It's been a great week at Lord of Life. On Saturday night we welcome John and Kendra Smiley to our church to host a seminar called "Do your kids a favor and love your spouse." There was a great turn out and everyone who attended was blessed. On Monday we began Vacation Bible School with about 150 kids registered. The switch to the evening has been a very positive experience bringing together not only the kids but their families as well. This is probably the most fun I have ever had at VBS.
Saturday is our Men of God breakfast/Bible Study. I will be doing the cooking in more ways than one. I will not only be cooking the food, but I am cooking up the message as well. So if you are a guy and you are reading this, I would love to have you come and join me. I am sure there will be a few other new faces as well.
So good things are happening, but it always seems that when you begin to build momentum you will hit a few bumps in the road. This week has had many positive experiences for me and it has also had some not so positive experiences.
I truly believe it is spiritual warfare. When God's people are up to something, Satan is up to something as well. It is true when most people come to Jesus Christ as Savior they will experience intense persecution. Satan is not happy when the kingdom of God advances. He does not want you to focus on the positive, but the negative.
God is at work through his church. We are the children of God, but we are also sinners at the same time. There are going to be times when we bring each other down and hurt each other. Relationships are difficult. The road is not always easy. But we have God on our side.
So if you are feeling a little down. Know that God is in control. We heard in the message on Sunday that all things work for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose.
Rejoice in persecution and insult and injury, because that probably means you are in the right place and doing the right thing. Don't back down!
We have come to the last installment of this series of attitudes to bring towards the task of studying the Word of God. This week we look at joyfully studying the Word. Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit. More than an emotion joy is a state of being.
Happiness, while many strive for it, is based upon circumstances and situations. Happiness is something that comes and goes. A relationship can make you very happy one day and then very sad the next. A new purchase can make you happy but when that new purchase begins to age, is no longer the in thing, and it begins to bring you more displeasure than satisfaction - it can leave you for wanting happiness.
But joy is something different. Joy is something that in spite of my circumstances I know that God is in control and that God has a plan. Joy is a deeper satisfaction. Joy is attached to faith, and trust, and confidence.
I can go to God's Word with joy because I always know that God has something good for me. I can go to God's Word with joy because even in the uncertainty of this world, God's promises are true and will not fail. I can go to God's Word with joy because in the Word I will experience real and lasting love.
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay!!!
I got to my office this morning and I felt a little short of breath. Maybe it has a little something to do with the humidity. But I think that it has more to do with this past weekend. What a great weekend.
Friday, I had the privilege to marry Brandon and Sarah Grebauer. On Saturday, we hosted our new member orientation at LOL. And on Sunday had a great worship.
It's time to catch my breath a little bit this week and then another big week next week. On Saturday is the Marriage and Parenting seminar - Do Your Kids a Favor and Love Your Spouse. And the following Monday we will kick off a week of Vacation Bible School.
So much is happening at Lord of Life. I pray you have a great week.
If you are a baseball fan you have surely heard of Josh Hamilton. He was drafted number one in the Major League Baseball draft in 1999. Being the number one pick it does not seem that odd that Josh Hamilton is having an MVP type year and was selected to the All Start Game as a starter. It does not seem odd that Josh Hamilton was the star of last night's Home Run Derby.
But there is a dark side to this story. Josh Hamilton's life was ruined by alcohol and heroine. He was banned from baseball. For three years he had absolutely nothing to do with the game. His life was in the toilet. All his talent and ability he threw it away. Such a looser.
But listen to what happened next in Josh's own words:
Aside from our struggles as a team, this season has been a dream for me. And that's fitting, because in a way I had to learn how to dream all over again. When I was using, I never dreamed. I'd sleep the dead, dreamless sleep of a stalled brain. When I stopped using, I found my dreams returned. They weren't always good dreams; most of the ones I remember were haunting and dark. They stayed with me long after I woke up.
Within my first week of sobriety in October 2005 -- after I showed up at my grandmother's house in Raleigh in the middle of the night, coming off a crack binge -- I had the most haunting dream. I was fighting the devil, an awful-looking thing. I had a stick or a bat or something, and every time I hit the devil, he'd fall and get back up. Over and over I hit him, until I was exhausted and he was still standing.
I woke up in a sweat, as if I'd been truly fighting, and the terror that gripped me makes that dream feel real to this day. I'd been alone for so long, alone with the fears and emotions I worked so hard to kill. I'm not embarrassed to admit that after I woke up that night, I walked down the hall to my grandmother's room and crawled under the covers with her. The devil stayed out of my dreams for seven months after that. I stayed clean and worked hard and tried to put my marriage and my life back together. I got word in June 2006 that I'd been reinstated by Major League Baseball, and a few weeks afterward, the devil reappeared.
It was the same dream, with an important difference. I would hit him and he would bounce back up, the ugliest and most hideous creature you could imagine. This devil seemed unbeatable; I couldn't knock him out. But just when I felt like giving up, I felt a presence by my side. I turned my head and saw Jesus, battling alongside me. We kept fighting, and I was filled with strength. The devil didn't stand a chance.
You can doubt me, but I swear to you I dreamed it. When I woke up, I felt at peace. I wasn't scared. To me, the lesson was obvious: Alone, I couldn't win this battle. With Jesus, I couldn't lose.
***** I GET cravings sometimes, and I see it as the devil trying to catch me in a weak moment. The best thing I can do is get the thought out of my mind as soon as I can, so it doesn't turn into an obsession. When it happens, I talk to him. I talk to the devil and say, "These are just thoughts, and I'm not going to act on them." When I talk like that, when I tell him he's not going to get the best of me, I find the thought goes away sooner.
Believe it or not, talking to the devil is no harder to explain than many other experiences I've had since that day last December when my life changed. I was working for my brother's tree service in Raleigh, sending limbs through a chipper, when I found out I'd been selected by the Cubs and traded to the Reds in the Rule 5 draft.
But there is one story that sticks with me, so much so that I think of it every day. I was driving out of the players' parking lot at Great American Ball Park after a game in May, with Katie and our two girls. There's always a group of fans standing at the curb, hoping to get autographs, and I stop to sign as many as I can.
And on this particular night, a little boy of about 9 or 10, wearing a Reds cap, handed me a pen and something to sign. Nothing unusual there, but as I was writing the boy said, "Josh, you're my savior."
This stopped me. I looked at him and said, "Well, thank you. Do you know who my savior is?"
He thought for a minute. I could see the gears turning. Finally, he smiled and blurted out, "Jesus Christ." He said it like he'd just come up with the answer to a test. "That's exactly right," I said.
You see, I may not know how I got here from there, but every day I get a better understanding of why.
Last night was incredible. The Legend of Josh Hamilton was born. He set a record 28 home runs in one round of the home run derby. At least three of his home runs were recorded as the top ten longest home runs in the history of the competition. More than 53,000 fans at Yankee stadium began chanting the name of this player from a rival team.
But best of all, on ESPN on national TV Josh Hamilton gave credit to Jesus Christ for saving his life. Way to go Josh! Thank you for your testimony. I sure wish the Cubs would not have given you away.
Here was a comment about the performance that I read on You Tube. Sums it up well:
"I have been watching baseball my whole life, when I saw Josh hit these homeruns, then follow it all up with giving thanks to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Maybe the best day in baseball for me of all time. Do you see the calmness in his eyes? Those are the eyes of a man that does not fear death, rather is so confident that when he passes from this world he will be with Jesus it radiates in his face.God bless you Josh. Glad to see you saw the light, glad to see you praise Jesus on national TV"
I feel convicted a little bit today. When I get busy, I know I get a little short with people. Sometimes it is my wife, sometimes it is church members, and sometimes it is a good friend.
I read an interesting post on another blog about shaving off two extra seconds to what would otherwise be a pleasant interaction. The basic premise is to be gracious in your interactions. Even if you are busy take the two extra seconds to be pleasant and actually listen.
I've got a busy week this week. I am going to make sure to take the extra two seconds. It's not about the tasks, but it is about the relationships.
We have a blacktop driveway. After a rough winter it was time to reseal it. Just finished it moments ago! Another job finished.
Unfortunately, I made the same mistake I made painting. I underestimated the amount of sealer that would be needed. I had estimated three buckets, but ended up using four. So not too bad.
Makes for a full day of preaching three worship services and then putting two coats of sealer on the driveway. I think I will crash for the evening.
We have a busy week this week at Lord of Life. New member orientation is on Saturday, but not before a wedding on Friday. Executive Committee meeting is also this week with an important meeting with LCEF about Lord of Life's line of credit. Sunday we will be hosting three town hall meetings about the new proposed times for worship starting in the Fall. No shortage of things to do. Will need to set aside plenty of time for prayer.
It's been a busy summer and it is about to get even busier with Vacation Bible School two weeks away and the crunch leading up to September. We have had several new families at Lord of Life these last few weeks and are happy to have them part of our church family. If you are from Lord of Life join with me in helping me welcome them with the hospitality from the Lord.
We took a little break from the topic we have been on the last few weeks. We have been discussing the study of God's Word and the attitude we take towards it. So far we have discussed eagerly, attentively, trustfully, expectantly, prayerfully, and humbly studying the Word. Today, we talk about purposefully studying the Word.
Another way of stating it might be intentionally studying the Word. We need to give rhyme and reason to our study. There ought to be a method to our madness.
It is easy to keep coming back to favorite passages and sections. That is not a bad thing, but it is important to venture into new sections as well. When I started reading through the Bible a few years back, I really got into the historical books. I enjoyed reading the stories of the patriarchs, of the prophets, and of the kings. I was not really into the book of Psalms. But with the one year Bible plan I purposefully read the book of Psalms and now it is one of my greatest thrills when I open up the Word.
Beyond having a method to your study, ask yourself what am I taking away from the Word. We should always, always come away with application. Reading the Bible is about more the reading for the love of reading, but we read with life application. Be asking yourself when you are reading God's Word, "what is God saying to me?" "What would God have me do with this?" Look for specific practical ways to put it into practice that very same day.
Maybe you are familiar with Rick Warren's book called The Purpose Driven Life. The premise is that you were created with a purpose. And it is in God's Word you discover your purpose. So ask yourself, what is the purpose that God is putting this reading before me today.
In May I started a one weekend project that turned into a month and half project. We painted our living room. I thought I could polish it off in a day and a half with four gallons of paint. A day and a half later and three gallons of paint, I was looking at three quarters of the job, still unfinished.
Finally, last night, the job was finished. Our living room was transformed. It ended by hanging a new ceiling fan from the ceiling. In my opinion it looks good. It also feels good to complete a project of such magnitude. It provides me with a sense of accomplishment.
It is a feeling that I don't often get as a pastor. It seems the work of the church is an unfinished work. And it will continue to be an unfinished work until the day Christ returns. This is not a bad thing. In many ways it is a good thing. The day we sit back convinced that the work is done, is the day that Satan has won.
I ranted a little earlier about passing on myths. It was recently pointed out to me that I incorrectly passed on a myth myself. I recently stated in my post on July 3rd that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th. A little research into this was fascinating.
It was actually on July 2nd that the Continental Congress declared independence from the rule of England. The founding fathers thought this would be the date that would be celebrated for years to come. John Adams wrote: "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America" and celebrate it as their "Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
On July 4th the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Congress putting their declaration two days earlier into writing. However, the famous handwritten Declaration on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC was not prepared until after July 19 and signed by most delegates on August 2.
On July 3, 1777 members of congress remembered a day late to honor July 2, so instead they celebrated on the 4th of July.
I was very excited to have my good friend Jacob Gillard with us this past weekend at Lord of Life. Jacob and his family will soon be moving to Uganda to serve as missionaries in that country. You can check out his website at www.ugadaconnection.wordpress.com.
I very much enjoyed the message Jacob shared with us. It was so encouraging to hear about the growth of the Lutheran Church in Uganda over the past 13 years. Jacob and his family will certainly be a blessing to the people there.
Here are some basic facts about the Lutheran Church Uganda:
13 years old
63 congregations (Avg. 70)
6 Mission Training Centers
1 ordained pastor
1 deaconess
13 evangelists
As you can see, the church has grown without the benefit of trained professional church workers. It has been under-resourced in many ways. It is totally a God thing that such amazing growth has occured!
We pray for Jacob's work training church leaders. We pray for his family's transition to a new home. We pray for God's kingdom to grow. And we pray for God to be glorified.
I get a lot of email. Too much email. Maybe that is why one of my biggest pet peeves is getting an forwarded email that is a hoax. It makes me cringe when Christians forward untruths to others. It compromises the credibility of the most important truth we have to share. If we fall for these internet hoaxes, what else will we not fall for and maybe the church is all one big hoax.
Sorry to rant. Most of these things are created to waste our time, and here I am wasting my time on my blog. But if this saves someone else the time of adding their name to an email and forwarding it on to 20 people, then it is worth it.
Know that there is no petition to the FCC to take religious broadcasting off the airwaves. Madaline Murray O'Harra, or whatever her name is, is dead. This hoax originated in 1975 and since that time the FCC has received 30 million pieces of mail from concerned citizens. Don't worry, all is well. Touch by an Angel has not been on television in years, and it has nothing to do with this.
Also, Bill Gates is not going to give you $1000 to forward an email. I wish it were true. That would be very nice.
Check your sources. Never, never, never, never forward an email that you are not 100% sure it is true. Go to www.snopes.com or another reliable website that you can trust. If Dr. Dobson wants you to forward an email, go to Dr. Dobson's website to see what Dr. Dobson really has to say about it.
This is 4th of July weekend. We celebrate Independence Day when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Freedom is a blessing. For all that is wrong with the United States of America, what a privilege to live in this country. As Christians it becomes very easy to take for granted our freedom to worship.
Our political independence points to a greater freedom. That is the freedom Jesus gives us. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus entered the synagogue at Capernaum and declared:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19
This is the Christians Declaration of Independence. It is Jesus Christ. Our Lord and Savior.
In spite of the holiday weekend you may not feel very free. You may feel that you are in bondage to the economy. Or you are in bondage to your health. Maybe you are in bondage to negative feelings or emotions. Maybe you are in bondage to fear. Maybe you are in bondage to a situation where you feel you are at a dead end and there is no way out.
Many of us will be celebrating this weekend with fireworks and all that fun stuff, all the while on the inside we don't feel like celebrating that much. But Jesus makes a declaration to you. He is annointed to preach good news to your poverty, proclaim your release form the prison, give you sight from your blindness, release you from your oppression, and proclaim God's favor and peace. Today, this is fulfilled. I can guarantee it. Now it's for you to receive it.
About me? Where do I begin? I am Pastor of Lord of Life Church of LaFox, IL. I am married to Barbara. Our daughter Abby is three and is starting her first year of preschool. There is so much more, but I will not bore you with the details. Thanks for visiting my blog.
