Sunday Message - Full of Moxie

Chaplain Jesse will be examining on of the judges, Gideon, and how he had the moxie to lead God's children back to God.

Answers Inside - Micah 6:8

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
    and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
    and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Answers Inside - New Testament

James 1:5 New Living Translation

Prayers for the Persecuted - Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov

A pastor in Tajikistan has been arrested on charges of 'extremism' for having a book by a well-known US Christian author.

Bakhrom Kholmatov is a pastor in the Sunmin Sunbogym (Good News of Grace) Protestant Church, whose congregations have been raided by secret police. He was arrested at his Khujand church in April.

The church is an officially registered congregation. However, according to the Forum 18 news service, authorities put pressure on the congregation in an attempt to close it. 'Officers insulted the believers by shouting and swearing at them. They demanded that they renounce their faith and leave the Church,' members of the congregation said.

They claimed some were beaten and others forced out of their jobs.

According to Forum 18, officers of the secret police told members that the words of hymns and Christian books, including More Than A Carpenter by American author Josh McDowell, were 'extremist'.

Please pray for Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov and his church. As we remember him in our prayers, let us not forgot the others who are persecuted for their faith.

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ~Matthew 5:44

Answers Inside - Paul

Colossians 1:15 New Living Translation

Answers Inside - Old Testament

Ezra 1:5 New Living Translation

Mid-Week Message - Tough Love

Parents know that sometimes tough love is necessary.  As much as we love our children, the gentle touch just doesn't always work.  If little Billy is about to jump off the roof of the house, quiet pleading just might not stop him.  It isn't easy to come down hard on those we love but it is sometimes the most loving thing to do.

Discipline isn't fun.  It wasn't fun when we were young and it isn't fun when we are older.  I made every attempt with my daughter to make sure that she knew about accountability and that it didn't end when she became an adult.  We remain answerable to our spouses, our employers, our government entities and, most importantly, to God.  

I was exceptionally close to my earthly father.  One hundred percent a daddy's girl is what I was from my birth to his death and even beyond.  My mother said I would start crying when he left for work in the mornings and that I wouldn't stop until he came home in the evening.  Yes, I loved my daddy! Because of that I worked hard to win and keep his approval and was crushed when he disciplined me. As a parent myself now I realize that he didn't like those times any more than I did.  

When I was a school secretary, teachers often sent children to me who were acting up in class.  This school had all ages and one of the Pre-Kindergarten little boys was sent to me one day.  Now this wasn't just any student.  It was the son of my best friend.  Because he had been sent to me more than once for this particular behavior, I told him that it was now time to call and talk to his father.  His eyes widened in horror as he spoke his response which was, "But Daddy be's mean when we're bad!" I held in my laughter as I dialed the phone because I knew his father and how loving he was.  No, none of us likes discipline.  

One of the most beautiful ways that God portrays Himself to us is as a Father.  He has accepted us as His children and loves us enough to do what is best for us in every circumstance, even if that means disciplining us.  Hebrews 12:5-6 says, "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.'" When we go through times of the Lord's discipline, we can feel loved.  Because, like our parents told us, if He didn't care for us, He wouldn't bother.   

Whatever your week holds, I pray it also holds plenty of times to rejoice.  And if you are going through a time of instruction, training and discipline from above, rejoice even more.  You are important to Him.  Important enough to care and exercise tough love even though it hurts Him more than it hurts us.  God bless.  

Answers Inside - Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
Hebrews 7:25 NLT

Answers Inside - Gospels

John 1:12 New Living Translation

Answers Inside - Proverbs

Proverbs 16:9 New Living Translation

Sunday Message - Water to Restore Your Soul

Chaplain Jesse will be examining the living water that we all need to renew, restore and reinvigorate our thirsty spirits. Our daily walks sometimes take us through arid regions and we need, more than ever, to drink from the spring that bubbles and flows from Jesus.

Answers Inside - New Testament

Hebrews 12:1 New Living Translation

Answers Inside - Paul

Philippians 4:13 New Living Translation

Answers Inside - Old Testament

2 Chronicles 7:14 New Living Translation

Mid-Week Message - Discount Faith

We do most of our shopping at a discount retail store that everyone knows.  We do that because the prices are consistently less and it's a "one stop shop".  There are grocery stores here that carry better quality produce and higher quality meats that we would rather shop at but watching what we are spending is important.  We buy a lot of store brands and choose lower quality goods that will meet our immediate needs in order to stay within our budget.  You probably do at least a bit of this as well. 

"Less is more" is a popular mantra these days.  If we spend less on everyday things, we have more to spend on things we will enjoy, like entertainment.  Tiny houses are getting a lot of media time because people are choosing to spend less, be more mobile and experience life aside from heavy debt burdens.  Many young people are opting not to attend college because of the monetary cost.  It seems like responsibility is a lot less desirable than it once was.

What happens if we allow this to carry over into our spiritual lives? Does the "less is more" idea work there too?  In a way it would.  If we spend less time on earthly matters and more time in prayer and in our relationship with Jesus, then "less" would help to achieve "more."  However, less would definitely not be more if we spend less time in prayer or worship or study.  In any relationship, time is important.  Communication is important.  The more time we spend with someone and the better we communicate with them, the more and better we will know them and that objective of a healthy relationship.

Is there such a thing as "discount faith?"  I believe there is.  I have been in churches where the main idea seems to be to entertain the congregation rather than to focus on the inerrant Word of God. Simply speaking pleasing words from the pulpit rather than speaking the truth of the scriptures is one example but there are others.  A few years ago, I knew a young man whose church sponsored a hard rock night for kids of the area. He said it was a Christian group. however the lyrics couldn't be understood because they were screamed and the music was exceedingly loud.  In addition, there was a mosh pit.  Pardon me for asking what the message was that night.  I fail to understand how appearing to be the same as the world could draw anyone to Jesus.  

There are many areas of life where it is acceptable to cut corners.  We certainly should be good stewards of our money and our time.  Life is temporary and we will only have so many resources at our disposal.  Buying ground beef rather than steak makes sense if you are on a budget.  Shopping at second hand stores rather than high priced clothing shops is smart.  Taking time and effort away from the Lord though, is not.  He created us and desires to spend time with us.  He gave us His Word so that we can know Him.  Faith increases as our knowledge of and relationship with Him grows.  As young lovers desire to spend every moment with each other, so should our love for the Lord create in us a desire to spend more and more time with Him.  It is worth every second.

Prayers for the Survivors and Families of the Oklahoma City Bombing

Twenty-two years ago, Americans around the country witnessed the horrific scenes of a domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 168 lives were cut short when a bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

As we observe today's tragic anniversary, the scars of that day remind us that we need to always be vigilant and work with local law enforcement to prevent tragedies like this. 

Please pray for the families that lost loved ones and for the survivors who remember that day as if it happened yesterday. 

We should continue to pray for the men and women of law enforcement, fire departments, EMS and all public servants who regularly put their lives on the line for our safety.

We will always remember.

Psalm 34:18 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

A Great and Blessed Nation - Deuteronomy 4:7

For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?
Deuteronomy 4:7 (NLT)

Answers Inside - Gospels

Luke 1:4 New Living Translation

Begin Each Morning with Praise

Each morning I get up and spend time in the Word and listening to praise music. In fact, as I write this blog posting, I am listening to praise music. 

With all of the things going on in our lives, we need to take time to be in the presence of the Lord with words of praise and thanksgiving. Each morning when we rise, it is a blessing. Just as God the Father blessed us with another morning and day of life, we should bless Him by spending time with Him. 

We should be speaking from our souls and raise up our voices in praise. We should be extolling His mighty power in our lives. 

1 Chronicles 16:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.

    Let the whole world know what he has done.

He is Exalted!

Twila Paris

Answers Inside - Proverbs

Proverbs 16:3 New Living Translation