LIFE-CHANGING!                                                                             

What surprised you most in 2016?

• Was it the National Presidential Election?
• Was it the number of God-seekers that came our way to worship with us?
• Was it having 8 nations represented in many of our Sunday morning services?
• Was it the appointing of both shepherds and deacons for the first time ever?
• Was it welcoming 4 newborns into our midst between October 2 - November 10?
• Was it Patti leaving Minnesota for 5 months to teach one semester in Indiana?

(That last one really surprised me!)

     Perhaps the world’s greatest surprise ever was when a young virgin girl, around 13 or 14 years old, gave birth to the Creator of the world!  Although in retrospect  it shouldn’t have been such a surprise; Christ’s virgin birth was announced over 700 years beforehand by the prophet, Isaiah (7:14).  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and    bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”     

     The Gospel writer, Matthew, refers to Isaiah’s prophesy when he documents Christ’s birth: 

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”  (Matthew 1:18-23)

     

     While the exact day of Jesus’ birth is unknown, the forever effect of the Incarnation, God coming in the flesh and living among us, is almost as life-changing as God’s ultimate desire to live within us!  WHY?  GOD’S INTENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TRANSFORM US FROM THE INSIDE OUT (1Corinthians 6:19-20)  INTO BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE HIS SON!  Surprised?

LIFE-CHANGING!                                       God is good all the time.  Mr. Steve

       WORTHY                                                                             

• What is the most expensive item you’ve ever owned?
• Who is the most important person you’ve ever known?
• What is most precious to you -- your greatest treasure?

     When I was 14 years old I got my first pair of new shoes.  I’d had shoes before but they were usually hand-me-downs from my brother or from the children’s home storeroom.  These shoes were brand new, right off the shelf!  i still remember their new smell, color and style to this day.  I also remember polishing them over and over -- even the soles!  Since my parents paid for the shoes, I don’t remember their cost; all I know is, at that time, they were my most treasured possession.

     Fast forward 50 years.  I’ve had many a new pair of shoes since I was 14 and of course, my value meter has changed.  But the question, what do I value above all else.... is still most necessary. 

     I believe many times my actions have betrayed the value and worth my heart has placed on my Lord.  Evidently, there was a time when Jesus wasn’t the apostles’ greatest treasure either.  In Matthew, Mark and John’s accounts, Jesus came up second to a year’s wages!  Even more, His being anointed with such an expensive perfume was in their own words, “Such a waste!” 

“While he (Jesus) was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very 

expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. “That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor.” Mk 14:3-5

     Besides Matthew 26, Mark 14 and John 12, I’ve been reading the book, “The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee and an article by Steven Cole entitled, “Wasting Your Life On Jesus.”  Many questions!  Do I treasure Jesus more than my stuff?  Do I treasure Jesus more than my pride?  Do I treasure Jesus more than my reputation?  Have I even come close to the point of pouring myself out.... wasting my life on Jesus?  Mary understood the value of her Lord.  WORTHY!

     At age 14 it was a pair of shoes.  At age 64.... my comfort zone.  Isn’t Jesus worthy of all of me?  My heart?  My passion?  If I say no .... then what a waste! 
God is good all the time.  Mr. Steve

“I’M GLAD YOU SEE”                                                   

A HUGE REASON TO BE THANKFUL CONTINUALLY                                        

What if you majored in adhering to law where “an eye for an eye” literally meant “AN EYE FOR AN EYE!”? What if you didn’t believe in angels or spirits?  What if you didn’t believe in the resurrection – either Jesus’ or you own? 

When I was growing up, my mother told me about an aristocratic group of priests in the Bible called SADDUCEES that supported the above beliefs.  “Stevie,” she said, “If you didn’t believe in angels or in the resurrection of the dead – you, too, would be SAD…. YOU SEE!”  I’ve always remembered her play on words, but never more than when re-reading Peter’s second sermon found in Acts 3:12-26.

Peter opens his discourse following a miracle and the observers’ misplaced amazement.  Peter redirects their amazement to, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers (verse 13).”  “HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT OF THE LIVING! (Matthew 22:32).” 

Then in less than 15 verses, Peter unfolds the Gospel story in a very unique way.  Like a mender of nets, Peter amazingly weaves God’s redemptive work using divine thread by penning the following ten descriptors of His Son: 

• His servant Jesus
• The Holy and Righteous One
• The Prince of life
• The One whom God raised from the dead 
• Jesus
• His Christ
• The Lord
• Jesus the Christ
• A Prophet
• (and back to the beginning) His Servant!  

Nearing conclusion, Peter exhorts his audience, some of them Sadducees, to repent and turn back to God!  Why? 1) That your sins may be wiped away.   2) That times of refreshing may come.  3) That God may send Jesus for you!  

JESUS IS NOT DEAD!  JESUS IS RISEN AND I’M GLAD….YOU SEE!  A HUGE REASON TO BE THANKFUL CONTINUALLY!

God is good all the time!  Mr. Steve

LIGHT CHECK

Six years ago, I shut my front door and realized too late that I had just locked myself out of my own house!  That very morning, I had been studying one of Paul’s exhortations to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks.”   Since this passage was so fresh on my mind, I just started thanking God for having a house I could lock myself out!  Later, after getting help to get back inside and recover my keys, I met Bruce, a friend of mine, and told him my story.  After that, whenever we’d get together, Bruce would usually reply to anything I shared – “OK, but were you thankful?!”  We’d both smile.

A few months after locking myself out of my house, I was standing by Bruce at a groundbreaking. As the person in charge was jokingly sharing how he had really been the first one to “break ground” on the property by getting his suburban stuck near the entrance – Bruce turned to me with a twinkle in his blue eyes and said, “Yes, but was he thankful?”  I laughed.

Our song of the month of November is “Sanctuary” by Third Day: “O Lord, prepare me – to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.”  

In other words:

• Lord, prepare me to be pure and holy
• Lord, try me to be pure and holy
• And through it all, Lord, help me to always be thankful!

Part of the Lord’s preparation of our being sanctuaries for Him is our learning to be thankful in ALL circumstances.  Tall order but extremely necessary.  

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:21

It appears that honoring God and giving thanks helps keep “the light on” in our sanctuaries – otherwise hearts are darkened!  LIGHT CHECK!        God is good all the time. Mr. Steve

LIGHT CHECK

Six years ago, I shut my front door and realized too late that I had just locked myself out of my own house!  That very morning, I had been studying one of Paul’s exhortations to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks.”   Since this passage was so fresh on my mind, I just started thanking God for having a house I could lock myself out!  Later, after getting help to get back inside and recover my keys, I met Bruce, a friend of mine, and told him my story.  After that, whenever we’d get together, Bruce would usually reply to anything I shared – “OK, but were you thankful?!”  We’d both smile.

A few months after locking myself out of my house, I was standing by Bruce at a groundbreaking. As the person in charge was jokingly sharing how he had really been the first one to “break ground” on the property by getting his suburban stuck near the entrance – Bruce turned to me with a twinkle in his blue eyes and said, “Yes, but was he thankful?”  I laughed.

Our song of the month of November is “Sanctuary” by Third Day: “O Lord, prepare me – to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.”  

In other words:

• Lord, prepare me to be pure and holy
• Lord, try me to be pure and holy
• And through it all, Lord, help me to always be thankful!

Part of the Lord’s preparation of our being sanctuaries for Him is our learning to be thankful in ALL circumstances.  Tall order but extremely necessary.  

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:21

It appears that honoring God and giving thanks helps keep “the light on” in our sanctuaries – otherwise hearts are darkened!  LIGHT CHECK!        God is good all the time. Mr. Steve

“SO THAT THE WORKS OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED”

I was a student at Harding College from 1972-1975.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Harding and have many amazing memories.  One of those memories was of a student who continually ministered and intentionally connected with blind students on campus.  I’d see him walking side-by-side with them to classes, assisting them in the cafeteria, library, chapel, etc.   I have to tell you I was convicted and impressed.  

Fast-forward 15 years.  In 1988 I received a call from an elder, in Colorado, inviting our little Sikes’ family to come for the weekend and speak to their congregation about Cornhusker Christian Children’s Home (CCCH).  At the time I was CCCH’s Assistant Superintendent and gladly accepted his invitation.  Our family travelled from western Nebraska to Colorado, on Friday night.  We spent most of Saturday with the elder and his wife on their farm before Sunday’s speaking engagement.

What I most vividly remember were the guide wires everywhere, so the elder could navigate safely around his 12-acre farm.  “This network of guide wires were strung out just a little over head-high, from the house to the workshop, from the workshop to the pasture and from the sheep shed to the pigpen.  Bells were placed on certain “problem” animals – the rambunctious ram and the over-stimulated steer – to alert (the elder) when he was in harm’s way.”  (Turning Darkness Into Light, Christian Chronicle, 2010)

Our time on the farm with our little children was such a blessing.  It was literally an outdoor playground for all ages with a tree house, rope swing, zip line, sack swing, as well as a petting zoo (with certain animals)!  I discovered later that it was also a place for “troubled youth to come and learn responsibility and Christian values.” 

As I’m sure you’ve now surmised, the elder on whose farm we were staying was blind and had been for many years as a result of congenital cataracts.  On Saturday, after a long conversation with him and his wife, I wandered into their living room and began looking at all the family pictures that covered their wall.  Surprisingly, in many of the pictures I found the face of the young man I had observed, at Harding College, who continually ministered to the blind!  Then, it hit me!  Eureka!   This was his farmhouse growing up…. these were his parents…. his own father…. blind!  

The son’s name is Dr. David Bland, now professor of Homiletics and Director of D.Min. at Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tenn.  The “blind farmer and his wife” -- Bob and Helen Bland.  Bob served as an elder for the Meadowlark Church of Christ in Fort Collins, CO for about 30 years.   David’s experience of growing up with a father going blind did not make him bitter, but better.  His intentional choice to serve the blind while on Harding’s campus opened the eyes of many – including my own – “so that the works of God might be displayed....” (John 9:9) God is good.  Mr. Steve