Brother Nate

Hey Nate,

 This is your big brother. I am not good at saying goodbye. I don’t like saying goodbye especially when I am a long ways away. Until this moment, I never understood how hard it was to lose something until you have lost it. You are not supposed to die before me.

 I got the call at school to get to the hospital as soon as possible. When I heard you were not doing well, I broke down and cried in the hallway. My friends prayed for you.

I had the whole school of Moody praying for you.

 I am so glad that I was able to get here in time to see you before you passed away.

As I was thinking back I remember all the conversations we had about fishing, hunting, and of course sports.  You loved them all and I will miss those conversations.

One thing I can say for sure, you had a love for people.  You made everyone feel welcome.

When you did something, you put your whole heart into it.  You were passionate!

I really appreciate your awesome attitude through this difficult time.  You had a great attitude and a tenderness about you that I have never seen from you before. I am glad you are spending eternity in Heaven.

THE BROKEN CHAIN

Little did we know, that on Sept.22^nd,

God was going to call your name,

In life we loved you dearly,

in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you early,

but in God you have put your trust,

In times as difficult as these,

faith is a very must.

You have left us great memories,

How you were so kind,

And though we cannot see you anymore,

you will be always in our minds.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one,

the chain will link again.

Bye brother and I will miss you.

Joel Stutzman

Leadership Training and disciplining by Boyle and Toregeson

Christ spent 3 years with the disciples

They ate with him…walked with Him…served with Him…learned from Him

8 hours a day x five days a week x 52 weeks x 3 years = 6,240 hours of time with Christ.

What’s the average time a person spends at church?

Average 2 hours a week…maybe 3-4 at best-only 32 weeks year!

5 hours x 32= 260 hours per year

6240 divided by 260=24 years to duplicate the training!

The only way that ministers are trained today in the same time span is at seminary! (three year span)

Seeing the potential to fly is leadership development

What do we develop?

Being…Who am I supposed to be?

Knowing…What do I need to know?

Doing…What must I learn to do!

There is one more item that is often neglected!

Emotions…what must I learn to address?

·        Spiritual Formation

·        Character Development

·        Ministry Competency and skill Development

·        Theological Integration and Reflection

·        Ethics

Suffering

Christian believers are not immune from suffering. In fact, sometimes it seems that sincere Christian believers suffer more than others! God has promised us many things, but He has not promised us immunity from suffering in this life. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:19). "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12). Suffering will be a reality for us in one form or another until Jesus returns. The issue of suffering is a complex one, since there are many kinds of suffering, many possible reasons for each kind, and often many perplexing mysteries. Our faith in the goodness of God may be tested through sufferings, and our responses to suffering in this life have the potential to make us or break us.

How convenient it would be for us if God somehow guaranteed that we will never be severely tested in this life - that all will be sweetness, comfort and prosperity! It is a false teaching, sadly often found in charismatic circles, that says that if we are in covenant with God we will escape serious suffering - either by simply rebuking it in Jesus name or by calling upon God, our covenant partner, who will immediately come and rescue us. No, God will rescue us, but it may well be that deliverance will not come about quickly as we would like. God has his reasons for this, and the answers are generally not simple, nor can we always know them while we are suffering.

There is sweetness, comfort and prosperity in the gospel, but there are also fiery trials, afflictions, sufferings, persecutions and rejection. Paul knew what it was to be abased, and he also knew how to abound -  sometimes he had more than enough, other times he suffered need and hunger (Philippians 4:12). This was not because he lacked faith, but because he had faith. True faith takes us out of the comfort zone into areas where we enter into conflict with Satan's kingdom and must demonstrate both patience and faith in the face of delays and difficulties. The person who has it as his goal to enjoy an easy life here and now is not following after love, but is living selfishly. God calls us to combat with a real enemy. Yes, He has given us power to overcome, but not without a fight (see teaching on spiritual warfare).

Our Response to Suffering

When we suffer, our response is very important. We need to remember that God still loves us, and while there is life, there is hope.  Don't allow discouragement and bitterness against God to enter your heart. Learn from the experiences of the children of Israel. Also try to get as many as possible to pray for you and your situation. This will help, but you still need patience.

Praise God!

Do not yield to discouragement because of suffering. This is one of the greatest battles we will ever face - the battle to stay encouraged and joyful. PRAISE is a major key to making it through trials. If offered sincerely, in faith, to God, it will help you get out of troubles faster than anything, and you will get stronger and feel less pain in the whole process, because God dwells in the praises of His people. Just consider how quickly God delivered Paul and Silas from the jail in Philippi when they praised Him in the middle of the night (Acts 16) ! This is a good example for us. Here is where major spiritual battles are won or lost. Praise God instead of grumbling. It will make the world of difference.

Michael

IN THIS QUIET PLACE- MUSIC-

Ryan Thom Lyrics-Fred Pratt Green

Verse 1

Here Master in this quiet place

Where anyone may kneel

We also come to ask for grace

Believing you can heal

Chorus

If pain of body stress of mind

Destroys our inward peace

In prayer to you LORD

May we come and find our faith increased

And find our faith increased

Verse 2

If our flesh upon its sickness feeds

And turns our lives to gall

Let us not fret about our needs

But simply tell you all

Chorus 2

You never said you ask too much

To any troubled soul

We long to feel your healing touch

Will you please make us whole (repeat)

Verse 3

But if the thing we most desire

Is not the way of Thee

May our faith when tested in the fire

Prove its integrity

Chorus 3

We ask You LORD our Great High Priest

Make our faith fully grown

Lord disbelieve our unbelief

You’ve claimed us as your own (repeat)

We thank You LORD that by the cross

You’ve claimed us as your own (repeat

What Christmas is All About by Lowndes

What Christmas Is All About

Christmas will always be for us

A time to reflect on Christ

The gift God gave to the entire world

Was the gift of His life

We know Christmas is not about tinsel

Nor fancy Christmas wreaths

Nor is it about all the decorations

That adorns our Christmas trees

And it’s not about Holly or Mistletoe

Hanging from our doors

Nor is it about the gifts that are left

By the jolly Santa Claus

Christmas is more than all of this

And the only reason why

We celebrate Christ’s birth together

And the wonder of His life

So remember as you celebrate

Just what it’s all about

And invite the Lord to join with you

Instead of leaving Him out

For He will always be the reason

We celebrate this day

No substitute the world may offer

Can take that meaning away

By M.S.Lowndes ~ 2007

Psalms 147

Why Praise God?

The background of Psalms 147

·         This passage is referring to Israel when they were coming back to Jerusalem from their exile.

·         This chapter was probably written during the autumn feast of Tabernacles, in reference to what verse 14. 

·         Verse 13 makes reference to the “dedication of the walls in the times of Nehemiah.”

·         Approximately 445 B.C. when they finished the walls and were calling for a celebration and gathering of all the people of Israel to dedicate the finishing of the walls of Jerusalem.  The significance of the rebuilding of the walls was that it was also a time of restoration for the people of Israel.  God had a bigger plan then just the walls. We will see as we look into the chapter how God does that with Israel.

·         God’s hand was in the total project of rebuilding the walls and the people of Israel.  The Persian King Artaxerxes sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.  Nehemiah had lots of opposition and struggles in getting them rebuild. 

Think about this for a minute, we build a house, do a remodel project we have marital issues before it’s done.  Imagine building a massive city walls.

·         Nehemiah persevered and got the job. Neh. 6:16

Power of God was made known to all who knew that the walls were being rebuilt. 

Ok, this is God showing Israel why they need to praise and worship God for what He has done.  It is equally important why we need to praise Him also.

The Four “C’s” of why we need to praise God. 

1.      We are Commanded to Praise!  Verse 1

·         Praise in different forms to God is mentioned 167 times in just Psalms alone.  Do you think maybe it is important??

·         God telling Israel continually in the O.T. was not good enough.

Israel still didn’t praise God for all that he did for the them..

·         In the OT the goodness of God is shown in what he does well for Israel.  He provided for Israel in many amazing ways but they were not grateful. They complained.

He gave them quail, manna, protection, land flowing with milk and honey.  Yet they still complained and were disobedient.

·         Takes energy to be thankful and it is our sin nature coming out when we complain. 

We are so much like Israel today, we are commanded to worship God and yet we don’t listen.

In Matthew 4:10 Jesus is tell Satan that “You should worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” 

During Israel time they had many gods that they could worship and get distracted by.  It is not any different today, we have many things that we worship or that takes priority over praising God.  What do you think the Israelites would say if they could look into our world today?

·         Praise bring great joy to God.  It should be not just a Sunday morning thing. But a daily practice to God.

 Singing:

Play an instrument or sing.  It is an outward expression of giving God the praise he is due.

·         It is good to praise God because God is morally prefect and glorious. 

·         Ps. 106:1 for he is good and his love endures forever.

·         The works of God are good; for they reveal his attributes of wisdom and power (All through Psalms is talks about them).

·         Who God is to Israel and it hasn’t changed with us all these years.  In fact he loved us so much he paid the ultimate price for our sins.  This in itself should be enough to praise Him.

·         Praise is not just for those who can sing because I can’t sing very well.  It is more than that. It comes when we are doing to God.

2.      Because He is our Creator(contractor) vs. 2,4, 8  Verse 7 singing-noise/howling of animals.

·         Vs. 2 builds is fortifying, rebuilding, and same word in Hebrew that is in Gen. 2:22

·         God wants to bring in the Israelites that are all over the countryside from the exile. It has been 150 plus years since Jerusalem and the Israelites were as a nation.

·         God has named all the stars, who do we think we are to rename the stars. 

·         Do you think he has a big book with all the names and how many stars he has?

·         God cares enough to give a name to each star, wow amazing

·          

3.      He is a Caring(Provider and healer) vs. 9, 16-18 - - vs. 3,6

Vs. 16- Hoarfrost Ex. 16:14 fine-flake on ground like the manna that God gave Israel.

God is not only concerned for the Israel and their basic needs, but he is also concerned for the livestock as well.  He loves all of His creation all through the scriptures and it is good.

He knows how many stars and the names of each one.  What a great memory.  I wish I had that kind of brain.

Heals: makes fresh the brokenhearted or the crushed (restores the shattered or was once whole) Ps. 34:18

Binds: reminds me of when I was a fireman/emt and how you come to an injured person and fix their wounds or painful spots. Reminds me of a mother who cares for a young child who gets hurt.

Lifts up:  more than just lifting up, but is God who surrounds/encircles the humble or gentle

4.      He the main Controller(Power) vs. 5, 10

Vs. 10:

Reminder that there is a total dependence on God.

Vs. 11

Awe or fear of God

His steadfast love is vital when we think about the Israelites and how many times they tried God.  God still loved them and kept bringing them back to Him.  This chapter proves that he loved Israel so much that he was bringing them back together as a nation and restoring Jerusalem.

Romans 12:1-2

We are His creation, we are in need of His care and provision, we need His healing hands over us, and through His control and power we have been redeemed through His blood and we are forgiven of our sins.  Through this we should be praising and worshiping God daily. 

How do we apply this to our lives?

1.      Come to church with a spirit of worship and not complaining or looking for this that are not done right.  Thankfulness  Ps. 111

2.      Share with others what he is doing in your life and if you can’t find anything that He is doing in your life then maybe, it’s time to do soul searching.  Sharing with each other is a time to encourage each other.  Rom. 1:11-12 Our gifts God has given each of us.

3.      Build up and strengthen those around us.  Christ was the example for us. Eph. 4:31-32  Christ forgave us of all our sins and what more do we need to sing His praises and not complain.

4.      Praise needs to be to God.  Our Focus

Ps. 115:1

Worship and praising God is not just something that we do natural, but a command from God.

A.W. Tozer said, "Without worship, we go about miserable." God doesn't want us to be miserable -- He has a perfect plan for our lives. He has done so many things to show us that He loves us and doesn't want us to be miserable.