Finding A Good Thing

 There seems to be a problem in our churches that has to do with marriage. We have singles who want to be married but they are not getting married. I have a thought on this.

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." Proverbs 18:22

First, you have to find a wife. It is the man's job to look for one. If you are waiting for the Lord to bring you a wife, you will die single. He who finds a wife means that you have to be looking for one.

Second, marriage is a good thing. Marriage is worth it. Your life will be better and fuller and richer being married. Single is the Greek word for selfish. He who finds a wife finds a good thing.

Third, God blesses the married couple. God helps married couples once they are married. He gives them favor in all areas of life. You do not have to be married to be happy, but there is a blessing from God that is reserved only for married couples. In marriage you will obtain favor from the Lord.

My prayer for my church and for our Fellowship is that young men will find willing young women to marry and start new families. Throw away your checklists. Find an attractive girl and marry her.

Sorry sisters, but the burden on marriage rests on the man, you only control your response.

"Then they called Rebekah and said to her, will you go with this man? And she said, I will go." Genesis 24:58

God will not do it all for you. But if you are looking, God can help you find the one perfect for you. Read Genesis 24:12-21. 

We know it says watch and pray. But in marriage I think it is search and pray. Ask God to help you find a wife while you are looking actively for one.

A Choice To Make

 "And they all cried out at once, saying, away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." Luke 23:18

In November in the US we have a national election. Among many choices on our ballots will be the choice of a new president. I do not care who you support or who you will vote for. But I do want to point something out to you.

When given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, the people chose Barabbas. Some decisions seem so logical and so reasonable. But some decisions are actually irrational and emotional. Some decisions are orchestrated and manipulated. In the heat of the moment, the ill-informed crowd chose the wrong person. Barabbas was obviously the wrong choice, yet they chose him anyway.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

This election is no more important than any election. But we do need wisdom to choose the right person for the job. National TV news is not giving us the information that we need. The online news cannot be trusted. We need God to shine the light of truth into our hearts so that we will not regret who we choose.

"But they shouted, saying, crucify him, crucify him!" Luke 23:21

"But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed." Luke 23:23

"And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, were there looking on from afar." Matthew 27:55

Will you be swayed by the loud shouts of the mob, or by the quiet distance of Christ's followers?

Mountain Climbing Thoughts

 Pastor Rubi has begun a new study in the adult Bible study on Mountain Climbing. As he was teaching this past Sunday several thoughts came to my mind concerning climbing mountains. I never did mountaineering, but I have hiked up to the top of several mountains in the Prescott National Forest. Here are a few things relating to what pastor taught that were interesting to me.

First, when you climb any mountain, you do not start at sea level. Spruce mountain is about 7700 feet above sea level. The trail head is about 6000 feet above sea level. Any mountain you climb you first have to get close before you begin the final ascent.

Second, as you hike up or climb a mountain, your field of vision is very narrow. Hiking up Spruce mountain I found it important to watch just a few feet in front of me looking only at the trail. In mountaineering, your focus is your next foot hold or hand hold. You can only focus on what's right in front of you. I would plan my rest/water breaks to stop where I could see the view. There are too many rocks and roots to not watch where you are going.

Finally, the view at the top. Pastor says that the mountain top is where things become clear and you can see for miles. That might be true sometimes. Often the mountain top is in a forest so all you can see are trees. Depending where you are hiking, mountaintops are often covered in clouds. You can't see anything. To be on an open, clear, sunny mountaintop is lucky at best.

One bonus thought. You either have to be in shape to climb a mountain or you will have to hike into shape. It took me three times to hike up Spruce mountain before, on my fourth try, I made it. Mountain climbing is strenuous, and not a walk in the park. You need some gear, some water, and you need to know where you are going. Can you follow the trail? 

Not A Novice?

 "not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil." 1Tim. 3:6

Our Fellowship is primarily based on discipleship as we understand it. Training young men how to be and become pastors. It has worked fine for many years. Except when it didn't work at all.

As I look back over my childhood I am struck at how immature I looked in high school. I was never good at sports. I was not academically gifted. I never went on a date. I didn't know how to work or make money. I graduated as a very immature young man. I remember thinking that I had better go to college since I had no idea what to do once high school was over.

I ended up in Prescott and was saved there. I was still very immature, but now I was born again. I quickly got married, because it seemed like everyone there was getting married. I tried pastoring, but I never did do good at it. Looking back, I wish that I had slowed down and let God work instead of me trying to force the issue.

I was sent out still very much a novice, like our text says. I did not know what to do or how to do it. God didn't help me and I didn't know what was missing. If it were just hard work and outreach it should have happened. But it didn't.

I am no longer a young, immature boy. I don't know if I am any smarter than I used to be. But I have endured and outlasted those who were more mature and more gifted than I will ever be.

I am still here, closed and in my right mind. Amen!

Reminiscing

 I was looking back at my old high school days and I found myself wondering what ever became of those kids that I grew up with. I left home shortly after I graduated to go to Arizona and to begin college. God had other plans and I found myself in a strange church experiencing things that have had a life changing impact on my life. I graduated in June of 1973, I was born again in December of 1973, and married in April of 1974.

Now as life in in it's final stages (or at least is beginning to wind down) two things interest me. First, I am still saved. That moment of time is still a force in my heart for God. Second, I wonder how many of the kids I went to high school with had their dreams come true in life?

I am entering a time where I am content to be alone, and I do not care too much how I look, only how I feel. As long as I am in good health that is good enough.

I wonder how many of my old classmates are still alive. I wonder if they are still married. I wonder where they live. Am I the only one who lives far away from where I grew up?

It seems to be our lot in life that, as we grow older, we spend time reminiscing about the days gone by.

Our Calling

 There are rumblings around that the Evangelical Christian churches have subscribed to the notion of the United States as a Christian Nation. It goes by the name of Christian Nationalism or the Seven Mountain Mandate. This is a pseudo-Christian idea that America is a devoutly Christ following nation, or at least it should be. That born again believers should be salt and light in society by infiltrating and dominating certain civic and business enterprises. Especially: family, religion, education, media, arts and entertainment, big business, and government.

First, our calling is not to change the world. Our calling is to win souls and to plant churches and to practice discipleship. Christians will shine as lights in the darkness everywhere they go. True believers will be a stabilizing and purifying influence in all walks of life. 

Second, it is hard for a real Christian to be at the top of worldly institutions. They don't want you unless you are willing to compromise your faith or put your secular calling ahead of your Christian calling. You will have to sacrifice your marriage, your family, your calling, your future, and your faith to succeed in this world.

Our only duty towards government is to pray. And vote. That's all. Our only duty to the entertainment industry is to keep  ourselves unspotted from the music and videos which come from the dark minds of evil people.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1John 2:15-17

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." 1Tim.2:1-2

We are not called to be kingdom builders, but rather to be earth fillers.

A Different Look at the Prodigal Son

 The story of the prodigal son is familiar to most of us. We use it to illustrate the lost son who is saved and restored. We use it to show God's love for the lost. We even use it to highlight the elder brother's bad attitude. I saw something today that I do not believe I have ever heard preached on.

I want to use the father as the local church pastor and I want the elder brother to be the local church members. I want to draw you attention to the two different responses. the pastor's joy, and the churches lack of appreciation. Someone gets saved, or more likely, someone who failed is restored. The pastor is full of love and gladness. The church is just annoyed.

My point is not to change the story. My point is simply that there can be a big difference between the pastor and the people and how they see things around them. A wise pastor will win the people over. He will not be surprised by their negative response. He will have grace on those standing by and watching. Pastor will welcome the prodigal, and he will win over the saints.

The prodigal had a change of heart and went back home. The church can have a change of heart to accept back the wayward son. The key to the story is the pastor/father/God.