Sunday, June 27, 2010

Lord's Prayer: Our Provider – Matthew 6:25-34 and Matthew 6:11

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series on the Lord's Prayer as we take time to truly explore and understand what it is we are saying when we pray this prayer. Our first week together we looked at the first section, Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, and explored not only the meaning of the words but the importance of the introduction. Last week we looked at the next section, “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven” and explored the nature of God's kingdom, where it is, as well as what it means to succumb to God's will on earth as it is in Heaven. Today we are looking at the next portion, give us this day our daily bread, as we discuss this new phase of this prayer and seek to gain a better understanding of what we are asking here.

God is THE Provider
How many of you have ever been broke in every way possible at exactly the same time? You know broke financially, spiritually, emotionally, and all the other “ly”s you can think of. For me it happened when Debbie and I had been married for about three months. We had moved away from both of our families, to Kentucky, for Debbie to complete her seminary degree. Financially we were a one income family learning how to budget and live within our means. Spirituality we were shopping for a new church among people we did not know, in an area that we had never lived in, experiencing a culture completely foreign to us. And emotionally I was a bit out of sorts since I had never lived this far away from my family before. The most I had ever ventured away was a neighboring city about 30 minutes away by car. But here we were. Three months into our marriage we were sitting in a church service and I had our tithe check in hand, ready to place it in the plate. We had committed to each other no matter our situation we would always tithe, 10% right off the top, before taxes. That check I held in my hand represented the last of the money we had for two weeks. I had just gotten paid two days prior and after all our bills were paid, this was it. Giving this check to the church meant that we had no money, not one single penny, for the next two weeks. And in two weeks time we would run out of food in the pantry and gas in the car. Financially we were not going to make it two weeks. The plate came and I put the check in. And immediately found myself wanting to jump up, grab the plate and take it right back out. I was scared of not being able to provide for my wife and how that was going to sound to her daddy who I just promised three months ago that I would take care of his daughter. The rest of that day is a blur, but I do remember praying to God and asking for help. I did not want my marriage to start off this way. I could not provide for my family on my own...I needed God to be my provider.

God Provides for All
And this brings us to the portion of the Lord's Prayer, “give us this day our daily bread.” This portion of the Lord's Prayer moves us from God-directed to Us-directed petitions. Up to this point we have been adoring God, speaking about the fact that God's love is perfect and God's name is to be sacred, holy, and revered. We have been talking about laying our own indulgences aside and working to usher in a mindset of God-first, of seeking out people that have never known, forgotten, and turned away from God and taking them to our leader, to the cross, to God. Well now we are beginning the us-directed petitions, the section where we ask God for help. And there are several things we can take from this first us-directed petition.

One is God wants to provide for us. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Everyone of us has needs or provisions that have to be met physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Provisions for time, for money, for food, for shelter, for clothes, for love. And sometimes we strive too hard to do this ourselves. We get up at dark o'thirty and head off to work. When we get off, it is usually long after the sun sets and we are exhausted. Often too exhausted to do anything but go home, maybe eat, and then go to bed, so we can do it all over again the next day. We have had it drilled in us that in order to have in this life you have to worker harder and longer than the next person. All of this serves to try and make us self-sufficient, self-reliant, and self-dependent. How well does that work for you? And at what cost does all this self-stuff come at? Are we ignoring our families? Do we have any time left for friends? Is daily, quiet time with God still happening?

Jesus tells us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread”. We are asking God to provide for our needs daily. And if we are trying to provide for ourselves all by ourselves, where does that leave God? You see, it is all about focus. If our focus for life is to provide for ourselves we can get lost, sidetracked, separated. But if we live our life to bring God glory, then the work of provision will take care of itself. If we focus on being good stewards, good examples, and loving others, God will provide. When we use our time to spend with family, to uplift friends, and take daily quiet time with God, our focus changes, we see opportunities that God has opened for us. Sure our ideas of adequate provisions might need to be altered, Long Horn and Olive Garden every night might have to change, but isn't that worth your sanity, your relationship with your family, your deepened relationship with God? It takes trust but I promise you it is worth it!

Another aspect we can take from this prayer is that we are all in this together. This portion of the Lord's Prayer is also about being outward focused. Look at the line in Scripture. “Give us this day our daily bread”. Not give me. We are being taught to pray not only for our own provisions, but those of others. We are called to be the body of Christ, all of us connected, all of us working together. We even pray this prayer together in one voice.

Pastor Eric Ritz tells the story of an experience that Dr. Craddock, a great preacher, once had. Dr. Fred B. Craddock tells of going to hear a well-known speaker talk about world hunger. He was not disappointed in her presentation. Her speech was well-organized and persuasive. However, five years later, he had for all practical purposes forgotten what this speaker had said.

However, Dr. Craddock said that the most memorable and life-changing remark came from a little white-haired lady who had much less education and oratory skills than the main speaker--but she did something his conscious nature could not forget.

She took one sentence and translated it into 53 different languages. Dr. Craddock, being a learned man, could partially understand an occasional word. The gathering listened attentively, and then after 52 versions, she shared the sentence with tears running down her cheeks, and a hurt expression on her face: "Mommy, I am hungry. Why don''t we have any food?"

That afternoon on his way back to Atlanta, Dr. Craddock passed a billboard on the interstate. He said he had passed this billboard at least a thousand times. This time, however, he was morally repulsed, for the sign said, "Buffet: All you can eat - $4.95." He forgot the brilliant speech, but he never forgot that sentence.

Dr. Craddock said, every time I pray this prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray, I am always reminded that he did not pray, "Give me this day my daily bread." I am reminded that my "bread" should never come from the detriment of any other human being on the face of the earth. I am reminded that I am part of a larger community of faith.

When we pray for our daily bread we are praying for everyone, everywhere. This is a call to action that we need to fulfill. A step we need to take to make sure we are doing all we can to help feel those that desperately need it, emotionally, spiritually, and literally.

And one more lesson we can take from this portion of the Lord's Prayer is that God always provides. I picked our first Scripture lesson from Matthew this morning for that very fact. We read about the birds and how God provides for them and we read about the lilies and how Solomon, one of the richest people to ever live, was never clothed as well as God clothes the lilies of the field. And we read about the grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, and how it is provided for by God. Then comes the line that puts the exclamation mark on this passage. “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Look to the Father, rely on the Father, seek the Father and focus on ushering in God's Kingdom reign on Earth and all these things will be given unto you. God will provide each time, every time, and all the time.

Three months into my marriage I had failed to provide, on my own, for my wife. I prayed to God as I watched all the money I had left in the world go down the isle in that offering plate. Monday morning rolled around and I went to work and kept praying. Monday evening rolled around and I went home, still not sure what to do. I got home and began going through the mail. In it was a letter from my dad's uncle's oldest son, Larry. I knew Larry, but had only spent time with him two or three times in my life. I opened the letter and it said, “I am so embarrassed. I was positive I had mailed you and Debbie this months ago. But as I was cleaning out my desk I found this and am sending it now. Have a blessed marriage.” In it was a check for $60. Plenty for Debbie and I to eat, buy gas, and have some money for the incidentals. God knew I would have a need. Debbie and I through our tithing were seeking the Kingdom of God and God provided. He did not provide months later, weeks later, or even days later. God provided hours later.

Conclusion
You were created in the image of God, out of love by God, so you could show God's love to everyone you meet. As Christians we are called to that purpose. And because of that God will see to everything you need. If you trust God, God will provide. If you let God, God will provide. Seek God and God will provide. God is our provider yesterday, today, and forever because God loves you yesterday, today, and forever.

Friday, June 25, 2010

July August Edition of the Sunshine Herald

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Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This week we will continue our preaching series on the Lord's Prayer, as we look at the phrase, "Give us this day our daily bread." I hope to see everyone there!

2. Vacation Bible School - Mark your calendars! We are hosting VBS July26th - 30th from 6:30-8:30pm. The theme will be Galactic Blast. If you are interested in helping out in any way, from teaching a class to helping to serving snack, please contact the church office.

3. Online Newsletters – We are offering everyone in the congregation the chance to receive their monthly newsletter electronically via this blog. All you have to do is subscribe to this blog with your email address. The box to do that is down the right hand side of this page just above the Links to Visit box. If you do that then every time there is a new post to this blog, including the newsletter, you will receive an email alerting you to that. Please consider this. You can also sign up at the Connection Station or contact the church office.

4. Liturgist - I would to see us re-start the liturgist program here at Druid Hills. For those who may not know what a liturgist does, this person would be responsible for reading the two Scripture lessons, leading the responses afterward and also the Call to Worship on Sunday mornings. This a wonderful way to be involved in helping to lead your church family into an experience with God. If you would like to participate please sign up at the Connection Station. If you have any questions please let me know. I look forward to hearing from many of you!

5. Personal Care Sunday – This Sunday is Personal Care Sunday. Items that are being requested for this ministry are deodorant, toothpaste, bath soap, shampoo, hand lotion, etc. These items will all be donated to Interfaith. There will be wicker baskets on the front pew for you to place your donations in. You all have done a tremendous job at supporting this endeavor and I greatly appreciate it!

**BONUS**
6. Sunday School - This week we have a bonus item that I want to tell you about. We would like to get our Sunday School program up and running again. But to do that we need your help! We would like to start five classes, about the time school begins again in the fall, and we need two people per class. If you would be willing to volunteer either as a teacher or helper please sign up at the Connection Station. And the earlier you sign up the the better your chance of getting the class you want to work with. This is an important ministry that we need to revive!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Lord's Prayer: Thy Kingdom – Luke 17:20-21 and Matthew 6:10

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series on the Lord's Prayer as we take time to truly explore and understand what it is we are saying when we pray this prayer. Last week we took the first section, Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, and explored not only the meaning of the words but the importance of the introduction. Today we going to take a look at the next section, “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven” to explore the nature of God's kingdom, where it is, as well as what it means to succumb to God's will on earth as it is in Heaven.

Take Me To Your Leader!
Growing up I used to love to watch those corny ol' space movies, you know the ones where the aliens would land and their first words were always, "Take me to your leader." I ran across one of those online this week and it got me thinking, if we were asked that question today, who would we take them to? The President? The Pope? Bill Gates? Mickey Mouse? Looking at the continued strong attendance at Disney World, somebody might be able to make that claim. But would anyone lead them to the Church, to the Cross, to Scripture and Jesus Christ?

Where is the Kingdom of God?
Each week as we gather for worship we join our voices together to recite the words of a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. A prayer that includes the words: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). For me, that raises a question: what are we asking God to do as we seek the ushering in of the divine kingdom upon the earth? And that is an important question to ask because a search of the four Gospels shows that Jesus referenced the kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven) over one hundred times. Jesus himself spoke about how he was sent for the preaching of the good news of the kingdom of God (Lk. 4:43) and he sent the disciples out to preach it also (Lk. 9:2). Clearly this was an important emphasis of Jesus’ preaching and teaching and something that believers need to be concerned about as well.

So what do we know about the Kingdom of God? One characteristic of the Kingdom of God that Jesus repeatedly highlights is its closeness. He repeatedly comments that the kingdom of God is near (Lk. 9:27, 10:9-11; Mk. 9:1) and that because of the kingdom’s proximity people need to repent and believe the good news of the Gospel (Mk. 1:15; Jn. 3:3). Jesus also emphasizes the mysterious nature of the kingdom of God by comparing it to the growth of seeds from tiny stalks into enormous trees (Mk. 4:26-29, 30-34) or to yeast and the manner in which yeast can double the size of a loaf of bread made from scratch (Lk. 13:20-21). Jesus also speaks to whom the Kingdom of God belongs. Rather than conforming to the world’s kingdoms with their emphasis upon those who are greatest, Jesus points out how the kingdom of God belongs to the poor (Lk. 6:20) and to little children (Mk. 10:14-15). But perhaps the greatest expression of the Kingdom of God is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). Here Jesus demonstrates the essential differences between the nature of God’s rule and kingdom and the political kingdoms of this world. Tyron Inbody probably said it best when he wrote, “His sayings and teachings….were illustrations of what human relationships are like when the reign of God is established.”

So where is this Kingdom? Dr. Inbody just revealed the location. Did you catch it? God's Kingdom is not in a local principality. God's Kingdom is not only found within the realm of Heaven. God's Kingdom is found within each of us as the sayings and teachings of Christ are fulfilled in our relationships amongst ourselves. When that happens, then the reign of God is revealed. Our first Scripture lesson this morning from the Gospel of Luke reinforces this, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you” (Lk. 17:20-21). And so God’s kingdom is a present reality, existing in part within the hearts and minds of believers. But it is also something else.

Thy Will...What is it?
The second part of the prayer that we are looking at today is, “thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” So how does that say anything about the Kingdom of God? This is part and parcel for how we find the Kingdom of God. Matthew 6:10 tells us, encourages us, to pray for the continued coming of the kingdom of God, “on earth as in heaven” (Matt. 6:10), suggesting that the kingdom of God has not been fully realized and is a future hope. Remember we said before that the Kingdom of God is a present reality, but it is also a future hope. It is not going to come and be static or unchanging. It is dynamic, it is fluid, and I believe that the kingdom of God will be realized in its fullness when “the reign of God’s peace, justice, and well-being” rules the world completely. Paul speaks of such a day in writing to the church at Philippi: when “at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Believers, as the body of Christ in the world, are called to participate in the kingdom of God now and through our preaching and witness, so that we can help usher the kingdom into its coming fullness.

When every person on the face of this Earth proclaims their allegiance to God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, when every decision that is made is done so with a heart searching for God, and when all of our priorities are in line with God being the focus, then the Kingdom of God will come and be realized in its fullness.

So What's Our Part?
So what is our part you might ask. Our part is to work on ushering in that mindset to all humanity. Our part is to be witnesses and examples of how placing God at the center of our being and the focus of our lives changes us. Our part is to be uncomfortable in our pursuit of taking God to those that have never known, forgotten, or left the presence of God. We are the messengers, we are the teachers, we are shepherds, we are the ones that are to take them to our leader.

The Kingdom of God is not in a place, it is not only found in Heaven, but it is in each of us as we allow God to make us all that God created us to be. And it will not be fully realized till every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Bible Challenge 6/20 - 6/26

Greetings All!

Here is the schedule for next week's Bible Challenge as we finish up Nehemiah, move through Ester, and get into Job.

6/20, Sunday - Nehemiah 8-11

6/21, Monday - Nehemiah 12 - Esther 2

6/22, Tuesday - Esther 3-6

6/23, Wednesday - Esther 7-10

6/24, Thursday - Job 1-4

6/25, Friday - Job 5-8

6/26, Saturday - Job 9-12

Enjoy...be blessed...and HAVE FUN!!!!
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Friday, June 18, 2010

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This week we will continue our preaching series on the Lord's Prayer, as we look at the phrase, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."  I hope to see everyone there!

2. Vacation Bible School - I would like to see us host a week of Vacation Bible School this year here at Druid Hills. If you are interested in helping out in any way, teaching a class, serving snack, organizing the programs, please let me know or contact the church office so we can get this organized and going. So far I have three volunteers.

3. Online Newsletters – We are offering everyone in the congregation the chance to receive their monthly newsletter electronically via this blog.  I posted an article yesterday outlining the advantages for you individually and for the church.  Please consider this.  If you would like to take advantage of this, please sign up at the Connection Station or contact the church office. 

4. Liturgist - I would to see us re-start the liturgist program here at Druid Hills.  For those who may not know what a liturgist does, this person would be responsible for reading the two Scripture lessons, leading the responses afterward and also the Call to Worship on Sunday mornings.  This a wonderful way to be involved in helping to lead your church family into an experience with God.  If you would like to participate please sign up at the Connection Station.  If you have any questions please let me know.  I look forward to hearing from many of you!

5. Christmas Child Sunday – This Sunday is Christmas Child Sunday.  Items that are being requested for this ministry are toothbrushes, toothpaste, mild bar soap, comb, washcloth, or any other hygienic products a child could use. There will be wicker baskets on the front pew for you to place your donations in. You all have done a tremendous job at supporting this endeavor and I greatly appreciate it!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Online Newsletters

Many of us have been looking for ways to save money and resources. One method the leadership of the church has come up with is to offer our church's monthly newsletter, The Sunshine Herald, online. By offering this online we save money, the price per page for every copy made as well as the postage to mail those that are not picked up in the narthex, and resources, the paper we use to print the newsletter with. I have found a free program that allows me to host and publish the newsletter right here on my blog. This program will allow you to see the newsletter in full screen, and go through it by scrolling the pages, flipping the pages like a book, or just seeing one page at a time. You can also print it out at your home or download it to your computer to view any time you wish. And all of this is free to you and the church.

By no means are we eliminating the printing of the newsletter. If you would still like a print copy of the newsletter each month you do not have to do a thing. However, if you like to begin receiving the newsletter online only, there is a sign up sheet at the Connection Station for you to put your name on. For every family that goes online only, the church will save roughly a $1.00 per year. Not only can those savings be significant but the reduced use of paper is a benefit for all of us!

Have a great week!
Blessings!

Did You Know You Can Subscribe to Me?

I wanted to take a minute to point out one of the wonderful options on this blog. You can subscribe to it, meaning that whenever I post a new article you will receive an email letting you know. All you have to do is go down the right side of the page and look for the box entitled, "Subscribe via Email". Once there, enter your email address in the box, and hit the subscribe button below your address, and viola! It is done.

From now each time I post a new article you will be sent a daily email notifying you there is something new to see and it will even have the post included in the email.  This is a great way to keep up with the blog.  I hope you will consider subscribing!


Blessings!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Lord's Prayer: Who is Our Father – Exodus 3:14-15 and Matthew 6:9

Introduction
Today we are going to begin a new preaching series on the Lord's Prayer. So often we pray this prayer, but how often do we take time to truly learn, remind, or understand what it is we are saying. Each week we will take a portion of the prayer and unpack what it is we are professing. Today we are going take the first section, Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, and explore not only the meaning of the words but the importance of this introduction as well.

From the Mouths of Babes
Parker has been going to church, since he was six weeks old. After all, with both parents as pastors, he really doesn't stand a chance does he? And as a pastor's kid, or PK as they are often called, he sees and understands a great deal about church. He also is under a tad bit of pressure from expectations that are place on him as a PK. Debbie and I try very hard to alleviate those expectations, as necessary, like some impossible role he must fill as a PK, or the idea that he will be a Bible Scholar by age 9. Now we do work with him on understanding certain things, like the importance of church, the stories of the Bible, and who God is, but one day he really threw us for a whirl.

It was the first pulpit swap Debbie and I did after we arrived in Ocala and the three of us were at Belleview's early service. Since that starts at 8am there is an opportunity for us to worship together, Debbie, Parker, and I. Well we all sat on the front pew and I had turned to face the congregation so I could lead them in prayer. I began with my pastoral prayer and lead them right into the Lord's Prayer as a response. Parker was about a foot and a half away from me, and I began to hear him talk. “Our Father, who art in Heaven, he began. My boy was reciting the Lord's Prayer. He said it word for word and did not miss a one. I was astonished! We had not worked on that with him, but by being in and around church, he had heard it enough, he memorized it.

For the most part, Parker does not understand most of what he is saying. And that got me wondering, how many of us do either. We recite this prayer every week, some of us for decades. But do we truly know what we are saying? Do we know but maybe do not give it much thought? Do we earnestly focus on the words each week and pray them or have we fallen in the habit of just reciting them?

What is the Lord's Prayer?
Before we can answer those questions I think we need to better understand a little bit of background behind this extremely popular prayer. As the Scriptures point out this was an answer from Jesus Christ when asked by his disciples about how to pray. It is important to note that it does not tell us what to pray, just how to pray. And this prayer, otherwise known in Latin as the Pater Noster, has revolutionized the way we pray. This prayer was originally recorded in the written word in Aramaic. It has since been translated into Greek, and from there into hundreds of different languages and dialects, including English. Therefore there are many different variations of this prayer.
This prayer is also laid out in a very systematic way or pattern. It begins with the opening, “Our Father who art in heaven”, moves into God's place in our lives, and concludes with requests for our own personal needs. That is a very basic outline of this prayer. It is important to understand that what we call the doxology, the phrase, “For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever” is not in Scripture. There are various hypothesis as to why, with one preacher making the case that, “Most people who study these things are convinced that [the doxology] was added at some later time by a pious scribe who felt that the ending was too abrupt. Regardless of the reason it is important that we have that understanding.

But regardless of the translations, the differing hypotheses, or any of the other plots in this story, the true importance of this prayer is the same. The emphasis of how to pray is unaltered. And this is what I want us to focus on for the next few weeks. But for today I want us to just look at the beginning, “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name”.

What is it that we can take from this opening stanza? Let us take this a part a bit more and concentrate on the section, “Our Father, who art in Heaven”. Up until this point in time, God was not referred to in a personal manner. God was referred to mostly by analogy and by ascribing titles to God's name. In fact, Jewish people would even say the name of God, Yahweh, for fear of being seen as disrespectful. As a general rule, there was not a personal type of relationship with God during the times of the Old Testament. But here we have Jesus, telling his disciples, to refer to God as Father. This sets up a type of familiarity, a personal type of communication, that was new to the Jewish people.

The past rituals, rules, and human contrived regulations were thrown out the door. Jesus was trying to get them to understand something about God. Mainly, God is personal. God was no longer to be thought of as unapproachable or uninterested in human affairs. God was to be spoken with, approached, and involved in our lives.

And all of this is reinforced by the phrase, “who art in Heaven”. The more I think about this phrase the more convinced I am about the love it is tying to portray to all of us. This new, personal opening is not prayed simply to Our Father, but to Our Father, who art in Heaven. Reminding us that this does not come from some earth bound, sinful, imperfect being. But from God, perfect, transcendent, incredible. This love is so deep, wide, and all encompassing that we cannot comprehend it. Thankfully, we do not have to understand it to accept it.

With God now being made approachable, and his perfect love being expressed, let us take a look at the next section, “Hallowed be thy name”. An old, old story has a minister going from Sunday School class to Sunday School class one morning to meet with the students to see how their studies were going. He came into one first-grade group and began to question them as to what they had been learning. They had been studying about God and eagerly, the youngsters shared their knowledge. One little boy said God created the whole world and everything in it. A little girl said that God loves us very much. Another little girl said that God had a son named Jesus who came to earth to save us from our sins. Needless to say, the pastor was quite pleased with all the responses until finally one little lad piped up, "I know what God's name is...it's Harold, same as mine." The preacher looked askance at the little fellow prompting the boy to continue: "Sure, we say it all the time. "Our Father, who art in heaven, Harold be Thy name..."

In all seriousness, this is probably one of my favorite parts of the prayer. To begin with, what does hallowed mean? It means holy, sacred, or revered. And in our case it is referring to the name of God, hallowed by thy name. So what's in a name you might ask? For most, everything. Back in the times of the Old Testament your name was usually given to you not from the family tree but from some event that was associated with your situation or birth. For the context in which this prayer was given, the name of a person told their story and revealed who they were. So for us to say, hallowed be thy name, we are basically saying everything about you, your character, your actions, they are holy, sacred, and to be revered. And to say that God's name is holy, sacred, and to be revered, means God is more than ordinary, more than typical. God is higher than any other. And the fact that before we get into any of the other aspects of this model, we call God our personal Father, and make it known that we believe God to be higher than any other, so just how serious we are about these beliefs. The location of these claims is paramount! This is also our place to shine. This is our chance to tell God, just how much we love God. Our chance to tell God that God holds the premier place in our lives. Our chance to tell God, that our complete allegiance belongs to God.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy name!” Next time you pray this prayer, do not simply recite it, pray it. And do not put a comma at the end of that stanza, put an exclamation mark. Emphasize it, shout it! Tell God that God is your all in all.

Conclusion
Folks I know this is called the Lord's Prayer. But this prayer was not recorded for the benefit of Christ. It was not created for the benefit of God. This prayer is for us. To show us a new way, a better way to communicate with our Heavenly Father. But do not be satisfied to stop here. This prayer, this model, is only the beginning. Let this be a guide to strengthen your prayer life, shape your prayer life, expand your prayer life. This prayer was never meant to be the end all of prayers, but a beginning. This prayer was meant, in part, to teach you that God is personal, interested, and provide us the chance to tell God just how much God means to us. Please do not let another day go by, without expressing your thanks for God's presence and love in your life!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Bible Challenge 6/13 - 6/19

Hello All!

Here is the schedule for next week as we finish 2 Chronicles, go through Ezra, and jump into Nehemiah.

6/13, Sunday: 2 Chronicles 26-29

6/14, Monday: 2 Chronicles 30-33

6/15, Tuesday: 2 Chronicles 34 - Ezra 1

6/16, Wednesday: Ezra 2-5

6/17, Thursday: Ezra 6-9

6/18, Friday: Ezra 10 - Nehemiah 3

6/19, Saturday: Nehemiah 4-7

I would love to hear from some of you about how God has blessed you through this or any new insights you may have received.

Have a great week and be blessed!
<><

Friday, June 11, 2010

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This week we begin a new five-week preaching series on the Lord's Prayer. Sunday we will look at the beginning of this prayer, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy Name" and see what meaning lies in those words. I hope to see everyone there!

2. Vacation Bible School - I would like to see us host a week of Vacation Bible School this year here at Druid Hills. If you are interested in helping out in any way, teaching a class, serving snack, organizing the programs, please let me know or contact the church office so we can get this organized and going. So far I have three volunteers.

3. Branches United Methodist – Many of you have heard me talking about this church that burned down a few weeks ago. This church fills an incredible need in Florida City, for children, the homeless, the poor. It is a refuge for many, and a source of strength for all.

So I am asking everyone to do two things. One is pray. And the church has asked for prayer in several areas.

* Prayer for this community of faith who has suffered so much.

* Prayer for help in sorting out all the information concerning the fire and for favor with the investigators.

* Prayer for strength for Pastor Audrey and Kim Torres. Not only do they have to deal with the logistics that comes with a disaster, they still have programming for the community that starts at 2pm and does not end each night until 10pm.

I am also asking that you consider helping this church financially in any way you can. If you have the ability we can do several things. One, you can put your donation in the offering plate on Sunday, two, you can drop it by the office, or three, if you want to donate online, see me and I will show you how. Any money we gather I will make sure it gets to them.

This church has a long road ahead and many obstacles to maneuver. But they have adopted a motto that they are living by, "God is Bigger!" God is bigger than a fire, God is bigger than a disaster, God is bigger! What a message we can all take to heart!

4. Annual Conference - Today we are in the middle of our Annual Conference. With that in mind I am asking all of you to please pray for us that we are open to the promptings of God in all the decisions that are made.

5. Canned Food Sunday – This Sunday is Canned Food Sunday. Please bring any canned food that we can use to help fill our 2 x 4 boxes. There will be wicker baskets on the front pew for you to place your donations in. You all have done a tremendous job at supporting this endeavor and I greatly appreciate it!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Counterfeit Faith: Recognizing Fakes and Phonies Matthew 7:15-20 and James 2:14-26

Today was the pulpit swap where I went to lead worship at Belleview and Debbie came to Druid Hills to lead worship there. We truly enjoy the opportunity to spend time with the congregations that take such good care of us. Below is the transcript from Pastor Debbie's sermon this week.
______________

INTRODUCTORY ILLUSTRATION
Have you ever knowingly passed a phony five dollar bill? According to the United States Treasury Department, you may have. One of the reasons is because of a counterfeiter named Blinky, perhaps the greatest counterfeiter of all times. He made five dollar bills that defied detection. It was impossible, even for experts, to identify the real bills from his counterfeits. It’s estimated that hundreds if not thousands of the Blinky-made five dollar bills are still in circulation. A bizarre set of circumstances finally led to Blinky’s downfall. He decided to expand his operation and started making twenty dollar bills. He was arrested when trying to pass one of his phony twenties. In court, his lawyer challenged the experts to identify the phony bill from the real one. Immediately, they did so. Later Blinky discovered where he had made his tragic mistake. The bill he had used to copy his counterfeit twenty was itself a counterfeit!

REAL FAITH – Evidenced By Works
It’s a funny story, but there’s a real danger for us as Christians. How can we tell the difference between real faith and faith that is just a counterfeit? How can we make sure that the people around us whom we look up to as faith mentors have genuine faith instead of a copy of the real thing? Our Scripture lesson from James provides us with just such a way to distinguish between real and counterfeit faith. And the difference is this – James 2:26: “Faith without works is dead.” Let me say that again – FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD! That’s the kind of faith that is counterfeit, that is useless.

James was writing to address a problem in the early church, one that still exists and causes problems even today – namely the mistaken notion that Christian faith is merely a matter of believing. When James talks about having faith what kind of faith is he talking about? He makes it clear that he is not talking about simple belief that something exists or mere intellectual assent – “I hear what you say and I agree with it.” For in James 2:19, we see that even the demons have that of faith in Jesus – they KNOW and UNDERSTAND and BELIEVE that Jesus exists, but that doesn’t mean that they have FAITH in him – they don’t OBEY him. The kind of faith that James is referring to involves commitment of your whole self to God. True faith involves a transformation of the heart as well as the head – transformation of one’s actions in addition to one’s thoughts.

Don’t misunderstand me. What we believe is very important. The content of faith is so important in fact, that over the centuries the church developed creeds like the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed to ensure that certain elements of the content of our faith survive. But faith is more than belief. Faith is lived out in works. Faith that is alive actively engages in doing the work of Christ. Faith is belief in action. This is what James means. Somehow people have gotten the idea that to “believe in God” doesn’t require any transformation of life. In poll after poll, people across America profess “belief” in God. We take that to mean that they are Christians with real faith – but for many of these people, their “belief” is only intellectual assent. They understand that God exists, but it does nothing to transform their life, change behavior or make a difference in their lives. Would the world really be in the mess that it is in if the one-third of us who profess to be Christians in this country were really Christians? The answer is “No.” What James is telling us is that true faith means being doers of the Word of God and not just hearers only.

FAITH AND WORKS – A Contradiction?
On the surface what James is saying here seems to contradict the writings of Paul and one of the great teachings of the church - “justification by faith.” What’s that mean? It’s another way of saying that we are accepted and forgiven by God, not because we are good or because we have earned it, but because God loves us and because of what Christ has done for us on our behalf. Our salvation is by grace alone. We are asked to believe it, to receive it. Sinners are justified or made right with God not by works. This teaching is even expressed in the songs we sing: “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.” “Justification by faith” means we cannot earn our salvation. We cannot buy it. It is a gift. God initiates it. Christ died for it. God completes it. Salvation is a work of God. This is clear, especially in Romans 3:28 – “Man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

But upon closer examination, we can see that the teachings of James and Paul are really not at odds. They are simply talking about faith from two different vantage points – Paul is speaking out against those who would think that their deeds could save them instead of their faith – and James is speaking out against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith. James is not saying that we have to have works as well as faith to be saved – but rather that if we have real and true faith, it will naturally express itself in our actions. Works are the outward witness to an inward faith.

This is not a contradiction of the rest of Scripture. Look at the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 5:16 we hear Jesus proclaim: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.” And a few chapters later in our other Scripture lesson from Matthew 7:15-20, we see Jesus teaching that people are known by the fruit in their lives. Paul also echoes this in Ephesians 2:10: “We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works” and in Titus 2:14: “Jesus Christ gave himself for us to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” What we are seeing is that every Christian saved through faith in the Son of God has a calling to do good works.

APPLICATION AND CONCLUSION
True faith results in deeds, but it is not the deeds that justify us or save us. We can not earn our salvation by serving and obeying God. It is our faith that saves us, and our obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine. Our outward actions show that our commitment to God is real. Deeds of loving service are the verification of our faith in Christ. Look again at James 2:18: “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.” (NLT) True faith will transform our actions as well as the thoughts in our minds. Remember the old saying – “practice what you preach”? If our outward actions in life remain unchanged, then we don’t truly believe the truths we claim. For instance, if you “believed” that the pew you sat down in this morning was broken and wouldn’t have held you up, would you have sat down on it anyway? No.

Listen to these lyrics for “Screen Door” by Rich Mullins: “Faith comes from God and every word that He breathes. He lets you take it to your hearts so you can give it hands and feet. It’s gotta be active if it’s gonna be alive. You gotta put it into practice otherwise…It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine. Faith without works, baby, it just ain’t happenin’. One is your left hand, one is your right; it’ll take two strong arms to hold on tight. Some folks cut off their nose just to spite their face. I think you need some works to show for your alleged faith.”

Next week we will continue our examination of counterfeit faith by exploring one of the great standards for our faith and its importance in our lives- Holy Scripture. But in the meantime let us think on these things - Are there any works to show for your alleged faith? Any evidence to show what kind of faith that you possess? Is your faith real or is it a good counterfeit? “Faith without works is like a song you can’t sing; it’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Bible Challenge 6/6 - 6/12

Hey Everyone!

Here is the schedule for next week's Bible challenge as we finish up 1 Chronicles and dive right into 2 Chronicles.

6/6, Sunday: 1 Chronicles 27 - 2 Chronicles 1

6/7, Monday: 2 Chronicles 2-5

6/8, Tuesday: 2 Chronicles 6-9

6/9, Wednesday: 2 Chronicles 10-13

6/10, Thursday: 2 Chronicles 14-17

6/11, Friday: 2 Chronicles 18-21

6/12, Saturday: 2 Chronicles 22-25

Have a great weekend and may you be blessed!
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Friday, June 4, 2010

Friday Fives

1. Vacation Bible School - I would like to see us host a week of Vacation Bible School this year here at Druid Hills. If you are interested in helping out in any way, teaching a class, serving snack, organizing the programs, please let me know or contact the church office so we can get this organized and going. So far I have three volunteers.

2. Branches United Methodist – Many of you have heard me talking about this church that burned down a few weeks ago. This church fills an incredible need in Florida City, for children, the homeless, the poor. It is a refuge for many, and a source of strength for all.

So I am asking everyone to do two things. One is pray. And the church has asked for prayer in several areas.
  • Prayer for this community of faith who has suffered so much.
  • Prayer for help in sorting out all the information concerning the fire and for favor with the investigators.
  • Prayer for strength for Pastor Audrey and Kim Torres. Not only do they have to deal with the logistics that comes with a disaster, they still have programming for the community that starts at 2pm and does not end each night until 10pm.
I am also asking that you consider helping this church financially in any way you can. If you have the ability we can do several things. One, you can put your donation in the offering plate on Sunday, two, you can drop it by the office, or three, if you want to donate online, see me and I will show you how. Any money we gather I will make sure it gets to them.

This church has a long road ahead and many obstacles to maneuver. But they have adopted a motto that they are living by, "God is Bigger!" God is bigger than a fire, God is bigger than a disaster, God is bigger! What a message we can all take to heart!

3. New Member Gathering - If you have been attending for a while and are thinking about joining our church there will be a New Member Gathering in the Pastor's Office on Sunday, June 13th, at 1 pm. We will discuss what it means to be a member and get to know one another as we discuss our role as Christians. If you would like to attend please call the church office to sign up.

4. Preaching Series - Next week, June 13th, we begin a new five-week preaching series on the Lord's Prayer. The first week we will look at the beginning of this prayer, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy name" and see what meaning lies in those words. I hope to see everyone there!

5. White Goods Sunday – This Sunday is White Goods Sunday. Please bring any white paper goods: napkins, paper towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, paper plates, 55 gallon trash bags, and the sort. There will be wicker baskets on the front pew for you to place your donations in. You all have done a tremendous job at supporting this endeavor and I greatly appreciate it!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June 2010 Church Newsletter

Here you go...the June Edition of the Sunshine Herald. There are all sorts of options for you to use to read this and print it out for your convenience. Play with it, explore it, and I would love to hear what you think about it!

Have a blessed day!


June 10 News Ltr