Another year is almost over. Hard to believe. They seem to go by so quickly. Its hard to believe that we have served at KP now eleven years this coming Sunday. We pastored at Terre Haute ten years and nine months. But I think this one has went by even faster with Gabe practically spending all of his school years here in Ohio. We've enjoyed our pastorate here. This area has great people and it is beautiful country. The KP congregation has been great to pastor. Its been an adventurous journey. But Annette says everywhere we go is adventurous. I wonder what she means by that?
What's your plans for New Years Eve? For us, we will go to church and hopefully will say good night to 2009 before 2010 officially arrives. I really believe Jesus could come back for His church in 2010. I'm not just saying that, I really believe it could happen. If it doesn't, then I will expect him in 2011. All the signs we see right now in the bible are pointing us to what will happen in the Tribulation period. You might not think they way I do, but I am anxiously awaiting the coming of Christ. I'm ready to get rescued out of here! This world is a mess and its only going to get worse. It may be called the Rapture, but it could also be called the Rescue. Either way "Come Quickly Lord Jesus!"
-Pastor Randy
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday Wrap Up...21 Day Fast Begins Friday
Good service today! A little different than normal, but God's spirit spoke his word to us today. A great report from Ron regarding the mission Saturday morning. Wow, what a great group...thirty-nine people showing up at 4.45 am to go to serve homeless people. Unbelievable! Thank you to all who attended.
We will be doing our 21 day fast again this year. The fast begins Friday. It's your choice on what kind of fast. Please pray about participating. What's the purpose of such a fast? First of all, to get "tuned in" to the voice and will of God. Secondly, to offer your first 21 days as a kind of first fruits to God. Believe me, he will bless you during and after the fast. Thirdly, it will bring some discipline to your life. And there are many other purposes of a fast.
You can fast one meal a day. You could fast two meals a day. You could fast food until 3 pm a day (Jewish fast). You could do a vegetable and water fast. You could do a television fast. You could abstain from food all together and drink just fluids. There are all kinds of fasts, but pray about it and you might even see some web sites on fasting or read some a book on fasting. Just be led of the Spirit of God. He will bless you and the church as we fast and pray together in January.
Have a wonderful week!
-Pastor Randy
We will be doing our 21 day fast again this year. The fast begins Friday. It's your choice on what kind of fast. Please pray about participating. What's the purpose of such a fast? First of all, to get "tuned in" to the voice and will of God. Secondly, to offer your first 21 days as a kind of first fruits to God. Believe me, he will bless you during and after the fast. Thirdly, it will bring some discipline to your life. And there are many other purposes of a fast.
You can fast one meal a day. You could fast two meals a day. You could fast food until 3 pm a day (Jewish fast). You could do a vegetable and water fast. You could do a television fast. You could abstain from food all together and drink just fluids. There are all kinds of fasts, but pray about it and you might even see some web sites on fasting or read some a book on fasting. Just be led of the Spirit of God. He will bless you and the church as we fast and pray together in January.
Have a wonderful week!
-Pastor Randy
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Some Very Special People...
Season greetings everyone! Only a few more days to the BIG DAY. I hope that you are done with your Christmas shopping. If not, I hope you like crowds, parking problems, traffic, impatient people. and pressure. Because that's what you have to look forward too.
While growing up, I had a uncle who would go to the local drug store and buy all of his Christmas presents on Christmas Eve night. He was a divorced single and worked two jobs, so it worked for him. However, his gifts were always interesting and of course never wrapped. But I thought that was cool...no suspense, just open the bag and there it was. He probably still shops like that today...some 40 years later. But at least, he was thoughtful enough to get us something.
Annette works today and I am doing a combination of ministry work, some home stuff, and making some calls today. Yesterday, the staff and I had some wonderful visits with Nona Moore, Rick and Kathy, and then afterwards we visited with Betty Noe and Imogene Halcomb. Both Nona and Imogene are such beautiful saints of God. They were a great blessing to our church body for a lot of years. I have never pastored anyone in 29 years of ministry as positive and supportive of the church and her pastor as Nona Moore. Matter of fact, if you knew her you would agree that a negative or critical word about anyone ever came out of her mouth. I am sure she was tempted like all of us with such thoughts. But she was never known to give into them. What a wonderful example of the attitude of Christ! And Imogene, what a great sense of humor! Ima was always teasing, laughing, and having a good time. I visited her many times and talked with her at church before she could no longer come due to health reasons. I never heard her complain. She seemed to always be content no matter her circumstances. Merry Christmas to these beautiful saints of God and their families from Kings Point. We will never forget them.
Merry Christmas everyone!
-Pastor Randy
While growing up, I had a uncle who would go to the local drug store and buy all of his Christmas presents on Christmas Eve night. He was a divorced single and worked two jobs, so it worked for him. However, his gifts were always interesting and of course never wrapped. But I thought that was cool...no suspense, just open the bag and there it was. He probably still shops like that today...some 40 years later. But at least, he was thoughtful enough to get us something.
Annette works today and I am doing a combination of ministry work, some home stuff, and making some calls today. Yesterday, the staff and I had some wonderful visits with Nona Moore, Rick and Kathy, and then afterwards we visited with Betty Noe and Imogene Halcomb. Both Nona and Imogene are such beautiful saints of God. They were a great blessing to our church body for a lot of years. I have never pastored anyone in 29 years of ministry as positive and supportive of the church and her pastor as Nona Moore. Matter of fact, if you knew her you would agree that a negative or critical word about anyone ever came out of her mouth. I am sure she was tempted like all of us with such thoughts. But she was never known to give into them. What a wonderful example of the attitude of Christ! And Imogene, what a great sense of humor! Ima was always teasing, laughing, and having a good time. I visited her many times and talked with her at church before she could no longer come due to health reasons. I never heard her complain. She seemed to always be content no matter her circumstances. Merry Christmas to these beautiful saints of God and their families from Kings Point. We will never forget them.
Merry Christmas everyone!
-Pastor Randy
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday Wrap Up
Top Seven Moments From Today
7. Delicious fudge, cookies, and candy prepared tonight for after the service. Some how a lot of it came home with me tonight.
6. Great fellowship throughout today with God's people!
5. Both choirs did a beautiful job tonight. It was really good!
4. Opportunities to preach the gospel today.
3. Widows and Fatherless dinner
2. Powerful ministry to so many hurting people this morning in the altars. It was a tough week for a lot of people. God's grace is sufficient.
1. Christina and Verrick (Mother & Son) received Christ this morning. Possibly many others in tonight's service.
Please remember this week in your prayers the Tim Studdard family and Stan and Gail. Everyone have a wonderful week!
-Pastor Randy
7. Delicious fudge, cookies, and candy prepared tonight for after the service. Some how a lot of it came home with me tonight.
6. Great fellowship throughout today with God's people!
5. Both choirs did a beautiful job tonight. It was really good!
4. Opportunities to preach the gospel today.
3. Widows and Fatherless dinner
2. Powerful ministry to so many hurting people this morning in the altars. It was a tough week for a lot of people. God's grace is sufficient.
1. Christina and Verrick (Mother & Son) received Christ this morning. Possibly many others in tonight's service.
Please remember this week in your prayers the Tim Studdard family and Stan and Gail. Everyone have a wonderful week!
-Pastor Randy
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Countdown to Sunday..."Obtaining Real Revival" [please read!]
OBTAINING Real REVIVAL
-Leonard Ravenhill
Revival..... another definition would be to recover, repair or restore.
Hosea 10:12 says: "Sow to yourself in righteousness, reap in
mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord
till He come and reign righteousness upon you." What is fallow
ground? Fallow ground is ground that has been fruitful, and then
it has been plowed over, and no seed has been sown in it, and
therefore it has become unproductive.
Notice, there is a human emphasis here -- it says that we are to
break up -- you break up your fallow ground.
Now take another aspect of it here in Psalm 85:6 - "Would Thou
not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee." So,
there is an absence of joy, of vitality -- there is an absence of
ecstasy. The very word "revive" presupposes life. You can only
revive what has already had vitality -- life that has become sick,
weak, or apathetic. I think the nearest analogy I can give you is
a recent case of a man who apparently drowned. He had been
under the water for an incredible amount of time. Then somebody
pulled him out and worked and worked on him, and eventually life
came again. This is actually what it means to revive,
It means to revitalize.
It means to restore lost power.
It means to recover lost energy.
In the Acts of the Apostles 3:19 we read, "Repent ye therefore,
and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
Whatever else we say about revival we have to recognize this,
that revival is an act of mercy in the sovereignty of God. There
is a vast difference between revival and evangelism. When we
speak of revival in America we think of church advertising, "Our
revival will begin next Sunday night at a certain time and it is
going to finish the next Sunday night at a certain time."
Obviously this is something purely mechanical, it is something
which men have engineered. I think that one of the offenses of
revival, in the historic sense, is that it cannot be organized.
As Doctor Tozer said, "When revival comes it changes the moral
climate of a community." You can have revival that covers a church -
Spurgeon had that. You can have a revival that covers a city. You
can have a revival that covers the whole nation -- and I am thinking
in this context more than in the other contexts (though sometimes
revival spreads from here to there -- like fire spreads.) Revival
cannot be organized -- evangelism can be organized. Revival cannot
be subsidized --evangelism can and usually it must be. Revival
cannot be advertised --evangelism can.
It may cost millions of dollars, as it often does, to have one of our
huge, modern, so called revivals. You have to pay vast sums of
money for time on TV, for example -- perhaps a million dollars a
night. That's incredible, that's unthinkable to me in the context of
Biblical revival, or even historical revival. Why doesn't revival need
to be advertised? For the simple reason, that fire is the most self
advertising thing that there is, whether it is a physical fire or a
revival fire. It draws people like a magnet. To bring this down to
modern technology -- revival cannot be computerized. There is
information thatyou can put in computer and presto, you get the
answer predicting an outcome according to the facts that were put
in. But you cannot computerize or predict revival.
There are periods in which one thing predominates.
Sometimes revival is totally taken over by sorrow.
Sometimes revival is totally taken over by joy, ecstasy 'till
you don't know whether you are in the flesh or whether you've
gone out of the earth. Sometimes revival is taken over by
stillness.
There are times when you go to a prayer meeting and the power of
God is there. There is stillness and you feel it is creative. You feel,
"Now something is building up around here, somebody is going to
come out shortly with a heart bursting... with some agonizing
prayer..." Revival cannot be rationalized. Again, one of the offensive
things about revival is you can't put your finger on the spot, usually,
as to how or why or where it began. It is supremely an act of God.
You find a man would go with a series of messages to a community
and before long that community is alive, it's throbbing. He goes to
another town with exactly the same group of men, the same type
of prayer is poured out, the same sweat and soul travail and there
is no response. You can't predict and you can't organize revival.
Why? Because you can't organize where the wind is coming from.
The Spirit, the wind, bloweth where it listeth. If you say it's going
to come this way, it comes that way. If you say God's going to use
that man, very often He doesn't even bother with that man. Revival
so often comes through unknown characters.
I don't think the world has ever been in a greater sense of turmoil
than it is in this moment. I don't think our nation has. Whatever we
shall say about revival we have to recognize this: There are three
things about natural life: conception, gestation, and birth. You can't
alter the program. There has never been revival, that I can trace,
that has not been preceded by agonizing prayer. You might say,
"I haven't got to that stage yet of agonizing prayer. How does is
come?" Well, it comes through VISION. If we are really going to
get a concept of revival we have to get a vision of God's sorrow over
sin. We have to get a concept of how, day by day, we offend God.
As a nation we offend God in millions of ways.
When I was praying in the Bahamas one day, I saw a great
column of smoke, which happened to be coming from tires that
were being burned. It was as black as could be, and over there
I saw a wisp of smoke going up from the ground. I didn't think
much of it until about a year after, I was praying and the Lord
said, "That volume of black, thick smoke is like the volume of
sin that goes up every day." All the blasphemy, all the unbelief,
all the dirty stories, all the lying, all the deception, all sex-
perversion, all drunkenness-- this tremendous column of iniquity
goes up in the sight of God. And here you have a little wisp -- of
what? That is the praise that God gets out of His people. If we are
going to realize how much we need revival we need to recognize
the dimension of sin. We have to recognize that sin offends God.
Psalm 85:4 says, "Turn us, O God of our salvation and cause
Thine anger towards us to cease. Wilt Thou be angry with us
forever?" Psalm 80 verse 3, "Turn us again, O God, and cause
Thy face to shine." Notice, it's repeated again in verse 7 and in
verse 19, "...cause Thy face to shine"..."cause Thy face to shine."
Thank you for reading this. This kind of revival really is the last remaining hope for America. "God start with me."
-Pastor Randy
-Leonard Ravenhill
Revival..... another definition would be to recover, repair or restore.
Hosea 10:12 says: "Sow to yourself in righteousness, reap in
mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord
till He come and reign righteousness upon you." What is fallow
ground? Fallow ground is ground that has been fruitful, and then
it has been plowed over, and no seed has been sown in it, and
therefore it has become unproductive.
Notice, there is a human emphasis here -- it says that we are to
break up -- you break up your fallow ground.
Now take another aspect of it here in Psalm 85:6 - "Would Thou
not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee." So,
there is an absence of joy, of vitality -- there is an absence of
ecstasy. The very word "revive" presupposes life. You can only
revive what has already had vitality -- life that has become sick,
weak, or apathetic. I think the nearest analogy I can give you is
a recent case of a man who apparently drowned. He had been
under the water for an incredible amount of time. Then somebody
pulled him out and worked and worked on him, and eventually life
came again. This is actually what it means to revive,
It means to revitalize.
It means to restore lost power.
It means to recover lost energy.
In the Acts of the Apostles 3:19 we read, "Repent ye therefore,
and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
Whatever else we say about revival we have to recognize this,
that revival is an act of mercy in the sovereignty of God. There
is a vast difference between revival and evangelism. When we
speak of revival in America we think of church advertising, "Our
revival will begin next Sunday night at a certain time and it is
going to finish the next Sunday night at a certain time."
Obviously this is something purely mechanical, it is something
which men have engineered. I think that one of the offenses of
revival, in the historic sense, is that it cannot be organized.
As Doctor Tozer said, "When revival comes it changes the moral
climate of a community." You can have revival that covers a church -
Spurgeon had that. You can have a revival that covers a city. You
can have a revival that covers the whole nation -- and I am thinking
in this context more than in the other contexts (though sometimes
revival spreads from here to there -- like fire spreads.) Revival
cannot be organized -- evangelism can be organized. Revival cannot
be subsidized --evangelism can and usually it must be. Revival
cannot be advertised --evangelism can.
It may cost millions of dollars, as it often does, to have one of our
huge, modern, so called revivals. You have to pay vast sums of
money for time on TV, for example -- perhaps a million dollars a
night. That's incredible, that's unthinkable to me in the context of
Biblical revival, or even historical revival. Why doesn't revival need
to be advertised? For the simple reason, that fire is the most self
advertising thing that there is, whether it is a physical fire or a
revival fire. It draws people like a magnet. To bring this down to
modern technology -- revival cannot be computerized. There is
information thatyou can put in computer and presto, you get the
answer predicting an outcome according to the facts that were put
in. But you cannot computerize or predict revival.
There are periods in which one thing predominates.
Sometimes revival is totally taken over by sorrow.
Sometimes revival is totally taken over by joy, ecstasy 'till
you don't know whether you are in the flesh or whether you've
gone out of the earth. Sometimes revival is taken over by
stillness.
There are times when you go to a prayer meeting and the power of
God is there. There is stillness and you feel it is creative. You feel,
"Now something is building up around here, somebody is going to
come out shortly with a heart bursting... with some agonizing
prayer..." Revival cannot be rationalized. Again, one of the offensive
things about revival is you can't put your finger on the spot, usually,
as to how or why or where it began. It is supremely an act of God.
You find a man would go with a series of messages to a community
and before long that community is alive, it's throbbing. He goes to
another town with exactly the same group of men, the same type
of prayer is poured out, the same sweat and soul travail and there
is no response. You can't predict and you can't organize revival.
Why? Because you can't organize where the wind is coming from.
The Spirit, the wind, bloweth where it listeth. If you say it's going
to come this way, it comes that way. If you say God's going to use
that man, very often He doesn't even bother with that man. Revival
so often comes through unknown characters.
I don't think the world has ever been in a greater sense of turmoil
than it is in this moment. I don't think our nation has. Whatever we
shall say about revival we have to recognize this: There are three
things about natural life: conception, gestation, and birth. You can't
alter the program. There has never been revival, that I can trace,
that has not been preceded by agonizing prayer. You might say,
"I haven't got to that stage yet of agonizing prayer. How does is
come?" Well, it comes through VISION. If we are really going to
get a concept of revival we have to get a vision of God's sorrow over
sin. We have to get a concept of how, day by day, we offend God.
As a nation we offend God in millions of ways.
When I was praying in the Bahamas one day, I saw a great
column of smoke, which happened to be coming from tires that
were being burned. It was as black as could be, and over there
I saw a wisp of smoke going up from the ground. I didn't think
much of it until about a year after, I was praying and the Lord
said, "That volume of black, thick smoke is like the volume of
sin that goes up every day." All the blasphemy, all the unbelief,
all the dirty stories, all the lying, all the deception, all sex-
perversion, all drunkenness-- this tremendous column of iniquity
goes up in the sight of God. And here you have a little wisp -- of
what? That is the praise that God gets out of His people. If we are
going to realize how much we need revival we need to recognize
the dimension of sin. We have to recognize that sin offends God.
Psalm 85:4 says, "Turn us, O God of our salvation and cause
Thine anger towards us to cease. Wilt Thou be angry with us
forever?" Psalm 80 verse 3, "Turn us again, O God, and cause
Thy face to shine." Notice, it's repeated again in verse 7 and in
verse 19, "...cause Thy face to shine"..."cause Thy face to shine."
Thank you for reading this. This kind of revival really is the last remaining hope for America. "God start with me."
-Pastor Randy
Friday, December 18, 2009
How to Restore a Relationship, part two
[continued from Thursday's blog]
4. Confess your part of the conflict. If you are serious about restoring a relationship, you should begin with admitting your own mistakes or sin. Jesus said it's the way to see things more clearly: "First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." (Matt. 7:5, NLT)
Since we all have blind spots, you may need to ask a third party to help you evaluate your own actions before meeting with the person with whom you have a conflict. Also, ask God to show you how much of the problem is your fault. Ask, "Am I the problem? Am I being unrealistic, insensitive, or too sensitive?" The Bible says, "If we claim that we're free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves." (1 John 1:8, Msg)
Confession is a powerful tool for reconciliation. Often the way we handle a conflict creates a bigger hurt than the original problem itself. When you begin by humbly admitting your mistakes, it defuses the other person's anger and disarms their attack because they were probably expecting you to be defensive. Don't make excuses or shift the blame; just honestly own up to any part you have played in the conflict. Accept responsibility for your mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
5. Attack the problem, not the person. You cannot fix the problem if you're consumed with fixing the blame. You must choose between the two. The Bible says, "A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." (Prov. 15:1, Msg) You will never get your point across by being cross, so choose your words wisely. A soft answer is always better than a sarcastic one.
In resolving conflict, how you say it is as important as what you say. If you say it offensively, it will be received defensively. God tells us, "A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is." (Prov. 16:21, TEV) Nagging never works. You are never persuasive when you're abrasive.
During the Cold War, both sides agreed that some weapons were so destructive they should never be used. For the sake of fellowship, you must destroy your arsenal of relational nuclear weapons, including condemning, belittling, comparing, labeling, insulting, condescending, and being sarcastic. Paul sums it up this way: "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you." (Eph. 4:29, TEV)
6. Cooperate as much as possible. Paul said, "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody." (Rom. 12:18, TEV) Peace always has a price tag. Sometimes it costs our pride; it often costs our self-centeredness. For the sake of fellowship, do your best to compromise, adjust to others, and show preference to what they need. A paraphrase of Jesus' seventh beatitude says, "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family."
7. Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution. It is unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem. When we focus on reconciliation, the problem loses significance and often becomes irrelevant.
We can re-establish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences. Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. The same diamond looks different from different angles. God expects unity, not uniformity, and we can walk arm in arm without seeing eye to eye on every issue.
This doesn't mean you give up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing and even debating - but you do it in a spirit of harmony. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.
Have a nice weekend!
-Pastor
4. Confess your part of the conflict. If you are serious about restoring a relationship, you should begin with admitting your own mistakes or sin. Jesus said it's the way to see things more clearly: "First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." (Matt. 7:5, NLT)
Since we all have blind spots, you may need to ask a third party to help you evaluate your own actions before meeting with the person with whom you have a conflict. Also, ask God to show you how much of the problem is your fault. Ask, "Am I the problem? Am I being unrealistic, insensitive, or too sensitive?" The Bible says, "If we claim that we're free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves." (1 John 1:8, Msg)
Confession is a powerful tool for reconciliation. Often the way we handle a conflict creates a bigger hurt than the original problem itself. When you begin by humbly admitting your mistakes, it defuses the other person's anger and disarms their attack because they were probably expecting you to be defensive. Don't make excuses or shift the blame; just honestly own up to any part you have played in the conflict. Accept responsibility for your mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
5. Attack the problem, not the person. You cannot fix the problem if you're consumed with fixing the blame. You must choose between the two. The Bible says, "A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." (Prov. 15:1, Msg) You will never get your point across by being cross, so choose your words wisely. A soft answer is always better than a sarcastic one.
In resolving conflict, how you say it is as important as what you say. If you say it offensively, it will be received defensively. God tells us, "A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is." (Prov. 16:21, TEV) Nagging never works. You are never persuasive when you're abrasive.
During the Cold War, both sides agreed that some weapons were so destructive they should never be used. For the sake of fellowship, you must destroy your arsenal of relational nuclear weapons, including condemning, belittling, comparing, labeling, insulting, condescending, and being sarcastic. Paul sums it up this way: "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you." (Eph. 4:29, TEV)
6. Cooperate as much as possible. Paul said, "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody." (Rom. 12:18, TEV) Peace always has a price tag. Sometimes it costs our pride; it often costs our self-centeredness. For the sake of fellowship, do your best to compromise, adjust to others, and show preference to what they need. A paraphrase of Jesus' seventh beatitude says, "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family."
7. Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution. It is unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem. When we focus on reconciliation, the problem loses significance and often becomes irrelevant.
We can re-establish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences. Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. The same diamond looks different from different angles. God expects unity, not uniformity, and we can walk arm in arm without seeing eye to eye on every issue.
This doesn't mean you give up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing and even debating - but you do it in a spirit of harmony. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.
Have a nice weekend!
-Pastor
Thursday, December 17, 2009
How to Restore a Relationship
Here are seven biblical steps to restoring fellowship:
1. Talk to God before talking to the person. Discuss the problem with God. If you will pray about the conflict first instead of gossiping to a friend, you will often discover that either God changes your heart or he changes the other person without your help. All your relationships would go smoother if you would just pray more about them.
As David did with his Psalms, use prayer to ventilate vertically. Tell God your frustrations. Cry out to him. He’s never surprised or upset by your anger, hurt, insecurity, or any other emotions. So tell him exactly how you feel. The apostle James noted that many of our conflicts are caused by prayerlessness: "What causes fights and quarrels among you?… You want something but don't get it.… You do not have, because you do not ask God." (James 4:1-2, NIV) Instead of looking to God, we look to others to make us happy and then get angry when they fail us. God says, "Why don't you come to me first?"
2. Always take the initiative. It doesn't matter whether you are the offender or the offended. God expects you to make the first move. Don't wait for the other party. Go to them first. Restoring broken fellowship is so important, Jesus commanded that it even take priority over group worship. He said, "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." (Matt. 5:23-24, Msg)
When fellowship is strained or broken, plan a peace conference immediately. Don't procrastinate, make excuses, or promise, "I'll get around to it someday." Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse. In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurts to fester.
Acting quickly also reduces the spiritual damage to you. The Bible says sin, including unresolved conflict, blocks our fellowship with God and keeps our prayers from being answered, besides making us miserable. Job's friends reminded him, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do," (Job 5:2, TEV) and "You're only hurting yourself with your anger." (Job 18:4, TEV)
The success of a peace conference often depends on choosing the right time and place to meet. Don't meet when either of you are tired, rushed or could be interrupted. The best time is when you both are at your best.
3. Sympathize with their feelings. Use your ears more than your mouth. Before attempting to solve any disagreement you must first listen to people's feelings. Paul advised, "Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own." (Philip. 2:4, TEV) The phrase "look out for" is the Greek word skopos, from which we form our words telescope and microscope. It means pay close attention! Focus on their feelings, not the facts. Begin with sympathy, not solutions.
Don't try to talk people out of how they feel at first. Just listen and let them unload emotionally without being defensive. Nod that you understand even when you don't agree. Feelings are not always true or logical. In fact, resentment makes us act and think in foolish ways. David admitted, "When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal." (Psalm 73:21-22, TEV) We all act beastly when hurt.
In contrast, the Bible says, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." (Prov. 19:11, NIV) Patience comes from wisdom, and wisdom comes from hearing the perspective of others. Listening says, "I value your opinion, I care about our relationship, and you matter to me." The cliché is true: People don't care what we know until they know we care.
To restore fellowship "we must bear the 'burden' of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others ... Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good." (Rom. 15:2, LB) It is a sacrifice to patiently absorb the anger of others, especially if it's unfounded. But remember, this is what Jesus did for you. He endured unfounded, malicious anger in order to save you. "Christ did not indulge his own feelings ... as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me." (Rom. 15:3, NJB)
To be continued on Friday...
-Pastor
1. Talk to God before talking to the person. Discuss the problem with God. If you will pray about the conflict first instead of gossiping to a friend, you will often discover that either God changes your heart or he changes the other person without your help. All your relationships would go smoother if you would just pray more about them.
As David did with his Psalms, use prayer to ventilate vertically. Tell God your frustrations. Cry out to him. He’s never surprised or upset by your anger, hurt, insecurity, or any other emotions. So tell him exactly how you feel. The apostle James noted that many of our conflicts are caused by prayerlessness: "What causes fights and quarrels among you?… You want something but don't get it.… You do not have, because you do not ask God." (James 4:1-2, NIV) Instead of looking to God, we look to others to make us happy and then get angry when they fail us. God says, "Why don't you come to me first?"
2. Always take the initiative. It doesn't matter whether you are the offender or the offended. God expects you to make the first move. Don't wait for the other party. Go to them first. Restoring broken fellowship is so important, Jesus commanded that it even take priority over group worship. He said, "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." (Matt. 5:23-24, Msg)
When fellowship is strained or broken, plan a peace conference immediately. Don't procrastinate, make excuses, or promise, "I'll get around to it someday." Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse. In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurts to fester.
Acting quickly also reduces the spiritual damage to you. The Bible says sin, including unresolved conflict, blocks our fellowship with God and keeps our prayers from being answered, besides making us miserable. Job's friends reminded him, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do," (Job 5:2, TEV) and "You're only hurting yourself with your anger." (Job 18:4, TEV)
The success of a peace conference often depends on choosing the right time and place to meet. Don't meet when either of you are tired, rushed or could be interrupted. The best time is when you both are at your best.
3. Sympathize with their feelings. Use your ears more than your mouth. Before attempting to solve any disagreement you must first listen to people's feelings. Paul advised, "Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own." (Philip. 2:4, TEV) The phrase "look out for" is the Greek word skopos, from which we form our words telescope and microscope. It means pay close attention! Focus on their feelings, not the facts. Begin with sympathy, not solutions.
Don't try to talk people out of how they feel at first. Just listen and let them unload emotionally without being defensive. Nod that you understand even when you don't agree. Feelings are not always true or logical. In fact, resentment makes us act and think in foolish ways. David admitted, "When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal." (Psalm 73:21-22, TEV) We all act beastly when hurt.
In contrast, the Bible says, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." (Prov. 19:11, NIV) Patience comes from wisdom, and wisdom comes from hearing the perspective of others. Listening says, "I value your opinion, I care about our relationship, and you matter to me." The cliché is true: People don't care what we know until they know we care.
To restore fellowship "we must bear the 'burden' of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others ... Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good." (Rom. 15:2, LB) It is a sacrifice to patiently absorb the anger of others, especially if it's unfounded. But remember, this is what Jesus did for you. He endured unfounded, malicious anger in order to save you. "Christ did not indulge his own feelings ... as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me." (Rom. 15:3, NJB)
To be continued on Friday...
-Pastor
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Ten Mindless Thoughts Today (well some of them are!)
We are just nine days away from Christmas. I hope you are ready. Just in case you are interested, here are ten thoughts today from my contorted mind concerning this Christmas season.
1. I am excited about this weekend. Sunday's going to be a great Christmas celebration at Kings Point. Mrs Baker, choir director at Little Miami High School does an amazing job. You will be blessed as these young people celebrate Christmas with us Sunday evening.
2. We are preparing for the Widow's Christmas dinner Sunday at 1 p.m. Its always a great time!
3. I am still buying Annette and Gabe's Christmas...got any ideas?
4. So far it seems like we are getting fewer Christmas cards this year but more e-cards. Just noticing.
5. Hazel made us some great pumpkin bread again this year. Too good!
6. Undoubtedly, more people hurting and in need this year which means opportunities for us to help others.
7. Do you ever wonder how Atheists must feel during the Christmas season? It must be a pretty lonely calling. If you know one, be sure to buy them a nice Christmas present...like a bible.
8. Still trying to keep my weight down during the holiday season. So far, since Thanksgiving, I am +3 over par.
9. Right now, other than the Bible, I got four books I'm reading. 1) Church is a Team Sport 2)The Disciplined Life (almost done) 3)The Complete Book of Discipleship 4)The Imitation of Christ. If you got a reading recommendation, let me know.
10. Man, I dislike cold weather!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
1. I am excited about this weekend. Sunday's going to be a great Christmas celebration at Kings Point. Mrs Baker, choir director at Little Miami High School does an amazing job. You will be blessed as these young people celebrate Christmas with us Sunday evening.
2. We are preparing for the Widow's Christmas dinner Sunday at 1 p.m. Its always a great time!
3. I am still buying Annette and Gabe's Christmas...got any ideas?
4. So far it seems like we are getting fewer Christmas cards this year but more e-cards. Just noticing.
5. Hazel made us some great pumpkin bread again this year. Too good!
6. Undoubtedly, more people hurting and in need this year which means opportunities for us to help others.
7. Do you ever wonder how Atheists must feel during the Christmas season? It must be a pretty lonely calling. If you know one, be sure to buy them a nice Christmas present...like a bible.
8. Still trying to keep my weight down during the holiday season. So far, since Thanksgiving, I am +3 over par.
9. Right now, other than the Bible, I got four books I'm reading. 1) Church is a Team Sport 2)The Disciplined Life (almost done) 3)The Complete Book of Discipleship 4)The Imitation of Christ. If you got a reading recommendation, let me know.
10. Man, I dislike cold weather!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Five Biblical Principles When Facing a Devastating Crisis
Here are five biblical principles when you in the midst of massive crisis:
First, release your grief
People feel all sorts of emotions when they face crisis, such as fear, anger, worry, depression, resentment, helplessness, and grief. We must acknowledge these emotions before God. It does no good to stuff emotions or deny they exist. God created us to feel emotions, and he doesn't expect us to act happy when we’re grieving.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, NKJV). That means it’s OK to be honest about our grief. “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8, NLT) God wants to comfort us in tragedy. He is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Second, receive help from others
It’s a huge mistake to isolate yourself when you’re going through a crisis. We all need the support, encouragement, and presence of other people, particularly in the aftermath of tragedy. The Bible tells us that when we carry one another’s burdens, we obey the Law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Third, choose not to be bitter
We all have the power to decide how tragedy affects us. If we choose bitterness, then we’ll only end up hurting ourselves -- and we’ll also shut the door on our own happiness because we can’t be happy and bitter at the same time. One of the things I’ve learned through my three decades in ministry is that there’s absolutely no correlation in life between your experiences and your happiness. I’ve seen people go through shocking experiences who are able to maintain a happy, positive attitude, simply because they choose to do so. You are as happy as you choose to be.
Learn to focus on what’s left -- not what’s lost. God wants us to still be thankful for what we have. As I counsel people in crisis, I encourage them to make a list of all the good things in their lives. I find it is impossible to be grateful and depressed at the same time.
Fourth, see what is of real value
A crisis helps us clarify our values by showing us what really matters and what really doesn’t matter. Jesus said, “Life is not measured by how much one owns. ..." (Luke 12:15, NCV)What he’s saying is this: Don’t confuse your net worth with your self-worth. Don’t confuse your possessions with your purpose in life. A man’s life does not consist of what he possesses. A tragedy teaches you that the greatest things in the world aren’t things; what matters are relationships. The Apostle Paul said, “All those things that I thought were valuable just aren’t." What matters most is the health and safety of your family.
Finally, rely on Christ
The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens; I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11,13; NCV)If you want to be happy no matter what happens, do the following:
Lean on Christ for stability. “Such a person will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him.” (Psalm 112:6-7, LB)
Listen to Christ for direction. “'I know what I am planning for you,' says the Lord. 'I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NCV)
Look to Christ for salvation. “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea.” (Psalm 46:2, NCV)
A crisis creates a moment in your life when you can shift your dependence to something that can never be taken from you. Through it, God can teach us that we may lose our homes, our careers, our marriages, or our health, but we will never, ever lose our relationship with God. He promised to never leave us or forsake us -- and that’s an eternal security we can build our lives on.
“We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it ... we saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us ... And he did help us and save us ... and we expect him to do it again and again.” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, TLB)
-Pastor Randy
First, release your grief
People feel all sorts of emotions when they face crisis, such as fear, anger, worry, depression, resentment, helplessness, and grief. We must acknowledge these emotions before God. It does no good to stuff emotions or deny they exist. God created us to feel emotions, and he doesn't expect us to act happy when we’re grieving.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, NKJV). That means it’s OK to be honest about our grief. “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8, NLT) God wants to comfort us in tragedy. He is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Second, receive help from others
It’s a huge mistake to isolate yourself when you’re going through a crisis. We all need the support, encouragement, and presence of other people, particularly in the aftermath of tragedy. The Bible tells us that when we carry one another’s burdens, we obey the Law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Third, choose not to be bitter
We all have the power to decide how tragedy affects us. If we choose bitterness, then we’ll only end up hurting ourselves -- and we’ll also shut the door on our own happiness because we can’t be happy and bitter at the same time. One of the things I’ve learned through my three decades in ministry is that there’s absolutely no correlation in life between your experiences and your happiness. I’ve seen people go through shocking experiences who are able to maintain a happy, positive attitude, simply because they choose to do so. You are as happy as you choose to be.
Learn to focus on what’s left -- not what’s lost. God wants us to still be thankful for what we have. As I counsel people in crisis, I encourage them to make a list of all the good things in their lives. I find it is impossible to be grateful and depressed at the same time.
Fourth, see what is of real value
A crisis helps us clarify our values by showing us what really matters and what really doesn’t matter. Jesus said, “Life is not measured by how much one owns. ..." (Luke 12:15, NCV)What he’s saying is this: Don’t confuse your net worth with your self-worth. Don’t confuse your possessions with your purpose in life. A man’s life does not consist of what he possesses. A tragedy teaches you that the greatest things in the world aren’t things; what matters are relationships. The Apostle Paul said, “All those things that I thought were valuable just aren’t." What matters most is the health and safety of your family.
Finally, rely on Christ
The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens; I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11,13; NCV)If you want to be happy no matter what happens, do the following:
Lean on Christ for stability. “Such a person will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him.” (Psalm 112:6-7, LB)
Listen to Christ for direction. “'I know what I am planning for you,' says the Lord. 'I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NCV)
Look to Christ for salvation. “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea.” (Psalm 46:2, NCV)
A crisis creates a moment in your life when you can shift your dependence to something that can never be taken from you. Through it, God can teach us that we may lose our homes, our careers, our marriages, or our health, but we will never, ever lose our relationship with God. He promised to never leave us or forsake us -- and that’s an eternal security we can build our lives on.
“We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it ... we saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us ... And he did help us and save us ... and we expect him to do it again and again.” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, TLB)
-Pastor Randy
Monday, December 14, 2009
How You Can Be Used by God this Christmas
God is not arbitrary about who he chooses to use. The Bible says, "God is looking for people to use." And if you'll get useable, God will wear you out. You haven’t really lived until you experience being used by God to bless somebody else.
Some of you are saying, "God could never use me." You're wrong. Dead wrong! Not only can God use you, but he wants to use you.
Just look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mary. The Bible doesn’t say we’re to worship her. It doesn’t say she was perfect or sinless. In fact, what is special about Mary was her plain ordinariness. God took an ordinary woman and used her in an extraordinary way. That's what makes her special.
Mary had all kinds of fears, but she never let her fears control her. Instead, she modeled three attributes you must have in your life in order for God to use you. If you'll build them into your life, you'll find God using you in ways you can't even imagine.
1. God uses people who want to do his will.
If you want to be used by God, you've got to want to do his will more than anything else. God has a custom plan for you, but it's not automatic. You must choose to cooperate with God's purpose for your life or you'll miss it.
There are two attitudes that Mary showed that made it clear she wanted to be used by God. They’d also be good attributes for us to emulate.
• Enthusiasm. Shortly after an angel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Messiah, she sings, "Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:46-47a NLT) Does that sound like someone who is just grinning and bearing it? Of course not! Nothing great is ever done without enthusiasm. God wants you to be an enthusiastic participant in his plan.
• Humility. Then she says, "Thank you for thinking of your humble servant girl." (Luke 1: 48) None of us deserve to be used by God. We're all trophies of God's grace. Mary understood this. God works in our lives and blesses us because he wants to, not because we deserve it. We show God we want to do his will when we are humble.
What do you want most in life? To get married? To be financially independent, to make a million? To retire? You’ll need a greater life purpose or you’ll miss the boat. Some of those may be admirable goals – but they aren’t a life purpose.
In fact there’s really only one place to start when discovering God’s purpose for your life. "The thing you should want most is God's Kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you." (Matt. 6:33 NCV) It starts with a desire.
2. God uses people who decide to pay the cost.
There is always a cost in following God's plan for your life. You’ll have to give something up. And there will always be risks that will require you to step out in faith. That’s just part of being used by God.
Mary did this. She decided to take the chance, to risk, and to pay the cost. In Luke 1:38, she says, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." (Luke 1:38 NLT) Mary was willing to do anything – regardless of the cost. God knew that. That’s one of the reasons he used her in such a powerful way.
Can you imagine what it cost Mary to be the mother of Jesus?
• Her reputation. She was a virgin. She was pregnant. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. How are you going to explain that to everybody in the community?
• Her comfort. The Bible said Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem. She's in Nazareth. How would you like to be nine months pregnant and take a long journey on the back of a donkey? Do you think that was comfortable?
God's purpose for my life includes some problems. They're not accidental. They're part of the plan. And that's part of the cost.
3. God uses people who dare to trust His promises.
Mary was a woman of deep faith. She didn't have all the answers, but she knew who did, and she trusted him. Mary was a woman who was not afraid of the supernatural. She wasn't afraid of miracles.
The reason God doesn't do miracle in your life is you don't expect him to. You play it safe spiritually. When was the last time you waited to buy something and just prayed about it and gave God the chance to give it to you first? God uses people who dare to trust his promises.
Mary had every reason to be worried. She would carry a great responsibility. But instead of worrying, Mary worshiped. In fact she sang a song of worship to God in Luke 1. Why? She dared to trust his promises. Mary's cousin understood this. Elizabeth told her, "You believed that God would do what he said. That's why he has given you this wonderful blessing." (Luke 1:45 TLB)
If God can take a teenage girl, a poor peasant teenager with no education and choose her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, don't you think your excuse for not letting God use you is pretty puny? Many of you have enormous spiritual potential, but you just don't see it. God can see it. He has given you spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences. He doesn't mean for you to just use them on yourself. One day you will stand before God, and he will say, "What did you do with what I gave you?" What will your answer be?
It's Christmas time. Let me ask you a very personal question. What are you going to give Jesus for Christmas? It is his birthday. You've bought gifts for everybody else, but normally you buy a gift for the birthday boy. What can you give God?
Yourself.
Tell God this Christmas, "Here I am. All of me – the good, the bad, and the ugly. You do whatever you want to with it. I am yours in 2009 and 2010."
-Pastor Randy
Some of you are saying, "God could never use me." You're wrong. Dead wrong! Not only can God use you, but he wants to use you.
Just look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mary. The Bible doesn’t say we’re to worship her. It doesn’t say she was perfect or sinless. In fact, what is special about Mary was her plain ordinariness. God took an ordinary woman and used her in an extraordinary way. That's what makes her special.
Mary had all kinds of fears, but she never let her fears control her. Instead, she modeled three attributes you must have in your life in order for God to use you. If you'll build them into your life, you'll find God using you in ways you can't even imagine.
1. God uses people who want to do his will.
If you want to be used by God, you've got to want to do his will more than anything else. God has a custom plan for you, but it's not automatic. You must choose to cooperate with God's purpose for your life or you'll miss it.
There are two attitudes that Mary showed that made it clear she wanted to be used by God. They’d also be good attributes for us to emulate.
• Enthusiasm. Shortly after an angel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Messiah, she sings, "Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:46-47a NLT) Does that sound like someone who is just grinning and bearing it? Of course not! Nothing great is ever done without enthusiasm. God wants you to be an enthusiastic participant in his plan.
• Humility. Then she says, "Thank you for thinking of your humble servant girl." (Luke 1: 48) None of us deserve to be used by God. We're all trophies of God's grace. Mary understood this. God works in our lives and blesses us because he wants to, not because we deserve it. We show God we want to do his will when we are humble.
What do you want most in life? To get married? To be financially independent, to make a million? To retire? You’ll need a greater life purpose or you’ll miss the boat. Some of those may be admirable goals – but they aren’t a life purpose.
In fact there’s really only one place to start when discovering God’s purpose for your life. "The thing you should want most is God's Kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you." (Matt. 6:33 NCV) It starts with a desire.
2. God uses people who decide to pay the cost.
There is always a cost in following God's plan for your life. You’ll have to give something up. And there will always be risks that will require you to step out in faith. That’s just part of being used by God.
Mary did this. She decided to take the chance, to risk, and to pay the cost. In Luke 1:38, she says, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." (Luke 1:38 NLT) Mary was willing to do anything – regardless of the cost. God knew that. That’s one of the reasons he used her in such a powerful way.
Can you imagine what it cost Mary to be the mother of Jesus?
• Her reputation. She was a virgin. She was pregnant. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. How are you going to explain that to everybody in the community?
• Her comfort. The Bible said Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem. She's in Nazareth. How would you like to be nine months pregnant and take a long journey on the back of a donkey? Do you think that was comfortable?
God's purpose for my life includes some problems. They're not accidental. They're part of the plan. And that's part of the cost.
3. God uses people who dare to trust His promises.
Mary was a woman of deep faith. She didn't have all the answers, but she knew who did, and she trusted him. Mary was a woman who was not afraid of the supernatural. She wasn't afraid of miracles.
The reason God doesn't do miracle in your life is you don't expect him to. You play it safe spiritually. When was the last time you waited to buy something and just prayed about it and gave God the chance to give it to you first? God uses people who dare to trust his promises.
Mary had every reason to be worried. She would carry a great responsibility. But instead of worrying, Mary worshiped. In fact she sang a song of worship to God in Luke 1. Why? She dared to trust his promises. Mary's cousin understood this. Elizabeth told her, "You believed that God would do what he said. That's why he has given you this wonderful blessing." (Luke 1:45 TLB)
If God can take a teenage girl, a poor peasant teenager with no education and choose her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, don't you think your excuse for not letting God use you is pretty puny? Many of you have enormous spiritual potential, but you just don't see it. God can see it. He has given you spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences. He doesn't mean for you to just use them on yourself. One day you will stand before God, and he will say, "What did you do with what I gave you?" What will your answer be?
It's Christmas time. Let me ask you a very personal question. What are you going to give Jesus for Christmas? It is his birthday. You've bought gifts for everybody else, but normally you buy a gift for the birthday boy. What can you give God?
Yourself.
Tell God this Christmas, "Here I am. All of me – the good, the bad, and the ugly. You do whatever you want to with it. I am yours in 2009 and 2010."
-Pastor Randy
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday Wrap Up
It was good to be back today. I don't know how people stay out of church like they do. We usually take four Sundays off a year and I am always excited to get back. "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord."
I hope that you will prayerfully consider the challenge that I made to you this morning regarding the three goals that we have in 2010 and 2011. Please don't underestimate our God. All He needs is a people that is willing to hear his voice and obey. As we obey, God will bless every individual, family, as well as the church. Please be in prayer what you can do this year. Don't be afraid to step out and trust God for a miracle gift that you can give.
Didn't Beth Hines do a beautiful job this morning? She has such a sweet, humble spirit. And what a anointing she ministers under! Beth blessed us greatly today.
Everyone have a wonderful week! I'll be blogging every day this week. I hope to see you back here tomorrow.
-Pastor
I hope that you will prayerfully consider the challenge that I made to you this morning regarding the three goals that we have in 2010 and 2011. Please don't underestimate our God. All He needs is a people that is willing to hear his voice and obey. As we obey, God will bless every individual, family, as well as the church. Please be in prayer what you can do this year. Don't be afraid to step out and trust God for a miracle gift that you can give.
Didn't Beth Hines do a beautiful job this morning? She has such a sweet, humble spirit. And what a anointing she ministers under! Beth blessed us greatly today.
Everyone have a wonderful week! I'll be blogging every day this week. I hope to see you back here tomorrow.
-Pastor
Monday, December 7, 2009
Taking a Little Time Off This Week...A Christmas Classic
Most of you know I am taking a little time off this week. My mother is going in the hospital for surgery this week. Please remember her in your prayers. Also, remember the Phyllis Titus family in your prayers. Phyllis was a beautiful sister in the Lord who will be remembered for being so passionate about her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She is definitely our loss, but heaven's gain.
Annette and I shopped all day today. Afterwards, I worked out for an hour and then slept for a hour...it felt great! Enough about my boring self. Here's a beautiful classic. I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful week!
-Pastor
Christmas
by Peter Marshall
We yearn, our Father, for the simple beauty of Christmas -- for all the old famliar melodies and words that remind us of that great miracle when He who had made all things was one night to come as a babe, to lie in the crook of a woman's arm.
Before such mystery we kneel, as we follow the shepherds and Wise Men to bring Thee the gift of our love -- a love we confess has not always been as warm or sincere or real as it should have been. But now, on this Christmas Day, that love would find its Beloved, and from Thee receive the grace to make it pure again, warm and real.
We bring Thee our gratitude for every token of Thy love, for all the ways Thou hast heaped blessings upon us during the years that have gone.
And we do pray, Lord Jesus, that as we celebrate Thy birthday, we may do it in a manner well pleasing to Thee. May all we do and say, every tribute of our hearts, bring honor to Thy name, that we, Thy people, may remember Thy birth and feel Thy presence among us even yet.
May the loving kindness of Christmas not only creep into our hearts, but there abide, so that not even the return to earthly cares and responsibilities, not all the festivities of our own devising may cause it to creep away weeping. May the joy and spirit of Christmas stay with us now and forever.
In the name of Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins, even in that lovely name we pray. Amen."
Annette and I shopped all day today. Afterwards, I worked out for an hour and then slept for a hour...it felt great! Enough about my boring self. Here's a beautiful classic. I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful week!
-Pastor
Christmas
by Peter Marshall
We yearn, our Father, for the simple beauty of Christmas -- for all the old famliar melodies and words that remind us of that great miracle when He who had made all things was one night to come as a babe, to lie in the crook of a woman's arm.
Before such mystery we kneel, as we follow the shepherds and Wise Men to bring Thee the gift of our love -- a love we confess has not always been as warm or sincere or real as it should have been. But now, on this Christmas Day, that love would find its Beloved, and from Thee receive the grace to make it pure again, warm and real.
We bring Thee our gratitude for every token of Thy love, for all the ways Thou hast heaped blessings upon us during the years that have gone.
And we do pray, Lord Jesus, that as we celebrate Thy birthday, we may do it in a manner well pleasing to Thee. May all we do and say, every tribute of our hearts, bring honor to Thy name, that we, Thy people, may remember Thy birth and feel Thy presence among us even yet.
May the loving kindness of Christmas not only creep into our hearts, but there abide, so that not even the return to earthly cares and responsibilities, not all the festivities of our own devising may cause it to creep away weeping. May the joy and spirit of Christmas stay with us now and forever.
In the name of Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins, even in that lovely name we pray. Amen."
Friday, December 4, 2009
Countdown to Sunday
I love this. Read it, I think you will too.
John Stott wrote, “I could never believe in God, if it were not for the cross… In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing round his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. But each time after a while I have had to turn away. And in imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. That is the God for me! He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in light of his. There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering.”
Worship like a crazy fan of Jesus this weekend!
-Pastor Randy
John Stott wrote, “I could never believe in God, if it were not for the cross… In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing round his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. But each time after a while I have had to turn away. And in imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. That is the God for me! He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in light of his. There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering.”
Worship like a crazy fan of Jesus this weekend!
-Pastor Randy
Thursday, December 3, 2009
THE REASON THEY HATE FOX NEWS
by Perry Stone [if you like this article, check out voe.com]
Every day in my office I have a regular routine when I arrive. I am always in thanksgiving to the Lord for blessing the ministry, my family and my partners. I then turn on my computer, and Fox News on the wide screen to the left of my desk. I keep the news on literally all day long, to observe any breaking report that may occur. In this manner, I can immediately research or make contact with people that may give more insight into the event(s). Often calls will come in with individuals asking questions about what is occurring.
Occasionally I have access to the Nelson Ratings that reveals the number of households watching a particular program. What is somewhat amazing is that out of the ten most watched cable news networks, Fox News has 6 of the top 10 programs. In fact Fox's lowest rated program often beats out MSNBC and CNN by thousands or even hundreds of thousands of viewers.
You may have heard about the verbal attacks going on with the present administration against Fox News. It seems that according to recent reports on the Drudgereport.com, Anita Dunn the White House Communications director said the administration now "controls" the news media (see worldnetdaily.com. Monday, October 19, 2009). It has been reported and proven by Glen Beck that certain networks are owned by businesses that stand to gain billions of dollars if the presidents green agenda and cap and trade pass. Thus, the media moguls express positive comments toward every movement and all legislation passed.
Recently, on the question was asked why the administration hates the Fox News Network. I suggest it is the only network that has individuals asking the tough questions that no one in DC wants to answer. I also suggest that it is the only network that is exposing the corruption of some of the Czars, ACORN, and the double standard of hypocrisy among the legislators...you know, the we pay our taxes but they don't pay them - kind of folks. Literally, no other major network exposes the frightening behind the scenes plan and people that are now in charge.
One of the main strategies being initiated is to paint anyone and everyone who disagrees with the president's agenda of government run health care, more bail out money, and higher taxes as a racist and anti-American. While just this accusation may intimidate a few from speaking out, most Americans are too smart to fall for an untruth that is being propagated by the most liberal elitist donkey cons in U.S. history. It is a strategy to make a person feel "guilty" for disagreeing with our leaders. Recently on Manna-fest, when Bill Cloud revealed his expose of Ezekiel 20, he received very negative e-mails accusing him of being a bigot and racist. We just had to laugh at such a ludicrous charge. When ministers Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson lambasted Regan, Bush I and Bush II, were they being racists? I don't think so. They were simply giving their opinions as citizens and certainly have a right to do so, as do all Americans.
I learned something many years ago. Whenever a person or an organization becomes controversial, the public controversy actually draws more people who will listen, to or check out that person or organization. Thus, negative publicity is still publicity. The more they tell people not to watch Fox, the more people tune in to see what all of the fuss is about. While liberals love to dish it out it is apparent that they cannot take the heat in the kitchen or the sweat in the steam room.
I lived in Arlington, Virginia during the time of the Watergate fiasco. Richard Nixon was so angry at the articles being released by the Washington Post, that he chose to ban them from the White House. This only caused the Post to become more antagonistic against Nixon, and there was a daily barrage of reporting that eventually led to the impeachment of Nixon. At the time my father knew many high level workers in the government that predicted months before it happened that Nixon would step down.
During the Bush years, he could do nothing right according to the secular cable networks. Now, this administration can do nothing wrong according to the Network gods. If Bush were still in office, what would the press be saying about:
The rising unemployment rate
The continual loss of homes
The Americans dying daily in Afghanistan
The government control of the auto industry
The government control of the health industry
The talk of taking over the Internet
Oh, I can tell you what they would say, because they are saying it now. "It's all Bush's fault!" Should we be surprised? When Bush was in office, every day we heard the war in Iraq was failing. Now that there has been some success, oddly I have not heard one report in 6 months saying Bush, the generals and troops did a good job in Iraq. Also, Fox News has a large number of professing Christians on their programming. The other networks seem to lean antichristian, and very socialist in their motivations for reporting. Thus, we have the real root of the conflict: right against wrong, light against darkness, Christianity against humanism, capitalism against socialism and freedom verses control. My suggestion: Keep reading the Word, keep praying, keep being obedient to the Lord and when you want to watch the news, watch Fox for the truth that is being ignored by others. This is just my opinion.
Every day in my office I have a regular routine when I arrive. I am always in thanksgiving to the Lord for blessing the ministry, my family and my partners. I then turn on my computer, and Fox News on the wide screen to the left of my desk. I keep the news on literally all day long, to observe any breaking report that may occur. In this manner, I can immediately research or make contact with people that may give more insight into the event(s). Often calls will come in with individuals asking questions about what is occurring.
Occasionally I have access to the Nelson Ratings that reveals the number of households watching a particular program. What is somewhat amazing is that out of the ten most watched cable news networks, Fox News has 6 of the top 10 programs. In fact Fox's lowest rated program often beats out MSNBC and CNN by thousands or even hundreds of thousands of viewers.
You may have heard about the verbal attacks going on with the present administration against Fox News. It seems that according to recent reports on the Drudgereport.com, Anita Dunn the White House Communications director said the administration now "controls" the news media (see worldnetdaily.com. Monday, October 19, 2009). It has been reported and proven by Glen Beck that certain networks are owned by businesses that stand to gain billions of dollars if the presidents green agenda and cap and trade pass. Thus, the media moguls express positive comments toward every movement and all legislation passed.
Recently, on the question was asked why the administration hates the Fox News Network. I suggest it is the only network that has individuals asking the tough questions that no one in DC wants to answer. I also suggest that it is the only network that is exposing the corruption of some of the Czars, ACORN, and the double standard of hypocrisy among the legislators...you know, the we pay our taxes but they don't pay them - kind of folks. Literally, no other major network exposes the frightening behind the scenes plan and people that are now in charge.
One of the main strategies being initiated is to paint anyone and everyone who disagrees with the president's agenda of government run health care, more bail out money, and higher taxes as a racist and anti-American. While just this accusation may intimidate a few from speaking out, most Americans are too smart to fall for an untruth that is being propagated by the most liberal elitist donkey cons in U.S. history. It is a strategy to make a person feel "guilty" for disagreeing with our leaders. Recently on Manna-fest, when Bill Cloud revealed his expose of Ezekiel 20, he received very negative e-mails accusing him of being a bigot and racist. We just had to laugh at such a ludicrous charge. When ministers Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson lambasted Regan, Bush I and Bush II, were they being racists? I don't think so. They were simply giving their opinions as citizens and certainly have a right to do so, as do all Americans.
I learned something many years ago. Whenever a person or an organization becomes controversial, the public controversy actually draws more people who will listen, to or check out that person or organization. Thus, negative publicity is still publicity. The more they tell people not to watch Fox, the more people tune in to see what all of the fuss is about. While liberals love to dish it out it is apparent that they cannot take the heat in the kitchen or the sweat in the steam room.
I lived in Arlington, Virginia during the time of the Watergate fiasco. Richard Nixon was so angry at the articles being released by the Washington Post, that he chose to ban them from the White House. This only caused the Post to become more antagonistic against Nixon, and there was a daily barrage of reporting that eventually led to the impeachment of Nixon. At the time my father knew many high level workers in the government that predicted months before it happened that Nixon would step down.
During the Bush years, he could do nothing right according to the secular cable networks. Now, this administration can do nothing wrong according to the Network gods. If Bush were still in office, what would the press be saying about:
The rising unemployment rate
The continual loss of homes
The Americans dying daily in Afghanistan
The government control of the auto industry
The government control of the health industry
The talk of taking over the Internet
Oh, I can tell you what they would say, because they are saying it now. "It's all Bush's fault!" Should we be surprised? When Bush was in office, every day we heard the war in Iraq was failing. Now that there has been some success, oddly I have not heard one report in 6 months saying Bush, the generals and troops did a good job in Iraq. Also, Fox News has a large number of professing Christians on their programming. The other networks seem to lean antichristian, and very socialist in their motivations for reporting. Thus, we have the real root of the conflict: right against wrong, light against darkness, Christianity against humanism, capitalism against socialism and freedom verses control. My suggestion: Keep reading the Word, keep praying, keep being obedient to the Lord and when you want to watch the news, watch Fox for the truth that is being ignored by others. This is just my opinion.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
One World Governemnt...what's going to happen next?
It seems as if every day we are getting closer and closer to a one world financial system, a one world government, and no doubt some day a one world religious system. It used to be that bible prophecy teachers and preachers were the only ones that talked about this, but now its in the news everyday...check out this segment that aired on CNBC not too long ago [taken from a segment of Glenn Beck's, Nov 17, 2009 program]...
Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. NASU
If you are still with me up to this point, I have to ask you a question. Do you know that Jesus is coming soon? I don't mean just to come and set up His kingdom here on earth, but He is coming to "catch up or rapture" His people out of here before he does that. Here's what the bible says...
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. NLT
This will happen before the Revelation 13 (the above stuff) happens according 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7. Jesus is coming for those that know Him, for those who have a relationship with Him, for those that are watching for Him. How do you have a relationship with Christ? It starts by doing what the bible says...
Rom 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." NLT
Please receive Christ today. Please get ready to go in the rapture and escape all the terrible things listed in the book of Revelation that is about to happen here on earth. If you have any questions about receiving Christ, please e-mail me at the e-mail listed on our website.
Have a wonderful day!
-Pastor Randy
Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. NASU
If you are still with me up to this point, I have to ask you a question. Do you know that Jesus is coming soon? I don't mean just to come and set up His kingdom here on earth, but He is coming to "catch up or rapture" His people out of here before he does that. Here's what the bible says...
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. NLT
This will happen before the Revelation 13 (the above stuff) happens according 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7. Jesus is coming for those that know Him, for those who have a relationship with Him, for those that are watching for Him. How do you have a relationship with Christ? It starts by doing what the bible says...
Rom 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." NLT
Please receive Christ today. Please get ready to go in the rapture and escape all the terrible things listed in the book of Revelation that is about to happen here on earth. If you have any questions about receiving Christ, please e-mail me at the e-mail listed on our website.
Have a wonderful day!
-Pastor Randy
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Paradox of Our Time
-by B. Moorehead
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings,
but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences,
but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge,
but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine,
but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too
little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late,
get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too
seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years
to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and
back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up
the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our
prejudice. We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not
to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce
more copies than ever, but have less communication.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and
short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but
less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses,
but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills
that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in
the stockroom; Indeed, these are the times!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings,
but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences,
but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge,
but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine,
but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too
little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late,
get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too
seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years
to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and
back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up
the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our
prejudice. We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not
to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce
more copies than ever, but have less communication.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and
short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but
less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses,
but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills
that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in
the stockroom; Indeed, these are the times!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)