Dear Calvary Chapel family,

Philippians 1:3–6 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

We serve an awesome God who does amazing things. I have the privilege of serving our awesome God with an amazing group of Christ followers called Calvary Chapel. In just the last two weeks here is what we have been privileged to be part of:

On Sunday, November 16^th at 11:30 A.M.  Calvary Chapel,  by the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people and with the help of WMCA and Kevin McCullough, went live on 570AM WMCA for our 11:30 A.M. Sunday morning service. A big thank you goes to our media team for their amazing efforts.

 

On Thursday, November 20^th at 4 P.M. Calvary Chapel, by the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people raised a new sign, lighting up the harbor. A special thank you goes to our designers who put together an awesome sign.

On Sunday, November 23^rd Calvary Chapel, by the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people, collected over 350 Operation Christmas Child Boxes or as they are appropriately called” gospel opportunities” as part of Staten Island’s  5000 box  record. A huge thank you goes out to all who were involved.

On Monday, November 24^th at 12:30 P.M. Calvary Chapel, by the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people (our church family raised more than 105,000.00 for the project, thanks for giving to make this possible) closed on the property at 26 Maple Parkway concluding a year long journey . Thank you all for your prayers. Our regular attorney was rushed to the hospital that morning and was unable to attend the closing. The sellers’ attorney was delayed by broken pipes in his development.  This has been a spiritual endeavor from the start.

On Tuesday, November 25^th from 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.,  Calvary Chapel,  by the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people (You gave $1600.00 to make it possible) gave out over 100 turkeys and food boxes to families in need in our community. Thank you for all you who volunteered and worked so hard to make this happen. Almost every family was prayed with and given the DVD “How to Get to City” from New York City”.

“Thank you Lord for the privilege of serving You and thank You that we can do it together. Thank You for providing  for our every need. May we never take the privilege of being used by You or the work each of us contributes for granted. We humbly ask that You would please continue to use us for Your kingdom and your Glory. In Jesus’ Name,  Amen.”

Blessings,

Pastor Dave

Calvary Members and Friends,

If you do any shopping at Amazon.com you can now automatically generate a donation of .5% of your  qualifying purchase price to Calvary Chapel   Just use the link below: 
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/13-3260772
or….. when you plan to shop at Amazon, log on to  Amazonsmile.com and designate Calvary Chapel of Staten Island as your charity.

The Amazonsmile.com site is exactly the same as the Amazon.com site…same products, same prices….same shipping…..the
only difference is that Calvary will benefit each time you shop.  You will only need to designate your charity once….it will be remembered
the next time you log in to Amazonsmile.com
Thanks for your support.
Blessing,
Pastor Dave

One day somewhere on this earth I’ll take my last breath. The heart monitor that I am on will flat line. Someone in a white coat will come in the room and say something like “He’s gone”.  At that moment, like the beggar Lazarus, I will be transported to a land that is more beautiful than any place anyone this side of glory has ever seen. As I enter the celestial city, through the gates of pearl on the streets of gold, in that moment I will be overwhelmed with the sense of the presence of God… and I’ll know that I’m in heaven.

In that hour I will know a complete satisfaction like I have never known before.  My insides will no longer be restless but will be in complete peace and contentment. There will be no real labor, nothing to prove, no one to impress; just perfect, complete, eternal rest and yes… I’ll know that I’m in heaven.
Momentarily it will be clear to me that this place I am in is not just another world but a world where everything is right. Every wrong done to me, through me, by me or against me is made right. Every evil or mistake that has ever been perpetrated is now corrected. And as I see that there is no more hate, no more prejudice, no more wrongs, nor more injustice, no more lying, dying and no more crying and as I notice that there are people from every tribe, nation and tongue…. I’ll know that I am in heaven.

As I’m struck with the fact that this place is real and that I’m here forever even though I’ve only been here for a few minutes, it will become necessary for me to pinch myself. Shortly I become aware of how really happy I am. Any discontentment regarding how life was unfair to me and how it didn’t meet my expectations will disappear from my memory and I’ll be filled with a rejoicing that comes from a joy unspeakable and full of glory…. and I’ll know that I’m in heaven.

Soon I see others around me, even near me, some approaching me and as I do I know them though I have never met them before. There’s Abraham, Isaac and Jacob out for a stroll. Paul and Peter are talking about a finer point of theology.  Not only do I know them but they know me. In fact, everyone knows me and I know them. But my knowledge goes beyond that.  For the first time, my life and all I have come through makes sense. I see how it all fits together. I understand fully what life is all about….. and I’ll know that I’m in heaven. 

As I approach the river of life, I see a somewhat familiar reflection in the waters. It’s me, and man, do I look good. It’s not just that I am clothed in white, which has always been a good color for me and is on my color palate, but I have a glow and vitality about me. My body is changed, it’s new, it’s whole and it’s holy. I am seeing and hearing, and smelling and feeling and thinking perfectly and what’s more all my thoughts and all that’s in my heart are pure.  And I am seeing those for whom this is the same. My daughter whose expressions are now bound in an imperfect body will come bounding from the throne room rejoicing and singing as she never has before… and I will know that I’m in heaven.

Here come some people I haven’t seen in a while. There are Duke and Bunty Duchardt, my first Pastor and his wife, there’s my good friend Tom Maddox surrounded by his family, there’s Mr. Bob, he’s lost weight but he still looks like Santa.  There’s Lillian Smith surrounded by the kids she made Operation Christmas Child boxes for, there’s Nancy Pecora looking more beautiful than ever before and there are so many of you surrounded by the precious loved ones who’ve gone before and as we renew acquaintances and  celebrate… I’ll know, yes I’ll know that I’m in heaven.

As I near the center of the city I pass Jonathan, He says Pastor Dave it’s great to see, you’re looking great. I ask him where he got all the crowns he’s wearing and he says the same place you got yours. I reach up and for the first time I feel the crowns on my head obtained by the grace and mercy of our God…. and I’ll know that I’m in heaven.

Near the heart of the city I hear the chorus of holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. I find myself worshipping like I never have before. My whole being voluntarily adoring, praising, giving thanks to the three times Holy God and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the life-giving Holy Spirit.  As I’m with the multitude praising Him… I’ll know that  I’m in heaven.

Just then I turn a corner, and there’s a book, the Book of Life, and there my name is written as clear as it can be and then I hear my name, “Dave” and I turn and there He is. His hands and side still bear in them the marks of my redemption. The Alpha and the Omega, the Prince of Peace, the  Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is before me and I am so overwhelmed that in my flesh I see God. I fall prostrate before Him casting my crowns at his feet and then I will hear the words I have longed to hear, the words that I lived to hear,  “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord”… and then I’ll know, yes then I’ll know, that I’m in heaven.

“Heaven: What’s There, Who’s There, Where’s There and How to Get There” – Part 2

Groaning for Glory – 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

For downloadable outline click here – heaven2outline

For the free DVD “How to Get to Heaven from New York City call 718-720-5390 and leave your name address and telephone number

For outline click here – heaven1outline

“Jesus doesn’t speak about heaven as a visitor or tourist who is speculating or as someone who has read a Fromer’s Tour Guide to Heaven but as a permanent resident from eternity past totally familiar with the place and its surroundings.”

Please join us and Special Guest Worship Leader Kevin McCullough, host of  Kevin McCullough Live  on 570 WMCA heard week days at 3:00 P.M.

Our 2nd Service at 11:15 AM will be carried live on 570 WMCA beginning at 11:30 AM or at http://www.wmca.com or on the  iheart radio app

To down load an outline to the sermon click below

heaven1outline

This story from yesterday and this text written two thousand years ago certainly should make us think about what could easily be possible in the very near future.

Man embeds computer chips in hands to store Bitcoin – Telegraph. http://tiny.iavian.net/3bpn

Revelation 13:16-18 ESV

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Do you believe in heaven? What do you think heaven is like? Do you want to know more about heaven? Please join us for some solid answers in our new series on heaven beginning this coming Sunday, November 16th, 9AM and 11:15AM.  Kevin McCullough from 570 WMCA will be our guest worship leader. The service will be carried live beginning at 11:30 A.M. on WMCA and at http://www.wmca.com

Check out what a few Staten islanders are saying here:  http://blog.silive.com/…/staten_island_people_do_you_be.htm…

Starting Sunday, November 16th, “God in Our City” will be heard live at 11:30 A.M. on Sunday’s on WMCA 570 AM. Please join us at Calvary Chapel on November 16th as WMCA’s Kevin McCullough will lead us in worship  and help us celebrate and kick off our live broadcasts. Our sermon series will focus on heaven and everyone in attendance will receive the free DVD getting to Heaven from New York City. We’d love to see you there.