The REAL Reason for the Season

George Washington Carver was often asked how he achieved so much from so little a peanut. His response was a witness to his wisdom and humanity. "Why, then, should we who believe in Christ be so surprised at what God can do with a willing man in a laboratory? Some things must be baffling to the critic who has never been born again." Simple words from a simple man. What God can do with a willing heart will continue to baffle unsaved people.

Our country is facing many problems and everyone is looking for a solution. We have politicians that no one respects or believes and judges who overrule the will of the people. It seems clear to me that we cannot govern ourselves very well. Maybe we should take the simple approach that George Washington Carver had - a personal relationship with God.

It sounds strange, but most Americans say they believe in God. Then why don't we act like it? This season is a perfect time to begin. This is not a time of songs or cheer, but should be a time of reflection and worship. Either God the Almighty was born of a virgin, suffered, died and rose, or we are all living a lie and are doomed in our sins. Why are so many Christians ashamed of the Gospel? We should be telling the stories everywhere we go and giving evidence of the hope that lies within us. Instead, we allow the world to tell us the real spirit of Christmas is giving, or an old man in a red suit.

History tells me that America was strongest when served by praying politicians and defended by men going into battle by faith. We can learn a lot from the faithful people in history. In their deepest depression, faith prevailed. It is that faith that builds nations and character. It is that faith that we have abandoned. We have changed the meaning of Christmas into a self-help program of selfish, helpless mankind. The very reason for the season was that we could not help ourselves. If we are singing about peace on Earth coming from man, it is only useless noise. If we are looking toward any other way, it is a waste of time. The TRUE meaning of Christmas is not about gift-giving - it's about a gift GIVEN.

The TRUE meaning of Thanksgiving

On September 16, 1620, two ships set sail from Plymouth, England - the Speedwell and the Mayflower. Just as their journey began the Speedwell sprang some leaks and was taking on water, so the two ships returned to Plymouth. The captain of the Speedwell decided that the ship wouldn't make the trip, so the passengers of the Speedwell joined the 60 passengers and 30 crew members aboard the Mayflower. Of the 102 passengers on board, the majority were Christians. They were coming to America to shake loose the bonds of the Church of England so they could worship God as they believed the scriptures taught. So, with great excitement and expectations, they set sail for the new land. However, it wasn't long before the trip became difficult for several reasons.

Many of the passengers became seasick as huge waves crashed over the deck of the ship. The nights were cold, damp and dark. And remember, there was no indoor plumbing or electricity. To make matters worse, one of the crew was constantly cursing and abusing the sick passengers. He kept threatening to throw them overboard. But what really happened was that this crew member became very sick and died, and he himself was the first person to be thrown overboard. William Bradford, who was an historian and later became governor of the colony, wrote that it was all the just hand of God. But their problems were not over yet. They encountered many fierce storms that shook the ship with tremendous force. The storms and times were so bad the sails had to be brought in for fear of breaking the mast. The main beams of the ship did eventually crack as they were just over halfway across the Atlantic. Many of the passengers wanted to turn back, but Christopher Jones, the ship's Master, assured them that the vessel was "strong and firm." The main beam was eventually repaired and they "committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed." These 100 people - cold, wet - on a wooden ship in the middle of the ocean, put their hope, trust and lives into the hands of God.

On November 19, 1620, Cape Cod finally came into sight. But before going ashore they decided to write a document known as the Mayflower Compact. At the heart of the compact lay an undisputed conviction that God must be at the center of all law and order, and that law without a moral base is really not law at all. The day they signed the Mayflower Compact, according to William Bradford, "they came to anchor in the bay, which was a good harbor...and they blessed the God of Heaven, who brought them over the fast and furious ocean...and a sea of trouble." They then read from their Geneva Bible, "Let them, therefore praise the Lord, because He is good and His mercies endure forever."

In a few weeks we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Many will be busy cooking turkeys, making stuffing, baking pumpkin pies and watching football games. It's important that we get together with loved ones. But that's not what Thanksgiving is really about. It's about giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty. We usually picture the first Thanksgiving in America as a time when the Pilgrims and the Indians got together for a great feast. But I tend to think of that first Thanksgiving as a time when a group of weary and worn men and women were on their knees praising God in Heaven for bringing them safely through the treacherous sea to this new land. That's what we should be doing this Thanksgiving - getting on our knees and thanking God for the many blessings that He has given us and will continue to bestow upon us in the coming years.

What God do YOU believe in?

Opinion polls tell us that 92% of Americans believe in God.  But what God do they believe in?  Today, the God people believe in is looking less and less like the one true God.  The God of today is like a Hollywood star of a do-it-yourself gospel.  The generation of today no longer believes in a deity who could actually mess with our lives, rearrange our priorities, and force us to deal with the concept of sin.  Our generation chooses instead to meet its spiritual needs by shopping for a faith.  We want a faith that takes parts of Christianity and mixes it with Scientology, Buddhism, and personal experiences.  Although an overwhelming number of Americans continue to say that they believe in God, their concept of God is as varied as the items you will find in a shopping mall.  Postmodernism (which is what we are living in today) says that the whole idea of God is social.  Postmodernism tells that you have to decide for yourself what or who God is, and that there are no absolute truths.  What is most disturbing is that Postmodernism exists in some churches today.  The grand vision of God given to us in Scripture has, to a great extent, been lost.  What we have in its place is an emphasis on "felt needs" and "health and wealth."  Many churchgoers define God from a popular culture rather than Scripture.  They don't reject Christianity altogether, but they change it to fit in with today's "feel good" religion.  Those of us who DO believe in the one true God have become like the person who has fallen asleep after eating a big meal and won't allow ourselves to wake up to answer the phone.  If the Christian church could be aroused to heed the voice of God, then it's quite possible that our sleeping culture might rouse itself and take a second look at its moral and spiritual lifestyle.  But it must begin with individuals like ourselves who are willing to return to the God of the Scriptures.  We can't be duped into the thought that there is a good God in heaven, so we don't need to be concerned with such things as sin, hell and redemption.

Let God be God

The apostle Peter instructed Christians "not to return evil for evil or slander for slander" (1 Peter 3:9).  That was Jesus' attitude. He was able to do that because He "committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (2:23). The word translated as "committed" means "to hand over for someone to keep."  Every time Jesus went through a suffering circumstance, He handed Himself and the circumstance over to God.  That's because He was confident in the judgment of God and that the glory would therefore be God's.  It was because of that confidence that Jesus was able to accept suffering calmly.

That is the way you and I should respond when we are being persecuted at work, in our families, or in other relationships.  When we try to retaliate, we are forfeiting the blessing and the reward that the suffering is meant to bring.  Retaliation shows that we don't have the confidence we ought to have in God's ability to make things right in His own time.  And, by the way, that also includes punishing the unjust and rewarding those who are faithful in suffering.  So give it over to God and let HIM handle it.  Let God be God.

"One Nation Under God"

There are those today that believe this nation has never been nor ever was intended to be a nation under God.  The proof, however, that this nation has always been a nation under God is overwhelming.  To give you a small amount of that proof I would like you to follow me on a tour of Washington D.C.  Let's begin with the Washington Monument.  In the cornerstone of that monument was placed a Holy Bible along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.  On the east side of the aluminum capstan is the Latin inscription Laus Deo, which means "Praise be to God".

Now let's walk over to the Jefferson Memorial.  There are those today who claim that history shows Jefferson as a deist.  Therefore you might be surprised what you will find in the Jefferson Memorial.  On the inside dome is the following quote:  "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the minds of man."  On one panel you will see a famous passage from the Declaration of Independence:  "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator...".  On another panel you will see an excerpt from a bill establishing religious freedom.  "All attempts to influence it (freedom of religion) by temporal punishments or burdens...are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion".  And on still another panel are the words from Jefferson's 1785 notes on the State of Virginia:  "God who gave us life gave us liberty".

Now let's move on to the Lincoln memorial.  On one side of the statue of Lincoln, inscribed into the wall, is the Gettysburg address.  "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."  And on the right side of Lincoln's statue is inscribed this second inaugural address where he mentions God fourteen times and refers to the Bible four times.

Let's walk on over now and visit the Supreme Court Building.  The Supreme Court has been increasingly hostile on public displays of religion.  Yet inside the supreme court there is a religious image of Moses holding the Ten Commandments which affirms the Judeo-Christian roots of our legal system.  In fact, Moses can be found in several places:  in the center of the East Pediment, on the southwest corner of the building, inside the Upper Great Hall and inside the actual courtroom.

What about the actual Capital Building itself?  Let's take a walk over there and have a look.  The U.S.  Capital building is filled with religious imagery and inscriptions.  Various inscriptions around the Capital demonstrate the reliance of our country on God and Faith.  In the Cox Corridor there is a line from "America the Beautiful" carved into the wall:  "America! God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!  Also in the house chamber is the inscription "In God We Trust."  At the east entrance to the Senate chamber are the words Annuit Coeptis which is Latin for "God has favored our undertakings".  The words "In God We Trust" are inscribed outside of the old Supreme Court Chamber in the Capital.  Also, there is a stained glass window depicting George Washington in prayer, under the inscription "This Nation Under God.  Furthermore, a prayer is also inscribed in the window.  It says, "Preserve me, God, for in Thee do I put my trust."

I could keep going with more evidence that this nation was founded and is still one nation under God, but time and space do not permit.  But I think I have made my point.  So the next time someone tries to tell you that America is not a nation under God, you now have some ammunition to shoot back with.  Yes, without a doubt, America is ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

June 2012 Message

The following article was written by one of the members of the church, Gary Brufach.  I apologize to Gary for having to cut some of his article out because of space.

The word "but" is defined in the dictionary as "a word used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned".  So in a nutshell, you are nullifying the very concept or idea you just proposed!

We as Christians need to see how this affects our Christian lifestyle.  The world belongs to the enemy, and the enemy has used the word "but" to its advantage since the fall of man.  Here are some examples of "buts" pertaining to our Christianity.

"I don't go to church, BUT I am a good person."
"I want to study God's work, BUT I don't have time.
"I would love to volunteer, BUT you have enough people already."

The list goes on and on, and human nature can apply that word to contradict anything that has been taught or preached.  Some synonyms for the word "BUT" include:  except, however, yet and besides.  Add these words to your vocabulary and the enemy has too much ammunition to distort the truth.  We must be conscious of the enemy's attempt to lead us to believe that God's word can be distorted with words like "but", "except" and "however."

Since God is the almighty One with power and knowledge and we believe His word to be absolute, let us explore the absurdness of the use of the word "but, "except" or "however" using the ten commandments.

1.  Thou shall have no other Gods before me, EXCEPT when you really want to have your palm read or the tarot card readings at the carnival.
2.  Thou shall not make for yourself an idol of anything and you shall not bow down to them or worship them EXCEPT for the new car or new toy you just bought because that's "the norm".
3.  Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain, BUT it's OK in "R" rated action movies and if you hit your thumb with a hammer.
4.  Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy, BUT it's a championship game.  You can miss worship today.
5.  Honor thy mother and father, HOWEVER, some parents just have no clue and you know better than them.
6.  Thou shall not commit murder, EXCEPT when the other guy deserves it.
7.  Thou shall not commit adultery, BUT if the other person was coming on to you, you can't help that.
8.  Thou shall not steal, EXCEPT when you want something and can't afford it.
9.  Thou shall not give false testimony against your neighbor, BUT it's OK if your neighbor is mean to you.
10.  Thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife, your neighbors house, or anything that belongs to your neighbor, EXCEPT, when your neighbor doesn't appreciate those things.

As you can see, these things are absurd, which proves adding a "but" to God's Word just does not work.  God gave us His Word through the scriptures just as it should be...NO BUTS ABOUT IT!

Remembering our Mothers

In remembering our mothers this month, I would like to share a story with you written by Templer Bailey.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.  "Is the way long?" she asked.  And her guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard.  And you will be old before you reach the end of it.  But the end will be better than the beginning."  But the young mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.  So she played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, "nothing will ever be lovelier than this."  Then the night came and storm, and the path was dark and the children shook with fear and cold.  And the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle and the children said, "O mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."  And the mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there."  So the children climbed and when they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, mother."  And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness.  Yesterday I gave them courage, today I have given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth - clouds of war and hate and evil - and the children tripped and stumbled and the mother said, "Look up, lift your eyes to the light"  And the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.  And that night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was little and bent.  But her children  were tall and strong and walked with courage.  And when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.  And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey.  And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.  And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her.  And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still.  A mother like ours is more than a memory.  She is a living presence."

His Comeback - Our Victory

Remember the "Rocky" movies from the 70's and 80's? They all finished with Rocky fighting in some championship fight. In each of those fights it appeared that there was no way Rocky could win. With each round he looked more bloody and bruised. He was getting beaten to a pulp. But as they entered the fifteenth and final round, Rocky would somehow find the energy to punch the opponent into oblivion. In each of those fights he would come back to win. The "comeback kid". We all like those kinds of movies. We like to see someone come back from defeat. But of all the "Rocky's" of this life we have read about or observed, there is one who excelled far beyond all the rest. That was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sin lay at our doorstep. The situation was dire. Without a savior we would be beaten to a pulp. Then from out of nowhere a man appears. He pushes himself between the sin and us and faces off with it. It lunges for him and the fight begins. The struggle is terrific. In fact, there has never been another like it before or since. In the end, sin has its way and knocks him down. He lays in the grave beaten and defeated. Where is our Savior, we cry? How could such a battle be fought and evil triumph over good? But wait - there is movement there. It may be the fifteenth and final round, but there is still hope. He arises now stronger than ever and grabs sin by the throat and throttles it all while delivering the perfect physical and verbal blows to the foe. Jesus Christ, our hero has won the day. It looked bad for the moment, but could there ever have been any doubt? His Father had prepared Him for this day and there would be no denying it. Even the terrible burden of a world of sin was no match for the Son of Righteousness, the eternal "comeback kid". His comeback, our victory!

Our Quest for Wisom

The following is a devotion from "In Touch Ministries" by Charles Stanley

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

God is a masterful Creator. He has integrated many of His principles into the fabric of nature so that we can see His handiwork and learn of Him (Psalm 19:1-6). If you desire to have wisdom, do not neglect to look outdoors for His lessons.

Now, of course, the outdoors sometimes comes inside. If you've ever battled ants in your kitchen or pantry, wisdom probably isn't the first trait you would attribute to them. You probably would choose a description more like determination. But to a lazy person, God points out these tiny creatures as an example of wise living. Simply consider how many characteristics of the ant people would be smart to adopt: Preparation, cooperation, perseverance, diligence, unity, and the list goes on. So interacting with righteous men isn't the only way to get wisdom. God also wants us to observe the lowly ant that He created to work in community.

There's much to learn from the created world. By directing attention to the birds, Jesus challenges His followers to consider the folly of anxiety. "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26) Birds do not reap or gather grain but rather assume their food will be supplied as it always has been. The lesson in this observation of nature is that the Lord who provides for birds can be trusted to meet His people's needs as well.

Our quest for wisdom is to be rooted in Scripture and covered in prayer. But don't overlook the many lessons unfolding right outside the front door. Ask God for "eyes to see" (Mark 8:18). Then take every chance to grow in understanding so your capacity to live by His principles will be strengthened.

What it means to be a "witness"

1 John 1:1-4 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested and we have seen and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Jesus calls us to be His "witnesses". When some Christians hear this word, they worry that they need exceptional skill or charisma in order to share the good news with others. Yet to witness is not to merely speak of the "Plan of Salvation" to someone. The word literally means to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception; to testify; bear witness to; give or afford evidence of. When John wrote that he was sharing what he had experienced first-hand, he was saying, "I am full of joy because of the experience of knowing Jesus, and I want to invite you to share in that joy!"

When you are in love with someone, you are excited about the relationship and time spent together. It's the same way when you're in love with Jesus. You can't keep to yourself the joy that you have in knowing Him, and that joy bears witness to others. It makes no difference whether you speak quietly or with great exuberance. Others will pick up on the deep, genuine gladness in your heart that goes beyond just being happy. And people who don't yet know the Lord will find themselves hungering for the relationship you have. In that way they will be drawn to His Spirit in you.

Witnessing is not a matter of eloquence or talent. It's an overflow of the personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is conforming you to His image. As you allow the Holy Spirit to increasingly express His life and power through you, contagious joy will be "fruit" of His indwelling presence.