Family Dysfunction

As I was preparing for a message on the Family a few weeks ago, I was studying the family of Issac and Rebekah and the twin boys they had, Esau and Jacob.  They were a prime example of the dysfunctional family to say the least.  I mean you had Isaac whose favorite son was Esau, and you have Rebekah, whose favorite son was Jacob; partiality and favoritism from the word go.  Then you have the Word of the Lord that came to Isaac and Rebekah telling them that there were two nations in her womb, and that they would struggle with each other, and the older would serve the younger.

Amazingly, Isaac, when he was old would call his favorite son, Esau, to come before him so that he could give him the blessing.  However, Rebekah heard what was about to happen so she intervened by sending Jacob to go and kill a goat.  After they prepared the meal she put Jacob up to going before his father and pretending to be Esau, and asking for the blessing of the first-born.  So it appears to me that Isaac did not accept the fact that the older would serve the younger, (as God had earlier said) and he was about to follow the tradition of men and pass on this blessing of the first-born son to Esau.

That being said, Rebekah did not have to put her son up to lying; in fact they both took part in a scheme to deceive Isaac.  God had already said that Jacob was his choice to lead the family, and he didn't need their help to make it happen.  Anyway, Jacob, at the behest of his mother went in to deceive his aged father.  Isaac, although suspecting something was wrong, reluctantly went along with the blessing.  Of course he was blessing his younger son Jacob.  But remember, this was God's spoken plan in the first place.  From before they were born the Lord had already declared that the elder would serve the younger.  I find it amazing that we often try to alter or change God's spoken plan for us when we already know what He's said concerning a matter.  Well, Isaac and Esau didn't like it, but God's plan prevailed.

I would however like to point out a few things about this story.  I know that it was God's plan for Jacob to receive the blessing and ultimately lead the family; God had said so.  But notice what happened by Jabor and his mother scheming to ensure that it happened.

1. There was great animosity between Jacob and his brother.  The last words that Jacob remembers before he left for his Uncle Laben's house was Esau saying: "When Daddy dies I'm going to kill you".
2. This caused strife between Jacob and his father, and without a doubt between Isaac and Rebekah.
3. Listening to his mother, Jacob thought he'd only be gone a few months, but it turned out to be 20 years, and we don't know if he ever saw his mother again after his departure. 

So when you do things your way and you get what you wanted, is it going to be worth the price you had to pay to get it?

Stayed tuned; I will add to this story tomorrow. 

Mike Sanes

Pastor, The Harbor

Harbor Construction Update

The Opening Day of the New Harbor has changed!  
We will open on Sunday June 23rd @ 10:00

To summarize the day,

1. We started out this morning working on a wheel chair lift for our stage.  God has blessed us to get one from a man that owns an assisted living house in Jax for $850.   I had a member call me and tell that he would pay half of this cost.  Thanks... you know who you are.
   
2. We ordered the playground for the children, AND IT IS AWESOME!!!  Twenty-five kids can play on it at one time.  I had a member give me $1,000 on Monday toward this equipement (Thank you, mam.) Yes, we will need some help putting it together when it arrives.
   
3. I had a member offer to pay for the installation of our irrigation system!  Wow!  What a blessing!  Thank you so much... You know who you are.  Also, COX WELL DRILLING agreed to put down a a well for cost @ $1600.  This well is to run our irrigation.  Thank you so much!
   
4. I had another preacher call me today and tell me that he was sending us $1,000.00 to support the vision.  Thank you, sir!
   
5. Our Sound Engineer gave us about $500 in free equipement today!  Thank you, sir.
   
6. God has given us favor with a Landscaper that is drawing a plan for us; we will do the work under his direction.  Thank you, sir.
   
7. Now, Georgia Power was not as generous when it came to paying the per month charge for parking lot lighting.  But we are God's people and we are blessed regardless, and God is making a way.

Please keep the church in your prayers as we continue to strive for excellence in serving the Lord.  Stayed tuned, there will be information breaking almost everyday from now until we get moved! 

Thank you for serving alongside and partnering with us in Kingdom Work!  

If you would like to make a difference by donating you may do so from our website.  Paypal is a secure way of donating, and your gift is tax deductible.  THANK YOU!!!   

Michael D. Sanes

Pastor, The Harbor

Harbor Progress/Event Update

Friends,

       Mother's Day was a great success here at the Harbor!  I say a special thanks to all of the volunteers that have served to make this possible.  You have helped change the lives of many people that were in service with us by simply serving.  So in whatever capacity you served, I say THANK YOU!

       My Mom is doing somewhat better than last week, but she still has a way to go before she can be released to go home.  Please continue to pray for her.  I also ask that you pray for a friend of mine (Charles Lawhon) whose mother is also bad shape in Columbus, Ga.  She needs a touch from the Lord and healing for her body.  Thanks

       Church Progress:  Day by day we are getting closer to completion.  I am excited about what is happening as we move closer and closer to our move to the new location.  I like many others, have mixed emotions about leaving, but without a doubt it is God's will that we go.  We are in the process of planning a proper Farewell Service and Gospel Sing for our last Sunday here, as well as planning an Open House and Grand Opening of the New Harbor Worship Center.  As you noticed, I did not put dates on this announcement, because at this point I'm not convinced that we will make the target date.  However, it is more important for us to get it right that it is for us to get it done fast.  Please continue to pray for Kelly and I as we strive to have the church ready for the move.

       Children's Wing: I thank everyone for praying for our children and giving to this great department.  Our children are not just our future, they are indeed our TODAY, for if we don't love and nurture them today; they will not be here in our future.  We MUST be prepared to love and tend to the multitude of children that God is sending our way.  God does not send people and children to places that are not prepared to minister to them.  That being said, we are still asking for people to partner with us in ministry for the children by giving a donation to this department.  You may donate securely from our website using paypal by clicking on this link The Harbor.  We also would like for you to share this challenge with your friends, because every bit helps.  Chic-Fil-A and Zaxby's has agreed to allow us to do a night at their restaurant for fundraising.

       Team Training:  We will have team training this Sunday night (May 19th at 6pm).  We ask everyone to take advantage of this "No Pressure" environment to train for ministry.  There are many opportunities available for ministry, so if you have any questions at all please email me at:  mike.sanes@HarborWC.com

Have a Great Day!


Mike Sanes
Pastor, The Harbor

Our Call To Serve

Our Call To Serve...

So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.  Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old...    When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.  (Judges 2:7-10)

How could this happen?  Why did this happen?  If you notice the Bible said that the people served the Lord under Joshua, and all the elders that outlived Joshua (men that he'd raised up, leaders) and these men had seen the great works of the Lord.  But when that generation of leaders died, another generation arose that DID NOT KNOW THE LORD, nor the work which He had done for Israel.  

The problem here is evident; the leaders failed to tell their story, their testimony.  They failed to pass down the words that had been passed down to them.  Perhaps they got busy.  Maybe they thought that their children would just automatically follow in their ways.  Whatever the reason, this last generation died knowing the Lord, but left their children and future generations to die lost without God, because they did not mentor and train the leaders to SERVE future generations.  

Could it be that we have gotten so busy as a people that we have neglected to tell our story?  Have we failed to tell our testimony?  When is the last time you told your story?  When is the last time you read the Word with your children, or took them to a worship service?  When was the last time you intentionally spoke to a friend that you knew was lost about Jesus?  Or when was the last time you invited your lost friends to fellowship with your church friends in service, small group, church function, etc.?

I believe that it is possible that we have grown so comfortable with our relationship with God and our church environment that we've lost sight of those coming behind us that don't know God; those who haven't heard the gospel.  I think that we too are running the risk of losing, or rather, raising a generation that don't know God, nor the great things He has done for His people.  This is what happens when we fail to tell our story and testify about what God has done in our lives.  We cannot call ourselves Christians and yet not care for the coming generations.

Many people wrongly assume that ministry is to be done only by "Professional Clergy"--(those with the calling and degree from a seminary).  Don't misunderstand me, I'm not opposed at all to education; I have a masters degree from The Pentecostal Theological Seminary, and I am proud of that education.  However, ministry and serving is NOT reserved only for those with such credentials; God has called us ALL into His service regardless of our level of education.   

The question nows begs: "Pastor, Why Should I Serve?"

1. Because Jesus came to serve: Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2. Because God has a work that only you can do.
   
3. If you don’t serve in some capacity you will have become like that last generation that knew God.
• They knew God, but didn’t feel the need to share Him with others.  Therefore when they died the country fell into apostasy.
4. You should serve because you have friends that are lost, and children that need direction and understanding.
5. They need to know where your confidence lies.
6. They need to know and see where mom and dad turn when the going gets rough.
7. They need to be taught to trust and depend on the Lord--if you don’t teach them nobody else will.  They will remember your example all the days of their lives.
8. They need to see your faithfulness and your allegiance. 
9. They need to see your dependance on God, and they need to hear your testimonies of God provision and direction in your lives.
10. They need to hear you tell the story...
11. They need to hear their mom and dad pray.

Visit our website in order to view this full message and others:  The Harbor

 It is time for us to serve!!!

Mike Sanes
Pastor, The Harbor

Harbor News / Insight

Meet & Greet:  We have a Meet & Greet scheduled for tomorrow night at 6:30 here at the church.  If you are new to the church and have not yet attended a M&G we would love to have you with us.  Just come as you are; we will have the food and drinks prepared.  It will be an opportunity for you to get to know the Pastors and Staff of the church, and to hear the vision of our church.  This is an informal and relaxed time where our staff will have time to talk and share with you, as well as hear your heart if you have something to share. 

GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW HARBOR: Our new church will open its doors for the worship service on June 9th.  We invite you to come and celebrate this milestone accomplishment with us.  For those who may not know, this has been a long process for us and we are glad to see in finally coming to completion.  It was many years ago that God burdened my heart for us to build a new worship facility, but there were many things standing in the way of that happening.  The truth of the matter is that it was just not God’s timing for us to build it back then.  What I saw as setback after setback was in-fact divine delays.  With much prayer and determination to be in the will of God we trudged on, believing that one day God would bring to pass those things he had laid on our heart.  About five and a half years ago we settled on buying 28.8 acres of land on the west side of Kingsland where Colerain Road and Highway 40 meet.  Now we were not looking for nearly 29 acres of land; we only wanted 10, but the difference in price prompted us go ahead and buy the whole tract.  As it turns out, God had a tremendous plan for us and we had no idea about it.  Shortly after buying the land, Georgia DOT announced that they would be widening Hwy 40 and making Colerain Rd. The Colerain Bypass.  While we were thinking that the land was a little too far out; God knew that He was placing us right in the intersection of two major roads coming into Kingsland from the west.  We serve an Awesome and All Knowing God.  

Mother’s Day: On May 12th we will celebrate our Moms.  We would love you for to have your mom in service with us on that day.  We will also have a Baby Dedication in the 11 O’Clock service, so if you have a child that has not yet been dedicated to the Lord please let us know and we will get you on the schedule.  

Training Days:  We have scheduled the Sunday evening service times of May 5th and May 19th to be training nights for all team workers.  If you filled out a connection card to get involved with one of the teams of ministry, please prepare to be here for training on these nights.  

We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events, don’t forget to bring your friends!

Blessings!

Mike Sanes

Pastor, The Harbor

What Does The Bible Say About Money?

What Does The Bible Say About Money?

Almost everyone agrees that the Bible contains great advice about life, from improving your marriage to getting along with your boss at work. But does the Bible really say much about money? Does it really give us advice that we can apply to our own life in today’s world?
The Good News is Yes! Absolutely! We believe the Bible is as relevant and helpful today as when it was written, and God has a lot to say about money.

Did you know money is mentioned in the Bible over 800 times?

God must be pretty serious about this subject to talk about it that much.
In fact, Jesus says in Luke 16:11, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” It appears from this verse that God uses money as a test of our management and stewardship skills before entrusting us with spiritual things. See more below.

Money in the Bible
1. Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” indicating that God wants us to make a difference, financially, in our family tree.
2. Proverbs 21:20 “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” This gives us an idea of how God wants us to save for a rainy day, to set something back for safekeeping.
3. Proverbs 22:7 states that “The rich rule over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.” Really? The Bible discourages debt? Does God really want me to pay my debts off and avoid debt?
4. Luke 14:28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.” Does Jesus really want me to save up and pay for the things I buy?
5. Matt. 6:24 “You cannot serve both God and money”.

If money is this important to God, why are there so few classes/sermons on this topic? Why don’t we see lots of small group studies on “Managing Your Finances” or “Getting Out of Debt”, “Faithfulness in Finances”, etc.? Why aren’t there more sermons in this area?
There are many reasons, but the top reason is that most people don’t realize how much of a problem managing money is for the average family. Look at the statistics below:

Financial Statistics
1. Marital Problems – 37 percent (the highest rate) of marital problems derive from financial situations
2. Cash Flow – 70 percent of all consumers live paycheck to paycheck, meaning they run out of money before the end of the month
3. Savings – The average family would have to use a credit card to pay a $1,500 unexpected expense (ex: home or car repair).
4. Retirement – Nearly half of all Americans (46%) have less than $10,000 saved for their retirement.

Being faithful in managing what God has given us is no accident, and it will not just happen on it’s own. In order to be faithful over what God has given us we have to be “On Purpose”. We have to direct our money. We must “name it” as Dave Ramsey would say. We have to determine (no matter how much money we make) who or what is going to get paid, and in what order. That makes us stewards. We have this responsibility to direct the money. Some of it we direct to GA Power, some of it to Walmart, a large portion to the Gas Station, and the list goes on and on. But for the Christian, we are told in God’s Word to direct the first 10% to God. I have learned that if I do this I will have the blessings of God upon the other 90%, and it will go further than the total 100% would have gone; not to mention, I would have been unfaithful in what God had blessed me with.

My giving shows my level of devotion to God. It shows my desire to honor His Word and obey His commands. My giving shows my dependence upon the promises of God to His children. My giving coupled with my attendance in God’s House shows the high priority that I have placed on being faithful to the One that I call Lord.

This is just some of what the Bible has to say about money. I hope it blesses and inspires you today!

I would also take this opportunity to say a hardy “Thank You” to all of the faithful stewards of God out there for their constance in giving, and their priority on being in the House of the Lord.

Be Blessed!

Mike Sanes
Pastor, The Harbor Worship Center

Leadership Luau--Sunday Evening 5/20/12 @ 5 p.m.

You don't want to miss The Leadership Luau this Sunday night at 5 p.m. It will be different, it will be fun,and it will be free!  However, I can't stress enough the wealth of knowledge that will be coming out of this conference. It is so important for every leader and potential leader to be in attendance. Here is the schedule:

5:00-5:45 Eat/Games/Giveaways 
5:45-5:50 Transit to Classes 
5:50-6:20 Session One 
6:20-6:25 Break to Switch Classes 
6:25-6:55 Session Two 
6:55-7:00 Transit to Sanctuary 
7:00-7:40 Special Presentation / Vision Casting

Sessions will involve training with a New Leadership Model that will be presented on this night, on Conflict Resolution, Effective Leadership, and Event Planning.

The Biblical Model of Leadership... The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What's going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?" Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God's laws and instructions." Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it. You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can't do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They'll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They'll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you'll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also." (Exodus 18:13, 15, 17 MSG)

The question was asked: "Why are you doing this all by yourself?"
These statements were made: 1. "This is no way to go about it; you will burn yourself out, and the people right along with you." 2. "This is too much for you--you can't do it alone".  3. Let me show you how to do this so that God will be in this with you."

This is something that every leader should think about.  Why should any one leader of a department, or pastor of a church feel like they have to do everything?  That is NOT a healthy model of leadership, and Moses said, "You will wear yourself out, and the people right along with you".

Come to the Leadership Luau this Sunday night at 5 p.m. and we will equip you for the next step in church leadership~.  See you there!

Mike Sanes
Pastor, THWC