Straight from the Heart!

Keys for Preachers Aspiring Long-Term Ministries

2012-01-31T21:37:00.000-05:00

1. Think Long-Term: Not Short-Term Plan to remain in one church for the duration of your ministry or the rest of your life.

2. Honor God's Timing: Whatever the actual length of one's ministry in a given location, one of the most important things is to honor God's timing. The only way you will move is if God's timing indicates otherwise.

3. Don’t Be Reactive: The pain, hurt, failure and rejection you feel may or may not be real at all. It may simply be an over-reaction to negative but "normal “ministry experiences.

4. Prayerfully Seek Gods Direction: There are, I believe, two types of "prayer-led" Christians. They are the "Direction Seekers" and the "Direction Givers. Direction Seekers are those who pray genuinely seeking Gods direction for decision and His blessing. Direction Givers are those who make their decision first, then decide to pray to God tell Him what they’ve done and what He must do. Long-term preacher must be driven by the experience of Gods answer to prayer, not by self-driven motivators

5. Think Vision: The quickest way to bring the possibility for a long, vibrant ministry to an end is to avoid casting a vision. Unless leaders continually cast the vision, the real challenges and opportunities needed to be addressed by long-term ministry may never surface. Vision also creates euphoria, purpose, and greater dependence on the leadership. It is that healthy dependency which forms the basis for a leadership team, which is empowered, energized and equipped to aspire and attain Gods vision for the congregation.

6. Don’t Be Driven By Numbers and Externals: This does not mean to ignore them. Nor is it an excuse to avoid appropriate accountability. Instead, this advice is directed to look toward trends and movements, not "blips" and "bleeps." Numbers will rise and fall. Programs will come and go. Long-term preachers understand that ministry is more than numbers or programs. Instead, it’s the holistic effect of all the experiences of the unique journey of faith, which God leads the congregation to experience.

7. Learn About and Love the Community: If you and your family don’t and can’t love where you are, you will likely not experience a long-term pastorate in that place. Long-term preachers allow themselves and their families to participate in the community. They love their community and support it, knowing that there is no place else on earth that God would have them minister. They are not just called to take care of the church. They are there to make an impact on the community, too.

8. Climb Off the Career Ladder: There are at least four problems with preachers climbing the professional ladder. It takes your feet off the solid ground and makes you susceptible to falling, takes you away from where you are supposed to be, gives you a fantasy-based view of the "greener grass" on the other side, and fuels and feeds a "built-in" "I’m outta here ASAP" mode of thinking.
Certainly, God can and does call individuals to positions of greater responsibility and authority in the church. However, it’s His calling not our selfish, narcissistic impatient covetous which should draw Gods chosen toward these positions.

9. Learn to Deal with Problems: Many preachers flee churches with problems. Every church, every ministry, has struggles. The most difficult problems, perhaps, are those, which cannot be solved immediately or at all. Some things can’t or won’t change. Learn them; deal with them, live with them. In many cases, the first step to dealing with congregational problems is to identify, learn and deal with one’s own personal issues.

Keys for Churches Aspiring Long-Term Ministries

2012-01-31T21:34:00.000-05:00

1Thessalonians 5:12&13—12But we request of you, brethren, that youappreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you inthe Lord and give you instruction, 13and that you esteem them very highly inlove because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

1. Pray for Your Preacher: He is a target for the devil. You have aresponsibility before God to hold your preacher in prayer, and seek God'sprotection over his life. Assure him of your love and prayers and as you doyour part faithfully, the Lord will lead and guide, and strengthen him for hisimportant work. This is the greatest gift you can give him.

2. Be Reasonable in Your Expectations: Too many people expect the preacher tobe everything from all the shepherding & evangelistic calls to editingmaterials & teaching classes to doing secretarial, janitorial, and lawncare work. God has given specific instructions about what a preacher issupposed to be. Let him be it, and protect the calling and anointing God hasplaced upon his life. Allow him to carry out his function without frustration.

3. Be Team Players: Forget about the old game of Us vs. Them. Accept thepreacher as a part of the leadership of the church. Consider him and equalamong the Elders.

4. Let Your Preacher Dream His Own Dreams and Let Him Lead: Expect that your preacherwill have a vision for the future and don't expect it to be necessarily tied tothe past. It may be something completely new. Pray that God would make thatvision clear, not just to the preacher but to all the leaders and that when itis made clear that there would be an effort of unity to move toward thatvision. Give him your allegiance; follow him as he follows Christ. He needsyour support.

5. Hold onto the Vision: Once the leadership team has prayed, sought, andcaught God's vision for the church hang onto it tightly and never waiver.

6. Handle Conflict Quickly: Use the Biblical pattern of Matthew 18:15-17. Don'timmediately side with whoever is against the preacher. Just because they'vebeen there forever and the preacher hasn't doesn't make them right.

7. Commit to Stand with Him through Hard Times: You know hard times anddifficult times eventually come, conflict is inevitable in most places, becausewe are human beings. Be committed to the preacher for the long haul.

8. Don't Let the Critic Run the Church: Christ is the head of the church andhas placed the leadership team in their position, given them His vision for thechurch, and the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them through prayer and BibleStudy. Remind the critic of this and the fact that they are to make carryingout leadership a joy and not a burden.

9. Compensate Him Appropriately: Preachers and their families have the samefinancial needs as everyone else in the congregation. In fact, they often havemore expenses, because of the needs of visiting people and ministering to them.Consider selling or renting the parsonage and allow the minister to buy a homein the community and not only establish roots but also build up equity.

10. Give Him a Concise Job Description and Contract, and Stick with It: Yourpreacher must know what is expected of him and it must not be added to withoutmutual agreement. Sign a contract with him, one that both parties are tofulfill and not renege on.

11. Keep Him Appraised of Opportunities to Minister: Don't expect mysticalpremonitions. Keep the preacher informed about the various needs in the churchfamily.

12. Assist Your Preacher in Ministry: Volunteer to accompany your preacher onvisits or Bible studies. Cut out and share articles and illustrations toenhance the messages from the pulpit. Give him/her a copy of your favoritebook, or a gift certificate to the closest Bible bookstore.

13. Take Your Own Spiritual Growth Seriously: He wants to hear is that you aregrowing in your walk with Christ. This is why he is in ministry, he wants tosee people come to Christ and grow in Christ. He takes your spiritual growthseriously and one of the greatest encouragements to him is to see you taking itas seriously as he does.

14. Allow the Preacher to Have a Life Outside of Church: Respect his day off,encourage him to take all of his vacation, and allow him to go home to be withhim family on special occasions and holidays.

15. Respect His Privacy and Time: So often, being a preacher is a 24-hour a dayjob. Granted, there are always emergencies that come up at the most inopportunetimes, but remember he needs time to study, time to pray, time to rest, andtime to be with his family.

16. Let Your Preacher and His Wife Know You Appreciate Them: A kind, orencouraging word, a card, or even a small gift will work wonders to build upyour pastor and help him to continue in the calling God has given him.

17. Take the Initiative in Communicating with the Preacher's Family: Invitethem home for dinner. At times, include them in some of your family trips andexcursions of fun. Make sure the church family remembers the preacher onspecial occasions, such as Christmas, birthdays, and farewell events. Let themfind in you a harbor of love and acceptance. In this atmosphere, strive to helpthem succeed as the Savior's ambassadors.

18. Let Him Be Himself: Expect differences from anyone and everyone who hasever been in this position before. If he is unusually funny, great—if they areunusually serious, that's okay too. Just let him be who he is by the grace ofGod. Appreciate his uniqueness as a person.

19. Care for the Preacher's Wife: They are often the unsung heroes. They aremost often overlooked. Let her be herself. Don't anticipate a certainpersonality type. Don't expect that she will necessarily invest herself inministry here. Don't expect her to be doing particular ministries or be likeformer preacher's wife. Just love her into finding her place.

20. Develop a Genuine, Authentic Relationship with Your Preacher: Not one offacades. Sincerely assure them that you are their friend. Be inclusive anddon't treat them as unapproachable. This will develop a community of love thatis recognized as a unique, warm, innovative church family.

Forgive & Forget?

2012-01-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Henry Ward Beecher said that to say, "I can forgive, but I cannot forget" is just another way of saying, "I cannot forgive." Paul tells us that we are to forgive one another "just as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

How has he forgiven us? He’s forgiven us completely, without any merit on our part. None of us deserve to be forgiven, but he has lavished it on us anyway. He forgives our sins — all of them — completely. And then he forgets: "And I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

In forgiveness, forgetting is a matter of choice. To not remember an offense means that you will no longer

<3 U, Phil

Vision, Dream, or Dredgery

2011-08-15T13:25:00.000-04:00

In 1730 a church in Sussex, England posted this sign:

A vision without a task is but a dream;
a task without a vision is drudgery;
a vision and a task is the hope of the world.

I can relate. When my work becomes drudgery it's usually because I have become more focused on the task at hand, and less focused on the vision God has given me. Both are necessary.

Personally, I can’t imagine anything more dull than selling shoes out of the back of one’s car, but that’s what Phillip Knight did. After launching his own athletic shoe company with $500 of borrowed money, he spent several years crossing the northwest, hawking shoes at track meets and mall parking lots. Not my idea of a dream job, but Knight loved it. Eventually the business took off. His shoe company, now called Nike, became … well, you know who they are.

That’s what vision does for you. It transforms the drudgery of a task into the thrill of an adventure. And it always leads to great things.

What’s your vision?

2011-05-06T22:11:00.000-04:00

We should clarify something. I'm completely, utterly, without exception broken. I'm a mess. Here's the thing though: I have a relationship with Christ not because I’m good but precisely because I am not good. He rescued me from the mess I was making and he’s changing me. I’m still a mess, but I’m god’s mess.

Too many people think that Christians are complete "do-gooders" who are judgmental and think that they are better than you somehow and unfortunately there are believers who are just that. These same people will look down their noses at people like me. When we are going through severe personal problems some of these people will shun us.

Even worse, people like this make it hard to be a believer in a world of non-believers. I must admit that there have been times in my life when I’ve questioned am I really a believer or am I just another hypocrite.

Well of course, I’m a hypocrite! I don't follow the normal 'dogma' like so many other 'religious people' do though, and honestly Jesus wouldn't have and didn't. The complete "do-gooders" who are judgmental and think that they are better than you somehow back in Jesus’ day were called Pharisees. They hated Jesus. They actually killed Jesus they hated him so much. Yet, this is what Jesus warned believers of; he literally said don't be that way.

Don't get me wrong...I have all kinds of things wrong with me—tons and tons of baggage and personal problems. We all do both believers and non-believers. Do I try to do good? Yes, but it's not because I’m trying to seek approval of others, and it's sure not to 'get into' heaven. I realize that simply by accepting Jesus, heaven is a given. I try to do good because I love Jesus and people and I want to do something about it.

I still sin just like everyone else. Truth is, probably more than anyone else is—but, I’m still loved. I'm a huge mess, but I’ll accept that and leave that to God.

Phil

2011-04-29T21:10:00.000-04:00

Why do Christians shoot their wounded? Sometimes it seems like we stand in circles and shoot at each other. How will the world believe that God is love if those that claim to be His don't show love? Whispering, gossip, twisting facts, backstabbing, pointing fingers—all while acting superior to everyone else, instead of what we all are, equals, sinners.

As believers we are taught to forgive and forget, yet, once a weakness or sin surfaces; friendships are destroyed, we judge and shun instead of love, talk about instead of talk to, and even some who are leaders tearing apart instead of encouraging and lifting up.

When it happens to us personally (it will happen to you, believe me, it has happened to me) we ask, “When is the judging going to stop and the loving going to start?” I do not know the answer t that question, but I have a better question with an easy Biblical answer, “How do I deal with Christians taking a shot at me when I am wounded?” Extend the grace to them that God has given to me and forgive them.

Matthew 18:21-35—²¹Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” ²²“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

²³“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. ²⁴ In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. ²⁵ He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. ²⁶ “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ ²⁷Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

²⁸“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. ²⁹“His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. ³⁰But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

³¹“When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. ³²Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. ³³Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

³⁵“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

We need to remember that those who shoot the wounded are human and that Christians can be mean just like any other person. It's their problem; all we can do is walk on in faith and pray for them. They'll either come back and apologize or we will discern and that this person is not walking in the same faith that we are. Christianity has variety of folk, a variety of fallible folks—just like every person walking this earth, you and I sin and fall short of the glory of God.

“When is the judging going to stop and the loving going to start?” Right now with you and me, even if we are wounded and people are lining up to take potshots at us, let us love, forgive, and give grace just as God has done for us!

With love, forgiveness, & grace;

Phil

Wounded Soldier

I am a wounded soldier but I will not leave the fight

Because the Great Physician is healing me

So I'm standing in the battle, in the armor of His light

Because His mighty power is real in me

I am loved, I am accepted

By the Savior of my soul

I am loved, I am accepted

And my wounds will be made whole

IT IS FINISHED!

2011-04-19T21:09:00.000-04:00

In 1941, Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda was sent to a small US-occupied island in the Philippines with orders to do all he could to hamper enemy attacks on the island. He linked up with a group of soldiers already stationed there, but within a month, all but four of the men had been killed in battle. Hiroo and the others took the hills.

In 1945 they began seeing pamphlets stating the war had ended, but Onoda dismissed them as propaganda. In the following few years, the others surrendered or died one by one, but Onoda held his position, even continued his guerilla activities ... until 1974.

Onoda finally met a college dropout named Suzuki backpacking in the island who explained to him the war had ended. Still, the dedicated soldier was reluctant to believe. Finally, his former commanding officer, long since retired, flew to the island and gave Onoda his orders to lay down his arms.

Many of us, just like Lt. Onoda, are fighting a war that has long since been won.

Before Jesus breathed his final breath, he cried out "It is finished." Maybe some within the sound of his voice thought he was talking about his own life, or maybe they thought he was talking about the future of his following ... but the truth is that he was talking about the power of sin and death.

Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:31) And at that moment death was swallowed in victory; the cost of our freedom was paid in full.

Like the pamphlets that arrived on that tiny Philippine island, we have heard about our liberation, but we refuse to believe it. It's too good to be true. We stubbornly stay in the fight, and we lose battle after battle -- the same battles he has already won.

It is finished, he said. Sin. Death. Guilt. Regret. Sin. Despair. Isolation. And did I mention sin? These are all swallowed up in the victory of the cross and his powerful resurrection.

His work is finished, he has rested. And he is inviting us now to rest in him.

LIVING WITHOUT POWER

2011-04-11T12:29:00.000-04:00

When Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida in 1992, Norena's home was severely damaged. She received an insurance settlement, but it wasn't enough to finish the work necessary to bring her house back to standard. Her contractor stopped working the money ran out, and the house was left without electricity.

Norena is elderly and of limited means. She had no choice but to accept the situation. For the next 15 years, she lived without power: No hot showers, no air-conditioning, and no light to read by at night.

Finally, someone found out about her living conditions. The city of Miami was notified. The mayor arranged for an electrician to come to the house; it took only a few hours of work for power to be restored.

Afterwards, Norena said, "It's hard to describe how it feels to have electricity. It's overwhelming."

Many believers live a Christian life that is like a half-constructed home. Power is almost within their grasp, but they continue to live in the dark, day after day, year after year.

It doesn't have to be that way. Jesus made us a promise... "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8

If you're a believer and feel like you're living in the dark, in a half-finished house, I want you to know that power is within your reach.

That's why Jesus sent the Hoy Spirit to dwell within us, and it's why Paul challenges us to be filled with Spirit every day. He is our source of power.

Dare 2 Share? 5 Reasons we should share our faith!

2011-02-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

Love for God. 2 Corinthians 5:14—the love of Christ compels me. The apostle had a deep and abiding love for the Lord, and it spilled over into his passion for evangelism. When you love someone, you can’t help but talk about him or her. With that in mind, who do you talk about more? Your family, your job, your pets, your favorite sports team, or your God? If you truly love God, you, like Paul, won’t be able to shut up about him. You’ll share the good news out of the overflow of his love for you and your love for him.
Compassion for Others. Matthew 9:36—When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them for they were harassed like sheep without a shepherd.” To see others through the eyes of Jesus is to have your heart broken for the lost. How do people make it without Jesus? I dare you to go to a local shopping mall and do some serious people watching. As you watch, imagine them like sheep without a shepherd. Imagine the danger they are in from unseen wolves that want to digest them for dinner. May this little imagination exercise not only break your heart for them but stir you to steer any conversations you may have with them toward the foot of the cross.
Judgment Day. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11—For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him while in the body, whether it is good or bad. Therefore, because of the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. If the Apostle Paul was motivated to share the gospel because of the Judgment Day, how much more it should inspire us.
The Imminent Return of Christ. 2 Peter 3:9-10—The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” The return of Christ should motivate you to reach as many as possible before he returns, and the cup of his wrath overflows. Tic Tock. Tic Tock. The clock is ticking; so let’s get talking!
The Reality of Hell. Hell is real. Hell is eternal. Hell is horrible. Those who don’t know Jesus are on a highway to hell. We have the message that can provide the exit to escape it. If that doesn’t motivate you to share your faith, then check your pulse; you could be dead. Let’s reach out with the hope of Jesus Christ to all those around you and bring in new children into the family of God.

Phil

An Open Letter to Senator Rockefeller

2010-11-20T19:51:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Rockefeller,

Your quote, "There’s a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to FOX and to MSNBC: “Out. Off. End. Goodbye.” It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work here in Congress; and to the American people, to be able to talk with each other and have some faith in their government and more importantly, in their future." has unleashed a big bug in me.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, which has oversight on communications, I know you understand that the FCC does not have any control over the content of cable television. So what does “it” (that little bug inside of you) want?

What “it” really wants is news that does not hold you and your legislative friends accountable. “It” does not want news that would appropriately vet and uncover what “it” really believes and how it is the complete opposite of what the majority of Americans believe. What “it” wants is a propaganda machine, which is why for the life of me I cannot figure out why “it” wants MSNBC taken off the air. Did not you tell Olbermann you were devoted to his program? What this is really about is not what the American people want, but rather what “it” wants.

Please inform the little bug what Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis advised, in his famous Whitney v. California opinion in 1927, “If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.”

The big bug in me wants to inform the little bug in you that it is the time to wake up, to quit drinking the progressive Kool-Aid, and realize that we the people of West Virginia have drawn the line and will only support conservative democrats. We will not back progressive democrats who support the Obama-Reid-Pelosi agenda of income redistribution, government management of the economy, or the womb to tomb provision for its citizens.

We value our freedom to cling to our Bibles and guns (symbols of our freedom to worship and bear arms), to watch the news channel or any television channel of our choice, to choose the career of our choice (with an entrepreneur spirit and freedom to make our own money), and our sovereignty!

We Sir do not belong to you or any government leader or movement; nor do our Bibles, guns, televisions, careers, or pocketbooks. Your time to change is running out. West Virginians are rising up and will fight bold and strong to keep our freedom. We shall liberate our government of those determined to take the progressive path to socialism. Money and position will not keep you in office, but if you choose to walk with the Blue Dog Democrats and renounce the progressive movement agenda perhaps, you will still be our Senator after the next election.

It is in your hands Sir, and not the little bug’s. Choose now to align with the overwhelming majority of our state and abandon the Obama-Reid-Pelosi scheme, before time runs out.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to our state and great nation.

With all sincerity and respect,

Phil Fairchild

A MISSION FROM GOD

2010-11-03T23:12:00.000-04:00

A friend on facebook recent said, "Problems are messages."

Think about it. A health problem—even a minor one—is a message that you're not taking proper care of yourself. A financial problem is a hint that you're not managing well the resources God has given you, or that you're not properly prepared for the inevitable rainy days of life. Tension in a relationship tells you that, perhaps, you're being too demanding, or too selfish, or too insensitive in this moment.

Problems are often messages from God: he uses them to shine light on the things we are doing in conflict with his Word, things which hurt ourselves and hurt others.

Problems are more than just messages. Another a fellow Christian facebook friend said, “On the mountain tops we get our mandate! In the valley is our ministry work.” You can also consider each problem to be an implied mission from God. When difficulties get in your way, you can be sure that God is challenging you to do something about it.

Many people respond to problems by demanding more from those around them: "What's wrong with you? Why can't you change yourself for me? Why won't somebody fix this situation for me?"

God's people, especially those in leadership, need to respond to problems with the question: "What can I do? What can I do differently? What can I do to make things better? What can I do to make me better? What can I do TODAY?

Remember Nehemiah. This Jewish refugee had landed on his feet, so to speak, in Babylon. He could have continued living in the king's palace; it was the life of a slave, true, but it was also a life of relative comfort.

Instead, when he heard about the desolation of Israel, he fell to his knees and asked, "Lord, what can I do?" The prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-10 reflects his attitude of repentance and his resolve to make a difference. He identified what he needed to change about himself, and what he needed to do to change the situation.

What problem is picking at you today? Look at it closely. Open it up. There's a message inside, a message that will take in the direction of your next mission.

How to Make Happiness a Habit

2010-10-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

That's a true statement, because when it comes down to it, happiness is a choice that we make.   Happiness comes from within; it is a choice you make and a habit you develop. Here are 3 ways you can make happiness a habit. First..

•    Say thank you. Philippians 1:3-5—3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now...

It's impossible to be unhappy and thankful at the same time. The two don't mix. You can't say, "God, thank you for this job," and stay discontented. You can't say, "God, thank you for my spouse," and remain critical of him or her all the time. When you start saying "Thank you" you close the door on this perpetual state of dissatisfaction, and you open a new door that leads to joy and happiness and contentment.

•    Seek out hidden benefits. Philippians 1:12-18—12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Either we can let the bad news defeat us, or we can find the blessing in it. If you're not careful, you can let the backstabbing guy at work, the over-demanding client, the unappreciative spouse, or the irresponsible teenager steal your happiness from you. It's much better to say, "I can't control what this person does; yet I'll recognize the good they do and trust God to take care of the rest."

•    Expect the best from God. Philippians 1:6—being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:20-26—I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

It' easier to make happiness a habit when you know God is in control and will work everything out for your good.

Some of you are hurting right now. It's hard to be joyful when someone has broken your heart and you see tomorrow as another gray, cloudy day. Happiness is a tough choice to make sometimes. It's a lot easier to ride the wave of whichever circumstance comes your way—to let this set of circumstances make you miserable and wait for another set of circumstances to come along to make you happy for a while. That's how most people do it, but there's a better way.

Real happiness has nothing to do with your circumstances, and everything to do with your attitude—you can choose to create your own happiness and develop a happiness mindset.

TRAGEDY ON CAMPUS

2010-10-05T12:27:00.002-04:00

PRESS RELEASE from Mid-Atlantic Christian University

October 4, 2010

[We are saddened to confirm that one of our students, Jonathan Schipper, was fatally wounded Sunday by another student. We have very few details at this time, but it appears to be a personal matter between two students. An investigation is in process and the university is cooperating with the police in the investigation. Any student, faculty and/or staff with any information regarding this incident is expected to cooperate fully.

MACU is a faith-based institution of higher education that always strives to express love, forgiveness, and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are shocked and saddened that this incident has occurred on our campus. The student who apparently did the shooting willingly submitted himself to police custody. The safety and security of our students, staff, and faculty are always a priority.

Jonathan was a sophomore at Mid-Atlantic Christian University in the Youth and Family Studies program. While a quiet individual he was well liked by his fellow students and had a passion for serving the Kingdom. Jonathan was from Havelock, NC.]

Wow, shot to death on a Christian Campus—we can conclude that crimes do happen in what we often thought of as Godly places by Godly.

Why? Weren't theses young men Christians? Yes, they were both Godly young men! Since, I do not know the whole story I can only assume that this a result harboring aches and pains in the hearts and I base the rest of my blog on that assumption.

Bitterness—the more we keep it, the longer we become its prisoner. We then become controlled by it, doing what it wants us to do in which we can control if we let go of it.

Hebrews 12:14-15—¹⁴Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. ¹⁵Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Bitterness is one of the most crushing mental problems in a person's life. When a Christian is bitter, there is a loss of close fellowship with the Lord and a hindrance in one's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Bitterness causes a loss of many of the blessings of the normal Christian life, including emotional stability, peace, and joy. And bitterness results in the loss of production of good works, which are a major source of blessing and reward in the plan of God.

Bitterness is a devastating mental attitude sin, and it triggers a wide range of other sins, such as hatred, cruelty, antagonism, self-pity, unteachable spirit, vindictiveness and desires for revenge, and prideful ambition.

Bitterness is neither consistent nor rational. A bitter person is his own worst enemy. It is very difficult to maintain any kind of relationship with a chronically bitter person; and bitterness is a major contributing cause of relational problems.

This incident should help us to make every effort to help our youth let go the pain brought on by bullying, the offense of sin against them, the regret of their own sin, and the arrogance of prideful ambition.

Here are three things to talk with them about:

1. Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others do, depend on God’s forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.

2. Instead of blaming others for a conflict or resisting correction, trust in God's mercy and take responsibility for your own contribution to conflicts—confessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.

3. Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, overlook minor offenses or talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them.

May God bless the families and friends of these young men, the students at Mid-Atlantic Christian University, and all our young students on Christian and Secular Campus and local schools.

Phil

2010-09-26T21:31:00.001-04:00

Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

David begins: Verse 1 -- "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"

David is saying, because the Lord is my shepherd, I do not lack anything. He was satisfied with the Lord even though he was on the run for his life, being pursued by his son Absalom. I wonder could we be satisfied, in similar circumstances?

There are really only two options in life.

If the Lord is my shepherd, then I shall not want (be covetous, be unhappy, be unsatisfied). But if I am in want, then it is obvious that I am being lead or shepherded by someone else or something else.

If our vocation shepherds us, then there is restlessness, feverish activity and frustration. If education is our shepherd, then we are constantly being disillusioned. If another person is our shepherd, we are always disappointed and ultimately we are left empty.

But if the Lord is our shepherd, David says, we shall not want.

If the Lord is to be our shepherd, then we have to begin by recognizing that we are sheep. Let me say something about sheep:

Sheep are dumb and they are dirty. They are timid, defenseless, and helpless. They literally do not know enough to come in out of the rain. And then to have God tell me that I am a sheep, really hurts.

But if I am honest with myself, I know it is true. I know that I lack wisdom and strength. I know my tendency toward going my own way and doing my own thing. I know that is me. I am a sheep.

Isaiah said it best: "We are all like sheep who have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way,"

And if Jesus Christ is to be my shepherd, I have to admit that I am a sheep and need a shepherd. Once we admit that need a shepherd we discover the truth of what David is saying. We shall not want.

I pray you have admitted it & accepted Jesus as your Shepherd!

David now turns toward what the Shepherd does: Psa 23:2, 3 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

1. The Good Shepherd meets the needs of the inner man.

The basic needs of a flock of sheep are grass and water.

Here is a picturesque scene of sheep bedded down in grassy meadows, having eaten their fill and now totally satisfied, and then being led by still waters. Sheep are afraid of running water; they will drink only from a quiet pool.

The counterpart in our lives is obvious.

God restores the inner man through his word. As we feed upon the word of God, we see the Lord Jesus there. We draw upon him and our inner man is satisfied.

John 6:35 Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.

2. The Good Shepherd gives direction in life.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Or, as the margin indicates, "He leads me in right paths."

That indicates again how stupid sheep are, because even when the trail is well laid out, they still need a shepherd. They are still inclined to wander away, no matter how obvious the path may be.

David says that The Lord will lead us in the right path. That is a promise! And he does this for his name’s sake. It isn’t our name that is at stake, it is his name. His name is Faithful, and he has promised that he will lead us in the right paths.

To me that is a tremendous source of encouragement.

3. The good shepherd provides protection.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.

Just what is death?—Separation from the Body. Paul tells us that In 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent or separated from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord! At home in the presence of the Lord? How did we get there?

In verse 4, there is a very picturesque scene. The shepherd is leading the sheep back home at evening. As they go down through a narrow gorge, the long shadows lie across the trail.

In the Hebrew, this is a "valley of deep shadows." The sheep, because they are so timid and defenseless, are frightened by their experience.

But they trust the shepherd, and so they are comforted. They will fear no evil, because the shepherd is with them. When we trust our shepherd and follow Him through the valley of the shadow of death, we find ourselves eternally in His presence.

David then writes, "Your rod and staff comfort me."

The rod was a club that was used to drive off wild animals. It was never used on the sheep but was a heavy instrument used to protect the sheep from marauding predators.

The staff was a slender pole with a little crook on the end. It was used to aid the sheep. The crook could be hooked around the leg of a sheep to pull him from harm. Or it could be used as an instrument to direct, and occasionally to discipline the sheep, with taps on the side of the body.

Understanding how the shepherd tends his sheep has helped me so much in understanding the character of God.

When we go wandering away he doesn’t say, "There goes that stupid sheep, Phil, and—WHAP! Down comes that big club!

No. His attitude is, "Well, he’s, wandering away again. How can I help him? How can I move in to bring him back into line? How can I comfort him, and supply what he needs?" That’s how a true Shepherd operates.

He may have to discipline, but he always does it in love. He reproves, corrects, encourages, and instructs in righteousness, dealing with us firmly and gently. We must recognize this & learn from our mistakes.

4. The good shepherd becomes our gracious host.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Paul said it this way: "My God will supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,"{Phil 4:19}.

· GOD IS A GOOD GOD.

You can’t believe God is blessing you if at the same time you believe He is cursing you. It is difficult to believe His promises if you can’t get your mind off the idea that He is afflicting you!

· GOD IS A MERCIFUL GOD.

Goodness and mercy are attributes of God. Goodness—meets our needs Mercy—forgives our faults

The word "follow," in Verse 6, literally means, "pursue." David says that God’s goodness and mercy shall pursue him; David’s desire was to go back to the house of the Lord and to worship Him forever.

God’s goodness & mercy follows us all the days of his life (even when we fail to recognize it). Because we know God as our shepherd and recognize His goodness & mercy—we will reside in the house of the Lord forever!

ONE WEEK TO LIVE

2010-09-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

What would you do if you knew you had only week to live? Would you go away? Would you go home? Would you do some last minute sinning, or some last minute repenting? Would you be sad? Angry? Hopeful? Afraid? How would you spend those final hours?

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)

When Jesus had one week to live, he chose to wash his disciples' feet. He did the work of a common slave, ministering to those who were closest to him. He washed their feet (John 13), he comforted them (John 14), he encouraged them (John 15-16), prayed for them (John 17), and then he died for them. He spent the last week of his life fulfilling his purpose; he spent the last week of his life being a servant.

...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

You and me, we have a week to live: this week—and most probably hundreds more. I want to spend this week fulfilling my purpose, doing that which is most important in terms of eternity: serving Christ by serving others.

2010-09-07T10:40:00.001-04:00

Today Is the Day to DO SOMETHING

2 CORINTHIANS 6:2—For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Dale Carnegie said, "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon—instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today."

When Paul said, "today is the day of salvation," his words were not addressed to the lost. He was writing to believers ("fellow workers or God’s partners" he called them in verse 1), reminding them of their mission, of the price Jesus had paid for their sins, of the new life that was theirs in Christ.

He urged them not to wait a moment longer to begin living life to the fullest. "Be reconciled to God," he said to his fellow workers. "The right time is now. Today is the day of salvation."

The same can be said to you and me. Stop waiting for your "life" to begin, for everything to fall into place. Your life is now. Today is the day of God's favor. Today is the day that God's wants to bless you.
Today is the day that God wants to use you to help bring the lost into His family.

Quit dreaming of a day you’ll have a magical rose garden. Roses are blooming outside your window right now, DO SOMETHING about it begin to enjoy them!

Phil

2010-08-28T12:34:00.002-04:00

I wore sandals to last Sunday to church. Once we began to worship, I slipped off my sandals and left them off while I preached. I was wearing shorts so my feet were very visible. Everyone else was wearing shoes but that did not deter me from leaving the sandals off. It seemed the perfectly natural thing to do in God's house.

This became my goal because some of our worship team have led worship without shoes on. I thought I’d would just worship with my sandals off and then put them back on to preach, but it felt so good to worship like that I was compelled to preach too.

My next goal is encourage the whole church to worship barefoot. Of course, that could be an issue of controversy so I will not force anyone to follow my conviction but allow them to find their own conviction.

Here is why I did it. Exodus 3:5—God tells Moses, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

Out of respect, honor, and devotion, Moses takes off his shoes. Taking off your shoes make you aware of your sin, unclean heart, and lack of holiness as you approach the very holy presence of God—which indeed is one of the reasons we gather on Sundays.

It was a Biblical custom (did they wash their feet with shoes on?) Do you really think the Saints in Glory are going to trample Heavens sparkling, clean streets with shoes on?

Worshiping barefoot helped me recognize that because of Christ being the church is not a once a week experience but is a life lived out in constant worship before God, barefoot in his presence. I want to share that.

However, when we leave from worship, we will get our shoes back on because we go out to serve the Lord; we go out to be good stewards, good users, and faithful users of our time, talent, and material resources.

Phil

THE ABC'S OF THANKSGIVING

2009-11-03T02:17:00.002-05:00

A: Atonement – I am thankful for atonement, the reconciliation between God and people brought about by the death of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 2:17 - For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

B: Blood – I am thankful for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that I may be cleansed.

1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

C: Conqueror – I am thankful that I am a conqueror.

Romans 8:35-37 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

D: Dwelling – I am thankful my future dwelling will be with God.

Revelation 21:3 - And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

E: Eternal – I am thankful I have eternal life!

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

F: Free – I am thankful that I am free.

John 8:36 - So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

G: Grace – I am thankful for that I am saved by the gift of Grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

H: Healed – I am thankful God has healed me of my sin.

Isaiah 53:5 – But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

I: Integrity – I am thankful those who taught me integrity.

Titus 2:7-8 – In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned…

J: Jesus – I am thankful for Jesus, what a beautiful name.

Matthew 1:21 – She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

K: Keeper – I am thankful that the Lord is my Keeper.

Psalm 121:5 – The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

L: Love – I am thankful that I am love and accepted.

1 John 3:1 – How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

M: Mediator – I am thankful Jesus is my Mediator.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 – For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

N: New Creation – I am thankful I am a new creation.

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

O: Outstretched – I am thankful for the mighty outstretched arm of God.

Jeremiah 32:17 – Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

P: Perfect – I am thankful that God’s way & word is perfect.

Psalm 18:30 – As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Q: Quiet Waters – I am thankful for the quiet waters my Shepherd Leads me to.

Psalm 23:1-2 –The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

R: Reconciliation – I am thankful I know my purpose, to be a minister of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 – All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

S: Spirit – I am thankful His Spirit lives in me!

Romans 8:9-11 – You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

T: Teach – I am thankful that God will teach me.

Psalm 25:4-5 – Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

U: Unity – I am thankful for unity in Christ.

Romans 15:5-6 – May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

V: Victory – I am thankful for victory over death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 – Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

W: Watch – I am thankful to keep watch through prayer.

Mark 14:38 – Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

X: eXalt – I am thankful for every opportunity to eXalt His name.

Psalm 34:3 – Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

Y. Yoke – I am thankful His yoke is easy and light.

Matthew 11:29-39 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Z. Zeal – I am thankful for the zeal that consumes me.

Psalm 69:9 – For zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

2009-08-05T12:15:00.003-04:00

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH is participating in Back to Church Sunday, a national movement of churches to encourage formerly churched people to ReThink Church and try it again. According to LifeWay Research, 38 percent of people are receptive or highly receptive to attending church. 82 percent say they would be open to attending church if a friend invited them.

But, unfortunately, only 21 percent of active church-going Christians invited someone to church last year! First Christian is joining with thousands of churches to help change those statistics by inviting everyone to attend church on September 13, 2009.

Begin now thinking of people who you can personally invite! If you are not attending church anywhere and live in the Chester area, join us at 330 Indiana Ave.

9:00 Traditional Worship

10:00 Sunday School

10:40 First Impressions Café & Kids’ Connection Café open

11:00 Contemporary Worship

The 9:00AM Service features a classic, more traditional worship experience. At the 11:00AM Service, you'll enjoy casual dress, a praise band, and an informal style. Whatever your preference, you'll find a spiritual connection that will enrich your week and your life.

Back to Church Sunday, September 13, 2009
First Christian Church—it's not the same old grind!

Open the Window of God's Blessings

2009-08-04T22:55:00.002-04:00

Faith opens the window to God's blessings in your life. In Galatians 3, we see three things that God will do in your life when you put your faith in him.

First of all...Faith makes you right with God. (v. 24) Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.

The law was our guardian; it shows us what should be the proper boundaries—but the law itself cannot save us; and it is through the law, this guardian, that we become aware of our inability to save ourselves.

Do you want to know how to be absolutely overcome with despair in a very short period of time? ("Uh...thanks, Phil, but no.") I'll tell you anyway. Try to live perfectly according to the law. Try to do everything that you know you should do, without messing up even once. See you how long you last.

Think about it. How long can you go without thinking—not even for a second—one thought that you shouldn't think? One vindictive thought? One selfish thought? One jealous thought? One lustful thought? One self-righteous thought? How long can you go?

As I said, such an attempt will bring on despair faster than you can imagine, because it causes you to realize: “I know the right thing to do, but I can't do it. I know what is wrong, but I can't keep from doing it."

Paul said almost the same thing in Romans 7:15—I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

Sound familiar? Have you ever felt that way? That's what the law does. It shows us how sinful we are. It draws a line between right and wrong, and more often than we would like, we are on the wrong side of the line.

Paul says this is why the law was given—to show us how guilty we are. Here's the problem. We don't obey it. We can't obey it. The more we try, the more we fail.

If you want to be right with God, there is only one way to get it done. Put your faith in Jesus Christ. Do not put your faith in keeping the law, because you'll never be good enough to earn a passing grade. (v. 22) But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Secondly...Faith puts you in touch with God's power. (v. 5) I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

God wants miracles to be a common part of our experience, too. I am talking about the supernatural intervention of God's power in our lives through answering out prayers, but, as Paul tells us—miracles aren't handed out according to how well we keep the law; they're given in response to our faith. God is willing to work miracles in our lives if we're willing to put our faith in him.

You can experience God's miraculous power on a consistent basis, but expect to see miracles mostly in other people's lives. If the only person you're praying for is yourself, then you're missing the whole point. Nearly every person you know needs a miracle. Find out from those closest to you in which area of their lives they needs to experience God's intervention, and pray specifically for them.

Do you know what I've learned about praying for others? I'm not hindered by the same obstacles as when I pray for myself. When I pray for myself, sometimes I struggle with doubt. When I pray for others, it's hardly a problem. It is easier to ask in faith for someone else than it is to ask for myself God to intervene with power.

And thirdly...Faith gives you access to your true inheritance. (v. 8-9) What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. (v. 29) And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

What was the blessing? It is found in the book of Genesis. This is what God said to Abraham...Genesis 12:3— I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

According to Paul, through Christ we are heirs to that same promise. What is our inheritance? To be a blessing to others. This is what God wants to do through you. He wants to bless you so that you can bless others. This is our inheritance. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we receive God's blessings and we, in turn, can bless others.

Has God blessed you with financial abundance? How can you use it bless others? Has God blessed you with a certain talent or skill? How can you use it to bless others? Whatever blessing God has put in your life, realize that it has been given to you so you can bless others. This is our inheritance, and through faith, we activate it and open the window to God's blessing in our lives.

The life of faith is the only life to live; through faith our sins are forgiven, God works miracles among us, and we receive our inheritance of blessings.

Who am I, a Nobody, or Someone Special?

2009-08-04T21:32:00.002-04:00

Do you ever get depressed and feel like everything goes against you and no one likes you? We all do, and it is the result of the lies of Satan trying to lower our self-esteem so we might become paralyzed & ineffective as Christians, fall into his temptation traps, or even worse – feel like life is not worth living.

Don’t believe his lies. As a Christian you are very special to God, after all He gave His Son so you could have eternal life, and more than that He transformed you into a new creature that is forever different and forever worthy.

The following scriptural traits reflect who you became at your spiritual birth. The Word of God guarantees these traits to you simply because you were born into God’s family by faith in Christ and just how special you are to Him!

Who am I?

I am the salt of the earth, Matthew 5:13.
I am the light of the world, Matthew 5:14.
I am a child of God, John 1:12.
I am a part of the true vine, a channel of Christ’s life, John 15: 1-5.
I am Christ’s friend, John 15:15.
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit, John 15:16.
I am a slave of righteousness, Roman 6:18.
I am enslaved to God, Romans 6:22.
I am a son of God, Romans 8:14&15, Galatians 3:26-28 &4:6.
I am joint heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17 & Galatians 4:6-7.
I am a temple, a dwelling place of God, 1 Corinthians 3:16 &6:19.
I am united with and am one spirit with the Lord, 1 Corinthians 6:17.
I am a member of Christ’s body, 1 Corinthians 12:27 & Ephesians 5:30.
I am a new creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
I am a saint, Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; & Colossian 1:2.
I am the handiwork of God, Ephesians 2:10.
I am righteous & holy, Ephesians 4:24.
I am a citizen of Heaven, Philippians 3:20.
I am hidden with Christ in God, Colossians 3:3.
I am an expression of the life of Christ, Colossians 3:4.
I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, Colossians 3:12 & 1 Thessalonians 1:4.
I am a son of light not darkness, 1 Thessalonians 5:5.
I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling, Hebrews 3:1.
I am a partaker of Christ; I share His life, Hebrew 3:14.
I am one of God’s living stones, being built into a spiritual house, 1 Peter 2:5.
I am a chosen, royal, holy possession of God, I Peter 2:9&10.
I am and alien & stranger in this world, 1 Peter 2:11.
I am an enemy of the devil, 1 Peter 5:8.
I resemble Christ when He returns, 1 John 3:1&2.
I am safe – the devil can’t touch me, 1 John 5:18.
I am not the great “I am”, but by the grace of God, I am what I am, 1 Corinthians 15:10.

Because of who you are in Christ, everyone of these characteristic is complete true of you, there is nothing you can do to make them truer, and nothing Satan can do to make them less true. So, the next time Satan starts lying to you and sapping your self worth, remind of who you in Christ!

2009-07-20T22:49:00.002-04:00

I grew up in church and learned at an early age that I didn't enjoy it all that much—but I knew that I was supposed to do my best to live a good Christian life, and at various times I gave it a good effort.

At youth rallies, we would have emotional experiences and I would think, OK, this time I mean it. I'm going to be a Christian. Each time my resolve lasted a few days before fading away. A few months later, there would be another rally and I would try again.

When I tried to live out what I knew about Christianity, it just seemed incredibly dull. I kept thinking there must be something more to Christianity than what I'm doing, because this is far too difficult to be fun. I want something more!

At 16, I discovered the something more. It's a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I learned that God wants us to experience a life-changing, life-empowering connection with Jesus Christ that puts your Christian life in overdrive. In order to experience the fullness of the Christian life, you have to die.

Galatians 2:20-21— 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Three truths in this passage have helped me get a handle on it. I think they'll help you, too.

The first thing is...I live through Christ. (v. 20) I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

This is an "in the moment" experience. It's a decision we make minute-by-minute to allow Christ to live through us. It happens, first of all, in the way that we think. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we live. We have to adopt this mindset. We have to remind ourselves on a daily basis—I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Our daily prayer must become, "Jesus, live through me."

There is no magic formula to making this happen, other than applying the principle day-by-day, minute-by-minute. You have to put to death the things you want—your dreams, your hopes, your aspirations, and surrender to what God wants for you.

When you face temptation, say "Christ, live through me.” When life becomes impossible, say "Christ, live in me.” When you need the strength to continue, say "Christ, live through me.” As you say these words, yield to his strength.

The next thing is...I live by faith. (v. 20) The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.

When you pray the prayer, "Christ live through me" you probably won't feel a wave of confirming emotions. Maybe you will, but most likely not—so don't look for them.

Here's why. God wants you to learn to live by faith and to move in faith. When you say, "Christ live through me, you yield yourself to his lordship in your life. The next step is to move forward as if that prayer has been answered—because it has been, whether you can feel it or not. Moving forward is a step of faith.

When you die to yourself and yield to him, he lives through you. When he lives through you, you are capable of doing more than you ever could have on your own. You're capable of overcoming temptations that you cannot overcome on your own. You're capable living more holy than you ever could have on your own. You're capable of being more loving, more forgiving, more merciful, and more patient than you could be on your own. You activate this power in your life through faith.

The third truth is…I live in grace. (v. 21) I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

You'll never earn salvation. Forget about batting a thousand—it'll never happen. Your relationship with God is based on mercy. You've been given something that you don't deserve. If you're thinking that someday you'll become so good that your relationship with God is no longer based on mercy, you need to give up on that idea. You can't earn God's salvation by good works. Mercy earned is not really mercy—it's a reward. Salvation earned is not a gift—it's a paycheck.

There is something more in your relationship with God, to experience it you’ve got to die. You have to be crucified with Christ, and you have to let him live through you, minute-by-minute of every waking day. You do this by faith, not by feelings and you get there by grace.

Who are you trying to impress?

2009-07-09T00:30:00.001-04:00

In Galatians 1, we see that Paul was a person of influence. As he closes out the chapter, he says, “And they praised God because of me.” Can you imagine a better way to influence others than to inspire them to praise God?

Paul was a man of influence, and in Galatians, we can see why: because he knew the difference between trying to please people and trying to influence people. There is a difference between being a people-pleaser and a people-leader People-leader don’t try to impress, they influence the lives of those around them so God can be praised.

Is this what you want for yourself at home, at work, in your areas of ministry? It takes three things. If you want to become a person of influence, you have to, first...

Seek God's approval above all else. Galatians 1:10—Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Take it from someone who has been there—it's easier said than done. I mean, after all, ministers are "professional Christians.” It goes without saying that we serve God first and foremost.

Still, most ministers I know struggle to maintain the balance between pleasing people and leading them. We don't want to rock the boat, don't want to stir things up, and if we're not careful, things can get fuzzy.

We become more concerned with what the elders want rather than what God wants. Take it from someone who has been there; sometimes what the two want are light years apart.

Here's my point: if it's difficult for the preacher to seek above all things to please God rather than men, then I certainly understand how it is difficult it is for you, in your situation

If you're seeking first to please God, sometimes you'll have to make unpopular decisions. Accept it. The possibility of being liked becomes a by-product of the decisions you make based on your top priority: pleasing God.

Next, Find God's mission for your life. Galatians 1:11—I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Paul received the message of the gospel by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. He says he didn't make it up and neither did anyone else. It came straight from God.

The message that Paul received also came with a task. The heart of Paul's message was that Jesus Christ died to bring salvation to all people. This message came with a mission: preach the good news to the Gentiles.

Two important things to note about Paul's message. First, it didn't contradict scripture. Secondly, Paul's message didn't contradict what the church was already teaching.

Do you want to become a person of influence? Then you need to receive a revelation from God—a message from him that defines his mission for you. However, I need to make this clear. God's revelations will be consistent with his Word and will be recognized by his seasoned leaders—but it will be your mission; it will set your heart on fire.

In verse 16 Paul says that the reason God saved him was so that he could preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was saying: This is my mission! This is my purpose! This is why I exist! Paul became a person of influence because he devoted his entire life to accomplishing one thing.

Do you want to become a person of influence? Get alone with God and find your mission. Seek him and let him reveal his purpose for your life. Let it set your heart on fire so that nothing else matters.

The third thing I want you to notice is this: To become a person of influence we must...Invest the time it takes to establish credibility.

Becoming influential doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. In verse 18, we see that Paul spent 3 years in Arabia and Damascus preparing for his life's work. In the beginning of chapter 2, we see that Paul waited another 14 years before visiting the leaders of the Jerusalem church. He spent 17 years preparing for the work that God had called him to do.

He didn't spend this time doing nothing—he was preaching through these years—but it took that long before he received the full endorsement from the church leaders in Jerusalem. Paul's message and ministry were not based on a short-term whim. He stood the test of time and proved that he was in it for the long haul.

I have talked to preachers, youth ministers, choir directors, businessmen, and parents who have lofty goals—but they expect it happen immediately. It just doesn't work that way. When God gives you a mission, you've got to decide that you're in it for the long haul, and you've got to be willing to invest the time it takes to build credibility.

Do you want to become a person of influence? Then prepare to stay. Prepare to invest years—even decades—of your life to fulfill your mission.

We are all people of influence. The question is: is our influence good or bad, positive or negative? You influence your children, your friends, your employers, and co-workers. What kind of influence do you want to be?

Do you want to be able to say, "They praised God because of me"? Then seek the approval of God, devote yourself to finding God's mission for your life, and be willing to invest the time it takes to make a difference.

Intimacy through Prayer!

2009-06-12T13:07:00.004-04:00

Colossians 4:2—Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Someone once said, "Why try and move the world ourselves, when all we need to do is move the Arm that already moves the world?

True revival develops the spiritual discipline of prayer through which we experience our relationship with God. Prayer is talking with God, listening to God, and enjoying the presence of God—not simply saying words or repeating formulas.

Most of us know and understand that we pray because we love God, depend on Him, and need prayer to resist temptation. We prepare our hearts for fellowship with God by confessing our sin and forgiving those who have hurt us.

Many lack the knowledge of what principles to use in prayer? Here are eight.

1. Depend on the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 6:18—Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Look to the Holy Spirit to help you, He can give you the right words with which you can pray effectively. Talk to the Holy Spirit as a person, and ask Him to help you to come to the Father in Jesus' name.

2. Realize who you are in Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:21— 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We come as children of God, as members of the royal family of God—NOT AS BEGGARS or STRANGERS. Therefore when we pray we should expect that God will grant results in response to our prayer.

3. Begin your prayer with thanksgiving and praise: Psalm 100:4—4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Thank God for answers to prayer, for your salvation. Tell Him how great He is. It is good to use the Word of God to praise God. This is not a form of flattery in order to get God to give you things, but it is only fitting to thank Him and praise Him. Thanking God will increase your faith.

4. Worship God: Psalms 95:6-7—6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, 7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.

In worship, we express love and admiration to God, which is a response to the revelation of who God is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. This deepens our fellowship with God, increases our faith, and pleases the Holy Spirit.

5. Petition and Intercession: 1 Timothy 2:1-2— 1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

God is looking for people who will stand in the gap with Him in intercession for situations that are beyond their own personal interests. Allow God to lead you to pray for others in the church and their needs, national and local situations, the government, the advance of the Kingdom of God, and the growth of the church.

6. Waiting: Habakkuk 2:1—I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.

This is a form of prayer in which the soul is silent and waits for God to move it or speak something by His Spirit. God promises to renew the strength of those who wait on Him.

7. Warfare: Psalm 149:6-9—6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, 9 to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord!

This is prayer is directed against the powers of darkness. We pronounce against them the written judgment by reading the Scriptures of judgment against them (Psalm 149:9), we command them to be bound or to leave their positions of influence or authority in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 16:19; Mark 16:17).

8. Thank God, for the results: Philippians 4:6-7—6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Pray with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving expresses your confidence that God has heard and answered your prayer even before you see the result.

Praying with full faith and confidence in God will draw you close to Him. The problem is this kind of prayer takes time and passion. I pray that these principles will develop a passion for prayer in your life.

Revival’s Intimacy through Bible Study

2009-06-03T11:36:00.003-04:00

Last week I said, “Revival is the door of intimacy with Christ—when you are intimate with him you will have everything you need because everything flows from the presence of the Lord.”

One of the ways we find achieve Revival’s intimacy is through Bible study. The truth is, very few Christians do any serious Bible study. Even though we hunger, by our own admission less than 50% of the average Christian Church reads the Bible once a week.

Jeremiah 15:16—When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

We need take time and get into the Word and DISCOVER that the truths of the Bible are more precious than any treasure we seek.

Not only do we need to discover God’s Word, we need to DIGEST them. Jeremiah says we are to devour them; that means we must feast upon the Word, digesting it so that we can grow spiritually.

We will find that discovery and digesting of the Word will to DELIGHT. Jeremiah said, “They are my joy and my heart’s delight.”

Why? The Bible not only gives us insight and teaches us, it directs our lives and sets us free.

Psalm 119:99&100—Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.

Romans 15:4—Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Psalm 119:105—Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

John 8:32—And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Don DeWelt, a great spiritual discipline leader of Christian church said, “I still have a long way to go. But prayer, meditation, and Bible reading are indispensible. If I skip them, it is as though I missed a meal. I am addicted to God!”

WOW! Praise the Lord! Don’t you want to be addicted to God? I do!

REVIVAL’S DOOR, intimacy with Christ!

2009-05-26T20:41:00.003-04:00

If I were to tell you that behind this door was, a new car, keys to a new home, or a million dollars—would you be interested?

If I were to tell you that behind this door was all the wisdom in the universe, knowledge about everything you needed to know, strength to face every situation you’d encounter for the rest of your life.

Enough provisions to take care of your every need, and the source of genuine love that would enable you to consistently forgive, love the unlovable, graciously serve others—would you be interested?

Revival is the door of intimacy with Christ—when you are intimate with him you will have everything you need because everything flows from the presence of the Lord.

Luke 10:38-42—38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Intimacy is often lost through the lure of many good things. Martha was distracted or drawn away. What was she drawn away by? They were not terrible things, sinful things, or bad things. They were just not the things that should have been the priority for her life at that moment.

How do we know if we are being distracted and drawn away from the most important thing? Are you worried? Bothered? Angry? Whining? If so, that is an indication that somewhere you have replaced the best thing with some other thing, perhaps even with good things.

Intimacy is the portal to what matters and lasts. The World Wide Web (the Internet) is an amazing thing. Everyone, though, must go through a primary portal, an access point. Once you go through your portal, the door is opened to a massive world of information and communication.

Only those who choose intimacy with Christ gain entrance to the most important things of life. This is the portal. These are the things that last when everything else fades, that stand when all else falls.

Only through this portal of intimacy will you gain a relationship with Christ, reality with the one who sees the end from the beginning, and the adventure of a spirit-led life.

Intimacy always comes through an invitation and a choice. It is incredible that the God of the universe would condescend to come and be with us, but He does and He does it so we can have an intimate relationship with Him.

If we are to gain this intimacy with Christ, a sense of humility, need, and patience is required. It takes TIME to really enter into God’s presence—daily time, weekly time, special retreat times, etc. We also must give great attention to listening to the Lord through His Word and by His Spirit.

J. Oswald Sanders says in Enjoying Intimacy with God, “Each of the disciples was as close to Jesus as he chose to be, for the Son of God had no favorites. With Him there is no caprice or favoritism. It is a sobering thought that we, too, are as close to Christ as we really choose to be.

It would seem that admission to the inner circle of deepening intimacy with God is the outcome of deep desire. Only those who count such intimacy a prize worth sacrificing anything else for are likely to attain it. If other intimacies are more desirable to us, we will not gain entry to that circle.

The place on Jesus’ breast is still vacant and open to any who are willing to pay the price of deepening intimacy. We are now and we will be in the future only as intimate with God as we really choose to be.”

Revival’s door is open; you and I must choose to walk in!