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Showing posts from 2016

Happy Birthday In Reverse

Do you like to throw birthday parties? IF money was no option, name one thing you would want to have to throw an awesome birthday party for anyone of your choice. Would you want to have games? pictures? gifts? a cake for blowing out candles and making wishes? What about celebrities? Would you be surprised that several of these things and more were all at Jesus’ birth? You can read about the awesome birthday of our Lord in Luke 2:8-21 . Focus especially on the angel’s message in verse 14. Can you n ame another birthday party with the appearance of angels? Name just one other where the angels were praising God for a birthday to [ Spoiler alert!] the shepherds! No wonder at all of the Christmas plays kids want to be shepherds! Games: The angel of the Lord said, “You will find.” The angels sent the shepherds on a scavenger hunt ! The Magi were sent on one about the same time. This is a great game to have at birthday parties! They had to search for this baby. Gifts:

Blessed to be a blessing!

One saying I heard growing up was "Many hands make light the work" and another, "put your money where your mouth is." There were many others that took years before I understood what they meant (a stitch in time saves nine).  Paul tells the Corinthians a new saying about giving. But first, What would happen if we as a church asked everyone to give their complete paycheck to the Church each week so that it could be distributed for all of the members’ needs? What solutions would this bring? What problems would this bring? They did this in Acts 4:32-37. In 2 Corinthians 9:8-15 Paul tell the Corinthian believers that God is able to make all grace abound to them. Grace is unmerited favor, unentitled assistance. The result of God’s abounding grace is for His people to have all sufficiency and contentment in all things. Contentment is not luxury.  The purpose for God’s abounding grace is managed as a pass through account--God gives his abounding grace to y

Everyone Has a Story of Their First Time

I want to share today about what it is like for a man to make love to woman. (Now that I have your attention, I probably better not). However, everyone has a story of their first time.  Which reminds me of a story; now, this story may or may not have happened to my family. My dad was part of the rotary club because several of his friends were involved. My dad raised cattle and bred a certain kind of bovine and knew a lot about that sort of thing. He also had been in the county rodeos a few times riding bulls. He studied to become a doctor but having kids kept him from that pursuit. We lived in a small town, where you know everyone and everyone knows you ...and your business. The rotary club advertised that a popular "sexpert" would be the guest speaker at the next meeting and share about how to make love to a woman. The rotary club never had such great attendance! The place was packed, but the guest speaker never showed up. My dad's friend who was in charge and b

Future Faith Fulfilled by Godly Preparation

What is one thing in your life that took you A LOT of preparation? In Joshua 3, we see a leader in need of being esteemed, a way needing known, and a river needing crossed over. However, the  main purpose in Joshua chapter 3 is really about trusting God (as usual), but not in a usual way! There is a sequence to preparing. We have to go through first grade before 2nd grade, and learn to add before we can multiply. God gives Joshua and his people a 3 days’ rest time and Israel's leaders give specific instructions (activities with their reasons) about crossing over this last obstacle fore the entering the Promised Land to the people, including a focal point (ark). Why? They haven’t been this way so they need to know The Way.  They receive God's promise from their leader unesteemed leader and are then commanded “consecrate yourselves!” Joshua gives the Word of God to the people and the people obey and all comes together because the people were able to crossover --and

A Prostitute's Faith Can Save You

Do you have something you possess that is very expensive, but you never really use (say less than once a year)? Take a moment to read James 2:14-26. The Message is a good one to look at for this passage. We practice what we believe. Most of the time we are good at something because we have worked hard at it—whether it was a hobby and we enjoyed it, or because we were pushed to do so, like by a coach. James starts by asking the questions, "What good is it?" and "Can this so called “faith” save him?" Both are worth looking at. Especially when salvation is on the line!  James points out the difference between “saying” you have faith and having a "doing" faith. James then uses an example to illustrate. He positions "a fellow believer who is in greatly need" in the middle of the believer's mind much like Jesus did with a lone child. So, there in the middle of the discussion, James places a needy believer. Have you have ever seen a needy bel

Start With The Second Coming In Mind

If you could only answer questions, “Yes,” or “No,” and couldn’t ever use the word “maybe” again, would it make that much of a difference to your life? Take a moment and read James 5:1-12--it is especially very interesting to read in The Message translation. So often we are told to begin with the END in mind. The END is whatever or where ever the certain project we are working on is heading until we say it is DONE. We do need to begin with the END in mind, but James has a different END in mind. There are several things the people have done wrong in James’ mind: laid up treasures in the last days,  kept back wages by fraud,  lived in luxury and self-indulgence,  fattened their hearts,  condemned and murdered people. When James tells the rich to “weep and howl” what is he getting at? What good does it do? What does “the cry of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of the Hosts” mean? What does it mean for "the wages of those abused by fraud" is cryi

A Third Race of People

If you had one wish to grow as a Christian, what would it be? At this point in my Christian walk it would be to always be filled with the Spirit to overflowing.  Ephesians 4:17-24 Paul says, "I  want to share this with you who are in the kingdom of our Master: never return to living the Gentile way of life—like those outside the kingdom." This passage talks about “a way of life” which Paul calls “a walk.” This passage states the differences between Christians and non-Christians in the way they “walk.”  Some people think that there are no differences between Christians and non-Christians other than beliefs. Some think the only difference is Christians are forgiven (also false). This passage refutes both of those beliefs.  How would you describe the “nations/Gentile” way of living in your own words? Do you know anyone living a “Gentile way of life?" Paul describes the Gentile-way as walking around in the futility of their mind (useless thoughts

Faithworks: When Expensive is Worthless

Do you have something expensive you own but never really use? Like in the past year, do you have something that cost lots of money and you used it, say maybe once? Most of the time we are good at something because we have worked hard at it—whether it was a hobby and we enjoyed it, or because we were pushed to do so, like by a coach. In James 2:14-26 ( Try reading it in The Message translation) James starts by asking a question—What good is faith? Can so called “faith” save him? James points out the difference between “ say ing” you have faith and having and actual faith which is a "doing" faith. To James, faith and action are the same thing. Have you ever listened to what we've called "arm-chair players"? Those guys who sit on their chairs watching football games and call out everything the coaches should have done? Ever ran into someone who said they were a follower of Christ, barked off everything Christians should be doing and then continue to s

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