This evening we will continue to work our way through Romans 7, which is a self-portrayal of Paul in his struggles with the flesh as a mature Christian.
Tonight: Romans 7:7-13.
In my studies yesterday and today, I noticed something I have not pay attention to before.
Paul struggled with coveting. Being content with what he had. Wanting what others had.
Another nugget in establishing this is that Paul writes in Philippians 4:12, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation."
It was something he learned.
It is was something he wrestled with.
Out of all of the 10 commandments, Paul mentioned this one - possibly because it is the only one of the 10 that deals with "just" the attitudes of the heart. Sin begins in the heart and you and I can covet without anyone knowing it.
We can be discontent while giving off the appearance of being satisfied.
We always want more. We focus not on what we do have but on what we don't have.
Elias Morgan, the former president of MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) shares this insight into how a child views the world. It's called the Toddler's Creed:
If I want it - it's mine.
If I give it to you and change my mind later - it's mine.
If I can take it away from you - it's mine.
If I had it a little while ago - it's mine.
If it's mine - it will never belong to anyone else, no matter what.
If we are building something together all pieces are mine.
If it looks like mine - it's mine.
Mine, mine. Me, myself and I.
Do you see a theme there?
Here's a great principle to overcome covet: Focus not on what you don't have but on what you do have.
Appreciate what you've got and be grateful to God.
Open your eyes.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 tells us, "If God gives a man wealthy and property, he should be grateful and enjoy what he has. It is a gift from God."
Grateful. Enjoy. Gift. God says I want you to enjoy and be grateful for what you've got.
It's a gift.
You wouldn't have anything if it weren't for God. It's all a gift from God.
We get into a trap that is called, "When and then thinking." "When and then" thinking says, "When I get (and you can fill in the blank) ________, then I will be happy.
Here's what I know: That "fill in the blank" will not ultimately make you happy. You will be happy for a little while, but it won't last because something else has happened.
You've got to get the newer, bigger, better, more improved model. Apple makes billions on this one principle. They want you to look forward and buy the next IPhone.
What are you waiting on to make you happy?
When I get married - then I will be happy.
When I get out of this marriage - then I will be happy.
When I have kids - then I will be happy.
Listen to me: You are as happy as you want to be. It is your choice. Forget the "When and then thinking."
Happiness is not getting whatever you want.
Happiness is enjoying whatever you have.
God wants you to enjoy what you have.
He commands you to enjoy what you've got.
God enjoys watching you enjoy what He's given you. I always really like watching my children enjoy what I have given them, how much more God does!
Again, the word of the day: Focus not on what you don't have, focus in on what you do have.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Now or Forever?
Are you living for the "now" or are you living for the "forever".
It's a huge question for all of us - especially as followers of Christ.
Every moment, of every day, you and I have a choice. Will I live for the moment? Or, will I live for eternity?
Your alarm clock goes off, you get ready for work, eat breakfast, drink your coffee and then bam, almost immediately you are faced with the question, "will I live for what I can see, knowing it will soon disappear? Or will I live for eternity?
When we put our work before God - we are living for the "now".
When we put our hobbies before God - we are living for the "now".
When we put our family before God - we are living for the "now".
Don't get me wrong, the "now" is important, but only in the context and priority list of following after our relationship with God.
Here's what I know: When I put God first, then my "living for the now" becomes incredibly better!
Jesus said it this way in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these things will be added to you."
And what's really cool is that when we put God first, we not only receive temporary benefits (happiness, spiritual security, emotional help) but we will receive an eternal reward!
Revelation 22:12 tell us, (Jesus is talking) "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."
Did you notice there that Jesus is not coming to set up his kingdom? He's coming for his people because he cares about the people of his kingdom, people who have given a lifetime to Him because they believed what he said, and they wanted to please him and they chose to be faithful.
Listen, God notices and cares about every decision you make to live for the "now" or for the "forever".
What is your choice today?
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
It's a huge question for all of us - especially as followers of Christ.
Every moment, of every day, you and I have a choice. Will I live for the moment? Or, will I live for eternity?
Your alarm clock goes off, you get ready for work, eat breakfast, drink your coffee and then bam, almost immediately you are faced with the question, "will I live for what I can see, knowing it will soon disappear? Or will I live for eternity?
When we put our work before God - we are living for the "now".
When we put our hobbies before God - we are living for the "now".
When we put our family before God - we are living for the "now".
Don't get me wrong, the "now" is important, but only in the context and priority list of following after our relationship with God.
Here's what I know: When I put God first, then my "living for the now" becomes incredibly better!
Jesus said it this way in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these things will be added to you."
And what's really cool is that when we put God first, we not only receive temporary benefits (happiness, spiritual security, emotional help) but we will receive an eternal reward!
Revelation 22:12 tell us, (Jesus is talking) "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."
Did you notice there that Jesus is not coming to set up his kingdom? He's coming for his people because he cares about the people of his kingdom, people who have given a lifetime to Him because they believed what he said, and they wanted to please him and they chose to be faithful.
Listen, God notices and cares about every decision you make to live for the "now" or for the "forever".
What is your choice today?
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and God asks, "Won't you be mine." :)
I really enjoyed attending the Chicago Christian Homecoming football game last Friday evening. Great to see some of our Stone Church students who go there.
A great reminder of how much fun high school football is to watch.
Many, many thanks to Rick Heise, Don Janis, Vic Nutter, John Goddard and Frank Wolf who came out to help us with our Stone Church work day! Thank you men for giving of your time!
The outside windows look great!
To all of my Chicago Bears friends (fans). The grieving process is: Denial, anger, depression, bargaining and then acceptance. My condolences on their loss (of course the Dallas Cowboys also lost).
It was fun to watch all of the married couples who renewed their vows yesterday at the end of the teaching in both services.
You can have a marriage that last over the long haul!
Here's what I know: Every marriage can be better.
Every marriage.
No marriage is perfect.
How can a marriage be perfect when it has two imperfect people in relationship?
With these beautiful fall days, I encourage you to take a walk this evening(if possible) and spend some time with God.
Principle: When I try to control everything in my life - it will lead to a life of frustration and fear.
You and I can't control most of life - only God can.
Don't be caught up in trying to control your spouse, your children, your parents, your co-workers, or someone here at the church.
If you do - it will drive you batty.
We are responsible to people not for them.
October is going to be a great month at Stone Church!
Love you all....
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and God asks, "Won't you be mine." :)
I really enjoyed attending the Chicago Christian Homecoming football game last Friday evening. Great to see some of our Stone Church students who go there.
A great reminder of how much fun high school football is to watch.
Many, many thanks to Rick Heise, Don Janis, Vic Nutter, John Goddard and Frank Wolf who came out to help us with our Stone Church work day! Thank you men for giving of your time!
The outside windows look great!
To all of my Chicago Bears friends (fans). The grieving process is: Denial, anger, depression, bargaining and then acceptance. My condolences on their loss (of course the Dallas Cowboys also lost).
It was fun to watch all of the married couples who renewed their vows yesterday at the end of the teaching in both services.
You can have a marriage that last over the long haul!
Here's what I know: Every marriage can be better.
Every marriage.
No marriage is perfect.
How can a marriage be perfect when it has two imperfect people in relationship?
With these beautiful fall days, I encourage you to take a walk this evening(if possible) and spend some time with God.
Principle: When I try to control everything in my life - it will lead to a life of frustration and fear.
You and I can't control most of life - only God can.
Don't be caught up in trying to control your spouse, your children, your parents, your co-workers, or someone here at the church.
If you do - it will drive you batty.
We are responsible to people not for them.
October is going to be a great month at Stone Church!
Love you all....
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Tolerance and truth
Let me state the obvious: We live in a society of tolerance.
It has now become the centerpiece of our culture.
When it comes to religion, tolerance means accepting that all religions are equally true or untrue.
There can be no distinction.
One definition of tolerance is "to allow (something one dislikes ore disagrees with) to exist without interference - (or to) patiently endure (something unpleasant)."
As Christians, we can be considered intolerant because we dare take the stance that there are some things in this world that are wrong and we are right.
It has become wrong to tell others that they are wrong.
Of course the ironic thing is that the person saying that it is wrong to say that someone else is wrong is also saying that Christians are wrong for saying what they believe!
Just a thought then - the ultimate question at stake is not whether Christian belief is tolerant (or intolerant) but where it is true and real or not.
I believe it is. In fact, I know it is. So am I being intolerant of other religions and beliefs?
Am I being intolerant in stating that Jesus is the only way to God?
There is a (now famous) story of an elephant in the jungle. Different blind scribes come up to the elephant and take hold of the different body parts.
One holds the trunk and declares, "This is a snake."
Another holds the leg and says, "You are wrong. It is not a snake, it is a tree trunk!"
Still another holds the tail and says, "You are both wrong. It is a rope."
The different individuals are said to represent the different religions of the world, and the moral of the story is that no one faith has the whole truth; it would be the height of intolerance and arrogant to state so.
In other words, everyone has a little piece of the truth.
But who is being intolerant and arrogant?
The people inside the story who are up close to the elephant or the storyteller who is standing back and thinks he has the whole picture?
The people inside the story who are blind or the person telling the story who thinks that he can see?
The implication of the story is that Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad and Moses were blind - but only the storyteller can see.
So who sounds intolerant now? Who sounds arrogant now?
Is it not just as arrogant and intolerant to claim that YOU know that all paths lead to God as it is to claim that you agree with Jesus that he is the only way to God?
That in and of itself is intolerance.
Perhaps a more practical and pragmatic approach is needed here.
At the end of the day, anyone who claims the truth can go back to the first hand experience that they have of that truth. The Bible promises that if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us.
That is a perfect and direct invitation to encounter God.
Why not pray this prayer today: "God, if you are there, please reveal yourself to me."
And I believe that He will.
Why? Because the Bible says so.
How intolerant of me to say that......:) :)
Just a thought for a Thursday.
It has now become the centerpiece of our culture.
When it comes to religion, tolerance means accepting that all religions are equally true or untrue.
There can be no distinction.
One definition of tolerance is "to allow (something one dislikes ore disagrees with) to exist without interference - (or to) patiently endure (something unpleasant)."
As Christians, we can be considered intolerant because we dare take the stance that there are some things in this world that are wrong and we are right.
It has become wrong to tell others that they are wrong.
Of course the ironic thing is that the person saying that it is wrong to say that someone else is wrong is also saying that Christians are wrong for saying what they believe!
Just a thought then - the ultimate question at stake is not whether Christian belief is tolerant (or intolerant) but where it is true and real or not.
I believe it is. In fact, I know it is. So am I being intolerant of other religions and beliefs?
Am I being intolerant in stating that Jesus is the only way to God?
There is a (now famous) story of an elephant in the jungle. Different blind scribes come up to the elephant and take hold of the different body parts.
One holds the trunk and declares, "This is a snake."
Another holds the leg and says, "You are wrong. It is not a snake, it is a tree trunk!"
Still another holds the tail and says, "You are both wrong. It is a rope."
The different individuals are said to represent the different religions of the world, and the moral of the story is that no one faith has the whole truth; it would be the height of intolerance and arrogant to state so.
In other words, everyone has a little piece of the truth.
But who is being intolerant and arrogant?
The people inside the story who are up close to the elephant or the storyteller who is standing back and thinks he has the whole picture?
The people inside the story who are blind or the person telling the story who thinks that he can see?
The implication of the story is that Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad and Moses were blind - but only the storyteller can see.
So who sounds intolerant now? Who sounds arrogant now?
Is it not just as arrogant and intolerant to claim that YOU know that all paths lead to God as it is to claim that you agree with Jesus that he is the only way to God?
That in and of itself is intolerance.
Perhaps a more practical and pragmatic approach is needed here.
At the end of the day, anyone who claims the truth can go back to the first hand experience that they have of that truth. The Bible promises that if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us.
That is a perfect and direct invitation to encounter God.
Why not pray this prayer today: "God, if you are there, please reveal yourself to me."
And I believe that He will.
Why? Because the Bible says so.
How intolerant of me to say that......:) :)
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Perfectionism
Before I share about what I am going to teach on this evening (Romans 7:1-6), let me answer the question that was posed concerning my blog yesterday.
Here's the question: "How do you comfort someone who has been hurt or grieving?"
Great question.
Just off the top of my head (and I will eventually devote an entire blog to this) here are some suggestions.
Don't belittle or put down someone's emotions that they are expressing. "You shouldn't feel that way." "If you were a Christian, you wouldn't say that." Those kinds of words are mean. Allow the person to vent without being judgmental.
Don't give Christian clichés. "Everything will work out in the end." "All things work together for good" (which is true, but there is a time and place to say that).
Don't talk to much. Sometimes when we don't know what to say, we talk too much.
Don't try to figure out the "why" for them. You don't know why. They don't know why. Many times we won't ultimately know "why" until we are with Jesus.
Do "be there". More than anything else your presence is needed and speaks volumes.
Do use physical touch. A hug. An arm around someone is so needed during this time.
Do pray with them. A short prayer.
Do more than say, "If you need anything I am here for you," but do actually bring them that meal. Do actually come over and see how they are doing.
There is more I can say, but let's return to this at a later time.
Now then, for this evening, Romans 7:1-6.
Two great chapters, Romans 7 and 8. In chapter 7, Paul describes the struggling Christian. The Christian who wrestles with the flesh, the carnal nature and the law.
Our theme of the evening? The law defines sin - and our Christian life is not based on rules, but a loving relationship with God.
God's will for your life is not be live a performance based walk with Him!
That is legalism.
A legalist is a person who insists on letting their conscious be your guide.
Do you know that I found out about legalistic people?
They are intolerant of the failures of others. The put a high level of expectation on other people that other people cannot live up to. They put a high level of expectation on themselves that they cannot live up to.
What are the results? Pride. A critical spirit. Hypocrisy. They begin to put on a face, a facade and begin to cover up their own sins and failures. They being to act like something they are not and do thing that they are no.
It's what I call the "plastic Christian" game - as if everything is fine and I have no problems and life is a fluff ball. When we do that - we case to be real, transparent and vulnerable.
Did you know that perfectionist can never establish and keep long term relationships?
Because nobody, and I mean nobody ever measures up.
From their spouse, to their parents, to their children, to their boss, to their church, to their church leaders, nobody ever measures up to their standards.
What are their two favorite words: Ought and Should. They ought to be that way. They should to his.
I am so happy that Jesus doesn't expect me to be perfect. Striving for holiness yes. Striving for righteousness yes.
Jesus said in Matthew 11;28, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Finally, know this: A true walk with Christ comes not from the keeping of rules but from a relationship with Jesus.
Just some thoughts for a Wednesday.
Here's the question: "How do you comfort someone who has been hurt or grieving?"
Great question.
Just off the top of my head (and I will eventually devote an entire blog to this) here are some suggestions.
Don't belittle or put down someone's emotions that they are expressing. "You shouldn't feel that way." "If you were a Christian, you wouldn't say that." Those kinds of words are mean. Allow the person to vent without being judgmental.
Don't give Christian clichés. "Everything will work out in the end." "All things work together for good" (which is true, but there is a time and place to say that).
Don't talk to much. Sometimes when we don't know what to say, we talk too much.
Don't try to figure out the "why" for them. You don't know why. They don't know why. Many times we won't ultimately know "why" until we are with Jesus.
Do "be there". More than anything else your presence is needed and speaks volumes.
Do use physical touch. A hug. An arm around someone is so needed during this time.
Do pray with them. A short prayer.
Do more than say, "If you need anything I am here for you," but do actually bring them that meal. Do actually come over and see how they are doing.
There is more I can say, but let's return to this at a later time.
Now then, for this evening, Romans 7:1-6.
Two great chapters, Romans 7 and 8. In chapter 7, Paul describes the struggling Christian. The Christian who wrestles with the flesh, the carnal nature and the law.
Our theme of the evening? The law defines sin - and our Christian life is not based on rules, but a loving relationship with God.
God's will for your life is not be live a performance based walk with Him!
That is legalism.
A legalist is a person who insists on letting their conscious be your guide.
Do you know that I found out about legalistic people?
They are intolerant of the failures of others. The put a high level of expectation on other people that other people cannot live up to. They put a high level of expectation on themselves that they cannot live up to.
What are the results? Pride. A critical spirit. Hypocrisy. They begin to put on a face, a facade and begin to cover up their own sins and failures. They being to act like something they are not and do thing that they are no.
It's what I call the "plastic Christian" game - as if everything is fine and I have no problems and life is a fluff ball. When we do that - we case to be real, transparent and vulnerable.
Did you know that perfectionist can never establish and keep long term relationships?
Because nobody, and I mean nobody ever measures up.
From their spouse, to their parents, to their children, to their boss, to their church, to their church leaders, nobody ever measures up to their standards.
What are their two favorite words: Ought and Should. They ought to be that way. They should to his.
I am so happy that Jesus doesn't expect me to be perfect. Striving for holiness yes. Striving for righteousness yes.
Jesus said in Matthew 11;28, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Finally, know this: A true walk with Christ comes not from the keeping of rules but from a relationship with Jesus.
Just some thoughts for a Wednesday.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Weeping over our hurt
We Christian types are really good about hiding our grief, pain and hurt.
Some think that God wants us to walk around with a smile on our face all the time.
Some Christians have this idea that we should never be sad, we should never grieve, we should never hurt. We should never cry.
Whether it is a parent who gets Alzheimer's or a child who gets cancer or a husband or wife who gets laid off from work or somebody stabs you in the back, that you should always walk around with a big smile, like it is no big deal and you should never grieve over these losses.
That God wants us to put on a "smiley face" and walk around saying, "Praise the Lord"!
"Nothing wrong here"!
It doesn't take a psychologist to know that is living in denial.
And all denial does is put off the inevitable - that you and I will eventually be confronted with handling the grief that we feel.
"Don't show any negative emotion, you are not trusting in God!" "You are showing a lack of faith!"
That is heartless and even rude.
I was hurting the other day over something someone said, and I was counseled, "that just comes with the territory of being a pastor. You'll get over it."
I thought, "okay, thanks a lot for the comfort."
While it is true that we are not to hold on to wounds and hurts from the past, we are called upon by the Lord to have a time when we express our hurt and our pain to God.
In a real way. In a sincere way.
In Matthew 5:4 Jesus taught, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
In other words, it is okay to grieve.
It is normal, natural and biblical to release your pain through tears.
It is okay to cry.
You don't repress it - stuff it down.
You don't rehearse it and go over and over it in your mind.
You release it and give it to God.
You cry out to God, "I hurt"!
"This is a tough one to handle!"
"I am hurting God"!
David prayed in Psalms 62:8, "Pour out your heart to God, for He is our refuge."
He also said in Psalms 34:18, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
I encourage you today, to "let it all out" to God and someone you trust.
In fact, I encourage you to schedule a window of time this evening where you are going to say to yourself, "I am going to grief over this situation. I am going to give it to God. I am going to release my feelings to the Lord."
And then move on. And then let it go.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Some think that God wants us to walk around with a smile on our face all the time.
Some Christians have this idea that we should never be sad, we should never grieve, we should never hurt. We should never cry.
Whether it is a parent who gets Alzheimer's or a child who gets cancer or a husband or wife who gets laid off from work or somebody stabs you in the back, that you should always walk around with a big smile, like it is no big deal and you should never grieve over these losses.
That God wants us to put on a "smiley face" and walk around saying, "Praise the Lord"!
"Nothing wrong here"!
It doesn't take a psychologist to know that is living in denial.
And all denial does is put off the inevitable - that you and I will eventually be confronted with handling the grief that we feel.
"Don't show any negative emotion, you are not trusting in God!" "You are showing a lack of faith!"
That is heartless and even rude.
I was hurting the other day over something someone said, and I was counseled, "that just comes with the territory of being a pastor. You'll get over it."
I thought, "okay, thanks a lot for the comfort."
While it is true that we are not to hold on to wounds and hurts from the past, we are called upon by the Lord to have a time when we express our hurt and our pain to God.
In a real way. In a sincere way.
In Matthew 5:4 Jesus taught, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
In other words, it is okay to grieve.
It is normal, natural and biblical to release your pain through tears.
It is okay to cry.
You don't repress it - stuff it down.
You don't rehearse it and go over and over it in your mind.
You release it and give it to God.
You cry out to God, "I hurt"!
"This is a tough one to handle!"
"I am hurting God"!
David prayed in Psalms 62:8, "Pour out your heart to God, for He is our refuge."
He also said in Psalms 34:18, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
I encourage you today, to "let it all out" to God and someone you trust.
In fact, I encourage you to schedule a window of time this evening where you are going to say to yourself, "I am going to grief over this situation. I am going to give it to God. I am going to release my feelings to the Lord."
And then move on. And then let it go.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend - and a prayer from Ignatius Loyola
Thoughts from the weekend:
Beautiful fall days - you have to love them.
I really like taking walks with Debbie in the evening - as the sun sets.
Congratulations to all my Chicago Bears friends (fans). You are now 3-0. Just remember: You started out last season 7-1. :) :)
God is an "on time" God - as in the case (as we saw yesterday) of arriving on the scene just as Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.
I would suggest that Abraham was the happiest guy on the planet after God stopped him.
And then God provides a ram to take the place of Isaac!
Our God is truly Jehovah Jireh - The "God who provides."
Do you have a need today? Trust God to provide.
Yesterday was such a great day of worship - next Sunday can't come soon enough!
It was wonderful to see the men and women of God on their faces or knees before Him yesterday after each service. Truly, as we commit ourselves to Him, He will do incredible things!
Many, many thanks to all of our volunteers at Stone Church.
Your faithfulness is a continual encouragement to all of us on the pastoral staff!
We love you and appreciate you!
So much anger in the world (Shooting at Cornell Park over the weekend). My prayer is that we can represent God's peace to the world.
God is beginning to plant within my heart and spirit a theme for our church for 2014. More to come.
I would ask that you consider bringing a friend this Sunday. We encourage you to invite and bring a non-churched friend!
Our desire is to see people connect with Jesus Christ!
Going back to the thought of God being "Jehovah Jireh".
Did you know that as you pray in the name of Jesus, knowing that God is your provider, that God is capable of meeting your every need?
Ignatius Loyola was the youngest of eleven children. He grew up in Spain centuries ago. At 43 years of age (at that time considered to be old), Loyola took an enormous step of faith that involved the surrender of all his wealth and worldly claims.
Having moved to Paris, Ignatius gathered six disciples around him to establish a new order called "the Company of Jesus," or Jesuits.
Incredibly, just 22 years later at Loyola's death in 1556, those half-dozen disciples had grown to 1000, many of whom - like Francis Xavier who visited 52 nations in just 10 years - had gone to the ends of the earth as foreign missionaries.
But most significant is the fact that Ignatius Loyola trusted God completely.
As he neared life's end, Loyola prayed with passion:
Take, Lord, all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my whole being.
You have given me all that I have,
all that I am,
and I surrender all to Your divine will,
that You dispose of me.
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
with this I am rich enough,
and I have no more to ask."
May that be your prayer today as it is mine.
Beautiful fall days - you have to love them.
I really like taking walks with Debbie in the evening - as the sun sets.
Congratulations to all my Chicago Bears friends (fans). You are now 3-0. Just remember: You started out last season 7-1. :) :)
God is an "on time" God - as in the case (as we saw yesterday) of arriving on the scene just as Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.
I would suggest that Abraham was the happiest guy on the planet after God stopped him.
And then God provides a ram to take the place of Isaac!
Our God is truly Jehovah Jireh - The "God who provides."
Do you have a need today? Trust God to provide.
Yesterday was such a great day of worship - next Sunday can't come soon enough!
It was wonderful to see the men and women of God on their faces or knees before Him yesterday after each service. Truly, as we commit ourselves to Him, He will do incredible things!
Many, many thanks to all of our volunteers at Stone Church.
Your faithfulness is a continual encouragement to all of us on the pastoral staff!
We love you and appreciate you!
So much anger in the world (Shooting at Cornell Park over the weekend). My prayer is that we can represent God's peace to the world.
God is beginning to plant within my heart and spirit a theme for our church for 2014. More to come.
I would ask that you consider bringing a friend this Sunday. We encourage you to invite and bring a non-churched friend!
Our desire is to see people connect with Jesus Christ!
Going back to the thought of God being "Jehovah Jireh".
Did you know that as you pray in the name of Jesus, knowing that God is your provider, that God is capable of meeting your every need?
Ignatius Loyola was the youngest of eleven children. He grew up in Spain centuries ago. At 43 years of age (at that time considered to be old), Loyola took an enormous step of faith that involved the surrender of all his wealth and worldly claims.
Having moved to Paris, Ignatius gathered six disciples around him to establish a new order called "the Company of Jesus," or Jesuits.
Incredibly, just 22 years later at Loyola's death in 1556, those half-dozen disciples had grown to 1000, many of whom - like Francis Xavier who visited 52 nations in just 10 years - had gone to the ends of the earth as foreign missionaries.
But most significant is the fact that Ignatius Loyola trusted God completely.
As he neared life's end, Loyola prayed with passion:
Take, Lord, all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my whole being.
You have given me all that I have,
all that I am,
and I surrender all to Your divine will,
that You dispose of me.
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
with this I am rich enough,
and I have no more to ask."
May that be your prayer today as it is mine.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Being the church
It is now a reality of our culture: "Church" is now just another part of our busy lives. Sunday is now just another weekday.
Stores and restaurants are open on Sunday.
Kid's sporting events are in full swing on Sunday.
Sunday can be a work day for some.
For others, Sunday is the only day to sleep in or do chores around the house.
Church is no longer a priority in our lives.
Other people don't go to church because there are "just too many hypocrites there." Others still don't go because all the church talks about is money.
Or, "church just makes me feel guilty," and I don't need that in my life. Everyone seems so perfect - all those perfect people just make me feel worse about myself.
Finally, there are those who think that they know what the church should be like and their standards are so high that no church could possibly meet them.
They carry with them a detailed list of what their church is or isn't: The worship music isn't "Spirit led" enough, or it's too loud, too soft, or too whatever.
The sermons are too shallow or too intellectual. The missions program isn't aggressive enough or it's all the church talks about.
They spend too much money on the building or not enough.
When you put all of the above into the recipe and try to come out of the oven with something delicious - it can be challenging.
Let me remind us that the church is not a building - the church is people. And "church" in its truest form is not about what "I am getting," but "What am I giving away."
We talk a lot about meeting people's needs in our church as leadership (and rightly so). We desire to meet people's needs where they are at.
But at the same time, church will never truly be "church" for you and me if we are not reaching out to others and meeting their needs.
We give ourselves to God by giving ourselves to others.
Erwin McManus once said, "The church does not exist for us. We are the church, and we exist for the world."
I guess what I am saying is this: God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, which is the hope of the world.
And once we are "being the church," maybe, just maybe a lot of that stuff I mentioned above won't matter as much.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Stores and restaurants are open on Sunday.
Kid's sporting events are in full swing on Sunday.
Sunday can be a work day for some.
For others, Sunday is the only day to sleep in or do chores around the house.
Church is no longer a priority in our lives.
Other people don't go to church because there are "just too many hypocrites there." Others still don't go because all the church talks about is money.
Or, "church just makes me feel guilty," and I don't need that in my life. Everyone seems so perfect - all those perfect people just make me feel worse about myself.
Finally, there are those who think that they know what the church should be like and their standards are so high that no church could possibly meet them.
They carry with them a detailed list of what their church is or isn't: The worship music isn't "Spirit led" enough, or it's too loud, too soft, or too whatever.
The sermons are too shallow or too intellectual. The missions program isn't aggressive enough or it's all the church talks about.
They spend too much money on the building or not enough.
When you put all of the above into the recipe and try to come out of the oven with something delicious - it can be challenging.
Let me remind us that the church is not a building - the church is people. And "church" in its truest form is not about what "I am getting," but "What am I giving away."
We talk a lot about meeting people's needs in our church as leadership (and rightly so). We desire to meet people's needs where they are at.
But at the same time, church will never truly be "church" for you and me if we are not reaching out to others and meeting their needs.
We give ourselves to God by giving ourselves to others.
Erwin McManus once said, "The church does not exist for us. We are the church, and we exist for the world."
I guess what I am saying is this: God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, which is the hope of the world.
And once we are "being the church," maybe, just maybe a lot of that stuff I mentioned above won't matter as much.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Whose slave are you?
Do you want to be as good of saint as you were a sinner?
Great question.
This evening we will look at Romans 6:15-23. Wonderful passage of challenge.
Paul writes in Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are salves of the one you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Ray Stedman tells about visiting Los Angeles during the days of the Jesus People. He saw a strange-looking character walking the streets wearing a sandwich board.
On the front of it - it said, "I'm a slave for Christ." He walked around back. The question on the back of the sandwich board was, "whose slave are you?" That's exactly what Paul is asking here - and the question I ask you today:
"Whose slave are you?"
To sin? Or to the savior?
Paul's target audience was the church at Rome which would connect immediately to what Paul was talking about.
One-third of the people in Rome were slaves during the first century. In fact, there were so many slaves that a law to make slaves wear a certain type of clothing was abandoned because it would reveal their numerical strength.
It is estimated that one-half of the church in Rome were slaves.
Now then, there were two forms of slavery in ancient Rome:
1. Someone who was captured by the enemy would have all of their worldly possessions destroyed that would tempt them to go home and then they were transported to Rome for sale on the auction block.
2. The older, more common type of slavery was "voluntary indenture." Impoverished people could offer themselves as slaves to someone in order to have food to eat and a place to live. In other words, people willingly accepted slavery in order to meet their basic needs.
Free men would become slaves out of financial need.
Perhaps Paul is referring to this second type of slavery and is asking, "Why would you choose a master whose dedicated purpose is to keep you enslaved and ultimately kill you?"
Whose slave are you?
It is a choice for all of us. Daily. Moment my moment.
Am I going to commit myself to Christ? Or am I going to serve sin?
Great question.
This evening we will look at Romans 6:15-23. Wonderful passage of challenge.
Paul writes in Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are salves of the one you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Ray Stedman tells about visiting Los Angeles during the days of the Jesus People. He saw a strange-looking character walking the streets wearing a sandwich board.
On the front of it - it said, "I'm a slave for Christ." He walked around back. The question on the back of the sandwich board was, "whose slave are you?" That's exactly what Paul is asking here - and the question I ask you today:
"Whose slave are you?"
To sin? Or to the savior?
Paul's target audience was the church at Rome which would connect immediately to what Paul was talking about.
One-third of the people in Rome were slaves during the first century. In fact, there were so many slaves that a law to make slaves wear a certain type of clothing was abandoned because it would reveal their numerical strength.
It is estimated that one-half of the church in Rome were slaves.
Now then, there were two forms of slavery in ancient Rome:
1. Someone who was captured by the enemy would have all of their worldly possessions destroyed that would tempt them to go home and then they were transported to Rome for sale on the auction block.
2. The older, more common type of slavery was "voluntary indenture." Impoverished people could offer themselves as slaves to someone in order to have food to eat and a place to live. In other words, people willingly accepted slavery in order to meet their basic needs.
Free men would become slaves out of financial need.
Perhaps Paul is referring to this second type of slavery and is asking, "Why would you choose a master whose dedicated purpose is to keep you enslaved and ultimately kill you?"
Whose slave are you?
It is a choice for all of us. Daily. Moment my moment.
Am I going to commit myself to Christ? Or am I going to serve sin?
In the last days of
the Civil War, the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union
army. Abraham Lincoln insisted on visiting the city.
Even though no one knew he
was coming, slaves recognized him immediately and thronged around him. He had
liberated them by the Emancipation Proclamation, and now Lincoln's army had set
them free.
According to Admiral David Porter, an eyewitness, Lincoln spoke to
the throng around him:
"My poor
friends, you are free—free as air. You can cast off the name of slave and
trample upon it …. Liberty is your birthright."
But Lincoln also
warned them not to abuse their freedom. "Let the world see that you merit
[your freedom]," Lincoln said, "Don't let your joy carry you into
excesses. Learn the laws and obey them."
That is very much
like the message Paul gives to those whom he has liberated by his death and resurrection.
Jesus gives us our true birthright—spiritual freedom. But that freedom isn't an
excuse for disobedience; it forms the basis for learning and obeying God's
laws.
Whose slave are you?
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Creating and knowing people would go to hell
I don't know about you - but every so often I think about questions like: If God is so loving and relational, why did he go ahead and create people when he knew they would end up in hell?
Great question.
Perhaps one for your life group.
More and more, people are believing in hell less and less. Even in God's kingdom.
Hell is getting a lot of "bad press."
Bumper sticker: "You say I am going to hell? That's where the party will be happening with all my friends. Bring it on."
Okay.....
The French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre wrote of hell as being "locked forever in a small room with two other people." I guess that depends upon who those two people are. :)
Woody Allen said that, "hell will be the place for people who have personally annoyed me."
Here's the logic:
Hell exists.
God creates people.
God knows who will connect with Him and who won't.
God is a loving God.
Then why would God create someone whom he knew would reject him?
Here's part of the solution. Where you find love - you will find justice.
Love cannot exist without justice. When someone injuries us, we long for justice to be done. We desire, and rightly so, that it be made right.
If people around us really care, those around us want justice on our behalf as well.
Love and justice go together.
To be truly loving, God must also be a God of justice.
It all comes down to freedom. If love is to exist, it must be a love that is freely given and freely received. Love cannot be forced.
And, if freedom is possible, the withholding of love is possible. When that happens, injustice occurs.
When injustice occurs, justice must be handed out. Hell is the means of God's judgment, allowing God's justice to be upheld.
God created you with the capacity to choose or reject Him. That being the case, that's where the cross comes in. Jesus (God himself) died on the cross to remove any automatic connection to receiving the justice of God for your sins.
While God knows who and who will not accept Him, He continues to do everything he can to connect us to him.
God creates, God gives us freedom to choose or reject Him, and based upon that choice we go to Heaven or we go to hell.
What will your choice be today?
I choose heaven - how about you?
Great question.
Perhaps one for your life group.
More and more, people are believing in hell less and less. Even in God's kingdom.
Hell is getting a lot of "bad press."
Bumper sticker: "You say I am going to hell? That's where the party will be happening with all my friends. Bring it on."
Okay.....
The French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre wrote of hell as being "locked forever in a small room with two other people." I guess that depends upon who those two people are. :)
Woody Allen said that, "hell will be the place for people who have personally annoyed me."
Here's the logic:
Hell exists.
God creates people.
God knows who will connect with Him and who won't.
God is a loving God.
Then why would God create someone whom he knew would reject him?
Here's part of the solution. Where you find love - you will find justice.
Love cannot exist without justice. When someone injuries us, we long for justice to be done. We desire, and rightly so, that it be made right.
If people around us really care, those around us want justice on our behalf as well.
Love and justice go together.
To be truly loving, God must also be a God of justice.
It all comes down to freedom. If love is to exist, it must be a love that is freely given and freely received. Love cannot be forced.
And, if freedom is possible, the withholding of love is possible. When that happens, injustice occurs.
When injustice occurs, justice must be handed out. Hell is the means of God's judgment, allowing God's justice to be upheld.
God created you with the capacity to choose or reject Him. That being the case, that's where the cross comes in. Jesus (God himself) died on the cross to remove any automatic connection to receiving the justice of God for your sins.
While God knows who and who will not accept Him, He continues to do everything he can to connect us to him.
God creates, God gives us freedom to choose or reject Him, and based upon that choice we go to Heaven or we go to hell.
What will your choice be today?
I choose heaven - how about you?
Monday, September 16, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend:
Friday evening was wonderful.
Our life group retreat was a "success" in the sense that:
The lessons were meaningful. Helpful. What we can do to facilitate and grow our life groups, spiritually and relationally.
The food was excellent - thanks, everyone, for bringing food!
Many, many thanks to David Dewes, Rick Maldaner and Debbie Smith for your leadership and hard work!
I appreciated David's passion in sharing about life groups.
The theme of the evening? If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat!
Saturday morning's teachings were very helpful as well.
Here's one of the many principles that were presented by our speaker: Ben Deboef.
Take a piece of paper and put on one side "Fill" and on the other side "drain".
Write down what fills your tank. Write down what drains your tank.
Make a conscious effort this week to "fill your tank" so that your tank is not so depleted you can give anything away.
To put it in my terminology: You can't give what you don't have.
What fills your tank?
What depletes your tank?
If your tank is continually being depleted it could lead to anxiety and then to an emotional breakdown and then to a nervous breakdown and (God forbid) the possibility of suicide.
Realize that your time is limited.
Realize that every moment of your life is spend doing something.
Realize that somebody will determine how your time is spent.
Here's the key principle: Relationship is what happens in the margin of your life. Is there enough margin in your life for relationship?
Thankful for Evangelist Jaroy Carpenter's presentation yesterday. Powerful story of how his son was touched by God from birth and now is a healthy baby boy.
My favorite line from his sermon? He was confused as a "termite on a yo-yo."
I love that.
Describes my life most of the time.
I am excited about this fall!
Love you all!
Friday evening was wonderful.
Our life group retreat was a "success" in the sense that:
The lessons were meaningful. Helpful. What we can do to facilitate and grow our life groups, spiritually and relationally.
The food was excellent - thanks, everyone, for bringing food!
Many, many thanks to David Dewes, Rick Maldaner and Debbie Smith for your leadership and hard work!
I appreciated David's passion in sharing about life groups.
The theme of the evening? If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat!
Saturday morning's teachings were very helpful as well.
Here's one of the many principles that were presented by our speaker: Ben Deboef.
Take a piece of paper and put on one side "Fill" and on the other side "drain".
Write down what fills your tank. Write down what drains your tank.
Make a conscious effort this week to "fill your tank" so that your tank is not so depleted you can give anything away.
To put it in my terminology: You can't give what you don't have.
What fills your tank?
What depletes your tank?
If your tank is continually being depleted it could lead to anxiety and then to an emotional breakdown and then to a nervous breakdown and (God forbid) the possibility of suicide.
Realize that your time is limited.
Realize that every moment of your life is spend doing something.
Realize that somebody will determine how your time is spent.
Here's the key principle: Relationship is what happens in the margin of your life. Is there enough margin in your life for relationship?
Thankful for Evangelist Jaroy Carpenter's presentation yesterday. Powerful story of how his son was touched by God from birth and now is a healthy baby boy.
My favorite line from his sermon? He was confused as a "termite on a yo-yo."
I love that.
Describes my life most of the time.
I am excited about this fall!
Love you all!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Turning your pain into something good
Helen Keller once said that "as long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain."
Many times we find ourselves living in the "in-between time" of walking into a crisis and that crisis not being resolved.
It is a season of stress, worry, fear, depression and emotional or even physical pain.
We are waiting for God to alleviate our hurt.
It's in those "in-between" times that we suffer. We hurt. We go so far as to wonder if "God is there" or if "God really cares."
I get that - and have felt the same way at different times in my life.
One of the ways, I would suggest, to bring a redemptive quality to your suffering and pain is to reach out to those around you who are also hurting.
I have found that when I am walking through a difficult season (that in-between time when God has no yet relieved my suffering) it really does help to help others.
Almost always, when I hurt, God will allow me the privilege of visiting someone in the hospital, or counseling someone who is in pain.
And as I reach out, that it turn helps me deal with my own pain and suffering.
I realize that I am not the only one with a problem.
I realize that God can and does work through me to help others who hurt as well.
So, the challenge is this today. While you are waiting for God to meet your own needs, reach out and minister and send love and help others who are hurting as well.
In that way, purpose is given to what you are going through.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Many times we find ourselves living in the "in-between time" of walking into a crisis and that crisis not being resolved.
It is a season of stress, worry, fear, depression and emotional or even physical pain.
We are waiting for God to alleviate our hurt.
It's in those "in-between" times that we suffer. We hurt. We go so far as to wonder if "God is there" or if "God really cares."
I get that - and have felt the same way at different times in my life.
One of the ways, I would suggest, to bring a redemptive quality to your suffering and pain is to reach out to those around you who are also hurting.
I have found that when I am walking through a difficult season (that in-between time when God has no yet relieved my suffering) it really does help to help others.
Almost always, when I hurt, God will allow me the privilege of visiting someone in the hospital, or counseling someone who is in pain.
And as I reach out, that it turn helps me deal with my own pain and suffering.
I realize that I am not the only one with a problem.
I realize that God can and does work through me to help others who hurt as well.
So, the challenge is this today. While you are waiting for God to meet your own needs, reach out and minister and send love and help others who are hurting as well.
In that way, purpose is given to what you are going through.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
What is the purpose of grace?
(Before I begin, I would encourage you to read the illustration at the end of the blog today).
This evening we have the privilege of looking at Romans 6:8-16.
Theme: The purpose of grace.
There is one thing I know: all theology must become biography.
We must apply theology to our lives in a practical way.
Christian living is always dependent upon Christian learning because duty follows doctrine.
We believe in faith - but we must also behave in faith.
Christ died for me - and that should effect how I live each day for Him.
Romans 6:10 tells us that Jesus "died to sin once for all." For you and for me.
That is the "what," of grace.
Paul then goes on to give us the "how."
"In the same way," he writes in Romans 6:11.
"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
That's a command (the first command given in the book of Romans). It is a command that is to be acted out daily in our lives.
We are dead to sin. We are alive to God.
In other words, when you are faced with a temptation, respond to it as a dead man would.
You know as well as I do that a dead man in a casket is not tempted by a piece of hot apple pie with ice cream on it! Why? Because he is dead!
When you are tempted, you can pray something like this: "I count myself crucified with Christ and therefore I am dead to this sin and alive to God. I consult my account and know that what Jesus has accomplished has been credited (counted to me) to me. I appropriate it and apply it to this situation."
In other words, we must talk theology to ourselves.
Paul goes on to say, "Therefore (because of your position in Christ) do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (verse 12)
How do we "not" let sin reign in our bodies? By refusing sin.
Here's the principle: don't excuse sin - refuse it.
Finally, yield your life to God.
"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments (the word "instruments" means "weapons.") of righteousness.
So the question of the day is this: What part of your body have you yielded to God?
Your mind? (Colossians 3:2,3)
Your heart? (Jeremiah 17:9)
Your eyes? (Job 31:1)
Your ears? (Proverbs 18:8)
Your mouth? (Proverbs 13:3)
Your hands? (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Your feet? (Psalms 37:31)
Your intimate parts? (1 Corinthians 6:12-18)
It all comes down to a choice.
In his book Hidden in Plain Sight, author and pastor Mark Buchanan writes about a woman named Regine.
Originally from Rwanda, Regine came to Christ while reading her sister's Bible during the genocide that ravaged her country. When she fled to Canada for refuge, she met her husband, Gordon.
They decided to return to Rwanda to show the love of Christ to the people who had once been her enemies.
Regine told Mark Buchanan this story of agape love:
What do you need to surrender to God today?
So - what is the purpose of grace? To propel us, prompt us to live a holy, righteous life.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
This evening we have the privilege of looking at Romans 6:8-16.
Theme: The purpose of grace.
There is one thing I know: all theology must become biography.
We must apply theology to our lives in a practical way.
Christian living is always dependent upon Christian learning because duty follows doctrine.
We believe in faith - but we must also behave in faith.
Christ died for me - and that should effect how I live each day for Him.
Romans 6:10 tells us that Jesus "died to sin once for all." For you and for me.
That is the "what," of grace.
Paul then goes on to give us the "how."
"In the same way," he writes in Romans 6:11.
"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
That's a command (the first command given in the book of Romans). It is a command that is to be acted out daily in our lives.
We are dead to sin. We are alive to God.
In other words, when you are faced with a temptation, respond to it as a dead man would.
You know as well as I do that a dead man in a casket is not tempted by a piece of hot apple pie with ice cream on it! Why? Because he is dead!
When you are tempted, you can pray something like this: "I count myself crucified with Christ and therefore I am dead to this sin and alive to God. I consult my account and know that what Jesus has accomplished has been credited (counted to me) to me. I appropriate it and apply it to this situation."
In other words, we must talk theology to ourselves.
Paul goes on to say, "Therefore (because of your position in Christ) do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (verse 12)
How do we "not" let sin reign in our bodies? By refusing sin.
Here's the principle: don't excuse sin - refuse it.
Finally, yield your life to God.
"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments (the word "instruments" means "weapons.") of righteousness.
So the question of the day is this: What part of your body have you yielded to God?
Your mind? (Colossians 3:2,3)
Your heart? (Jeremiah 17:9)
Your eyes? (Job 31:1)
Your ears? (Proverbs 18:8)
Your mouth? (Proverbs 13:3)
Your hands? (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Your feet? (Psalms 37:31)
Your intimate parts? (1 Corinthians 6:12-18)
It all comes down to a choice.
In his book Hidden in Plain Sight, author and pastor Mark Buchanan writes about a woman named Regine.
Originally from Rwanda, Regine came to Christ while reading her sister's Bible during the genocide that ravaged her country. When she fled to Canada for refuge, she met her husband, Gordon.
They decided to return to Rwanda to show the love of Christ to the people who had once been her enemies.
Regine told Mark Buchanan this story of agape love:
A woman's only son was killed. She was consumed with grief and hate and bitterness. "God," she prayed, "reveal my son's killer."
One night she dreamed she was going to heaven. But there was a complication: in order to get to heaven she had to pass through a certain house. She had to walk down the street, enter the house through the front door, go through its rooms, up the stairs, and exit through the back door.
She asked God whose house this was.
"It's the house," he told her, "of your son's killer."
The road to heaven passed through the house of her enemy.
Two nights later, there was a knock at her door. She opened it, and there stood a young man. He was about her son's age.
"Yes?"
He hesitated. Then he said, "I am the one who killed your son. Since that day, I have had no life. No peace. So here I am. I am placing my life in your hands. Kill me. I am dead already. Throw me in jail. I am in prison already. Torture me. I am in torment already. Do with me as you wish."
The woman had prayed for this day. Now it had arrived, and she didn't know what to do. She found, to her own surprise, that she did not want to kill him. Or throw him in jail. Or torture him. In that moment of reckoning, she found she only wanted one thing: a son.
"I ask this of you. Come into my home and live with me. Eat the food I would have prepared for my son. Wear the clothes I would have made for my son. Become the son I lost."
And so he did.
Agape lovers do what God himself has done, making sons and daughters out of bitter enemies, feeding and clothing them, blazing a trail to heaven straight through their houses.The only way she was able to do this was by giving her grudge to God. She yielded the memories in her mind, and offered up her rights for revenge that were hidden in her heart.
What do you need to surrender to God today?
So - what is the purpose of grace? To propel us, prompt us to live a holy, righteous life.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Crying out to God
I was asked yesterday to blog today about part of my message last Sunday on "crying out to God."
Many times we find ourselves in a position or place where things are snowballing in a downward manner. Everything is going wrong. As Captain Ed Murphy said (Murphy's law), "If it can go wrong, it will."
When those times come - it seems like all we can do is to cry out to God.
David says in Psalms 142:2,3, "I bring God all my complaints, I tell Him all my troubles. When I'm ready to give up, He knows what I should do."
The thing I like about God is that he lets us complain until we are out of words.
God does not interrupt us as we pour our hearts out to God.
God is not shocked when you complain, when you say, "God I think my job stinks!"
"My marriage is horrible." "I can't take all this stress"!
God is listening.
"God, I don't like the fact that I am sick all the time!"
The Psalms are full of David's complaints.
David gets mad at his enemies in the Bible and would say things to God like, "Knocked their teeth out, God! Bash their babies against he wall." (Doesn't sound too spiritual to me).
God was letting David get it off of his chest.
There's a spiritual catharsis in that, a spiritual cleansing.
I would suggest to you today that in the midst of that difficult time, you cry out to God.
Peter writes, "Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7).
Peter says to take all of those cares and those burdens and dump them on the Lord.
Cast all your cares on God. "Here, God, I can't handle it."
God says, "I already knew that!"
There is power in crying out to God.
Psalms 116:1 tells us, "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy."
David found out time and time again in his life that when he cried out to God with deep and sincere emotion - God heard him.
One more verse today from Psalms 30:2, "O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Many times we find ourselves in a position or place where things are snowballing in a downward manner. Everything is going wrong. As Captain Ed Murphy said (Murphy's law), "If it can go wrong, it will."
When those times come - it seems like all we can do is to cry out to God.
David says in Psalms 142:2,3, "I bring God all my complaints, I tell Him all my troubles. When I'm ready to give up, He knows what I should do."
The thing I like about God is that he lets us complain until we are out of words.
God does not interrupt us as we pour our hearts out to God.
God is not shocked when you complain, when you say, "God I think my job stinks!"
"My marriage is horrible." "I can't take all this stress"!
God is listening.
"God, I don't like the fact that I am sick all the time!"
The Psalms are full of David's complaints.
David gets mad at his enemies in the Bible and would say things to God like, "Knocked their teeth out, God! Bash their babies against he wall." (Doesn't sound too spiritual to me).
God was letting David get it off of his chest.
There's a spiritual catharsis in that, a spiritual cleansing.
I would suggest to you today that in the midst of that difficult time, you cry out to God.
Peter writes, "Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7).
Peter says to take all of those cares and those burdens and dump them on the Lord.
Cast all your cares on God. "Here, God, I can't handle it."
God says, "I already knew that!"
There is power in crying out to God.
Psalms 116:1 tells us, "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy."
David found out time and time again in his life that when he cried out to God with deep and sincere emotion - God heard him.
One more verse today from Psalms 30:2, "O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Monday, September 09, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend
Summer seems to be hanging on for a few more days.
I like that.
Fall is coming. I like that.
The leaves turning. Sweater weather. Football.
I really enjoy the different seasons. Each season has something great to offer.
The Dallas Cowboys looked good at times last evening. At other times they looked very sloppy.
If it weren't for the 6 New York Giant turnovers, I don't know who would have won.
It was nice to have our coffee connection time back yesterday. There is just something about having a donut and a coffee (to stay awake during the sermon) :) :)
We continue to pray for a moving of God's Spirit.
We cry out to God! Move Holy Spirit!
There is power in crying out to God.
God is not deaf. He doesn't need us to cry out to Him because He is hard of hearing.
We are to cry out to God for our benefit. It shows what we really care about. It shows that we are passionate in praying for that which is on our heart.
We are grateful for all of those who serve in ministry at our church!
You are needed!
Challenging questions: Are we making our children "idols" in our lives? Is putting our children before ourselves (and our relationship with Christ) and our church the biblical pattern?
Just some questions. Great discussion questions for a life group.
We would ask that you pray for the coming weekend. Life group retreat with Pastor Ben DeBoef. Special speaker, Jaroy Carpenter.
You will be ministered to!
Praying with you for a good week in your own personal life.
Love you all......
Summer seems to be hanging on for a few more days.
I like that.
Fall is coming. I like that.
The leaves turning. Sweater weather. Football.
I really enjoy the different seasons. Each season has something great to offer.
The Dallas Cowboys looked good at times last evening. At other times they looked very sloppy.
If it weren't for the 6 New York Giant turnovers, I don't know who would have won.
It was nice to have our coffee connection time back yesterday. There is just something about having a donut and a coffee (to stay awake during the sermon) :) :)
We continue to pray for a moving of God's Spirit.
We cry out to God! Move Holy Spirit!
There is power in crying out to God.
God is not deaf. He doesn't need us to cry out to Him because He is hard of hearing.
We are to cry out to God for our benefit. It shows what we really care about. It shows that we are passionate in praying for that which is on our heart.
We are grateful for all of those who serve in ministry at our church!
You are needed!
Challenging questions: Are we making our children "idols" in our lives? Is putting our children before ourselves (and our relationship with Christ) and our church the biblical pattern?
Just some questions. Great discussion questions for a life group.
We would ask that you pray for the coming weekend. Life group retreat with Pastor Ben DeBoef. Special speaker, Jaroy Carpenter.
You will be ministered to!
Praying with you for a good week in your own personal life.
Love you all......
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Turning your mess into your message
If there is one thing I know - it is that we all live messy lives.
I would suggest that there is not one person who is completely whole.
We are all messy.
We all need something that corrects the negative and many times harmful decisions that we have made in the past.
No one is exempt.
This morning, I am sitting in a missions board meeting for Network211 (you can click on network211.com to read more).
In listening to a video testimony from a woman who came to Christ through this ministry, she commented, "he took my mess and turned it into my message."
I love that.
That's what Jesus does.
He takes my mess (let me personalize it), and turns it into His message.
It is a message of love.
It is a message of hope.
It is a message of forgiveness.
It is a message of second chances.
It is a message that no matter what you have done in the past, Jesus can take your mess - and turn it into your message - a message of a changed life.
Why not let Jesus give you His message today?
Just a thought for a Thursday.
I would suggest that there is not one person who is completely whole.
We are all messy.
We all need something that corrects the negative and many times harmful decisions that we have made in the past.
No one is exempt.
This morning, I am sitting in a missions board meeting for Network211 (you can click on network211.com to read more).
In listening to a video testimony from a woman who came to Christ through this ministry, she commented, "he took my mess and turned it into my message."
I love that.
That's what Jesus does.
He takes my mess (let me personalize it), and turns it into His message.
It is a message of love.
It is a message of hope.
It is a message of forgiveness.
It is a message of second chances.
It is a message that no matter what you have done in the past, Jesus can take your mess - and turn it into your message - a message of a changed life.
Why not let Jesus give you His message today?
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
He must increase, I must decrease
David Brainerd was a missionary to the American Indians from 1743-1747.
He is also remembered for his daily practice of fervent prayer and single minded yearning for holiness.
As Andrew Murray writes, Brainerd's example "rebukes the prayerlessness and luke-warmness of most Christian lives."
In reading his published daily prayer journal, let me share with you one entry from October 14th. He writes with just this raw honesty that I appreciate.
Here are his words:
"Lord's Day, October 14.
Was much confused and perplexed in my thoughts; could not pray; and was almost discouraged, thinking I should never be able to preach any more. Afterwards, God was pleased to give me some relief from these confusion; but still I was afraid, and even troubled before God.
I went to the place of public worship,. lifting up my heart to God for assistance and grace, in my great work: and God was gracious to me, helping me to plead with Him for holiness, and to use the strongest arguments with Him, drawn from the incarnation and sufferings of Christ for this every end, that men might be made holy.
Afterwards, I was much assisted in preaching. I know not that ever God helped me to preach in a more close and distinguishing manner for the trial of men's state. Through the infinite goodness of God, I felt what I spoke; He enabled me to treat on divine truth with uncommon clearness; and yet I was so sensible of my defects in preaching, that I could not be proud of my performance, as at some times; and blessed be the Lord for this mercy!
In the evening I longed to be entirely alone, to bless God for help in a time of extremity; and longed for great degrees of holiness, that I might show my gratitude to God."
One of the many lessons in David Brainerd's words (and I encourage you to read the above journal entry and write down all of the lessons) is that it is at the times when we are the weakest - that is when God can use us the most.
He must increase, I must decrease.
That is my prayer today.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
He is also remembered for his daily practice of fervent prayer and single minded yearning for holiness.
As Andrew Murray writes, Brainerd's example "rebukes the prayerlessness and luke-warmness of most Christian lives."
In reading his published daily prayer journal, let me share with you one entry from October 14th. He writes with just this raw honesty that I appreciate.
Here are his words:
"Lord's Day, October 14.
Was much confused and perplexed in my thoughts; could not pray; and was almost discouraged, thinking I should never be able to preach any more. Afterwards, God was pleased to give me some relief from these confusion; but still I was afraid, and even troubled before God.
I went to the place of public worship,. lifting up my heart to God for assistance and grace, in my great work: and God was gracious to me, helping me to plead with Him for holiness, and to use the strongest arguments with Him, drawn from the incarnation and sufferings of Christ for this every end, that men might be made holy.
Afterwards, I was much assisted in preaching. I know not that ever God helped me to preach in a more close and distinguishing manner for the trial of men's state. Through the infinite goodness of God, I felt what I spoke; He enabled me to treat on divine truth with uncommon clearness; and yet I was so sensible of my defects in preaching, that I could not be proud of my performance, as at some times; and blessed be the Lord for this mercy!
In the evening I longed to be entirely alone, to bless God for help in a time of extremity; and longed for great degrees of holiness, that I might show my gratitude to God."
One of the many lessons in David Brainerd's words (and I encourage you to read the above journal entry and write down all of the lessons) is that it is at the times when we are the weakest - that is when God can use us the most.
He must increase, I must decrease.
That is my prayer today.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend:
Many, many thanks for all of the volunteers who came out to help make our annual church picnic such a success! We were blessed to have great weather.
I enjoyed watching our church family play bags and volleyball.
The food was exceptionally good.
Loved the desserts!
Congrats to all the ladies who won prizes for their pies and/cakes.
Here what I know about Pentecostal people - we do know how to eat - and eat well!
I wonder what kind of potlucks will be in heaven? :)
Thanks to our hard working pastoral staff as well!
Wasn't it wonderful to hear the testimonies of God's grace and forgiveness Sunday morning?
The Teen Challenge presentation was stirring. Heartwarming. It filled all of us with thanksgiving and praise to a powerful God. A God who can change even or especially the most "down and outer" there is.
I loved hearing the "holy roar" of God's people in worship.
Really like the "life group video." Life groups - it makes you want to shout!
I encourage you to sign up for a life group - and/or a "My Journey with Jesus," Bible class.
Only the Holy Spirit can truly change someone's heart.
I can't change anyone on my own. God can.
I am not God. You are not God.
Maybe, just maybe, the principle is that we need to let God change that "person" in our lives.
Professional football starts again this week!
Go Cowboys!
It seems like the players are getting bigger and bigger, stronger and stronger.
Did you know that it is said that knowledge (information) now increases every two days?
Thankful to the Lord for the three people who raised their hands for salvation this Sunday!
To go into Syria or not? Tough call.
Love you all.....
Many, many thanks for all of the volunteers who came out to help make our annual church picnic such a success! We were blessed to have great weather.
I enjoyed watching our church family play bags and volleyball.
The food was exceptionally good.
Loved the desserts!
Congrats to all the ladies who won prizes for their pies and/cakes.
Here what I know about Pentecostal people - we do know how to eat - and eat well!
I wonder what kind of potlucks will be in heaven? :)
Thanks to our hard working pastoral staff as well!
Wasn't it wonderful to hear the testimonies of God's grace and forgiveness Sunday morning?
The Teen Challenge presentation was stirring. Heartwarming. It filled all of us with thanksgiving and praise to a powerful God. A God who can change even or especially the most "down and outer" there is.
I loved hearing the "holy roar" of God's people in worship.
Really like the "life group video." Life groups - it makes you want to shout!
I encourage you to sign up for a life group - and/or a "My Journey with Jesus," Bible class.
Only the Holy Spirit can truly change someone's heart.
I can't change anyone on my own. God can.
I am not God. You are not God.
Maybe, just maybe, the principle is that we need to let God change that "person" in our lives.
Professional football starts again this week!
Go Cowboys!
It seems like the players are getting bigger and bigger, stronger and stronger.
Did you know that it is said that knowledge (information) now increases every two days?
Thankful to the Lord for the three people who raised their hands for salvation this Sunday!
To go into Syria or not? Tough call.
Love you all.....
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Worship is every believer's responsibility
Last night's "Pure Worship" was a the type of worship service where you walk out of it going, "God fell down."
People lifting hands in worship. Praising God. Crying. Weeping before the Lord. Repenting. Experiencing the presence of God.
We believe that it is but a foretaste of what God wants to do.
Incrementally, in our church, we are seeing and experiencing God's presence in a powerful way.
We desire more of His ministering presence, more of His power in our lives!
How will we see this happen?
Praying together is a key. I would encourage you to come to our church-wide prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. (Followed by "Pure Worship")
Living in unity is a key. Psalms 133 tells us that the anointing flows from the unity of believers.
Taking personal responsibility is the last one I would leave you with today.
We live in a day and age where vibrant worshipers are rising everywhere.
Where does that come from? It comes from an understanding of the royal priesthood and a willingness to be focused, involved and discipline during the worship event.
Jack Hayford once said that, "today the Holy Spirit is directing our appointment to priestly worship for the release of Kingdom advancement."
As we (you and I) grow in participating in worship, and focus on Jesus and His glory, we come into agreement.
And...as we do....the Lord is free to move, both among us and on our behalf. And God begins to do great things!
Ask yourself as you leave this Sunday's worship these questions: How did I do? Did I please you Lord? Were you blessed by my worship?
Just a thought for a Thursday.
People lifting hands in worship. Praising God. Crying. Weeping before the Lord. Repenting. Experiencing the presence of God.
We believe that it is but a foretaste of what God wants to do.
Incrementally, in our church, we are seeing and experiencing God's presence in a powerful way.
We desire more of His ministering presence, more of His power in our lives!
How will we see this happen?
Praying together is a key. I would encourage you to come to our church-wide prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. (Followed by "Pure Worship")
Living in unity is a key. Psalms 133 tells us that the anointing flows from the unity of believers.
Taking personal responsibility is the last one I would leave you with today.
We live in a day and age where vibrant worshipers are rising everywhere.
Where does that come from? It comes from an understanding of the royal priesthood and a willingness to be focused, involved and discipline during the worship event.
Jack Hayford once said that, "today the Holy Spirit is directing our appointment to priestly worship for the release of Kingdom advancement."
As we (you and I) grow in participating in worship, and focus on Jesus and His glory, we come into agreement.
And...as we do....the Lord is free to move, both among us and on our behalf. And God begins to do great things!
Ask yourself as you leave this Sunday's worship these questions: How did I do? Did I please you Lord? Were you blessed by my worship?
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Changing and growing in Christ
I am excited about tonight's teaching (from Romans 6:1-7), because it teaches us how to actually change.
We repent, and that's great. But we also need to realize that because of Christ's work we are dead to sin. We no longer have to sin.
Here's how we change: Change happens when we consider ourselves "dead to sin" each and every moment of each and every day - and let that fact and God's power keep us from sin.
Paul writes in Romans 6:1-7, "What shall we say then, are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means. How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not KNOW (what are we supposed to know?) that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too, might walk in newness of life.
For if we've been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would not longer be enslaved to sin."
You've received forgiveness for your sins - and that's great. You will have eternal life. But Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead to simply forgive you. He rose to live his life through you.
Paul writes in Romans 6:8, "Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."
I can overcome sin by Christ living in me.
Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
We live by means of Christ.
We change by means of Christ.
We live in a world that is quickly changing.
Listen to this: From 1960 to 1990 all the information available in the world had doubled. Then that number doubled in five years, and the amount of information in the world continues to grow at a staggering pace.
The CEO of Google recently said that by the end of the year the amount of knowledge will double every two days.
That one statement alone just boggles the mind.
But here is the bad news: Everything is changing but Christians are not changing.
Most statistics indicate that Christians are no different from non-Christians. They are living for the same reasons, they have the same level of happiness, and they struggle with the same things. Yet they are not different.
I read today that 100 people were asked to name something that Christians do instead of changing.
Here are the four most popular answers.
1. Rituals. As Christians we go to church, sing songs, raise our hands, do our little routines, but they really don't impact our life or the way we live during the week.
2. Debate. The survey said that most Christians will debate, not non-Christians, but other Christians who don't believe exactly like they do.
3. Remember. People states that Christians (instead of changing) will remember (with sentimentality) and reminisce about their "glory days" in God. The fact that their walk with God was better in the past than it is now.
But the final thing people said Christians do instead of changing is number four.
4. They live sinful lives.
Again:
Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead simply to forgive you. He rose again for your transformation.
My suggestion to you today?
Let the Holy Spirit change you today by realizing what God has done for you on the cross and at the resurrection - and letting Christ live through you.
Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13).
"Father, live through me this day. I can't live the Christian faith alone. I need your Holy Spirit. I need to remember who gives me the power to walk a walk of holiness. Live through me, Jesus Christ. In your name I pray. Amen."
We repent, and that's great. But we also need to realize that because of Christ's work we are dead to sin. We no longer have to sin.
Here's how we change: Change happens when we consider ourselves "dead to sin" each and every moment of each and every day - and let that fact and God's power keep us from sin.
Paul writes in Romans 6:1-7, "What shall we say then, are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means. How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not KNOW (what are we supposed to know?) that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too, might walk in newness of life.
For if we've been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would not longer be enslaved to sin."
You've received forgiveness for your sins - and that's great. You will have eternal life. But Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead to simply forgive you. He rose to live his life through you.
Paul writes in Romans 6:8, "Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."
I can overcome sin by Christ living in me.
Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
We live by means of Christ.
We change by means of Christ.
We live in a world that is quickly changing.
Listen to this: From 1960 to 1990 all the information available in the world had doubled. Then that number doubled in five years, and the amount of information in the world continues to grow at a staggering pace.
The CEO of Google recently said that by the end of the year the amount of knowledge will double every two days.
That one statement alone just boggles the mind.
But here is the bad news: Everything is changing but Christians are not changing.
Most statistics indicate that Christians are no different from non-Christians. They are living for the same reasons, they have the same level of happiness, and they struggle with the same things. Yet they are not different.
I read today that 100 people were asked to name something that Christians do instead of changing.
Here are the four most popular answers.
1. Rituals. As Christians we go to church, sing songs, raise our hands, do our little routines, but they really don't impact our life or the way we live during the week.
2. Debate. The survey said that most Christians will debate, not non-Christians, but other Christians who don't believe exactly like they do.
3. Remember. People states that Christians (instead of changing) will remember (with sentimentality) and reminisce about their "glory days" in God. The fact that their walk with God was better in the past than it is now.
But the final thing people said Christians do instead of changing is number four.
4. They live sinful lives.
Again:
Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead simply to forgive you. He rose again for your transformation.
My suggestion to you today?
Let the Holy Spirit change you today by realizing what God has done for you on the cross and at the resurrection - and letting Christ live through you.
Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13).
"Father, live through me this day. I can't live the Christian faith alone. I need your Holy Spirit. I need to remember who gives me the power to walk a walk of holiness. Live through me, Jesus Christ. In your name I pray. Amen."
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Crutches and the Christian faith
Every once in a while I come across someone who says that Christianity is only an emotional crutch for needy people.
On an academic level, the roots of that concept finds itself in the teachings and thinking of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, a movement that popularized the theory that unconscious motives control most of our human behavior.
He taught that God is a creation of the human mind, a creation that comes from some kind of human need and desire rather than some kind of objective reality.
Instead of you and I being made in God's image, so the theory goes, God is made in our image.
Yet, let me suggest something to you:
A desire for God and for the meeting of our needs exists precisely because we have been designed and created by God to desire them.
Here's an analogy. A person floating on a raft in the ocean is thirsty beyond human imagination, but he doesn't get a drink of water just because he is thirsty. The very existence of the fact that he is thirsty shows that the way for his desire to have his thirst quenched exists - by drinking fresh water.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists."
What am I saying? Leaning upon God during difficult times does not mean that he is a crutch and does not exist. It is a logical, reasonable response if God himself is real - and He is.
How do I know? I am leaning upon him.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
On an academic level, the roots of that concept finds itself in the teachings and thinking of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, a movement that popularized the theory that unconscious motives control most of our human behavior.
He taught that God is a creation of the human mind, a creation that comes from some kind of human need and desire rather than some kind of objective reality.
Instead of you and I being made in God's image, so the theory goes, God is made in our image.
Yet, let me suggest something to you:
A desire for God and for the meeting of our needs exists precisely because we have been designed and created by God to desire them.
Here's an analogy. A person floating on a raft in the ocean is thirsty beyond human imagination, but he doesn't get a drink of water just because he is thirsty. The very existence of the fact that he is thirsty shows that the way for his desire to have his thirst quenched exists - by drinking fresh water.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists."
What am I saying? Leaning upon God during difficult times does not mean that he is a crutch and does not exist. It is a logical, reasonable response if God himself is real - and He is.
How do I know? I am leaning upon him.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend:
After the second service, Debbie and I (along with our guest speaker, Bob Menzies) had lunch at the Filipino life group.
I can't express in words how much we enjoyed the fellowship and the food.
Our Filipino's brothers and sisters in Christ are so loving and kind and generous and positive. It is truly a joy to be around them. Again, it is like a breath of fresh air to be around positive people.
And their life group is growing!
We all agreed that they would bring Filipino food to the mission's banquet!
One of my God-given goals is that we increase the diversity in our church. God is granting that desire!
May we truly be open to all everyone - no matter what their race, ethnic background, or financial status!
It was wonderful to hear of what God is doing in Southwest China. The way people are coming to Christ! Lord, bring in the spiritual harvest!
Saturday night: A powerful time of worship and praise.
I really appreciated everyone who came out - a Saturday evening and a beautiful evening outside at that.
God is looking for people who hunger and thirst after him!
Bob Menzies gave a wonderful teaching from Luke 10 and Luke 24, taking us then to Acts 2. The main thesis - God gives us his Holy Spirit to empower us to bring people to Christ!
It was a joy for me to watch as God's people took the time to pray for one another during the altar time after the teaching.
Had a very, very profitable meeting with all of the adult Bible teachers on Saturday morning. We are blessed with a very mature group of teachers who enjoy bringing God's Word!
Thanks to Anita for her leadership in this!
Please know that the new title of the adult Bible ministry is: "My Journey With Jesus." Chosen by the teachers themselves, it states the mission of our Sunday morning Bible Classes. To further our journey with Jesus.
A reminder: All church prayer meeting: Wednesday, August 28. 2013, at 6:00 P.M. in the church chapel.
A reminder: One service this Sunday. 10:30 A.M. Church Picnic to follow.
Love you all!
After the second service, Debbie and I (along with our guest speaker, Bob Menzies) had lunch at the Filipino life group.
I can't express in words how much we enjoyed the fellowship and the food.
Our Filipino's brothers and sisters in Christ are so loving and kind and generous and positive. It is truly a joy to be around them. Again, it is like a breath of fresh air to be around positive people.
And their life group is growing!
We all agreed that they would bring Filipino food to the mission's banquet!
One of my God-given goals is that we increase the diversity in our church. God is granting that desire!
May we truly be open to all everyone - no matter what their race, ethnic background, or financial status!
It was wonderful to hear of what God is doing in Southwest China. The way people are coming to Christ! Lord, bring in the spiritual harvest!
Saturday night: A powerful time of worship and praise.
I really appreciated everyone who came out - a Saturday evening and a beautiful evening outside at that.
God is looking for people who hunger and thirst after him!
Bob Menzies gave a wonderful teaching from Luke 10 and Luke 24, taking us then to Acts 2. The main thesis - God gives us his Holy Spirit to empower us to bring people to Christ!
It was a joy for me to watch as God's people took the time to pray for one another during the altar time after the teaching.
Had a very, very profitable meeting with all of the adult Bible teachers on Saturday morning. We are blessed with a very mature group of teachers who enjoy bringing God's Word!
Thanks to Anita for her leadership in this!
Please know that the new title of the adult Bible ministry is: "My Journey With Jesus." Chosen by the teachers themselves, it states the mission of our Sunday morning Bible Classes. To further our journey with Jesus.
A reminder: All church prayer meeting: Wednesday, August 28. 2013, at 6:00 P.M. in the church chapel.
A reminder: One service this Sunday. 10:30 A.M. Church Picnic to follow.
Love you all!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Mirror, Mirror in my hand......
Snow White.
At the beginning of the story of Snow White, a queen wishes for a daughter as "white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as that wood of the window frame."
Soon after, the queen indeed gives birth to a baby girl with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. They name her "Snow White", and not long after, the queen dies.
After a year has passed, the King takes a new wife, who is beautiful but also unutterably wicked and vain.
The new queen possesses a Magic Mirror which she asks every morning: "Magic mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?"
And the story goes on.
In one sense, the Word of God is that mirror.
The Word of God reveals who we really are, not on the outside, but on the inside. Our character. Our spirituality. Who we are in Christ.
Pastor James writes this in James 1:23-25:
"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says I like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."
What is the purpose of a mirror? To evaluate ourselves. We look in a mirror to asses the damage from the night before.
Then we do something about it.
Let me ask you this question: what good is a mirror if we don't do anything about what we see?
A mirror reflects what we're like on the outside. God's Word reflects what we're like on the inside.
Hebrews says, "God's word detects the thoughts, intents, motives and desires of the heart."
So we are to, as James writes, we are to "look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom."
The word "look" there (in the Greek) means to research what you are looking at. To investigate what you are reading.
To not only glance at the mirror (the word of God) but to gaze at the mirror (the Word of God).
Here are some questions that I encourage you to ask as you read God's Word on a daily basis.
Is there a sin toe confess?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there an attitude to change?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there an example to follow?
Is there a prayer to pray?
Is there an error to avoid?
Is there a truth to believe?
Is there something to thank God for?
That's how you look intently at the word of God. It is the mirror to the soul.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
At the beginning of the story of Snow White, a queen wishes for a daughter as "white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as that wood of the window frame."
Soon after, the queen indeed gives birth to a baby girl with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. They name her "Snow White", and not long after, the queen dies.
After a year has passed, the King takes a new wife, who is beautiful but also unutterably wicked and vain.
The new queen possesses a Magic Mirror which she asks every morning: "Magic mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?"
And the story goes on.
In one sense, the Word of God is that mirror.
The Word of God reveals who we really are, not on the outside, but on the inside. Our character. Our spirituality. Who we are in Christ.
Pastor James writes this in James 1:23-25:
"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says I like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."
What is the purpose of a mirror? To evaluate ourselves. We look in a mirror to asses the damage from the night before.
Then we do something about it.
Let me ask you this question: what good is a mirror if we don't do anything about what we see?
A mirror reflects what we're like on the outside. God's Word reflects what we're like on the inside.
Hebrews says, "God's word detects the thoughts, intents, motives and desires of the heart."
So we are to, as James writes, we are to "look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom."
The word "look" there (in the Greek) means to research what you are looking at. To investigate what you are reading.
To not only glance at the mirror (the word of God) but to gaze at the mirror (the Word of God).
Here are some questions that I encourage you to ask as you read God's Word on a daily basis.
Is there a sin toe confess?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there an attitude to change?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there an example to follow?
Is there a prayer to pray?
Is there an error to avoid?
Is there a truth to believe?
Is there something to thank God for?
That's how you look intently at the word of God. It is the mirror to the soul.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Great grace
Let me share with you a thought that I found today in studying Romans 5:20,21 (our passage for this evening in "Pure Worship").
Paul writes in Romans 5:20, 21 "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The law does not restrain sin (the commands in the Old Testament). The law increases our desire to sin.
When someone sees a sign, "wet paint - do not touch", our first inclination is to walk up to the thing that is painted and touch it to see if it is truly "wet paint."
That's what the law does.
"The law was added," Paul writes, and the word "added" has a negative connotation. In other words when God gave the law, it was "added to be secondary and not primary in our walk with Hi."
The law as given not to make us sinners, but to show us how sinful we are before a holy God.
The law is like a mirror that you hold up to see what you look like.
Paul writes in Romans 7:7, "Indeed, I would not have known what sin was except through the Law."
Yet, here is the supreme thought that I would like to share with you today.
Paul writes in verse 20, "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
When Paul says, "but where sin increased," the word increase uses a prefix that means addition.
When Paul writes, "grace increased all the more," the word increase uses a prefix that means multiplication.
The thought of the day: Where sins are added one by one, grace is multiplied a thousand times over.
Sin abounds and adds up but grace super-abounds and expands exponentially.
Let me share with you this story as I close this blog:
"As a 17-year-old Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, was involved in a car accident. Speeding carelessly down a windy mountain road, Anne smashed into her neighbor, Mrs. Pickering. Anne was too afraid to tell her father about the accident, so for the rest of the day she kept avoiding him. When she finally came home, she tried to tiptoe around her dad, but there he was, standing in the kitchen.
Paul writes in Romans 5:20, 21 "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The law does not restrain sin (the commands in the Old Testament). The law increases our desire to sin.
When someone sees a sign, "wet paint - do not touch", our first inclination is to walk up to the thing that is painted and touch it to see if it is truly "wet paint."
That's what the law does.
"The law was added," Paul writes, and the word "added" has a negative connotation. In other words when God gave the law, it was "added to be secondary and not primary in our walk with Hi."
The law as given not to make us sinners, but to show us how sinful we are before a holy God.
The law is like a mirror that you hold up to see what you look like.
Paul writes in Romans 7:7, "Indeed, I would not have known what sin was except through the Law."
Yet, here is the supreme thought that I would like to share with you today.
Paul writes in verse 20, "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
When Paul says, "but where sin increased," the word increase uses a prefix that means addition.
When Paul writes, "grace increased all the more," the word increase uses a prefix that means multiplication.
The thought of the day: Where sins are added one by one, grace is multiplied a thousand times over.
Sin abounds and adds up but grace super-abounds and expands exponentially.
Let me share with you this story as I close this blog:
"As a 17-year-old Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, was involved in a car accident. Speeding carelessly down a windy mountain road, Anne smashed into her neighbor, Mrs. Pickering. Anne was too afraid to tell her father about the accident, so for the rest of the day she kept avoiding him. When she finally came home, she tried to tiptoe around her dad, but there he was, standing in the kitchen.
Anne tells what happened next:
I paused for what seemed a very long moment frozen in time. Then I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck …. I told him about my wreck—how I'd driven too fast and smashed into the neighbor's car. I told him it wasn't her fault; it was all mine. As I wept on his shoulder, he said four things to me:
- "Anne, I knew all along about your wreck. Mrs. Pickering came straight up the mountain and told me—and I was just waiting for you to come and tell me yourself."
- "I love you."
- "We can fix the car."
- "You are going to be a better driver because of this."
Anne says, "Sooner or later, all of us are involved in some kind of wreck—it may be your own fault or someone else's. When the damage is your fault, there's a good chance you'll be confronted by the flashing blue lights of the morality police. But my father gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to experience the loving, forgiving embrace of my heavenly Father."
I like what Corrie Ten Boom once said, "There is no pit so deep that the love of God is not deeper still."
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
God's choices and my response
Sometimes, as followers of Christ, we can act like rebellious two year olds.
"I don't want to do that!"
"Why do I have to do this"?
"Why can't I do that?"
"No."
I was reading today of an umpire named Babe Pinelli who once
called the great baseball player Babe Ruth out on strikes.
When the crowd booed with sharp disapproval at
the call, the legendary Ruth turned to the umpire with disdain and said,
"There’s 40,000 people here who know that the last pitch was ball, tomato
head."
Suspecting that the umpire would
erupt with anger, the coaches and players braced themselves for Ruth’s
ejection.
However, the cool headed Pinelli replied, "Maybe so, Babe, but
mine is the only opinion that counts."
We need to rely on God’s sovereign choices for us regardless of whether they seem popular or not at the moment.
And maybe, just maybe, when God sometimes says in response to our objections to His will for our lives by saying, "Because I told you so," we need to listen - and obey.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend:
After any given Sunday, I am thankful for what God has done.
However, there are some Sundays that are especially meaningful.
Yesterday was one of those Sundays.
There was a wonderful sense of God's presence.
New people attended.
One woman sent a report of accepting Christ.
It was wonderful to see the people of God praying for one another.
Several couples married 15 years or less signed up for the "young couples" life group.
I am thrilled. I am praising God.
We had a great time at the men's golf outing!
Many thanks to Bob Konrath and Hal Kaufman for putting the outing together!
Lots of prizes handed out.
It was fun to hang out with the guys.
Augie Insalaco can hit the golf ball a ton.
Went to John Schwider's 60th birthday party.
I shared with John, "my only daily comfort is that you will always be older than me." :)
Happy 60th John!
Last evening, Debbie and I attended the Nigerian life group summer barbecue.
It was a beautiful evening, wonderful time of fellowship and great food!
We love the Nigerians who are coming to our church!
I am sensing a real moving of God in our midst!
Praying for all of our young people going to college this week. You will be missed!
Don't forget this Saturday evening, August 24th at 6:00 P.M. Worship. Presentation of the Word. Topic is the Holy Spirit - Dr. Robert Menzies. Child Care provided.
Love you all!
After any given Sunday, I am thankful for what God has done.
However, there are some Sundays that are especially meaningful.
Yesterday was one of those Sundays.
There was a wonderful sense of God's presence.
New people attended.
One woman sent a report of accepting Christ.
It was wonderful to see the people of God praying for one another.
Several couples married 15 years or less signed up for the "young couples" life group.
I am thrilled. I am praising God.
We had a great time at the men's golf outing!
Many thanks to Bob Konrath and Hal Kaufman for putting the outing together!
Lots of prizes handed out.
It was fun to hang out with the guys.
Augie Insalaco can hit the golf ball a ton.
Went to John Schwider's 60th birthday party.
I shared with John, "my only daily comfort is that you will always be older than me." :)
Happy 60th John!
Last evening, Debbie and I attended the Nigerian life group summer barbecue.
It was a beautiful evening, wonderful time of fellowship and great food!
We love the Nigerians who are coming to our church!
I am sensing a real moving of God in our midst!
Praying for all of our young people going to college this week. You will be missed!
Don't forget this Saturday evening, August 24th at 6:00 P.M. Worship. Presentation of the Word. Topic is the Holy Spirit - Dr. Robert Menzies. Child Care provided.
Love you all!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Projecting an image of God
Let me ask you this question:
What kind of God do you worship?
The God of the Bible?
Or the God of your own making?
It can be called "projectionism".
It is projecting upon God a view of His character and His being that are more like us as human beings than we would like to think.
It is where we can only view God from the place of some major influence in our lives. Like a mean Father, or a teacher whom you could never please, or a friend who runs out on you during a time of need, that kind of God is a God who is always there to put us down, pointing at us with a finger of disgust.
Blaise Pascal once wrote, "God made man in his own image and man returned the compliment."
Brennan Manning writes, "The mechanism of projection is a process of unwittingly ascribing to God our own attitudes and feelings as an unconscious defense of our own inadequacy or guilt."
Now, I am not a psychologist nor I am I the son of a psychologist, but I do know this: As children, our view of God can be strongly influenced by the way we have been parented.
From his or her parents, a child learns of a God who strongly disproves of disobedience - for example - hitting a sibling or telling lies.
Then the child goes to school and finds that his teachers share those same concerns, furthering their project upon God of these attitudes.
And finally, when the child goes to church, he finds out that God is obsessed with what he can't do - rather than in what he can do (in most churches).
James Burtchaell writes, "After he (they) emerges from his youth altogether he discovers - sometimes with resentment - that God has been used as a sanction for all those who were responsible for his discipline. When he used to cavort a bit mischievously at home, his mother might reach the end of her patience and persuasiveness and threaten, "When your daddy comes home, he'll take care of you." But if Mommy and Daddy are both at their wits' end, there is always the eternal spanking to which they can do allude. God is thus unwittingly associated with fear."
So what is the result of this type of God? Self-hatred. Unhealthy guilt. Perfectionism upon ourselves and others in the church. Legalism. Bondage. A lack of joy.
My God is a God of forgiveness and love and restoration. My God is a God who is always there, ready to put his arms around me and encourage me on.
While he is a holy God (I put that in there as almost a disclaimer for those of us who are rightly concerned about holiness), at the end of the day, God is far more loving and forgiving than we give him credit for.
God is more than ready and willing to forgive you than you are to forgive yourself.
So don't project your view of God from your mom or your Uncle Billy who were mean, or a dad whom you could never please.
Let God be God - and let Him have control of your life.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
What kind of God do you worship?
The God of the Bible?
Or the God of your own making?
It can be called "projectionism".
It is projecting upon God a view of His character and His being that are more like us as human beings than we would like to think.
It is where we can only view God from the place of some major influence in our lives. Like a mean Father, or a teacher whom you could never please, or a friend who runs out on you during a time of need, that kind of God is a God who is always there to put us down, pointing at us with a finger of disgust.
Blaise Pascal once wrote, "God made man in his own image and man returned the compliment."
Brennan Manning writes, "The mechanism of projection is a process of unwittingly ascribing to God our own attitudes and feelings as an unconscious defense of our own inadequacy or guilt."
Now, I am not a psychologist nor I am I the son of a psychologist, but I do know this: As children, our view of God can be strongly influenced by the way we have been parented.
From his or her parents, a child learns of a God who strongly disproves of disobedience - for example - hitting a sibling or telling lies.
Then the child goes to school and finds that his teachers share those same concerns, furthering their project upon God of these attitudes.
And finally, when the child goes to church, he finds out that God is obsessed with what he can't do - rather than in what he can do (in most churches).
James Burtchaell writes, "After he (they) emerges from his youth altogether he discovers - sometimes with resentment - that God has been used as a sanction for all those who were responsible for his discipline. When he used to cavort a bit mischievously at home, his mother might reach the end of her patience and persuasiveness and threaten, "When your daddy comes home, he'll take care of you." But if Mommy and Daddy are both at their wits' end, there is always the eternal spanking to which they can do allude. God is thus unwittingly associated with fear."
So what is the result of this type of God? Self-hatred. Unhealthy guilt. Perfectionism upon ourselves and others in the church. Legalism. Bondage. A lack of joy.
My God is a God of forgiveness and love and restoration. My God is a God who is always there, ready to put his arms around me and encourage me on.
While he is a holy God (I put that in there as almost a disclaimer for those of us who are rightly concerned about holiness), at the end of the day, God is far more loving and forgiving than we give him credit for.
God is more than ready and willing to forgive you than you are to forgive yourself.
So don't project your view of God from your mom or your Uncle Billy who were mean, or a dad whom you could never please.
Let God be God - and let Him have control of your life.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
The power of spontaneous unity
I have always found it very, very interesting to note that on the night that Jesus was arrested, he prayed in John 17:20-23:
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that they world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that your gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Incredible things happened as we come together in complete, total and even (or especially) spontaneous unity.
Reaching out to those in need.
Stopping to pray with someone.
Inviting a guest (to our church) out to lunch on a Sunday afternoon.
Giving someone else the benefit of the doubt.
Forgiving others.
Letting someone else have their own way.
Here's what I know: everyone has a unique instrument in the body of Christ, and a unique sound, but together, playing together, working together, ministering together, loving one another, it makes a beautiful Rhapsody.
An example of this is the video of a little girl, who stops to give money to a street performer and unwittingly begins an outdoor concert that brings joy to the life of others (the song is the hymn, "Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee."
I encourage you to click on this video:
http://god-bless-you.org/stunning-flash-mob-concert/#IOscqOBHcVAUFfAu.01
May God help us to walk in unity!
Love you all.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that they world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that your gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Incredible things happened as we come together in complete, total and even (or especially) spontaneous unity.
Reaching out to those in need.
Stopping to pray with someone.
Inviting a guest (to our church) out to lunch on a Sunday afternoon.
Giving someone else the benefit of the doubt.
Forgiving others.
Letting someone else have their own way.
Here's what I know: everyone has a unique instrument in the body of Christ, and a unique sound, but together, playing together, working together, ministering together, loving one another, it makes a beautiful Rhapsody.
An example of this is the video of a little girl, who stops to give money to a street performer and unwittingly begins an outdoor concert that brings joy to the life of others (the song is the hymn, "Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee."
I encourage you to click on this video:
http://god-bless-you.org/stunning-flash-mob-concert/#IOscqOBHcVAUFfAu.01
May God help us to walk in unity!
Love you all.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Is the Antichrist alive today?
We are living in the end times.
The next great prophetic event will be the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ.
I believe that the rapture is going to take place sooner rather than later in our lives.
In fact, I believe that Jesus will come within my lifetime. As my father believes this and his father before him believed it.
We are to constantly be on the watch for the return of Christ.
The rapture will be followed by a seven year period of tribulation - in which the last half will consist of the Antichrist ruling the world politically, economically and religiously.
The entire world will give him allegiance or suffer persecution and death.
Do I believe that THE Antichrist is alive today?
Well, no one knows for sure. In fact, ultimately, the Antichrist will not be revealed until after you and I as followers of Christ are ruptured to be with the Lord.
However, the domino's are all falling in a row for that one world leader to step up.
At no time have we seen the world advance in a global way as we have the last twenty five years.
We've seen the end of the cold war in 1989.
The rise of the Islamic faith.
The speed of travel from one continent to another.
Incredible advances in communications (world news programs, computers, the Internet and satellites bring instant communication).
Modern weapons of mass destruction.
Modern surveillance technology (we've seen that from our own government - the NSA - the past couple of months).
The interlocking of world markets, currencies, stock markets and economies.
Terrorism and the rise of rogue states.
Global problems such as starvation, pollution and climatic instability (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis).
We are truly living in a global world that is shrinking before our eyes - a world that is ripe for a one world leader to step in.
The Antichrist will be an "in place of" Christ. He will be the counterfeit Christ, the substitute Christ, the mock Christ, the pseudo Christ - in short - an imitation Christ.
We don't know for certain who He is - but we can say for certain that the Spirit of the Antichrist is alive and well today!
A spirit of wickedness, evil, greed, manipulation and control.
So, follow my reasoning:
I believe the next great event in prophecy will be the rapture of the church.
I believe that the rapture will take place within my lifetime on this planet.
If that is so, then the Antichrist is alive today, being prepared by the enemy to step up and take control.
At the same time, we don't need to worry about that!
As Christians, we aren't looking for the Antichrist, we are looking for Jesus Christ!
Marantha, even so, come Lord Jesus!
The next great prophetic event will be the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ.
I believe that the rapture is going to take place sooner rather than later in our lives.
In fact, I believe that Jesus will come within my lifetime. As my father believes this and his father before him believed it.
We are to constantly be on the watch for the return of Christ.
The rapture will be followed by a seven year period of tribulation - in which the last half will consist of the Antichrist ruling the world politically, economically and religiously.
The entire world will give him allegiance or suffer persecution and death.
Do I believe that THE Antichrist is alive today?
Well, no one knows for sure. In fact, ultimately, the Antichrist will not be revealed until after you and I as followers of Christ are ruptured to be with the Lord.
However, the domino's are all falling in a row for that one world leader to step up.
At no time have we seen the world advance in a global way as we have the last twenty five years.
We've seen the end of the cold war in 1989.
The rise of the Islamic faith.
The speed of travel from one continent to another.
Incredible advances in communications (world news programs, computers, the Internet and satellites bring instant communication).
Modern weapons of mass destruction.
Modern surveillance technology (we've seen that from our own government - the NSA - the past couple of months).
The interlocking of world markets, currencies, stock markets and economies.
Terrorism and the rise of rogue states.
Global problems such as starvation, pollution and climatic instability (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis).
We are truly living in a global world that is shrinking before our eyes - a world that is ripe for a one world leader to step in.
The Antichrist will be an "in place of" Christ. He will be the counterfeit Christ, the substitute Christ, the mock Christ, the pseudo Christ - in short - an imitation Christ.
We don't know for certain who He is - but we can say for certain that the Spirit of the Antichrist is alive and well today!
A spirit of wickedness, evil, greed, manipulation and control.
So, follow my reasoning:
I believe the next great event in prophecy will be the rapture of the church.
I believe that the rapture will take place within my lifetime on this planet.
If that is so, then the Antichrist is alive today, being prepared by the enemy to step up and take control.
At the same time, we don't need to worry about that!
As Christians, we aren't looking for the Antichrist, we are looking for Jesus Christ!
Marantha, even so, come Lord Jesus!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend:
I don't know about you - but I am excited about Jesus.
I am thrilled about what is happening in our church.
I am "so looking forward" to the fall, beginning in September.
God is up to something great!
One of the events I want to share with you is that we are rebooting "Pure Worship" on Wednesday evenings (beginning August 21st) at 7:00 P.M.
You will enjoy the experience of worship, a devotion and praying for the needs of our church.
But here's what we are also doing: We are beginning a church wide prayer meeting, beginning at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday nights!
I have felt an urging in my spirit lately that we gather together as a people of God to pray.
We encourage you to come at the timing of your choosing for the prayer time - and then join us for "Pure Worship"!
Once again - it was great to see newer people in our services yesterday, folks who are returning for the fourth and fifth time!
I would also ask that you pursue the tables set up in the foyer this coming Sunday - announcing life groups, adult bible studies, and other ministries of the church.
Repentance is a message that we all need from time to time.
Gets us back to our moral and spiritual foundations.
We are never to "spiritual" to repent.
Can't wait for football to start in a few weeks!
Debbie and I saw our grandchildren this weekend (and Christie and Andrew - their mom and dad).
Applause to their parents for being such great parents to my granddaughters!
Love you all.......
I don't know about you - but I am excited about Jesus.
I am thrilled about what is happening in our church.
I am "so looking forward" to the fall, beginning in September.
God is up to something great!
One of the events I want to share with you is that we are rebooting "Pure Worship" on Wednesday evenings (beginning August 21st) at 7:00 P.M.
You will enjoy the experience of worship, a devotion and praying for the needs of our church.
But here's what we are also doing: We are beginning a church wide prayer meeting, beginning at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday nights!
I have felt an urging in my spirit lately that we gather together as a people of God to pray.
We encourage you to come at the timing of your choosing for the prayer time - and then join us for "Pure Worship"!
Once again - it was great to see newer people in our services yesterday, folks who are returning for the fourth and fifth time!
I would also ask that you pursue the tables set up in the foyer this coming Sunday - announcing life groups, adult bible studies, and other ministries of the church.
Repentance is a message that we all need from time to time.
Gets us back to our moral and spiritual foundations.
We are never to "spiritual" to repent.
Can't wait for football to start in a few weeks!
Debbie and I saw our grandchildren this weekend (and Christie and Andrew - their mom and dad).
Applause to their parents for being such great parents to my granddaughters!
Love you all.......
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Cancer and church life
"You have cancer," are some of the most horrific words that anyone can say to a person.
Friends have told me that when they hear those words, hundreds of negative thoughts go through their minds.
It is one of the most debilitating diseases of our day.
Cancer is made up of cells that don't want to go with the program.
They aren't connecting with the vision or mission of the body.
They have their own agenda.
Now, this would be just fine - if they would leave your body.
The problem with cancer is that these deviant cells still want to hang out in you. They don't want to go anywhere. They poison everything around them. They want to be independent - and as a result they destroy the good cells in the body - and eventually kill a person if that person is not treated.
Cancer cells still want blood, they still want to eat, and they still want oxygen because they want to grow.
But what makes them even more horrific is that they not only want to grow, they want to spread and metastasize their negativity.
So, in other words, they want to siphon off the body, but the don't want to contribute to it. And if they do contribute, their negativity destroys any positive work that they might do.
Four minus five equals a negative one kind of thing.
And ultimately, unless addressed radically, the whole body is in trouble, because they will kill the body.
In church life, people like this want the sermons, they want the songs, they want the ministry to them, they want events for their children, they want counseling for their problems, but they don't want to be a part of the body's direction and goals.
They just want to hang out in the body. And complain. And criticize. And gossip. And cause division.
My encouragement to you today is to become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Friends have told me that when they hear those words, hundreds of negative thoughts go through their minds.
It is one of the most debilitating diseases of our day.
Cancer is made up of cells that don't want to go with the program.
They aren't connecting with the vision or mission of the body.
They have their own agenda.
Now, this would be just fine - if they would leave your body.
The problem with cancer is that these deviant cells still want to hang out in you. They don't want to go anywhere. They poison everything around them. They want to be independent - and as a result they destroy the good cells in the body - and eventually kill a person if that person is not treated.
Cancer cells still want blood, they still want to eat, and they still want oxygen because they want to grow.
But what makes them even more horrific is that they not only want to grow, they want to spread and metastasize their negativity.
So, in other words, they want to siphon off the body, but the don't want to contribute to it. And if they do contribute, their negativity destroys any positive work that they might do.
Four minus five equals a negative one kind of thing.
And ultimately, unless addressed radically, the whole body is in trouble, because they will kill the body.
In church life, people like this want the sermons, they want the songs, they want the ministry to them, they want events for their children, they want counseling for their problems, but they don't want to be a part of the body's direction and goals.
They just want to hang out in the body. And complain. And criticize. And gossip. And cause division.
My encouragement to you today is to become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Present peace
One of the things that I struggle with is the ability to have presence peace.
Contentment.
It is within my DNA to always keep on pressing on, reaching new goals, obtaining more for the Kingdom of God.
In my walk with Christ, I am in a continual state of learning how to experience God's peace in the present.
To rejoice and be glad for what I have - and what God is now giving me.
Here's what I know - and trust will minister to you today:
In our troubled situations, Jesus breathes calm.
In a raging storm, Jesus said to his guys, "Peace, be still!" (Mark 4:39.
In the worst of storms, Jesus is there to give us emotional peace.
Madame Guyon once said poetically:
To me remains no place nor time;
My country is in every clime;
I can be calm and free from care
On any shore, since God is there.
Today, know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God is there, gives me present peace.
In our troubled situations, Jesus breathes unity.
Paul writes in Romans 5:1, "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
What unity are we talking about? Unity with the Father. Unity with the Holy Spirit. We are "knit as one" with Jesus Christ. In Jesus we "have an anchor" that securely positions us permanently in a safe harbor.
To know that I am united with God himself, gives me present peace.
In our troubled situations, Jesus breathes reconciliation.
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:14, "He Himself is our peace, who has made both one...."
I say this a lot: With Jesus in me and Jesus in you, Jesus isn't going to argue with Jesus. The God of Peace can reconcile us to anyone with whom we have experienced relational challenges.
We vastly underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to bring healing in broken relationships.
To know that God can heal broken relationships, gives me present peace.
May God give you His peace today.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Contentment.
It is within my DNA to always keep on pressing on, reaching new goals, obtaining more for the Kingdom of God.
In my walk with Christ, I am in a continual state of learning how to experience God's peace in the present.
To rejoice and be glad for what I have - and what God is now giving me.
Here's what I know - and trust will minister to you today:
In our troubled situations, Jesus breathes calm.
In a raging storm, Jesus said to his guys, "Peace, be still!" (Mark 4:39.
In the worst of storms, Jesus is there to give us emotional peace.
Madame Guyon once said poetically:
To me remains no place nor time;
My country is in every clime;
I can be calm and free from care
On any shore, since God is there.
Today, know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God is there, gives me present peace.
In our troubled situations, Jesus breathes unity.
Paul writes in Romans 5:1, "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
What unity are we talking about? Unity with the Father. Unity with the Holy Spirit. We are "knit as one" with Jesus Christ. In Jesus we "have an anchor" that securely positions us permanently in a safe harbor.
To know that I am united with God himself, gives me present peace.
In our troubled situations, Jesus breathes reconciliation.
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:14, "He Himself is our peace, who has made both one...."
I say this a lot: With Jesus in me and Jesus in you, Jesus isn't going to argue with Jesus. The God of Peace can reconcile us to anyone with whom we have experienced relational challenges.
We vastly underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to bring healing in broken relationships.
To know that God can heal broken relationships, gives me present peace.
May God give you His peace today.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
Being a winner
Everyone loves a winner.
I know I do.
God wants you to be a winner in Him!
Here's what I desire to share with you today: Becoming a winner in the faith is a process. Accepting Christ is instantaneous. It takes time and discipline to become a mature and powerful believer.
Let me give you some positive principles to becoming a winner:
Focus on God. Center your thoughts on God and His Word. It is one thing to cleanse your mind of negative and evil thoughts, it is another to replace those thoughts with an attitude of the godly. If you are around me for any length of time you will hear me say, "if you take something away, you replace it with something else." Replace negativism with positivism.
Pray. Have conversations with God on a moment by moment basis. Schedule an appointment each day with God as well. Ask, and then thank God for the answers.
Read the Word. Take notes. Don't miss a single day. Feed on the positive promises of God.
Hang around godly people. People who are on fire for God. Be selective about who you are friends with. Friends will either add to or take way from you being a winner. Ask yourself, "will this friendship bring me closer to Jesus?" You are who you hang around.
Have a teachable spirit. Let every moment of your life be a teachable moment, especially when God is trying to speak to you.
Have a winner's mindset. Get your focus off the negative and start thinking about the opportunities that God is giving you. Speak creatively. Positively. Think good things about yourself and others. Stop complaining! When Satan plants the "seed" of a bad thought in your mind, immediately resist it.
Exercise your authority. Say: "Satan, I bind you and resist your ungodly suggestions. I am a child of God walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. I cast your thought back to you. I am a new creation in Jesus!" And then thank God out loud for good thoughts. Godly thoughts.
Do you want to be a winner today?
Take charge of your life and put yourself in the hands of God.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
I know I do.
God wants you to be a winner in Him!
Here's what I desire to share with you today: Becoming a winner in the faith is a process. Accepting Christ is instantaneous. It takes time and discipline to become a mature and powerful believer.
Let me give you some positive principles to becoming a winner:
Focus on God. Center your thoughts on God and His Word. It is one thing to cleanse your mind of negative and evil thoughts, it is another to replace those thoughts with an attitude of the godly. If you are around me for any length of time you will hear me say, "if you take something away, you replace it with something else." Replace negativism with positivism.
Pray. Have conversations with God on a moment by moment basis. Schedule an appointment each day with God as well. Ask, and then thank God for the answers.
Read the Word. Take notes. Don't miss a single day. Feed on the positive promises of God.
Hang around godly people. People who are on fire for God. Be selective about who you are friends with. Friends will either add to or take way from you being a winner. Ask yourself, "will this friendship bring me closer to Jesus?" You are who you hang around.
Have a teachable spirit. Let every moment of your life be a teachable moment, especially when God is trying to speak to you.
Have a winner's mindset. Get your focus off the negative and start thinking about the opportunities that God is giving you. Speak creatively. Positively. Think good things about yourself and others. Stop complaining! When Satan plants the "seed" of a bad thought in your mind, immediately resist it.
Exercise your authority. Say: "Satan, I bind you and resist your ungodly suggestions. I am a child of God walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. I cast your thought back to you. I am a new creation in Jesus!" And then thank God out loud for good thoughts. Godly thoughts.
Do you want to be a winner today?
Take charge of your life and put yourself in the hands of God.
Just a thought for a Tuesday.
Monday, August 05, 2013
Thoughts from the weekend
Thoughts from the weekend:
I don't know about you, but Debbie and I have been enjoying the cool evenings the past few days.
It has been so nice as we have been taking a walk about the same time in the evening.
Beautiful.
One of the many reasons why we love living in Chicago!
Had a great birthday last Friday.
Many, many thanks to all who called, emailed are sent a card of congratulations!
I appreciate your love!
57 years old!
In some ways, I feel like I am just "coming into my own" concerning ministry.
It is one of those things that we say, "If I knew then what I knew now," kind of thing.
I hope you noticed the two T.V. in the foyer yesterday. These have been placed there in order for our church family to listen to and take note of the important announcements of events in our church (BTW, the TV's were donated).
Our philosophy is that we have two primary goals for our Sunday morning worship experience: To emphasize the Word and to emphasize our Worship.
We desire to do everything we can to promote and facilitate the teaching of God's Word and our Worship before an almighty God.
It was interesting yesterday. "Tons" of people gone on vacation - however - we had "lots" of visitors!
People coming and people going on vacation.
It is that time of year.
Great staff meeting today.
I am thankful for a great staff - one of the best I have ever ministered with.
I can sense it - and I pray that you do to - that God is going to do a GREAT THING this fall!
Please put these two events on your personal calendars:
Saturday evening, August 24, 2013, at 6:00 P.M. - Holy Spirit Revival service. Worship and a teaching from Dr. Bob Menzies, the foremost Assemblies of God theologian on the subject of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, September 1, 2013. One service at 10:30 A.M. Church picnic to follow. Teen Challenge will be with us that day in ministry.
Love you all!
I don't know about you, but Debbie and I have been enjoying the cool evenings the past few days.
It has been so nice as we have been taking a walk about the same time in the evening.
Beautiful.
One of the many reasons why we love living in Chicago!
Had a great birthday last Friday.
Many, many thanks to all who called, emailed are sent a card of congratulations!
I appreciate your love!
57 years old!
In some ways, I feel like I am just "coming into my own" concerning ministry.
It is one of those things that we say, "If I knew then what I knew now," kind of thing.
I hope you noticed the two T.V. in the foyer yesterday. These have been placed there in order for our church family to listen to and take note of the important announcements of events in our church (BTW, the TV's were donated).
Our philosophy is that we have two primary goals for our Sunday morning worship experience: To emphasize the Word and to emphasize our Worship.
We desire to do everything we can to promote and facilitate the teaching of God's Word and our Worship before an almighty God.
It was interesting yesterday. "Tons" of people gone on vacation - however - we had "lots" of visitors!
People coming and people going on vacation.
It is that time of year.
Great staff meeting today.
I am thankful for a great staff - one of the best I have ever ministered with.
I can sense it - and I pray that you do to - that God is going to do a GREAT THING this fall!
Please put these two events on your personal calendars:
Saturday evening, August 24, 2013, at 6:00 P.M. - Holy Spirit Revival service. Worship and a teaching from Dr. Bob Menzies, the foremost Assemblies of God theologian on the subject of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, September 1, 2013. One service at 10:30 A.M. Church picnic to follow. Teen Challenge will be with us that day in ministry.
Love you all!
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Power and machinery
The early Church had little machinery, but they had power.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Methods are needed.
Administration is needed.
Vision is needed.
Mission is needed.
Purpose statements are needed.
But nothing can or should replace the fact that we need the power of the Holy Spirit (Some people read and study and know the church constitution more than they study the Bible).
One pastor writes, "A young woman, a member of my church, worked in a large umbrella factory (in Philadelphia), at that time considered the largest umbrella factory in the world.
She said to me one say, in a discouraged manner, "Pastor, I'll have to hunt another job."
"What's the matter?" I asked her, "Have they discharged you?"
"No, they haven't discharged me."
"Well, hasn't your factory enough orders to keep going all the time?"
"No, not that at all. They have more orders than they can fill; but they haven't enough electricity to keep all the machines going at once, and my machine has to lie idle part of the week, and I lose so much time and pay. The trouble with the factory is, they have more machinery than power."
Great stuff.
My dear friends, let's not forget that we need the "gas of the Holy Spirit" to run the "car of the church".
A car without gas won't go anywhere.
Why not reinvest yourself in giving more of your energy to receiving God's power - and let God take care of the rest?
Just a thought for a Thursday.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Methods are needed.
Administration is needed.
Vision is needed.
Mission is needed.
Purpose statements are needed.
But nothing can or should replace the fact that we need the power of the Holy Spirit (Some people read and study and know the church constitution more than they study the Bible).
One pastor writes, "A young woman, a member of my church, worked in a large umbrella factory (in Philadelphia), at that time considered the largest umbrella factory in the world.
She said to me one say, in a discouraged manner, "Pastor, I'll have to hunt another job."
"What's the matter?" I asked her, "Have they discharged you?"
"No, they haven't discharged me."
"Well, hasn't your factory enough orders to keep going all the time?"
"No, not that at all. They have more orders than they can fill; but they haven't enough electricity to keep all the machines going at once, and my machine has to lie idle part of the week, and I lose so much time and pay. The trouble with the factory is, they have more machinery than power."
Great stuff.
My dear friends, let's not forget that we need the "gas of the Holy Spirit" to run the "car of the church".
A car without gas won't go anywhere.
Why not reinvest yourself in giving more of your energy to receiving God's power - and let God take care of the rest?
Just a thought for a Thursday.
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