How to be a Christian when you are tired

  Photo Credit: dprevite

You probably clicked here thinking I was going to give some useful steps about being a Christian when you are tired.

Sorry about that!

The post title is more of a question than a self help post.  You see this week has been exhausting.  I have stayed up later than normal a couple times.  We have had car trouble a couple times.  Errands, chores, and some work stuff took longer than expected or didn't get done.  And there is going to be a big change coming for me at work.  So I am exhausted both mentally and physically.

I am stressed out and worried about various things that are happening and some that aren't happening.  I know God is in control and I genuinely believe that he is looking out for what is best.  That doesn't negate the fact that I have been more cynical this week.  I have had mean thoughts creep in often.  I have snapped at my husband and son more than once.  All I really want to do is curl up in a ball under my covers and go to sleep.

However, I decided to be an adult and go to work even though I really didn't want to do that.  I have tried to stop the negative thoughts and focus on positive things, like smiles and laughter.  Blessings like a full belly and a warm bed.  Maybe that is what growing in your faith is all about.  Maybe it is looking for the blessings more than you do the negatives.  Maybe it is believing God is going to come through even when things look tough.

What do you think?  How are you a Christian when you are tired?

Soul Shift: Slave to Child / Message #3

August 26, 2012
Soul Shift: Slave To Child
Message #3 / Romans 8:14-17
Scott Howard

How do we shift our soul's mindset from Slave to Child?

"...because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received a Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."   ---Romans 8:14-17

1. Slavery is recurring  ("...For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear..." Rom 8:14-15)

• The way that you see God is the way that you approach God.
• Slave Mindset = God is judge (first & foremost)
• Vicious cycle: slave to rebellion / slave to religion  --- you may continue to rebel, keeping you enslaved, or you may do deeds and rituals to "atone" for rebellion, keeping you enslaved to religion.
• You can't DO enough to get you into Heaven.  (Jesus paid it ALL)
• As a slave, you are Driven by Fear

   2.    According to the Bible, we have been adopted as God's children.  (Rom 8:15-16)

• Child Mindset = God is Father (first & foremost)
• "Abba" = Aramaic for "Daddy" (implies love, intimacy, and respect)
• when you shift from slave to child everything changes---as a child you have God's love and an inheritance 
• "Adoption" means God Wants YOU!
• As a child, you are Driven by Love---we obey Him because we Love Him, not out of obligation

   3.    To whom much is given, much is required  ("...then we are heirs...if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."  Rom 8:17)

• We are now heirs of God.  We are now co-heirs with Christ Jesus!
• Just because we are God's children doesn't give us permission to act childish.

If we understand (make a soul shift) that we should act like a child of God, maybe we would start acting more like THE Son of God (more Christlike).  Simply trust God as a child trusts his/her Daddy.  Come to Him not with childish behavior, but with a childlike spirit.

"Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 
---Matthew 18:3

Next week:  Soul Shift from SEEN to UNSEEN

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts

¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
¹⁸ The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. ²⁴ But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. ²⁵ He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.                                                            John 2:13-25
I have read this many times, and it never really seemed that impressive to me.  It never really impressed me much because I always thought of the temple as a church.  Our churches to today are just one of the buildings that make up the block.  The temple in Jerusalem was about four city blocks!  And it wasn’t just a handful of people that he drove out.  The temple was a busy place.  Especially with all the people coming into town for the up coming Passover Festival.  One man with a whip cannot drive hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people out of a structure that takes up four city blocks.  Jesus must have put on a massive display of power to make that many people run from an area that large.  It took them forty-six years to build it.  It must have been massive!  It is estimated that it took an average of 30 years to build a pyramid. 

Why did He do it?  Jesus did it because they were using the Lords house for something other than what it was intended.  They were using it to make a buck.  That meant that Gods house was not being treated as holy.  Think of it this way.  Lets say your neighbor decides to have a yard sale.  Nothing wrong with that. Right?  Now lets say you wake up Saturday morning and he is having it in your garage.  Now that’s a problem.  I would react much the same way Jesus did.  Now I’m not trying to say churches shouldn’t have yard sales.  What God was saying is that His house should be kept holy, not used to make people rich.  I wonder what Christ would do if He came into some of our churches today? 

If this is your first time hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, and you want to follow Him, you too can know his joy, instead of his wrath. You can have the peace that passes all understanding. All you have to do is ask Christ into your heart and ask him to forgive your sins. He stands at the door, ready to come in. If you would like to know Jesus and God the father, please pray the following prayer or one like it. Or, you can contact me at jeremylail@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to pray with/for you.
Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless. I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus for give me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Announcements 8-26

  Have you ever imagined a better you?  God has a dream for you!  It's you restored to his original plan. Join us each Sunday Morning in Pastor Scott's Sunday School Class as we unpack what SoulShifts are with practical Biblical suggestions for life.  NEXT WEEK: SHIFT #3: SEEN TO UNSEEN.

LBA Meeting - The Local Board of Administration will meet Tuesday, August 28 @ 7:00pm

  The NEW Wesleyan Life magazines are now available on the table outside the Nursery.  Take as many copies as you wish and share them with others.

Youth Trip - The youth will leave on Wednesday at 5:30 to go to a Youth Rally at Bessemer City First Wesleyan Church.

WEE Praise - The children's choir will be moving from after Sunday service to the FIRST and THIRD Sunday's at 5:30 in the sanctuary.  Please note this change as the children prepare to perform their first song in the coming weeks.

Youth Swimming Trip- Don't forget the swimming trip the youth will be taking.  Meet at the church at 3:30 on Sunday.  We may or may not swim depending on weather.  However there will be food and fun!

Social Media and the Changing Church

I once heard it said that while the Gospel message itself never changes, the ways to communicate the Gospel are forever changing and evolving. I have found this to be quite true in many ways over the years. One of the ways we have seen change in the realm of how we communicate is with the explosion of social media over the past 5 years. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, and so forth have exploded in popularity. Sadly, many churches have been slow to adapt to this trend. The question I have is – why? Granted, we are merely human and it is a tendency of our human nature to be uncomfortable with change at least on some level – but Jesus has challenged us and called us to go to where the people are at and make a difference for the Kingdom. Social media is where the people are at! Facebook is the new barber shop/beauty salon or neighborhood tavern where people congregate.

So if you are reading this and belong to SRWC, let me encourage you to use the social media tools at our disposal! Please use our website and offer suggestions how we can make it better. Please follow us on Twitter (@SRWC_Hickory). Please read, comment and “like” the church’s Facebook posts. The cool thing about that is that your comments and “likes” will show up in your Facebook news feed and you never know who can see that and how it can impact them!

If you are reading this and belong to another church family, let me encourage you to embrace social media if your local body isn’t doing so. Many people in my age group (35 and younger) are much less likely to even think about visiting a church if you don’t have an active and updated website and don’t embrace social media.

Having said all of this, while I don’t think this should be our primary source of communicating with each other or people outside the church, I do think it is a viable tool for ministry. It is certainly not something we should overlook, write off as silly, or feel that we need to apologize for. The world is a changing place and many ways, not so much for the good. We cannot afford to lose relevance in how we tell others the Good News of Christ!

Soul Shift: Me to You / Message #2

August 19, 2012

Soul Shift: ME to YOU / Message #2

Mark 9 – 10

Scott Howard

The Unholy Trinity:  Me, Myself, and I

Twice, Jesus informed the disciples that he was going to be betrayed, killed, and then be raised from the dead.  And both times, the disciples were not paying attention, they were thinking about themselves.

“He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.   They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’…They came to Capernaum.  When he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’  But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who among them was the greatest.”   --- Mark 9:31, 33-34

“’We are going up to Jerusalem,’ Jesus said, ‘and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him.  Three days later he will rise.’  Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’  ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus asked.  They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’ “   ---Mark 10:33-37

Ø  What does Selfishness look like?

·         Sin  à  Sin is wrapped in self.  We rebel because we  want to satisfy our own desires.

·         Discontent  à if we try to satisfy ourselves, we are never truly happy, we’re still miserable and left wanting more

·         Impatience  à what I want, when I want it; and I’ll be frustrated if I don’t get it, or if someone else has it

·         Greed  à I want more things, I’m entitled to more things---focused on me

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”                    ---James 3:16   (also read Luke 12:13-21  the parable of the Rich Fool)

·         Lying  à Deceiving and Manipulating…”if you really love me you’ll…”

·         A Critical Spirit  à “my ideas are better”

·         Look out for ourselves first

·         Hold grudges

Ø  What are the Results of Selfishness?

·         I lose my sense of Caring à about other’s needs, about God’s will –James 4:1-3

·         I lose my Joy  à again, if we try to satisfy ourselves, we are never truly happy  --Proverbs 18:1

·         I lose my Freedom  à  in a world focused on me, I don’t see the bigger picture and other opportunities, I’m in a “me” bubble

·         I lose my Connection with God à I’m selfish with my time, I don’t take time to pray, read the Bible, go to church

“There is no room for God in he who is full of himself.”

Ø  How can we be Delivered from Selfishness?

·         Pray For it à “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.”  --Psalm 119:36

·         Put God First  à “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”  --2 Cor 5:15  --Also read Luke 12:22-34

·         Be Generous  à generosity is the opposite of selfishness

·         Practice Humility  à “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  --Matthew 7:12   --Also read Philippians 2:3-8

Announcements 8-20

  Have you ever imagined a better you?  God has a dream for you!  It's you restored to his original plan. Join us each Sunday Morning in Pastor Scott's Sunday School Class as we unpack what SoulShifts are with practical Biblical suggestions for life.  NEXT WEEK: SHIFT #2: SLAVE TO CHILD (Continued).

Thank you! Thank you to all who helped reach out to Lenoir Rhyne University this past Friday by helping the new students move into their dorms.

LBA Meeting - The Local Board of Administration will meet Tuesday, August 28 @ 7:00pm

  The NEW Wesleyan Life magazines are now available on the table outside the Nursery.  Take as many copies as you wish and share them with others.

Baby Shower - For Buddy & Cassie DeVine Next Sunday, August 26 here at SRWC from 3:00-5:00 pm.  They are registered at Babies - R - Us.

John 2:1-12 Water to Wine

Water to WIne I, a photo by airguy1988 on Flickr.

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

 ⁴ “Woman,   why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
 ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
 ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
 ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
 ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
 ¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
 ¹² After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

                                                                                                                                                      John 2:1-12

Why did Jesus turn the water into wine?  Several reasons.  One reason is that his mother asked him to.  The fifth commandment tells us to "Honor your father and mother."  Another reason was help the groom save face.  Running out of wine was a serious offense.  Yet another reason was to show his glory so that his new disciples would believe.

Jesus was setting an example for us to follow.  When his mother asked him to do it he asked her, "Woman, why do you involve me?  My time has not yet come."  As a child my mother would often ask me to do something I didn't want to do.  I would like to say I followed Jesus' example and did what I was asked, but that would be a lie.  I have broken the fifth commandment more times than I can count. Jesus sets a perfect example of how we are to honor our parents request. 

God loves us and wants the best for us.  Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you."  Running out of wine would have hurt the grooms reputation.  This could possibly meant lost wages, missing out on the promotion at work.  The fact that Jesus cares about the reputation of one man tells me that he cares for me on a very personal level.

The most important reason is that He revealed his glory for all to see.  In this miracle Jesus shows us that he came to bring joy not sadness.  It was a foreshadowing of another "third day" when He would reveal His glory by rising from the grave.   A time when He gave us his blood as our wine to take away our sins. 

If this is the first time hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, and you want to follow Him, you too can know his joy. The peace that passes all understanding. All you have to do is ask Christ into your heart and ask him to forgive your sins. He stands at the door, ready to come in. If you would like to know Jesus and God the father, please pray the following prayer. Or, you can contact me at jeremylail@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to pray with you.


Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless. I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus for give me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Soul Shift Overview / Message #1

August 12, 2012

Series: Soul Shift

Overview / Message #1 / Genesis 2:4-7

Scott Howard

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”   ---Genesis 2:7

Three Elements in the Composition of Man

·         Material Body / “…of the dust of the ground…”

·         Imparted Spirit / “…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”

·         A Living Soul / “…and man became a living soul.”

The material body and imparted spirit make us complete living souls.

When our bodies die and we are given a new body, it is our soul that will keep on living.

The Bible uses these words about the soul:

·         Heart --- the seat of all our affections

·         Mind ---our bias, way of thinking, assumptions, and predisposition

·         Spirit ---our inward person that gives life to our bodies

·         Inward Nature ---our bent, inclinations, and inner parts

The First Three Commands in Any Believer’s Life:

1.       Repent

2.       Believe

3.       Follow

“’The time has come,’ he said.  ‘The kingdom of God has come near.  Repent and believe the good news!’…’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’”  ---Mark 1:15, 17

Following is the hardest part.  How do we do this? 

It is possible to be like minded with God---oriented like God--- but we need to try to shift our mindset.

    “However, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, what no eye has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?  In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.  The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.  The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’  But we have the mind of Christ.”  ---1 Corinthians 2:9-16

    “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” 

---Philippians 2:5

The soul is the place where God wants to meet us; it is also where He wants to change us…even after salvation. 

    “…He restores my soul.”  ---Psalm 23:3a

    “…and you will find rest for your souls.”  ---Matthew 11:29b

    “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  ---1 Peter 1:8-9

Seven Soul Shifts we will look at in weeks to come:

Me à You

Slave à Child

Seen à Unseen

Consumer à Steward

Ask à Listen

Sheep à Shepherd

Me à We

John 1:35-51 First Disciples

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote —Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man." 

                                                                                         John 1:35-51

In this passage Jesus calls his first disciples, and right off the bat they are bringing others to Christ.  They are so excited to have found the light of the world that they want to tell all their friends and family about Him.  The first two, Andrew and John, went after John the baptist proclaimed Christ to be the Lamb of God.  Andrew was so excited he went and got his brother Simon first thing.  The next day Phillip joined them.  The first thing he did was to go find his friend Nathanael and tell him the good news.  Many Christians today keep the good new to themselves.  We take it for granted that the entire world has heard the message.  Not everyone has heard it.  Even if they have, maybe hearing it from a friend will make the difference. 

If you have heard the Gospel I urge you to be like Andrew and Phillip, and go tell your friends and family the good news.

If this is the first time hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, and you want to follow Him, you too can know this joy. The peace that passes all understanding. All you have to do is ask Christ into your heart and ask him to forgive your sins. He stands at the door, ready to come in. If you would like to know Jesus and God the father, please pray the following prayer. Or, you can contact me at jeremylail@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to pray with you.

Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless. I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus for give me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Announcements 8-12

WEE Praise - The children's choir, WEE Praise, will practice after service.  All children are encouraged to join.

  Have you ever imagined a better you?  God has a dream for you!  It's you restored to his original plan. Join us each Sunday Morning in Pastor Scott's Sunday School Class as we unpack what SoulShifts are with practical Biblical suggestions for life.  NEXT WEEK: SHIFT #1: SLAVE TO CHILD.

Outreach Opportunity - This Friday, August 17, we have the opportunity to reach out to Lenoir Rhyne University.  If you would be able and willing to help the new students move into their dorm this Friday, please see Pastor Drew.

Open Arms Food Pantry Report/ July - 
Families Served   -   12
Total # of People -   34
Food Donated     -   472.2 lbs
Food Given          -  342.42 lbs

Peace Talks

On Sunday we learned about fighting for peace.  I have to say this sermon left me with more questions than answers.  And that could be a good thing because questions can bring discussions.  Discussions bring a deep understanding of a topic.  So I'm going to tell you what I'm thinking and maybe you guys can leave a comment about what you think.  Let's discuss this fight for peace.

1. Confront Humbly
How do you confront with love and humility?  What if this confrontation is about how someone hurt you?  If so, you talk about yourself and your feelings.  Is that humble?

I don't have the answers, but I have a few thoughts.  I think if you are sharing what you felt without anger and in a genuine desire to help the other person, then it is humble.  If you are verbally throwing your feelings at someone, then there is still anger there and you haven't forgiven.  Maybe you need to work on forgiveness first and then confronting.  Just my thoughts and I could be wrong.

2. Love Deeply
What does love deeply look like?  How much love is enough?  How do you know that you are loving enough?

Again, just my thoughts.  If you want that other person to become a stronger person and closer to God because of this fight for peace, you are on the right track.

3.  Forgive Irrationally
We have all heard about forgiving others, so I don't really have any questions there.  But what about the asking for forgiveness.  Do I need to ask for forgiveness because I am confronting them?  If I am confronting them, I will probably hurt their feelings.  Is that okay when I know in the end it will make our relationship better?  When should I ask for forgiveness?  Is it okay to do that when I am hurting their feelings or should I wait until after we are better?

This one I have on ideas about.  I don't want to hurt their feelings, but I know we need peace in the relationship.  I know it is what God wants me to do, but I'm not sure if that precludes me from asking for forgiveness.

What do you think?

Thirty Days to Live / Message #4 "Fighting for Peace"

August 5, 2012
Series: Thirty Days to Live / Message #4 (final message in series)
Sermon: Fighting For Peace / Mark 12:28-31
Scott Howard

"Lord remind me of how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered, that my life is literally fleeing away.  My life is no longer than the width of my entire hand.  An entire lifetime is just a moment to you.  Human existence is but a breath."   ---Psalm 39:4-5

Sermon text:
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.  Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?'
'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all  your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.'"   ---Mark 12:28-31

• Life is all about Relationships----we were designed to connect with others.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."  ---Ephesians 4:3

Make every effort in Greek is spoud'azontes = to strive eagerly, and to strive earnestly. 

This basically means we are told to fight for peace.  Don't run from conflict, the time to fight for peace is now, our time on earth is too short to put it off any longer.  So in order to keep peace with others we must:


1.  Confront Humbly
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister as something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."  ---Matthew 5:23-24

When we mend our human relationships we are able to have a closer relationehip with God.

Do remember:  Confrontation precedes the Healing.  But confront out of love and humility, not out of arrogance or spite.

Who may you need to confront?

2.  Love Deeply
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."  ---1 Peter 4:8

Above all your wants, your selfish needs, above your own thoughts of what is deserved or undeserved...Above All!

The word deeply in Greek is Ekteino = to stretch or to extend. 

In order to love others above all, we must stretch or extend our love beyond our comfort zone.

Who do you need to love more?

3.  Forgive Irrationally
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another."
 ---Colossians 3:13

Jesus has that supernatural love for us to cover over our sins, and makes it possible for us to extend that same supernatural love to others.

The Bible tells us to "Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  Also, that we should forgive 70 x 7 times, so over and over again.  I recently saw a church sign that read, "Unforgiveness is an insult to God's unconditional love for you." 

Who do you need to forgive?  or  Who needs to forgive you?

The Lamb of God

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”  John 1:29-34
Last week read about John the Baptist denying that he himself was the Christ.  The passage this week john tells us who is the Christ.  Other than Jesus, John was the only person who knew what was going on at this point.  I don't think even Joseph and Mary fully understood.  John is saying, "Hey! Everybody listen!  This is the guy I've been telling you about!  He takes away your sin, not me!  I didn't know him until God showed me that this is the Messiah!  He is the reason I have been baptizing you guys!"  It would be like Billy Graham getting on TV with some stranger and saying this is him.  What joy John must have felt, to look up and see Christ coming toward him and know that redemption was at hand. 
You too can know this joy.  The peace that passes all understanding.  All you have to do is ask Christ into your heart and ask him to forgive your sins.  He stands at the door, ready to come in.   If you would like to know Jesus and God the father, please pray the following prayer. Or, you can contact me at jeremylail@gmail.com  and I will more than happy to pray with you.
Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless. I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus for give me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Announcements 8-6

  Have you ever imagined a better you?  God has a dream for you!  It's you restored to his original plan. Join us each Sunday Morning in Pastor Scott's Sunday School Class as we unpack what SoulShifts are with practical Biblical suggestions for life.  NEXT WEEK: SHIFT #1: ME TO YOU

WEE Praise  The children's choir, WEE Praise, will practice after the service on Sundays.  ALL children are encouraged to join.
  Photo Credit: tsakshaug
Homemade Ice Cream Fellowship - We will be having a Homemade Ice Cream, Desserts, and a lot of Fellowship after the service on Sunday Night, August 12th.  If you can make a freezer of ice cream or a dessert or bring what you wish, please see Phyllis Howard!  Thank You!




  Photo Credit: ScubaBear68
SRWC Youth Tubing Trip - The youth will be going tubing down the New River next Saturday, August 11th.  See Pastor Drew if you have any questions.

The Tyranny of Possessions

  Photo Credit: the bridge

Pastor Charles spoke to us Sunday morning about Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22), which is one of the saddest pieces of dialogue in the Bible. Although the young man had lived an honest and upright life, he still lacked one thing to have perfection. We know our world's definition of perfection well, but in this case Jesus was talking about perfection in Him - which means completeness, not being without flaws or blemishes. Jesus knew this young man's motives and he knew his heart. Jesus was also well aware of this man's weakness, which was exposed upon his response to Jesus' instructions to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow him.

Although this young man proudly proclaimed he had followed the six commandments Jesus listed, by his response he violated the first and greatest commandment - which was to not have any gods before the Almighty God we serve. Turns out this man's wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up.

Should all believers who are well to do sell everything they own? Certainly not. The message for us here is to be willing to give up anything if God asks us to. Perhaps it is not in the form of wealth at all. It could very well be that something we need to "sell" is something such as spending less of our free time in things that are pleasing to our flesh and spend more of our free time devoted to the things of God, in prayer, and in his Word.

Just as God can bring light out of darkness, people and things God has blessed us with can keep us far from him if we cling to them too tightly. Let us recognize our blessings for the blessings from God that they are. Let us also keep them in their proper temporal perspective and not let them be our gods, or we may stand to miss further blessings from the one God in the future.

Most importantly, allow me to challenge us all to keep God in his rightful, supernatural perspective. It's my prayer that we all can be ready to put aside whatever he may ask when (not if) he calls us to a better way.

"If you want to be Perfect..." sermon notes

July 29, 2012
Pastor Charles Patton
"If you want to be Perfect..."
Matthew 19:16-22 ; 16:24-26

Matthew 19:16-22
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?'
'Why do you ask me about what is good?' Jesus replied.  'There is only One who is good.  If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.'
'Which ones?' the man inquired.
Jesus replied, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony (lie), honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.'
'All these I have kept,' the young man said.  'What do I still lack?'
Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.'
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."

This parable presents:

• A clash between lordship and legalism
• the conflict between temporal and eternal values
• the challenge between materialism and commitment to Jesus

Understand, Jesus is not condemning us for having things, He is just making sure we ask ourselves who is Lord of our lives, and what do we value the most?

1.  Jesus is teaching about the illusion of perfection.

Having all these things equates success according to human society.  Success according to God is very different.  Perfection=Completion

Though he "obeyed the law," Jesus told the rich, young ruler that he lacked one thing.   So close yet so far...

2.  Jesus Demonstrates the tyranny of possessions.

Materialism can become a substitute for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  What is the source of your security?  Do your possessions possess you the way they possessed the rich young ruler?

3.  Jesus is telling us that we must not let the world shape our values.

Where is our citizenship? We are believers so our citizenship is ultimately Heaven.  This world is not our home.  Our time on Earth is short, so our value should be in eternity and in eternal things.

"What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their own soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" 
---Matthew 16:26

"There are a thousand things you can do with your life---a thousand things for which you can spend it.  But for how many of them will you be able to say at the end of your life 'No Reserve, No Regrets, No Retreat'?"
---Dr. Billy Graham