Christmas 2011

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with a candlelight service reminding us that a baby changed everything.

We celebrate the birthday of this baby Jesus.  From the outside, seems like of crazy to celebrate the birth of a baby that was born a couple thousand years ago in a stable.  We are celebrating the birth of a baby that was born to a woman who wasn’t even completely married when she got pregnant.  We celebrate the birth of a baby born to a carpenter?

Oh, but this wasn’t just a baby.  This baby changed everything.  This baby changed the way we see life.  This baby changed the way we see death.  This baby turned the tables and shook ideals and religion up.  This baby truly changed the world in which we live.  This baby changed everything.

This baby changed everything, including me.  This baby is the reason that I stand before you and tell you about a loving God and a redeeming hope.  This baby is the reason that I can stand before you with confidence that there is more than this life.  This baby is the reason that we can live this difficult, harsh life in this dark world with a joy unspeakable and a light shining bright.

If you don’t get it, maybe you haven’t allowed this baby to change you.  Oh yes, He came as a baby…but He grew to be a man…and died to be our Savior…and arose to be our Redeemer…and lives forevermore as our Hope.  This baby changes everything…won’t you allow Him to change you????

On Christmas Day, we gathered together to continue looking at this baby Jesus.  We looked at:

Matthew 1:18-25

Luke 2:15-21

John 1:1-14

He was given the name JESUS.  What a name.  Phil 2:5-11

Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 9:6-7 about the names of Jesus.  He is the Son of God.  What a NAME!

 Jesus is the culmination of JOY and LOVE and PEACE and HOPE!

All for us – all wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

While peace may not be found in this world, it can be found in Him.  Joy and hope and love are all ONLY TRULY found in Jesus.

We celebrate more than the birth of a baby, we celebrate the birth of a Savior – come to earth for you and for me.

How will you celebrate this miracle??

Birthing

This week’s theme of advent is BIRTHING
Luke 2:1-7

As we read in our scripture for this week, we see that Mary and Joseph have made their way to Bethlehem.  She has given birth to Jesus..She has given birth to a Savior, which is Christ the Lord…She has fulfilled prophesies from hundreds of years earlier…She holds in her arms the King!
Christmas is practically here.  This is the last week of hustle and bustle and the last week to get those gifts we have forgotten…or that we see the need to pick up.  And for those who wait until the last minute, maybe it is the opportunity to start on the Christmas shopping.  There are Christmas parties to attend, family gatherings to be a part of, cookies to make, gifts to wrap, and so much more.  We can get tired just thinking about it all…but, for just a few moments, you can’t do anything about your to do list.  Take a moment and reflect on the birth of Jesus.  We reflect on His birth because Jesus is the ultimate gift.  There are three things I want you to consider as we reflect upon this gift of Jesus:
1 – God gave the gift of His only Son
We know from John 3:16 that because God loved the whole world, He gave Jesus, His Son, to come to earth.  Jesus came as an infant.  He came in the most unexpected way…born to a virgin…as a baby to grow to be a man…a man like you and me

2 – Jesus gave us a new way of understanding love
As we have talked about many times, Jesus completely turned the world upside down in their thinking.  He showed what true love really does mean.  He showed us what it was like to love the Lord God first…He showed us what it meant to really love others…He commanded us to go and show that love to others.
Our understanding of love is forever changed because of Jesus!

3 – Jesus gave of himself for us – GRACE
We are given something undeserved and unearned.  We are given new life because of a life that was given up.  Jesus gave up His life so that we might have life.  You may not really grasp how important that is.  You may not consider the magnitude of this gift.  All we really can do is stand in awe with thankful and grateful hearts and then, “pay it forward”
We have been given the ultimate gift…we have been taught what it means to truly give – more than any gift that can be bought or fought over.  What can we do?  We can give…give love to a situation that doesn’t have any…share light with a dark world…spread joy where there is only frustration…spread peace in chaos.  We can bring God glory in ALL WE DO!!

Journeying

First, we looked at waiting, then acceptance…Accepting the call that God has for us, no matter what it is – big or small.  Now, we are looking at JOURNEYING
Our scripture is Luke 1:57-80

Zacharias has already been on quite a journey – he was brought the message about his son…he was made mute…his son has arrived and they will call him John.  Now that Zacharias can speak, he has great news, not just about his son, but about the coming Messiah.

He begins by telling about how God has provided salvation for His people, just as He has promised through the prophets.  He then tells about his son, who will be a prophet, the forerunner of the Messiah – the Messiah who will bring light and peace.  As we consider what is occurring for Zacharias – and for the world – I want you to think about two journeys that are going on here that are powerful and intertwined – that bring hope and joy

1 – The Journey of Repentance

Zacharias and Elizabeth – older in age, not able to have children, served the Lord faithfully and gave their life for Him – Now they are having a son – but not just any son…they are having John.  John was born and is called for a specific purpose – he is to be the forerunner of Jesus.  We think of him as John the Baptist because he was baptizing people (including Jesus).  Today, think of him as John, the baby to bring the people back to where they need to be with God.  John had a powerful message – one that we need to hear today, one that is not easy to hear, but vital – it is the call to REPENT…

John is calling the people (and us, for that matter) to repent of our wicked ways – turn from those things which are taking us down the wrong path – those things which are taking our attention away from the Savior.  Turn from the sins that are carrying us down a wrong path, Turn from our own desires and ways…

But, in order to turn, we have to acknowledge those sins – easy for us to sweep them under the rug, to let them go, to look at everyone else who is doing them OR worse…But that doesn’t excuse OUR sins.  We have to see our sins in order to turn from them – REPENT

What do we turn to when we repent – when we turn from our sins?

2 – The Journey of Redemption

Mary and Joseph – a young, engaged couple, just starting out in life, just beginning to serve the Lord – called to raise Jesus.  I can imagine they would be scared, intimidated, overwhelmed – but willing…they are having Jesus.  Jesus was born for a specific purpose – the redeemer of the world.  Jesus will show the people God in the flesh…He will show them what it means to love and serve God…and He will love them all the way to the cross.  Born to die…for you and for me.  His is a journey of REDEMPTION – redeeming sinful people who needed a Savior, desperately.  Where do we turn when we repent?  John clearly tells us in John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”

We turn to the only One who is able to take away sins – when we see our sin and it is ever before us, we confess that sin, turn from it and turn towards the Savior, the Redeemer, who can forgive an wash us clean of that sin…The Journey of Repentance…the Journey of Redemption

ACCEPTANCE

Last week, we talked about what we do while we wait.  It is difficult to wait.  Waiting requires patience.  Effective waiting requires trust.  Neither of these is easy.

This week, we are looking at ACCEPTANCE

As you can tell, we aren’t doing the traditional advent themes, but I want you to think about the message of Christmas this year possibly in a slightly different way.

Today’s scripture:  Luke 1:25-38

Mary is approached by the angel Gabriel just like Zachariah was regarding the son that he and Elizabeth would have (John).  We know the narrative – Mary is engaged to be married, but is not yet married.  The angel tells her that she is highly favored, the Lord is with her and that she is blessed.  I’m sure she was concerned about why an angel was approaching her and why she was favored.  But, the angel had a message for her.  She will be pregnant and have a son, named Jesus.  He tells her about Jesus – big things about Jesus. (verse32- 33) – she wants to know how this is since she hasn’t done anything to become pregnant.  The angel tells her how this will happen and even tells her about Elizabeth.  He comes with an important message that NOTHING is impossible with God!

What is Mary’s response?  Verse 38 (IMPORTANT)

Mary acknowledges that she is a servant of the Lord AND that she is accepting the call on her life.  Think about it – no easy task – her humiliation (she isn’t married), all the questions and stares, being the mother of Jesus and raising the One sent by God – ALL major things she will have to face (she even has to watch Him die).  She accepts what God has for her – she says in essence, here am I, send me!

What about you this Advent season?  Is there something that God has called you to do that you aren’t sure you can?  Has God given you an opportunity that you are not sure you are ready or capable of?  OR, has God called you to do something that seems to be minor, minute, not important (at least in your eyes) and you want something with more sparkle?  God calls each of us to do something – we either don’t accept it, don’t listen to His instructions and guidance, or we do it well…

What is He calling you to do at this time in your life?  Are we remembering that NOTHING is impossible with God when we say YES to His will and His way?

First Sunday in Advent

The first Sunday in advent: the theme is WAITING

I have learned a lot about waiting over the last few weeks.  It is difficult and quite exhausting – but is quite an eye opening experience

I want to talk about what we do while we are waiting.  We are asked to wait quite a lot in our lives…we wait for test results, we wait for people to get out of surgery, we wait for the big break, we wait for the promotion, we wait in line for that sale item…and we wait

What do we do while we wait?

Let’s first look at Luke 1:5-23

Zechariah had been waiting for his life to have a child…but it had not happened.  He wasn’t young anymore, but we find Zechariah doing something that is our first lesson:

1 – While we are waiting, we are called to do the ordinary

Zechariah was a priest.  He was righteous before God, doing the right thing.  He wasn’t sitting around mad or pouting.  He was doing what he was called to do. 

Zechariah was being obedient to what he was called to do.  He was called to be a priest and that is what he was doing and doing it right.

Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were obeying the Lord…there is comfort in doing the ordinary, being obedient…

God sent Jesus into the ordinary…God picked disciples doing the ordinary…God calls us in the ordinary…it is only by Him that we do the extraordinary

2 – While we are waiting, we are called to trust Him

Gabriel had given Zechariah news that was overwhelming.  He couldn’t believe it.  He didn’t understand it.  Think about it, he is older, he has been faithful and obedient…now he is being told he is going to have a son!
He was a good man, a faithful man – but this was so much that he wanted to know how Gabriel knew this was going to happen.  Gabriel explained that he had been sent to bring this good news.  He also made Zechariah unable to speak because he didn’t believe.

Think about it – he didn’t understand what was going on and in his human mind, he was trying to put it all together.  God doesn’t work like the human mind.  He calls us to simply trust Him.  When we do that, we have peace while we wait, we have joy while we wait…but we don’t necessarily have answers while we wait.

We are called to simply trust Him!

3 – While we are waiting, we are called to worship

The people are outside while Zechariah is doing his duty and they are praying.  They don’t know what is going on.  Zechariah finds out his news while in worship.  We, too are called to WORSHIP

Worship despite our circumstances…What will you do while u wait?

Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving, I want us to begin remembering so that we can truly be thankful.  Remember what?  Let’s look at the Word of God for answers.  The children of Israel, God’s chosen are preparing to enter the Promised Land.  As they prepare, God has given them a few rules to live by as His people.  If we look back in the Word to Deut 5, we see that He has given them the 10 commandments.  How long has it been since you read those?  They are still good rules to live by and important to remember that Jesus didn’t come to do away with these commandments, but to fulfill.  Maybe we should spend a little more time looking at them…We also see a scripture which should have become very familiar over the last month or so…Deut 6:5-9.  All of these words are coming together for our scripture for this morning:  Deut 8:7-18.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, here are three ideas that I want you to consider to make Thanksgiving a little more special:

1)      REMEMBER where you came from…

All of us have a past.  Some pasts are a bit more “interesting” than others – but all have a past.  As we sit here today, if we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are here as redeemed, loved, and joyful people.  But we haven’t always been redeemed.  We became that as we came to know Jesus Christ!  Yes, the past is the past and we are forgiven…I am not disputing that.  But, it is helpful to remember that God took us out of the pits of sin and offered us a brand new life! (and I’m not going back!) 

2)      REMEMBER what God has done before…

We should be able to look back on this past year and see where the hand of God was upon us.  We can look back over the past five years…maybe ten…maybe more and see where God has been with us even when we didn’t realize it.  Even beyond that, our faith is built on remembering…the Jews still celebrate feasts to remember (like Passover).  We celebrate Christmas and Easter to remember. Why continue to remember something so long ago?  Because it is just that important and because we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever!!

3)      MOST IMPORTANTLY, REMEMBER the LORD your God by keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes

Don’t go on living your life ignoring God and what He has commanded.  He has words of life for us.  He has words of truth.  Jesus pointed out what is most important… That means that we should know this Word and follow it…REMEMBER God!  We do that by following Him and serving Him!  How will you celebrate your thanksgiving this year?

November 15th

There has not been a post this week because I was out of town during the weekend.  Wendy and I celebrated our 14th year anniversary on November 15th.  We went out of town and really enjoyed the time away.  We were blessed to be able to attend a worship service on Sunday - it is always refreshing to occassionally participate in worship without leading.  It helps me to renew so that I am ready to lead in worship again.
I would like to extend a huge thanks to Chris for delivering the message and for all who participated in the worship at FMBC Sunday!  I am blessed to be able to leave for a Sunday and know that things are well taken care of!!
Most importantly, I would also like to say that I am most blessed to be married to Wendy!!  We have been together for most of our lives, but as I get older (I age, not her), I love and appreciate her more everyday.  It is great to know that I not only love her as my wife, I also love her as my best friend.  She is always by my side...even when she doesn't necessarily want to be.  I am SO glad that God gave me her to go through this life with!
I look forward to being at FMBC on Sunday to begin the Thanksgiving celebration!  I have so much to be thankful for!!!!! 

God First, Family Second

Time – we are gifted with it…but not an overabundance of it.  What you do with your time means so much.  Many people know about the time value of money…little money invested over a long period of time yields greater results than a larger amount of money invested over a short period of time…longer invested, greater money.  I want us to apply that concept to time.  How do we spend our time?  What we do with our time means so much – the little things we do can have great rewards…if we do the right things with our time.  Little investments of time yield great results if we are using our time wisely. 

This is not my specialty.  I can’t say that I use my time all that wisely.  However, the Lord has really been working with me on this lately.  This message about time has been spoken to me through many different messengers over the past few weeks.  Today, is one more way that I am sharing how the Lord is working on me. 

John 6:25-33

The people are searching for Jesus…not because of the miracle, but because they were physically fed by Him.  That was important to them.  Jesus knows their motives just like He knows ours.  He takes the opportunity to tell them what is important.  He doesn’t tell them to quit work…but does tell them that they need to find out what will yield eternal rewards.  This is right before He explains that He is the bread of life…He brings eternal nourishment as they hunger and thirst for righteousness.

For me, Jesus is telling them to look at what is most important in their lives and He has the same message for us today.  Are they putting God first?!  They don’t know Him to put Him first.  If we don't know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can't put Him first either.  I have been reminded of the commandment to “Love the Lord Your God with all Your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength!” over and over.  We can’t do that if we are putting other things first.  How do we make small installments of our time to make a big impact for God?  How about our prayer time and devotional time?

How about prioritizing what we do according to what’s important and measuring all against that?  And if God is first, what is second?

If God is first, I believe our families are second!  How do we make installments of our time that will have a lasting impact with our family?  The “big” family vacation doesn’t do that…the rare, occasional things don’t do that…it takes a little time everyday with our spouses and children.  I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what is most important to me lately.  I think it is because one year ago, I was standing before you and preaching with a heart monitor on.  It was a wake up call for me to look at my priorities.  I was trying to do too many things and doing none of them well.  I was not making the best use of my time.  It reminded me that I can make small investments of time and make a big impact if I am doing the right things.  Spending time with God and with my family is most important in my life. 

What is most important to you?  You don’t get to go back and do it all again.  You don’t get time back.  So, how will you take the precious time you have been given and make the most of it?! 

Deacon Ordination

This past Sunday was very special.  It was Deacon Ordination.  We had three Deacons ordained this year.  Here is an outline from the service - an opportunity to learn about the position of Deacon in our church:

Some of us grew up in churches that didn’t have the position of deacon.  For those who did, the position of deacon is often misunderstood.  Why have them?  What do they do?  How can they help the church?

 I want to review what it means to be a deacon and why that is important to you – even if you are not called to serve as a deacon

Let’s begin in Acts 6:1-7.

In this scripture, there are several important items I want you to notice:

1)      Deacons were chosen in order to maintain unity.

There were issues with the feeding of the widows.  In the early church, most of the widows were unable to care for themselves and were cared for by the church.  The church provided their food.  Also in the early church, there were two different factions of Jews…One spoke Greek and the other Aramaic.  There were other differences in that one was more strict than the other.  The Greek speaking Jewish widows were apparently being neglected.  So, there were some understandable complaints.  The apostles realized that their job was prayer and teaching/preaching the Word.  If they spent all their time with all that went on, they would neglect this which is very important!  That is just as important today.  We are the Body of Christ, but made up of humans living in a sinful world.  We let things of this world get us off track and this can sometimes stir up trouble in the church.  Deacons are there to keep in contact with the church, be the eyes and ears of the church to know what is going on, and to help maintain focus on the purpose of the church.

Not just anyone was chosen though.  There were qualifications:

2)      Deacons were chosen for their good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom

They were people called by God for this purpose.  If their reputation wasn’t good in the community, they wouldn’t be respected in the church either.  If they don’t know and love Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the certainly can’t help the church.  If they aren’t seeking after Godly wisdom, the things of this world can easily sway and they can get caught up in things going on….not making decisions that please God rather than man. 

3)      Deacons had a task to accomplish:  SERVICE

The word “deacon” means service.  They were chosen with the task to serve – to serve the hungry and needy…to serve the meal…to serve the Lord as He leads, guides and directs.  This isn’t a position of power (only position of power is God’s)…this is a position of service and of love for God’s people.  When I was asked what a deacon means to me, here are some of the things that come to mind as a pastor:
·         Participation in the church
·         Support and prayer for me and for the ministries of the church
·         Prepare and serve communion
·         Keep in touch with the congregation - know what is going on so that the needs of the church are attended to
·         Along with keeping in touch, know the congregation so that if someone has a concern, they know who to go to and that their concern gets handled appropriately
·         Cover for me when I am absent
·         Represent the church at all times
·         (Finally and most importantly) - have a heart for service to the Lord!

4)      The Word of God spread and lives were changed

The apostles were able to spend time in the Word and in prayer so that they would lead and guide as God directed.  The people’s needs were attended to so that no one was neglected.  People’s lives were changed by the power of the Word of God. 

5)      When they were selected, the apostles brought them before them to pray and lay hands on them

This was a way of appointing the deacon and praying for God’s touch upon them as they begin this position of service.

All who serve the Lord in the church are so important.  We are the Body of Christ and we all have important positions of service that help to serve the Lord in the way that He calls.  May God lead and guide us and we seek to serve Him with our whole hearts!

Love the LORD!

This year, I was honored to speak at the Annual Meeting of the Neuse Baptist Association.  It was truly a privilege to share from God's Word.  This is a glimpse of the message from this year.  I am including it as a reminder to myself to love my LORD with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

This message is about VISION.  We know people who have a vision…it is something good leaders should have.  When I think of vision, there are a few people who come to my mind…

I think of Isaiah – he had a vision of what God wanted him to do and he was willing to stand up and be counted - HERE AM I, SEND ME!

I think of Ezekial who had many visions given to him by God because God had a message for him to proclaim

Thinking about people since the Bible was written, I think of Lottie Moon who had the vision of reaching the people in a foreign land for Jesus.

I think of Martin Luther King Jr. who proclaimed  “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character… I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” (Martin Luther King Jr, “I have a dream speech”)

Vision is seeing beyond current circumstances to what could be…These people had amazing vision.  They didn't see what was before them, that is just observation.  They saw what could be even though it did not exist then!

I think that Jesus shares a vision as well…  Let me share a just a few verses that speak about the vision I want you to hear:

He gave the disciples a vision of the helper when He said:  In John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.”

Followed up with the role of the Helper in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

He changed thinking about following in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

For me personally, He gives a powerful vision of what is to come and a command for us all in Matthew 25:31-46 - READ IT!

But, the church has a difficult time fulfilling this vision and mission because something seems to be missing.  The church cannot ever completely be obedient to the missions in which it was called until we learn to LOVE! 

You may think that you love, you may even be sure that you love…but I would dare say most of us aren’t even close to loving like we are asked to…

When I refer to love, I am thinking about Matthew 22:37-39, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

Do you really love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength??  ALL of it??  ost of us cannot say that.  Not if we are honest with ourselves.  We can’t love God that much because God asks us to love others…We don’t even love each other, much less the world.  ou may think I have lost my mind b/c we all love each other, right? 

We love each other until the Pastor asks us to work with Sister…Or be on a committee with Brother…

We have trouble loving each other and we are all serving the same God!  Then we wonder why we struggle to love those not in church! 

1 John 4:11 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Not loving others is an indication we haven’t learned to love the Lord with all!  f we want to reach others, we will reach them with the love of Jesus Christ…It is easy to love those who love you…not so easy to love the “unlovables” – but God calls us to a love that would turn the world upside down.

We aren’t turning the world upside down because we aren’t loving Him first and then sharing that with the world!!!

John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Many of us have lost vision for the church…we have lost vision of what God has called us to do and we have forgotten that God can do so much more than we can fathom.

We have lost that vision maybe because we have forgotten about love…Maybe we have gotten sold on the US versus THEM concept…forgetting that we  are all sinners and that Christ died for all the world!

Without the cleansing power of Jesus Christ, we are nothing more than dirty rotten sinners.  With the power of the Lord and the love of Jesus Christ, we are called to do so much more…we are called to LOVE.  If you have lost vision of what Christians do and what the church is all about, I challenge you to return to the Word and check out the love that we are given and thus, called to share. 

I challenge you to go beyond the walls of your church with the love of Jesus Christ…and then we will be renewed to feed and clothe and visit and provide…

We can’t ever effectively do any of those things without a foundation of LOVE…  What are YOU going to do?  Will you look to the LORD and learn to love HIM with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?  Only then can we begin to turn this world UPSIDE down for Jesus Christ!!!

Where Are You Headed?

My sense of direction is unfortunately quite lacking.  I often get lost when I am driving.  Recently I was driving a different direction than I normally do and came upon a decision.  I had to choose...do I go east or west.  I knew I normally would go east, but I wasn't sure where I was geographically to know which one.  Guess what?  I went west when I should have gone east.   I could only choose one way.  Unfortuntely, I chose the wrong one that day.

Life is like that as well…we must choose a direction we will travel.  When I think about directions, I think of this scripture:

*Psalm 1

This Psalm points out 2 different directions we can take

We can take the path of the ungodly OR we can follow the path that is with the LORD

We get to choose…the world tells us one thing…the Bible tells us another.  They are not the same, yet we want them to be.  We want to have our “cake and eat it too.”  We can't go in the middle and try to do both… We MUST choose one way or the other

We choose to follow the world or follow Jesus…we can’t have it both ways!  We can’t do all the things that the world does, ignoring God all the time except for when we need Him and still be on the right path.  We can’t make our own decisions without consulting Him…leading our own path…going our own way…and expect to be on His path as well.

One way leads to destruction.  The other leads to life.  You choose…

It seems so easy.  It seems ridiculous to choose the way of destruction…that would just be crazy.  The problem is that the path of destruction is pretty…it has big houses…it has nice stuff…it has the best of everything…

The path of life has eternal life, unspeakable joy, unexplainable peace…but none of the things we treasure in this life…it isn’t the “pretty” and “easy” way.  It can be just plain difficult.

You can’t choose both…what do YOU choose?  You may think that you have chosen the right way…

I challenge you…if you think you are going in the right way, look at where you are going…look at the life you are leading…look at the choices you are making…Then tell me if you are going on the right path.  Just because the way looks rough and difficult doesn’t mean you are going the wrong way and just because it looks pretty and inviting doesn’t mean you are going the right way.

It all comes down to:  You have to know where you are, to know where you are going!  Where are you headed?

Is the world changing you or are YOU changing the world?

We can often feel a tension between living in this world, yet wanting to do the right thing

We have difficulty knowing what to do and when – or how much to do or not to do.  It can make life as a Christian difficult because we don’t know how to live as Christians in a fallen world…Jesus tells us that we are not part of the world and not to fall in the deceptions of the world.  Yet, we are called to love others and live out our faith…

As I read the Bible, I find that many had that same difficulty – and none as clearly as the Israelites

They are in a new world…the Promised Land.  God has brought them to the ultimate destination – at least on this earth…They are out of slavery, out of the desert and taking the lands that God has promised to them.  This can be an exciting time – God tells them that He has given them a land for which they did not labor, cities which they did not build, they eat of vineyards and olive groves they did not plant…the Promised Land.  Joshua knows the people and wants them to understand something about living in this new land.

Joshua 23:1-11

They are to go into this new land, but they are not to let the influences of this new land overtake what they know to be true – they are not to let the temptations around them overwhelm their belief in the Holy One – Who has brought them here!

Let us think of it like this:  They are to hold fast to what they know is true and not allow the world around them to sway from that…

They didn’t do such a great job of it, by the way…they didn’t heed the advice and God wasn’t pleased…

But, what about us? 

Is the world around us changing us OR are we changing the world??

Are we giving into the schemes of the devil and falling prey to his plan by not spreading the Good News, by not doing what the Bible tells us, by trying to make the church look attractive to the world?

OR are we staying true to the Word of God?

Do we know what the Word of God is telling us and living in the example of Jesus OR are we a group of people who look a lot like the world, but just do a few things differently…

How do we stop the world from changing us and instead, change the world?

I think we do this by focusing on the Word of God…we look at the example of Jesus Christ who lived in this world and managed to please the Heavenly Father…we look at the examples set before us and follow…But, you have to know the Word before you can live the Word…otherwise, the world could end up changing you!

Learn the Word, study the Word, and follow Jesus!  Don't let the schemes of the devil sway you from the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Stay diligent in what you know to be true because it is IN the Word!  Stay diligent to constantly follow the Lord and what He has shown and told us to do!  That way, we change the world instead of the world changing us!!

YOUTH SUNDAY!!

Today, we had an exciting Sunday at FMBC!  Our Youth led the entire service and did an outstanding job!!  All of the young people shared the talents that the Lord has blessed them with.  As a pastor, it is very difficult to stand in front of the church to lead a service or to sing or to speak.  I am so pleased with the courage that everyone had to stand before the church and declare their faith.

Greg also did an outstanding job.  He shared his story right from the heart.  As a new college student, he has to make difficult discussions that all college students have to make.  Some will choose the wrong path.  Greg talked about choosing the right path by trusting God completely and listening to His guidance.  That is a great testimony.  God has great plans for him and I am looking forward to watching him grow in the Lord!  I pray that all of our young people will follow the leading of the Lord in their lives. 

I am very thankful for the young people, for Martha Jo, and Tammy, and for ALLYSON for putting all of this together!! 

A New Church Year

Let’s get to the heart of the matter – it’s a new church year…do the right things for the right reasons this year!!  How many times do we look for reasons not to do what we know is right…in an effort to justify ourselves?  In my opinion, that is exactly what the scribes and Pharisees are doing in the scriptures we will look at...

Matthew 15:1-20

We will notice several things in this scripture that can help us as we seek to worship and serve the Lord.

First, notice that the Pharisees are trying to use their traditions to corner Jesus.  (TRAPPING JESUS W MANMADE RULES)

They are watching the disciples and they have not completed the ceremonial cleansing prior to eating.  This is a problem, not because of cleansing, but because of the laws.  You need to know that this part is manmade.  Jesus comes back at them by asking them why they don’t do the commandments of God but are willing to make sure that what they have instituted is done. 

They are more concerned about the process being done correctly than the actual reasoning behind it.  They are willing to put this ahead of other things.

Second, they are attempting to use God as a scapegoat from doing what they know they should.  (USING BIBLE TO THEIR BENEFIT)
They are instructed to take care of their parents.  However, their parents are struggling and need their help.  Instead of helping their parents, they are telling them that the money has been set aside for God later.  Problem is, that isn’t true…just a scapegoat.

Third, He quotes Isaiah 29:13…saying that they are more concerned with appearance than the heart . (NO HEART IN THE MATTER)

They want things to look good and want to follow the law for the sake of justification, but really have no love for God or heart in the matter

Fourth, Jesus clarifies that it is more important what comes out of the mouth, because it comes from the heart.
What you truly believe and what means something to you will show forth in your life…actions, speech, etc.  You can follow all of the laws and not care at all about serving Jesus.  It is about where your heart is.

Lastly, Jesus gives examples of what evil things can come out of an evil heart.

We don’t need to hide behind a process of worship and service…it is about loving God with your all and letting Him lead and guide you in service.  It isn’t about coming to church and singing songs and hearing a sermon…it is about coming to worship and offering yourself before the Lord

Loving the Lord is the most important thing we can do…our service, actions, speech should reflect that!

Throw Them Down and Build It Up

We celebrated Homecoming this past Sunday.  What a special time to see so many people come back "home" to visit and worship!  This Sunday was quite different from many.

We began by hearing an account of the woman who was caught in adultery and was brought to Jesus.  As we know, the purpose of the woman being there was just to put Jesus in an awkward position and have Him condemn this woman through stoning as was the law.  Instead, Jesus turned the situation around.  He had them look at themselves and the one without sin was to cast the first stone.  They, of course, dropped their stones and went away.  But, what about the woman?  Jesus is there for her, too.  He provides peace in this difficult storm.  He provides safety despite the circumstances.  He provides forgiveness as only He can do.  He provides a saving power that is unmatched.
So, I ask to you:

Have you felt the saving power of Jesus?  Have you felt the calm peace in the face of a storm in your life?  Jesus has rescued us all…we are all sinners.   One sin is not greater than the other.   We are all condemned.  We are only saved by the power of Jesus Christ.  We can know the same saving power as the woman in John 8.

 Let's think about the stones for just a moment.  In the story of the woman caught in adultery, stones were going to be used by the people of that day to kill.  They had already hurled stones at her before then.  They had hurled stones of bad looks…judgments…condemnation for what she had done – as if their sins were justified and hers not.  Jesus caused them to take a look at themselves and realize that their sins were no better than hers.  They were all sinners in need of saving grace.

I want to compare this with a scripture in the Old Testament that also talks about stones.  We talked last year about the memorial stones that Joshua placed after passing over the River Jordan.  That was a monumental event for God’s people.  He wanted to remember it.  I want to mention another Scripture as well:  1 Samuel 7:7-12

We can hurl stones at people – judge them for their actions – cast a glare because we think we know who they are…We would be forgetting that Jesus tells us to cast the first stone if we are without sin.

What happens?  Our stones begin to hit the ground.  We put them down…When we put them down…we should instead raise our Ebenezer…God has helped us.  We were sinful people who were condemned forever until the Redeeming blood of Jesus Christ…

Thus far, the Lord has helped us! 

What are you doing with your stones?  Are you casting them at “those people”…those people who are sinners just like you…OR are you raising your Ebenezer and letting others know that “thus far, the Lord has helped you…”  When we call on Him, He answers and helps…We can’t forget that.  When the Israelites called upon the Lord, He heard and rescued…the same happens for us.  For we serve a God that is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He is Unchanging…Faithful…Loving – and ALWAYS there!!  What will you do with your stone?  Let’s build an Ebenezer!! 

What would YOU say?

What if someone were to ask you what this “Christian stuff” is all about?  How do you answer someone who doesn’t get what Christianity is?  They see you come to church, maybe see that you are nice person, see how you react to difficulty…and now they want to know what it is all about.  What do you say?  It can be difficult because when posed with the question, we tend to stumble.  We can always go back to the standard – Jesus loves you.  But that doesn’t completely answer the question.  We could give them the pastor’s phone number and ask them to call him or her.  Maybe the pastor can answer better.  But, better yet…maybe we should all be prepared to answer.  We see in the New Testament that Paul was faced with a similar type of situation.  Acts 17:16-21

First, we see that Paul was in Athens and he noticed that there were many idols…and that these people had time on their hands…

Paul wasn’t afraid – he was confident in what he knew.  He debated with them and they must have heard what He was saying because they wanted to know what it all meant (it was new for them which they lived to hear new things).

Paul had several things to say…Acts 17:22-34

What did Paul say?  I have selected five main themes that I think will help us as we uncover what Paul said to those in Athens: 

1 – Paul looked around and observed his surroundings – he met them where they were – looked at the altar “To the Unknown God”.  He knew they spent much time worshipping these gods – so he wanted to tell them about the One True God.  He didn’t insult them, but started with what they knew.  As he looked at the altar of the Unknown God, Paul went on to explain who this God was that they didn’t know.

2 - He explained the difference in the God he served and their gods(verses 24-25) – Creator God, isn’t reliant on humans to help Him, gives life and breath to all things.  Their idols would be have been quite dependent on them and would not be considered creators.

3 – Shared how this Creator God is also a personal God (verse 26-28) – God created man that can seek Him, find Him and have hope in Him and He is not far from each of us – our life is found in Him.  It isn’t that God is one sitting high and mighty in heaven and doesn’t care about us or want to have a relationship with us.  This is also something quite different than they were use to.  They were not use to a personal relationship with their gods.

4 – Since we are God’s and we were formed by God, we shouldn’t think that God would be formed in gold or silver or stone or in an image that humans can come up with (verse 29).  God doesn’t want any other gods before Him and he certainly isn’t competing with something made by humans.

5 – There was a time of ignorance, but that excuse isn’t good enough anymore – There will be a day of judgment where all would be held accountable for their actions and now there is a call to repentance because of Jesus Christ (verse 30-31)

Here is the kicker – Jesus is introduced – as judge and redeemer…this would either open their eyes if their hearts were ready or turn them away…

Because Paul was willing to stick up for what he believed and tell them what it meant to follow Jesus, there were some who became believers.

What would you say if someone asked you about the God you served? 

Our Lifestyle...

I wanted us to continue to look at what it means to have our lifestyle match our worship.  James 1:19-27 is the Scripture.  I sum up this text like this:  "Our Mouths, Hearts, Hands AND Feet should all be in one accord with the Lord." 
In order to begin looking at ourselves, we need to compare ourselves with the Word.  It is as if we are looking into a mirror, except the Bible is our guide for how we are to be.  When we compare ourselves with the Word of God, we find that we are sinners...we find that we are not perfect...we find that we fall short...we find that we need God!  We realize that we need God more than ever and it is quite a humbling experience.  When we look at ourselves compared to the Word, several things may appear: 
What we say should reflect the love of Jesus - not filled with gossip, hate, hurt, filth. 
What we believe should be directly in tune with the Word of God.
Our hearts should be in tune with the Word and with the Lord because we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
What we believe and have in our hearts, what we say with our mouths, should then be reflected in our actions.
It is often said that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  It is difficult to be the hands and feet of Jesus if we don't know Him, don't have a relationship with Him and/or don't listen to Him.
We can talk a good game and might even believe some good things, but if we don't act on what we know in the Word, it is useless. 
We are called to love, called to serve, called to be obedient...
May our mouths, our hearts, our hands, and our feet be in one accord WITH the Lord!

Transformed...

Do you ever feel like you need to justify yourself or make yourself feel better by looking at the good things you do?  You go to church...you pray some...maybe even open your Bible occassionally...then there was the time you helped that person...and that other time you went out of your way for the other person...
Why do we want to make ourselves feel better?  We may do this because we feel guilty for something - may not know what, but guilty and want to feel better about ourselves.  Maybe we don't feel guilty...but maybe slighted by God because He didn't answer our prayers the way we wanted or do exactly what we wanted...and look at all the good things we have done - we can name them all!!
We aren't the first to feel this way...Isaiah 58 tells us about a people who were feeling quite justified themselves...READ IT...
This scripture begins with a proclamation...God wants Isaiah to shout it out...get their attention!!  The prophet was to let them know about their sins (just like the Holy Spirit does today).  Too many times we do not see our sins (we can find them in someone else though).  God sees our sins and wants us to be aware of where we are straying away from Him. 
Here was a problem with the Israelites...they were doing the right things the right way - but not for the right reasons.  They were going to "church" and doing their daily devotions and fasting and praying and approaching God...but they were doing it so God would take note of what they were doing...in turn so they would get a blessing...
God didn't accept their sacrifice though...Reminds me of the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis...
God explained to them that they were doing all of these things but continuing in their sins all week long.  They would "do church" but go about their sins the rest of the week without any regard to God or His proclamations.  Their worship was shallow...no substance.  They weren't really there to worship the Holy One.
How about us?  Is our worship shallow because we aren't willing to follow the Lord all week long?  Our lives should be TRANSFORMED as we devote ourselves to Him.  Our lives should reflect that we have been with the Lord...that we have spent time with Him...that we have devoted ourselves to Him.  When our lives are transformed, we can serve God and in turn, serve others...
When we do the right things for the right reasons, then lives are changed (including ours!)  When we do these things, God recognizes this.  He provides mercy...He hears our cries...He provides the ultimate direction.
Why do you worship?  Just going through the motions or really giving yourself completely and totally to Him?  Let us be TRANSFORMED!