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We are beginning a series on Getting to Know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Pastor Frank Malizzo.

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born outside of Chicago, but Abq is home.

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

At one point, early on, I wanted to be some kind of philosopher or amazing mathematician. Those kind of went together and those guys seemed really cool.

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

My earliest spiritual influence was going to mass. I also tried to read the Bible when I was in about 5th grade, but I didn't have any idea what I was doing, and that didn't last very long.

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

I first heard the gospel at a mid-school summer camp hosted by another church. I knew that I was a sinner and I came to understand that Christ is the only Savior.

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

Psalm 37 is a passage that I discovered for myself many years ago, and became one of the places that I've returned to most frequently. This word has often been the Lord's comfort to me in my distress, His peace to me in my confusion, His guidance for me in my searching, and His wisdom to me in my uncertainty.

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

Most answered prayers in my life may seem small, rather than earth-shaking. Recently, the Lord gave specific medical guidance to a friend that was His clear work. He also gave a divine opportunity to see someone's eyes turned to the Lord.

What is a blessing and what is a challenge as serving as pastor?

One challenge of shepherding is that we (sheep) are almost always in-process, and we often don't see the resolution. One huge blessing is being close enough to people in our hurt to see the glory of overcoming faith and the grace of incomprehensible joy!

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

I look forward to a good game of sand volleyball. In graduate school in NC, I fell into playing about 4-5 times a week one summer with a group of teaching assistants. I also enjoy strategy games - when I can find the time. Oh yeah, and I also enjoy getting beat at Uno or Old Maid or other simple card games by young girls in our home.

What is your favorite family tradition?

There are tons of family memories - by God's grace - but just being together to read, pray, and sing feels to me like something out of a dream.

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

I would say reading .. but then sometimes I can't sit still long enough to make it happen. But, let's say reading.

What is the perfect meal?

Carne Adovada. I'm pretty certain that this is the meal for which Esau traded his birthright.  (I think that it says this in the Hebrew.)

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

Molly. Typically it goes like this: I say something incorrectly or mix up my words. She finds this hilarious, and can't help but laugh at me. I fail at playing it cool and trying to play it off. Pretty soon we are both laughing at each other. It escalates. Eventually, sometimes we snort.

We asked Molly:

What is your favorite trait about Frank? 

I have a lot of favorite traits, so this is a hard question. However, the one that comes to mind immediately is that I love his humor and his wit. I also love his ability to think through issues from all sides.  

What does he do that can always make you smile? 

He makes me smile when he plays board games and sports with our kids both big and small, creating fellowship, relationship, and laughter. And, I love that he can still sing with flourish the early 1990's P.I.D. rap "Get You A Bible" listing the books in order! So fun! 

Faithful Christians and equally zealous nonbelievers can agree on the following statement: If Jesus of Nazareth didn’t rise from the dead, then the entire Christian faith is worthless. The Apostle Paul agreed when he wrote that “if Christ hasn’t been raised then our faith is in vain…. and we are of all people, most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15).  The veracity of our faith boils down to a single event that either happened or didn’t – a single event that is open to the tools of historical investigation.  If we can encourage skeptics to overcome their biases and to investigate this event for themselves, many of them will awaken to the plausibility of the historic Christian position. This alone won’t save anyone – but it illustrates one of the ways apologetics is an important part of evangelism in the modern (and postmodern) world.

As a graduate student studying Physics in an environment overtly hostile to Christianity, God took me down my own path of discovering the bankruptcy of the default skeptical positions assumed in that culture.  Once I realized that theists and non-theists alike believed in “miracles” (what’s a bigger miracle than the Universe coming into existence out of nothing?) it gradually became clearer to me that God existed, and could therefore intervene if, when, and how, He wanted. Yet, before experimenting with prayer and ultimately placing my faith in the God of the Bible, I had to become convinced of the historical plausibility of the resurrection myself.

Do you know what I found? A remarkably high number of even non-Christian professional historians agree on dozens of historical facts that can be arranged into three broad categories: 1) The discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb by a group of his women followers. 2) The postmortem appearances to several individuals and groups. 3) The origin of the disciples’ belief in Jesus’ resurrection. The task of the historian is then to compare all the competing hypotheses according to certain criteria for the best explanation (see graphic inset).

Even the most skeptical non-Christian scholars acknowledge that the earliest Christian hypothesis proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples, skeptics like James, and persecutors like Saul, was that “God raised Jesus from the dead”. This fact can be established using only Paul’s universally accepted letters, one of which contains the most primitive Christian creed proclaiming the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3-5), which is dated to within a couple of years and possibly even months of the crucifixion (see graphic timeline).  This allows no time for legendary development or corrupted oral tradition assumed by alternative hypotheses.  The resurrection hypothesis benefits from several early and independently attested eyewitness accounts supported by many biblical and extra-biblical sources that overshadow every alternative hypothesis (various “conspiracy theories”, the “apparent death” or “mythological” explanation, the “Hallucination hypothesis”, and combinations of these).

The resurrection hypothesis not only holds its own under rigorous historical analysis – it appears to be the best explanation of the established facts*.  It’s a remarkable fact that alternative hypotheses have less traction today than they did 50 years ago among academic scholars in the relevant fields. When put into the context of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, the resurrection hypothesis not only fits the historical data the best, it also vindicates Jesus’ claims about Himself, and gives us our only hope. For God “has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” –  Paul at the Aereopagus in Athens (Acts 17:31).

*for rigorous analysis of available historical data see any number of books, publications, and debates by Dr. Gary Habermas, Dr. Mike Licona, Dr. William Lane Craig, Dr. N.T. Wright among others.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/resurrection-jesus-christ/

I know one of the concerns of the children's music ministry is that the children understand what they are singing and that they mean it. And I share that concern for our people. In a moment the choir will sing a song called, "Hosanna, Hosanna!" And after that we all will sing a song which begins: "Hosanna in the highest!" So I want to give a little lesson in Greek and Hebrew, to make sure we all know what the New Testament means when it says in three different places, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (Matthew 21:9, 15); or, "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9, 10); or simply, "Hosanna!" (John 12:13).

A Lesson in Greek and Hebrew

You all know that the New Testament was first written in Greek, and the Old Testament was first written in Hebrew. Wherever the word "hosanna" occurs in the New Testament, do you know what the Greek word is? Right! It's "hosanna." All the English translators did was use English letters (h-o-s-a-n-n-a) to make the sound of a Greek word.

But if you look in a Greek dictionary to find what it means, you know what you find? You find that it is really not originally a Greek word after all. The men who wrote the New Testament in Greek did the same thing to a Hebrew word that our English translators did to the Greek word: they just used Greek letters to make the sound of a Hebrew phrase. I know this sounds sort of complicated. But it's really not. Our English word "hosanna" comes from a Greek word "hosanna" which comes from a Hebrew phrase hoshiya na.

And that Hebrew phrase is found one solitary place in the whole Old Testament, Psalm 118:25, where it means, "Save, please!" It is a cry to God for help. Like when somebody pushes you off the diving board before you can swim and you come up hollering: "Help, save me . . . Hoshiya na!"

A Shift in Meaning

But something happened to that phrase, hoshiya na. The meaning changed over the years. In the psalm it was immediately followed by the exclamation: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" The cry for help, hoshiya na, was answered almost before it came out of the psalmist's mouth. And over the centuries the phrase hoshiya na stopped being a cry for help in the ordinary language of the Jews. Instead it became a shout of hope and exultation. It used to mean, "Save, please!" But gradually, it came to mean, "Salvation! Salvation! Salvation has come!" It used to be what you would say when you fell off the diving board. But it came to be what you would say when you see the lifeguard coming to save you! It is the bubbling over of a heart that sees hope and joy and salvation on the way and can't keep it in.

So "Hosanna!" means, "Hooray for salvation! It's coming! It's here! Salvation! Salvation!"

And "Hosanna to the Son of David!" means, "The Son of David is our salvation! Hooray for the king! Salvation belongs to the king!"

And "Hosanna in the highest!" means, "Let all the angels in heaven join the song of praise. Salvation! Salvation! Let the highest heaven sing the song!"

Two Kinds of Hosannas

Picture a Super Bowl game, and (believe it or not) the Vikings are three points ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are on their own 35 and have no more time outs. There are two seconds remaining on the clock. The Vikings' fans are going wild. The Steelers line up, fake a pass to the receivers on the left sideline, and run a wide sweep around the right end, and the quarterback breaks into the open and heads down the right sideline—40 - 45 - 50 - 45. The only hope for the Vikings is Willie Teal, the safety, cutting a diagonal across the field. And out of the Vikings' grandstand come two kinds of hosannas, the old kind and the new kind. One part of the crowd is yelling: "Catch him! Catch him, Willie!" (That's the old hosanna.) The other part of the crowd is yelling, "You got him! You got him, Willie!" (That's the new hosanna.) The word moved from plea to praise; from cry to confidence.

So when we sing "Hosanna" now, let's make it very personal. Let's make it our praise and our confidence. The Son of David has come. He has saved us from guilt and fear and hopelessness. Salvation! Salvation belongs to our God and to the Son! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

DesiringGod. Hosanna. March 27, 1983. John Piper

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/hosanna

Chances are that if you have been a part of small group before, you have an opinion about their effectiveness in helping you live out the Christian life. Hopefully most of you have had a positive experience in the past. If you have never been involved in one, then what are you waiting for? It can be a challenge to overcome the perceived obstacles in your way.  Who will watch my kids?  Are my kids welcome? I’m single, who will welcome me? I’m too old. I’m too shy. I don’t have time. I don’t want to be judged. They are more spiritual than me. I’m way more spiritual than them. I will not be accepted, and so on. Will you allow me to at least cause you to pause to consider whether now is the time to join a small group, Bible study or community group?

I can certainly draw support from Scripture in encouraging you to become part of a small group. In Acts 2 we are told that the people who heard the gospel message from Peter and were then “cut to the heart” asked him what they should do. He responded to them by telling them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Luke then describes how this group of three thousand new believers were led by the Holy Spirit to interact with one another, to fellowship with one another. It says of them, “they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” (Acts 2:46b-47) Consider this, three thousand new believers were somehow organized by the Holy Spirit into small groups that were accommodated in each other’s homes. 

Community groups are really this simple, they are a gathering of some of you all, for the benefit of all you all, to the praise of the God who is sovereign over all. Community groups are a vibrant expression of the interconnectedness of God’s people. They provide an opportunity for us to create a bond of Christian brotherhood in the sharing of trials, sufferings, joys, laughs, celebrations and, oh yea- there’s food. And did I mention that all of this is done under the canopy of God’s Word? God’s Word is the sustaining and overarching foundation of why we gather.  In some ways, He reveals Himself to us more completely as we hear other’s accounts of how He is working in us and through us. And then there’s accountability- community groups can offer an opportunity to be corrected in our errant thinking by others who are observing how we apply God’s Word to our every day life. 

There are many more benefits that come from being part of a community group, none are more obvious than being able to exercise the spiritual gifts of hospitality and teaching. And even just as important is the opportunity to pray for one another. My most recent personal experience attests to the great comfort and peace that God grants to us as His people are united in prayer on our behalf. 

As I recall the many ways in which I have recently seen God work through those of you involved in community groups, some stand out. I love the way you supported and gently comforted a dear mother who lost her son. It has been amazing to me to witness the move of the Holy Spirit in the life of a dear brother who trusted God to give him a heart of compassion for the homeless. Some of you have seen how this man’s, this couple’s persistent and patient obedience to our Lord have opened an opportunity for the gospel in the life of one of the least of these, one among the many homeless in our community.

And finally, community groups can provide the opportunity to become committed to the local body. William Boekstein makes the observation that “many churches have a number of guests or occasional visitors “orbiting” the church; they are considering landing but not sure if or how they can. Small groups can provide a way for those who are trying- or considering whether they would like to try- to break into the life of the church.” 

Whether you are “orbiting” or firmly planted, it is our hope that you connect with a group of like-minded individuals in our body that you can consistently live the Christian life with. Towards that end, we have a number of community groups and small group Bible studies that you can join.  Or maybe, you are at a point where you are sensing God’s direction to start a new small group.  If that is the case, we would love to help you get started. 

The early Christians "continuously devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship." (Acts 2:42) The word for "fellowship" is koinonia, which means "to have in common" or "to share." As those who are united with Christ, we are to share the life of Christ with one another in a way that results in individual and combined spiritual growth.

Why do women need to be engaged in community? Simple, because they need to be reminded that they are not alone. There is something so deeply nourishing to a woman's heart that comes from spending time with other women. Engaging in community takes a girl out of the lonely perspective of not measuring up and into the bountiful environment of encouragement, support, and accountability.

Why should women engage in worship? Quite frankly, we need to be reminded of whose we are and what better way to do that than to humbly bow ourselves before the King of Kings. When we worship the King of Kings, we realize that though we are nothing in and of ourselves, we are everything in the eyes of the King. Knowing every ugly detail about us, he still chose to go to pull us out of the pit and place a crown on our heads. Engaging in worship isn't a chore, it is a heart healing opportunity to reflect on the one who made us royalty and cast our crowns back at his feet in praise.

Jodi Hendricks explores these questions, and more. She is a wife, mother of four, native New Mexican, licensed Mental Health Counselor, Director of the Women’s Ministry at her church, and an avid motorcycle rider (amongst other things)!

Jodi will be joining us for Koinonia, a women’s retreat sponsored by Mountain Christian Church. We will worship with special guest Cassie Rogers of the Kipsies through song, take a look at Community through Jesus’ encounter with the Woman at the Well, and enjoy lunch together.

Make plans to join us Saturday, March 16, from 9 am-1 pm at Nature Pointe Events. Click here to RSVP. For more information contact Emily Gray (505-297-9178) or Lisa Lemelin (505-917-2999).