​Dear Liberty Bible Church family,
 
I wanted to give you an update regarding the church fire that occurred yesterday.  Crews have been working to clean up the mess from fire and water damage.  The fire was quickly extinguished by the sprinklers inside the nursery area of the church.  Our plan is to have a combined service this Sunday at 10:00 A. M. in our building.  We will not have full use of our building for some time.  Just think of it as construction repeat! We kindly request that you refrain from entering the reconstruction/clean-up area, as it is a construction zone, and there are chemicals and other hazards that we need to stay clear of. If you stop by the campus during non-church hours, please check in at the church office.
 
We often speak about God bringing beauty out of ashes and that is what I trust will come from this.  Please pray for the person who perpetrated this senseless act.  I would love nothing more than to hear that the person who did this somehow finds Jesus.  The needs of our community are great so I hope we will elevate our efforts in the community to impact more.  These events should remind us we are the church -- the church is not a building, in fact the outpouring from our community churches has been incredible.  I love this city because its people are what makes it great and God has called us to share His message and love with them.  
 
Finally, it will be good for us to be together to worship and give God thanks, things could have been much worse.  Join with me, and your church family, in giving thanks this Sunday - no one was hurt and we will come out of this more determined than before.
 
See you Sunday at 10:00 am,
 
Pastor Larry

In light of this morning’s events, our weekend service schedule is being adjusted as follows:

• One Combined Worship Service at 10:00 am (no 8:45 or 11:00 service)
• Nursery & Children’s classes during service will be available. No teen or adult Sunday school classes this weekend.
• The church BBQ sponsored by Celebrate Recovery is still on for Monday, May 30th at 6:00 pm.

Please watch your email and check Facebook for any potential changes, but for now – we’ll see you at church on Sunday!

You’ve likely seen on the news that Liberty Bible Church was a victim of arson overnight. An explosive was thrown through a window into the nursery. The sprinkler system was immediately turned on and the fire was quickly extinguished, however, there is extensive water damage to the lower level of the church. Please pray that our response to this situation would honor God. Pray for the individual who is responsible for this crime, as well as all the emergency crews who responded, and the crews who will be coming in to clean-up damage. 

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
​
More information to come as it becomes available.

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  ​1 Corinthians 11:1

Do you remember that day when you realized that your life was not your own?  You know what I am talking about.  That day when you saw how your life fits into God's plan and you got the picture that your life matters?  Maybe you are like me and don't have a specific time and place embedded in your memory.  Perhaps it seems like you always had an understanding that your life was part of something bigger than yourself.
 
Regardless of when you came to that knowledge, the fact is that part of the process is stepping up and taking responsibility for our actions.  In doing so, we can then live authentic lives in which our actions are both a blessing to God and others.    No more hiding behind excuses for bad decision making, procrastinating, or simply not doing what we need to do.  We "own" our stuff.  Period.
 
I think many today, Christians and non-Christians alike, lead lives of quiet desperation or futility because they cannot see how they fit into the "bigger picture."  They are stuck in lives that have no significance or power because they don't understand how they are one part of the whole fabric of God's plan for humanity.  
 
I believe that for some, they have never taken ownership for their actions and cannot understand how the outcomes they are experiencing are directly related to them.  Bad choices lead to bad outcomes which lead to a life of frustration and mediocrity.
 
Taking responsibility used to be expected as part of the journey to adulthood.  Today, we see people avoid responsibility.  Whether it's in the home, work, government, or church, it's not uncommon for people to do the minimum, expect to be served, and take the credit while others do the hard work.  It's a shame really when you consider that whole generations are spinning their wheels trying to do so little while avoiding owning their stuff.  If they just hunkered down, took responsibility, and worked hard, they would see progress in so many, if not all, areas of their life.
 
It is easy to see where other people are not doing what they should be doing.  What's harder is being honest with ourselves.  Are we stepping up and owning our own stuff?  Are we being a model for people to emulate?  
 
I think about the apostle Paul when he said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  It is applicable in this area of life just as much as in the context of Paul's letter to the Corinthians.  We are living examples to those around us.   If we are responsible and owning our stuff, then others will see and will have someone to refer to as they struggle to step up and own their life choices.  
 
I would go so far as to make the case that, in this day and age, responsibility and ownership of your choices are such foreign concepts to so many, that we cannot assume they even know how to get out of the rut.  This is why those of us who are doing better in this area need to encourage those in our lives to set a higher bar for themselves and then show them the way.  Some people are naturally more responsible but most people need to learn what responsibility looks like.  We may be the very person God intends to use in a specific person's life to help them get the traction they need.
 
So with that in mind, do you own your life choices?  Are you being responsible?  To be used by God, we need to ensure that we are stepping up and taking responsibility for our own actions and their consequences.  If so, would you consider being someone who might come alongside another and help them get to where you are at?  Don't be afraid...chances are they’re afraid too!  But God can use you mightily in the life of another person if you are willing to be humble and make your life an open book.
 
You've done a good job of stepping up, so now go and step out into the life of another person and show them what it looks like!  Then step back and watch them bloom.

Pastor Johnnie

Race UPDATE
If you are participating in this weekend's fundraiser iCan 5k/10k Race to help benefit the Alaska Teen Mission, we want to let you know that registration has been moved back to 9:30am.  So sleep in a little longer this Saturday and we will see you at the park!