November 11th, 2008 10:33am
charlie
My father had some timeless advice for me many years ago. I had asked him what I could do to have the best chance of success as I launched out on my own, and he told me this:
- Show up
- Show up on time, and
- Do what you say you will do.
His opinion was that if you simply will show up to work at something, you’ll already be ahead of about 80% of the world. If you show up on time, you’ll be ahead of another 10%. And finally, if you will always DO what you commit to do, you will be in the top 5% of all people everywhere. I must admit, my experience over the years has proven him right. Thanks, Dad.
You know, this simple formula applies to the church as well. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are also committing to be a part of His Body, which is the Church. We are committing to serve Him by giving of ourselves, through our time and our resources and our witness. That means that we pick a church to serve in and show up. That means we make the effort to show up on time. And it means that we will DO what we committed to do when we said YES to Jesus and His Church.
I encourage you today to make a commitment to re-commit yourselves and all that are to Jesus Christ and His Church. Whether or not you choose do that at Liberty Hill is up to you - but not serving Him somewhere is simply not an option.
And I’ll point this last thing out, in case you didn’t know - you will NEVER attend a church that does everything to your satisfaction. Why? Because churches everywhere are filled with imperfect human beings. BUT, you can find true satisfaction in any church if you make a commitment to stay long enough to make a difference for Christ. He showed up, on time, and did what He said he would do. Will you?
Blessings, Pastor Charlie
October 16th, 2008 07:30pm
charlie
It’s always a mixed blessing being the senior pastor of any church. While the blessings are many, the challenges are right up there in number. And one of the biggest challenges we in the ministry face is often created by our own desire to do as much as possible to serve others.
We schedule meetings to talk about church business. We schedule counseling sessions with our congregation members. We schedule staff meetings and planning sessions. We visit and we plan and we do and we give and we come in early and we stay late and we sometimes ignore our families and we do it all because we work for a church.
How stupid can we be?
Today, our church staff scheduled a time to read the Word and discuss what God is doing in our lives. They have decided to do this every week. It was not my idea (I am ashamed to say), but it was their response to the chaos I described in paragraph number two. You see, when you work for a church, it is very difficult to worship on Sunday mornings, because for us, it is a work day. And sometimes we get dry, and we get thirsty for that ‘Living Water’ that is Jesus.
So what did I learn? I learned that I cannot go for long without being refreshed in the Word. I learned that our staff is amazing in their faith walk. And I learned there is genuine leadership in true submission.
It was a good day today! I hope that YOU will schedule some time with the Lord - you never know what you might learn. Blessings, Charlie
October 5th, 2008 04:40pm
charlie
I am exhausted - in a really good way! Five days of Revival, Four community services, Three Big Tents, Too little sleep, AND a Partridge in a Pear Tree (that means Jesus in the Christmas song!).
We shared the Gospel with over 1,000 people, and many came to know Christ as Lord and Savior! Many more re-dedicated their lives to Christ, and on saturday night, entire families came forward to be one in the Lord.
The praise music was excellent each night - thanks to Echoing Angels, Dayspring Praise, Lost and Found, and Liberty Hill Worship Team.
I think the most amazing thing about Revive Cherokee was the fact that it was multi-church. Different denominations and non-denom’s came together for a cause greater than any individual church - Jesus Christ. It was truly a breakthrough in Cherokee County!
And the best part for me? This morning, when Liberty Hill gathered to worship in the Park, and the Holy Spirit showed up BIG! Heartfelt prayer, emotional testimonies, and salvation came to the Park today. It was the single most powerful service we have had since I have been pastor. Revival came all over again. It was genuine worship - how beautiful!
I’m going to sleep now. I love you guys, Charlie
September 23rd, 2008 06:12pm
charlie
This past weekend I was with a group of guys that I went to high school with. We get together this time every year to laugh, play golf, look at old annuals, and remember. It is a time that I look forward to, and cherish.
This year we decided to play PaintBall. We split evenly into 2 teams of 5, and went at it! It was fascinating - guys who had recently had surgeries and others with painful conditions suddenly were energized by the game. They were running, crawling, and shooting wildly at anything that moved - sometimes it was their own teammates! (I have two visible reminders of the battle, bruises that look worse than they are, and make me smile when I look at them)
Some of my friends didn’t think they would have the strength to play, and I am convinced that it was the action and the challenge that motivated them, and gave them purpose. They loved it!
You know, our faith walk is a lot like our Paintball game. We have allowed ourselves to be in poor spiritual condition, and we don’t think we have what it takes to be in the game, to share our faith. But I have found that if you will just decide to do it, and you reach out to one person, it will energize you. And pretty soon you’ve forgotten your fear, and you can’t wait to tell someone else.
My friends, you have a great opportunity to share God’s love next week by bringing someone to Revival at Heritage Park October 1,2,3,4. I promise you that if you do, you will both be energized - and blessed!
See you there, Pastor Charlie
September 16th, 2008 07:34am
charlie
Hi y’all.
One of the things that many churches (and preachers!) take for granted is that everyone in church on Sunday knows what ‘Salvation’ truly means. We assume that because someone came to church, and got up to sing at the right time, and bowed their head for prayer at the appropriate moment, and put a little something in the collection plate when it came around - well surely they must know what it means to be saved! How wrong we are!
This past Sunday was a celebration of God’s Simple Plan of Salvation. We talked about the ‘Romans Road’ to salvation, scriptures from Paul’s letter to the Romans, simply leading us in a clear understanding of God’s plan. Here’s how it goes…
Romans 3:23 - “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” Sin separates us from God. We must acknowledge and admit that we are sinners.
Romans 6:23a - “The wages of sin is death.” We will all die a physical death, and sin results in spiritual death.
Romans 6:23b - “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God! We cannot earn it, but we can decide to receive it. How can this be? Read on…
Romans 5:8 - “God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!” Jesus paid for all of our sins with His death on the cross. AND, His resurrection is proof that God accepts the payment IN FULL! AND NOW HEAR THIS…
Romans 10:9 - “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved.”
10:13 - “Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
It is that simple! Simple as A, B, C.
A - Acknowledge and Admit that you are a sinner and Ask forgiveness.
B - Believe that Jesus was God’s Son, that he died for your sins, and that He was raised from the dead.
C - Confess Him as Lord - Call upon His name. And you SHALL BE SAVED!
I just wanted to make sure that you know - it is too important for me to take anything for granted! Blessings, Charlie
September 4th, 2008 09:08am
charlie
Hi y’all, it’s time to start planning and praying for Revive Cherokee! We are partnering with many other churches and Christian organizations to bring Revival right here in Canton October 1-4 in Heritage Park.
Here’s what’s happening at Heritage Park each night from 7:14 pm until 9pm…
Wednesday, October 1st - Youth Night. Awesome music by Echoing Angels, a powerful message, and lots of food!
Thursday 2nd - ‘Church Without Walls’ night. Great music and a message by Charlie Marus about what the Church should be.
Friday 3rd - ‘Freedom Night’. As always, great music, and a night of testimonies and messages about freedom in Christ.
Saturday 4th (from 5pm to 9pm) - ‘Family Night’. Activities for kids, food from local churches, and our own Liberty Hill Worship Team! The key speaker is Slavik Radchuk, and he has a Word for families!
Sunday 5th at 10:30 am - Liberty Hill will worship and celebrate in Heritage Park! One service, no Sunday school classes.
AND, we will come together for a time of FASTING and PRAYER the week before Revival. Prepare your hearts and minds now by reading Matthew 6:16-18, and 2 Chronicles 7:14. My wife and I are feeling called to a 21 day fast, beginning next week, but this is not what God has laid on my heart for the entire church. I am calling the church to fast and pray for three days leading up to Revival (September 28-30) Please ask the Lord to reveal His will for you in this.
I urge you to begin praying right now for this time of revival. Pray that people will come to know Christ for the first time as Lord and Savior, and that others who do know Him will be renewed and revived in the Spirit.
Blessings, Charlie
August 22nd, 2008 06:38pm
charlie
Welcome to our new and improved website! While we have made some great progress, we are still adding new information each week. There is so much going on here at Liberty Hill - check it out!
I hope that you will find what YOU are looking for, and if you don’t, that you will let ME know. We appreciate your interest in our church, and our website is a good start. But let me suggest the next step - come and worship with us this Sunday! I promise a warm welcome, genuine worship, and a unique church experience.
Like our website, we are a ‘work in progress’ - learning and growing in our faith day by day. Come and see for yourself. Come as you are - no dress code or church experience required. Ask for Charlie.