleep). Tomorrow we are going to visit with Leann Rolings. She was a drug addicted girl who many years ago who came to our church and accepted the Lord. I will never forget the night she came and gave me her stash of drugs and paraphernalia. She said “will you get ride of this for me, I am free.”. She has been serving God faithfully ever since. Today she is a mother of two boys and the wife to her wonderful husband Randy. She is a nurse and together they live in Southern Florida. When she found out we were coming to Florida, she asked if we could get together. She lives four and a half hours away. So we are going to meet in the middle and try to be back in time for the evening meeting. Pray for me because we have to leave in just a few hours.

PERSONAL NOTE: Kristy got to lay out in the sun this afternoon so she could burn her self??? I watched Maverick and got caught up on some of my very delinquent voice mail messages and emails. I took maverick in the shower with me to clean him up and cool him down from the hot weather. He loves the water. After a few minutes I called for Kristy to come and see maverick. He was in my arms, with the water running on him, completely sound asleep. That is how I want to be with my heavenly father. Completely at rest in his arms.

God’s not coming, He’s here! He is not getting ready, he is waiting, on us! Let’s make ourselves ready!
Pastor Aaron and Kristy Taylor

P.S. As great of a time as we are having, we are missing our kids so very much. Please say an extra prayer for that!

Live from the Florida Revival:

2008-05-29T02:25:00.000-07:00

Kristy and I (& Maverick) just got back to our hotel from the Florida Revival with Todd Bentley. Tonight (as many of you may have watched on God Television) was resurrection night. Tonight God was very present and the fifteenth person was raised from the dead since the revival began. This is an outpouring that is spreading! What did we take away from the meeting tonight. Spiritually more than I can comprehend or explain. I am very thankful for being here and glad that we came. I did realize a few things that are very important. This is about the supernatural and hunger.
HUNGER- 1st we found that people are more hungry and expectant. Thousands showed up early to get a front seat. They show up to have an hour of prayer. Then we had over two hours of worship then three hours of the prophetic ministry, testimonies, and prayer. There were some (like any meeting) who left early but most stayed until the end. As the meeting progressed the impact increased. I find the same hunger among many in our own congregation, but not the same expectancy. For this reason I am asking everyone who is hungry to begin to prepare now for next Sunday night. We will gather together for an outpouring of the Spirit to all those who are hungry.
OUTPOURING– There is definitely an outpouring happening here. Is it unique to here? Well, I am not sure. There is something very unique about what is happening here, but the outpouring is the same everywhere. I feel the same outpouring in our meetings, but the intensity is usually less. There does seem to be an open heaven, but I know we can have the same intensity if we choose to operate in it. We all must ask how far do we want to go, how much do we want and what are we willing to invest to receive it? These are important questions and very necessary to ask ourselves. These are things the local church here had to ask when they began to intercede for a move of God. Tonight, Todd made a very important statement, “this is not a miracle crusade, it is an outpouring.” This really rang true to me. When you have an outpouring of the Spirit, you can expect the miraculous to follow. Signs follow an outpouring of the Spirit. This is an outpouring and it is happening all over the world. It is spreading like fire. We are excited to bring home some fire and intensity of the Spirit. I am asking for those who are hungry to start fasting and praying now. You might ask why should we wait for Sunday night, why not Sunday morning? The answer is: God can do what God wants to do any time with us. I do believe that Sunday morning is full of people who may or may not be hungry. This is why I am asking for us to set a special time for those who are hungry to go out of their way to invest in a move of the Lord. If you are hungry let’s get ready for a move of God.
PREPARATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN– God began preparing us months ago. We have been moving FORWARD into KINGDOM living. God is wanting to prepare His bride for the final display of His glory. It is not one place or one man. God is definitely beginning an outpouring and it includes all who what it. Healing has been happening in small instances in our church and last Sunday was just one example. Many accepted God on Sunday as their savior, but I didn’t know until I arrived here that Marianne Barkley was healed miraculously Sunday morning. I encourage you to go to the testimony page and check out her testimony she just sent in.
IMPARTATION– We are here because we want all God has for us as His body. Tonight we were prayed for personally by Todd Bentley for an impartation of anointing. I am thankful for his graciousness. Kristy and I want all we can get. I came here with one prayer, “God we want all you have for us.” I ask that you would have that as your prayer also. We don’t want any more or any less than God’s best for us.
BEGIN NOW- Once again we encourage you to begin right now to pray for an outpouring without limitations. We are excited to come home already. I am thankful for what God is doing here but I am expectant for what He will do in our outpouring.
Ready or not!!!!! Pastor Aaron and Kristy

FAMILY TRAVEL NEWS: Maverick is doing great. He did great on the plane and he did great in the service tonight. He really loves church! He slept through almost the whole thing. We have ran into some pastors that we know from home. It is good to know that there is family where ever you go. We are also very excited for Friday when we are going to meet up with Leann and Randy Rawlins. They are a couple who used to go to our church and was saved in Crossfire and delivered from drugs. They now serve the Lord here in Florida.

New Taylor Baby Pictures!!!

2008-04-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

Everything is great and the Birth of Maverick went well. Kristy did wonderful and the baby is perfect. Thank you for all of your support and prayers! We will do our best to let you know more as soon as things calm down. Aaron, Kristy and family

Please keep us in your Prayers!

2008-03-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

Please keep us in your Prayers: (Paths to Run In will continue SOON!)

I want to let you all know what is going on with Kristy and the baby, before I head back up to the hospital. The Doctor today told her that the bleeding has slowed but that they were not going to let her out of the hospital until the placenta has no signs of bleeding for at least three days. She wants out of the hospital very bad but we are willing to do what the Doctor says. Today, we have been asked to take a tour of the N.I.C.U. in case we will be needing it. We want the baby to go full term but know it is all in Gods hands. We have full faith and trust in the Lord and know that Maverick is in Gods hands. Please keep us in your prayers. I will see everyone tomorrow morning at church. Pastor Aaron, Kristy & Taylor Family

Urgent, please wait and pray:

2008-03-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your prayers! For those who are a part of our online prayer team, you may have heard and started praying. Some of you may not have heard but please continue to stand with us. It is currently around three thirty in the morning. Let me take you back to around 8:45 p.m. last night. I had just gotten home from work and Kristy was still at work waiting for a computer backup to finish. I had left work to go home and work on my Paths To Run In, so we could have a late evening together. Then I received a very disturbing call from my lovely wife. She said she was bleeding and was heading straight to Sacred Heart Hospital. Most of you know that she is seven months pregnant with our son Maverick. I had my computer open to our web site so I clicked on our prayer team button and simply said Kristy is bleeding, please pray and that I was headed to the hospital. We got there within a few minutes of each other. She was just being admitted. After they did an ultra sound and some tests they came up with this conclusion. She must have a tear in her placenta. This is causing the bleeding and making her contractions start and she was dilated to a one. The baby was healthy and the heart was beating strong. They gave her a shot of steroids to help the babies lungs develop. They also gave her meds to stop the dilation. If the bleeding stops, which it hasn't yet, she may be able to resume her pregnancy. If she keeps bleeding then they want to keep her from having the baby for at least forty eight hours so the steroids can help the babies lungs develop. She is just now getting some sleep. The contractions have stopped and it is just a wait and pray time. Please no one worry but do stand with us for God’s will to be done. This is a difficult time because of B.T.I. this weekend but we have such a great staff I know they will take care of everything. I am going to try and get some rest. I will let you know more tomorrow on the prayer line as well as this testimony line. Pastor Aaron

Jesus is able for you to live right!

2008-03-06T00:21:00.000-08:00

The Kingdom provides abundant ability!

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Once again I want to deal with 2 Peter 1:1-9 and the Abundance God has for His people. The Kingdom of God is more than enough. It is a kingdom of abundance. Anyone entering/living in the Kingdom will have all that they have need of. There is provision in the Kingdom. It is ours by inheritance but that does not mean it is ours to neglect or abuse. Verse three says that God’s divine power has provided everything we need to live in this life and to live like Christ. Then, we get this explanative word. (through). The divine power for all we need comes through our knowledge of Him.
The word Knowledge is the same word used other places. The word knowledge is Greek in Peter and Hebrew in the Old Testament. But the definition has many of the same components. We can live with all that we need as our intimate relationship with Christ develops. This is why we must continually add to our basic faith in Christ. We have all that we need through our relationship with Christ. He called us to know him by the authority of His own glorious, perfection and the authority of His character.
What this one verse means to us today, is we have the power to be who God has called us to be. We can be led by His Spirit, we can meet the challenges of everyday as more than able in Christ Jesus. You have all that you need through Christ's ability. GO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THIS DAY BECAUSE JESUS IS IN YOU AND ARE ABLE! Pastor Aaron

Current Family & Ministry Update:
Yesterday, was a wonderful day. It didn’t start so well. Kristy woke up very sick, throwing up, and her body ached all over. She rested and slept most of the day. I am glad she is feeling better and I think she needed the rest no matter what. I started the morning by going to a chapel at Willamette Christian School for a Pastor’s Appreciation Chapel. It was wonderful to see the kids who had invited me and to see their faces light up. Today, I was reminded that what you can do in the lives of children matters the most and it really doesn’t take very much. Show a little care, go out of your way and it can mean the world to a child.
I went home to check on my lovely wife and to take her everything. I thought Wal-Mart might have that would make her feel better. I hate to see her not feeling well. She is such an amazing woman and it takes a lot to get her down. If you can please pray for her and that my rumbling stomach doesn’t get any worse. We are both needing to get things ready for B.T.I. this weekend.
The day was full and kept me very busy. Some days it seems like my main function is just problem solving. This was one of those days. I worked with Hudson on some T.V stuff and did four weeks of openings and closings for our television program. I pray that God uses these television messages to reach people and to go into places where the message of Christ might no go otherwise.
My daughter Lauren called because she was very excited to have a girl at school come to her and ask her about getting serious about her relationship with God. Lauren was excited to be able to minister to her.
Jet and Haley were so blessed to have my parents visit their school for grandparents day. Once again this shows how the investment you make in the lives of a child is very worth the effort.
Our mid week adult Bible study went well and was very exciting to hear the passion in people’s voices when they spoke of their love for Christ and their desire to follow Him. Worship, testimonies, the Word of God and the fellowship was all very fulfilling. Have a wonderful day and allow your knowledge of Christ to increase. Pastor Aaron

P.S. Check out the wonderful new testimonies of how God is working in the lives of people. There are new ones up today. Go to ww.4crossfire.com and click on testimonies.

Living in the Kingdom of Abundance:

2008-03-05T02:59:00.000-08:00

Abundance!

I am sorry about not getting my devotions out to you the last few days. We have had some amazing days in the Lord this week.

Abundance: This is a word that drives us to think money when we hear abundance. 2 {Peter 1:2 let us know what real abundance really is. To associate true abundance with what money can buy is short sighted. True abundance is what money cannot buy. Look below AND KEEP IN MIND. God wants us to live in true abundance. The word means multiplied. Ever increasing. More. I say more Lord, more.

2 Peter 1:1-9 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

We all need money and God is faithful to take care of us. In God’s kingdom there is no lack. We must learn what real abundance is, so we can be trusted with financial abundance. Jesus is not a get rich scheme. He is faithful to us and keeps His promises. He gives us all we need but we will find what we need, as we begin to live in the Kingdom (begin being led by the Spirit). When you live in the Kingdom all you need and more is already yours. It isn’t about heaping unto yourself. It is about partaking in your inheritance. In the Kingdom of God, money is a tool to reach this world and provide for God’s people. Money honestly has nothing to do with real abundance. In the next few days I want to deal with this wonderful word abundance. God has called us to be blessed or in abundance. Be blessed as you learn to live in God’s Kingdom!

Current Life and Ministry Update:
Once again, I am sorry for my delay in getting devotions out to you all. I was so happy to deal with the subject Love and the Kingdom of God All of last week was awesome. I am excited for BTI youth camp, the upcoming March 15 message (on loving your enemies), as well as Resurrection Sunday. God is up to some great things. I am sorry that I left some of you hanging after my last update. I did finally get our horse buried. It was like he was singing that old song “ain’t no grave, gonna hold this body down—I’m gonna get up, get up, get up, out of this ground. This was one of those things you will never forget. I went to court and that went very well but I will be going back to court in May. God is being very faithful. One thing I had not mentioned was, I was in great need to refinance my home. I need to pay for the room additions to make extra space for our new addition, also give each of my wonderful children their own rooms. This loan would also help us get to July when we are hoping to begin receiving a salary again. Having no income for the last six months also makes getting a loan very difficult. People don’t like to loan to people who are not currently making any money. Praise the Lord, Sunday I was given a word from the Lord to just ask. This might be a little pre-mature, but it looks like this loan will be coming through. This is a huge weight off of me, (one I should have been letting Jesus carry all along). We had a great weekend. Sunday morning was great. I had a great time with everyone at our Sunday pizza fellowship. Sunday night worship night was better than I could have asked for. We had a great turn out and I believe everyone who came, found it very worth while.
Please pray for Kristy, she woke me up around four in the morning and asked me to pray for her because she was throwing up ad felt cold and had the chills all over her body. She things she go food poisoning. Please lift her up in prayer. Have a blessed day and trust Jesus all day long, He is trustworthy. Pastor Aaron

Qualifying Love—Kingdom Living!

2008-02-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

Qualifying to be loved by me!

We have spoke much about loving your enemies over the last few days. Some of us find it hard to love anyone and dealing with family might be the hardest people of all to love. Remember what love is!
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails……..
Love (agape) is! Love is something! It is tangible and yet it is invisible because the roots of real love is spiritual.

Luke 10:26-37
26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Love your God: I always hear, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian!” My question is, If you love God (and he said not to say you love Him and then forsake ones brethren). Wouldn’t you want to worship with the brethren. Those who love God must put down their criticisms of each other and come together.

Love your neighbor: This is sometimes harder than loving an enemy or a stranger. Because the closer someone is to you, the greater hurt they can cause you.

Who is your neighbor? This was a good question with bad motives, Jesus put this man in a place of having to admit that to keep the commandments of the law, one would have to break the Pharisaical law (said to be the interpretation of the law). The law of the O.T. never had the power to save us but to show us we needed to be saved. It also had a keeping power until the promise of the Father was reviled.
Who is our neighbor, Jesus made it clear all people great and small, any race and even of any state of their lives, even our enemies, are our neighbors.

Disqualification:
Today you will have the opportunity to try and disqualify people out of your circle of love. Jesus has no circle of love. Jesus is Love! We are called to be like Him. When we justify our bitterness and hatred, then we are the ones being disqualified. Our self righteousness tries to determine who deserves God’s love from us. The answer is that we don’t deserve God’s love yet he gives it freely. Who do we think we are to not actively love someone else. The qualification to receive God’s love is that you exist. What are your qualifications for people to be loved by you. (remember what love is 1 Cor 14:4-8).

No apologies required:
Are you waiting for someone to apologies for something, Jesus has showed us love while we were yet sinners he gave to us. If you are waiting on an apology or for someone to come to you then you are not like Christ. Jesus draws people by His love. If you are waiting on some to respond to you then tear down your pride and lets see what God can do to bring healing.

What about repentance?:
You may say, don’t we have to repent for God to accept us. The answer is that God is, in and of Himself (we are not) our holiness and or righteousness comes from God alone. God loves us while we are yet sinners. To have a relationship with him we must repent and accept His love. We must love period. For us to have a relationship with others we must unconditionally love. We love without repentance but for a relationship to happen, the one being loved must receive our love. Because we are not God, demanding repentance for someone's wrong doing is more about us and less about true love. Let it go, love and get on with flourishing fruit in your life.

Who can you actively love today, not for your benefit but for there benefit?___________

Current Family and Ministry Update!
The court hearing went well but there are two more scheduled in the coming months. My children are doing well. Lauren has tons of homework each night because progress reports are coming. I rented a backhoe to burry my horse because tomorrow I am taking part of the day off, to also put in storm drains in around our house and move the foundation dirt that is piled up. My father in law (Ron came over to help) we buried the horse eight feet under but because to water table is so High. Well, he just kept coming up out of the ground. I believe, well after dark, I finally got him to stay underneath. We will find out in a little while when I go check to see if he is staying underneath. A little gross but very true. I did miss the the Guths wedding and that was disappointing. Other than that my day was very blessed and God has given me much grace. Jesus is great and each day is wonderful when you look for miracles in each day God gives you. 1. Haley is feeling much better. 2. I found favor with the rental company today without even asking. 3. I got a full size backhoe for $225 for four days. 4. The court has required mediation which is exactly what I wanted. 5. Marlene came over to help my wife around the house just because she loves us and to be helpful to my lovely wife. 6. My children love me and I love spending time with them. 7. My son and I had a great time playing with the big man toys in the back yard (The Backhoe). 8. My wife is doing very well with the pregnancy and Maverick is very healthy. 9. My wife is amazing and she loves me just like God loves me. She is my best friend and I love her more each time I speak to her 10. I felt the presence of God all day. 11. I am blessed beyond what I deserve and God is always faithful to me. 12 I could go on all day but I better get back to getting ready to take my children to the dentist. We have to leave at 7:00am. Be blessed today, love someone new today and keep Jesus first in all that you do! Love Pastor Aaron & Kristy.

Blessed Beyond Comprehension!

2008-02-28T13:05:00.001-08:00

February—March, Update Article

I want to start this by saying, a huge, Praise the Lord and thank you for all of your support. God is always faithful! We have had one of the most exciting beginnings to a year that we have ever had. I hope this Update gives you a small idea of some of the great things God is doing. Many of you attend Crossfire Family Worship Center and most of you attend some place else or no place at all. I am not sure what is happening in other churches, but we are seeing and I am hearing an increase in the manifestations of God’s power all around. Regardless of where we attend, I believe we are all very desirous of the power of God to be displayed in our midst. We are experiencing the seeds of some very exciting and genuine revival. We are blessed beyond comprehension.

Eph 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. NKJV

I recently spoke about how simply recognizing the miracles around you will allow God to increase the miraculous in our lives. The scripture above is always an encouragement. I am always encouraged to realize that God is wanting to strengthen all of us in our inner man. In this Christ can dwell in us, to allow us to comprehend the incomprehensible. This means that the Kingdom of God is beyond comprehension, yet God places in each of us the ability to love and understand who God is and what He is wanting to do. We can be led by the Spirit, but only when we seek Him first and give Him glory/recognition daily for all He does. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, the power of God is at work in you. How much supernatural work He will do in you is limited only by your faith and obedience to Him. V20 –21 declares Gods unlimited power is designed to work in us.

God is working through His people in greater dimensions. We have been experiencing an outpouring where God is drawing people into the congregation right off the streets. Where they are coming out of drugs and life-controlling problems wanting to accept Christ. It seems like we rarely get through a worship service when people aren’t asking Jesus into their hearts during the worship service. We have had them stop by, call and write asking to accept Christ. We are finding that during worship, people are having people ask ushers to accept the Lord. In the restroom and (thank you Jesus) in the altar call people are wanting Christ. God is drawing His people. A week never goes by without a wonderful testimony of salvation. God is blessing us beyond what we could ask or think.

Thank you for supporting and praying for this ministry. All I can ask is, give us more souls Lord! And give us the wisdom and ability to disciple those who are accepting the Lord so they can live in the fullness of His Spirit. We love you with the love of the Lord, Pastor Aaron & Kristy

Current Family and Ministry Update:
We started out our Wednesday with the sound of children in the house. I love waking to hearing my children, even if it’s a little loud. Lauren had a late start, so we got Jet & Haley to school, dropped of one vehicle to get the brakes fixed, and we took Lauren to breakfast. We went to work a little late after dropping off Lauren at school. I received an encouraging call from some pastors in Pakistan wanting to set up a country wide evangelistic crusade in Pakistan. Please pray for wisdom about this. It was a normal, wonderful day but that is not how it stayed. Our plan was to go home for a few hours between work and church. We got a call from Haley. She said she had a fever and was not feeling well. We left a little early to go get her. The vet came to check out our horse because he was very sick and not eating or drinking. We thought is was a viral infection but they told us it was a tumor in his esophagus. They told us there was nothing they could do for him. We then gathered the children and said goodbye to buddy. It was a very emotional time. The vet put him down and tomorrow I will bury him in our field. Having him put down was a hard decision but we didn’t want him to suffer. Thank you for your prayers. I believe the Lord was there to comfort the us during this loss. Immediately after, I received a call about some domestic problems and a child who was possibly being abused. I spent the next couple hours trying to help this family get things back on track. I am always thankful for God’s grace and supernatural wisdom during these kind of encounters. My wife took Jet to church and because I didn’t get home until after church started, the girls and I stayed home. Haley getting some rest, Lauren preparing for a huge test and I was getting ready for a court hearing tomorrow. We closed the day with prayer and each of the children thanked God for having the opportunity of having buddy (our horse) in our lives and that Jesus was with us during this day. It was a hard day but we are blessed beyond comprehension. My amazing wife prayed this, “This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!” I say to us all for today, This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! Have a blessed day, beyond your comprehension! Pastor Aaron Taylor

Loving Your Enemies Takes 20-20 Spiritual Vision!

2008-02-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

20-20 Spiritual Vision!

Yesterday, I dealt with loving your enemies. The Word is very clear on this point. I encourage you to read it again if your not clear on it or if you didn’t get a chance to read it. Today I want to deal with one simple, yet very necessary and profound thought.
How can you really love someone who hurts you, wrongs you and despitefully uses you. It’s not just a good idea, it is necessary as far as God is concerned. It is a God idea. Love your enemies. I used the gospel of John Yesterday and today I want to look at Matthew 5:43-47 -
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ……….. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? KJV
We hopefully understand the need to love your enemies but how do I view them without feeling hateful or angry? It will take some supernatural vision but hopefully I can simply explain the how! Read these scriptures very carefully.

Gen 3:13 And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." NKJV

1 Tim 2:13-15 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. NKJV

Titus 3:1-7
3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. NKJV

In Titus what was it that reached out to each of us, while we were still in our sin and deception? God’s Kindness and love! (These are really translated just agape) Without that, we would all be lost and yet we were all there at one time. God saves us at different times and yet it doesn’t mean that we are somehow better than the next person. In fact God treats us all the same.
To understand how to actively love a sinner is to first see them for who they really are. If I asked you to love a poor starving child you could do that very easily. I have had the privilege to help feed the poor, helpless and sick people around the world. These have been some of my most cherished opportunities in my life. They are hungry for many reasons, but the one common thread is that they are hungry. If we begin to see people as Christ sees people then we will find it easy to love those who hate us and despitefully use us.
The Bibles says that Eve was deceived, yet Adam sinned willingly. I know this is true but not completely understood. Eve was deceived directly by the enemy and Adam knew what he was doing. Adam had walked with God and yet made the wrong decision. Adam was self deceived by his own lust. Once we have truly walked with God, we have no excuse but notice God restored and continued to love Adam.
I believe no one in their right mind (true understanding) would reject God. For this reason, All men are deceived (Titus 3:3) and are in need of the truth. When someone acts out on you they are really angry at God and with themselves. Jesus said that they really don’t hate you they hate me. He knew they hated him and He showed them nothing but love.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. NKJV
Jesus hates evil works and deeds but He loves the individual. This is not an emotion alone. Jesus chose to actively love them while they crucified Him He was actively loving them. If you get a real 20/20 vision of how Jesus sees sinners you will find it easy to hate the sin that hold them in bondage and love the sinner. See the sinner for who he is. They are deceived and in great need of the love of Jesus. We posses that love and must be willing to act like Christ did towards those who He wept over. On the Cross He asked for their forgiveness. We must strive to love our enemies as Christ loves them.
I hope this devotion helps you live your life by walking deeper into the Kingdom of God/learn to be led by the Spirit. When the body of Christ learns to love like Jesus loves we will then find revival in all areas of our lives and the world. If just you will learn to love as Christ loves, it will revive your world and those who you come in contact with. Don’t wait, go start a revival in your world.

Current family and Ministry News!
Kristy and I had the privilege to go to the hospital and pray with Trigger before her surgery and she was just a little out of it! She is such a wonderful and sweet person. I missed our staff prayer because of that but everyone understood. Later, Trigger called and told me that her doctor got sick and postponed the surgery. All I can say is that we prayed God’s will and protection and I believe that is exactly what God did. I then had a staff meeting and numerous meetings. We have been trying to sell three older buses and a very dear friend to this ministry who attends another church asked about them. After speaking with him we decided to just donate them to his church so they can just keep on doing the work of the kingdom. In the afternoon I received a call from a person who wanted to know if we could meet. I found some time and they came by and said that they had been given some money and wanted to be a blessing to the Church. They gave a much needed offering of $3500 to general fund and $1000 to one of our Crossfire Ministries. It was very needed and was cause for much rejoicing. The day was amazing. Kristy and I were personally in need of a financial miracle and between our tax return and a gift from a very faithful friend we were able to pay our house payment and a few other bills we needed to pay before the end of the month. God is always so faithful and takes such wonderful care of us. When we picked up the kids they were full of stories of the day to the point they were talking over each other. Although I had to make them talk one at a time, I am so thankful they are so eager to share their day with us. Kristy’s leg/hip is feeling better but continue to keep her in our prayers. She is such a wonderful mother and I am thankful she is so excited about Maverick. She takes such good care of him already. Please pray for our horse, Buddy. This morning when we fed him, he didn’t come to eat. This evening he still had not eaten. We went out in the field and find him in very bad shape. We believe he has a very bad case of horse influenza. We brought him into a stall and tomorrow we are hoping the vet will be able to help him and get him to eat!
Please pray for this need, I know it is a horse but God is not limited. Most of all we don’t want him to suffer. We also have a cilvil court hearing coming up and really want God’s Will in it all. We love all of you and appreciate your love, prayers and support. Pastor Aaron and Kristy

We are called to Love! Like Christ Loved!

2008-02-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

There is love and then there is Kingdom Love!

We are called to love, That seems like such an easy command. Yet we must realize that God has placed into each Christian the ability to have complete agape/love. Not just for our friends, family or those we like. We are called to love those who hate us, talk evil about us and despitefully use us. For this is the love of God. Today each of us will come into contact with these kind of people and we can avoid them but God called us to actively love them. Read this very challenging scripture, it is for each of us. Then answer to yourself truthfully the questions below.

Luke 6:32-38
32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

We often write this scripture off by saying we love them in our heart. Let us examine what it means to actively love our enemies.

1 Cor 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We can say that we Love people but Christian love is one who loves those who hates them. Are You Patient with those who are angry and hateful towards you? ______ Do you what the best for those who flaunt what they have in your face and use what they have and who they are to make you feel like you are nothing and have nothing? ______ Do you speak well privately, of those who boast publicly for their greatness? ______ When you are treated rudely do you speak kind back? ______ Do you look for ways to serve those who hate you or to those who just get under your skin? ______ Do you speak to frustrate or bring peace? ___________ Do you choose to release people from their wrongs without even being asked or do you hold their wrong doings and sins against them? ___________ Do you find pleasure in your thoughts of someone's failure or demise? __________ Do you love to speak the truth in love to restore or condemn? ________ Do you protect those who hurt you by stopping slander and gossip about them? _____________ Do you trust or desire the best for those who hate you? ________________ Do you trust even when you might look foolish for trusting someone who uses you? _____ Do you hope the best for those who hate you? _______ Are you willing to restore and sacrifice for, those who willingly hurt you? ________

I think we get the point. God loves us, which means he can answer correctly, these questions, about each one of us. God put this kind of love in you. Just let it begin to flow out of you. Don’t love so they will change. Love actively even if they never change. Love others as unto the Lord. I must say this is very hard but it is the will of God for our lives. Love someone that is hard to love, today. Learn to love everyone actively everyday. I am challenged how about you. I will pray for you to learn to love and please pray for me to learn the same.

Current Family and Ministry Update: Not a whole lot to mention today, except paint, paint, tape and more paint. This was my day off and I spent the early morning on the phone doing business. Then I began painting and tomorrow after work I am hoping to finish most of the painting that we have started. Around eight we met with our Master Directors, Chris and Kori Cheek who had just returned from a month long ministry tour. It was so great to see them. We missed them and the kids so much this year. I am leaving in just a little while to go and visit Trigger before she goes into surgery. Please keep her in your prayers. We love you, Pastor Aaron and Kristy Taylor

If You Love Me?You Will Do What I Say! Jesus?

2008-02-25T00:56:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful truth, We will keep His words if we Love Him but learn how and Why Below!
John 14:15-24
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. NKJV

If you Love me, you will keep my Commandments. When we hear this, we often associate this statements with God’s love for us. This is not about God’s love for us or about God’s acceptance. I John 2:15-17 (listed below) makes this statement much more understandable. This is about fruit. God is the one who loves us and gives us the ability to have a divine agape love relationship with Himself as well as with others. God has given us love, His kind of love, completely unconditional and sacrificial love for Him and for others. One of the fruits of the Spirit is Agape Love. From this we understand that if you possess agape love, obedience to the commands/Word of God will be your desire and ultimate end. The result of real love is obedience to Christ. Jesus was not speaking a condemning word but conveying a truth about God’s love in us. God desires to place His Spirit into each one of us. When He does it will produce fruit. One part and the greatest part of that fruit is Love.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. NIV

This statement out of 1 John is important to understand. What I want us to really look at is (the love of the Father is not in him). This is possible. If we are living by the flesh thus we are not being let by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love. If we are lovers of the world, we are not being led by the Spirit and the love of God is not in us. Accepting Christ into our hearts is the only way to receive/accept the God kind of love (agape).

REMINDER:
We don’t love God or reject the world to be led by the Spirit. We accept Christ, He then gives us His Spirit and we can be led by His Spirit. Immediately, by God’s Grace, He begins to produce fruit and causes us to be able to love God.
Last night a lady who did not know Christ called and said, “how do I love God”. God was drawing her to Him, but until she commits her life to Christ she cannot really love God. Agape/love is a fruit of being led by the Spirit.
We are drawn to God by His Spirit via many avenues. We walk into the Kingdom of God through the door (Christ). There is no other way, Christ said that many will try other ways, but he was the only way, anyone who declares another way is a thief and a liar. Once we have accepted Christ. At that very moment, God places His Spirit in us and as we allow His Spirit to quicken our spirit, we become alive unto God. Then we begin to produce or have the Fruit of the Spirit.
If we tell an unbeliever to “love God,” he is in a quandary, because except for the external drawing of the Spirit by/because of God’s love for him, he has no ability to love God. It is better to tell the unbeliever that God loves them and has sacrificed for them and He will teach them to love Him. We also are called to show them our love for God by our love for one another. Go out today and show everyone the unconditional and sacrificial love.

Current Family and Ministry Update:
I am sorry that I have not written for a few days. No excuses, but I will quickly catch you up. Friday we worked with our guests, Decatur Alabama Master Commission, selling Krispy Kreme Donuts for a fundraiser to help them with their West coast trip. We did great and sold all of our donuts. Kristy and I then had a late night tax appointment. Praise the Lord we are getting a refund. We had a late dinner with Jon and Kelly. They are the best. We are so blessed to have them as Pastors in our church. Saturday, We slept in. This had to be one of my favorite parts of the week. No doubt, it was Kristy’s best part of the week. Saturday evening we met Derek From D.M.C and had five hours of wonderful fellowship. We have a real kindred spirit between us. I am thankful for our friendship. Sunday was a wonderful morning and D.M.C. did a wonderful Job. Worship was great and God was awesome in the altar time. He really spoke to many including me and my family. Carrie Goodson came home from being in Arizona. I was wonderful to see her and have her home. We can’t wait to see her husband David get home. We took the Masters team to Home Town Buffet and many of the church people joined us. Counting everyone, there we almost sixty. We then ran home and got the rest of the sheetrock dust swept up from our home. Our home group was a great time of fellowship, testimony, and prayer. To really know what I mean you would have really had to be there. Please pray for Kristy, because her right hip is really hurting her. Tomorrow is our day off and I hope she will be able to get some rest and I will be trying to finish more of the painting on the addition. Our Heart of David team retuned from their Idaho ministry trip and tomorrow our Master Commission team will be returning. I know that we all miss them very much. God is getting God is wanting to bless you! Accept His blessing, thank Him for it and bless someone else with it! Serving a wonderful God, Pastor Aaron

Confident Love Even to the Very End!The Word of the Kingdom is LOVE.

2008-02-21T21:39:00.000-08:00

Our greatest place of security should be found in the Love of God, yet it is important for us to realize that the fact that God loves us is incomplete until it is received. God showed us His love by loving us enough to die for us and reestablishing within us the ability for a relationship. But a relationship is incomplete unless both parties enter into the vow/commitment. God loves us to a degree that is beyond our comprehension to understand or to reciprocate. Yet God ignites our love by His spirit in our hearts that our soul can respond to Him bringing alive the covenant that has been made. 1Jn 4:17 (printed below) shows that the love of God should enable us to the point of understanding that there is no reason for fear. That the only fear is a fear and awe of respect towards God. But no other fear (fear as a degree of torment) should be in a believer’s life.
A boldness comes from the understanding that we have been invited into a kingdom where no judgment can be measured against us as long as we remain in the kingdom, partaking of the fruit of the kingdom. Which means that we can stand bold in the day of judgment knowing that the blood of Christ will be our sufficient plea. In this one aspect of God’s love for us as well as the many other facets of His love shows us that we can be confident in His love.
Being a pastor over the last 20 years I have seen and counseled so many who aren’t confident in their covenant relationships. Marriages where people are together, yet their hearts are far from each other. They lack confidence in each other as well as in their demonstrated love. God wants us to understand the confidence that we can have in His love and have it translated into our relationships here on this earth. As we can learn to have confidence in the love that abides in the heavenly kingdom of God, we can then begin to pull down into our own lives and relationships, that same kind of unconditional love. It’s easy to be confident in God’s love for us and we know in our own hearts whether we love God or not. If we do, it is easy to be confident in our love towards God. But God has asked us to go further and translate that love into our daily relationships with others. God has asked us to not only have faith and love in Him but to have faith and love in others. I know with many hurts and pains that have been caused in relationships, trust seems almost impossible, yet God has demonstrated His love towards us that while we were yet failures (sinners) Christ loved us. That while we were unfaithful and even haters of God, He died for us/sacrificed for us. I know that this is hard to realize that it isn’t enough to just love God, but to love others with the same kind of love that He has loved us.
John 6:24 states that because of our faith and love for Christ as we believe in Him there is no judgment against us. This means that His mercy has taken away all past and present judgments that we may live. God is not only asking us to receive His love but to demonstrate His love to others. He has given us both the grace to receive His love and to show His love towards others. Have the God kind of love you enter into a place where you begin to cease judging one another’s motives and begin to see one another with a pure heart. God does not keep a record of wrong, love doesn’t keep a record of wrong and you cannot keep a record of wrong. We are called to set people free as Christ has set us free and to be confident in them as God has been confident in us. As you read the scriptures below you will have a better understanding of what I am talking about. The greatest thing we have is love for God and each other. But we have to begin to have confidence in one another. Setting people free from the sins of their past that you could live in a true covenant relationship being confident in God’s love that dwells in all of His people.

1 John 4:7-21
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. NKJV
1 John 4:17-19

Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life"
John 5:24

Current Ministry and Family Update:
This is a day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I began the day by meeting with a crew that we had hired that was taking down a very large tree between the church property and the neighbors home. It was very difficult not only because of the cost, but I didn’t want to take the tree down. Our neighbor was complaining of sap falling from it on to his side of the fence. He asked us to cut it down and to be honest with you, it didn’t want to because I liked the tree and it wasn’t a nuisance for us and I didn’t want to spend the money to cut it down. We drug our feet for awhile, but God convicted me about it and challenged me to be a good neighbor. Sometimes it costs you to be a good neighbor. So we began the day by having to remove a large tree near our playground area, but it did seem to make our neighbor happy because the sap from the tree won’t fall on his side of the fence anymore. It is challenging sometimes when you have to yield to others for their benefit when you cannot find any benefit of your own, only a sacrifice, but when it is over you find that the benefit is in your heart. Then the rest of the day made me realize just how old I am getting. A couple of people came to help us move 42,000 lbs of food by hand. One of our volunteers ending up having to leave after getting his toes smashed. Please pray for him, his name is Dale, he accepted the Lord the night before. It was a tiring but very exciting day. We were able to set aside large amounts of food for our weekly hot meal to the homeless ministry (Field of Dreams), our Cottage Grove women’s shelter (Love Links) and for our Masters Commission students. We were also able to share large amounts of food with The Prayer house in Salem for their upcoming missions trip and their food box ministry as well as River of Life for their community outreach feeding program that feeds over 2500 families per month. And believe it or not, we still had food left over to share with the Eugene Mission. It was a long day, yet my heart wanted to leap out of my chest knowing how much good will come from this food and how thankful I am that God used us. Once we were finished moving the food, Decatur Alabama’s Masters Commission (who we are housing at our church for 4 days while they are doing ministry) showed up. It was great to see them. They are wonderful kids and they made us miss our Masters Commission more (if that’s even possible). I ate my only meal of the day on the run and only had about an hour with my wife before I had to leave to drive to Portland to pick up Krispy Kreme Donuts for our fundraiser that starts at 6:00 am. It was around 2:00 am by the time that I got home. Please pray that today’s fundraiser will be a blessing the Masters Commission that is here and to our own church ministries that are here. No matter what you go through today, remember that God made this day for you. He desires for you to be confident in His love and to confidently reach out and love others. Especially when they don’t deserve it. Both Kristy and I love and appreciate all of you who are so faithful to this ministry. Love, Pastor Aaron and his family of 5 1/2

The Word of the Kingdom - Love (Continued)

2008-02-21T05:00:00.001-08:00

LOVE IS ALL THESE THINGS, DO YOU REALLY LOVE?
This is an explanation of what love (agape) really is. It is a way to gauge yourself. Love is an action and displays the character of Christ!

1 Corinthians 13:4-13
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. NKJV

Tonight we had a wonderful Adult Bible study. Tom Haeg spoke tonight and amazingly he spoke on the love of God. It didn’t take much to get me stirred up. Love is all over scripture. God’s very essence/nature is love. Love is a choice. God gives us love by His Spirit. It is a fruit of the Spirit. It grows in the kingdom of God and the Word says that the kingdom is established inside of you. Love is not a feeling but the fruit or effects of love is very emotional. We don’t love because of how we feel, but when we love, we definitely feel. Our emotions are effected by our love. It is important that we know that God has birthed His agape (love) in our hearts. It flows from His Spirit and causes our soul to respond correctly. Soul = mind, will and emotions. These all three are drastically effected and developed by His love. As love flows from the Spirit to effect our souls, it then begins to cause our actions to conform to the will of God. Tomorrow I will deal with the obedience of Love. (If you Love me??????)

Current Family and Ministry Update:
What a amazing day in the Lord! I had back to back to back appointments all day with paperwork slammed in between but it was a wonderful day. I was able to get most of my computer back up and running. I am short some of my calendar and email information. Tomorrow I am going to have a computer tech take one more stab at it. Please pray for full restoration of my computer (that sounds a little weird). Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to get as much restored as I did. We received some shirts that say Maverick (the name of our soon to be born son). I also wanted to share with you a picture of our babies about to possibly feel a little displaced. Herkemur (don’t ask) and Diesel.
Tonight at our Adult Bible Study, it began it right. In fact before I even arrived and before my wife started worship, a man named Dale came forward and asked Jesus into his heart. He was very genuine and touched by the Lord. Praise the LORD! Please pray for Dale. He has some difficult situations to face, but he’s very excited to have Jesus in his life. We also had a time of testimony where one after another spoke up to tell of how God was working miracles in their lives. Display the love of Jesus all day long. Let the fruit of Christ flow today. Pastor Aaron

LOVE is Kind! Do you Love? Etc…...