Do I Need To Go To Show Up?

I often wonder why we are told by our church leaders that we must come to church. I know all the arguments for and against. I have lived in cities where it was difficult to find the right church....I have worked long hours and am tired on Sunday mornings...I 'dont like' those people...etc...

I also know all the arguments for why we must go to church...we can't really worship alone...cant worship on the golf course...and the verse in Scripture that says "Do not forsake the gathering together ...."

Following is a quote from a book I read this week that spoke to my heart - speaking about this issue...makes sense to me....

Pg 53…."if Israel entered into covenant relationship with Yahweh, Israel would pledge Himself to live from that time on as a community. God wished to make a covenant not with individuals but with a people, a people united by a common obedience to Him. There is no such thing in the Bible as a purely individual relationship to God, and those who would enter into covenant with the Lord must do so much as a part of His community. Only by sharing a common life with other believers could each Israelite serve His God. He could not ignore or hate his fellow and at the same time love His Lord.

…the basis of this community was not to be the will of man, but the transcendent will of God. God made the laws for communal life, He set up its structure, He ordered the relationship between members of society. The last six of the Ten Commandments therefore deal with relationship between men…and are seen as expressions of the will of God for His people. Only as far as God ruled over the communal life was it a true expression of his covenant will."

(The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith – 1962 Paul J. and Elizabeth Achtemeier – Fortress Press Philadelphia)

What Can I Do to be Considered "Important?"

We see success- the rich and famous all around us. Some are in trouble, and some are being praised for their work, beauty, or just for being them. Do you ever wish you were "notable?"
Do you ever think that once you are gone from this earth that no one will remember you? Do you wish you could do something worthwhile that would make you worth remembering?

Elizabeth Taylor just died...she will be remembered for years to come because of who she was, and for her body of work in film. Micky Mantle, the star of the New York Yankees, has been dead for years, but will be remembered for another generation because of his body of work. I guess that for many of us, because of what we see in the news, and on TV we probably wish that we lived lives that would be considered 'important' or 'worth remembering'.

Today I read an article by J.Vernon McGee (even he is one of those peopel who will be remembered for years), but his comments made me think....in a nutshell...

The most important thing to be remembered for - the most important thing you can do in this life is....tell someone about the saving grace of Jesus. I think he is right. Is there anything more important?(Yes I know the ONE MOST IMPORTANT thing is that we be saved- you do that for yourself....)

Will you be remembered after you pass on - will you have made some mark on the life of at least one person by telling them about the saving grace of Jesus?

I think that is a great thought!!!

Even if I do not feel that I can actually 'tell' the story of Jesus - His life, death, burial and resurrection - and the salvation He offers....I can help someone else tell it! How much would you give to send someone on a mission trip (across town, or around the world) on a mission trip so that they can present the message of salvation?

If you can't go...can you give money (big money - that is right - not a little offering) to send someone to the 'mission field.'

Have you done that one, most important thing in life....to make your life worthwhile....tell someon about Jesus!!

(Thanks Dr. McGee for the thought!)

Why Would God Take Away My.......

Looking around today we see so much economic, spititual, even health failure. So often we ask..."Why God, would You do this?"

God is sovereign and knows the reasons that everything happens. We do not. We trust in His choice. But....still we might ask..."Why?"

Why God do You take away my health?
Why God do You take away my job?
Why God do You take away my home?
Why God do You take away my car?....etc....

There are many reasons that things happen...Perhaps the loss falls into this catagory.......I must ask myself....

How did I use my health to honor God and advance His kingdom? Perhaps I didn't.
How did I use my job to honor God and advance His kingdom? Perhaps I didn't.
How did I use my home to honor God and advance His kingdom?Perhaps I didn't.
How did I use my car to honor God and advance His kingdom? Perhaps I didn't.
How did I use my "xyz' to honor God and advance His kingdom?Perhaps I didn't.


Perhaps God has a 'use it or lose it' attitude.

If God 'takes away' something - are we always being punished? What about...

How will the loss of my health bring someone else closer to God - to saving faith?
How will the loss of my home bring someone else closer to God-to saving faith?
How will the loss of my car bring someone else closer to God-to saving faith?
How will the loss of my car bring someone else closer to God-to saving faith?
How will the loss of my 'xyz' bring someone closer to God - to saving faith?

Just something to think about. God knows all the why's.....we don't have to know His plan....

Am I a "Productive" Christian?

I was reading an article by a writer who was trying to encourage the readers to get on with life - and DO SOMETHING. Meant as an build-me-up for people that are stuck in one stage of life, as I read it, I realized that the same theme could be modified for me in my own Christian walk.

This is what I came up with:

Serving the Lord – Am I “Productive?”
Scripture speaks about the life of a child of God - bearing fruit – being productive in some way for the Kingdom of God.

Being filled by the Holy Spirit, communing with God in prayer, and being obedient all guide us through life, but to a large extent we are still controllers of our own lives. We get to decide what “productivity” means to us and how we intend to shape our life. This productivity, or 'fruit' reflects the results of our Christian walk. Many of us have never sat down and thought about goals for our life...for our Christian walk. Ask yourself:

How do I define "productive Christian life"? What does a productive Christian life look and feel like? What does it accomplish? What are its "office hours" and Christian rhythms? What else, in addition to our Christian walk, happens in that life, and what is the work/life balance. Does being ‘productive’ change with age?

How am I “productive” today? What am I accomplishing that I value in my Christian walk? What skills and strategies, technologies and tools, attitudes and habits are making this possible? ? Does “productivity” mean – witnessing, reading/studying Scripture, being involved with some ministry? What else makes my life ‘productive’ for my Lord?

How do I intend to be more productive moving forward? What do I want to accomplish in my Christian life - both the big-picture over the long term, and the specifics of the immediate future? What skills and strategies, technologies and tools, attitudes and habits could make this possible? Is there additional knowledge that could help me become more productive as a Christian? Who am I?

I encourage you write out your answers and refer to them often. A “productivity blueprint” can help keep your eyes on the” prize set before you”, as we run the race that Paul spoke about.

This exercise was a great eye-opener for me.

An Expert? What is "Your Thing?"

I just finished watching a news program that spotlighted the granddaughter of the founder of the Boy Scouts. She has devoted her life to promoting, writing books about, and serving the Boy Scouts.

The other night on TV I was watching Judge Joe Brown. He brought up to the bench an 'expert' in....of all things ...fleas. This man was a world known 'expert' in fleas. He knew their life cycle, the anatomy, etc...

This has started me thinking..... People devote themselves to a variety of things. Their entire lives are focused on one thing. When they die, someone might remember them as "the flea guy' or 'the Boys Scout lady.' They spend millions of hours of their lives on one focus.

I am asking myself...and you... What have I focused my life on? In what am I an expert? What one thing have I spent millions (well, maybe thousands) of hours studying?

I also go back and think about this man and woman. They spent millions of hours on fleas and the Boy Scouts. Nothing is wrong with this. I love the Boy Scouts...and fleas have their place in the world. But..... how much time did they spend in Gods Word? Feeding the hungry? Giving shelter to the homeless? Praying?

When I die, how will I be remembered? "Oh yes...she was the XYZ lady."

How will people remember you?

When God sees you at the Judgment. What will He say...."Oh yes......you were the XYZ lady."

Something to think about.

A Prayer for a Day That Might Have Turned Out Very Different

Are you praying every day for our country? I stop and pray every night at 9 pm. I set an alarm clock to remind me. Tonight I will pray...Thank You God for protecting this country today. You stopped those packages from doing any damage to the USA. Your love and care were evident. Please keep Your hand of security over us every day. Amen.

Pray for the Elections...

(Used by permission by my friend Betty Newman in Knoxville TN)

1Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all mankind; for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Our precious Heavenly Father, I lift to You the prayers of Your people. those joys and petitions that have been voiced this morning. And for the burdens that lay quietly, but heavily on our hearts. Oh Father, today I pray for this nation. I pray for the leaders of our nation. Today and every day, fill them with Your spirit and Your guidance.

Father, as we are in the midst of a time of elections, as the "positioning" continues, as we exercise our freedom and recognize our responsibility to vote this Tuesday, open our eyes as we seek for whom we should vote. Before we enter the voting booth, let us enter our prayer closets and go to our knees. Lead us in our choice of leaders, and decision makers - both locally and nationally. But oh Lord, even as we pray this prayer, as we cry out, we are afraid that You will give us what we "deserve." That in giving us what we "need" You will allow us to be carried into "captivity" as You did those who were "chosen" and bore Your very Name.But in many ways, we are already in captivity - the captivity of our souls and our hearts. We are enslaved by our possessions and in bondage to our own selfish desires. Father we realize that it isn't the money, or the earning of money that is evil - it is what we do with it! We are entrusted with such a huge amount of the world's resources, and yet still the world is hungry. And we must ask ourselves, is my neighbor hungry?

Please Father, don't give us what we deserve. Have mercy on us, and forgive us. And lead us to elect leaders who will bring us to the place of righteousness. I pray that we have not gone too far. God I pray for revival in this land, in our churches and in our own hearts. I pray that we Your people, who are called by Your name, will turn from our ways, and pray, and that indeed, You will heal our land and our souls. We lift our prayer to You this morning, calling upon the Name above all names, we pray in Jesus' Name - Amen.