Who Is Jesus
Author: Daniel Ekhaifo
(From Sherry's Inspirational List: We invite you to visit our website at: http://inspirational.injesus.com Our mailing address is: Sherry's Inspirational List, 950 Eagles Landing Parkway #186, Stockbridge GA 30281, USA )
He is unparalleled and unprecedented
He is the centerpiece of civilization
He is the superlative of all excellence
He is the sum of all human greatness
He is the source of divine grace
His name is the only one able to save
His blood is the only one able to cleanse
His ears are open to the sinner's call
His hands are quick to lift the fallen soul
He supplies mercy for the struggling soul
He sustains the tempted and the tried
He sympathizes with the wounded and the broken
He strengthens the weak and the weary
He guides and guards the wanderer
He heals the sick and cleanses the leper
He delivers the captured and binds up the broken-hearted
He is the key to all knowledge
He is the wellspring of wisdom
He is the doorway of deliverance
He is the pathway of peace
He is the roadway of righteousness
He is the highway of holiness
He is the gateway of glory
Jesus is the all-sufficient King
He is the King of the Jews
He is the King of Israel
He is the King of Righteousness
He is the King of the Ages
He is the King of Heaven
He is the King of Glory
He is the King of Kings
He is the Lord of Lords
He is indescribable
He is incomprehensible
He is Invisible
He is Irresistible
You can't outlive Him and can't live without Him
The Pharisees didn't like Him, but they couldn't stop Him
Pilate couldn't fault Him
Herod couldn't kill Him
Death couldn't conquer Him
The Grave couldn't hold Him
He is the Alpha and Omega
He is the first and the last
He is the beginning and the end (the middle too!)
He is the God of the future and God of the past
He is my Hope
He is my Savior
He is my Reason
He is my Messiah
He is my Healer
He is my Redeemer
He is my Teacher
He is my only true Friend
He is my Guide and Guardian
He is worth more than all the oil in the Middle East
More than all the tusks and hides of Africa
More than all the wealth of America
More than all the sand of the Sahara
More than all the diamonds of Solomon
More than all the mysteries of this World
More than the traditions of Asia and treasures of Egypt
More than any pleasures or treasures in the past or future
His greatness spans the whole Universe
His wisdom is deeper than the depths of the Pacific
His sovereignty spans beyond the galaxies
His ears listen to the innermost thoughts of men
His speech is like the thunders of Heaven – strong and sure
Yet, like the whispers of a child – still and small
His eyes scan the horizon of nature's ends
Sees beyond the perimeters of the earth
And ponders upon the goings of man
He is God who creates the light and darkness
He saddles the whole earth in his palms
He decrees the seasons and the rains
He fashions the path of the winds
The winds obey Him,
The seas heed Him,
The angels salute Him,
The saints worship Him,
The devil fears Him,
The Heavens adore Him
He is the son of the Father,
The exalted and anointed one
The crucified and risen King
The unconquerable conqueror
He is the Champion of eternity
He is the Champion of Champions
He is my Champion
His hands are wondrously beautiful
Without blemish save one,
The scars of the nails of Calvary
Seated upon the throne,
He opens His clenched fist
And beholds a picture
He smiles at the picture of you and me
Engraved in the palm of His hand.
Praise GOD for Jesus.
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." -1 Corinthians 12:3
Friday, January 28, 2005
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Who is the more effective evangelist?
Who is the more effective evangelist?
U. of Wisconsin law professor Ann Althouse writes that she saw while walking in Madison "a man, standing alone, with no one near him, by the Library. He was holding open a Bible and bellowing out the Ten Commandments. When he got to the end, he went to 'In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.' A little further on, there was a young man from a Spring Green church who had set up large dispensers of coffee and cocoa. The sign said 'free.' He had a group of people around him both times I passed him. In addition to giving them hot drinks, he was answering their questions. On the way toward State Street, I heard him telling people that his life was good because he allowed Jesus to guide him, and on the way back toward Bascom Hill, I heard him restating their question: why should I follow the teachings of a man who lived two thousand years ago?"
(From World Magazine Blog: http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/)
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Iraq Prayer Request
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 11:55:21 -0500
Subject: prayer request CH (CPT) Lyle Shackelford Battalion Chaplain HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion Providing With Mobility As a transportation battalion, my unit will be delivering the voting machines and the ballots to villages and cities throughout Iraq during the upcoming elections. (January 30/31) Our convoys are prime targets for the insurgents because they do not want the equipment to arrive at the polling stations nor do they want the local Iraqi citizens to have the chance to vote; timely delivery must occur so that the elections occur. Encourage your friends and family members and those within our churches to pray specifically for the electoral process. Historically, the previous totalitarian regime would not allow individual citizens to vote. Democracy will not be realized in Iraq if intelligent and competent officials are not elected to those strategic leadership positions within the emerging government; freedom will not have an opportunity to ring throughout this country if the voting process fails. Announce this prayer request to your contacts throughout your churches, neighborhoods, and places of business. Those with leadership roles within the local church post this message in as many newsletters and bulletins as possible. There is unlimited potential for God's presence in this process but if we do not pray then our enemy will prevail (See Ephesians 6:10-17) A prayer vigil prior to the end of the month may be an innovative opportunity for those within your sphere of influence to pray. This is a political battle that needs spiritual intervention. A powerful story about God's intervention in the lives of David's mighty men is recorded in 2 Samuel 23:8-33. David and his warriors were victorious because of God's intervention. We want to overcome those who would stand in the way of freedom. David's mighty men triumphed over incredible odds and stood their ground and were victorious over the enemies of Israel. (Iraqi insurgents' vs God's praying people). They don't stand a chance. I will pray with my soldiers before they leave on their convoys and move outside our installation gates here at Tallil. My soldiers are at the nerve center of the logistic operation to deliver the voting machines and election ballots. They will be driving to and entering the arena of the enemy. This is not a game for them it is a historical mission that is extremely dangerous. No voting machines or ballots. No elections. Your prayer support and God's intervention are needed to give democracy a chance in this war torn country. Thank you for reading this e-mail. Please give this e-mail a wide dissemination. Thank you for your prayer support for me and my family. Stand firm in your battles. Blessings, Lyle CH (CPT) Lyle Shackelford Battalion Chaplain HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion Providing With Mobility "Keep Em Moving" "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9
Monday, January 24, 2005
Worst Day Ever?
In an article on MSNBC, Jennifer Carlile reports on the findings of Dr. Cliff Arnall that Monday, January 24th, is historically the worst day of the year. Here's an excerpt from her article:
"Dr. Cliff Arnall's calculations show that misery peaks Monday.
Arnall, who specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, created a formula that takes into account numerous feelings to devise peoples' lowest point.
The model is: [W + (D-d)] x TQ
M x NA
The equation is broken down into seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action."
The end result, according to Dr. Arnall, is SAD -- Seasonal Affective Disorder -- also known as winter depression.
Now, after reviewing Dr. Arnall's equation above and taking into account the variables in my own life, I am in pretty bad shape. Today is the coldest day we've had in south Georgia, the first of the Christmas debt has hit, my salary is not what I wanted, etc.
But, yet, I am not depressed. Why? Because Dr. Arnall forgot to add one more variable to his equation. Here is Dr. Arnall's equation as revised by me:
[W + (D-d)] x TQ Plus JESUS = ABUNDANT LIFE, ETERNAL HOPE, EVERLASTING JOY!!!
M x NA
What do you think?
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Where's the Power?
A recent article in Christianity Today by Ronald J. Sider, professor of theology, holistic ministry, and public policy of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, gives an excellent primer on an issue that has been of utmost concern to me for years. While affirming the life-changing power of God through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we find that very few life-changes are actually taking place among professing Christians.
As Sider reports, "the findings in numerous national polls conducted by highly respected pollsters like The Gallup Organization and The Barna Group are simply shocking. "Gallup and Barna," laments evangelical theologian Michael Horton, "hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the world in general."1 Divorce is more common among "born-again" Christians than in the general American population. Only 6 percent of evangelicals tithe. White evangelicals are the most likely people to object to neighbors of another race. Josh McDowell has pointed out that the sexual promiscuity of evangelical youth is only a little less outrageous than that of their nonevangelical peers."
What is going on? Here we are, on one hand, professing to be the light-bearers in this world, striving to restore traditional Judeo-Christian values and ethics to the public arena, while on the other hand, we are going out and doing the same things that we decry in others. George Barna says that "every day, the church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to change." Why is this happening? Why aren't we seeing more Christians living out their faith in their lives?
Granted, we know that no one is perfect. We know that we will never approach the holiness of Christ. But, we are called to be holy as He is holy. And we are not.
I think this is because of two things:
1) The Dripping Faucet. Have you ever had a faucet in your house start dripping? When it first starts, that little "drip, drip, drip" just drives you crazy. You vow to fix it, but you forget. It keeps dripping, but over time, you don't notice as much. That little noise that kept you up at night is now just one more part of the night. You don't hear the individual drips and you forget that you have a problem that needs to be corrected.
Similarly, the worldliness of the church is like a dripping faucet. In our individual lives and in our churches, we have let in small problems -- small sins. But, we didn't take the steps to remove this sin from our lives and our churches. Think about it, when was the last time you actually saw a church exercise biblical discipline of members as identified in the New Testament? So, we tolerated the drip. And over time, we forgot about it. It became a part of us. And then the drip got worse and worse and worse to the point where it has infected the entire body of Christ. Anyone ever heard of God's warning about yeast and how just a little yeast can work it's way through the whole dough?
2) The other reason we have this situation in our churches today is because there is no emphasis on personal holiness. There is no emphasis on personal spiritual disciplines. We forget to look for the log in our own eye but condemn the speck in the eye of our neighbor. Jesus told us that we were not to judge others, but that we were to be responsible for our own holiness (understanding, of course, that salvation is not about works but that with salvation comes the responsibility to pick up our cross and follow Him in obedience to His commands). Think about your own life -- can you say that you have increased in holiness from this time last year? Are you walking closer to God this year than last year? Can you point to definite sins in your life that you have started to conquer through the power of the Holy Spirit? Sadly to say, most of us would have to answer with an emphatic, "No!" And that is the problem of the church. We are not trying to live a holy life. We tell others, "we live on grace -- God's grace is sufficient for me," which is true, but only true in part. We need to restore the emphasis on holiness and obedience to God's commands if we truly want to live the life He has called us to live.
So, what's the answer? The church needs to face reality. We need to call a sin a sin and take steps to excise it from our life through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to quit judging those around us and get our own house in order first by turning to God in obedience to His commands, recognizing that external obedience follows internal transformation. And, we need to institute biblical discipline in our church to help our brothers and sisters in Christ turn away from their sins and turn back to God. When someone joins a church, the body of Christ commits to support and nurture and encourage them. This is one part of that requirement.
You can access Dr. Sider's article by clicking here.
A recent article in Christianity Today by Ronald J. Sider, professor of theology, holistic ministry, and public policy of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, gives an excellent primer on an issue that has been of utmost concern to me for years. While affirming the life-changing power of God through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we find that very few life-changes are actually taking place among professing Christians.
As Sider reports, "the findings in numerous national polls conducted by highly respected pollsters like The Gallup Organization and The Barna Group are simply shocking. "Gallup and Barna," laments evangelical theologian Michael Horton, "hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the world in general."1 Divorce is more common among "born-again" Christians than in the general American population. Only 6 percent of evangelicals tithe. White evangelicals are the most likely people to object to neighbors of another race. Josh McDowell has pointed out that the sexual promiscuity of evangelical youth is only a little less outrageous than that of their nonevangelical peers."
What is going on? Here we are, on one hand, professing to be the light-bearers in this world, striving to restore traditional Judeo-Christian values and ethics to the public arena, while on the other hand, we are going out and doing the same things that we decry in others. George Barna says that "every day, the church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to change." Why is this happening? Why aren't we seeing more Christians living out their faith in their lives?
Granted, we know that no one is perfect. We know that we will never approach the holiness of Christ. But, we are called to be holy as He is holy. And we are not.
I think this is because of two things:
1) The Dripping Faucet. Have you ever had a faucet in your house start dripping? When it first starts, that little "drip, drip, drip" just drives you crazy. You vow to fix it, but you forget. It keeps dripping, but over time, you don't notice as much. That little noise that kept you up at night is now just one more part of the night. You don't hear the individual drips and you forget that you have a problem that needs to be corrected.
Similarly, the worldliness of the church is like a dripping faucet. In our individual lives and in our churches, we have let in small problems -- small sins. But, we didn't take the steps to remove this sin from our lives and our churches. Think about it, when was the last time you actually saw a church exercise biblical discipline of members as identified in the New Testament? So, we tolerated the drip. And over time, we forgot about it. It became a part of us. And then the drip got worse and worse and worse to the point where it has infected the entire body of Christ. Anyone ever heard of God's warning about yeast and how just a little yeast can work it's way through the whole dough?
2) The other reason we have this situation in our churches today is because there is no emphasis on personal holiness. There is no emphasis on personal spiritual disciplines. We forget to look for the log in our own eye but condemn the speck in the eye of our neighbor. Jesus told us that we were not to judge others, but that we were to be responsible for our own holiness (understanding, of course, that salvation is not about works but that with salvation comes the responsibility to pick up our cross and follow Him in obedience to His commands). Think about your own life -- can you say that you have increased in holiness from this time last year? Are you walking closer to God this year than last year? Can you point to definite sins in your life that you have started to conquer through the power of the Holy Spirit? Sadly to say, most of us would have to answer with an emphatic, "No!" And that is the problem of the church. We are not trying to live a holy life. We tell others, "we live on grace -- God's grace is sufficient for me," which is true, but only true in part. We need to restore the emphasis on holiness and obedience to God's commands if we truly want to live the life He has called us to live.
So, what's the answer? The church needs to face reality. We need to call a sin a sin and take steps to excise it from our life through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to quit judging those around us and get our own house in order first by turning to God in obedience to His commands, recognizing that external obedience follows internal transformation. And, we need to institute biblical discipline in our church to help our brothers and sisters in Christ turn away from their sins and turn back to God. When someone joins a church, the body of Christ commits to support and nurture and encourage them. This is one part of that requirement.
You can access Dr. Sider's article by clicking here.
Monday, January 10, 2005
FELLOWSHIP VS. FOLLOWSHIP
9 January 2004
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 2:42-47
42. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44. All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
-- the other day, Brooke and I were going to town and we rode past a church sign -- she turned to me and said, "What is followship?" -- I looked over at the sign and saw that she had misread it -- it was actually a message about fellowship but she thought it said, "Followship"
-- and then it hit me -- Brooke, in her child-like manner, had just hit on the entire purpose and function of the church -- fellowship and followship
-- in Rick Warren's book -- the Purpose-Driven Life -- he identifies five purposes for us as Christians and for churches -- we talked about them again last week -- do you remember what they were? -- you need to be living them out in your life
-- Rick Warren got his five purposes from two passages in the book of Matthew where Jesus is speaking to His disciples
Mt 22:37-39 -- 1. Love the Lord w/all your heart - worship
2. Love your neighbor as yourself - ministry
Mt 28:18-20 -- 3. Go & make disciples - evangelism
4. Baptize disciples -fellowship - identification w/body of Christ
5. Teach them to obey - discipleship
-- you can sum up these five purposes in two words -- Fellowship and Followship -- in the passage we read from the book of Acts, we can see how the early church blended the two functions of fellowship and followship to develop a vibrant and living community
-- but right now, our churches in America are suffering -- we can hardly be called a vibrant and living community of believers -- the churches in our nation are divided on issues of theology and doctrine and worship and social persuasion -- and this has caused us to experience a dramatic decline that we've never seen before in the history of the church
-- all major mainline denominations have been losing members over the past two or three decades -- and we are seeing more and more people who identify themselves as "unchurched" Christians
-- the Barna Research Group said that 10 million self-proclaimed, born-again Christians in America have not been to church in the last six months, apart from Christmas or Easter.
-- (Barna defines "born-again" as those who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important today, and believe they will "go to heaven because they have confessed their sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.")
-- for these people, spiritual life has nothing to do with church.
-- why is that? -- I believe it is because the church has forgotten its calling -- I think its because we have forgotten our purpose -- our function as the body of Christ here on earth
-- I'd like to spend a few moments this morning talking about the two functions of the church: fellowship and followship
II. Fellowship
-- fellowship, as the New Testament defines it, is not coming together for social activities -- it is not coming together to have a covered dish dinner -- it is not getting together to take a trip to Wild Adventures or Ichetucknee Springs
-- no, fellowship is much more than that -- it is community -- it is a group of believers -- a group of people who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior -- and who come together on a regular basis to worship together -- to pray together -- to learn together -- and to support and encourage each other in the work of Christ
-- the act of coming together as a corporate body of believers defines fellowship -- as James Packer points out --the Greek word for fellowship comes from a root meaning common or shared -- So fellowship means common participation in something either by giving what you have to the other person or receiving what he or she has -- Give and take is the essence of fellowship
-- in true biblical fellowship we gather together to give praise to God -- to offer prayers to God -- to give ourselves to the building up of the church -- and we take from the church comfort and support and encouragement
-- I heard a message from Dr. Dobson one time that I think speaks to the heart of fellowship -- one day his two young children were arguing and fighting with each other as children do -- Dr. Dobson said he had had enough of their fight so he called them over to him -- he led them to the window and told them to look outside -- he said, "outside of this window is a hard world -- it is a world that will tear you apart if you let it -- the only way you can survive in this world is if you have someone you can trust who will always be there to support you
-- as brother and sister, you are called to be there to support each other so that when you go out into the world, you won't be destroyed -- you are not called to destroy each other before you get out there"
-- true biblical fellowship is characterized by trust and support and encouragement by our brothers and sisters in Christ
-- fellowship has an internal focus -- it is when a church -- speaking of a local body of believers -- gathers together and focuses on worshiping God together and on supporting one another so they can go back out into the world renewed and revived
-- in Rom 1:11-12, Paul wrote, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." -- and in 2 Thes 5:11 he wrote, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" -- Paul understood the value of fellowship
-- as Tim Stafford pointed out in a recent article in Christianity Today -- "People need people -- God's people need God's people in order to know God -- Life in Christ is a corporate affair -- All God's promises were made to God's people—plural -- All the New Testament epistles address Christians in churches -- The Bible simply does not know of the existence of an individual, isolated Christian"
-- I want to leave you with one more picture of true Biblical fellowship -- remember the movie Forrest Gump? -- when Forrest was in Vietnam and was out on patrol with his buddy Bubba, they were trying to sleep in the jungle in the middle of a thunderstorm -- all they had to lie in was mud -- Bubba slid over to Forrest and said, "Forrest, put your back up against my back and you lean on me and I'll lean on you and we won't have to sleep in the mud"
-- fellowship keeps a Christian out of the mud
III. Followship
-- now, let's look at the flip side of fellowship -- the function of followship
-- followship is easy to define -- it is simply following Christ -- in the Bible, Jesus told us that if we were to be His disciples, that we needed to pick up our cross and follow Him
-- that means to follow His commandments for us and that means to imitate His life here on earth -- in other words, followship means evangelism and ministry
-- unlike fellowship, followship is externally focused -- servant oriented -- it is when the church leaves the sanctuary building and goes out into the mission field
-- followship is outreach -- reaching outside the church -- meeting the needs of the poor and the oppressed -- reaching out to the marginalized and oppressed -- reaching out to the hurting in our midst
-- when the teacher of the law came up and asked Jesus the question, "who is my neighbor?" Jesus told him the parable of the good samaritan -- where both the priest and the levite refused to help a man who had been robbed and beaten but where a samaritan was willing to step in and help -- in Luke 10: 36-37 Jesus concluded by saying, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." -- Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
-- followship is going and doing likewise
-- there are three different forms of followship:
1) financial followship -- giving out of what God has given us to help meet the financial needs of others -- individuals do this when they offer to God their tithes and gifts -- churches do this through apportionments -- through offerings and gifts to ministries and people in need -- and through special donations
2) physical followship -- this if "foot leather" Christianity -- getting out and getting our hands dirty for Jesus -- ministering to the people where they are -- witnessing to them and sharing with them the good news of Jesus Christ -- Jesus told us that when we ministered physically to another person we were, in effect, serving Him -- in Matthew 25: 35-36 He said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'" -- physical followship involves all of these things along with evangelism and witnessing to others
3) spiritual followship -- this is primarily intercessory prayer -- intercessory prayer on behalf of others -- intercessory prayer on behalf of our nation -- praying for someone to come to Christ -- praying for revival -- praying for spiritual leaders -- praying for demonic forces to be bound on earth and the power of the Holy Spirit to be loosed in its place
-- do you want a clear picture of followship in action -- think about the tsunami relief efforts -- it is comprised of all three of these forms of followship -- churches right now are making financial offerings to help support relief in tsunami-stricken areas -- they are praying and interceding for victims and their families -- and lots of Christians are there on site -- physically showing the love of Christ by giving food and water and clothing and shelter to those in need
-- followship is the natural reaction to fellowship -- once you have been involved in fellowship -- once you have been revived and restored by praising and worshiping God -- once you have been built up and encouraged and supported by the church -- then you are ready to go out and pick up your cross and follow Christ
-- I think no one sums up the concept of followship better than the prophet Isaiah -- in the Book of Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah says that he heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And Isaiah responded, "Here am I. Send me!"
-- followship means responding to Christ's call to go and do likewise
IV. Closing
-- fellowship and followship are forms of active Christianity -- both are needed in your life for you to be complete -- you cannot call really yourself a Christian unless you are participating in both
-- I think the crisis in our churches and the crisis in America shows that the time for passive Christianity is over -- the time for apathy and complacency is over -- it is time for us to rise up and do what God called us to do -- to fellowship with Him and each other and to pick up our crosses and follow Christ where He leads us in the world
-- we cannot neglect either of these two areas -- in Hebrews 10:24-25, Paul wrote, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." -- in other words, how we can participate in followship
-- he goes on to say, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." -- in other words, participating in fellowship
-- as we start this new year, I want to encourage you to put an emphasis in your life on both fellowship and followship -- commit to coming to church -- to actively praising and worshiping God with other believers -- to support and encourage others as they support and encourage you
-- and commit to some form of ministry -- maybe this means making a commitment to start tithing -- maybe this means a commitment to a more dedicated prayer life -- maybe this means getting your hands dirty and serving others in Christ's name
-- as I close, I want to leave you with this one final thought on physical followship -- we will always have opportunities to minister to others every single day -- we just need to look for them -- just remember, ministry might be in a place you don't expect and to someone you didn't expect to be ministering to
-- if you have a ministry idea, you need to bring it up before the church -- it doesn't matter if we've never done anything like this before -- it doesn't matter if it will cost a lot of money -- it doesn't matter if we don't have enough people to put it into place -- if it is a ministry God wants us to do, He will make it happen -- He'll show us what to do -- He'll provide the money and the people to make it happen
-- God has given us a purpose for our lives and for our churches -- to participate in fellowship and followship -- will you make a commitment to do that in this new year?
-- let us pray
9 January 2004
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 2:42-47
42. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44. All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
-- the other day, Brooke and I were going to town and we rode past a church sign -- she turned to me and said, "What is followship?" -- I looked over at the sign and saw that she had misread it -- it was actually a message about fellowship but she thought it said, "Followship"
-- and then it hit me -- Brooke, in her child-like manner, had just hit on the entire purpose and function of the church -- fellowship and followship
-- in Rick Warren's book -- the Purpose-Driven Life -- he identifies five purposes for us as Christians and for churches -- we talked about them again last week -- do you remember what they were? -- you need to be living them out in your life
-- Rick Warren got his five purposes from two passages in the book of Matthew where Jesus is speaking to His disciples
Mt 22:37-39 -- 1. Love the Lord w/all your heart - worship
2. Love your neighbor as yourself - ministry
Mt 28:18-20 -- 3. Go & make disciples - evangelism
4. Baptize disciples -fellowship - identification w/body of Christ
5. Teach them to obey - discipleship
-- you can sum up these five purposes in two words -- Fellowship and Followship -- in the passage we read from the book of Acts, we can see how the early church blended the two functions of fellowship and followship to develop a vibrant and living community
-- but right now, our churches in America are suffering -- we can hardly be called a vibrant and living community of believers -- the churches in our nation are divided on issues of theology and doctrine and worship and social persuasion -- and this has caused us to experience a dramatic decline that we've never seen before in the history of the church
-- all major mainline denominations have been losing members over the past two or three decades -- and we are seeing more and more people who identify themselves as "unchurched" Christians
-- the Barna Research Group said that 10 million self-proclaimed, born-again Christians in America have not been to church in the last six months, apart from Christmas or Easter.
-- (Barna defines "born-again" as those who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important today, and believe they will "go to heaven because they have confessed their sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.")
-- for these people, spiritual life has nothing to do with church.
-- why is that? -- I believe it is because the church has forgotten its calling -- I think its because we have forgotten our purpose -- our function as the body of Christ here on earth
-- I'd like to spend a few moments this morning talking about the two functions of the church: fellowship and followship
II. Fellowship
-- fellowship, as the New Testament defines it, is not coming together for social activities -- it is not coming together to have a covered dish dinner -- it is not getting together to take a trip to Wild Adventures or Ichetucknee Springs
-- no, fellowship is much more than that -- it is community -- it is a group of believers -- a group of people who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior -- and who come together on a regular basis to worship together -- to pray together -- to learn together -- and to support and encourage each other in the work of Christ
-- the act of coming together as a corporate body of believers defines fellowship -- as James Packer points out --the Greek word for fellowship comes from a root meaning common or shared -- So fellowship means common participation in something either by giving what you have to the other person or receiving what he or she has -- Give and take is the essence of fellowship
-- in true biblical fellowship we gather together to give praise to God -- to offer prayers to God -- to give ourselves to the building up of the church -- and we take from the church comfort and support and encouragement
-- I heard a message from Dr. Dobson one time that I think speaks to the heart of fellowship -- one day his two young children were arguing and fighting with each other as children do -- Dr. Dobson said he had had enough of their fight so he called them over to him -- he led them to the window and told them to look outside -- he said, "outside of this window is a hard world -- it is a world that will tear you apart if you let it -- the only way you can survive in this world is if you have someone you can trust who will always be there to support you
-- as brother and sister, you are called to be there to support each other so that when you go out into the world, you won't be destroyed -- you are not called to destroy each other before you get out there"
-- true biblical fellowship is characterized by trust and support and encouragement by our brothers and sisters in Christ
-- fellowship has an internal focus -- it is when a church -- speaking of a local body of believers -- gathers together and focuses on worshiping God together and on supporting one another so they can go back out into the world renewed and revived
-- in Rom 1:11-12, Paul wrote, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." -- and in 2 Thes 5:11 he wrote, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" -- Paul understood the value of fellowship
-- as Tim Stafford pointed out in a recent article in Christianity Today -- "People need people -- God's people need God's people in order to know God -- Life in Christ is a corporate affair -- All God's promises were made to God's people—plural -- All the New Testament epistles address Christians in churches -- The Bible simply does not know of the existence of an individual, isolated Christian"
-- I want to leave you with one more picture of true Biblical fellowship -- remember the movie Forrest Gump? -- when Forrest was in Vietnam and was out on patrol with his buddy Bubba, they were trying to sleep in the jungle in the middle of a thunderstorm -- all they had to lie in was mud -- Bubba slid over to Forrest and said, "Forrest, put your back up against my back and you lean on me and I'll lean on you and we won't have to sleep in the mud"
-- fellowship keeps a Christian out of the mud
III. Followship
-- now, let's look at the flip side of fellowship -- the function of followship
-- followship is easy to define -- it is simply following Christ -- in the Bible, Jesus told us that if we were to be His disciples, that we needed to pick up our cross and follow Him
-- that means to follow His commandments for us and that means to imitate His life here on earth -- in other words, followship means evangelism and ministry
-- unlike fellowship, followship is externally focused -- servant oriented -- it is when the church leaves the sanctuary building and goes out into the mission field
-- followship is outreach -- reaching outside the church -- meeting the needs of the poor and the oppressed -- reaching out to the marginalized and oppressed -- reaching out to the hurting in our midst
-- when the teacher of the law came up and asked Jesus the question, "who is my neighbor?" Jesus told him the parable of the good samaritan -- where both the priest and the levite refused to help a man who had been robbed and beaten but where a samaritan was willing to step in and help -- in Luke 10: 36-37 Jesus concluded by saying, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." -- Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
-- followship is going and doing likewise
-- there are three different forms of followship:
1) financial followship -- giving out of what God has given us to help meet the financial needs of others -- individuals do this when they offer to God their tithes and gifts -- churches do this through apportionments -- through offerings and gifts to ministries and people in need -- and through special donations
2) physical followship -- this if "foot leather" Christianity -- getting out and getting our hands dirty for Jesus -- ministering to the people where they are -- witnessing to them and sharing with them the good news of Jesus Christ -- Jesus told us that when we ministered physically to another person we were, in effect, serving Him -- in Matthew 25: 35-36 He said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'" -- physical followship involves all of these things along with evangelism and witnessing to others
3) spiritual followship -- this is primarily intercessory prayer -- intercessory prayer on behalf of others -- intercessory prayer on behalf of our nation -- praying for someone to come to Christ -- praying for revival -- praying for spiritual leaders -- praying for demonic forces to be bound on earth and the power of the Holy Spirit to be loosed in its place
-- do you want a clear picture of followship in action -- think about the tsunami relief efforts -- it is comprised of all three of these forms of followship -- churches right now are making financial offerings to help support relief in tsunami-stricken areas -- they are praying and interceding for victims and their families -- and lots of Christians are there on site -- physically showing the love of Christ by giving food and water and clothing and shelter to those in need
-- followship is the natural reaction to fellowship -- once you have been involved in fellowship -- once you have been revived and restored by praising and worshiping God -- once you have been built up and encouraged and supported by the church -- then you are ready to go out and pick up your cross and follow Christ
-- I think no one sums up the concept of followship better than the prophet Isaiah -- in the Book of Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah says that he heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And Isaiah responded, "Here am I. Send me!"
-- followship means responding to Christ's call to go and do likewise
IV. Closing
-- fellowship and followship are forms of active Christianity -- both are needed in your life for you to be complete -- you cannot call really yourself a Christian unless you are participating in both
-- I think the crisis in our churches and the crisis in America shows that the time for passive Christianity is over -- the time for apathy and complacency is over -- it is time for us to rise up and do what God called us to do -- to fellowship with Him and each other and to pick up our crosses and follow Christ where He leads us in the world
-- we cannot neglect either of these two areas -- in Hebrews 10:24-25, Paul wrote, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." -- in other words, how we can participate in followship
-- he goes on to say, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." -- in other words, participating in fellowship
-- as we start this new year, I want to encourage you to put an emphasis in your life on both fellowship and followship -- commit to coming to church -- to actively praising and worshiping God with other believers -- to support and encourage others as they support and encourage you
-- and commit to some form of ministry -- maybe this means making a commitment to start tithing -- maybe this means a commitment to a more dedicated prayer life -- maybe this means getting your hands dirty and serving others in Christ's name
-- as I close, I want to leave you with this one final thought on physical followship -- we will always have opportunities to minister to others every single day -- we just need to look for them -- just remember, ministry might be in a place you don't expect and to someone you didn't expect to be ministering to
-- if you have a ministry idea, you need to bring it up before the church -- it doesn't matter if we've never done anything like this before -- it doesn't matter if it will cost a lot of money -- it doesn't matter if we don't have enough people to put it into place -- if it is a ministry God wants us to do, He will make it happen -- He'll show us what to do -- He'll provide the money and the people to make it happen
-- God has given us a purpose for our lives and for our churches -- to participate in fellowship and followship -- will you make a commitment to do that in this new year?
-- let us pray
Friday, January 07, 2005
Charges Dropped Against Christian Protestors
The Christian Post is reporting this morning that the charges against the four Christians who peacefully demonstrated against homosexuals during a homosexual street event in Philadelphia have had all the charges dropped after the judge viewed a videotape of the event. The men were facing up to 47 years in prison for their protests against the homosexuals.
Atheist Sues to Stop Prayers at Inauguration
Michael Newdow, the atheist who sued because he didn't want his daughter to recite "one nation under God" in the pledge of allegiance, has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia trying to stop any official prayers at the presidential inauguration. He alleges that the use of a prayer is unconstitutional.
Let's not forget that regardless of what the U.S. District Court and Michael Newdow eventually say on this case, that we are commanded by our Lord to pray for those in authority over us, even if we did not vote for them and even if we do not support them. The Apostle Paul urged Christians to pray for those in authority, speaking to people who were suffering under slavery and under people who were under the rule of Emperor Nero.
Let's start this new year by praying for God to give our leaders wisdom, guidance, and discernment as they lead under His authority. And let's not forget to pray that these same leaders would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if they do not know Him as their Lord and Savior.
Michael Newdow, the atheist who sued because he didn't want his daughter to recite "one nation under God" in the pledge of allegiance, has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia trying to stop any official prayers at the presidential inauguration. He alleges that the use of a prayer is unconstitutional.
Let's not forget that regardless of what the U.S. District Court and Michael Newdow eventually say on this case, that we are commanded by our Lord to pray for those in authority over us, even if we did not vote for them and even if we do not support them. The Apostle Paul urged Christians to pray for those in authority, speaking to people who were suffering under slavery and under people who were under the rule of Emperor Nero.
Let's start this new year by praying for God to give our leaders wisdom, guidance, and discernment as they lead under His authority. And let's not forget to pray that these same leaders would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if they do not know Him as their Lord and Savior.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
"Things I Hate" or "The New Tolerance"
After having read my upteenth article about how the sight of a nativity scene on a public courthouse square or the display of the Ten Commandments on the wall of an airport has infuriated people and made them feel offended because of religious fundamentalists imposing their moral values on them, I feel it is time to respond.
Every single day I am confronted with things I hate, sounds I hate, places I hate, actions I hate. Things that offend me. Let me give you a simple example from a day in the life of Greg:
I get up, take a shower, and then turn on the news as I get ready for work. I am beset with the news of murder in south Georgia, attempted robbery, terrorist bombings in Iraq. I hate all the news I have heard.
I leave the house and drive past a convenience store where they sell cigarettes, alcohol, and pornography. I hate that and I hate the effect those three vices have on our society and our children.
I go through town, driving over the overpass where I was told as a young teen to "lock your doors," because that is the bad part of town, the part of town where the lowest class people live. I hate the prejudice and judgemental natures that lead people to think that way.
I make it through town and get on Bemiss Road, a dangerous highway to say the least. I watch as cars weave in and out of traffic, cutting each other off and forcing people to slam on brakes to avoid an accident. I hate that. I hate the selfish attitude of other drivers who don't care about the others in the cars around them.
I continue to drive and go past our local adult "entertainment" club. I hate that. I hate having to drive past that sight everyday with it's flashing lights and neon signs advertising the worst of America.
I make it work and to the coffee pot, where I listen as coworkers curse and take the name of the Lord in vain. I hate that.
I leave for lunch and go to a local restaurant. Because we live in a non-smoking city, all smokers have gathered around the door, leaving a cloud of smoke for non-smokers to trudge through to go inside the restaurant. I personally hate that.
I put in my day and then leave for home, retracing my steps along the way. Ending a day filled with things I hate.
Am I offended by what I have seen? Yes. But what is my response as a sinner saved by Christ?
First, I recognize that these things that I hate are part of this world. A regrettable reality in response to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Our world has been corrupted and cursed as a result of the fall, and a lot of the things I hate are a direct result of that event.
Secondly, I recognize that people are always going to be involved in things that are against God's standards in His word. That is a basic fact of life due to our fallen sin nature and the corruption of this world, not to mention our enemies -- the demonic influences that continue to beset us, even in this modern age.
So, what should be my response? Should I demand that all smoking cease because I dislike smoking? Should I file a court injunction demanding the banning of alcohol for all because I don't drink? Should I petition the Government to remove all mention of Yom Kippur or Ramadan because I don't ascribe to those religions?
The answer is an emphatic, "NO," for several reasons. First, there is the simple matter of tolerance, a word you will hear flippantly thrown around today. Tolerance to me means that I accept that other people have different beliefs and do things that I don't like. But, they have the right to do that. It is their choice. Even though I don't like the adult entertainment clubs and the alcohol and the smoking, I recognize that these are realities and that others have a right to do that if that is their choice. The same holds for other vices and other sins. But, that doesn't mean that I have to accept them and affirm them. I have the right to tell them, "I don't agree with what you are doing." I have the right to try to influence them by shining the light of Jesus' love on them. That is tolerance.
But, society today has a different view of tolerance. As Josh McDowell once pointed out in a message, the definition of tolerance, especially among the college-aged and younger, has been changed. Tolerance is now more than just recognizing that others have a right to do things that are harmful. Tolerance now means that you cannot disagree with their actions. You have to accept them and affirm them and support them. You are not allowed to disagree with them or to tell them that they are doing something you consider wrong. Under this new "tolerance", there is no right and wrong. There is only right, and any judgement you make is unfair and bigoted. Under this new "tolerance" you must say things like, "You are a homosexual. I support you in your decision. You are absolutely right to have made that choice." You cannot stand up and say, "I love you as a person, but I think you are committing a sin to be involved in a homosexual lifestyle." That is "intolerant."
It is this thinking of tolerance that has led to the outcries about the Ten Commandments and the Nativity scenes and all expression of Christianity in the public arena. Christianity is a religion that establishes absolute truth -- absolute right and wrong. When you declare yourself a Christian and take a stand against immorality, you are in essence being intolerant because you are refusing to accept and affirm what the other person believes. This is what is driving the removal of all expressions of Christianity. As the Bible says, "light has come into the world, but men love darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)." These people want to remove the light that is shining upon their dark and evil deeds.
But, I don't think we should protest against the deeds of darkness and try to have them legislated out of the world. That will never work. You cannot legislate morality. You cannot wash the outside of a glass and call it clean. We need to be realists, understanding that these things will always be with us. Sin will always pervade this world and darkness and dark deeds will always be the rule.
But I believe in the Light. I believe in the blood of Jesus. I believe that when you call on Jesus all things are possible. The only way to effect change in anyone is to change their hearts. Outside change only comes when the inside gets cleaned. A glass can only be clean if it is cleaned on the inside.
How can things in this world change? How can all those things I hate be erased? Only through the blood of Christ. Only through the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit.
So, I don't rant and rail for change. I don't protest the practicing of other religions, even false religions. I don't concern myself with cleaning the outside of America's glass. But I work to change America's heart. Through my prayers, through my actions, through the love of Christ expressed in my life to others around me.
We need to recognize that the outcry against the expression of our Christian faith is nothing more than the outward sign of a spiritual battle. In most cases, those who cry out the most are the ones that the Spirit is working on the most. Instead of becoming defensive, we need to pray for them.
As an aside note, we need to remember that these symbols -- whether we are talking about the Ten Commandments or a nativity scene -- are just that. Symbols. What is more important than having the Ten Commandments on public display is having the Ten Commandments in your heart and in your life. We don't have to have these public displays in order to worship our God. The strongest Christian churches are in places where Christianity is outlawed and where Christians are severly persecuted -- places like China and North Korea and the Sudan.
The story is told of a communist in Russia telling a Christian there, shortly after the revolution, that they were going to remove all the signs of Christianity from their country, that their God would be removed and that they would have no way to worship Him. The Christian turned to the communist and told him that it wasn't possible. "What, will you remove the stars from their places? Will you tell the sun to refuse to shine? Will you cut down all the trees? Will you remove all the people?"
The signs of God are all around us, everywhere we look. Every one of us is a sign of God. Every one of us is a special creation of God. Even those who protest so loudly about being offended by our Christianity. Your faith should not be in signs. Your faith should be in the One who made the signs.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
A Diary of a Bible
Diary Of A Bible
Author: Unknown
January: A busy time for me. Most of the family decided to read me through this year. They kept me busy for the first two weeks, but they have forgotten me now.
FEBRUARY: Clean-up time. I was dusted yesterday and put in my place. My owner did use me for a few minutes last week. He had been in an argument and was looking up some references to prove he was right.
MARCH: Had a busy day first of the month. My owner was elected president of the PTA & used me to prepare a speech.
APRIL: Grandpa visited us this month. He kept me on his lap for an hour reading from 1 Peter 5:5-7. He seems to think more of me than do some people in my own household.
MAY: I have a few green stains on my pages. Some spring flowers were pressed in my pages.
JUNE: I look like a scrapbook. They have stuffed me full of newspaper clippings - one of the girls got married.
JULY: They put me in a suitcase today. I guess we are off on vacation. I wish I could stay home; I know I'll be closed up in this thing for at least two weeks.
AUGUST: Still in the suitcase.
SEPTEMBER: Back home at last and in my old familiar place. I have a lot of company. Two women's magazines and four comic books are stacked on top of me. I wish I could be read as much as they are.
OCTOBER: They read me a little bit today. One of them is very sick. Right now I am sitting in the center of the coffee table. I think the Pastor is coming by for a visit.
NOVEMBER: Back in my old place. Somebody asked today if I were a scrapbook.
DECEMBER: The family is busy getting ready for the holidays. I guess I'll be covered up under wrapping paper & packages again...just as I am every Christmas.
Thoughts on Epiphany
Sometimes in our church services, we hear the word "Epiphany." This day, celebrated on January 6th -- or on the Sundays immediately before or after the date -- recognizes the coming of the Magi to the Christ Child. Despite what we see represented in our nativity sets, this did not occur on the night of the birth of Christ, but actually occurred about two years later (hence Herod's command to kill all children two years of age or younger).
According to the dictionary, this day celebrates "the manifestation of the divine nature of Christ to the Gentiles." This definition points out the fact that Christ did not just come for the nation of Israel but for all people -- Jew and Gentile. The coming of the Gentiles in obedience and adoration of the Christ child was representative of the coming of the Gentiles to Christ in belief after the resurrection.
According to Paul McCain (http://paulmccain.worldmagblog.com/paulmccain/):
""Epiphany" a word that comes from two Greek words, "epi" meaning "upon" and "phaneo" meaning "to shine" -- hence, Epiphany, the season of the church year devoted to careful devotion to, and praise of, the light of Christ shining forth in and on the world. We will hear in this season the account of the visit of the wise men, our Lord's baptism, his first miracle, and then it will culminate on the Sunday of Transfiguration, right before the beginning on Lent on Ash Wednesday on Feb. 9. "
In that light, let me ask you two questions as we begin a new year in Christ:
1. Is your life reflecting the light of Christ? Have you received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and are you walking with the Lord daily?
2. Is your light shining on others? Are you sharing with others the good news of Christ? Are you being His hands and feet, shining forth His light to a dark world as you meet the physical and spiritual needs of others?
I would encourage you to accept as your theme song for this year the children's classic song, "This little light of mine." The meaning of this song brings forth the purpose of epiphany in our lives in this new year:
"This little light of mine -- I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine -- I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.
Shine all around the neighborhood -- I'm gonna let it shine. Shine all around the neighborhood -- I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine."
May your light shine forth in this new year as you reflect the light and love of Christ to others.
Sometimes in our church services, we hear the word "Epiphany." This day, celebrated on January 6th -- or on the Sundays immediately before or after the date -- recognizes the coming of the Magi to the Christ Child. Despite what we see represented in our nativity sets, this did not occur on the night of the birth of Christ, but actually occurred about two years later (hence Herod's command to kill all children two years of age or younger).
According to the dictionary, this day celebrates "the manifestation of the divine nature of Christ to the Gentiles." This definition points out the fact that Christ did not just come for the nation of Israel but for all people -- Jew and Gentile. The coming of the Gentiles in obedience and adoration of the Christ child was representative of the coming of the Gentiles to Christ in belief after the resurrection.
According to Paul McCain (http://paulmccain.worldmagblog.com/paulmccain/):
""Epiphany" a word that comes from two Greek words, "epi" meaning "upon" and "phaneo" meaning "to shine" -- hence, Epiphany, the season of the church year devoted to careful devotion to, and praise of, the light of Christ shining forth in and on the world. We will hear in this season the account of the visit of the wise men, our Lord's baptism, his first miracle, and then it will culminate on the Sunday of Transfiguration, right before the beginning on Lent on Ash Wednesday on Feb. 9. "
In that light, let me ask you two questions as we begin a new year in Christ:
1. Is your life reflecting the light of Christ? Have you received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and are you walking with the Lord daily?
2. Is your light shining on others? Are you sharing with others the good news of Christ? Are you being His hands and feet, shining forth His light to a dark world as you meet the physical and spiritual needs of others?
I would encourage you to accept as your theme song for this year the children's classic song, "This little light of mine." The meaning of this song brings forth the purpose of epiphany in our lives in this new year:
"This little light of mine -- I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine -- I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.
Shine all around the neighborhood -- I'm gonna let it shine. Shine all around the neighborhood -- I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine."
May your light shine forth in this new year as you reflect the light and love of Christ to others.
Here is a plan to read the entire New Testament from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost.
New Testament Reading Plan for Lent 2005
Ash Wednesday--Pentecost
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Matthew 1:1-4:17
Thursday, February 10, 2005 Matthew 4:18-6:24
Friday, February 11, 2005 Matthew 6:25-9:8
Saturday, February 12, 2005 Matthew 9:9-11:19
Sunday, February 13, 2005 Matthew 11:20-13:23
Monday, February 14, 2005 Matthew 13:24-15:9
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 Matthew 15:10-17:23
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 Matthew 17:24-20:16
Thursday, February 17, 2005 Matthew 20:17-22:14
Friday, February 18, 2005 Matthew 22:15-24:14
Saturday, February 19, 2005 Matthew 24:15-25:46
Sunday, February 20, 2005 Matthew 26:1-27:10
Monday, February 21, 2005 Matthew 27:11-Mark 1:8
Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Mark 1:9-3:21
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 Mark 3:22-5:20
Thursday, February 24, 2005 Mark 5:21-6:56
Friday, February 25, 2005 Mark 7:1-9:1
Saturday, February 26, 2005 Mark 9:2-10:34
Sunday, February 27, 2005 Mark 10:35-12:34
Monday, February 28, 2005 Mark 12:35-14:31
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 Mark 14:32-15:41
Wednesday, March 2, 2005 Mark 15:42-Luke 1:56
Thursday, March 3, 2005 Luke 1:57-2:52
Friday, March 4, 2005 Luke 3:1-4:44
Saturday, March 5, 2005 Luke 5:1-6:42
Sunday, March 6, 2005 Luke 6:43-8:25
Monday, March 7, 2005 Luke 8:26-9:50
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Luke 9:51-11:28
Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Luke 11:29-12:56
Thursday, March 10, 2005 Luke 12:57-15:10
Friday, March 11, 2005 Luke 15:11-17:37
Saturday, March 12, 2005 Luke 18:1-19:40
Sunday, March 13, 2005 Luke 19:41-21:28
Monday, March 14, 2005 Luke 21:29-22:71
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Luke 23:1-24:35
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Luke 24:36-John 2:12
Thursday, March 17, 2005 John 2:13-4:45
Friday, March 18, 2005 John 4:46-6:21
Saturday, March 19, 2005 John 6:22-7:31
Sunday, March 20, 2005 John 7:32-8:59
Monday, March 21, 2005 John 9:1-10:42
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 John 11:1-12:26
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 John 12:27-14:14
Thursday, March 24, 2005 John 14:15-16:33
Friday, March 25, 2005 John 17:1-19:16
Saturday, March 26, 2005 John 19:17-21:25
Sunday, March 27, 2005 Acts 1:1-3:10
Monday, March 28, 2005 Acts 3:11-5:42
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Acts 6:1-8:8
Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Acts 8:9-10:8
Thursday, March 31, 2005 Acts 10:9-12:5
Friday, April 1, 2005 Acts 12:6-14:7
Saturday, April 2, 2005 Acts 14:8-16:24
Sunday, April 3, 2005 Acts 16:25-18:28
Monday, April 4, 2005 Acts 19:1-20:38
Tuesday, April 5, 2005 Acts 21:1-23:11
Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Acts 23:12-25:27
Thursday, April 7, 2005 Acts 26:1-28:10
Friday, April 8, 2005 Acts 28:11-Romans 2:29
Saturday, April 9, 2005 Romans 3:1-5:21
Sunday, April 10, 2005 Romans 6:1-8:39
Monday, April 11, 2005 Romans 9:1-11:24
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Romans 11:25-15:13
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Romans 15:14-1 Corinthians 2:5
Thursday, April 14, 2005 1 Corinthians 2:6-6:11
Friday, April 15, 2005 1 Corinthians 6:12-9:27
Saturday, April 16, 2005 1 Corinthians 10:1-12:11
Sunday, April 17, 2005 1 Corinthians 12:12-15:11
Monday, April 18, 2005 1 Corinthians 15:12-2 Corinthians 1:11
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 2 Corinthians 1:12-5:10
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 2 Corinthians 5:11-9:15
Thursday, April 21, 2005 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:10
Friday, April 22, 2005 2 Corinthians 13:11-Galatians 4:7
Saturday, April 23, 2005 Galatians 4:8-Ephesians 1:14
Sunday, April 24, 2005 Ephesians 1:15-4:32
Monday, April 25, 2005 Ephesians 5:1-Philippians 1:30
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Philippians 2:1-Colossians 1:14
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Colossians 1:15-1 Thessalonians 1:1
Thursday, April 28, 2005 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5:28
Friday, April 29, 2005 2 Thessalonians 1:1-1 Timothy 2:15
Saturday, April 30, 2005 1 Timothy 3:1-2 Timothy 1:2
Sunday, May 1, 2005 2 Timothy 1:3-Titus 1:4
Monday, May 2, 2005 Titus 1:5-Hebrews 2:4
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 Hebrews 2:5-6:20
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 Hebrews 7:1-10:18
Thursday, May 5, 2005 Hebrews 10:19-12:29
Friday, May 6, 2005 Hebrews 13:1-James 3:12
Saturday, May 7, 2005 James 3:13-1 Peter 2:12
Sunday, May 8, 2005 1 Peter 2:13-2 Peter 1:15
Monday, May 9, 2005 2 Peter 1:16-1 John 2:27
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 1 John 2:28-3 John 4
Wednesday, May 11, 2005 3 John 5-Revelation 2:29
Thursday, May 12, 2005 Revelation 3:1-8:5
Friday, May 13, 2005 Revelation 8:6-13:10
Saturday, May 14, 2005 Revelation 13:11-18:24
Sunday, May 15, 2005 Revelation 19:1-22:21
New Testament Reading Plan for Lent 2005
Ash Wednesday--Pentecost
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Matthew 1:1-4:17
Thursday, February 10, 2005 Matthew 4:18-6:24
Friday, February 11, 2005 Matthew 6:25-9:8
Saturday, February 12, 2005 Matthew 9:9-11:19
Sunday, February 13, 2005 Matthew 11:20-13:23
Monday, February 14, 2005 Matthew 13:24-15:9
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 Matthew 15:10-17:23
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 Matthew 17:24-20:16
Thursday, February 17, 2005 Matthew 20:17-22:14
Friday, February 18, 2005 Matthew 22:15-24:14
Saturday, February 19, 2005 Matthew 24:15-25:46
Sunday, February 20, 2005 Matthew 26:1-27:10
Monday, February 21, 2005 Matthew 27:11-Mark 1:8
Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Mark 1:9-3:21
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 Mark 3:22-5:20
Thursday, February 24, 2005 Mark 5:21-6:56
Friday, February 25, 2005 Mark 7:1-9:1
Saturday, February 26, 2005 Mark 9:2-10:34
Sunday, February 27, 2005 Mark 10:35-12:34
Monday, February 28, 2005 Mark 12:35-14:31
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 Mark 14:32-15:41
Wednesday, March 2, 2005 Mark 15:42-Luke 1:56
Thursday, March 3, 2005 Luke 1:57-2:52
Friday, March 4, 2005 Luke 3:1-4:44
Saturday, March 5, 2005 Luke 5:1-6:42
Sunday, March 6, 2005 Luke 6:43-8:25
Monday, March 7, 2005 Luke 8:26-9:50
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Luke 9:51-11:28
Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Luke 11:29-12:56
Thursday, March 10, 2005 Luke 12:57-15:10
Friday, March 11, 2005 Luke 15:11-17:37
Saturday, March 12, 2005 Luke 18:1-19:40
Sunday, March 13, 2005 Luke 19:41-21:28
Monday, March 14, 2005 Luke 21:29-22:71
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Luke 23:1-24:35
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Luke 24:36-John 2:12
Thursday, March 17, 2005 John 2:13-4:45
Friday, March 18, 2005 John 4:46-6:21
Saturday, March 19, 2005 John 6:22-7:31
Sunday, March 20, 2005 John 7:32-8:59
Monday, March 21, 2005 John 9:1-10:42
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 John 11:1-12:26
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 John 12:27-14:14
Thursday, March 24, 2005 John 14:15-16:33
Friday, March 25, 2005 John 17:1-19:16
Saturday, March 26, 2005 John 19:17-21:25
Sunday, March 27, 2005 Acts 1:1-3:10
Monday, March 28, 2005 Acts 3:11-5:42
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Acts 6:1-8:8
Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Acts 8:9-10:8
Thursday, March 31, 2005 Acts 10:9-12:5
Friday, April 1, 2005 Acts 12:6-14:7
Saturday, April 2, 2005 Acts 14:8-16:24
Sunday, April 3, 2005 Acts 16:25-18:28
Monday, April 4, 2005 Acts 19:1-20:38
Tuesday, April 5, 2005 Acts 21:1-23:11
Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Acts 23:12-25:27
Thursday, April 7, 2005 Acts 26:1-28:10
Friday, April 8, 2005 Acts 28:11-Romans 2:29
Saturday, April 9, 2005 Romans 3:1-5:21
Sunday, April 10, 2005 Romans 6:1-8:39
Monday, April 11, 2005 Romans 9:1-11:24
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Romans 11:25-15:13
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Romans 15:14-1 Corinthians 2:5
Thursday, April 14, 2005 1 Corinthians 2:6-6:11
Friday, April 15, 2005 1 Corinthians 6:12-9:27
Saturday, April 16, 2005 1 Corinthians 10:1-12:11
Sunday, April 17, 2005 1 Corinthians 12:12-15:11
Monday, April 18, 2005 1 Corinthians 15:12-2 Corinthians 1:11
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 2 Corinthians 1:12-5:10
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 2 Corinthians 5:11-9:15
Thursday, April 21, 2005 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:10
Friday, April 22, 2005 2 Corinthians 13:11-Galatians 4:7
Saturday, April 23, 2005 Galatians 4:8-Ephesians 1:14
Sunday, April 24, 2005 Ephesians 1:15-4:32
Monday, April 25, 2005 Ephesians 5:1-Philippians 1:30
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Philippians 2:1-Colossians 1:14
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Colossians 1:15-1 Thessalonians 1:1
Thursday, April 28, 2005 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5:28
Friday, April 29, 2005 2 Thessalonians 1:1-1 Timothy 2:15
Saturday, April 30, 2005 1 Timothy 3:1-2 Timothy 1:2
Sunday, May 1, 2005 2 Timothy 1:3-Titus 1:4
Monday, May 2, 2005 Titus 1:5-Hebrews 2:4
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 Hebrews 2:5-6:20
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 Hebrews 7:1-10:18
Thursday, May 5, 2005 Hebrews 10:19-12:29
Friday, May 6, 2005 Hebrews 13:1-James 3:12
Saturday, May 7, 2005 James 3:13-1 Peter 2:12
Sunday, May 8, 2005 1 Peter 2:13-2 Peter 1:15
Monday, May 9, 2005 2 Peter 1:16-1 John 2:27
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 1 John 2:28-3 John 4
Wednesday, May 11, 2005 3 John 5-Revelation 2:29
Thursday, May 12, 2005 Revelation 3:1-8:5
Friday, May 13, 2005 Revelation 8:6-13:10
Saturday, May 14, 2005 Revelation 13:11-18:24
Sunday, May 15, 2005 Revelation 19:1-22:21
Monday, January 03, 2005
Tsunami Relief [As Posted on World Magazine Blog -- http://www.wo rldmagblog.com/blog/]
How not to help
Veteran aid group World Vision has listed the Top 10 myths on disaster relief in the wake of the Asian tsunami crisis. They offer good guidance on what works and what doesn't:
1. Americans can help by collecting blankets, shoes and clothing
The cost of shipping these items - let alone the time it takes to sort, pack and ship them - is prohibitive. Often, those items are manufactured for export to the U.S. from these same countries. It is far more efficient to purchase them locally. Cash is the better solution.
2. Helping the living always has priority over burying the dead
In refugee camps and epidemic situations where people die of diseases, it is essential to dispose of the bodies within a short period of time. If they died of other causes such as drowning, they are less of a health risk but pose an impediment to relief efforts and delay the mourning process.
3. The United States must airlift food and medicines to the disaster site
Food is virtually always available within a day's drive of the disaster site. Purchasing the food locally is more cost-efficient, and it ensures that the food is appropriate to local residents' tastes and religious requirements. Medicines are often available within the country, too. India, for example, has a large pharmaceutical industry. Because medicines are high-value, low-weight commodities, in some cases they can and must be airlifted in to save lives. In massive disasters, it sometimes is necessary to airlift other supplies as well.
4. If I send cash, my help won't get there
Reputable agencies send 80 percent or more of cash donations to the disaster site; the rest goes for administration, operating expenses and monitoring the efficiency of their own operations. Donors have a right and a responsibility to ask aid groups how they will be using those donations, and what will be done with donations raised in excess of the need.
5. Once someone survives the immediate disaster, he or she is safe
The immediate catastrophe kills quickly; survivors can face a slower death from hunger, disease and even criminal predators. While emergency medical teams certainly are needed for people injured in a disaster, the best way to keep survivors healthy is to provide clean water and adequate sanitation. Cholera and dysentery can result from drinking contaminated water; malaria-spreading mosquitoes breed in standing water.
6. Developing countries depend on foreign expertise
While specialized assistance is always welcome, most relief and recovery efforts are accomplished by local aid groups, police, firefighters and neighbors before international teams arrive. Also, in recent years most governments have established disaster preparedness plans.
7. Relief needs are so intense that almost anyone can fly to the scene to offer help
Professionals with specialized skills and overseas disaster experience are often deployed to disaster sites. Volunteers without those skills can do more harm than good, and siphon off critical logistics and translations services. Hiring qualified disaster survivors is much more cost efficient and provides much needed employment.
8. Survivors feel lucky to be alive
Shock, trauma and the mourning for loved ones who died are common among disaster survivors. Often, they wish it was they who died instead of their loved ones. Treating these emotional needs is an essential component of relief efforts.
9. Insurance and governments can cover losses
The vast majority of the world's population has never heard of an insurance policy. Further, governments of poor countries can barely meet ongoing social service needs, let alone provide a safety net like FEMA. Disaster survivors must bear these costs alone.
10. People are helpless in the face of natural disasters
The United States is proof that tougher building codes, early warning and disaster preparedness can save lives. Even in poor countries, communities are taking steps to mitigate the loss of life in future emergencies.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
AN AFTER-CHRISTMAS JESUS
26 December 2004
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Luke 2
-- well, we finally made it through another Christmas -- and if your homes are anything like ours, the trees that we had so painstakingly decorated and surrounded with presents are now standing bare, with no presents around the base -- there might be a few piles of wrapping paper -- a few presents left to be opened -- but, by and large, Christmas has come and gone
-- and it won't be long before we start taking down the tree and removing all the Christmas decorations that we had so carefully put up -- taking off the lights and the ornaments and carefully putting them in storage until next Christmas rolls around
-- you know that Christmas is really over when you go into the stores and you see "after Christmas" sales all over the place and signs directing people on where to return items that they received for Christmas
-- by next week, Christmas will be just a memory -- the Christmas lights will be taken down around town -- the radio stations will quit playing Christmas music -- and the stores will have moved on to prepare for the next holiday on the calendar -- in fact, I went into one store this weekend, and they had already removed all of their Christmas-themed items and replaced them with spring gardening equipment
-- you know, one of the saddest days of the year for me is when we take down the nativity set at our house and store it until next year -- it always pains me to take each member of the nativity scene -- the wise men -- the shepherds -- the angels -- Mary and Joseph -- even the animals -- and wrap them up and store them back in their box -- but it pains me most of all when I wrap up the baby Jesus and place Him in the box and put the box on a shelf until next Christmas rolls around
-- it always seems like that is just what this world is doing -- in our "after-Christmas culture" there's just no room for Jesus in our lives anymore -- once Christmas day has passed, we just want to put Him up on the shelf and leave Him there until next Christmas or until Easter rolls around
-- I guess that's always been the case -- from the start, the very idea of Jesus made some people uncomfortable, and so they just couldn't find room for Him in their lives
II. No Room in the Inn
-- think back to the first Christmas as recorded in the gospel of Luke -- the same thing happened to the baby Jesus
-- look with me now at Luke 2:1
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3. And everyone went to his own town to register.
4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
-- when Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem at Caesar's orders they went looking for a place to stay -- the story indicates that Mary was very pregnant at the time -- ready to give birth -- they went from place to place seeking shelter, but the passage tells us that there was no room for them in the inn
-- when Jesus was about to be born, He was turned away by all in that place -- there was no room for Him here, even though He had created Bethlehem with His word and with His will
-- have you ever wondered about the innkeeper -- wondered why he refused to allow Mary and Joseph to stay with them? -- How many of you would turn away a pregnant woman and her husband so close to her time?
-- I've wondered that myself -- I can understand why there weren't any rooms available in the inn on that night -- a lot of strangers were probably in town to be counted as part of Caesar's census -- but, it still doesn't explain why the innkeeper couldn't find a place for Mary and Joseph somewhere in the inn
-- why couldn't he find a place for them by the fire? -- or in a corner of the kitchen? -- why couldn't he give up his own bed for a pregnant woman for just one night? -- we don't know the reasons why, but I wonder if the failure to receive lodging -- the rejection by the innkeeper -- was part of God's heavenly plan for Jesus
-- you see, one thing is obvious from reading about Jesus in the Bible -- the world always rejected Him and despised Him and had no room for Him -- in Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah prophesied that this would happen -- he wrote there that the Messiah would be despised and rejected by all men, that He would be a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering
-- how fitting that on the very night of His birth, He would first be rejected by the very people He came to save?
-- but the rejection of Christ did not end there in a manger next to a full inn on Christmas day -- it was to be a pattern for His life
-- in John 1:10-11 it says "He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him -- though He came to that which was His own, His own did not receive Him"
-- 2000 years ago, God stepped down the stairway of Heaven with a baby in His arms -- and that baby -- God clothed in flesh -- the Creator of all -- came to a world that He created -- but the world did not recognize Him -- He came to a people set apart for His purposes -- but His people rejected Him as well
-- think about that for a minute -- think about the impact of that
-- the Creator came to His creation and His creation rejected Him -- we rejected Him -- we rejected Christ
-- we did it on a Christmas night over 2000 years ago as an innkeeper turned a young couple away from his door -- we did it when Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver -- we did it when the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the priests had Jesus arrested -- we did it when Pilate sentenced Jesus to death -- and we do it every time we turn away from Him to follow our own desires and our own wishes instead of His plan for our life
-- Oh, we like Him from time to time -- we especially like the baby Jesus in a manger -- we bring Him out at Christmas -- but then just like an unwanted gift that gets returned to the store, we tend to push Him out of lives -- to put Him on the shelf -- and to only truly call on His name when we are in need or when the next holiday rolls around
-- we're not only living in an after-Christmas world -- we're living in an after-Jesus world -- but that's not what He had in mind when He clothed Himself in flesh -- when He became a man and walked among us -- no, He had bigger things in mind
III. Why Did Jesus Come?
-- have you ever put much thought into what the incarnation meant -- what it meant for God to become a man and to be born through a virgin on Christmas day?
-- I know that we have no real concept of what Heaven may be like -- in our most magnificant and grandest dreams we do not come close to the reality of what life in Heaven is like
-- now think for a moment about what Jesus left behind to come to us -- Jesus lived in Heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lords -- when He spoke, worlds were created -- when He whispered, stars stood still -- when He passed by, angels would prostrate themselves and worship Him -- He was above all and nothing could even come close to matching the glory and the majesty and the beauty of our Lord
-- but scripture tells us that His heart was grieved because of the sin of man -- He longed for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him -- but He knew that no one -- outside of Himself -- could possibly restore that relationship
-- only the death of a righteous man -- a holy man -- a sinless man -- could satisfy the requirement of the law -- and no human could possibly meet that criteria
-- so, out of love for us, God became man -- out of love for us, God placed Himself in the womb of a young virgin and was born in the world to be our Savior
-- as it says in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life -- for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him"
-- do you understand what that means? -- do you catch the implications in those verses? -- Jesus was living in Heaven as God -- He was living in paradise -- but He chose to come to this barren land -- to come to this desert place -- to save us -- His lowly creation
-- let me show this in Scripture -- turn over with me to one more verse
-- Luke 4:1 -- this passage takes place immediately after the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist
1. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert
-- now I want you to notice something in this verse -- all of the major translations of the Bible -- the NIV, the NRSV, the American Standard Version -- all agree with this verse -- the King James and the New King James have it translated incorrectly I think on this one part
-- listen closely as I read this verse again from the NIV --
1. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
-- did you see it? -- Jesus was led by the Spirit IN the desert -- He was not led by the Spirit to the desert -- He was led by the Spirit IN the desert
-- now what does that mean? -- that means that for God -- for Jesus -- this earth is the desert -- this is the barren place -- Jesus came TO the desert when He was born in a stable over 2000 years ago -- but since coming to earth as a man, He was led IN the desert by the Spirit
-- now get what I'm saying here -- I want you to catch the real impact of the passages we've been looking at here -- Jesus left Heaven -- He left His throne and His power and His authority and humbled Himself and became a man just like us -- He came to this barren land -- to this spiritual desert -- to save us from ourselves
-- and what did He get for His troubles? -- He got rejected -- He got despised -- He got crucified
-- and every time we turn our back on Him -- every time we treat Him just like any other unwanted Christmas gift -- every time we rush through Christmas and then say to ourselves, "I'm glad that's over" -- we're rejecting Him just as much as the innkeeper and Judas and the Pharisees, and Pontius Pilate did
-- Jesus did not come to earth to be worshiped only as a baby in a manger -- He did not come just to be adored by shepherds and wisemen -- He came to earth to save us from our sins and to be worshiped and adored as our Lord and Savior 365 days a year -- not just on Christmas -- not just on Easter -- and not just on Sunday mornings
-- I want to stop here and play a song called "Adoration" for you -- it's told from the perspective of a shepherd boy, but the feeling that he captures in this song should speak to us on this day after Christmas
-- listen to the words closely as this song is played
III. Closing
-- 2000 years ago God became man and walked on this earth for one purpose -- to save us from our sins and to restore us to a right relationship with Him
-- He came to be adored -- not to be rejected -- He came to be worshiped -- not to be despised
-- Jesus didn't come to earth as a baby to be put in storage until next Christmas -- He didn't come to earth to be put in storage until Easter -- or even until next Sunday
-- He came so that we might have life, and have it to the full -- but we tend to think of Him as just another Christmas gift -- and for the sake of convenience, we put Him aside and don't think of Him -- much less worship or adore Him -- until the next Christmas or Easter or Sunday rolls around
-- I pray this morning, on the first Sunday after Christmas, that you would make a commitment to keep Christ in your hearts this year -- that you would not put Him aside like an unwanted gift -- or put Him in storage like a precious decoration -- but that you would walk with Him in fellowship and adoration and worship every day for this next year
-- We heard a lot this year about keeping Christ in Christmas -- would you commit to keeping Christ with you after Christmas?
-- let's pray
26 December 2004
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Luke 2
-- well, we finally made it through another Christmas -- and if your homes are anything like ours, the trees that we had so painstakingly decorated and surrounded with presents are now standing bare, with no presents around the base -- there might be a few piles of wrapping paper -- a few presents left to be opened -- but, by and large, Christmas has come and gone
-- and it won't be long before we start taking down the tree and removing all the Christmas decorations that we had so carefully put up -- taking off the lights and the ornaments and carefully putting them in storage until next Christmas rolls around
-- you know that Christmas is really over when you go into the stores and you see "after Christmas" sales all over the place and signs directing people on where to return items that they received for Christmas
-- by next week, Christmas will be just a memory -- the Christmas lights will be taken down around town -- the radio stations will quit playing Christmas music -- and the stores will have moved on to prepare for the next holiday on the calendar -- in fact, I went into one store this weekend, and they had already removed all of their Christmas-themed items and replaced them with spring gardening equipment
-- you know, one of the saddest days of the year for me is when we take down the nativity set at our house and store it until next year -- it always pains me to take each member of the nativity scene -- the wise men -- the shepherds -- the angels -- Mary and Joseph -- even the animals -- and wrap them up and store them back in their box -- but it pains me most of all when I wrap up the baby Jesus and place Him in the box and put the box on a shelf until next Christmas rolls around
-- it always seems like that is just what this world is doing -- in our "after-Christmas culture" there's just no room for Jesus in our lives anymore -- once Christmas day has passed, we just want to put Him up on the shelf and leave Him there until next Christmas or until Easter rolls around
-- I guess that's always been the case -- from the start, the very idea of Jesus made some people uncomfortable, and so they just couldn't find room for Him in their lives
II. No Room in the Inn
-- think back to the first Christmas as recorded in the gospel of Luke -- the same thing happened to the baby Jesus
-- look with me now at Luke 2:1
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3. And everyone went to his own town to register.
4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
-- when Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem at Caesar's orders they went looking for a place to stay -- the story indicates that Mary was very pregnant at the time -- ready to give birth -- they went from place to place seeking shelter, but the passage tells us that there was no room for them in the inn
-- when Jesus was about to be born, He was turned away by all in that place -- there was no room for Him here, even though He had created Bethlehem with His word and with His will
-- have you ever wondered about the innkeeper -- wondered why he refused to allow Mary and Joseph to stay with them? -- How many of you would turn away a pregnant woman and her husband so close to her time?
-- I've wondered that myself -- I can understand why there weren't any rooms available in the inn on that night -- a lot of strangers were probably in town to be counted as part of Caesar's census -- but, it still doesn't explain why the innkeeper couldn't find a place for Mary and Joseph somewhere in the inn
-- why couldn't he find a place for them by the fire? -- or in a corner of the kitchen? -- why couldn't he give up his own bed for a pregnant woman for just one night? -- we don't know the reasons why, but I wonder if the failure to receive lodging -- the rejection by the innkeeper -- was part of God's heavenly plan for Jesus
-- you see, one thing is obvious from reading about Jesus in the Bible -- the world always rejected Him and despised Him and had no room for Him -- in Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah prophesied that this would happen -- he wrote there that the Messiah would be despised and rejected by all men, that He would be a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering
-- how fitting that on the very night of His birth, He would first be rejected by the very people He came to save?
-- but the rejection of Christ did not end there in a manger next to a full inn on Christmas day -- it was to be a pattern for His life
-- in John 1:10-11 it says "He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him -- though He came to that which was His own, His own did not receive Him"
-- 2000 years ago, God stepped down the stairway of Heaven with a baby in His arms -- and that baby -- God clothed in flesh -- the Creator of all -- came to a world that He created -- but the world did not recognize Him -- He came to a people set apart for His purposes -- but His people rejected Him as well
-- think about that for a minute -- think about the impact of that
-- the Creator came to His creation and His creation rejected Him -- we rejected Him -- we rejected Christ
-- we did it on a Christmas night over 2000 years ago as an innkeeper turned a young couple away from his door -- we did it when Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver -- we did it when the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the priests had Jesus arrested -- we did it when Pilate sentenced Jesus to death -- and we do it every time we turn away from Him to follow our own desires and our own wishes instead of His plan for our life
-- Oh, we like Him from time to time -- we especially like the baby Jesus in a manger -- we bring Him out at Christmas -- but then just like an unwanted gift that gets returned to the store, we tend to push Him out of lives -- to put Him on the shelf -- and to only truly call on His name when we are in need or when the next holiday rolls around
-- we're not only living in an after-Christmas world -- we're living in an after-Jesus world -- but that's not what He had in mind when He clothed Himself in flesh -- when He became a man and walked among us -- no, He had bigger things in mind
III. Why Did Jesus Come?
-- have you ever put much thought into what the incarnation meant -- what it meant for God to become a man and to be born through a virgin on Christmas day?
-- I know that we have no real concept of what Heaven may be like -- in our most magnificant and grandest dreams we do not come close to the reality of what life in Heaven is like
-- now think for a moment about what Jesus left behind to come to us -- Jesus lived in Heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lords -- when He spoke, worlds were created -- when He whispered, stars stood still -- when He passed by, angels would prostrate themselves and worship Him -- He was above all and nothing could even come close to matching the glory and the majesty and the beauty of our Lord
-- but scripture tells us that His heart was grieved because of the sin of man -- He longed for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him -- but He knew that no one -- outside of Himself -- could possibly restore that relationship
-- only the death of a righteous man -- a holy man -- a sinless man -- could satisfy the requirement of the law -- and no human could possibly meet that criteria
-- so, out of love for us, God became man -- out of love for us, God placed Himself in the womb of a young virgin and was born in the world to be our Savior
-- as it says in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life -- for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him"
-- do you understand what that means? -- do you catch the implications in those verses? -- Jesus was living in Heaven as God -- He was living in paradise -- but He chose to come to this barren land -- to come to this desert place -- to save us -- His lowly creation
-- let me show this in Scripture -- turn over with me to one more verse
-- Luke 4:1 -- this passage takes place immediately after the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist
1. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert
-- now I want you to notice something in this verse -- all of the major translations of the Bible -- the NIV, the NRSV, the American Standard Version -- all agree with this verse -- the King James and the New King James have it translated incorrectly I think on this one part
-- listen closely as I read this verse again from the NIV --
1. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
-- did you see it? -- Jesus was led by the Spirit IN the desert -- He was not led by the Spirit to the desert -- He was led by the Spirit IN the desert
-- now what does that mean? -- that means that for God -- for Jesus -- this earth is the desert -- this is the barren place -- Jesus came TO the desert when He was born in a stable over 2000 years ago -- but since coming to earth as a man, He was led IN the desert by the Spirit
-- now get what I'm saying here -- I want you to catch the real impact of the passages we've been looking at here -- Jesus left Heaven -- He left His throne and His power and His authority and humbled Himself and became a man just like us -- He came to this barren land -- to this spiritual desert -- to save us from ourselves
-- and what did He get for His troubles? -- He got rejected -- He got despised -- He got crucified
-- and every time we turn our back on Him -- every time we treat Him just like any other unwanted Christmas gift -- every time we rush through Christmas and then say to ourselves, "I'm glad that's over" -- we're rejecting Him just as much as the innkeeper and Judas and the Pharisees, and Pontius Pilate did
-- Jesus did not come to earth to be worshiped only as a baby in a manger -- He did not come just to be adored by shepherds and wisemen -- He came to earth to save us from our sins and to be worshiped and adored as our Lord and Savior 365 days a year -- not just on Christmas -- not just on Easter -- and not just on Sunday mornings
-- I want to stop here and play a song called "Adoration" for you -- it's told from the perspective of a shepherd boy, but the feeling that he captures in this song should speak to us on this day after Christmas
-- listen to the words closely as this song is played
III. Closing
-- 2000 years ago God became man and walked on this earth for one purpose -- to save us from our sins and to restore us to a right relationship with Him
-- He came to be adored -- not to be rejected -- He came to be worshiped -- not to be despised
-- Jesus didn't come to earth as a baby to be put in storage until next Christmas -- He didn't come to earth to be put in storage until Easter -- or even until next Sunday
-- He came so that we might have life, and have it to the full -- but we tend to think of Him as just another Christmas gift -- and for the sake of convenience, we put Him aside and don't think of Him -- much less worship or adore Him -- until the next Christmas or Easter or Sunday rolls around
-- I pray this morning, on the first Sunday after Christmas, that you would make a commitment to keep Christ in your hearts this year -- that you would not put Him aside like an unwanted gift -- or put Him in storage like a precious decoration -- but that you would walk with Him in fellowship and adoration and worship every day for this next year
-- We heard a lot this year about keeping Christ in Christmas -- would you commit to keeping Christ with you after Christmas?
-- let's pray
South and Southeast Asia: UMCOR Responds to Catastrophic Disaster
UMCOR has issued an urgent appeal for donations to assist tens of thousands of earthquake survivors in South and Southeast Asia. The death toll has risen above 59,000 according to press reports today, in one of the most devastating earthquakes in a century.
UMCOR will be working with church-related alliances such as Action by Churches Together and Churches Auxiliary for Social Action to provide food, clean water, shelter, and sanitation services in a broadband of nations from Asia to Africa. The areas affected include parts of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and islands such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The exact extent of the destruction is not immediately known. Waters from tsunamis-the term is Japanese for tidal wave-pushed far inland, and many of the affected regions are remote.
In India CASA has deployed 12 teams to assess needs and assist people in the coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. The organization told UMCOR it expects to work with 50,000 families.
The island nation of Sri Lanka was one of the hardest hit. As many as 10,000 died there. UMCOR assistance there will be coordinated through the National Council of Churches of Sri Lanka. Immediate need is to provide food and housing for displaced people.
Cash gifts will be most meaningful in the initial days and weeks of this response, according to the Rev. Kristin L. Sachen, head of UMCOR's international emergency services. "We have some initial funds to send this week," she said, but noted that long-term support will depend on the offerings local churches receive in response to the disaster. A bulletin insert will be available at umcor.org later this week.
You can get involved through giving to UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency. UMCOR is also accepting online donations at http://MethodistRelief.org .
UMCOR has issued an urgent appeal for donations to assist tens of thousands of earthquake survivors in South and Southeast Asia. The death toll has risen above 59,000 according to press reports today, in one of the most devastating earthquakes in a century.
UMCOR will be working with church-related alliances such as Action by Churches Together and Churches Auxiliary for Social Action to provide food, clean water, shelter, and sanitation services in a broadband of nations from Asia to Africa. The areas affected include parts of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and islands such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The exact extent of the destruction is not immediately known. Waters from tsunamis-the term is Japanese for tidal wave-pushed far inland, and many of the affected regions are remote.
In India CASA has deployed 12 teams to assess needs and assist people in the coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. The organization told UMCOR it expects to work with 50,000 families.
The island nation of Sri Lanka was one of the hardest hit. As many as 10,000 died there. UMCOR assistance there will be coordinated through the National Council of Churches of Sri Lanka. Immediate need is to provide food and housing for displaced people.
Cash gifts will be most meaningful in the initial days and weeks of this response, according to the Rev. Kristin L. Sachen, head of UMCOR's international emergency services. "We have some initial funds to send this week," she said, but noted that long-term support will depend on the offerings local churches receive in response to the disaster. A bulletin insert will be available at umcor.org later this week.
You can get involved through giving to UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency. UMCOR is also accepting online donations at http://MethodistRelief.org .
Monday, December 27, 2004
A Time for Prayer
As we have passed through the Christmas season and are facing a New Year in just a few days, please join with me in prayer for our churches, our nation, and our world. There are many who are suffering today and who need our prayers in this next week and this next year.
Specifically, please join me in prayer for....
Our churches -- that revival would sweep this land and this world -- that we would put aside our differences and truly be one in spirit as the Lord Jesus envisioned -- that we would turn from our liberal theological leanings and trust solely in the Word of God
Our nation -- that healing would begin following a fractious election year -- that our economy would be made stronger -- that our people would be filled with a desire to follow God and to live our Christ's love in their lives by reaching out to the poor and the widowed and the orphans -- that we would be protected from terrorists who seek to harm us -- and that we would be united as one people once again
Our world ...
-- for the victims of the earthquake in Indonesia, for their families and for the Governments struggling to deal with the horrific catastrophe -- that God's hand would be seen in the response to this disaster and that many would come to Christ as a result
-- for the people of Iraq -- that they would press on to their goal of having free elections on January 30th -- that the terrorists plans for that area would be thwarted and that the elections would happen without further violence -- for protection for our men and women serving there
-- for the European Union -- that they would come to recognize the need for God in their lives and build their new union and new constitution around the One who gives them the authority to govern -- for revival in Europe -- for the empty cathedrals and sanctuaries to be filled with joyous worship once again
-- for Africa -- for peace to reign in all the countries of this land -- for oppression and conflict and strife to end -- for revival to sweep from one corner to another and for the coming of many to Christ -- strength to the martyrs and courage to those facing persecution for Christ's sake -- for an end to famine and disease
Update on Methodist Minister Trial
Just a few weeks ago, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church found a Methodist minister, Rev. Irene Elizabeth Stroud, guilty of violating the Book of Discipline because of her lesbian lifestyle. As a result of the trial, she lost her ordination credentials and is no longer authorized to perform sacraments in Methodist churches.
Rev. Stroud has just announced that she is appealing the results of her trial to the Northeastern Jurisdiction. She feels that the Book of Discipline allows for diversity within the church. Since the Northeastern Jurisdiction is a more liberal jurisdiction, there may be a good chance that the ruling by the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference could be overturned, which would lead our denomination into yet another controversy concerning same-sex marriage.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
First Corinthians 13, the Christmas Version:
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just a decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do no show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 20, 2004
News to Watch!
There is a disturbing new trend taking place in Western countries to systematically exclude all Christian images, symbols, thought, and speech from the public arena. We have always seen over-reactions this time of the year as schools and cities banned Christian Christmas symbols in order to appease the ACLU and avoid lawsuits, but this year conditions have gotten even worse.
In Plano, TX, the school system there went so far as to ban the colors red and green from "Holiday" celebrations. All plates, napkins, and cups had to be completely white. Red and green colors were considered Christian and were banned. Other municipalities and schools have banned the word "Christmas" and have banned Christmas trees and nativity scenes and other traditional Christmas symbols. And, of course, we have the infamous Target banning of the Salvation Army bellringers, put forth as an attempt to reduce "solicitation" at their stores.
But, far more alarming are the recent attacks on the freedom of Christians, including preachers, to speak their beliefs. In the Netherlands, pastors can be arrested for "hate speech" if they preach against homosexuality by reading certain passages from the Bible. England recently passed a law limiting the freedom of speech and redefining "hate speech" to include sermons from pastors. And it's not all limited to European countries.
On Oct 10th in Philadelphia, 11 Christians were arrested for demonstrating at a pro-gay rally. The Christians were singing hymns, reading Bible passages, and praying. However, they were arrested, and 4 of the 11 are being prosecuted for "hate speech." The four could receive up to 47 years in prison if convicted.
What has happened to freedom of speech? What has happened to tolerance of other's beliefs? Where does it say in the Constitution that we not only have to tolerate but have to accept and affirm another's beliefs, no matter whether they disagree with our religious understanding or not? This is cause for real concern and should be a matter of prayer for Christians everywhere. If this can happen under the administration of a conservative Christian president, what does the future hold if more liberal administrations are formed?
There is a disturbing new trend taking place in Western countries to systematically exclude all Christian images, symbols, thought, and speech from the public arena. We have always seen over-reactions this time of the year as schools and cities banned Christian Christmas symbols in order to appease the ACLU and avoid lawsuits, but this year conditions have gotten even worse.
In Plano, TX, the school system there went so far as to ban the colors red and green from "Holiday" celebrations. All plates, napkins, and cups had to be completely white. Red and green colors were considered Christian and were banned. Other municipalities and schools have banned the word "Christmas" and have banned Christmas trees and nativity scenes and other traditional Christmas symbols. And, of course, we have the infamous Target banning of the Salvation Army bellringers, put forth as an attempt to reduce "solicitation" at their stores.
But, far more alarming are the recent attacks on the freedom of Christians, including preachers, to speak their beliefs. In the Netherlands, pastors can be arrested for "hate speech" if they preach against homosexuality by reading certain passages from the Bible. England recently passed a law limiting the freedom of speech and redefining "hate speech" to include sermons from pastors. And it's not all limited to European countries.
On Oct 10th in Philadelphia, 11 Christians were arrested for demonstrating at a pro-gay rally. The Christians were singing hymns, reading Bible passages, and praying. However, they were arrested, and 4 of the 11 are being prosecuted for "hate speech." The four could receive up to 47 years in prison if convicted.
What has happened to freedom of speech? What has happened to tolerance of other's beliefs? Where does it say in the Constitution that we not only have to tolerate but have to accept and affirm another's beliefs, no matter whether they disagree with our religious understanding or not? This is cause for real concern and should be a matter of prayer for Christians everywhere. If this can happen under the administration of a conservative Christian president, what does the future hold if more liberal administrations are formed?
Salvation Army and Target...Again
Well, now it appears the Salvation Army has enlisted a major ally in the war currently going on with Target. Wal-Mart has pledged to match donations received in Salvation Army kettles outside of their stores to the turn of $1 million dollars. Wal-mart made the announcement in response to Target's decision to ban Salvation Army bellringers and kettles from their store parking lots.
This issue is starting to get some media attention. A boycott of Target is proceeding by some Christians, but probably will not amount to enough to even catch the superstore's attention. However, others have come to the same idea I promoted -- to make a donation to the Salvation Army to help make up what they have lost from Target's decision.
Here's an article from the Christian News on the Wal-mart Decision. You can read the article on-line here: http://www.christianpost.com/article/society/1272/section/salvation.army.receives.%241million-matching.pledge.from.wal-mart/1.htm
Salvation Army Receives $1million-Matching Pledge from Wal-Mart
The Army good news from Wal-Mart after receiving bad news from Target.
Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004 Posted: 2:53:07PM EST
The Salvation Army said Friday it has received a matching pledge from Wal-Mart Stores, which will match up to $1 million its customers’ donations to the red kettles in front of its stores. Wal-Mart’s announcement is a solace to the national ministry after Target banned the Army’s bell ringers from its locations.
Advertisement
“At a time when it was needed the most, Wal-Mart has extended its hand to support a 104-year old tradition that benefits many thousands of people in communities throughout the United States,” said Commissioner W. Todd Bassett, National Commander of The Salvation Army. The matching pledge kicked-off Friday and applies to the Army’s red kettles in front of the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation’s 3,600 Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUBS through Christmas Eve. According to the Army, the contributions will used for disaster relief efforts, feeding the hungry, and helping needy families in more than 9,000 communities across the country.Said Basset, “Every dollar put into our Red Kettles is used locally, and Wal-Mart’s generosity by matching those dollars will extend our local services to many more needy individuals requiring our assistance far beyond the holiday season.”Last year, bell ringers collected $12 million in front of Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUBS, accounting for more than 10% of the total donations raised through the nationwide Christmas appeal. A spokesman from Wal-Mart told The Christian Post the $1 million will likely be raised. However, the ministry is projecting to suffer a $9 million loss, the amount it raised last year through Red Kettle drives at Target locations. Target received a huge backlash from pro-family groups and its shoppers for kicking out the Salvation Army bell ringers. Pro-family activist groups such as the American Family Association, Christian Defense Coalition, National Clergy Council, Illinois Family Institute, among others, have urged boycotts on Target stores in favor of stores that do allow the red kettles such as Wal-Mart. “The Red Kettles are an enduring symbol of the holiday season and represent people helping people,” said Betsy Reithemeyer, vice president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.“We hope our customers join us in donating what they can to benefit an organization that does so much in our communities to serve families in need. The Salvation Army Red Kettles and the bell ringers are truly a holiday tradition worth keeping.”Reaching 33 million people last year, the Salvation Army reported it provided food for the hungry, companionship to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, opportunities for underprivileged children, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, and many more services. A online donation to the Army’s Red Kettle drive can also be made through a link on Wal-Mart’s Web site leading to the Salvation Army’s online Kettle donation page, www.1800salarmy.org. People can also call 1- 800-SAL-ARMY to donate.
Well, now it appears the Salvation Army has enlisted a major ally in the war currently going on with Target. Wal-Mart has pledged to match donations received in Salvation Army kettles outside of their stores to the turn of $1 million dollars. Wal-mart made the announcement in response to Target's decision to ban Salvation Army bellringers and kettles from their store parking lots.
This issue is starting to get some media attention. A boycott of Target is proceeding by some Christians, but probably will not amount to enough to even catch the superstore's attention. However, others have come to the same idea I promoted -- to make a donation to the Salvation Army to help make up what they have lost from Target's decision.
Here's an article from the Christian News on the Wal-mart Decision. You can read the article on-line here: http://www.christianpost.com/article/society/1272/section/salvation.army.receives.%241million-matching.pledge.from.wal-mart/1.htm
Salvation Army Receives $1million-Matching Pledge from Wal-Mart
The Army good news from Wal-Mart after receiving bad news from Target.
Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004 Posted: 2:53:07PM EST
The Salvation Army said Friday it has received a matching pledge from Wal-Mart Stores, which will match up to $1 million its customers’ donations to the red kettles in front of its stores. Wal-Mart’s announcement is a solace to the national ministry after Target banned the Army’s bell ringers from its locations.
Advertisement
“At a time when it was needed the most, Wal-Mart has extended its hand to support a 104-year old tradition that benefits many thousands of people in communities throughout the United States,” said Commissioner W. Todd Bassett, National Commander of The Salvation Army. The matching pledge kicked-off Friday and applies to the Army’s red kettles in front of the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation’s 3,600 Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUBS through Christmas Eve. According to the Army, the contributions will used for disaster relief efforts, feeding the hungry, and helping needy families in more than 9,000 communities across the country.Said Basset, “Every dollar put into our Red Kettles is used locally, and Wal-Mart’s generosity by matching those dollars will extend our local services to many more needy individuals requiring our assistance far beyond the holiday season.”Last year, bell ringers collected $12 million in front of Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUBS, accounting for more than 10% of the total donations raised through the nationwide Christmas appeal. A spokesman from Wal-Mart told The Christian Post the $1 million will likely be raised. However, the ministry is projecting to suffer a $9 million loss, the amount it raised last year through Red Kettle drives at Target locations. Target received a huge backlash from pro-family groups and its shoppers for kicking out the Salvation Army bell ringers. Pro-family activist groups such as the American Family Association, Christian Defense Coalition, National Clergy Council, Illinois Family Institute, among others, have urged boycotts on Target stores in favor of stores that do allow the red kettles such as Wal-Mart. “The Red Kettles are an enduring symbol of the holiday season and represent people helping people,” said Betsy Reithemeyer, vice president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.“We hope our customers join us in donating what they can to benefit an organization that does so much in our communities to serve families in need. The Salvation Army Red Kettles and the bell ringers are truly a holiday tradition worth keeping.”Reaching 33 million people last year, the Salvation Army reported it provided food for the hungry, companionship to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, opportunities for underprivileged children, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, and many more services. A online donation to the Army’s Red Kettle drive can also be made through a link on Wal-Mart’s Web site leading to the Salvation Army’s online Kettle donation page, www.1800salarmy.org. People can also call 1- 800-SAL-ARMY to donate.
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