My wife and I were having a conversation the other day and she asked me why do birds flow in a v shape? I answered it helps them to fly farther as they work together. Well I went and did some research on the subject and found, We often find birds flying together and wonder how do birds fly in formations of V’s. Scientists studying bird formations believe that the V-formation reduces the drag force (frictional force between two surfaces) experienced by each bird as they would if they were flying alone. Some studies have shown that a flock of 25 birds in V-formation can fly 70% further than a bird could do on its own with the same amount of energy. Also, by spacing themselves apart properly during the formation of a V while flying, the birds can optimize the reduction of drag experienced by every bird in the formation. However, the formation V does not benefit all birds equally, instead the bird in the lead position works the hardest. After all, who said being a leader is child’s play! The next point will certainly interest you. When the bird at the lead position tires out, it will fall further back into one of the lines of V and will be replaced by another bird from further back.
The two birds flying at the extreme ends of the V also get tired faster than those in the middle, so the positions keep rotating among the birds. This rotating and cyclic arrangement between the birds gives all birds the chance to become the leader and be responsible as well as remain in the middle and enjoy the comfort. What teamwork! Simply stupendous! We need to learn from these birds! The V-formation also helps the birds have a better view of each other and enables to spot any missing bird, thereby preventing them from losing any member of the flock.
This concept intrigued me as related to the body of Christ especially when we consider being helpers one of the other. There is an acronym for the word TEAM that says Together Everyone Achieves More. This is true in so many ways because when you look at a team it depends on everyone doing their job to achieve success. No team ever wins when it operates as a one-man show. In the body of Christ we too can achieve so much more if we joined together as one and spread the gospel for Christ. Like the birds working together to fly further we could do so much with cooperation than by ourselves alone. Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” When we see our brother or our sister needing assistance we must lend a hand to help them up. Today let’s become like the birds and fly further by becoming a TEAM!

Samuel King, Senior Pastor
Christlike Life Church, Laveen, AZ.

Last week we had dinner with some friends and were discussing how in some countries young girls are being killed. Simply because they are female instead of male. In biblical times there were two distinct times when the first born males were being put to death. In the old Testament when Moses was born and the King of Egypt made a decree to thin out the Israelites in Exodus 1:15-16 “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.” During that time the midwives wouldn’t obey the King because they feared God. Again when the baby Jesus was born 
Herod who was King wanted the child killed. Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.” 
Today in America we don’t just kill boys or just girls we kill children period. In 1973 the United States Supreme court passed a ruling that made it legal for women to abort a child in her third trimester. We have killed more children in this country than all the wars we have fought. Those who are so called pro-choice use the argument that a woman has the right to her own body, to choose. When the word of God clearly states, “We are not our own, we are bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 
As a child of God we can’t approve of or applaud the taking of a life in any instant or reason. Whether in a place like China or Here in America. The sanctity of human life is precious. When Cain slew his brother Abel God asked him where is your brother? He replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Yet God told him the blood of your brother cries from the ground. If the blood of that one individual cries to God, imagine the blood of all the innocent babies cries to him. Many years ago while in my early 20′s and with my first wife we had an abortion which has been a constant reminder to me of the life that never was. That baby could have been the one who may have had a cure for a major disease. Even though God forgives us the memory never leaves you. Life is precious and I will never again take it for granted. Today celebrate life! Everyday is a gift from God.

Samuel King, Senior Pastor
Christlike Life Church, Laveen, AZ.

While waiting to see someone I’d known and worked with many years ago, I was observing how things operated at this High School I was visiting. I worked at a high school for about eight years, the memories of that experience returned. In my years of dealing with high school students I got to know a lot of their behavior around their peers. Peer pressure can cause teenagers to do things that they wouldn’t ordinarily do. That’s true in adults as well. The behavior of those I worked with during those years changed when around certain people. Have you ever noticed how people will act one way and when the boss enters the room they change completely? That seems to be the case with some Christians when around certain influences. Of course this shouldn’t be being that we should be the example. Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The bible says, “Let your light or Phos in the Greek meaning luminous, make shine. Or show Christ through you. This is a challenge especially in today’s society. How do you view yourself as a follower of Christ in the world? Are you luminous or just a good church goer?  
Do we see ourselves as a force that illuminates all that is around us? Notice that the light is based upon a life that is lived for those around us to see. According to Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org. 
In John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” His life was light when he walked the earth, therefore if we being Christlike must be light to those that are around us. In this life we will face times of difficulties where we feel like throwing in the towel but he is what we must hold onto the word of God for continued strength. 
Being around some pastors at times I find there is a sense of one wanting to one up the other. The question that is always asked is’ “How many people do you have?” As if the larger you are as a church the more successful you are. When this is not the reason that Christ has called any of us to pastor. We are to care for and train disciples for Christ not for ourselves. This the reason why Apostle Paul stayed out of the boasting business. 1 Corinthians 1:12-14, 17 ”Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” In other words we should boast in Christ not in who we are or what we perceived we have done. Our light (life) must shine Christ.
Paul understood this so he directed all to Christ as the Savior. Today let your life so shine of Christ so those around you will see.

Samuel King, Senior Pastor
Christlike Life Church, Laveen, AZ. 

Pastor Sam’s Weekly Blog
In looking at the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples I noticed the part where he says, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” This struck me as I want God to forgive me, but I must in turn be willing to forgive those who have wronged me. One year ago on January 8th a terrible tragedy happened in Tucson at a Safeway shopping plaza where six people were killed by a lone gunman and an Arizona Representative was severely wounded. In looking back on this incident how hard must it be for those who were there and were tormented by this, for them to forgive this gunman. We can all say we would forgive until we are face to face with death. I imagine it would be even more difficult had you lost a loved one as the Taylor’s who had their little girl murdered that day in Tucson. That would be almost unconscionable. It would be very hard to forgive in this incident. Yet we know what hatred and bitterness does to us. As someone whom I love dearly once said, “Unforgiveness and bitterness is like taking poison and waiting for the person you have not forgiven to die.” The only person dying is you. 
I’ve learned these lessons the hard way with the challenges we have faced trying to pastor people who have their own agendas. When people say how much they love you yet stab you in the back, we must practice forgiveness. As Christ told his disciples forgive and you will be forgiven. 
Matthew 18:21-34 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.” 
Today if someone has done you wrong practice forgiveness as Jesus has taught us to do.

Samuel King, Senior Pastor
Christlike Life Church, Laveen, AZ

2012! it’s a new year, it’s a new day! 
We have never faced this day before. 2011 is gone we can look back and reflect on it, but we cannot relive it. There was some great victories and some disappointing defeats. Our lives will ever be changed by the events of 2011. Today we encounter this new day with great anticipation. I for one am looking for God’s blessings to increase in my life. He told us in Isaiah 43:18, 19 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” God is doing a new thing! We will not see it if we are hung up on the past. Our task is to look past the now and what happened yesterday and to tomorrow. 
Our year was filled with many interesting things occurring. We started the year in a new building and ended the year in a classroom, having stopped at our home for three Sundays. We have had some people leave us and some to join us. Even this past Sunday I found out about a plot that was conceived by our former worship leader and the keyboard player where they planned and went to work for another church contacting the pastor a month before I knew of their plan. These professional church people as I call them are in the ministry for the money. I found out that the pastor whom they were all going to play for was in on this at the beginning and never called me to inform me of their betrayal. I’ve  felt like giving up on many occasions, never more than when I found all this out yet we have persevered on in spite of the circumstances. About three weeks ago I had come to the end of my rope and told God this was it wasn’t going to put me and my family through this any longer. I said to God, if I had to start this church and go through what we’ve gone through the last two years and my time was up I didn’t want to miss his leading. I was through! Tammy and I had discussed it on a Sunday morning right before service. God as he does, spoke to us directly during the service and told. us we were not done we were just beginning. He went on to say we could not look at things as if they were a failure. That was hard to do as things appeared that way. Yet God has a way of showing us that things aren’t as bad as they might seem. Looking back on 2011 I will take somethings away that I’ve learned that has changed me for the better. I look forward as we embark upon 2012 with greater anticipation than I have ever. I know God has some things in store for us that will blow our minds. I’m reminded of Psalm 40 where he says, He has brought me up out of a horrible pit and gave me a new song, a song of praise to our God. Many will see it.” God will show himself through us this year. Many will see it and know it is God. 

Samuel King, Senior Pastor
Christlike Life Church, Laveen, AZ.