1/18/15 Using What God Has Given Us

    A question that was recently asked all over the place was this: what did you get for Christmas? Some of the answers people gave were filled with excitement!!!  I got a . . . .!  Others were filled with disappointment.  Oh, I got a . . . .
    Let’s take that theme to the thought of the gifts and talents and resources that God has given to each one of us.  What can you do for God?  Is the response excited or disappointed?
Return to Sender
    A woman wrote this:  When my niece turned six, I excitedly gave her some gifts I had spent time shopping for. Two weeks later, when I asked if she was enjoying them, I was disappointed to learn she had decided to return some of them. Even after my careful selection of those gifts--intended especially for her--she hadn’t really appreciated them. As I asked God to help me get over my disappointment, I remembered some of the gifts God had given me--gifts that I hadn’t appreciated either and wished I could have exchanged for others.
Patti Greenman, St. Louis, MO. Today's Christian Woman, “Heart to Heart.”
    As I read this short story, I thought of the gifts that God has given to each of us.  There are things we can do or learn to do to be active in God’s work.  There are abilities we have.    There are material resources.  There is time we can invest in doing what God wants.  Ask yourself:
□    Do I use what God gives?
□    Do I wish that instead, I could do other things?
□    Am I thankful for what God has given me?
    We all have been given gifts by other people.  Some of those gifts are in the form of gift cards.  Here is some interesting information.
    According to estimates reported in the Journal of State Taxation, the typical American home has an average of $300 in unused gift cards. These cards are often misplaced, accidentally thrown out, or only partially redeemed. Between 2005 and 2011, $41 billion in gift cards went unused.
Harvard Business Review, Stats & Curiosities (Harvard Business Review, 2013), page 104
    I hear things like that and think, I’d be happy to help out and use them.  How about all of the gifts that God gives? Is the church across the world filled with countless unused spiritual gift cards?
    Let’s look at this statement:  God has given us great resources.  We must use those resources for His honor.  Use them well.
    As we look at the investments God has made in us, it is all about what we do with them.
    Our resources include the money we have as well as the abilities we have.  It is not just the resources, it is what we do with them.
    A foundational point is that God is our source.  We will develop this truth over the next weeks.
    With this in mind, we want to take some time on the topic of biblical stewardship.  What is it and how do we apply it in daily life?   As we all apply these biblical principles, we will take our church fellowship far down the road God wants to take us.
1 Corinthians 4:1-21 NKJV
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
    Note that is doesn’t say successful according to American thinking.  It says faithful.  We all CAN be faithful to God.
    We are ALL called to be God’s servants, His helpers.  This is a subordinate role, not the big cheese.  We are God’s stewards.  We are responsible to manage the large investment God has in us.
□    The steward is accountable to his/her master and must prove trustworthy and faithful.
□    He/she must be reliable.
□    The steward doesn’t own what is managed, it is managed for another.  Yet, it must be treated well, not wasted or abused.  The steward is entrusted with the owner’s resources.
□    Our Christian stewardship is an acknowledgment that God retains ownership of everything in our lives.
Jesus said:  Luke 12:42-44 NLT
42 And the Lord replied, A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
    God gives us the responsibility of managing for the Master. The better we do in managing what God gives us, the more He will trust us with.
    This passage helps understand the concept of ownership.  The Master still owns it all, the servant, the steward manages it.  ***Understanding ownership is a key to biblical stewardship.
    We are called to be God’s managers of what He entrusts to us.  We are to manage our resources in a way that pleases God and follows His commands.
    I have a question to ask you, and we may jokingly say I would love to have that problem. The question is this: what would be the response of this fellowship if we discovered we had just been given a very, very large financial gift?
□    Would we all come together and work to see that it was well used?
□    Would we be insistent that we do not allow it to cause problems and that we would only use it in a way that pleases God?
□    Would any of us be tempted to think “Oh good, now I don’t have to tithe”?
    If that were to ever happen, I trust that none of us would ever come to the conclusion that it caused so many problems we wished that the gift had never been given. Having a good understanding of biblical stewardship is an important key to guide us in properly using any and all resources God gives us.  Whether the gift is one dollar or 1 million, it all belongs to God.
    A big help in understanding biblical stewardship:  Think Eternal.  Look far beyond today to see the long term impact.
    The deeper that people get in to learning about biblical stewardship, the more some people say it doesn’t make sense.  Know this:  God’s ways are higher, and they are always better.
Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV  8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”  declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
1.  God’s ways higher, better, more beneficial.  So, do things God’s way.
2.  God’s purpose will be accomplished.  A crop will come, results will come when we obey the Word of God. 
    So, let’s learn and then follow God’s ways.
    One of the great challenges of the Christian life comes when we see something in the Bible that we should do, and yet we wonder if we really can do it.
□    Will we make it in life if we obey?
□    Will we survive doing it God’s way?
□    Is God really going to take care of us if we obey?
    Chew on these thoughts for a bit.  Let’s discuss them.
    Right in the middle of some laws that God gave Israel, right in the middle of a section that we struggle to get through as we read, we find an example of God’s blessing on obedience.
    God told Israel that every seven years they were to give the land a rest.  They were NOT to plant a crop.  Now, the obvious question is: how could they survive?  They didn’t have all the modern sources of supply, long term storage, freezing, etc. that we have today.  Well, the answer is simple.  God said HE would take care of it.
Leviticus 25:18-22 NKJV
18 ‘So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety. 20 ‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” 21 Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. 22 And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.
    God said to Israel: if you obey Me I will take care of you.  He says that to us today, as well.
    The miracles:  a bumper crop, no spoilage, they had food when they rested the land.
    Vital principal: when God says to do something, trust HIM to make it work.
    Keep this in mind as we continue to work through this topic of stewardship.  God’s ways are higher and He expects us to obey.
    Stewardship is the Christian way of life and managing resources.  This is not optional for Christians.  It encompasses every aspect of our lives.
    It is common to look at the big mountain before us instead of the powerful vehicle we have to drive over it.  It is common for us to look at the challenges and needs of the world and our fellowship instead of looking to God Who is bigger than anything we face.
    We must keep this focus in mind, not only as we cover this topic, but as we do all the work God has called us to do.  I wish we had more time right now to go deeper, we will continue next week.

DISCUSSION
What is a steward?
How do we define the resources God has invested in us?
What are we to do with these resources?

PRAYER Lord, help us to understand what you mean by stewardship.  Help us to be the faithful steward you want us to be.
    Personalize this: Lord, help Me to be . . .

1/11/15   FOLLOWUP TO OUR WEEK OF PRAYER

    Kevin Senapatiratne was with us this week and we had four evenings together to pray, to learn about prayer.  On the last night he talked about campfires.  I want to share a few things he said and tag on with an application for us as we head into this new year.
    He calls himself the spiritual pyromaniac of their ministry. His desire is to light spiritual fires in the hearts of believers, as well as seeing spiritual fires burning in churches and cities. A pyromaniac is someone who likes to light fires. Spiritually, we all need to see fires lit in our own lives and in this fellowship we have at this church.
    This reminds me of an old story.  A local church building caught on fire.  As the fire department was there to put out the fire all of the neighbors came to watch what was going on. One neighbor in particular had been invited by the pastor to come to church, but he had never come. The pastor said to him, “I have never seen you at church before.”  The neighbor replied,” I have never seen the church on fire before.”
    The truth is that the more that believers in the church as a whole are on fire, the more people will be drawn to the Lord.
    Kevin use the illustration of campfires. He talked about how to build them and keep them going. This illustration really caught my attention because, when it comes to campfires, I really am a pyromaniac. There is something special about sitting around the campfire, roasting hotdogs and watching the fire burn.
    To get a campfire going requires that you start with kindling. The kindling will burn quickly and brightly. But to keep the fire going you need logs. You can’t start the fire with just logs in a match, but with good kindling it will cause the logs catch on fire. One of the critical keys to see in the logs burn and stay burning is that the logs stay in contact with the fire and the other logs. If there was a log that said, “I’m going to just go over to the other side of the fire pit and burned by myself”, that log would quickly quit burning.
    Another critical factor in burning a good campfire is oxygen. This reminds me of a time when we were camping at Spencer Lake Bible camp. We had a good campfire going, but I thought it would be fun to get out the air pump we used to blow up our air mattresses. It puts out a large volume of air and when I blew it on the campfire we had a much larger fire.
    What is the spiritual application? To get a spiritual fire going requires the kindling of spiritual hunger and enthusiasm. Lord, I need you more and more. I need your presence and strength. I want to worship you and be faithful to you. I’m not going to be afraid to be excited for you and to be passionate about my service to you.
    We need to be spiritual logs that will get connected to the Lord in the local church and begin to burn for him. We need to stay close and not think that it doesn’t matter if we come to church are not. So many people today who call themselves Christians let anything and everything interfere with their church attendance. God is not a high priority in their lives and they find every excuse to skip out. We need that close fellowship, strength and encouragement that comes by being with God’s people.
    There is an old song we used to sing, I love the thrill that I feel when I get together with God’s wonderful people. Another part of the song says, oh what joy his love affords when we meet in one accord and we lift our hands and praise unto the Lord.
    We also need the wind of the Holy Spirit continually blowing in our midst. We see the impact that the spirit made on the church in the book of Acts. They turn the world upside down and shook many cities. Down through history, the wind of the Holy Spirit has ignited countless spiritual fires impacting millions of people. As we observed the challenges that we have before us as Christians in the modern world, the solution is the message of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus still changes lives in the Holy Spirit still convinces people of sin and empowers believers to serve the Lord.
    We need the spiritual fires, we need the fullness of the Holy Spirit because the world is lost in sin.  People need to be saved and we can’t manipulate that.
    How do people get saved?  The Bible tells us that the Father draws people to Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  He opens people’s minds to God’s truth. The Spirit convinces people of the presence of sin in their lives and the fact that they need God. God wants all people to be saved. This is an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. We see the importance of answering the call of the Holy Spirit. It is a dangerous thing to resist because we cannot come to Jesus on our own.  Also, many have times when the Spirit is calling them and they reject, then in the future thay have no desire to respond.
John 6:44 NIV
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 16:8 NIV
8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
John 12:32 NIV
32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.
The Harvest
    Why do we need spiritual fire? Because people without Jesus are lost in sin. We need to see a mighty harvest of souls, people coming to salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
    Steve Green wrote a powerful message in this song:
    Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?
    On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
    People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?
    We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who’s lost?
    Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share.
    People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
    People need the Lord.
Yes, people really do need the Lord.
    It takes workers to bring in the harvest.  I want to share a video with you.  Some of you have seen it before, but it is worth repeating.  Let God speak to you as we talk about the harvest.
Matthew 9:37-38 NIV
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
After video:
The final challenge of the week of prayer was to consider the lost, consider specific people who need to be saved, to consider people we don’t even know yet, but need the Lord as their Personal Savior.  Are you willing to pray and commit to seeing people come to the Lord?
What has God spoken to your heart that you want to share with us today?      What encouragement do you have for others?
Prayer

12/28/14   Communion Service

    There are multiple terms used for the Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist, the Last Supper.
    The Last Supper.  Think of this.  It was Jesus’ last supper, His last celebration of the Passover before His arrest and crucifixion.  We have here the thought of finality.  This is it, He was reaching the end of His time on earth.
    We are at the end of the year, there is very little opportunity to get much more done in 2014.  If there are things that have to be completed or accomplished in 2014, there is little time left to get it done.  You had better get busy.
    Jesus gave this to the church: the celebration to remember what He was about to do for us, to remember what He did. He gave us the Communion. We are to do it often in remembrance of Him.  We are to focus our thoughts and attention on the Lord, His sacrifice, and not to be distracted with other things.
    Let’s think about something that continually happens in our modern world:  Eating distracted.  It is very common to be  doing something else while we eat.  We have drive through windows to grab food and stuff it down as we race to our next destination.  The focus is not on the food, on the taste, etc.  We cannot eat the Lord’s supper distracted.  As we eat it, we must recognize what Jesus did.
1 Corinthians 11:23-34 NKJV
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
    27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
    33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
    We are going to dig into these verses some more, but, before we do, think about the setting of the Last Supper.  It contained some of the Lord’s last words.  When people come to the end, to the last words, they get very serious and share the most important things.
    There is something very significant wrapped up in our final words. We have to remember this truth as we think of and celebrate communion.  In very few hours after the Last Supper, Jesus was hung on the cross.  Shortly, He was dead, the sacrifice completed. Jesus realized the significance of those words the impact of his last advice.  He told them exactly what they would need to carry out their commission.
    Let’s look at the verses we read.

    When you participate in communion, make sure you are present.  No, I’m not talking about being physically here, but mentally and spiritually here.
    We live in a distracted digital age.  We work at multitasking. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted in celebrating and remembering what Jesus did for you.
    Jesus established this memorial of His death.  It impacts every generation.  It is a living memorial or remembrance of Jesus’s death that paid the price for anyone to be forgiven of their sins.  It is the judgement of God the Father for sin.  Our judgement has already happened when we receive Jesus as our Lord.
    As we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded of His sacrifice and its impact in our lives.  He loves us so much and we must show our love to Him as we obey all His commands.
    Be sure to express your thanks to the Lord for what He did for you.
    As we take communion it brings us together as a local body.  We are doing this together because we love the Lord and have been saved through the Blood of Jesus.
    This commemorative meal reaffirms the lordship of Jesus and our commitment to do his will, to remain loyal to him, to resist sin and to identify ourselves with his mission.
    We are warned about our attitude in receiving communion. “An unworthy manner.”  It cannot be flippant or careless.  We cannot be disrespectful of what Jesus did.  We must confess sin and stand clean before the Lord.
    The emblems we use represent the body and blood of Jesus.  This is a sacred time.

    Let me share an amazing story of the power of sharing communion, told by a pastor.
Communion Shared in a Psychiatric Ward
    A young friend called me to say she’d admitted herself to a psychiatric hospital. While she was there, I visited her when I could. One of my visits was on Good Friday. I asked her if she’d like for me to bring Communion to her. She said she would and asked if some of the other hospitalized Christians could join us.
    On that spring afternoon, five or six of us gathered in her room and shared the sacred meal. I think it was the most meaningful Communion service I ever shared—half a dozen strangers, each scarred by heartache, sitting helpless in a locked ward.
    Yet Jesus was there because we were there as his beloved. He was not only among us, but he was there within us. Even as broken people, we were one with each other. We were strengthened by his presence; we were healed, in a way. We were nourished, washed, and rejuvenated all because we had Communion.
Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois
    We are all sinners who have been saved by the grace and blood of Jesus.  We can bring Him our heartache, our struggles, our needs -- and know that He is always here to respond and carry us through.
    We are going to share in communion.  We invite the children back to join with their families.
    First of all, pray together as a family.  If you are here without any family members, I invite you to join with someone else and pray together.  Feel free to move around to accomplish this.
    Then we will all share in communion together.

After communion: what is the application of all of this?  How does it make a difference at the end of one year and the beginning of another?
    We have come through all the trials and joys of 2014 because of WHO Jesus is and WHAT He had done for us.
    We can look to a new year, a completely blank slate, with the assurance that He will walk with us and guide us.  We are taking major steps of faith.  God won’t leave us.  Since Jesus showed us His amazing love by going to the cross, we know He will continue to show His amazing love by taking us through whatever we will face.
Let us sing: My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness. On Christ the solid rock I stand.

12/14/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE

This Is It, Folks!!!

    We all have different skills and abilities.  I have often been amazed at the talents some people have.  Some folks have amazing skills and can pick out the slightest differences and details that most people can’t see.
Hitter Ted Williams Senses Weight of Bats
    Ted Williams, the last baseball player to hit .400 in a season, died July, 2002, at 83. “There is no joy in Red Sox nation, a.k.a. New England, or in any heart where baseball matters,” George Will reported in a column memorializing the star hitter.
    Mr. Will describes Mr. Williams as “an alloy of innocence and arrogance,” an obsessive player who gave the local sports reporters lots to write about. “He used a postal scale to check that humidity had not added an ounce to the weight of his bats”.
    “Challenged to find from among six bats the one that was half an ounce heavier than the others, he quickly did. He once returned to the maker a batch of his Louisville Sluggers because he sensed that the handles were not quite right. The handles were off by five-thousandths of an inch.”
“Quicktakes” World (7-20-02), p. 10
    He was a great baseball player.  Ted Williams knew what he was doing.  He was picky that the tools of his trade were perfect.
    Look at the title of this message, This Is It, Folks!!!  We have been talking about the theme of equipping all year.  Today we will give you an opportunity to sign on to something and be involved.  If you are already doing something, Thank You.  Awesome!!  Keep up the good work.
    Think about the various skills and abilities that people have. One time I was talking with a friend of my brother, Roger, who was telling me that he had the ability to tune and fix a piano. He said if anything is broken I can fix it. I just can’t play it. Oh how I wish I could play it like your brother plays it. This man had one skill and Roger had another.  Both skills were necessary to get value out of a piano.
    There are people with great mechanical skills who can fix a broken engine and make it run perfectly. Others have a hard time putting gas in the car.
    Some people have great insights as to why computers work and can fix them when you are greatly frustrated by them.
    Some people can cook a delicious meal with all the trimmings, while other people have a hard time boiling water.
    Think about when you have medical issues and you talk with your doctor. The doctor examines you and asks questions. He may order blood tests or x-rays. If you need surgery you are very thankful when your surgeon knows what and where to cut and what not to cut.
    There are so many different skills and talents that people have. A few people seem to be able to do anything they try. Most of us have abilities in certain areas and know that other things we should leave to someone else.  But the key is:  we all can do something and that God has given us all abilities and talents that we can develop. We need to use the talents that God has given us for Him and His glory.
    Having spent this year talking about equipping, today we are going to look at what we can do.  Everyone can do something for the Lord.  When we are through today, you are going to have the opportunity to look for something to do.
Acts 6:1-7 NLT
1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” 5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. 7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
    Another passage:
Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
    Hear this as we move on.  Many are already working hard.  We would not be where we are without the active involvement of many.  Again, thank you for all you do for the Lord.  We are looking to be sure that all have the opportunity to be involved in some way.
    Let’s go back and look at these passages.

What have we seen?  The early church understood that they all had to pitch in and work together.  There are so many things that need to be done.  There is only ONE who is superhuman who can do anything, and He is our Lord.  He has given us gifts and abilities to do a variety of things, but not everything. This is why we must identify tasks that we can do and then each person do what they can do.  We work TOGETHER and get the jobs done.
    We have prepared many job descriptions for tasks that need to be done. We are going to take time to look at them. As you see things you are interested in, please take one of the sheets of paper and fill it out. It would be good for you to look around at all of the options we have presented.
    When you look at the various sheets of job information, you may find one that you are already doing.  This is not saying you are doing a lousy job and we are looking for a replacement.  It means that this is a legitimate need and there may be others who would like to help.  Keep doing what you are doing. If you are currently involved in a ministry, please fill out that form so that we know you plan to continue.
    A key point: if you have an interest in something but don’t have the training/skills, we want to help you.  We all have to learn and grow in our abilities.  Don’t use the excuse, “I don’t know how”.
    If there is something that we missed, and there probably is, please take the suggestion page and write out what you would like to participate in that we have not yet developed information for.
DISCUSSION
What are the key points we have talked about today?
Why do you think it is so important for everyone to find something to do to be involved in our local fellowship?
Before we go and look at what is available, do you have any questions about what we are about to do?
We are going to pray for God to direct each of us regarding our involvement.

11/30/14    We Are One In The Lord

    An important question we will look at in a few minutes:  Is this a hill worth dying on?
Musical Artists Clash Over a Tiny Musical Piece
    In October, 2011, The New York Times ran an article about two musical giants whose longtime relationship unraveled over a tiny piece of music. Helene Grimaud, a brilliant and magnetic pianist, and Claudio Abbado, a revered conductor, have performed together at least a dozen times since 1995. They were supposed to perform in Switzerland and London, but organizers cancelled their concerts due to “artistic differences.”
    There was only one issue at the heart of their conflict—a 1 minute and 20 second cadenza from Mozart’s concerto No. 23 in A. (The article defines a cadenza as “unaccompanied flights in a concerto that play on its themes and show off a virtuoso’s mettle.”) The conductor Abbado prefers Mozart’s original cadenza, but the pianist Grimaud feels that Mozart’s original work is “not the most inspired.” Instead, she prefers another cadenza for No. 23 based on the later work of an Italian pianist named Busoni.
    Ms. Grimaud said it was her prerogative to choose the cadenza. Anything else would have been “a sellout.” But Mr. Addabo contends that it’s his “territory.” According to another colleague, Mr. Addabo “is very strong and probably, like most conductors, used to dominating the artistic process.” Neither side was willing to compromise. An official for one of the cancelled concerts said, “[Their musical relationship] was just somehow sort of dead. I guess they didn’t relate to one another.”
Matt Woodley, Managing Editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Daniel J. Wakin, “Titans Clash Over a Mere Cadenza,” The New York Times (10-31-11)
    Let’s keep this story in mind and go back to the question we mentioned before:    Is this a hill worth dying on?  I have a friend that I have been in many committee meetings with and this is one of his statements.  As we would be discussing an issue he would say “This is not a hill I’m willing to die on”.  The concept of the statement is that this issue, whatever it is, is not so important that I am willing to pay a major price to try to win.  The issue simply is not eternal or worth the conflict.
    Think about the two musicians in the story we just heard.  What were they talking about?  One minute and twenty seconds out of a whole concert.  And, because of their stubbornness, maybe it was pride or arrogance, they had to cancel some concerts.  What did that cost to do that?  How much loss was there to many people?  I wonder if they even cared.  I wonder if they felt a sense of victory and accomplishment when the concerts were cancelled because “I didn’t give in” and/or “I know I was right”.
John 13:34-35 NKJV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
    Unfortunately, Christians have not always gotten along with each other.  Someone penned these words:
To dwell above with saints we love,
That will be grace and glory.
To live below with saints we know;
Now, that’s another story!
    Let’s break down the verses we read:
Commandment: This is not a suggestion, it would be really nice if you would do this thing.  Pleeeeeeeeese????
Love one another: Love must be not just vertical reaching up to God, but horizontal reaching out to one another.  The definition of love I like: love is the accurate estimate and adequate supply of another person’s needs.  Love is outward, love is giving.  Love is not selfish and demanding.
As I have loved you: How did Jesus love us?
Philippians 2:1-8 NLT
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
    This is the amazing sacrificial love we see from Jesus.
By this all will know that you are My disciples: How does the world know what a real Christian is?  This is the sign, love for one another.
If you have love for one another: when the world sees Christians acting in a loving and caring manner, then they know we are the real article.
    Again note, we are commanded to love one another in a unique, Christlike way.  We don’t always have to agree on everything to love and get along.
    Along with genuine love, true believers will live a life of obedience to the Lord and submission to God’s Word.
John 8:31 NIV
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Matthew 7:21 NIV
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
    Along this line of believing and obeying God’s Word is the message Paul wrote to the church in the book of Galatians.  He said that if anyone preaches any other gospel other than what has been preached, let him be eternally condemned.  God will not allow people to add to, take away or change the meaning of the message of the Bible.
    Please note that false doctrine usually comes incrementally.  Like most sin, people get trapped by making small steps towards it.  False doctrine comes in with good-sounding proclamation wrapped in attractive-sounding words.  It seems so sensible and includes a portion of truth.
    With what is happening in the world today, with the persecution of believers spreading across the world in every country, God’s family must stand together. Those who stand for Jesus and resist popular and ungodly beliefs and behaviors
are worthy of love and support.  We can do this without compromising Biblical beliefs.
    This thought of compromise is critical to our daily Christian walk.  We CANNOT compromise God’s holiness, His purity and separation from evil for the sake of unity.  That is not the real thing.
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
    *****The very important application of this for us at this time.  We are in the process of making a very important decision.  Approaching my 25th anniversary here at Cornerstone, I have believed it was time to make a transition.  This fellowship has been working this year to find God’s leading for this next step.  The transition team has worked hard and done an excellent job in seeking God’s leading for this process.  They have selected a candidate to come next week.  They have prepared an opportunity for all to meet the Mike Channing family on Saturday evening.  Next Sunday they will be here and the membership will vote on them.
    A few very critical thoughts to consider:
□    The transition team selected the candidate.
□    It is up to the membership to vote.
□    Everyone of us must seek God’s direction in the vote. This is not a contest, it is seeking God’s direction.
□    We must keep God’s love central in our hearts, believing that God will direct us and be thankful for the outcome.
□    We must work together to build God’s kingdom in the future.
□    We are all on the same side, we are on the Lord’s side.
    Let me share a story, a good example of what NOT to be.
Division Among “Chunnel” Builders
    When it came to building the tunnel under the English Channel connecting England with France (later called the “Chunnel”), the French had the perfect word for it: bicephele, two-headed. There were two mammoth firms built from scratch to complete the project: one charged with finance and operation, the other responsible for building it. Each of these companies was also two-headed: equally French and British.
    No one was allowed to take charge. Leadership, more times than not, was reduced to the management of conflict. Said a high-ranking executive, “The project…created a lot of tension because it [was] not geared to solving problems; it [was] geared to placing blame.” The English yelled at the French, and the French yelled at the English. Said another executive, “There were nervous breakdowns galore.”
    The problems were primarily from a lack of shared standards. The two countries had a different word for everything. The French had their accounting system, so did the English. The French ran on 380 volts, and the British ran on 420. Instruction manuals were bilingual. There were even two different standards used to measure sea level.
    “When you have people coming from two different nations,” said one of the engineers, “each believes that only their regulations are right.”
Robert Lewis with Rob Wilkins, The Church of Irresistible Influence (Zondervan, 2001), pp. 205-206
    Reading this, it is amazing that the thing was ever built.  What could have been avoided if they could have really worked together?

DISCUSSION
What happens when Christians really do seek to understand and then apply the command to love one another?
What if they find it hard to do, to love another believer?
How does this actually loving one another  affect our local church?
How should Christians react when things don’t go the way they want them to go?
What can you learn and apply from the chunnel story?

As we sing, let us really pray this.
Bind us together, Lord, Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
    There is only one God,
There is only one King;
There is only one Body,
That is why we sing:

11/16/14 Year of Equipping To Serve

A WINNING ATTITUDE

    We have spent this year talking about being equipped to do God’s work.  When a topic like this comes up, it is easy to quickly dismiss it with the thought that “I don’t really have any talents that will make a difference”.  We live in a world of the superstar.  We live in a world where the big show, the overly-talented person is the only one who can get anything done.  “I’m a nobody” thinking impacts the world.  It impacts the church.
    What can we do for God?  How can we do anything for God?  Can we do anything for God?
    Here’s an amazing study that goes against everything our culture seems to promote:  Too Much Talent Hurts Sports Teams
    When it comes to winning games, most pro sports teams go after talented players. Everyone wants a team of stars. But a new research study published in Psychological Science argues that too many talented players can actually hurt the team;s overall performance. The research study is titled “The Too-Much Talent Effect.”
    When the researchers analyzed professional sports, especially basketball and soccer, they discovered that talented players helped teams win—but only up to a point. Teams loaded with star players found that the too-much talent effect actually hurt the team’s chances of winning. Teams with the greatest proportion of elite athletes performed worse than those with more moderate proportions of top level players. Star-studded basketball teams had less assists and rebounds than teams with more average players. The researchers concluded, “When teams need to come together, more talent can tear them apart.”
    An article summarizing the study observed:
    Why is too much talent a bad thing? Think teamwork. In many endeavors, success requires [team effort] towards a goal that is beyond the capability of any one individual … When a team roster is flooded with individual talent, pursuit of personal star-status may prevent the attainment of team goals. The basketball player chasing a point record, for example, may cost the team by taking risky shots instead of passing to a teammate.
Matt Woodley, Editor, Preaching Today.com; sources: Roderick I. Swaab, “The Too-Much Talent Effect,” Psychological Science (6-27-14); Cindi May, “The Surprising Problem of Too Much Talent,” Scientific American (10-14-14)
    That is some amazing information.  Working together gets the job done.
    The Christian life is not about who we are, it is who we are in Christ. The Christian life is about who Jesus makes us to be. The Christian life is about living in and working in God’s power. The victory the church experiences comes only through the power of God working through us. Teamwork, working in a spirit of unity to accomplish God’s plan for us will get the job done much quicker than if we have a few superstars.
Colossians 3:1-17 NLT
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
    What are we to do?
Set your mind fully on the things of God.
Let HIM affect your attitudes in life.
Keep the eternal and heavenly perspective as you live the character of Christ.
Remember that as we live in God’s power we will make an impact.
    We are a team for the Lord.  We are a team as HE is the Captain.  We are a team and the world will know Jesus as we live and work in HIS power.
    Lessons learned by Coach Tony Dungy
    When I arrived in Tampa, the talent was there. It was the culture that had to change. The coaches and myself in Minnesota knew that if we could get the Bucs down early, they would give up, and we could win easily. But if they started well, they would be competitive with us to the end. It seemed that the team had cultivated a fragile mind-set that had infected their play for years. They always expected something to go wrong, and it usually did.
    When I arrived in Tampa, I began meeting with players who lived there — trying to understand from them what needed to be fixed. Although all the issues were relatively minor, they contributed to the team’s second class, defeatist, excuse laden mentality. I began to sell the philosophy that we are responsible for what happens to us, not anyone or anything else. No excuses, no explanations. This is how we changed the culture.
    At the same time, I started to address some of the issues the players were bringing to my attention. I realized that, by addressing minor issues, we could bring about a major culture shift. The Bucs’ previous owner had been known for his frugality and, in order to save a few dollars, the team often stayed in inconvenient locations when they were on the road. When I came on board, we began to stay downtown at Marriotts, Wyndhams, and Ritz-Carltons. It was a small change but part of a bigger shift I wanted us to make.
    One of the things I couldn’t change was the location of our training camp at the University of Tampa. The University of Tampa had been founded more than sixty years earlier in a hotel Henry Plant had built in the late 1800s along the banks of the Hillsborough River. Originally intended as a getaway for vacationing northerners, it has since been turned into a very pretty school. As a training camp, however, it had seen too many lousy Bucs teams wander through its halls and grounds. I wanted a new, fresh place to train, someplace without any connection to losing. But we simply didn’t have another feasible option.
    I thought of my dad’s advice to focus on the job, not the surroundings, and decided to embrace the situation rather than try and change it. I told the guys we didn’t want to leave the University of Tampa. We wanted our team to become tough, so we wanted camp to be tough. We wanted the grass on the field to give out during the first thunderstorm. We wanted the dorm rooms to be spartan. It was a mind-set shift, and the guys accepted it. No excuses, no explanations.
    As for One Buc, I knew it needed countless improvements — a team meeting room, offices separate from meeting rooms, a room big enough to house all of the weights so some weren’t out on the patio, a third practice field, and so on. But as I told the guys, the Pittsburgh Steelers practiced every day on a sixty-yard Astroturf field…and had won four Super Bowls. No excuses, no explanations.
    At a team meeting, I ran through a laundry list of excuses our players could easily hang a poor season on if they chose to:
    We have a new coaching staff.
    We have to learn a new system on both offense and defense.
    We have sub-par facilities.
    We have a young quarterback.
    We never get the benefit of the doubt from officials.
    We have distractions over a stadium and we might move cities.
    We never win in the cold.
    Those were all great excuses, and we could have used any and all of them. However, our goal was to win football games, and excuses were not an option. Instead, I told them we expected several things of them:
    Be a pro.
    Act like a champion.
    Respond to adversity; don’t react.
    Be on time. Being late means it’s not important to you or you can’t be relied upon.
    Execute. Do what you’re supposed to do when you’re supposed to do it. Not almost. All the way. Not most of the time. All of the time.
    Take ownership.
    Whatever it takes. No excuses. No explanations. That’s what began to change a losing culture to a winning one.
http://www.allprodad.com/dungy/turning-a-losing-culture-into-a-winning-one/?utm_campaign=LosingCulture&utm_source=EMAIL&utm_medium=11.04.2014&utm_term=Body&utm_content=PlayOfTheDay
    Where did we start today?
A WINNING ATTITUDE
God has not called us to be superstars.  He has called us to be faithful to HIM and work together.
Colossians 3:1 NLT
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
NKJV
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
The Message
1 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.

DISCUSSION
Review the main points of this message.
What encourages you from what we have talked about?
Are there any attitude changes that are needed?
What should we expect to happen here in Western Wisconsin and here at Cornerstone?

PRAYER
Sing together:
Oh, Lord, Send the Power Just Now

11/9/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE

The Take-Away From Our Fall Emphasis on Missions

    Where is Brittany Maynard today?
Some thoughts from Jim Denison (edited)
    Brittany Maynard described how she learned that she had terminal brain cancer and her decision to move to Oregon so that she could take advantage of its ‘Death with Dignity’ law to end her life.  Brittany ended her own life recently at her home in Portland.  She was 29 years old.  She left this message on Facebook:
    “Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love.  Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me . . . but would have taken so much more.  The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers.  I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type. . . . Goodbye world.  Spread good energy.  Pay it forward!”
    It would be hard to find a person who lived a more active life than Brittany did.  She traveled to Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Tanzania.  She climbed Kilimanjaro a month before her wedding, took ice climbing courses in Ecuador and was an avid scuba diver.  She taught in orphanages in Nepal and spent a summer working in Costa Rica.
    However, I can find nothing about her religious beliefs.  In describing her decision to end her life, she invited those who love her to “come say goodbye as I pass into whatever’s next.”  It’s hard to know what she believed about Jesus or salvation.
    Nonetheless, I would guess that most in our culture think Brittany is in heaven, since our culture is convinced that all good people go there.  Eighty-nine percent of Americans believe in heaven; 85 percent of them believe they’ll go there.  Three in four, including two-thirds of Protestants, do not believe that access to heaven is limited to Christians.
    But opinion doesn’t change reality.  What humans think about heaven and hell is mere speculation unless our beliefs are based on something besides belief.  . . . . . .
    The difference between Jesus and all other religious authorities is the resurrection.  There is abundant evidence that Jesus lived, was condemned and crucified by the Romans, and was seen alive by his followers and worshiped as Lord.  Apart from the resurrection there is no compelling explanation for his empty tomb, the changed lives of his disciples, or the impact of his movement on the Roman Empire.
    If he is raised from the dead, he must be God.  If he is God, his word must be true.  And he clearly states in his word, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  Peter agreed: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Why does this issue matter?
    I worry about the apparent loss of evangelistic passion among many in Western Christianity today. . . . .
    I’m convinced that one reason for our lack of evangelistic effectiveness is that many of us have lost sight of hell. We’ve adopted our culture’s distaste for eternal perdition, ignoring or even rejecting the biblical facts about those who reject our Lord.  But Jesus said more about hell than heaven.  He warned us that “the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction”.  The apostles paid the ultimate price to get the only hope of salvation to their dying world.
    It seems so unkind to even consider the possibility that a beautiful, suffering young woman like Brittany might be in hell.  I deeply & sincerely hope she is in heaven with our Lord.  However, there’s nothing I can do to influence her commitment to Jesus today.  But every person I meet this day is another Brittany.  We are all dying.  And we have only today to be ready for eternity.
    William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once took a group of volunteers through an extensive evangelism training course lasting many weeks.  When it was done he said to them, “I’m sorry our training took so long.  If I could take you to hell for five minutes, none of what I’ve taught you would be necessary.”
    Who is your Brittany Maynard today?
http://www.denisonforum.org/morality/1224-where-is-brittany-maynard-today
Some thoughts:
God is the Judge and is the only one who can answer the question of where she is today.
It is extremely sad that people think the best solution is suicide.
Many of these laws are sugar-coated with a positive sounding name to hide what is really going on.
Even in the worst of medical conditions, taking your life is never the answer.
    Questions about what we can take away from our missions convention –
□    Why put all this emphasis on missions?
□    Why put the emphasis on reaching people with the message of Jesus?
□    Why would some of the most gifted people risk life and limb and go to places that are not attractive places to be?
□    Why would they work so hard to raise their support and then come back every four years to replace the support they lost and increase it due to inflation?
The answer is found in a series of verses.  There are many more we could look at, but look at these.
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 NKJV
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:1 NKJV
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 10:9-10, 13 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
II Corinthians 5:17, 21 NKJV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Revelation 20:15 NKJV
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
    The Take-Away: because people are lost in their sin, we are accountable before God to reach people for Jesus.  Without HIM, they are lost in their sins.  People around here without a personal relationship with Jesus are just as lost as someone in Africa.
    We have just shown the need of Jesus through the verses we looked at.  And now this very challenging question.
Romans 10:14-15 NLT
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
    We can never force or trick a person into believing in Jesus.  We must give them the good news, pray that they will receive the tugging of God in their hearts and respond to receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
    So many people don’t realize they are lost.  Listen to this strange but true story.   Man Discovers He Was a Missing Child
    Imagine one day discovering that you were a lost, missing child.
    Marx Barnes—now named Steve Carter—born in 1977, had no inkling he was a lost, missing child until January 2011, when he did a search on missingkids.com. He found himself staring at a composite image created to show what Marx would look like as an adult.
    “I got chills,” Carter said.
    A DNA test ultimately confirmed his identity.
    Marx went missing at 6-months-old on June 21, 1977, when his mother placed him in a stroller and went for a walk on one of the Hawaiian Islands. Through a strange series of events, Marx’s mother was placed in a psychiatric hospital, while Marx was placed in protective care, ultimately becoming a ward of the state. Marx was placed in an orphanage only 30 miles from where he lived with his parents. As an adult, Carter “never had any strong desire to locate his family.”
    By contrast, his half sister had only one desire in life: to find out what happened to her brother. It was her efforts—convincing officials to reactivate the investigation—that led to the composite image Carter discovered online. An official from the Missing Child Center in Hawaii said, “If it wasn’t for her, it would still be a cold case.”
Joey Bartolomeo, “Alive, 34 Years After He Went Missing,” People (4-30-12)
    Here is a critical issue for us to grasp: most people don’t realize they are spiritually lost.  It takes the work of God to speak to their hearts for them to realize their need of Jesus.  I believe most people believe something is missing, but they don’t recognize the need as Jesus.
John 16:7-8 NKJV
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 6:44 NKJV
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Chicago Man Discovers His Real Name
    The headline in the Chicago Tribune was poignant: “Living a Life Unknown.” The subhead said, “Dozens of John, Jane Does turn up yearly at Illinois police stations and hospitals. Most are identified. These 5 weren’t.”
    Despite all the efforts of social services and police, no one seems to know a woman who calls herself Seven. She says she is 71 and that she’s gone by that name since 1976. She’s been in state care since 2003 and has dementia. Even her smiling picture on the front page of a Chicago paper is not likely to help.
    Sometimes an identity is discovered. A man they named Carlos has been a ward of the state since 1998, longer than any of the other John Does in Illinois. According to the Tribune, “He doesn’t speak and likely had a stroke that caused brain damage. He uses a wheelchair and wears a medical helmet to prevent injuries. His only reaction to people is a wide smile and a giddy giggle.”
    On November 29, 2011, the staff at the facility where Carlos lives discovered his identity and that it was his 53rd birthday. According to the story, “That day, caretaker Azucena Herrera went to Carlos and uttered the name Crispin Mareno. The usually giggly man fell silent after hearing his real name for the first time in at least 13 years. Then tears ran down his cheek.”
Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; source: Becky Schlikerman, "Living a Life Unknown," Chicago Tribune (2-21-12)
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound . . . I once was lost but now am found, t’was blind but now I see.
DISCUSSION
The tern take-away refers to what a person can take with them to make a difference in their life after they partake in an event.  What are the take-aways you see from our missions convention and the emphasis on missions?  The personal impact?
What are the take-aways as we look to the next year and our involvement in working for Jesus?  (This is both personal and corporate involvement.)
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once took a group of volunteers through an extensive evangelism training course lasting many weeks.  When it was done he said to them, “I’m sorry our training took so long.  If I could take you to hell for five minutes, none of what I’ve taught you would be necessary.”
PRAYER

10/19/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE

Christianity - LIVE IT!!  Alive - Not Dull!!

Unity in the Holy Spirit
Pit Crew Works as a Team
    In 1950, Indy car pit crews consisted of four men—including the driver! No one was allowed to get near the car except this small crew of specialists. A routine pit stop to replace two tires and fill the tank back then took more than 60 seconds. Today, a crew consists of 11 members—excluding the driver. Six are permitted direct contact with the car. Five serve as behind-the-wall assistants. A full service pit stop that replaces all four tires, adjusts the wings, and tops off the tank now takes less than eight seconds! Formula 1 pit crews are even bigger—sometimes involving over 20 people who all have their role to play. When everyone understands his role, and when everyone on the pit crew does his job with purpose and passion, the team can complete the same job in under three seconds.
    When the work of the church is carried out by a small handful of people progress is slow and sometimes awkward. But when every member knows and fills his or her role, the difference can be amazing to behold.  This is what we have been talking about this year, equipping to serve.  We are aiming to increase the size of the pit crew.
Gregory Hollifield, Collierville, Tennessee; source: YouTube, “Formula 1 Pit Stops 1950 & Today” (Posted 4-12-14)
    Let me share another story. Not sure that this is true, but you will get the point.
Older Rabbi Teaches Young Rabbi about Conflict
    A young rabbi found a serious problem in his new congregation. During the Friday service, half the congregation stood for the prayers and half remained seated, and each side shouted at the other, insisting that theirs was the true tradition. Nothing the rabbi said or did helped solve the impasse. Finally, in desperation, the young rabbi sought out the synagogue’s 99-year-old founder.
    He met the old rabbi in the nursing home and poured out his troubles. “So tell me,” he pleaded, “was it the tradition for the congregation to stand during the prayers?”
    “No,” answered the old rabbi.
    “Ah,” responded the younger man, “then it was the tradition to sit during the prayers.”
    “No,” answered the old rabbi.
    “Well,” the young rabbi responded, “what we have is complete chaos! Half the people stand and shout and the other half sit and scream.”
    “Ah,” said the old rabbi, “that was the tradition.”
As retold by P. J. Alindogan, The Potter’s Jar blog, "Communicate and Relate" (9-4-11)
    Wow!!  Wouldn’t that be exciting to go to worship God each week and have a split where everyone is shouting at the other people about how wrong they are.  Sounds like a great place to be.  NOT!!!  God has called us to work together, to unity in His body.  God has called us to build HIS kingdom.
    God has given us an amazing life to live as we serve Him.  God makes us alive.  God gives us a life that is the best.  And, part of that life is the unity that we have in Jesus and the power of His Spirit.  As we live in unity, we have the best existence possible.  God delivers us from complete chaos.
Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
    We will be most effective in our Christian service as we work hard to maintain spiritual unity.  This passage says there is one Lord, who is Jesus.  Since HE is Lord, and not any of us, we must work to keep HIM the Lord and that will help us keep spiritual unity.
    The unity in the Holy Spirit will never be created by any human effort.  Genuine spiritual unity comes through accepting the truth of the Bile and making Jesus the Lord of our lives.  Believers are given direction to maintain spiritual unity:  1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
    This unity doesn’t mean that we always have intellectual agreement on every issue.  We can have opinions.  God calls us to have unity of love and purpose.  We love God and our purpose is to build HIS kingdom.  We keep unity through loyalty to the truth and living in obedience to the leading of the Spirit.  We keep unity in learning how to agree and disagree.  We learn to deal with issues and allow others to have an opinion.  This does not mean we compromise on doctrine.  We cannot accomplish this in our own efforts.
Galatians 3:3 NIV
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
    Ministry to one another helps keep the necessary unity of the body of Christ.  We stay united as we keep our focus on the Lord’s work.
Galatians 6:10 NIV
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
    There is one Lord and Savior.  His name is Jesus.  This declaration is foundational to being a Christian.  We don’t need any other power or savior to be forgiven of sin.
Ephesians 4:11-14 NIV
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
    We started out today with the story of the pit crews in racing.  The more they have developed, the faster they have become.  We heard:   A full service pit stop that replaces all four tires, adjusts the wings, and tops off the tank now takes less than eight seconds!  It takes longer than that for you to put your car in park and turn off the key and open the door when you go to get gas.  That is a picture of working together.  They work together because they have a common goal, get the car back on the track.  Our common goal is to do God’s work.
    One of the primary purposes why Jesus gives gifted leaders to the church is to prepare the believers for the Lord’s work.  For a long time churches have missed the point:  ministers were never given to do all the work of ministry, but many believers felt the pastor was there to be involved in everything.  But, they were given to the church to equip believers to do ministry themselves, both inside and outside of the church.  What we must do is equip and release people to ministry.  We all must find some way to be active for the Lord.
    As we are active and all on the same team, we will have unity in the body.  The more we study the Bible and get active in God’s work, the more we will mature spiritually.  The more we mature the more we will avoid doctrinal junk.  This means we need to be faithful to participate in Bible study and fellowship.  We must do all we can to become closer to each other spiritually.  We must examine our priorities.
    Involvement makes anything alive and exciting.  So, the Christian life is not dull when you are involved.  This year as we have been talking about equipping, we have been challenging us to think of how we are to be involved in God’s work.
    Some questions, topics we have talked about.
Are you seeking God to hear from Him how you are to be involved in His work?
What kind of interests do you have?

Why do we all need to be involved?  Why do we need a larger pit crew?  How must we see the world around us?  We need involvement because the world is lost in sin.  Sin that will lead them to eternal punishment.
John 14:6 NIV
6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
    Listen, and make this your prayer.
LOOKING THROUGH HIS EYES
Let me see this world, dear Lord,
as though I were looking through your eyes.
A world of men who don’t want you,
Lord, but a world for which You died.
Let me kneel with you in the garden.
Blur my eyes with tears of agony.
For if once, I could see this world the way You see,
I just know I’d serve you more faithfully.

Let me see this world, dear Lord,
through Your eyes when men mock your Holy Name.
When they beat You and spat upon You, Lord,
Let me love them as You loved them just the same.
Let me stand high above my petty problems,
And grieve for men, hell-bound eternally:
For if once I could see this world the way You see
I just know I’d serve you more faithfully.

PRAYER

10/12/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE

Trusting God - Two Faithful Spies

    Let’s let our thinking take us back to the year 1600.   That is 20 years before the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth.  Let’s talk about things that they would say are impossible. What kind of things do you think they would say could never be done?
    How many common, everyday things do we have today that did not exist back in 1600? So many things and experiences we take as routine seemed impossible back then. (The Pilgrims took 65 days to reach Cape Cod.  Today you can do that trip in about six hours.)
    There are so many things that seem impossible, yet God wants us to know that with him all things are possible. This is especially true in the spiritual battle that we continually face. I am sure that many Christians in our country are feeling very discouraged at the things that are happening these days. I want to take us to an exciting story in the Bible that shows that nothing is impossible with God. It shows us that God expects us to fully trust him and not let doubt and situations that seem impossible prevent us from stepping out in faith and seeing God do amazing things.
    After the endless time of suffering as slaves, God miraculously brought Israel out of bondage in Egypt.  He was leading them to the promised land.  They reached the point where they should take it over.  God told Moses to send some men to check it out.
Numbers 13 NIV
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” 3 So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.
17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath.
23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.
25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”
32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.
33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
Numbers 14 NIV
1 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.  2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!  3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”
13 Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, O LORD, are with these people and that you, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15 If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16 ‘The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert.’ 17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”
20 The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. ‘21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, ‘22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times-- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. ‘24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.”
26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 In this desert your bodies will fall--every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But you--your bodies will fall in this desert. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. 34 For forty years--one year for each of the forty days you explored the land--you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die.”
36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it-- 37 these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly.
40 Early the next morning they went up toward the high hill country. “We have sinned,” they said. “We will go up to the place the LORD promised.”
41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”
44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD's covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
Joshua 14:6-12 NIV
6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’
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.”

    Ten spies brought a bad report.  It is too hard.  The enemy is too strong.  They let FEAR take over.  Their unbelief showed that they had rejected  God’s faithfulness to take them to where they were.  Their hearts were not in tune with God.  These ten spies didn’t trust God and His amazing promises about the future.
    They lacked faith that God would help them win the victory.  This was the opposite of the hope and confidence that Joshua and Caleb had in God.  These two men saw the same enemy, but they came back excited at what they believed God would do for them.
    Joshua and Caleb did something most people are afraid to do.  They opposed the majority opinion.  We live in an age where people live and die by the latest opinion poll.  Somehow they think that if the majority of people think something is true, then it must be true.  Joshua and Caleb, the two faithful spies, based their account on a solid commitment to God and confidence in His promises to their nation. They refused to consent to the decision of Israel, no matter what the cost.
    What can we learn?
Don’t assume that a majority opinion is always right.
Build your foundation on the Bible, not popular opinion.
Be willing to go against the majority when they are rejecting God’s Word.
    What we see here is unbelief and rebellion.  They had very short memories of God’s faithfulness.  They lost their ability to trust God in every situation.  Faith includes actions.  What does God say?  What does God want from us?  Faith hears and applies what God says.

    So, what is the application of all of this for us today?
Responses.???
    Some thoughts -- feel free to respond:
As the Scriptures say, there is nothing new under the sun.  We still face impossible situations.
We must still trust God when everything around us says this is impossible.  The enemy is good at intimidation.
God calls us all to be faithful to him. We must not get caught up in the pressure to be successful according to secular standards.
God is never perplexed or stymied by what we think is impossible.
Because Joshua and Caleb trusted God and were faithful to him, they saw God’s help and intervention in their lives in supernatural ways.

What are the “impossible” things we need to trust God for?

PRAYERS

9/21/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE

Christianity - LIVE IT!!  Alive - Not Dull!!

What do believers in Jesus have that no other group has?
    Theologian Michael Horton on the Gospel
    The gospel is not good instructions, not a good idea, and not good advice. The gospel is an announcement of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.
Michael Horton, Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. Michael Horton, “Christ at the Center,” Christianity Today magazine (November 2009), p. 48
    Let me share from a recent writing by Lee Strobel from:
Investigating Faith with Lee Strobel, September 17, 2014
Q. There are so many religions out there. How can we be sure that Christianity is the right one?
A. No doubt about it – people believe all kinds of religious ideas, and most people are sincere in their beliefs. We should treat them with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV  15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;), and do all we can to protect their rights – as well as our own – to practice religion freely.
    I also know that people can be sincere, but sincerely wrong. In fact, it’s impossible that all religions could be right, since they contradict each other on so many fundamental points. For example, look at what these religions teach about God:
• Buddhism historically denies that God exists (atheism).
• Hinduism teaches that everything is part of an all-pervasive, impersonal god (pantheism).
• Christianity teaches that there is one God who is personal and who created everything (theism).
    As one person put it to me, if all these religions are true, then God must be schizophrenic – because he doesn’t even know who he is, but tells one group one thing about himself while telling others something completely different.
    Well, God is not schizophrenic – so we’re forced to choose between belief systems. How should we do this? Should we base our decision on our traditions, or on what some authority figure tells us to believe, or perhaps on what we feel in our hearts? Those are dangerous ways to decide.
    My contention, and the approach I’ve used throughout my writings, is that we should choose our beliefs based on where logic and the evidence point (while asking God for guidance). And it’s with that approach that I’ve concluded Christianity – over any other worldview – squares with the facts of science philosophy, and history.
    My own experience has borne this out. Psalm 34:8 invites us, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Well, as one who has been tasting and seeing for more than three decades – and experiencing those blessings – I can testify that the psalmist was right: the Lord is real, and he is good.
“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” – Isaiah 48:17
Q. Isn’t it elitist to say that people must be followers of Jesus in order to get into heaven?
A. It can certainly sound that way – and unfortunately some Christians project an air of arrogance and exclusivity in how they live out their faith and then communicate it to others. But authentic Christianity is anything but arrogant or exclusive. Let me illustrate.
    Imagine two country clubs. The first has a strict set of rules and only allows people in who have earned their membership. They have to accomplish something, obtain superior wisdom, or fulfill a long list of demands and requirements in order to qualify for acceptance. And despite their best efforts, lots of people just won’t make the grade and will therefore be excluded. In effect, this is what other religious systems are like.
    The second country club throws its doors wide open and says, “Anybody who wants membership is invited inside. Rich or poor, black or white, regardless of your ethnic heritage or where you live, we would love to include you. Entry will be based not on your qualifications or efforts but only on accepting this invitation. Jesus already paid for your membership. So we’ll leave the matter up to you. You decide. But we will never turn you away if you sincerely and humbly seek admittance.” That’s what Christianity is like.
    Which country club is being snobbish? Christians aren’t being exclusive; they’re being inclusive. They’re not being haughty; they’re being hospitable. They’re not pretending to be better or more accomplished than anyone else. Instead, they admit their own weakness and invite others who feel weak or needy to join them in order to find the help that they’ve found through Christ.
    Preacher D. T. Niles summed up genuine Christianity well when he explained that we are simply “one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.”
    Says Revelation 22:17: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
Lee Strobel
    The enemy hates Jesus and does all it can to prevent the message from getting out.  The forces of evil are liars and deceivers.  We must keep our focus on what the Bible really says and let that make the difference in our lives.
    Our question of the day as we continue to look at the ALIVE life Jesus gives us.  What do believers in Jesus have that no other group has?
    The book of Philippians is a good example of what believers have.  The theme of the book is JOY.  It was written by Paul when he was in PRISON for his proclaiming the message of Jesus.  The message of this letter is thanks for their generous gift.  He also assures the church of the triumph of God’s purpose in his imprisonment.  He encouraged the Philippian church to press on to grow close to Jesus.
Philippians 1:21 NKJV
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
The Living Bible says: For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying – well, that’s better yet!
    What is real living all about?  Fame and money?  Easy life?  Pleasure?  After many harrowing and exciting experiences, Paul came to the conclusion that Jesus makes life worth living.  Doing whatever he could for Jesus make every day beneficial.  Then, when it is all done we get the best retirement plan anyone could imagine.
    This letter contains a very clear picture of who Jesus is and what He did for every person in the world.
Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
    Jesus’ mind was one of total selflessness, service and sacrifice.  He put the needs of others first.  How did Jesus do this?
    Jesus left unparalleled glory in heaven and limited Himself to the humble place of a servant.  His sacrifice gave the human race the only chance for freedom from eternal death.  Jesus paid for the gift of eternal life for all who accept his forgiveness and make Him their Lord and Savior.
    Who did this for us?  The Eternal Creator did this for us, His highest creation.  Jesus literally emptied Himself by laying aside the privilege of being God.  He left the glory of heaven.  He took on the problems of being a human.  It ended up with His death on the cross.
    Because of this Jesus is fully worthy of all the worship.  Every knee, even those who claim He doesn’t exist, will some day worship Him.
    Paul established his priorities in life.  Having had many experiences he came to the conclusion that the most important pursuit in life is Jesus.  He was describing his pedigree that was one to be envied.  Then he said:
Philippians 3:7-8 NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
    Having lived for many years, Paul learned what was important.  Nothing on this earth was eternal.  He had lost most earthly things and was living in confinement.  What mattered most was that he knew Jesus.  The rest of the things of the world were just trash.
    What is a more satisfying way to live?  Rejoicing or complaining?  As he was coming close to the end of his letter, Paul gave a powerful word of encouragement.
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
    The theme of this letter is JOY.  Christianity reflects the inner peace and delight of having God.  Joy is deep in our hearts, founded on God’s immeasurable love for us.  He gives us peace and hope.  Joy is a part of the salvation Jesus gives us.  It grows in our lives as we grow in Jesus.
    How much genuine joy do you see in the lives of those who have not made Jesus their Lord?  It is something that is generally lacking.
    Yes, we are in a battle.  And, yes, the deception continues.  We know that the solution to life is found in the power of Jesus in our lives.  Don’t quit talking about Jesus even though there are many voices telling you to shut up.
Movie Receives PG Rating for Christian Themes
    Facing the Giants is an evangelistic movie made by Alex and Stephen Kendrick that tells the story of a football coach’s spiritual life. The movie has no drugs, no sex, and no profanity. Consequently, the filmmakers believed it would receive a G rating if ever reviewed by the Motion Picture Association of America.
    However, after the movie was picked up by a distributor called Provident Films and scheduled for limited release in the fall of 2006, the MPAA rated Facing the Giants PG, meaning that children need “parental guidance” to see it. The reason for the MPAA’s decision? Too much Christianity.
    The movie is filled with miracles, prayer, and even a presentation of the gospel. When asked about the decision, Kris Fuhr, vice president of marketing at Provident Films, said the panel “decided that the movie was heavily laden with messages from one religion, and that this might offend people from other religions. It’s important that they used the word proselytizing when they talked about giving this movie a PG.”
    Christianity may become the next sex and violence. The day may come when a movie will get an R for religion.
Gene Edward Veith, “R for Religion,” World (6-24-06), p. 11
    There are the attacks against Christianity.  Here is an illustration of the power of the Christian life, making it the envy of an atheist.
    Atheist Admires Christian Service After Hurricane Katrina
    “It ought to be possible to live a Christian life without being a Christian,” laments Roy Hattersley, a columnist for the U.K. Guardian. An outspoken atheist, Hattersley came to this conclusion after watching the Salvation Army lead several other faith-based organizations in the relief effort after Hurricane Katrina.
    “Notable by their absence,” he says, were “teams from rationalist societies, free thinkers’ clubs, and atheists’ associations—the sort of people who scoff at religion’s intellectual absurdity.” According to Hattersley, it is an unavoidable conclusion that Christians “are the people most likely to take the risks and make the sacrifices involved in helping others.”
    Hattersley also notes that this pattern of behavior goes beyond disaster relief:
    Civilized people do not believe that drug addiction and male prostitution offend against divine ordinance. But those who do are the men and women most willing to change the fetid bandages, replace the sodden sleeping bags, and—probably most difficult of all—argue, without a trace of impatience, that the time has come for some serious medical treatment.
    “The only possible conclusion,” says Hattersley, “is that faith comes with a packet of moral imperatives that, while they do not condition the attitude of all believers, influence enough of them to make [Christians] morally superior to atheists like me.”
Roy Hattersley, “Faith Does Breed Charity,” Guardian.co.uk(9-12-05)
    I read things like this an am reminded of the reality of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus.  What we have in Jesus is amazing.  And, this is all about HIM.  It is not us but what He makes us.  JESUS is the One that makes the difference.  HE is what, WHO we have that no one else has.
DISCUSSION
What are the main points of this message?
How do we apply them in daily life?
PRAYER
Lord, help us live and display the difference it makes when we really live for YOU.