NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2025
“Be still, and know that I am God...
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10
Can I be honest? I'm having a hard time with this truth right now. I hear the psalmist and I know that this is divinely inspired but... I have questions. Where are you God? There are murders and wars going on. Do you see? There are the poor and the marginalized, real hurting humans. Do you care? I have these questions and so much more to ask.
And that is only if I get past the two rebukes of the first line.
First God says to us "Be still". As much as I long to be the gentle, quiet, wise and patient pastor that I know would be good for the church and God glorifying, there is a part of me that says "You can't be still NOW. You have a church to plant, a wife to love, children to raise, community to invest in, sick to pray for, homeless to help, hungry to feed.... There is no time for BEING only DOING. And if you're going to be anything it definitely can't be STILL." These are the lies I get caught up in when what I do becomes my identity. when I forget who I am.
So God in his kindness, faithfulness and compassion rebukes me.
"Be still."
The second rebuke follows - "Know that I am God". Maybe you're thinking "How is that a rebuke. It sounds like good news". It is. But like most good news this calls me to repentance. The rebuke is that I am not God. To confess that I am not God and that He is, calls me to repent of my self reliance and rely wholly on Him. This is the continual invitation of God in the heart of every believer. It is an invitation to trust God and by doing so to love Him!
"Know that I am God."
Here is the beauty of this reality. When I remember these two truths, not shallow acknowledgement but deep repentant trust, I can both be and do. I live not in my own strength but by the Spirit of God who lives in me.
My hope is that God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, will complete the good work He has begun in me and in His church. May we trust Him to keep us and to fulfill His promises.
And that is only if I get past the two rebukes of the first line.
First God says to us "Be still". As much as I long to be the gentle, quiet, wise and patient pastor that I know would be good for the church and God glorifying, there is a part of me that says "You can't be still NOW. You have a church to plant, a wife to love, children to raise, community to invest in, sick to pray for, homeless to help, hungry to feed.... There is no time for BEING only DOING. And if you're going to be anything it definitely can't be STILL." These are the lies I get caught up in when what I do becomes my identity. when I forget who I am.
So God in his kindness, faithfulness and compassion rebukes me.
"Be still."
The second rebuke follows - "Know that I am God". Maybe you're thinking "How is that a rebuke. It sounds like good news". It is. But like most good news this calls me to repentance. The rebuke is that I am not God. To confess that I am not God and that He is, calls me to repent of my self reliance and rely wholly on Him. This is the continual invitation of God in the heart of every believer. It is an invitation to trust God and by doing so to love Him!
"Know that I am God."
Here is the beauty of this reality. When I remember these two truths, not shallow acknowledgement but deep repentant trust, I can both be and do. I live not in my own strength but by the Spirit of God who lives in me.
My hope is that God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, will complete the good work He has begun in me and in His church. May we trust Him to keep us and to fulfill His promises.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Pray for the Fast Family - see below - as they continue to make Christ know in Portland, Oregon and the surrounding cities. Pray for strength and endurance to continue even when the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus is difficult and costly!
- Continue to ask God to provide partners who are willing and desire to point our kids to Jesus. Particularly those who would share in the joy of teaching CP Kids on Sunday mornings.
- Pray for CrossPointe Coast as we prepare to celebrate 5 years of Gods faithfulness in Cape Canaveral. May we honor Him in the celebration and invite others to celebrate His goodness and faithfulness with us.
- Praise God for Noah Hardy becoming a covenant partner at CP Coast. For more information on what that means/ looks like, see the Partnership Covenant in the resource section.
MISSION PARTNERS
Ryan and Erin Fast with CRU
Ryan and Erin were part of the core team that launched CPCoast | Cape in the Fall of 2020. Shortly after the first Celebration Service they moved out to Portland, Oregon to serve the Lord with CRU, a ministry that points high school students to Jesus by sharing the his love and gospel with them. CLICK HERE to read there Summer Summary 2025 Newsletter.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming Events
- CAPE BBQ - Sunday, September 21, immediately following the Celebration Service
- CROSSPOINTE COAST | CAPE'S 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - Sunday, October 19
- Celebration Service at 10:00 AM
- Picnic immediately following the Celebration Service
Birthdays
- September
5- John Sosebee
16- Noah Fair
29- Jody Trask & Aly Sosebee - October
1- Eva Cerveny
6- Eli Hardy
7- Megan Deadwyler
10- Joel Fair
16- Asher Cerveny
PASTOR JOEL'S LOOKUPS, NOTES & RESOURCES
In this section I wanted to create a space to share resources that have been pointing me to Jesus. Also, I will often not know the answer to a question asked at a CG or Bible study and I wanted to have an avenue to share what I find in my lookups. If you have a resource or a question or need an answer to a lookup please feel free to email me at joelfair@cpcoast.com
Resources
Resources
- "What is the best book you have read?" The Bible, that's not just because I'm a pastor but because it TRULY is the best book! If you want some more ways to take it in check out Dwell or YouVersion. When they say "you know what I mean" they are asking for something else. When I get this question I can quickly get overwhelmed with my own thoughts because so many books I've read have left a lasting imprint on me. I have tons of clarifying questions and I never know what to answer but one I seem to always share is Desiring God by John Piper. You can purchase it at Crossway or Amazon or just ask me for a copy because I have access to several. It is so good and really drives home the truth that God is our ultimate pleasure in all of life! Here is a quote to give you the gist - “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”
- Randi and I got a chance to go out for our anniversary earlier this week and we met up with the Hardys in Jacksonville for a sweet dinner and concert. We saw Citizens which is one of our favorite bands. If you are wanting to listen to music for personal worship that is upbeat and rich with sound doctrine I would recommend them. You might even recognize some of their songs from our Sunday Celebration Services. Go old school and start with "Citizens" and "Join The Triumph" albums but don't stop there because it is all good music - Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music
- Here is the link to the Gospel Partnership Manual and I wanted to highlight the Partnership Covenant
Sermon Series Resources
- Here is a link to the Faith For Life | James sermon series
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Monthly Giving Report
$10,850 — FY26 Monthly Contribution Goal ($6250 — Internal Contribution Goal)
$4,412 — Total Internal Giving August 2025
$6,070 — Total External Giving August 2025
$5,442 — Month to Date Internal Giving (September 2025)
$6,082 — Month to Date External Giving (September 2025)
$42,683 — General Fund Balance (End of August)
Please, prayerfully watch the report above as we seek to meet the budget goal of $10,850 per month. Thank you for your ongoing faithfulness, family.
$4,412 — Total Internal Giving August 2025
$6,070 — Total External Giving August 2025
$5,442 — Month to Date Internal Giving (September 2025)
$6,082 — Month to Date External Giving (September 2025)
$42,683 — General Fund Balance (End of August)
Please, prayerfully watch the report above as we seek to meet the budget goal of $10,850 per month. Thank you for your ongoing faithfulness, family.