We had a very good Christmas season as we were reminded again of the great miracle (gift) of God coming to earth in human flesh so we can have forgiveness and everlasting life by believing and trusting in Jesus. 

Our son was home from Baylor for a well deserved break.  My wife left on Christmas Day to go to Louisville to care for her mother who recently had knee replacement surgery.  My son and I will be "bach'en it" until he leaves for school on Jan. 10th.  After that, I will be alone until my wife returns on Jan. 18th.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder...and I will be counting the days.

11/18/07
My wife and I  have been busy over the past months at the school.  I have been covering a vacancy in the computer area and she has been volunteering several days a week with Parent-Fellowship.  Things should slow down for me now as the vacancy has been filled and I will just be filling in as an occasional substitute teacher.  I get to serve in all grades and being with all those children is a real blessing.

We have many blessings in our lives and know that our Lord provides all of them.  We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as we look forward to celebrating the birthday of our Savior once again.

8/5/07
Summer break is quickly coming to an end.  Our son will soon return to Baylor; this time to an apartment with three other young Christian men.  We spent this summer helping our son set-up his room and getting things ready for the final move.  Right now I am assisting Carrollton Christian Academy to get the computer equipment ready for the opening of school.  Earlier this summer I assisted Bent Tree Bible Fellowship to get policies and procedures written to help manage the facilities.

God has been good to us and we praise Him for giving us this time.

3/11/07
My dad was not able to rebound from his afflictions and passed away on 3/1/07.  This was a blessing to dad because he was suffering much and now is with Jesus and is feeling no pain as he glorifies the Father.  While we were in Indiana for the funeral, my wife's beloved Uncle Lelin, who was battling cancer throughout his body, also went to be with the Lord.  We praise God for these two precious lives and their impact on both of us.

1/31/07
I spent two weeks in Indiana with my father.  Keeping the Fifth Commandment is important and I intend to try my best.  Sitting at dad's bedside and helping with what I can, I have learned much about patience and trusting in God for everything.

12/31/06
Attention has refocused recently toward the health of my parents.  Dad had to have a kidney removed and is on a long road of recovery.  Mother is working hard to get through the illness and has recently had her own medical issues.  My wife and I recently spent 10 days with my parents and may need to go to them again soon.  We leave this all in God's hands and trust in Him fully. 

11/30/06
We have not worked so hard for such a long time!  We closed on the new house on 10/26/06 and worked many days to get our stuff downsized, utilities connected and the move completed. Thanks to my mother-in-law (who agreed to visit us for 30 days) and God's blessings, we have made a huge dent.  We have given much away and tossed much.  We have many more weeks to go until the organization is completed, but for now, everything is under roof and we can move ahead as time permits.

10/31/06
Since I retired from a job of 33 years in July '05, I have been seeking where God wants me to serve for the last third of my life.  There have been many great changes in my life and this fall two others occurred...my wife and I took our son to Baylor University and I left my service at a combination church and Christian school in the D/FW area.  This will allow me to concentrate on helping my wife downsize to a smaller home in the last quarter of '06.  After that, I expect to find new volunteer opportunities to further God's kingdom.

Current endeavors:
1) My wife and I are learning to be "empty nesters".  With God's help, we will make it through this drastic change in life-style and God will protect our son and let him prosper.
2) Serving as Facility Manager for First Church and Carrollton Christian Academy.
4) Always listening for God's direction to become a better servant, husband and father.

Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (NIV)

I  intend to be characterized by:
1) Being humble and patient in all I do
2) Eating and exercising in a healthy manner
3) Listening to what God says about me
4) Reading the best books
5) Loving and caring for my family and friends
6) Connecting consistently with my spouse
7) Honoring God first with His gifts

I will be updating this page to capture what God has taught me.  The notes below reflect the things I have learned from Dr. Richard Dunagin of First Church, Pete Briscoe of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, Dr. Andy McQuitty of Irving Bible Church, Dr. James Merritt of Touching Lives, Brian Houston of Hillsong Church and other pastors, teachers and Christian friends.

What I've learned about life from my teachers:

Your Life Will Work Out the Way God Wants it to Work Out
Read (Romans 8:28)
A. I Must Believe God's Word To Me (if you have trusted in God)
 - God is involved in your life, 24-7, making sure ultimately everything will work out for your good.
 - Life is like a puzzle and God knows how all the pieces fit together.
B. I Must Receive God's Working for me.
 - God is working things out behind the scenes.
 - There are times God takes what is bad and ultimately turns it to be for our good.
 - "No matter what happens in my life, God is always acting in my best interest."
C. I Will Achieve God's Will For Me.
 - Everything that happens to us is for a purpose.
 - God's purpose for us is to conformed to the image of His Son.
 - God is more interested in changing our character than changing our circumstances.

Living our Christian life
We are to live our lives with an indwelling Christ.  Galatians 2:20
Our lives have Grace lived out.  Ephesians 2:8-10
Study Biblical Preaching
 a. Teacher must proclaim God's Word - 1 Timothy 4:13
 b. Seekers want to hear the Word of God - Nehemiah 8:8
 c. Power in the Word - Hebrews 4:12
 d. Something supernatural happens when God is taught to people - 2 Corinthians 2:1-5

Three distinguishing virtues of a healthy church - Ephesians 3
Faith, Hope & Love - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
The Church walks in faith to Christ
The Church expresses the love of Christ
The Church finds its hope in Christ

Seven acts of a congregation
Sending servants and assistance - John 3:17
Servant Leadership - 1 Peter 5:1-21
Authenticity - Acts 2:46-47, 2 Corinthians 2:17 & Romans 12:9
Relevance - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Prayer
 a. Jesus did it - Mark 3:1-15
 b. Jesus assumed we would - Matthew 6:5-7
 c. Jesus told the disciples to pray - Mark 4:38
 d. Jesus said prayer will work - Matthew 7:7-11
 e. Early church prayed together - Acts 12:1-14
Unity - John 17:20-23
Generosity - 2 Corinthians 8 & 9, Timothy 6:17 & Proverbs 23:4-5
 a. We cannot allow ourselves to be arrogant
 b. We cannot put our hope in wealth as a body
 c. We need to enjoy what we have
 d. We are called to be generous and willing to share

See your life fitting within God's bigger plan - Hebrews 11:32
Make the most of your God-given potential
Live for God, not only for yourself

Gideon's 14 Principles - Judges 6:11 to 8:35
1. God sees what will be
2. God often asks more than we can do
3. God gives grace
4. God redeems the unholy
5. God can deal with your fear
6. There is no other God
7. Courage comes in steps
8. Its wrong to test God
9. God demands credit
10. God encourages the leader
11. God uses 'cracked pots'
12. Obedience faces opposition
13. All that glitters is not God
14. Obedience affects others

Courage is faith in practice!

Discipleship Dangers - John 12:9ff
1. Worshiping a Jesus of our imagination (Believe in Jesus of Revelations not your imagination.)
2. Thinking the praise is for me (we are like a jacket, it's the indwelling Christ inside that does the work)
3. Assuming the original disciples have an advantage over us
4. Forgetting that the message is for everyone v.26 a.k.a. "Drive by praying" without involvement
5. Wanting to live two lives at once

Living your life
As disciples, treat people with pantheist position - Romans 12
As citizens, submit to governing authorities - Romans 13
As citizens, stand on scripture - Romans 13
As citizens and disciples, pray for leaders

Live this way an you will have no trouble with your heart Job 5:7 & John 14:1
1. Take God at His word
2. You are going to heaven when you die
3. Jesus will come again

Every one of us must make a difference for God
Human resources, however limited, when willingly offered and diversely empowered, are more than adequate to achieve divine ends. -- Stuart Briscoe

When you experience Jesus, ordinary people become extraordinary.  Give when Jesus asks, come when Jesus calls and go where Jesus asks.

Jesus DOES let people die  (John 11:4-5) 

For Christ followers--the end of life on earth is not the end of life.  (Unroll a roll of toilet paper down the sanctuary floor.  A very long strip.  The first panel represents our complete life on earth.  The rest of the strip represents our life in eternity.

Acts of Service    (Examples of Washing feet)   (John 13:1-17) 

- Any necessary, beneficial service
- Any menial service
- Any voluntary act motivated by love
- Any task someone else could have done
- Gracious ministry to the undeserving
- Meeting a need no one else is willing to meet
- Usually does not appear to be "spiritual" or "significant"

Parallel reading about gifts.  (Philippians 2:3-11)

Five Crowns awarded to believers   From Our Daily Bread Insight

"As Christians, we can expect to be rewarded for our faith and faithfulness.  Five crowns can be won:  the 'imperishable crown' (1 Cor. 9:25), the 'crown of righteousness' (2 Tim. 4:8), the 'crown of rejoicing' (1 Thess. 2:19), the 'crown of glory' (1 Peter 5:4), and the 'crown of life' (James 1:12)."

You are equipped to serve God   Read John 4:27-42. 

1) Open your eyes - the harvest is all around you.  v.35
2) Open your hands - the hard work has been done for us.  v.36
3) Open your mouth - He wants to partner with you.  v.39
4) Open your bible - He wants to go beyond you.  v.41
5) Open your ears - to hear that Christ has worked through you. v.42

Leaders Matter...Everyone Matters     There are 10 kinds of leaders.  Probably no one has all the traits necessary.  But of those traits you have, concentrate on what you can do and surround yourself with others who have the remaining needed skills.  This is what Nehemiah did and it is laid out in Nehemiah 7.  Nehemiah surrounded himself with protectors, singers, priests and overseers to make up for what he could not do.

Everyone matters to God in building His kingdom.  Here are the traits that those working on the wall had in common:

Subjected to Personal Attacks     Whether we serve in Church or business we are often subjected to personal attacks.  Nehemiah dealt with this so read Nehemiah 6 for examples of how he handled it.

1. When you are a target to be distracted. (v1-v4)
    - See through it
    - Say no
    - Stay the course
2. When you are a target for rumors.  (v5-v9)
    - Confront the person spreading the rumor
    - Speak directly to the falsehood
    - Go directly to the God that does not listen to rumors
3  When you are a target for temptation  (v10-v14)
    - This is not like me
    - This is not like a leader
    - This is not of God
    - This is not my problem.  The best way to defeat temptation is to tell someone.
4.  After victory in completing the task, attacks keep coming.  (v15-v19)

Ephesians 6:16 says; "...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

Treating People     We  will experience times when someone is unfair to others and there is a need for correction.  Read Nehemiah 5 for examples of how Nehemiah handled such cases.

1. When someone is wronging others, confront them.
    Be angry, then cool down, name the wrong, call it wrong (i.e. Leviticus 25:35-40),
    remind them of our witness and call for specific action.
2. When someone is repentant, hold them accountable.
3  When someone is subservient to you, work along side them (Luke 22:24-27).
4. When someone is hungry, feed them (Nehemiah 5:19).

Jesus cares how we treat people.

Obstacles during Ministry     During our ministry, we are sure to receive criticism just like Nehemiah and his workers endured during the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem.  Read Nehemiah 4.

When criticized, consider the source and respond accordingly.
1. From Outsiders - ignore it.
2. From Insiders - Listen, glean and adapt as necessary.
3  From Owners - Follow input carefully.  Equal to our own input.

Recognize their strategy and respond wisely.
1  Those who ridicule you and embarrass you - Pray and get back to work.
2. Consensus builders - they try to out number you.  Pray and watch your back.
3. Pessimists - ignore them.
4. Intimidation - they will try to scare you.
    a. Make wise preparation
    b. Remember the Lord. i.e. Isaiah 26:3-4
    c. Take long-term precautions
    d. Make sure you are connected with the rest of the team
    e. Stay alert

How to serve   Read Nehemiah 3.  The reading talks about the different groups of people from all walks of life that rebuilt the gates around Jerusalem.  The gate names all represent something; i.e. Sheep (Lamb of God), Fish (Symbol for Christ), Fountain (Living Water), Water (God's Word washes away sins), Horse (Christians under attack), East (Golden Gate - God's return), Inspection (one day we will be judged).

Key learning from all the different groups that worked together:
1) We might serve outside our area of giftedness for the good of the body.
2) We might serve outside our experience for the good of the body.
3) We might serve more than others do for the good of the body.
4) We might serve around our home for the good of the body.
5) We might expend enormous energy for the good of the body.
6) We might serve in ways that do not directly benefit us for the good of the body.

No work should ever be beneath us in the service of our Lord

How to pray to God   Read Nehemiah 1:5-11. 

1) Pray to the right person - someone who loves us and is capable.
2) Pray from the correct position - don't treat God like a restaurant waiter.
3) Pray as part of the group - from a position of ownership or family.
4) Pray that God finishes out his promise - He has rescued us, now please do the rest     through us.
5) Pray for success - ask for all the right things necessary for your mission.
6) Pray for the next thing - the next need He wants us to fill.

After you say, Yes Lord   We are all called in some way to be a minister to others.  You do not need to be seminary trained to be a minister.  There were no seminary trained teachers in the bible.  Each of us has a unique sending.  This begins a new series on "The Ups and Downs of personal ministry".

Read Nehemiah 1:1-7 for six key points about how God calls you for your own unique mission as he did Nehemiah:

1) Think about where God has placed you.
2) Realize God calls you on normal days when you are doing normal things.
3) Ask questions about things close to your heart.
4) Listen carefully for the brokenness.
5) Allow yourself to feel what God feels.
6) Ask God to use you to intervene.

Anchored in Meeting Tomorrow's Needs   Today's generation is a global one, thanks to the internet and a wireless society.  2/3s of kids today in school go to church, but only 1/3 of those who move out of the house continue to attend church.  It is important to find ways to continue to reach this part of society.

500 years ago the world moved to the "age of reason".  It was assumed that reason alone could solve all problems.  The church thrived in this time because many things could be explained.  In the 1940's, Einstein and others proved to the world that not all things could be explained.  The building blocks of the past got knocked down.  Post modernism is now upon us.  Now Christians are yelling at our culture, about things like homosexual lifestyles and abortion being wrong.  We have created our own TV networks, music and clothing.  (A Christian bubble displaying moderated bulletin boards.)  Post modernism society worships nothing but themselves.  This culture asks for the real thing or nothing. 

God is not concerned about this time.  He has seen it happen before.  One of Jesus' brothers, James is a good example.  In John 7:2-5 James shows he did not believe his brother.  But then in Acts 15:13-21, James recommends what it would take for the Church to more easily accept new believers.  This made a huge change in the Church.  James set the Church free!

James had incredible credibility.  The Church lacks it now.  Non-believers today find it hard to come to church, but they will read the bible with you in your home.  We have to rebuild our credibility.  Life groups should be more than a Christian huddle.  What we do does not need to be public, but we need to show love to fellow believers and our neighbor.  Read Matthew 5-7, the sermon on the Mount and follow those principles.

Anchored in Unity   Unity in the church is important.  As the leadership goes, so the church goes.  Unity is fragile and must be preserved.

In churches (or with any group of people) there is FUNCTION and FORM.  The New Testament specifies the function but the form is left undefined.  For example...
FUNCTION          /  FORM
Worship & Praise / Type of music
Community          / Large group and house to house
Neighbor              / Not only next door but whoever crosses our path needing help
Unique Sending    / Many different forms (spiritual gifts)

1. Moving forward creates environment for potential disunity  Numbers 13:26-14:4
2. Unity in the Trinity (Tri-unity) is model for unity in the church.  John 17:20-23
3. Spirit gives unity.  We are charged to keep it.  Ephesians 4:1-3  Acts 2:46
4. God has wired us to be unique and unified at the same time.  1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Anchored in God's Word   There is no other book in the world like the Bible because God wrote it.  It is our job to daily use God's word to train ourselves.  Read Acts 5:42.  At Bent Tree, we rely on large group worship at church every Sunday for teaching and getting messages out to all members and visitors.  Life Groups will be the means for neighborhood evangelism and one-on-one interactions where Christians help each other in times of need.

Anchored in Genuine Prayer   Stuart Briscoe has said that there are "no atheists in fox holes".  This is true for many of us.  When we have a crisis, we pray.  But when we are on the front line we must also pray.  Read Exodus 17:8-16.  The Amalekites represent the evil one.  As Christians, we must fight the evil one from generation to generation until Christ comes back and the evil one is tortured forever. 

Ephesians 6:10-20  gives us six lessons for praying; 1) Isolated Christians are a much easier target for the evil one than those in community, 2) Need to pray and pray as we fight, 3) Victory will depend on our prayers, 4) People in Church leadership need the community of believers praying for them, 5) The battle is a long one, even to sunset and 6) Keep your hands in the air for each other.

We are at war with the evil one and cannot beat him in the flesh.  We need the Holy Spirit's help.

Anchored in Authentic Community   (Pete attended a seminar given by Randy Frazee and developed these comments from that meeting and Frazee's book.) 

Our relationships today are one-inch deep because they are a mile wide.  Consider all the circles you belong to with Church, Spouse, Children, Friends, School, Sports, Hobbies and Work.  With all the commuting required, we live our lives in the car and eat there too. 

Pete categorized our lives as "relational isolation syndrome brought about by excessive fragmentation.  Consider Acts 2:42-47  to see how the early church functioned.  They 1) Devoted themselves to the right things (v.42); 2) Functioned in the power of the Spirit (v.43); Lived together, sharing everything (v.44); 3) Ate together in homes (v.46); 5) Spend time with people (v.46) and 6) saw their community enlarged (v.47).

Pete gave three suggestions:
1) Follow the Hebrew calendar:  6a-6p be productive, 6p-10p work on relationships, and 10p-6a rest/sleep.
2) Proximity effect.  Proverbs 27:10  'in time of need it's better to go to a friend nearby than a brother far away'.
3) Painful Delimit  Learn to say no better.   1 Corinthians 6:12

Anchored with a heart for the lost   Read Mark 11:15-17
"My house, will be called a house of prayer for all nations" (NIV)  We are now the temple.  With Jesus in us, it's our job to teach the Gospel.  This is the New Testament paradigm.  Galatians 4:4-6 says, God sent His Son into the world and Jesus sends His disciples filled with the Holy Spirit into the world. 

To be IN the world, not OF the world but SENT to the world.  Not called to be safe, but to be sent.  If you are a disciple of Christ, we are sent with Christ's authority.   Matthew 28:16-20  If we are the Church, we are to be a sending Church.  We send our money, send our siblings, send our young people and send our people into the community.

Anchored as we move forward   Read Ezra 3   (Bent Tree begins its expansion project.)
Before we start building
1.  Get on the same page (v.1 people assembled as 'one man' view).
2.  Build on a positive past (v.3 altar built on old foundation).
3.  Celebrate God's permanent presence (v.3 morning & evening sacrifices).
4.  Remember God's consistent faithfulness (v.4 Feast of Tabernacles).
5.  Prioritize corporate worship (v.6 worship though the foundation net yet laid).
6.  Build a quality facility (v.7 cedar logs from Lebanon-finest source).

Once we start the building
1.  All contribute to the project (v.8 all who had returned from captivity).
2.  All sing to our Lord (v.11 they all sang to the Lord).

We will
1.  Experience mixed emotions (v.12)
2.  Keep praising anyway
3.  Keep building anyway

God will be your all right   Read Isaiah 39:5-40:31 
1.  Let God's eternity be your all right.  Is 39:5-7.  Remember God never hurries.        
2.  Let God's gentleness be your all right.  Is 40:10-11.  God has awesome power, and has compassion.
3.  Let God's immensity be your all right.  Is 40:12-15.  All nations are a drop in the bucket, but our needs still come to His attention.
4.  Let God's transcendence and immanence be your all right.  Is 40:22 & 30-31.  Transcendence=above all things, Immanence=exchanges feeble strength for              
unending strength to those that hope in the Lord.  Requires complete surrender      
and willingness to let God manage the details.  Surrender-release, Surrender-release.

Christ-centered Friendship/Relationships   Read Colossians 4:7-18  Remember the song with the lines "Lifetime is not to long to live as friends".  Friendship goes deeper when you are in Christ.  In this last section of Colossians we study six different types of friends.  Who do you have as friends in each category?  Contact them and let them know how thankful you are for them.  If you do not have a friend in each area, find one.
1.  Thick 'n Thin friends.  They stick with you through anything.  Pull the oar together.
2.  Transformed friends.  Radically altered, newly transformed.  Bring spice to your life.
3.  Diverse friends.  Help to expand your horizons with different values and motivation.
4.  Second-chance friends.  Prove worthy after being given a second chance.
5.  Caring friends.  Constantly concerned for others and pray constantly.
6.  Teetering friends.  Go to and fro but are often valuable.

Christ-centered Faith Sharing   Read Colossians 4:2-6  Pray, watch for answers and thank God for the results.  Eight steps on how to share Christ with others.
1.  Pray for a crack.  Door to be opened in those around you that don't know Christ.
2.  Proclaim the mystery of Christ.  Show those around you how Christ changes you.
3.  Prepare for criticism -- the truth sometimes evokes hostility.
4.  Pray for clarity -- Big words cloud clarity.
5.  Present consistency -- reflect mystery of Christ in everything, including your life.
6.  Pounce on every chance to share -- just like a bargain hunter at Wal-Mart.
7.  Please by captivating -- be full of grace.  Grace grabs their heart.
God is crazy about you.  Nothing you can do to make him love you more or less.
8.  Prepare for questions -- Grace is the answer to every question.
 

Christ-centered Workplace  Read Colossians 3:22-4:1.  65% of our awake lives are spent in the workplace. Here are ways to make this most rewarding...Your Attitude:  Obey in everything (uninterrupted submission), do work with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  Your Master:  Whatever you do, do it as if for the Lord.  This requires total commitment.  Your Meaning:  #1 reason to work is recognition for contributions to something significant.  People don't quit companies, they quit their boss.  Bosses should always appreciate, influence and love their people.

Christ-centered Parenting  Read Colossians 3:20-21.  Think about plowing a field with a hand plow pulled by an ox.  Parents have a tendency to push the plow and children have a tendency to take their eye off of the ox.  We are to obey our parents--listen to them.  Ephesians 6 adds the word 'Honor'.  We should obey them while we are under parent's control and honor them when out from under their direct control.  (This all assumes that parents are asking for us to do lawful things.)  It's our responsibility to raise our children and not 'embitter' (frustrate or provoke) them.  We are to teach, not make them be on their own.  So what?  Think about Joshua and Moses' relationship in Exodus chapters 16, 17, 19, 32 and 33 for examples of parenting.  From these we learn; 1) Teach kids the stories of the bible, 2) Take kids with us to see how we live, and 3) Let kids listen in on how we tell the truth and depend on Christ.

Christ-filled marriage  Read Colossians 3:17-19 and Ephesians 5:22-33.  Because of the fall of Adam and Eve we are under the life described in Genesis 3:16-17.  Marriages often fail because the woman wants to be in-charge and so does the man.  Roman 8:9 commands us to allow Christ to fill us with His Spirit.  Depend on God, not your spouse.  We are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Voluntarily put yourself under the other person.  Instead out muzzling out...we are to surrender to each other.  The husband is to be the lead servant.  Husbands:  Submit (voluntarily place her needs above yours, Sacrifice, Serve, Care for wife and Feed your wife.  Wives: Submit (voluntarily place his needs above yours, Seek Jesus, Reciprocate and Respect your husband.

Christ-centered attitude  Read Colossians 3:5-18.  After we accepted Christ as our Savior the clothes of our old life need to be striped away because we are a new body and Christ is all and in all.  Get rid of:  Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander and lies.  Get into: Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness and Patience.  Bear with each other, forgive each other and do all with Love.  Get into this:  Peace of Christ (be a peace maker), the Word of Christ, Teach and admonish one another and get into a variety of worship that comes out of soaking in the word of God.  Do it all in the name of Christ and give thanks to God.

Christ-centered lives:  Read Colossians 3:1-4.  We have been set for the resurrected life as believers in Christ.  Every single situation in life should be focused on Christ as the center.  Just like a camera viewfinder, forget everything else. 

Christ's character is described in Col 1:15-20.  In essence, Jesus is supreme.  We need no other additive to our beliefs, just sole faith in Christ.  Col 2:9-10 says, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority".

Evidences of a Christ-centered person are Faith, Love and Hope.  Look for Christ throughout the entire day, not just at bible study.

Christ-centered caution  Read Colossians 2:16-23.  Visiting a third-world country can sometimes introduce a "bug" to our system that can change our body, so we live by rules to stay healthy.  Just like that, we need to keep "bugs" away from us that can rob us of life.
Beware of Judgmental Criticism (v.16)  Jesus abolished all the eating/drinking rules of the old testament teachings.  We should not be judged (or judge others) by what we eat or drink or the way we live our lives.  It is the heart by which we live that matters.
Beware of Mystical Spiritualism (v.18)  Beware of those who want us to focus on their visions and dreams or the worship of angels.  Look only to Christ for protection.  He created the angels.
Beware of Personal Legalism (v.22)  Do not live under the domain of principalities.  They have created enormous lists of rules that lack staying and holiness power.  They are flesh-based rules.

V.19 is the "real deal".  The alternative to poor imitations is to maintain connection to the Head.  Take steel for example.  It is hard, black and cold.  Put it in a furnace and it becomes pliable, red and hot.  We need to stay on fire for Jesus.  Do this by staying close to other believers in the Church where we can get the help, support and companionship needed to help us grow up.

Christian fullness, what does it mean?  Colossians 2:9-15  We were fully included in Christ's death, burial and resurrection.  V.11 speaks of circumcision, the cutting away of
flesh.  This symbolizes Christ dying on the cross and the stripping away of His body. 

During baptism, all our sins are buried under the water.  When we rise out of the water all our sins are forgiven, even those we never told anyone about.  God nailed them to the cross and Christ's blood covered them all.  We are raised in new life in Him.  (Galatians 2:20)

Verses 13, 14 and 15 show that we are fully alive in Christ, we are fully forgiven of all our sins and we are fully victorious over all evil powers, authorities and spirits that try to rule over us.

Being a Christian  Colossians 2:6-10  There are two parts to Christian life; 1) Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord; and 2) Continuing to live in Him with renewed excitement.  We do this only by continuous contact with Him through training and study.  We cannot rely only on that instant when we were first saved to keep us energized forever.  We are to be Rooted in the fundamentals of faith, Built-up, Strengthened and Overflowing with thankfulness. 

Paul gives us a warning about fake religions.  They are made to seem; 1) enticing and thoughtful, 2) empty and deceptive, 3) human and ancient, 4) spiritual and simple and 5) inclusive and exclusive.  But we are to follow only Christianity which is firmly rooted in Christ.  Jesus is fully God and Christians have been given fullness in Christ.  We are whole!

Serving  Colossians 1:24-29  1) Serving brings suffering, suffering for Christ; 2) Serving is a honor; 3) Serving is Christ-centered, need to lay out our heart for God fully; 4) Serving is inclusive, a. proclaim Christ, b. teach and encourage believers, and c. teaching everyone; 5) Serving is exhausting; and 6) Serving is super-natural.

Jesus is Central  Colossians 1:15-19 Jesus is the center of history and creation.  He did it, He owns it and He sustains it.  Jesus is the center of the Church and should be the center of me and my life.  We all need to center our lives on the one that is central.


Praying by "Asking and Basking"  Colossians 1:9-13 shows us how to pray.  In our prayers, we should ask for "Spiritual Understanding" and the Holy Spirit will tell us what to do.  Ask for "Worthy Living", we need to live the walk.  Pray that the work God gives us is "Fruitful Work".  (Not every good work bears lasting fruit.)  Pray that we grow in the knowledge of God and know when it made a difference.  Nothing less than God's power can make this all work.  Have great endurance and patience.  In the "Basking" part of our prayer, we should thank God for things that have already occurred supernaturally.  We were qualified for the inheritance (v.12), we were rescued from darkness (v.13), we were transferred to a new kingdom and we were  liberated from our sins.
 

The time may be short  Read Matthew 25:1-13.  Time may be short for all of us.  Before a tsunami hits, the water often recedes a half mile into the ocean and stays that way for up to 20 minutes before disaster strikes.  This may be similar to the wedge of time in which we live now.  In Luke 12:40 we learn that Jesus is coming back and we need to be ready.  Same in Luke 17:26-30, we need to be prepared now, or be prepared for it happening after a delay.  Have we lost our sense of urgency after waiting 2,000 years?
 
 In Matthew 24:3-14 we learn that there are some signals of Christ's return.  We are now living between verses 13 & 14.  Our job is to tell people He's coming back.  If the Lord tarries...we must not be scared, but work to finish the task.  2 Peter 3:9 tells us that Jesus is patient with us and wants more people to have the opportunity to hear about Him.
 
Time is short for me and you (Ps 144:3-4) and Time is short for them (Ps 39:5).  We are all just a vapor in the timeline.  We need to work hard now to finish our task.  Natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, storms, AIDS and bird flu make it an imperative that we reach as many as we can as quickly as we can with God's word.

God is doing grand things every day.  The Holy Spirit is causing missionaries to do even greater works.  There's no power on earth that can stop the Gospel!

How can I live a life of Faith to help others?  Read Mark 2:1-12.  Jesus was interrupted during a serious conversation He was having with people.  Jesus saw great faith in the people who dug an opening in the roof and lowered their needy friend down to Him.
Faith has transferable qualities when you are doing things on behalf of others.  Never brush off friends gathering on behalf of others' needs.  Every time we doubt what God can do he asks us why we are thinking that.  What God does is seldom on the daily news.
There are several lessons we can learn about faith from this passage.  First, FOCUS is important.  Focus on getting our friend's needs to Christ.  Focus on the Savior.  Second, Faith is SELFLESS.  It is not to be self-centered, it is to be focused on others.  And, Third, Faith is TENACIOUS.  Faith does not give up.  It is not for weaklings.  Faith does not quit.

We live in two planes.  2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." NIV

Above and Below the line living:
Above the line...Eternal Now, believing in the unseen, eternal, and the I Am.
Above the line living...Abundant life, influenced by things on high.  Setting your hearts above, setting mind on things above.
      =======================================
Below the line...seen things, temporary, earthly things.
Under the line living...concentrating on paying bills, buying things, work, success, reputation, sports, competition with others under the line.

Spiritual growth helps us experience above the line understanding.

This kind of thinking helps us...
- Helps us define faith.  Hebrews 11:1
- Helps us find satisfaction.  John 6:35
- Helps us grow up.
 

Live by Faith  John 14
It's the object that matters.  Object of our Faith matters.
1 John 2:6  Jesus chose to live in dependency.  John 14 shows the Father is in Jesus and the Spirit of Christ is in us.

The "Three Fold Interlock"
A life of faith is our love for God, leading to a dependency upon God, resulting in obedience to God.
Colossians 1:2 says we are the faithful ones.

Pleasing God vs. Trusting God  Hebrews 11:1-7
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  Flesh (I can take care of it), Fear (I can't handle it) and Philosophy (I simply believe it) keep us from having total faith.  "God measures us by the degree of trust we exhibit, not what the flesh produces.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  Romans 8:8.  Our attitude should be trust God in us so we can please God.

Being Relevant - Brian Houston of Hillsong Church
1 Corinthians 9:19 & 23.  "All things to all men"
Be connected with what is happening.  To be relevant is to be connected with what is happening.  Need to be useful to what is happening and suitable with God's purpose.
Commitments from the Relevant:
1)  Commitment to serve = Not Demand
2)  Commitment to inclusion = Not Exclusion
3)  Commitment to a solid foundation = Not Wavering
4)  Commitment to involvement = Not Isolation
5)  Commitment to understanding = Not Judging
6)  Commitment to big spiritedness = Not Narrow Mindedness
Jesus was many things to many people.  Good news to poor, sight to blind, etc.

If you want to live your life with favor, live your life in a relevant way.

Don't live in the SAFE zone, but in the FAITH zone.  Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church
New opportunities may be over your head, but not over God's head.  God tells us to get out in the deep, not stay in shallow water.  Take a step of faith and count on God to give you wisdom and guidance.  God won't let you get stagnant, he wants you to stretch.  You cannot please God without faith.  If you have no enthusiasm, it's because you are too comfortable, you are missing out on God's best.  Get out of your boat, stretch and trust God for strength and ability.  We often let the fear of what others might think keep us from stepping out.  Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the inside.  Be bold and have the courage to do something different.  Remember that you'll never get to the place where you arrive, God will always have you stretch more.

You are strong in the Lord, in his power & might, well able to do what He called you to do.  You've got to take a step of faith and then God will lead you.  Pray, use wisdom, and make sure you know in your heart its right for you.  Step out in faith, God never gives up on you.  Stop telling God what you can't do and let God tell you what you can do.  You can do all things through Christ.  It's easy for us to get stuck in a rut.  Make some positive changes in your life.  Press onto the next level of faith.  The enemy wants us to be complacent, passive.  What you sow you're going to reap.  Sow an uncommon, unusual seed.

When your brook dries up and God gives you a new opportunity, be willing to change.  Check you heart, don't let the fact you're comfortable or have been doing something for a long time keep you from pursuing what God is bringing across your path.  Make sure you are where you're supposed to be.  You and God are a majority.  God promised he will command you to be Blessed and He will meet all you needs with abundance.

Four Pillars of the Reformation Ephesians 2:4-10
Differences in our beliefs and others:
Soli Deo Gloria - God alone.  God alone saves us.  It is wrong to worship your teachers.  Isaiah 48:11
Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone.  Scripture alone is all we need to live by to be saved.  Teachers are infallible.  2 Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 16:16-19, Mark 7:6-9
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone.  There is nothing you can do to make Christ love you more or nothing you can do to make Him love you less.  You are saved by grace alone and His perfect love for you.  Ephesians 2:4
Sola Fide - Faith alone.  Not by faith and works.  Romans 1:16, Ephesians 2:8, John 3:16.  Good works have their place as shown in Ephesians 2:10, but not necessary for eternal life.

We are guaranteed salvation by Grace alone, with Faith alone, with Christ alone through the Bible alone.  There are no additives that you need to apply to each of these; as others believe.

Mother's Honor  Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31 is what a mother does for her children.  It includes Life Warnings-do not spend all energy on women, Life Boundaries-do not crave wine or beer, Life Values-speak up for and defend rights of poor and needy, and choosing Life Partners.  Choose a life partner who is:  Reliable, Industrious, Energetic, Generous, Fearless, Wise and Godly.

A Jabez Life  1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez's mother named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain."  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!  Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."  And God granted his request.

Pray that God will bless us with a purpose, give us power to stay in focus, Christian community and plentiful resources.  Pray that he would enlarge our territory, help us reach the lost, letdown and looking.  Pray that God's power and Holy Spirit be with us and that he keep us from harm and protect us from Satan.

Attitude Eph 6:1-9
To live long and prosper you need a good attitude to God given authority.  Get a positive attitude toward those over you. 

Children, cultivate a positive attitude toward your folks.  Don’t use weakness of parents to rebel.  Honor your parents for the Lord’s sake and do what your parents tell you to do, for the Lord’s sake.

Employees, cultivate a positive attitude toward your boss.  Don't slough off.  Do your best all the time.  When you do something, you are doing it for Jesus Christ.  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. Col 3:23.

If you’re in authority, get a positive attitude toward those under you.  Hew 16:11  Lead the way, as a loving authority.  Do not threaten those who work for you.  Spread encouragement.

Mortality  Ps 13
On 9/11/2001, no one expected to die. Heb 9:27, II Tim 4:6, Luke 13:11
Death is indiscriminate. Prepare for your death by preparing what comes after it.
1. Tell God what your are feeling and you are following him. Rom 8:37
2. Tell Him you rejoice in your salvation and that you sing to His goodness.


Reflections 2 Samuel 23
Reflect on:
1. My Background…What I was rescued from
2. My Uplifting…How I was raised up.
3. My anointing…How am I doing loving people.
4. My Ministry…Get into it.
5. My Privilege…God speaks to all of us.
6. My Leadership…Walk with God.
7. My Covenant…One side makes rules. Other party can deny them but cannot alter it.
8. My Alternative…Evil men.

The New Covenant:
He initiates, requires, rules and disciplines those He loves in an everlasting way.

Remembering and Regrouping   Lam 3:19-23
1. Remember he saves people. Ex 3:17 – Passover
2. Remember he provides for us. Ex 16:32 – Mania
3. Remember he preserves unity Ex 28:11 – 12 Tribes
4. Remember to resist temptation. Num 15:37 – Tassels
5. Remember the amazing things he has done. Josh 4:6 – Altar/Memorial to remember.

Reflect and meditate   Ps 143:5
a) Remember he provides for us.
b) He preserves unity. Am I adding or subtracting from the Church
c) Resist temptation. What tempts me?
d) Amazing things he did. What out of ordinary thing in my life over past year?

Impact    Acts 1
Any group of people can have an impact on the world.
Why was Acts written? See Luke 1:1-5
Accomplishments of the apostles are in Luke, the Means are in Acts.
We envision a church, comprised of Biblical communities, boldly proclaiming the gospel and wholeheartedly pursuing Christ likeness.
 If you want to make an impact, you have to have a mission mindset.
 Focus on the witnessing task. The secret things, i.e. end of time, are only known by God.
 Focus on what you know. He is coming back, personally, visibly and it will be a glorious day.
4 Seasons of God’s Plan. 1. Ascension—Jesus went to heaven, 2. Pentecost—Holy Spirit came, 3. Mission—Church witnesses and 4. Parousia—Jesus comes back.
 

What is the Holy Spirit like?
1. Like the Wind (breath) Ezh 37:1-14. Holy Spirit gives us new life. John 3:8
Three kinds of boats (Christians)
Row Boat – Work hard to serve God
Speed Boat – Go with the flow
Sailboat – Use the wind (Holy Spirit)
2. Like Oil – Makes people distinctly different (anointed). 1 Sam 16:13 Holy Spirit is there to protect you. Pray “by the blood of Jesus Christ. Devil hates that.
3. Like Living Water. John 7:37-39 and Ps 63:1. As opposed to dead water. Which only satisfies for a short time, i.e. sin, career, family, hobbies.
4. Like Fire. Acts 2:3, Luke 3:15-17, Purifying force. Holy Spirit separates what is unclean from what is pure. Gen 4:6-7
5. Like a Seal. Eph 1:13-14. Seal says something is genuine, owned and secure. Faith is genuine by the seal.
6. Like Clothing. Luke 24:49. Submerged, covered. It’s out responsibility to be “clothed” each day.

Is the Holy Spirit a Ghost?
Holy Spirit is all powerful. Rom 8:11
Holy Spirit is always available. Ps 139:7-12
But the Holy Spirit is a living person:
1. A true friend. John 14:16-17 + John 14:26
2. A personal friend. Rom 8:27 (Mind), 1 Cor 12:11 (Will), Eph 4:30 (Heart) and (Body). Holy Spirit dwells in us and in Church (Body of Christ) Rom 7:15, 18-19
3. Intimate Friend. Rom 8:22, 2Cor 5:1-5. Groaning under burden of flesh & body
4. Can be a spurned friend. Eph 4:30
 Lying to him. Act 5:3
 By insulting him. Heb 10:29
 By resisting him. Act 7:51
 By quenching him. 1Thes 5:19-22
Pete’s Theory – He is stunned by how much depression is in people and church. Depression is caused by chemical, spiritual and moral issues. Could “moral wrongs” cause the Spirit to grieve and give us depression?

The Holy Spirit's partner is the Bible.
Holy Spirit teaches us all things. John 14:25-26
6 Levels of Holy Spirit Involvement
1. Holy Spirit equipped the person to say it. Heb 1:1-2, Matt 22:43, 2 Sam 23:2, Mich 3:8
2. Holy Spirit inspired the author to write it. 2 Tim 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21
3. Holy Spirit enables the preacher to preach it. Jer 1:9, Ez 2:7, Acts 2:14
4. Holy Spirit enlightens the mind to understand it. 1 Cor 2:6-15, Eph 1:17-19
5. Holy Spirit encourages memory to recall it. John 14:25-26
6. Holy Spirit allows the discipline to apply it. 2 Tim 3:16

Holy Spirit always wants to Teach, Rebuke, Correct or Train

What difference does the Holy Spirit make?
Depend on God through our fears:
1. Stir up the God given fire of the Holy Spirit
2. Believe the nature of the Holy Spirit has the ability to change us. 1 Cor 2:3-5, the ability to change circumstances
3. He surround us with love. 1 John 4:16-18, Rom 8:38,39
4. Self discipline. To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Pentecostal and Charismatic– Everyone should exercise sign gifts.
• All gifts are normal for today. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
• Doctrine of Subsequence – you ask for baptism after you accept Jesus. Acts 4:31
• Tongues are sign of baptism of Spirit. Acts 19:5-7

Be Open but cautious
• Paul’s prayers for believer are Faith, Ephesians 3:16-19, Love, Hope, Romans 15:13
• New Testament does not say sign gifts have ceased.
• Sign gifts are not standard behavior for Church.
• There was a concentrated times of miracles. Moses, Elijah, 1 Kings 17:24, Jesus & Apostles, Luke 7:24


A day in the life of Holy Spirit empoweredness.
Dressing Time – Be clothed in the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49, Acts 11:16
Quiet Time – Holy Spirit, I am available to you. Ezek 36:26-7, Jer 17:7-8
Drive Time – Pray, what do you want me to do today. John 14:26, 1 Cor 10:12
Overtime – Put down temptations. What do I want? What do I really want?
Dinner Time – Help me to know what others need. Gal 5
Free Time – Don’t lose it. Eph 4:30
Ministry Time – Practice gift of encouragement. Find a need and fill it.
Bed Time – Remind yourself that he is God and he is here!

Acts 4:32
What type of disciple should we be:
• Need-Free community
• Adopt the attitude 2 Cor. 8:1-9

Acts 5:1-11
Visual Lying – Projecting an image which keeps others from seeing what you really are.
Verbal Lying – Speaking words to keep others from knowing the truth

Sold out Disciples  Acts 6:8 – 8:5
Sold out character, Full of grace, Holy Spirit power
Sold out confidence, Full of words, wisdom (He wasn’t standing alone). God is present with his people.
Sold out courage, Prayed: Do not hold this against them.
Stephens death was turning point in the spread of gospel.
A great persecution began and Jesus’ church was scattered and they spread God’s word.

Risk Taking Disciples Acts 8:9-25
Two kinds of people:
Leadership + Develop = Risk
Risk = Leaders + develop
1. Reaching difficult people – Phillip going to Samaria was tough for a Jew to do.
2. Preaching about one person. He proclaimed Christ, Preached the kingdom.
3. Correcting mistaken people. Everyone thought Simon was the Messiah.
4. Learning from young people.

How to be Good News Spreading Disciples  Acts 8:26-40
We are called to share our faith. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t do it now. If we are to have Impact, we are to be group of people who will proclaim Jesus Christ. Walk out of here bold and equipped. Every Monday we get scattered all over the world, and then come back. We go to spread God’s word.
Steps:
1. Obey the prompting v.26 & 29 Go-Go-Go We must sense it in our soul and do it.
2. Presume the Supernatural v.27 The Holy Spirit works behind the scenes constantly. The Holy Spirit is preparing the way.
3. Explain the Bible v.30 People who don’t know the bible are always intrigued to know more. How much do you need to know? A little bit more than they know. If you don’t know the answers then don’t answer it. Plan to get back to them. A question we don’t know the answer, that’s an invitation to get back together.
4. Speak of Jesus – Everyone wants to know the Good News. People just don’t realize that they need the Good News.
• Stay away from Heaving Hell
• Stay away from Argumentation Assassination
• Stay away from Denomination Discussion
• Stay away from “Generic God”

One Verse Evangelism Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Ask them, do you ever feel separated from God? That is death.
Sin created this canyon between us and God
Wages you earn, gifts you get free.
Death is separation forever. Eternal life is being with God forever.
Jesus was human and eternal. He is the only way to move us to God forever.
Give the person a pen and have them show you where they are. Show them how trust in Jesus Christ will let them cross the canyon.
Do a short prayer

5. Start over. V.39
Get them started in discipleship

Message to Philadelphia Rev. 3:7-13
The awesome power of little encouragement
• What he opens no one else can shut
• I know you are weak and strong – so much stronger than you think you are.
• I will vindicate you
• I will protect you.
• I’m coming soon
• I predict better days ahead.

Message to Laodicea Rev. 3:14-22
• If you are not hot or cold, you are useless.
• Material wealth can be the source of spiritual impotence.
• We need spiritual vitality.
• I will love you through discipline.
• Earnestly seek Me. Repent.
• He will reward us.

Things Change  Matthew 9:14-17
Jesus is not just a patch. He is a complete new life. Jesus is like wine, he needs new skins.
Change can be good or bad. Need to stay open, grounded and ready.
Jer 18:1 Who we are right now might not be the right wineskin to reach the world.
We can hold out, keep out, move out, give out or step out.
Following Christ requires initial and perpetual risk.
Future church will be about authenticity. Not about pretence. Very experiential, experimental…based on Mark’s observations of our kids.

“Simplicity” Matthew 6:25
The Answer is YES, now what is the question?
How to enjoy things God has given us without destroying our soul. We are ripe for idolatry when we’re bored.
God speaks in a whisper but we live in a world of noise. Do we fill our life with noise to keep from hearing God because we’re afraid of what we’ll hear?
v.33: Seek first his kingdom and His righteousness. These should be our filters for everything else. “It’s all about Jesus”

“No act of service is beneath you”.  John 13:13-15
Dogs & Cat analogy. Dogs have a master, cats have a staff. Dogs are like a bond slave. Bond slaves washed their master’s feet. We were created to serve…either God or sin.
We have been given tasks to do. 1 Cor 15:58. More harvest than workers.
1. Spectator (Cheer or critique) or Participant (Focused on Game)
2. Do the work of the Lord.  Col 3:23

To the Uttermost Parts 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
o Are we living are just existing?
o Are we growing through the motions or just going through them?
o Are we investing in eternity or just spending it all here?
o Are we taking over new territory or just taking up space?

Occupy—Multiply & Glorify God’s kingdom or petrify?
We are to be Jesus to the world.  What captures my eye captures by heart. What captures my heart sets my course.

Cultural catastrophes. Revelations 2:2-5 We exchange real life for virtual reality. We trade intimacy for the internet. We can be changed by a glimpse of Jesus that we can see serving Him.

Worry  Mark 9:17
Worry is a sin. Jesus told us not to do it.
Faith + Hope = Trust
Practice the presence of Jesus.
Don’t put faith in promises Jesus didn’t make.

Faith under gray skies  Hebrews 11-1
Why are skies grey?
1. People are cruel to us. We need to trust and allow Jesus to handle.
2. We make bad choices. We need to trust. Walk with God. God’s judgment is coming.
3. Wait for something we need. Trust when you’ve been building a long time. Get up tomorrow morning and trust Him again.

Spiritual Looking  Hebrews 11:8-9
Abraham lived by faith, not by sight.
Faith helps me let go of temporal things. So go where we’re sent and be content in a tent if necessary.
Abraham looked forward. He looked toward a better country, a heavenly one. Look at heaven not as a wishful thing, but rather as thoughtful wishing. C.S.Lewis
Faith helps me let God control insurmountable things when dreams don’t come true. Look for Him when logic won’t do. It’s not the amount of faith, but rather the object of the faith. Look for a miracle. It was not Abraham’s problem, it was God’s. When things don’t make sense, trust him anyway.

Faith and the Hard Things  Hebrews 11:20-31
Faith is our wetsuit. It keeps us up. Enables us to do things we couldn’t otherwise do.
My faith will help me die. Ecc. 7:2 Everyday is someone’s last day. Death only troubles carnal people.
My faith will help me let go of my kids. Hard, but necessary. Exodus 2.
My faith will help me delay gratification. Moses waited 40 years.
My faith will help me obey the unreasonable.
…unreasonable because it seems too easy. Passover, salvation
…unreasonable because it seems too scary. Parting of the sea.
…unreasonable because it seems too silly. Marched around wall for seven days.
My faith will help me leave a legacy. Josh 2:9,11
Faith = Make decisions that prove God is trustworthy.

A Life Unworthy   Hebrews 11:32-40
True Faith = The confident actions of an ordinary person who believes the word of God without first-handed proof.
Faith can make the weak strong.
Faith can accomplish the impossible.
Faith may cost us our comforts.
Faith may cost us our lives.

Jesus, Lamb of God. Worthy is your name.
Raise the bar, or leave it on the ground.
Remember how grace was given to the prodigal son: He realized his need, he went back home, received the gift of grace, father pursued him, he was forgiven and he was blessed.
Make the right pledge: Focus on efforts, appreciate what I have, will not compare myself to others, Everything I have is God’s.


Two sides of ownership  Luke 19:1-10
Secular 100% is mine, Church 10% is God’s 90% is mine, Biblical 100% is God’s. 
Deuteronomy 10:14 & Ps 24:1
Either God owns it, or it owns me.
Every spending decision should be a spiritual one.
Every time you buy something acknowledge that it is His.
Make a commitment to recognize His ownership.

Two Sides of Desire  1 Tim 6
More vs. Enough.  Wanting to get rich leads to… Falling into temptation, leads to… Plunging into ruin, leads to… All kinds of evil, leads to … Wandering from the faith, leads to… Piercing myself with many griefs.

Two Sides of Danger
Be careful, lending money to the poor can be hazardous to your wealth.
Be graceful, circumstances sometimes prevent repayment.
In borrowing, debt presumes upon tomorrow, debt can turn into slavery, debt requires repayment, cosigning can ruin you.

Two sides of Motives
Be a Grace Giver. They give because they want to. They give for what God can get. Grace Givers look like Jesus.
2 Cor 8:1-5

Life style is a contagious disease. Your kids will catch it.
It’s your job to teach your kids. Influence them by the way you live. Deu 4:9
Influence you kids by the advice you give. Make sure you won it and empress it. Deu 6:6-9
Make sure you cover it. Income, budgeting, consuming, giving, saving & investing, debt, routine responsibility and work.

Two Sides of Pragmatics Someday vs. Today
Give today to build your faith. Give today to exercise your faith.
Identify & Correct beliefs about God, Self, Life and Marriage
Give what you have, Give what you’ve decided, Give it and smile, Give it and Zip it.

Love Waits Patiently  1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient Makrothumeo Makros= A long time, prolonged restraint Thumos = Having a long fuse.
Having a long fuse and waiting a long time.
Pray for a long fuse – John 15:12

Love is kind. 1 Cor 13:4 John 9
To be kind, you must be active. There is difference between knowing & showing. Our decisions, even the small fleeting ones, tell a lot about us. 1. See the person, not the problem. Something happens to us when people pay attention to us. 2. See the ministry, not the theology. 3. Seize the opportunity by getting dirty. Be kind to some of God’s other kids.

Love does not envy 1 Cor 13:4, 1 Sam 18:8-9, 2 Sam 11:2-5
What: Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Jealously is protecting what “I” have. Envy is desiring what “they” have. David broke Commandments 5-10 in his relationship with Bathsheba. Prov 14:30, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”.
So What: God is a jealous God, but not an envious God. Ex. 20:5, Is 44:6 & 13-19
God isn’t envious because he knows he has the best thing. Value the best thing over a good thing.
Now What: Be content. Gal 5:19-20, 22. Value Christ above everything else.

Love Puts Others First 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
What: Love actively puts others first.
1. Choosing not to brag. – Stop talking about yourself
2. Refusing to inflate ourselves.
3. Allowing others to be center stage. – Stop promoting yourself
4. Renouncing self interests. – Stop pleasing yourself
5. Resisting retaliation. – Not easily irritated. Willing to give up.
6. Keep no records of wrongs. – Let God keep score.
Forgiveness – give freely whether other party sorry or not.
Reconciliation – given when repentance is seen!
So What: How did Jesus demonstrate this? Jesus constantly thought about the Father. He always told who he healed not to tell anyone. 2 Corinthians 5:19. God nailed our scorecard to the cross.
Now What: Flesh depends on self reliance. Christ in you can do this. Follow example of Christ.

Love Rejoices in Truth Ephesians 4:11-16
Love rejoices with the truth. River flows path of least resistance. Canal charts a course and goes there regardless of cost or pain. There are River people and Canal people. The difference is the desire and ability to tell the truth.

River People value peace more than truth,  Canal People risk discomfort for the truth.
River People delight when failure is heard, Canal People delight when truth is told.
River People hide the truth about themselves, Canal People offer the truth about themselves.
River People prefer to be ignorant of the truth, Canal People desire to know full extent of the truth.
River People passively ignore the things not OK, Canal People knowingly reveal the things not OK.

We grow in Christ when we receive the truth.   Ephesians 4:11-16 – River people have tendency to attack when confronted. Canal people endure the pain that the truth brings, but love becomes stronger.

Love Always Protects 1 Cor 13:7
Human Love = We love because someone is lovely or/and someone is loving me.
God’s Love = We love because of who He is. Panta (Always, All Things) Stegei (Always protects)
God’s love can carry us through anything and covers us (protects us) from all things. God wants us to love one another the way he loves us.


True Love Always
God’s direction to us, love always and anyways. Carry people in love.
Ps 61: Listen to people’s needs.
Lead them to the Rock.
Let them rest in us.
Cover people in love – like a roof. Be a shelter and shield. A wing for people to hide under.
1 Peter 4:8 Love covers over a multitude of sins.

Love Always Trusts 1 Cor 13:7
Various commentaries say about this verse:
Love never loses faith, Giving a favorable interpretation about everything, Believing the best about everyone.
Study of Thomas in John 11:16, 14:5 and 20:24
Giving someone:

Benefit of doubt: I choose to believe you wouldn’t do that.
Benefit of Grace: I choose to believe you didn’t mean that.
Benefit of Love: I choose to keep believing in you despite that what you have done.
We need to allow Jesus to love others through us.

Love Always Hopes Col 1:3-5
Col 1:3 'the Faith and Love that springs from the hope stored up for you in heaven.'
Good News is that we desperately need a Savior. Jesus is there for us. He was crucified and shed his blood so our sins are erased. He rose from the dead after three days and gives us abundant life. Good News leads to hope. We have hope, an inheritance that brings forth faith in Christ and love for other people. Love for others comes from this hope.

Love Never Fails John 15:12
Sign gifts will cease when Jesus returns but love will always last. If love lasts forever, it is worth fighting for.  Hosea 3:1-3 Demonstrate love always. Show your love to others.

Into Dependence Day   Matthew 5:3-4
Beatitudes are 5 portals. We need to know who we are, to change who we are, change what we do and change what we expect.
Blessed = “Approved of” Kingdom = “Meaningful life”
Rev 3:17-18. Live a life of emptiness. We are stuck without Jesus. Gratitude is the supernatural enemy of entitlement. Appreciate our needs. Live out difference between confession and contrition. Let heart break for ourselves and others. Jesus says “You need me”.

Changing Who You Are   Matthew 5:3-6
Beatitudes are doors to kingdom living and living like a king.
Be transformed in you attitudes. “Blessed are the meek.” Being meek is lowering yourself on purpose for God and others. Being meek is the “New Strong”
Be focused in your attention. “Blessed are those who hunger…”
We tend to focus on simply being happy. Our attention should be focused on the right things: Right relationship with God, Right character in our Hearts (value integrity, and Right conduct in our relationships. Bottom line – It is only through focused attention on right things that we experience meaningful life and true happiness.
 

Persecution  Matthew 5:10-12 & 2 Tim 3:12
We are all resident aliens. We’re green card holders. We can expect to suffer. Careers jeopardized by our lifestyle. One of our more important attributes. Be Happy! There is a great reward in heaven. Compensation by God is assured. Eternal restoration. Reward in heaven is great!
Ps 30:5 Shout of joy in the morning. Persecuted here. Compensated there. Result = Blessedness. Expect persecution. Lord give me and my family the strength to endure persecution.

God would use us to change the world.  Matthew 5:13-16
“We are invested in so we can be used by.” The world is rotten. Salt will stop the rot. Salt can be contaminated. Blessed people are the light. The world is dark. We are here to give light to everyone. We are landing lights. Lights can be hidden. …”for here and to go.. We are for here and we are to go out to share with others.

Settling for More  Galatians 2:11-21 & John 10:10
We focus too much on the temporal things. Last thing enemy wants is for us to have abundant life. Revelations 12:1-17
“Not I, but Christ” v.20 I was crucified by Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.

Settling for Less  Mark 3:13
We tend to settle for less: shallow friendships, low success, sameness, sentiments and solitude. The thief isolates us. Jesus had the 12 for companionship, to send them out (discipleship, and to go to war together (battleship). Jesus had the 3 Mark 5:37, Mark 9:2, Mark 14:32-34. Jesus had the 1 (“the one whom he loved”) John 13:21-24, John 21:20-24. It was John. Share the greatest treasures with the one. Who are your 12, 3, and 1?

Settling for More in Your Prayer Life  Ephesians 3:14-21
Faith = You said it + I believe it + Let’s live it
Pray Jesus would be at home in me.  Pray that Jesus’ love would be real to me.  Pray that Jesus’ fullness would be enough for me.  v.20 “God is able to do more than we ask or can imagine.”  Is 41:21-24 1 Jn 3:21-22

Settling for More in Your Marriage  Genesis 2:19-24
Leave the former life. You give stuff up.  Cleave – Cling to. Life long deal.  One Flesh – Become one. Marriage like mashed potatoes. Peeled, then Boiled, then Smashed. At the end you can’t see the individual potatoes anymore.

Settling for More in Parenting  Prov 31:1-9
You live on in your children.  There are no perfect people.  Holy Spirit causes you to love when human love runs out.  Parenting is the most important work in life and continues for ever.  Think of spiritual parenting. It’s everyone’s job.  1 Cor 13:4-6. Paste it up.  Be a Jesus lover and a glory giver.  Be specific—Talk it out and live it out.

Settling for More in Service  Acts 13:36
If you are going to be great in the Kingdom of God, you must learn to serve. Jesus was a servant.  We need to lay down our lives for the benefit of others.  The way to express gratitude to God is through service.  Liberty is the opportunity to be what I ought.

In what way am I serving God, the Believing Community and Needing World?  God has a grand cosmic plan. He created us and saved us for a purpose.  Look at what you can do for a clue of your purpose.  Learn how to serve the present generation.  When you fall asleep, you do so with the understanding you will awaken again before God.  What will God say? Well done, good and faithful servant.

Settling for more in Worship  John 9:35-38
Remember, No I, but Christ
Worship is not about what I like, not my preference but differences we allow from others.
When Christ changes us, we worship him fully.  We encounter Jesus, we become open, we are confronted with the truth, we choose to trust him and we live to worship him.
Proskuneo = worship  Pros – towards, Kuneo – to kiss, Kuno – dog
Worship in an awe inspiring posture of affection and submission.  When Christ enables us (Matthew 14:33) and when Christ gathers us (John 4:23) we worship him fully.  We are either the “frozen chosen” being still through worship, or “window washer” move hands.


Settling for more in our Drive  We all have our high times and low times, we ebb and flow.  So what to do if you don't care enough?  Renew your mind.  Read John 3:16-19, John 3:36, Acts 4:12 and Romans 10-13-15.  Consider all of that.  It is all in the Bible so it is all true.  Remember God doesn't struggle with not caring enough.

An Attitudinal Tutorial from our Master  Mark 9:30-41
1. A willingness to DISPLAY IGNORANCE. v.32
2. A willingness to SERVE EVERYONE. v.33-35
3. A willingness to WELCOME THE UNDISTINGUISHED.  v.36-37
4. A willingness to CHEER for OTHERS.  v.38-40
5. A willingness to do the SMALL STUFF.  v.41

An Attitudinal Tutorial From Our Predecessors.
1. Pride will HINDER our INPUT.
2. FALSE HUMILITY will reveal itself.
3. If you want to ANALYZE your PROGRESS, note how you VIEW OTHERS.
4. Humility is balanced on TWO PILLARS:
A. Our LOWLINESS
  2 choices
     1. Spiritual COSMETOLOGY --REPUTATION
     2. Spiritual HUMILITY--CHARACTER
B. God's GREATNESS
 

Influential Sayings
- God wants what's right, not what's left.
- The things in life that are important are not things.
· Decide everything you will get will come from God.
· Treat people equally, do not use people but enjoy people.
· Decide who you are.  Never let anyone tell you that you can't be an eagle.
· God has His people.
· Children are messengers to a time we will never see.
· It's not who you are but whose you are.
· If you're not faithful with a small amount you'll never be good with a bunch.
· The choices we make dictate the life we live
· Change doesn't just happen.  It is created, it can be deliberate.
· In a time of great changes it's the learners who inherit the future.
· There is not an achievement worth remembering that isn't stained with the blood of diligence and etched with the scars of disappointment.
· Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our Spirit is made new every day.
· Attitude of Compromise, Zone Out, Positive Change Network
· We are only responsible for what we can do, not what we can't do.
· You're available for greater things
- Be careful what you see, where you go, what you want and what you think about.
· Spend your life on something that will outlive it.
· God does not use a dirty vessel
       
No matter what…Never stop smiling

Success can be defined as behaving in a way pleasing to God.

"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it" - Ralph Waldo Emerson...

Peter Drucker has pointed out, the best and most dedicated people are ultimately volunteers, for they have the opportunity to do something else with their lives.

Happiness is never having to see your air bag!

1 Cor 3:9  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. NIV

What are the spiritual gifts?

A.        Miracles or sign gifts  (Tongues, Interpretation, Healing and Miracles)
B.        Equipping gifts  (Apostleship (Start/oversee a new work of ministry), Prophecy (Reveal spiritual truth and proclaim it in a timely manner), Evangelism (Communicate the gospel), Shepherding/(Pastoring) and Teaching.)
C.        Serving gifts  (Administration, Discernment, Encouragement, Faith, Giving, Helps, Hospitality, Knowledge, Leadership, Mercy and Wisdom)

How do I know which one is mine?
A.        What do I enjoy doing in service?
B.        Where do I see the most fruit when I serve?
C.        What do others see in me?
D.        Where is the Holy Spirit pointing me?

Treat Sin Radically
    1. TELL somebody!
    2. Ask "Who do I want to be in love with my Lord or my Sin?"
    3. VIEW temptation as fertilizer
Judas proved you can walk around 3 years and still go to HELL!

Why we need a church...when wisdom is needed, when defeated people return, when immorality is disciplined, when tough times come, when a prayer is made, when seekers are looking, when battles are brewing, when it's time to repent.

Christians are super heroes because we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  But the world has taught us to repel this thought.
In Ephesians 1 & 2, we find that God's purpose is to bring everything to Christ.  His plan for us is redemption, centered on Christ, manifested in people.  Church is the central place of God's history.  v18, that we would open our eyes wider.  We have all the strength we need.  Church is the center of called-out ones.  "The church fulfills Him"...Jesus said, "I am the head, you are the body". 
Acts 1:8 tells that church must continue to expand.  We are part of that history.

Some Favorite and Spirit Changing Verses:

Hebrews 12:11  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Mark 8:34  Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Proverbs 14:30  A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
A healing spirit, made up of love and meekness, a hearty, friendly, cheerful disposition, is the life of the flesh; it contributes to a good constitution of body; people grow fat with good humor. 

Assurance of salvation
    And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  1 John 5:11,12

Assurance of answered prayer
    Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.                                                John 16:24

Assurance of Victory
    No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.                 1 Corinthians 10:13

Assurance of Forgiveness
    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.                                                1 John 1:9

Assurance of Guidance
    Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.    Proverbs 3:5,6

Christ the Center
    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!   2 Corinthians 5:17

Christ the Center
    I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.    Galatians 2:20

Obedience to Christ
    Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.    Romans 12:1

Obedience to Christ
    "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."   John 14:21

The Word  
    All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.                                      2 Timothy 3:16

The Word
    Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.     Joshua 1:8

Prayer
    If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.    John 15:7

Prayer
    Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.                                          Philippians 4:6,7

Fellowship
    And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24,25

Witnessing
    I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.     Romans 1:16

Fellowship
    For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."       Matthew 18:20

Witnessing
      "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."   Matthew 4:19

All Have Sinned
    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.    Romans 3:23

All Have Sinned
    We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.