What’s attracting them?

The doctor finally arrived at the rural home where the husband was pacing the floor. Quickly ushered into the dim lit room, the doctor found hot water and towels ready to deliver the couple’s first baby. In the darkened room the doctor told the husband to hold up a kerosene lamp for the soon-to-be newborn. After the delivery the doctor barked, “Hold up the lantern there’s coming another baby!” After the second newborn the doctor again ordered the father to keep holding up the lamp for a third child. The father asked, “Is the light attracting them?”

How many times have we watched bugs circle a light at night? They are attracted to a light source. Why are people attracted to a particular church? A convenient location? Yes. A good speaker in the pulpit? Yes. Inspiring music? Yes. An attractive building? Yes.

But a more essential element in attracting guests, newcomers and prospective members is the simple friendliness of the members — both in the pew and in the neighborhood. Where there is a warm and dynamic congregation, there is an encouragement that’s contagious. First-time guests will return. Brow beating, suspicion, condemnation turns people off.

A church can have many advantages with money, such as nice buildings, professional leadership, effective advertising, and an abundance of supplies for spiritual and social use. But old-fashioned down home genuine friendliness, of which the world is sorely in need, can’t be purchased with money. It comes only from the hearts of dedicated people who love God and enjoy helping others feel at home in their church. People are attracted to an energetic and optimistic people. And all God’s people said, “Amen.”

 

Colossians 2:9-10“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

Defining standards

Last week we discussed how defining moments can change the course of history. This past Friday, June 6, many remembered that 64 years ago Allied Forces stormed the beaches of France to liberate Europe from Nazi control. This was a defining moment for victory.

It can be said that for the Christian the defining moment comes when Christ enters into the heart of a repentant believer. Direction and destiny are changed. Just as important as a defining moment is a defining standard. Life is overwhelmed with change. Without the basis of defining standards, our lives would be chaotic.

Open up a carpenter’s toolbox, and you’ll find all kinds of tools inside. You might discover some new-fangled gadgetry, like an electronic “tape measure.”

Although you may find such trendy items in a toolbox today, most carpenters continue to pick up the old standbys: hammer, screwdriver, measuring tape.

There’s another tool you just might find in a carpenter’s toolbox. It happens to be one of the oldest in human history. The Egyptians used it to build pyramids. This tool is so ancient, it’s even mentioned in the Old Testament in Amos 7:8, ^“And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ I answered, ‘A plumb line.’ And the Lord replied, ‘I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins.’ ”

This simple device, a string with a lead weight, is called a “plumb line.” Masons hang a plumb line next to a wall to see if the wall is straight or not. God’s has a plumb line to see if we measure up to eternal standards. God knows that sin will eventually undermine the life-walls that we build. Confessing and forsaking sin allows God to build our forever dream house.

The Birth of Mother’s Day

Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) loved her mother dearly. It was Miss Jarvis who first suggested a national day to honor all mothers. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Anna gave a carnation, her mother’s favorite flower, to each person in attendance. Within a few years, the idea to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was soon observed annually in many large cities of the United States.

On May 9, 1914, by an act of congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day. He established the day as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” By then, it had become customary to wear white carnations in honor of departed mothers and red carnations to honor the living. The custom continues to this day.

The Bible gives the greatest way to honor mother. Proverbs 31:28 states, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her...”

We are Easter People

 

Though the English word “Easter” comes from the name of a pagan feast in England, the celebration itself has no pagan roots. The Christian Easter is rooted in an actual datable event: the resurrection of Christ in the year 30 A.D.

The first celebration of Easter was not a yearly event but a weekly one. To the early Christians every Sunday was a mini-Easter. After Jesus’ death on the cross He first appeared to his fearful disciples on a Sunday. When Jesus reappeared to the disciples the following Sunday, doubting Thomas was there and fell to his knees exclaiming, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who haven't seen Me and believe anyway” (John 20:29). Christ died for us and was raised to new life! Believe and be saved, and become as blessed as an apostle.

The evidences of Jesus’ resurrection surround us. The early church thrived in the city where Jesus was put to death and now thrives around the world.

Jewish Christians began the Sunday worship. Though Saturday was the written-in-stone worship day for the Jews, the resurrection of Christ eventually caused Sunday to become the Christian worship day.

Changed lives are the greatest evidence. Any person can encounter the resurrected Christ by admitting they have a broken relationship with God, by believing Christ died to restore that relationship, and by confessing Jesus as Lord of their lives. Only believers know the reality of Christ. Receiving Christ brings hope and a new beginning that is out of this world.

 

Philippians 1:29“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

Human life is sacred

Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This week marks the 35^th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision.

In 1973 the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion. Since then approximately 50 million unborn children have been destroyed (or more accurately murdered). All it takes for this uncivilized procedure of taking an unborn baby’s life is the decision of the mother to terminate it. Due to economic pressures, the stress of living, or even the matter of inconvenience, an unborn child’s life can be “legally” ended. It may sound like a clean and simple solution except for the consequences that the mother suffers. Research studies have shown the devastating affect upon the mind, body, and spirit of the mother.

Many mothers are living with the guilt of an abortion. We must be reminded of God’s love and grace available for even these situations.

Our constitution guarantees our inalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The Bible specifically explains that humans are created in the image of God. It is this last statement which makes and defines that human life is sacred.

Thanksliving

The Bible instructs us to “give thanks in everything.” There are times when our gratitude is scarce due to life’s situations. There are times when it is impossible to thank God “for” things happening to us or our family. But the instructions are clear enough to notice that we are not required to thank God “for” everything but we can thank God “in” everything.

The sky is the limit as to giving thanks to the God and Creator of our world. He has made everything “very good.” What we see, feel, or experience gives us the basis for thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving goes beyond saying words to worship. The book of Revelation shows the future church assembled before the throne of God: “After these things I looked, and behold, a

great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ ¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying: ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen’ (Rev 7:9-12).

Let us allow our thanksgiving lead to worship.

 

1 Timothy 2:1-2“[Instructions on Worship] I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

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God is Spirit

The Bible states that, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Jesus gave to His disciples the words of God. The disciples heard words that describe God in ways that were foreign to their understanding of God. Many times our understanding of God is not accurate. We tend to think thoughts about God which are not accurately biblical. We tend to make up our own theology. Theology is nothing but having thoughts about what God is like. Sometimes our thoughts are way out in left field. The Bible is the book that gives accurate information about God and His ways in dealing with His creation.

One major reaction to God is one of fright. We mortals like to use fright and fear to manipulate others. We will even use scary and spooky ways for entertainment. Hollywood rakes in millions for their horror movies. If the whole truth be known on how evil evil is, we would forget about Halloween in a heartbeat.

Throughout the King James Bible the words “fear not” appear over 63 times. Jesus and the Holy Spirit do not rely on fear and fright. The Bible states “God is love.” And that love is far above the human imagination. Let’s glory in God’s love and share it with others who are living in the grips of fright and fear.

 

Ephesians 5:19-20“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

What a week!

All of us have had a busy week with the various activities we feel are important. Those activities at the church included a funeral and revival services.

Our beloved Alice Hunt was laid to rest at the Riverside Cemetery north of Losantville. For those present at her funeral, the service was beyond description. With a church full of family, friends, and high church officials, the church service took on the mighty presence of God that has lingered in the following days of our revival. There was Spirit-filled singing like you have never heard. The message and testimonies received unction from on high. The life celebrated in Alice Hunt was evident by God’s glory.

The funeral service did not resemble a funeral. It was uplifting, inspirational, encouraging, and God honoring. All who attended felt the same. If one didn’t know any better, one would have thought we were in a revival. Change occurred within the hearts of the attendants. It became a jump start for the revival services that evening.

God’s presence was so faithful in every revival service. The music organized by Chris was anointed. One of the Schrock Singers began shouting instead of singing. God’s presence was evident.

Our evangelist, Dr. David Perry, brought messages down to earth which dug around where we live. Our souls were stirred for the church and lost.

After all we have said only what is done for Christ will last. After we’re gone our work in Christ will follow. Alice’s funeral gives evidence of that in the continuing revival services. Who would have believed the impact of a funeral service on a revival? “To God be the glory, Great things He has done.”

 

Psalm 63:1“[A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.] O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

The church came through

On a dreary December evening people gathered at a large church to celebrate the Christmas season. I had gone down a long hallway to help a small boy pushing against massive doors trying to get outside. The boy was crying as if his heart would break.

I picked him up, thinking he belonged to someone at one of the Christmas parties, but couldn’t find any.

I rushed outside and spotted an old-model car speeding away in the darkness. Gradually, it began to dawn on me that the child had been abandoned.

I made a few calls, and soon the church was filled with people wanting to help in any way they could. Within moments, the local TV stations interrupted their usual programs to ask if anyone knew the identity of the little boy. The next morning, one of the city's newspapers had the child's picture on the front page. Under the picture there was an article describing the events of the evening before. The reporter began his story with this striking line: "Someone trusted the church last night, and the church came through!"

The world's future depends on the faithfulness of the "People of God" to the "Great Commission." There is a deep hunger across our land as countless people grope for answers to the deepest questions of the human spirit. The message of Christ speaks to these questions, bringing hope and light to people who now stumble in the dark and live in despair. Our world will be changed as the hearts of people are changed. Evangelism is not an option for the church. It is essential to the survival of our world. The church must come through.

–Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald

Where is wealth?

Look around and see the many things that we possess. Those at the poverty level in our nation are considered wealthy in Third World Countries. Truly God has shed His grace on America. Americans tend to work harder than their European counterparts. People have worked hard to have what they have. Others have handed down their fortunes to their offspring.

It reminds us that on the day we die, each will make a charitable gift — voluntarily or involuntarily. In other words, we can’t take our wealth with us, so it will be transferred to: (1) family or other individuals, (2) charity, or (3) government. And since the government has capped the amount that can be transferred to individuals without either paying a tax or making a charitable gift, the question is, who should receive our charitable gifts? One is very wise to use their wealth when they are in control it.

In no other time have people had it so good yet are so unhappy. There seems to be turmoil at the top of the status scale as well as at the bottom and plenty in between. Instead of using our wealth as it should be we have allowed it to be the source of our misery. Money is a cruel taskmaster enslaving people by the deception that satisfaction comes from its abundance.

Very few people discuss their finances outside of the immediate family. In contrast, Jesus was never afraid to talk about money. He said, “You cannot worship God and money both” (Mt.6:24).

1 John 2:1“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

 

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It’s all in what you see

In his reflections on the gospel of Luke in The New Interpreter’s Bible, R. Alan Culpepper tells a Jewish story centered on the good fortune of a hardworking farmer. The Lord appeared to this farmer and granted him three wishes, but the catch was that whatever the Lord did for the farmer would be given double to his neighbor. The farmer was thrilled, and wished for a hundred cattle. Immediately the wish was granted, and the farmer was ecstatic until he saw that his neighbor had 200. So he wished for a hundred acres of land, and again he was overjoyed until he saw that his neighbor had 200.

Rather than celebrating God’s goodness, the farmer could not escape feeling jealous and cheated because his neighbor had received more than he had. Finally, he stated his third wish: that God would strike him blind in one eye. And God wept.

We are given many choices to make in life. Many decisions are made according to what we see. But what we see may not determine our best interest. The beauty or handsomeness of a person may only be the cover-up of an ugly attitude. What may appear greener on the other side may be a patch of grass over a cesspool. Things may not appear the way they are.

Christ’s gospel gives us the reality to live and love life with true meaning and mission. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 

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