Last Sunday, Patrick gave a message to several Youth and Adult leaders based on Micah 6:8, which says, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" He did a great job of breaking this passage down in practical ways for all of us. But the overall theme of this scripture and Patrick's teaching got me thinking...
Just what IS God saying?
This is a question we all face at times--especially times like this when we're seeking Him in fasting and prayer. I mean, "Is God asking me to do more or less?," "Go left or right?", "Start or stop?", etc. We want him to speak and we sometimes think He's holding out on us or acting like a stubborn child, facing away from us with His lower lip stuck out and His arms folded--refusing to answer until we pray enough, fast enough, work hard enough, or whatever He wants at the moment. We want answers and He seems silent...
But could it be that He's already spoken?
Now I need to clarify that I DO believe that God still speaks through the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to every believer. The problem often is that we're not listening versus the fallacious idea that God's not speaking. Still, to some degree, the REAL problem is that God has already spoken and we're ignorant of it.
Micah 6:8 is a great example. It has been in the Bible for well over 2,000 years. Ironically, it says, "He HAS TOLD YOU, O man....(emphasis mine)." What does God want us to do? He wants us to focus on doing and promoting justice, loving and living kindness, and walking a lifestyle of true humility under his authority. We can (and should as Pat did) unpack these phrases, but my point is--it's all there for us and has been for centuries! So why are we still asking, "Just what IS God Saying to us?"
Partly, it's because we don't read what He has written (the Bible). Partly because we don't believe it when we do. God is NOT a stubborn brat, holding back on his kids because he wants us to sweat before answering our basic questions of life. Most of them He's already answered. The rest? Well, He's glad to deal with those as we pray and listen in the Spirit.
In His Love,
Pastor Joel
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Government & You
In Romans 13:1-2, we read, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves (NIV).”
Seems pretty “clear-cut” right? Our Federal, State, and Local government authorities are to be respected and obeyed. Yet, you’d be surprised how many Christians argue this when it comes to everything from traffic laws to taxes. Some even argue regarding illegal drugs like pot, suggesting that it should be legal like alcohol and thus we should be able to use it despite the law.
Wow!
No matter what our “beef” with government, Paul cuts it to shreds with his primary point in verse two, “…he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted….” Ouch! So my opinion about the speed limit is irrelevant because disobeying it is disrespecting God?
That’s what it says.
So, if we’re serious about God and loving Him, we obey the authorities, even when we think they’re wrong. That is with one exception. If they ask us to do something God forbids or try to make us stop doing something God commands, we have Biblical instruction and justification to disobey (see Acts 5:29 for example).
So the next time you want to get indignant and ignore the tax law or the police officer who’s giving you instruction, remember that it’s God we’re obeying and God we’re honoring when we submit to authorities. This is just another way we honor him as lights in a dark world.
In His Love,
Pastor Joel
Seems pretty “clear-cut” right? Our Federal, State, and Local government authorities are to be respected and obeyed. Yet, you’d be surprised how many Christians argue this when it comes to everything from traffic laws to taxes. Some even argue regarding illegal drugs like pot, suggesting that it should be legal like alcohol and thus we should be able to use it despite the law.
Wow!
No matter what our “beef” with government, Paul cuts it to shreds with his primary point in verse two, “…he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted….” Ouch! So my opinion about the speed limit is irrelevant because disobeying it is disrespecting God?
That’s what it says.
So, if we’re serious about God and loving Him, we obey the authorities, even when we think they’re wrong. That is with one exception. If they ask us to do something God forbids or try to make us stop doing something God commands, we have Biblical instruction and justification to disobey (see Acts 5:29 for example).
So the next time you want to get indignant and ignore the tax law or the police officer who’s giving you instruction, remember that it’s God we’re obeying and God we’re honoring when we submit to authorities. This is just another way we honor him as lights in a dark world.
In His Love,
Pastor Joel
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Are YOU Too Proud to Get Help?
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
Mentors? I thought we were all independent? Scripture promotes interdependence--so are you willing to have someone speak into your life and then return the favor?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Q&A With PJ
From time-to-time, we'll use our blog and newsletter article space to answer questions that come in at our services. This week, i have four which I'll handle briefly. If you want/need more detail on any of these subjects, please call (860) 436-9216 or email office@millpondchurch.org. Thanks!
1. Q. Does it matter whether or not you are creamated or buried after death?
A. Biblically, the short answer is "No." I 1Corinthians 15:35-45, Paul makes it clear that what comes up in the resurrection at Christ's return, is a spiritual body--a new body, not a reworked version of the old (see also all of 1 Cor. 15 and 1Thess. 4:13-18). Thus, whether the old flesh was buried, burned, or blown-up--we still get the new and DRASTICALLY improved, spiritual version when Jesus comes again.
2. Q. How Do you submit to a spouse who is not saved?
A. In brief, the same way you submit to one who IS saved. I'm not being trite or cute here, but it's true. Submission to one another is always done "out of reverence to Christ (Eph. 5:21, etc.)." Thus, you treat your spouse as you would treat Jesus even though your spouse can and will NEVER deserve that kind of treatment. You sacrifice your wants at times for his/her needs. Now, this doesn't include abuse since to sacrifice by allowing yourself or your children to be abused would never be God's will nor does it really help your spouse. In fact, allowing abuse under the guise of "submission," is to encourage/enable it and lead the spouse further away from God by helping them sin! Still, to surrender my desires in order to care for and sacrifice for my spouse's needs is Biblical no matter whether or not he/she is a Christian. No matter what the spiritual state of your mate, the key is to know the difference between needs, wants, and sinful requests. For example, my spouse needs love and respect always. She may want $1,000,000 in spending money, but I can't (and probably shouldn't) give her that. Furthermore, she may make a sinful request that I not attend church so I can be with her 24/7, but God is clear that I shouldn't forsake assembling with other Christians (Heb. 10:25), so that's something "nonnegotiable." I submit by laying down my wants for her needs---whether she's a pagan or a devoted follower of Christ. Hope this helps....
3. Q. In Genesis, we're told that Noah put all the animals in the Ark. How could he do that since the Ark would be smaller than some aircraft carriers today?
A. A couple of thoughts. First, was it every species or every single type of animal? Read it carefully, Genesis 7 makes it clear that this was done, "after (their) kind." So rather than have every breed of dog, there may have just been two small dogs. The same with birds, cats, various reptiles, etc. Also, it's entirely impossible that these were baby animals, not fully grown, such that space wasn't an issue. Having said this, remember that the ark WAS huge. Thus, it was clearly capable of holding hundreds if not thousands of species and thus, accomplish the task.
4. Q. In Genesis 6, it says, "the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose." Later, it says that there were "Nephilim" on earth who were "heros." Were these giants? Who were the "sons of men" and the "daughters of men?" Were these angels marrying humans?
A. There have been many speculations about this over time and I'd be lying if I didn't say that my answer is just a "good guess." Still, there are a couple of things we know. First, angels apparently don't have sex and thus don't marry. Jesus said so (see Matt. 22:30). Second, the text doesn't actually say that the "Nephilim" had super powers or that they were giants per se. They were probably bigger and stronger than most, but not the size of a house or "able to leap tall buildings with a single bound." Personally, I think that the point of Genesis 6 is that people were simply marrying without considering faith and family. We know it displeased God (Genesis 6:3) and, from other passages of scripture, this usually meant that people of faith were marrying people who worshiped false gods and were thus led astray. The "sons of God" would be people of faith and the "daughters of men" would represent people who weren't believers in the one true God. This was always a concern...and still is to this day (See 2Cor. 6:14).
If you'd like a question answered in our "Q&A With PJ" portion of the newsletter, just email us or stick a written question in the box at one of our worship services. Thank you!
1. Q. Does it matter whether or not you are creamated or buried after death?
A. Biblically, the short answer is "No." I 1Corinthians 15:35-45, Paul makes it clear that what comes up in the resurrection at Christ's return, is a spiritual body--a new body, not a reworked version of the old (see also all of 1 Cor. 15 and 1Thess. 4:13-18). Thus, whether the old flesh was buried, burned, or blown-up--we still get the new and DRASTICALLY improved, spiritual version when Jesus comes again.
2. Q. How Do you submit to a spouse who is not saved?
A. In brief, the same way you submit to one who IS saved. I'm not being trite or cute here, but it's true. Submission to one another is always done "out of reverence to Christ (Eph. 5:21, etc.)." Thus, you treat your spouse as you would treat Jesus even though your spouse can and will NEVER deserve that kind of treatment. You sacrifice your wants at times for his/her needs. Now, this doesn't include abuse since to sacrifice by allowing yourself or your children to be abused would never be God's will nor does it really help your spouse. In fact, allowing abuse under the guise of "submission," is to encourage/enable it and lead the spouse further away from God by helping them sin! Still, to surrender my desires in order to care for and sacrifice for my spouse's needs is Biblical no matter whether or not he/she is a Christian. No matter what the spiritual state of your mate, the key is to know the difference between needs, wants, and sinful requests. For example, my spouse needs love and respect always. She may want $1,000,000 in spending money, but I can't (and probably shouldn't) give her that. Furthermore, she may make a sinful request that I not attend church so I can be with her 24/7, but God is clear that I shouldn't forsake assembling with other Christians (Heb. 10:25), so that's something "nonnegotiable." I submit by laying down my wants for her needs---whether she's a pagan or a devoted follower of Christ. Hope this helps....
3. Q. In Genesis, we're told that Noah put all the animals in the Ark. How could he do that since the Ark would be smaller than some aircraft carriers today?
A. A couple of thoughts. First, was it every species or every single type of animal? Read it carefully, Genesis 7 makes it clear that this was done, "after (their) kind." So rather than have every breed of dog, there may have just been two small dogs. The same with birds, cats, various reptiles, etc. Also, it's entirely impossible that these were baby animals, not fully grown, such that space wasn't an issue. Having said this, remember that the ark WAS huge. Thus, it was clearly capable of holding hundreds if not thousands of species and thus, accomplish the task.
4. Q. In Genesis 6, it says, "the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose." Later, it says that there were "Nephilim" on earth who were "heros." Were these giants? Who were the "sons of men" and the "daughters of men?" Were these angels marrying humans?
A. There have been many speculations about this over time and I'd be lying if I didn't say that my answer is just a "good guess." Still, there are a couple of things we know. First, angels apparently don't have sex and thus don't marry. Jesus said so (see Matt. 22:30). Second, the text doesn't actually say that the "Nephilim" had super powers or that they were giants per se. They were probably bigger and stronger than most, but not the size of a house or "able to leap tall buildings with a single bound." Personally, I think that the point of Genesis 6 is that people were simply marrying without considering faith and family. We know it displeased God (Genesis 6:3) and, from other passages of scripture, this usually meant that people of faith were marrying people who worshiped false gods and were thus led astray. The "sons of God" would be people of faith and the "daughters of men" would represent people who weren't believers in the one true God. This was always a concern...and still is to this day (See 2Cor. 6:14).
If you'd like a question answered in our "Q&A With PJ" portion of the newsletter, just email us or stick a written question in the box at one of our worship services. Thank you!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
PRAYER PARTNERS--A KEY TO SPIRITUAL SUCCESS
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
How do we grow? We grow best one-on-one versus in larger groups. This video looks at Proverbs 27:17 as an indicator of the best means of spiritual growth and discipleship.
In our recent church survey, we learned some things. Actually, the survey confirmed some hunches the elders and I have had for some time. About 25% of our average Sunday Morning attendees responded to the survey--a good representative sample. Interestingly, most of those who responded have been at Mill Pond for over a year and attend small groups, etc. So, they are involved, committed, and probably most are members of the church as well.
Yet, even though many of the respondents are core members, 88% read their Bible only 5 minutes or less a day, 83% pray less than 5 minutes a day, and 88% reach out to only 3 or fewer unchurched friends/family. What that means to your pastor-dude is, "I'm not getting it done!" In other words, attending a church we like with messages we learn from and music we say is inspiring, going to small group, having lots of friends in church, and/or believing that most of our friends would like the church and its people--all of this--isn't enough to generate spiritual growth.
That's exactly what we've been hearing from God over the last few months...
You see we know we've been missing something. Just having good meetings and classes and sermons and worship isn't producing spiritual growth and transformation. So what would produce it? I think part of the answer is individual attention. The pieces of the proverbial puzzle we need to consider all center around 1-on-1 discipleship. This could be mentoring, coaching, prayer partnering, accountability partnering, role modeling, etc. In our context, (and the context of most evangelical churches by the way), this rarely happens. But I believe we've got to change that or we'll ultimately suffer the same fate of 80+% of all American Churches which are now in decline.
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