It would be wonderful to go back to childhood wouldn’t it? It’s almost comical how we go through life never being quite happy where we are at any given point in our lives. When we were children, we couldn’t wait to be older – even parsing our years of age into “12-1/2” or “14-1/2”. When was the last time you ADDED a half a year to your age to try to sound older?
From the adult perspective, we recognize the glory and the joy of childhood. Chief among the phrases we might apply to our childhood, (assuming a degree of normalcy,) are: Little responsibility, no work, great health, no wrinkles, no worries, and of course – very little anxiety about anything. There was never a concern about where the next meal was coming from – you just always knew it would be there. You were completely shielded from the cares of the world by mom and dad.
Mark 10:13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." 16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
Jesus was very specific in His loving reference to this child brought into His midst. Not only should we NOT keep children away from Jesus – WE are to be like children in our approach to Jesus! This is an astounding pronouncement. (Especially to all the high and mighty religious types present both then and now.) This is a stumbling block – but a wonderful one! We, as children of a faithful and loving Father, can – and must – revert back to our childhood experience in how we are to view life. No worries. No anxiety. We are to live this life with a simple wholehearted trust in the provision of our ‘Dad’ – without even a thought given to the possibility of any sort of lack. He follows that up with further commands:
Luke 12:22 … "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
How can we stop worrying, when worry is an expression of responsibility? Jesus says, “What good does worrying about anything do? What does it produce?” He proclaims The Father has all of our needs covered – and His desire as well as His command is we give no further thought to worry or anxiety or the fear of man. Our only responsibility is to love Jesus – like a child.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
New Beginning
What if you could start your life over with a clean slate? No sin, no harm, no foul, no ugliness?
Jesus explained this to a faithful religious leader named Nicodemus.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
What if you could call on a power greater than yourself to bring about righteousness and holiness in your life?
Romans1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Knowing you deserve to pay an eternal price for your sin – what if it could be arranged that the price would be paid for you?
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
What if you truly KNEW how interested God was in YOUR redemption? (To exchange your sinfulness for His righteousness.)
1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God…
- Pastor Bill
Jesus explained this to a faithful religious leader named Nicodemus.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
What if you could call on a power greater than yourself to bring about righteousness and holiness in your life?
Romans1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Knowing you deserve to pay an eternal price for your sin – what if it could be arranged that the price would be paid for you?
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
What if you truly KNEW how interested God was in YOUR redemption? (To exchange your sinfulness for His righteousness.)
1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God…
- Pastor Bill
Friday, March 14, 2008
Creative Thinking
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
In the south, there is a saying which accompanies a statement like the one written above: “Nuff said!” (Maybe you’ve seen that statement sometime on a ‘Florida State University’ promo billboard – as they seem to think the letters ‘F-S-U’ are, “Nuff said!” )
At any rate, the declaration is understood to mean there are no more statements which are necessary. What has been said as declaration completely defines everything that needs to be understood, and that additional words are superfluous.
Oh that that were true of Genesis 1:1. If you can wrap your brain around Gen 1:1, then everything else which is said about God in His Word becomes eminently possible and plausible. A God who can speak the universe into existence is capable of anything and everything - and nothing is too difficult for Him.
Thus, it makes perfect sense for a deceiving spirit to attack along this single, narrow front. If it becomes implausible God created the heavens and the earth, then, (according to some scientists,) it becomes at least possible some sort of “natural” phenomena did. Some ‘scientists’ state this random, natural creation as if it were fact, and they present any alternate arguments as “blind, idiotic, and superstitious.” (Of course we must overlook the fact NONE of the principles of evolution are scientifically observable.) Over the past hundred and fifty years many hoaxes, (see ‘Java man’,) have been put forth to substantiate what cannot be substantiated. It was once illustrated as truth humans have gill slits on the side of their throats at one point in the development in the womb. And of course we’ve all seen the drawing which shows the monkey at one end and the man with a briefcase at the other. Sure!
Darwin himself once stated his entire theory of evolution fails completely if the human cell can be shown to be a complex organism. Hmmm… I wonder what Darwin might have to say about DNA?
The Bible does make a pungent observation regarding this matter: Proverbs 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God.”
Yet, now it is those who believe in God’s creation who are put forth as fools. We are not to believe in what cannot be “scientifically observed.” Can we not at least hold those who believe in evolution to the same standard? The answer is a resounding “NO!” in our public schools and college campuses across the country. We are simply to accept as fact that which cannot be scientifically observed because the “evidence” is “overwhelming.” Does it take greater faith to believe matter created itself – or that God created matter? Oh yeah – it shouldn’t be a matter of faith.
- Pastor Bill
In the south, there is a saying which accompanies a statement like the one written above: “Nuff said!” (Maybe you’ve seen that statement sometime on a ‘Florida State University’ promo billboard – as they seem to think the letters ‘F-S-U’ are, “Nuff said!” )
At any rate, the declaration is understood to mean there are no more statements which are necessary. What has been said as declaration completely defines everything that needs to be understood, and that additional words are superfluous.
Oh that that were true of Genesis 1:1. If you can wrap your brain around Gen 1:1, then everything else which is said about God in His Word becomes eminently possible and plausible. A God who can speak the universe into existence is capable of anything and everything - and nothing is too difficult for Him.
Thus, it makes perfect sense for a deceiving spirit to attack along this single, narrow front. If it becomes implausible God created the heavens and the earth, then, (according to some scientists,) it becomes at least possible some sort of “natural” phenomena did. Some ‘scientists’ state this random, natural creation as if it were fact, and they present any alternate arguments as “blind, idiotic, and superstitious.” (Of course we must overlook the fact NONE of the principles of evolution are scientifically observable.) Over the past hundred and fifty years many hoaxes, (see ‘Java man’,) have been put forth to substantiate what cannot be substantiated. It was once illustrated as truth humans have gill slits on the side of their throats at one point in the development in the womb. And of course we’ve all seen the drawing which shows the monkey at one end and the man with a briefcase at the other. Sure!
Darwin himself once stated his entire theory of evolution fails completely if the human cell can be shown to be a complex organism. Hmmm… I wonder what Darwin might have to say about DNA?
The Bible does make a pungent observation regarding this matter: Proverbs 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God.”
Yet, now it is those who believe in God’s creation who are put forth as fools. We are not to believe in what cannot be “scientifically observed.” Can we not at least hold those who believe in evolution to the same standard? The answer is a resounding “NO!” in our public schools and college campuses across the country. We are simply to accept as fact that which cannot be scientifically observed because the “evidence” is “overwhelming.” Does it take greater faith to believe matter created itself – or that God created matter? Oh yeah – it shouldn’t be a matter of faith.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Soil Samples
Luke 8:4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
It’s interesting to consider the chemical constitution of man. As Michael Rozelle of Potter’s Field Ministries related when he was here at CCN, the human body is made up of the same chemical elements found just under the grass in the field outside the windows of the building.
To put it simply, we are comprised of dirt. The poignant example we have from the Old Testament is found in Jeremiah 18: 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
Of course, all dirt is not the same. In the example found in Jeremiah, we are talking about clay. There is also sand and silt. Those are the three major groups which comprise what we commonly refer to as “dirt.” The mixture of how much sand or silt or clay is present – along with moisture - determine the condition of the dirt. Dirt which is normally very fertile can become completely infertile if not enough moisture is present - and then can change in an instant with rainfall or irrigation.
How much money do we invest in getting rid of dirt? The grocery store shelves are lined with products for cleaning floors, windows, clothes, and counter-tops. A huge portion of our economy is invested in the development and marketing of products whose express purpose is to get rid of the dirt in our houses and in our cars. Interesting…
If we spent even the smallest portion of our time preparing the dirt which composes us – especially our hearts – as we do trying to get rid of the dirt that surrounds us, we would all be very wealthy. Not in the ways of the world - but in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ - and there is no greater wealth to be had. Jesus is urging us to consider the condition of our hearts in this parable. In Mark’s Gospel, (Mark 4:13,) Jesus tells us this is the key to understanding ALL His parables.
- Pastor Bill
It’s interesting to consider the chemical constitution of man. As Michael Rozelle of Potter’s Field Ministries related when he was here at CCN, the human body is made up of the same chemical elements found just under the grass in the field outside the windows of the building.
To put it simply, we are comprised of dirt. The poignant example we have from the Old Testament is found in Jeremiah 18: 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
Of course, all dirt is not the same. In the example found in Jeremiah, we are talking about clay. There is also sand and silt. Those are the three major groups which comprise what we commonly refer to as “dirt.” The mixture of how much sand or silt or clay is present – along with moisture - determine the condition of the dirt. Dirt which is normally very fertile can become completely infertile if not enough moisture is present - and then can change in an instant with rainfall or irrigation.
How much money do we invest in getting rid of dirt? The grocery store shelves are lined with products for cleaning floors, windows, clothes, and counter-tops. A huge portion of our economy is invested in the development and marketing of products whose express purpose is to get rid of the dirt in our houses and in our cars. Interesting…
If we spent even the smallest portion of our time preparing the dirt which composes us – especially our hearts – as we do trying to get rid of the dirt that surrounds us, we would all be very wealthy. Not in the ways of the world - but in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ - and there is no greater wealth to be had. Jesus is urging us to consider the condition of our hearts in this parable. In Mark’s Gospel, (Mark 4:13,) Jesus tells us this is the key to understanding ALL His parables.
- Pastor Bill
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