I Can't Believe My Eyes

Harbor Friends, 

Last night we had an awesome time in our series "It's Time to Get Going".  We learned that Joshua was facing what seemed like insurmountable odds; armies were all around him and Israel.  He could see his dilemma before his own eyes; this was not going to be easy.  The Bible says in Joshua 11:4-5: They came out in full force, all their troops amassed together--a huge army, in number like sand on an ocean beach--to say nothing at all of the horses and chariots (MSG).  So I think its clear now, and we can appreciate the situation that Joshua has found himself in.  This was his Dilemma...However...

Joshua heard a Word from God; a Word of Comfort/Encouragement: God said: "Don't worry about them.  This time tomorrow I will hand them over to Israel, all dead.  You'll hamstring their horses and you'll set fire to their chariots (Joshua 11:6 MSG).  Now this is actually prophetic language, because they are living in today, and God is talking about tomorrow.  This is so often the case with you and I.  Here God has already said what He is going to do, and what Joshua and Israel is going to do.  Victory has been proclaimed in Word, but not yet in deed.  This is a clear example of God calling the things that are not, as though they are.  But God can do this; He is a God that declares the end from the beginning.

So Joshua has this Word from the Lord, and he now begins to take action.  If you read the rest of the chapter you'll find that everything happened as spoken to him by God.  He and Israel defeated everyone; they hamstrung the horses and burned the chariots.  Did you expect anything different?  I mean God is the one that said it. 


Let me show you what intrigues me about the battle.  Two things happened that involve the senses of mankind, and one usually overrides the other.  The Bible says that Joshua saw the armies amassed against him, huge armies gathered like sand on an ocean beach.  He saw the challenge.  He saw the dilemma.  He saw the troops dressed for battle, BUT, he had heard from God.  Now, even in a court of law, a jury would rather have an eyewitness over an ear-witness.  They would rather be told what someone saw with their own eyes, above what someone says they heard.  So in our way of thinking, eyes are more reliable than ears.  But the beauty of this is that Joshua was not derailed, nor deterred by what he saw amassed against him.  Contrarily, he took great comfort and courage in what he'd heard from the Lord.  Although it was a prophecy; it would come to pass tomorrow.  But today he had to go on believing and participating in faith, that God would do what He said He would do. 

How does this apply to your life?  Are you believing everything that you see amassed against you?  Or, do you believe and participate by faith, in what God has said about the situation?  Sometimes you just have to say: I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES!!!

Usama Bin Laden-- He Has Reaped What He'd Sown

To All Americans,

The Bible boldly declares that we are not to be deceived...don't fool yourself, "God is NOT mocked, for whatsoever a man sows, that SHALL he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Usama Bin Laden has sown hate around the world.  On 9/11 he killed and scattered the lives thousands of people in the World Trade Center.  Most were burned beyond recognition and strewn among the debris of thousands of tons of steel and rubble.  Their families would never see them again; they would never get to say goodbye, or give them a proper burial.  
It is so fitting that divine justice has come home to roost.  The U.S Navy Seal Team Six descended upon his compound with Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters; they invaded his million dollar home to come for his life.  But being the civil and loving people we are as Americans, we gave him the opportunity to give up.  He refused to accept this grace.  I suppose that he knew what would happen in the end anyway, so why prolong the inevitable?  However, we gave him the opportunity.
Being the coward that he was he grabbed a woman to use as a human shield, and my hats off to the Seal Team that was not swayed by this ploy, but carried out the mission.  My thoughts concerning this woman is this.  Anyone staying with the most wanted terrorist in the world has got to know the risk involved.  It doesn't matter if she was his maid, mother, sister, or lover; she had to be aware of the danger of being close to this evil man.

Remember, whatever a mans sows, that he also reaps.  DNA evidence has proven that we got him.  It was Bin Laden, and he has been buried at sea.  Just as he scattered the lives of three thousand people on 9/11 and more than five thousand since then that have died in the wars.  Their bodies were strewn all over Manhattan, and the bodies of the Armed Forces have been scattered on the battlefield.  Now he, with the help of the fish will be scattered and strewn all over, and he will be unrecognized by anyone, and his family will not be able to give him the proper burial either.  

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!!

Michael D. Sanes
Pastor, THWC

Harbor News & Events

Harbor Family,

We had an awesome Easter Sunday with over 300 hundred in the house.  God has truly blessed us!  It was such a joy to minister the Word of the Lord and see the people respond to the Spirit of the Lord.  Especially Sunday night; we had a tremendous move of the Lord and a great altar service.

We also broke our old tithe record of $25,000; the new record is over $28,000 for the month of March!  Praise the Lord for His awesome blessings!

Our New Small Groups started on Monday night.  I was able to slip in at Aaron's house and catch the last half; it was a great small group meeting.  The people were interacting and sharing together.  Hey!  It was just like the book of ACTS---meeting from house to house...  The topic is "The Bait of Satan" by John Bevere.  And everyone there was amazed at the revelation of the scripture coming from the great man of God.  It spawned great discussing.  If you are interested in the group please contact Aaron Kirkland @ 729-7390

The Small Group "Bible Basics" will be held here in the fellowship hall tomorrow (Thurs night) at 7p.m.  You are invited to attend. 

Tonight we will continue our study in the book of Joshua.  We will be in chapter 7 of this series: "It's Time to Get Going".

I have just scheduled a very important service with Administrative Bishop Ray Garner, and our builder Rev. Wes Hardin from PAR Construction.  They will be ministering together in the service on Sunday May 15th at 6p.m.  You will not want to miss this great service as we share the vision for our new church, and what God is about to do at the Harbor Worship Center.
 
NOTE: It is a very rare opportunity for me to be able to get both of these men here at the same time, so please make plans to be here.

Blessings!

Michael D. Sanes
Pastor, The Harbor

Harbor Update

Church Family,

Just a few lines to get you up to speed with some of the things happening at the church.  First, the Harbor Kid's did a wonderful job last Sunday presenting "The Tale of Three Trees".  I think everyone will agree that they did an awesome job.  Many thanks to all those who helped in whatever way you did to make it a success.  The week before the Nursery children sang for us, and they did a great job also.  We truly understand that "Children are the heritage of the Lord", and around here we have been blessed with many of them.  And we commit ourselves to raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  Thanks to all those who serve and minister to, and for the children of the Harbor.

This Friday and Saturday the Harbor THUGS (Teens Humbly Upholding Godly Standards) will be traveling to Tifton, Ga to participate in the State Teen Talent Competition.  Let's pray that God will anoint them to perform for His glory, and to also grant them traveling mercies.  This coming Sunday they will be presenting a drama in both the 9:30 and the 11:15 morning services.  You will not want to miss what God is doing!

Small Groups are starting this month!  There is a sign up sheet in the foyer for two groups: 1). The Bait of Satan.  This group will be led by Aaron Kirkland and dates will be announced this evening.  2).  Bible Basics is another group that will start this month as well.  This first small group will be held on April 28th in the fellowship hall at 7pm. 

Adam is also going to start a small group called "Pure Praise" this month with those involved in praise and worship.  Other team leaders will also be forming small groups based on the mission of their respective teams.  Eventually their will be a group for everyone.  Please understand that most of these groups will run about 6-8 weeks and then a new subject will be introduced.  If you are interested in working with or hosting small groups please send us a message and let us know.

Twenty-Four to Double will be held here in the sanctuary on Monday the 18th at 7pm.  All leaders are encouraged to attend this important teaching.  This month we will be discussing Small Groups.

Council Meeting: I need to see the council for a very brief meeting tonight at 6:30 in the office.

Congratulations to Miguel and Lauri Marquez on the birth of their beautiful daughter Rozanna!!!