Mr. Deeds

James said that he would show his faith by his works. Met with a guy recently that wasn't bragging...we were just talking and he& his wife recently saw a couple in awkward financial position (restaurant didn't take their cc of choice) so they mysteriously paid for the meal of this young couple (whom they didn't know and didn't get credit for it). Then he confessed how he was getting back at his quiet time, even showed me his notes from that morning. He bought his pastor lunch (which wasn't required). Called a man (who was having a rough time) to encourage him. And really there were several other things, and many in just one day. ---I couldn't help to think...what if all of us (followers of Jesus) just operated naturally like that throughout the day---helping others?---Do you think people might come to church when we ask them? Mr. Deeds sounds like the opposite of the hypocrisy so many like to throw at the church.

Temptation, no big leap

Mt.4:2 After fasting forty days Jesus was hungry. It was normal to be hungry, super hungry, starving to death kind of hunger after that long. Temptation isnot usually a big step from where we are. We talk about "leaps of faith". Temptation isn't usually a huge leap. The enemy hits us where we live. In v.3 satan suggests Jesus use his God-power to satisfy the flesh. He encouraged Jesus to take a "short-cut" (which is what sin often is ...a short-cut from doing something God's way). Considering Jesus was extremely hungry, no one else was around, who would it hurt, what would it matter; who could or would blame him?---Sound familiar? Problem: to Jesus this would have been sin; and he had to stay pure to be the just sacrifice for the sin of the world. Only he would be worthy to die for all!

Not in the numbers

Some great things are happening. In the midst of the summer shuffle when attendance wildly fluctuates, it does appear we are repositioning for the positive. We had several new members join this past Sunday(most of them already started serving within the church). Baptisms almost every week. I had more people tell me they would be joining at the next Connect class. ---In the meantime, stay faithful in gathering together and in giving through the summer. God doesn't take time off, and neither does satan. ---Praise the Lord that it's not all about the numbers; because our numbers do show some apathy. Be faithful and Pray hard.

Value of Scripture

Mt.4:4 "...every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus quoted Scripture to fend off Satan's temptations. Jesus stood up for the inspiration of Scripture. Jesus is God, and He thinks the Holy Scriptures have power. Now, there is a testimony for Scripture! Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 8:3. God humbled Israel in the wilderness making them hungry and then feeding them. Reading (figuratively)Deuteronomy 8:1-7 God brings us through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land to check our heart. Will we obey Him or turn to the left or to the right? It is easy to be humble and obedient in lean times. But will we forget the LORD in the good times? The good times are the test. Stay close to the Scriptures in good and bad times. It worked for Jesus.

Pain in the Offering

I just reread the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. Maybe I either had not thought about it before or I forgot about it; but I relized the first murder was over an offering to God. Hmmmm. That's interesting. He didn't kill the man, his brother, because he wanted the money; but instead it was about his offering (the murderer's). You see Cain had given God "some" of his harvest compared to Abel's "fat" portions that he gave to the Lord. And God was displeased with the "some" that Cain gave and He wasa pleased with the "fat" Abel offered. Hmmm. God knows and notices the difference. People still get angry when you talk about money. Those that give "fat" portions could care less, but those that skimp on God...well they don't like to talk about it.

FYI: Twitter

For those that are interested you can follow me on twitter.com/normansullivan
I write short thoughts more often at times throughout the day. Something might be helpful, inciteful, or totally not make sense. Here's a sample:

Eternal life isn't the after-life; it's the real life. Seriously. Which is longer 75 years or forever? Do the math.
Diet plan: eat food, not food like substances. If it won't rot it's not food. If it takes 10+letters 2spell,it's not food.
Laughing at JRome reminisce the old days in sales. Going2jail or back2sales motive2do right. u had2be there.
Trial only stops when it is useless.--God's pruning is so we will bear fruit.
Go in the ever-increasing glory of God today!

Gen.1:3

And God said, "Let there be light..." This was a dark world, void of life until God so to speak set foot on it. John 1 speaks of God bringing the Light to Darkness, and exposes that man prefers the darkness over the light. Even though, man chooses darkness over light often; it wasn't all that way. We know that man is wicked (Rom.7, Ps.15, Rom.3); but it's not all he ever knew. You see, man didn't come into the picture until Day 6, and by then the light was in the world. Man wasn't familiar with darkness until he chose to believe the lie of the created over the Creator. Man chose by faith to go the way of darkness, evil, disobedient to his Creator.---Almost everything on earth has good and evil uses. It is usually created for the good, but man quickly figures out to use it for evil. (computer, print,food,drink,etc.) ---Perhaps God has created time and broken it up into days, so that we can start over...start fresh...recommit. ---God has built a planet to last, and He has built people to last. Think about it---we are smart enough and now capable to blow this planet up.---This planet won't change shape (oh, it has and will get some more dents and scratches)until God replaces with a new heaven and earth.---In the meantime, walk in the light, and use the daily reset button. Start fresh today!

Woke up

God shook me out of bed this morning, and sent me straight to the computer. He gave me this crazy idea, and I know it was Him, because I wasn't even thinking about it. He's like nudging me, and nudging me; and I'm like I don't want to get up yet. But He kept giving me this wacky idea to invite all my FB friends to give $10 to the Building Fund; and for their friends to give $10---He wouldn't even let me question Him. Because I was like "why would anybody do that?" As I was writing, He reminded me it was the 10 year anniversary and $10 wasn't that much---so I put that in the text. You may ask, "How did you know it was God's idea?" You only ask that because you don't know God. God is really cool. He has a passion for wacky ideas...things that people find hard to believe. Like in Judges 7 when He told Gideon 32k was too many to fight 120k. God grew the army down to 300 and sent them to battle with trumpets, candles and clay pots. (read to see who won)Hello! Does that sound cr---? Anyway, I don't know what will happen. We might get 10 bucks. We might get a bunch of people mad. I'm just pretty stinkin' sure He told me to throw it out there. Now, we sit and watch. Wouldn't it be crazy if the Spirit of God touched 40k plus people to give the 10? It would be a modern day God story. ---stay tuned...

Intentionally Intrusive

It's too late! It is usually too late to help a friend out of a broken marriage or a bad situation by the time we (friends) hear about it. We need preventive measures. I'm not speaking specifically about marriages (that is just an obvious situation). As Christians we will have struggles in life, and we need help from one another (hence the reason for so many "one another" verses in the Bible). If accountability and the "one another" system is to work we need to allow a person or persons to be "intentionally intrusive." We need to allow people to know the real us, and the issues that we battle (secret sins even or our weak spot). ---If we truly want to "get over it" and enjoy God's plan for our lives, we need to allow someone to be intentionally intrusive. ---You need life support, especially if you intend to live the truth. Stop today, and ask God who would be a great "accountability" partner for you. Then, call them. Go see them face to face. Most importantly, tell them the truth about you, and give them permission to ask you the hard questions to keep you on the right path.

So how is death working for you?

That's a strange title, but it is a thought generated from a strange verse at first glance. In 2Cor.4:12 Paul writes: "So death works in us..." I couldn't help faintly hearing Dr.Phil's voice, "So, how's death working for you?" in my mind. Sometimes Paul is hard to understand, so I had to mull over this one a while. I looked over several related Scripture verses, and finally got enough handle to be able to let it go. You know, death isn't an exciting word, and it has the connotation of THE END. So to say "...death works in me" well that's hard to understand.But if you are a follower of Jesus, by now you have probably been baptized (if not, you should go ahead and take care of that). At baptism we see the picture of one dying to the old self...in a sense you are joining the crucified Christ, and then you are raised into newness of life...like the resurrected Christ (albeit this is symbolic, because you haven't received your resurrected body yet). Get this, your eternal life begins the day you accept Christ. Death has no hold on you. Death- better understood as the crucifying of the flesh is a good thing. Killing off that old guy...our old ways is a wonderful testimony of Christ in us! ---Let's finish that verse, because Paul said, "...death works in us, but life in you." When people see that I have died to that old man, the flesh, it creates life in those that want what I've got and turn to follow Jesus; who by the way, is the Resurrection and the Life!" ---Come on! Getch yo dead body on out and show it off to somebody!

Ps.90:12

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.---Usefulness surpasses longevity. In other words, it is not so much how long we live, but how we live out the time that we do have. Think about it. We live in the moment. It is in the moments of life that things happen. It was in the moment that something changed or guided your life; whether it was an action that happened in that moment or something someone said that held great value. It is in those special seasons of life when you achieved the most or influenced the most people ("such a time as this" kind of times---see Esther).
A friend's brother passed away less than a week ago. He passed away at 55. He hadn't seen his brother in a while, and last he remembered was from childhood when he was always getting the siblings in trouble. ---But at the funeral, one by one; person after person came by to tell how much his brother had touched their lives. His brother had not bragged about it, but had lived a life glorifying Jesus Christ. ---In the little time that we have left, how about we just be Christ to the world? No one has done as much as Jesus, he merely ministered for three years. He walked everywhere...no car, no internet. He just lived the truth.

Not my Birthday

Wow today has gone by unceremoniously. I realized about midday that 10 years ago today I dove into this thing called church planting. I left my job, and joined the rank of church planters. What had no people at first, started as a lot of prayer. Then God added a few people here and there. Initially, it was known as the Spencerfield Mission. We had to have some kind of a name for folks to be able to give their offering. Praise the LORD, my family has survived...we haven't made to many people mad along the way, and most importantly God has been incredible in allowing us to lead hundreds to Christ (which is something I wasn't doing as a Sunday school teacher/deacon). I just want to say thank you to the people that have stuck with us through thick and thin. It ain't easy being me, but I also know it isn't easy being you (putting up with me). Let's continue to strive to be on the same page with God, and join Him at work. Thanks to my family, who no doubt gets the scraps at times. Much love out to my wife, Teresa, who has been a champion in enduring this calling. God bless Living Truth!

Props to Dave Ramsey

It's good to see when some things we study spill over to benefit our kids. Teresa and I joined other couples in Financial Peace classes offered at our church over a year ago. By now, we have had several graduates from FPU. We could have sooooo used this class years ago. Anyway, it made such a favorable impression on us that we have tried to pass it on to our kids. ---I couldn't help to share this success story as my son started saving for a car his senior year, and this week landed the vehicle he was looking for. He paid cash, and he waited long enough to get a deal that left him with money to fix it up or whatever. Go Jordan! Thanks Dave.