We have started a series called “The Hunt”. We all hunt for lasting relationships. What are some of the things that you feel are keys to a lasting relationship?
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We started a new series last week, titled The Economics of Thankfulness. Economics is the science that deals with the production, distribution, and the consumption of goods. It is the transfer of wealth. We transfer many things in life: attitudes, money, beliefs, anger, love and the list goes on and on. We can and do transfer either Thankfulness or Unthankfulness to others that are influenced by our lives. In Psalm 107: 1 the Bible says to “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” In Thessalonians 5: 18 “Rejoice always, pray continually give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” What are you thankful for?
We were asked the question “How do you know you are doing what you are doing for God or for fear of Hell?” This is a good question. It stems from the scare people into heaven tactic that was used to try to get people to do right. The problem with that tactic is that when the fear wore off then people where back doing the same things as before, because they did not have a relationship with God.
The question though asks how do you know if it is because of fear or of love of God. It would depend on what ones relationship is with God, and how they view God. If one has a loving relationship, and see Him as a God that loves you, and wants what is best for you then you will have a tendency to do things for Him out of love. However, if ones relationship is based on an obligation not on love, and your view Him more like Zeus then you would lean towards doing things out of fear that He is going to condemn you. From the time that Adam and Eve sinned all the way to today and will continue. God has been trying to reconcile people back to Him. He wants us to trust Him, to love Him, not because we have to, but because He first loved us.
In order to answer this question individuals would have to look into themselves and see how they view God. Loving Father or Zeus ready to strike them down.
Here is something for thought: I do not do things for my wife because I fear she is going to leave me, I do them because I love her.
We have started a new series at Cornerstone called “He still has the whole world in His hands.”
We realize that in the current state our economy is in that it can be taxing physically, mentally, emotionally and especially spiritually. In America we tend to think that if we have things, money, and possessions that we are living a blessed life or that God is blessing us. America has been a prosperous nation because of the unique blessing that God has given us, but things and money are not all of God’s blessings. We should not focus on those, but focuses on the fruit that we are suppose to possess. In Galatians we find the fruit of the spirit. We are to have all, not just some. We do not get to pick one and leave the others out; we are to have them all. The financial belt in America is being tightened; however, that does not mean that God is not blessing, or that He has lost His grip on the world.
In times of plenty and in times of want He is still in control. No matter the news that you have been given, God cares and loves you, and wants you to look to Him.
We have been programmed to think that the life the God of the Bible wants us to live is impossible, and that God is god that is going to strike us down when we do not live up to the impossible standard. This is not the case. He is a God of reconciliation and a God of hope.
In the movie “Batman Begins” there is a line in that movie that says this “we fall down so that we can learn to get back up” The reason that Jesus died on the cross was so those who have fallen (sinned) which is everyone (except Jesus), so that we could get back up. This “Christian Life” is a learning process, which teaches us that when we fall we do not have to stay down, but we can learn to get back up and stay up.
We invite you to walk with us in this journey, of trusting that God still does have the whole world in His hands.
Tonight I stood on a stage with exceptional pastors, and with true heroes. Several Pastors, and I from Springtown, and Azle put together a dinner to honor our Military Heroes, those living, and those that have given their lives so that we could be free. I looked out at the crowd and they were all there, the elderly, the middle age and the young, all connected because they are the American Soldiers. Men, and women who stood in the gap and stared the ugliness of war right in the face and said we will defend what is ours, and we will help defend the defenseless. They are true heroes. I am humbled and grateful, and extremely proud to be an American.
Thank you, to all who have served and who are serving. Thank you to those who paid the ultimate price and laid your life down for our freedoms. Thank you to the families that paid the price too, when your loved ones gave up their lives, so that we could be free.
Thank you is not enough. There are not enough words to express the gratitude, for what our American Military Heroes have done for us through our 232 almost 233 years of being a Nation.
I pray that we stay free, and that we do not allow tyranny in any form to ever take hold of us when so many have paid the highest price for our freedom, which was paid for in human blood, and we need to stand for what is right, and not let what they did be in vain. We need to read the constitution for ourselves, and study history so that we can understand what this country was founded on. We need to not look out for ourselves, or see what the government can do for us, but in the famous words of President Kennedy ” Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” When we focus on selfish gain we can lose our freedoms, because we will allow them to be taken away so that we can have temporary gratification.
Seek truth and you will find freedom.
Grace Traffickers
The above mentioned title was used by Pete Briscoe of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship on Monday at the Catalyst Conference.
When I heard this, the first thought I had was “what did he say” and then it clicked. I really like this terminology. When the word trafficking is used, it generally goes with drugs or humans or something that is contraband.
Trafficking, means the transportation or dealings with or trade of something illegal. Now the grace that we receive through Jesus is illegal in many countries, but I would like to ask the question, what are you trafficking?
We all traffic someting, whether a bad attitude, good attitude, selfishness, joy, bitterness, cheerfulness, legalism, or grace. When we go somewhere, or enter a room, we bring/traffic what we are feeling with us. Sometimes we disguise it by putting up a front, but we bring it in any way and it affects what we get out of wherever we are. Especially on Sunday’s when we try and pretend that we live perfect lives. Would it not be wonderful if we could lay down the things that hinder our walk with God, and pick up His grace, and traffic it to the people around us. How amazing it would be if instead of trying to pretend that we are holy that we would be willing to be honest and allow God to work on us. When things are broken, we either throw them away or take them back to get them fixed or replaced. Why then when we enter our Creators house, do we not let Him fix, or replace what needs to be in us so that we can be fully operational. If we truly want to be grace traffickers, we need to first pick up the grace and carry it with us, when we do we will look at people through different eyes. We will not be too quick to judge, because we remember what our sin was and how He paid the price so that we might be free to carry His grace to others.
Think about being a “Grace Trafficker” today.
Choosing Sides
Why is it that people, a majority of the time back the first person that tells them about a conflict? You would think that people would remember the old saying, “there are two sides to everything”, but they do not unless it is them being talked about. When a friend tells you something that another friend did, should you not have the responsibility to ask the other friends side of the story before you make any judgments. This seems logical, but it is rarely followed. I guess it is easier to show sympathy to the person who tells you first, than to question the real truth.
I think that it could be that we like the gossip so much that we choose not to investigate what the real reason behind the conflict or misunderstanding.
People only see the two sided scenario when they are the ones being talked about.
It would benefit the church as well as society as a whole, to not be so quick to think that you understand the story, but to treat all involved as equal and love them the same.
Double Life
The title “Double Life” makes me think of James Bond or some covert agent that lives two lives. It seems though that many professing Christians lead double lives. You have your church life and your life. Somewhere people seem to miss that the life God is calling you to, is not to play the masquerade game on Sunday’s or around your church friends. The life He is calling you to is to be a relentless follower of Jesus Christ. That means, that Jesus is involved in everything in your life. You should not walk in and out of your church life when you enter and leave the church building. You should carry the church life with you everywhere you go. You should do all that you do, to please the Father. When you mow your yard, do it to the glory of God. Whatever job you have, if it is picking up trash, or a CEO of a company you need to do your job with excellence because you can glorify God in all of it. We need to stop the double life and lead one life devoted to the cause of Christ. It is not about what happens on Sunday, it is about what God is doing in your life and what you are doing for God with your life 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Lets decommission the faux identity, that we carry to protect us. and lets open up and allow God to do something amazing in our lives.
