Surviving Disappointment / Small Group Lesson

Surviving Disappointment / Life Group Lesson
January 16, 2011 / WHCOC

• If you don’t mind, please share a time when things did not go to plan. Go around the group. (Ask everyone to introduce themselves.)

• In life we all face disappointment. How would you define or explain disappointment?
IDEA: We all face spiritual, professional, personal struggle and disappointment in life. The priority is not really to avoid being disappointed but to learn from it and overcome it.

• What has helped you in the past in overcoming disappointment?
Read Romans 8:28-30; 37-39.

• How does knowing that God works for our good help you overcome disappointment?
IDEA: In v.30 it says God has a predestined plan that will help us overcome the struggles of this life; of course the plan is directly connected to Jesus.

• How does following the example of Jesus help you overcome struggle & disappointment?
• Did Jesus ever face disappointment & hardship? (examples I thought of: In Garden He was filled with sorrow, when Lazarus died he wept, he was angry at the money changers at the Temple, He was tempted by Satan, he was crucified)

• What did He do when faced with those struggles?
READ Proverbs 24:16
IDEA: Solomon says sometimes even righteous people fall. The number “7” in the Bible is a number that is indefinite, it means that things can happen over and over. The writer uses the number 7 not to be exact about a number, but to say that all people struggle and fail, unfortunately it happens countless times. But there is also good news, in v.16 Solomon says that even though you at times fall, you can rise again.
• The reason we will rise again is because of God. What examples “rising” or “resurrection” do you know of in the Bible? How does this encourage you?

READ Hebrews 11:1-3
• How is faith in God important especially when we hurt or struggle?
IDEA: The next 35 verses give an account of people who had fallen many times, and yet their faith brought them back to their feet. By faith, these people trusted & followed God, and God was faithful to them.
• How does knowing that God has a purpose for you help you in the most difficult of times?
CONCLUSION: Commit to God that even on your darkest day, in the deepest disappointment, commit to Him saying “I will use this somehow to bring glory to Him.”
Close in prayer.

Hospice or Hospital?

When we are sick and go to the hospital, we go there with the intention of getting well, that we would be healed. To be at the hospital requires humility, an understanding that in order to get well we need help, that we must trust the doctors and nurses who are treating us. When we go the hospital we have a goal in mind, that we would be healed, so that we can go out into the world and live. People leave the hospital with their health changed for the better, ready to change the world.

I have heard people describe the church as a hospital for sinners. As Christians we know we can’t make it on our own, that we need the help of the great physician in order to have life to the full.
Similar to hospitals are hospice care centers. They do an incredible work in these places. They help people who are dying; they make them comfortable in their last days. When one goes into hospice care they are preparing to die.
So when we think of what the church is or what it should be; do we act like a hospital for sinners or do we act like a hospice for sinners? Do we worship God to be challenged and changed or do we worship him to be comfortable in our last days? We are not called to live in spiritual hospice care; we are called to be transformed into His likeness, to experience the comfort, joy, and salvation that can only be found in Him. We are not spiritual hospice care, we are a hospital & rehab center that celebrates the life that God gives us. As the church, we connect with the God who changes us, and who gives us new life. Now that He has transformed and healed us, let us go out and transform the World.

Some of the thoughts on hospice care were inspired by the book Transformational Church, written by Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer. 

Merry Christmas

Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs. "I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE..." "I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO..." "I PRAY FOR A NEW IPOD..." His older brother leaned over and nudged the younger brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Grandma is!" From: cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and warm holiday season. God blesses us each day with both grace and opportunities. His grace is overwhelming in that the gift of salvation is given with such abundance and love. Each day we are reminded of our sin and weakness, and yet if we look to Him we also see His mercy and providence. The opportunities are also abundant, each day we meet people that need to be loved, encouraged, helped, and forgiven. When we meet these people we are given an opportunity to share the love and grace that has been given to us. Take the opportunity and share in the ministry of God’s grace. It is truly a gift to be loved by God. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

ps.  I will be in Florida for Christmas enjoying the hollidays the way they were intended; with palm trees and sunny weather!

Think like Toys R US

Martin Luther wrote, “Christ is the kind of person who is not ashamed of sinners—in fact, he even puts them in his family tree! Now if the Lord does that here, so ought we to despise no one … but put ourselves right in the middle of the fight for sinners and help them.”


I think we all agree with Martin Luther’s quote. Jesus came to this earth to save sinners, and He did it by aggressively inserting himself into our world. Jesus knew that the best way to reach sinners was to bring God’s love to them, to reach out to the hopeless and give them hope. The business world understands that if you want to reach people with your products, you can’t wait till they come to you, you must go to them if you want to be successful. Please read the following article from Mae Anderson:

“Toys "R" Us will be reaching out to you soon. Due to the economic downturn and tough competition, the toy chain has started to change their strategy. Specifically, in 2010 Toys "R" Us plans to "invade" shopping malls around the country by opening 600 express stores and hiring 10,000 part-time seasonal employees. Rather than waiting for customers to come to their traditional stores, they are finding ways to reach out. It's all part of their big vision to share their products with the world. According to CEO Gerald Storch, "We've been very aggressive [about reaching people] during the economic downturn, and this is another aggressive action." Spurred on by last year's success, they're not asking, "How can we survive this year?" Instead, they're trying to make an impact by asking, "How big can we make this?" It's an impressive display of creative, visionary thinking about how to reach people where they're at.”

In life, business, and in church we are never successful when we sit and wait for people to come to us. That is why the great commission doesn’t say “Sit and wait for the world to come to you”, instead it says “Go into all the world”. As a new year begins, let us commit to follow the example of Jesus by reaching out to sinners and sharing with them the truth, love, and grace of God. Merry Christmas & Get - R Done!

A Place for Prayer

In Matthew 21 Jesus entered into the Temple, there he witnessed religious people acting like worldly people. In the story Jesus entered the Temple to find the Pharisees filling the court of the Gentiles into a place of money exchange tables and consumerism. Jesus saw all of this and got angry. He kicked over the tables and drove them out with a whip he made. When Jesus did that, he quoted Isaiah 56:7.

“7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7 NIV

That part of the Temple was designed for Gentiles to come and learn about God. It was meant to be a place that they could connect to Him in prayer. Yet there was no room for the outsider, there was no place for prayer, because they were too focused on making money and keeping up with the world. I’m terrified by this story because I can relate to the Pharisees. So much of my life has been about keeping up with the world, that I have not allowed this temple (my life) to be a place of prayer or a place that is welcoming to outsiders. It is time to give the Temple (our lives) back to God. Jesus took the blame for sin, not that we could keep on being worldly and sinful; He took the blame so that we could be restored into a Temple of prayer and holiness.

Babies Change Everything!



Abby & Jack at Lamberts Restaurant in Sikeston, Mo 

 When Abby was born, a friend of mine made a very prophetic and true statement; he said everything in your life has changed. I said “I know”. He said, “no you don’t. Not just your schedule and activities will change, but who you are will continue to change. Your love for that child will change you, and transform you.” My friend was right; every day I am reminded that my life has changed, that things are different now, not because of one but two babies have come into my life. I’m not talking about little changes like stepping on Lego’s, waiting in car rider lines, cleaning weird carpet stains, going to choir concerts, or soccer games. With the arrival of children I have learned patience, forgiveness, love, and responsibility. Children can change us for the better.  Two thousand years ago a baby arrived and did just that for whole world. When Jesus came to this earth, He changed it forever, because of Him our world will never be the same again. He grew into a man, into a healer, a teacher, and a savior. As He walked on this earth, Jesus demanded that we would change our ways and become more like Him and less like the world. When Jesus met people, He changed them forever. In a few weeks, many people will celebrate the birth of Christ. When Jesus came to this earth, He came to connect us back to God. At Christmas & New Years, many people evaluate who they are and where they are going in life. That is not a bad idea. Jesus came to this earth to restore us into holy and blameless people who make room for those who are in need; we should use this time to recommit to the changed life He has called us to.

Jesus Everyday part 1

When do you see Jesus? Do you see Him everyday, once a week, or maybe you have never seen Him at all. My short little thought for the day is this, it revolves around the notion that we all have the ability to see Jesus if we want to. Have you ever seen the movie “A Beautiful Mind”? The story is about a math genius named John Nash who was able to see math equations in every day settings. His work earned him the Nobel Prize in 1994. John was a troubled man who battled Schizophrenia, but no one can argue that this man was capable of seeing things that most of us cannot.
We might not be able to see mathematical equations like John Nash, but I do believe we are all blessed with the ability to see the work of Jesus in everyday life. The Holy Spirit empowers us to see the work of our creator if we allow Him to. The problem is that we are either too busy or too misguided to see what God is doing in right front of us. The prophet Elisha had to comfort his servant who went outside one morning to see the giant Aramean army surrounding them. Elisha prayed for his servant that he might see God at work in that event; and at that moment Elisha’s servant saw an even more powerful army of God surrounding the army that surrounded him. We often panic over things that God has complete control over, and it is out of panic that we make some of the most regrettable decisions we could ever make. So the next time you feel surrounded by trouble, take another look to see that God surrounds that which surrounds you. That way you can react not out of fear but by faith in Him who loves you.

Friendly or Connected

I have over 400 friends on Facebook, and most of them I never talk to, see, or hear from. They are the ideal when it comes to low maintenance friendships. I’m concerned that the modern world has forgotten what friendship really is. In the movie Tombstone, someone asked Doc Holliday why he was always risking his life for Wyatt Earp; Doc Holliday said “because Wyatt Earp is my friend”. The man asking the question then said, “well I have a lot of friends” saying it in a trivial way. Doc Holliday said “I don’t”. Maybe we have trivialized what relationships are? I am a time share owner. Last year I got a letter in the mail saying “thank you for being part of the Interval family”. They call me family, but I don’t know them, they don’t know me. Maybe we have trivialized what family is. When it comes to church, what does it mean to be a member? I know that God adds us to the church when we are baptized, but what does it mean to be part of a congregation, to be part of a church family? If we are not careful, church rolls can look like a Facebook page, where we have lots of friends but no connections. There is not one place in the Bible that tells us that we need to be a friendly church, but there are many places that say we need to be a connected church. That is what I think Paul was talking about in Romans 1:11-12 when he said “ 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Romans 1:11-12 NIV. Paul is saying here, I want to be with you; I want to be with my family. That kind of passion for each other is hard to find. The question should not be “are we a friendly church?” There answer there is yes, we are friendly. The truth is, I’m friendly at Kroger, at Walmart, and at football games, but friendly doesn’t build relationships. The real question should be, do people need each other here, do they connect here, do they trust, love, and help each other? Paul says I want to build you up, that we can be mutually encouraged. Some scholars say Paul is just being humble, but what if Paul is not just flattering these people, what if he is telling the truth? Paul needed these people just as much as they needed him. Strong spiritual relationships go further than friendliness, they require investment and a mutual level of appreciation and honesty. God is in the saving people and changing lives business, He invites His church to be part of that mission. The way we do that is to go beyond friendliness; so that we can strive for connectedness.

Prayer guide / Relationships

All in the name of Jesus!

Prayer guide / Relationships

Get r Done! Fall 2010

MORNING PRAYER: Think about the talents and gifts God has blessed you with.  Read Romans 12:1-8.  Ask God to help you develop and use those gifts today to bring Him honor & glory.

Prayer: Father I want your will to guide and transform me today.  Help me to love people the way you love them, give me the vision to see the needs of others, and the desire to use my gifts to help them.  I pray that your grace will continue to work powerfully in my life.  Help my family & I to invest our lives in the WHCOC family.  Teach and mold me into the person you want me to be.  AMEN

NOON PRAYER:   “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5 NIV

Prayer: Father, for the good things that have happened today I praise you, as for the trials and temptations I have encountered I hand them over to you.  Help me to love the people around me, help me to be like Jesus to them. May you be glorified in each moment of my day.  Show me who I need to serve and share the story of Jesus with.  AMEN

EVENING PRAYER: In the evening we reflect on the events of the day.  It is a time we can ask important questions, repent for sins, and praise God for victories.  READ Romans 12:9-21

Prayer: Father, thank you for your guidance, your grace, and your love.  Forgive me when I was selfish or proud.  Transform my heart, help me to be more like your son each day.  Guide my children & spouse to walk with you.  Thank you for the salvation and love that you offer.  Be with my WHCoC family, transform us into a church the loves you and each other.  AMEN

Life Group Discussion: Peace & Unity

“Get -R Done” Sermon Series

Life Group Discussion Questions / November 7, 2010
What kind of things disrupt unity within any group (church included)?

In what ways can each member be responsible for maintaining unity within a group?

How would you describe a leader?
Read Mark 10:35.
James and John asked Jesus for an elevated position, one of distinction. What did Jesus mean when he told them “you do not know what you are asking?”

How is the apostles view of leadership flawed according to Jesus?

Do these verses change the way you view leadership? How?

Notice v.41, how did the pursuit of the wrong kind of leadership cause division within the Apostles?

In v.43, Jesus said that the church doesn’t need supermen leaders, it needs leaders who will serve, lead by example, and will put others first. Why is leadership that is filled humility and led by example a more effective leadership style?

Jesus prayed that the church would be one, bonded like the Father and Son are one. In v.21, Jesus goes from using words like “they” to words like “us” or “we”. As Jesus says here, if we are going to be part of God’s mission to make disciples then we cannot be a church full of “I’s”, “they’s” or “thems”, the church must be a “we”.

Why do we so quickly refer to other church members and church leaders as they, rather than we?

Many football fans refer to their favorite team as “we”. Saying things like “we beat them this week” or “we need a better quarterback.”

Why do we so easily connect with our favorite team as a “we” but often speak of our church as a bunch of “theys”?

What can each of us do personally to change that?

READ Colossians 3:14-16
Notice v.15, when someone sees you coming, do they know that you are bringing peace?

IDEA: When peace rules in our hearts, we are quick to unite in the bonds of Jesus rather than to divide over feelings or opinions. We cannot be so quick to separate ourselves from others, when Jesus said I want you to be united and one. As disciples we are responsible for building each other up, encouraging them to grow closer to God and to others. In a way we are all leaders, living an example of humility and grace. What are some things each of us can do to promote unity within our church?
Close in prayer…

I Come In Peace

“19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:19-23 NIV

In v.19 we find the disciples behind locked doors living in fear. There was no peace and not much unity. Just a few days earlier one of them had betrayed Jesus, another denied Him, and the rest ran away. They treated their friend like dirt, they abandoned Jesus, they left him to die alone. They were living with shame. Could you imagine how you would have felt if your friends had abandoned you during your most difficult hour? But Jesus came to them and said “Peace be with you!” Jesus did not judge them, yell at them, or even separate himself from them; instead He brought peace to them. Shalom is the Hebrew word for Peace, it is a greeting with a deep meaning. By saying “peace to you” Jesus is saying we are not war, instead everything I do will be done to bring you closer to God and to each other. Jesus took these broken disciples and gave them peace.

A North Korean assassin named Kim Shin Jo in January of 1968 with a team of 31 assassins from North Korean snuck across the border in to South Korea in an attempt to kill the president of South Korea. The team of 31 of North Koreans made it to within a few hundred meters of the president's residence before they were detected. A fierce battle ensued, killing 30 South Koreans. All of the North Korean soldiers were killed, except one who escaped and Kim Shin Jo, who was captured. After months of interrogation, and through a surprising friendship with a South Korean army general, Kim Shin Jo's hard heart started to change. Later he would confess, "I tried to kill the president. I was the enemy. But the South Korean people showed me sympathy and forgiveness. I was touched and moved." The South Korean government eventually released Kim Shin Jo. Over the next three decades he worked for the military, became a citizen, and then married and raised a family. Finally, he became a church minister. He said what changed him, what transformed him from being a killer into becoming a South Korean citizen was that even though he treated South Korean people like the enemy, the South Korean people treated him like a brother. FROM:"South Korean pastor is also a trained killer," CNN Religion blog (8-9-2010)

Can we do that as God’s people? Can we treat people no matter what they have done or who they are like family? Jesus could have called us His enemy, but He chose instead to help us become His family. That is why Jesus said, “Peace be with you!” With Jesus a church can be one loving family rather than angry factions.

Stacyisms "Let it go, but don't let it go on!"

My wife is very quick and witty when it comes to any kind of dialogue.  So every now and then I will start posting these interesting little phrases that she so often comes up with.  The Stacyism for this week is:

 "I know I need to let it go, but I don't have to let it go on". 

You have to admit, that is good and pretty wise, don't tell her I said that.  For those of you who need some context for she said it is this; sometimes we face troubling and frustrating behavior from the same people on a regualer basis.  In order to get along we know that we have to let that frustration go if we are going to continue having a relationship with that individual.  To forgive and yet address bad behaviour in others is no easy task, and the best advise in how to do that is found in words of Jesus in Matthew 18.  In that chapter Jesus says that not only must we forgive, but we need to lovingly confront bad behavior if we are to maintain unity.  Even though Jesus didn't say it the same way, I think He is is the one that inspires us to "let things go, but not let them go on!". 

Prayer Guide

All in the name of Jesus!

WHCOC Prayer guide.
Get r Done! Fall 2010

MORNING PRAYER: We pray each morning to give God our first moments. Before anything else we allow God to focus our goals and plans for the upcoming day. Read Psalm 23.
Prayer: The Lord is my shepherd, that is all I want, that is all that I need. Guide me today, protect me and my family as we go out into the world. Stay with me each moment so that you may be the focus of all that I do . I pray that you would help me invest in things that are eternal, that you would show me how to lead my family & friends closer to you. Help my family & I to invest our lives in the WHCOC family. Teach me and mold into the person you want me to be. AMEN



NOON PRAYER: Consider that what truly defines your day is nothing that the world throws at you. What defines today and your life is your relationship with God. Someone around you needs to be encouraged, they need to see Jesus in your actions. Maybe it is time that you share your faith with that person.
Prayer: Father, even though I am busy in the middle of the day I more than anything want to be with you. Help me to see the people around me the way you see them. May you be glorified in every situation I encounter. Show me who I need to serve and share the story of Jesus with. AMEN



EVENING PRAYER: In the evening we reflect on the events of the day. It is a time we can ask important questions, repent for sins, and praise God for victories. READ Psalm 27
Prayer: Father, more than anything I want to hear your word as I begin my day. Guide me as I consider that you want me to be successful in following your will. I commit to making your will my will. Be with my WHCoC family, guide our church in becoming one that obeys your will each day, help it to be fruitful & pleasing to you. AMEN

A Little Something That I Learned From Acts 16…

Early in his visit to Macedonia Paul converted a rich woman, a poor slave girl who was demon possessed, and a middle class soldier. It didn’t matter what their social standing was, Paul shared the story of Jesus with them. Right before Paul met these people, he was on his way to pray. I don’t think that was a coincidence. Prayer has a way of helping us see where God is working, it also gives us the desire to take on opportunities that God gives us to glorify Him. If we want to get things done for God, we must begin with prayer. Prayer helps us to see God’s activity, it helps us be ready to share the wonderful story of Jesus.
Even though Paul was a successful missionary, he was faced with risk and hardship. He was attacked, beaten, and thrown in jail. God delivered Paul from the jail, but that doesn’t’ change the fact that he was beaten and mistreated. Rather than quit or complain, we see that Paul grew closer to God. To be on a mission for God is not always easy, in fact it requires a commitment to connect with God. It begins with prayer, with us asking for God’s leading and direction.

Jesus is Our Cornerstone

Last year I read a story that happened in China. In the city of Shanghai, a 15 story apartment building built to withstand floods, earthquakes and high winds was almost complete. It was a beautiful building that would have housed hundreds of people. On June 27, 2009, after severe rains, this brand new building before anyone moved in, simply fell over, first floor and all. It was so well built, when it fell it didn’t break in half, it didn’t crumble, in fact it stayed intact from the top floor all the way to the basement. It simply fell over killing at least one unsuspecting construction worker. As engineers began to investigate, it became apparent that the building foundation was not properly built or placed. The foundation could not support the weight of the building.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7 that those who puts Jesus’ words into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The storm that came was intense with great flooding and powerful winds, it was amazing that the house stood firm. Jesus said that the reason the house was still standing was because of the strong foundation. He then said that another man built the same kind of house but on a weak foundation and it collapsed during the storm.
A church that obeys the word of God, that rests its faith in Jesus can never just simply fall over or fall apart. Jesus can handle the weight, the pressure, and storms that His church sometimes has to face.
The reason why many religious people stumble, and why some churches stumble is because we are trying to carry the weight on our own. When we try to be our own foundation, when our focus is not on Jesus but on ourselves, we are too busy trying to keep the church from falling down that we can’t do anything else but try to hold it together. That is miserable and no way to live, besides that we would never have the energy or time to obey His great commission. That is why the weight of the church, the weight of your life is not supposed to be in your hands, but in Jesus. Our faith is not in what we do for Him, our faith is in what He does for us. Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives, and all that we do should rest on Him.

Scripture & Prayer Guide for the Gospel of Mark

Monday: READ Mark Chapters 1, 2, & 3. Pray: Ask God to guide you into complete surrender into will. That you would rely upon Him as He continues to transform you into the likeness of Jesus.
Tuesday: READ Mark 4 & 5.
Pray: Ask that God would grow your faith as you go through each day; that you would always seek His help, His mercy, and His transforming power.
Wednesday: READ Mark 6, 7, & 8.
Pray: That you would fall deeper in love with Him as you grow in your desire to be more like Jesus.
Thursday: READ Mark 9, 10, 11.
Pray that God will give you a desire to be obedient and faithful to Him even in difficult times.
Friday: READ Mark 12, 13, 14.
Pray that you would have the desire to do God’s will, that His mission would become your mission in every moment of life.
Saturday: READ Mark 15 & 16.
Pray that the story of Jesus would become the cornerstone of all that you do; that the grace of God may transform your life into one that glorifies Him each moment. Be sure to say thankyou!

Get r Done

We are in our new sermon series called “Get r Done”. In the south the words “Get R Done” are not just a phrase, they are a battle cry. To say “get r done” is to say I will get the task completed no matter the cost, the time, or the effort. Get r Done means we are on a mission to do something. Last week we focused on the idea that God has given us a mission to be disciples who go make disciples. In 21st century terms, our mission is to connect with Jesus while encouraging others to also connect with Jesus. In the book of Zechariah a group of Jews moved back to Jerusalem, they had been defeated and had been led away in chains back to Babylon. Now they are back on a mission to rebuild the Temple and the city. The city of Jerusalem with its walls and great Temple were all in ruins, all that was left was rubble. The very place God was to dwell (The Temple) was destroyed. There must have been part of them that felt hopeless, they had to know that they were in trouble. They must have thought “how do you build a city or a kingdom out of rubble?” Right now some of you may feel the same way. How do we bring God back into this place, into our hearts? If our mission is to follow Jesus and to help others follow Jesus how do we do that when all we feel like we have to work with is rubble? Notice how God helped the people get started.

“6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. 7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!” Zechariah 4:6-7 NIV

It was an important message to all of the people; that the city, the gates, and the Temple will be built not by the power of man, but by the Spirit of God working in His people. Jerusalem was rebuilt because the Spirit of God worked through the hands of men and women who surrendered to the Spirit of God. If we want to get things done in this church, or if you want to do something for God, then start by reconnecting with Him. That’s what it means when we say, not by power, but by His Spirit.

Into His Likeness

"18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
When Moses came down from Mt Sinai with the 10 Commandments, his face was so bright that it overwhelmed everyone who saw him. Therefore they put a veil over his face. The idea is that when one comes into contact with God they are changed (transformed), even if it is just temporary.
What Paul is saying here in 2 Corinthians 3 is that too many people are living outside of Jesus, their hearts are veiled. Another wards they can’t see or comprehend the blessing and freedom that is found in a love relationship with God. Jesus removes all separation, and brings us closer to God. The main focus of verse 18 is that if you are connected to Jesus your life will change. The idea is that if we spend time with Jesus, if we take time to get into His word, if we pray in His name, and if we stay connected to Him, we will be changed. You may ask “change into what?” Verse 18 says change into His likeness. When Moses came into contact with God, his faced shined brightly. When we come into contact with Jesus we too shine a light of hope that blesses everyone we encounter. Transformation into spiritual maturity should be the norm rather than the exception. May God bless you each moment as you allow Jesus to transform and bless your life each day!

DEVIL

Devil is a movie that M. Night Shyamalan wrote & produced that my wife and I found interesting and very entertaining. I will not give too much away, in fact consider yourself warned if you plan on watching the movie and don’t want to have the ending spoiled.

Most stories have a way of highlighting the struggle that its characters are going through and then in one short moment at the end we discover a truth about them. While some stories goal is only to focus on the struggle, many filmmakers (especially Shyamalan) are concerned with where the characters are going. The struggle these characters deal with is their sin, guilt, and the devil’s desire to make them pay for it. This story spends most of its time dealing with that idea, however that is not the goal of this movie. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The ultimate goal of this film is to remind us that forgiveness is more powerful than the schemes of the devil.

The security guard who narrates the story tells us something that his mother would always say, "Don't worry. If the devil is real, then God must be real too." I give this movie two thumbs up. It is PG-13, which means it has the typical violence and language of a PG-13 movie, so please keep that in mind if you decide to see it.

Living Water

“5 People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. 6 If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. 7 Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God's laws.” Romans 8:5-7 CEV

I like how the Contemporary English Version translates Romans 8. Paul describes two kinds of lives; the Christ- Centered Life followed by the Me-Centered Life. Paul describes the Christ- Centered Life as a life that is ruled by the Holy Spirit. One of the great benefits of having a relationship with Jesus is having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The idea behind Romans chapter 8 is that the reason we do good things is because we are in submission to the will of God. God’s Holy Spirit gives us the desire and strength to do good things. The Me-Centered Life works just the opposite. The King James Version uses the word “flesh”, the NIV the word “sinful nature”, and the CEV uses the word “desire”. Flesh does not necessarily mean body; it in this context describes a lifestyle that is not God centered. Everything I do, think, or say is influenced by either the flesh or by the Holy Spirit. The flesh encourages us to live a me-centered life while the Holy Spirit influences us to live a God-centered life. A “me centered” life is not only powered by me, but it is also limited by me. A me-centered life thinks that I earn my salvation through good works. A me-centered life is not so much a selfish life, it is more of a disconnected life, because we believe all the power and resources we have comes from us and not from God. In 2 Peter 2, Peter describes false prophets and teachers who may at one time belonged to God, but eventually they were rebelling against Him. Peter describes them in v.17 as “springs without water”. Those false teachers looked like christians, they talked like christians, but because they were disconnected from God they were like a spring without water. They became useless and destructive. Throughout scripture God offers people living water, in which the apostle John described as the Holy Spirit. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are strengthened to live a “Christ-centered” life. The church needs Christians who are connected to the water. Our country needs churches that are connected to the water that transforms selfish and sinful hearts into ones that are willing to love and serve as Jesus did. Every day is a battle between being “Me-centered” or “God-centered”. The only way I know how to win that battle is to actually surrender each moment by worshiping the presence of God and being led His Spirit.