Urgent - Major affect on Churches in America

DISCLAIMER: Please read the following article VERY CAREFULLY before you do anything at all. There is more going on here than meets the eye. You have been forewarned. - kg ** URGENT by Keith Giles As most of us are aware, there is a new Congress in session at the moment. With this new influx of Congressmen and Senators will no doubt come a changing of the guard that will require us as Christians to be vigilant as never before. This is why today's [SUBVERSIVE UNDERGROUND] is so critical for each of us. I'm tempted to ask everyone one of you to read what I write here and to forward this to EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK right away. (Especially if you "really" love Jesus). But, what I'm about to tell you is SO ALARMING, it could seriously threaten Church in America forever. There is new legislation in motion, at the earliest possible stage, which I need to let everyone know about now before it gets out of our control. First, many of you are already aware that there are forces out there that threaten to take away the non-profit status of Christian Churches in America whenever messages of a political nature are delivered from the pulpit. As desperate as this is, there is a new development brewing now that is even worse.
\n\nThere are people who want to propose legislation that would challenge the non-profit status of any Christian Church simply based on whether or not that Church actually gives a significant percentage of its funds back to the community, as most other "non-religious" non-profits are required to do.\n\n\nWHAT THIS MEANS is that your church could be in danger of losing its non-profit status simply because none of the tithe money goes to help out those poor families who live around the community. EVEN IF THEY DON\'T ATTEND YOUR CHURCH!\n\n\nOf course, there are plenty of churches in America that do care for the poor in their community. They pass out free groceries, they provide free oil changes for single Moms, they host after-school programs for kids in the area at no-charge, etc. Churches who are already "giving back" to the community in this way and serving others the way Jesus would would have NOTHING TO FEAR!\n\n\nHowever, if a church in the community were to spend 70%, 80%, or even 99% of its tithe on itself, it would be in danger of losing that non-profit status and would have to pay taxes JUST LIKE ALL OTHER LARGE CORPORATIONS. \n\n\nThis means that a church spending most of the tithe for salaries, or a new building, or the new flat-screen plasma televisions for the announcements in the nursery, or the Starbucks Coffee bar at the back of the Church, or the new carpet, etc., would have to justify their non-profit status on the basis of whether or not they were actually performing any actual "service" to the poor around them. If they couldn\'t demonstrate a tangible connection between their church and the community around them, their non-profit status would be revoked forever!\n\n\nREGARDLESS OF THE FACT that Matthew 25 suggests that Jesus takes our concern for the outcast seriously, this attack on the non-profit status of our big, fat American churches is just NOT FAIR!\n\n\nWe\'ve earned the right to collect as many hundreds of thousands of dollars as we like in the name of Jesus and it should be totally up to us how we spend that money. Especially if it\'s for our own needs, wants and desires. \n",1]
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There are people who want to propose legislation that would challenge the non-profit status of any Christian Church simply based on whether or not that Church actually gives a significant percentage of its funds back to the community, as most other "non-religious" non-profits are required to do. WHAT THIS MEANS is that your church could be in danger of losing its non-profit status simply because none of the tithe money goes to help out those poor families who live around the community. EVEN IF THEY DON'T ATTEND YOUR CHURCH! Of course, there are plenty of churches in America that do care for the poor in their community. They pass out free groceries, they provide free oil changes for single Moms, they host after-school programs for kids in the area at no-charge, etc. Churches who are already "giving back" to the community in this way and serving others the way Jesus would would have NOTHING TO FEAR! However, if a church in the community were to spend 70%, 80%, or even 99% of its tithe on itself, it would be in danger of losing that non-profit status and would have to pay taxes JUST LIKE ALL OTHER LARGE CORPORATIONS. This means that a church spending most of the tithe for salaries, or a new building, or the new flat-screen plasma televisions for the announcements in the nursery, or the Starbucks Coffee bar at the back of the Church, or the new carpet, etc., would have to justify their non-profit status on the basis of whether or not they were actually performing any actual "service" to the poor around them. If they couldn't demonstrate a tangible connection between their church and the community around them, their non-profit status would be revoked forever! REGARDLESS OF THE FACT that Matthew 25 suggests that Jesus takes our concern for the outcast seriously, this attack on the non-profit status of our big, fat American churches is just NOT FAIR! We've earned the right to collect as many hundreds of thousands of dollars as we like in the name of Jesus and it should be totally up to us how we spend that money. Especially if it's for our own needs, wants and desires.
\n\nJust because we\'re not really involved in the needs of the poor around us, the Church SHOULDN\'T BE PUNISHED IN THIS WAY.\n\n\nRegardless of the fact that the Church in America HAS THE POWER and the ECONOMIC RESOURCES necessary provide affordable housing, long-term community development, and primary health care to everyone who needs it, the US Government should NOT be the one to force this upon us through legal means. That should be left up to a Higher Power. \n\n\nEven though Universal primary education would cost $8 billion a year, which is about half of what parents in the US spend annually on toys for their children, this has nothing to do with those of us who are called by the name of the One who humbled Himself and surrendered His life to demonstrate the compassion of God to the World, and especially to the least and the lost.\n\n\nSo, if you want to protect your church from this kind of judgement, I urge you to write to your pastors, your elders, your deacons and your church leaders and let them know how you feel about this very serious issue that faces the modern Church in America.\n\n\nWe, the Church in America, are dangerously close to the SIN OF SODOM!\n\n\nDo you know what the Sin of Sodom is? Read Ezekiel 16: 49. (HINT: It\'s not what you think). \n\n\n"Now this is the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were proud and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen."\n\n\nObviously, the issue facing the Church in America today is WAY MORE SERIOUS THAN SIMPLY OUR NON-PROFIT STATUS! If the Church were to rise up and spend their money this way, THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME THING, and yes, a lot of people would probably stop calling us hypocrites and maybe they\'d take us seriously when we tell them that Jesus loves them, because we\'ve demonstrated that just maybe we love them too.\n\n\nAs you may have guessed, this legislation IS TOTALLY FICITIOUS! I have made up the entire thing with the help of my good friend Jarred Rowland who first suggested the concept to me. \n",1]
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Just because we're not really involved in the needs of the poor around us, the Church SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED IN THIS WAY. Regardless of the fact that the Church in America HAS THE POWER and the ECONOMIC RESOURCES necessary provide affordable housing, long-term community development, and primary health care to everyone who needs it, the US Government should NOT be the one to force this upon us through legal means. That should be left up to a Higher Power. Even though Universal primary education would cost $8 billion a year, which is about half of what parents in the US spend annually on toys for their children, this has nothing to do with those of us who are called by the name of the One who humbled Himself and surrendered His life to demonstrate the compassion of God to the World, and especially to the least and the lost. So, if you want to protect your church from this kind of judgement, I urge you to write to your pastors, your elders, your deacons and your church leaders and let them know how you feel about this very serious issue that faces the modern Church in America. We, the Church in America, are dangerously close to the SIN OF SODOM! Do you know what the Sin of Sodom is? Read Ezekiel 16: 49. (HINT: It's not what you think). "Now this is the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were proud and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen." Obviously, the issue facing the Church in America today is WAY MORE SERIOUS THAN SIMPLY OUR NON-PROFIT STATUS! If the Church were to rise up and spend their money this way, THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME THING, and yes, a lot of people would probably stop calling us hypocrites and maybe they'd take us seriously when we tell them that Jesus loves them, because we've demonstrated that just maybe we love them too. As you may have guessed, this legislation IS TOTALLY FICITIOUS! I have made up the entire thing with the help of my good friend Jarred Rowland who first suggested the concept to me.
\n\nI couldn\'t resist mimicking the style of those alarmist Christian email messages we all get forwarded telling us that we must send it on to everyone we have ever known in order to prove our love for Jesus. Please, also forgive me for all the CAPITAL LETTERS I USED! \n\n\nSeriously, I think if my friend Jarred were to introduce a Bill like this one to our Congress it might put a fire under our churches to wake up and realize that their Bibles are full of commands to care for the outcast, the poor, and the needy who are all around them. If nothing else, it would create an amazing open dialog in the media between the leaders of the Church, the members of the community, and the man on the street about issues of compassion, Christian charity, and the calling of Jesus to care for the poor as we would care for Him. (see Matthew 25)\n\n\nUntil that legislation comes to pass, I will have to resort to stunts like this to try to wake people up and realize that God\'s heart is for the poor and that He has taken this issue very seriously.\n\n\nThe truth is, the idea of their church losing its non-profit status is more likely to spur Christians to action than the fact that there are thousands of homeless, and poverty-stricken human beings suffering a few blocks from their front door.\n\n\n"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?"- GOD, speaking of King Josiah in Jeremiah 22:16\n\n\n**\n\n\nTO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL DO NOT HIT "REPLY"- I WILL NOT GET IT!\nINSTEAD- email me directly at: elysiansky (at) hotmail (dot) com *remove the spaces, etc.\n\n\n**\nSO...YOU WANNA BE A PASTOR?\nGo to http://www.keithgiles.com and read my latest mini-article about the scriptural picture of pastor versus the cultural one we\'ve all held so dear. If today\'s [SUBVERSIVE UNDERGROUND] article didn\'t make you mad, then I think you\'ll probably love it.\n",1]
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I couldn't resist mimicking the style of those alarmist Christian email messages we all get forwarded telling us that we must send it on to everyone we have ever known in order to prove our love for Jesus. Please, also forgive me for all the CAPITAL LETTERS I USED! Seriously, I think if my friend Jarred were to introduce a Bill like this one to our Congress it might put a fire under our churches to wake up and realize that their Bibles are full of commands to care for the outcast, the poor, and the needy who are all around them. If nothing else, it would create an amazing open dialog in the media between the leaders of the Church, the members of the community, and the man on the street about issues of compassion, Christian charity, and the calling of Jesus to care for the poor as we would care for Him. (see Matthew 25) Until that legislation comes to pass, I will have to resort to stunts like this to try to wake people up and realize that God's heart is for the poor and that He has taken this issue very seriously. The truth is, the idea of their church losing its non-profit status is more likely to spur Christians to action than the fact that there are thousands of homeless, and poverty-stricken human beings suffering a few blocks from their front door. "He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?"- GOD, speaking of King Josiah in Jeremiah 22:16

from www.keithgiles.com

November 19 sermon Doubt? John 20

November 19 sermon Doubt? John 20

What does a Turkey eat on Thanksgiving? Nothing. He’s already stuffed.

How do you make a turkey float? Start with two scoops of ice cream, add root bear, and throw in a turkey.

What do you do with doubt about God? Not that God isn’t real, but that God is active in our lives. Spouse is sick or dying.

A child is being abused.

You lost your job again.

Your wife or husband left you.

The bishop sends you a young pastor who stretches you and your not sure if you are ready to trust him.

How do you cope?

Jesus told one father “If you can believe, all things are possible.” The father said back, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

Do you give up? Do you play the game of going to church each week to “keep up appearances”? Faith mixed with doubt. It’s a paradox, isn’t it?

Should you doubt? 1^st you become a Christian, then your perfect. All uncertainties and doubts are gone. No more difficult times. No more pain. Everything is roses and cherries. No…you do have some doubts. You are not instantly perfect.

Does doubt mean you are not a Christian? Or if you doubt, is God really God? You know, all knowing, loving, good, perfect. Since evil and suffering exist, then a loving God cannot.

From Epcurus the philosopher, “Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can but does not want to; or he cannot and does not want to. If he wants to but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, and does not want to, he is wicked. But, if God both can and wants to abolish evil, then how come evil is in the world?”

Remember that little boy who stuck his finger in the hole of the dike, thereby saving an entire village from drowning. Do you ever feel like that, where your little finger of faith is holding back a huge wave of doubt??

Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas for doubting. Instead he offered him evidence for the truth. “stick your finger where the holes are. Do not doubt anymore.”

What do you doubt at times?? I’m sure you don’t doubt that God exist, right? There is just way too much evidence that there is a God.

So, could you doubt your understandings of God? Maybe God is unpredictable from our viewpoint. I heard this great illustration not too long ago.

I’m walking in the woods with my good friend Paul. First, Paul warns me to “look out, don’t trip over that root.” Later, Paul calmly watches while I handle a plant then tells me “that’s poison ivy. Here’s some ointment to reduce the itching. I’m glad for the ointment, but wonder why Paul didn’t warn me before I touched the poison ivy. Later on I fall down a deep hole and can’t get out. I look up and see Paul calmly standing there. No matter how many times I ask him for help, he just stands there and watches me.

That’s how it seems with God sometimes. Sometimes God warns me about stumbling blocks before me. He has this hedge of protection around me. Sometimes God lets me get in the poison ivy of life, and then gives me ointment to start the healing. And sometimes God just sits and watches, leaving me on my own to get out of life’s pit of despair. I don’t know how God is going to deal with me; and that unknowing and uncertainty, is the root of my doubt.

Is doubting a bad thing? Does God want me to have some doubt? Has God appeared on any of the platforms you have built in the past?

Ed is getting close to finishing his house. Maybe God will show up today on that nice concrete pad site. He’s never been visible to me; never turned water to wine; no one has come back from the grave in my lifetime I know of; The most I’ve ever instantly been healed is when a headache went away when the Advil kicked in.

Frederick Buechner expresses this ambivalence about doubt beautifully: “Whether your faith is that 1. there is a God or that 2. there is not a God, if you don’t have doubts you are either kidding yourself or asleep.

Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.” Romans 8 says “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.”

Maybe occasional struggles with doubt are good.

1. doubting tests the perseverance of my faith.

If I have not doubted, then I really never step out in faith. Hebrews 11 says “Faith is believing in what you don’t see.”

2. Doubt makes my faith grow stronger.

If my faith in God never struggles, then why would I search for answers?

For example, I’m learning to drive a car. I put it into drive for the first time and take off….going down the coast, seeing the sights, showing off my new car. But I make a wrong turn and end up at a dead end. I stop at the wall and wonder what to do next. Every time I tap the gas pedal, I move closer to the wall. Finally in a last ditch effort, knowing this car is brand new and virtually perfect, and having come this far, I’m a perfect driver, I PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. Of course I wreck the car.

I can’t believe that my WHOLE understanding of driving has been completely wrong. Cars aren’t really the way to get around. Everyone needs to get a horse. Cars are a farce put on society by a government that just wants to control us. The idea that cars can get us from one point to another is just a crutch for the weak mind. Of course that’s wrong.

Doubts strengthen our faith. How? Doubts are like the barbells we must lift for our faith to grow stronger. James tells us that “whenever you face trials, you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” No pain, no gain.

3. As faith gets stronger, the doubt will raise our level of faith above mere feelings and emotions. If your faith is grounded in feelings, it will go south when life gets hard.

Some of the televangelist will tell you “If you don’t feel the Spirit moving in your life, you just don’t have enough faith.” Then they say something about sending in money. But in the scripture we talked about last week, Jesus tells us to love God with all our hearts, souls. MINDS, and strength. You can’t base faith just on feelings.

What are the sources of doubt???

1. The world…kids when you go to school, especially college, you will be bombarded with people telling you that Christianity is a fake and useless belief pushed on you by someone you really love.

Science has proved the non-existence of God. It’s offensive to claim that Jesus is the only way to heaven. A loving God would never send people to hell.

2. Satan…yes Satan is real. Yes hell is real. And just as God is working on you thru you with His Prevenient grace, Justifying grace and Sanctifying grace, Satan and his evil group is working to plant seeds of doubt in your mind. I’ll give you this illustration for the three types of grace.

Your world is a box, covered with black ice. No light can get in. It’s all you. From the day of your conception, God’s prevenient grace is taking an ice pick and chipping away at that black ice. One day, grace has chipped away enough of the black ice that light gets in your box and lights the fire in you.

That is Justifying grace. That is the day you believe in salvation by Jesus Christ. Then every day after that, sanctifying grace blows on the embers of that fire within you to melt more and more of the black ice from around you.

3. Our own flesh is the last and probably greatest source of doubt. When the disciples were on the sea, Peter starts to walk on water out to where Jesus was. But when the waves bounced around him, and he began to sink, he cried out “Lord save me.”

Jesus reached out and lifted him up. “Oh you of little faith. Why do you doubt?” When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, his faith faltered.

What do you do now when you doubt?

1. study the Christian evidence. The empty tomb, 500 witnesses to the resurrection, other changed lives.

2. study the bible. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Faith gains strength by reading and studying the bible.

3. Most important is to talk to God. Jesus did not pray that Peter would be shielded from Satan’s attacks, but that “his faith should not fail when tested.”

God did not keep Daniel from being thrown in the lions den, but protected him while he was among the lions. Definitely ask God to eliminate your problems, but after that, ask him to sustain your faith if he desires you to go thru them.

I’ll tell you right now. I don’t have the easy answers for those ongoing questions of doubt. Though I do have some answers, there are some you must learn on your own. There are struggles you must go thru.

But when your faith is low, you will have a spouse or a friend or me, your pastor sitting beside you. My faith is strong, stronger than it has ever been. We have a really big God who is bigger than any of your doubts. So if you need to, you can rely on my faith for a while, and I know we will get thru this together.

I’m here to listen to you. You and I can lift those barbells of doubt together and build some faith filled muscle. Jesus said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I know that to be true, and we will take this journey together.

Vonage is the new AOL

Do you remember all those AOL cds you used to get in the mail?? AOL was advertised everywhere, CDs came in the mail and the newspaper. Well Vonage has taken the place of AOL. If you have not ever used the phone over internet, it's the way to cut your phone bill dramatically. We used Vonage for 4 years before moving to Waxahachie. It was a great tool. But now all the mailings and advertising are getting annoying. Also check out this. If you have not seen any mailings from Vonage, expect them soon.

Fasting

This is an outline for a report I'm giving on "fasting". Thought it would be good to post.

The Practice of Self Emptying: rediscovering the fast
Chapter 5 Soul Feast


Jewish reason to fast:
1. Express personal or national repentance for sin
Humble supplication before God in the face of imminent destruction or calamity (see Joel 2, Jonah 3, and Ester 4).
2. prepare oneself inwardly for receiving the necessary strength and grace to complete a mission of faithful service in God’s name (Moses, Elijah, and Jesus’ 40 day fast).

We will comprehend little of how we are nourished by Christ until we have emptied ourselves of the kinds of sustenance that keep us content to live at life’s surface.

Some historical fasting figures:
1. Wesley fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays
2. Calvin fasted to:
a. Subdue the needless desires of the flesh
b. Prepare for prayer and meditation
c. Express humility before God in confession
3. Abba Poemen (a Desert Father) said “For my part, I think it better that one should eat every day, but only a little, so as not to be satisfied.”


Lent and the Fast

What Lent is not:
1. 6 week inconvenience in an otherwise abundant year.
2. Trying to please God with voluntary and minor suffering.
3. Testing ground for our willpower.
4. “spiritual rational” for losing 10 pounds before swimsuit season.

What Lent is:
1. Opportunity to return to normal human life (life of natural communion with God as it was before the Fall).
2. Spring cleaning of the soul.
3. Life restored by accepting limits on our consumption and activity .








Types of Fast

Food Fasts:
1. Normal fast – abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water.
2. Partial fast – restriction of the diet, but not total abstention.
3. Absolute fast – abstaining from both food and water.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:
* A fast depletes your normal energy reserves so reduce normal activity.
* Work your way up to an absolute fast. Don’t go “cold turkey”.
* Don’t “tank up” on extra calories before or eat a big meal after the fast.
* Drink plenty of water.



Other Forms of Fasting
The purpose of abstinence is to learn rightly to enjoy God’s gifts. Fasting is not primarily a discipline through which I gain greater control over my life, but one through which God gains access to redirect and heal me in body, mind, and spirit.

Abstain from objects of consumption that have come to fill emotional voids in our lives.
* Sex
* TV
* Recognition
* Media stimulation
* Needless shopping sprees
* Prejudging people
* Drugs
* Internet
* Over-packed schedules


Keeping a Journal During the Fast

Questions to ask:
* How do I respond to hunger pangs?
* What feelings attend the experience of physical emptiness – panic, irritation, boredom, helplessness?
* How do I express these?
* Do I sense any inward cleansing, release, or freedom?
* Do I feel a need to draw the attention of others to what I am doing?
* Do I find myself attentive to God’s presence in new ways?
* Do I find myself connected to others in new ways?
* What is God revealing to me through my responses?

Nonvember 12 sermon Exodus 3:11-14 who sent you???

There was a blonde at work who just got sick and tired of all the blonde jokes. So one evening she went home and memorized all the state capitals. Back in the office the next day, some guy started telling a dumb blonde joke. She interrupted him with an announcement, "I've had it up to here with these blonde jokes. I want you to know that this blonde went home last night and did something probably none of you could do...I memorized all the state capitals." Of course, one of the guys said, "I don't believe you. What is the capital of Nevada?" She just smiled and confidently answered, "N”



Exodus 3:11-14 who sent you???

In 1 Chronicles 28 (that’s the OT), King David had the plans in his hands for the new temple that was to be built for the God. He wanted to personally build it, but God had other plans. He told the king that his son Solomon would be the one to build the temple.

David chose to not see himself as being cut out of the action and grand plan, but undertook his new charge.
He must convey the plans and vision to Solomon . He must communicate the vision for the temple in a manner that would enlist Solomon’s support. King David rose to his feet, standing up on the platform above all the people in the court and made this announcement.

“Of all the many son’s my LORD has given me, he has chosen Solomon to sit on the throne after me. He said to me ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house, for I have chosen him. I will establish his kingdom as long as he follows me.” Did you hear that? David got the vision from the Lord that a marvelous temple would be built, but he would not build it.

His son Solomon would be the one to build it. Can you imagine if you were Solomon? “I’m supposed to do what??” he asks. This vision is from God, and you Solomon will be leading the charge to undergo it. Halfhearted commitment will not work or be tolerated. Such a task will require total devotion to the God and to the work.

Next, David gave his son sufficient detail about the temple that Solomon could visualize what it would look like. He went thru all the plans of what the porches and gold ornaments would look like. Nothing was left out.
Finally, after casting this vision, the king gave his son another dose of encouragement. “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God is with you.
He will not fail you or forsake you. Everyone will obey your commands.”

What authority did David have?? He was king. Was that great communication or what?? David had grad plans in front of him ready to go. All his kingdom is awaiting his command. The ships are ready to sail to get the wood. Gold has been mined. The craftsmen are ready and waiting. But God says no, your son will be the one to take on this project.

How would you feel? You have these big plans and dreams. You have the resources and the desire. But you are stopped dead in your tracks. I’m surprised David didn’t get disgusted with the whole thing. But David saw the bigger picture. Instead of looking thru his narrow field of vision, he looked from above as God would. It’s like when E. F. Hutton talks. God talked and David listened. And David did what he should. He communicated to his son.

Do you have that kind of communication with other people?? Before you talk, do you seek the wisdom of the Lord? Before you send a letter or an email, do you wonder, “what would Jesus do?”
When you communicate, is it God talking thru you? Let’s envision a conversation for a minute. Bob is on the leadership team of the church and goes to talk to Jacob. (No there is no Bob or Jacob in our congregation. I made up the names.)

“Jacob, you need to lead the men’s group. It starts on Monday.” There you go. How is that? What do you think will happen? Maybe Jacob will go home and forget all about it. Maybe he will start a Men’s Group that is second to none. Probably not. How could the conversation have gone differently??

Bob goes to Jacob. “Jacob. I’ve been praying for our men’s group every day for the past month. I’ve asked God for wisdom and vision for leadership for this group. He has given me what he is wanting and now I’m bringing it to you.” Sounds good so far right? Bob started off praying for guidance. He didn’t jump into leading the men’s group because no one else would step up and do it. He waited for God’s vision and didn’t jump the gun. Then he passed on the vision.

Bob says “Jacob, God has shown me the future of the men’s group with you and another brother leading it. He says that both of you will have disciples under you to bring up in a Godly faith and understanding. As those brothers mature, they will disciple brothers under them.
You will form a chain going up the spiritual mountain of faith. As you go along brother, there will be some who don’t see the vision you have. They will only see change and believe it is not good. But you must persevere and stay the course. God almighty will be with you always, just as he said.”

Bob goes into detail with Jacob on the vision of God to lead the men’s group. Where does Bob get his authority? From the leadership team.

What happens when there is bad communication or no authority given? How does it affect the outcome? Have you seen the cell phone commercials on TV? The guy is talking to his soon to be father-in-law. “call me Jim. We are going to be family.”

The boy opens up “Ok Jim, Jimbo, jimborama, Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care.” Then nothing on the other end of the line. The phone goes dead. The boy panics. Dropped calls are bad. Miscommunication is terrible. Because of the communication problem, he automatically thinks he offended his father-in-law.

Communication problems can happen in the church also. Here is an example (no this has not happened so don’t start any rumors). I say something to Ed, knowing he just told me a story about getting his hair cut yesterday. “Boy your hair is really short.”
Mike hears my comment, assumes the worst, that I’m making fun of Ed or trying to hurt his feelings. Mike tells Tammy who is mad at Brandy because Brandy didn’t say hi to her this morning in SS (although Brandy just didn’t hear her). Tammy is talking to Melanie before church and tells her that “The Pastor was rude and inconsiderate to Ed, and I can’t believe he was sent to our wonderful little church.”

I’m in the hallway shaking hands after service. Everyone is smiling. Melanie comes stomping by, gives me a look that could easily kill me (if looks could kill), doesn’t say anything and leaves. She doesn’t talk to me or return my calls. How’s that for our communication??

What did I say before about communicating?? Is it of God? Did it come from a prayer or vision from God? Jesus says in Matthew 12 “A healthy tree produces good fruit and a diseased tree produces bad fruit. How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-mouthed? A good person produces good deeds season after season.

An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Words are powerful. They can be your salvation or your damnation.” These are big words from our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is saying that no amount of skill or technique will compensate for an empty or an evil heart.
Jesus stated that the heart is the key to salvation. Personal relationships are to be entered into and continued out of a sense of strength, fullness and vitality.

And now Moses. In our scripture reading today, Moses was daunted by the mission to which God was calling him but he received God’s assurance that he would be empowered to accomplish his divinely appointed purpose. Moses had to convince the Israelites to follow him out into the wilderness.

He had to convince Pharaoh that 2.5 million slaves had to be let go. He had to convince himself that God actually wanted him to do this. “Who am I?” He was overwhelmed, over his head, and challenged beyond understanding. “What should I tell them? What if they don’t believe me?”

And God said “This is what you are to say to the Israelites. “I am who I am. I am has sent me to you.” Moses soon discovered that one plus God equals a majority. Without question, Moses was one of the greatest leaders of world history. God validated each of Moses’ statements and addressed them.



As Moses concerns went away, so did his resistance to the vision. “Who am I?” God said, in effect, “I have called you and I am doing this. It’s not who you are, but who I am and what I want you to do.”

Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. His authority came from God. I am called to lead this church. My authority comes directly from God. He reached down and grabbed me by the heart and said “I have called you and I am sending you to Sardis.”

And now some of you are feeling a call right now. There are two to lead the men’s ministry. There are two to lead the youth. Why two? Because Jesus sent out the 70, two by two. Where do they get their authority? I give them all the support and authority they need because it was given to me.

The vision is being put in place. God sent his only son down to earth to live among us and to even die for us as a sacrifice for every bad thing we have done in our lives. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he said “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” And now it’s time to go. You have been called. You have your orders. And you have the authority of Jesus Christ who is always with you.

November 5 sermon The Greatest Commandment mark 12

November 5 sermon The Greatest Commandment Mark 12

A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?" Adam and Eve said, "LORD, when we were in the garden, YOU walked with us every day. Now we do not see YOU any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much YOU love us."
And GOD said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of MY love for you, so that you will love ME even when you cannot see ME. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And GOD created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.And it was a good animal. And GOD was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."

And GOD said, " I have created this new animal to be a reflection of MY love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him Dog." And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted. And GOD was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail. After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And GOD said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration." And GOD created Cat to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility. And they were greatly improved. And GOD was pleased. And Dog was happy.
And cat didn’t care either way.


What is the greatest commandment?? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and of course love your neighbor as yourself. How do you do that?? The Pharisee wanted to be meticulous in the keeping of all the laws. he’s thinking, “While I’m keeping the law, I want to make sure that the most important one is kept,”.

DO you ever feel that way? If I could just say the right thing to my spouse, she would listen. If I could just sell a few more computers I would make enough on my commission to put a down payment on the house. If I just knew what six numbers to pick, I could win the lottery and all my troubles would be over. If I could just bring in a few more people, the church would not struggle.

If, if, if, if. I don’t think the Pharisee was day dreaming. I think he was wrestling with his life. He was wondering if he was doing the right thing in his life. He wanted to make sure he was justified before God. We all want that. We all want to make sure we “make it” thru the gates. Even if I am sliding into home thru those pearly gates I still made it.



I have a friend up in Nashville who used to say “I’ll be happy just holding the door open for everyone else and being the last one in.” Not worried about status or the mansion on the hill, he just wanted to be in the gates.
So what does the greatest commandment mean? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Just that part right there is very easy. “I love you God. With all my heart I love you. With all my soul I love you. With all my mind I love you. With all my strength I love you.” Whew…..glad I got that in.

Is there more though? We talked a couple weeks ago about selling out for Jesus. Diving in to the deep end instead of walking around in the wading pool. How do I love God with all my heart in the wading pool of spirituality???? Who is the most important person in your life, besides your pastor? Who is the one you want to spend all the time you can….besides your pastor?

Maybe your spouse or your kids. It could be a best friend from college you love to be with. Why do you want to spend so much time with them? What is it about them that makes them so special? At Shriner’s Hospital they have a pet therapy group where the kids will open up by bringing a pet in which brings some home familiarity back.


The animals absorb the children’s focus and alleviate any anxiety. What about that person you have given all your heart too?? When you get married, you want to spend all your time with your spouse. You want to share everything and do everything together.

My niece got married a few months ago. I put together a list of 8 things to know when you get married.
1. You don’t have to be right all the time, even if you are. A friend once said “is this the hill you want to die on.” Just let it go. Trust me.
2. Get away from each other once a month. One person needs to leave for the weekend...go to your mom's, to see a friend across state, to Uncle Bob’s house. But get away from each other. The time away will refresh your marriage and you will see how much you missed the other person when you get back.
3. Money is the biggest thing you will fight over...whether you have any or not. Combine all your $$ in one acct (don't have separate accts). Don't have one person responsible for the bills every month. Do them together, or at least look at them together when the other is writing them out.4. Move out of the town your parents live in. This is true unless BOTH of you have the best relationship with whatever parent lives in town. Mom and dad only want the best for their child, and they will ALWAYS pick their child over the spouse.
You may have thought the show "Everybody Loves Raymond" was funny...it was true.5. Don't get in the family bickering. Whatever mom thinks of dad or dad thinks of Uncle Joe, ignore it. Make your own relationships.
6. This also goes for in-laws bickering. What you tell your mom about your spouse and spouse's family; that is all she knows. If you tell her that "my wife's mom sent a nasty email to us", but you don't tell her about the phone call the next day to apologize and make everything better, mom will always hate the other family. Plus there is always a contest about which family is better. It gets worse when you have kids.7. Live your own life. Your new family comes first now. You do what's best for them. That can be anything including moving across the country or around the world.
8. Focus on God in your marriage. Like my auto-signature on my email says "Party clean, live righteous". It's hard to believe without really experiencing it, but when you look to God in your marriage, in making decisions, in just learning more about Him, he will guide your life more than ever. It's a great thing. Sometimes it seems things are not going like they should, but if you stay focused on God, you will have guidance.


So you probably know how to love your mom or dad or spouse or kids with all of your heart. What about God now? To Love God with all your heart, you believe everything he says to be completely true. That he made you exactly how he wanted you to be. That he does love you, even though he saw everything you did last week.

That he sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to be the sacrifice to save us from ourselves, and all we have to do is accept Jesus as our savior and live as he lived. To love God with all my heart means to give him dominion over every part of my life; even my heart. That’s a hard thing to do.

I can keep my heart and give everything else. Take the car, the computer, the money in the bank (there’s only about $28 in there anyway). But if I can keep my heart, I can keep my secrets. I can hide my true self.

But when I give my heart to God, it will be true love. Why keep a secret from him. He knows everything anyway. Everything I do in the dark, he sees. In the OT, Jonah was told to go to Ninevah by God. But Jonah’s people hated the Ninevites. So he ran the other way. He got on a ship and went down to the bottom deck and hid in the corner. “God won’t find me here, he thought.” Oh but God did. God had to throw him overboard and have a big fish swallow him for 3 days to get Jonah to listen.
It took a while, but Jonah gave his heart to God. He did what God said. Then he understood the last part of Jesus’ message. “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

When you finally see yourself as God sees you, only then can you start to love your neighbor. You see, God sees you perfect. He doesn’t care about those labels you have put on yourself, or someone else has put on you. He doesn’t care that your nose is crooked, your hair is blue and messed up, you have bad breath.

When you give him your heart, you will start to see as he sees. You look in the mirror and see a beautiful person looking back at you. That is how God sees you. Now you are able to love your neighbor. You see beauty in yourself and then you see beauty in others.



There was a lady named Mary who hated herself. She saw herself as too fat, unmotivated, and not loved. It took time for her to realize that she was beautiful. God loved her. She was ready to change her self-image. She started looking in the mirror each morning and seeing someone she liked.



The more she liked that person, the more she liked the people she met out on the street, even those she had done her best to ignore. A few months later she started working at a homeless shelter downtown. The people she now ministered to were penniless, a different color than her, and they stunk. But she realized that God loved them just like He loved her.

In a week we are getting together to see where the focus of ministry for the church is going. We will be putting together the vision for the church to go with the mission of “Making disciples for Jesus Christ”. We will pray and come together and see where God leads the church. We will find out who our neighbors are; those we must love; those who God loves.

This week, look in the mirror. Look at the man or woman created by God and loved by God. Step outside your box now and see the other people God created. Those are the neighbors he wants you to love. We can love them together. That’s our service today and for every tomorrow.

COMMUNION
Page 12

November 5 sermon The Greatest Commandment Mark 12

November 5 sermon The Greatest Commandment Mark 12

A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?" Adam and Eve said, "LORD, when we were in the garden, YOU walked with us every day. Now we do not see YOU any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much YOU love us."
And GOD said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of MY love for you, so that you will love ME even when you cannot see ME. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And GOD created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.And it was a good animal. And GOD was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."

And GOD said, " I have created this new animal to be a reflection of MY love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him Dog." And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted. And GOD was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail. After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And GOD said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration." And GOD created Cat to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility. And they were greatly improved. And GOD was pleased. And Dog was happy.
And cat didn’t care either way.


What is the greatest commandment?? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and of course love your neighbor as yourself. How do you do that?? The Pharisee wanted to be meticulous in the keeping of all the laws. “While I’m keeping the law, I want to make sure that the most important one is kept for sure,” he’s thinking.

DO you ever feel that way? If I could just say the right thing to my spouse, she would listen. If I could just sell a few more computers I would make enough on my commission to put a down payment on the house. If I just knew what six numbers to pick, I could win the lottery and all my troubles would be over. If I could just bring in a few more people, the church would not struggle.

If, if, if, if. I don’t think the Pharisee was day dreaming. I think he was wrestling with his life. He was wondering if he was doing the right thing in his life. He wanted to make sure he was justified before God. We all want that. We all want to make sure we “make it” thru the gates. Even if I am sliding into home thru those pearly gates I still made it.



I have a friend up in Nashville who used to say “I’ll be happy just holding the door open for everyone else and being the last one in.” Not worried about status or the mansion on the hill, he just wanted to be in the gates.
So what does the greatest commandment mean? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Just that part right there is very easy. “I love you God. With all my heart I love you. With all my soul I love you. With all my mind I love you. With all my strength I love you.” Whew…..glad I got that in.

Is there more though? We talked a couple weeks ago about selling out for Jesus. Diving in to the deep end instead of walking around in the wading pool. How do I love God with all my heart in the wading pool???? Who is the most important person in your life, besides your pastor? Who is the one you want to spend all the time you can with….besides your pastor?

Maybe your spouse or your kids. It could be a best friend from college you love to be with. Why do you want to spend so much time with them? What is it about them that makes them so special? I found a website for Best Friends Animal Society. They rescue homeless animals of all shapes and sizes. At Shriner’s Hospital they have a pet therapy group where the kids will open up by bringing a pet in which brings some familiarity back.
The animals absorb the children’s focus and alleviate any anxiety. What about that person you have given all your heart too?? When you get married, you want to spend all your time with your spouse. You want to share everything and do everything together.

My niece got married a few months ago. I put together a list of 8 things to know when you get married.
1. You don’t have to be right all the time, even if you are. A friend once said “is this the hill you want to die on.” Just let it go. Trust me.
2. Get away from each other once a month. One person needs to leave for the weekend...go to your mom's, to see a friend across state, to Uncle Bob’s house. But get away from each other. The time away will refresh your marriage and you will see how much you missed the other person when you get back.
3. Money is the biggest thing you will fight over...whether you have any or not. Combine all your $$ in one acct (don't have separate accts). Don't have one person responsible for the bills every month. Do them together, or at least look at them together when the other is writing them out.4. Move out of the town your parents live in. This is true unless BOTH of you have the best relationship with whatever parent lives in town. Mom and dad only want the best for their child, and they will ALWAYS pick their child over the spouse.
You may have thought the show "Everybody Loves Raymond" was funny...it was very true.5. Don't get in the family bickering. Whatever mom thinks of dad or dad thinks of Uncle Joe, ignore it. Make your own relationships.
6. This also goes for in-laws bickering. What you tell your mom about your spouse and spouse's family; that is all she knows. If you tell her that "my wife's mom send a nasty email to us", but you don't tell her about the phone call the next day to apologize and make everything better, mom will always hate the other family. Plus there is always a contest about which family is better. It gets worse when you have kids.7. Live your own life. Your new family comes first now. You do what's best for them. That can be anything including moving across the country or around the world.
8. Focus on God in your marriage. Like my auto-signature on my email says "Party clean, live righteous". It's hard to believe without really experiencing it, but when you look to God in your marriage, in making decisions, in just learning more about Him, he will guide your life more than ever. It's a great thing. Sometimes it seems things are not going like they should, but if you stay focused on God, you will have guidance.


So you probably know how to love your mom or dad or spouse or kids with all of your heart. What about God now? To Love God with all your heart, you believe everything he says to be completely true. That he made you exactly how he wanted you to be. That he does love you, even though he saw everything you did last week.

That he sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to be the sacrifice to save us from ourselves, and all we have to do is accept Jesus as our savior and live as he lived. To love God with all my heart means to give him dominion over every part of my life, even my heart. That’s a hard thing to do.

I can keep my heart and give everything else. Take the car, the computer, the money in the bank (there’s only about $28 in there anyway). But if I can keep my heart, I can keep my secrets. I can hide my true self.

But when I give my heart to God, it will be true love. Why keep a secret from him. He knows everything anyway. Everything I do in the dark, he sees. In the OT, Jonah was told to go to Ninevah by God. But Jonah’s people hated the Ninevites. So he ran the other way. He got on a ship and went down to the bottom deck and hid in the corner. “God won’t find me here, he thought.” Oh but God did. God had to throw him overboard and have a big fish swallow him for 3 days to get Jonah to listen.
It took a while, but Jonah gave his heart to God. He did what God said. Then he understood the last part of Jesus’ message. “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

When you finally see yourself as God sees you, only then can you start to love your neighbor. You know, God sees you perfect. He doesn’t care about those labels you have put on yourself, or someone else has put on you. He doesn’t care that your nose is crooked, your hair is blue and messed up, you have bad breath.

When you give him your heart, you will start to see as he sees. You look in the mirror and see a beautiful person looking back at you. That is how God sees you. Now you are able to love your neighbor. You see beauty in yourself and then you see beauty in others.

Do you like what you see when you look in the mirror? If not, what needs to change? You can’t love and you can’t live like Jesus until you like the person staring back at you.

There was a lady named Mary who hated herself. She saw herself as too fat, unmotivated, and not loved. It took time for her to realize that she was beautiful. God loved her. She was ready to change her image. She started looking in the mirror each morning and seeing someone she liked.
The more she liked that person, the more she liked the people she met out on the street, even those she had done her best to ignore. A few months later she started working at a homeless shelter downtown. The people she now ministered to were pennyless, a different color than her, and they stunk. But she realized that God loved them just like He loved her.

In a week we are getting together to see where the focus of ministry for the church is going. We will be putting together the vision for the church to go with the mission of “Making disciples for Jesus Christ”. We will pray and come together and see where God leads the church. We will find out who our neighbors are; those we must love; those who God loves.

This week, look in the mirror. Look at the man or woman created by God and loved by God. Step outside your box now and see the other people God created. Those are the neighbors he wants you to love. We can love them together. That’s our service today.

COMMUNION
Page 12

October 29th sermon Are You The Blind Beggar Mark 10

October 29th sermon Are You The Blind Beggar Mark 10


One day this rich guy was having a party at his house. He was loaded, and he had everything; money, a big house in Beverly Hills, cars, planes; anything he wanted. The guy was also a little eccentric, and he had filled his pool with crocodiles. So there he was, he and his friends all standing around talking and partying next to the pool.
The guy gets up on the lifeguard tower and all his friends look up. He calls for silence and says, "OK, the first person that swims across my pool will get all my money."
No one moves. The guy looks over the crowd and says, "OK, the first person that swims across my pool gets all my money and my house."

Still, no one moves, not even an eye blinks this time. "OK then, all my money, my house, all my cars, all my planes, all my property, all my stocks and bonds and investments; everything I own."
"Splash!" Someone's in the pool. Crocodiles are all over him, but he rolls over like Tarzan, he's all over the place, fighting and dodging. Finally he gets out of the pool on the other side. The rich guy on the tower jumps down and runs over to him.
"That was incredible! I never thought that I would ever see that done. Do you want the money now or later?" "I don't want the money."
"Do you want the house now or later?" "I don't want the house."
"Do you want the cars and planes now or later?” "I don't want the cars or planes."
"Do you want the bonds, stocks and stuff now or later?" "I don't want that either."
The rich guy looks at him and says "Well, what do you want?!?!" "I want the guy that pushed me in."

Barking fills the air as Adam Bergin walks down the aisles. He checks the cards hanging from the cages to see how long each dog has been at the Willamette Humane Society.
Bergin, is scouting for talent for Project Pooch, a nonprofit program at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility.
As the kennel manager for Project Pooch, he often faces a daunting task as he sifts through unwanted dogs to find ones that can be trained to be good pets.
Each dog is tested for aggressive behavior.
"They have to be friendly and outgoing," says Bergin.
On a December day, his search takes him to the Humane Society in Salem.
He strikes gold.

Humane Society kennel manager takes him to Congo, who is in quarantine. The 1-year-old husky was picked up for chasing livestock in West Salem.
A court order by a Polk County judge stipulates that the friendly white-and-black canine no longer can live in a rural setting.
"This is a good dog," the manager says. "He just can't live on a farm."
Project Pooch could give Congo a new leash on life.
But first, he must undergo a series of tests.
The young husky prances anxiously as he's led to the testing area.
He's not interested in chasing balls.
He doesn't snap when Bergin grabs food from him.
He doesn't flinch when Bergin raises his hand or wrestles with him.
He passes the test.
A new beginning

Congo arrives at MacLaren -- a 460-bed state facility that houses older youth offenders up to age 25.
The boys surround the husky excitedly. Congo responds warmly, wagging his tail comfortably.
Ruben, who entered MacLaren in August 2002 at age 16, is assigned as Congo's trainer.
Ruben is no novice -- Congo is his fifth dog.
In fact, the decade-old program, which has trained 325 dogs, represents a new beginning for Ruben as well.
"I used to shut everything out. I didn't take the opportunity to have fun and enjoy the things that life had given me," says Ruben, who is scheduled to leave MacLaren this spring.

Ruben finds it easier to talk with people since he became involved with Project Pooch. He has a hearing impairment and would not initially speak up. But work required him to tell prospective owners about the dogs he was training.
Since he first started working in the program part-time a year ago, the teen also has received his high school diploma.

Now a full-time employee, Ruben works six to seven days a week. He's never called in sick.
The boys make a percentage of the adoption fee and also can make money from boarding and grooming services that are offered to the public.

"We're teaching these kids responsibility," Bergin says. When the boys get out into the community, he says, they have some money from the program to get an apartment and get on their feet.

Ruben has found new sight after a year of being in the Project POOCH program. The anger and despair are not in his life anymore. He can see his future with the training and skills he has acquired thru the program. The dogs are ready to be great pets, and their trainers are ready to reenter the community.


Bartimaus had been blind for years. What hope does he have? He can’t work! Bartimaus was a leather worker like his father. All during his younger days, he was able to cut and sew the leather garments or bags for his business. He had a good business going and had a happy marriage.

Every day he would get up and bring in the pile of leather. He would cut and sew. He would sell and profit. Then his eye sight started to fade. It got to where he could not see the needle on the table.

Then all his sight was gone. He became dependent on his wife. He became bitter, angry at God, angry at other people because of the pity, angry at his wife. He withdraws. Then she leaves. He is alone. The darkness and silence envelope him.

Bartimaus goes to the gates and sits asking for spare change. I’ll sing a sad song, tell a bad joke. Just give me some money so I can get a bite to eat later. But then he hears a commotion. Whispers all around him…”it’s Jesus. It’s the prophet. That guy who raised the little girl. I saw him open the ears of another.”

Hope beyond hope. Could it be? Could he heal me? Could I see again?

Janet was a young mother of two, combining a full time career and caring for her family. She and her husband Dennis were on a long deserved road trip to Washington DC to celebrate a new job for her husband that would allow her to stay home and raise the kids. But that night she awoke with a fright full of adrenaline.

She paced the floor until the panic attack subsided and went back to bed. Each night the attacks came back and grew stronger. Severe nausea invaded her body and she was admitted to the hospital. Nothing was found to be wrong with her so she went home. Then a week later she was back but still nothing.

A month later she awoke felling as if someone had injected her with toxic adrenaline. She got up pacing the floor sobbing. Once again she was rushed to the hospital and was finally diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety disorder. Could there be any hope for her.

Janet was heavily sedated in the hospital and went thru different treatments of antidepressant drugs. It was during this time that Janet was introduced to a wonderful support group for depressives. Not only did she find friends and support, she received life giving education and hope for a normal future. Her hope came. Her life came back to her.

Bartimaus was looking for hope. He had been blind so long; he did not remember what flowers looked like. He did not remember what his neighbor and acquaintances looked like. He had been blind for so long, he did not know what he himself looked like.

He calls out. “Jesus, Son of David. Jesus, over here.” Like the paparatsi trying to get a picture of the celebrity, Bartimaus yells above the crowd. The people around him are getting annoyed. “mama, who is that man? Oh, that’s blind Bartimaus.” Do you hear the labels put on him? “Have mercy on me your servant, Son of David.”

The people around him tell him to be quiet. “hush Bartimaus. Why would the prophet want to see a beggar like you?” “Just go back to your mat!!” But Bartimaus won’t stop. Ignoring the labels that have been so attached he pushes thru the crowd. “Let me see Jesus. I want to see him.”

The blind guy wants to see. Then it happens. “Send him over” says Jesus. Could it be? Did he hear it right? Now the crowd supports him. The labels are still ascribed to him by the people, but they push him forward. He throws off his cloak. That cloak has shown him to be the beggar, the needy, the less fortunate. That cloak shows him to want something. That cloak was one big label in itself.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “I want to touch your face Jesus. I want to see you the only way I can.” And Jesus allows it. Bartimaus runs his fingers over Jesus’ brow, over his eyelids, around his nose. He feels around those parched dry lips and protruding chin.

Bartimaus smiles. He is happy. But then Jesus asks of him “Bartimaus, let me touch your face.” Why? “You can see, Jesus. Why would you want to touch my face?” But he agrees. Jesus does the same as had been done to him. The loving touch and gentle kiss of his fingers. Oh what a feeling for Bartimaus.

And when he opens his eyes, Bartimaus can see the face of Jesus, not only in his head, but now with his eyes. “He healed me. I can see again.” Bartimaus starts jumping up and down praising God. Everyone is smiling. THAT label is gone now.

“stupid is as stupid does.” Remember that? Forrest Gump. The simple man who lived an interesting life. He has all sorts of labels attached to him. Slow, ignorant, hard headed, etc. He tells stories about his life and accomplishments. Most people just wanted to ignore him. Many didn’t believe him.

Despite his sub-normal IQ, Forrest lives a charming life. All thru his life and all thru the events, he never forgot about Jenny, the love he had as a boy. The last person he talks with on the bus bench gives him directions for the path he is seeking. She directs him so he can see again what he is looking for. He throws off the labels and runs to the Jenny’s house. “Run Forrest Run”.

Bartimaus is healed. What does he do then? He follows Jesus. The one who gave him hope. The one who gave him life again. The one who washed away all the labels that had been attached to him.

Has anyone attached labels to you? Are you labeled as The Kid, The Old Man, That annoying lady who always complains, Too Small, Too Short? What are the labels that have been put on you? Though some of these might be true, what do you miss out on because of these labels?? Do you want to get rid of these labels??

Peter was a loudmouth, Thomas was a doubter, James was a procrastinator. ALL of the disciples were cowards and failures. They all ran away when Jesus needed them most. Why would Jesus call them back and restore them?

Not sure but he did. And he can do the same for you. You can throw off your cloak and run to him. He will pull all those labels off of you. He will set you free. He will transform you.

If you have labels you don’t want, it’s time to get rid of them. No matter what it is, Jesus is ready to transform you. We’re going to say a prayer together and then sing our last hymn. If you have not experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ and have not had the Holy Spirit come in to fill you to your soul, come to the prayer rail. Jesus is here to cleanse you. Pray with me.

October 22 sermon Special Seat mark 10:35-45

October 22 sermon Special Seat mark 10:35-45

Sharing The Faith . . .
There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door."
Soon after he opened his shop the first man came in and said, "I want a shave!" The barber said, "Sure, just sit in the seat and I'll be with you in a moment." The barber went in the back and prayed a quick desperate prayer saying, "God, the first customer came in and I'm going to witness to him. So please give me the wisdom to know just the right thing to say to him. Amen."
Then quickly the barber came out with his razor knife in one hand and a Bible in the other while saying, "Good morning sir. I have a question for you..........Are you ready to meet Jesus?"












What do we do with James and John?? In our scripture today, they seem so selfish, so arrogant, so out of touch to go up to Jesus and ask for the seats of glory and honor. Mark, the writer of this book, does not put them in good light, although he does not put any of the disciples in a good light most of the time.

The brothers come to Jesus and say “give us anything we want.” That’s kind of brash isn’t it? It’s a little more forceful, but the same idea of saying “Jesus, I have a favor to ask of you.” I can see it now. Jesus roles his eyes and takes a deep breath.

“What do you want?” “Let one of us sit on your right and one on your left in your kingdom.” Matthew gives a little more information than Mark in this story. Matthew in chapter 19 shows us that Jesus tells the disciples that “when the renewal of all things happens and the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”

That adds just a little more light to the story. Jesus tells them that they will sit upon thrones in the new kingdom and then right after that, James and John ask for the seats of honor. They wanted to sit at the head of the table with the king. That’s where the glory and honor are. Not just plain fishermen, but noblemen.
But here is the worst part. They still didn’t understand what Jesus was here for. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with my baptism?” Like a kid in a candy store who will agree to anything just to get a piece of candy, they immediately said “Oh yes, we can do that. Whatever you say.”

Just before this request by James and John, Jesus (for the 3rd time) predicted his death. The 1st time he predicted his death, Peter chastised him (can you imagine, chastising God), but in that famous line Jesus said “Get behind me Satan”. The 2nd time he predicted his death, right after that the disciples began arguing about who is the greatest. Then he basically said “these little children are greater than you.”

And now this time. James and John come up wanting a special seat in the house. It’s like all the disciples were sitting in the back of the church the whole time they were following Jesus.... Jesus speaks up where all the disciples can hear him. “I’m sorry but that seat is reserved for someone else. But as a consolation prize, you will drink the same cup and be baptized the same way.” Oh that’s not good.

John tells us Jesus wasn’t kidding. Look in Revelation 1. John says there he is on Patmos Island as a companion in the suffering of Jesus. When the other 10 disciples heard what the two did, they were mad.


Not because James and John would be so rude and inconsiderate to ask for this privilege, but because they didn’t think of it first. You see, society then was actually a lot like society now. It’s a lot of show. There had to be some substance behind your show, but what mattered most was what others thought of you.

When I was working at Enterprise Rent-a-Car years ago, there was a lady who had to bring in her Ford Taurus in multiple times to be worked on. It was a Taurus SHO. The SHO part is like the GT on the end of Mustang or LX on the end of the Accord. When she came in to get a rental car though, she had to have a SHOW Taurus to drive around as her rental. Nothing else would do except a SHOW Taurus. Keep up with the Jones, right.

Jesus, in his normal way, turned everything upside down. He said “The Roman rulers oppress the people under them. High taxes, exploitation, terrible stuff. But not with you.

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (10:45). If you want to be great, you have to be a servant.

Someone asked me about my newsletter article the other day. The first thing they asked about was the building. I said “If you want the building you can have it because the church is the people who come together to worship God inside the building.”

What does that mean? That means this beautiful old building is a great building, but what really matters is the people inside. If this building ever went away, this would still be a great church because it’s the people who make the church. The people gathered here matter most.

They asked me about spiritual gifts next. Every Christian has at least one Spiritual Gift. Wisdom, knowledge, Faith, Healing, prophecy, Discernment, and others. Many different gifts and many different people, but just one body. This body, this church is like a living organism. Each person with their spiritual gifts is a part of the body.

As we use our gifts for God’s glory, this body will grow and adapt to every situation that comes our way. As we become, and build, deeper disciples for Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will send more people to our church. And as we go out and serve and get our hands dirty, Jesus will say “well done good and faithful servant.”


The Christian life is not all about serving, but it is about being a servant. What’s the difference? A wise man once said “Prayer without action is escapism, but action without prayer is activism.” Serving to be active is futile.

A few years ago a couple in our church decided to start up a youth program. They did it not because they themselves were called by God to do it, but because no one else was doing it. That was a big mistake. It went well for a few months, but soon collapsed in like a star that runs out of gas and implodes.

That’s what serving can be like. On the other hand, to be a servant is to take inventory of your gifts, the needs of those you will be serving, and where you fit in with God’s plan. Here is an example. You look out among the community you live in and see foreclosures up 20% and revolving credit debt up 30% and many people not making it.

What can you do?? You can’t finance everyone. You think back to that time when you were living paycheck to paycheck. You were referred to a financial class called “Financial Peace University” and with the advice you got in that class, you pulled out of the problems you were having. Maybe you could facilitate a class like that.


The servant uses the gifts God gives them to make this world better than it was before. Jesus came to serve and to be a ransom for all. A "ransom" liberates someone at the payment of a price. In secular antiquity, a prisoner of war or a slave, for example, could be redeemed by paying a ransom price.

In the Hebrew Old Testament the kopher is a sum of money paid for release and reconciliation, as in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As the understanding of who Jesus was and what he did emerged, central to them all was this idea of ransom—the conviction of early believers that Jesus was not a hapless victim, a failed sage who over-played his hand, or a rabble rouser crushed by Rome, but one who offered himself to God to redeem humanity.

You say “Great Pastor Sean. What does all this mean for me?” You are a wonderful and much needed part of the body of Christ that makes up Sardis United Methodist Church. As you learn what your gifts are, God’s direction for you and for this church will become clearer.

As we come together, we will be filled in this base station (or fire station) and then go out in service to the world as God directs us. Not for glory, not for honor, but for Christ. We are transformed so we can transform. We will be servants because the service we render to others is really a measure of the service we render to God.
As the apostle John says “now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Go….be blessed…..serve.

October 15th sermon Who Gets In. Mark 10:17-31

October 15th sermon Who Gets In. Mark 10:17-31


The silence is maddening isn’t it? What do you do? What do you do when the pastor isn’t going up to give a sermon? You look around….Probably at Mike or Mac first, right. Thinking, “Well the women did a service last month and since October is Pastor Appreciation Month then I’m sure one of the lay leaders is going to get up and speak. But no, they don’t move.

Let’s look at Carol. Maybe we are going to have more special music. No, nothing there. Minutes go by. People start squirming in their seats.

What do you do now? Do you get up and give your testimony? Maybe you get up and say “God spoke to me this week. Not out loud mind you, but to my heart. This was my closest moment to Christ.”

Why are you here today? Better yet, why is this church here today? It’s been here for over 100 years. Why do you come to this church? Is it the people, the history, the cushionless pews, the singing?? Why did you come in the first place?

Let’s start with this. Why am I here? I’m here to equip you. I’m here to help you know what you believe and why you believe it.
I’m here to help you move from atheist to agnostic to Christian so you can go and help others do the exact same thing. I’m here (this church is here) to move you to being a deeper disciple of Christ. What does that mean? Being a Deeper Disciple means you are completely sold out to Christ. Christ is the one who paid the price for the sins you and I commit, past-present-future.

In our scripture reading from Mark, the rich kid was doing everything he was supposed to be doing. He runs up and gets down on his knees. “Good Teacher” he says. Smart kid there. Flattery is usually a great way to start a conversation. Kids remember this when you go to school tomorrow, and when you get back here for Sunday School next week.

“Good teacher…my you’re looking fine today. I love what you’re doing with your hair.” Think of Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver. Man I’m showing my age now. “Good Teacher,” the rich man says, “what must I do to get to heaven?” Unfortunately for him, Jesus has seen Leave It to Beaver to. He sees right thru that. “Why do you call me good? Stop blowing smoke and lets me tell you something. Do what the commandments say. Here’s a few of them.” And he lists them off.

At each commandment, the man’s smile gets bigger and bigger. “Oh Good. I’ve done all of those.”
Then Jesus lovingly looked him in the eyes (and looks at us) and said “Go sell what you own, give it to the poor, and follow me.” He might not say those exact words to us. He might say “Stop playing in that band that keeps you away from me”. It could be sports keeping you from being closer to God. It could be alcohol, cars, it could be church.

Are you so focused on one thing that you miss seeing God there? Do you look for God everywhere you go? Do you see his presence in the car with you, in your house when you are cleaning or getting ready to go out, in the doctor’s office, in the voices that sing a song?
Are you sold out completely to Jesus? Are you in over your head yet, or are your ankles just getting wet?
The rich man went away sad. He was rich enough to not have to work all day long so he could leisure around and have time for religious study and practice. But the head knowledge was not enough.

Give up everything you put first in your life and follow me, Jesus says. Drop it all. Even the disciples didn’t totally understand. Jesus said “It’s easier for a camel to get thru the eye of a needle than that rich man to get to heaven.” They eye of the needle was a gate into Jerusalem that was big enough for a man to get thru, but not camels.
And even if the camels got down on their knees, it would be virtually impossible for them to get thru. Jesus isn’t saying being rich is a bad thing. He is saying that putting riches before God is bad.

“Then who can be saved?” That’s the question. And the answer is EVERYONE. But only God can save you. Your riches, intellect, stubbornness, cunningness. None of that will save you. Jesus says “unless you give it all up and get past the wading pool and go in over your head, and completely sell out for me, your not there yet.

The church is here as a base station. Think of it as a fire department. A fire erupts downtown at the “Atheist Are Us 99 cent store” and the whole department has to go fight it. While driving the truck there, the traffic backs up and slows you down frustrating you. The train comes along so you have to wait for it. Finally you get downtown.

Your there all day long doing everything you can to put out the fire and share the love of Jesus. Finally at the end of the day you drive back to the station. There’s your pastor handing out cold refreshing holy water to quench your thirst. There are spiritual snacks of gospel songs and beloved hymns waiting for you. There is a nice soft bed and pillow for you to lay on filled with those scriptures near to your heart. This is your base station to get renewed before you go back out into the wilderness.
Satan hates it when someone becomes a Christian and he starts doing all he can to attack them. But he loves it when someone who is called a Christian does nothing to help others know Christ.

Why are you here? Are you sold out to Christ? Are you ready to tell the Good News to anyone who will listen, knowing YOU cannot save them, but the Holy Spirit can. Is there anyone you can think of right now that needs Jesus Christ? Listen to this email I got from a friend yesterday….

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, "OK dad, I'm ready." His Pastor dad asked, "Ready for what?" "Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out." Dad responded, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain." The boy gave his dad a surprised look asking, "But, Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?" Dad answered, "Son, I am not going out in this weather." Despondently, the boy asked, "Dad, can I go? Please?" His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here are the tracts; be careful, son."
"Thanks, Dad!" And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract. After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw - and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally, this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"
With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE." With that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed. "Thank you, son! And God Bless You!" Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?" Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.
As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, "No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longerhad any hope or will to live.
So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck.
Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell down stairs startled me.I thought, "I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away." I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly.
I thought to myself again, "Who on earth could this be? Nobody everrings my bell or comes to see me. "I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all thewhile the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life.
His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words thatcame from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.'
Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As thelittle angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my doorand read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract.
Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them anymore. You see, I am now a Happy Child of the KING and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say 'THANK YOU' to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and, by so doing, spared my soul from eternity in hell."
There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise andhonor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably thisuniverse has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son... Except for One. This Father also allowed His Son to go out into acold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, The Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named.

You say though, “Well we need to visit those old members who left for one reason or another”. Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go? “We need to visit those people around the church.” Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go? “Well I don’t have any of those tracts that little boy had.” Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go.

PASS OUT THE TRACTS

Bringing people to church is necessary, but the job Jesus gave us to do before he ascended into heaven is to “Go share the good news to everyone you talk to, and make disciples.” So that is what I give you now. Go share the Good News to everyone. Shout it from the rooftops.
And if you are not sold out completely to Jesus, then now is the time. If you have not given your life to Jesus completely, even if you were baptized many years ago, but you have not given your heart to him, right now is the time to do that.

If you want to sell out, if you want to be transformed so you can transform, if you want to give all of yourself to Jesus right now

come up as we sing this last hymn so we can pray together….