Pastor Tim Wood's Blog

Don't fall asleep in church

2008-11-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

In our readings from the book of Acts, there is a very interesting story in chapter 20 about a guy who falls asleep during church. It was Sunday and Paul was preaching like a 4 hour sermon. This young man named Eutychus (pronounced; you tick us. What a name for a guy who attempts to endure a 4 hour sermon), was seated in the window. Let's pick up the story in Acts 20:9, "Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep (the implication is at first he was just head bobbing but now he's totally out), he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. 'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'He's alive!"
The bible says they went back upstairs and ate. I love it! Can't you just imagine someone coming up to Paul and saying, "You just raised the dead! What next?"
Paul calmly replies, "We're going to eat".
A cautionary note to preachers: The ability to preach long sermons must be accompanied by the ability to raise the dead. If you can't raise the dead, then shorten your sermon.
People fall asleep in church for various reasons. It used to bug me but it doesn't anymore. Do you know what bugs me more? It's the people who are awake, their eyes are open, but their soul is lethargic. Some people are more awake attending a garage sale or going to a ball game than they are attending church. Many churchgoers appear to be completely awake but their souls are snoozing.
Familiarity is a big culprit to soul napping. For those of us who grew up in church this is particularly dangerous. We knew the Doxology before we knew our ABC's. We became so familiar with everything in church we took it for granted. Church becomes ho-hum and it becomes easy to slumber through a worship gathering. We need to be cautioned. There's a danger of falling if we snooze through church!
One of the ways to combat spiritual lethargy is to consciously and deliberately participate with all our being in the corporate worship of the church. Pray sincerely. Sing wholeheartedly. Listen intently. Focus constantly. There is great spiritual benefit from being fully awake in church. "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Paul wrote that in Ephesians 5:14. Ironic, isn't it?
I'm going to do my best to keep my sermons under 45 minutes. But if I preach over an hour some Sunday and you fall asleep and die - don't worry. I have 911 on speed dial. And after your resuscitated - we'll go eat!

Awake in Christ,
Pastor Tim

Turkey Trot, Running and Praying, President Elect Obama

2008-11-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

This needs to be three blogs but I didn’t want to write three and there is a common thread that will tie all these seemingly different subjects together, I hope.

Turkey Trot – I’m going to run in the 10k on Thanksgiving Day. I’m thinking it would be fun and I could eat more pie and not feel guilty. However, I was watching some turkeys run at the church the other day and they have a fast trot! In order to run a good pace (to stay up with the turkeys) I need to get in shape. So, I’m running again.

Running and Praying – I never really noticed it before but I pray more fervently when I run. If I’m on a thirty minute run I pray with zeal for 30 minutes. I made note of my praying today and would like to share it with you. The first 10 minutes are mostly comprised of giving thanks. For instance, “Thank you Lord for today, for this run, for the Bible, for our country, for the great church I pastor” etc… Now I’m getting close to the 10 minute mark but still thankful, “Thank you Lord that I only have 20 more minutes to run.” The next 10 minutes of the run my praying turns from thanksgiving to supplication. I begin making requests, “Lord, please let these cramps go away.” A little further into the run I would cry out to God, “This burning in my lungs, is this what hell feels like?” Right at the 20 minute mark I beg, “God, can’t you make time go any faster?” The last 10 minutes is when prayer gets intense. This is what I call crisis praying. This is praying that comes from the depths of my soul. It goes something like this, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Somehow, in the last few minutes of the run I switch to Old King James Version. That’s weird, isn’t it?
I’ve also noticed that not only do my prayers get more intense, my pace picks up in the last segment of the run. I guess I’m like a rent-a-horse. The closer I get to the barn the faster I run and the harder I pray.

President- elect Obama – So today, in between feeling forsaken and wishing time would pass more quickly, I prayed for our newly elected President. What a historic election and what a critical time. The Bible makes it clear that it is our Christian duty to pray for those who are in authority over us. Read carefully these words from 1 Timothy 2: 1-4,“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
It’s very clear to me that we are to pray for everyone but he points out a particular group – kings and those in authority. And I stopped at that word “thanksgiving”. So, today I not only congratulate President-elect Obama, I thank God for him. And I pray that we might live peacefully and godly and that the culmintating effect of our prayers is that people would be saved. No matter what party you’re affiliated with, the Bible calls us to pray, to intercede, to make requests and to offer thanksgiving for our President. I’m going to do that, will you?
Finally, the closer we get to home the more intensely we should pray. We need to pick up the pace a bit. I don’t know how close we are to the finish line, but I know this: we’re closer today than we were yesterday. And the finish line is the best part of any run.

This blog is like the Trinity – three in one.

Pastor Tim

3 things to think about when voting

2008-10-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

I think we all know that Tuesday, November 4, we go to the polls. I think that most of us will be glad when Tuesday is over. It seems like this campaign has been going on for 2 years (OH, it has!).
One of my favorite preachers is John Piper, Pastor of Bethelehem Baptist Church. I was watching one of his video blogs today and immediately knew that I had to post this on my blog. He captures exactly my feelings about voting, politics and our faith in Christ. I hope this 4 minute video challenges your thinking and speaks God's peace into your soul. We need God's peace because I know there are a lot of edgy Christians during this campaign. Should God's people be worried about a future that God controls? I don't think so. The message in this video will help ease some of your campaign anxieties.
In this video Pastor Piper deals with three things: 1)Keeping a prophetic perspective
2) The sovereignty of God 3) The Gospel.
May God bless you and our country.

The Bible: Our voting guide

2008-10-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite catch-phrases in church, and perhaps yours, is, “If you’ve got your Bible, say GOT IT!” I know the grammar is poor but the phrase is good. I’ve recently been informed that some people in church are saying in a hushed voice, “For” and in a loud voice saying, “Got it”. Forgot it.
While we may forget to bring our Bible to church (occasionally), we should not forget our Bible when we vote.I believe the Bible is the best voting guide we posses.
In Matthew’s Gospel we read about an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. The question they asked Jesus was about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus perceived that this was a question intended to trap him and asks for a Roman coin and gives this reply: “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s”, they replied. Then He said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. When they heard this they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matt. 22: 15-22).
There are some things we give to Caesar. In the strictest interpretation we would give taxes to Caesar. I believe Jesus was teaching that there are some things that we give to the government: taxes, votes, support and obedience to laws that don’t violate God’s law. However, the other side of that coin (pardon the pun), is that we give to God what is God’s. What is it that God owns? Everything! Even Caesar’s government. The fact that there is a government is ordained by God. Caesar had his inscription on some things, but God has stamped His image on everything and everyone.
Therefore, when I give my vote, I should do so in light of God’s kingdom because He owns everything. So what the Bible says about life, death, marriage, money, children, the poor, the rich, the weak, the elderly, the innocent, the guilty, the alien, the resident…should guide the way I vote. I shouldn't just consider what is best for me, but for God's kingdom.
Consider what the Bible says about serving when voting for a person.
Matthew 20:25-27 says, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” This is the character of serving that Jesus modeled. A quality of serving that blesses people and thinks of them first. Wouldn’t that be a great quality to see in our elected “servants”?
God bless you as you head to the polls. And don’t forget your Bible. It’s the best and most reliable guide we have.

Pastor Tim

Expect Delays

2008-10-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Driving up Silver Creek Valley Road is not fun anymore. Not that it was ever fun like Disneyland but now it’s a nightmare. There’s a sign on Silver Creek Valley Road that almost every driver never wants to see: Expect Delays. Even though the sign truthfully lets us know what to expect, I usually expect something different. “Maybe it won’t be that bad,” I think. Wrong again. One lane, bumper to bumper, tack on an extra 15 minutes to travel…their sign was right and my hopes are dashed.
I don’t like delays. I don’t like them while I’m driving and I don’t like them at the Doctor’s office either. Usually, your doctor’s appointments are never on time, right? That’s why they have a waiting room. Expect delays.
I don’t relish delays in my spiritual journey either. I want to see my prayers answered immediately. I want my fear allayed now. I would prefer instant help from the Lord. Have you ever prayed, “Hurry up Lord!” Someone wrote that God is never late, He’s never early, He’s always on time. Really? In my experience it seems otherwise. Sometimes it feels like God is late, at least from my perspective. I know God’s timetable is way different from mine. I know He’s above and beyond my time continuum. So, when it comes to answered prayers, instant help, should I expect delays? Is there a reason for delays? Can anything good come from a spiritual delay in my life? Yes. Let me share three stories from the Gospels where Jesus is seemingly delayed and the lesson learned from each.
Matthew 14: 22-32 records the story of Jesus walking on the water. Jesus stays behind on the shore and made his disciples get into the boat. Jesus was praying on the hillside while his disciples were straining at the oars in a boat against the wind. John records the same story in his gospel (chapter 6) and indicates that they were 3 ½ miles out. Picture these exhausted followers making no headway against a storm and no doubt wondering, “Where is Jesus?” Matthew says that Jesus came to them during the fourth watch of the night. The ancient world divided night time into four parts and the “fourth watch” started at 3 a.m. and ended at 6 a.m. So these guys get into the boat “when evening came” and Jesus shows up sometime between 3 and 6 a.m. Expect delays! Why did Jesus wait? Why didn’t he come to them at 8 p.m.? I believe the answer to those questions lies in the text where Jesus says, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus was maturing his followers by deepening their perseverance. As James points out, “The testing of our faith develops perseverance” (James 1:3). James goes on to say that perseverance matures us and completes us. Even though the disciples couldn’t see Jesus, Jesus could always see them. What seemed like a delay was really developing their spiritual character.
In Mark 5: 21-43 another apparent delay by Jesus. In this story, Jesus is on his way to heal a synagogue ruler’s daughter and is delayed in getting there. Jesus is delayed because he stopped to heal another woman. Some men came from the house of Jairus, the ruler, and informed him that his daughter had already died. They uttered some words that all of us may be familiar with, “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Sometimes delays can leave us erroneously thinking that we shouldn’t bother Jesus with our problems. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” That’s another reason we experience spiritual delays – they deepen our faith in Jesus. Help us Lord to take these words to heart during delays, “I’m not going to be afraid, I’m going to believe”.
John 11:1-44 we read where Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead, after a 4 day delay. But Jesus makes it clear from the beginning of this story what this delay is all about. John 11:4 says, “When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Sometimes what seems to be a delay to us is just another avenue for God to get glory.
To everyone else, it seemed as if Christ had arrived too late. But Jesus was keeping His own clock. His delays are His ways of strengthening my courage in Him, deepening my faith in Him and getting glory for His Name and His truth.
On the road you can expect delays. Likewise, in our spiritual journeys we can also expect delays. I don’t like being delayed spiritually but I need it. “Take courage, just believe, it’s for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it”. These are the eternal words from our timely Savior that are for our good.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14),
Pastor Tim

The church met to pray - Acts 4:24

2008-10-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

As I was studying Acts 4 this week, I was convicted about something in my personal life as well as the corporate life of the church. It all started with a question. What would you do if the government told you to no longer preach or teach in the name of Jesus? Or, what would you do if the government no longer allowed you to read your Bible (silently or otherwise), in a public place? What would you do if there was a law that said we couldn't openly carry a Bible, that it had to remain hidden? (In our trip to Jerusalem last winter, we had to conceal our Bibles in order to go to the Wailing Wall. I remember thinking, that could never happen in the U.S. could it?). When I was meditation on Acts 4: 23-31, it's interesting to see what the church didn't do.
They didn't organized a rally to affect public opinion. They didn't stage a march or a sit-in at the temple. They didn't write op-ed pieces and submit them to the paper. They didn't take an opinion poll to prove that 73% of the people surveyed disapproved of the Sanhedrin’s policy.
The church met and prayed! It was convicting because I'm not sure that's the first thing we think about when threatened, or mistreated or when we face cultural opposition. PRAY.
Their prayer did not consist of complaining to God, but praising God. They didn't ask for protection, they prayed for power. They asked God for boldness and for miracles. And God showed up and shook them up and it affected their community and God received glory.
Would prayer be the first thing you think of if you were told not to speak about Jesus anymore?
Read Acts 4 and ask God to shake you up, I did.

In times like these we need to pray,

Pastor Tim

Hope for discouraging times

2008-09-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some economic headlines that we all have been reading the last few days:

A U.S. financial rescue plan, with modifications, seems likely

FBI looks into 4 firms at center of economic turmoil

Tight mortgage market hurts existing home sales

S&P cuts WAMU rating further into junk territory

That's probably enough. Enough to cause anxiety or discouragement. These are just the financial headlines, I didn't even delve into the sea of other bad news we find in the media. All of these things are contributing factors that lead to discouragement. I am sensing a spirit of discouragement over people during these rough times. Even in our church family, there have been several discouraging things that have happened over the course of a month. Things like...sudden death, car accidents, cancers, people losing their jobs, homes, people finding it very hard to make ends meet. All of these lead to discouragement and I believe that God doesn't want this spirit to pervade over His people. But how do you get out of it?

Let me share a verse that has been invaluable to me over the years. A verse that has helped me when I face discouraging times. It's found in Psalm 42, which is a great Psalm to read and meditate on. The verse is verse 5, which states, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." It's crucial in our fight for faith and overcoming discouragement that we learn to preach he truth to ourselves. Read what Martin Lloyd-Jones says about this verse:
Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says,: “Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you.” (Spiritual Depression, 20-21)

I love it! On this side of the cross, this truth intensifies. We must learn to preach the truth of the Gospel to our souls. Listen self, "If God is for me, who can be against me?" Listen self, "My hope is not in the economy, my hope is in God who loves me and gave Himself for me!" Listen self, "nothing can separate me from the love of God!" So, if your soul is downcast, learn to preach the truth to your soul and watch your hope in God soar.

Putting our hope in God our Savior,

Pastor Tim

I'm not a very good Facebook friend

2008-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

I am just letting everyone know that I really have not signed up with Facebook even though it appears that I did. Somehow, I inadvertently signed up. As a result of this error, I have been getting emails from people all over the globe adding me as one of their friends. Even my wife added me as a friend. What a shock (just kidding, honey). I’m writing to let all of you know I haven’t added you as a friend, but you’re still my friend…and I like your face…and I’ll read your book if you should write one.
It’s selfishness that is keeping me from adding you, I confess. For me, it’s just another “thing” to maintain. One has to maintain their site in order to be a good Facebook friend (right?). I have trouble writing my blog consistently. So I know I would have trouble keeping track of all the millions of friends I have (sorry, it’s more like 15 friends). Still, it’s hard to keep track of 15 friends and their faces and their books.
I went to college with some of the people that added me as their face book friends. I didn’t even know they liked me in college. I couldn’t believe this one guy that added me as his friend because I didn’t much care for his face back then. I regularly reminded him to get out of my face. Maybe I should add him as a friend and then ask for forgiveness…on his wall.
Even though I’m not a good Facebook friend, I hope that I can be a good friend. A friend like Proverbs describes:
· 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
· 18: 24 - A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
· 22:11 - He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
· 27:9-10 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

So to all you Facebook companions of mine out there…You just call out my name (not on face book though) and you know where ever I am, I’ll come running (except for that guy in college whose face I don’t like very much) to see you again (face to face). Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call (on a phone) and I’ll be there, yes I will…You’ve got a friend.

Your friend,
Pastor Tim

Let the water teem with living creatures

2008-08-29T15:12:00.000-07:00

Pam and I had a great time in Australia. The highlight of the trip was the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney and Darling Harbors are beautiful but they do not even begin to compare to the beauty of the reef. If you have a bucket list, put the GBR on it. Believe me, it's worth it.

I won't be sharing any photos of me swimming with the reef sharks, sea turtles or the other colorful fish one finds at the GBR. The reason? I wore a blue lycra suit. I looked like a tall, out of shape, Papa Smurf.

But I will share of few photos of some of God's amazing creation and creatures.

Yes, we saw Nemo and he wasn't lost.

I wanted to share one passage in the Bible that kept going through my mind as I tried to take in all the vibrant colors and vast array of sea life we were viewing. The passage is in Genesis 1:20 which records for us what God said on the fifth day of creation, "Let the water teem with living creatures..." In the Message, Peterson translates it this way: God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!" I just want to pick up on that word "teem" or in the Message, "swarm". Have you ever thought that God could have made 50 different type of fish and maybe a dozen colors or so and it still would have been beautiful to behold? But God does so much more. He calls for the oceans to "teem" with living creatures and vibrant colors. Why? So that each of us can stand in awe of His power and glory!

So if you ever get the chance, go see the Great Barrier Reef. I am sure you will stand amazed at the greatness of our God who spoke it into existence.

Just a word of advice - don't get the blue lycra suit.

Pastor Tim

Derek Redmond - Going for the Gold

2008-08-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

Derek Redmond arrived at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona determined to win a medal in the 400 meter race. The color of the medal was meaningless; he just wanted to win one. Just one. He had been forced to withdraw from the 400 at the 1988 Games in Seoul, only 10 minutes before the race, because of an Achilles tendon injury. He then underwent five surgeries over the next year. This was the same runner who had shattered the British 400-meter record at age 19. So when the 1992 Games arrived, this was his time, his moment, his stage, to show the world how good he was and who he was.Derek's father Jim had accompanied him to Barcelona, just as he did for all world competitions. They were as close as a father and son could be. Inseparable, really. The best of friends. When Derek ran, it was as if his father were running right next to him.

The day of the race arrives. The top four finishers in each of the two semifinal heats qualify for the Olympic final. As race time approaches for the semifinal 400 heat, Jim heads up to his seat at the top of Olympic Stadium, not far from where the Olympic torch was lit just a few days earlier. He is wearing a T-shirt that reads, "Have you hugged your foot today?"The stadium is packed with 65,000 fans, bracing themselves for one of sport's greatest and most exciting races. The race begins and Redmond breaks from the pack and quickly seizes the lead. "Keep it up, keep it up," Jim says to himself. Down the backstretch, only 175 meters away from finishing, Redmond is a shoo-in to make the finals. Suddenly, he hears a pop in his right hamstring. He pulls up lame, as if he had been shot. Redmond begins hopping on one leg, then slows down and falls to the track. As he lays on the track, clutching his right hamstring, a medical personnel unit runs toward him. At the same time, Jim Redmond, seeing his son in trouble, races down from the top row of the stands, sidestepping people, bumping into others. He has no credential to be on the track, but all he thinks about is getting to his son, to help him up. "I wasn't going to be stopped by anyone," he later tells the media.On the track, Redmond realizes his dream of an Olympic medal is gone. Tears run down his face. "All I could think was, 'I'm out of the Olympics -- again,'" he would say. As the medical crew arrives with a stretcher, Redmond tells them, "No, there's no way I'm getting on that stretcher. I'm going to finish my race." Then, in a moment that will live forever in the minds of millions, Redmond lifts himself to his feet, ever so slowly, and starts hobbling down the track. The other runners have finished the race, with Steve Lewis of the U.S. winning the contest in 44.50. Suddenly, everyone realizes that Redmond isn't dropping out of the race by hobbling off to the side of the track. No, he is actually continuing on one leg. He's going to attempt to hobble his way to the finish line. All by himself. All in the name of pride and heart. Slowly, the crowd, in total disbelief, rises and begins to roar. The roar gets louder and louder. Through the searing pain, Redmond hears the cheers, but "I wasn't doing it for the crowd," he would later say. "I was doing it for me. Whether people thought I was an idiot or a hero, I wanted to finish the race. I'm the one who has to live with it." One painful step at a time, each one a little slower and more painful than the one before, his face twisted with pain and tears, Redmond limps onward, and the crowd, many in tears, cheer him on. Suddenly, Jim Redmond finally gets to the bottom of the stands, leaps over the railing, avoids a security guard, and runs out to his son, with two security people chasing after him. "That's my son out there," he yells back to security, "and I'm going to help him." Finally, with Derek refusing to surrender and painfully limping along the track, Jim reaches his son at the final curve, about 120 meters from the finish, and wraps his arm around his waist.
"I'm here, son," Jim says softly, hugging his boy. "We'll finish together." Derek puts his arms around his father's shoulders and sobs. Together, arm in arm, father and son, with 65,000 people cheering, clapping and crying, finish the race, just as they vowed they would. A couple steps from the finish line, and with the crowd in an absolute frenzy, Jim releases the grip he has on his son, so Derek could cross the finish line by himself. Then he throws his arms around Derek again, both crying, along with everyone in the stands and on TV." I'm the proudest father alive," he tells the press afterwards, tears in his eyes. "I'm prouder of him than I would have been if he had won the gold medal. It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did."

I think that this is such a magnificent picture of a father's love for his son. It also serves as a graphic reminder that our Father in heaven is watching us run the race of life with love and devotion toward us. He loves us so much that He helps us cross the finish line. God, the Father, will always encourage us and equip us to finish the race that He has set before us. God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). We can make it to the end with a Father like that!

Watch a video of this inspirational and memorable Olympic moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zi0_LjHHN4

Pastor Tim

John Stephen Akhwari - Going for the Gold

2008-08-11T15:26:00.000-07:00

John Stephen Akwhwari competed in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He ran the marathon representing his country, Tanzania. During the race, Akwhwari fell cutting his knee badly. He also injured his head and was trampled on before he could get up. Somehow, he did get up. Running in pain Akhwari never gave up. He finished the 26 mile race. He arrived in the stadium (where the finish line was), long after the last competitors did. There were a few fans left in the stadium who began to cheer him on. No doubt, they were inspired by his persistence to finish the race. The response of the crowd was so overwhelming, it was almost frightening. They encouraged Akhwari through the last few metres of his race with a thundering ovation that far exceeded the one given the man who, hours earlier, had come in first. When Akhwari crossed the finish line, he collapsed into the arms of the medical personnel who immediately whisked him off to the hospital.

The next day, Akhwari appeared before sports journalists to field their questions about his extraordinary feat. The first question was the one any of us would have asked, "Why, after sustaining the kinds of injuries you did, would you ever get up and proceed to the finish line, when there was no way you could possibly place in the race?" John Stephen Akhwari said this: "My country did not send me over 11,000 kilometres to start a race. They sent me over 11,000 kilometres to finish one."

One person said that Akhwari's race is the greatest last place finish in Olympic history. In our quest for spiritual gold let's remember the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Click the link below and see a short video of John Stephen Akhwari's great finish.

Pastor Tim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq3rOMnLGBk

Lawrence Lemieux - Going for Gold

2008-08-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Lawrence Lemieux is a Canadian sailor who competed in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Lawerence sailed in the Finn class (I don't know what that means, you'll have to look it up).
The sailing competition was underway at Pusan, 32 kilometers from Seoul, Korea. The conditions for sailing had unexpectedly become dangerous. Acceptable winds of fifteen knots had escalated at times to 35 knots. The waters were playing havoc with boats and crews.

In the 470 class, two sailors on the Singapore team, Joseph Chan and Shaw Her Siew, were thrown into the water, suffering injuries and unable to right their boat. The situation was a dangerous one.
Sailing alone near the half point in his race on the nearby Finn class race course, Lemieux was then in second place in this the fifth of a seven race event and was given a good chance to win one of the medals. But still, Lemieux immediately took action, forgetting his own race and sailing toward Joseph Chan in the 470 class. As the Canadian was dragging Chan aboard, his own boat began filling with water. Successfully rescuing Chan, Lemieux immediately headed toward Shaw Her Siew, who was clinging tenaciously to his overturned boat. Lemieux performed the same rescue operation and now both Singaporean sailors were in his boat. But for Lemieux victory was impossible. He waited for an official patrol boat to reach him, then transferred the two men. Lemieux then continued in his race, but the loss of time during the rescue operation put him out of contention. He finished 22nd in a race that started with 32 boats.
Soon after the race, the story of the rescue reached the jury of the International Yacht Racing Union. They unanimously decided that Lemieux should be awarded second place for this, the position he was in when he went to the aid of the Singapore crew. None of the other contestants questioned the decision.
Though Lemieux did not win a medal in the overall seven race competition, at the medal awards ceremony Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee, awarded Lemieux the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for Sportsmanship, and paid honour to Lemieux for his act.
"By your sportsmanship, self-sacrifice and courage," said Samaranch, "you embody all that is right with the Olympic ideal."
Lemieux has since retired from sailing and is now a coach.

What an incredible story. It's a powerful picture of what our Christian lives are about. Everyone else may be trying to win medals, accumulate honors or achieve greatness - but our mission is to rescue those who are hurting, to offer help to those whose lives may be overturned by storms. Jesus said it best when he said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). That's going for the gold.

Pastor Tim

Jesse Owens - Going for the Gold

2008-08-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

One of the United States most famous Olympians is Jesse Owens. Owens competed in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Jesse single-handedly frustrated Adolf Hitler with his athletic prowess. Hitler disliked black athletes and felt they were inferior to Arians. Hitler was hoping that the 1936 Olympics would prove him right. Jesse Owens stunning victories and achievement of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin has made him the best remembered of all Olympic athletes. Fast and fierce, Jesse Owens sprinted his way into the history books and his story continues to inspire many today.

Jesse Owens main event was the Long Jump. But Owens was having trouble with that event in Berlin. In the qualifying rounds, he missed two times. The first time, he thought he was just taking a practice jump, but the official counted it as one of his three actual attempts to qualify. On his second attempt, he misjudged the takeoff spot and fouled again. One more miss, and he would be eliminated from competition. His main competitor was a German named Lutz Long, the only jumper there with a reasonable shot at beating Owens.

It was just then that Lutz Long walked over to Jesse Owens and chatted with him for a few moments. “Something must be bothering you,” Long said. “You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed. Owens explained that he had not realized that his first jump counted as a qualifying attempt. That had so rattled him that he overcompensated in his second jump.

Long said, “Since the distance you need to qualify isn’t that difficult, make a mark about a foot before you reach the foul line. Use that as your jump-off point. That way you won’t foul.”

Jesse did just that. He used his foot to dig a mark in the grass about a foot short of the foul line, and he used that as his jump-off spot. He qualified that time with a couple of feet to spare.

Later that afternoon, Jesse Owens and Lutz Long went head-to-head in competition. It was nip-and-tuck to the end, but Jesse Owens prevailed winning the gold medal. Hitler reportedly scowled, when his German competitor Lutz Long ran over and threw his arms around him in congratulations. Years later, Jesse Owens talked about that moment, and he said, “You could melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t match the 24-carat friendship I felt for Lutz Long at that moment.”

The two men became good friends and stayed in touch, even during World War II when the two nations were locked in a terrible war with each other. Lutz was a lieutenant in the German Army, but he wrote to Owens and said, “I hope we can always remain best of friends despite the differences between our countries.”

It was the last communication the two of them ever shared, for just a few days later, Lutz was killed in battle. But the story doesn’t end there. Years later, Owens received a letter from Lutz Long’s son, who was then 22-years old and getting married. The letter said, “Even though my father can’t be here to be my best man, I know who he would want in his place. He would want someone that he and his entire family admired and respected. He would want you to take his place. And I do, too.”

And Jesse Owens flew to Germany to be the best man at the wedding of the son of his former arch competitor and rival.

What a powerful story and what a powerful statement made by Owens that friendship was more important than medals. Proverbs 14:20 says, "The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends." There is a richness that is enjoyed when someone has good friends. Jesse Owens learned that in the 1936 Olympics and it was worth more than gold.

Pastor Tim

Eric Liddell - Going For the Gold

2008-08-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

It almost goes without saying that when we think of the modern Olympics and Christians in the same sentence, we think of Eric Liddell, the Flying Scotsman. Eric was born in 1902 in China where his parents were missionaries for the London Mission Society. He attended Edinburgh University where he was hailed as one of their best track and field runners ever. He ran the 100 yards and the 220 yards for the university.

Liddell represented England in the 1924 Paris Olympics. His story has been made famous in the movie Chariots of Fire. There are some great scenes and some great quotes in this movie. One of my favorites is when Eric was talking with his sister Jennie. Jennie is worried that Eric is too busy focusing on running and not paying enough attention to his "real" mission in China. Eric tells his sister that he feels inspired when he runs. He says to her, "I believe that God made me for a purpose... (the mission), but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure." Eric learns that his heat is to be run on Sunday, he declared that he could not run on Sundays as it would violate his convictions regarding the Sabbath. One of the most moving scenes in the movie is when Lord Andrew Lindsey proposes to trade places with Liddell so that Lindsey would represent Great Britain in the 100m, while Liddell would instead compete in the 400 meter event on the following Thursday, thus averting his need to run on Sunday. In the movie, Liddell is seen in church on Sunday, quoting Isaiah 40: 31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

What many people don’t know is that after the Olympics, he followed in his parents’ footsteps as a missionary to China. It was there during World War II that he was interned in the Weishien Concentration Camp where he died while serving Christ Jesus.
Sally Magnusson, in her biography of Liddell, explained the secret of his radiant life: “Every morning about 6 a.m., with curtains tightly drawn to keep in the shining of our peanut-oil lamp… he used to climb out of his top bunk, past the sleeping forms of his dormitory mates. Then, at the small Chinese table, (he would sit) with the light just enough to illumine (his) Bibles and notebooks. Silently (he) read, prayed, and thought about the day's duties, noted what should be done. Eric was a man of prayer...”

That was his great secret. He knew how to devote his mornings to meeting with his divine Coach. There are many lessons that can be drawn from Eric Liddell’s life, but chief among them is this: Champions for God often devote their morning hours to spending time with Him. As Eric Liddell knew, when we begin the morning with God, we can enjoy His presence all day long. Henry Ward Beecher said, “The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.”

Going for the gold in our Christian life is spending quality time with the Lord. Just like Eric Liddell.

Pastor Tim

Olympic Gold

2008-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

08.08.08 - That's the date for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I always enjoy watching the Olympics. I believe the purest form of athleticism is exhibited in track and field events. I also enjoy learning some of the personal triumphs of the athletes. Some of these stories are really inspiring. Over the next few days I want to share some of these stories with you and hopefully they will inspire you, or re-inspire you to run the Christian race with diligence.

The Apostle Paul must have had some interest in athletics, because he frequently used the games as illustrations for his messages. He was familiar, not only with the Olympics of his day, but with all the other ancient games. And just like a good teacher today, the apostle Paul sometimes used sports allusions to illustrate his sermons and writings. Like in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: (The Message)

24-25 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
26-27 I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

So there is precedent for drawing spiritual lessons from the world of athletics, and perhaps even from the Olympic Games themselves. And I hope over the next few days we can be inspired to run for the gold. To persevere through tough times and win that prize that never fades away.

Pastor Tim

Road Trip

2008-07-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

Last week, Pam and I took a road trip to Toledo, Ohio. We helped our son and daughter-in-law move by hauling their furniture and towing their car. I have to admit I was pretty stoked before the trip. It was kind of a “man thing” thinking about driving a big diesel truck and looking down on all the “little cars”. I was singing old trucker classics like: “Six days on the road and I’m gonna make it home tonight. And, “Give me 40 acres and I’ll turn this rig around”. After about 5 hours in the truck I was singing, “I can’t feel my booty” (sung to the tune of “If you want my body”).
Interstate 80 is a long road! Did you know that there are 3 prisons in Nevada that are located off I-80? Those salt flats are good locations for prisons, I guess. Are there that many criminals in Nevada? Did you know that Wyoming has a drive-by zoo all along I-80? Well, it’s a zoo if you don’t mind the animals being dead. Apparently the state of Wyoming cannot keep up with roadkill. We saw dead deer (lots of them), antelope, porcupine, wolf or coyote (is there a difference?), rabbit, dog, duck-billed platypus and tapir. Just kidding about the last two, but it would not have surprised me.

Did you know this is what Nebraska looks like?

This also looks like Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and the part of Ohio we saw. Do we really need that much corn?

After four days on the road, the happiest moment was when we pulled into our kids driveway. After 2,432 miles and $1,467.00 worth of diesel, I was happy to be in Toledo!

Our Christian life can be compared to a road trip. It’s long and laborious and sometimes boring. But we’re in it for the long haul, right? So thinking about my recent road trip, here are some lessons I learned about the road of life.

1. Thinking about the final destination motivates you to keep going forward – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2

2. Observe what’s lying on the side of the road – Many times we pass by those who are lying on the side of the road, ran over by life. Do we care enough to stop and help? In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus was asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus made it clear in this parable that our neighbor is anyone on the side of the road who is in need.

3. Follow the signs – God has given us his word so that our lives can be pointed in the right direction. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

4. The best part of the trip is unloading – “Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7. On this Christian road trip, everyday is a good day to unload on Christ.

Let’s follow Jesus Christ down the road of life. The road is better when we travel together. Hey good buddy, we’ve got ourselves a convoy!

Pastor Tim

Teach us to number our days

2008-07-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

I wrapped up the 24/7 series last Sunday. For the last six weeks we’ve been focusing on living a consistent, constant Christian life. We focused on living a life that honors the Lord day by day, not just on Sunday. That phrase, “day by day” appears in the Bible (NKJV) six times and that was the focus of the sermons. There’s a very interesting passage in Psalm 90 that I hope you will consider.

“The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have strength; yet their span is trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10) Verse 12 continues, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

I read an article once that stated, “On average, Americans are living 30 years longer, than Americans did in the early 1900’s.” Because of advances in medicine, health care, water and food supply improvements and just taking care of ourselves we’ve increased the amount of years we’re living on this earth. There’s something intriguing about people who live to be 100 years old. I always liked Willard Scott’s Happy Birthday segments on The Today show. He highlights the people who live to be a 100 and shares a little bit about their lives. I was talking to a guy the other day that drinks Coke for breakfast. I told him he should really drink something healthier for breakfast, as I sipped my third cup of coffee. Willard Scott interviewed a hundred year old who said the secret to her long life was drinking a Coke every morning for breakfast. I guess there is no patented formula for long living. What can be counted on is that life goes by in a hurry. Life quickly passes and then we fly away.

This is why it’s so important that we number our days. It’s something that we have to be taught…”teach us”. I think we’re used to numbering our years. I’m 49 years old, not 17,885 days old. In other words, we only have so many days; and once a day is spent it can never be regained. The only roll-over minutes you have are with your cell phone. There is no roll over days in life. So may the Lord teach us to invest every day carefully in the things of Christ, that we may live a wise and productive life for Him.

Pastor Tim

Hands Free? Not exactly.

2008-07-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, I’m not doing well with the new “hands-free” law. It’s not that I’m rebellious; it’s just that I have to use my hands to use the cell phone. I bought one of those blue tooth devices knowing that this law would come into effect. I asked the young man selling me the device (who looked like a member of the Geek squad), “How do you know when you’re getting a phone call?” (I know, I’m tech - challenged, admission is the first stage to recovery).
“You’ll hear a ring in your ear”, he answered, acting like I should have known that.
“And then I just answer it?” I asked. (I promise I didn’t know this stuff).
A little frustrated he replies, “Well, you have to hit the little button in the middle of the device and then say hello”.
“Aha!” I exclaimed. “You have to use your hand to hit the button, so it’s really NOT hands free.”
And, that is my problem driving with this new “hands-free” device. I can’t seem to ever find the little button to hit without looking into a mirror. So, when my phone goes off I tend to look into the rear view mirror to see where to hit the little button. It’s not advisable to look into the rear view mirror for extended periods of time while driving. I have a new respect for all those ladies that put their make up on while driving. How do you do that? Maybe that should be the next law: Hands free make up application.
Please feel free to call me on my cell phone, but if I don’t answer, I’m probably driving. If I answer and then you hear a loud crashing noise, I’m probably driving.
I don’t really know what the point of this blog is; it has no spiritual application to it. If you can think of one, leave a comment.

In the mean time here’s a “hands free” verse: “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.” Psalm 81:6 (NLT)

It’s a heavy task to hit that little button in the middle of the blue tooth, but now my hands are free!

At the sound of the tone, you’re free to leave a message,

Pastor Tim

God Bless America

2008-07-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

I think Irish tenor, Ronan Tynan is the best at singing God Bless America. What a voice. I'm not old enough to remember Kate Smith singing it, but I've been told she was pretty good too. It's kind of ironic that a guy born in Dublin, Ireland would be most famous for singing God Bless America. But, that's the beauty of our country, right? Since it's the fourth of July weekend, I'm including a link so you can hear Mr. Tynan beautifully sing God Bless America.

God has blessed us, hasn't He? The Bible says, that God has "blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). So, have a great Independence Day. Sit back and listen to Ronan sing, have a hamburger and a hot dog, watch some fireworks and be joyful, because God has shed His grace on thee!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HqskmrpiuY&feature=related

Pastor Tim

Just names? Hardly!

2008-06-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'm reading Romans 16 the other day and I feel like stopping. All you read are a bunch of names. Names that are pretty hard to read and impossible to pronounce. Isn't it okay to just skip these chapters in the Bible? I'm not actually supposed to learn anything from Romans 16, am I? Who are these people? Why are they in the Bible? Is this part inspired? I decided that I had to continue reading and try to maintain focus. I don't know about you, but my mind begins to wander when I'm just reading name after name after name...Greet Andronicus...Greet Ampliatus...Greet blah, blah, blah (forgive me Lord). Finally, verse 16 brought back some interest, "Greet one another with a holy kiss." Yikes. First of all, if we practice this at the church we need to pass out breath mints, instead of coffee. Secondly, as a closet germ phob, I don't know if I could do this. How about, "Greet one another with a fist bump?" That sounds better to me.

It occurred to me that these are people that Paul loved, prayed for, cared about, ate with, laughed with, cried with. These are people that Paul lived life with. These weren't just names to Paul, these were people he loved and who helped him accomplish God's purpose in his life. These were people he served next to. These were people that shared God's grace and goodness. It became so clear to me that the Christian life isn't administrating programs, pursuing social changes or believing the right stuff. The Christian life is about relationships. With God and with people.

Paul mentioned these people because they were the ministry. I remember one of my professors in Bible college saying over and over again, "Ministry is all about people". You know what? He was right. I'm glad I didn't skip Romans 16.

Greetings to you (with a fist bump),

Pastor Tim

Misidentified

2008-06-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever misidentified something? Let me share with you what I mean. The other day, I was driving up Silver Creek Valley Road early in the morning. I love to look out over the Blossom Valley as I’m making my way up the hill. On most days it’s a beautiful view. As I’m glancing at the landscape I notice several deer eating on the hillside. At least I think they were deer. They might have been elk. Isn’t an elk a deer? I have trouble identifying some species of animals. I remember several years ago Pam and I took our young children to the drive though Safari…in Oklahoma. The park boasted about having 2,000 species of animals. They all looked like goats to me. I was unaware that there are 2,000 species of goats. Anyway, I think I saw some elk. They are huge. And they have bushy white tails. Maybe their white tailed elk. Whatever they were, it was neat to see them. Adjusting my eyes back to the road, I notice a bushy white tail bouncing up and down on the other side of the street, just above the hedge line. I couldn’t believe it. I thought to myself, “There is a white-tailed elk walking on the sidewalk!” I slowed my car down, hoping that maybe I could get out of the car and pet it. The closer I got to the white tailed creature, I noticed that it wasn’t an elk, or a deer, but it was a man with white bushy hair walking up the sidewalk. From a distance, I could only see the back of his head, bobbing up and down over the hedge, (Which, by the way, looked almost exactly like a deer’s tail). I don’t think he combed his hair that morning. I pulled the car over anyway, but the man didn’t want to be petted. He just kept walking, faster and faster. Misidentified!
Who could misidentify a man for a deer? Certainly not Dr. Doolittle. But on that morning, I did. Sometimes things just look so plain, so simple, and so clear that we immediately make a judgment. But getting closer we realize we were wrong. Because everything isn’t as it appears.
I thought about how many times I’ve misidentified people. For example, I might see a homeless person begging for money and quickly assume that they are addicted to drugs or alcohol or perhaps mentally challenged. And then slowing down for a second and taking a closer look, find out that this person was left on the street due to their family abandoning them or other misfortunes. Misidentified.
It’s easy to misidentify because we make quick assumptions based on appearances. A pastor friend of mine tells a story about sitting on an airplane in Little Rock, Arkansas, returning home from some church meetings. The aisle seat was empty and a long – haired, hippie looking guy sits next to him. He said I quickly made some evaluations of this man based on his appearance and all of them were negative. The guy plops down in the seat and introduces himself. Alton, my friend, introduced himself as well.
The long haired guy said, “What do you do?”
Alton replied, “I’m a pastor. And you?”
The hippie answered, “I’m Jesus”.
Now Alton knows for sure his assumptions are true. This guy has taken way to many drugs and he thinks he’s Jesus.
The hippie continued, “I’m really not Jesus, I play Jesus at the Passion play in Eureka Springs. However, I’ve been a follower of Jesus for many years”.
Misidentified! My pastor friend would make the point not to be too quick to judge people because that could be Jesus sitting next to you. Amen to that.
Even Jesus was misidentified. The Pharisees misidentified Jesus based on their own evaluations, prejudices and assumptions.
Jesus said to them one day, “You judge by human standards…” (John 8:15).
That’s really the problem with my misidentifications…I judge by human standards. Perhaps that’s the key to help us start seeing people as God sees them – don’t make evaluations based solely on human evaluations. Wait. Get a little closer. That white tail you think is a deer or an elk might just be a man with messed up hair!

Pastor Tim

Send a message now, not later.

2008-06-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me a link to a website that is very interesting, to say the least. It’s a site called “you’ve been left behind”. The site is a service that allows you to send emails to your friends or family that are left behind when the rapture occurs. The following is some detail, found on their site, which explains the service that this company provides.

We have set up a system to send documents by the email, to the addresses you provide, 6 days after the "Rapture" of the Church. This occurs when 3 of our 5 team members scattered around the U.S fail to log in over a 3 day period. Another 3 days are given to fail safe any false triggering of the system. We give you 150mb of encrypted storage that can be sent to 12 possible email addresses, in Box #1. You up load any documents and choose which documents go to whom. You can edit these documents at any time and change the addresses they will be sent to as needed. Box #1 is for your personal private letters to your closest lost friends and relatives. We give you another 100mb. of unencrypted storage that can be sent to up to 50 email addresses, in Box #2. You can edit the documents and the addresses any time. Box #2 is for more generic documents to lost family & friends.The cost is $40 for the first year. Re-subscription will be reduced as the number of subscriber’s increases. Tell your friends about You've Been left behind.

Now there are some interesting things to consider here:

· What if you pay with a credit card and the next day the rapture occurs? Is there a way they can still collect?
· If I sign up, and their system fails to do what I pay for, do I have some recourse? I’ll be in heaven so I won’t get mad, or sue, right?
· I’m not sure about the owners of this company being raptured with me and the emails still being sent out. Wouldn’t it be safer to hire an honest Buddhist and have him send the emails? I just feel better about a person being present to hit the send button, don’t you?
· And, all kidding aside – isn’t it better to send messages before, not after?

The bible makes it clear that we are Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us (note: it doesn’t say someone else should or could make the appeal for us). The verse continues, “we implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The left behind email idea might be creative, but the best way is to make an appeal to our friends before they are left behind. It won’t cost $40.00 but it will cost you some prayer, some time and some courage from the Lord.
If you don’t like that idea, here’s the link to the website. But let me warn you, once you send in your $40.00, you’ll never know if the message gets sent! ( www.youvebeenleftbehind.com ).

Sharing His love,
Pastor Tim

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...

2008-06-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

There are lots of analogies for the Bible. It's called the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Word of Life, the Book of the Law, the Word of Truth, just to name a few. I especially like what the Bible compares itself to. For example, the Bible is compared to seed. Jesus told a parable about a farmer sowing seed and explained that the seed sown is the Word (Mark 4:1-20). Seeds have the potential of life in them and so it is with God's word. God's word can bring life to us.

The Bible is also compared to a sword (Hebrews 4:12). Perhaps we should think of a scalpel. The Word of God is able to remove the things in our lives that are hurting us. I've heard it said that the Bible is a sword but it has no handle. So every time you pick it up it cuts you first.

The Bible is also called a hammer in Jeremiah 23:29. Lots of images can be conjured up with that comparison. But perhaps we should think about how the word can break up the hard places in our lives.

My favorite analogy of God's word is a mirror. James 1:22-25 reads, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."

Did you know that women look at themselves in a mirror more than men do? Did you know that people 27 years of age spend more time in front of the mirror than 60 year old people? Here's an article I found from Reuters:
"Women look at themselves in the mirror every 30 minutes on average, with men not far behind, according to a survey.
The online survey of 2,000 people was conducted in the UK by Trans- formulas beauty company.
The survey showed women check their reflection 34 times a day during an average 16-hour waking day.
They reapply their make-up 11 times a day, with 89 per cent of those questioned saying they carry a compact mirror in their handbags.
On average, males stand in front of the mirror 27 times a day.
People aged 27 are the most image conscious - they scrutinize their looks an average 52 times a day.
Over 60s check just five times a day on average."

We look into mirrors and we see reflections of our faces but the Word of God is able to let us see into our souls. We're able to see our daily lives from God's perspective. What a great comparison. As we intently look into the word of God and practice what it says, we gain freedom and God's blessing.
Yes, there is some benefit from looking into a mirror. How much more benefit is gained by looking into the Word of God and asking Him to change what we see.

Pastor Tim

Who you gonna call? Try God.

2008-05-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

I think every pastor has a story about a cell phone going off in church. The instant it happens, it's not too funny. But give it some time and you can smile, sometimes laugh. Cell phones seem to go off in church at the most inopportune times. Usually, in my case anyway, they tend to go off when I'm about to make a critical point (and I don't get to make too many of those). So let me set the scene. I'm preaching and finally get to the point and say something like, "And this is what God wants you to know right now..." The audience is tuned in...there's a pregnant pause...and then... the Notre Dame fight song goes off. Have you ever noticed that when you're in a panic you can't turn something off very quickly. It's always a blessing to at least hear two or three stanzas of Notre Dame's fight song in church. I remember one Sunday, I was preaching and a cell phone went off. It was my wife's...sitting in the front row. She had a purse the size of carry-on luggage and couldn't find it...for what seemed like an eternity. I politely let her know that she might not be spending eternity where she thought. I asked for forgiveness later. That was a memorable time (right!). We're thinking about equipping our ushers with devices that detect cell phones. So before you enter our church you would have to go through a cell phone scanner. How's that for visitor friendly? We'll be sure and give our ushers the right words to instruct people. "Shoes off!" "One line please!" "Coats on the conveyor belt...check books out and ready". Anyway, I digress.

Why do we think we need our cell phones in the worship gathering? Is 90 minutes too much to just leave them in the car? Who do you really need to talk to during church anyway? How about God! And we should be waiting and expecting to hear from Him. We live in so much noise it's very difficult to tune into God. And we need to, it's vital for us. So, I was reading these Scriptures the other day and they were very instructive to me: Habakkuk 2:20, "But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him." SILENT - did you notice that? Psalm 62:1, "My soul waits in silence for God alone, from Him is my salvation (NAS). Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God..." Stillness and silence - how rare. You could interpret that to mean, "Turn off your electronic devices and let Me speak to you."

So next Sunday, leave your cell phone in the car (our ushers will be checking). Let God know, that you want to hear from Him. Let's be listening for His ring tone. I guarantee it won't be the Notre Dame Fight Song!

We're blessed because God is good!

Pastor Tim

Remembering

2008-05-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

I hope we don't forget that Memorial Day is about remembering and honoring. It's really nice to have an extra day off, but it's much better to pause and remember those who have sacrificed the most for us.
Several years ago, I read a story about Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. I believe this story captures the essence of remembering.
It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them from his bucket. Many years before, in October, 1942, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B-17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea. But there was an unexpected detour which would hurl Captain Eddie into the most harrowing adventure of his life.
Somewhere over the South Pacific the Flying Fortress became lost beyond the reach of radio. Fuel ran dangerously low, so the men ditched their plane in the ocean... For nearly a month Captain Eddie and his companions would fight the water, and the weather, and the scorching sun. They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their rafts. The largest raft was nine by five. The biggest shark...ten feet long.
But of all their enemies at sea, one proved most formidable: starvation. Eight days out, their rations were long gone or destroyed by the salt water. It would take a miracle to sustain them. And a miracle occurred. In Captain Eddie's own words, "Cherry," that was the B- 17 pilot, Captain William Cherry, "read the service that afternoon, and we finished with a prayer for deliverance and a hymn of praise. There was some talk, but it tapered off in the oppressive heat. With my hat pulled down over my eyes to keep out some of the glare, I dozed off."
Now this is still Captian Rickenbacker talking..."Something landed on my head. I knew that it was a sea gull. I don't know how I knew, I just knew. Everyone else knew too. No one said a word, but peering out from under my hat brim without moving my head, I could see the expression on their faces. They were staring at that gull. The gull meant food...if I could catch it." And the rest, as they say, is history. Captain Eddie caught the gull. Its flesh was eaten. Its intestines were used for bait to catch fish. The survivors were sustained and their hopes renewed because a lone sea gull, uncharacteristically hundreds of miles from land, offered itself as a sacrifice. You know that Captain Eddie made it. And now you also know...that he never forgot. Because every Friday evening, about sunset...on a lonely stretch along the eastern Florida seacoast...you could see an old man walking...white-haired, bushy-eyebrowed, slightly bent. His bucket filled with shrimp was to feed the gulls...to remember that one which, on a day long past, gave itself without a struggle...like manna in the wilderness.
So, this Memorial day, I hope you remember.
And may we never forget the One, who gave His life, so that we may live forever! Thank You, Jesus.

Pastor Tim