This morning the service was beautiful. Kyla Moon shared what the Lord was doing in her life. Mrs. Comfort, from South Africa, with her children joined today. Her words of thankfulness for the church were so kind. Tears flowed freely.
When the church is alive it is a beautiful thing to behold. Passion is in the air. Focus becomes natural because all are walking, even running, in the same direction. Church is good.
We made our financial budget with money left over to bless and be involved with Kyla's mission trip. We desire to be united in the activity of God no matter who is directly going through the experience.
It reminds me of the very early church in the Book of Acts. And you remember what they accomplished in the few short years of coming into existence!
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
But the impact of the Kingdom of God movement was not fully realized until a few years later... Acts 17:6b ...“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
Royal Heights, may the Lord use us, as His people, to turn this world upside down!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Just Sitting Around
Why do people feel guilty for taking a rest?
Someone calls you on the phone when your resting on the couch and you quickly get up and answer the call trying to clear your voice. "Were you sleeping?" "No, I'm up!"
Why the guilt?
The Bible encourages rest. One of the commands is to take a rest. Exodus 20:8 “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work..."
Rest seems to be the one thing that eludes us. Peace is what we need.
Take a break - without the guilt!
Someone calls you on the phone when your resting on the couch and you quickly get up and answer the call trying to clear your voice. "Were you sleeping?" "No, I'm up!"
Why the guilt?
The Bible encourages rest. One of the commands is to take a rest. Exodus 20:8 “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work..."
Rest seems to be the one thing that eludes us. Peace is what we need.
Take a break - without the guilt!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Chocolate
Christmas is a time for sweets! Chocolate seems to be the "gift" given when you don't really know the person you are gifting or when you just want to say "thank you for being my friend". Chocolate is always a hit. How can you really go wrong!
Nothing seems to taste better than when you find the perfect chocolate.
Psalm 119: 103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
As I study the Word of the LORD often I find a tasty morsel. The Word is sweet and pleasant to the taste. Finding a morsel is what I am looking for as I go through the Bible. The morsel will lead to the meal.
As the new year approaches, it will be good to start afresh getting back into the Word of God. Let's read it together. It will give you a good appetite!
Nothing seems to taste better than when you find the perfect chocolate.
Psalm 119: 103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
As I study the Word of the LORD often I find a tasty morsel. The Word is sweet and pleasant to the taste. Finding a morsel is what I am looking for as I go through the Bible. The morsel will lead to the meal.
As the new year approaches, it will be good to start afresh getting back into the Word of God. Let's read it together. It will give you a good appetite!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Family Photos
Why does a family photo muster up feelings? Just looking at one can bring a smile or a thought? The power of a photo. It is a simple but powerful way to make us remember.
Jesus had the same thought when He introduced baptism and the Lord's supper. These are photos to capture a moment in time that has great value. Baptism shows the death and resurrection of the Lord and the Lord's supper shows the death of Christ. His suffering is His photos for us.
"...As often as you do this do this in rememberance of Me!" ~Jesus
Jesus had the same thought when He introduced baptism and the Lord's supper. These are photos to capture a moment in time that has great value. Baptism shows the death and resurrection of the Lord and the Lord's supper shows the death of Christ. His suffering is His photos for us.
"...As often as you do this do this in rememberance of Me!" ~Jesus
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Boxing Day Specials!
Everyone seems to be looking for that special deal. The one piece of furniture or electronic devise that life can't be lived without.
On Boxing Day I went to the store, Future Shop. People had slept out side throughout the night just so they would be the fist people into the store in the morning. They had to have the deals they were oftering. The place was packed with people. I left without pciking anything up.
Everyone seems to be looking for the best deal. A deal where they know they have got the best price. If this is "really" true, everyone would run to receieve the gospel.
The gospel is free. It's a gift. People should be staying up late just so they could be the first to aquire it.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
On Boxing Day I went to the store, Future Shop. People had slept out side throughout the night just so they would be the fist people into the store in the morning. They had to have the deals they were oftering. The place was packed with people. I left without pciking anything up.
Everyone seems to be looking for the best deal. A deal where they know they have got the best price. If this is "really" true, everyone would run to receieve the gospel.
The gospel is free. It's a gift. People should be staying up late just so they could be the first to aquire it.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas!
I'm sitting with family - Eric, Cynthia, Adam, Aaron, Wanda, Richard and Simon, enjoying the day of celebration. We are watching "Who wants to be a Millionaire", guessing at a the questions and missing each one. Laughter! Fun! and Joy!
Phil 1:5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
So much of what we do is in the context of family and fellowship. If this area of our lives are in conflict much of life is disappointing. It is important to keep a watchful eye on all our relationships. The value of family is critical.
Often we treat those who we love like strangers, relationally and strangers like family. We MUST turn this around to see our families improve. Let's celebrate our love for each other!
Phil 1:5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
So much of what we do is in the context of family and fellowship. If this area of our lives are in conflict much of life is disappointing. It is important to keep a watchful eye on all our relationships. The value of family is critical.
Often we treat those who we love like strangers, relationally and strangers like family. We MUST turn this around to see our families improve. Let's celebrate our love for each other!
Monday, December 24, 2007
The Day Before Christmas
To watch the reaction of children on the day before Christmas would make anyone smile. Each are exciting as they anticipate the coming of the day. A day full of fun, presents and food.
Can you imagine the day before the coming of the Lord as a human unto planet earth? How did the angels react to the news of their LORD coming? Did heaven get excited about the events that were about to unfold?
1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
...angels desire to look into the ways of God!
Rejoice for the day comes tomorrow to celebrate the birth and coming of our LORD! He is our King and Saviour!
Can you imagine the day before the coming of the Lord as a human unto planet earth? How did the angels react to the news of their LORD coming? Did heaven get excited about the events that were about to unfold?
1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
...angels desire to look into the ways of God!
Rejoice for the day comes tomorrow to celebrate the birth and coming of our LORD! He is our King and Saviour!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Snow! Snow!! Snow!!!
Wow, I'm looking outside and seeing a lot of white stuff!
The area around our house looks so fresh and clear with all the snow freshly fallen. The trees look like Christmas is just around the corner. All this reminds me of the verse...
Isaiah 1: 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“ Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
With the Christmas season upon us, I hope this verse has us think about the LORD of our salvation. We are clean because of Christ. We are new and fresh because of the death and resurrection of the Son.
There is no other way to be right with God other than through His only Son. This Christmas would be a great time to invite someone who needs to "reason" this out, to the Christmas Eve service at Royal Heights - 11706 - 96th ave Delta, BC at 7PM.
Shelia, can you make it out even with the snow on the ground?!
The area around our house looks so fresh and clear with all the snow freshly fallen. The trees look like Christmas is just around the corner. All this reminds me of the verse...
Isaiah 1: 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“ Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
With the Christmas season upon us, I hope this verse has us think about the LORD of our salvation. We are clean because of Christ. We are new and fresh because of the death and resurrection of the Son.
There is no other way to be right with God other than through His only Son. This Christmas would be a great time to invite someone who needs to "reason" this out, to the Christmas Eve service at Royal Heights - 11706 - 96th ave Delta, BC at 7PM.
Shelia, can you make it out even with the snow on the ground?!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Finding Meaning in it All
One man wrote, "We are all on a search for meaning, purpose and significance in our lives that is how we are built. Victor Frankl, a Nazi concentration camp survivor, states, “The will to meaning is a really specific need not reducible to other needs, and is in greater or smaller degree present in all human beings.”
Frankl experienced what happens when people lack hope, and a sense of purpose or meaning in their lives. In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he tells the story of a fellow prisoner who had a dream that he would be released for the camp on a certain date. He believed the dream to be true and for awhile it gave him hope that he would survive his experience. However, as the date approached, he realized he would not be released and he lost hope. Without hope, he lost his desire to live and he quickly succumbed to illness, dying on the very day he was dreamed he would be released!
This experience led Frankl to develop a psychological therapy called “Logotherapy” to help people identify the sources of hope and meaning in their lives. He states,
“One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.”
Thus man’s search for meaning is the defining quest of the human identity. It is the need to find “fulfillment” The need to answer the questions ”Who am I?” “Where do I belong?” “Why was I born?” “What is my purpose?”
Our lives are for a purpose. It is important that we discover what that purpose really is or we end up spending a lot of hours in waste and confusion instead of investment and focus. Life is a precious gift. Meant to have meaning and purpose, how is yours going?
Frankl experienced what happens when people lack hope, and a sense of purpose or meaning in their lives. In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he tells the story of a fellow prisoner who had a dream that he would be released for the camp on a certain date. He believed the dream to be true and for awhile it gave him hope that he would survive his experience. However, as the date approached, he realized he would not be released and he lost hope. Without hope, he lost his desire to live and he quickly succumbed to illness, dying on the very day he was dreamed he would be released!
This experience led Frankl to develop a psychological therapy called “Logotherapy” to help people identify the sources of hope and meaning in their lives. He states,
“One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.”
Thus man’s search for meaning is the defining quest of the human identity. It is the need to find “fulfillment” The need to answer the questions ”Who am I?” “Where do I belong?” “Why was I born?” “What is my purpose?”
Our lives are for a purpose. It is important that we discover what that purpose really is or we end up spending a lot of hours in waste and confusion instead of investment and focus. Life is a precious gift. Meant to have meaning and purpose, how is yours going?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Church's Christmas Eve Service
12 Signs Your Church’s Christmas Eve Service is Too Traditional
1) Greeters welcome visitors who are in their 50s by saying “Hello there, young whipper-snapper. Want some candy?”
2) Silent Night is still sung in the original German even though nobody speaks German.
3) Vinny and Guido stand in the center isle and make sure anyone who doesn’t sit in the right pew “disappears.”
4) The president of the congregation was recently impeached for suggesting they consider indoor plumbing for the restrooms.
5) The head elder insists that during the reading of the Christmas story the names of all the sheperds be recited. After all he was there and was responsible for the guestbook.
6) After getting away with lip-syncing the same Christmas Eve sermon for 27 years, the senior pastor was busted when the record player started skipping.
7) Nobody is sure which is older, Grandma Ethel or the fruitcakes she gives out as gifts after the service.
8) Mrs. Tanunbaum was diagnosed with 90% hearing loss in both ears in 1988, but that hasn’t stopped her from playing the piano at every Christmas Eve service.
9) The Christmas Eve program gets printed every year using a Commodore 64 and a dot-matrix printer.
10) Three years ago the church split over whether the pink candle in the advent wreath is to be lit on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of Advent.
11) Two years ago the church split again after the words to “What child is this?” were changed to “Where ox and mule-like mammal are feeding.”
12) Some members still object to the large number of “horseless carriages” in the parking lot during the service.
1) Greeters welcome visitors who are in their 50s by saying “Hello there, young whipper-snapper. Want some candy?”
2) Silent Night is still sung in the original German even though nobody speaks German.
3) Vinny and Guido stand in the center isle and make sure anyone who doesn’t sit in the right pew “disappears.”
4) The president of the congregation was recently impeached for suggesting they consider indoor plumbing for the restrooms.
5) The head elder insists that during the reading of the Christmas story the names of all the sheperds be recited. After all he was there and was responsible for the guestbook.
6) After getting away with lip-syncing the same Christmas Eve sermon for 27 years, the senior pastor was busted when the record player started skipping.
7) Nobody is sure which is older, Grandma Ethel or the fruitcakes she gives out as gifts after the service.
8) Mrs. Tanunbaum was diagnosed with 90% hearing loss in both ears in 1988, but that hasn’t stopped her from playing the piano at every Christmas Eve service.
9) The Christmas Eve program gets printed every year using a Commodore 64 and a dot-matrix printer.
10) Three years ago the church split over whether the pink candle in the advent wreath is to be lit on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of Advent.
11) Two years ago the church split again after the words to “What child is this?” were changed to “Where ox and mule-like mammal are feeding.”
12) Some members still object to the large number of “horseless carriages” in the parking lot during the service.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
My Friend had a Birthday
We are getting older! When I was young it seemed as if the world was on a slow motion ride. Now that I'm 48 years old, it seem like the roller coaster of life is speeding a head at 90 miles an hour!
My friend had a birthday this past week. He feels the same as me. We were young friends and now we are old friend! Wow!!
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of the use of time on this planet.
Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Redeeming the time - get the best life out of it; use it to the highest level that it will allow you to.
Soon you will be old. Have you passed your faith on to someone else, as yet? Have you delivered the most important relationship to another who would enjoy it? Redeem the time, right now!
My friend had a birthday this past week. He feels the same as me. We were young friends and now we are old friend! Wow!!
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of the use of time on this planet.
Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Redeeming the time - get the best life out of it; use it to the highest level that it will allow you to.
Soon you will be old. Have you passed your faith on to someone else, as yet? Have you delivered the most important relationship to another who would enjoy it? Redeem the time, right now!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Drinking Parties at Christmas
Many of you work out in the "real" world. The world where it is very common to have a party happening where your fellow employees are under the influence or out right drunk. Christmas is the season where this seems to be the norm.
I remember my fire fighting days when I would go to these parties. Before I started to get serious about the Lord, I was also one of those employees that drank too much. But after I made peace with the Lord I experienced a noticeable change in me. I still went to these parties to laugh and fun with the guys but instead of becoming drunk, I became a friend, I just didn't drink any more.
After these events, some of the guys would say, "I thought Christians were all stuffy and pious but I can see that you can still have fun." I always appreciated how the Lord let me continue to witness with Him, without fearing to go into the place where sinners dwell.
The Apostle Paul understood the balance that a believer must have in order to function and make a difference in his world of influence.
Romans 14:14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Maybe this is the fulfillment of the words of Augustine, "Love God and do whatever you want!" Notice he DIDN"T say, "Do whatever you want and try to love God!" The key is Love God than enjoy this holiday season with your fellow employees and friends. Be a witness before your Lord!
I remember my fire fighting days when I would go to these parties. Before I started to get serious about the Lord, I was also one of those employees that drank too much. But after I made peace with the Lord I experienced a noticeable change in me. I still went to these parties to laugh and fun with the guys but instead of becoming drunk, I became a friend, I just didn't drink any more.
After these events, some of the guys would say, "I thought Christians were all stuffy and pious but I can see that you can still have fun." I always appreciated how the Lord let me continue to witness with Him, without fearing to go into the place where sinners dwell.
The Apostle Paul understood the balance that a believer must have in order to function and make a difference in his world of influence.
Romans 14:14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Maybe this is the fulfillment of the words of Augustine, "Love God and do whatever you want!" Notice he DIDN"T say, "Do whatever you want and try to love God!" The key is Love God than enjoy this holiday season with your fellow employees and friends. Be a witness before your Lord!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Things are Breaking Down
My 1997 Van just turned over to 400,000kms! That's a lot of kms under the bridge. I can see "ol' Betsey" giving up the ghost, soon.
Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The Lord gave us a new spirit when we became His child. We were born again. Our "real" you has been made righteous before our holy God. We were given His righteousness,...as a GIFT! This is an amazing truth when we start to fully grasp it.
We have received our new, clean, fresh, righteous spirit in our old unrighteous mind and body which the Bible calls "The Flesh". Our new spirit joyfully desires to fulfill the will of the Father in Heaven but our "flesh" desires to live out its life on the earth. The flesh is not heaven bound and it has no desire to serve the Lord except in a religious and pious way.
Christian, we are to put off the "old conduct" that the flesh is desiring us to remain in even after we become a believer. We are to renew our minds and begin to think like a person who we really are,...a child of God.
Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The Lord gave us a new spirit when we became His child. We were born again. Our "real" you has been made righteous before our holy God. We were given His righteousness,...as a GIFT! This is an amazing truth when we start to fully grasp it.
We have received our new, clean, fresh, righteous spirit in our old unrighteous mind and body which the Bible calls "The Flesh". Our new spirit joyfully desires to fulfill the will of the Father in Heaven but our "flesh" desires to live out its life on the earth. The flesh is not heaven bound and it has no desire to serve the Lord except in a religious and pious way.
Christian, we are to put off the "old conduct" that the flesh is desiring us to remain in even after we become a believer. We are to renew our minds and begin to think like a person who we really are,...a child of God.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Christ or Santa
Many holidays today have two different celebrations or connotations - one worldly, and the other Christian.
The world celebrates Easter with Easter bunnies and Easter eggs, new clothes and spring breaks - heralding the coming of spring. But Easter is a holy day for Christians. A time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, His victory over sin and death, and our hope for eternal life. It is a very special day for us.
Christmas is another such holiday. For the world it is Xmas, Happy Holidays, Santa Claus coming down the chimney, and toys. But for Christians, Christmas celebrates the miracle of the virgin birth and the coming of our Saviour. We realize that God loves us so much that He came into our world to live and die among us, and teach us how to live both now and for all eternity.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Paul is warning Timothy that in his day there would come a time when people would just as soon believe a fable over the truth. Sounds like today's world, doesn't it? Nothing shows up quicker than when we come to celebrate Easter & Christmas. Even Christians teach their children the worldly fables as if they are truth to their young, vulnerable children.
Santa is NOT real and should have no part of the Christmas story in a believer's home. Our children believe what we tell them. If we "pretend" which is really LIE to our children about Santa Claus when we we come clean and tell them that we were lying to them? Who will be the first to say to them, "Santa is NOT true!" Your child will be needlessly hurt.
If Santa has to be brought up around your home because the children are taught this story at every level of their schooling, couldn't you just tell them the truth? "Santa is a made up fairy tale. He is like a clown. He is just a man dressed up like a common clown to teach children to be friendly. There is NO REAL Santa Claus, it is just make believe."
Your child will probably go, "Oh, okay mom! Thanks!" Then they can see and understand the Santa Claus story WITHOUT the confusion of a parent saying "He's real!" That's a LIE!
I encourage us to tell the story of Jesus, Mary and Joesph. Keep this story alive. It's TRUE! It is the story of the ages! It's over 2000 years old and is the foundation to your children's faith later on.
We choose what and who we worship during this season of celebration. Chose to celebrate and worship ONLY the Christ. The world is going to do it's best, (now says, "Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas") to take this season as their own, let's take it back to a focus of Christ and His coming or do like the early church and not even celebrate this season at all.
By definition, we worship what we choose to give the supreme devotion of our feelings, time and energies to. God must command us to worship Him because we can choose to give our feelings, time and energies to things other than God. Therefore, acceptable worship of God involves consciously choosing to worship and serve only Him even in the face of the temptation to give these things to others.
You can't be in love with anything without letting your mouth, knees, hands, body know about it. God's loves to see His children teaching their children the proper ways of God. Remember how the Lord first instructed the children of Israel to be careful to teach the true ways of God to their children:
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The world celebrates Easter with Easter bunnies and Easter eggs, new clothes and spring breaks - heralding the coming of spring. But Easter is a holy day for Christians. A time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, His victory over sin and death, and our hope for eternal life. It is a very special day for us.
Christmas is another such holiday. For the world it is Xmas, Happy Holidays, Santa Claus coming down the chimney, and toys. But for Christians, Christmas celebrates the miracle of the virgin birth and the coming of our Saviour. We realize that God loves us so much that He came into our world to live and die among us, and teach us how to live both now and for all eternity.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Paul is warning Timothy that in his day there would come a time when people would just as soon believe a fable over the truth. Sounds like today's world, doesn't it? Nothing shows up quicker than when we come to celebrate Easter & Christmas. Even Christians teach their children the worldly fables as if they are truth to their young, vulnerable children.
Santa is NOT real and should have no part of the Christmas story in a believer's home. Our children believe what we tell them. If we "pretend" which is really LIE to our children about Santa Claus when we we come clean and tell them that we were lying to them? Who will be the first to say to them, "Santa is NOT true!" Your child will be needlessly hurt.
If Santa has to be brought up around your home because the children are taught this story at every level of their schooling, couldn't you just tell them the truth? "Santa is a made up fairy tale. He is like a clown. He is just a man dressed up like a common clown to teach children to be friendly. There is NO REAL Santa Claus, it is just make believe."
Your child will probably go, "Oh, okay mom! Thanks!" Then they can see and understand the Santa Claus story WITHOUT the confusion of a parent saying "He's real!" That's a LIE!
I encourage us to tell the story of Jesus, Mary and Joesph. Keep this story alive. It's TRUE! It is the story of the ages! It's over 2000 years old and is the foundation to your children's faith later on.
We choose what and who we worship during this season of celebration. Chose to celebrate and worship ONLY the Christ. The world is going to do it's best, (now says, "Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas") to take this season as their own, let's take it back to a focus of Christ and His coming or do like the early church and not even celebrate this season at all.
By definition, we worship what we choose to give the supreme devotion of our feelings, time and energies to. God must command us to worship Him because we can choose to give our feelings, time and energies to things other than God. Therefore, acceptable worship of God involves consciously choosing to worship and serve only Him even in the face of the temptation to give these things to others.
You can't be in love with anything without letting your mouth, knees, hands, body know about it. God's loves to see His children teaching their children the proper ways of God. Remember how the Lord first instructed the children of Israel to be careful to teach the true ways of God to their children:
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Welcome to the Church Body
Every healthy church body will have people desiring to be apart of it. But the way a person joins a church is different from church to church. Some churches would have each person wanting to join to come before an Elder Board to be examined to see if they are in the faith. Some churches don't have formal membership or joining at all.
At Royal Heights we join people on Sunday morning or during a Home Group. These statements below explain the why and how they join to the body:
To the person:
We believe that when you accepted Christ, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you. By your coming to join this body of believers, will you be open to be used by the Holy Spirit? To help us become stronger in the faith and in our relationship with God? If you are willing would you say 'amen'?
To the congregation:
God has invited this person today to this local congregation to strengthen us in our relationship with Him. People will you be open to let this person into your life? To strengthen you and encourage you? If you are willing will you say 'amen'.
To the congregation:
We also believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We see the evidence of the working power of the Holy Spirit amongst us. Church, will you be open to be used by the Holy Spirit to strengthen this life? To invest in this person so that they will have a strong relationship with the Lord? If you are willing, stand up and say 'amen.'
To the person:
We can't get into your life unless you let us in. Will you be open to let us in to help you in any area of your life so that we can strengthen your walk with the Lord? If you would be open to our involvement in your life would you say 'amen'?
To all:
We have just made a covenant agreement. We have promised before God and each other that we will love and encourage this life and each other in the Lord.
Let's pray; Thanks Lord.
At Royal Heights we join people on Sunday morning or during a Home Group. These statements below explain the why and how they join to the body:
To the person:
We believe that when you accepted Christ, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you. By your coming to join this body of believers, will you be open to be used by the Holy Spirit? To help us become stronger in the faith and in our relationship with God? If you are willing would you say 'amen'?
To the congregation:
God has invited this person today to this local congregation to strengthen us in our relationship with Him. People will you be open to let this person into your life? To strengthen you and encourage you? If you are willing will you say 'amen'.
To the congregation:
We also believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We see the evidence of the working power of the Holy Spirit amongst us. Church, will you be open to be used by the Holy Spirit to strengthen this life? To invest in this person so that they will have a strong relationship with the Lord? If you are willing, stand up and say 'amen.'
To the person:
We can't get into your life unless you let us in. Will you be open to let us in to help you in any area of your life so that we can strengthen your walk with the Lord? If you would be open to our involvement in your life would you say 'amen'?
To all:
We have just made a covenant agreement. We have promised before God and each other that we will love and encourage this life and each other in the Lord.
Let's pray; Thanks Lord.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Pride
“Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
“It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.” CS Lewis
This morning during the worship time we had together we talked about Angels. Angels are the Lord's servants. They are His messengers.
One of His great angels made a choice to go against Him and receive the worship that was due Him. This Seraphim, was a glorious one, called Lucifer, the Son of the morning. His sin was PRIDE.
Isaiah 14:12
“ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Pride is an evil that's hard to break away from, especially if we are really good at something in our lives. And the difficulty here, is we are each really good at something that sets us apart from the rest. We begin to see this "good" in us as something to be praised and honoured. We forget we are like the moon, the reason we shine is because the light of God shines upon us. If the moon comes under the shadow of the earth, it's "light" immediately disappears. It has no light in itself without the light of the sun. So, this truth is the Christian's truth.
Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
Christian, we have so much,....in Christ! We have the Source of the universe as our Lord and God. He has given freely to us the things of God. He has resourced His church with power and authority. Our mission is one of the greatest honours given to a created creature, to bring all men to the Christ.
He asks only one thing of us, never to do it in our own strength. Never to believe it is us doing the good works and not His power that works within us. He asks us to give glory only where glory is due,...to our only God and Saviour!
When we confess that without Him we are nothing. Without Him we are worthless and deserving of death as a vertict in the highest court. Without Him we are a people of no hope, no promise and no life. When we confess these things, then pride vanishes and a humble, thankful heart enters as it seeks to worship its Lord.
Oh, the joy of being a Christ-ian!
“It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.” CS Lewis
This morning during the worship time we had together we talked about Angels. Angels are the Lord's servants. They are His messengers.
One of His great angels made a choice to go against Him and receive the worship that was due Him. This Seraphim, was a glorious one, called Lucifer, the Son of the morning. His sin was PRIDE.
Isaiah 14:12
“ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Pride is an evil that's hard to break away from, especially if we are really good at something in our lives. And the difficulty here, is we are each really good at something that sets us apart from the rest. We begin to see this "good" in us as something to be praised and honoured. We forget we are like the moon, the reason we shine is because the light of God shines upon us. If the moon comes under the shadow of the earth, it's "light" immediately disappears. It has no light in itself without the light of the sun. So, this truth is the Christian's truth.
Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
Christian, we have so much,....in Christ! We have the Source of the universe as our Lord and God. He has given freely to us the things of God. He has resourced His church with power and authority. Our mission is one of the greatest honours given to a created creature, to bring all men to the Christ.
He asks only one thing of us, never to do it in our own strength. Never to believe it is us doing the good works and not His power that works within us. He asks us to give glory only where glory is due,...to our only God and Saviour!
When we confess that without Him we are nothing. Without Him we are worthless and deserving of death as a vertict in the highest court. Without Him we are a people of no hope, no promise and no life. When we confess these things, then pride vanishes and a humble, thankful heart enters as it seeks to worship its Lord.
Oh, the joy of being a Christ-ian!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Quotes
"Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever."- Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss Universe contest
"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC
"I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body."- Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward
"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff."- Mariah Carey, pop singer
"I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president."- Hillary Clinton, commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.
"The police are not here to create disorder. They’re here to preserve disorder."- Chicago Mayor Richard Daley during the 1968 Democratic convention.
"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."- Former French President Charles de Gaulle
"I haven’t committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."- David Dinkins, former New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.
"The Internet is a great way to get on the Net."- Former Republican presidential candidate and Senator, Bob Dole
"Things are more like they are now than they ever were before."- Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
"Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas."- Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees."- Jason Kidd, upon being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
As we read the Scriptures we find that Jesus NEVER said one word without clearly thinking it through. All Scripture is perfect. All the words of Christ are LIFE and TRUTH.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever."- Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss Universe contest
"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC
"I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body."- Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward
"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff."- Mariah Carey, pop singer
"I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president."- Hillary Clinton, commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.
"The police are not here to create disorder. They’re here to preserve disorder."- Chicago Mayor Richard Daley during the 1968 Democratic convention.
"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."- Former French President Charles de Gaulle
"I haven’t committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."- David Dinkins, former New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.
"The Internet is a great way to get on the Net."- Former Republican presidential candidate and Senator, Bob Dole
"Things are more like they are now than they ever were before."- Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
"Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas."- Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees."- Jason Kidd, upon being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks
As we read the Scriptures we find that Jesus NEVER said one word without clearly thinking it through. All Scripture is perfect. All the words of Christ are LIFE and TRUTH.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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