Wow, what a couple of months! First the threat of Hurricane Gustav and then the impact of Hurricane Ike. I remember praying for revival with Jon Randles and asking God to send a powerful moving wind of His Holy Spirit through our lives. Little did I know that it would literally happen. On the heels of Ike came Hurricane Financial Meltdown. Worldwide financial markets are tumbling and the public's confidence in government is at a low that I have not seen in my lifetime. It is easy to be shaken by all of this uncertainty, isn't it? Is there anything solid that we can hold on to?
Take a moment and find a coin lying around. Look with me at the inscription at the bottom of the coin. "In God we Trust." That motto was placed on our national currency in 1864. The nation was torn by Civil War. The debris of people's lives lay scattered across the divided states. Where was hope? Could there be hope? Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, commissioned James Pollock, Director of the Mint to prepare a national motto that would henceforth appear on our coinage. Chase wrote:
"Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition."*
Through all that we experience, God proves faithful. Our trust is not in our financial institutions, our military might; it is not in our next or any President, and our trust is not in American ingenuity and resourcefulness. Our trust must be in the One who has made us and blessed us. Our trust is in God. The arm of flesh may fail but the Arm of God never will.
*information taken from Wikipedia.org
Friday, October 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Excitement is Building!
As I sit in my office I hear the noise from the construction site just outside my window. I see workers on scaffolding diligently laying bricks and spreading stucco. I watch a conscientious worker leveling the ground with a small dozer. I am very thankful for the hard work that each of them is putting in on the new sanctuary. I pray that they realize that they are working on a building that will be used by God to change many lives. Truly the excitement is building. Every week we find ourselves that much closer to a December opening. The anticipation I have reminds me of Christmas as a child. I remember the feeling I had as Dec. 25 grew closer. I just couldn't wait to celebrate.
I am so grateful to God for the privilege of serving Him with the membership of Central. This is a wonderful church and when I think about what God is doing and what He is going to do, I believe I am more excited about that than I am even about the building. After all, it's not about bricks and stucco. It is about Making God Known as we continue the mission that Christ started. I pray that the excitement continues to build not simply because of a building but because of what God is building in our lives and in our church.
I am so grateful to God for the privilege of serving Him with the membership of Central. This is a wonderful church and when I think about what God is doing and what He is going to do, I believe I am more excited about that than I am even about the building. After all, it's not about bricks and stucco. It is about Making God Known as we continue the mission that Christ started. I pray that the excitement continues to build not simply because of a building but because of what God is building in our lives and in our church.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Crawling toward Revival
I pray that you are progressing in your walk with Jesus. If you are like me, sometimes it seems the progress is slow. I am learning or perhaps I should say re-learning about the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit. It is remarkable but God's Word teaches us that when we are adopted into God's family through faith in Christ, His Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us (John 14: 17; Rom. 8: 9). It's hard to comprehend but God lives inside of every believer. The ramifications of this are mind-boggling. Can you imagine the love and joy and victory over sin that should characterize our lives? If God really does live inside of me, shouldn't my life, my attitude, my outlook be different than what it is?
I think that what is happening to me and to many believers that I know is that revival is starting. We are beginning to realize that there is so much more to "Christianity" than rules and requirements. It is about relationship with Christ. A relationship that is made possible and kept vibrant through learning to walk with the Holy Spirit of God. But as the old adage says, "before you can walk, you have to learn to crawl." So may God grant us the grace to crawl toward revival.
More to come.
Barry
I think that what is happening to me and to many believers that I know is that revival is starting. We are beginning to realize that there is so much more to "Christianity" than rules and requirements. It is about relationship with Christ. A relationship that is made possible and kept vibrant through learning to walk with the Holy Spirit of God. But as the old adage says, "before you can walk, you have to learn to crawl." So may God grant us the grace to crawl toward revival.
More to come.
Barry
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Real Men of Jesus: The Apostle John
What does a real man look like?
Tall?
Short?
Light-skinned or dark-skinned?
Athletic or academic?
What does a real man do?
Hunt? Fish? Drive a truck? Listen to classical music?
Give blood? Fight for his country? Go to church?
Go to the opera?
Now more than ever, it is confusing to be a man. Hollywood has its ideal of a real man. Our communities have their unspoken rules about what a real man is and does. What does it mean to be a real man?
This month at Central we are discovering what a “real man” is by looking at the men who followed Jesus. These men were fishermen and business men. They were just like the men we know. Yet there was something remarkable about each of them. From each of these men we will learn a characteristic that every “real man” displays in his life.
We begin with the Apostle John.
Like you, John was complex. He had positive and negatives aspects of his life and character. Along with his family, he operated a successful fishing business (Mt. 4: 21; Mk. 1: 20). He had connections with influential people (Jn. 18: 15-16). He probably spoke several languages and most likely had a better than average education.
But John had his weak points as well.
John demonstrated discrimination and elitism at times. He told a group of people who weren't following Jesus in his group that they should “quit preaching about Jesus”. He wanted a special place in Christ's kingdom reserved for him and his brother (Mk. 10: 41ff.). Jesus called John and his brother James, "Sons of Thunder" (Mk. 3: 17) because of their tempers and impetuousness. In fact one time John and James wanted to "call down fire" on the Samaritans (Lk. 9: 54). I am thankful that the word of God points out the weaknesses of these men who followed Christ. He gives me hope for my walk with Christ, for oftentimes it is not what God, nor I, would like for it to be.
Yet for all of his faults, John was one of Jesus' closest friends. He was one of the inner circle (Mk. 9: 2; 14: 33). He was often given special assignments by Jesus (Lk. 22: 8). He was one of the first witnesses to the the resurrection of Christ. He experienced the unjust capital punishment of his brother (Acts 12: 2). He was placed in exile because of his commitment to Christ (Rev. 1: 9). By the end of his life, he was the most revered Christian leader in all of the world.
No doubt, John was a real man of Jesus. There is a primary characteristic from his life that makes him a real man of Jesus.
It is the characteristic that we will look at and incorporate into our lives.
Real Men Love. Throughout his writings, John spoke often about love. He defined love and lived out love. It may not seem too manly to speak of real men loving but according to 1 Cor. 13, love is the greatest characteristic any man can display. We learn from the life of John that:
1. Real Men love Others.
John constantly encouraged the followers of Christ to "love one another" (1 Jn. 4: 7, 11, 12). The kind of love that he wrote about is the love that wants the very best for others. This love puts others first. Real men love their wives, their children, their church, and their neighbors.
2. Real Men love Truth.
John had deep concern about truth. The theme of truth is a major theme throughout First John. In this letter that he wrote, he warned Christians to beware of false doctrine. John declared that his greatest joy was knowing that "his children" were walking in truth (3 John 4). Real man love truth. They search out and stand up for truth, popular or not.
3. Real Men love Jesus.
What changed John from a "Son of Thunder" to the "disciple whom Jesus loved?" What changed him was the great love of God that was given to him through Christ. Jesus changed John's life. Christ loved him and forgave him of his sins and gave him a reason to live. He gave him purpose. John could not help but love the One who showed him what love really is.
We will never become real men until we experience that kind of love. The love of Christ who sees us as we are yet loves and forgives us anyway.
Real men love.
Would you pray that the love of Christ would take hold of your life? Maybe you have never experienced His love and forgiveness. I would be glad to talk about Christ with you.
Would you commit to demonstrating love to those around you? You will probably find that it is the hardest, yet most rewarding act you will ever do.
It is tough to be a real man. But, by the grace of God, you are up to it.
Bro. Barry
Tall?
Short?
Light-skinned or dark-skinned?
Athletic or academic?
What does a real man do?
Hunt? Fish? Drive a truck? Listen to classical music?
Give blood? Fight for his country? Go to church?
Go to the opera?
Now more than ever, it is confusing to be a man. Hollywood has its ideal of a real man. Our communities have their unspoken rules about what a real man is and does. What does it mean to be a real man?
This month at Central we are discovering what a “real man” is by looking at the men who followed Jesus. These men were fishermen and business men. They were just like the men we know. Yet there was something remarkable about each of them. From each of these men we will learn a characteristic that every “real man” displays in his life.
We begin with the Apostle John.
Like you, John was complex. He had positive and negatives aspects of his life and character. Along with his family, he operated a successful fishing business (Mt. 4: 21; Mk. 1: 20). He had connections with influential people (Jn. 18: 15-16). He probably spoke several languages and most likely had a better than average education.
But John had his weak points as well.
John demonstrated discrimination and elitism at times. He told a group of people who weren't following Jesus in his group that they should “quit preaching about Jesus”. He wanted a special place in Christ's kingdom reserved for him and his brother (Mk. 10: 41ff.). Jesus called John and his brother James, "Sons of Thunder" (Mk. 3: 17) because of their tempers and impetuousness. In fact one time John and James wanted to "call down fire" on the Samaritans (Lk. 9: 54). I am thankful that the word of God points out the weaknesses of these men who followed Christ. He gives me hope for my walk with Christ, for oftentimes it is not what God, nor I, would like for it to be.
Yet for all of his faults, John was one of Jesus' closest friends. He was one of the inner circle (Mk. 9: 2; 14: 33). He was often given special assignments by Jesus (Lk. 22: 8). He was one of the first witnesses to the the resurrection of Christ. He experienced the unjust capital punishment of his brother (Acts 12: 2). He was placed in exile because of his commitment to Christ (Rev. 1: 9). By the end of his life, he was the most revered Christian leader in all of the world.
No doubt, John was a real man of Jesus. There is a primary characteristic from his life that makes him a real man of Jesus.
It is the characteristic that we will look at and incorporate into our lives.
Real Men Love. Throughout his writings, John spoke often about love. He defined love and lived out love. It may not seem too manly to speak of real men loving but according to 1 Cor. 13, love is the greatest characteristic any man can display. We learn from the life of John that:
1. Real Men love Others.
John constantly encouraged the followers of Christ to "love one another" (1 Jn. 4: 7, 11, 12). The kind of love that he wrote about is the love that wants the very best for others. This love puts others first. Real men love their wives, their children, their church, and their neighbors.
2. Real Men love Truth.
John had deep concern about truth. The theme of truth is a major theme throughout First John. In this letter that he wrote, he warned Christians to beware of false doctrine. John declared that his greatest joy was knowing that "his children" were walking in truth (3 John 4). Real man love truth. They search out and stand up for truth, popular or not.
3. Real Men love Jesus.
What changed John from a "Son of Thunder" to the "disciple whom Jesus loved?" What changed him was the great love of God that was given to him through Christ. Jesus changed John's life. Christ loved him and forgave him of his sins and gave him a reason to live. He gave him purpose. John could not help but love the One who showed him what love really is.
We will never become real men until we experience that kind of love. The love of Christ who sees us as we are yet loves and forgives us anyway.
Real men love.
Would you pray that the love of Christ would take hold of your life? Maybe you have never experienced His love and forgiveness. I would be glad to talk about Christ with you.
Would you commit to demonstrating love to those around you? You will probably find that it is the hardest, yet most rewarding act you will ever do.
It is tough to be a real man. But, by the grace of God, you are up to it.
Bro. Barry
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Insights into Motherhood
I write this today because I want my children and your children, and you and me to understand a little of what it’s like to be a mother. Certainly, I am not speaking from personal experience, but as one who has for years watched the two best mothers I know demonstrate what it means to be a mother. We pass our days with little thought to the depth of love that the people around us have for us, particularly the love that our mothers have for us. For all the times, our mothers aggravate us and for all the times that we feel like they want to control us or limit us, there is no love like a mother's love. If you have a caring mother, you have one of the most precious gifts that God could ever give anyone. We all have days, particularly daughters, when we pray that we will not act like our mothers is some ways. Sometimes mothers do not act very nicely. Sometimes they do want to control. Sometimes, mothers have a very hard time releasing their children and seeing the faults in their own children. Sometimes, they are overprotective. Sometimes, they are nosy and snoop where they should not. After all they are human. But, they are a special kind of human. They are mothers.
You see, there is a bond that exists between mother and child that cannot be easily defined. Generally mothers pour everything they are and have into their children. They will give up food and sleep and new clothes in order to provide for their children. When they do not feel appreciated, they will sometimes lash out. Can you blame them? When they pour so much into you, is it no wonder that they expect a little in return? One day a year is nice, but it is the other 364 that really matter. What your Mom really wants is respect, appreciation, and a little love in return. A clean room and a gift card wouldn’t hurt either.
You see, there is a bond that exists between mother and child that cannot be easily defined. Generally mothers pour everything they are and have into their children. They will give up food and sleep and new clothes in order to provide for their children. When they do not feel appreciated, they will sometimes lash out. Can you blame them? When they pour so much into you, is it no wonder that they expect a little in return? One day a year is nice, but it is the other 364 that really matter. What your Mom really wants is respect, appreciation, and a little love in return. A clean room and a gift card wouldn’t hurt either.
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