At C3, we are beginning a new series entitled "Get Real...people are watching." In this first message tomorrow, we will see what the Bible has to say about the trials of life.
You know the old saying from Epictetus: "It's not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters."
Jesus said, "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." The point is that trials come to all of us. The key is how you react to those trials, troubles, tribulations, and tests.
So, we turn to the letter written by Jesus' half brother to learn the secret! Join us for what proves to be an eye-opening and fear-conquering message from God's Word tomorrow.
Oh, and if you have that whole reacting to trials down pat, join us next week to learn how to resist temptation. That should prove to be a real learning opportunity!
Dish Out
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
My New Year's Resolution...
Many do not do New Year's resolutions, and I used to not participate either. However, I have decided that this year will be a year when I do; after all, we serve a God of new beginnings, fresh starts, new mercies...
So, I will ring in the New Year, 2010, a perfect "10", ("We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." - Colossians 1:28-29) with the following resolutions:
1. that I will not go one day without spending alone time with Him
2. that I will not go one day without spending time in His Word
3. that I will not go one day without praying for opportunities to witness
4. that I will not go one day without sharing the Good News with someone
5. that I will not go one day without telling my family I love them
6. that I will not go one day without confessing my sin before the Father
7. that I will not go one day without contacting someone else to thank them
8. that I will not go one day without paying someone a compliment
9. that I will not go one day without memorizing Scripture
10. that I will not go one day without living it to the fullest
This is my New Year's resolution, impossible for man, but not impossible with God!
Blessings to ALL of you this New Year!
Randy
So, I will ring in the New Year, 2010, a perfect "10", ("We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." - Colossians 1:28-29) with the following resolutions:
1. that I will not go one day without spending alone time with Him
2. that I will not go one day without spending time in His Word
3. that I will not go one day without praying for opportunities to witness
4. that I will not go one day without sharing the Good News with someone
5. that I will not go one day without telling my family I love them
6. that I will not go one day without confessing my sin before the Father
7. that I will not go one day without contacting someone else to thank them
8. that I will not go one day without paying someone a compliment
9. that I will not go one day without memorizing Scripture
10. that I will not go one day without living it to the fullest
This is my New Year's resolution, impossible for man, but not impossible with God!
Blessings to ALL of you this New Year!
Randy
Thursday, December 17, 2009
"Return to Me..."
With all that is going on in America today...
- economic uncertainty
- the housing crisis
- the healthcare debacle
- celebrity and political scandals
- broken families
- continual depletion of moral influence on the internet, in the movies, on the television, in the music industry, etc.
- increasing hostility toward the Christian faith
- declining attendance in evangelical churches
It is no wonder that we are in a mess! So, do we throw up our hands and say, "It is what it is"? Or, do we try to find the answers in our government leaders, our school administration, our family? Or, do we drown our stress in the next drink, or smoke, or other object of habit?
OR...we could turn to God's Word. In Amos (which I just completed in my 'Read the Bible in a Year'), God said, "I gave you empty stomachs...yet you have not returned to me...I witheld rain from you...yet your have not returned to me...Locusts devoured your crops...yet you have not returned to me...You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me." (Amos 4:6-11)
God's admonition for his children 2700 years ago through that prophet is appropriate for us in America in 2009...we need to return to God. We need to do it individually, within the church, and within our communities.
How are you building community? How are you making yourself available to be used by God in His kingdom? Are you investing and inviting into the lives of others?
Make 2010 a year we all RETURN TO THE LORD!
Randy
- economic uncertainty
- the housing crisis
- the healthcare debacle
- celebrity and political scandals
- broken families
- continual depletion of moral influence on the internet, in the movies, on the television, in the music industry, etc.
- increasing hostility toward the Christian faith
- declining attendance in evangelical churches
It is no wonder that we are in a mess! So, do we throw up our hands and say, "It is what it is"? Or, do we try to find the answers in our government leaders, our school administration, our family? Or, do we drown our stress in the next drink, or smoke, or other object of habit?
OR...we could turn to God's Word. In Amos (which I just completed in my 'Read the Bible in a Year'), God said, "I gave you empty stomachs...yet you have not returned to me...I witheld rain from you...yet your have not returned to me...Locusts devoured your crops...yet you have not returned to me...You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me." (Amos 4:6-11)
God's admonition for his children 2700 years ago through that prophet is appropriate for us in America in 2009...we need to return to God. We need to do it individually, within the church, and within our communities.
How are you building community? How are you making yourself available to be used by God in His kingdom? Are you investing and inviting into the lives of others?
Make 2010 a year we all RETURN TO THE LORD!
Randy
Friday, December 4, 2009
Global Warming?
The Christian should not shy away from the debate. In fact, God is the First Commander when it comes to taking care of our planet. The Bible says that "God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and care for it." The Hebrew words for "work" and "care" literally mean to dress, cultivate, tame and preserve all the plants, trees, water and air that God has apportioned for the perfect conditions He had established from the beginning. So, before I go to the next paragraph, I want to make sure you hear me when I say that God has commanded us to take care of our planet and so we must obey. It is the very core of the stewardship principle for every Christian.
As you know, the global warming debate has been "heated" for some time now. I remember a conversation I had with a friend a few years ago who made a very bold statement in response to the science community's cry for immediate action. He, himself a scientist and a Christian, said, "How arrogant of us [mankind] to think that anything we do will have such a changing effect on the universe!"
And then I read just this week an article in the USA Today newspaper (Tuesday, December 1, page 23A), entitled "Groupthink and the global warming industry." The author reports that computer hackers broke into the Climatic Research Unit in England. The CRU provides much of the data that has been used by global warming advocates to push their agendas.
Well, according to the article, a "long string of email exchanges" discuss "how to manipulate the data they want to show the world, and how to hide the often flawed data they don't. In one exchange, they discuss the "trick" of how to "hide the decline" in global temperatures since the 1960's." This is quite the opposite of what we have been hearing!
The article goes on to explain that this global warming scientific community pushes out those who have dissenting opinions, and even alleges that the Global Warming agenda is driven by the desire for billions and billions of dollars of funding! In fact, the U.S. is committing TRILLIONS to "fighting climate change."
Whatever your position on this topic, I conclude with this statement... Mankind's discoveries and opinions will never render the Word of God of no effect!
Randy
As you know, the global warming debate has been "heated" for some time now. I remember a conversation I had with a friend a few years ago who made a very bold statement in response to the science community's cry for immediate action. He, himself a scientist and a Christian, said, "How arrogant of us [mankind] to think that anything we do will have such a changing effect on the universe!"
And then I read just this week an article in the USA Today newspaper (Tuesday, December 1, page 23A), entitled "Groupthink and the global warming industry." The author reports that computer hackers broke into the Climatic Research Unit in England. The CRU provides much of the data that has been used by global warming advocates to push their agendas.
Well, according to the article, a "long string of email exchanges" discuss "how to manipulate the data they want to show the world, and how to hide the often flawed data they don't. In one exchange, they discuss the "trick" of how to "hide the decline" in global temperatures since the 1960's." This is quite the opposite of what we have been hearing!
The article goes on to explain that this global warming scientific community pushes out those who have dissenting opinions, and even alleges that the Global Warming agenda is driven by the desire for billions and billions of dollars of funding! In fact, the U.S. is committing TRILLIONS to "fighting climate change."
Whatever your position on this topic, I conclude with this statement... Mankind's discoveries and opinions will never render the Word of God of no effect!
Randy
Monday, November 9, 2009
Satan's Plan
In my business experience, we often do talk about the competition and their strategy. Understanding our competition will help us to be better prepared and to also be discerning in how to win.
Sadly, many Christians refuse to talk about the enemy. And many Christians unwittingly fall prey to his wicked schemes and designs. I came across this email recently and wanted to share it with you. It's title is "Satan's Plan."
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons..
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church"
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth......"
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ..."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered...
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive." To
keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."
"Give them headaches too! "
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death..."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
Sadly, many Christians refuse to talk about the enemy. And many Christians unwittingly fall prey to his wicked schemes and designs. I came across this email recently and wanted to share it with you. It's title is "Satan's Plan."
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons..
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church"
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth......"
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ..."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered...
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive." To
keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."
"Give them headaches too! "
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death..."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Meaning of Worship
This week at C3, we will be employing a very unorthodox venue for worship. If I were to say nothing else, that might pique your interest just enough to make you come.
So, when you come, please don't let your religious background get in the way of truth. Many in the church have misconceptions of what worship is. So what is it? The word "worship" is rooted by the word "worth." That is, ascribing worth to something -- that which is the object of our worship!
So, how do you define it? Worship can best be defined as the Christian community's awe-filled response to 1) who God is, 2) what He has done for man in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and 3) what He continues to do through the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. When you step back, you see the Trinity in the definition.
What that definition does not do is specify location or method. This helps us to see that there are two kinds of worship: 1) personal and 2) corporate.
Personal worship should happen constantly throughout each day. As we see God's handiwork of creation, as we witness His divine protection, guidance, answered prayers, power, etc., the child of God pauses to take it all in - to marvel at his Heavenly Father.
Corporate worship is the assembling of the body of Christ to respond corporately as THE BODY to the glory of God and His power and majesty! Corporate worship is , by its very nature, corporate - as opposed to individual. An individual view of corporate worship breeds "consumerism," where individuals attend weekly worship service to see what they can get out of the songs or sermon. Corporate worship builds unity (as we sing, pray, study and fellowship), accountability, encouragement, strength, edification, equipping for service, and evangelistic zeal.
This week will be unique indeed. It will help us to experience what true spiritual community is all about. God's people are referred to in the Bible as a body, a building, an army, a bride and a family.
Let's do a family reunion this Sunday!! See you there, and pull up a chair to the Lord's Supper table!
Randy
So, when you come, please don't let your religious background get in the way of truth. Many in the church have misconceptions of what worship is. So what is it? The word "worship" is rooted by the word "worth." That is, ascribing worth to something -- that which is the object of our worship!
So, how do you define it? Worship can best be defined as the Christian community's awe-filled response to 1) who God is, 2) what He has done for man in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and 3) what He continues to do through the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. When you step back, you see the Trinity in the definition.
What that definition does not do is specify location or method. This helps us to see that there are two kinds of worship: 1) personal and 2) corporate.
Personal worship should happen constantly throughout each day. As we see God's handiwork of creation, as we witness His divine protection, guidance, answered prayers, power, etc., the child of God pauses to take it all in - to marvel at his Heavenly Father.
Corporate worship is the assembling of the body of Christ to respond corporately as THE BODY to the glory of God and His power and majesty! Corporate worship is , by its very nature, corporate - as opposed to individual. An individual view of corporate worship breeds "consumerism," where individuals attend weekly worship service to see what they can get out of the songs or sermon. Corporate worship builds unity (as we sing, pray, study and fellowship), accountability, encouragement, strength, edification, equipping for service, and evangelistic zeal.
This week will be unique indeed. It will help us to experience what true spiritual community is all about. God's people are referred to in the Bible as a body, a building, an army, a bride and a family.
Let's do a family reunion this Sunday!! See you there, and pull up a chair to the Lord's Supper table!
Randy
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Who is my Neighbor?
As we continue our study in "Relationships" at C3, I am excited about this Sunday's message grounded in Romans 13:8-14 entitled, "My Relationship to my Neighbors."
I am then drawn to the question asked by an expert in the Law, who asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" The parable that Jesus gives in response to that question is perhaps one of the most popular even today...the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
To understand the impact of Jesus' answer, one needs to understand the racism of Jesus' day. There was such a disdain between Jews and Samaritans that they did not even associate with one another. The first "neighbor" that happened by was a priest. He passed by on the other side. The second "neighbor" that happened by was a Levite. He, too, passed by on the other side. Both of these men were "pillars" of their community. They were deeply religious. They were very respected. They were Jewish, as was the man in need. They certainly would be the first to help. Not so.
The third neighbor that happened by was, of all people, a Samaritan. Samaritans hated Jews. Surely he would not only pass by but might even have celebrated the dire condition of the Jewish man in the ditch. But instead, we see that this Samaritan not only approached the man, he bandaged his wounds, he carried him to the inn and he paid for his care. Oh, the love that can be shown regardless of the person.
God calls all of us to love our neighbor as ourself. He calls us to approach our neighbor, to offer them the eternal healing found only in Jesus Christ, to carry them to a local body called the church and to help strengthen them in the knowledge and service of the Lord.
Who is your neighbor? See you Sunday!
Randy
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