The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, December 28, 2008 OK, So how many of you have ever owned a business? Maybe even a farm or ranch? Or perhaps you've worked as a manager? Either way, we're talking about dealing with employees. Some are good, and some can be downright hideous! This is the context of Jesus' parable in Matthew 21, called the Parable of the Tenants. He used this parable as a rebuke to the Pharisees of His day, and as a prophecy of the "Time of the Gentiles". Basically, the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews of His day, led to God's acceptance of all people everywhere who come to Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus concludes the parable in verse 43 by saying, "The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits." Paul answers the why in Romans 9:32. "Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone." That 'stumbling stone' was and still is Jesus Christ. In other words, it's all about Jesus. What will you do with God's Son, the Savior of the world? Will you accept Him or reject Him? Or maybe you'll just smile and kinda ignore Him? Not so; He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah! He has been exalted and is now King of kings and Lord of lords, and every knee WILL bow and every tongue WILL confess His Lordship. Don't be just another unruly employee; give in and submit to His Lordship today. Fall upon the ROCK, Jesus Christ, even though He may bruise your pride and ego while saving your very soul. Otherwise the ROCK will fall upon you and crush you beyond repair. (Matt 21:44) Remember, No God - No Peace, but, Know God - Know Peace. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, December 21, 2008 "Sure, Dad, I'll get those Christmas lights up tonight," he says but then never does. Yeah, he sounds like a willing, obedient child, but it's nothing more than some good intentions, and we all know where good intentions lead, right? Perhaps the boy's heart is good, but his actions speak louder than his words. In the end, he DID NOT do the will of his father and should be disciplined. Now, what if it had gone the other way? "C'mon, Dad, you know I'm just too busy to be messin with your silly Christmas lights." But then a wave of sorrow and regret overtakes the lad and he dutifully goes outside and hangs the lights. Although this boy may have had a troubled heart, his eventual obedience is commendable and he did end up DOING the will of his father, right? This is the Parable of the Two Sons, found in Matthew 21. Jesus spoke it to rebuke the Pharisees of His day, but it still has its application for us today. You don't wanna be like the guy from another one of Jesus' parables whose heart's soil was shallow. At first he jumped to receive God's Word and produce fruit. But in the end, he withered and died during the tough times of life. No, we wanna be the ones who have good soil in our heart, and who keep on producing good crops of righteousness for our Father. Even if you've started out a little rough, it's where and how you finish that really matters. Don't despair over past sins and failures. Realize, repent, and return to your Father and be about His Kingdom business. Learning from your mistakes changes them from failures into lessons! According to Ephesians 2, you were saved by God's grace through faith in order to glorify Him with an obedient life full of good works that He had in mind for you when He created you. Take a moment to wrap your mind around that, and have a Merry Christmas while you're at it. God sent His Son for us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, December 14, 2008 In Luke 19, Jesus presents a parable predicting his rejection by the Jews and presenting his desire for obedience. He remarks that, "The citizens hated the prince and sent a delegation after him saying they didn't want him as their king." And that's exactly what the Jews did. Their leaders, the Pharisees, led the people into rebellion against the Messiah and had him crucified at the hands of the Romans. He concludes by calling these people his enemies and demanding their destruction. Pretty serious stuff! In the middle of all this he speaks of servants and selective stewardship. Some produced a tenfold return; some five; and at least one produced nothing, nada, zilch. The King was so mad at him that he took his one Mina, or silver coin, and gave it to the servant that had turned his one into ten. The guy defended himself by claiming he was scared to lose his master's coin. But the king told him he should have at least invested it in the bank for interest. So, as servants of the King, what's our application of this parable? Should we avoid banks and invest in silver? Perhaps, but this parable is all about spiritual stewardship and not financial advice! God is our master and He wants a return on His investment in us. Not only did God bankrupt heaven to purchase your salvation, but He has made a huge investment by depositing His Holy Spirit inside you. Don't even think about squandering such an amazing investment by the God of the universe! Plug in, breathe deep, and teach others to do the same. God is working in us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, December 7, 2008 Holidays speak of a time of celebration. Freedom is certainly something to celebrate. The only true freedom humans have is whom they will serve. God gave you this freedom, and now it's up to you to use it wisely. In John 8 Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin... So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." Would you rather be a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness? Would you rather serve Satan or serve Jesus Christ? It's your decision because God has given you this freedom. According to Jesus, we become truly free by knowing and obeying His Word. Free from the power of sin. Free from the control of the devil. Free from the finality of death. No longer enslaved to the darkness within. But, there is a price you must pay for this freedom. You must become a disciple of Christ. Jesus will save you from sin and death, but you MUST follow Him. There is no other way! Jesus went on to declare, "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death." Eternal life is found in knowing and obeying His Word. If you are a disciple of Christ, then take some time this holiday season to rejoice over your freedom. And while you're at it, remember to stay close to God and His Word. But if this message finds you far from God and close to Hell, don't give up. You still have a choice. Let God set you free from the curse of sin and death. Let God's Son give you eternal life. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer
Have you ever been ripped off real good? You know, like worked all month and never got paid? Makes ya real mad, doesn't it? How about a time when you ripped yourself off? Like ya sold your house too soon or too late and ended up selling it for thousands and thousands less than you could have? That's when life really seem unfair, and you start to grumble and complain. Think about how many people, all across the globe, are currently feeling some of that during this catastrophic time of economic doom and gloom. Reality Check! Life's not always fair, but God sure is. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard found in Matthew 20 explains it. Each man got hired and got paid - no problem. The only problem was the workers themselves. They started to compare each others time cards and pay rate, and that's when all the grumbling began. The boss replied, "Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?" Good question, and one we should all be asking ourselves right now. Isn't God's wonderful salvation enough? What if He never does another good thing for you as long as you live? Isn't eternal life payment beyond what you could ever earn on your own? So what if you work long and hard and suffer and serve; so did Jesus. Who cares if some other guy wastes his whole life and then gets a free ticket to heaven on his dying breath. Rejoice with him just like the angels rejoice with you. It's not like any of us really think we've earned our way into Heaven, now do we? Get your eyes off other people and fall on your face before the God of Heaven and Earth. Serve him daily with an attitude of gratitude. Payday's coming and the bonus is gonna be out of this world! God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, November 16, 2008 What's the difference between being proud and being thankful? Let me ask that another way. How can we be thankful for what we have without despising others for what they lack? Jesus told a story in Luke 18 about a Pharisee and a Publican, or tax collector. The Pharisee is rejected for being proud, but the Publican is accepted for his humility and repentance. At first glance, the Pharisee sounds thankful. "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer..." So far so good, right? So we too, as the children of God should be thankful for who we are and what He's done for us. But here is where this pharisee takes a wrong turn into pride and self-righteousness. He continues his prayer with, "Or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there." Now he is exalting himself, while despising others. The crazy thing is that he probably really did live a more righteous life than the tax collector. But instead of caring for and having compassion on the guy, he just despises him. The Pharisee goes on to list all the good things he has done. The key word in all his prayer was 'I'. I am this; I am that; I did this; I do that - Self exaltation. God's response - He will humble this man! The Publican on the other hand prayed, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" The result is found in verse 14 where Jesus concludes, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." So to answer my initial question, we are to be thankful AND humble. Thankful for what the LORD has done, not us. And humble, as we recognize His goodness and exalt His Holy Name! God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, November 9, 2008 God answers prayer! "I know He's supposed to", you say, "but I haven't really seen any of my prayers answered lately!" Well, don't give up. Jesus told a story in Luke 18 to encourage His disciples to 'always pray and not give up.' It's the story of a desperate widow before an uncaring judge. Her plea is granted not because the judge is good, but due to her unwavering persistence. He finally breaks down and says, "This woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!" Jesus goes on to explain how much more we can expect our perfect Heavenly Father to hear and answer our prayers. The problem may simply be that we often give up way too soon. In Luke 11 Jesus declared, "Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for." God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and said, "You will seek me and find me when you search with all your heart." James warned, "{doubters} should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." Maybe it's time for you to really plead your case with God. Are you seeking Him with ALL your heart? Have you used Scripture to build your faith and erase your doubts? C'mon now and be persistent and don't give up! Remember this parable of the persistent widow. Recall the angel that was dispatched to answer Daniel's prayer the moment he prayed, even though intense spiritual warfare delayed him more than three weeks. How much more will our great God and Father rush to meet us where we are and answer our desperate cries for help! God is with us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, November 2, 2008 Who really wants to be put in their place? Most of us think a little more of ourselves than we ought. Yes, YOU are probably guilty of overrating your skills and abilities and minimizing your weaknesses and failures. Don't worry, you're in good company. Jesus' disciples were always jockeying for position and arguing about who would be the greatest. In Luke 17, Jesus puts them in their place. He tells them that He is God and they are lowly servants. He goes on to say that servants are hired to serve, period. No questions asked, no special treatment, no extra reward - just an expectation to get the job done right! Does that feel like a slap in the face? Well it should, but remember the Proverb that says, "Better a slap from a friend, than a kiss from an enemy." (Prov 27:6) So this slap comes from Jesus, and He is your friend. In fact, Jesus went on to say, "No longer do I call you servants... but I have called you friends." (John 15:15) Just before that He said, "You are my friends if you obey My commands." (v 14) As you walk in humble obedience to The Master, He elevates you from servant to friend. Even better than that, God has promised to adopt us into His family as His children! "God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ." (Eph 1:5) Do you see the progression here? We must live as faithful, humble servants. We must know that He will speak to us like friends. And we must believe that He is adopting us in love as Kids of the Kingdom! God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, October 19, 2008 This rich guy had it all. He was dressed in the best clothes and ate all kinds of tasty fast-food. He was living the 'good life' and didn't have a care in the world. Except maybe with that beggar camped out near the corner of his house. He sure wished he could get him to move. The poor, sick beggar always made him feel uneasy. This parable of Jesus in Luke 16 may not even be a parable at all. You see, it's the only parable where Jesus names a character. The poor, sick beggar was named Lazarus. Lazarus died and went to Heaven where he was comforted. The rich man died and went to Hell where he was tormented. Now it was his turn to beg; he begged for Lazarus to come bring him just a sip of water to help quench the tormenting fires of Hell. But it was not to be. Heaven and Hell are separate and none cross over. The time for mercy and grace is over, and it's time for justice and judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) And this rich guy wasn't ready, but it was too late for him. But what about his five brothers? They need to be warned about this Hell! Can Lazarus go warn them? Wouldn't you listen to a relative who'd come back from the dead to warn you of the reality of Heaven and Hell? Apparently not. Seems like we've all made up our minds one way or another concerning the Bible. If you refuse to put your faith and trust in God's Holy Word, there ain't nothin that's gonna change your destiny. The Good News is, if you're reading this, you haven't died yet, and your judgment is still yet to come. Open up God's Word and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. And what about your unbelieving friends and relatives? WARN THEM while there's still time for grace and mercy. Don't wait for some miraculous sign or wonder; just use the wondrous Word of God, cuz it's alive and active and sharper than a double edged sword! Use it before you lose 'em. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, October 12, 2008 Maybe the sky is falling! At least that's
what Chicken Little thinks. If not the sky, well the US stock market
for sure. In these kinda uncertain times, one must be certain where
he stands. In the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, found in Luke 16,
Jesus concludes with that famous saying, "You cannot serve
both God and Money." How true. And it's in the hot crucible
of times like these that I find myself not really liking what's
coming to the top. I begin to notice my strong attachment to this
world and the distractions it offers. I see my foolish trust in
man and the things of men. Woe is me! But, just like the shrewd
manager from this parable, there's no time like NOW to make a change
for the better. This guy went from being fired to admired by his
boss in one fell swoop! So there IS still hope for the likes of
me. I can start right now by reading the Proverb of the day and
applying its wisdom to my life. In fact in Chapter One it reads,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
Sounds good to me. I want to be a wise and faithful steward for
the Lord. He has given me so much, and now it's time for me to give
back to him. Remember - to whom much is given, much is required.
And most all of you reading this have been given so much. No fear
or condemnation; just change. Become that good and faithful servant
you've always wanted to be. God's Peace to you!
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, October 5, 2008 Many of us know just how it feels to be the 'other brother'. We stayed the course. We remained faithful. We shouldered the burden. While 'they' went off and had their fun in the sun. Won't someone notice? Doesn't anybody care? "Hey God, do You realize all I'm giving up for you? Do you see all that I'm doing here?" That's kinda how the brother of the Prodigal Son felt. In Luke 15, he complains to his dad, "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends." Let me help you notice two things here. First, this boy better deal with his anger before it destroys him. God told Cain that anger wanted to master him but he must subdue it first. In Ephesians, Paul teaches that anger gives the devil a foothold in your life. Notice also that he seems angry here due to the unfairness of the situation. Kinda like the guys who worked all day and got paid the same as those who only worked one hour. (Matt 20) It's just not fair that the father throws a stinkin party for the rebel son after he comes back from wasting his inheritance! The problem with the workers who grumbled and the son who got angry, is that they have no clue just what they are asking for. Do you REALLY want God to treat you fairly? Have you really stayed the course and done everything the Father asked? Do you really think you can stand up under the just judgment of a Holy God? If God was fair I'd go to hell, but since God is merciful I am now an heir of His Kingdom. "Having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7) Even the fact that I identify with the other brother proves my fault. No matter what I may think, I am really the prodigal son. So like the great Apostle Paul I say, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." (1Tim 1:15) God's grace be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, September 28, 2008 Most of us know the story of the Prodigal
Son. He took what was his before he was mature enough to appreciate
it. He wasted it all in an attempt to satisfy his carnal appetite.
He lost everything during hard times, and found out the hard way
that his 'friends' were just using him for his money. And finally
he ended up at the bottom of the barrel, literally, as he lay with
the pigs in the pen and considered eating their slop! What a parable,
and how true it has played out in so many lives. In fact, all of
us have lived this out to one degree or another... But here is my
point. This rich, young fool may have lost all his money, but he
gained some valuable wisdom in the process. In Luke 15:17 Jesus
tells us, "When he came to his senses..." You see, the
rest of the story - His return home, his brokenness and repentance,
his father's forgiveness, and even his amazing restoration to position
and power. All these came as a result of his realization of his
sin. The prodigal son realized his condition, repented of his sin,
and returned back to his father. YES, it's that simple! No matter
how far you've gone; no matter what you've done; no matter how much
you've wasted; God the Father is watching and waiting for your return.
In the meantime He will do whatever it takes to get you to come
to your senses. Remember, we are all children of God, and we have
all wandered away like silly sheep, but even now I hear the voice
of the Father saying, "Come, let us reason together. Though
your sins be red as scarlet, they will be white as snow." (Is
1:18) God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, September 21, 2008 Continuing on with the theme of lost items, I'm sure nobody likes losing money. As I write this, the U.S. Stock Market just endured its worst day since the 9-11 disaster. Billions, or maybe even trillions, of lost value today. Now step back and think about it for a moment. If you lose ten percent of your net worth in just one day, are you likely to be consoling yourself with the ninety percent you retained? Probably not! Investors are frantically searching for a "safe way" to regain their huge losses. So it is for God, but He trades in the currency of souls. Jesus said, "There is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:9) Yeah, I know, sheep wander, coins get lost, and kids go astray; but nobody has to like it, especially God. The message of Jesus Christ was clear, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is near!" (Mark 1:15) It's the same message in the book of Acts. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ." (Acts 2:38) And our message is the same today. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, but is patient toward you, not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance." (2Pet 3:9) "So turn to God, give up your sins, and you will be forgiven!" (Acts 3:19) Jesus taught that Satan tries to steal, kill, and destroy. Don't let him steal you away from God. Don't allow your friends and family to die in their sins. Stand up and fight for those whose souls are about to be destroyed in the eternal lake of fire! Give God and His angels something to rejoice about. I think the party in heaven is just getting started. May God use you this week to find and restore a lost soul. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, September 14, 2008 I'm sure we have all lost something, at one time or another, that was extremely valuable to us. Can you remember the desperation you felt as you frantically searched for what you were sure was lost forever? Now imagine you lost more than a THING. What if you lost a child? And what if this child was lost for all eternity? This is exactly the heart behind Jesus' parable of the Lost Sheep found in Luke 15. It's not that He doesn't love and care for the 99 sheep who are safely in His fold. It is the desperate love of a shepherd for the one sheep who has strayed. It's the never-ending love of the Father for each and every lost child, wandering their way to an eternity of darkness. "God wants none to perish, but for all to come to repentance." (2Pet 3:9) So much so that He sent His Only Son to seek out and save the lost. (Luke 19:10) May we never forget the truth of these words from Colossians chapter one. "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Perhaps this is why the Great Commission of Christ is to, "Make disciples of all nations." (Matt 28:19) So, the next time you see some 'evil sinner', remember the words of Peter. "You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." May God save them all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, September 7, 2008 Did you know the Jesus warned us about
the current home building slump? OK, well, not exactly, but He did
speak a parable about counting the cost of building... In Luke 14
Jesus said, "But don't begin until you count the cost. For
who would begin construction of a building without first calculating
the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?" Good
advice for our current economy! He used this parable to talk about
the cost of being a Disciple of Christ. Jesus went on to say, "So
you cannot become My disciple without giving up everything you own."
Earlier he declared, "Whoever does not bear his own cross and
come after me cannot be my disciple." Strong words from the
Son of God. Words that we cannot afford to ignore. Another time
Jesus concluded a speech on discipleship with, "No one who
puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom
of God." So, do you consider yourself a Disciple of Christ?
If so, then you'd better heed these words. Jesus Christ demands
to be both Savior and Lord of our lives. We must literally be willing
to give up anything and everything for the sake of His Will and
His Way. I know that kind of radical devotion doesn't come easy,
especially to us easy going Americans. We actually think we can
both serve God AND enjoy the pleasures of this world! Well, your
church may let you, but not THIS JESUS. "What does it profit
a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his very soul?"
God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, August 31, 2008 Well, if you know me, then you know that I'm one of those kinda guys that you don't have to call twice to dinner! If you call and invite me to dinner, or even dessert, you can bet that I'll be there. I just love the combination of food, fun, and family fellowship. How much more anticipation is there for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? We're talking about a wedding feast in Heaven!!! According to this parable in Luke 14, not only have we been invited, but Jesus Christ is now sending forth His servants to COMPEL us to come in. He wants a full house for this celebration in Heaven. The crazy thing is, instead of great anticipation, we respond with lame excuses. "I have to manage my property. I have to invest my money. I have family issues to deal with." (Luke 14:18-20) These excuses mirror the warning of the heart that chokes the seed of the Word out because of the cares of this world. Jesus named the weeds - Worries, Riches, and Pleasures. (Luke 8:14) Have you seen any of those popping up in the garden of your heart lately? How can we forget that it is Jesus Himself who comes knocking on the door of our heart, inviting us to His feast? (Rev 3:20) I leave you with the words of the angel speaking to John the Revelator. "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true words of God." (Rev 19:9) Don't make Him call you twice! God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, August 10, 2008 Have you ever gone to a real popular concert, movie, or sporting event? You know, the kind with long lines and short fuses... They open just a few doors -the ones farthest from you- and like a wild herd of cows, people try and cram through the doors 4 wide, even though they're only wide enough for one or two. It's probably general seating, and there's only a limited number of good seats, right? And, HEY, you paid good money for these tickets, so - you push and shove and fight to get through that narrow door!!! Now, picture the same event, with thousands of you crammed in there having a great time when, BANG, the place catches fire. Worst of all, there's only one little emergency exit door to go through. Who's panicked now? More might perish from the stampede than from the fire itself! That's the proper context for Jesus' statement in Luke 13. "STRIVE to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will NOT be able." Excuse me, Sir, did you notice that your house is on fire? Oh, wait, scratch that, it's the whole world that's on fire. Just look around and read the headlines. This fire burns for all eternity, and Jesus is the only door, the only portal to safety. Are you striving to reach Him? Are you fighting to enter through Him? The Greek word for strive comes closer to our English word agonize. How recently have you agonized over your condition, or of those near you? Remember, Jesus finished by warning, "Once the master of the house has risen and shut the door... He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'" I think I see the Father beginning to rise...
The Message of Love and Cheer August 2, 2008
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The Message of Love and Cheer July 9, 2008
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The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, July 6, 2008 Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - The American Dream. This Independence Day, let's all try and break free from man's ideas and try to live out God's ideas! He spoke of love, service, and the pursuit of godliness. Ya see, in our American pursuit of happiness we end up being like the Rich Fool in Luke 12. After he worked hard, got ahead, and had plenty in the bank, he mused, "I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!" The problem was, it was Judgment Day for this guy. Yep, he died and left all his goods to someone else (probably the government...). Now, Jesus used this story to make a point, and here is the point He made. "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." Do you see the balance there? True prosperity consists not in the abundance of things, but rather in the fullness of soul. Don't trade peace for happiness. God might let you have what you want, but what good is it if it costs you your soul? How can you really be happy if you're not at peace with God? What good are all the riches in the world, if you have no deep, lasting relationships? Jesus concluded this parable by saying, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." I don't know about you, but I want God and His Kingdom and His people to capture my heart and become my greatest treasure. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, June 29, 2008 In Luke 11, Jesus used a parable to teach His disciples more about prayer. It directly follows Him teaching them the Lord's Prayer. The story goes kinda like this: Ya hear a quiet, yet discernible, knock on your front door. Nothing unusual, right? Except it's after midnight and you should be sound asleep by now. Before you can turn over and snooze until morning, you hear it again, only this time the knock is loud and persistent. Just as you're thinking of getting up to see whether this is a real emergency or just somebody needing to be smacked, you hear the voice of your buddy from across the street. He yells, "Hey bro, I know it's kinda late, but I need to raid your fridge! My old roommate from college just showed up and I've got nothing to feed him." That's when you recall that your 'buddy' watched you BBQ ribs earlier this evening, and that you commented on the 'tons of leftovers' you would have... You've just gone from way sleepy to way mad in under a minute. You know you can't yell back, "Leave me alone, I'm sleeping," so you just stuff a pillow over your head. No matter, your buddy just keeps on hollering and pounding and reminding you of how good buddies you are. Sooner or later you get up, give him the ribs, head back to bed, and dream about moving to a deserted island. In the morning you realize that, even though you are good friends with this guy, it was his bold persistence that got results. Hmm, so it should be with us and God? Well, this is the story Jesus told about prayer, and He even followed it up with these closing comments. "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." Pretty simple. I think you see the point. God is waiting for us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, June 22, 2008 The Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10, is one of the most well known parables of Jesus. Everyone knows what a Good Samaritan is, right? Yeah, but do we even know why Jesus told this parable in the first place? I think it's kinda important, since He was replying to a question about how to inherit eternal life! "Love God and then love your neighbor," was Jesus reply. He then went on to share the ever-famous Good Samaritan Parable. He did this to clarify just what loving your neighbor should look like. James echoes the words of Jesus in the second chapter of his epistle. "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" Remember, James was most likely the brother of Jesus. Yeah, so this all makes sense now. Jesus and His brother, James, are like a one-two punch concerning true Christian Love. Words are good, but they only go so far. Unless your actions back up your words, then you really don't have much to say. In Jesus' parable, it wasn't the two religious leaders who stopped and helped the guy who'd been beaten and robbed. Instead, an outcast from Samaria had pity on the stranger and stopped to help, even spending his own time and money on the guy. "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1Jn 4:10) God loves us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, June 15, 2008 You are a part of something very special.
As a follower of Christ, you are a part of the
brotherhood of believers. Peter told us to, "Honor all people
and love the brotherhood." As brothers and sisters in Christ,
we are members of God's family. Jesus once said, "Whoever does
the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister."
(Matt 12:50) Isn't that awesome? You're not just some distant relative
or friend or servant, but you are the brother or sister of Jesus
Christ! That's how much he loves you and desires relationship with
you. A key ingredient in being a part of God's family is harmony,
or how we get along. Scripture teaches that our greatest testimony
is how we love and serve one another. Are you at peace with God
and man? How are you doing in your relationships with other believers?
Remember, they will be your family for ALL eternity. Peter once
asked Jesus how many times a day we should forgive someone who sins
against us, and Jesus replied with the Parable of the Unforgiving
Servant. It's found in Matthew 18. Whenever I read that parable,
I am reminded of my overwhelming, eternal debt before God. And how
that debt was paid in full as Jesus nailed it to the cross!
How dare I rely on God's mercy towards me and then turn around and
demand justice from my brother! As a servant of the King, I must
learn to trust in His Justice and leave these matters in His Hands.
I am called to love, forgive, and serve - period.
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, June 8, 2008 Have you ever lost something that was very valuable to you? I thought I saw you the other day, frantically searching for your lost wallet and keys... Better yet, have you ever had the adrenaline rush of seeking out buried treasure? My sons are turning 16 and 18 this month, and we're thinking about having a road-rally scavenger hunt as part of the celebration! Can you just imagine a bunch of teens racing around trying to figure out veiled clues and reach the next clue-stop first? Stay off the streets of Pasco! In Matthew 13, Jesus told a pair of parables about treasure hunting. Many interpret these as illustrations of our joy in finding Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. And I certainly hope and pray that God is your greatest treasure and that you would "sell everything" to follow Him. But methinks this picture may be backwards. In other words, God has been searching for you as He would a buried treasure. We are the field God purchased by selling all He had. Yes, you are the Pearl of Great Price, and the great price was the life of God's Son. God's price for you bankrupted heaven and split the Trinity! What is your response to this kind of passion? Paul wrote, "You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." The Bible concludes with a vision of all of heaven proclaiming God's greatness because He purchased our salvation with His blood. It ends the way we should live. "And the elders fell down and worshiped." God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, June 1, 2008 The other day I ate a potato from my back yard. I really don't know how it got there amidst the lush, thick grass. It was just hiding there, close to the house, doing its thing - growing. So, my son and I found it, washed it, and ate it! I have since learned that my neighborhood used to be a potato farm. Go figure! It reminds me of the famous line from Jurrasic Park, "Life makes a way." Every day, all over the planet, seeds make their way into the earth, germinate, grow, and reproduce after their kind. It's simply amazing. So it was to be with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. He planted the Seeds of Truth into the hearts of just a few people and BANG, life made a way. In Mark 4, Jesus compared His Kingdom to a seed that keeps growing, day and night, and that is exactly what His Church has done. For two thousand years, Christians have lived, died, and reproduced after their kind. In Isaiah God said, "It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." It was the Apostle Peter who explained, "You have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." Yes, God's Word is the seed planted in our souls that takes root and springs forth into life eternal. Let us all rejoice and strive to be good soil. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, May 18, 2008 So just how is God's Kingdom like a mustard seed? Or, then again, how can it be compared to leaven in a batch of bread? In Matthew 13, Jesus made both such comparisons, and we are left to decipher their hidden meanings. He goes on to exaggerate the growth of this mustard seed into a tree large enough for birds to nest in its branches. So it is with the power of just one seed. In it is contained ALL the DNA of the finished product. In another place Jesus said that the seed must fall to the ground and die to reproduce after its kind. He died and was buried in the ground as the firstfruits of God's Kingdom on earth - the church. And oh has it grown! Jesus once also compared leaven to a form of teaching. He told His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, that is their teaching, for it would affect their thinking. In the same way here, it seems that the teaching of the Kingdom will ultimately completely transform one's life. The fact that these parables are sandwiched in between the parable of the wheat and tares and its explanation should not be lost on us. Remember that the amazing growth of God's church from just a seed into a large tree, might allow evil birds (fowl) to sneak in and make camp therein. Just the same, we must take heed to protect the church from the pervasive invasion of false teaching that would spread like leaven or, worse yet, gangrene. Either way you look at it, the spread of the Gospel and the growth of God's church has been amazing. Jesus promised, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Come quickly Lord Jesus...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, May 4, 2008 Better than a "key to the city" is a "key to the kingdom." One of these mysterious and valuable keys offered by Jesus is the Key of Knowledge. In fact, He rebuked the religious leaders of His day for hiding this key! On the flip side, He told His disciples that the key to understanding any of his 30+ parables, was to understand His explanation of the Parable of the Sower. Part of His key to this parable is the connection between each element in the story and its correlation to a spiritual truth. The seed represents the Word of God. The sower is the preacher. The different ground types illustrate the different heart conditions of the hearers - Hard Hearts, Shallow Souls, Distracted Disciples, and Fruitful Followers. Which one are you? Or, better yet, since we all experience each condition of the heart at one time or another - what's the condition of your heart towards God's Word right now? Even then, this parable teaches us that there are varying results among the fruitful. Some produce thirty times the seed sown into their hearts, some sixty, and some one hundred. I don't know about you, but I wanna go for the gold! "Lord, soften my heart, deepen my roots, remove my distractions, and prepare the soil of my heart for optimum results. In my life, Lord, be glorified." God be with us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, April 20, 2008 Is America in a serious financial crisis? Are you in danger of having your home foreclosed? Could you use some debt relief? Well, better than tax breaks or government rebates, is the hope of debt cancellation. Can you even imagine getting a call from your mortgage company and hearing them say, "We've decided to cancel your debt, pay off your loan, and give you your house!" Yeah, too bad that even though these companies' stocks may sell for pennies on the dollar, you still owe more and more dollars on your home... But, before we leave fantasy island, let me ask this question. Who makes out better in this scenario - the modest family home with under $100,000 in debt, or the beach front mansion that has a jumbo mortgage just under $1,000,000? You see what I mean? If I'm gonna dream, then I'll dream big! The bigger the debt forgiven, the better the deal. Jesus taught this truth in The Parable of the Two Debtors in Luke 7. He summarized the story by saying, "He who is forgiven little, loves little." Perhaps our lack of love and devotion to the Savior is due to our minimization of our debt before God. Can you name a price for your soul? Oh, to have my sins forgiven and my eternal debt washed away! Scripture teaches that Jesus canceled your debt by nailing it to the cross. (Col 2:14) Rejoice in your freedom and show God some love. God has saved us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, April 13, 2008 So, how's your spring coming along? This is just a spring-cleaning checkup. Are you being wise with your time? Are you building the Kingdom of God? Or are you foolishly wasting your time on selfish, trivial pursuits? In Matthew 7, Jesus taught that there are two types of builders - wise and foolish. Which kind are you? Speaking of the foolish builder He said, "Whoever hears these words of mine but doesn't obey is like a foolish person who builds his house on the sand." In contrast He said, "Whoever hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock." Where are you trying to build your life? Yeah, you may go to church; you might even read your Bible and pray once in a while. But are you walking in obedience to His Word? Are you being transformed by the renewing of your mind? If not, then you're just fooling around with childish sandcastles, and it's only a matter of time before the tide of troubles washes your dreams away. Don't waste another moment on what Scripture calls 'wood, hay, and stubble.' Invest your life in the eternal things that matter - the 'gold, silver, and precious stones' of life. (1 Cor 3:12-15) It's just like the classic hymn says, "On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand." God be with you always...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, April 6, 2008 What are parables? Are they two male gender of the bovine species? Perhaps, but in literature they are closer to fables than cows. A parable is a short story or illustration used to compare something familiar with something new or different. This was one of Jesus' favorite teaching methods. In fact, He told more than 30 parables during His three year ministry in Israel. Many times He would start with something like, "The kingdom of God is like this", or "God is like this", or "Prayer is like this", to get His point across to His listeners. Then Jesus would go on to compare these eternal truths with something simple and familiar to His listeners. The best I can figure, the very first parable Jesus told is the one about new wine and old wineskins. Jesus said,"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. 'The old is just fine,' they say." (Luke 5:37-39) In context, Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders who were already offended by Him and opposing His teaching and ministry methods. Jesus was reaching out to 'sinners', and this was offending the 'righteous'. He was breaking tradition and doing things in unheard of ways, even using spitballs to heal blindness! Jesus was making it clear that we need to have soft, yielded hearts that are open and flexible to God and His infinitely new and wondrous ways. C'mon, who are we to think we know it all or tell God how He can and cannot move? "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered!" Our God is an Awesome God...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, March 23, 2008 Just what is true religion? Is it a spiritual thing where one is touched by God and is transformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ? Or is it an earthly thing where one reaches out in love and compassion and transforms the world around them? Good news - it is both! Listen to these verses from Isaiah 58. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" This is the spiritual side of the equation. To be of any good to this world, we must be united with Christ and empowered with His Spirit. Man-made religion is powerless, but real power flows through believers who are full of God's Spirit. Later in the same chapter we read, "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" This is the earthly side of the equation. As we are spiritually empowered by God, we will then reach out in love and compassion to the hurting world around us. We will 'love our neighbors, and pray for our enemies'. This kind of balance is what the church needs to have any kind of impact on our world. God is looking for Christians who will cultivate the good seed He has planted in our hearts by both watering it with His Word, and dealing ruthlessly with the weeds of our carnal nature that tirelessly seek to choke out the work of God in our lives. The promise from Isaiah 58 is this, "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." Revival begins when the 'small people' come back to life. All over the world individuals, families, churches, and cities are becoming 'well watered gardens and springs whose waters never fail'. Isaiah concludes by promising that, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame". God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, March 16, 2008 Evangelism is more a lifestyle than
a vocation. Sure, there are evangelists, but we are all involved
in evangelism. Or at least it's God's desire that we all are. The
last instruction Jesus gave His followers before He left Earth was,
"Go and make disciples of all peoples". Now let's stop
and think about that for just a moment. Last words carry extra weight.
When someone knows they are leaving for a long time, or when a loved
one knows they are dying, they tend to leave those behind with final
words of importance. Last commands - Departing instructions. Perhaps
we should review those last words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ... It appears the idea is that as we go - as we journey through
life - we must be focused on replicating our experience in others.
That is called evangelism. The best example of true lifestyle evangelism
can be found in the book of Acts. After the followers of Christ
were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spread out across the known
world and "spoke the Word of God boldly". They stepped
out in faith and shared their testimony wherever they went. They
spoke of what they knew, and they knew Jesus. They also did not
hesitate to put their careers, their finances, and even their lives
on the line for Him. Remember, love God first and foremost, and
then love others like Jesus loved you - by laying down His life.
If you really believe in Heaven and Hell, then what could be more
important than changing someone's eternity? For His Kingdom to be
established, there must be people to inhabit that kingdom. What
good is a kingdom without inhabitants? Jesus told us that the lost
are searching, but He prayed that we would go out and lead them
to life everlasting. God be with us as we go...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, March 9, 2008 Just how is it that you've come to put your faith in Jesus Christ? Look back upon the journey of your soul. Can you see the path to life in Christ? Is it clear how the Son has set you free? Listen to these words from Galatians 5 in The Message paraphrase. "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and so destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows." Thank God Almighty I'm free at last! Or so the song goes... May we never forget this awesome reality. God sent His only Son to secure our eternal freedom! Remembering this helps keep us from disgracing ourselves. Who would stray from so great a salvation? Ah yes, as Scriptures says, "If the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed." Yet it is the Word of God that reveals the Son of God. "Your Word is Truth... You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free." And, lest we forget, it is God's Spirit that teaches us, reminds us, convicts us, and reveals the truth about Christ to us. In fact, it is as the Holy God lives in us by His Holy Spirit that we are truly set free from sin and death. Victory comes as we echo the cry of Paul. "So I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the evil desires of your flesh." God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, March 2, 2008 Do you ever wonder where the God of the Bible is? C'mon now and be honest. Sometimes when I read about all the exciting things Jesus and His disciples accomplished, I wonder why it's not more like that today. Another way of putting it is that my experience continually falls short of my expectations, and it seems that my expectations are based on Scripture. Have you ever felt this way? In John 14 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father". Now don't let your theology get in the way for a moment; take this statement at face value. And this verse is not alone. I could list dozens of verses that declare God's intent to 'light up our lives'... So what gives? Certainly God has not changed, and neither has His desire for us to reach our lost and dying world with His message of love and forgiveness. So the real question should be - Where are the disciples of the Bible? Where are the people who will 'give up everything to follow Jesus'? Where are the people who have 'faith to move mountains'? Where are the people who 'wait upon the Lord' until he empowers them from on high? Jesus once questioned whether He would find faith on the earth when He returned. My challenge to you is that we make sure that He will indeed find faith when He returns. In fact, let's begin with what He called "the faith of a child". Let's set aside our logic and reasoning for a while and just believe, really believe. Let's ask Him to open the eyes of our hearts so we can get a glimpse of the eternal spiritual realm. Let's step out in faith, knowing that God wants to break loose and bring revival to our dead and dying world. Lord, fill us with your Spirit, cleanse us with your Blood, and protect us with your Angels. Empower us to be your Witnesses. Establish your Kingdom here today. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, February 24, 2008 "So I say live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the sinful desires of the flesh." Just what do these words from Galatians 5 really mean? How am I supposed to 'live by the Spirit'? And who really expects me to refrain from the 'desires of the flesh'? Are you already under enough guilt for not living like you know you should? Well don't despair; Romans 8 tells us there's no condemnation in Christ Jesus! That's Good News. 'Living by the Spirit' is all about being God-focused rather than me-focused. Listen to how Romans 8:6-8 sounds in The Message paraphrase: "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God and ends up thinking more about self than God. They ignore who God is and what He is doing. But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of Him." And the promise for those who do this is Power. That's right. God rewards our efforts to focus on Him with the Power of His Holy Spirit. This is what gets us beyond the rules and regulations and into real life - living by His Spirit. As it says in verse 10, "For you who welcome Him, in whom He dwells - even though you still experience all the limitations of sin - you yourself experience life on God's terms." Now that sounds like the kind of life worth living! God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, February 17, 2008 Are you free? What if I told you that
real freedom exists only in the choice of your master??? Paul stated
in Romans 6 that, "You are slaves of the one you obey, either
of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness."
Sounds like another paradox, doesn't it? In that same chapter Paul
says, "Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to
God in Christ Jesus." So then, the surest way to be rid of
sin is death. Somehow we must die to sin, yet still live for Christ.
Again, it's all God at this point. He does it all. Our job is to
yield and obey. We identify with the death of Christ on the Cross
when we admit our sin. We then participate in the resurrection power
of Christ as He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. It's called
Grace and Mercy. The problem is that we tend to abuse this Amazing
Grace. Paul warned the Galatians to, "Not turn your freedom
into an opportunity for the flesh." And back in Romans 6 he
warns, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body." Peter
warned his church in 2 Peter 2 by writing, "For by what a man
is overcome, by this he is enslaved." Remember this, if Jesus
Christ has set us free from sin and death by purchasing us with
His own Blood, how then could we trample such grace under foot as
we slip back into our old ways? Peter says we are like a dog that
returns to its own vomit. YUCK! May it never be so in my life. May
I never forget the words of 1 Cor. 6:11, "You were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord
Jesus Christ." God be with us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, February 10, 2008 Listen to the words of Jesus from John 7:37-39. [On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing in the temple courtyard. He said loudly, "Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. (38) As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'" (39) Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom His believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.] What a powerful declaration from the Son of God about the Spirit of God. Jesus gave a great illustration concerning the effect of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. Look at it this way: If I am filled to overflowing with God's Spirit, His divine nature, then I certainly ought to be very refreshing to all who come in contact with me. He is to flow out of me like a fresh flowing stream! People don't need more of me or my personal sewage; they need the life-giving, cleansing Water of Life! Jesus went on to say, "When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me..." The power He gives us, to show the world we are His disciples, is compared to a stream of fresh, running water. It's the supernatural ability to live a new life - a fresh, clean life. Do you have a River of Life flowing out of you? God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, February 3, 2008 In response to the MLC from a few weeks ago, I was asked this question, "So, after God has filled my empty vessel... why should I get empty again?" Good point! Why is it that we seem to run dry so often? I believe there are two reasons this happens. The first reason we find ourselves empty again is found in 2 Cor 4. Basically we are referred to as "Crackpots" in this chapter, common clay vessels that are flawed and leaky and can't really contain the Glory of God. But that's OK, because when we are weak, then He is strong, and He wants it to be clear that our power is from Him and not from us. The second reason is that I believe it is God's intention to have "Rivers of Living Water" flow out from within us. In other words, we pour ourselves out in service to The Lord, and then He fills us back up again. That way, the living water within us remains fresh and alive as it is always moving - from God to us, then out to those around us. We humans are finite, but our God is infinite, and in His infinite mercy and grace He continues to wash over us and daily fill our empty cups to overflowing. Our part in this process is to continually increase our capacity for Him. Just like the widow in Elisha's day had to go around and collect empty vessels to contain the oil, so we need to increase our emptiness so as to gain more capacity for His fullness. "He must increase and we must decrease”, so said John the Baptist. In other words, when our lives are full of things other than His Spirit, we are limiting His Presence in our lives. Even if these things are 'good things', they are still displacing the 'best thing', which is more of Him. As we yield our lives to Him, The Lord can then continually fill us to overflowing with more of Himself. And as we minister to those God has place around us, then the River begins to flow, down from Him, through us, and out to others. That is what Jesus called 'abundant life' or 'life to its fullest'. I want to be so full of God's love and mercy and grace that it simply leaks out and overflows in torrents of blessing to all with whom I come into contact. May God be with us all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, January 27, 2008 RIP - Rest in Peace. That's a great title for Colossians 3. Listen to some of the Apostle Paul's words from that chapter. "For you have DIED and your life is hidden with Christ... Put to DEATH the evil desires lurking in your body... Put on the new self who is being renewed... Let the PEACE of Christ rule in your hearts." See how it is? We die to our selves and our old sin nature, and then we rest in the peace of God. He clothes us with the righteousness of Christ, discarding our corrupted way of life. It may take a while for many of us to grasp what has actually happened. Some of us go on living as if we were still clothed in our old carnal nature. All of us struggle at times with the need to "put to death" the evil desires that remain in our flesh. But, we must all comprehend the glorious "new nature" Christ has placed in us. And in accordance with that comprehension, we must all strive to be mastered by the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to rest in the peace of Christ, we must learn to let the Word of Christ dwell richly within us. Then, and only then, will we have the strength to "do everything we do in the Name of Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God." God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, January 20, 2008 What is a paradox? NO, it's not a couple of physicians... The American Heritage Dictionary defines paradox as: A seemingly contradictory statement that may be nonetheless true. Well guess what; the Bible is full of paradoxes. Some of the more famous paradoxical lines from Scripture are: He who seeks to save his life will lose it; whoever wants to be greatest must become a servant of all; and the first shall be last and the last shall be first. So much of the Christian Faith seems to be in contrast. Even the Apostle Paul wrote back and forth when trying to explain this 'new life' in Christ. In the third chapter of Philippians he writes the following, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss... I count all things to be loss in view of the value of knowing Christ, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish." You see how he's going back and forth between gain and loss, and worth and rubbish? A few verses down he writes, "That I may know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." And finally he concludes, "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." You see what I mean? So why all the contrasts? I mean, he almost sounds like he's contradicting himself. And that's what a paradox is. Statements that, at first glance, appear false, but upon deeper review ring so true. That's how it is with God. You pursue Him, but He's really pursuing you. You strive to be holy, but he MAKES you holy. He saves your life, but really He is giving you NEW life! Isn't that awesome? Isn't He awesome? God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, January 13, 2008 Before the waitress comes over to fill my coffee cup, I usually drain the cold dregs from the last cup. I like new, fresh, piping hot coffee, and will empty my cup of the old so there is more room for the new, fresh, filling. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they SHALL be FILLED." This promise from Jesus is only to the hungry and the thirsty. In a literal sense, wasn't this fulfilled in the upper room? Isn't that where those who were hungry for God waited and prayed and sought to have their emptiness filled by His Spirit? Is there a pattern here revealing that He responds to our emptiness? As we pour out our lives in service to Him; as we rid ourselves of all the sins and weights that fill us up; as we empty our vessels of the old dregs to make room for His new wine; as we present Him with clean, empty vessels, He fills us with His Divine Nature. Let's face it; sometimes we are just too full of ourselves. We offer The Lord our fullness, when He is wanting to fill us with His Spirit. We try to display all that we have rather than make room for all that He is. We tend to measure our Christianity by all we know and what we do, while Scripture says that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. There is a remarkable story in the Bible of a poor, destitute widow who cries out to the prophet Elisha to save her family from destruction. His reply to her is strange indeed. He tells her to go collect all the empty jars she can and that God will meet her need by filling these empty vessels with oil. What a picture of what church should be today! As we gather together all the empty vessels in our community into one place, and then cry out to God for a fresh filling, He rushes into the place and overflows us with the Oil of His Love. Remember though, according to the widow's story, we can only be filled to the extent of our emptiness we present to The Lord. We must get hungry for Him! We must be thirsty for His Righteousness! We must become desperate for His Presence to come and fill our empty hearts. Then, and only then, will He 'rend the heavens and come down' on our behalf. God be with you all...
The Message of Love and Cheer Sunday, January 6, 2008 "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son who is at the Father's side has revealed Him." (Jn 1:18) Very significant words if you're looking for God. In other words, you probably won't find God, the true God, by staring at your belly button! He is most easily discovered in His Son, Jesus Christ. In the fourteenth chapter of John, Jesus declared, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." And in Hebrews 1:3 we read, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being." Oh, we get glimpses of God elsewhere. The OT Law described God, and although accurate, it was very impersonal. The Prophets of old tried to paint a picture of God, but with their limited tools of speech and writing, they often left us wondering. In the Psalms, David did a fabulous job of sharing the heart of God. But it is in Jesus Christ that God is fully revealed. He is a live, three-dimensional model of God. To really know God, you've got to take time to study the life, words, attitudes, and teachings of His Son, Jesus Christ. Recall the words of John 1:3, "In Him (Christ) was life, and this life became the light for all men." Take time to let the light of His life show you the way to God. Don't let your enemy hide the light of Christ from you anymore. (2Cor 4:4) Come find Life in His Light today. God be with you all...
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