People love change. Don’t think so? Just try to watch TV with with a family of four or more. You don’t always find a show that everyone likes. Our family changes the channel constantly. Why? Because we don’t like watching boring commercials. There’s so much flyin’ around the political scene shouting for change. It seems to be the easiest platform to build but the hardest one to really execute. “Everybody wants change,” one side will say. But do we really want change? I guess if we really take a hard look at our lives, we will discover that we really do want change. We just want change that makes us happy and doesn’t require us to sacrifice or make radical changes in the way that we live. There is no question that we need to change.
Jesus was all about change. No, really He was. It doesn’t take you long as read through the Gospels to see that Jesus changed the way everybody looked at religion. Check this out–no more synagogue, no more alter sacrifices, no more high priests (just The High Priest), no more “Jews only,” no more external judging but internal inspection. You can’t read about Jesus and accept His message without embracing change. The fact of the Gospel is that we all have to come to a place where we change. Our individual change is either a reflection of our selfish “me” focus or of our life lived by Christ (Galatians 2:20).
But aren’t there some things that never change? Yes! God’s heart for people never changes. God’s plan for how we are to live never changes. God’s plan for marriage never changes. Take a look at Matthew 19. Jesus responds to a stupid question from the Pharisees as they try, once again, to “trick Him.” But when they ask a question about Moses, divorce and marriage, Jesus doesn’t argue with Moses. He goes back to the original design that God laid out for marriage. He responds to their questions with a question (as he so often did). He asked them if they had read what is recorded in Genesis about the beginning of marriage?
The change that many of us need in our own lives is the change that points us back to what we know about God and His plan for us. Take time today to go back and read.
Okay, so they weren’t green. Everybody knows that there’s no better apple on the planet than a good Fuji. We started our day off by reading Psalm 65 and Proverbs 4. Then we made our yearly trip to Huber’s for some apple picking and pick our fall pumpkins. I love fall.
Listen to what we read this morning.
Psalm 65:5-7 (NIV)
5 You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
In the wake of the recent financial unravelings from this past week, it seemed comforting as we read the words of the psalmist. I have at least one conversation a day about the grave situation in which our country finds itself. Now, don’t be misled. Our country is in a serious situation. The character of our people (that includes all of us – Wall Street bankers and middle class employees) has been exposed. We have lived like no one else by purchasing what we cannot afford. There are consequences for our behavior and those consequences are coming to bear. There is most definitely turmoil in our nation.
But amidst the craziness and scampering to move acorns from tree to tree, don’t forget that our heavenly Father knows and cares. Be wise, don’t be fearful. Be discerning, don’t react. As I walked through the apple orchard this morning, I was quietly reminded that those apples aren’t concerned about Wall Street. (I’m sure the farmers are.) We may be forced to make some drastic changes in the way we live. That probably wouldn’t hurt us. But don’t doubt the Giver of life. Look to Him for insight and understanding. He longs to give good gifts to His children. What God gifted our family with today was His very creation and man, those apples were good
This is one of my favorite times of the year. Each July, I call my cable company and add whatever package that’s the cheapest and will let me watch the live coverage of the Tour de France. If you check it out and aren’t familiar, you will lose interest pretty quick. It’s kind of like watch lacrosse, hockey, or cricket. In the US we don’t always know what the sport is really about and we definitely have no clue when commentators use specific terminology.
It’s that way with the Tour. One of the things they will talk about are riders who are GC contenders. It stands for General Classification and is a category of rider that tracks overall time in a multi-stage race like le Tour. (It would compare the Sprint NASCAR standings for all you closet rednecks—I am one-go Jr.) Riders may win one stage race but they may not be even close to the top 10 in overall time. Top GC riders must Lego successful stage races and place high on a consistent basis. A stage win is always exciting, but riders ultimately want to win the GC crown, that’s your Tour Champ.
Well, what does it mean to be a GC Christian or GC family or GC church? What does mean to be actively part of the Great Commission that Jesus outlined in Matthew 28:16-20? I believe that it calls every believer to orientate their life with discipleship in mind. It’s a plan for consistent successes over the long haul. Read more…
This past Easter I sat down and wondered what difference has it made in my world? Every year when Easter Sunday roles around, I remember the Easters from my childhood. I have memories of early morning sunrise services singing as the sun jumps out of the morning sky. I can’t help but remember those plaid and gingham checked Easter outfits that my mother made with love then put them on my brother and me by force. Of, course there are memories of traveling to see grandparents, egg hunts, ham dinners (I hate ham). No matter what memories Easter brings back to your mind–rest assured–without it–none of the stuff we do in church would be necessary.
Saturday night I watch The Passion of the Christ for the first time (yeah, yeah, it took me 4 years–I am well acquainted with the details of the story) It brought to visual reality—the suffering that Jesus endured for us though a movie could never really convey what He suffered and faced. What we do know is that His death gives us forgiveness & redemption that we crave. It’s through His blood that we are reconciled to God.
Colossians 1:19-20 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
The cross was demanded by God’s holiness. Read more…
I guess I could start by telling you how Christmas is my favorite time of the year or how I love to see people caring about others during this season like no other time of the year or . . .
The honest thing to say is that I do love Christmas, but I can’t help but talk about why. I love Christmas because . . .
The “do-over” of New Year’s Day can be everyday. The love of Valentine’s Day isn’t even close to God’s unconditional love. Spring Break trips make a difference on the beach. Fourth graders can share with their class what it means to worship God. The fresh start with spring can’t compare to the new thing that God has done in me. Kids turn to Jesus at Summer Camp. I see the greatness of God atop Pike’s Peak. High school & college seniors finish the race (just to start another one). I don’t have to be a fool of the fall, but I can be free for God. Camping with friends always encourages me to value people. My kids sing praise songs in the car. Every Sunday comes with new ministry opportunities. My wife is my best friend. God spoke to me through His Word today.
