1/29/12 – The Blessings of Tithing
The subject matter of tithing is a very sensitive one to discuss. It is much easier to talk about those things which make us feel warm and fuzzy all over – topics such as God’s love and grace and mercy. Leaving out that which makes us uncomfortable is not healthy for any of us. This subject matter of tithing needs to be addressed, because it is scriptural and our attitudes regarding it are a very clear sign of our spiritual health. We, as Christians, are warned again and again in God’s word to not hold too tightly to material things. All of our resources are the Lord’s and we are simply stewards of them. If we, as individuals, truly recognize this fact, that all of our security rests in God and God alone, we will find it easy and enjoyable to give back to God what is His.
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1/22/12 – Sanctity of Life
Whether young or old, born or unborn, all of us must recognize that God has given to each of us a wonderful and priceless gift. That is the gift of life. Genesis, chapter one, tells us that when God created the heavens and the earth, He also chose to create man and woman in His own image. He breathed life into them and He placed great value upon them. They were valuable not because of their talents or abilities, or because of certain criteria or qualities. Their value existed because of God’s great love for them.
Sadly, many today have lost this respect for the God-given gift of human life. Many in our world have chosen and decided who may exist and who may not. In the midst of this, we, as God’s disciples, must stand up and proclaim the sanctity of life. We must be a voice for the helpless. It’s vital that we know and understand what is going on and what we can and should be doing about it.
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1/15/12 – Chet Caudill, National Speed-the-Light Director
Chet Caudill, National Speed-the-Light Director, shares an inspiring message at Crystal Hills Assembly.
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1/1/12 – Wisdom in the New Year
Have you ever considered what your friends and family will say about you when you’re gone? How will those who know you best sum up your life and influence? Even more important, how will God sum up your life and character? The beginning of a new year is an excellent time to ask ourselves those questions. We must examine our lives and evaluate our choices and the decisions we have made up to this point in time. Are we living wisely or unwisely? How are we choosing to live our lives? The best way to find the answer to that question is to ask ourselves if we have higher priorities in our lives than Jesus Christ and His priorities. If we are living in a way that we know goes against God’s word and dishonors His plan and will for our life, we are living unwisely. As we enter this new year, let us decide to let God’s will be done in every area of our lives.
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12/25/11 – What is the meaning of Christmas?
Why is Christmas so special? What is there about the birth and life of Jesus Christ that makes Him stand out as being different from all the other babies born in Israel some 2000 years ago? In human terms, He didn’t do any of those things that would associate Him with greatness. He wrote no book, He had no army, He was not wealthy, and He enraged the nobility of Israel to the point that they executed Him on a cross between two thieves. In human terms, that should have been the end of it, but it wasn’t. Did it have to do with who Jesus really was and is – the son of God? Has it to do with His mission here on the earth – to reconcile mankind to God? It is quite a paradox to think that the man Jesus, who was crucified some 2000 years ago is the same one, who, one day, mankind will exalt on high and confess that He is Lord. In our secular and materialistic society, Christmas seems to be all out the giving and receiving of gifts. We, as a society, seem to have lost the true reason for the season. Christmas is and should be about Jesus. He is the central figure of the holy day.
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12/18/11 – The Christmas Classics “It’s a wonderful Christian life”
What seemed to George Baily, in the great movie classic It’s a Wonderful Life, as a series of difficult and frustrating sacrifices in life had actually created a life of great meaning and value. We learn from the movie that even small acts of kindness and generosity can have great meaning. Everything we do in life can make a difference in others’ lives. George Baily lived out daily Christlike characteristics. This old Christmas favorite shows to us that the true impact of our lives has nothing to do with power, position, or possessions. Rather, it is about how we live our lives on a day to day basis. Throughout George’s life, he lived by a creed that always placed human needs above riches and personal ambition. As a result, his wealth was formed in his family and friends. That made him the richest man in town. Jesus’ teachings often remind us of the infinite value of investing ourselves in the world of people instead of the world of self pleasure and desires. Jesus taught that we care to serve Him by serving others. Because of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection, we can live a wonderful christian life. We can be abundantly blessed and we can be a blessing to others.
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12/11/11 – The Christmas Classics “Miracle on 1st Century Street”
Miracle on 34th Street takes place in New York City following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is a story about the people of New York wondering if a department store Santa may be the real thing. This great classic movie can give to us some parallels between Biblical fact and fictional characters of Christmas. The film’s identity on trial theme is a perfect sequel into the question of the true identity of Jesus Christ. Is He really who He claimed to be? The son of God himself? Is He really Lord of Lords? If not, then He was just a liar and a lunatic! When we turn to the Bible, we see that the birth of Jesus has all the marks of fact and history. It is not some fairy tale story. Christ is not some fictional character. His story is true. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the reason for the Christmas season.
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12/4/11 – The Christmas Classics “A Christmas Conversion”
The Charles Dickens classic entitled A Christmas Carol was published in 1843 and since its first publication, it has be adapted for theater, film, television, radio, and opera. I believe a fresh look at this all-time classic will remind us that it’s far more than just a feel-good, festive tale, featuring a miserly old man with one of the oldest catchphrases in the world, known as “Bah Humbug”. Scrooge parallels many Biblical characters who demonstrate the spirit of Anti-Christ. He also demonstrates the spirit of everyone yet today who tries to remove the spirit of Christmas and, more importantly, the spirit of Christ from all of us and all around us. They are the ones who want no evidence of Jesus anywhere in the public eye. May we be aware of the Scrooges in our lives that try to rob the true meaning and purpose out of our lives. Let us learn from Ebenezer Scrooge’s mistakes and regrets and strive to not fall into the same trap that he did.
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11/27/11 – Our Great Hope
Hope brings power to people’s lives. Hope is what comforts us in times of pain and confusion. Hope is what allows us to not dwell on things as they are but as they will be. As Hebrews 11:1 states, “Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The New Testament Greek word for hope is Elipis, which means to have an eagerness or expectation of something. The understanding of Biblical hope gives to us an confidence that the good expected and the promises given in the Bible will happen and come to pass. It is this hope that offers to us a genuine confidence that will impact our daily living. It will be seen in the character of our lives. This hope gives to the believer an unexplainable peace and joy when the world around us is spinning out of control. The closer we walk with Christ, the deeper and stronger our hope will become. True hope is built and centered upon the work and person of Jesus Christ. He is our source of support and genuine hope.
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11/20/11 – An attitude of thanksgiving
Thanksgiving day is a day in which we, as Americans, set aside time in our busy schedules to give thanks and show gratitude. It is an unusual holiday, as it does not recognize any great person or event. Its one and only purpose is for our nation to recognize and express thanks to God for His goodness and blessings upon us. It is very appropriate that we have this day on the calendar, as we have so much to be thankful for. Our life, health, family, friends, freedom, finances, food, clothing, housing, etc… There is even a greater thing than these to be thankful for, and that is our salvation and forgiveness from sins through Christ Jesus. We also have the privilege of being part of a church family and the gift of being brothers and sisters in the Lord. Each of us has so much to be thankful for, but sadly, many take these things for granted and have lost the attitude of thanksgiving in their lives. If we are not careful, we can easily become used to our blessings from God and, rather than be thankful, we can become discontented and ungrateful. We become complainers rather than worshippers. May we be careful of that trap the enemy sets. May we strive to live with a sense of wonder and amazement that the Lord is supplying our needs each and every day. Let us recognize our blessings and be thankful people.
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