A Shepherd's Story

I knew you wouldn’t believe me and I guess I was prepared for that.  After all, it was the night of nights in my life, but yet, also still so unbelievable.  It is still like something out of a dream, only that I know it happened – for I was there.  As with all the epic stories of history, some people believe them and some people do not – even though there are so many eyewitnesses.  Sadly, it seems that has already happened with this story.  For me though, I will forever be different.  Sometimes, it takes something extraordinary to make our ordinary lives special and help us find purpose. As I said, I am now completely different because I was in the presence of the king.

            Because I cannot help it, I will attempt to tell you once more what happened to me that night, and I simply ask you to listen carefully to all I say, and consider the truth the story tells, for it could change your life as well.  As you know, the Shepherd’s life is pretty ordinary.  Day in and Day out I live among our sheep making sure their needs are met.  At times it can be interesting, then on other days completely uneventful.  I have sensed that our Father trusts me more now.   He sees that my older brothers are now more interested in other things rather than the sheep.  I do think that my brothers have noticed as well as they keep giving me more responsibilities.  Shepherding can really be such a monotonous job and boredom can be a reality.  I am thankful for the Roman Census as it has made people be on the move as we see more and more heading to their hometowns.

            On that particular night I was busy and had not even noticed how bright the night sky was.  I have found that life can really be that way.  We our stuck in the ordinary of our lives and seldom notice the things significance around us.  It was simply another night that looked liked the one before and the one before that.  I think I have missed so much in my life because my life’s perspective was always focused on me.  My world, my time, my family, my job, my desires, and my everything else was all I ever saw – until this night. 

            As I was in this field watching over the flock, someone came and stood right before us.  I cannot explain it, but it happened immediately.  Right in front of me and my brothers was an angel of the Lord.  He had come into the ordinary of our lives with the glory of the Lord.  I had gone from seeing a life only about me, to seeing a glimpse of God’s kingdom. How can I best explain what I saw?  The best words I can use are these: “the glory of the Lord shone around us”.   To be honest, I was really scared.  Before I knew it, the angel spoke to us and told us to not be afraid.  In that moment peace came over my life and I felt secure.  Have you ever had a moment like that?  A place where you were so scared, but the words of someone calmed you in the midst of your fear.  I had always just heard about it, but in that moment I knew it to be true.  Looking back, I now know what calmed me, it was the words of the angel.  The words though were not his, but he spoke the very words of God.  I now know that God’s word has that power.  God’s word is alive and goes to the deepest part of our hearts to awaken something there.  All I know is that something that was dead in me, was now alive. 

            What did he say?  He told us to not be afraid, but to look and see something with the eyes of our heart.  He brought us the news of joy that would be for all people – a king had been born.  This news, that would change the world,  he gave it to us – simple shepherds.  I have thought about this for weeks now, and I still cannot believe it.  God sent his message to us simple, ordinary shepherds in a field.  He did not go to the palaces to announce the coming of this king, but to us in a field.  Why?  Because God treasures the ordinary and simple.  God came to all people and he does not base his kingdom on power, but rather on the truth of us knowing who we are before him and knowing that he alone is God. 

            I was the first to leave and my brothers followed quickly behind me.  We ran as fast as we could to Bethlehem to see this child wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.  Oh, I almost forgot to say this:  Before we left, more and more angels than I could count, came and began praising God with these words: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  Imagine that, peace on earth on whom his favor rests.  Jesus came to bring peace and his favor to all mankind.  As they left, we went immediately to see what we were told with our own eyes. 

            I was so excited that I ran all the way and never got tired.  As I went inside I saw everything the angel said.  It was all true.  There I was, standing in the presence of God, who had come down and entered the world in a body.  He came to those he loved.  He came to us.  What have I been doing since then?  Exactly what I am doing now – telling the story of my experience.  As we left that night, we began telling the story to everyone that God had now come to man.  They also were amazed at our words. Later that night as we went back to the sheep, we found that we went differently as before.  We went glorifying and praising God.

            It has been several weeks since the experience and I have noticed that my brothers do not think as much about the baby or about God, but me, I cannot do anything but reflect on the meaning of his coming.  God had come into the World to be with the ones that he loved.  As I began to think about this, I have realized that truth includes me.

            God came to be with me.  You see, the story has a very personal angle.  God loves me and has a plan for my life.  He wants to be with me and pour his love over me.  That is why I still worship him today.   My God, the baby Jesus, drew near to me to give me all that my heart needs. 

            What will you do with the story that I have told today?  Will you be like some, who say it is not true or will you worship, bow, rejoice, and tell the great story of the birth of Heaven’s King.

 

Response to Newsweek Article

Newsweek has written a spread on the evangelical/christian/catholic view on the same/sex marriage issue. As a believer, I encourage to get the magazine, read it and get a good understanding on where our world sees us in regard to the issue. On a website today, one person wrote a response to the magazine in regard to the issue of tolerance. It is simply written by someone who calls themself "Unfettered Candor". What he/she wrote is below. It is stated well.

The last virtue of a degenerate society is TOLERANCE – you tolerate my immorality and I will tolerate yours.
Christianity is an absolute religion. No other religion can claim that.
Without the absolute authority of God recorded in Scripture, mankind is on their own with their sinful, finite minds. On our own, we will come up with anything and claim it good and right to satisfy our carnal propensities.
Society, with its cunning sophistry concerning “tolerance”, may claim that the tolerance of anything is a virtue. God tells us that anything against His will is vice/evil. Living in vices and promoting it has eternal consequences. God will NOT “tolerate” vice/sin. Unrepentant sinners will be separated from God for an eternity of continual suffering. The good news is that, in His love for us , God has provided a way to forgive us and justify us in His sight……trusting in Jesus Christ as making payment for your sins and for all of mankind. This is the love that should be focused upon!
Just for the sake of unprofitable argument, let’s say that those who reject God’s will and plan for mankind is right and I am wrong. What have I got to lose after I die? Then let’s say I am right and the “rejecters’’ are wrong……they will have EVERYTHING to lose [their soul].
We are all in the same boat. We need God to guide us into His truth about living a peaceful life and where we will spend eternity.

Well said.

Random Funny Solutions

A friend of mine sent this to me today - They made me smile.

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES!
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop.

Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

For high blood pressure sufferers: Simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives; then you'll be afraid to cough.

You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the Duct Tape.

Remember:
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them!

If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

Imagine

Imagine the scene for a moment.  You and your friends have spent 3 years following the leadership of a spiritual man.  During that time, you saw and heard things that made you believe that he was everything he claimed to say about himself.  He was the Messiah, no doubt.  It was all true und you had witnessed it.  You yourself have actually done amazing things like the time he sent you and your friends out to do ministry.  While you were in the cities of Israel, you healed people, preached, raised people from the dead, and even cast out demons.  Your life would be forever different, wouldn’t it?

Imagine that you had just a couple of days before this spiritual leader was arrested, tried, and sentenced to die between two thieves.  You saw him hanging there.  You saw him hang his head and die.  You knew that some of your friends and acquaintances buried him in a tomb just before the Sabbath was to start.  Now it is two days later and some of these same friends have come to you with the news that this man’s tomb was now empty, the body was gone, and some of them even claimed to have seen him and talked with him.  Could it be true?

Imagine you are walking on a road with a friend as you together are going to a village outside of Jerusalem.  You and he cannot talk about anything but the last several days and 3 years.  You would say something then he would say something and the whole time you are absolutely astounded at the events in Jerusalem and how now, the death of this man has changed your life.  In the midst of the conversation, someone joins you on the road and innocently asks, “What are you talking about?”  You and your friend stop and look at him with sad looks and can’t believe this person has not heard of the events of the last days.  The whole city of Jerusalem is abuzz with the news, so how could this person not know.  Do they live in a cave? 

You briefly tell the story to the stranger to catch him up and it is obvious in your words and body language that you are devastated by what has happened.  To your surprise the fellow traveler begins to speak the story of God from Moses to all the prophets.  For about 5 miles or so he clearly speaks of the Messiah and you are moved by the man’s knowledge and understanding of the scripture.  You are so moved that you ask the man to stay with you in Emmaus since the day was late.

Imagine you are in a room and eating bread and the man takes the bread, blesses and breaks it, then hands some to you.  In that moment you see clearly, the stranger is Jesus and you have spent several hours of your day with him and did not even know it.  This you now know – Jesus is alive.

You turn to your friend and tell him how you felt during the time with Jesus.  While Jesus spoke of all the truths from Moses to the prophets, your heart burned and was alive as you came to a better realization that everything about Jesus was completely true and you were a witness.  You did not imagine it, for it was true.

 How can one sleep after this, so you and your friend arise immediately, no longer tired and go the 7 miles back to Jerusalem and found the 11 Apostles and you tell them that you have encountered the risen Christ.

 This story is found in Luke 24:13-35 and is an encounter of these men had with Jesus not long after he rose from the dead.  This is the one event that shows Jesus is above all religious leaders in the history of the world.  He conquered death and the grave and lives still.  That is why he is unique and above all.

The LIfe of a Democracy

Around 1787, Alexander  Tyler wrote about the life of a democracy, including its birth, middle age, and eventual death.  Tyler said that it takes about 200 years for a democracy to reach its highest height before it then reverted back to bondage:

Here are his observations:

• From bondage to spiritual faith
• From Spiritual faith to great courage
• From Courage to liberty
• From Liberty to Abundance
• From Abundance to Complancency
• From Complacency to Apathy
• From Apathy to Dependence
• From Dependence back into bondage

"Remember democracy never lasts long.  It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.  There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."  John Adams, April 15, 1814

"I have long been convinced that institutions purely democratic must, sooner or later, destroy liberty, or civilization, or both."  Thomas B. Macaulay, May 23, 1857

Lessons from Rome

Edward Gibbon's six-volume The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of the premier books and a classic in the realm of history.  His first volume was published in 1776, with the remaining volumes following over the next 12 years.  In all, Gibbon spent 26 years working on Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Gibbon's careful scholarship and exhaustive research have survived the test of time. His facts and observations have truly stood the test of time.

Here is the summary of the reasons that Gibbon gives for the demise of Rome.  See if they sound familiar.

Five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died:

 1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.

• Rapid rise of divorce
• Homosexuality considered more mainstream

 2. Higher and higher taxes –the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.

3. The mad craze for pleasure, with sports and plays (arts) becoming more exciting, more brutal and more immoral each year.

4. The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within –the decay of individual responsibility;

5. The decay of religion, faith fading into mere form—faith losing touch with daily life and whose leaders lost touch with life and their power to guide.

It can be said of our nation that we are seeing all 5 of these happening.  I share this for you and I to be informed people, who know the signs of the times and recognize things for the reality of what they truly are.  Pray for your city, state, and nation that a true move of God would come upon the people of God.  That is where the real change needs to begin.

 

 

 

 

Belief in the Son of God

One of the things that we definitely all know well is this:  Everyone we know, including ourselves, believes in something very strongly concerning life.  For some it is the the cause of the environment, for others it is government, while for others it is their own self determination, for some it is good works, and for many, they have some type of a religious belief system.  Everyone has some kind of belief system that guides them and shapes how they embrace and live it out life.  What would you say yours is?  What guides you toward purpose everyday when you get up in the morning?  What gives you strength to make it through when the storms of life roll in and come crashing down upon your world?  We all have a belief system and is yours strong enough to bring security in the deepest part of your life?  This is the topic for today.  Here is our passage of scripture for the week:                                                                                                                                                     14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  John 3:14-18  (emphasis mine)                                                                The true test of our belief system, I believe, is whether or not it is strong enough sustain us in every moment of our lives and free us from the condemnation that sin brings.  3 places here in these verses, we can see what belief in Jesus Christ can bring and we must ask ourselves whether or not our current personal belief system can bring these things that Jesus claims he can do.  I want to list them here for us to see better so that we can examine our belief system up against them.  Here we go:

1.     Belief in Him brings Eternal life – The bible says we all have eternal life, but the question is, where will our eternal life be spent, with him in heaven or in hell separated from Him.  For so many people today, they think that life on earth is the full extent of who we are, so why not live life to the fullest and do whatever you want to do.  But according to this passage, eternal life is completely based upon who we believe in and the person who it says we must believe in, is Jesus Christ.  It is not our good works or determination, but it is belief in him only.

2.     Our Belief must rest in Jesus Alone – Those who receive God’s eternal life, it comes when our faith in placed in Jesus alone.  It is not Jesus plus something else, but it is faith in him alone.  Where does your life philosophy rest? 

3.     Belief in Him frees us from Condemnation – This is significant as it speaks to something we all desire.  We want to know if God truly loves us and has a plan for us or are we, even if we have a personal relationship with Christ, consistently “in trouble” with him because we do not always make perfect decisions.  Do our wrong decisions place us immediately back in the path of his condemnation or are we protected from his wrath through the life and death of Jesus?  Faith in him brings freedom from condemnation and that is something that we all need to know.  That is what Jesus says here.  

Those things alone are enough to say to us that we need a personal relationship with Jesus.  He alone is God and it is he who died, rose, ascended, and is coming again.  No one else has done this or is coming back.  Let’s remember that our faith must rest “in him” alone and enjoy the freedom we have as we live in his love.  Are you “in Him” today?

Boldness in Prayer

Jesus once told a story of how important it is to be bold in prayer. Here is the passage in Luke 11:5-8:

"Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me 3 loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him'. Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything'. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

The friendship between the two mean was not enough to move the man to get up and share his bread. It is something more that moves him to act in behalf of his friend. It is the boldness of the friend that made all of the difference. The man gets up and gives his friend as much as he needs. For me, I ask this question: Are my prayers to God marked with this kind of boldness? Where I am not afraid to come at anytime to ask God to move and act? That is the point Jesus is making. Are we going to quit praying because God has not yet moved? or .. Are we going to move him to action with our boldness?

Jesus now says this in verses 9-10, "So, I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened".

Jesus emphasizes that God is about answering, but are we going to ask, seek, and knock? I am asking God for these things: 1. Work full-time at the church ASAP 2. Reach the lost and disillusioned of our area 3. LifePointe would champion the glory of God and the down and out of our area. These are the bold things I am coming before God about and I will not let up.

Scriptural Perspective

I have been thinking of this blog for a couple of days and I honestly will not write much, but let the Word of God speak for itself.  As we look at today's events, we need to be reminded that whether things turned out the way we wanted or not the way we wanted - We need to remember that our hope rests alone in who Christ is.  Candidates cannot bring the real change our neighborhoods and our nation needs.  They never have been able to change the hearts of people.  Only Jesus can and in him our hopes must rest.  We should also remember that God did not want Israel to have a king, as he wanted to be their king and ruler alone.  When we allow him to rule, a person, a state, and a nation can find the real hope it desperately longs for. 

We still have the same issues this morning as we did yesterday as a nation, that only our sovereign God can heal and fix.  People will murder today, divorces will be finalized, adultery will be committed, angry words will be spoken, promises will be broken and people will lie straight to our face.  The hearts of man cannot be changed by earthly kings.  So, what do we do?

  

"So let us look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God".  (Hebrews 12:2)

So, here are some verses to remind us that our hope is in God.

"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of his glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage."

Psalm 33:12

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

Proverbs 14:34

"I lift my eyes up to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1-2

"God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne." Psalm 47:8

"The King's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will."

Proverbs 21:1

Being Reminded in the Garage

At around 10:15 tonight, I was going through some boxes I brought back from Waco several weeks ago from my parents house.  In one of the boxes are a series of books that are sermon compilations from the 1920's.  I started glancing through them and was reminded of something in my garage.  The last 3 weeks have been tough for me, as I am having to work a full time job to make ends meet as we start the church.  With my commute and the hours worked, well, let's just say that many hours are being logged and they are not in the area of my calling and gifting. I so want to work full-time at the church, but we are simply not there yet.  I don't know how it is with you, but when we find ourselves in a different place that is really stretching us, it is good to get reminders of what Christ's purposes for us are.  I needed one and got it.  It was nothing magical and no bells went off in the garage, just the booming voice of God in my heart as I read the pages of one of those books.  In 1926, the 2nd president of Southwestern Seminary, L.R. Scarborough, wrote these words:
"The preaching of the gospel is probably the most potent factor in human society, aside from the immediate hand of God.  The voice of the preacher is heard around the world in every circle or uplifting life.  The proclamation of the Good News by faithful preachers is the mightiest human power aided by divine strength against sin, for righteousness and world betterment.  The preacher is God's key-man in the saving agencies of this world.  He is needed today as never before.  His office rightly filled outrules kings and outwars armies.  The force or program that corners or belittles gospel preaching is the enemy of God and man.  Any power that furthers good preaching is God'sagency for bringing in the universal rule of righteousness."For me, these words serve as a reminder of the calling upon all of our lives to be the people who herald the gospel story to a lost world.  I was reminded tonight, in my garage that there is a call upon my life that is bigger than me and that I must, above all things, embrace the truth of God and be a passionate pursuer and proclaimer of his glory.  

The Legacy of 90 Years

Last Friday, I drove to Waco for the celebration on the 90th Birthday of my grandfather.  He is a WWII Veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and someone who has walked with God and invested his life for the last 50 years to the cause of Christ.  I wrote him a letter expressing my thoughts upon his life.  I hope someone one day writes of me the way I did of him.  I want my life to count - not for that which fades, but continues on well after I leave.  Here is my letter:

Paw-Paw,

First of all, I wanted to wish you a very happy Birthday. 

I wanted to express from my heart today how thankful I am that you are my grandfather.  You have been one of the best models for ministry that I could have ever had.  As a kid coming to Amarillo for two weeks every summer allowed me the opportunity to watch and learn how to be passionate about preaching the word of God.  I believe that my passion to preach the word has come from seeing and hearing you preach so much as I grew up.  Thank you for instilling this passion in me.

When I think of the years you have lived, I cannot help but think of Deuteronomy 6.  You and MeMaw both exemplified the truth of this passage.

1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

You have taught your children to walk with God, they have taught their children, and now your grandkids are teaching their children to walk with God.  You have lived a life that fulfills this passage.  Of all of your accomplishments and praises that you have been given during your time on earth, this one, in my opinion stands above them all.  You have established a spiritual heritage that has been and is being passed down to the generations and will continue on after us all.

Thanks is not enough, but know that my thanks to you comes from the depth of who I am.

What will live on after we have gone?  That which we have invested in our families and friends. 

What will you and I live for?

Book Recommendation

I wanted to recommend a great read to you.  With my current schedule I have not been able to read as much as normal, but back in early September I began a book that I finally finished today in my lunch hour.  It is a biography of the life of Rich Mullins.  I found myself so moved as I closed it today at around 1:40pm.  Wow!  I don't recommend books much, but you should go by the book and allow a man who lived simply and passionately for the greatness of the glory of Christ, impact you and challenge you to live as he did.

The book is called - An Arrow Pointing Toward Heaven by James Bryan Smith.  

It is worth every sentence.

Friendship with God

In the middle of Jesus longest recorded discourse in the gospels (John 13-17), we come to a place where Jesus offers up his view of what friendship with Him looks like.  Here are the 4 verses:  John 15:13-17 - "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you .  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask in my name, he may give it to you."

Jesus is doing the defining of what friendship means.  It means we...

1.  Do what He says (vs. 14)

We are not to talk about it, write books about it, have conferences about it.  We are to do what he says.  How this would fix most of the issues in our lives, if we would be obedient.

2.  Acquainted with what He is doing (vs. 15)

Do we know what he is up to in our cities or the nations?  We as his friends should be intimately acquainted with what he is doing both in us and around us.  We should be concerned about this.

3.  Live with a "Going" Mindset that bears fruit (vs. 16a)

We are not to simply exist, but to live in such a way that bears the fruit resulting from obedience.  We are to do this "going", not just being lived out in the confines of the safety of the Jesus Bubble.

4.  Bear Fruit that Remains (vs. 16b)

This one is important.  So much of our lives are up and down and a re-learning of things we should know by now, but seem so often to forget.  Friendship with Jesus results in fruit that remains and continues to have impact.  How is this in our lives where we have been and served?  Do people think of us?  Does our investment continue to shape their relationship with God and how they are investing in the world?  Sobering questions.

5.  Ask for things that are in line with His name (vs. 16c)

Friendship with him means that we can freely ask the Father to do things in the name of Jesus and Jesus says that the Father may give it to you.  The request have to be in line with his name (his will), and when they are, he gives his friends what they ask for.  Just think of the implications.

So, what does our friendship with him look like according to his words above.  Maybe it is time to get some things "righted" in this friendship. 

Meeting in Homes

Where should one meet for worship, community, and discipleship?  One of the places the bible speaks  about - are homes. Just in case you think I am just one of those new church kind of thinkers, I would say to you that I am just making myself in line with the New Testament.  Read the  passages are listed below. 

 Acts 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 12:12-13 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. Acts 16: 39-40 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. Acts 20:20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. Romans 16: 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla[a] greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. Colossians 4: 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

 It appears the early church from Jerusalem, Rome, Philippi, Corinth, Ephesus, Colossae, and the letter to Philemon they either utilized a model of public worship as well as gatherings in homes, or simply did church in homes, which naturally because of size, were smaller. Some of these were churches, one was a prayer gathering (Acts 16:39-40), and the Acts 2 ones give the idea of community and worship in the home throughout Jerusalem. Obviously, Christ was the centerpiece of what they did both publicly and in the homes.   

Who are you inviting over this week?  Whose home are you going to where you will experience community and focus on the glory of Christ?  

Gas

Here is some real excitement for the day - I bought gas this morning at Walmart for $3.11 a gallon.  Wow!  Does that knowledge help you today?  I needed to tell someone. Okay, I feel better now.

He Called Her Over

I do not exactly how your relationship with God works, but since you are human like me (you are human right?), you more than likely do some of the things that I do.  I came across a familiar story this morning, but as I read it, it was seen with fresh eyes.  It forms the basis for the devotion this week.  Let’s read the scripture to get the full picture.                                                                                                                                                                                                              Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for 18 years.  She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.  When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”  And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.  Luke 13:10-14                                                                         This day was not unlike other days in Jesus ministry.  He was at church with a bunch of other people worshiping and focusing on God.  One of the things we can forget about, is that when we come to church there are people all around us who, like us, have secret things that no one knows, they have pain and sickness in their bodies, some are disillusioned, and others have been in a certain condition for years without relief.  We sometimes come to a bible study or church and our focus in entirely on us.  Will I like the music?  Will the sermon be good?  What am I doing after church?  Where will go eat later?  Who is playing soccer today?  It is amazing how we come to worship for the sole purpose of honoring God and spend our time focusing on the things that have to do with our lives – all in a place where we have come to focus solely on God and others.  When we focus so much on us, we forget that there are so many other people around us who need a friend, an encouraging word, someone to sit by them, or just a friendly smile or handshake. 

In our story, there was a woman who for 18 years was stricken by something that caused her to be bent over and not be able to straighten herself.  Can you imagine that?  18 years of a body that could not get straight.  Could that describe you and I in some area of our lives?  Most likely all of us have issues that are so heavy they cause to not walk straight emotionally and spiritually, but the weight of them causes us to be “bent”.  No matter how much we try, the issue just seems to remain.  After a long time, it feels defeating and we may even wonder if we can ever find relief. 

            We do not know if she had gone to many doctors for help and we do not even know if she came to church on this day knowing that Jesus would be there.  We simply do not know.  For me personally, here is where the story gets unique.  The text indicates that she was not near Jesus, she was not coming to him,  it simply says that she was there in the synagogue.  Too often I am afraid, I find myself coming seeking out God for what I desire him to do in me, for my family, or in Germany.  Of course we should come to him and say what is on our hearts, we just need to make sure the request lines up with His will.  She may have had no idea that her hope was going to be at church that day.  She most likely did not come expecting God to move in her and bring his healing.  But God, is different than you and I.

What is interesting in the story are these words, “When Jesus saw her, he called her over.”  Jesus sought her out in the worship service.  He saw her need and he called her to come to him.  Think about that for a moment.  She did not come seeking him, but she found that he was seeking after her.  She was not looking at him, but he was looking at her.  We forget that Jesus is a seeking God and deeply desires to bring his healing into our lives in moments when we may least expect it. 

She did not come looking for an encounter with Jesus, but she got one because Jesus is a God who seeks encounters with us.  

The bible her says , “He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”  And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.She comes, Jesus touches, and the crooked part of her life is immediately made straight.  Is it really any wonder that she glorified God.  Jesus can and will come at times when we least expect it, and what a moment that is when we taste and experience his presence.  

New Beginnings

We had a great day yesterday and I wanted to share it with you.  We officially started our new church yesterday - LifePointe Fellowship.  Not only did that happen, but we experienced these things:

• Our largest attendance in my 6 Sundays here - 117.  That is almost double from my first Sunday in September.
• 8 New people joined the church through our new member class.  (15 total in last 2 weeks)
• Baptized 4 people

There is much more that I could share, but wanted to share these things.  God is moving in our church and we are excited about the days ahead.  It is so great to start new and experience all that Christ is doing in our lives, our church, and our new friends that we are walking through life with.  Thanks for all of your prayers and don't stop.  We still have much to do, but we want to enjoy the journey as it unfolds.

Running from God

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.'5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. 7 "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 

I highlighted 3 things above and each of these are vitally important when we have run from God and find ourselves broken, lonely, and need of his rescue.  I will write them here and briefly comment on them:

    1.  Call to the Lord – The trouble came because he was running from God and not being connected to him, therefore his hope was in calling out to the one who had the power to help and from whom he had run.                                                      

2.     Restore our focus on God – Jonah knew that the worship of God and his glory would heal him, therefore he knows that he will worship again in the temple and praise his God.  Nothing focuses our life more than seeing and seeking God for who he is.                                                                                                                                                                                     

3.     Remember the LORD – As it had all broken down around him, he finally remembered that God alone can give us life, hope, and love.  Jonah, in that moment, remembers how great and good God is and finds comfort in his thoughts of God.  It is usually in "belly of the whale" places where we remember God's goodness.

 We have much to learn from Jonah when we have run from God and what we should do when we are there.  Where do you find yourself today?  Near him or are you on the run?  If you are on the run, then it is time to stop and come back to him as your hope.  Though you might not find yourself in the darkness of a fish, the darkness of our pain can be enough to help us know, that God alone is our hope.  This is my prayer for those of us who are on a boat for “Tarshish” and thinking we can find hope away from the purposes of God.  Let’s come back to him.

 

Valuing People in the Right Way

How do you define the people you meet or know?  This past Sunday I preached on Zaccheus and I noticed something very interesting about verse 2 and as I thought through it a bit more, there was real truth to see.  Here is Luke 19:2, get ready for a powerful verse.  “And there was a man named Zaccheus.  He was a chief tax collector and was rich”.  3 things are given here in how we define people.

1.     His Name – We see he is called something, Zaccheus, that is the name his parents gave him.  As kids, our name is just our name, but as adults, our name is connected to our character.  When people hear our name, what thoughts do they think?  Are they pleasant or does our name bring up other thoughts?

2.     What he did – We see that by his occupation he was a “chief tax collector”.  One of the first things we do when we meet people is to find out what they do for an occupation.  We get sized up, and we size others up by what they and we do, how well we do it, or what the future that it might provide.

3.     What he owned – This is where we really place value on others.  How much they have or don’t have or once had or will have.  We call people poor, rich, middle class, blue collar, from the wrong side of the tracks, what kind of car, educated or not educated, and on and on.  This one is ridiculous, but we do it.

The world places much value on #2 and #3, but what does God think about it all.  God places value on #1.  The view of our name is built upon the decisions we have made, that build the content of our character into godliness.  His is what the writer in Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”  The only thing for us as believers to see our name be one that is noble, is to be passionate God-seekers.  The Holy Spirit transforms us as we look at the glory of Christ and his character becomes the content of our character.