tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65058278506663133262024-02-18T21:14:40.787-06:00Crazy Presbyterian PastorThis is a blog written by a Presbyterian Pastor who is just a little crazy and has some thoughts he would like to share with the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-26340757228307602882017-07-25T11:05:00.000-05:002017-07-25T11:24:32.676-05:00Being An Agent of God<div class="chapter-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-9-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. </span><span class="text John-9-2" id="en-NIV-26443" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">His disciples asked him, “Rabbi,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26443A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26443A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> who sinned,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26443B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26443B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> this man<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26443C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26443C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> or his parents,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26443D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26443D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> that he was born blind?”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-9-3" id="en-NIV-26444" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b> </b>“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,”</span> said Jesus, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. </span></span><span class="text John-9-4" id="en-NIV-26445" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">As long as it is day,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26445F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26445F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. </span><span class="text John-9-5" id="en-NIV-26446" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”</span></span><br />
<span class="text John-9-6" id="en-NIV-26447" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>After saying this, he spit<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26447H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26447H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. </span><span class="text John-9-7" id="en-NIV-26448" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Go,”</span> he told him, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“wash in the Pool of Siloam”<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26448I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26448I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.</span><br />
<span class="text John-9-8" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="text John-9-8" id="en-NIV-26449" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” </span><span class="text John-9-9" id="en-NIV-26450" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some claimed that he was.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-9-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-9-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span class="text John-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9%3A1-10&version=NIV">John 10:1-10</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am reading the ninth chapter of John this week. This is the first story of Jesus in this chapter and it has so many issues that fill my mind. I will probably be spending a few days working through what God is speaking through this passage to me. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first question I must face is the issue of the source of blindness. In the ancient world, people believed that those who were born with a debilitating disease the parents or grandparents had sinned. The disciples knew Jesus would know what caused the man to be blind. Along with the primary question, the larger issue I have about this section is the response of Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus proclaimed this person was born blind to be a demonstration of God's power. This idea is hard for me. The thought that God would make someone "less" just to be a part of the demonstration of Jesus' power. How can a loving God do this? How can a grace filled God do this? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realize focusing on the subject of why born is not central to my faith. It is not important to focus on while discovering the focus of God's desire to teach through Jesus. The central focus is the willingness of the person to be used for God's will. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Are we able to be the instrument of God's grace? The blind man in this story was willing to be that instrument. He went to the pool to wash off the mud. He allowed Jesus to put the mud made of spit </span>on<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> his eyes. This is the focus for me in the response of the blind man. Not why he is blind, but what he is willing to do with the blindness when </span>confronted<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> by Jesus.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0722-798 W Atlantic St, Springfield, MO 65803, USA37.233130244099719 -93.2986557483673137.23293274409972 -93.29897074836731 37.233327744099718 -93.298340748367309tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-42716686819560585832017-02-07T15:14:00.002-06:002017-02-07T15:14:28.367-06:00Discovering the realms of Witness Part 1<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Refocusing a Congreation</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently I was elected to the post of a new church. In the years that I have been serving congregations, Imust admit that all of the congregations were onese needing a refocus on the definitation of who there are today in the world. In ministry talk, this is church redevelopment. I have worked among these groups of faithful people wanting to help bring new directions and light to a path, but they did ot bring me to the congregation for this particular role, that is except when I was asked to be the Interim Pastor of a congregation. In this call, I have been specificly asked to accomplish redevlopment among the group. I am looking forward to the work we can accomplish in God's desire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instructions to the Disciples</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the book of Acts, Jesus instructs the remaining disciples to remain in Jerusalem till the coming of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit would empower the disciples to be witnesses of the work of Jesus.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">" </span><span style="background-color: white;">But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26932B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26932B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> and you will be my witnesses</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26932C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26932C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26932D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26932D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> and to the ends of the earth.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Acts 1:8</a></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I have studied this passage over the years and studing Missional Theology, the realms that Jesus tells His disciples to witness towards is words for us to follow in our work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The End of a Matrix</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the time of Christendom (a period in history when the church was the primary authority in society), the church believed that the only focus of witnessing of Jesus' Gospel was to the ends of the earth. Most leaders in he church have come to the realization that the times have changed and the church is not central in society. In this change of times, the position of religion has changed. Most realize that many people have not heard the message of Jesus nor seen a a reliable witness. The focus of the church need ot be redirected towards the first of these focus, Jerusalem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next post will look at what the rediscovery of Jerusalem means to the local congregation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0Springfield, MO, USA37.2089572 -93.29229889999999237.0065357 -93.615022399999987 37.4113787 -92.9695754tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-30953985310276395932016-06-29T10:57:00.000-05:002016-06-29T10:57:26.488-05:00Modern Affliction<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I am the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> your God, who brought you out of
Egypt, out of the land of slavery.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You shall have no
other gods before me. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You shall not
make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the
earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down
to them or worship them; for I, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents
to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,<sup> </sup>but
showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my
commandments. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><sup><span><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">[1]</span></sup></span></sup></a></span></span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Definition of Idolatry</h2>
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These listed above are the first two commandments of the great Ten Commandments. They were listed out to give the people of Israel instructions on how to live their lives as the chosen people of God. Most followers of Christ recognize these commandments as a way to best be an example and follow the desires Jesus set before us in His life. We recognize that we are not to have any idols. Nothing should come before our worship of God that is not God. When we speak about idols, we think of images that are made to worship and hold our focus away from the God of the universe. Is this the limit of idolatry? Can things we construct for the purpose of worshiping God become an idol? </div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Modern Examples</h2>
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In the modern church we speak of items that we put before God. We talk about money becoming an idol for some people. We also speak about power and honor becoming and idol for others. There are people who worship looks above all else. WE even have television shows call idols (American Idol which has now ended). We idolize people above God. I must admit that ministers fall into the same trap. As a minster I must watch myself not idolizing another person’s ministry over the call God has given to me and my service. It is easy to see why God would make these the first two commandments. They are the easiest to fail. Can anything in the church become an idol? Yes! </div>
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For many American churches, I speak mostly of the old mainline churches from my experience, the building and contents of the building can become a thing to worship above God. There are congregations who will risk everything to save a beloved pipe organ. The cost of the organ repairs may be more than the people can handle, but the congregation will do anything they can to save the instrument. The people are so connected to a building they will do anything to keep it. The roof may almost be falling in on them, but do not speak of selling the building. The cast of up keep and maintain is so high, the people are not doing any ministry outside the church because of the cost to maintain the building. The people put the building before God. They put the lives of the saints gone before them in faith before the call of God now. <br /><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Buildings Idolized Long Ago</h3>
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This is not a new experience. Jesus talked about the temple at His time in similar manner. Jesus told the people that the temple would be destroyed and in three days risen again. We know He was speaking about His body, but others saw this as blasphemy to destroy the temple. There are congregations in America who would speak the same if we destroyed the building. There have been news reports of church fires for multiple different reasons. The people from the church are hart broken and crushed. The faith seems destroyed because a building was destroyed. Our language about religious buildings does not help this at all. We call them God’s House. The buildings are called churches not a gathering place. We reinforce this at a young age to our children in how we tell them to treat the space. No running, be quite and dress in your best.<br /><br /> One of the greatest authors in the 20th century, J.I. Packer, details in an entire chapter the role of idolatry in the Christian life. He writes in his book Knowing God, images.</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In its Christian application, this means that we are not to make use of visual or pictorial representations of the triune God, or of any person of the Trinity, for the purposes of Christian worship. The commandment thus deals not with the object of our worship, but with the manner of it, what it tells us is that statues and pictures of the One whom we worship are not to be used as an aid to worshiping him.”<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ftn2">[2]</a> </span></blockquote>
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What does this say about our obsession with our buildings?<br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Future Hope</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When congregations come to a realistic view that he place they gather is just a building and a tool for ministry, our congregation will become healthier. The church of Christ in America will be able to be the power house for God in the world. Till then, we are stuck at the bottom of the mountain like Arron with the Israelite. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ftn3">[3]</a></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></sup></span></sup></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New International Version</i>.
(2011). (Ex 20:2–6). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.</div>
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<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></sup></span></sup></a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Packer, J. I..
Knowing God (p. 48). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.</span></div>
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<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></sup></span></sup></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New International Version</i>.
(2011). (Ex 32:1–4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-78044264043501918872016-06-23T12:45:00.003-05:002016-06-23T12:46:00.366-05:00Mission Trip Photos<div style="text-align: justify;">
We all hate the "slide show" when someone comes back from vacation.
But, these are the photos I took while in the Dominican Republic. I must
admit I am not the photo taker that others in the group. I left my
phone in my pocket due to work and dirty hands. I figured this would be
one of the best ways to share pictures I had with people who read this
blog and my friends.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6O7VCS_8MI3dNxHD7RuWpDAKIAkGIb3LFA20xENkrhR8VmnMjBMGIU3uNKghC8bC77I0nEoShrNIWbx5pijT4d0h_ddXp7qYG_9X1xyalYRXQADG8JtQsZFoLvalieh_5AvsgZxaCMaI/s1600/20160608_224417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6O7VCS_8MI3dNxHD7RuWpDAKIAkGIb3LFA20xENkrhR8VmnMjBMGIU3uNKghC8bC77I0nEoShrNIWbx5pijT4d0h_ddXp7qYG_9X1xyalYRXQADG8JtQsZFoLvalieh_5AvsgZxaCMaI/s320/20160608_224417.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us prior to leaving Carthage, MO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaWUS6A7DhzNrPFtpFWq3Kb-b5Ytnz90weq5uC-UDx8jLxZC-aNH04eOhgxBMZYDYNHYkHBeLoDMuNWmPIih5AyDnGa4iSTd5DqZ1XiowYddiw0TehnC1CPRTEj32eUr1k_6YPXkRidK6/s1600/20160609_154420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaWUS6A7DhzNrPFtpFWq3Kb-b5Ytnz90weq5uC-UDx8jLxZC-aNH04eOhgxBMZYDYNHYkHBeLoDMuNWmPIih5AyDnGa4iSTd5DqZ1XiowYddiw0TehnC1CPRTEj32eUr1k_6YPXkRidK6/s320/20160609_154420.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truck decal for the Work and WItness</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqIlSzTPHiQt6jcNtYnOjDnaX8IQvVAHaVgCSK9XqBr72gbuhwYv_N7lyjQdDDTRZjumKijN83DoZMyygKy7SIpZQ4N4QRCJu-moT8wmrEFBXUchQBtko3OMxU5DxDAnjA_KqcGxUlM1q/s1600/20160610_130054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqIlSzTPHiQt6jcNtYnOjDnaX8IQvVAHaVgCSK9XqBr72gbuhwYv_N7lyjQdDDTRZjumKijN83DoZMyygKy7SIpZQ4N4QRCJu-moT8wmrEFBXUchQBtko3OMxU5DxDAnjA_KqcGxUlM1q/s320/20160610_130054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the first day of labor. You can still see the wet cement of what we accomplished.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvk2QiBNm2odsfpChLJf1ktjqTlYTXYzVRNocogfXHvoaR9FS1ESQnks7W87A3vXcRbiW2uUxSOz5ZRcDejDGon3D3TpQoWMqC4e0Ol1E0vCN_CsxtD3Ppi37l4K6mYB8JpfR7P11vl4e/s1600/20160610_130106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvk2QiBNm2odsfpChLJf1ktjqTlYTXYzVRNocogfXHvoaR9FS1ESQnks7W87A3vXcRbiW2uUxSOz5ZRcDejDGon3D3TpQoWMqC4e0Ol1E0vCN_CsxtD3Ppi37l4K6mYB8JpfR7P11vl4e/s320/20160610_130106.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wood and metal attached to the wall is where we bent metal most of the morning</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XFaTqenrchhRyYFHX3dgNGwS9yjFp3HoHFNGdK1cOznoMEzvK5B6KXfxIwFz02AV6F8YNgBnNuIWWr2ENEUelOiqa4GwUGoEMRrQJCx98CxIHk7GoJGUiInunat5bMf1_2zcM_5LofPo/s1600/20160610_130102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XFaTqenrchhRyYFHX3dgNGwS9yjFp3HoHFNGdK1cOznoMEzvK5B6KXfxIwFz02AV6F8YNgBnNuIWWr2ENEUelOiqa4GwUGoEMRrQJCx98CxIHk7GoJGUiInunat5bMf1_2zcM_5LofPo/s320/20160610_130102.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The metal we bent was put inside the bars to make cages to go in the concrete later.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTxhj35YUNDB4WeSMvAk-vizqBawmICZRmGjVzCcYOnyuoi6-6b5Sjkz0-cexIPHBr3IJhiCERf_ojFmFMnrPx5dYEuGMgaqDYlg6gXHrI7W5NTrEqz2w58lwzIp1QgjHspFfGpmonZdI/s1600/20160610_130056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTxhj35YUNDB4WeSMvAk-vizqBawmICZRmGjVzCcYOnyuoi6-6b5Sjkz0-cexIPHBr3IJhiCERf_ojFmFMnrPx5dYEuGMgaqDYlg6gXHrI7W5NTrEqz2w58lwzIp1QgjHspFfGpmonZdI/s320/20160610_130056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of First day work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtCW_AfagN1w_jrF73dEnP998HnWqo1BMROVKd8gStn5Z-Nqes0DmzCPwXWNXCVkpwQ0HnpytGPWGKh2lT9Rg3DCIzNmQ0_KKJAy0yQKhQrTmkDMEqlSMJP3dbeqHG4g5CjVB7wawNqbB/s1600/20160611_104158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtCW_AfagN1w_jrF73dEnP998HnWqo1BMROVKd8gStn5Z-Nqes0DmzCPwXWNXCVkpwQ0HnpytGPWGKh2lT9Rg3DCIzNmQ0_KKJAy0yQKhQrTmkDMEqlSMJP3dbeqHG4g5CjVB7wawNqbB/s320/20160611_104158.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recovery time on the first floor. This is where we ate all our meals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Gmsl-ZzS3Mc61NBl3NJ__jiDavi1YYEpNPTft4AomM5YJCELdhBbatcSKZhgwLgIYvR8w4WtYvylJqjYIeg13u1-w-b76wJJUfk2mjKnl4zAYNCd8vArHREpYUhdDjc_ql6w5nA8dYXU/s1600/20160611_161808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Gmsl-ZzS3Mc61NBl3NJ__jiDavi1YYEpNPTft4AomM5YJCELdhBbatcSKZhgwLgIYvR8w4WtYvylJqjYIeg13u1-w-b76wJJUfk2mjKnl4zAYNCd8vArHREpYUhdDjc_ql6w5nA8dYXU/s320/20160611_161808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vacation Bible School from the back of a van</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-ubx05kmrEhrtT-TF488nO9QHNdw1buecy_icO7DJmpws-sYvnvw0LmbDjo4BmoPD6g1LcEmgYNGekIcU3jnaZ61bjM3GlrlDmuXon9oPCsqnTpPiP1yQOwL4sgkuGd_aULf1xwxtcDr/s1600/20160611_171413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-ubx05kmrEhrtT-TF488nO9QHNdw1buecy_icO7DJmpws-sYvnvw0LmbDjo4BmoPD6g1LcEmgYNGekIcU3jnaZ61bjM3GlrlDmuXon9oPCsqnTpPiP1yQOwL4sgkuGd_aULf1xwxtcDr/s320/20160611_171413.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the inside of the church where we did Vacation Bible School the first week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A strangers car abandoned on the sidewalk. We moved it by hand to this location.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnMZnLA8kECx-IqYc3GJstnBEStcCdQ9V1VsZyTf7QXhX7kYsEhnYzgrTxn3V_iXImyLoecPFh95ehhhT01JSRuxLrDi9GF0GifTSJyMpBIOepFu9CteoVbFrywYvxopo-La9Ogd8KFlz/s1600/20160613_112921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnMZnLA8kECx-IqYc3GJstnBEStcCdQ9V1VsZyTf7QXhX7kYsEhnYzgrTxn3V_iXImyLoecPFh95ehhhT01JSRuxLrDi9GF0GifTSJyMpBIOepFu9CteoVbFrywYvxopo-La9Ogd8KFlz/s320/20160613_112921.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving sand from the ground to the second story.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0fxs9Hs06VjfreNtbLuWKnPerM13xkQE9H7zjh8YbbeCPyJDGdVeJbLV0ApXYxrXD6FwXK0npkTUkbXhazOO1BVAs6-auWzJRtupQgTopJa07J_OzIbDbKulp8zcQ_r5-VIWoKa-K8Sw/s1600/20160613_160233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0fxs9Hs06VjfreNtbLuWKnPerM13xkQE9H7zjh8YbbeCPyJDGdVeJbLV0ApXYxrXD6FwXK0npkTUkbXhazOO1BVAs6-auWzJRtupQgTopJa07J_OzIbDbKulp8zcQ_r5-VIWoKa-K8Sw/s320/20160613_160233.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Games fro VBS, week two.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the construction area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DvoeC36sY9ukMOWpKmVZHez3jDU62Bzepe3VE_uUNSJmWzWKKwV8HJKG4ORfurs6M70bZOtSoA_A9ZgGPxx3zxztWzGPZhoEXawQtLTJdosaXxdi4m_iLJp5ifWKw5V3MVtXgRbRDF9u/s1600/20160613_161819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DvoeC36sY9ukMOWpKmVZHez3jDU62Bzepe3VE_uUNSJmWzWKKwV8HJKG4ORfurs6M70bZOtSoA_A9ZgGPxx3zxztWzGPZhoEXawQtLTJdosaXxdi4m_iLJp5ifWKw5V3MVtXgRbRDF9u/s320/20160613_161819.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children for snack and crafts at VBS</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basketball camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95V3WhbUON2TAIpqyhViqhP2bNnYqQYISZfU8dn9I6Nqx1XAKxuBppiDgzLBu_aTJERF7Q0IQJVVFu2nqP6I-9moBq50wKSHllD4WUnON_3_EYaQ6-51yis2NzQeEh4OkNxHCQ7li55h6/s1600/20160614_212632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95V3WhbUON2TAIpqyhViqhP2bNnYqQYISZfU8dn9I6Nqx1XAKxuBppiDgzLBu_aTJERF7Q0IQJVVFu2nqP6I-9moBq50wKSHllD4WUnON_3_EYaQ6-51yis2NzQeEh4OkNxHCQ7li55h6/s320/20160614_212632.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the musicians where I preached</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxgeR_PAYs6-akLWi6M3f8eo7DR4zqcrE4vf7ILBLP0Rw7TFWd8Ay5AusFCJpBRAtA3I6vcy_rsW6pXyO9r1x5pxmY5Xw7tQRu-3VS14kicISCvqjsY4LbYwL1W424eg8iaYspPSUlrsV/s1600/20160614_213446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxgeR_PAYs6-akLWi6M3f8eo7DR4zqcrE4vf7ILBLP0Rw7TFWd8Ay5AusFCJpBRAtA3I6vcy_rsW6pXyO9r1x5pxmY5Xw7tQRu-3VS14kicISCvqjsY4LbYwL1W424eg8iaYspPSUlrsV/s320/20160614_213446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the location where I preached</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We filled this sidewalk with dirt twice from the construction. It was cleaned the last day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_at-AsZSnWUfMRxqbxYt-7YSWKntM43nJvQHApQRdV2YMwPjOsNrs7o2pB11EiBpHJ2tKhkxQnAe_Cfp91zG9bsp9NQIkfukikxaGrN9NnX38sI82KrC01DuPeGVIFWsCQYB2mitngfb/s1600/20160615_151430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_at-AsZSnWUfMRxqbxYt-7YSWKntM43nJvQHApQRdV2YMwPjOsNrs7o2pB11EiBpHJ2tKhkxQnAe_Cfp91zG9bsp9NQIkfukikxaGrN9NnX38sI82KrC01DuPeGVIFWsCQYB2mitngfb/s320/20160615_151430.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IT seems like we never left the Four States.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the construction we accomplished over the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our Last Day. Spent some time on the beach.</span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-49474313820189170442016-06-22T12:06:00.001-05:002016-06-22T12:06:45.638-05:00Mission Possiable<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week I had the privileged to travel with the <a href="http://www.carthagenaz.org/" target="_blank">Carthage Nazarene</a> Congregation to the Dominican Republic. During this trip, we spent time building an addition on the church in Santiago and teaching children and adults about Jesus in Vacation Bible School settings.The privilege came in the fact of two directions. For one, I am not a member of their church. Matter of fact, I am not a member of their denomination. I am a Presbyterian minister. They allowed me to be included and a blessing to the Santiago community. They also were a blessing to me.</div>
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This is a picture from the night we took off from Carthage. We left the church by eleven o'clock at night to travel to St. Louis. It was a long night of travel and and longer day of air planes and transfers. It was fun.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP-7u-2XkOh2yfpr3nl-ta8lYCa0piYgSbE61TggFAkKBTXlPorrF9-IeZ3xHsbgxMe8BaRY1TGqpDGDXpKIg-ZBeSuQ_yBrJVq9gRy4SE2IEE2B2y484Io0G7CZXqrJ1CaFZnWxlh11f/s1600/13445775_10153972244448381_7349622747485736657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP-7u-2XkOh2yfpr3nl-ta8lYCa0piYgSbE61TggFAkKBTXlPorrF9-IeZ3xHsbgxMe8BaRY1TGqpDGDXpKIg-ZBeSuQ_yBrJVq9gRy4SE2IEE2B2y484Io0G7CZXqrJ1CaFZnWxlh11f/s320/13445775_10153972244448381_7349622747485736657_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what you look like on the last plane ride of a long journey.</div>
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I will admit that I could fill this whole page with pictures. People took pictures of work, children, worship, instruments, and much more. You can look at my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rev.matthew.roberts" target="_blank">Facebook </a>page for more pictures.I had a blast.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I must admit that a long time ambition of mine was realized while on this trip. I was invited to preach at a church plant in the country one evening. I dreamed about an opportunity to travel to a foreign country and preach through a translator. The pastor gave me the opportunity and I took it. I will admit it was different and harder than I am use in America, I will take the opportunity all over again.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcQzyjpiKVm_jseHVtpGnJefTZ1arNMh_VRwvdWMN7nWLMSIQ_f7v_iNlZSW7pTzQ1pgVwYAvS2wrb_wzycXYX6eId-vliPPjXfOxDhtwYgSiCoWMfk-WZNy34m3YNnwoIgDmNIl6JhdO/s1600/13445814_1175229182497349_1449248535361245266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcQzyjpiKVm_jseHVtpGnJefTZ1arNMh_VRwvdWMN7nWLMSIQ_f7v_iNlZSW7pTzQ1pgVwYAvS2wrb_wzycXYX6eId-vliPPjXfOxDhtwYgSiCoWMfk-WZNy34m3YNnwoIgDmNIl6JhdO/s320/13445814_1175229182497349_1449248535361245266_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Arodi Sanchez (Cross Cultural Pastor of Carthage Naz.)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was blessed beyond measure by the love and grace shared by the people of the Dominican Republic. I was also blessed by the love and support from the Carthage Nazarene team. I am refreshed by the experience, but yet troubled.</div>
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Coming back, I miss the grace and passion I saw in the eyes of the church in the Dominican. They were small but did not see that as a problem. With courage and strength, they were determined to serve the people and tell others about Jesus. Now, I struggle to see where I fit in the world back home. I struggle with a reality that the congregation I serve is tired and lost hope and passion. They see closure as a better option than hope. I came back to the national meeting of my denomination not talking much about serving people in real ways and equipping the local church to be a witness to the Kingdom of God. I hear reports of political grand standing and wishful hopes that never seem to get translated to the front line of service. Lastly, I come back to me struggling to hear God. I struggle to understand where I am being calling to serve beyond the temporary position in Springfield. I am curious where God is calling me to be next. What new plans are in store for me. I will keep searching for answers. What I find most exciting is how much God can accomplish in a short time when we are open to listen.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-66302251267183098862016-06-07T14:02:00.000-05:002016-06-07T14:02:09.365-05:00Mission TripI am preparing to leave for my first international mission trip tomorrow. I have participated in a number of mission trips to serve people here in America. I have been in downtown Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA and D'Iberville, MS. In these locations and others, I served by building structures, making repairs and other structure work. I have not been out of the country in over 20 years. I needed a new passport and stuff.<br />
<br />
I must admit that I have mixed emotions about this trip. I am excited for everything I about to learn from the people in the Dominican Republic. They will have new construction techniques and I will have the opportunity to live in a language that I have not studied at all. Besides, This will be the first trip where the whole of the trip is not revolving around construction. We will spend our mornings working on addition to the church building that will expanded the service and care ministry of the congregation. The afternoons we will conduct Vacation Bible School and camps for basketball and baseball.<br />
<br />
I must admit I am also very anxious about what is about to happen. This is not a group that I am use to being with on a regular bases. I am not close friends with anyone in the group (at least as of yet) and I have anxiety issues. So, the details are not in my control nor am I in charge of much except counting people before we go anywhere.<br />
<br />
With all these emotions, I live in the grace of God. I know God has called me to be a part of this trip and learn from so many people. Any and all prayers for the days ahead are appreciated.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-72198811222145317502016-06-01T11:48:00.000-05:002016-06-01T11:48:00.338-05:00Seek Good<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Amos-5-14" id="en-NIV-22438">Seek good, not evil,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-5-14">that you may live.</span></span><span class="text Amos-5-14"> Then the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> God Almighty will be with you,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-5-14">just as you say he is.</span></span><span class="text Amos-5-15" id="en-NIV-22439"></span><span class="text Amos-5-15" id="en-NIV-22439"><br />Hate evil, love good;</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-5-15">maintain justice in the courts.</span></span><span class="text Amos-5-15"> <br />Perhaps the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> God Almighty will have mercy</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-5-15">on the remnant of Joseph. </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A14-15&version=NIV" target="_blank"><br />Amos 5:14-15</a></span></span></span></h2>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15">Introduction</span></span></h3>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15">During seminary, I was required to study ancient Hebrew (this was both for my denomination and school). The last class in the study was biblical research (exegesis is the technical term). I chose a passage from the prophet Amos to study and write a paper. I would say in the course of study that I became very close to the book. I enjoyed the research and getting to know this great book. Recently I was brought back to this book in my devotions. My love for this book was reawaken. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15">At this time in
history, the people of Israel are split between two nations, North and
South. The northern kingdom keeps the title of Israel while the southern
kingdom is only known as Judah. Amos is sent to the whole of the people
of Israel, but he is specifically preaching to the people of Israel. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15">I find the work of the prophet interesting in that the first prophecies are against other nations and against the enemies of the Israelites. The prophet lists through all the troubles caused by the other nations. Amos even gets to the point of listing of the sins of Judah. Then the attention is brought to the people of Israel. The sins they have committed that caused God to turn God's back on them and the repercussions of these actions. </span></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15">The Sins</span></span></h3>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-15">What did the people do that was so wrong? The first and most important action was they turned their backs on God. God had sent prophets and Nazirites to help the people. The people killed the prophets and most importantly they oppressed the poor in search of greater wealth. Through all of these actions, God's anger enraged. The time was to come when the people were to be punished for the sins. The prophet calls gives a chance of grace to the people of Israel. </span></span><span class="text Amos-5-6" id="en-NIV-22430"> </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Amos-5-6" id="en-NIV-22430">Seek the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> and live,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-5-6">or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire;</span></span><span class="text Amos-5-6"> it will devour them,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-5-6">and Bethel will have no one to quench it.</span><span class="text Amos-5-7"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A6&version=NIV" target="_blank"> Amos 5:6</a></span></span></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-7"> Today</span></span></h3>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-7">I was taken back by the advice of Amos 5 to turn back to God and the call to do good. I am curious how this works in a modern situation between the "liberal" ideology and the "conservative" ideology. One is calling upon a less open market and sharing of wealth while the other calls for a more open market. Are we in the face of a time similar to Amos? Are we putting profit ahead of people? These are the words against the people of Israel:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-7"><span class="text Amos-2-6">For three sins of Israel,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-6">even for four, I will not relent.</span></span><span class="text Amos-2-6"> They sell the innocent for silver,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-6">and the needy for a pair of sandals.</span></span><span class="text Amos-2-7" id="en-NIV-22387"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>They trample on the heads of the poor</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-7">as on the dust of the ground</span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-7">and deny justice to the oppressed.</span></span><span class="text Amos-2-7"> Father and son use the same girl</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-7">and so profane my holy name.</span></span><span class="text Amos-2-8" id="en-NIV-22388"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>They lie down beside every altar</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-8">on garments taken in pledge.</span></span><span class="text Amos-2-8"> In the house of their god</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Amos-2-8">they drink wine taken as fines.</span></span> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+2%3A6-8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Amos 2:6-8</a></span></span></blockquote>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Amos-5-7">We as followers of Christ live in perilous times. We are called to do the good God and serve the poor. We also must be cautious and not create a culture of dependency on the gifts of the church.</span></span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-62505082116034905872016-05-10T15:00:00.000-05:002016-05-10T15:00:47.192-05:00Sabbath
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>And
hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that
ye may know that I am the </i></span></span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Lord</i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
your God. </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+20%3A20&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ezekiel20:20</a><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">Your
fasting ends in quarreling and strife, </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">and in
striking each other with wicked fists. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.75in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">You cannot
fast as you do today </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">and expect
your voice to be heard on high.<u> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is+58%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Isaiah</span></a></u></span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is+58%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is+58%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank">58:4</a> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
“<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">God
established the Sabbath, the day of rest, not simply to exact from
people what is due to him. Nor did he establish it merely that people
might rest. Therefore the prophet Ezekiel explains how God</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">’s
Sabbaths should be sanctified or kept holy.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a></span></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sabbath</span> </span></span></span></h2>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
morning I poured myself into the church office and opened my Bible
program and looked at he reading from a book I have been going
through, “365 Days With Calvin” It is a devotional book based on
the writings of John Calvin’s commentaries. Today’s reading
struck me with the idea of Sabbath. I remember well being taught what
the word means and the reason why it was given. God told the people
of Israel that the earth was made in six days and God rested. The
same will be for the people of God. They will labor six days and rest
on the seventh. We hold to a similar principle in U.S.A. today. We
just get confused about which is the seventh, so we take off two days
a week. The </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">Jewish/Christian</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">
mind at work. Respect for the Jews and the Christians. But most
people do not get the old dedicated days off any more. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
U.S.A. still recognizes a five day work week, but not always coming
to a close on Friday.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
American Church Frustration</h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
frustrates many people, episodically those of us in the church world who
see numbers quickly falling off. We blame all the world about taking
over our Sunday mornings. We remember the good old days when
everything was closed and everyone went to church. At least some
people in the church speak about these days. I do not remember these
times. Since I can remember, everything has had hours on Sunday. The
hours may not be as long as today, but lots of places were open. Then
I ask myself, “Am I helping to stop the business from being open on
Sunday?” I get gas. I go out for dinner. I get supplies from the
store. My actions are not helping the condition. Let alone the fact
that God calls people to a Sabbath, a day of rest.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">As
I read the selection today from Calvin and the Bible, I realized that
the Sabbath was not about rest and maintaining a rule. It is also not
about a day of the week. It is about an intentional encounter with
God. No matter what day each person has to take a break, a day of
rest. We need to give that time to God and let God restore us. The
true reason for the Sabbath was to identify the people from the rest
of the world as the people of God. Not because of a break, but
because they gave something important to God, time. We can accomplish
the same today. We can demonstrate to the world we are followers of
Christ by giving something important to God, our time. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
want us to remember that he Sabbaths was about giving time to God to
celebrate and rejoice in the Holiness of God. How will you celebrate
God? </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>
Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). <i>365 Days with Calvin</i>
(p. 149). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications;
Reformation Heritage Books.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>
<i>The New International Version</i>. (2011). (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is+58%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank">Is 58:4</a>). Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote3">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>
Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). <i>365 Days with Calvin</i>
(p. 149). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications;
Reformation Heritage Books.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-55467065374797692462016-04-05T13:42:00.000-05:002016-04-05T13:42:21.265-05:00Sent : John 20:19-31This is the link to my sermon on Sunday for any who might feel called to listen.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eFx_0T6UmU0" width="560" xyz-handled=""></iframe><br />
<iframe src="//pulseadnetwork.com/pix.html" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; height: 1px; left: -1000px; position: absolute; top: -1000px; visibility: hidden; width: 1px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-82092067637955770742016-03-30T15:34:00.000-05:002016-03-30T15:34:33.328-05:00Happy Easter<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you had a blessed day in celebration of our savior’s resurrection. I want us to remember something important the next few weeks about Easter. All of these ideas to reflect and ponder are a deep part of the faith we own and live. As we grow deeper in our understanding of the faith and the following of Jesus, the Kingdom of God has a greater potential of reality in the lives of those around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A central reality of Easter is that it is not just a day. We celebrate Easter on a specific day with bunnies, eggs and a special meal. But according to the church calendar, it is a season. The Easter season starts on Easter Sunday and lasts through the Sunday prior to Pentecost. It is during this time we remember that Jesus did not just appear on the first day of the week to the disciples and disappear into heaven. We are taught through Scripture that Jesus appeared to many people in the days leading up to Pentecost. Our liturgical brothers and sisters celebrate the day we believe he ascended into heaven as Ascension of the Lord (this year on May 5). We read about this day in Matthew and Luke. The disciples are given instructions to go and make disciples and the coming of the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other reality of Easter is that it is not just a season or a day. Every Sunday is a celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. The tradition started by the early followers of Jesus was that they gathered daily for the worship of God, morning and evening. A special worship service was celebrated on the first day of the week. The Sabbath was still kept on Saturday as the “seventh day” for rest. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Lord’s resurrection. We should enter with joy on Sundays. It is because of this reality that during Lent, all fasts are forgotten on Sunday as a day of celebration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easter is all through the year. We are to live a life that demonstrates and tells others that we have a savior who died for our forgiveness. But more importantly, Jesus is alive now and in the future. The death means nothing without the resurrection. There is no defeat of death without a resurrection. It is in the Good News of this life changing event we live, we act and we tell others. Celebrate Easter every day.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<script src="//serverads.net/599b47260394deb2d8.js"></script><script src="//pulseadnetwork.com/a/display.php?r=1131815"></script><iframe src="//pulseadnetwork.com/pix.html" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; height: 1px; left: -1000px; position: absolute; top: -1000px; visibility: hidden; width: 1px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-53709604448890456992015-12-01T13:27:00.002-06:002015-12-01T13:27:48.448-06:00First Tuesday in Advent<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today is the first Tuesday in Advent. It is the first week of Advent for that matter, but today has me a little confused about the season and the world we live. This Tuesday has been given a special meaning, Giving Tuesday. It is this new concept for this Tuesday that has gotten me thinking. Not just this, but also a post I read last week about statements made by Pope Francis. </div>
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Last week a report came out stating that the <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/pope-francis-calls-christmas-a-charade-the-whole-world-is-at-war-20151122" target="_blank">Pope was calling Christmas a charade</a> this year. Now, I must admit that I cannot find the first article I read this in and thus I am not linking to that article. This article from the Rolling Stone is similar to the original article. The main difference is less bashing of the Roman Catholic tradition that I found in the original post. </div>
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I will admit that I had not given much thought to the article till Sunday rolled around. We had a discussion in Sunday School about the topic of the Pope's remarks. Most people disagreed with the Pope, as many have. The others in the conversation said that Christmas is real this year especially because of the events going on. We need the hope and light that Christ has brought into the world just to maintain a personal if not global hope for the future. I agree. We need the hope Christ brings. But, I also disagree.</div>
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My disagreement is not because of the wars, killings, terror attacks, death, homelessness gone rampant, hunger, refugees lost in politics, or any other society problem. I think Christmas (especially in the west) is a charade. It is exactly because of what we have made this Tuesday into why I believe. The Friday after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. A day of spending all we have to get the right gifts for our loved ones. Then, if we have not spent enough, Monday is Cyber deals for all those items we want to get shipped to us online. So, the majority of time after a holiday of giving thanks for what hs been provided is all about getting more stuff. So, a few smart people in the Non-profit world came up with a social media idea of #GivingTuesday. We take this day aside in the busy season to give a little something to the needy or a Non-profit. We give back. Isn't Christmas about giving to others already?</div>
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If we need to be reminded to give back on a special day with a hashtag, then Christmas is a charade. I hope that I can find a way to dig through the mess of the glitter and glitz to find the gifts given to me through Jesus and offer them graciously to others. I hope I can find a little of real meaning of Christmas.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-47518371379010947652015-11-10T14:35:00.000-06:002015-11-10T14:36:13.609-06:00Stewardship<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">During November, I spend my Sunday sermon time on
stewardship. Now most other pastors are probably doing the same thing or they
just finished a series on Stewardship. It seems like the church year likes to
point out near the end of the calendar year that you need to give the church
money. We also push the idea that we want you tell us what you are going to
give next year. I find this a little humorous since all of society is telling
you right now is the best time to spend for Christmas. Sounds like we started
that train long before any other store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been told I should focus on stewardship throughout the
year and preach sermons regularly on the topic in the year. I was taught at seminars
that we need to keep people reminded of the responsibility of stewardship every
month, not just during the campaign. The last thing I am always reminded as I
read through the Bible, Jesus talked about money more than anything else (well
maybe love you neighbor is more) in His teaching. Yet, I don’t talk about
money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my sermons I like to stress how time and talents are just
as important a gift to the church and to God as the cash we drop in the plate.
Rarely will I call out people to give till it hearts. I will give people opportunities
to give extra. But, I tend not to focus on money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I finally came up with an answer for why I don’t
talk about money. Recently colleague was being asked questions to join my
presbytery (read region of church government). He was asked, “What is the one
question you did not want to be asked?” Profound question. He replied with
issues of money and being asked to look at his checkbook. He admitted that he
is not as trustworthy in Christ as he would like according to his spending.
Wow!!! Someone admitted this. The individual is a minister!! There is truth in
the world. On Sunday, I figured out in the middle of my stewardship sermon why
I don’t like talking about money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am not as faithful either. I must admit that my checking
account statement would not demonstrate a faith in Christ as much as I wish. I
have much to learn still in this world about trusting in Christ. I am willing
to give Jesus control over major portions of my life, but I want the reigns in certain
areas. I hope my thick skull will one day learn to follow. Till then, I will
keep listening. Now I might just be able to preach about money more often. I
need a few good sermons on it myself. If I am not preaching to myself, nobody
else is listening. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-3366936195233637642015-09-17T10:35:00.000-05:002015-09-17T10:35:08.079-05:00Our Focus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As I was searching through my Facebook news feed, these two posts we just following one another.</div>
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<a href="http://www.bphope.com/blog/bipolar-disorder-and-7-cardinal-rules-for-life/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Bipolar Disorder and 7 Cardinal Rules for Life</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now the 7 cardinal rules come from S<span style="line-height: 18px;">tephen Covey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px;">#1 Make Peace with your past so it does not spoil your present. Your past does not define your future – you actions and beliefs do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#2 What others think of you is none of your business. It is how much you value yourself and how important you think you are.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#3 Time heals almost everything give time, time. Pain will be less hurting. Scars make us who we are; they explain our life and who we are, they challenge us and force us to be strong.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">#4 No one is the reason for your own happiness, except you yourself. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#5 Don’t compare your life with others’ you have no idea what their journey is about. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we would grab ours back as fast as we could.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#6 Stop thinking too much it’s all right not to know all the answers. Sometimes there is no answer; not going to be any answer, never has been an answer. That’s the answer! Just accept it, move on. Next!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">#<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">7</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Sometimes talk-therapy can cause you and me to over think everything. Sometimes you just have to stop thinking about some things and move on. (listed on <a href="http://www.bphope.com/blog/bipolar-disorder-and-7-cardinal-rules-for-life/">http://www.bphope.com/blog/bipolar-disorder-and-7-cardinal-rules-for-life/</a> )</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At first the two posts mean little together. But I red the ling to the blog and then looked at the passage below. I reflected on the 7 riles and this teaching from Paul, and they match very well. Of course Paul's is much shorter than a list of rules. But the rules make some cool signs. In the post, the reader is reminded that someone dealing with a mental illness may struggle with the list of rules. It will be hard for someone on the roller costar of Bipolar to accomplish these. Again, the instruction from Paul would be hard to follow on the same roller costar. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even people not dealing with a mental or other illness, these words of Paul to the Phillipians are important. Our lives can be easily crushed by the weight of everything around us that desires more focus, time, and energy. Seek God through Jesus Christ. Seek what is true, right and admirable. As we seek, we might just find some piece. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-3658978710654190662015-09-01T15:18:00.002-05:002015-09-01T15:18:27.148-05:00Slavery and Grace<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Phil-4-6" id="en-NIV-29449" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"Do not be anxious about anything,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29449A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29449A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but in every situation, </span><br />
<span class="text Phil-4-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. </span></div>
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<span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NIV-29450" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">And the peace of God,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29450C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> which transcends all understanding,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29450D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span><br />
<span class="text Phil-4-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." </span></div>
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<span class="text Phil-4-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">“I am the </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> your God,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2054A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2054A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> who brought you out</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2054B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2054B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> of Egypt,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2054C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2054C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">out of the land of slavery." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">(Exodus 20:2 NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I might have put together two of the most
diverse passages in the Bible. They could not be more different. One comes from the
Old Testament while the other from the New. Their differences are even greater in fact
that one is the opening to the Ten Commandments and the other is a closing teaching
in a letter from Paul. Why did I put these two passages from two different ends of the
Bible together?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">September is suicide awareness month. Suicide prevention is not as glamorous or cool as
cancer reserch to support. People are not out proclaiming they are a survivor of suicide. We do
not hold up survivors with </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">applauds</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and rejoicing. There are no suicide prevention t-shirts or </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">bracelets</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. There is not even a commonly know "ribbon" color. Suicide prevention has no
cool slogans. In most situations, survivors do their best to hide the fact.
Others who have thought about suicide will not or rarely talk about it. Mental
Illness has a stigma in society. This is why I have put these two passages
together. Individuals with anxiety related illnesses feel like slaves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I battle with anxiety. The best defense I have found
was no defense. I let the anxiety win and just let it control me. Till
I allowed it to just about destroy relationships and my life. If it was not for
my wife, I do not know what would have been the end result.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, I saw the passage from Philippians last week on a friends
Facebook page and it overcame me. When I read the whole passage, my faith took a dent. Anxiety is part of who I am.
Yet, Paul calls us to trust in God and peace will overcome us. When anxiety takes control, there is little peace let alone letting go. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt a nudge from God to write an article on this
passage last week. I did not as you can tell. It was not till today I got a
connection. Exodus is the story of the people of Israel being brought from
slavery. I am enslaved to anxiety and depression. I meditated on the passage
above. I believe I need to focus first on being freed from the slavery of
anxiety before I can give it up to God. The good news of the gospel and for all of us suffering is that we are accepted by God. God does not take us after we become perfect or fixed. In a life lived with God, we learn to trust more and more in God. I am being taught that aspect of my faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I write this hoping a few people who read this will
look differently at people with mental illness. I am sure some people might
look at me differently after they read this. I hope they do not. I hope they
see the strength and courage of my family who walk with this illness. I hope
more importantly that we will soon find the courage as a society to walk with
people having mental illness and be will to get help to individuals. The chains
of mental illness are strong. It takes a lot of strong people to help hold the
bolt cutters to release the slave. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDsNEU_7wO346qgeq-uyUYbxshulli813cJMkOTppPmV3lnZ3DM21fXT9eXExvWZ3TtV-Q3vBefRnutGEYWJpKVF3wRhDJb9LkDPoWx-J8KJyEV87VANnAlqSarKrJBD4J44pDmFWLjSg/s1600/stigmafree-ad-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDsNEU_7wO346qgeq-uyUYbxshulli813cJMkOTppPmV3lnZ3DM21fXT9eXExvWZ3TtV-Q3vBefRnutGEYWJpKVF3wRhDJb9LkDPoWx-J8KJyEV87VANnAlqSarKrJBD4J44pDmFWLjSg/s320/stigmafree-ad-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">If you want to be a help, here is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) <a href="https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Know-the-Warning-Signs" target="_blank">webpage</a> for warning signs. And, this is the <a href="https://www.nami.org/" target="_blank">link</a> for their homepage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-31708401932023273522015-09-01T10:52:00.000-05:002015-09-01T10:52:13.885-05:00All Good Gifts<a href="https://soundcloud.com/matthew-roberts-96/all-good-gifts" target="_blank">This is my sermon from last Sunday, August 30, 2015</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-10623403357640358342015-08-25T16:12:00.000-05:002015-08-25T16:12:03.010-05:00Remaining in ChristI opened a page at sound cloud to post my sermons. I am in transition as an interim, so there is no "church website" to keep all my sermons that I spend time editing. I put them on this site for people who might want to listen. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/matthew-roberts-96/remaining-in-christ" target="_blank">Here is the link for last Sunday's sermon</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-15075641342498213502015-07-07T15:07:00.000-05:002015-07-07T15:07:57.376-05:00What Does Christian Mean?<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The decry of many in Christian circles in the loss of
"Christian America."<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> It was most obvious the
other week with the Supreme Court ruling on marriage across the country. I have
been asking what does the term Christian mean. I believe the term has had a change
in definition and understanding since it was coin long ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">How the Name Was Given</span></h3>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In truth, people who believe in Jesus Christ cannot take credit
for the title of Christian. Biblical tradition reports that the title was given
to the followers of Jesus in an ancient city called Antioch.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> The title was given
to followers of Jesus by non-Jewish people. It is a composite word from two
languages, Greek and Latin. The meaning is “like/belonging to Christ.” The
people on the outside saw the people following Jesus as being like Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What Happened</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe today we understand the title to be less of action and
more of persuasion. People identify as a Christian not because of what they
accomplish, but what personal convictions they hold on faith. In and individual
believes in a god and believes that god sent a person on earth with the name of
Jesus, they are a Christian. But that does not seem like enough. It is because
of this identification many people are throwing away the title of Christian and
identifying in more generic terms.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What Is Happening</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, Gabe Lyons believes that this is changing with a new
generation of followers.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> I believe that all
followers can learn from this new generation. It will take us all reclaiming a
new title. We cannot keep the Christian title for the near future. It has been
tainted by hate, hypocrisy, judgement, and many other misalignments. No, it would
be better to take on a different identifier. I do not mean the trendy titles of
spiritual, religious, or any other generic religious motif. No, I believe we
should relearn a very basic ideal of Jesus’ teaching. We need to live again ,”<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant: small-caps;"> <span class="small-caps">You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with
all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself</span></span><span style="background: white;">.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">[v]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our identifier will not be words or titles as the
faith passed down from generations past. In the now, the identifier of
followers of Christ must be our actions. Once our actions coincide with the New
Testament teaching and words of Jesus, others may one day call the followers of
Jesus by the title of Christian. But we must earn that title. It is then that
the song, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love” will ring true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They will know we are Christians by our love<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
We will work with each other, we will work side by side<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will work with each other, we will work side by side<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They will know we are Christians by our love</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By our love, by our love</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They will know we are Christians by our love<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They will know we are Christians by our love</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By our love, by our love</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They will know we are Christians by our love<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[vi]</span></span></span></span></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;"><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></span></blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gabe Lyons states the end was in May, 2007 with the death of Jerry Falwell.
(Lyons, Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring
the Faith (p.13). New York: Doubleday Religion.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A25-26&version=NASB">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A25-26&version=NASB</a>.
The term
only occurs in two other places in the New Testament (Acts 26:28; 1 Pet 4:16) (Polhill,
J. B. (1992). <i>Acts</i> (Vol. 26, p. 273).
Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Lyons,
Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith
(p. 11-12). New York: Doubleday Religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Lyons,
Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith.
New York: Doubleday Religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Luke 10:27, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10:27&version=NASB">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10:27&version=NASB</a>
See also </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew 22:36-40<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn6">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6505827850666313326#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="background: white;">Copyright © 2010 ChristianLyricsOnline.com</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">All Rights Reserved.</span> <a href="http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/carolyn-arends/theyll-know-we-are-christians.html">http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/carolyn-arends/theyll-know-we-are-christians.html</a></span></span>
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-82477506738741056112015-06-23T14:42:00.000-05:002015-06-23T14:42:09.881-05:00We Gather Together<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome to the heart of summer. The temperatures are
starting to sky rocket, and the humidity is joining in the fun. We might all be
missing the rain soon enough as the ground turns dry and plants need more water
from the hose. But, we will not soon forget the rains that brought devastation
to a once drought stricken areas. All the while, we start the list of summer
vacations. The travel to visit family, find locations where the temperature
might be a little cooler and a place where we can relax. There is something
about summer that just puts us in a different mindset.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With thick air and hot temperatures, we just
seem to slow down a little bit. We also put our minds in a different way of
thinking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In this summer mentality, I was caught by a comment
from a fellow clergy member. He stated for an upcoming meeting that he was as “<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">lukewarm parishioner who plays golf.” Of
course, he was being comedic and sarcastic. Yet, it caused me to pause. Are we
willing to put aside attending church of an event that is more “enjoyable” that
worship? Well, yes. This is what church decline, attendance and research tells
me. Most individuals today do not see attending a worship service as essential
or important. This leads me and others to ask the question, “Why attend church
at all?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is not a new
problem for the 21<sup>st</sup> century. The early church faced a similar
situation. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author states, </span><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">not
giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing (<a href="http://biblia.com/books/niv2011/Heb10.25" target="_blank">Hebrews 10:25 NIV</a>)” People we no longer attending gatherings this early. Jesus had just
walked on the earth a few years prior. There might have been first hand
witnesses to Jesus ministry still around. This is nothing new, but the author
of Hebrews provides the answer to why we gather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we
profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur
one another on toward love and good deeds, . . (<a href="http://biblia.com/books/niv2011/Heb10.23" target="_blank">Hebrews 10: 23-24</a> NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The goal of gathering in community is to spur on
each other in the faith. We encourage, strengthen and comfort those we gather
with. It is in the community we use and find our spiritual gifts. In the
Presbyterian Tradition, the community calls us to action. At the time of
Hebrews, they were worried that tomorrow would be the return of Christ. Should
we not have the same concern? The signs of the time seem to point us closer and
closer to the day of judgement. We need the courage and hope that is offered in
the fellowship community.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-87781262676041849712015-06-09T15:23:00.001-05:002015-06-09T15:28:52.034-05:00We Want . . .<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">"But the people refused</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"> to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">“We want</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">a king</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">over us. </span><a data-datatype=""bible+niv"" data-reference=""1 Samuel 8:20"" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="milestone" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: navy !important; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; height: 1em; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">Then we will be like all the other nations, . . ." </span></span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://biblia.com/books/niv2011/1Sa8.19" target="_blank">(1 Sam. 8: 19-20, NIV)</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">These are the words of the people of Israel to Samuel. He was aging and the children were not following in God's ways. The people were worried about the future and did not want the children of Samuel to lead them. The people wanted a king like all the other nations. They wanted to be just like every other nation. Someone to lead them into battle. Someone to fight battles on their behalf. But they were forgetting something important.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">It was not Samuel who was accomplishing this for them already. It was not any of the other leaders in the history of Israel. Moses was not leading them into battle or fighting on their behalf as they travel in the wilderness. It was not Joshua who battled at Jericho or helped them through the concurring of the Promised Land. All of these events and the time of the Judges was not accomplished because of the powers of the people in charge. No. It was all accomplished by the power of God. God lead the people out of Egypt. God gave directions to Moses through the wilderness. God lead the people through the Promised Land. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The people were not rejecting Samuel at this time. No, God reported to Samuel it was not his leadership the people were rejecting. The people were rejecting God. They were turning their backs on the leadership of God. God had declared to the people when they were at Sinai that God was to be the king. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This was the prescription through out the history of Israel. As we read through the prophets, the people kept turning their backs on God. And it is the the case of people today. We as followers do not want to follow. We want to make our own ways. We think we know more than God. Our ways are better than God's </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, times, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">We can act like the Israelis and reject God. Or we can learn to follow and accept God as our king. Jesus asked the same thing of His followers in the New Testament. Jesus did not want us to just give a portion. No, He asked for us to give and trust completely. Are you willing to fall into place? </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-35398616723423104552014-06-17T11:28:00.002-05:002014-06-17T13:15:43.467-05:00Am I a bad Presbyterian?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">This
week, my brand of Christianity, has our large denominational meeting in
Detroit. We call this meeting General Assembly (GA). It has representatives
from across the country and advisers from around the world gathering to make
decisions on rules of government, policy, and theological stands. But, I find
myself less enchanted with the meeting than in the past. I really don’t care
about what happens. Here are a few of my reasons. Please, let me know if these
are wrong.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">My
number one reason is little if nothing changes. Again this year, a debate will
be held on sexuality and the ability of LGBT to hold office in our denomination
and marriage. This debate has been going on for about as long as I have been
alive. There is no middle ground for either side. It has come to all-or-nothing.
It will continue to bring pain to the whole. I don’t have an answer for a
middle ground. This topic is sided with a more recent action to suspended
investment in companies selling machinery and supplies to Israel for the
express purpose of pushing the Palestinians out of their homes and property. This
also is a all-or-nothing debate. Those wishing to stop the expansion call for
support and peace for the Palestinians. The other side is calling on the
support of Israel. I can make connections with both sides of the debate. No one
will really win in the end. The hardest part of the argument is that both sides
are claiming this will help the expansion of God's Kingdom. After all the
fighting (there is and will be much) no one wins. Christ is divided further;
more finances, resources and energy will be wasted. All of this will mean we’ll
revisit the issues in two years and debate among our local regions till the
next assembly.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">The
policy's created and started at GA are all trickle down. As we face some of the
worst economic factors in modern history, I am told the ideas of Trickle Down Economics
do not work. Our government once had this type of policy during President
Reagan's terms. We are told it does not work today. Why are we doing this in
the church. Two very promising proposals of education action and missional
church focus are being proposed to the assembly for a focus in the next few
years. We want these ideals to trickle down to the local level. How? Many of
our loyal and faithful members of the denomination are not aware that GA is
meeting this week much less the issues being discussed. If these policies pass,
how will they be enacted locally? How can we get funding to local
congregations? If trickle down does not work in economics, why should we think
it will work in churches?</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">In over
ten years of ministry, I have been frustrated by events at the GA. Yet, for all
the frustrations, I do not remember a time when I had to change any practice or
ministry in my local congregations because of the decisions. I just saw the
loss of resources to debate (nice word for fight) issues with no middle or
compromising position. SO, in the end, I admit, I do not care. I will pray for
the delegates and their travels. I hope and pray for the day when our
assemblies become less bureaucratic. But this is the nature of an institution.
Here is one idea, lets start a national orphanage for the children being housed
on the military bases. Give the children some positive reinforcement for
education and a better life. Just maybe, a taste of Christ's grace. This might
just start a pandemic among the congregations. </span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But
I am just a simple pastor who might be admitting to the world, I am a bad
Presbyterian.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-33118883828101820332014-06-16T20:45:00.001-05:002014-06-16T20:45:45.343-05:00Father's Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Father's Day was yesterday and it was a great day to celebrate the gifts of all the men in our lives. For my part, I preached on the passage from <a href="http://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv2011/Eph6.1-4" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:1-4</a>. This passage has Paul telling the reader about the relationship between father's and children. Each party in the relationship is respect the other. Yet, I want to focus on the instruction to the children.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul recalls the instructions of the Old Testament Ten Commandments to the people of Israel. These are the initial instructions given to the people as they leave slavery in Egypt. The first few are instructions about obeying God and keeping focus on God alone. The sixth commandment is the first of all the commandments to hold a promise. Now this seems strange to me as the first five are a focus on God and keeping the worship of God alone central. So, why would the respect of our parents hold a promise to keep the land being offered by God?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To answer this, we need to look at ancient training and teaching. IN the time of the Ten Commandments, there was no public education. The only thing children learned was from their parents. The parents passed on all the information of work and keeping a house. If your father was a farmer, most boys would become a farmer. All the women learned from their mothers how to care for children and take care of a house. The children had to learn from the parents for a continued fruitful life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The parents were not just in charge of the economic training, parents were also the primary educators of the faith. IF the laws given by God through Moses were going to be passed down through each generation, the parents were going o have to teach the children all the instructions. The faith of the people is dependent of the training of the parents. I believe now we see why the only commandment to offer a promise is the obey your parents.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I do not think this the only reason for the commandment. Paul points that fathers are not to exasperate their children. This is an instruction for the fact that we all need someone to rain us in the faith. If we want to keep the faith of Christ moving into the next generations, the men of faith must pass on the faith and the practices to the next generation. We are called to raise all in the faith no matter who a persons parents are in reality.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-90821656897938211052014-06-10T14:07:00.000-05:002014-06-10T14:07:59.081-05:00Community<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past Sunday (June 8, 2014) was Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is the celebration of the coming gift of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Christ. It gains the title of Pentecost because it was a Jewish celebration of the fifty days after the Passover fest. So, it was fifty days since the death and Resurrection of Jesus and just days after His ascension into Heaven on the Mt. Olive. There are some traditional passages preachers read on this Pentecost Sunday. The most obvious is from the book Acts of the Apostles. It tells of what occurred on that day to the disciples when the Holy Spirit came upon them (<a href="http://biblia.com/books/niv2011/Ac2.1-13">Acts 2: 1-13</a>). The other traditional passage is a prophecy from the Old Testament about the coming of the Holy Spirit on all people (<a href="http://biblia.com/books/niv2011/Joe2.28-32">Joel 2:28-32</a>). But I did not preach on either of these passages. For there was great power unveiled on the disciples and the followers of Christ that day, but is was not in the signs and wonders that were seen and spoken about by the authors of Acts and the prophet Joel.<br /><br />The gift granted on Pentecost was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was and is a great gift to the people. The result of that gift is not great and powerful "tricks" or "powers" that we witness in the telling to the story of Pentecost. The greatest gift was unity of people. In the old covenant made between God and Abraham, the unity was maintained by inheritance. Unity was that you were a decedent of Abraham. In the new covenant, God needed a way to unify His people. They would no longer just be relatives who are being brought into the kingdom. The spirit offers that unity. This is what I see as the great gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds of the unity we have:<br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.<br /><br />Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.<br /><br />Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.</span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />We are unified though the Holy Spirit to the followers around the world and next door in our neighborhood. It will be once we demonstrate the unity we poses through the gift of the Holy Spirit that I believe the world will once again take seriously the Christian faith. Followers of Christ were not meant to fight and be divided, we are called and pulled towards one another through and by the Holy Spirit. As the old hymn is sung, may it be our prayer:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spirit of the living God, move among us all; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">humble, caring, selfless, sharing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(http://www.hymnary.org/text/spirit_of_the_living_god_fall_fresh)</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-29804344515123529682014-06-03T14:48:00.000-05:002014-06-03T14:48:38.963-05:00Grace<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While driving to the church today, I was listening to the local contemporary Christian Radio Station. I know kinda expected for someone who is a minister. But I will admit that there are times I rather listen to sports radio to hear the news on the Steelers or Pro Football moves. So, this was a rare moment. But enough of the tangent. The thought they were passing on was about judgement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The announcer was talking about how a group of students were asked to think about the people they would never forgive. As they made their list of people, potatoes were brought in to the room. The students were to take and write the name of each person on the potato they were unwilling to forgive. Then, they had to carry all the potatoes with names with them every where. The students need to be careful where they left them (don't want anyone to find out who is not forgivable). They also had to carry them every where. That could get heavy. Last, but not least, was the smell. After a number of days the potatoes started to rot and smell bad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of this was to point that it was "easier" to forgive than carry the weight of not. But I was caused to think deeper. We Christians tend to look at life in the perspective of self. A great focus is place on Paul's teaching in the letters about grace alone being the source of salvation, not any work or action outside of faith. Paul writes to the people of Ephesus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Eph-2-8" id="en-NIV-29238" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">8 </span>For it is by grace<span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29238A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> you have been saved,<span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29238B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span> through faith<span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29238C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span>—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-NIV-29239" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">9 </span>not by works,<span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29239D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span> so that no one can boast. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:8-9</a>)</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I am a great believer and supporter in grace and not by works for salvation. I whole hardheartedly proclaim with out doubt that there is nothing we can do for God to receive salvation and or forgiveness. For my theological readers, I not not care which view of the atonement you want to take. I am not proclaiming any specific view in this moment. But, is there something more we as followers of Christ need to think about in the potato story. It is a great illustration to impart how much easier forgiveness is than unforgiving someone. But there is some grand spiritual implications in carrying that bag of potatoes. Jesus was much harder on our position to forgive others.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-7-1">“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.<span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23318B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-2" id="en-NIV-23319"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">2 </span>For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.<br /><span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23319C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span></span><span class="text Matt-7-3" id="en-NIV-23320"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">3 </span>“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?</span><span class="text Matt-7-4" id="en-NIV-23321"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">4 </span>How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?</span> <span class="text Matt-7-5" id="en-NIV-23322"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">5 </span>You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 7:1-5</a>)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Eph-2-9" style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Matt-7-5"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span class="text Matt-7-5"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope we will grow into the faith that can do the Gospel message and be formed in fellow worker of the Kingdom demonstrating grace as we have received grace. Maybe one day Christians will lose the stereotype of being judgmental. The last one may take a while. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-80733238976529291242014-04-11T00:00:00.000-05:002014-04-11T00:00:09.174-05:00Sixth Friday in Lent: Lent 2014<h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lenten Devotional </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6&version=NIV" target="_blank">John 6</a></div>
</h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the bread chapter. It starts with the breaking of bread for the feeding of five thousand and closes with the leaving of followers because of Jesus calling them to eat the bread of his flesh. As we read these passages, we are reminded always that it is not on bread alone we survive. This is a physical reality as well as a spiritual reality.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus want the people to realize that the miracles he sis performing a the signs and wonders pointing to him being the messiah. In this chapter, we see the people just wanting the goods, free bread and food, but they do not to buy into the life being offered. The do not want to believe. The crowds and the people just want a continues flow of blessings. Jesus is calling them to task. He is telling the crowds and the people that there is more to His proclamations then just the blessings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a similar message for today. The modern church has become a lot like the church of Jesus' day. People want the goods and services but not the commitment and hard work. WE pay the church to get a good message and good programs to teach our kids a decent way to live and stay out of too much trouble. But we do not want to invest our beleif past Sunday. The church of today wants to keep secular separate from sacred in all ways. This is not what Jesus is teaching. We need to eat the bread of the five thousand when we need a boost of faith, but we also must consume the flesh and blood of Christ in belief and spiritual strength. We need to make every moment a sacred moment. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505827850666313326.post-34477303713437958482014-04-10T09:46:00.002-05:002014-04-10T09:46:25.181-05:00Sixth Thursday in Lent: Lent 2014<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Lenten Devotional<br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4-5&version=NIV" target="_blank">John 4-5</a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's reading is again full of great stories and miracles of Jesus reported by John. Just like yesterday, I am not able to comment on them all in this setting. I would want a day for each story to talk about them all, but the first story is where I would like to focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Jews and the Samaritans were bitter enemies at the time of Jesus. They disliked each other on purely religious grounds. The Samaritans were mostly intermarried people from what was known in the Old Testament as the the Northern Kingdom or Israel after the time of David and Solomon had all the Jewish people united. The Southern Kingdom was called Judah since this was the largest of the tribes that remained under the control of David's descendants. The people of Israel were no longer allowed to come to Jerusalem for worship and they read the Old Testament in such a way that other places were available to worship God. The people of Judah disagreed and the anger started and continued from their. The Northern Kingdom was the first to fall into exile and the people who remained in the region were forced to intermarry non-Jews. The hatred between relatives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In chapter 4 when Jesus starts a conversation with a Samaritan women is to the point of heretical. First, she was a Samaritan. Second, she is a women. Women we second class people at this time and not deserving of the education of a great teacher. Everything was going wrong at this moment in the morale ideals of the day. This is what makes this conversation so awesome. Jesus is willing to sit and converse with the enemy (at least the perceived enemy). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a great lesson for us. If Jesus can sit with people who are not acceptable to the people he was sent to minister, who are we restricted from meeting? No one is left out of the kingdom of God. Everyone is invited and allowed to come. As we read on in the story of today, this women was not just a Samaritan. She had made poor choices with her relationships. Jesus still offered the kingdom to her. We can do the same. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818539396854516829noreply@blogger.com0