A Wonderful Testimony

I wanted to share with you a great letter that came in to the testimony of God's grace:

November 10, 2010

Dear Pastor Mark,

Hello, my name is Ann Marie and I’ve been attending Calvary for a little less than a year. I love it! I truly enjoy listening to you and the other pastors teach. You all have a wonderful way of helping me personally understand the Bible and get to know as well as stay in touch with Jesus Christ, our Lord! Amen! ☺ Thank you.

My reason for this letter is just to share a wonderful short story with you involving the amazing staff at Calvary.

On November 8, Monday, I rode my daughter’s bike from my home to the church to volunteer for the clean team. I (naively thinking) put the bike unlocked behind a pillar in front of the atrium on the west side. It was early; I figured it would be fine. When I finished cleaning, I found the bike had been stolen and a few people heard of the news. I then walked home with a heavy heart not knowing how I’d break it to my 11-year old little girl.

I decided not to tell her right away (thankfully because) the next day, Tuesday, November 9, was the potluck for the last day of the study of Ruth. As I stood in line talking with a friend, one of the staff (Lynn) came and said, “We found your bike!” She grabbed me by the hand and escorted me to the kitchen where to my great surprise was a BRAND NEW beautiful girl’s bike…with a lock. I said, “On, no, Lynn, that’s not mine, mine was old.”

She says to me, “No, honey. That’s your bike.”

When I realized what was happening, I began to cry. Happy tears, of course, and hugged and thanked everyone around.

Now that’s a pretty sweet story, right? Well, I’m not done! ☺ It gets better.

So I leave the bike and make plans to retrieve it the following morning when I come in. So, Wednesday (today), November 10, I go to the church and clean and when I’m done I find Lynn so I can get the bike. She takes me to the garage and there’s not just the one girl’s bike but TWO bikes. An adult one and a children’s bike. Whoever it was passed the message that they were both for me so I didn’t have to ride my daughter’s anymore. I was shocked to say the least and ever so thankful!

I guess I just wanted to share with you because you’re always reminding us that God works through others and I got to see that right there at church. Furthermore, its an opportunity from God for me to show my young daughter how He surrounds us and will provide. Things are hard right now and this couldn’t have come at a better time.

I wanted to share with you because I know you’re super busy and don’t always get to hear all the wonderful things the staff truly does. They’re all so wonderful.

Thank you, Pastor Mark, for all you are and all you do. You’re a true inspiration and all who attend Calvary are blessed to have you as their pastor. Please tell Leslie hello. I just love her!

God bless you and your family!

Ann Marie and Haley Rose

Phoenix Magazine

A Calvary member, Jim Hackman, had his response printed in Phoenix Magazine (October 2010, pg. 24) where he mentions Calvary.

Check it out!

Thanks for mentioning Calvary, Jim!

"Son of Hamas" Update & Incredible Ending!

Some great news on our dear brother Joseph (the "Son of Hamas"). He was granted political asylum at his hearing this past Wednesday!

You can read about this incredible end to his case on his blog here!

Political Asylum Granted - Son of Hamas

Disturbing Facts About Who's Crossing our Border

This story from WSB TV in Atlanta reports disturbing information on who is crossing our southern border into the US.


Channel 2 Investigates US Border Security Part 1 Video

Channel 2 Investigates US Border Security Part 2 Video

Links here to Download the List of People Captured in the Last 2 Years OTM (Other than Mexicans)

Links here to Download the List of People Other than Mexicans Currently in Florence, AZ ICE Custody


We have to keep praying for our nation's safety and peace.

"SON OF HAMAS" Needs our Help

I've been recommending a great book lately called "Son of Hamas" by Mosab Hassan Yousef, his American name is Joseph. His father is one of the founders of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Palestinian Authority. Joseph (Mosab) didn't believe in all the violence and terrorism against the Israelis and he started working for the Israeli Shin Bet (like our CIA or FBI) as a secret agent and informant. He helped the Israelis greatly throughout the years and became a Christian a few years ago. He left Israel for the US a couple years ago and applied for political asylum and now Homeland Security is wanting to deport him as a "terrorist." This is insane and would amount to sending him to his death because he's considered a traitor by his people.

We need to pray fervently for our brother and spread the word about his situation. Write to as many news organizations as you can as well as to our Senators and Congressmen urging them to help Joseph.


More on the story can be found here:

Assist News Service Article

Joseph's Blog


Visit Joseph's Facebook page with more info at:

Joseph's Facebook page

Joseph's Facebook Comments and Request for Help
(Note that you need to have your own Facebook account in order to view other pages on Facebook).



Write Your Senators:

Senator Jon Kyl
730 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Email Contact Form

Senator John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Email Contact Form



Write Your Congressman (the 2 that represent Calvary's 2 campuses are here):

Representative Trent Franks
2435 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515
Email Contact Form

Representative John Shadegg
436 Cannon House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515
Email Contact Form

Gone to Press!

This week we finished editing and completed my new devotional book, Grace Today! It's now at the printer and will be out around Thanksgiving! I'm so excited about it. Here's a look at the cover:



This book is similar to Psalms Today, but a little meatier, it's about 100 more pages of devotional meat! Here's an excerpt from the new book:

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

It’s interesting what Paul doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “And we hope that all things work together for good to those who love God.” Nor does he say, “And we know that some things or most things work together for good!”

But he says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God!”

“No verse in the Bible claims more than that, covers more territory, offers more hope and comfort. If what this verse says is so, then every cloud has its silver lining of hope, and every event in our life is capable of producing final and lasting good to our souls.”*

But look at what Paul is not saying: This promise is for everyone.

This promise has one very important qualification. Paul is not saying that all things work together for good for everyone. He is saying that all things work together for good to all those who have responded to the Gospel and put their faith in Christ!

The literal rendering of the Greek text clarifies this. It reads, “And we know to the ones loving God, all things work together for good...” For some reason the translators took the phrase, “to them that love God” and inserted it at the end of the sentence.

So a lot of times you’ll hear people just quote the first part of this verse and say, “Well, all things work together for good.” But that’s not actually true! When Paul wrote this he put in one very important qualification: “To the ones loving God all things work together for good.” If a person is not a child of God, they do not have this assurance. They are in a world where the devil, Satan, desires to work things so that they will not go to heaven!

If you do not know the Lord, chances are that things are not working together for good!

Let’s change all that right now. Pray this prayer with me and ask Jesus to come into your life: “Father in Heaven, thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to die for all the wrong things I have done. I am sorry for what I have done. I want to turn my life over to You. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me; and that He was buried and rose from the dead. I’m asking that Jesus please come into my life and be my Savior and my Lord.”

*Clarence E. McCartney, The Great Texts of the Bible, 60.

I'm really looking forward to sharing the entire book with you next month. The Lord bless you!

Preview of "Grace Today"

I wanted to share with you a portion of my upcoming devotional, "Grace Today," due out by the end of this year. I hope you enjoy it!

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"When Jesus had tasted it, he said, 'It is finished!' Then he bowed his head and released his spirit" (John 19:30).

Aren't all religions essentially the same? Have you ever thought that, or had someone ask you that?

Actually after having studied comparative religions for years, I have come to the conclusion that there is only a difference of two letters between Christianity and all others religions on the earth, the letters "N" & "E" – two letters that change eternity.

The way to heaven, as taught by all other religions on earth could be summarized by the word: "DO!"

Christianity's way to heaven could also be summarized by one word: "DONE!"

We are saved by a finished work! Jesus finished the work of our salvation!

That's why on the cross He shouted, "IT IS FINISHED!" When He said that on the cross, He meant what He said! The work of salvation was finished, it was done!

The Old Testament priest's work was never done. As you look at the furnishings in the temple, there was no place for him to sit down and rest. He was not to sit down. His work was never done!

But when Jesus Christ came and offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, the Bible tells us that when He ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God!

The reason He could sit down was because He had finished the work of our salvation!

It is Jesus' good works that saves us! His doing, His dying, His rising again!

Note that we are not saved by what Christ is doing in us. We are saved only and wholly by what Christ did for us at the cross!