Sunday Schedules

As we've moved out to the country, we are starting to form new habits and get used to a new schedule. One thing we are getting used to is that a trip into town is not so easy as before. :) So, when we go into town for church service on Sunday, we have been using that time to do some grocery shopping for the week...

A Family Staple For Groceries

Curious George On The TV While Mom Shops

The basic idea so far: the kids and I stay in the truck and watch a movie/nap while mom gets the groceries. Seems to be working so far!

And while we were in town we were able to get our Christmas tree for this year....

Working On Decorating Last Night

It's not the most relaxing way to spend a Sunday, but it's working so far, and it's making some good memories I think.

Of course, Christmas tree decorating at the end of the night is always a great way to make memories!

Near

When you are going through the press, how good it is to know that He is near-

Let's draw close to the Lord in worship tomorrow at our local expressions of faith.

Blessings...

About Christ

It's time to get on my soapbox... Ah-hem....

Christ is central. Christ is King. All things were created through Him and for Him. As King, His commands are to be followed. His commands have benefits for life. Yet, in discussing the benefits of following Gods commands, we must not forget that they are just that - commands.

For instance, one might discuss the benefits of forgiving those who have hurt you. That you can better your life through forgiveness, and live in greater freedom as a result. Your forgiveness prevents you from being all you can be, you know.

While all this is true, we must be careful regarding the message we are believing, and relaying to others.

Forgiveness is more than just a self help, better my life, positive way of living. It is a godly way to live. It is the way to live that follows in Jesus footsteps, and it is the only thing that makes sense knowing how much He has forgiven us of. And, forgiveness is a command.

There are definite benefits to many of the commands of Christ... forgiveness over bitterness, giving over receiving, love over hate, joy over depression, faith over fear... All of these have great byproducts to the Christian life. But without Christ, they are just positive mental attitudes. Just attributes to add value to your life. It is Christ that brings depth and meaning to these virtues. It is for Christ and because of Christ that we forgive, love, have joy, etc. And, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit in a born again believer that enables us to truly walk all these things out in a heavenly way.

Without Christ, these things are little more than a humanistic path to a better life. A life that is all about me still. But when it's all about Christ, these virtues are commands, and flow naturally from the new life we have in Him.

So let's take heed and be careful today to keep Christ at the center of all his commands and benefits. If we don't, we flirt with the danger of becoming a church and a people that is little more than a social club, instead of the Bride of Christ.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that many have adopted this social club, better myself gospel that keeps me, and not Christ, at the center of my world.

I will step down from the soapbox, for now...

What Does Your Heart Say?

One of my favorite verses, Psalm 27:8, and a great one to consider as we gather to worship the Lord tomorrow.

You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, Lord, do I seek."

What does your heart say?

The Chapel

If you are searching for a church home in the Somerset area, please come join us for worship at The Chapel.

We'd love to have yah.

Church Bless God

God Bless America.

This is a common phrase in our nation. We desire God's blessings, and that we should.

Some have turned the saying around recently, recognizing the state of affairs in our nation, and instead are exhorting, "America Bless God." There is a recognition that America has left her founding faith and roots, and so the call is for a nation to return to her loyalty to Almighty God.

Though it is most definitely desirable for a nation to turn to the Lord, I believe we have a much deeper issue than America needing to return to the Lord.

I believe the Church needs to return to the Lord. Church Bless God.

The church is and always will be God's agent of affecting the world. We, as the church, are God's holy nation. Our loyalty is to the King of kings and a heavenly home before any earthly leader or country. So when we point to the fact that the U.S. is leaving her founding faith, I believe it's much worse, the Church has left her only good and necessary faith in Christ.

America was influenced by founding fathers with biblical standards and principals they lived by. That is why our fathers left the shores of Europe - for religious freedom - a deep commitment to God. In other words their commitment was to Christ before a nation, and a godly nation sprung up as a result. Again, the nation itself wasn't godly, but the people who governed her and protected her were.

Their ultimate loyalty was to God alone.

If we are not careful, we think America has been chosen as God's unique vessel through which He does His work on earth. America is not, the church is. And because of that, our nation sprang up with a godly heritage.

So, our answer as a nation is not for the nation of America to return to God. Our answer is in the Church, God's holy nation, returning to God himself.

As the church, we have fallen more in love with the world than with Jesus. We think the world is in shambles, but it would be better for us first to judge ourselves - there isn't much difference between the world and followers of Christ.

Many have heard the stats regarding the church. One in particular I recently read was that the divorce rate among Christians was highest in the "Bible Belt" of the U.S. (The Jesus Letters, Chap. 3, by David Ravenhill). I have heard too that divorce rates are around 50% more or less for those who are pastors in a church! And those are our leaders!

Yes, America is slipping away from her roots as a nation. However, I would venture to say that the Church, the Bride of Christ, has left her heavenly Groom. If there is to be hope for a nation, if there is to be hope for godly leadership in the world, the only hope comes from Christ and His work through His body, the Church.

Let's (the church) return to our roots. Let's repent of the sins we have committed. We must rededicate ourselves to living and serving by the commands of heaven. To live by the statutes of God's holy nation as revealed in His word. Let's turn from our other idols and loves, and fall headlong in love with our Master Jesus Christ once again.

Before a nation can be changed, the change must first exist in the church, God's agent of change, hope, and life to the world.

Church Bless God.

Commitment

On Wednesday nights, I get together with other men from the body of believers I worship with at The Chapel. We have been having wonderful times together. We have challenged one another, confessed to one another, trust is being built between one another... it's really a beautiful thing.

Last night we were discussing a topic that has stemmed from the sermons that Tom Zurowski has been sharing on for the past couple of weeks. We got into commitment to the body. Commitment to one another.

My mind and heart is in turmoil and unrest over this idea of commitment. It feels as if never before in my years as a Christian have I considered commitment to the body (church) like I am going through now. It's possible I have been challenged in this area in the past at other church fellowships, but it has never hit me like it is now.

The thought of committing to a "church" is almost disgusting to me. I'm not sure why. I guess the thought of committing to an institution has no life in it, at least that is how it seems to me. I guess I have the misconception such that when I hear "church," I hear "building," or "programs," or "institution." And I have no desire to commit to that. None.

Commitment to a person, or a people... now that's a different story. There is life in that to me. Of course, "church" is people. I've heard it said before that we live in a generation where little Jimmy and Susie were dragged to "church" when they were young, and so this generation of Christians think church is something you go to rather than something you are.

And so we discussed commitment to one another. What does that commitment look like? What does Jesus require? What is God's command in terms of commitment to one another? As I looked at my brother's last night I inquired, "What does Christ command in our commitment to one another?"

I understand commitment in marriage, and then there is commitment to family. Maybe even commitment to friends. But commitment to those I worship with? In many ways this is new to me.

The model I am used to seeing in many ways is if I don't like a church, if I get hurt or offended, it's OK, I'll just pack my bags and head to a new "church" until it happens all over again there. It seems we can leave at the drop of a hat these days when it comes to church. Oh yea, I'm committed, until... someone hurts my feelings, or, doesn't do things my way, or the pastor doesn't give my family or I enough attention...

All the while "church" is more an institution, and a place where I come and get what I want, as opposed to giving my life away.

And, so, commitment to brothers? Commitment to the body? What does it look like? What does God require? I am at a loss in regards to all this.

But wait. Maybe. Just maybe...

...the question or turmoil goes deeper than that. Maybe the question isn't regarding what God requires in terms of commitment to others in the body.

Maybe... Maybe it's more about what God requires concerning love.

Maybe commitment is implied in love, stems from love, flows from love...

Hmm... I'll finish this tomorrow :)

Church

While the saints gathered at The Chapel this past Sunday, the video below was shown to all of us in attendance. God has been adjusting and dismantling some of my baggage when it comes to the "church," who she is and what she does. And I'm glad.

Watch the video below. Careful though, it may break your box, cramp your style, or better yet, cause you to drop your baggage.


This is Discipling from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.

Others

I can't shake it. It's a good thing. I have seen my sin and desire to change. My life still revolves around me. In many ways, I am still at the center of my universe.

AKA selfish and self-centered.

Our lives change when we meet Jesus. We taste and see that the Lord is good and we are forever changed. But if we're not careful, we can go on loving God and enjoying His presence in our lives, all the while still living isolated from people and their needs.

The older I get the more I am realizing that our love for God and what he has done for us should be played out in our interactions and love for others. So you say you love God? Show it by how you treat and love others. What good is that supposed love for God if you neglect the needs and never consider the interests of others? You say you would lose your life for Jesus, would you lose it for others? Would you lose it in terms of time, money, inconvenience, patience, prayer...?

Are you willing to lose your life for the church? The body?

Counting others more significant that ourselves, considering their needs and interests like or before our own takes a purposeful, conscience effort to do so. To reorient our lives like this requires a reorienting of our minds. And that is no small task. The changing and renewal of our mind doesn't always come easy. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. And He does. And He will.