Three Phases Of Life

 There seem to be three phases of life for people and for corporations and even for churches. One author called these the Go Go years, the Slow Go years, and the No Go years.

The Go Go years are the life many are leading right now. It is working, and planning, and following dreams. These are productive years and these are growth years. These are the years when things begin, and take off. For some these Go Go years are exciting years.

The No Go years are at the end of life when you cannot do what you used to do anymore. These are the years where you begin to prepare for the end of life. Maybe you can no longer drive. Maybe you can no longer sleep. Maybe you no longer have a spouse. These are years we all face but do not like to think about.

But the Slow Go years are the transition years that cause us the most problems. We are no longer as fit or strong or capable as we used to be. But we are not decrepit of dead yet either. This Slow Go time is a transition time. You begin to adjust to changing abilities or changing circumstances or a shrinking environment. These Slow Go years can start out being frustrating but if we work with life as it is can end up being satisfying.

It is during the Slow Go years that you begin to distil life down to what is really important and necessary to thrive.

We think that we will live like we are as young people forever. But we won't. It is inevitable that everyone alive today will slow down at some point as we get older. The big question is; will we grow old in grace, or will we become angry and mean and bitter?

Surrounded By Fanatics!

 I seem to know a lot of fanatics. I know people who are exercise fanatics. They spend a lot of time in the gym. I know people who are diet fanatics. They are always trying a new diet plan. I know people who are health fanatics. I know people who are history fanatics. I know people who are football fanatics. And I know people who are witnessing fanatics.

One thing all fanatics have in common is that not only are they really into what they do, they think that everyone should also be a fanatic like they are. And because of this they almost despise anyone who is not as zealous as they are.

Age has given me stability and balance. I do not get over excited about anything. I have tried a lot of things, most of which I can live without.

There is a reason why our Fellowship is youth oriented. Youth still can get fired up and excited. Older folks remember but that is all that they can do.

So if exercise or football or evangelism is the focus of your life, go for it. Just don't expect me to join you.

The Word For Today

 I have two Bible study tools that I use to read every day. Today, both of these tools gave me the same scripture. I took that to mean that God had something to say to me today. The verse came from Psalm 121.

"He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Ps. 121:3

While we sleep at night we can be assured that God is not sleeping too.  In Heaven there is no night and in Heaven there is no need for sleep and rest. So God, who is always active and at work, is always working. Christ is at God's right hand making intercession for us.

"It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Rom. 8:34b

Because God is at work, we do not need to worry or fret or lose sleep about what is going on in the world and in our personal circumstances.

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep." Ps. 127:2

Give them all to Jesus.

One Job To Do

 The world seems to know what the church's job is better than the church does. I regularly read how the church is supposed to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked and to house the homeless and to provide schools.  Many churches do food pantries and have meals for anyone in need.  This is not evil. This is just missing the point.

The modern church has only one reason to exist and that is to be salt and light in the earth. Our only excuse for existing is that we are a testimony to the world of Jesus Christ. We do that by preaching the gospel.

"And He said unto them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:17-18

No where in this message from the Lord is there any mention of food or clothing or housing.

One more thought. Winning souls is important, but so is healing the sick. Pastor Mitchell was obeying God by conducting salvation/healing crusades.

Out Loud

Here is something that is puzzling to me. How is it that some folks in church are silent. Not as far as witnessing goes, but I am talking about in church. There are times when I walk into the prayer room before a service and I feel like no one is praying out loud. Often they are sitting with heads bowed, but no sound comes from their mouths. There are times when you must pray silently. But in corporate prayer before service it is a time to pray out loud.

Another thing that puzzles me is how some people do not sing or worship in church. They are not mad dogging the song leader or staring at the pastor. They just stand there silent, not singing or lifting their hands to God or speaking in tongues.

As a Pentecostal church, being silent in prayer and in worship is strange to me. Are these people not Spirit filled? Are they more Evangelical than Pentecostal?

On Saturday morning we have prayer. After praying we sing. That small group at Saturday morning prayer meeting makes more noise singing and praying and worshiping than our whole church does on Sunday morning sometimes.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:4

"we hear them speaking..." Acts 2:11

"Others mocking said, they are full of new wine." Acts 2:13

If you cannot speak in tongues or pray out loud or worship freely then maybe you do not have what I have. 

Things That I Was Reminded Of This Morning

 "...so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."1Tim.3:15

Today our pastor reminded us that we become like the God that we worship. Or else we become like the gods that we worship. Your God is the one to whom you dedicate the best of your time, your talent, and your money.

I also was reminded how those people who worship false gods and idols hate God.

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me." Exod. 20:4-5

Finally I was reminded of the scripture in Psalm 9: 20 that says "put them in fear, o Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men."

Sometimes I wonder if we ought to pray for the leaders of our Fellowship, that the Lord would remind them that they are but men too.

See, after all these years, I still get something by being in church and hearing sermons.

Self-Evident Truths

 "We hold these truths to be self-evident..." US Declaration of Independence

Here are a few things that I find ought to be self evident in our Fellowship.

1.New converts are the life blood of any church. They add a dimension to our Fellowship that we desperately need. Without a stream of new converts we find ourselves just hanging on.

2. New converts and our youth are the keys to revival. Grandma and grandpa will pray and give and support the vision. But it is young people who see visions, not old people.

3. We always need to be reminded to only run with the runners. There are those on the cutting edge who need a challenge and an example. There are those who stay by the stuff. Remember that 80% of the work is always done by 20% of the people.

4. Everyone is valuable. Some for what they do now. Some for what they used to do back then.

5. Pastors never retire. Unless they are forced out by infirmity. Many ought to retire, but no one will.

Do these thing seem self-evident to you?