Morgan, our son, graduated from high school yesterday. It was a fun day. Graduating from high school must be the most liberating experience. Most of a person's life is compulsory through high school. Upon graduation, life is now more a series of choices. A young person becomes captain of their own ship. The future is theirs to seize. Congrats to all the graduates. Carpe Diem.
Recently a cyclone has leveled much on Myanmar (Burma). Tens of thousands are dead. Hundreds of thousands are homeless and are in danger of dying from unclean water and lack of food. Our missionary friend, Todd Powers, is going into Burma to bring relief in the form of water purification systems and money to purchase food, etc. If you would like to contribute to the cause, you may contact Todd at http://powersplanet.org.
Peace,
Stan
Monday, May 12, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Recession
Recession, gas prices, flooding, tornados, Iraq war, negative political ads. We are bombarded daily with negative news. The coffee shops and hair salons are filled with the daily gossip and an increase in "gloom and doom" talk.
Are these difficult days? Sure. $3.50 gasoline, $4 per gallon milk, etc. Is this going to improve soon? Who knows? Are we helpless in these days? NO! I believe it will take exceptional faith to live victoriously in these last days. The great news is that faith is available for every Christ follower.
Galatians 3:6 - 9 (NLT), "In the same way, 'Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.' The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith."
Abraham believed God's word to him. As a result, he became the father of the Jewish nation. He bacame very rich and famous. All of the was the result of his faith in what God said. We have the same opportunity. Yet, not every day was stress free for Abraham. As soon as he took off on his journey of faith, it led him staight into a famine. Genesis 12:10 (NLT), "At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner."
Famine is a temporary, negative circumstance, which is subject to change. Famine is found 90 times in the Bible. Famine is something we will all face in life. Following the Word of the Lord, Abraham travels right into the middle of a famine. As you walk by faith (obedience to the Word of the Lord), you my travel right into the midst of a famine. The famine affected Abram. He had to make a temporary adjustment. Temporary adjustments do not change your ultimate outcome. Famine may require cut backs. If my family is not eating, I’ll do whatever I have to do. Unless God speaks, you must do what you know to do. If your faith does not work in a famine, you need to develop what Paul referred to as "genuine faith" in 2 Timothy 1:5.
Famine (recession) will reveal what a person trusts in. Psalms 37:18 - 19 (NLT), "Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough." We can put our trust in the economy or put our trust in the Lord.
Peace,
Stan
Are these difficult days? Sure. $3.50 gasoline, $4 per gallon milk, etc. Is this going to improve soon? Who knows? Are we helpless in these days? NO! I believe it will take exceptional faith to live victoriously in these last days. The great news is that faith is available for every Christ follower.
Galatians 3:6 - 9 (NLT), "In the same way, 'Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.' The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith."
Abraham believed God's word to him. As a result, he became the father of the Jewish nation. He bacame very rich and famous. All of the was the result of his faith in what God said. We have the same opportunity. Yet, not every day was stress free for Abraham. As soon as he took off on his journey of faith, it led him staight into a famine. Genesis 12:10 (NLT), "At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner."
Famine is a temporary, negative circumstance, which is subject to change. Famine is found 90 times in the Bible. Famine is something we will all face in life. Following the Word of the Lord, Abraham travels right into the middle of a famine. As you walk by faith (obedience to the Word of the Lord), you my travel right into the midst of a famine. The famine affected Abram. He had to make a temporary adjustment. Temporary adjustments do not change your ultimate outcome. Famine may require cut backs. If my family is not eating, I’ll do whatever I have to do. Unless God speaks, you must do what you know to do. If your faith does not work in a famine, you need to develop what Paul referred to as "genuine faith" in 2 Timothy 1:5.
Famine (recession) will reveal what a person trusts in. Psalms 37:18 - 19 (NLT), "Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough." We can put our trust in the economy or put our trust in the Lord.
Peace,
Stan
Monday, April 28, 2008
Black and White
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
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 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
Monday, March 31, 2008
Ideal Church
I wrote this statement a few years ago. This is how we try to do church...
The ideal church is a one filled with people who love God passionately and love one another genuinely. We want our church to improve people’s lives, not burden them. We aspire for our church to be relevant in everyday life. We long to see people live victoriously. No one wants surprises, scandals, or secrets from the church leadership, so we promise to be honest and forthright concerning church matters.
No one should have to go through life alone. We want to do life together with people who love us just the way we are, but exhort us to get better. Everyone should have a place to be themselves, without having to put on airs. At church, we want every person to find good friends who are a delight and who provide comfort and stability during life’s difficult times. We want to build a church where people laugh freely and often.
We want every Sunday to be a family reunion. We want Sunday to be the best day of the week. We desire a church where people stay for years, grow old together, and watch their children grow up, get married, and have children of their own.
Peace,
Stan
The ideal church is a one filled with people who love God passionately and love one another genuinely. We want our church to improve people’s lives, not burden them. We aspire for our church to be relevant in everyday life. We long to see people live victoriously. No one wants surprises, scandals, or secrets from the church leadership, so we promise to be honest and forthright concerning church matters.
No one should have to go through life alone. We want to do life together with people who love us just the way we are, but exhort us to get better. Everyone should have a place to be themselves, without having to put on airs. At church, we want every person to find good friends who are a delight and who provide comfort and stability during life’s difficult times. We want to build a church where people laugh freely and often.
We want every Sunday to be a family reunion. We want Sunday to be the best day of the week. We desire a church where people stay for years, grow old together, and watch their children grow up, get married, and have children of their own.
Peace,
Stan
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter
This Easter was the earliest in 65 years I heard in a news report a few days ago. But, if the passing of Easter brings warmer weather, then I'm glad it came early. Yesterday, Easter, sure blazed by me in a hurry. All of the extra attention to details--music selection, sermon prep, getting everyone seated somehow, baptism, egg hunt... It seemed like it was over in a flash. People received eternal life through Jesus Christ, the food was delicious everywhere we ate. What a wonderful day!
I am so glad Jesus took my place, so I could be redeemed. Matthew 27:35 begins, "Then THEY crucified Him..." THEY is found 28 times in Matthew 27. I suppose it should read "we." They is always someone else, not me. In that crowd I suppose their were three different kinds of people. There was the sympathetic group. They were crying. They were asking, "Why? What did he do? What crime did he commit? He only helped and healed. Why?"
The antipathetic group was there shouting, "Crucify him. Crucify him." They were offended at Jesus' teaching. He exposed their hypocrisy, their sinfulness and crooked ways. I suppose some passers by were totally unconcerned and uninterested in what was happening on Golgotha's hill. The cross had no meaning or purpose for them. They were the apathetic group. The world never really changes. We still have these groups today.
Three cries were heard the day Jesus was crucified. There was a cry of unbelief from one of the thieves dying next to Jesus. He shouted, "If you are the Son of God, save yourself and us." There was a cry of repentance from the thief on the other side, "We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man is immocent. Lord, remember me when you enter your kingdom." Jesus also cried out from His cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
A preacher was speaking to fishermen on an English seashore. He was trying to make it plain to the men what Christ's work on the cross really was.
Presently, he said, “Now will one of you men tell me, in your own words, what the Lord Jesus did there on the cross?”
An old seaman looked up and, with tears on his weather-beaten face, said: “He swapped with me.”
I love that. Jesus swapped with me. God gives us the cross, then the cross gives us God. When Jesus died, I died with Him. When He was raised, I was raised. Either I die with Jesus on that cross or I die alone, and face eternity alone. I will carry my sins alone, stand before God to be judged and condemned to eternal damnation alone.
But, if I die with Jesus on that cross, then I will rise with Him. When I die, He is with me. When I stand before God, Jesus stands before me. He swapped with me. He died so I can live. He is preparing a place of abode, a mansion, for me in heaven. He is coming to this earth again to get me.
Peace,
Stan
I am so glad Jesus took my place, so I could be redeemed. Matthew 27:35 begins, "Then THEY crucified Him..." THEY is found 28 times in Matthew 27. I suppose it should read "we." They is always someone else, not me. In that crowd I suppose their were three different kinds of people. There was the sympathetic group. They were crying. They were asking, "Why? What did he do? What crime did he commit? He only helped and healed. Why?"
The antipathetic group was there shouting, "Crucify him. Crucify him." They were offended at Jesus' teaching. He exposed their hypocrisy, their sinfulness and crooked ways. I suppose some passers by were totally unconcerned and uninterested in what was happening on Golgotha's hill. The cross had no meaning or purpose for them. They were the apathetic group. The world never really changes. We still have these groups today.
Three cries were heard the day Jesus was crucified. There was a cry of unbelief from one of the thieves dying next to Jesus. He shouted, "If you are the Son of God, save yourself and us." There was a cry of repentance from the thief on the other side, "We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man is immocent. Lord, remember me when you enter your kingdom." Jesus also cried out from His cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
A preacher was speaking to fishermen on an English seashore. He was trying to make it plain to the men what Christ's work on the cross really was.
Presently, he said, “Now will one of you men tell me, in your own words, what the Lord Jesus did there on the cross?”
An old seaman looked up and, with tears on his weather-beaten face, said: “He swapped with me.”
I love that. Jesus swapped with me. God gives us the cross, then the cross gives us God. When Jesus died, I died with Him. When He was raised, I was raised. Either I die with Jesus on that cross or I die alone, and face eternity alone. I will carry my sins alone, stand before God to be judged and condemned to eternal damnation alone.
But, if I die with Jesus on that cross, then I will rise with Him. When I die, He is with me. When I stand before God, Jesus stands before me. He swapped with me. He died so I can live. He is preparing a place of abode, a mansion, for me in heaven. He is coming to this earth again to get me.
Peace,
Stan
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