"First" - A Christmas Letter 2011

“First”


Merry Christmas from the Fredericks Family! This year can be summarized by the word "First" as this letter explains.

First we want to say Merry Christmas to you. This has been a very challenging year to some and it will continue to be challenging as we move towards 2012. Know we would be honored to pray for you and keep you before the Lord as this is a bulk of ministry as anyone knows.

One of the firsts in 2011 was having an engaged daughter which started on Christmas Eve last year. So, 2011 began a first of many firsts, preparing and planning for a wedding. So, on October 15, 2011, our eldest child and daughter, Rebekah was married to Christopher Pereza (Per - ez - a). They have their first apartment and first Christmas as a couple. They are a great couple and we have enjoyed being around to see them as much as we do. This leads to our second ''first.''

This will be our first Christmas with only four children living in our home. While Chris and Rebekah will be over on Christmas, it is a new thing for us.

Another first in 2011 was having our oldest son, Jonathan, get his driver's permit. While we have had two daughters get their license, this is our first son. He's doing great and maneuvers the curves around Anthem very well (had to get this in as a dad).

In 2011, we saw our youngest be the last "Fredericks" in the middle school. That is another first, and it brings a sunset to another life stage for mom and dad. This spring mom and dad see Hannah graduate from 8th grade in May. Hannah had an honorable first in September as she joined with several school choirs and sang The National Anthem at the Arizona Diamondbacks' game which clinched the Western Division of the National League.

In July, Paul experienced a first - he was able to officiate a wedding for one of his relatives as he flew back to Cleveland, Ohio. His Nephew, Charlie Grogan, and Carrie were married in mid-July. It was great for him to be there and he saw many relatives as well as some fellow high school friends he hasn't seen in almost 30 year.

In September, Kelly had a first by hosting her daughter's bridal shower here at our home. It was a great day for Rebekah and both families as she received many gifts to equip their home.
This fall, David played his first year of freshman football and played Defensive Tackle.
He did very well, considering it was his first year playing football. Many of the other young men had been previously playing in the "Wolf Pack" league. His other first was having braces placed on his teeth.

Sarah had a dramatic first this year as she began Modeling School in the fall and will graduate on January 22, 2012. We're thrilled with her goals and her commitment to accomplishing them. We'll keep you posted on her.

The Ministry continues to expand as Paul is serving many families, couples, and individuals. He continues to officiate weddings and memorials in various venues around the Phoenix area. He serves over 10 funeral homes as they need a minister for families who do not have a pastor or for families whose pastor is unavailable.

Recently, Paul led a memorial for a 19 year old young man. His past was tainted with Heroin drug abuse. But in the past months he was taking steps to rehab from his addiction and was making amends to his family when the Lord took him home. From what the parents told Paul, the young man had made a confession to Christ in his younger years and was making steps to build his faith when he died. At the memorial, Paul had the opportunity to speak to over 200 people; many of them were in their late teens and early 20s. He challenged them to think about the gap death brings to our minds as to what happens next. Paul spoke from John 11, boldly declaring that only Jesus can bridge the gap between life and death. The father of the son emphatically said, he was glad Paul spoke that day, making the gospel very clear to so many who needed to hear the message of grace and hope.

This year, Paul has joined Arizona Coalition of Men's Ministry (AZCMM). This is a nonprofit ministry, reaching out to men in the community and local churches. Paul has provided to AZCMM a "Chaplain Training Program" called "The Aaron and Hur Training" to help men become lay-chaplains in their local churches. This equips men to help serve alongside their pastor in real-life situations, hospital visitations, nursing home visitations, funerals, etc.

Paul is also building the chaplain ministry in the community as well. There have been many who have heard the gospel for the first time through Paul and the! Lord's work, serving as a chaplain. We trust the Lord will continue to expand this ministry as He did in 2011. Through the Lord's work as a chaplain, the Lord has touched over 75 different families through memorials and marriages. On 9-11-11, Paul was asked to speak at a local church as well as a community service, commemorating those who lost their lives tens years previous. The gospel was declared in all these services. While it is not always visible on how God worked, we know the Lord planted many seeds of the gospel in the hearts and minds of these families. On both December 7 and 8, Paul spoke to over 300 people about the first year of grief and the many 'firsts" individuals and families would need to process and would experience. He also provided them with practical tools on how to cope with these "firsts."

May I challenge you with a first? Next year (2012), will be full of "firsts" for all of us. No one, but the Lord knows what will come our way. That is why we still call it, "The Year of our Lord, 2012." It is His - story being unfolded and He is inviting us to join Him. Would you become a participant in what will be many "firsts" in the Lord's great adventure for Phoenix Pastors and Arizona Coalition of Men's Ministry? The Lord will bring many eternal souls in our path in 2012 and we would enjoy having you by our side by praying and partnering with the Lord’s work.


phoenixpastors@.gmail.com
http://phoenixpastors.webs.com



Leaning on His Promises,




Paul, Kelly, Sarah, Jonathan, David, Hannah Fredericks, and ...
Rebekah and Christopher Pereza

5.5 Reasons Why the World Will See Saturday, May 21, 2011 6:01pm

When I think about the prediction made by Harold Camping that says on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. the world is going to end, I think of the story below...

One day, a bus driver was driving along his usual route. He didn't encounter any problems for the first few stops; a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At one stop, however, a big hulk of a man got on. He was 6’ 8”, built like a bodybuilder, and his arms hung down to the ground. He glared at the driver and told him, “Big John doesn't pay!” Then he sat down at the back of the bus. The driver was 5’ 3”, thin, and very meek, so he didn't argue with Big John. But he wasn't happy about it. The next day, the same thing happened. Big John got on again, made a big show of refusing to pay, and sat down. It happened the next day, and again the day after that. The bus driver began to lose sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for bodybuilding courses, karate, judo, and a class on finding your self-esteem. By the end of the summer, the bus driver had become quite strong and felt really good about himself. 

The next Monday, Big John entered the bus and again declared, “Big John doesn't pay!” Enraged, the driver stood up, glared back at Big John, and bellowed, “And why not?!” With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, “Big John has a bus pass.”  The bus driver learned a valuable lesson that day:  Things are not always what they seem. 

And tomorrow, Harold Camping, who made this prediction, will feel a lot like this bus driver.  What he calculated was not so much the end of the world, but more like the end of his credibility.  Things just aren't what they seem to be (at least in his eyes).   You may view the organization's website who is predicting judgment day here -  www.familyradio.com .

So, here are 5.5 reasons why we will see Saturday, May 21, 2011 6:01 p.m.  

1.    Jesus said no man knows the time - Matthew 24.36a - But of that day and hour no one knows...

2.  Jesus adds that no angel knows the time - Matthew 24.36b - ...not even the angels of heaven.  This includes Satan and his demons as well, seeing they are not all - knowing as God is.  


3.  Jesus states further that even he doesn't know - Matthew 24.36c - nor the Son.  Some may argue that Jesus does know the day and time now that he has returned to heaven.  In fact, in Revelation, Jesus refers to his coming frequently (1.4, 8; 2.5, 16; 3.3, 11; 4.8; 22:12, 17, 20). The point may very well be that during Jesus' earthly ministry the time of His return was not given to Him, but now in heaven He knows.  

4.  Jesus wants us to balance faithfulness to our mission on earth and our fixation on our admission into heaven - Acts 1.7,8 - It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses...  Paul said in 1st Corinthians 1:7 ...awaiting eagerly the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is more than okay to have one eye on heaven as long as you keep the other on your earthly mission.  

5.  Jesus warns us to be on the alert of anyone who claims to know what the Bible clearly says is unknowable - Matthew 24:4 - See to it that no one misleads you.  In 1994, Harold Camping made a similar prediction.  From the words of The Holy Grail, “runaway” comes to mind! 

5.5 Jesus has a bus pass to heaven for you - 1st John 5:11, 12 - and the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.  

While I am not convinced the Lord will return precisely at 6:00 p.m. on May 21, 2011, I am convinced he will return.  He said he would.  The date and time of Jesus’ return is God's responsibility. Our only responsibility is to place our complete confidence in Jesus Christ.  He died for our sins.  That's what the cross is all about - to take away our sins.  He was buried and rose again.  By placing our entire confidence in Jesus Christ, we are saying I will not attempt to gain God's approval on my record or my methods. I will trust Jesus Christ to give me God's approval.  When we do this, God makes us His child and he gives us his Holy Spirit as a gift!  

We may not be as large as Big John, but in God's eyes, He sees us just like He sees Jesus - righteous!   And that my friend is what gets one into heaven! That is our bus pass to heaven!    

If you have any questions or need to talk, contact me.  I'd be glad to walk through Scriptures to answer your questions.  May you find peace in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.    

How does one live in a world that often seems it's full of futility?

While studying through the book of Ecclesiastes, I've learned that wisdom comes from three areas. 

1.  Realize wisdom comes from adversity, not prosperity.  Some may think adversity means I've made a mistake or I'm a victim.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Adversity is the anvil upon which we are shaped and molded with wisdom.  Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, the following:

¹ A good reputation is better than a fat bank account. Your death date tells more than your birth date.

 ² You learn more at a funeral than at a feast—
   After all, that's where we'll end up. We might discover
      something from it.

 ³ Crying is better than laughing.
   It blotches the face but it scours the heart.

 ⁴ Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving.
   Fools waste their lives in fun and games.

 ⁵ You'll get more from the rebuke of a sage
   Than from the song and dance of fools.

 ⁶ The giggles of fools are like the crackling of twigs
   Under the cooking pot. And like smoke.

 ⁷ Brutality stupefies even the wise
   And destroys the strongest heart.

 ⁸ Endings are better than beginnings.
   Sticking to it is better than standing out.

 ⁹ Don't be quick to fly off the handle.
   Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.

 ¹⁰ Don't always be asking, "Where are the good old days?"
   Wise folks don't ask questions like that.

 ^11-12 Wisdom is better when it's paired with money,
   Especially if you get both while you're still living.
   Double protection: wisdom and wealth!
   Plus this bonus: Wisdom energizes its owner.

 ¹³ Take a good look at God's work.
   Who could simplify and reduce Creation's curves and angles
   To a plain straight line?

 ¹⁴ On a good day, enjoy yourself;
   On a bad day, examine your conscience.
   God arranges for both kinds of days
   So that we won't take anything for granted.

2.  Understand wisdom leads to humility, not folly.  This is not surprising but for some wisdom can lead to a large head.  Solomon tells us...

^15-17 I've seen it all in my brief and pointless life—here a good person cut down in the middle of doing good, there a bad person living a long life of sheer evil. So don't knock yourself out being good, and don't go overboard being wise. Believe me, you won't get anything out of it. But don't press your luck by being bad, either. And don't be reckless. Why die needlessly?  ¹⁸ It's best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it. 

3.  Seek wisdom: for it provides sagacity, not absurdity.  While sometimes we may think we understand an issue and we react to it, wisdom gives us insight.  That insight may cause us to pause before acting or speaking, helping us prevent an embarrassing moment.  Wisdom gives us the ability to see things as they really are, yet it also give us balance, so we don't take life too seriously as well.  As Solomon puts it...

 ¹⁹ Wisdom puts more strength in one wise person
   Than ten strong men give to a city.

 ²⁰ There's not one totally good person on earth,
   Not one who is truly pure and sinless.

 ^21-22 Don't eavesdrop on the conversation of others.
   What if the gossip's about you and you'd rather not hear it?
   You've done that a few times, haven't you—said things
   Behind someone's back you wouldn't say to his face? 
 ^23-25 I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness.  ^26-29 One discovery: A woman can be a bitter pill to swallow, full of seductive scheming and grasping. The lucky escape her; the undiscerning get caught. At least this is my experience—what I, the Quester, have pieced together as I've tried to make sense of life. But the wisdom I've looked for I haven't found. I didn't find one man or woman in a thousand worth my while. Yet I did spot one ray of light in this murk: God made men and women true and upright; we're the ones who've made a mess of things.
  8:1 There's nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life.
   Wisdom puts light in the eyes,

Royal Wedding: What's the Point?

A Royal Wedding:  What’s The Point?

What’s the point in watching two people getting married?  What’s the point of over 2 billion people who viewed it on tv?  What’s the point in Great Britain declaring it a National Holiday and affecting their economy by some 60 billion dollars?  What’s the point? 

In this blog, my goal is to express the point; to give some things to think about which may help us understand why a Royal Wedding matters and why we should care and hopefully answer: “What’s the point?” 

For me, it’s not just one point, but several and I’ve listed them below. They are:

• In a world full of chaos and evil, this Royal Wedding displayed wholesomeness, joy, and innocence.  In a word, it was beautiful.  It was a Lilly growing in the midst of a garbage dump, showing us that life does have a beautiful side. 
• The Royal Wedding recalls the very aspirations we have for our children – to meet the man or woman of their dreams, to have their own “royal wedding,” and their own “happily ever after…” 
• For those of us who are married, this Royal Wedding reminds us of our commitments and vows we made to our bride or groom, and witnessing those vows of William and Kate revive our sense of commitment as well. 
• The Bible tells us that marriage is a wonderful symbol of Christ’s love for the Church and how he demonstrated that love by laying down his life for you and me.  In the same way, Kate and William’s wedding reminds me of the requirement of laying down my life for my bride, Kelly.  God allows me to do this as His Son, Jesus Christ lives in and through me.
• The Bible also tells us that marriage is a source of joy and a source of maturing.  So, the Royal Wedding tells us marriage can bring the greatest heights of joy and it can also bring the greatest strides of growth.  Marriage brings both of those in one relationship.  
• This point I must give credit to Dennis Prager and his radio show on Salem Radio Network.  He said watching the Royal Wedding underscores a principle:  What we ingest, affects our happiness.  To say the opposite, one might say, “garbage in; garbage out!”  Dennis’ point was clear: What we focus upon will eventually spill out to others.  Sharing the joy of a wedding with others can only bring a smile to your face and mine. 
•  Finally, the marriage of Kate and William is reminder to all followers of Jesus Christ that one day we will be reunited with our Lord Jesus.  He used a marriage supper in describing that day.  If the world enjoyed the anticipation of the wedding between Kate and William, should not believers show the same anticipatory joy while eagerly await our Lord’s return?