Do you show favoritism? Jesus didn't. He hung out with the sinners, the lepers, the lowly, the crippled, the poor, the tired, the uneducated, the despised, the rejects of society. Why shouldn't we?
I once heard a pastor say that he does not follow up with visitors to his church who don't fit into his target demographic. WHAT????
But another pastor, who made it his mission to knock on EVERY door in his community, came to a house that was little more than a run-down shack. He almost passed by, attempting to convince himself that no one lived there, but the Holy Spirit said, "Knock." (Go out into the highways and byways) An old woman dressed in dirty, worn-out clothes answered the door. She was not a Christian and he shared with her the FACT that Jesus loved her and wants to save her.
He invited her to visit his church. She CAME! She came the next Sunday as well, perhaps because no one ever showed her any attention or unconditional love. In fact, it was clear to all that she could give nothing to the church. The next Sunday, she accepted Christ and told the pastor that she wanted HIM to baptize her. He did that Thursday night with a great celebration. (All of heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents!)
On Saturday she died. On Monday that pastor conducted her funeral, and instead of it being a funeral by which many would wonder what her final destination was, the pastor boldly proclaimed that she was now in the presence of her Savior, and that she would one day be given a white robe, and a new name, and a mansion in the sky!
All because one pastor refused to show favoritism. May the Lord grant all of us eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, and hearts to feel EVERY person's need! What a day of rejoicing it will be...
Dish Out
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Are YOU a doer of the Word?
It's one thing to know what God's Word says. It's quite another to do it. Paul would say, "What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." After he goes through a process of recognizing the inner and outer forces diametrically opposed in his life, he concludes with a cry, "What a wretched man that I am!"
As we continue our study in James this weekend, he reminds us that we are not to "merely listen to the word," but to "do what it says." Thanks James. I wish I could get by with just agreeing with God's Word. Actually doing it is the key.
Come on out this Sunday and examine with us the steps to being a reflector of God's Word!
What a challenge but what a joy sits waiting for those who learn the art of hiding God's Word in their hearts!
Dish Out
As we continue our study in James this weekend, he reminds us that we are not to "merely listen to the word," but to "do what it says." Thanks James. I wish I could get by with just agreeing with God's Word. Actually doing it is the key.
Come on out this Sunday and examine with us the steps to being a reflector of God's Word!
What a challenge but what a joy sits waiting for those who learn the art of hiding God's Word in their hearts!
Dish Out
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Devil Made me do it...
Is that so?
The devil can tempt you. That is true. He can even try to seduce you. He can even pose the opportunity for you to sin. But here is freedom...
The devil can't MAKE you do ANYTHING!
He is powerless to drag you into sin yourself. Only you can drag yourself into sin. But in the depraved mind of the human being, it just feels a lot better blaming it on someone else. And nobody is going to argue with the sinister character of the devil. After all, Jesus called him the "father of lies."
But, if we can't blame the devil, then what can we do? How can one truly resist temptation? The fact is that we all fall from time to time - Governor Sanford, Tiger Woods, Bernie Maddoff, John Gosselin, Charlie Sheen, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Winona Ryder, and Lindsey Lohan can all attest to that!
This week, we explore the topic of temptation and learn from the Word how to resist it and experience the victory that only God can provide. I hope this blog tempts you to visit C3 this weekend!
Dish Out
The devil can tempt you. That is true. He can even try to seduce you. He can even pose the opportunity for you to sin. But here is freedom...
The devil can't MAKE you do ANYTHING!
He is powerless to drag you into sin yourself. Only you can drag yourself into sin. But in the depraved mind of the human being, it just feels a lot better blaming it on someone else. And nobody is going to argue with the sinister character of the devil. After all, Jesus called him the "father of lies."
But, if we can't blame the devil, then what can we do? How can one truly resist temptation? The fact is that we all fall from time to time - Governor Sanford, Tiger Woods, Bernie Maddoff, John Gosselin, Charlie Sheen, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Winona Ryder, and Lindsey Lohan can all attest to that!
This week, we explore the topic of temptation and learn from the Word how to resist it and experience the victory that only God can provide. I hope this blog tempts you to visit C3 this weekend!
Dish Out
Saturday, January 9, 2010
How do You React to Trials
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
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
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
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