Creative Church

"It is high time that we saw resurrected an nurtured all that good, creative and powerful potential in the body of Christ which our Creator God put into all of us long ago and which has almost suffocated under too many layers of copied blessings." ~ Wolfgang Simson

Here's an interesting concept: Originality!

Here's something you need to understand about me: I'm not the most creative person in the world but I love being creative. I like to work on things (at my pace) using my hands...thinking through the process...and seeing the finished product. For a while I worked in construction - finishing log homes - and there was great joy in seeing the accomplishments that came about after a few weeks/months of work. Why have we been less than creative when it comes to church? Could it be that we have allowed traditional thinking (this is how church "looks") to stifle any type of creativity?

I'm not saying that we have to be original at everything but shouldn't the creativity of God flow through our churches? Think about it: We have been made in the image of a creating God. His creativity is a part of our DNA. Within each and every individual there is creativity whether you are artistic or not. I'm just questioning where we are in our society when it comes to church life. Every year there seems to be a new concept/idea about how we should grow the church. Many pastors go to conventions where they hear about this "new thing" and immediately begin copying the process without ever questioning if it's going to work.

Pastor Colton Wickramaratne of Colombo said, "How can I explode with someone else's explosion? Do I not sell myself too cheap by denying the creative and powerful potential God has given me - and each of us? As long as I am busy copying someone else, how can I be true to myself?"

The time has come for the church to be creative again. We must find out how God wants to impact our city and culture. We need to allow Him to be creative with us and refuse to settle for someone else's blessings. Sure...there are plenty of great ideas that we can borrow. However, I have never believed in a complete transfer of anything. Not everything that is being done in Florida, California, or elsewhere is going to work in SW Virginia. Not everything that is being done in church planting in D.C. is going to work in Max Meadows. How can we ever expect to reach our hometown by doing ministry with a Hollywood model?

Just last week I was having a conversation with my wife's grandfather who pastored for years. He said that he and another pastor once had a conversation that went something like this: "I almost hate coming to these conferences. You think you are doing pretty good in your church and come in hear to find out that you are doing it all wrong." I know how he feels. I'm not denying that God is blessing what some people are "selling"; I'm just saying that your blessing is your blessing. What I have to do is be willing to allow God to do the same with me in His way.

Why am I saying all of this? Because you need to know that I don't have a problem with churches being different. In fact, they should be different because of the different dynamics of the people and culture.

Think about this: If Jesus was incarnated NOW - would He be different than He was when He was in Jerusalem? In quality - NO! In style - Yes! Jesus' quality was a God quality. He lived out everything that was God. His style of dress, conversation, teaching was consistent with the times in which He lived. If He showed up in 2010 you can expect the same grace, truth, and love but the package would look differently. Get my point? The church should be a re-incarnation of a living Savior. Then, and only then, can we expect the church to be RELEVANT in the lives around us.

The Apostle Paul said: "...I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (1 Cor. 9:19)

Do You Really Want to Hear?

After a week of rest and time with my family, it's time to jump back in. Hope everyone is doing well. Are you ready? Let's go!

(Word of Warning: Too much time to think leads to a serious unloading of TRUTH!)

Do we really want to hear TRUTH? Think about it before you answer. The knowledge of truth can set us free but Jesus never said that it would be easy to hear. In fact, the Word of God describes itself as Living, Powerful, and Sharper than any two-edged sword. However, if we want to be all that God wants us to be then we must allow the TRUTH of His Word to penetrate our lives and change us.

There was a time when I used to be bothered by the fact that unbelievers didn't want to hear the TRUTH. What I'm discovering now is that believers don't want to hear it! I cannot tell you the times that I have sat down with someone who was in need of direction/counseling - offered TRUTH to their situation - only to have them look at me like I was an alien. The attitude that is expressed is one of: "You don't really expect me to live that out do you?"

What has happened to the average believer today? Do we really expect God to be so forgiving and so understanding of our weaknesses that we don't have to live up to His standards? I'm not perfect here (I'm striving)...I'm just alarmed at how we handle/mis-handle TRUTH.

A couple is in trouble - TRUTH can set them free but it doesn't seem as appealing as being happy.
A person is struggling - TRUTH will allow them to break free but it isn't as attractive as following after their lusts.
A family is hurting - TRUTH can make all the difference to their situation but the time frame of applying it doesn't allow them to follow after all the other things in their lives.

When will we understand that TRUTH (God's TRUTH) is the only standard we should be concerned about? When will we stop seeking a life of personal fulfillment and start following the path of Spiritual Awakening?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you..." As Oswald Chambers* says, "Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says that if it hinders you in following His precepts, then 'cut it off.'" Chambers goes on to say that: "There has never yet been a saint who has not lived a maimed life initially. Yet it is better to enter into life maimed but lovely in God's sight than to appear lovely to man's eyes but lame to God's."

Think about Jesus' teaching:
If your right hand causes you to sin - CUT IT OFF!
If your right eye causes you to sin - PLUCK IT OUT!
Jesus could have went on but the point of His teaching is that even our "best qualities" are nothing if they keep us from being who God wants us to be. Ask yourself if there are things in your life that God wants you to REMOVE.

This amputation process my be painful but it is necessary. You may have people in your life who give advice that sounds good, attractive, and pleasing to your ears; but if their advice leads you down the wrong path then I suggest either cutting off your ears or cutting off some relationship ties. The desires of you heart may seem good and right but if they are pulling you away from God's best then I suggest removing your heart and replacing it with one that seeks after God's.

The best thing that we can remember is that "WE ARE NOT OUR OWN - WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE!" God's standard hasn't changed and will not change. We must never water down God's Word just to apply it to where we are in life. We must always be willing to face the undiluted sternness of what God says and deal with it as children of God.

May we be found walking in TRUTH.

Time for a Little R & R

Well Folks...it's that time of year again. Time for a little REST & RELAXATION!

I'll be away from the blog for a few days. Hope all your days are blessed while I'm away. I look forward to sharing with you when I return.

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17)

Giving Grace

I believe that most followers of Jesus Christ are thankful for the grace of God. Some of the most popular worship songs revolve around grace. Countless books have been written, poems inspired, and lives changed all because of God's amazing grace.

I'm not going to ask if you are appreciative of the grace of God. However, how good are you at giving grace?

Oswald Chambers said, "I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God." Is this statement true in your life or are you continually critical, judgmental, or condemning of others? Be careful: What you believe about the grace of God in others is the same way that you view His grace in your life!

Instead of being critical, why not take a stroll through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the rest of the New Testament to see what Jesus and the Apostles had to say in regards to how we view and treat others.

Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that you be not judged."

Matthew 7:3-5, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye..."

Romans 2:1, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

Romans 14:4, "Who are you to judge another man's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."

Jesus was very clear in regards to judging others. He said, "DON'T" Instead, why not be an extension of the grace of God to others. I understand that God's Word is very clear about how to handle those in sin (in the church), but if you will take a closer look you will see that God's plan is a plan of grace. It begins with a heart of compassion (to deliver someone) and ends with an acceptance through grace.

I'm amazed at our ability to RECEIVE grace without GIVING it!

We need to remember that the Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in the act of adultery but He did not condemn her. Instead, he said, "Go and sin no more." Should this not be the same attitude that we possess? We need to cultivate a temperament that is never critical. How do we do that? By seeing the other person through the eyes of truth. Where would we be apart from the grace of God?

Religion Shattered

Thoughts for this blog came from a quote that I read earlier in the week: "Religion is for unbelievers; it's the business of the godless."

One of the best and accurate definitions that I can give of religion is that it is what man makes out of God. Due to our inclination to organize and structure, we have created a window through which we can view God and His characteristics. As long as we can keep the window clean and unobstructed, we will clearly see and understand all of God their is to know.

Here's the problem: Jesus shattered the window!

Jesus, God in the flesh, blew away the understanding of the religious leaders of His day. They expected God to send a Messiah in a particular way, through a particular "vehicle", and that he would do particular things. None of them expected a suffering Savior. No one expected Him to bypass the "center of religion" along with its leaders. But that is exactly what Jesus did.

Jesus came to earth through miraculous means only to be raised in an ordinary home. He lived among the common people of the world. He followed the standard path of righteousness. In fact, until Jesus was baptized, we don't hear much about His life. Once Jesus began preaching the Good News, He called 12 ordinary men to follow Him. And once they had this same Spirit come upon them on the day of Pentecost, they turned the world upside down!

Who are we to confine God to a religion? I have said it before, and I will say it again, if God isn't big enough to change your theology or doctrines then you might as well admit that you are no better than the religious leaders of Jesus' day. God is interested in a relationship with His people. This relationship will lead them to follow hard after God - not a system of beliefs.

The word 'religion' comes from the Latin religare, and literally means to ties yourself back, to rest a secure anchor at a safe place, so we are not swept away by the current of life into unknown and dangerous waters. What religion fails to see is that Jesus had already done that for us. We don't need better and more structured religion. What we need are more passionate followers of a God who called them out of darkness into a marvelous light!

Religion is for unbelievers...the business of the godless. Why is that? Because those who have God should run with Him as hard as they can. When you live in a relationship with God - religion only gets in the way.

Will you follow hard after Him?

Loves Perfect Work

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (1 John 3:16)

I have always enjoyed the parallel between John 3:16 & 1 John 3:16. Both verses speak of the love of God and the laying down of one's life. What you need to notice is the transfer! In John 3:16 we see that God loved the world and He gave. 1 John 3:16 speaks of the same truth but the love of God has been transferred to us and we ought to lay down our lives. What a HUGE responsibility!

God's Word teaches us that His love ought to be perfected in us. One of the ways that we know His love has been perfected is that it casts out fear. There is no fear in love. Another test (if you will) of the love of God being perfected in us is that we have love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And the ultimate demonstration of that love is that we are willing to lay down our lives. Don't automatically assume that means you have to physically die. You may just need to die to yourself for this to be accomplished.

Do you want to know where the greatest testing ground for this type of love is found? It is found in your marriage! Nowhere on earth are we "tested" any greater than in our relationship with our spouse. The commitment of marriage is a continual laying down of ourselves. We must lay aside our selfish ambitions for the good of the other. Ego, pride, and even self-fulfillment has to be placed upon a cross, nailed to it, and pronounced dead. Ask yourself this question: Have I ever said, "Not my will but Yours be done" in regards to your marriage? Ever had to sacrifice yourself?

I'm beginning to understand some great truths in marriage and my relationship with God. There is no greater arena for me to "flesh out" my faith than in how I relate to my wife. I can go to church, preach God's Word, and love my church family. However, if I can't live out my faith with my family, what good is my devotion in these other areas? Can I truly say that I love God if I cannot love my wife? Can I say that I'm willing to die for my faith if I can't die to myself in marriage? This is where we fail to make the connection with our faith and our marriage.

The original "church" began in the Garden. Adam and Eve communed with God. Husband and wife sat at the feet of Jesus and had fellowship with Him. There was no need for sacrifice because sin had not entered the world. But as soon as Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God - immediately there was a need for sacrifice. At first Adam was willing to throw his wife "under the bus." "The woman you gave me..." was Adam's response to God. What if Adam would have said, "It was my fault"? Is this not the same fight we have today? Who among us is willing to say that we are willing to take the blame for the problems in our relationship?

If it is your desire to get closer to God, the best place to start is in the home. Learn to see your spouse through the eyes of God. Learn to love your spouse in the same way that Christ loved the church. Allow loves perfect work to be completed in your marriage. I promise that you will find yourself growing closer to the heart of the Father.

Are you willing to lay down your life for your spouse? Can you die to yourself in your marriage? This is how all men will know that you are His disciple. It's time to allow our homes to be the greatest testimony of our faith. No longer will we view time spent at church, positions of leadership, or even great sacrifices of faith to be seen as the evidence of what we believe. No my friends, the home is where it's at. Can we offer the same mercy and grace to one another that we are willing to offer others? Are we as quick to forgive our husband/wife as we would someone at church? Will we make restitution as needed? I'm curious as to how many husbands/wives have come to offer their gifts on the altar before making things right with their spouse. Should we not leave our gift and FIRST make things right in the home? Yes...yes we should.

Learn to apply your faith at home. Our unwillingness to walk in what we believe in our marriage is the greatest hypocrisy found in the church today. May we be found faithful even in the little things. May love have its perfect work!

Could Get Interesting

The Southern Baptist Convention is happening this week. I mention that this morning because the decisions that are made this week could get interesting.

One of the BIG topic of discussions leading up to this convention has been "The Great Commission Resurgence." I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion that comes out of the decisions made this week. Therefore, we watch, listen, and pray.

I blogged briefly about the resurgence on March 23rd and titled it "What World Are We Living In?" I don't wish to re-visit the topic of conversation but to say that the outcome will greatly affect SBC churches, state conventions, church planting, & missionaries. I also believe that it will affect the Cooperative Program - the SBC's plan for missions. Although I agree with much of what the report has revealed concerning the SBC and member churches, I'm still not sure that this "Resurgence" will fix the problem of lostness in the nation. I'm afraid that it is nothing more than the age-old idea that money (cooperative program dollars) should yield a high return (church growth) which is measurable in hard numbers and results.

Wolfgang Simson wrote: "Over the millennia, the great divide in Christianity has never really been between denominations, Catholics and Protestants, or charismatics and non-charismatics, but always between Spirit and Flesh, the breath of life and the odor of death, between man-made religion and movements of God's Spirit." It is with that understanding that we need to be sure that we can answer the following:
1) Are WE building OUR church?
2) Are WE building HIS church?
3) Is HE building OUR church?
or
4) Is HE building HIS church?
Our answers to these questions greatly affect what we do in the kingdom of God.

I will say this: Regardless of what happens in the SBC, PBC will continue to do what God has called us to do! We will continue to share Jesus with the lost and seek to be a fellowship of believers that minister to one another. We will continue to worship God passionately and to build up one another in love. In the end, it's not an SBC kingdom. What we do is all about the kingdom of God.

We do pray for the Southern Baptist Convention and trust that God will give wisdom and insight to the future of ministry within your churches.

The Man of Peace

In Luke 10, Jesus sends the disciples "two by two" and tells them to find a "man of peace" in a village. They are to stay with this person as long as allowed to do the work of the gospel. Whenever they leave, they are to leave their blessing upon this person and their household.

Most church planting strategies today suggest that we do the same. We are to locate a "man of peace" in our communities who becomes a catalyst for the growth of the church. This particular person may be a believer that already resides in an area or it may be someone that you actually lead to faith in Christ. A lot of what happens next will be a result of connecting with this person in the community.

In today's "church" culture there is a heavy emphasis on "door to door" evangelism. How do we reconcile that approach when compared to Luke 10? I'm not against any church's attempts at sharing the gospel of Jesus, I'm just asking a question. Could it be in our attempt to send out scatter bombs in the community that we actually missed the person of peace living in the area. Could it be that we have neglected an important component in advancing the kingdom of God?

The "man of peace", as Jesus termed him, is a person within the community who will have a profound impact upon the spread of the gospel. Thom Wolf describes the man of peace as someone you can recognize by 3 "R's":
R - Receptive to the Gospel
R - Reputation to gain attention for the message w/ home and community
R - Refer the bearers of Good News to that larger group

I read of a Southern Baptist Missionary in Asia who went into a particular village with this prayer: "Lord we need a person of peace..." After saying the prayer, he started his stopwatch and they entered into the village. Up through the center of the village came a man who said, "Have you eaten?" The missionary replied, "No." This man then said, "Come to my home." The missionary stopped his watch and it took God all of 3 minutes and 21 seconds to answer the prayer. This man became a HUGE influence to the work of the gospel in the village. He literally paved the way through his influence so that the missionary could share the message.

Why am I bringing this up? Well...I've just been doing a lot of thinking. Maybe instead of trying to go door to door and seeing few results, we should consider finding a man/woman of peace in our communities and watch God reap a harvest! The difference is evangelism by extraction from a community or penetration within a community. We can either try to "win" them all to Jesus to bring them out and into our church or we can "win" one and work inside the community. Which do you think works better? I'm counting on the fact that Jesus KNEW what He was doing!

I long for a return to New Testament faith! I hunger to see the Body of Christ evident within the community. And the evidence that I seek doesn't concern itself with big buildings, tall steeples, and paved parking lots. The evidence that I'm looking for involves a "person of peace" that is being used to demonstrate the gospel in every day life.

Who's with me?

Or...better yet...are you a person of peace?

He is Worthy

*Note of thanks to Ron for helping me think in this direction.

I came across this devotional in "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" by Integrity Publishers.


"Worthy, You Are Worthy"

"Worthy, You are worthy,
King of kings, Lord of lords,
You are worthy.
Worthy, You are worthy,
King of king, Lord of lords,
I worship You." - Don Moen

"Jesus is worthy of our praise. The sooner we learn that, the sooner we will stop our busy-ness to sit in His presence, as Mary of Bethany did so long ago.

"The story recorded in Luke 10:38-42 describes Jesus paying Mary and Martha a visit. Martha was stressed out about getting a meal on the table. Her sister Mary, however, was sitting at the Savior's feet, feasting on His every word. Martha asked Jesus to insist that Mary give her some help. But Jesus did not comply with her request, and the reason was clear. He wanted to teach Martha a lesson. He wanted the older sister to learn that there is more to life than the art of entertaining or a fixation with food. What Jesus saw in Mary was a portrait He wanted to hold up as an example of how to set proper priorities.

"Mary had recognized that her friend from Nazareth was more than a carpenter. He was more than a rabbi. He was the long-awaited Messiah. He was worthy of her worship. He is worthy of our attention. He is worthy of letting all else wait. Don't neglect time in His presence today."

"I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise." (2 Samuel 22:4)

PRAYER:

"Confess to the Lord your tendency to obsess over insignificant details that derail your devotion to Him. Spend quiet time in His presence."

Day 20 - pp. 40-41 - "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart"

Remember: "...You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth...Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:9-10, 12)

Blessed are the...

In Matthew 5 we find the "Beatitudes" that Jesus shared with His followers. In this teaching Jesus said that the blessed are:
The poor in spirit
Those who mourn
The meek
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
The merciful
The pure in heart
The peacemakers
Those who are persecuted for righteousness
Does that sound anything like your list for the blessed? This is when the mindset of the Kingdom of God clashes with the kingdoms of this world.

According to Jesus, the poor in spirit possess the kingdom of heaven; those who mourn shall be comforted; the meek shall inherit the earth; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled; the merciful shall obtain mercy; the pure in heart shall see God; the peacemakers shall be called the sons of God; and those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake will inherit the kingdom of heaven. He then goes on to say that when we are reviled, persecuted, and evil is spoken against us that we should rejoice and be exceedingly glad for our reward is GREAT in heaven.

I don't know about you, but this sounds like a hard list to live out. How many of us know how to be poor in spirit we we have been taught to be proud? Who among us like to mourn and live in meekness? Do we really hunger and thirst for righteousness or do we simply seek to fulfill our own needs and desires? Do we automatically show mercy or do we like to give people what they deserve? And let's not forget being pure in heart! What about being a peacemaker? (It is different than being a peacekeeper) Then Jesus talks about persecution. But we live in America and we have rights! Right?

In each of these statements of being we find that they cannot be lived out unless we learn to live in relationship to the One who gave them. Apart from the Spirit of God I cannot humble myself in this way. But we do want to be blessed don't we? We want all of these things to be true in us. We love the idea of inheriting the Kingdom and being called the sons of God. Most believers seek to know God and be comforted by Him. And I don't know anyone who doesn't want to be rewarded greatly. However, the life of the blessed takes a different path than the one we have been taught to travel.

To "BE" in any of these areas requires walking the path of the blessed - and that path can only be followed through humility.

So humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will exalt you in due time. This is a promise from God's Word. It may mean involving yourself in situations that your are not comfortable with. It may mean that you restrain from anger, giving someone what they deserve, and learning to bring your strength under control. Actually...you will have to do all of these things at some point in life. But what a blessed life that you will enjoy!

I pray that as you go through your day that you will find ways to be salt and light. As you do...you will be blessed!

Proper Thinking

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

To meditate is to dwell on anything in thought. Meditation seems to have been a lost practice among believers today. This could be due (in part) to the increase of mystic religions within America which tends to give us the picture of someone with their legs crossed and palms upward. This loss could also be due to the busyness of life.

Who has time to think? Most of us struggle to have time with family, reading the Bible, prayer, etc. And here I am saying that we should meditate!!!

Please understand that I can sympathize with your schedule. I'm a husband, a father, and a pastor. Our lives are as busy as the next family. However, one of the great attributes of the Christian faith is that we don't always have to settle in somewhere, block off time, and ensure that nothing stops us when it comes to prayer and meditation. In fact, many believers have found that prayer and meditation work well in the car (please keep your eyes open for this!). This is especially true if you have any length of drive to work. You get in, turn off the radio, and begin talking to God and dwelling on Him.

Meditation is a great practice after reading the Word, hearing a sermon, or after an extended time of prayer. It's great to allow God's Word to revolve around your mind - to seriously consider what you have read - to reason within yourself about these things - in order to put them into practice.

The danger in life is to be like the man who looked in the mirror only to walk away and forget what he looks like. But that does not have to be you! When you take the time to meditate upon what God has just spoken to you through His Word, it will produce tremendous benefits. In meditation you may ask the questions: How does this apply to my life? How can I "flesh" these things out? How do I begin to be what these verses state?

In Paul's letter to the church, he found it necessary to leave them with this final thought. "Finally..." After saying all that he felt led to share - after giving doctrinal insight - he says here's what you need to do. You need to meditate on these things:

TRUE things
NOBLE things
JUST things
PURE things
LOVELY things
GOOD things
VIRTUOUS things
PRAISEWORTHY things

I think that it is interesting that all these "things" are in direct contradiction to what the world would have us to think upon. Our society is filled with imagery. It's hard to get things out of our mind. And far too often instead of thinking upon the things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy; our minds are consumed with lies, indecencies, corruption, impurity, ugliness, evil, viciousness, and things that drag us down. Oh, how our lives would be different if we would think upon those things that God has ordained!

This isn't the power of "positive thinking". This is the power of PROPER THINKING! This is when you and I choose to get rid of the "stinking thinking" that tends to dominate us. We make the choice to think about things in faith. We choose to dwell upon the things of God. As we think about these things, God uses the opportunity to shape our hearts, our minds, and our conduct. The things we think upon affect our actions and reactions. If we will think about God things we will naturally respond as God wants us to respond. Meditate on these things.

I pray that the Lord will fill your mind with the Truth of His Word. May you think upon Noble things. I pray that Justice and Purity prevail in your thought life. And I trust that the Lovely things of God will fill your mind throughout the day. May you be focused upon the things of Good Report, Virtue, and things that bring Praise to God.

Meditate on these things.

He said "I AM!"

"He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

I have to give thanks for two people that have influenced my walk with God greatly: Henry Blackaby (Experiencing God) and Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest). I'm grateful for the teaching that has been passed down to me through these great men.

When God revealed Himself to Moses He called Himself "I AM". When Jesus was on the earth He also called Himself "I AM". This was one of the reasons the Jews sought to kill Him - "He made Himself equal with God." The truth of the "I AM" is that God has become for us an open ended promise. "I AM" applies to every circumstance of life. If you feel lonely, God says "I AM with you." If you need provision, God says "I AM your provision." You need righteousness, God says "I AM your righteousness." Or maybe you need healing, God says "I AM your healing." Whatever the situation you can trust in the never-forsaking God.

Oswald Chambers said, "Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me." However, the truth of the matter is that God never leaves us. He never forsakes us. God is always with us. Another important fact is that God is always at work. Don't fall into the line of thinking that always looks at what God is doing for another day. God is at work around you today. You just need to be made aware of where He is at work and join Him there.

This is the exciting adventure that is relationship with God. Religion says that I must perform a certain set of tasks or perform a ritual to understand what God is doing. Relationship says, "Open your eyes that you may see. Open your ears that you may hear. Open your heart that you may understand." You have the ability through the Spirit of God to see, hear, and understand what God is doing around you. Then you are able to join Him TODAY - IN THE PRESENT - with what He is doing.

What an awesome way to live! Think about it...The God of the universe is at work around you. He's not away on vacation. He's not asleep at the wheel. NO! God is always working and He allows you to join Him in what He is already doing. Does that mean I will never experience the drudgery of life? I guess it depends on your definition of drudgery. How can looking everyday to see God at work become drudgery? It should be an excitement, a joy, to wake up every morning and say "Here I am Lord. Send me!"

I pray that you will experience the abiding presence of God today. I hope that you will enjoy the relationship that has been made available to you through Jesus Christ. Don't think of this Friday as just the end of the work week. Think of today as the beginning of something greater. Make today the day that you join God in what He is doing. And when you do - you can trust that He will be with you from start to finish.

Blessings to you all as you follow Him.

Watch!

In Mark 13:32-37, Jesus told His disciples "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father...And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

What if I told you that there was a million dollar check coming you way in the mail - would you watch for it? Or let's say that I knew someone was going to deliver a brand new truck to your house - would you not be peeking out the window every hour? Jesus told His followers to be on the lookout for His return. When was the last time we really looked?

Dear friends, this is the "Blessed Hope" of the Christian. We believe that Jesus Christ will return for His church. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church that we should comfort one another with the words of the second coming. Could it be that since the church has been waiting for so long that we have grown complacent? Or are we fearful that Jesus will actually return in our lifetime?

What reaction do you have to these words?
- Fear?
- Uncertainty?
- Hope?
- Excitement?

I guess the answer depends on your view of the Second Coming of Christ. It also depends upon the security of your own salvation. You need to know that Jesus spoke of His return not to create fear in His believers but strength. They needed to understand that His departure was temporary. They also needed to know that our time to share His Good News would not be forever.

I say to you, and to all who will listen, WATCH!
We don't know the hour - WATCH!
We don't know the day - WATCH!
We don't know the season - WATCH!
We don't know the year - WATCH!
To be watchful for His return requires just as much obedience as it does to share your faith. This is the life of the obedient servant - to be watchful.

I pray that these words give comfort to you. If they don't, then I pray that you will take the time to examine your life before the Lord. I cannot tell you when Jesus is returning but I can tell you in full confidence of God's Word that His return is very soon. Be ready! Be watchful! Be encouraged!

Captivated by God?

Psalm 57:7, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise."

Is there any doubt that it's much easier to serve and praise God when things are going well? In fact, you don't even have to have a good voice - when things in life are good, the songs just keep on coming.

Psalm 57:7 isn't one of those songs. According to history, this psalm was sung by David when he had fled from Saul and hid in a cave! How's that for inspiration?

Although our praise flows the easiest during the good times; it's in the tough times of life that we really discover the song of our heart. For David...even in the midst of fear and turmoil he sang of the steadfastness of his heart.

How do we get there? How can anyone possibly give praise to God during some of the most difficult hours of life? My opinion: You need to be captivated by God.

Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want God above everything else?
- Is the desire of my heart to be used by God in every situation?
- Do I long to bring Him glory regardless of what it may bring me?
- Have I found God to be my all in all?

There is no doubt that there are many things that compete for our heart in this world. However, as Oswald Chambers puts it: "The abiding awareness of the Christian life is to be God Himself, not just thoughts about Him. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God." To have our hearts fixed on Him we must wake up every day and determine to seek out the presence of God. This happens as we read His Word, pray, and live with a conscious awareness of who He is.

Don't allow anything to compete with God in your heart. Give it all to Him! Who knows...one day this could be your song: "My heart is steadfast - I will sing and give praise."

American's Creed

William Tyler Page authored The American's Creed in response to a nation-wide essay contest and was accepted on behalf of the American people by the United States House of Representatives April 3, 1918 AD.

Page said of the essay that it was "'a summing up', in 100 words, of the basic principles of American political faith." In the creed you will find quotes from Daniel Webster, Edward Everett Hale's "The Man Without Country", The Constitution, The Gettysburg Address, and The Declaration of Independence.

"I BELIEVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
"I believe it is my duty to my country to love it; support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies."

Considering that this document was accepted on behalf of the American people by elected representatives, I think it would be a great benefit to our country if we would re-visit these words.

A Government of the people, by the people, for the people - have we forgotten the fact that we govern ourselves? It seems as though elected officials today operate on the presumption that they have a right to their office regardless of what they do. A representative, senator, cabinet member, or even the President need to understand that they are a citizen of the same nation and that they can be replaced by another citizen.

Whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed - political power comes from us (the governed) and should be used accordingly. Americans should never be forced to do anything that has not been agreed upon by the governed. A perfect example of this is the current Health Care legislation. If left up to a voter initiative - it would lose. But our elected officials have disregarded to voice of the governed.

A democracy in a republic - I really wonder how many kids in our public school understand this fact? I wonder how many adults know that we aren't a democracy but a democracy within a republic? In other words, our voice is to be heard by those who represent us and then they should represent us, not their own ideals or special interests.

A sovereign Nation of many sovereign States - In today's America, I love to see states once again take up the reigns of their own sovereignty. I enjoy hearing of states like Arizona who understand the necessity of protecting their border. They have the right to do so!

A perfect union...established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes - Memorial Day was a reminder to each of us that the ideals and freedoms of America are worth dying for. We must never forget the sacrifice of our founders, and the willingness to lay down one's life of a soldier. Let us be thankful for those who have paved the way for our freedom and those who died to secure it.

I believe it is my duty... - The latter part of the creed should be required memorization for kids growing up in this country and anyone who wishes to become a citizen. Our nation is made up of immigrants from all over the world. Many of the first Americans came here from other nations seeking refuge, freedom, and prosperity. I believe each nationality has a right to celebrate their heritage as long as we understand that each of us have a national heritage together. We are citizens of the United States of America. We have a common bond. And it is the duty of every American to love our country, support our Constitution (is there an elected official in D.C. that is listening?), obey its laws, respect the flag (the one that is red, white, and blue), and to defend this nation. Can I get an "Amen"?

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I'm thankful to live in a free nation. I'm grateful that God allowed me to be born in this great land. It is my prayer for America that we never forget where we came from, the sacrifices made to make this country great, and never forget that it is God who has blessed us with such great prosperity. To Him be glory and honor throughout the ages.