I was watching TV tonight and was just reflecting on the constant amount of stories that come out of Hollywood. Few with good character as the base. Many with confused morals and dark characters as the heroes.
What makes a good story?
I read the Scripture and see the stories of God. Many also deal with the low morals of people and the lostness of man. The difference is these stories are real and give us an in depth look into the heart of our Creator. We learn real truth.
Hollywood is amusement. Amusement is an activity that keeps you busy but has no real purpose. Like an amusement park's ferries wheel going around and around yet going no where. The Bible is entertainment. Entertainment is the ability to grab hold of you and not let you go until the story is told. Hollywood tries to be entertainment but comes in as amusement in real life.
We all like a good story. Be the story.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A Good Service Today
Sunday morning is always a treat. The morning starts with me leaving the house and walking 100 steps to the church building (I live in the house next door). I quickly finish off the bulletin inserts and get them printed off. I hear the prayer meeting going on in the next room, Vi is praying.
I go upstairs to the Adult Bible study that is just beginning. We are studying in the book of Genesis (for the last six months) about the story of Jacob wrestling with the Lord. Pearl is teaching and doing a great job.
I sneak out early and speak with Dave about 300 Salmon he has coming in on Monday. Dave is a man that must stay busy to stay sane. He juggles 24 things on a daily bases and only drops one or two. 300 fish,....wow! I speak to Dave about calling my phone during the children's part of the service so it will ring.
I meet the mission team we have sleeping at the church all week. They come from Kansas and are on mission. Thirteen young people seeking to experience God. Kevin,the leader, agrees to introduce their group during the announcements.
I go into the auditorium to set up my computer for the power point presentation that is used during the service. The power point takes hours to work through but people seem to enjoy being able to see and hear the message. I set things up. Margaret mentions that this is Gloria's final Sunday before see heads to Beijing. I make another power point to use during the announcements. As she leaves Colleen mentions we have bread to give away. I quickly make another power point to use during the announcements. Jim mentions that Mike is heading to China to live and he's at the airport now. I make another power point to mention this during the announcements.
An Iranian couple come and give me their power point to use in the sermon this morning. The power point isn't ready and needs to be revamped for the service. I reworked and re size their presentation.
Callie comes to see where she will be singing during the sermon. I take her through the sermon presentation so she can she where she will fit in. She smiles and goes back to her two new friends so has invited that morning.
I finish setting the computer up and notice Johnston standing beside me. Johnson is a man who is stranded with his family in Canada. I have them staying at the church until we help them get back home. Johnson wonders how things are going and if we can find something for him to do. I reassure him as I look at his wife and two young children sit quietly at the back of the church. Stress.
I notice Bryan and Janelle come in with their baby, who will be dedicated today. Grandparents are smiling and extended family is waiting. I hear a baby crying, not Keziah. I see Spanish family beside them and remember they want to join the church today. Go over and confirm.
Service starts, the room looks half empty. Everyone is still at the coffee bar. My son, Simon is cooking Salmon for all the missionaries. His first major connection lending a hand. I pray things will go well for him.
Worship continues. Room is filling up. People are happy. Their is a good spirit in the room. Trish is leading with Jim, sounds good. A baby is crying. Lots of clapping during the songs. Announcements. Everything well fine, Kevin came on cue.
Children time. Dave's phone is not making my ring. Finally. I talk about prayer. Kids wonder what I saying but happy they are the centre of focus. BAM leads them off.
Sermon time. Dedication goes well. Iranian couple hit a home run. Callie is on key and moves us to the Heart of Worship. Simon is still cooking somewhere. Pray for Gloria and Mike. Preach on "How to Stop Procrastination". Spanish family of four come forward and join. Everyone hugs them.
Get to the front door. The ones that really need a hug leave early. They are hurting.I give lots of hug today. Encourage a 7 year old quietly who got embarrassed today. Smiling. Hugging.
Get mission team ready to eat. Shelia is smiling. Things look good. Simon has got the fish cooked and in the board room. We sit down and eat. Clear tables so I can show them the differences between USA and Canadian people. Present the info and the gospel.
Home time, it's 3PM.
I sit on my favorite chair. Wanda asks how was service today. (She had spent her time cooking porgies for the mission team). "It was a good service today"
I go upstairs to the Adult Bible study that is just beginning. We are studying in the book of Genesis (for the last six months) about the story of Jacob wrestling with the Lord. Pearl is teaching and doing a great job.
I sneak out early and speak with Dave about 300 Salmon he has coming in on Monday. Dave is a man that must stay busy to stay sane. He juggles 24 things on a daily bases and only drops one or two. 300 fish,....wow! I speak to Dave about calling my phone during the children's part of the service so it will ring.
I meet the mission team we have sleeping at the church all week. They come from Kansas and are on mission. Thirteen young people seeking to experience God. Kevin,the leader, agrees to introduce their group during the announcements.
I go into the auditorium to set up my computer for the power point presentation that is used during the service. The power point takes hours to work through but people seem to enjoy being able to see and hear the message. I set things up. Margaret mentions that this is Gloria's final Sunday before see heads to Beijing. I make another power point to use during the announcements. As she leaves Colleen mentions we have bread to give away. I quickly make another power point to use during the announcements. Jim mentions that Mike is heading to China to live and he's at the airport now. I make another power point to mention this during the announcements.
An Iranian couple come and give me their power point to use in the sermon this morning. The power point isn't ready and needs to be revamped for the service. I reworked and re size their presentation.
Callie comes to see where she will be singing during the sermon. I take her through the sermon presentation so she can she where she will fit in. She smiles and goes back to her two new friends so has invited that morning.
I finish setting the computer up and notice Johnston standing beside me. Johnson is a man who is stranded with his family in Canada. I have them staying at the church until we help them get back home. Johnson wonders how things are going and if we can find something for him to do. I reassure him as I look at his wife and two young children sit quietly at the back of the church. Stress.
I notice Bryan and Janelle come in with their baby, who will be dedicated today. Grandparents are smiling and extended family is waiting. I hear a baby crying, not Keziah. I see Spanish family beside them and remember they want to join the church today. Go over and confirm.
Service starts, the room looks half empty. Everyone is still at the coffee bar. My son, Simon is cooking Salmon for all the missionaries. His first major connection lending a hand. I pray things will go well for him.
Worship continues. Room is filling up. People are happy. Their is a good spirit in the room. Trish is leading with Jim, sounds good. A baby is crying. Lots of clapping during the songs. Announcements. Everything well fine, Kevin came on cue.
Children time. Dave's phone is not making my ring. Finally. I talk about prayer. Kids wonder what I saying but happy they are the centre of focus. BAM leads them off.
Sermon time. Dedication goes well. Iranian couple hit a home run. Callie is on key and moves us to the Heart of Worship. Simon is still cooking somewhere. Pray for Gloria and Mike. Preach on "How to Stop Procrastination". Spanish family of four come forward and join. Everyone hugs them.
Get to the front door. The ones that really need a hug leave early. They are hurting.I give lots of hug today. Encourage a 7 year old quietly who got embarrassed today. Smiling. Hugging.
Get mission team ready to eat. Shelia is smiling. Things look good. Simon has got the fish cooked and in the board room. We sit down and eat. Clear tables so I can show them the differences between USA and Canadian people. Present the info and the gospel.
Home time, it's 3PM.
I sit on my favorite chair. Wanda asks how was service today. (She had spent her time cooking porgies for the mission team). "It was a good service today"
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Leadership Quotes
Many leadership quotes are words from the Bible just rearranged in a different way. The wisdom of Jesus, who was only thirty to thirty-three years old when He spoke His profound sayings, has never been found to be in error in 2000 years. The words Christ spoke are words so deep and true.
Since we see Jesus' words all over the wise words of others it would serve our propose well to read His words. Read these leadership quotes and think of the scriptures and see if the essence of the thought are not first found there!
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter F. Drucker
Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.
George S. Patton
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.
Dwight Eisenhower
Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too.
Robert Half
The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
Theodore Roosevelt
A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.
James Crook
Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
St. Augustine
The question, 'Who ought to be boss?', is like asking, 'Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
Henry Ford
Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.
Lewis Grizzard
Since we see Jesus' words all over the wise words of others it would serve our propose well to read His words. Read these leadership quotes and think of the scriptures and see if the essence of the thought are not first found there!
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter F. Drucker
Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.
George S. Patton
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.
Dwight Eisenhower
Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too.
Robert Half
The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
Theodore Roosevelt
A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.
James Crook
Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
St. Augustine
The question, 'Who ought to be boss?', is like asking, 'Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
Henry Ford
Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.
Lewis Grizzard
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sitting In A Coffee Shop
The world is changing at a tremendous rate. I'm sitting in Chapter's coffee shop working on my sermon. I'm preaching on "How to Stop Procrastating" so I better get this completed before Saturday at 12 midnight.
Our present day world is a marvel to behold. I drove up here in my van. Paid for my coffee with my debit card. Connected to Hotspot wireless with a credit card. With access to the web I can look up my sermon passage on 110 different Bible versions. I can review the passage through hundreds of commentaries. We live in amazing times.
Yet, is it said of us, "They have turned the world upside down", like was sai of the early disciples? Why did their world notice Christianity when they had no vehicles, no laptops, no wireless and no internet? How did they see and be apart of the changes of tranforming their world?
What the answer be "the Holy Spirit"?
We live in a world that has so much stuff and yet so little real power. Power according to the Bible is when a life can be completely transformed. This takes "God power". It can not be faked or tricked. It must be real. A real encounter with God's Son must occur.
Today's world has so much stuff, how do we get more of the early church's power? How do we say "silver and gold, I have none but such as a have, stand up and walk!" Church let's ask for thepower of the Holy Spirit to come visit us. Let's ask for transofrmed lives.
Holy Spirit come fill me...
Our present day world is a marvel to behold. I drove up here in my van. Paid for my coffee with my debit card. Connected to Hotspot wireless with a credit card. With access to the web I can look up my sermon passage on 110 different Bible versions. I can review the passage through hundreds of commentaries. We live in amazing times.
Yet, is it said of us, "They have turned the world upside down", like was sai of the early disciples? Why did their world notice Christianity when they had no vehicles, no laptops, no wireless and no internet? How did they see and be apart of the changes of tranforming their world?
What the answer be "the Holy Spirit"?
We live in a world that has so much stuff and yet so little real power. Power according to the Bible is when a life can be completely transformed. This takes "God power". It can not be faked or tricked. It must be real. A real encounter with God's Son must occur.
Today's world has so much stuff, how do we get more of the early church's power? How do we say "silver and gold, I have none but such as a have, stand up and walk!" Church let's ask for thepower of the Holy Spirit to come visit us. Let's ask for transofrmed lives.
Holy Spirit come fill me...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Spurgeon on Substitutionary Atonement
Spurgeon was a great preacher of his day. The reason: The power of the Holy Spirit in his life and sound doctrine. He understood the importance of the cross; the death and resurrection of the Christ. May we speak with the same passion.
"Those who set aside the atonement as a satisfaction for sin also murder the doctrine of justification by faith. They must do so. There is a common element which is the essence of both doctrines; so that, if you deny the one, you destroy the other.
Modern thought is nothing but an attempt to bring back the legal system of salvation by works. Our battle is the same as that which Luther fought at the Reformation. If you go to the very ground and root of it, grace is taken away, and human merit is substituted. The gracious act of God in pardoning sin is excluded, and human effort is made all in all, both for past sin and future hope. Every man is now to set up as his own savior, and the atonement is shelved as a pious fraud.
I will not foul my mouth with the unworthy phrases which have been used in reference to the substitutionary work of our Lord Jesus Christ; but it is a sore grief of heart to note how these evil things are tolerated by men whom we respect.
We shall not cease, dear brethren, in our ministry, most definitely and decidedly to preach the atoning sacrifice; and I will tell you why I shall be sure to do so. I have not personally a shadow of a hope of salvation from any other quarter: I am lost if Jesus be not my Substitute. I have been driven up into a corner by a pressing sense of my own personal sin, and have been made to despair of ever doing or being such that God can accept me in myself.
I must have a righteousness, perfect and Divine; yet it is beyond my own power to create. I find it in Christ: I read that it will become mine by faith, and by faith I take it. My conscience tells me that I must render to God's justice a recompense for the dishonor that I have done to His law, and I cannot find anything which bears the semblance of such a recompense till I look to Christ Jesus. Do I not remember when I first looked to Him, and was lightened? Do I not remember how often I have gone as a sinner to my Savior's feet, and looked anew at His wounds, and believed over again unto eternal life, feeling the old joy repeated by the deed?
Brethren, I cannot preach anything else, for I know nothing else. New dogmas may or may not be true; but of the truth of this doctrine, I am sure.
If anybody here is preaching the atonement, but does not like it, I dare not advise him to cease preaching it, but the words tremble on my lips. I am firmly persuaded that the unwilling or cold-hearted preacher of any doctrine is its worst enemy. It comes to this, in the long run, that the wounds of truth in the house of its false friends are worse than those given it by foes. If you do not love the cross in your heart's core, you had better let it alone. I can truly say that I preach the atonement con amore, with all my heart.......
Observers will have noticed that the joyous element has gone out of many pulpits. The preacher does not enjoy his own subject, and seldom speaks of having been in the Spirit while he was discoursing. He likes twenty minutes' preaching a great deal better than forty; and he is peculiarly apt to merge his two week-night services into one.
Nobody enjoys modern doctrine, for there is nothing to enjoy.......
I would like to rise from my bed, during the last five minutes of my life, to bear witness to the Divine sacrifice and the sin-atoning blood. I would then repeat those words which speak the truth of substitution most positively, even should I shock my hearers; for how could I regret that, as in Heaven my first words would be to ascribe my salvation to my Master's blood, my last act on earth was to shock His enemies by a testimony to the same fact?
"Those who set aside the atonement as a satisfaction for sin also murder the doctrine of justification by faith. They must do so. There is a common element which is the essence of both doctrines; so that, if you deny the one, you destroy the other.
Modern thought is nothing but an attempt to bring back the legal system of salvation by works. Our battle is the same as that which Luther fought at the Reformation. If you go to the very ground and root of it, grace is taken away, and human merit is substituted. The gracious act of God in pardoning sin is excluded, and human effort is made all in all, both for past sin and future hope. Every man is now to set up as his own savior, and the atonement is shelved as a pious fraud.
I will not foul my mouth with the unworthy phrases which have been used in reference to the substitutionary work of our Lord Jesus Christ; but it is a sore grief of heart to note how these evil things are tolerated by men whom we respect.
We shall not cease, dear brethren, in our ministry, most definitely and decidedly to preach the atoning sacrifice; and I will tell you why I shall be sure to do so. I have not personally a shadow of a hope of salvation from any other quarter: I am lost if Jesus be not my Substitute. I have been driven up into a corner by a pressing sense of my own personal sin, and have been made to despair of ever doing or being such that God can accept me in myself.
I must have a righteousness, perfect and Divine; yet it is beyond my own power to create. I find it in Christ: I read that it will become mine by faith, and by faith I take it. My conscience tells me that I must render to God's justice a recompense for the dishonor that I have done to His law, and I cannot find anything which bears the semblance of such a recompense till I look to Christ Jesus. Do I not remember when I first looked to Him, and was lightened? Do I not remember how often I have gone as a sinner to my Savior's feet, and looked anew at His wounds, and believed over again unto eternal life, feeling the old joy repeated by the deed?
Brethren, I cannot preach anything else, for I know nothing else. New dogmas may or may not be true; but of the truth of this doctrine, I am sure.
If anybody here is preaching the atonement, but does not like it, I dare not advise him to cease preaching it, but the words tremble on my lips. I am firmly persuaded that the unwilling or cold-hearted preacher of any doctrine is its worst enemy. It comes to this, in the long run, that the wounds of truth in the house of its false friends are worse than those given it by foes. If you do not love the cross in your heart's core, you had better let it alone. I can truly say that I preach the atonement con amore, with all my heart.......
Observers will have noticed that the joyous element has gone out of many pulpits. The preacher does not enjoy his own subject, and seldom speaks of having been in the Spirit while he was discoursing. He likes twenty minutes' preaching a great deal better than forty; and he is peculiarly apt to merge his two week-night services into one.
Nobody enjoys modern doctrine, for there is nothing to enjoy.......
I would like to rise from my bed, during the last five minutes of my life, to bear witness to the Divine sacrifice and the sin-atoning blood. I would then repeat those words which speak the truth of substitution most positively, even should I shock my hearers; for how could I regret that, as in Heaven my first words would be to ascribe my salvation to my Master's blood, my last act on earth was to shock His enemies by a testimony to the same fact?
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