My 1st Grandchild…

Wow. This is REALLY emotional! From the moment she looked at me, she captured my heart! (Do all grandparents experience “Love at first sight”?) So, I was wondering: What if we had the same type of feelings for our spiritual grandchildren? Wouldn’t that make for a much stronger Christian family? What if every child of God knew that they had a faith community that they could count on for support and guidance all their lives? Wouldn’t that be great? And, thanks to Jesus, we are all “blood relatives”. By the way, Kathryn Quinn Sharp was born into our family 12.19.10

Wrestling with God

I was a wrestler for 4 years in HS, and it may surprise you to know that I was not very good at it! (I learned the moves, but wasn’t good at putting them together when it was needed in a match). One of my weaknesses was that I didn’t have a very strong grip. My opponent seemed to always get away from me (and then take me to the mat.)

There are several skills that would have been helpful in this sport: speed, strength, flexibility, or endurance (I didn’t excel at any of these either). But this trait always impressed me, the athletes that had a strong grip. They just managed to hang on longer than most others. They just didn’t let go. Having a strong grip is important in several other sports as well, but in wrestling it is invaluable. I guess that is why I am so impressed with Jacob…

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Gen 32:24

inadequate praise...

Sunday I was preaching on why we should worship God, and I found myself feeling desperately inadequate. It seemed as though I would need several hours just to cover some of my favorite Bible verses (mostly from the Psalms). The more I trimmed the lesson down to a manageable length, the less adequate it seemed to be, to cover even the basic wonderful attributes of the Lord God. Finally, in desperation I simply shared my overwhelming sense of inadequacy...and that was where the spirit of the congregation seemed to meet with my spirit. It seems that when we are overwhelmed with the wonder and majesty of the almighty, that seems to be when we "get it" the best. I am in awe of God! And that seems to be a good place to be! (& a good place to be together.)

iWorship - Who He Is & What He Has Done

In an age where many question whether to have faith in God at all, others are compelled to have more faith than ever before! How can this be? The question is asked: “How can you still worship God?” The reply is equally challenging: “How can you NOT worship God?”

I believe the key is to re-direct our focus off of ourselves and onto the Lord. (From what I’ve seen, this is not just a one-time thing for us!)

• We should be concentrating on who God is.
• We should be remembering what Jesus has done.
• We should be focusing more on what we could do to praise God. (and less on what God could do to please me.)

Why I PRAISE Him:

1) His Presence (He wants to be WITH us!)

2) His Patience (He gives us 2^nd chances,…& 3^rd chances,…)

3) He gives us courage to live & confidence to stand.

4) He gives us support in family & friends

5) He gives us GRACE, so we can be at PEACE!

Making sense out of "GRACE"…

“GRACE” - unmerited favor. G.R.A.C.E. is “Gods riches at Christ’s expense. “Getting what you need instead of what you deserve. Grace - we all need it; and we usually want it (at least for ourselves). Sometimes it is harder to accept grace. At other times it harder to give grace to others (even to let them have it from God).

When it comes to appreciating the Grace of God, you cannot fully get there by “studying it out” (even the Bereans in Acts 17). Try making reasonable sense out of John 1:16: "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” Or this: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21

Paul wrote in 2 Cor 1:12-14: “Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.”

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

F.O.G. - Focus on God (the Holy Spirit?)

I’m reading a book on the Holy Spirit with one of our Shepherds! (How cool is that?) We meet once a week and share our thoughts from one chapter of Francis Chan’s book: Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. (Now on Ch 3). Many Christians I’ve known give little or no thought to what Jesus said would be better than having Him around all the time – having God’s Spirit with us and IN us!

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He inspired the writers of scripture to accurately record God’s Word and He is present in the world today - revealing our need for God. He lives in Christians to provide the power for living, serving God, and doing what honors God. God expects His children to live distinctively different lives from those in the world. He gives them His Spirit to help bring about this change in character. When we surrender ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives we honor God.

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When you’re here, you’re “family”

Nancy's mother Louise died Monday, July 5^th in Indiana. We are glad she didn't suffer, and that Nancy was able to visit with her a couple weeks ago while at her 35^th class reunion. We are gathering photos and reliving many good memories. We are at peace.

I am so grateful that I had her in my life! She was very supportive of me, even from the time when Nancy & I were dating. She was so interested in everything Nancy was doing, (and since Nancy was interested in me…) Louise treated me like a “mom”, even then.

After Nancy & I were married, we always had to take lots of pictures of anywhere we traveled, any event in our children’s lives, or any changes around our home, church or town, to share with her parents. Louise seemed to never tire of the endless snapshots of our lives. We seemed so important to her, and our lives always so interesting.

This made us feel very affirmed and valuable. This meant a lot to me. We intend to be like this, not only with our children, but others too. Many people have not had good family support. Still, I know they can receive “family” treatment from us, if we will give it. Btw, that is what Jesus did for us.

Leaving a Legacy of FAITH

Life seems to happen in “stages”, although I don’t always see it that way at the time. Watching our youngest child graduate from college, followed by Mother’s Day… now Fathers Day, I can't help but reflect on the legacy we are leaving. It seems like only a few years since Nancy and I were at this same stage of life. (It was actually over 30 years ago, and we got married the day of graduation instead of going to commencement!)

A “Legacy” is the reputation that exists outside of yourself. What are we really passing on to our family, our friends, and others we influence? Are they better for having known us? More hopeful, courageous, more trusting in the Lord? We certainly hope that they are! Time will tell. The truth is that we often don’t get to see the impact we have made in this life. Yet, every day of life matters! So, we live each day for itself, and for others, in view of eternity. May our lives please God and bless others, in every stage.

Verses to LIVE By...(even if you only have a minute)

7 – “I Am” statements from Jesus found in John’s gospel
Bread of Life; Light of the World; Door / Gate; Good Shepherd; Resurrection & Life; Way, Truth, & Life; True Vine.

40 Teachings from the Greatest Sermon - Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, & 7)

8 Beatitudes from Matthew 5:3-10

Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6 & Luke 11)

9 Characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)

7 Things to add to your Faith (2 Peter 1:5-11)

One of 31 Chapters of Parables (Which one speaks to you today?)

One or more of Psalms of Prayer & Praise to God (out of 150)

Mentoring Advice from 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus: Things to Do (80) & Things Not to Do (22)

Practical Advice from James...(James eats your lunch!)

Prayers of the Apostle Paul (found at the beginning or end of his letters)

40 Figures of Speech Jesus used in John’s gospel
1. John 16:25-31 Disciples struggled to understand
(Jesus explained everything to his disciples - Mark 4:33-34)
2. The Lamb of God (v36) John 1: 35-42
3. You Must Be Born Again (v7) John 3:1-12
4. The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up (v14) John 3:13-18
5. Light and Darkness John 3:19-21
6. The Bride and Bridegroom John 3:25-30
7. Living Water (v10) John 4:10-14
8. My Food – The Harvest John 4:31-38
9. My Father Is Always Working John 5:16-20
10. Life In Himself (v26) John 5:21-30
11. John Was A Lamp (v35) John 5:31-38
12. The Bread of Life (v35, 51) John 6:25-66
13. Where I Am From – Going (v29, 33) John 7:25-36
14. Come To Me and Drink –
Living Water (v37, 38) John 7:37-44
15. Light of the World – Life John 8:12
16. Stand With The Father – Testimony John 8:13-20
17. Going Away – From Above – Lifted UP John 8:21-30
18. The Light of the World (v5) John 9:1-7
19. The Blind Will See –
Seeing Will Be Blind (v39) John 9:35-41
20. Sheep and Watchman - Stranger John 10:1-6
21. The Gate for the Sheep John 10:7-10
22. The Good Shepherd (v11, 14, 27) John 10:11-18
23. Day and Night – Sleep and Death John 11:9-16
24. The Resurrection and the Life (v25) John 11:17-27
25. Seed Dies, Produces Many Seeds (v24) John 12:20-26
26. When Lifted Up, Draw All Men John 12:27-34
27. Light and Darkness (also v44-46) John 12:35-36
28. Jesus’ Word as Judge (v48) John 12:47-50
29. Unless I Wash you, No Part With Me (v8) John 13:1-11
30. Wash One Another’s Feet John 13:12-17
31. Many Rooms In My Father’s House John 14:1-3
32. Way, Truth, Life – In the Father John 14:4-11
33. The True Vine, Branches, and Fruit John 15:1-8
34. You Do Not Belong To The World John 15:18-21
35. Prove the World Wrong – Guide You John 16:5-15
36. Won’t See Me, Will See Me - Childbirth John 16:16-22
37. Not Of the World (v14, 16) John 17:6-19
38. King – Not Of This World John 18:33-38
39. Feed My Sheep John 21:15-17
40. Peter’s Death John 21:18-19

42 Parables Jesus taught in Matthew, Mark, & Luke’s gospels (see list below)
Children of the Bridegroom (Mt. 9:14-15; Mk. 2:18-20; Lk. 5:33-5)
New Patch & Old Garment (Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21; Lk. 5:36)
New Win & Old Wineskins (Mt. 9:17; Mk. 2:22; Lk. 5:37-39)
Treasures, Old & New (Mt. 13:51-52)
Wise & Foolish Builders (Mt. 7:24-27; Lk. 6:46-49)
Children At Play (Mt. 11:16-19; Lk. 7:31-35)
Two Debtors (Lk. 7:36-50)
The Soils (Mt. 13:3-9; 18-23; Mk. 4:2-8, 13-30; Lk. 8:4-8, 11-15)
The Hidden Treasure & The Pearl (Mt. 13:45-46)
The Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37)
The Midnight Friend (Lk. 11:5-13)
The Empty House (Mt. 12:43-45; Lk. 11:24-26)
The Rich Fool (Lk. 12:13-21)
The Barren Fig Tree (Lk. 13:6-9)
The Mustard Seed (Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32; Lk. 13:18-19)
Leaven (Mt. 13:33; Lk. 13:20-21)
The Dragnet (Mt. 13:47-51)
The Weeds (Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43)
The Chief Seats (Lk. 14:7-11)
The Un-Completed Tower (Lk. 14:28-30)
The King At War (Lk. 14:31-33)
Salt of the Earth (Mt. 5:13; Lk. 14:34-35)
Light of the World (Mt. 5:14-16)
The Lost Sheep (Mt. 18:12-14; Lk. 15:1-7)
The Lost Coins (Lk. 15:8-10)
The Lost Son (Lk. 15:11-32)
The Un-profitable Manager (Lk. 16:1-13)
The Rich Man & Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31)
The Un-worthy Servant (Lk. 17:7-10)
The Persistent Widow (Lk. 18:1-8)
A Pharisee & A Tax Collector (Lk. 18:9-14)
The Un-forgiving Servant (Mt. 18:21-35)
Workers at Various Hours (Mt. 20:1-16)
Two Sons (Mt. 21:28-32)
The Cruel Tenants (Mt. 21:33-46; Mk. 12:1-12; Lk. 20:9-18)
The Wedding Banquet (Mt. 22:1-14; Lk. 14:15-24)
The Fig Tree (Mt. 24:32-35; Mk. 13:28-29; Lk. 21:29-31)
A Thief in the Night (Mt. 24:42-44; Lk. 12:39-40)
Wise & Foolish Servants (Mt. 24:45-51; Mk. 13:35-37; Lk. 12:35-48)
The Ten Virgins (Mt. 25:1-13)
The Talents/Minas (Mt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-24)
The Sheep &The Goats (Mt. 25:31-46)

Watch Your Mouth!

Gossip of any kind is destructive.

“You can tell more about a person by what he says about others, than by what others say about him.” - Leo Aikman
“The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.” - Will Rogers

James 1:26 “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (ch 3) “blessing & cursing” should not come from the same mouth.

Gossip - 10 Pathways to Eliminate it From Your Life and Transform Your Soul, by Lori Palatnik, (wife of Torah scholar, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik) and Bob Burg. “If you have ever had a conflict with another person, good chance it is based on the misuse of the gift of speech. Gossip is always a personal confession” (hatred or foolishness). “Each time one speaks badly of others, it is like killing 3 people.” Subject, Speaker & Listener - Babylonian Talmud (Arachin 15b)

The Talmud says the person damaged the most is the listener! (How?) Gossip and slander are “passive”, so the Listener is only one that can stop the process. Subject has no control & Speaker has lost control. (James 3) So the Listener must take control!

Praying Over the Room and "N.O.S.A."

Something new and wonderful happened to me the last couple Sundays. Two or Three teen guys came early and helped me pray over every seat in the worship center prior to services. (I was very impressed!)
Then yesterday, three teen guys came up after the start of services and sat with me… on the front row! Our youth group has a saying: “N.O.S.A.” (which means: “No one sits alone”). Seems that some of them felt concern that their preacher was by himself and took it upon themselves to be with me. This was very encouraging to me, (especially considering that my own family members don’t like sitting up front with me!) I was pleasantly surprised how much more confident I felt in presenting my lesson, sensing their support for me. So thank you Taylor, Zack, and Conner. God blessed me through you! It is good to be reminded that we are not alone!

GREAT WISDOM

Solomon was blessed by God with great Wisdom, 2 Chronicles 1:1-12. (Wisdom and discernment are the most consistent things that I pray for in my life.)

Many people read a chapter a day from the collection of "Wisdom" known as Proverbs, selecting the chapter that matches the calendar day of the month. After practicing this discipline for some time, I have continued to be amazed at how there is a thought of "Wisdom" that emerges each chapter that seems to be a nugget of gold for the situations I face that very day! (Maybe the Lord answered my prayers for "Wisdom" even before I asked Him...)

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."Colossians 2:9-10

(For some "Humor", here are 5 of "Murphy's Proverbs"... )
1) Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

2) A day without sunshine is like, well, night.

3) If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be foolish enough to try to pass them.

4) Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

5) He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

I am “in awe” of being “alive”.

The longer I live, the more I am “in awe” of being “alive”.
The more years that are added to my span, the more I am impressed with one breath.
The more people I have known, the more I value one “friend”. The longer I live, the more I love God! I feel more “alive” when I reflect that in this present moment…because He lives, I am alive!