Still studying small group ministry this week. Here is the dilemma, how can a small group reach out to others and still be a tight, cohesive group that fosters strong relationships? I don't have the answer for this one yet.
The group that Stephanie and I attend was four people and four kids on January 1. Mark Knickmeyer is our group leader and I think he is excellent. Now the group is more than I can count in my head, but somewhere around 22 adults and many more kids. The group has some real growing pains. We want meaningful relationships AND deep Bible study, but it has been tough. I know that other groups wrestle with the same dilemma, to grow deep or grow out, that is the question. Some groups are frustrated because they don't have outward growth.
I don't have any answers today. I have ideas, but I am not ready to publish or promote ideas. Our church will publish solutions later, Pastor John and I are working on it. I will say this, if your group is static in its membership, but growing in its relationships to God and others, then you may be accomplishing the goal already. Don't be discouraged by "small." Be disturbed with "shallow."
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Power of Small
I am researching small groups this week. As I have been reading about small groups today I realized something very powerful. My decision to follow Christ was made in a voluntary, small group meeting setting.
I really thought that I was going to lose out on Heaven when I was 15 years old. I felt as though I knew nobody who lived a Christian life. Then a small group of teens asked my to go to dinner with them. We had met at a church gathering with many people of all ages. When the time of fellowship was over, my mind was made up. If I will hang out with these people, I can go to heaven.
The Small Group ministry at Frist Assembly is essential. Everyone needs a place of worship, that is our large group gatherings and events. But more importantly, we all need a face of worship. A friend who will worship, pray, fellowship, serve and evangelize the lost with us, side by side. I did not realize how much a small group of believers impacted my life until I stopped to think about it more specifically.
I really thought that I was going to lose out on Heaven when I was 15 years old. I felt as though I knew nobody who lived a Christian life. Then a small group of teens asked my to go to dinner with them. We had met at a church gathering with many people of all ages. When the time of fellowship was over, my mind was made up. If I will hang out with these people, I can go to heaven.
The Small Group ministry at Frist Assembly is essential. Everyone needs a place of worship, that is our large group gatherings and events. But more importantly, we all need a face of worship. A friend who will worship, pray, fellowship, serve and evangelize the lost with us, side by side. I did not realize how much a small group of believers impacted my life until I stopped to think about it more specifically.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
It Is Finished...Again!
Today I finished reading the Bible through. My life goal is to read the Bible through as many times as I am years alive. Honestly, I just finished number 16. I am 40. I have actually gotten behind this last year.
Here are some of the side goals in this life goal. I write in my bible. When one is drastically marked with notes and underlines after about five readings, I set in on a shelf and start in a new Bible. When my kids get married, I will give them one of my copies as a wedding present to keep. Also, I tray to read through the Bible with the same color of pen in my notes. Then the next reading I get a new pen color. I can often see my growth process in the color of pens I have used.
If there is one great way to grow in your knowledge of God, love for God, faith in God, and service to God, that one thing to do is read the Word. I believe that reading the Word is actually more important than prayer in today's Christian world. The world is so Biblically illiterate that they don't even know what to pray for. Many prayers are unanswered because we are praying for something that is completely out of God's will, or even sinful! God can't answer obviously sinful prayers in the affirmative. James says that we often ask and do not receive because we ask "amiss" (KJV) or "with wrong motives" (NIV). On the other hand, 1 John 5:14 and 15 says, that if we ask (pray) according to his will he hears us and we are assured that we have the things that we ask of him. So, read the Word and find out what God will bless and approve, then pray for it!
Please remember that you will not learn everything about God and the Bible in your first reading of it. Read it over and over. Why have I set this life goal? One, I heard someone quote Billy Grahm years ago when he was asked what he would do differently in his amazingly blessed life? he answered someting like, "I would read fewer books about the Bible, and more of the Bible." Then at about the same time I heard a sermon by Owen Carr. He said, "I am 62 years old, and I have read the Bible from cover to cover 63 times..." That is when I determined to set my goal.
Be blessed in the Word.
Here are some of the side goals in this life goal. I write in my bible. When one is drastically marked with notes and underlines after about five readings, I set in on a shelf and start in a new Bible. When my kids get married, I will give them one of my copies as a wedding present to keep. Also, I tray to read through the Bible with the same color of pen in my notes. Then the next reading I get a new pen color. I can often see my growth process in the color of pens I have used.
If there is one great way to grow in your knowledge of God, love for God, faith in God, and service to God, that one thing to do is read the Word. I believe that reading the Word is actually more important than prayer in today's Christian world. The world is so Biblically illiterate that they don't even know what to pray for. Many prayers are unanswered because we are praying for something that is completely out of God's will, or even sinful! God can't answer obviously sinful prayers in the affirmative. James says that we often ask and do not receive because we ask "amiss" (KJV) or "with wrong motives" (NIV). On the other hand, 1 John 5:14 and 15 says, that if we ask (pray) according to his will he hears us and we are assured that we have the things that we ask of him. So, read the Word and find out what God will bless and approve, then pray for it!
Please remember that you will not learn everything about God and the Bible in your first reading of it. Read it over and over. Why have I set this life goal? One, I heard someone quote Billy Grahm years ago when he was asked what he would do differently in his amazingly blessed life? he answered someting like, "I would read fewer books about the Bible, and more of the Bible." Then at about the same time I heard a sermon by Owen Carr. He said, "I am 62 years old, and I have read the Bible from cover to cover 63 times..." That is when I determined to set my goal.
Be blessed in the Word.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Next 800
If you want to help build the kingdom, build the church in the east Central Missouri region, and help your Pastor reach thousands of people for Christ, then help me make the next 800 blog entries greater than the last 800.
The first 800 have produced these results:
--6,331 different users have read the blog at least one time.
--Over 53,000 hits have been registered to the site since its inception in May of 2009.
--People have read pages from The US, Russia, Germany, Canada, The Netherlands, Latvia, Israel, The UK, France, and Japan. These countries are listed in order of most visits. There are other countries but their numbers are much smaller.
Let's stop thinking small. The trend in Washington and Union, Missouri is to think: "St.Louis is big, big things happen there. We are small, so we do things small." Let's put that thought in the garbage where it belongs. Our church in Washington can change the world. So. let's do it. The blog is one tool for that work.
I know that I am not the best writer. I know that I am not perfect in grammar or punctuation. But, there are good thoughts in these posts that can help people. I am going to try harder to be more excellent. Will you help me? You can share these posts on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the share link in the lower left corner of the posting.
Help me meet some goals. Keep me accountable by asking my to check the stats in December of 2012.
1. Let's see if we can get up to 10,000 readers by the end of 2012. It is possible.
2. Let's see if we can use the blog as an invitation tool that introduces people to Jesus.
3. Visitors often tell us how they found our church. Let's see if we can start recording responses that include the blog.
The first 800 have produced these results:
--6,331 different users have read the blog at least one time.
--Over 53,000 hits have been registered to the site since its inception in May of 2009.
--People have read pages from The US, Russia, Germany, Canada, The Netherlands, Latvia, Israel, The UK, France, and Japan. These countries are listed in order of most visits. There are other countries but their numbers are much smaller.
Let's stop thinking small. The trend in Washington and Union, Missouri is to think: "St.Louis is big, big things happen there. We are small, so we do things small." Let's put that thought in the garbage where it belongs. Our church in Washington can change the world. So. let's do it. The blog is one tool for that work.
I know that I am not the best writer. I know that I am not perfect in grammar or punctuation. But, there are good thoughts in these posts that can help people. I am going to try harder to be more excellent. Will you help me? You can share these posts on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the share link in the lower left corner of the posting.
Help me meet some goals. Keep me accountable by asking my to check the stats in December of 2012.
1. Let's see if we can get up to 10,000 readers by the end of 2012. It is possible.
2. Let's see if we can use the blog as an invitation tool that introduces people to Jesus.
3. Visitors often tell us how they found our church. Let's see if we can start recording responses that include the blog.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Here's Your Body
We went to the St. Louis Science Center on a field trip today. We stopped at a booth where kids can learn about genes and how dominant and recessive traits relate. The display involved a game where two kids scramble traits and then create an animal with various parts. At one point we reviewed the traits for the body style and color. The college student handed my little girl a thing like a Mr. Potato Head and said, "Here's your body," in an amazingly casual way.
All of a sudden I responded to the young man, "Do you ever feel like God handing these things out?" It was the funniest thing I heard all day! I think that we often feel the way I felt watching that boy hand out bodies. I don't care what you get, its all random, here's your body.
I think we all feel like that from time to time about our own bodies. Here are some thoughts that bring us back to center.
1. God knit you together in your mother's womb and you are wonderfully made. The process is scientifically random, but God is lovingly particular.
2. When you accept Christ, that random system that God created and sin corrupted becomes the vehicle for providing a temple for the Holy Spirit of God. The body of a Christian becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sin is removed, a new creation is begun, and the Holy Spirit moves in.
3. God is our healer. Even if you feel like you were jipped in the randomly heartless, corrupted by sin, biological process, God is a healing God through Jesus Christ his son. Trust him for healing, even if the Dr. says it is genetic.
4. When I get to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, following the rapture and the resurrection of believers, I will hear God say, "Here's your body." To get some blessing and detail, read 1 Corinthians 15 today.
May God bless your body today through Jesus our Lord.
All of a sudden I responded to the young man, "Do you ever feel like God handing these things out?" It was the funniest thing I heard all day! I think that we often feel the way I felt watching that boy hand out bodies. I don't care what you get, its all random, here's your body.
I think we all feel like that from time to time about our own bodies. Here are some thoughts that bring us back to center.
1. God knit you together in your mother's womb and you are wonderfully made. The process is scientifically random, but God is lovingly particular.
2. When you accept Christ, that random system that God created and sin corrupted becomes the vehicle for providing a temple for the Holy Spirit of God. The body of a Christian becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sin is removed, a new creation is begun, and the Holy Spirit moves in.
3. God is our healer. Even if you feel like you were jipped in the randomly heartless, corrupted by sin, biological process, God is a healing God through Jesus Christ his son. Trust him for healing, even if the Dr. says it is genetic.
4. When I get to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, following the rapture and the resurrection of believers, I will hear God say, "Here's your body." To get some blessing and detail, read 1 Corinthians 15 today.
May God bless your body today through Jesus our Lord.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
God Sings Over You!
Zephaniah 3:17 says,
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
It is true that the God of the Bible is our judge. But, most people only think about him as our judge. He is also our Father. Have you ever sung over your children? I do. You don't have to sing well for it to be cool for them. My dad was a horrible singer, but I always liked to hear him sing in our old farm truck as we worked together.
I learned a little bed time song years ago and I have sung it to my kids over and over, and I sing it over them, confirming my love for them.
Now, did you know that God takes such delight in his children that he sings over them? Knowing how I sing over my kids, I think that is pretty cool. Very powerful!
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
It is true that the God of the Bible is our judge. But, most people only think about him as our judge. He is also our Father. Have you ever sung over your children? I do. You don't have to sing well for it to be cool for them. My dad was a horrible singer, but I always liked to hear him sing in our old farm truck as we worked together.
I learned a little bed time song years ago and I have sung it to my kids over and over, and I sing it over them, confirming my love for them.
Now, did you know that God takes such delight in his children that he sings over them? Knowing how I sing over my kids, I think that is pretty cool. Very powerful!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A Leadership Dilema
I love Pastors and I love the Church. So, it is difficult for me not to always be thinking about a bigger picture than the church I lead. That can be dangerous because it can take my eye off the ball, but it can also be God's leading for me to help and be involved. Because I love the church and I think about these things a lot, I have stumbled upon an interesting thought.
In the Assembly of God District where I serve there is a bit of a disconnect between the younger ministers and the older ministers. Overall, I know that we have a very respectful and unified District and I am proud of it. It has been my home for all my life, even in the years before I was saved, this is my land, my country, my roots. But, there is what I would call a temporary and fixable rift between two different generations.
Here is one of the problems, and I have thought it for a long time, and it was proven Monday. We were doing some surveys with our instant response system and did an age survey. The smallest group of people present in the meeting of about 500 voting members and minsters was the 40 to 50 range!
Here is the problem, we have many small towns and many small churches. Some churches stay small because of the problem. We attract many young pastors in their twenties and early thirties to our small churches. They are full of fire, passion, vision and full of the Holy Spirit. They are good leaders gaining great experience. But, when they hit 40, they leave our district or leave to who knows where. People in their 40s need income and security to raise teenagers and growing families. It is a difficult time to take a huge pay cut in faith or to take big risks. A degree of stability must be given to children. Thus, for ethical and personal reasons we loose the pastors who have energy and youth, and also have 15 to 20 years of experience. We have lost some of the connecting generation that can unite the under forty group with the mentors in the 55 plus group.
My church is an anecdotal, but a perfect example. It is a 46 year old church that has had seven pastors, I am the eighth. It has never had a pastor older than 44. Why? In part, the church never grew to the place that they could practically afford a leader with age and experience. I am determined to change this!
I am also determined to change this in our district. I believe that we must teach our church boards and Sectional Committees to recognize this issue. We can fix this. We can do it in love and in faith believing that God will provide. If we will use his provision correctly, he will provide the leadership and unity that we need to thrive.
In the Assembly of God District where I serve there is a bit of a disconnect between the younger ministers and the older ministers. Overall, I know that we have a very respectful and unified District and I am proud of it. It has been my home for all my life, even in the years before I was saved, this is my land, my country, my roots. But, there is what I would call a temporary and fixable rift between two different generations.
Here is one of the problems, and I have thought it for a long time, and it was proven Monday. We were doing some surveys with our instant response system and did an age survey. The smallest group of people present in the meeting of about 500 voting members and minsters was the 40 to 50 range!
Here is the problem, we have many small towns and many small churches. Some churches stay small because of the problem. We attract many young pastors in their twenties and early thirties to our small churches. They are full of fire, passion, vision and full of the Holy Spirit. They are good leaders gaining great experience. But, when they hit 40, they leave our district or leave to who knows where. People in their 40s need income and security to raise teenagers and growing families. It is a difficult time to take a huge pay cut in faith or to take big risks. A degree of stability must be given to children. Thus, for ethical and personal reasons we loose the pastors who have energy and youth, and also have 15 to 20 years of experience. We have lost some of the connecting generation that can unite the under forty group with the mentors in the 55 plus group.
My church is an anecdotal, but a perfect example. It is a 46 year old church that has had seven pastors, I am the eighth. It has never had a pastor older than 44. Why? In part, the church never grew to the place that they could practically afford a leader with age and experience. I am determined to change this!
I am also determined to change this in our district. I believe that we must teach our church boards and Sectional Committees to recognize this issue. We can fix this. We can do it in love and in faith believing that God will provide. If we will use his provision correctly, he will provide the leadership and unity that we need to thrive.
The First Grader's Prayer
Saturday night my wife felt really bad. She is pretty private and so I will not relate the source of her physical trouble, but in our family and with a close church family, we have people praying for her. At bed time she laid down and I took the kids into another room and we stood together holding hands for bed time prayers and thanks to God. At the end of our prayer I said to the kids, "Come on, lets go pray for mom."
We went into the other room, gathered around her and laid hands on her for prayer. I asked my seven year old daughter to pray and the nine year old twins and I would pray along with her. I assumed that I or one of the boys would need to finish of the prayer making up for anything Elizabeth might miss.
This happened next. Elizabeth closed her eyes and prayed, "Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you in Jesus name. Your word says, 'By his stripes we are healed,' and mom does not feel so good right now. We ask that you would heal her and make her feel better and that you would take this away forever." She may have prayed a few other words, I can't remember the rest because that prayer just blew me out of the water! No one else needed to pray after that, she got it all.
When you pray, I suggest that you follow Elizabeth's powerful and Scriptural example. First address your Heavenly Father, address our almighty God in the name of his Son Jesus. Second, when you pray, pray the Scriptures and stand on the promises of Scripture. They are not magic potions to speak, but they build our faith and in our relationship with God it is appropriate to discuss his specific promises to us with him. Third, present your request, simply and without disclaimers. Ask for the very best. Don't ask half way or you might get it. Fourth, and I don't remember what Elizabeth said, but she ended with thanks to God.
Parents, I have never given Elizabeth a lesson on prayer. But she has been to church every Sunday of her life except a very few vacation Sundays, maybe four. She has been to church on Wednesday night with the same regularity. We pray every day together in the morning, at meals, and at bed time. We pray out loud and she has learned to pray and pray Scripture by example.
Never fail to pray with your kids. Some day you may need a miracle and who will you call to pray and "effectual, fervent prayer" (James 5) for you? By building a foundation, you may have the blessing of calling your children to interceded with God for you! I think something powerful happened Saturday night. I don't know that we have seen the manifestation of God's answer yet, but I believe that God answered a prayer for us, led by Elizabeth.
We went into the other room, gathered around her and laid hands on her for prayer. I asked my seven year old daughter to pray and the nine year old twins and I would pray along with her. I assumed that I or one of the boys would need to finish of the prayer making up for anything Elizabeth might miss.
This happened next. Elizabeth closed her eyes and prayed, "Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you in Jesus name. Your word says, 'By his stripes we are healed,' and mom does not feel so good right now. We ask that you would heal her and make her feel better and that you would take this away forever." She may have prayed a few other words, I can't remember the rest because that prayer just blew me out of the water! No one else needed to pray after that, she got it all.
When you pray, I suggest that you follow Elizabeth's powerful and Scriptural example. First address your Heavenly Father, address our almighty God in the name of his Son Jesus. Second, when you pray, pray the Scriptures and stand on the promises of Scripture. They are not magic potions to speak, but they build our faith and in our relationship with God it is appropriate to discuss his specific promises to us with him. Third, present your request, simply and without disclaimers. Ask for the very best. Don't ask half way or you might get it. Fourth, and I don't remember what Elizabeth said, but she ended with thanks to God.
Parents, I have never given Elizabeth a lesson on prayer. But she has been to church every Sunday of her life except a very few vacation Sundays, maybe four. She has been to church on Wednesday night with the same regularity. We pray every day together in the morning, at meals, and at bed time. We pray out loud and she has learned to pray and pray Scripture by example.
Never fail to pray with your kids. Some day you may need a miracle and who will you call to pray and "effectual, fervent prayer" (James 5) for you? By building a foundation, you may have the blessing of calling your children to interceded with God for you! I think something powerful happened Saturday night. I don't know that we have seen the manifestation of God's answer yet, but I believe that God answered a prayer for us, led by Elizabeth.
Weekend Rewind
Good morning! It is Tuesday and I am in Springfield, MO at our District Council. I am able to begin my work day early, because I am at the hotel and have already prayed, read the word and talked to my wife wishing her a good day. On a normal Tuesday I am done praying and then helping my family get ready for the day at this time. I normally read the word by myself an study between 7:45 and 9:00 a.m. Enough of that.
This last Sunday was AMAZING! I am so proud of our church! We had the highest Celebration Sunday attendance on Palm Sunday. We had the highest Easter Sunday attendance in our Church history on Easter. Yesterday, we had our highest regular Sunday attendance ever. Then on Sunday afternoon, we had our largest baptismal service ever with over 150 in attendance and our largest number baptized at one time.
It is not all about numbers. But numbers count because every number is one soul that Jesus died for that we are loving, serving, and encouraging to follow Jesus! Jesus would have given up his life for any one of these numbers. So, YES, numbers matter.
The other reason it is not all about numbers is because quality matters. We moved our service times one hour later, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. The intended consequence was accomplished! First service was 151 and second service was 63. Our goal was to build the early service and make room for more visitors in second service. The other quality was the great passion and attitude of worship and prayer response in both services. If people in the Washington, Missouri region want to meet God, our congregation will provide the individual and personal examples to follow to do just that.
This last Sunday was AMAZING! I am so proud of our church! We had the highest Celebration Sunday attendance on Palm Sunday. We had the highest Easter Sunday attendance in our Church history on Easter. Yesterday, we had our highest regular Sunday attendance ever. Then on Sunday afternoon, we had our largest baptismal service ever with over 150 in attendance and our largest number baptized at one time.
It is not all about numbers. But numbers count because every number is one soul that Jesus died for that we are loving, serving, and encouraging to follow Jesus! Jesus would have given up his life for any one of these numbers. So, YES, numbers matter.
The other reason it is not all about numbers is because quality matters. We moved our service times one hour later, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. The intended consequence was accomplished! First service was 151 and second service was 63. Our goal was to build the early service and make room for more visitors in second service. The other quality was the great passion and attitude of worship and prayer response in both services. If people in the Washington, Missouri region want to meet God, our congregation will provide the individual and personal examples to follow to do just that.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Just Look At This, I Said Look!
Remember when you were a kid and your parent would say, "Just look at this!" We usually did not need to look or want to look.
In Habakkuk 1:3 the prophet prays, "Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?"
This is totally the cry of a Pastor's heart. As a Pastor you are required to help people, to look at injustice, and you can not choose to avoid it. You can watch the news and choose to not care about the distant story. But you can't avoid the story that is sitting patiently through your sermon, in the hospital, or in your office. You are sucked into problems as you help and encourage people.
The next question is equally powerful. Why dose God tolerate wrong? Honestly, I am glad God is tolerant to the Holy degree that he is. His tolerance is called MERCY, and I have needed it many times. In our frustration with wickedness and our intensity to study the Scriptures week after week our cry is the same as Habakkuk's. We strain to understand God's holiness and his mercy mingled.
God answered Habakkuk in verse five and said hang on my friend, "Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Hold on friends, answers are on the way. In Habakkuk's day the answer was God's judgement for 70 years. In our day it may be judgement, but it may also be the saving mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
In Habakkuk 1:3 the prophet prays, "Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?"
This is totally the cry of a Pastor's heart. As a Pastor you are required to help people, to look at injustice, and you can not choose to avoid it. You can watch the news and choose to not care about the distant story. But you can't avoid the story that is sitting patiently through your sermon, in the hospital, or in your office. You are sucked into problems as you help and encourage people.
The next question is equally powerful. Why dose God tolerate wrong? Honestly, I am glad God is tolerant to the Holy degree that he is. His tolerance is called MERCY, and I have needed it many times. In our frustration with wickedness and our intensity to study the Scriptures week after week our cry is the same as Habakkuk's. We strain to understand God's holiness and his mercy mingled.
God answered Habakkuk in verse five and said hang on my friend, "Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Hold on friends, answers are on the way. In Habakkuk's day the answer was God's judgement for 70 years. In our day it may be judgement, but it may also be the saving mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
Tax Collector
It is a little unbelievable, but on Sunday April 15th I am preaching about a tax collector! I will be continuing the sermon series through the book of Matthew. We have been in it for over a year. When I pray for God to give me a series, it is amazing how things work out. I have known for a while that this would occur, but the irony of it just hit me today.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
< 100 Years
I am studying the book of Nahum this morning. The entire book is a prophecy against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh, which was the capital of Assyria until about 612 B.C. when it was destroyed by invaders.
We usually think of Jonah when we hear the name Nineveh. When Jonah finally went to Nineveh to preach, the entire city repented from their sins and turned to God in sackcloth and ashes, a sign of mourning. If you wonder what Jonah might have preached in Nineveh, it may have been a lot like the text of Nahum. But, the question is, who preached there first and how far apart were the messages of these two Galileean preachers who both preached to Nineveh?
From what I can tell, Jonah went there first. Likely around 770 to 750 B.C. Nahum spoke his message later based on what we know about him being younger than Jonah. Nahum may not have actually traveled to the city, we don't know. But, Nahum had to prepare his message from God before the city fell about 612 B.C.
Here is the point. From Jonah to Nahum, there may have only been a span of 60 years. At the most about 80 years. It is very safe to say it was < 100 years.
How can a community and the capital of a nation fall so far in such a short span of time? From the closeness to God that was produced in the days of Jonah, to the promised destruction from Nahum which came to pass. When Jonah preached the people responded. When Nahum preached there was no response, except the response of God who allowed the city to be destroyed.
The truth of the Bible narrative is speaking to us today. The messsage is applicable because human nature has not changed. In < 100 years even our nation can move drastically from a place of revival and Godly repentance to a place of violence and greed. In < 100 years we have improved in the areas of racial unity and the rights of female citizens. But, we are still racially violent, and that violence is not limited to one of our many minorities. We value the rights of women, but the sexualization of the woman in pop culture has demeaned her as an individual and destroyed female identity apart from body image.
We must be careful. Nineveh was the lead city of the most powerful nation on Earth. < 100 years later it was completely destroyed.
We usually think of Jonah when we hear the name Nineveh. When Jonah finally went to Nineveh to preach, the entire city repented from their sins and turned to God in sackcloth and ashes, a sign of mourning. If you wonder what Jonah might have preached in Nineveh, it may have been a lot like the text of Nahum. But, the question is, who preached there first and how far apart were the messages of these two Galileean preachers who both preached to Nineveh?
From what I can tell, Jonah went there first. Likely around 770 to 750 B.C. Nahum spoke his message later based on what we know about him being younger than Jonah. Nahum may not have actually traveled to the city, we don't know. But, Nahum had to prepare his message from God before the city fell about 612 B.C.
Here is the point. From Jonah to Nahum, there may have only been a span of 60 years. At the most about 80 years. It is very safe to say it was < 100 years.
How can a community and the capital of a nation fall so far in such a short span of time? From the closeness to God that was produced in the days of Jonah, to the promised destruction from Nahum which came to pass. When Jonah preached the people responded. When Nahum preached there was no response, except the response of God who allowed the city to be destroyed.
The truth of the Bible narrative is speaking to us today. The messsage is applicable because human nature has not changed. In < 100 years even our nation can move drastically from a place of revival and Godly repentance to a place of violence and greed. In < 100 years we have improved in the areas of racial unity and the rights of female citizens. But, we are still racially violent, and that violence is not limited to one of our many minorities. We value the rights of women, but the sexualization of the woman in pop culture has demeaned her as an individual and destroyed female identity apart from body image.
We must be careful. Nineveh was the lead city of the most powerful nation on Earth. < 100 years later it was completely destroyed.
New Service Times
REMEMBER that this Sunday service times change.
Early - 9:30 a.m.
Late - 11:15 a.m.
Have a great week.
Early - 9:30 a.m.
Late - 11:15 a.m.
Have a great week.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Weekend Re-Wind
Easter was a great day at church. People chose to accept Christ and we had a great time of worship in each of the three services.
I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the people who worked hard to make Easter a wonderful day. A lot of people put in extra time for Easter Sunday, and that on the heels of a celebration Sunday. Great work.
I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the people who worked hard to make Easter a wonderful day. A lot of people put in extra time for Easter Sunday, and that on the heels of a celebration Sunday. Great work.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Happy Easter!
Easter services:
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service
8:30 a.m. First Worship
10:15 a.m. Second Worship
If you invited a friend, call them today and remind them of the invitation.
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service
8:30 a.m. First Worship
10:15 a.m. Second Worship
If you invited a friend, call them today and remind them of the invitation.
Friday, April 6, 2012
My family Devotions
This week in my family devotions we have been reading the book of Ruth. In chapter one we are introduced to Ruth, a Moabite woman who marries into a Jewish family in the years before the kings of Israel. Then tragically, all the men in the family die. We don't know how or why, but the ladies are left as widows.
The highlight of chapter one is when Ruth's mother-in-law attempts to send her back to Moab and her family and culture of origin. Ruth responds firmly by saying, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
In chapter two Ruth and Naomi (the mother-in-law's name) move back to Israel and they meet one of Naomi's deceased husbands relatives, a man named Boaz. The highlight of chapter two is when Boaz watches Ruth work all day in the field and learns of her choice to move to Israel. he says, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Boaz not only noted that she helped her mother-in-law, and chose their nation, but that she had chosen the Lord! She had chosen to take refuge in the Lord our God.
How determined has your choice to follow the Lord been? Ruth left everything she knew, everything comfortable, all logical possibilities for advancement, her family religion, to follow the Lord. She struck out on a fools errand, to befriend a widow who had no claim to money or property, no leverage to provide Ruth another husband and no source of income. Let's make our determination to follow the Lord complete! Don't regret what you leave behind. Don't fear the unknown future. Trust the Lord.
The highlight of chapter one is when Ruth's mother-in-law attempts to send her back to Moab and her family and culture of origin. Ruth responds firmly by saying, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
In chapter two Ruth and Naomi (the mother-in-law's name) move back to Israel and they meet one of Naomi's deceased husbands relatives, a man named Boaz. The highlight of chapter two is when Boaz watches Ruth work all day in the field and learns of her choice to move to Israel. he says, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Boaz not only noted that she helped her mother-in-law, and chose their nation, but that she had chosen the Lord! She had chosen to take refuge in the Lord our God.
How determined has your choice to follow the Lord been? Ruth left everything she knew, everything comfortable, all logical possibilities for advancement, her family religion, to follow the Lord. She struck out on a fools errand, to befriend a widow who had no claim to money or property, no leverage to provide Ruth another husband and no source of income. Let's make our determination to follow the Lord complete! Don't regret what you leave behind. Don't fear the unknown future. Trust the Lord.
A Good Friday
Have a Good Friday.
Let's remember why it is called Good Friday, even though we are remembering something so horrible as the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a Good Friday because we remember what Jesus did for us. Take time to remember, reflect and rejoice. Have a Good Friday.
Let's remember why it is called Good Friday, even though we are remembering something so horrible as the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a Good Friday because we remember what Jesus did for us. Take time to remember, reflect and rejoice. Have a Good Friday.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Easter Testimony
My friend Jerry is a pastor. His church has been doing an Easter drama for 20 years! This year they lost their actor who plays Jesus because God called him to become a pastor and he will be at his new church. So, they had to find another person to play Jesus. After some prayer and consideration they all decided that Jerry's son, who is 15, would play the part of Jesus.
In one of the early showings of the drama, Jerry was struck by the frustration of watching his son play the part of Jesus being beaten. His mind wandered from his stage hand job, "What if this really happened to my son?" Then, the Lord reminded him, "That is what happened to my Son."
I think that the most amazing part of the Bible story is that God determined the plan of salvation from the creation of the world. He sent a savior that would relate to us perfectly as friend, brother, and son. Because of the way God made us, he also knew what would draw us back to him in love, the story of a father and his only son, who he loves.
In one of the early showings of the drama, Jerry was struck by the frustration of watching his son play the part of Jesus being beaten. His mind wandered from his stage hand job, "What if this really happened to my son?" Then, the Lord reminded him, "That is what happened to my Son."
I think that the most amazing part of the Bible story is that God determined the plan of salvation from the creation of the world. He sent a savior that would relate to us perfectly as friend, brother, and son. Because of the way God made us, he also knew what would draw us back to him in love, the story of a father and his only son, who he loves.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Perspective on Age #2
Perspective on Age #1 posted on February 7th. Scroll back if you like and read it.
Joshua 14:10-12 says, "10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”
I am always impressed with Caleb in this passage. Think of the elements of his passion for God and personality that are worth striving for. He was sent as a spy at the age of 40. Now at 85, he is still ready to take the land.
Still Strong - I am praying that when I am 85, I will say what Caleb said. "I am still as strong today as when..." Not only was he spiritually and emotionally strong, he was physically strong and was not afraid to say it.
Vigorous - I hope that I will keep my vigor. I want to stay passionate for God and his purpose for my life. I want to be working and active for him.
Staking his Claim - For 45 years, Caleb has been waiting and preparing for the promise of God for his life. This man never gave up!
Fearless - Caleb new the report about the Anakites who were living in the portion of the land God promised him. They were big. They were heavily armed. They had strong defenses. But, the old Caleb was just as fearless as the young Caleb who brought back the good report as a spy.
Entrepreneurial - It is interesting that Caleb is ready to do the work of driving out the Anakites and start out on the risky campaign to take the land God had promised to him. Could I be that ready for a new risk and a new venture when I am in my 80's? I am praying that I will be!
I am always impressed with Caleb in this passage. Think of the elements of his passion for God and personality that are worth striving for. He was sent as a spy at the age of 40. Now at 85, he is still ready to take the land.
Still Strong - I am praying that when I am 85, I will say what Caleb said. "I am still as strong today as when..." Not only was he spiritually and emotionally strong, he was physically strong and was not afraid to say it.
Vigorous - I hope that I will keep my vigor. I want to stay passionate for God and his purpose for my life. I want to be working and active for him.
Staking his Claim - For 45 years, Caleb has been waiting and preparing for the promise of God for his life. This man never gave up!
Fearless - Caleb new the report about the Anakites who were living in the portion of the land God promised him. They were big. They were heavily armed. They had strong defenses. But, the old Caleb was just as fearless as the young Caleb who brought back the good report as a spy.
Entrepreneurial - It is interesting that Caleb is ready to do the work of driving out the Anakites and start out on the risky campaign to take the land God had promised to him. Could I be that ready for a new risk and a new venture when I am in my 80's? I am praying that I will be!
Frustration
Some days Blogger just will not allow me to break my paragraphs up or allow me to insert an extra return between paragraphs. Sorry about that last post that is all one block of text. I just can't figure out why Blogger text editor works one day and not the next. Sorry.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
God's Good Word
“Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright?" Micah 2:7
Some people hate the Bible. Some people search the Bible looking for the tings they want to negate. Some people search the Bible for the promises and avoid the commands. Some people avoid the Scriptures about judgement, and try to ignore a part of the God they confess to love. No matter how you treat the Scriptures, this law is always at work. God's Word does good to those who do right.
So where do we start? We start with one step forward in doing what is right. What is right? Right is defined by the perfect nature of God. How do we learn the perfect nature of God, by reading his Word.
If you read the Word, it will show you what to do that is right. When you do what is right, God's Word blesses you more and more. Jesus said something like this, He who has will be given more, but he who does not have, even what little he has will be taken away. It is the rule of spiritual momentum. Start moving in God's direction today by reading his word, and he will give you his momentum.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Worshipers in Spirit and in Truth
My heart is still full from the message on Sunday from John 4. When people meet Jesus, their life is transformed radically. We are moved from a life of sinfulness and religious knowledge or religiosity, to become worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. It may not happen often, but at the end of the service, it was as if the Lord hit me with his presence and I can't stop thinking about worshiping Jesus. Toward the end of the message I fell in love with Jesus all over again.
Karen D. shared this video on Facebook. It is from Cape First with Pastor Gary Brothers. He is a great pastor and has been helpful to me. Check out this great song. Kinda' sums up some of feelings this week.
Karen D. shared this video on Facebook. It is from Cape First with Pastor Gary Brothers. He is a great pastor and has been helpful to me. Check out this great song. Kinda' sums up some of feelings this week.
A Great Celebration
Yesterday was Celebration Sunday, and it was about as perfect as it could be. It was an unbelievable team effort.
I want to say thanks to all the people who made it a great day! Many people baked pies, arrived amazingly early, stayed extra late and worked very hard to make for a great day. We had hoped for $20,000.00 in new pledges and we went over $17,000.00 past our goal! We now have $320,000.00 pledged for the campaign. We also had a great offering for the campaign. The Pie Contest raised $326.00 which was great and tasty at the same time.
HUGE THANKS to all who helped make this a great day.
I want to say thanks to all the people who made it a great day! Many people baked pies, arrived amazingly early, stayed extra late and worked very hard to make for a great day. We had hoped for $20,000.00 in new pledges and we went over $17,000.00 past our goal! We now have $320,000.00 pledged for the campaign. We also had a great offering for the campaign. The Pie Contest raised $326.00 which was great and tasty at the same time.
HUGE THANKS to all who helped make this a great day.
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