Some of us have been discussing the question, "Is it a black & white world? Or, it is more grey?" On the surface, it seems easy to say. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Sin is sin, etc. But, should I always tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God?
What about the proverbial, "does this dress make me look fat" question? Can I tell the part of the truth that will not hurt the other's feelings? Do I have a close and secure enough relationship with the other person to tell them things they might not want to hear? Can something be wrong for me, but OK for my friend? Take, for example, the fact that John the Baptist was forbidden to drink wine. Yet, Jesus drank wine and turned water into wine. I guess we must "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." Also, it is a good idea to let God judge others. I have enough to do judging my own self!
We struggle with the balance between reaching out to at risk students and providing a safe and sane atmosphere for our church kids. How much do we go after lost young people without losing the already saved? This is a grey question. What is the answer? We are to seek and to save the lost. We should leave the 99 and go after the one lost sheep. Yet, we are to train our children in the way they should go.
2 Timothy 3:1 (NLT) "You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times." We certainly live in these difficult days. The answers are not so easy. I believe it will take extrordinary faith to overcome the difficulties of this world. I believe, now more than ever, we must be directed by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. God will help us find the answer we are looking to find. We will make some mistakes along the way.
My heart, and I believe yours, is to please God in all my ways. His Word will light the path I need to walk on.
Peace,
Stan
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Spring
I experienced Spring this past weekend. I heard someone predict a few weeks ago that we would go straight from Winter to Summer, skipping Spring altogether. So, obviously I was concerned! I like Spring. I like the warm weather, thunderstorms, flowers blooming and trees budding. I is like rebirth.
I mowed the yard on Saturday. It was the first day the mower was out of the old barn this year. Someone, probably me, left the key on the mower. So, the battery was dead. After a jump, I was off to the races, so to speak. The smell of fresh cut grass was exilerating. I helped Laine, my 15 year old son, mow another yard later in the day. After mowing, we played tennis. It was a great day.
Saturday night concluded with the Junior/Senior Prom. This is the ultimate Spring event. Boys and girls in their late teens getting all gussied up. We watched every one of them parade on to the stage to be announced to the crowd. It was a gala event. Prom is so much fun that no one wants it to end. Several students came over to our house until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Sunday morning was great. Several guests visited the church. People made life changing decisions. 65 new people stayed to have lunch with the church staff. The meal was delicious, prepared by Stephanie Thieme and family.
By Sunday afternoon I was tuckered out. I stretched out on the deck OUTSIDE and took a nap. My face is all glowing with a tan this morning. It was so nice feeling the warm sun beating down on my prostrate body. After our nap, Michelle and I walked over to visit with the neighbors. We sat on the patio talking and watching the kids bounce on the trampoline. We capped off the afternoon with a game of tennis. Sunday night's meal was leftover hamburgers that we had grilled out Saturday afternoon.
I am sure glad we didn't have to skip Spring. It is a wonderful time of the year.
Peace,
Stan
I mowed the yard on Saturday. It was the first day the mower was out of the old barn this year. Someone, probably me, left the key on the mower. So, the battery was dead. After a jump, I was off to the races, so to speak. The smell of fresh cut grass was exilerating. I helped Laine, my 15 year old son, mow another yard later in the day. After mowing, we played tennis. It was a great day.
Saturday night concluded with the Junior/Senior Prom. This is the ultimate Spring event. Boys and girls in their late teens getting all gussied up. We watched every one of them parade on to the stage to be announced to the crowd. It was a gala event. Prom is so much fun that no one wants it to end. Several students came over to our house until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Sunday morning was great. Several guests visited the church. People made life changing decisions. 65 new people stayed to have lunch with the church staff. The meal was delicious, prepared by Stephanie Thieme and family.
By Sunday afternoon I was tuckered out. I stretched out on the deck OUTSIDE and took a nap. My face is all glowing with a tan this morning. It was so nice feeling the warm sun beating down on my prostrate body. After our nap, Michelle and I walked over to visit with the neighbors. We sat on the patio talking and watching the kids bounce on the trampoline. We capped off the afternoon with a game of tennis. Sunday night's meal was leftover hamburgers that we had grilled out Saturday afternoon.
I am sure glad we didn't have to skip Spring. It is a wonderful time of the year.
Peace,
Stan
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
What if I told you there was a place where you can count on the awesome presence of God to manifest, a place where you are treated like one of the family, a place where miracles happen, the people there enjoy a high level of joy and peace, and continually people are getting saved?What if I told you this is not a fantasy, but can be a reality? Where can you find such a place? Acts 2:42-47 gives the only outline for doing church that I can find in the Bible.
Acts 2:42 - 47 (NLT) "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
Everyone needs to receive solid teaching from the word of God. Faith is the basis for the Christian life. “The just shall live by faith.” Faith comes from hearing the Word of God proclaimed. Fellowship is much more than sharing coffee and donuts in the church basement. These guys shared their lives together. Contemporary English Version, “…they were like family to each other…” They were praying together. God heard them and granted their requests. This church had it going on. The people lived with an awareness of the awesome presence of God. Wonders and signs were expected and achieved.
People gave in proportion to what they had. The needs of the people were being met. There were high levels of unity and also high levels of joy and contentment. They were praising God. Praise keeps your focus on God, and off of self. It keeps the gift of God stirred up within you. The energy that will take you through any trial of life. People outside of the fellowship liked what they saw. High numbers were being saved and added to the church.
These elements are the pillars of the healthy, vibrant church--teaching, fellowship, prayer, giving and praise. The results of have strong pillars in place are a family of believers, who sense the awesome presence of God in their midst. Wonders and signs are a regular occurrence. The needs of the people are met. The members enjoy a high level of unity, joy and contentment. People outside of the church like what they see inside. So, they come to the church, get saved and become part of the church family.
Peace,
Stan
Acts 2:42 - 47 (NLT) "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
Everyone needs to receive solid teaching from the word of God. Faith is the basis for the Christian life. “The just shall live by faith.” Faith comes from hearing the Word of God proclaimed. Fellowship is much more than sharing coffee and donuts in the church basement. These guys shared their lives together. Contemporary English Version, “…they were like family to each other…” They were praying together. God heard them and granted their requests. This church had it going on. The people lived with an awareness of the awesome presence of God. Wonders and signs were expected and achieved.
People gave in proportion to what they had. The needs of the people were being met. There were high levels of unity and also high levels of joy and contentment. They were praising God. Praise keeps your focus on God, and off of self. It keeps the gift of God stirred up within you. The energy that will take you through any trial of life. People outside of the fellowship liked what they saw. High numbers were being saved and added to the church.
These elements are the pillars of the healthy, vibrant church--teaching, fellowship, prayer, giving and praise. The results of have strong pillars in place are a family of believers, who sense the awesome presence of God in their midst. Wonders and signs are a regular occurrence. The needs of the people are met. The members enjoy a high level of unity, joy and contentment. People outside of the church like what they see inside. So, they come to the church, get saved and become part of the church family.
Peace,
Stan
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