Giving the Way Jesus Intended

What was the best Christmas gift you have ever gotten? Was it something that was unexpected? Was it something someone made by hand? Those tend to be the best gifts when someone thinks about something you really need or want or simply take the time to make something unique. Now, what was the worst gift you have gotten?

You might need to think hard about it, because we tend to forget the worst and remember only the good ones. But I am sure you got some terrible gift along the way. Maybe it didn’t fit and you couldn’t return it or it was simply the ugliest thing you have ever seen!

Indeed, the Christmas season is about spending time with family and friends. But sometimes a funny thing happens when we get together with those folks. We somehow desire to return to the days when things were better and maybe happier. The “return to home” is at the heart of Christmas. Home that is a place where we all get along and love one another. Unfortunately, many families and friends get together and inflict pain on one another. The pain may come from words that wound or being together just brings up bad memories of days gone by that were hurtful The holidays become a time of simply surviving.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God doesn’t want you to live that way. God wants us to enjoy our family and friends. If you suffer from having to deal with painful memories or “psycho” relatives, God wants you to be able to not simply endure, but overcome.

I want to suggest three ways the Bible suggest to help us. The first is to pray for those who have wounded us to be forgiven. Jesus forgave even those who hung Him on a cross, thus we are to forgive others as well. The second is to pray for them to be healed. Jesus healed people even when they didn’t believe in Him. The final is to pray for them to be blessed. This last one is the hardest of all.

There is a true story of a man whose sister was sexually abused by a male adult family member. Many years passed and the man grew from boyhood to manhood. He had not acted upon the abuse and was still upset with the uncle. When the uncle came down with a terminal disease, the man was glad. He found his heart was still full of anger and rage even though his sister had been healed through counseling and her faith in Christ. He too needed to make things right. He sat down and wrote a letter to the uncle and took it to him. The uncle was now blind and could not read and the nurse read it to him. After reading the letter, the nurse knelt down by the bed and prayed to accept Jesus in her heart. She wanted a God who could have made such hatred forgive. The uncle too cried and prayed for Christ. Today, the man says he is healed too and his prayer for his uncle to be blessed came to fruition. Not only that, but the nurse came to Christ through his act of forgiveness.

This Christmas give a real gift of forgiveness. It will be both healing and a blessing to you and maybe to those for whom you forgive. Until next time, blessings.

WHY PROVIDENCE???

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Why Tell Anyone About Jesus?

Years ago a man I know sat across from me and we were speaking about the future of the church, not a particular church, but the church in general. We spoke of the years he had spent in the church as a child and how over his lifetime he had seen the church decline in attendance and he couldn’t understand why. He told me that he thought that the generations had gotten lax and had failed to comprehend the value of the church and would suffer in the end. When I asked him about evangelism and what the church could do to reverse attendance, he made a startling, yet not uncommon, statement. He said, “Well, you know, I have never needed to tell anyone about God… I live my life in a Christian manner, I treat people well, and I’m basically a good person. I don’t have to actually tell people about God.”
Really? What happened? It is clear that something had happened in this man’s life to make him think that sharing his faith in the lordship of Jesus Christ was not only unimportant, it was not needed at all. Somewhere along the line he had gotten the message wrong. He had gotten the message that the church was some king of social agency. It simply existed to help the poor and needy. While that is certainly a noble cause, the church doesn’t exist for that purpose. Social outreach is a by-product of Christians who care. The church exists for two reasons, to worship God and to tell people about Jesus.
So here is the big issue. Why did the church fail to communicate the importance of telling others about the joy and incredible life one finds when living in a relationship with Jesus Christ? My opinion… the church failed to impress upon its members the dire nature of life without God. That’s right, the church failed to acknowledge a place called “Hell.” Here’s the kicker. If you believe there is a God and God exists, then you really might want to believe that being without God is Hell. In a recent poll, over 60% of people polled did not believe in a place called Hell. And there are many who believe in a place of fire and torture and others who believe it is a metaphysical place of absence with God, either way, neither is a pleasant state of being. The Bible is clear about it, there is a hell and it isn’t a party. It is a place to destroy Satan, demons, and unbelievers.
Do people just not take the possibility of Hell seriously? That is possible. I don’t want to come off as judgmental. I certainly don’t know who will or will not go to heaven, but I do know that I want as many people to go to heaven as possible. I want people to know that God is wonderful and life with God will be wonderful. Life without God is empty, unfulfilling, and ultimately worthless.
Finally, I want to go back to my friend in the first paragraph. Sadly, he had the criteria wrong for who is a Christian. He had been misled to believe that “good” people go to heaven and “bad” people go to hell. Thus, in his mind, I believe, he thought that those who don’t go to church (know God) would get what was coming to them and it was just. Isn’t it ironic… that is not what the Bible says at all. Those who are good have no ticket to heaven. The ticket to heaven is given as a gift. Good people don’t go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven. All it takes is to realize that we are all broken and in need of God’s gift of healing and, yes, salvation. Please… share that information with someone you care about!

A Lesson Learned From Finger Painting

This past summer I attended a wonderful seminar on the subject of the church and family called “Think Orange.” The idea is simple. We all learned as children that primary colors mixed together make new ones (although most of time my efforts resulted in the color ugly!). The church is represented by the color yellow. The family is red. When we join them, we get Orange! Orange is when these two powerful forces work together to be more potent.
If you are a parent or grand-parent what do you believe are the most important things in a child or teens life? Toys? Bikes? Cell phones? Cars? While some kids and teens believe those things are most important, many parents want kids to have something more eternal… an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.
That is what Think Orange is all about. Helping our children grow into mature Christians who not only love Jesus but love His church and the broken people in a broken world. While the type of education someone gets is important, it pales in comparison to the education we all should have about God.
A separation between the Church and Family has become apparent because many families don’t believe that the Church really has anything relevant to say about rearing kids. The Church has often looked at parents and said, “be like God as much as possible… or, you are the closest thing to God your kids will see,,, or only, see you next week.” There is also no such thing as a perfect family… only families struggling with this, that, and the other. Thus, there is no “normal family.” Sadly, many parents have just checked out because they know that life at home is far from the “Father Knows Best” or “Cosby Show” families portrayed on TV. It is more like the Brady Bunch on a really, really bad day. Life is complex because it now involves not only kids, but also step-kids, second or third marriages, etc… Most families aren’t made up of a first marriage and two biological kids. Even our culture tells us church has nothing significant for families at church. Baseball, soccer, and other family oriented events are now scheduled on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, both previously thought of as church times.
So what are we to do? Think Orange! Moses said in Deuteronomy 5 that we are to “ be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don't veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you'll have a good life and live a long time...”The church is called to help parents by asking parents to spend quality time with kids, asking other Christians to spend time with kids, and seeing the whole process as an opportunity to trust God. For whatever reason, God seems to work through families, from Adam and Eve to Jesus to you. Have you ever wondered why so often the Bible gives genealogies or boring facts of who’s related to whom? It is because families are important. It may not even seem like it, but your family is part of a larger story. What role in God’s story will you or your children or your children’s children play? Who will they impact in their lives? What difference will they make for God? Who will grow up to be the next Billy Graham or Beth Moore or the hero who saves someone’s life or a great prayer warrior? Can you imagine if parents and churches partnered to help families be real and honest about the struggles of life and work to live as broken people in a hurting and broken world? I sure hope you can.

GRAND OPENING!

Getting Ready

Music

M

JUST HAD A GREAT TIME!

SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY!

Something Different

A couple of years ago someone asked me, “When did you change churches?” She went on to say that she reads this column and she thought that I had changed churches because the name of the church at the end of the article changed. I responded, “No ma’am, I didn’t change churches, the name of the church changed!” Five years ago this summer I moved to the area to pastor the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. Two years later, the church decided to relocate and at the same time change the name. But, something else was going on besides just a name change, God was making changes too.
Over the course of a few years, God was setting a fire in the hearts of the members of the church I serve. The people began to realize that their church had become stagnant and the days of reaching people for Christ had peaked back in the 1980’s. The landscape had changed and it was time to relocate and start over. With that came the name, Providence Presbyterian Church, now simply Providence. Indeed “providence” is what was happening. According to Webster’s the word means, “to understand that God is the power that is sustaining and guiding human destiny” We see in scripture that God provides… in the desert of Exodus, Psalms, Job, Galatians and others books. Today I want to mention John 21where Jesus provides for Peter and then tells him to “feed the sheep” and Matthew 28 where Jesus tells all the disciples “go and make disciples.” Both are commands not requests. Jesus wants disciples to tell others about Him and that’s an order! Unfortunately, it has too often become the case that churches forget to focus upon reaching out and become divine social/country clubs for members. This isn’t new to our day as it happened in the ancient churches as well. But, there comes a time when churches must decide what is most important… follow Jesus’ command or not. It is that simple!
I have heard it said that insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Providence Church decided that it was not only the name that needed changing it was the heart of the people, worship style, music, and attitude. The church has embarked on a mission “to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.” And to that end, nothing else matters!
With our goal in mind, we studied many churches that were reaching people across our nation. We decided that the best way to proceed was to create an environment where people could come to a building that felt casual, comfortable, and practical. Casual, as in, people can wear shorts, tee shirts, jeans, skirts, slacks, just as long as they have clothes on! Comfortable, as in, a place that feels laid back and relaxed. We provide practical and solid theological messages which apply to daily life. All that and with modern, upbeat music that sounds like something I might hear on the radio.
Needless to say there was opposition. Some folks didn’t want to see change. That has been a struggle even though we still have a traditional service at our Jimmy Johnson campus. Change is hard. But, Billy Graham was right many years ago when he said, “the message never changes, but the methods must.”
If churches want to be fishers of men and women, churches will change… or die.
So, yes, I guess the answer I gave to the woman’s question about changing churches was wrong. I have changed churches. I am now part of a church that sees Jesus’ commands as a way of life. We wanted to provide a church for people who don’t really like church. Thus, it is something different. Providence Church opens its new building at 5315 North Twin City Hwy this Sunday at 10 a.m. So if you don’t regularly attend a church, come give it a try.

CASUAL, COMFORTABLE, PRACTICAL... NOT JUST ANOTHER CHURCH... SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Preoccupied?

Are you busy? Do you have a job, married, single, have kids, have fun,... anything? If you do, then you are probably caught up in the game of LIFE. When we are so busy it can take something dramatic to get our attention. But when we do have those moments, we suddenly find ourselves face to face with our own mortality. When that moment strikes, what gives you comfort?
For most people on this planet, surveys indicate that there is a belief that "God is good." Therefore, those same folks believe that "... if they are good, then God will let them into heaven."
Sounds reasonable right? Wrong!
Did you know that the common factor in all the big religions is the idea that how you live your life now will effect the future life. Ironically, that has also become a false belief in Christianity too.
But it seems right. It seems only fair that good people go to heaven, I mean , if bad people go, could it really be heaven? If people are simply keepers of the Law, can't that get them in?
But who is good and by what standard can we judge goodness? Romans 3:23 makes this claim, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Therefore, who has kept the Law? Who is good enough to get into heaven on their own merits? Has there ever been a test?... a final?... a midterm? You see the Law was not given to be kept. It was given to let us know that we are unable to keep it and we are guilty of breaking it! Thus, we needed a Savior not a lawyer.
Jesus, the Savior, tells us that people don't get what they deserve... good or bad. He makes a startling claim, Good people don't go to heaven... Forgiven people go to heaven! All of Jesus' ministry he spoke this truth. Those who rested their faith upon their own merit fell short while those who believed they were sinners and needed God to forgive them and that Jesus embodied that forgiveness were headed to heaven. In other words, God, in Jesus, removed our sin the way Shout cleans the stain out of our clothes. God stepped in and God took what we (everyone)deserved and took it upon Himself. God cleaned up our mess. All are welcome, all can meet the requirements, and all come in the same way. What could be more fair? In fact, beyond fair... it is gracious of God to do such a thing... downright amazing. Until next time, Blessings.

FUEL arrives Sept. 12th!!!

FUEL... To Get You Ready For Your Everyday Life

Sunday September 12th at 10 a.m.

The modern worship service at North Twin City Hwy campus of Providence Church is now being tweaked and will debut on that Grand Opening Sunday!

We wanted to create an environment

for people who like God, but don't like church.

FUEL is a modern worship service that incorporates

rock and roll/adult contemporary styled music

with

practical and relevant messages

based on classical solid biblical theology.

We have classes for kids that teach and reach

with fun activities and instruction.

(There is even and Indoor Playground)

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD FUN AT CHURCH?

PROVIDENCE... Discover the Difference!

You Can Make A Difference Right Now

The Youth Group had wonderful summer conferences. The Middle School Students went to Jackson, Mississippi while the Senior High went to BigStuf in Panama City, Florida.

In Panama City, there was no oil to be seen, only white beaches and emerald green water. 1500 youth from all across the southeast enjoyed incredible speakers, humor, and awesome music throughout. During the event, the youth heard presentations about the need to help our brothers and sisters in Africa with education and clean water. Did you know that every 20 seconds a child dies from lack of clean water? Every 20 seconds! (and yes, the picture to the right is the filthy water that child is getting ready to drink!)

Children and youth suffer from malnutrition and kids are turned away from school in some cases because the family cannot pay the tuition. If they get to school, they usually have overcrowded conditions and very few school books for the large amount of students. Going to school in the U.S. is often considered monotonous or drudgery, in Africa it is
a priviledge and dream to be able to attend classes and get an education.
Out of the Senior High experience, I was introduced to a group called the 410 Bridge. (www.410Bridge.org) The group, founded by Pastor Lanny Donohoe,

realized that the plight of the poor is overwhelming, so they decided to pinpoint a particular place to make a grand impact. That place is Daraja, Kenya. There, because of giving people like you, kids are being fed, wells are being dug, education is taking place (and we know how much Lutherans and Presbyterians love education) and buildings are being constructed. All this is to begin to stem the tide of extreme poverty in this African village.

You can give to this project in either of two ways. You can pick up your cell phone and dial "50555" and text the word "think". You will recieve a reply asking if you want to add $5 to your phone bill and it will go to directly to the 410 Bridge African project.

Finally, a second opportunity to reach out to our global neighbors is available.
World Vision is sponsoring a concert in Beaumont on October 8th at the Ford Arena. A limited number of tickets are available. This concert features Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Toby Mac, and Max Lucado speaking. All proceeds go to World Vision hunger programs. You can see more at www.makeadifferencetour.com

You have been blessed. We, the people of the United States, have been blessed. Today, I am asking you to give a little bit to this cause on a regular basis. If you want to know where a person's heart is, check their calendar and their bank statement. This is a direct way to give to a charities that will use every possible dime to serve people in need. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

Old Dogs That Bite

I have four kids and I love to watch them play their sports. On a recent Friday night, I attended my son’s baseball game. The umpire in charge seemed to be very prickly. In fact, fans were warned to be on good behavior because he was known for tossing people out. The game was going along smoothly and the score was in our favor, then suddenly it happened.
It seemed like a bad dream. Saturday morning I woke up and it was still a reality. During the bottom of the fourth inning the other team changed pitchers. There was a break. One of the kids had asked about using the bathroom which was locked. A parent found a maintenance man and asked about the situation only to be told that a port-a-john would need to be used. The parent walked over to the dugout and told a player to tell the others about the bathroom situation. Suddenly... from behind home plate the umpire yells that the player who was speaking to the parent was ejected. It happened to be my son.
Wow. Are you kidding? Really? He wasn't even out of the dugout. Okay, so now he is out of this game... because he was listening to a good Samaritan's information. It has rolled in my brain since then. Less than 24 hours later, this is what I think.
Umpires and referees, especially since instant replay, have been under pressure to make the right calls. You may remember the perfect game pitched by Detroit's Armando Gallaraga, not because the record books show a perfect game, but because the first base umpire blew the call on the last batter of the game and broke up the perfect game and no-hitter. Gallaraga showed ultimate class in the situation. He took the high road.
I write this today, not to degrade the umpire, but to say that I feel sorry for the umpire at my son’s game. From my childhood, I remember a neighbor who abused his dog. The dog was fenced and when anyone got close to it, it growled, barked, and snapped. Eventually it bit a kid and had to be put down. Sadly, the dog had been treated so poorly, it didn't know anything but defense mechanisms. The umpire behind home plate strikes me the same way. According to sources, he has been a good umpire over the years.
This event made me think about how it must have been for Jewish people who lived in Jesus' day. Living in strict accordance to the Law was the rule. Every move you made was watched carefully and scrutinized. Life like that would have been oppressive. Eventually you might find yourself not wanting to be around people at all. The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind. Jewish men refuse to help a beaten man on the side of the road because they were afraid to "get their hands dirty." Jesus commended the Samaritan and praised his actions for being more concerned for people than the letter of the Law. The letter of the law stood and there was no grace. In everyday life, that still seems to happen. In this case, an extremely minor rule was broken, and the kid got punished to the extreme. I find it appalling that a kid was hurt in the process. He not only was kicked out of that game, but the next tournament game too.
This may sound odd, but if that event was going to happen to someone, I am glad it was to my son. I am not going to say that I wasn't angry, I was. But, I didn't say anything I would regret and I am not looking to get even. In fact, I have forgiven the umpire. But in the process, I believe it will build my son’s character and mine. Life is not always fair. The next time I see that umpire, I will look at him differently because I believe God gave me the remembrance of the abused dog I knew years ago as a symbol of a man who has probably put up with a lot over the years and is just unaware of what he has become. Thank God the Good News of Jesus Christ is about grace and not about keeping the letter of the Law - or we would all be thrown out of God's game! Until next time, Blessings!

Parker’s Impact

Today I want to share with you an obituary. Not your normal run-of-the-mill obituary, but one of a young man who was killed in an auto crash a few years ago.

“Parker Davis Jackson (August 2, 1990 - November 7, 2006 ) is one of the few people who pass through this world and leave a legacy with such power. On the surface everyone knew him as a "great kid" but for those who knew his heart they knew him as so much more. In our family, Parker was the spark. He was the energy, passion, and life. His quick sense of humor, absolutely incredible smile and genuine heart made our family who we are. To his friends and their families, Parker was the "other son". No matter what environment, Parker had something to offer. We would love to think that we taught Parker something, but in reality he was the one teaching us. We learned how to be passionate about what we enjoy. He was passionate about the Lord, family, friends, sports, and school. His energy and enthusiasm were qualities we so cherished in him. With this incredible energy came an incredible desire to project integrity and character. Parker always sought to improve himself. He loved doing whatever was true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable and whatever is excellent in the eyes of the Lord (Philippians 4:8). Parker commanded respect and admiration from any and all who knew him. As a natural leader, he was able to influence and inspire all who would let him. We know Parker will be remembered on the sports field, in the classroom, and in the homes of so many who loved him, but what he wanted to be remembered more than anything was as a lover of Christ. He wanted his life to be a way for God to reach those who did not know the Savior of the World. It is an honor that Parker is able to share the gospel in such a genuine and real way. We pray that his goal of God reaching others through him, will be a goal he will most certainly achieve. As a family we always joked that Parker could make a game and competition out of everything, and that he always won. Well now Parker has truly won. He has won the opportunity to celebrate passionately the God he loved and the Lord who is his Savior. We know he would only want us to do the same. So in Parker's honor we praise God.”

This obituary was lovingly written by Emily, his sister, Ben his brother, and parents Lauren and Bo Jackson (not the famous one!). Since Parker’s death, it has been difficult at times for this family to breathe. I did not know Parker, but I know people who did. They were touched deeply by his life… and his death. Pastor Andy Stanley of the Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta went to the family home on the evening of Parker’s death. He realized that Parker wasn’t just another kid; he was literally a partner in ministry. As a sixteen year old, Parker mentored fourth grade boys in a Sunday school class. The family developed the Legacy Lacrosse Cup, which includes some spirited games and a dinner for all the participants. After the players eat, they are asked to digest a few inspiring talks. The night ends with Parker’s dad challenging them to live a legacy, handing out cards to help them chart a meaningful life the way Parker had done. "From what I know and what I've been told, the grieving never ends, it just changes in many ways," said his dad. “This isn't supposed to happen. Your children aren't supposed to die before you do. It doesn't go away. But I do think it could be crippling if you hang on to your grief as an anchor that you drag with you forever."

The Jacksons are trying to look at life as a glass half full, not half empty. There is so much meaning to what they do, including the inscription on Parker's tombstone. It reads: "Had a blast. Wish I could have stayed longer." Parker is still impacting lives today as you have read this article. May you be so blessed that your life have similar impact as well!

Help in Times of Helplessness

A pastor I know is an avid cyclist. He loves riding. He has the specialized bicycle and all the equipment to go along with it. One day he was out riding when suddenly a wasp flew into his open mouth. In horror, he was stung numerous times inside his mouth and before he realized it, he swallowed the bug. Suddenly he imagined how it would all end. The wasp would sting his esophagus and it would swell and he would die. He felt helpless! Have you ever felt helpless? Has there been a time when you had little or no control over the circumstances and events taking place in your life? Most everyone can name at least once when that has happened to them and I bet you can too if you think about it. Maybe you were waiting for the results of a medical test for a loved one or even yourself. Maybe your well being was in the hands of another person… the surgeon, the dentist, a financial advisor, a mechanic, or even just your boss. It really stinks to feel helpless.
The Book of Genesis tells a wonderful story of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham has been promised by God that he would have a son who would be the father of many nations. But, due to their age, they begin to believe that God will never come through for them. So, they opt for an alternative. Abraham has a child (Ishmael) by another woman, Hagar. Then suddenly God appears to Abraham and tells him that Sarah will have a child and name him Isaac. Abraham is stunned! Could this be true? God is now going to act after all this time? Yes, God acts to bring a child (Isaac) forth from two aged people. God fulfills the promise to Abraham.
The beauty of this story is this. We, like Abraham, often lose our patience with God. We find ourselves even laughing at the thought that God can or will act for our best interest. We struggle with the faith in God to believe that God is good and no matter the circumstance will be there. We would much rather point to times when we felt that God was distant or absent. We would use our timetable instead of God’s when it comes to giving us what we want. When we expect God to act in our time, that is not faith; that is called the drive thru at McDonald’s. God acts in God’s time. We struggle to understand that fact, but often in retrospect we see how things worked in God’s time and not ours. But the catalyst is this, God’s strength is best seen when we are helpless. That is the heart of Christian faith. When our power is gone, God’s power takes over. Throughout scripture, God chooses to act in a time when people have to rely solely upon God. That doesn’t mean we can sit around and do nothing, it means that we should realize that our plans and power are meager in comparison to God’s. When in our prayers we seek God’s guidance, we are to believe God will come through.
But here is the greatest part. God even comes through in the midst of our mess. When we have failed, God picks up the pieces. That has been and will be God’s most triumphant moments. Cleaning up our mess and showing the world that He is God. So, in all things seek God and in all those things God can be trusted.

Check out the BIG Stuf Camp Promo...

click here to see the video!

DRIVE 10 Highlights- At Providence, we want to know what is working to reach people.

BE SURE TO TURN OFF THE MUSIC PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
AND ENJOY THE VIDEOS FROM THE DRIVE CONFERENCE

DRIVE 2010 Highlight from North Point Media on Vimeo.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

God Loves Our Skinned Knees

Easter has come and gone once again this year. Jesus has gone to the cross, suffered, died, and has been resurrected. But what happened after that?
I love the story told in the 21st chapter of the gospel of John. The disciples go out fishing and as the sun rises they see a man on the beach. The man is Jesus. He tells them to let down their nets and they will catch fish. The follow instructions and catch 153 fish. Jesus tells them to come ashore because He has breakfast for them. When Peter sees Jesus he puts on his clothes and jumps into the water to go to shore. When Peter gets to shore, Jesus calls Peter over and sits him down.
At this point, Jesus could have easily scolded or belittled Peter for his previous actions. Peter had been a zealous follower in so many instances, but when Jesus is arrested and taken away to be beaten and eventually hung on the cross, Peter denied being one of Jesus’ followers at least three times.
So, here is Jesus, back from the dead, having a sit down with Peter. What would you say to someone you loved who had abandoned you in your time of need? What would you want to say to someone who denied even being your friend? Wouldn’t you be hurt… angry… mad… even possibly want some revenge? In our world today we often see people who have been forsaken and we identify with them. Recent headlines are an indication of that. I was in the doctors’ office the other day and a woman was reading People magazine. She said aloud, “Poor Sandra Bullock, she finally gets an Oscar and she can’t enjoy it because of her cheatin’ husband.” Didn’t you feel bad for Elin Woods or Jenny Sanford or Elizabeth Edwards who has cancer? All abandoned by their husbands for other women. America’s news and entertainment channels have had a ball with all that stuff and we are watching it (at least a little!). Who could have blamed Jesus if He had wanted to verbally whip-up on Peter? And, why stop there? Jesus could have looked at all the disciples and told them all how wrong they were and how little faith they had and, oh my, how He could have blinded a couple and maimed a few and cursed some. But He DID NOT!
Instead, Jesus simply loved them. Even though they had not done what was right or faithful or even died with Him. Jesus simply went to them and forgave them and served them. He cooked them breakfast on the beach and asked Peter, “Do you love me?”
The English version does not help us understand the question, but the Greek does. Jesus asks Peter if he agapes Jesus. Agape is a word that means a self sacrificial love. Willing to serve or even die for another kind of love. Peter responds with a truthful heart by saying, “I philios you.” Peter loves Jesus like a brother and he is not willing to die for Him.
We can believe Peter to be a failure, but we can also identify with Peter as well. Peter did abandon Jesus, but over time, Peter came back to Jesus. Peter wasn’t quite ready to give his life… yet. But in time, as he followed Jesus, Peter’s love grew into an agape love. So much so, that he died for the message of Jesus.
In life we try to follow Jesus, but most of time we find ourselves failing in one way or another. Like a child who skins his or her knees over and over as they learn to walk. God loves skinned knees on us all; because it shows that we are willing to try to follow… try to walk the walk not just talk the talk. God even gave us scabs to heal the wounds on our knees just as He has given us grace for all the times we fall. God loves you and I pray, no matter how old you become, you will be His child with skinned knees.

A Lesson on the Cross of Jesus

I recently read about a man who said he didn’t believe in Christianity because he couldn’t understand why a nice guy like Jesus had to die and there was no way that one man, even Jesus, could do such a thing as take away the sins of other people, much less the entire world. Having heard this, I want to talk with you about why Jesus suffered and died.
There are three words I believe we must consider when we attempt to understand the cross and the meaning of Jesus being crucified.
The first part of answering such a question forces us to look closely at the Trinity. The Trinity, a word not actually found in scripture, is a term and concept used by the historical church to describe God as one God, three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is vital, and I mean “super” important, to know that God, the Creator of all, was from the beginning of time never alone. God is a being that is made up of three persons who are inseparable. It is also key to know that Jesus was always with God, even when the world was created as scripture clearly teaches in John 1. In other words, Jesus is not made in the image of human beings, we are made in His!
The second aspect of understanding Jesus’ suffering is found in the term ascension. As theologian Baxter Kruger states, “There is no more stunning news in the universe than the news that a human being now exists inside the Trinitarian life of God.” Jesus, fully God and fully human (after Jesus’ life on earth), went to heaven and exists with God. Jesus’ humanity is with God each and every day.
Was this some kind of accident on God’s part? Was this some kind of planning on the fly by God? No! Jesus was the secret plan of the Trinity from all of eternity. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ was planned from the beginning of time. God is, in a way, human like us.
The third and final aspect is to understand sin. Sin is missing the mark when it comes to following God. It is not so much about rules, but about the entire quagmire of our brokenness, alienation, and estrangement that exists between God, us, and each other. Sin is something that humanity brought on itself, not imposed by God. On the cross our brokenness and alienation is overcome. Thus, to understand Jesus’ suffering, we must know that God is, at the core of God’s being, about relationships. God’s love for us is so strong that God knew sin would be a barrier that would have to be overcome. Out of amazing love, Jesus came to us to offer Himself as the solution to the problem of sin.
Thus, it is not Jesus who dies to appease the Father; it is the death of Jesus that proves just how much the triune God loves us. Contrary to the whispers of Satan, God does love us and we are worthy of that love, no matter who we are or what we’ve done. We even find ourselves taking sides with Satan, just like the crowds who shouted “crucify.” Yes, we too get fooled by Satan to believe lies. But Jesus says to us again and again, “forgive them…” and “it is finished.” Is that shocking? It should be. It is not about our work, but our love for a God who first (and always) loved us. The empty tomb continues to prove that Satan cannot win this war for human lives. God wants us to be with Him and has chosen to bring us home… not ask us to find our own way. Now that you know how much God loves you, isn’t it easier to love God for such an awesome gift? If so, that’s called salvation and it’s free. Until next time, Blessings!

Great Article by Rick Reilly: "A Man Making a Bad Name for Himself"

I am not generally a spiteful man. I pat toddlers' haircuts, donate to the glee club and mostly greet the world with open arms. But when I think of coach Greg Wise of Houston's Yates High School, I become darker than Johnny Cash's closet. The things I would like to do to Coach Wise would curl an executioner's toes. For starters, I'd like to see him dipped in seal butter and dropped into a polar bear's cage.
Coach Wise is the hammerhead who believes it's his right to toast other basketball teams by 100 points. Sometimes more. He thumped Lee High School this season by 135 points, 170-35. Wise's team was up at the half, 100-12. And full-court pressed to the very end!
Wise is to sportsmanship what tsunamis are to beach chairs. So far this season, he's beaten teams by 135, 115, 99 (twice), 98, 90 and 88 points. Trying to get to 100 points in a crushing of Westbury, his players intentionally fouled to stop the clock. I'd like to clock him.
If Wise doesn't stop, somebody's going to get hurt. In a Feb. 20 home game, Wise refused to pull his foot off the accelerator in a 132-68 fricasseeing of Booker T. Washington. Nobody likes to be humiliated, and this includes fans. Like at some of Yates' games, there was fighting. This time it happened in the parking lot afterward. Shots were fired, though nobody was hurt. This time.
He's beaten teams by 135, 115 and 99 -- twice.
What's it going to take for Houston Independent School District officials to stop Wise? Or suspend him? What's it going to take before Yates principal Ronald Mumphery grows a pair and disciplines his coach? Somebody dying? "These are tough kids from a tough part of town," says Jacques Armant, coach at Lee, which also lost to Yates by 99. "Beatings like this can turn out to be real dangerous."
At the very least, USA Today ought to remove Yates from its national rankings -- the school is No. 1 -- as a statement about basic sports decency. That'd be the un-Wise thing to do. This is not war. This is not the pros. There's no bonus for belittling young men in front of their parents and girlfriends. These kids are getting their pants yanked down in front of the whole playground. They don't deserve it.
"A lot of my kids went into a kind of depression after [losing by 135]," says Armant. "They thought the game was over, but when you turn on your radio and every deejay is saying how you got beat for an all-time record, it hurts. I took one kid home, and he said, 'Coach, can you please turn the radio off? I can't take it anymore.'"
On second thought, I'd like Wise to spend a day as a speed bump in the Lee parking lot. I was unable to reach Wise or Principal Mumphery, but Wise has defended himself by saying he practices pressing and trapping, and that doing anything else during the game would be bad coaching. He's said that all 15 of his players -- 11 of them seniors -- play. "The [third string] deserves the chance to play hard and compete too," Wise has said.
Yes, those kids deserve to play hard and compete -- every day in scrimmages against the best team in Texas. In games against schools with no chance, they need to back off. Basketball isn't Greg Wise's personal vanity mirror. He needs to say, "We're going to work on passing. Anyone shoots and they're running stairs at the Astrodome."
But Wise won't say that because Wise is about Wise. He's after records. He wants teenage scalps. He tried to break the record for most 100-point games in a row (and failed). He did set the state record for points in one game (170).
And I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for the national record of 211. If he gets it, I hope they add an *:


*Set by Yates High School, Classless of 2010

Article that Chief Exorcist Claims... Sex abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church are proof that that "the Devil is at work inside the Vatican",

Interesting article from the London Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7056689.ece

March 11, 2010
Father Gabriele Amorth, 85, who has been the Vatican's chief exorcist for 25 years and says he has dealt with 70,000 cases of demonic possession, said that the consequences of satanic infiltration included power struggles at the Vatican as well as "cardinals who do not believe in Jesus, and bishops who are linked to the Demon".

He added: "When one speaks of 'the smoke of Satan' [a phrase coined by Pope Paul VI in 1972] in the holy rooms, it is all true – including these latest stories of violence and paedophilia."

He claimed that another example of satanic behaviour was the Vatican "cover-up" over the deaths in 1998 of Alois Estermann, the then commander of the Swiss Guard, his wife and Corporal Cedric Tornay, a Swiss Guard, who were all found shot dead. "They covered up everything immediately," he said. "Here one sees the rot".

A remarkably swift Vatican investigation concluded that Corporal Tornay had shot the commander and his wife and then turned his gun on himself after being passed over for a medal. However Tornay's relatives have challenged this. There have been unconfirmed reports of a homosexual background to the tragedy and the involvement of a fourth person who was never identfied.

Father Amorth, who has just published Memoirs of an Exorcist, a series of interviews with the Vatican journalist Marco Tosatti, said that the attempt on the life of Pope John Paul II in 1981 had been the work of the Devil, as had an incident last Christmas when a mentally disturbed woman threw herself at Pope Benedict XVI at the start of Midnight Mass, pulling him to the ground.

Father José Antonio Fortea Cucurull, a Rome-based exorcist, said that Father Amorth had "gone well beyond the evidence" in claiming that Satan had infiltrated the Vatican corridors.

"Cardinals might be better or worse, but all have upright intentions and seek the glory of God," he said. Some Vatican officials were more pious than others, "but from there to affirm that some cardinals are members of satanic sects is an unacceptable distance."

Father Amorth told La Repubblica that the devil was "pure spirit, invisible. But he manifests himself with blasphemies and afflictions in the person he possesses. He can remain hidden, or speak in different languages, transform himself or appear to be agreeable. At times he makes fun of me."

He said it sometimes took six or seven of his assistants to to hold down a possessed person. Those possessed often yelled and screamed and spat out nails or pieces of glass, which he kept in a bag. "Anything can come out of their mouths – finger-length pieces of iron, but also rose petals."

He said that hoped every diocese would eventually have a resident exorcist. Under Church Canon Law any priest can perform exorcisms, but in practice they are carried out by a chosen few trained in the rites.

Father Amorth was ordained in 1954 and became an official exorcist in 1986. In the past he has suggested that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were possessed by the Devil. He was among Vatican officials who warned that J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels made a "false distinction between black and white magic".

He approves, however, of the 1973 film The Exorcist, which although "exaggerated" offered a "substantially exact" picture of possession.

In 2001 he objected to the introduction of a new version of the exorcism rite, complaining that it dropped centuries-old prayers and was "a blunt sword" about which exorcists themselves had not been consulted. The Vatican said later that he and other exorcists could continue to use the old ritual. He is the president of honour of the Association of Exorcists.

Lighthouses, Leprechauns herald spring at Parade of Tables

PROVIDENCE IN THE NEWS!

The News staff writer Darragh Doiron

Jesus said he was the light of the world, and Tonya Brickey feels his guidance in lighthouse images. She fell in love with them on her East Coast honeymoon and made them her Parade of Tables theme.

Flowers, children and guardian angels, a globe and bunnies became themes as hostesses made Tuesday’s Presbyterian Women Gala luncheon at Providence Church festive. The event raised funds for the Children’s Presbyterian Home. The homes, with sites across Texas, help children live in a safe environment with access to education, nutrition and support, Carlita Zummo said.

Zummo is president of the Presbyterian Women and said the event, with a silent auction, should raise about $1,200 to send in support of the children.

Carrie McCullough arranged statuettes of protected children around her table. “It’s all about leaning on the Lord,” she said. She was moved by the children and set about finding a psalm to go with it. She chose Psalm 59:16: “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love: for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”

Brickey’s lighthouse table guests came with small votives her mother, Jody Hay, painted with lighthouses and sent from West Virginia. She laughed as she noted that she’d chosen the theme for another parade, but the votives were lost in the mail. Her mother’s work was finally guided to her door.

Zummo is the widow of Zip Zummo, a celebrated local Italian. She’s actually Irish, and therefore set out two big, stuffed singing leprechauns on her table. Both she and co-hostess Eula Lee Reeves wore green sweaters to accent the Irish theme. “It made me feel so good to see so many smiling faces here for a good cause,” Zummo said.

ddoiron@panews.com

Decline in US Mainline Denominations Continues

by Joshua A Goldberg, Christian PostPosted: Monday, February 15, 2010, 16:08 (GMT)

The largest Protestant denomination in the US has reported a decline in membership for the second year in a row, according to the National Council of Churches’ 2010 yearbook of churches.

The Catholic Church, meanwhile, rebounded from last year’s reported membership loss with a 1.49 percent growth, joining church bodies including the Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ as the few large US denominations with reported growth.

Also reporting growth in NCC’s 78th annual Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches were the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jehovah’s Witnesses – though a significant number of the two organizations’ core beliefs are considered by conservative Bible scholars as contradictory to historic orthodox Christianity.

Notably, the NCC reported in its announcement of the 2010 yearbook’s release Friday that eleven of the 25 largest churches did not report updated figures.

Furthermore, membership figures reported in the 2010 yearbook were collected by the churches in 2008 and reported to the yearbook’s staff in 2009.

Despite the delay and lack in new stats, the yearbook continues to provide a unique look at the nearly 230 national church bodies as well as information on nearly 240 U.S. local and regional ecumenical bodies.

In her remarks on this year’s stats – which, again, are actually from 2008 due to the reporting delay – the Rev. Dr. Eileen W. Lindner, editor of the annual yearbook since 1998, acknowledged the continued loss of membership in the largest mainline denominations.

This year, church bodies reporting the highest membership losses were the Presbyterian Church (USA), down 3.28 percent to 2,941,412; American Baptist Churches in the USA, down 2 percent to 1,358,351; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, down 1.92 percent to 4,709,956 members.

Though she noted that many observers have attributed accelerated membership decline of some churches to "an increasing secularization of American postmodern society, and its disproportionate impact on liberal religious groups," Lindner advised caution in assessing the causes of decline.
She also said statistics in the yearbook actually reflect "continued high overall church participation, and account for the religious affiliation of over 163 million Americans."

"American society as a whole has not experienced the kind and rate of secularization so clearly demonstrated during the last quarter century in Western Europe. Indeed, American church membership trends have defied gravity particularly where the Pentecostal experience is included," she added.

Lindner also noted that the largest plurality of immigrants to the United States in the last 50 years have been Christian in their religious affiliation.

"In an era in which we have come to expect the inevitable advance of secularism in the U.S., the influx of robust Christian communities among new immigrants once again amends the topographical map," she reported.

So while a number of denominations have reported losses, overall, the Church in the America is growing.

Total church membership reported in the 2010 Yearbook was 147,384,631 members, up 0.49 percent over 2009.

That figure has been rising every year since 2006, when the overall membership total dropped for a second straight year following a record high 161 million.

As the yearbook only records figures from national church bodies, the total membership value doesn’t take into consideration the multitude of non-denominational churches scattered across America.

The following is list of the largest 25 church bodies in order of size, according to NCC’s 2010 yearbook:

1. The Catholic Church, 68,115,001 members, up 1.49 percent.
2. Southern Baptist Convention,16,228,438 members, down 0.24percent.
3. The United Methodist Church, 7,853,987 members, down 0.98 percent.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5,974,041 members, up 1.71 percent.
5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no membership updates reported.
6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, 5,000,000 members, no membership updates reported.
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,633,887 members, down1.62 percent.
8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., 3,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
9. Assemblies of God (ranked 10 last year), 2,899,702 members, up 1.27 percent.
10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 1(ranked 9 last year), 2,844,952 members, down 3.28 percent.
11. African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
11. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
11. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
14. The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod (LCMS), 2,337,349 members, down 1.92 percent.
15. The Episcopal Church, 2,057,292 members, down 2.81 percent.
16. Churches of Christ, 1,639,495 members, no membership updates reported.
17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
17. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
19. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 1,400,000 members, members, no membership updates reported.
20. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., 1,331,127 members, down 2.00 percent.
21. Baptist Bible Fellowship International (ranked 22 last year), 1,200,000 members, no membership updates reported.
22. Jehovah’s Witnesses (ranked 23 last year) 1,114,009members, up 2.00 percent.
23. United Church of Christ (ranked 22 last year), 1,111,691 members, down 2.93 percent.
24. Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), (ranked 25 last year), 1,072,169 members, up 1.76 percent.
25. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (ranked 24 last year), 1,071,616 members, no membership updates reported.

Three Letters or Four, The Choice is Yours

Today I want to examine two words. But first, let's look at what what makes them different.
In Dr. Seuss' book "Red Fish, Blue Fish", there is a character named "Ish." Ish carries a dish and magically on the dish appear fish. So if you have an "Ish" it will bring you fish on the ish fish dish. Any other Seuss fans?
Well the word "ish" has numerous meanings. Dictionary.com says, “addicted to,” or “inclined or tending to." It, is a word that is usually an add on to words like "freakish, Spanish, or babyish."
The second word is "less." Less is often defined as a smaller amount, but I like another definition, "lower in consideration, rank, or importance."
By now you may have probably guessed the two words I am contrasting. They are selfish and selfless. The definition of selfish is, "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others." When you look at the definiton of selfless it is simply, "unselfish."
Why am I looking at these two words? Because our culture is filled with an epidemic of selfishness. Just three little letters change everything.
Jesus spoke so often about the subject, I am hard pressed to only give one example. Time and time again, Jesus is clear. Life is not about... YOU. Romans 5 and Philippians 2 tell us that Jesus was all about selflessness. He preached being kind and caring in so many of His stories. He was all about giving and yet, Jesus called people to leave what they were preoccupied with and follow Him.
That has been one of my most sad discoveries. So many people are simply caught up in their preoccupied selfish ways. So many like what they like and by no means should anyone consider asking them to do anything different. I would love to say that those who follow Jesus are different, but I can not.
Some Christians have turned a number of their churches into their own private clubs. Sometimes it's like a country club, other times it is just a club based on whatever those folks have in common, even when the idea that unites them is that they are together in a noble last stand to exist. Denominations may battle against one another over everything from doctrine to practice. Some beleive they are the only ones who do this right or that right.
Beth Moore says that we have to be "intentional" to not get caught up in the consumeristic selfish culture both in and out of the church. But take heart, Jesus battled against it, so who are we to think such things change. I do wonder though... what does a church look like that welcomes anyone... what does a church look like that is always willing to leave 99 to seek the 1 lost sheep... what does a church look like that treats its own people with grace and forgiveness... what does a church look like that is not concerned with what "the membership" wants, but is concerned about getting people to come meet Jesus for the first time... what does a church look like that is about mission and evangelism and not about members and money... what does that church look like? Some church leaders and members are too afraid to really look carefully at those questions? Are any churches aware that they truly operate as selfish bastions of homogeneous folks? That would be radically brave...and unusual (maybe that would be considered a minor miracle). It would take a lot more "less" and a lot less "ish." I pray that as a church leader, I am leading people toward selflessness and away from selfishness. I believe that I am accountable for that and I pray that other churches and church members will feel the same way.

To Pray and To Move

Lent is a time of reflection. It is the spring of the year and a time to re-focus on what is important in life. God created this time as one to stop, think, be quiet, and listen to God’s voice. God doesn’t forcefully take over someone’s life unless they are willing to submit to being taken over. It is God’s way. We are called to regularly reflect upon what God is telling us.
What is God telling you? I hope it is that He loves you.
Indeed as we go forward, we are walking the path to the cross. It is a path filled with difficulty. Jesus said, “Follow Me.” He also said that He came “not to bring peace, but the sword.” Life is full of hard roads and I have often wondered why Christians think their roads should be smooth and easy. The Way of the Cross is one in which so many want to follow, but if you look at the Disciples, none of them were able to go the distance with Jesus. Peter even denied Him in the end. It is that way with us. We cannot follow. We can only want to follow and acknowledge that it is impossible. We can never be “like Christ”, only shadow figures of Him. He is the one who successfully walks the narrow path and goes to the cross. He is the one who takes humankinds wickedness upon Himself and says, “it is finished.” Only Jesus can break the bondage of sin and death in such a way to proclaim life to all who believe in Him and call Him Lord.
Believe me, there is no “luke-warm” in the eyes of Jesus… only commitment. There are no members of the church, just disciples. Jesus gives life in abundance. Isn’t that what we are seeking in Him? I think we want abundant life and a peace for the future that surpasses all understanding that is our need. I think so. Why not grab it? Why not recommit your life to Christ. Pray about it. Make a decision to join in more and get more from life. There are small group studies, Bible studies, even regular worship attendance.
So, pray… reflect… but get moving because God calls us to follow Him,,, and “follow” means to get moving.

An Honest Conversation

One evening I received a call from a friend who didn’t even say “Hello”; he simply asked “Do you know of anyone having an affair with Tiger Woods. At that point, it had become so comical because seemingly every other day another woman was coming forth and claiming a sexual relationship with the greatest golfer on the planet. How did you perceive Tiger Woods before all of the information about his multitude of liaisons became public knowledge? Honestly, I think most people really cheered for Tiger. His amazing abilities on the golf course created the idea that on any given occasion he might do something incredible… and often… he did. Like him or not, Tiger is still the best player on the planet. I suspect that his popularity will never be what it was, but most people will forgive or forget or not care or whatever and move on. The ironic twist is that this very, very, public figure is now seen in a far different light. That has happened before to people like baseball slugger Mark McGuire, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, stock broker Bernie Madoff, O.J. Simpson, and too many politicians to list here.
One of the biggest falls was biblical. King David had it all. He had killed the giant, Goliath, overcome the armies of enemies, and even survived murderous attempts on his own life from his own king, Saul. There he was, reclining on his couch on a day when many were off at war. He saw the lovely Bathsheba and was smitten. Later when he found out she was pregnant, he tried to conceal his actions and even killed her husband in an all out effort to get away with his indiscretions. From that point onward, David was never the same. Israel was never the same. He acknowledged his sin and God forgave him but his legacy was forever tarnished.
What can we learn from the Bible and today’s headlines? First, we know that while God invented sex, God intended it to be a part of the marital relationship. There is a reason that the Bible uses the term “know” when it speaks of sex. “To know” someone is actually knowing a great deal about them. It is an intimate term that is much more than physical. When people fulfill only their physical desires, there is a loss of relationship. People become objects, ceasing to be human beings. It is easy to see how our culture, men in specific, struggles with seeing women (and men) as sexual objects. Sex is used to sell everything from soft drinks to pornography.
Secondly, God wants people to love one another, but, sorry, that doesn’t mean random acts of sex. Tiger Woods may have an addiction to sex, but his behavior may also destroy his marriage. He is not alone in our country. Are we shocked that the divorce rate continues to grow? God wants people to love one another as brothers and sisters, but husbands and wives are to love one another as partners, including sexual partners. The apostle Paul said this many times in letters to Ephesians, Colossians, I Peter, and Corinthians. Sex outside of marriage leaves its mark. Did you know that there are 12 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases each year? Like a child trying to separate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, there is always something remaining. The analogy may not be clear, but I think you get the point! Lives are damaged and emotions are never the same.
Finally, there is Good News. No matter who you are or what you have done, God loves you. Not because you love God, but simply because you belong to Him. You are forgiven. You can always turn around and realize that God will make you whole again. God will allow you to start fresh again. Male or female, we are free to recognize that we have done wrong and start over. I love that about God. Everyone is redeemed through grace, not because of how we act, but in spite of how we act. Sex is not dirty or wrong, but beautiful and fulfilling when used as God intended. I wrote this not for those who are in committed marriages and faithful, but on the chance that it may help someone who isn’t because the church has to have an honest conversation and teach sex education.

Come See

A few weeks ago, I was asked "Didn't you use to preach at another church?" When I realized what was being asked, I understood the confusion. I have been in our area now for nearly five years. When I first arrived, I discovered that the church I was called to serve, the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, was slowly, but surely, dying. The church had topped out in membership back in the 1980's and had begun a slow deterioration. It was not clear at first, but over time, it was becoming very clear. As the years passed, the church membership was getting older and fewer and fewer young families were joining. When I arrived on the scene, many in the church understood the situation, but, unfortunately, many others did not. It was comfortable. The building was paid for and beautiful, but it was in an area that had become a demographic challenge for the church. To top it off, it was found that the financial secretary had been stealing for many years. After many failed attempts to bring in new members, it was clear that the hurdle of location could not be overcome. The church had to move!

I will never forget that winter of 2007. It was the most difficult period of my ministry. Christians fought against Christians. Harsh words and attitudes were tossed about with ease. Why? Because some people were more concerned about keeping "buildings and stained glass" more than concerned with reaching people for Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Go make disciples..." He never said, "stay where you are and they will come to you!" Thus, in January of 2008, the church sold its property an moved into temporary space at the St. John Lutheran Church. At that time, the church changed its name to Providence Presbyterian Church.

Fast forward a bit to 2009 and we find our efforts to build a building thwarted by the rising cost of building materials and labor. We were unable to build and remained at our temporary home. In the spring of 2009, St. John Lutheran Church approached us about uniting together to form one church, Providence Church. While that is still in the works, we are finally beginning a building project. Phase One is slated to be a church for "people who don't go to church." We are building a worship center that doesn't necessarily feel like a worship center. It consists of an area for worship that has a modern feel and an area that welcomes kids. It is different! And like the Apostle Philip telling Nathaniel in John 1, we just want to say, "Come See!"

That's what Providence is about, providing a place for everyone to "meet Jesus." If you have given up on "church" but like Jesus. Come see. If you "used to go to church" but stopped, come see. If you think you don't have the "right clothes" or "nobody invited you", I want to say, "come as you are" and "you're invited." Just Come See.

Passion Goes Worldwide

IT'S TRUE!!!

PFTG NOW READ ON

6 CONTINENTS

(check out the cluster map of the earth)

Beer Joint vs. a Church... Who Has More Faith?

In a small Texas town, ( Mt. Vernon ) Drummond's bar began,
construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.
The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that. Until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means.
The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork; we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not."

Get In The Boat

Do you like to travel? I really have enjoyed visiting various
places throughout our country and even overseas. But, did you know there is a difference between traveling and touring. According to Daniel Boorstein in his book, The Lost Art of Travel, things have changed significantly over the last number of decades. Years ago when you planned a trip, you really had to do a lot of planning. If you were going out of the U.S., you were likely getting on a ship and it would take a week to get there. You had to carry lots of stuff and spend more than a weekend. The same was true of traveling in the Old West. You were on a stage coach or wagon and you had to worry about the heat, few beds, bad food, even being robbed by bandits. Traveling was risky and difficult.
That all changed when companies began to offer tours. From better transportation to luxury accommodations, people were able to see the world quicker, easier, and without much risk. Suddenly tours allowed folks to see the sights… from a bagpipe player in Scotland to staged western shoot-outs to even one town in England who offered tourist a real public hanging as your bus stopped in their town for gas and refreshments. That is why travelers generally go to “destinations” instead of random places. Smart companies created tours which kept people from wondering too much into local areas.
In Matthew 8:18-22, this is what Jesus tells “wannabe” disciples. “Jesus told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. ‘I'll go with you, wherever,’ he said. Jesus was curt: ‘Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know.’ Another follower said, ‘Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of.’ Jesus refused. ‘First things first! Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."
I hate to tell you, but I believe that Jesus is asking us to travel… not tour. Traveling involves a time commitment. It involves a commitment to personal risk. It involves prioritizing what Jesus wants over what we may want. I have always noted that one of the people asking was a religion scholar. That would be someone who supposedly knows the Law and has a relationship with God, yet Jesus is clear that following Him means it may not be comfortable or cushy. Following Jesus may mean that you have no place to lay your head. Your faith may be tested and you will have difficulties.
But what is the payoff to traveling with Jesus? It obviously isn’t being rich or having the best of everything, so what could it be? Jesus promises life… a life worth living… a battle worth fighting for… a beauty to be saved… a wonderful, energetic, and fruitful life. Too many people are content to “tour” with Jesus. They simply hit the hi-lites and see pretty much what they expect to see along the quick route through life. Jesus knew that people longed for something more than a tour of life. Jesus knew that we would be better off to travel and follow Him. It would offer riches beyond wealth and visions of God’s mighty acts far beyond the mundane day-to-day views of the world we settle for.
I remember living in Fort Walton Beach, Florida some years ago. All of the tourist went to many of the crappy fish houses and shops on the island and main street. But locals, we knew better.
We went to the best restaurants nowhere near the beach. My favorite was Mary’s Kitchen. Ooohhh… the food was awesome. But rarely, if ever, did you see a tourist eating there… it was only those of us who lived, if only for awhile there, as travelers. Let’s see what Jesus has in store for us. Let’s follow Him. Quick, get in the boat! Until next time,

Like A Dead Fly on the Window Sill

A man saw a dead fly lying on the window sill. Suddenly, he began to think about how the fly represents so much of life as it is lived… not by flies, but by us… humans. Here are a few of the thoughts that filled his mind as he stared at the dead fly.
The fly left it all on his field of dreams. The effort exhausts without truth. A false savior will kill you every time. We can’t invent freedom. It’s not up to us to make it. Things are not always what they seem. It’s okay to stop and rest. Listen!
He made a little banner with a post-it note and a tooth pick. On the banner he wrote “I did it my way.” Then he took some small rocks and hoisted the banner above the fly in honor of the fly’s Herculean effort.
So what does to fly teach us? The dead fly illustrates how some live out our lives. Here in Texas, we have seen lots of flies trying to get out through the window and die trying because there is a screen prohibiting their exit. The fly put everything it had into getting out but died trying. The fly gave all he had and left it on his field of dreams just as we will.
The fly didn't have truth. Sadly, the fly was deceived. He believed freedom was ahead, but it was only death. Death awaits all, no matter what else you may think or deny. The fly never heard anyone say, “Fly you cannot get through that window, try the door or something else.” The fly saw the window as a way out and it was determined to go through the window even if it killed him. And it killed him.
We all live out our lives looking through the screen. All people want to know their salvation is assured. They want to believe without doubt that God is going to welcome us into the eternity that He intends for us. But, God seems hard to get to on the other side of the screen and we cannot get there. Thus, many people find themselves working out our faith without any confidence. Like the fly, real freedom is what people seek. It is a freedom from worry and a real honest knowledge of God’s love. The fly sought LIGHT! We want to know the LIGHT.
In John 14:6-7 Jesus said, "I am the Road (the Way), also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!" Sometimes, things are not as they appear to be. The fly thought it saw all it needed… it just needed to pass into that future. It simply needed to fly, but it couldn’t. Many of us do that. We become enamored with false visions. Either we think we can make it into the future eternity without God or we think being good is simply enough. Why didn’t the fly rethink its strategy? Why doesn't it just stop thinking, “I can do it, I can do it. I'll try one more time, one more time, one more time!” It could not, we cannot. We look at the dead fly and wonder why it is so stupid and wonder if we are much smarter.
Thankfully, God is a lot smarter than we are. God knew we needed a way to get to the Light. The truth is that we, like the fly on the window sill, will die too. Happiness, Love, Joy, etc… in this life and the next can only be given by God. God (The Holy Spirit) comes through the screen and meets us here on earth and gives us hope. A real hope that will sustain us, lead us, and help us to live as disciples. God even reaches out to us in our death and raises us out of the grave. God does it all. It's not up to us. Yes, we are much like a fly, but if can put your trust in God, your eternal life is assured. That is Good News. If you have trouble trusting, simply ask God for help in your effort. God will respond. I give thanks to Dr. Baxter Kruger for seeing a dead fly on the window sill and, who knows, maybe we will see that fly in heaven, it just won’t annoy us. Until next time, Blessings!