First, let me answer the poll question from last week, since there were a variety of answers. The question was: How many temples have existed in Israel's history? The answer is 3 - Solomon's temple, Zerubbabel's temple and Herod's temple.
Now, on to this next blog topic. Every person, at some time in his life, asks any number of questions about origins of life, God, man's relationship to the world around him and others, etc. Some of the questions include:
Does God Exist?
Is Jesus God?
Can I trust the Bible?
How do I know I am saved?
If God is good, why is there Evil in the world?
Who is Satan?
Why do Bad Things happen to Good People?
What happens to those who have never heard the Gospel?
What happens when I die?
Does Hell Exist?
What is Heaven Like?
These questions will be answered in my next sermon series. You don't want to miss it!
In addition, the final week of this series will give you the chance to ask your question during the worship service.
In the meantime, search the Scriptures yourself to learn the answers to these questions. The authority is found in God's Word!
I am so excited about this upcoming series. It starts August 15th! See you this Sunday!
Dish Out
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Is the end near?
This weekend's message is going to be perhaps one of the more difficult to convey. Why? Because the topic is the answer to Daniel's question. What is Daniel's question?
WHAT IS GOD'S PLAN FOR THE JEWS AND ISRAEL?
In my lifetime, the one global conflict that has never been resolved is the Middle East Peace Talks between the Arab nations and Israel. We find in Genesis 16 these words:
11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:
"You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the LORD has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.
This is a clear prophecy to the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac. The Ishmaelites became the Arab peoples (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, and United Arab Emirates).
Isaac, the son of promise, gave birth to Jacob, later named Israel and is the father of the Jewish people.
This prophecy tells us that these two will live in hostility. In 1445 B.C. Moses would be carried by the Holy Spirit to write such an amazingly accurate prediction. Today, looking back, it is unbelievable how accurate this prophecy is.
What should our response be? ONE OF AWE for the ONE who sees the end from the beginning. I have no idea when the end will come, but I have come to trust in the ONE who does! How about you???
Come Sunday to learn of God's answer to Daniel! It just may answer the questions you have as well.
Dish Out
WHAT IS GOD'S PLAN FOR THE JEWS AND ISRAEL?
In my lifetime, the one global conflict that has never been resolved is the Middle East Peace Talks between the Arab nations and Israel. We find in Genesis 16 these words:
11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:
"You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the LORD has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.
This is a clear prophecy to the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac. The Ishmaelites became the Arab peoples (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, and United Arab Emirates).
Isaac, the son of promise, gave birth to Jacob, later named Israel and is the father of the Jewish people.
This prophecy tells us that these two will live in hostility. In 1445 B.C. Moses would be carried by the Holy Spirit to write such an amazingly accurate prediction. Today, looking back, it is unbelievable how accurate this prophecy is.
What should our response be? ONE OF AWE for the ONE who sees the end from the beginning. I have no idea when the end will come, but I have come to trust in the ONE who does! How about you???
Come Sunday to learn of God's answer to Daniel! It just may answer the questions you have as well.
Dish Out
Friday, June 25, 2010
Does Prayer Work?
Guess where two of my favorite prayers in the whole Bible are located...
Nope - no where in the New Testament. That narrows it down a smidge, huh?
How about the Old Testament?
Give up??
Okay. Nehemiah 2 and Daniel 9. They are the classic prayers of two of the more godly men in the Scriptures.
As we continue our study in Daniel, and we evaluate the larger theme of our current series entitiled "Culture Clash," we come (God's timing is impeccable!) to studying Daniel 9:1-19 on July 4th. Read that beautiful, repentant prayer and substitute America for Israel. I couldn't even begin to take credit for the orchestration of this particular passage occurring on Independence Day!
Daniel prayed, because it was a reflection of his relationship with God. We, too, must pray, not because it is our duty but because it is our prvilege and our way of relating to our Heavenly Father.
In response to Daniel's prayer, God revealed to him the future. The fact is that when we pray in earnest before our Lord, He shows us a little more of His divine purposes. Prayer opens up the portals of heaven and allows us a glimpse of God's grandeur, holiness, power and plans.
What a joy it is to study Daniel's prayer and know that the Lord is in control!
I can't wait to see all of you!
Randy
Nope - no where in the New Testament. That narrows it down a smidge, huh?
How about the Old Testament?
Give up??
Okay. Nehemiah 2 and Daniel 9. They are the classic prayers of two of the more godly men in the Scriptures.
As we continue our study in Daniel, and we evaluate the larger theme of our current series entitiled "Culture Clash," we come (God's timing is impeccable!) to studying Daniel 9:1-19 on July 4th. Read that beautiful, repentant prayer and substitute America for Israel. I couldn't even begin to take credit for the orchestration of this particular passage occurring on Independence Day!
Daniel prayed, because it was a reflection of his relationship with God. We, too, must pray, not because it is our duty but because it is our prvilege and our way of relating to our Heavenly Father.
In response to Daniel's prayer, God revealed to him the future. The fact is that when we pray in earnest before our Lord, He shows us a little more of His divine purposes. Prayer opens up the portals of heaven and allows us a glimpse of God's grandeur, holiness, power and plans.
What a joy it is to study Daniel's prayer and know that the Lord is in control!
I can't wait to see all of you!
Randy
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Power of God
In a world where so many question the very existence of God, not to mention the overwhelming evidence of mounting evil and tragedy, one is left to wonder: How can there be a God if so much evil exists?
Good question. It is the very question asked by every atheist and every agnostic on the planet. Clearly, there is a rationale to suggest that if God is good and God is sovereign, why would or could evil exist? Thought-provoking to say the least. But, as happens many times, we become too intelligent for our own good. We think higher of our own minute understanding of the universe in which we live than the One who stands transcendant of it.
The Bible says, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" That is to say, if we can even conceive of an all-powerful, supernatural being that presides over the universes that exists, then He must exist. There is no explanation of the origin of this world or man or anything in it outside of some being that started it all..."ex nihilo...created from nothing!
I have explored this postulation. I have pressed against the assumption of some eternal, infinite God. I have tested and tried the claims of the Bible. I have come to one conclusion that is of infinite and eternal significance...That the Lord is God and there is no other...that He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them...that He is above all...and most amazingly, He created me and you in HIS image and desires to have a relationship with us.
That relationship begins with Christ...His eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity...the only acceptable sacrifice for the sin of man. There is no other way we can know God except to accept Jesus as the one and only Son of God, that He was crucified, buried and was raised on the third day, to the glory of God the Father.
Imagine a world without God...impossible.
Dish Out
Good question. It is the very question asked by every atheist and every agnostic on the planet. Clearly, there is a rationale to suggest that if God is good and God is sovereign, why would or could evil exist? Thought-provoking to say the least. But, as happens many times, we become too intelligent for our own good. We think higher of our own minute understanding of the universe in which we live than the One who stands transcendant of it.
The Bible says, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" That is to say, if we can even conceive of an all-powerful, supernatural being that presides over the universes that exists, then He must exist. There is no explanation of the origin of this world or man or anything in it outside of some being that started it all..."ex nihilo...created from nothing!
I have explored this postulation. I have pressed against the assumption of some eternal, infinite God. I have tested and tried the claims of the Bible. I have come to one conclusion that is of infinite and eternal significance...That the Lord is God and there is no other...that He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them...that He is above all...and most amazingly, He created me and you in HIS image and desires to have a relationship with us.
That relationship begins with Christ...His eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity...the only acceptable sacrifice for the sin of man. There is no other way we can know God except to accept Jesus as the one and only Son of God, that He was crucified, buried and was raised on the third day, to the glory of God the Father.
Imagine a world without God...impossible.
Dish Out
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Are you Consistent?
There are two kinds of Christians - sprinters and long-distance runners.
Sprinters take off with a bang, run as hard as they can and before you know it, they run out of gas and take a break, sometimes for a long time.
Long-distance runners (marathoners) take off slow, get into stride at a steady pace, and keep going...and going...and going. At some point in the middle of the race, they catch the famous "runner's high."
Daniel was a long-distance runner. He demonstrated consistency in His walk with God. From the time he was a young Jewish exile in the court of the Babylonian Empire to the time he was an 86-year old consultant in the court of the Media-Persia Empire, Daniel lived consistently for God. One could say that he was predictably godly.
What about you? Are you consistent with your faith?
Are you consistent in your prayer life?
Are you consistent in your Bible Study?
Are you consistent in your worship?
Are you consistent in your witness?
Consistency comes with discipline and practice. Doing these disciplines of the faith even when you don't feel like doing them is the key. It's like going to the gym to work out. You and I can always make enough excuses not to go. The ones who don't go don't grow but the ones who do grow and develop into a stronger, healthier servant for God!
Be Consistent! Join us Sunday for a great lesson on Consistency!
Dish Out
Sprinters take off with a bang, run as hard as they can and before you know it, they run out of gas and take a break, sometimes for a long time.
Long-distance runners (marathoners) take off slow, get into stride at a steady pace, and keep going...and going...and going. At some point in the middle of the race, they catch the famous "runner's high."
Daniel was a long-distance runner. He demonstrated consistency in His walk with God. From the time he was a young Jewish exile in the court of the Babylonian Empire to the time he was an 86-year old consultant in the court of the Media-Persia Empire, Daniel lived consistently for God. One could say that he was predictably godly.
What about you? Are you consistent with your faith?
Are you consistent in your prayer life?
Are you consistent in your Bible Study?
Are you consistent in your worship?
Are you consistent in your witness?
Consistency comes with discipline and practice. Doing these disciplines of the faith even when you don't feel like doing them is the key. It's like going to the gym to work out. You and I can always make enough excuses not to go. The ones who don't go don't grow but the ones who do grow and develop into a stronger, healthier servant for God!
Be Consistent! Join us Sunday for a great lesson on Consistency!
Dish Out
Friday, May 14, 2010
Do you Show Concern for Others?
You know the phrase..."People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Cheesy in some ways but profound in others.
Think for a moment. How often a day or week do you intentionally and proactively show concern for others?
In our study this Sunday in Daniel 4, we are going to learn a very valuable lesson...Daniel showed concern for a man who attacked his people and his hometown, who carried off his people as prisoners, and who robbed them of their right to worship their God. That man was King Nebuchadnezzar. Not only are we to show concern for those we love, but we are to show concern for our enemies as well. Sobering, I know.
This week, be proactive and look for opportunities to show concern for another whom you normally would not even give a second thought to talking to. It just may be the one thing you do that has eternal impact.
Randy
Think for a moment. How often a day or week do you intentionally and proactively show concern for others?
In our study this Sunday in Daniel 4, we are going to learn a very valuable lesson...Daniel showed concern for a man who attacked his people and his hometown, who carried off his people as prisoners, and who robbed them of their right to worship their God. That man was King Nebuchadnezzar. Not only are we to show concern for those we love, but we are to show concern for our enemies as well. Sobering, I know.
This week, be proactive and look for opportunities to show concern for another whom you normally would not even give a second thought to talking to. It just may be the one thing you do that has eternal impact.
Randy
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Courage
Do you have courage? Does your life embrace risk? What measure of faith would you say that you have?
Let's suppose someone came up to you and said, "If you don't renounce Jesus Christ as your Lord, I will torture your entire family." What would you do? Really.
Can you imagine being faced with such a choice? Daniel's three friends were faced with a decision much like that. They were to either bow down and worship a man-made image (a clear violation of the Second Commandment), or be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Their reply? "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
I am convinced that most American Christians have not been put through the fire to make their faith real. God is not going to use mealy-mouthed christians who live in a bubble and don't take any risks for Him. God is only intent on using those who are FOR HIM! Christ said, "Whoever is not for me is against me." How true that is.
The world needs to see courage from those who claim the power of God in their lives. Don't be the cowardly Lion, who only sang about courage. Stand up and count yourself worthy of the calling of Almighty God to do great things for Him!
Randy
Let's suppose someone came up to you and said, "If you don't renounce Jesus Christ as your Lord, I will torture your entire family." What would you do? Really.
Can you imagine being faced with such a choice? Daniel's three friends were faced with a decision much like that. They were to either bow down and worship a man-made image (a clear violation of the Second Commandment), or be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Their reply? "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
I am convinced that most American Christians have not been put through the fire to make their faith real. God is not going to use mealy-mouthed christians who live in a bubble and don't take any risks for Him. God is only intent on using those who are FOR HIM! Christ said, "Whoever is not for me is against me." How true that is.
The world needs to see courage from those who claim the power of God in their lives. Don't be the cowardly Lion, who only sang about courage. Stand up and count yourself worthy of the calling of Almighty God to do great things for Him!
Randy
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