Exodus 23:20

Moses had a unique relationship with God in the Old Testament. It was said that when Moses met with God in the "Tent of Meeting" that the conversation was like two friends talking. Awesome! Everyone in the OT didn't have that kind of relationship with God; however that is part of the benefit of the New Covenant for those who are in Christ Jesus. ---Anyway, I want to back track to Moses. In Exodus 23:20 God tells Moses that He is going to send an angel before Israel to pave the way to the Promised Land. This angel would defeat the enemy. However, he warned Mo to tell the people if they rebel this angel would not forgive their rebellion. This angel was so loyal to God and the protection of God's holy Name, that if the people rebelled he wouldn't be able to tell the difference of who the enemy was. In other words, they better fly right or get ready to pay the price themselves. I think this is an incredible picture that they we never hear talked about. ----The angel saw things as black and white; good and evil. The angel knew if you weren't for God, then you were against God. He didn't put up with any trash. ---It also demonstrates God's mercy and God's grace; because He has been patient with their trash and our trash. People can talk about an angry or violent God, but I would beg to differ... the planet is still here. Yet, there is a huge make-over coming, but it will come in God's sweet time; and He has sent mankind ample warning.

Greed

Greed is starting to rear its ugly head. Everyone is so worried that someone else is going to get "their" dollar. Hence, we have the "housing crisis"---too many houses built for too few people. Of course, the financiers aren't going to be out done so they give loans to buy houses to people that can't qualify to rent a house. But no worries, the financiers will sell the note to some other financial group and just pass it along and play the game. Because if it really gets bad the US government will bail them out, because the govt can't let these institutions fail, because people's life saving are in there. And now drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico...a company bypassing safety measures trying to drill to hard and too fast, because they need to make money as fast as possible...ignoring warning signs. Well, here we are. Fat, unhappy America. ---Oh, should I start on that one. One study shows that by 2018 40% of America will be obese. I hear that for the last several years foreigners laugh when fat Americans get off planes. And our beloved pasttimes haven't gone untouched. In an era of steroids, who knows what a real record is. The leagues turn and cough while players cheat...for the love of the ...dollar. ----Oh I could go on and on, but I'm really not a negative Nellie. Ask God to forgive us, and start doing your part. Eat the right stuff. Don't eat a second plate. Save money, so you can give it away to the needy. Quit paying the salaries of cheaters. Brag on the people that do things the right way. ----Oh yeah, parents take your kids to church, and quit dragging them to everything else. It's late...I am out.

Saying Goodbye

Something I was told when we first started the church was "people will always be coming and going." That was tough to take as a church of eleven or so people. We would get people in and then supposedly lose them. But then I learned early that it was better that some leave. Through the years I've felt that we as a church body need to be able to get along, so it is important that we can absorb every different personality that exists. God has blessed and we have grown. People still come and go. Some people move away and some are called by God to other places. Some bail-out on their Christian responsibilities. People don't belong to us, they belong to God. I'm thankful to God that we've been privileged to serve alongside some great folks. Also, I am hopeful that we've been a positive influence on them; whether they've moved because of job/military or went on to help another church. I hope that those that have fallen out of love with Christ will make it back. So, we will always say goodbye, but we will also be saying hello to new folks as God sends our way. In the meantime, let's make each other better for God's glory.

Rep

2Cr.3:1-3 The Corinthians were an open book testimony to the power and ministry of the truth of the Gospel that Paul preached while he was with them for two years. The proof is in the pudding! Just as an email letter recently sent to the church(by a man reached by some men in the church) testifying that LTC is genuinely trying to reach others for Christ---the testimony is written on the hearts of the people. People were challenging Paul’s motives and agenda. If they would just look at the result of his ministry in Corinth, the truth would be told. Meanwhile, divisive people (sent from Satan, unbeknownst to them) came in and disrupted what Paul had started in Christ. ---Just two weeks ago, some of our LTC folks were training an older church in the community on how to share Jesus with people. (that ain’t bringing, it is just truth) They asked us to help, because that is part of our reputation. ---What is your rep? What are you known for?

Name Dropping

Paul name drops as he ends the 1st letter to Corinth. He begins by reminding them of collecting for the saints on the first day of the week, and to “set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” ---v. 10 Take care of Timothy when he comes, because he is just as I am. Then send him back to me in peace. V.12 I urged Apollos to come to you, but he said he can’t yet; but he will when he gets the opportunity. V.15 Paul gives props to the household of Stephanas as being the first converts in Achaia and how they were devoted to the service of the saints. Paul urges the believers to submit to such as these. Follow their leadership. V.17 Then he adds kudos to some other folks beginning with Stephanas and adding Fotunatus and Achaicus because "they have supplied what was lacking from you." ---These took it on themselves to make sure Paul had everything he needed. “They refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.” Greetings are sent from Aquila and Priscilla and the church that met at their house.---As Paul ends this letter with personal greetings one cannot help but admire the love and devotion evidenced from his words. These words about the ones that were “in”…the ones that were “getting it.” He doesn’t mention here those that were causing division and strife. The body of the letter addresses the strife and division that was attempting to disrupt the integrity of the church, but ends with a sense of calmness as the reader can ascertain that there were some people that were “all in.” There were some people that were effective in the work. Amen.---Would you be bragged on? Would your name be dropped?

Sweetly Chosen

Can’t you see what the Lord has done for you?
1 Pet.2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Normally chosen people was reserved for Israel, but the veil has been rent (torn). Once royalty and priesthood stood apart from one another. But our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the prophet, priest and king has brought them together. Once upon a time, Israel was that holy nation, a people belonging to God; but now that has been extended to those who are in Christ Jesus. Since we have been called out of darkness and into the marvelous light, let us praise Jesus for this is the proper response. So much time has flown by that we don’t realize that we were people without hope; we were a people on the outside looking in---we were not a people. But now, praise the Lord, we are the people of God. In the past God said that He would give mercy to who He would give mercy and be gracious to who He would be gracious to. ---We have now received that mercy, and ought to be shouting from the roof top, and living for Him who died for us and rose again.
---Live that today. Don’t be distracted. Take time to ponder what the Lord has done for you.

Trying too hard

I don't care where you are in your Christian walk, Satan doesn't give up on you. That is why it is so important for us to develop healthy habits and direction in our personal spiritual growth (see 2 Peter 1:5-11). It is funny that we are willing to try almost anything except the knowledge of God. Getting to know God personally seems to simple I guess. I dunno. We will trust in the schemes and plans of men instead of the knowledge of Him. When we just need to concentrate on one simple thing and that is getting to know God. We will try knowing ourselves instead of the knowledge of Him. People buy and read books on getting to know their "inner-self". We need to come to the same place the Apostle Paul did, when he said that I may know Him (Philippians 3:10). Don't try all the wrong things... don't try so hard. Get to know Christ and (hence) the power of his resurrection...

Set

So I asked this question the other day, and I think it deserves an answer from each one of us. When do people become set in their ways? Unpacked a little further: when do we think we know it all? Are you still a learner? Is there room for change in your life? ---Do you read for change? Do you listen for change? Part of what I do is to help lead people into life transformation...but I wonder do any of us really make adjustments or do we keep doing things the same old way; and keep traveling in the same circle wondering why we are not getting any where? I don't know about you, but I'm always needing some change. ---God hit me with something the other day. It was huge. It had to do with how I deal with people and salvation. I'm reevaluating some things, and I'm grateful to God for pointing this out. If the way you were living or whatever needed to be adjusted, would you change things up?

Shut up and Play

In hockey the other night, the Washington Capitals' Eric Belanger gets hit with a stick, loses EIGHT teeth, has an instant root canal in the locker room, comes back out and PLAYS and never says boo.
Meanwhile in the NBA, coaches are whining about players getting fouls called on them too easy. Players are complaining about opposing coaches dissing them, because they get few fouls called on them. Teammates are fussing that their team is selfish.

So new rule, NBA: Unless you have a root canal at halftime, SHUT UP AND PLAY!