C. S. Lewis has gotten new notoriety in recent years with some of his works making it to the big screen. He is a brilliant mind and yet so simple in some of his wisdom. He said, "The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it." — Lewis, C.S.
Let’s go from the mind of a man who may well have been a genius to that of a child who asked, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.”
The mother said,“Oh! Why is that?”
The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”
“Yes, that’s true,” the Mother replied.
“He also said that God lives in us. Is that true, too?”
Again the mother replied, “Yes.”
“Well,” said the little girl. “If God is bigger than us and he lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”
I like a child’s honest, literal interpretation of life. If God lives in us, then there’s no way of keeping him from “showing through.” That’s the essence of Christian living- living in such a way that people around us will see God in our lives. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV)
I have often said that in personal evangelism initially people are not impressed with the Scripture we can quote. That may even turn them off initially. The question in their mind is, “If this is so great how has it made a difference in your life?” If they are a stranger we need to tell them. If they are a co-worker they should have already seen it. Then affirm it with Scripture, but first we are the letter, the introduction.
At one time I was and itinerant speaker/evangelist. Often I would introduce myself to new pastors and areas of the country by having friends that knew me well send a letter of introduction ahead then I would call them or write them. Doing it this way, they were not just being presented with someone they were totally unfamiliar with, but they had been introduced to me by someone they knew already. We are those letters of introduction to Christ.
It’s quite a responsibility, isn’t it?!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be a good introduction to Your love and saving power. I know I am not perfect, but I can be genuine, real so that others will not be turned away with hypocrisy, but be attracted to You because You show through in my life. Help me today to show someone the way to You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Amazing Grace
I grew up in the church hearing “Amazing Grace.” Yet, it seemed we lived under a cloud of never being quite good enough. We sang “amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” but then heard about all the things we had to do and certainly should not do to avoid being “a wretch.” Don’t go there, don’t do that, don’t say that, don’t think that, don’t drink that, don’t wear that, don’t look like that. We were always hoping, but never sure that we were good enough, holy enough. I now know the answer to that question. I will never be good enough or holy enough, but I am loved enough by a loving God to be saved from my sinful self and live in fellowship with Jesus becoming more like Him daily until one day when He comes back for us we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.
The novelist, A. J. Cronin, tells a story from his own experience as a doctor that illustrates the wonder of the gift of grace. The Adams family at the close of the Second World War decided to open their home to a little refugee boy with the difficult name of Paul Piotrostanalzi. The Adams had two daughters and a son named Sammy. Sammy and Paul became inseparable friends, but little Paul was a difficult child, and often disobeyed Mr. and Mrs. Adams.
One day, Paul went swimming in some contaminated water. He became very ill with a high fever, and the doctor suggested he sleep in an attic bedroom to protect others from catching his sickness. But little Sammy missed his friend Paul so much that one night he crept up the attic stairs and into bed with Paul. Paul’s hot, feverish breath fell on Sammy all night. In the morning, Sammy, never a strong child, became deathly ill. Paul recovered his health, but Sammy died within three days. It was a terrible tragedy for the Adams family.
A year later Dr. Cronin decided to pay a call on the Adams family. But as he pulled into their driveway, he was amazed and then angry as he saw Paul, the refugee boy, working in the garden with Mr. Adams. He got out of his car and angrily approached Mr. Adams. "What’s this Paul Pio........ “ he stumbled over his name and then said, “whatever his name is, doing here after what he did to your family?"
Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won’t have any more trouble with Paul’s name. You see, he’s Paul Adams now. We’’ve adopted him."
That is a wonderful story of costly grace.
Someone said, “Our worst days are never so bad that we are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And our best days are never so good that we are beyond the need of God’s grace.”
It really is Amazing Grace!
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus for the amazing grace of God that You made available to me through Your sacrificial death on the cross. Help me live holy not to earn Your grace, but to honor Your grace. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
The novelist, A. J. Cronin, tells a story from his own experience as a doctor that illustrates the wonder of the gift of grace. The Adams family at the close of the Second World War decided to open their home to a little refugee boy with the difficult name of Paul Piotrostanalzi. The Adams had two daughters and a son named Sammy. Sammy and Paul became inseparable friends, but little Paul was a difficult child, and often disobeyed Mr. and Mrs. Adams.
One day, Paul went swimming in some contaminated water. He became very ill with a high fever, and the doctor suggested he sleep in an attic bedroom to protect others from catching his sickness. But little Sammy missed his friend Paul so much that one night he crept up the attic stairs and into bed with Paul. Paul’s hot, feverish breath fell on Sammy all night. In the morning, Sammy, never a strong child, became deathly ill. Paul recovered his health, but Sammy died within three days. It was a terrible tragedy for the Adams family.
A year later Dr. Cronin decided to pay a call on the Adams family. But as he pulled into their driveway, he was amazed and then angry as he saw Paul, the refugee boy, working in the garden with Mr. Adams. He got out of his car and angrily approached Mr. Adams. "What’s this Paul Pio........ “ he stumbled over his name and then said, “whatever his name is, doing here after what he did to your family?"
Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won’t have any more trouble with Paul’s name. You see, he’s Paul Adams now. We’’ve adopted him."
That is a wonderful story of costly grace.
Someone said, “Our worst days are never so bad that we are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And our best days are never so good that we are beyond the need of God’s grace.”
It really is Amazing Grace!
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus for the amazing grace of God that You made available to me through Your sacrificial death on the cross. Help me live holy not to earn Your grace, but to honor Your grace. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
How to Faith It
"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." -- William James
I have often said that faith is very misunderstood. Most people think that faith is some kind of extraordinary power to believe for the impossible or miraculous. Faith is not some mysterious power it is simply WHAT we believe. The exception to this might be “faith” as the gift of the Holy Spirit, but even this gift is a gift of confidence in what we believe or need to believe for.
The writer of Hebrews said, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
The King James version says it like this, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
The Greek word for “substance” is “hupostasis.” It is the compound of two words that mean literally “to place under.” It is simply the foundation, what is underneath. What the Word is saying in very simple terms is that everything begins, has as its foundation FAITH. Before it will happen we have to believe it. The opening quote from William James (whether or not he realized it) is just a restatement of Scriptural truth... “your belief will help create the fact.”
Now, the truth is that all of life is about believing. We all have faith for something. We cannot choose to have no faith. We are always believing and creating. While we cannot choose to believe or not believe, to have faith or no faith... we can choose what we believe. That is the power that we have. We can believe for success or for failure. We can believe for blessing or to be cursed. We make those choices in life.
We give life to beliefs by what we speak. The Bible says “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”(Lewis paraphrase).
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 (NIV)
Paul talks about the opposing forces that live within him in Romans 7. We are all like that. Darkness and light, good and evil are in us all. Some say that “you can have what you say,” but the truth is that we only give life to what we have by what we say. Good and evil are like glowing embers buried within us waiting for just a breath of oxygen to spring to life in burning flames. We get to choose which embers get the breath.
So here’s a thought. If I don’t verbalize it, if I refuse to talk about it then it will die for lack of oxygen. It’s like fire. It’s there but if I cut off its supply of oxygen it will die. That fire that is negative, destructive, expecting failure needs you to speak it, give it life. We usually try to talk it to death. That just gives it more fuel to live longer. Starve it to death by choosing to believe for good, blessings, success, and the good things of God. Breathe life into those!
Remember we are made in the likeness of God. God in the beginning had a thought, a belief and spoke. At His words everything came into being from nothing.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3 (NIV) AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
I have often said that faith is very misunderstood. Most people think that faith is some kind of extraordinary power to believe for the impossible or miraculous. Faith is not some mysterious power it is simply WHAT we believe. The exception to this might be “faith” as the gift of the Holy Spirit, but even this gift is a gift of confidence in what we believe or need to believe for.
The writer of Hebrews said, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
The King James version says it like this, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
The Greek word for “substance” is “hupostasis.” It is the compound of two words that mean literally “to place under.” It is simply the foundation, what is underneath. What the Word is saying in very simple terms is that everything begins, has as its foundation FAITH. Before it will happen we have to believe it. The opening quote from William James (whether or not he realized it) is just a restatement of Scriptural truth... “your belief will help create the fact.”
Now, the truth is that all of life is about believing. We all have faith for something. We cannot choose to have no faith. We are always believing and creating. While we cannot choose to believe or not believe, to have faith or no faith... we can choose what we believe. That is the power that we have. We can believe for success or for failure. We can believe for blessing or to be cursed. We make those choices in life.
We give life to beliefs by what we speak. The Bible says “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”(Lewis paraphrase).
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 (NIV)
Paul talks about the opposing forces that live within him in Romans 7. We are all like that. Darkness and light, good and evil are in us all. Some say that “you can have what you say,” but the truth is that we only give life to what we have by what we say. Good and evil are like glowing embers buried within us waiting for just a breath of oxygen to spring to life in burning flames. We get to choose which embers get the breath.
So here’s a thought. If I don’t verbalize it, if I refuse to talk about it then it will die for lack of oxygen. It’s like fire. It’s there but if I cut off its supply of oxygen it will die. That fire that is negative, destructive, expecting failure needs you to speak it, give it life. We usually try to talk it to death. That just gives it more fuel to live longer. Starve it to death by choosing to believe for good, blessings, success, and the good things of God. Breathe life into those!
Remember we are made in the likeness of God. God in the beginning had a thought, a belief and spoke. At His words everything came into being from nothing.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3 (NIV) AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Friday, May 25, 2007
Spiritual Synergism
Several years ago a new breed of horses was tested in Canada. Researchers found that one horse could pull an eight-ton load. When they teamed two horses together they anticipated that the horses would pull 16 or 18 tons. To their surprise they pulled a 30-ton load.
This is the principle of synergism. Synergism states that two or more objects working together can produce a greater effect than the objects working independently of each other. This is why the church is important and it’s important that you be connected with a church. Each of us multiplies our strength, abilities, and talents when we “get harnessed” with a local church to serve the Kingdom of God.
Being a Christian is not just about getting oneself to heaven. It’s about getting others there as well. Alone we can only do so much. Alone what one can give financially can accomplish limited good, but when we come together and pool our resources a church can make a big impact. Then when churches link arms in a fellowship of churches that impact is multiplied again.
It is the power of agreement.
Matthew 18:19 (NIV) "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday on the church calendar. The day we celebrate the birth of the New Testament church. There was a key to everything that happened that day. Something created a synergism that day that caused incredible things to happen. Notice the words of Acts. 2.
Acts 2:1 (NIV) “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
“Together in one place.” The spiritual synergism that was created that day released supernatural power. Two key elements are here. Sometimes people say things like, “We’ll be with you in spirit.” That’s the “together” of Acts 2:1, but the other aspect is “in one place.” Others will be in the same place but their spirits, their thoughts, their mind is somewhere else. Bodily in the same room, but, as my mom used to say, “Their mind is in Georgia.”
Sunday worship is more than a weekly ritual we observe with Sunday being the Christian sabbath. It is an opportunity for us to gather together in one place and thereby release the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit among us causing miraculous things to happen.
If you consider LIFEchurch your church family, or If you are in the area of LIFEchurch and not already faithfully connected to a Bible believing, Great Commission church come this Sunday and worship with us. Let’s see what can happen on Pentecost Sunday (or any Sunday for that matter) when we all come “together in one place.” In the “Extreme Makeover...God Edition...Master Planned Living” message series this week I will be teaching “Living the Empowered Life.”
We’d love to see you at LIFEchurch, but be sure and connect with genuine believers somewhere and expect the supernatural as you agree with other believers.
But this works on Monday and Tuesday and every other day of the week too. Find a friend at work that you can agree with. A neighbor in the neighborhood to agree with. Families in agreement are powerful. Just don’t try to go it alone. We need each other.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit released in the Church on that Pentecost some two thousand years ago. I know that power is still available today, and I desire to have it working in my life. Give me spiritual connections in my life so that I do not stand alone, but multiply my strength with that of others in do Your work. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
This is the principle of synergism. Synergism states that two or more objects working together can produce a greater effect than the objects working independently of each other. This is why the church is important and it’s important that you be connected with a church. Each of us multiplies our strength, abilities, and talents when we “get harnessed” with a local church to serve the Kingdom of God.
Being a Christian is not just about getting oneself to heaven. It’s about getting others there as well. Alone we can only do so much. Alone what one can give financially can accomplish limited good, but when we come together and pool our resources a church can make a big impact. Then when churches link arms in a fellowship of churches that impact is multiplied again.
It is the power of agreement.
Matthew 18:19 (NIV) "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday on the church calendar. The day we celebrate the birth of the New Testament church. There was a key to everything that happened that day. Something created a synergism that day that caused incredible things to happen. Notice the words of Acts. 2.
Acts 2:1 (NIV) “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
“Together in one place.” The spiritual synergism that was created that day released supernatural power. Two key elements are here. Sometimes people say things like, “We’ll be with you in spirit.” That’s the “together” of Acts 2:1, but the other aspect is “in one place.” Others will be in the same place but their spirits, their thoughts, their mind is somewhere else. Bodily in the same room, but, as my mom used to say, “Their mind is in Georgia.”
Sunday worship is more than a weekly ritual we observe with Sunday being the Christian sabbath. It is an opportunity for us to gather together in one place and thereby release the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit among us causing miraculous things to happen.
If you consider LIFEchurch your church family, or If you are in the area of LIFEchurch and not already faithfully connected to a Bible believing, Great Commission church come this Sunday and worship with us. Let’s see what can happen on Pentecost Sunday (or any Sunday for that matter) when we all come “together in one place.” In the “Extreme Makeover...God Edition...Master Planned Living” message series this week I will be teaching “Living the Empowered Life.”
We’d love to see you at LIFEchurch, but be sure and connect with genuine believers somewhere and expect the supernatural as you agree with other believers.
But this works on Monday and Tuesday and every other day of the week too. Find a friend at work that you can agree with. A neighbor in the neighborhood to agree with. Families in agreement are powerful. Just don’t try to go it alone. We need each other.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit released in the Church on that Pentecost some two thousand years ago. I know that power is still available today, and I desire to have it working in my life. Give me spiritual connections in my life so that I do not stand alone, but multiply my strength with that of others in do Your work. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Will of God
Knowing God’s perfect will for our lives may be the most difficult challenge we will take on in life. But following God’s will is not always equivalent to knowing His will (at least not knowing all the details). Let that sink into your heart for a moment.
Often we dig in and wait for God to lay out the plan in detail before us before we are willing to take a step. It is not stubbornness that causes us to do this, but simply that we feel so much more secure if we have all the details, every turn, every stop along the way, every road laid out before us. We live in the day of job descriptions. We don’t want to take a job without having a detailed description of what is expected of us then we proceed to do the job according to the description (and please don’t ask me to do anything else).
As I read in the Bible I see that there are many more examples of following God’s will without knowing every detail than there are examples of having every detail laid out in advance.
Abraham followed God’s directions without knowing what the destination was. God simply said, “When you get there I will tell you.
Hannah waited for God’s perfect timing without knowing when.
Mary expected a miracle without knowing how.
Joseph trusted God’s purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did.
Most often when we ask God for His will He tells us, “For today go here or there, do this or that then tomorrow I’ll give you more.” I have written on more than a few graduation cards and gift books Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” It didn’t say He would immediately give the ultimate destination; just a path at a time.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me today what I should do to please and honor You, and take me one step, one day closer to the ultimate destination of Your will for me. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Often we dig in and wait for God to lay out the plan in detail before us before we are willing to take a step. It is not stubbornness that causes us to do this, but simply that we feel so much more secure if we have all the details, every turn, every stop along the way, every road laid out before us. We live in the day of job descriptions. We don’t want to take a job without having a detailed description of what is expected of us then we proceed to do the job according to the description (and please don’t ask me to do anything else).
As I read in the Bible I see that there are many more examples of following God’s will without knowing every detail than there are examples of having every detail laid out in advance.
Abraham followed God’s directions without knowing what the destination was. God simply said, “When you get there I will tell you.
Hannah waited for God’s perfect timing without knowing when.
Mary expected a miracle without knowing how.
Joseph trusted God’s purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did.
Most often when we ask God for His will He tells us, “For today go here or there, do this or that then tomorrow I’ll give you more.” I have written on more than a few graduation cards and gift books Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” It didn’t say He would immediately give the ultimate destination; just a path at a time.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me today what I should do to please and honor You, and take me one step, one day closer to the ultimate destination of Your will for me. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
When are You Too Old?
What is the age that you are too old to realize your dreams? If you haven’t accomplished your goals or reached your dreams by ???? it too late? How would you fill in the age blank? Well, let’s see there was Moses that was 80 when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. God spent eighty years getting him ready for forty years of service. Abraham was 75 when he made the biggest change of his life pulling up stakes and starting on a journey not knowing the destination, but just day by day listening to God’s voice to let him know when he’d arrived. He was 100 when Isaac was born. Isaac was the son of promise the son of his dreams.
Today we hear people as young as their 50s, 40s, sometimes even their 30s filled with regrets that they didn’t do this or that or accomplish this dream or that goal. Our country’s custom of retirement has limited our mental ability to dream until we lay down and die. How old is too old? When is it no longer possible to accomplish the things we have set out to do? Some of you are saying, “All the examples you gave are thousands of years ago. Find me one today.” Okay, here’s one from today. Let me tell you about Mae Laborde. She’s appeared on a recent episode of MADtv playing Vanna White (of Wheel of Fortune fame) forty years in the future. You may have seen her in commercials for Lexus or Chase Bank or as a cheerleader on ESPN. She’s 97 years old, and she’s one of the hottest properties in Hollywood today.
No, it’s not unusual to be nearing 100-years-old and be popular in Hollywood. Bob Hope, George Burns and Gloria Stuart are just a few who can lay claim to that. But what makes Mae more than just a little special is she’s only been acting for four years —— she didn’t get her Screen Actor’s Guild card until she was 93! Thank you Mae for proving once again it’s never too late to live your dream!
I knew a missionary couple who served several decades as missionaries in remote parts of the world. They retired and after they came home, attended college to finish their degrees in their 80s. When is it too late to realize your dreams?
I heard somewhere that dreaming in your sleep is necessary to live. I don’t know for sure about that one, but I do know that Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” The proverb writer is simply saying, “When you stop dreaming, you stop living.” So how old is too old to dream and realize your dreams? Your too old to live when you think your too old too dream. We are in control of that moment in our lives. Ever notice how many people reach retirement age and soon die? It’s because they stop dreaming.
God never stops dreaming for you. He has a plan, a dream for you (Jeremiah 29:11) so embrace it, whatever your age, and dream on. But don’t just live in a world of dreams, but let your dreams begin to live. I spoke at a memorial service last Saturday. I talked about Four Things I Know. The first of the four is that Death is everyone’s Destiny. Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) reminds us that “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” But we don’t have to stop living before we die.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of life. Help me to live everyday to the full, bringing honor and glory to Your name. You said in John 10:10 that You came to bring us life and life to the full. I want to fulfill Your dream for my life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Today we hear people as young as their 50s, 40s, sometimes even their 30s filled with regrets that they didn’t do this or that or accomplish this dream or that goal. Our country’s custom of retirement has limited our mental ability to dream until we lay down and die. How old is too old? When is it no longer possible to accomplish the things we have set out to do? Some of you are saying, “All the examples you gave are thousands of years ago. Find me one today.” Okay, here’s one from today. Let me tell you about Mae Laborde. She’s appeared on a recent episode of MADtv playing Vanna White (of Wheel of Fortune fame) forty years in the future. You may have seen her in commercials for Lexus or Chase Bank or as a cheerleader on ESPN. She’s 97 years old, and she’s one of the hottest properties in Hollywood today.
No, it’s not unusual to be nearing 100-years-old and be popular in Hollywood. Bob Hope, George Burns and Gloria Stuart are just a few who can lay claim to that. But what makes Mae more than just a little special is she’s only been acting for four years —— she didn’t get her Screen Actor’s Guild card until she was 93! Thank you Mae for proving once again it’s never too late to live your dream!
I knew a missionary couple who served several decades as missionaries in remote parts of the world. They retired and after they came home, attended college to finish their degrees in their 80s. When is it too late to realize your dreams?
I heard somewhere that dreaming in your sleep is necessary to live. I don’t know for sure about that one, but I do know that Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” The proverb writer is simply saying, “When you stop dreaming, you stop living.” So how old is too old to dream and realize your dreams? Your too old to live when you think your too old too dream. We are in control of that moment in our lives. Ever notice how many people reach retirement age and soon die? It’s because they stop dreaming.
God never stops dreaming for you. He has a plan, a dream for you (Jeremiah 29:11) so embrace it, whatever your age, and dream on. But don’t just live in a world of dreams, but let your dreams begin to live. I spoke at a memorial service last Saturday. I talked about Four Things I Know. The first of the four is that Death is everyone’s Destiny. Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) reminds us that “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” But we don’t have to stop living before we die.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of life. Help me to live everyday to the full, bringing honor and glory to Your name. You said in John 10:10 that You came to bring us life and life to the full. I want to fulfill Your dream for my life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The Secret
The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work. —Oprah Winfrey
Now, if you have been around LIFEchurch you know that while I have a high respect for Oprah Winfrey, and believe she is a good woman with great leadership skills who is maybe one of the greatest givers of all time her theology is messed up. I get concerned about the gullible people who hear her say that there are many ways to God that include all the religions of the world. That is dooming many who believe her to an eternity in hell because there is only one way to God... Jesus Christ.
Anyway, I say that just so you will know that I don’t promote everything she says because I believe she got it right on one issue. So, there you have it. That said... she has it right on the issue of work and success in this life. There is a book out called “The Secret.” It has drawn national attention. I have not read the book in its entirety, but from the excerpts I have gotten by emails, on the web, etc. I can tell that for the most part the principles promoted are simple, basic life principles. They are even Biblical principles. There are many motivational speakers and books out there that teach these principles, but they are communicated in a way that anyone of any religion can benefit. And they work because they are God’s law. They are like the law of gravity. It works whether I believe in God or not. If I go up, I must come down. Things like hard work, a positive attitude, integrity, and honesty will move one to success in life. You can become rich, have nice houses, a big retirement, lots of money to spend on very nice things, and live the “good life” even if you don’t believe there is a God.
Hard work will get you just about anywhere you want to go in life... except a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
I believe in living successful lives. I even believe that it is God’s will that we be successful and prosper while we live on this earth. But we must never forget that this is the shortest part of our existence no matter how many years we may live on this earth. Jesus talked about success oriented people spending their lives winning in the world, but forgetting the most important thing. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36 (NIV)
So you see, you can be successful, give away millions... even billions, bless people on every hand, be respected as a giving, compassionate, caring, and successful person; and still miss the most important “secret” of life.
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” —Jesus Christ
If you have questions about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, drop me an email or visit us at LIFEchurch.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all the blessings in my life, but most of all thank you for eternal life, life beyond this life that will surpass any level of “success” I may experience here. Help me not to get so comfortable here and enjoy what I have now so much that I lose the anticipation for heaven. AMEN
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus pray this simple prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am sinner that needs a Savior. You are the only one that can save my from my sins. Forgive me right now for every sin in my life. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe that You gave Your life on the cross for me. I believe that You died, but God raised You from the dead and You live today. I confess my sins to You now and accept the gift of salvation that You freely offer. Thank you for saving me and guide me to a church where I can grow in my new found faith. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Now, if you have been around LIFEchurch you know that while I have a high respect for Oprah Winfrey, and believe she is a good woman with great leadership skills who is maybe one of the greatest givers of all time her theology is messed up. I get concerned about the gullible people who hear her say that there are many ways to God that include all the religions of the world. That is dooming many who believe her to an eternity in hell because there is only one way to God... Jesus Christ.
Anyway, I say that just so you will know that I don’t promote everything she says because I believe she got it right on one issue. So, there you have it. That said... she has it right on the issue of work and success in this life. There is a book out called “The Secret.” It has drawn national attention. I have not read the book in its entirety, but from the excerpts I have gotten by emails, on the web, etc. I can tell that for the most part the principles promoted are simple, basic life principles. They are even Biblical principles. There are many motivational speakers and books out there that teach these principles, but they are communicated in a way that anyone of any religion can benefit. And they work because they are God’s law. They are like the law of gravity. It works whether I believe in God or not. If I go up, I must come down. Things like hard work, a positive attitude, integrity, and honesty will move one to success in life. You can become rich, have nice houses, a big retirement, lots of money to spend on very nice things, and live the “good life” even if you don’t believe there is a God.
Hard work will get you just about anywhere you want to go in life... except a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
I believe in living successful lives. I even believe that it is God’s will that we be successful and prosper while we live on this earth. But we must never forget that this is the shortest part of our existence no matter how many years we may live on this earth. Jesus talked about success oriented people spending their lives winning in the world, but forgetting the most important thing. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36 (NIV)
So you see, you can be successful, give away millions... even billions, bless people on every hand, be respected as a giving, compassionate, caring, and successful person; and still miss the most important “secret” of life.
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” —Jesus Christ
If you have questions about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, drop me an email or visit us at LIFEchurch.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all the blessings in my life, but most of all thank you for eternal life, life beyond this life that will surpass any level of “success” I may experience here. Help me not to get so comfortable here and enjoy what I have now so much that I lose the anticipation for heaven. AMEN
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus pray this simple prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am sinner that needs a Savior. You are the only one that can save my from my sins. Forgive me right now for every sin in my life. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe that You gave Your life on the cross for me. I believe that You died, but God raised You from the dead and You live today. I confess my sins to You now and accept the gift of salvation that You freely offer. Thank you for saving me and guide me to a church where I can grow in my new found faith. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
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