Posted by Tom on
October 13, 2011 at 12:16 pm under Pastor's Pen
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. (Philippians 1:23-24 NAS)
May it be that the only reason we hang on so hard to this life is that we feel it necessary for the sake of others. That our goal is not merely to live, but to be with Christ. The quickest way for a Christian to be with Christ is either His gathering of us in the air, or our death. Short of the parousia (in-gathering), we should look forward to death as we know what it means. If we our torn, it should be for the sake of others. We aren't to merely be interested in keeping others from sorrow, but seeking their growth in godliness.
25 And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith"
Then and only then may we say, "to live is Christ and die is Gain."
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Posted by Tom on
September 29, 2011 at 11:56 am under Pastor's Pen
NAS Psalm 103:1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds, And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us; Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To those who keep His covenant, And who remember His precepts to do them.
19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.
22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!
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Posted by Tom on
September 9, 2011 at 12:24 pm under Evangelism
http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/pew-religion-08/flash.htm
Use the link to see the break out of religions by percentage. This might be a useful guide as we pray through specific states.
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Posted by Tom on
August 31, 2011 at 10:58 am under Pastor's Pen
When one reads through the pages of Scripture, it is often that we read things according to our most recognizable experience. Recently I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 often known as the "love chapter." Everyone has heard that chapter proclaimed with respect to loving each other the way God would have us love. Yet, how often have we used that chapter to define our love for God? It is His definition of love, let's see what it would mean to direct that description of love towards God.
Love is patient - Are we patient with God? We need to be of course as we don't know God's timing or His plan. Our love for Him is directly tied to our patience with Him.
Love is kind - This one through me for a loop initially. How can we be kind to God? Well the term indicates more than being "nice," it also means "worthy and useful." God's kindness towards us is in His worthiness demonstrated to us. Our usefulness for God and the reflection of His worth is in direct relationship with our love for Him.
Love is not jealous - Are we content with what God has given us? If we are not, we are not loving Him as we should. Are we envious? If we are, then we are not pleased with His provision and we are not loving Him.
Love does not brag - Are we about the glory of God or our adulation? Love builds up others and takes a lower position, who more deserving than God?
Love is not proud - How might we be arrogant towards God? Every time we take our own needs and desires into our own hands we say to God, "I have this" and maybe without thought "I can do this better" or "I am tired of waiting for You do to something about it." This is all supreme arrogance.
Love does not act unbecomingly - Oh how often we lack in our love towards God here. When our actions are disgraceful, rude, or dishonorable we are not loving God with the grace, graciousness, and honor He treats us with.
Love does not seek its own - This should be patently obvious to us. If we live for His glory and pleasure we love God as He deserves. If we don't then we are seeking our own interest and God takes second place.
Love is not provoked - Do we get angry with God? If so, we lack in our love for Him. If events happen that we are not pleased with, do we get frustrated with Him? His sovereign hand in our lives most be embraced, but if it is scorned we reveal we are not acting in love.
Love does not take into account a wrong suffered - God will never wrong us, but He may lead us into being wronged. We cannot hold this against God. God has our good in mind if He leads us into being wronged. Love trusts, and God is completely trustworthy.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth - Loving God means loving justice. King David loved justice. In the psalms we see over and over a plea for God to deal with those who deal unjustly. Along with our prayers for mercy, are we also praying that God would vindicate His justice? Are we passively watching the world be worldly, or out of love for Him are we defending God? What if someone called a loved one worthless, would we not run to their defense?
Love bears all things - Along with the above are we protecting God? "Bears" means to cover or protect. Funny concept at first blush, but we protect God through protecting the reflection of His image in us and others. We protect His reputation. We do so by walking according to His image, which is not just living godly but also being creative, being diligent, etc. Living out God's attributes for all to see and giving Him the glory is loving God.
Love believes all things - If we love God we will trust Him. We will take Him at His Word. We will believe what He says and we will live accordingly. Simple love, profound application.
Love hopes all things - To love God is to expect from God. We are not to expect what He doesn't promise, but we are to expect all that He does. It pleases God when we walk with hopeful expectation, and it demonstrates our love for Him.
Love endures all things - Our love for God, must be displayed through an enduring adoration. He is always lovable for He is always loving. An always loving and lovable God must always be loved. This will be put to the test. We will be tempted to attribute negative things to God as we face negative things, but love for God supersedes all that we face.
Love never fails - True love for God will endure to the end and the glorious truth is that our love for Him won't fail, because His love for His own will never fail.
Go love God is His way of loving!
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Posted by Tom on
June 21, 2011 at 10:27 pm under Evangelism
During my recent vacation I kept in my recent habit of walking daily. My walking path took me by the house of an older gentlemen who was working on a trailer. The first few days I noticed him out whenever I walked by before God prompted me to talk to him. I passed him by knowing that the street I was walking was a dead end and I would pass him again. I asked myself, "is that God or just my own hyper active conscience?" I kept asking this question as I passed him by a second time. The next day I thought to myself as I started my walk, "if he is out this time I will stop." Sure enough, he was. I passed him by and started praying that God would make it an easy introduction. As I walked back I stopped and said hi. As I spoke with him I found out that his wife had died this past October and he was taking care of his 84 year old mother-in-law. As we spoke I thought to myself, "should I witness to him, or just get to know him and have another day?" As clear as that question came a verse came to mind "today is the day of salvation!" As I began to think about how to bring up the topic his mother-in-law appeared and he needed to attend to her inside. I departed. The next day I took my dad with me. I told him about John and his story. As we made the loop we stopped and I introduced my dad to him. We spoke briefly before moving on. As it turns out, my dad intends to take him out to lunch and talk to him as a fellow 70 something year old. In basketball this might be called an assist, but had I listened to my excuse my dad wouldn't have likely met him or bothered to take him out to lunch. That latter hasn't happened yet, so you can pray for that. You see whether it was an over-active conscience or the Spirit of God is irrelevant. Sharing the love of Christ, or merely getting to know someone with that purpose is never out of line, and something we will not displease God by doing. As a result of being encouraged to reach out to John, God had me on my spiritual feet and had the privilege of leading a young man to Christ a couple days later. Praise God He overcame my excuse and questioning, which gave my dad an opportunity, and encouraged me to be "forward" with the gospel just a couple days later.
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