Ever say that? I have - mostly near the end of the month when money gets tight. I was reading in Isaiah recently and came across something that gave me pause. In chp. 55 vs. 2 the Lord asks "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?"
What a vivid description of our world today. We are a nation that loves to spend our money and we have all kinds of gadgets to spend it on. I have a perfectly fine 32 in. flat screen tv. It only has 720p and 60hz but it works great and is way better than the one I used to have. Lately every time I go to Walmart or Best Buy I drift over to the tv area to look at the new tv's with 1080p and 120hz and 48 in. or larger screens. You can buy one of those today for what I paid for mine a few years ago or less. I catch myself talking to self about how I can afford to get a new one especially with no interest for 12 months. I tell myself how it would make my tv experience more enjoyable. I have come close to convincing myself to buy one. Truth is it won't help me draw closer to the Lord or be more like Jesus. It wont help me be a better person. There is nothing eternal about it. It is one of those things in fact that could cause my love for the Lord to weaken.
We hear a lot today about the low quality of Christian life in America. I'm thinking that Isaiah speaks to the problem. We are too busy spending our money and labor on things that do not satisfy rather than laying up treasures in heaven. A christian author recently observed that when he was a child a sermon on the dangers of affluence was common. In today's church you rarely ever hear one. In fact you will more likely hear just the opposite. This may be one of those times when going back to the good old days would be wise.
If you read on you hear the Lord calling out to his people "Listen, listen to me...your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear..hear me that your soul may live".
If only we would.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
What Happens To Life?
If you have been on facebook lately you probably have seen the pictures our new twin granddaughters in the car seats or on daddy's lap or of Abby playing with daddy. In just a couple of months I get to perform the wedding ceremony for a young lady who grew up in or church. She is so happy - as she should be. Life can be so sweet. But somewhere along the way it often turns bitter.
What happens to life? What causes a young couple in love to turn into strangers. Why do kids who are such a blessing when little turn into angry adults alienated from family. What causes a young man with great talents to squander his life on booze. We live in a broken world and sin is the problem. How hard it is for us to admit this. But if we can't admit it and repent of it we are destined to death - not so much physical death as the death of joy, contentment, love and peace both with ourselves, others and God.
All around you are people whose eyes betray their heartbreak. You may be one of them. I wish I could fix them all - but I can't. Sometimes God is able to fix them, but not always. There are days when I ache for the day to come when there will be no more tears or death. Until then I will pray and hope and as much as possible I will try to "encourage one another daily...so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
What happens to life? What causes a young couple in love to turn into strangers. Why do kids who are such a blessing when little turn into angry adults alienated from family. What causes a young man with great talents to squander his life on booze. We live in a broken world and sin is the problem. How hard it is for us to admit this. But if we can't admit it and repent of it we are destined to death - not so much physical death as the death of joy, contentment, love and peace both with ourselves, others and God.
All around you are people whose eyes betray their heartbreak. You may be one of them. I wish I could fix them all - but I can't. Sometimes God is able to fix them, but not always. There are days when I ache for the day to come when there will be no more tears or death. Until then I will pray and hope and as much as possible I will try to "encourage one another daily...so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Monday, May 10, 2010
Family Sermon Series
Synopsis of Sunday’s Sermon - How To Live God’s Plan For Your Family
Text: Gen.1-3
Do you think that God has a plan for your family? If so what is it? Could you verbalize it? If God does have a plan for the family why is it that so many families don’t seem to be doing so good at it?
Let’s answer the question by going back to the basic source – the opening chapters of the Bible. Here is the root teaching about family. Whatever else the Bible has to say about family life is the fruit that grows from this root.
In Gen. 1 we learn that God created man (male and female). The text tells us that the Lord instructed man to subdue and rule the earth as his stewards. Man was also to multiply in number and fill the earth. Here is family life in its basic form. God blessed man and provided all he needed to do this.
In Gen. 2 we see a more personal side of this story. Here we learn about the garden. We see man created by God and placed in the garden to care for it. We also see God create woman to be man’s co laborer and join them together as man and wife. Together they would fulfill the Genesis one mandate. This was the pattern – man would leave his family, cleave to his wife and they would become one flesh. All this lived out in close fellowship with the Lord
So here is God’s simple plan: two people created in God’s image, loving God, working together (marriage/family) in God’s world to achieve God’s purposes. How primal! How beautiful!
So if it is really this simple what has gone wrong?
Gen. 3 gives us the answer. Man and woman sinned. They chose their way instead of the Lord’s way. They decided he wasn’t enough for them. In an instant all the beauty, love, harmony and joy were destroyed. God’s world was perverted. Instead of cleaving there was alienation between the man and his wife and between man and God. Every family since then is dysfunctional in its relationships.
But, God did not write them off. Just as we see him in his role as creator and provider we also see him as redeemer. The Lord promises victory over the serpent and sin through the seed of woman. The rest of the Bible tells this story.
Because of sin your family is always going to be dysfunctional. But it can become increasingly functional, experiencing the joy God's original purpose in greater measure. The only hope for this is God’s grace. Now what that means we will explore in the days ahead but for now let me say to experience the best in your family will take three things: Faith, Hope and Love. All are gifts of grace that we need to make the family experience fulfilling. I hope you will come back in the weeks ahead to see how these three can help your family.
Text: Gen.1-3
Do you think that God has a plan for your family? If so what is it? Could you verbalize it? If God does have a plan for the family why is it that so many families don’t seem to be doing so good at it?
Let’s answer the question by going back to the basic source – the opening chapters of the Bible. Here is the root teaching about family. Whatever else the Bible has to say about family life is the fruit that grows from this root.
In Gen. 1 we learn that God created man (male and female). The text tells us that the Lord instructed man to subdue and rule the earth as his stewards. Man was also to multiply in number and fill the earth. Here is family life in its basic form. God blessed man and provided all he needed to do this.
In Gen. 2 we see a more personal side of this story. Here we learn about the garden. We see man created by God and placed in the garden to care for it. We also see God create woman to be man’s co laborer and join them together as man and wife. Together they would fulfill the Genesis one mandate. This was the pattern – man would leave his family, cleave to his wife and they would become one flesh. All this lived out in close fellowship with the Lord
So here is God’s simple plan: two people created in God’s image, loving God, working together (marriage/family) in God’s world to achieve God’s purposes. How primal! How beautiful!
So if it is really this simple what has gone wrong?
Gen. 3 gives us the answer. Man and woman sinned. They chose their way instead of the Lord’s way. They decided he wasn’t enough for them. In an instant all the beauty, love, harmony and joy were destroyed. God’s world was perverted. Instead of cleaving there was alienation between the man and his wife and between man and God. Every family since then is dysfunctional in its relationships.
But, God did not write them off. Just as we see him in his role as creator and provider we also see him as redeemer. The Lord promises victory over the serpent and sin through the seed of woman. The rest of the Bible tells this story.
Because of sin your family is always going to be dysfunctional. But it can become increasingly functional, experiencing the joy God's original purpose in greater measure. The only hope for this is God’s grace. Now what that means we will explore in the days ahead but for now let me say to experience the best in your family will take three things: Faith, Hope and Love. All are gifts of grace that we need to make the family experience fulfilling. I hope you will come back in the weeks ahead to see how these three can help your family.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thank You Lord
On Sunday Feb. 7 Karen and I began our 29th year at FBCGW. It has been a blessing for us to be here. In the service that morning I reflected on our 28 yrs.
First of all God Led Us Here. The circumstances around our being here were no coincidence but surely were the Lord opening doors for us.
Second, God has kept us here. How else can you explain 28 yrs. in one church. It hasn't always been easy; there have been detractors who would have us leave yet we are still here.
Third, God has used us here. There is nothing special about us but we have been part of a team that the Lord has chosen to use on occassion to advance his work at home - through new ministries, a new church (Brush Country Cowboy Fellowship) - or away (missions ministries in over 16 countries and 6 states). He has called out a half dozen young people to Christian ministry. We praise God for any and all good he has been able to achieve through this ministry!
Finally, I think God still has work for us here. Based on the mercies received the past 28 yrs. and the promise that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Phil.1:6) I believe our future together is filled with great possibilities. Thank You Lord!
First of all God Led Us Here. The circumstances around our being here were no coincidence but surely were the Lord opening doors for us.
Second, God has kept us here. How else can you explain 28 yrs. in one church. It hasn't always been easy; there have been detractors who would have us leave yet we are still here.
Third, God has used us here. There is nothing special about us but we have been part of a team that the Lord has chosen to use on occassion to advance his work at home - through new ministries, a new church (Brush Country Cowboy Fellowship) - or away (missions ministries in over 16 countries and 6 states). He has called out a half dozen young people to Christian ministry. We praise God for any and all good he has been able to achieve through this ministry!
Finally, I think God still has work for us here. Based on the mercies received the past 28 yrs. and the promise that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Phil.1:6) I believe our future together is filled with great possibilities. Thank You Lord!
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