The Deadline

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded. (Prov 13:13)

How truly incredible that the Creator of the universe will and does speak to each of us. But, when He speaks, His word becomes either life or death for us. Men rejected and continue to reject Jesus (the Living Word) because they first despised God’s Word as it was personally revealed in each of their hearts. If we despise His word to us, reject it and neglect to apply it, then we will be judged by the light we have heard and rejected. But, if we treasure it and try to act on it then it brings new life to us and to our relationships with Him and each other. If we do not seek to hear His Word then we obviously despise it in comparison to other things. God is eager to speak to us. But, frequently we are too self-centered and distracted by worldly concerns, cares of this life or just things and so we -- miss His guiding and transforming Word.

Personally, this self-centered approach to life has occupied me too much. I feel that relationships have been damaged, days wasted and years lost. I've spent too many anxious moments thinking about car repairs, mowing the grass and "deadlines" at work. But, I've not spent enough time earnestly seeking and pursuing the mission God had or has for me before I reach the real deadline of death. Lord, have mercy!

Project:

• Repent of any attitude of despising God’s Word.
• What word is God speaking to you today?
• Treasure that word by memorizing it and meditating on it.
• Use it for a TRIP.

Make the TRIP
T – Thanksgiving
R – Repent, Regret
I – Intercession
P – Purpose

Example:
The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded. (Prov 13:13)

Thanksgiving –
Father, thank You for your amazing love and concern for us as demonstrated by how you have given us your commandments, word and even the Living Word -- your Son.

Repent, Regret –
Many times I have failed to truly respect, seek, believe and keep your word and have, too often, acted in opposition to your word. Forgive me ways I have caused others in our family or among my neighbors to despise any part of your Word.

Intercession –
May the desire for and love of You and Your Word grow ever deeper in my heart and in the hearts of all those I influence. May your Word live in my heart, produce fruit and be manifest in the flesh and blood of my life.

Purpose –
By your grace, I purpose to always believe, respect and keep your Word in the depths of my being. I will daily search for your daily word to transform my remaining days.

There's No Pulpit Like Home

At the Men's breakfast last month, Larry James mentioned George Barna's book, "Revolution". The article, "There's No Pulpit Like Home", in Time magazine shows that the "revolution" is already creating waves that even the secular media is beginning to notice. In "Revolution", Barna draws conclusions from surveys and trends to predict that in approximately twenty years half of the traditional church campus population will migrate to alternative forms of Church. This will mean a steady decline for many traditional churches that will put significant pressure on their ability to maintain staff, debt, programs and even their physical campus. This is a social phenomenon that has suddenly (within the last few years) begun to takeoff in the United States. Many traditional churches are in denial while others are trying to find ways to grow God's Kingdom in this new outbreak of an old model of Church.

There's No Pulpit Like Home - TIME Magazine

The contempt shown to parents of large families

Let's not finesse the response. We all know why. A world that has lost its innocence has trouble appreciating beings who are innocent. A world that has become selfish has soured to the idea of leading a life of selflessness. A world that has become grossly materialistic is turned off to the idea of more dependents who consume resources. And a world that mistakenly believes that freedom means a lack of responsibility is opposed to the idea of needy creatures who "tie you down."

By just looking at my children, I become more innocent. By loving them, I become more noble. By spending my money on them rather than myself, I find transcendence. And by being a father and liberating all of the love in my heart, my spirit soars free. I work hard to support a large family and I give up no pleasures in doing so because my children are my foremost pleasure. -- Rabbi Boteach

The Promises and Their Soil

If
you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive...
Then
you will discern.. and discover.. Proverbs 2


The Soil

• Treasuring God's Word
• A heart inclined to understanding
• Seeking earnestly as for silver
• Crying and asking for discernment
• Being attentive to wisdom - listening carefully

The Fruit

• Knowledge of God
• Fear of the Lord
• Wisdom
• Knowledge
• Understanding
• Discernment
• Protection
• Discretion
• Pleasure in knowledge
• Deliverance from immoral, or adulterous, individuals
  
• Deliverance from the way of evil
• Walk in the path of the righteous
• Live in the land of blessing
  

Toys, Trikes and Tables

Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. (Mark 6)

With our houseful of children, it can be a painful experience to try to walk through the house in the dark. There have been a few instances of nearly "crashing and burning" on a toy or a laundry basket. I remember edging along the hall and reaching as far as I could around the corner to the light switch. After all, who knew what chair, toy or even person might be just around the corner. One night, one of our sons even slept on the kitchen floor in his sleeping bag so he could get first choice on the morning chores. As a result of the unknown objects and people that might be lying on the floor, I got so I always tried to turn on a light as soon as possible. In the same way, one of the huge benefits of taking time everyday to think about our lives, to seek God's presence, and to dwell in His Word is the increased potential to turn on the light in our lives.

I recently heard a fellow interviewed who had reached a point of decision about his business. He withdrew to a quiet place in the country and spent time just thinking about the business, his goals and trying gain insight. The result was not only a vision for his business but ideas about how to implement it. That day at the lake led to significant changes and an extremely successful business which he had originally started with $700. He still owns 100% of the now multi-million dollar business and did not get financial help from relatives or other investors. His success is based on his ability to learn from others, to think and to get insights. Insights are chunks of wisdom that can dramatically alter our way of thinking and of living. Insights can soften our heart, build our faith and pop us out of the ruts of bad habits.

C.S. Lewis suggested that pain is God's two by four that He must sometimes use in order to get our attention. His love for us is infinitely beyond what we can imagine and He will not let us stagger into the pit without trying whatever is required to get our attention. All of us go through disappointments, pain and suffering. We also have joyful experiences where God surprises us with unexpected opportunity, provision or blessing. Why waste these experiences? Let's squeeze every possible message, hidden benefit and insight that we can from them.

An insight is a gift from God which is dependent on our ability to receive it. If we are not listening, it will just pass us by. There will be incidents in your life today which will be potential opportunities for God to reveal a little of Himself, His love or His wisdom. God wants us to come to Him with our questions, fears and complaints. He is waiting and eager to give gifts of wisdom, insight and power to change. If we don't get the message, we are either doomed to repeat the lesson or just miss out on its blessing. But, too often we just don't show up. The result is that we continue to act like the Three Stooges; stumbling in darkness over toys, trikes and tables.

Project:
Let's spend a little time today, tomorrow and everyday away from the crush of events, the noise of life and the entanglement of worry.
Let's withdraw to a quiet corner, listen to God's Word and let Him speak into our experiences.

Blob or Baby

Some Christian doctors support birth control methods that allow for conception but that prevent the fertilized egg from being able to attach to the womb for nourishment. This is possibly based on the notion that the group of cells that exists at that time is just a blob of cells and not actually a very tiny baby. This article discusses some surprising new scientific evidence which reveals that, even physically, the cells form more than just a blob. see "Blob or Baby"

Another interesting fact is that the embryo normally attaches to the womb on the seventh day after conception. But, on day 6, it begins producing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, or “IDO,” which suppresses the mother’s T cell reaction and allows pregnancy to proceed after making contact with the womb. Otherwise, the mother's immune system would destroy the embryo. Pretty sophisticated for a "blob"!
For more about this see http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/1116abortion.asp

The Comfortable Rut and The Dead Body

Some activities have become common to many streams of tradition. These activities are so traditional, or perhaps habitual is a better word, that we barely see them or recognize their danger. For example, we think "bigger is better" but, in reality, as the numbers grow the loneliness factor increases. Is looking at the back of someone's head and listening to a sermon, "fellowship"? Is a programmed worship service Holy Spirit led as we read about in I Corinthians 14? Have we focused too much on verse 40? Spiritually alive people are increasingly wanting to participate in genuine worship, fellowship and service. This is good news but how effectively can it happen in the pews of our "traditional" worship service. It is important to consider how much genuine worship is a actually happening in our tradition and how much are we coasting along in a comfortable rut which might the foundational tradition underneath many streams of tradition. Eventually, the comfortable rut often leads to a dead body.

What's popular?

Criticism is the price of initiative. Success is not measured by popularity--always remember that the crowd shouted, 'Crucify!' Here's what is popular: Jesus told his disciples that 'all men will hate you because of me' (Matthew 10:22). So do the right thing because it is right, not because the world agrees. Stand on principle, even if you must stand alone. The pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8), for only the pure in heart want to (C. S. Lewis). Is there a decision awaiting your solitary courage today? -- Dr. James C. Denison

For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it should come to light. (Mark 4:22)

What's popular? To hate anyone who is a genuine follower of Christ and shows it by standing on principle and doing the right thing. Doing the right thing may require us to do something we don't "feel" like doing. It may go against our natural desires, popular culture or common thinking. Actions that seem hidden or secret is often where we are most likely to be tempted to not do the right thing. But, sometimes we need to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and say, "Here I will put my foot down and, by God's grace, I will stand".

Don't Miss Out

Who are these promises from Isaiah 54 for? (see list below)
"This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord." (verse 17)

These promises reveal a little of the incredible wonder of God's love and good plans for us. Are we genuine servants of the Lord or are we following at a great distance? To be His servants, we must know His words, thoughts and ways in order to seek His goals. Depending on His grace and the power of His Spirit, let's commit to daily meditating on some portion of His Word and asking Him to change and guide our life in His paths. This is a heritage that we don't want to miss out on.

Promises (the heritage of the servants of the Lord)
You will have Offspring (everyone should have spiritual offspring)
Your Offspring will possess nations
You Will not be put to shame
Your Husband IS the Lord of hosts
Your Redeemer IS the Holy One of Israel
Everlasting mercy
Great compassion from God
God's covenant of peace with you will not be shaken
Your Children taught of the Lord
Great Well-being of your Offspring
You Will be Established in righteousness
You Will be Far from oppression
You Will not fear
Terror will not come near you
Whoever assails you will fall
No weapon formed against you will prosper
Every assusing tongue will be condemned
Vindication from the Lord of Hosts

-

Poison At The Core

Over 70% of us are living from week to week and on the edge of financial crisis and collapse. This statistic reveals that almost 3 out of 4 of us are on a slippery financial slope. A sickness, accident or storm may cause a serious disaster for our checkbook, charge card and family. The average family is carrying a huge amount of short term debt for cars, entertainment and everyday expenses. No wonder we fight, break out in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, feel depressed or see our dreams slipping away.

`THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; (Matt 21:42)

The World knows very well how to appeal to us, sell us things we don’t actually need and how to convince us that debt is a solution. We naturally vibrate in harmony with the message of the world but God wants to give us grace for a different perspective and spirit. The World has rejected the cornerstone of life -- Christ, His Spirit and His Way. But, we are different and God is offering us grace to change and escape the trap.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

Last night, at the “No Debt, No Sweat” financial seminar, we heard of the prevalence of financial struggles. We also heard the introduction to how to get out of short-term debt within a relatively short time. Steve Diggs was humorous, entertaining and informative. He encouraged us, if necessary, to drag our teenagers to the seminar. Even if you don’t need it, your children probably do. Tonight, Steve will also be covering information about how to invest for retirement and save for education expenses. Let’s not miss this opportunity for ourselves and our children to learn truths that could save us and them from tremendous emotional pain. Every nugget of wisdom is better than a nugget of gold. In contrast, we are surrounded by worldly principles that sound good but, at their core, they contain deadly poison.

Project:
Buy, read and apply Steve Digg's book, "No Debt, No Sweat".
Come to tonight's free seminar at 6:30.
Bring a friend that has financial questions.