The Specter and Hope of a New Year

Hopefully the troubles of this past year, what ever they may have been, will fade quickly for those who are wise and growing in truth. The past no longer exists except in our minds. It’s gone! Over! Through!! Nothing is left but to redeem it in the present. If not we become its slave! The past must however be “remembered right” or it haunts us! Most of us can’t seem to let it go … especially the bad things. We find the struggle exceedingly intense to truly forget our deepest wounds or losses, our foolish, even dumb mistakes, and our missed opportunities.

The same anxiety also grips us about the future. There are fears galore about keeping our jobs, management panic, over-extended finances, holding our marriages together, battling health concerns … even death, concern about our children, our burdens about our nation, and … above all … a vague yet nagging sense that we might not have what it takes to endure and conquer all that is to come in the year ahead.

One truth is obvious. If you continually collect your guilt and frustrations from your past and add to them your fears and doubts about your future, you will be a successful candidate for living THE DISPARING LIFE. Pity is the only word for the poor fools whose problems, pain and panic always seem greater than God’s promises, pardon and power! Alas, at times we have all too often played the fool.

For those of us who have put our lives, our troubles and our hopes in “the man” Christ Jesus, there is a promise of revelation of truth “beyond ourselves.” The solution to my trouble is not in me but in the Father. For instance, the Scriptures teach us we are to worship the God of “the eternal now!”(1 Chronicles 16:36; Psalm 41:12,13) It is today that matters most … not yesterday or tomorrow!

The concepts of past and future are human categories necessitated by our limitations as created beings. But if we comprehend the Father’s eternality we demolish the concepts of past and future as controllers over our lives. That’s hard … yes … almost impossible to grasp … but it is true. With yielded hearts and eager minds it is possible to glimpse the wonder of eternity. An illustration might help.

Jesus declared He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12). If one knows the properties of light this is a staggering claim. Light is warmth (sun), food (plants must have it to grow), revelation (it illuminates) and energy (laser, etc.). Light is also speed at 186,000 miles per second. If you fired a beam of light around the circumference of the earth it would circle our planet seven times in one second!! Distance is increasingly irrelevant with speed like that! Being eternal has the same relationship to the concepts of past and future as the speed of light has to distance. To know “The Light” of God is to escape the bondage of the past and future! Time is increasingly irrelevant with an eternity like ours. Time only exists to be dealt with while we move on to greater things!

Best wishes from the Staff of Ventures for Christ for a new year lived fully in the Light! Those who truly follow Christ are free from the darkness of their past and the darkness of their future (John 8:12). Why should any darkness dominate us when our NOW is filled with an inexhaustible Light that will never leave us! To live the Christ Life is to point Christ’s Light at every darkness that threatens our peace. So may it be with us all in 2007 as never before!

Christmas

Opening
Lighting of the candles to the playing of The Light of the World is Jesus.

Meditation
The Light of the World

Jesus was born to a Jewish family who was of the “house and lineage” of David, the great king of Israel. He was Jewish, the King of the Jews, and came to the Jews as he said on several occasions. But he also came for the rest of us as the scripture we will look at today shows. Sometimes the magnitude of including gentiles as equal partners in the worship of God gets lost after so many years of Christian worship. The following story reminds us of how revolutionary the message of Jesus really is.

Sandra Edster tells of how her eldest daughter began a family tradition when she brought a very unusual element to the family nativity scene. When she was little, Regena had a favorite small ceramic pig. Sandra had carefully set out her handmade nativity and was surprised to find Regena’s pig sitting beside the manger looking at the baby. She thought, “What, a pig in a Jewish stable? You wouldn’t have found any pigs there!” She was going to remove the little pig when a wonderful insight from God spoke to her – “Aren’t we gentiles the pigs in that Jewish stable? I’m THAT pig!”

The Gospel, the Good News, came to all people but it came first to the Jews. It was to His people that Jesus, the Light of the World first shown. Let us consider the meaning of that Light as we celebrate Christmas.

In the Biblical account the light came to the shepherds at night, in the dark. In the history of Israel, the Light came in the dark of occupation by the pagan, gentile Romans. In the lives of sin darkened men the Light of the World still comes!

The Gospel of John opens with a great theological statement about the coming of the Light. As you listen to the scripture consider what it means to know the Light, to show the Light, to be one with the Light!

Scripture
John 1:1-18 (New King James)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Hymn
Join us as we sing (some good choices):
Good Christian Men Rejoice
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
One Day

Prayer
Please pray that each of us will walk in the Light of Jesus to the Glory of the Heavenly Father not only at Christmas but every day of the year.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of the service when the person who lit them blows them out.

Blessings to you and yours this glad Christmas day from all of us at Ventures for Christ.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Opening
Lighting of the candles to the playing of a hymn such as We Three Kings.

Meditation
Gifts Reward The Giver As Well As The Recipient

At Christmas we spend a lot of time, money, and energy on buying presents to please our family and friends. As we do, we are imitating a trio of ancient gentile gift givers, the three Wise Men. They brought the baby Jesus rare and costly gifts.

We see the practical value of these gifts as Jesus’ family fled the evil plan of King Herod to kill the young child who was also King of the Jews. But what did the three Wise Men receive from giving rich gifts to the Christ Child? They had the opportunity to see the successful end of their quest, to serve the Savior, and to experience far more of God than they had expected when they left home. We can only imagine the satisfaction they felt as they began their homeward journey.

On this Christmas morning we are gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus. There are many gifts we can bring to him even more than 2000 years after his birth. The reward of the Wise Men is still available to all who seek to find the King of the Jews.

Scripture
Matthew 2:1-23(New King James)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Hymn
Join us in song: (some good choices listed below)
We Three Kings
Go Tell it on the Mountain
O Come, All Ye Faithful

Prayer
Ask someone to pray that we are thankful for the “Greatest Gift”.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of the service when the person who lit them blows them out.

Christmas, 1776

Our nation came into existence through struggle and sacrifice. Keeping it requires the same kind of mindset and commitment. I offer you a lesson from history.

Let’s look back to Christmas night, 1776. General George Washington crossed the Delaware River leading his meager force in a near suicidal mission to turn the war around.

His men were ill-fed and poorly equipped. Desertions and refusals to re-enlist had reduced the army from 6,000 to 2,400 men. The winter cold increased the suffering of the entire army. Setback had followed setback. Little did they dream that five years hence, they would be victorious! The situation looked hopeless. Washington wrote his brother, “The game is almost up.” It was at this juncture that Thomas Paine penned his stirring words that were to marshal one last effort … “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country, but he that stands now will deserve the love and thinks of every man and woman.”

Washington decided to move against the British Army at Trenton. They had to cross the Delaware River in the middle of a snowstorm to do so. By then the river was in full flood. Massive sheets of ice drifted down from upstream. Militarily speaking, the Delaware was impassable. One officer wrote, “It will be a terrible night for the troops, but I have heard no man complain.” The watchword of the operation was, “Victory or death!”

The trail to the bank of the river was tinged with blood from the feet of nearly naked men who wore broken shoes or no shoes. All night and into the morning the 40-foot Durham boats ferried men, horses and cannons. On and on they moved in the face of gale-driven sleet. By 4:00 am with the army across the river, there were still nine miles to march before dawn.

The powder was so dampened that most of the guns were useless. “Use your bayonets,” ordered Washington. “I am resolved to take Trenton.” The attack on the unsuspecting enemy lasted little more than half-an-hour. The results have lasted over two-hundred years. His victory was total. It was only Washington’s inner resolve to sacrifice as a patriot leader that inflamed a new inner resolve in his infant and despairing nation.

This is the kind of “resolve” Americans must possess if we are to make the coming year a stepping stone to higher and nobler realities. Our souls are being tried. No one must complain. We must see afresh our urgent priority of victory in honor, integrity and justice. It is again time to pay any price … even death by some … to keep it from slipping away.

“Challenging” days of fresh revolution are ahead of us. The “enemy” facing us now is not only our own sloth and moral bankruptcy but also a new and more obvious terrorism. Our cost of battle will be as awesome as that one long ago. We cannot falter between two opinions. Fair weather Americans and weak muscled Christians will be carried away in the flood.

General Joshua, the great leader of Israel, calls to us today as he did to another army … 3,300 years ago, “Choose this day who you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Tragically, too many who call themselves Christian and American won’t even struggle to find the noble, costly choices … much less choose them!

No generation in the history of civilization has had more freedom, more marvels, more abundance, more leisure than the current American generation. Pitifully, in possessing all this we have been without true gratitude to God or others. Most of us have been caught up in exhausting ourselves on ourselves. In all our “mores” perhaps we will not squander our unique opportunity for “more greatness.”

My prayer for me … and you … and all Americans, especially those of faith … is that enough of us, like Washington and his army, will resolve to find and cross our own Delawares, walk our own costly trails, and arrive at our own chosen Trentons. Only those of us who do so can hope to be called noble Americans.

The Bullet of Discipline: Training to Win

Let me hit you today with two of the greatest thoughts a Christian can have. First, noting touches our lives unless God allows it. Second, the Father promises that we are adequate to overcome anything He allows into our lives. If we view all of our problems and sufferings in this light, it will change our attitude and our life!

It’s part of God’s plan to allow us to know difficulty and pressure because He wants us all to become great human beings. Just like a coach puts his athletes through tough practices to make them great for the game. Or an army commander trains with intense discipline so the battle can be won. We should be joyful about God’s training (James 1:2-4).

Champions never wish their way to victory. They punish their bodies, discipline their minds, and overcome all obstacles that stand in their way. They train!

Like a good coach, God doesn’t want to break us, but He does want to push us to the maximum. In Job, Chapter One, we see that God suggested to Satan that he test Job. What a testing! But God did put limits on Satan and told him not to take Job’s life. It was tough on Job and he didn’t understand it, but God knew good would come of it, if Job remained faithful. God allowed what He knew Job could handle. He does the same with us.

We see in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that, “God doesn’t allow us to be tested beyond our strength.” Fantastic! God has planned my training schedule! Every battle, difficulty, agony, and trail that I encounter He has allowed. He has also promised that He won’t expect too much. The Master trains us to the maximum, but we will never break if we trust His purpose.

Hey, I like that. It means I can handle anything today or for a lifetime! The Father has been there before me. He allows and He provides! He controls all that come into my life and He loves me! Noting is ahead of a Christian that he can’t conquer! Let’s live with that expectancy!

Third Sunday of Advent
Opening
Lighting of the candles to the playing of Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Meditation
Simion: Those who faithfully wait for God

Waiting! It is the hidden discipline of the Christian Life. When we waits for God a new dimension enters our experience. Waiting on God has different objectives than the ordinary waiting we do. It is not like waiting for the traffic light to change, for a favorite relative to arrive, even for Christmas to come. Nor is it like the waiting that builds our characters as we grow stronger under the pressures of life. When we wait for God we come into His presence even as we wait. We come closer than we ever expected to the God who will fulfill His promises at the appointed time.

The fulfillment of God’s promises is one of the highpoints of the Christmas story. Jesus’ birth fulfilled so many promises – a baby born of a Virgin, in Bethlehem, of the House of David! To one man, especially, this child’s birth was significant – Simion – who God had promised would see the Lord’s Christ before he died.

Imagine Simeon’s excitement and joy as he saw the Promised Child. Listen to the story of waiting fulfilled…

Scripture
Luke 2:21-38 (New King James)
21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Hymn
Join us in song: (some good choices listed below)
O Worship the King
Emanuel
Joy to the World

Prayer
Pray that we remain faithful to Christ.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of church service when the person who lit them blows them out.

The Bullet of Greatness: Doing What God Asks

Those of us who know our God should not be intimidated by the world’s idea of bigness. The only thing really great and big on this earth is what God is up to, and any man or woman, known or unknown, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, can get in on it!

The really big people of this earth are those who fulfill the task that God gives them whether the work is big or small!

It was King David who said that a righteous man who has little is better than a wicked man with many riches (Psalm 37:16). Zacchaeus was little of stature, but his story of finding Christ has been told throughout the world for two thousand years (Luke 19:3). It was our blessed Lord Himself who told us, “Fear not little flock for it is your Father’s good will to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The little flock of God will some day become the great rulers of eternity! Those of us who are busy about little things should keep that thought uppermost in our minds!

The Bullet of Greatness: Size Doesn’t Matter

I recall hearing a definition of what it means to serve Christ. Its freshness and breadth spoke to me in a great way … “Serving Christ is like people doing little things the best they can to the glory of God.” One of the errors of our day is the thinking that to be great something must be big!

A close friend, Dr. Charles Ashcraft, put it so well when he said, “Small churches are just as important as big ones. The action is not always where the crowd assembles. All the great things do not happen in big surroundings. God is able to do His great work whether one or a million are present to appreciate it.

Bigness is not prerequisite to greatness. Not many people were present when Christ was born in a manger. No crowd supported Moses when he received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. No extra seats were required at the transfiguration of our Lord. It was definitely not a “standing room only” situation when Jesus came out of the grave."

If I may add to some of these choice words, I would point to our Lord’s teaching that “he who is faithful in little is faithful in much.” Luke 19:17; and in Zachariah 4:10 we read, “… who has despised the day of small thing.”

Second Sunday of Advent

Opening
Lighting of the candles to the playing of Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.

Meditation
Sheep are important in the Middle East today. They were even more so in Roman Judea. They provided food and fiber and wealth for those who raised them yet their most important function in the days of the temple was sacrifice. The pinnacle of their importance to Judaism was the Passover Lamb, rooted both in the history of the nation and the relationship of man to God. In short, sheep mattered!

Sheep are venerable to attack from predators. They aren’t very smart. They need someone to watch over them if they are to flourish. Sheep require a shepherd.

Caring for sheep was menial, though necessary work, often relegated to children or servants. By the time Jesus was born shepherds were marginalized in Jewish society because the lifestyle their work dictated kept them from following all the rules and regulations of religious life. They were simple men following a humble way of life. Yet, without them, there would not have been any Passover lambs.

It was to these simple farm workers that God’s angels came to announce the birth of the perfect Lamb of God – He who came as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Like the good shepherds they were they responded to the angelic message and hurried to Bethlehem to see the child. Let us prepare our hearts to do likewise!

Scripture

Luke 2:8-20 (New King James)
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Hymn
Join us in song: (some good choices listed below)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Silent Night
Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem

Prayer
Ask someone to pray that we respond to the call.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of the service when the person who lit them blows them out.

Play the Hand You Were Dealt!

I hope I won’t offend anyone by going back to my card playing days for an illustration of the Christian life! One of the greatest insights one will ever develop about life is to play the hand you’re dealt!

Maturity in its bottom line definition means accepting the reality of your situation and making the best of it. All of us react against the athlete who gets mad and quits playing his best, because the opposition intimidates him or the officials make a bad call. A mature athlete just keeps on playing as best he can.

Two lessons emerge then by joining the definition of maturity with the illustration of card playing. First, the hand you’re dealt is the place in life God has given you. Second, maturity makes the best of the hand dealt. Only the immature make thing worse by quitting.

A man would be ruled out of the game if every time he was dealt poor cards he would throw them on the floor and demand a new deal! The game would become meaningless if granted such an option. The contest would turn into pick and choose rather than risk and adventure!

The “hand” God gave me was to be born in America as a white boy in the 1930’s. No sense getting upset or refusing to live because I wasn’t born as an oriental in the Hawaiian Islands in the 1890’s. You can’t change places, parents, wealth, skin or dates! Maturity means accepting the “givens’ or our life and making the best of it.

If you are unhappy in marriage, frustrated in your job, suffering in loneliness or defeated by a poor self image, you don’t have to remain a loser. You can decide to commit yourself to maturity and play your “hand” to the best of your ability.

He who keeps playing will learn to play better and will eventually get some new cards! It’s always been that way and always will be! Only shortsighted, selfish and “sorries” quit!

It’s been years since my porker playing days, but I’ll never forget the rules. He who keeps making the best of what he’s dealt will improve his play and learn to make the most of new situations! You can even enjoy the process.

In Philippians 4:11 the Apostle Paul says, “I have learned to be self-sufficient in every situation.” Thanks brother Paul, for giving us an example of “playing life with maturity!”

The Bullet of Growth: “As a Man Thinks”

The Scriptures teach that “as a man thinks so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). We can only think about what we know. The ultimate in living is not knowing facts but knowing the God who made us and created us for His great and joyous purposes!

The reason our time and activates hold no lasting joy and fulfillment, is because they are built around inadequate spiritual knowledge. We think inadequate time is our problem, but it’s not. Even with thirty hours a day we’d work ourselves into the same frantic schedule. Virginia Brasier has captured many lives quite well with the following words:

“This is the age of the half-read page;
And the quick hash, and the mad dash.
The bright night, with the nerves tight.
The plane hop, and the brief stop.
The lamp tan, in a short span.
The Big Shot, in a good spot.
The brain strain, and the heart pain, and the cat naps,
Till the spring snaps – and the fun’s done!”

First Week of Advent

I want to share the Advent service we are doing at my church. This special season allows us the opportunity to reflect on true meaning through the traditions of Christmas. I encourage you to use these Advent postings with your family during this time of waiting to celebrate the most important birth in history. Wishing you joy this season, R.A. Stites

Opening
Lighting of the first candle to the playing of O Come, O Come Emanuel.

Meditation
The Preparation of Advent

During December leading up to Christmas, we will light the Advent candles as part of our Sunday morning worship. We observe the season of the advent of Jesus Christ for many reasons. Here are four which show how advent involves the whole person:

• It allows us to prepare our hearts for Christmas. In the midst of the hurry and excitement of the season, we center our hearts on why we come together in worship.



• It encourages us to think about the meaning of Christmas, thus involving our minds. Making advent a part of our worship reminds us of the reality of the events of Christmas.



• It allows us to use our bodies in praise as we lift our voices in song. The simple act of lighting the advent candles, sharing the message of advent, and singing the songs of Christmas gives physical expression to our praise.



• It joins our spirits with Christians past, present, and future as we celebrate the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We honor the past when we worship together. We look forward with anticipation not only to Christmas but to all our Lord has promised those who believe when we worship together. We join believers all around the world as we look forward to Christmas.

The celebration of Advent prepares us for joy, centers us with truth, joins us together in worship, and reminds us that the power and majesty of Heaven came to earth in the person of Jesus.

The story of the advent begins with a miracle. Listen to the words of the Gospel:

Scripture
Luke 1:26-38 (New King James)
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Matthew 1:18 - 2:1 (New King James)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Hymn
Join us in song:
Joy to the World

Prayer
Ask someone to pray to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of service when the person who lit them blows them out.

The Bullet of Growth: What We Know is Key

If you accept the brief philosophy of growth … knowledge, faith-acting and time … from our last post then the next obvious step is its spiritual application. All of us have the same amount of time … twenty four hours a day … so we are all equal in that sense. All of us faith-act continuously … whether it means committing ourselves to making money, writing a scientific dissertation, or watch the boob tube. We have equal opportunity in category two. We all have opportunity to act on something.

Now the clincher … the category that divides men is the kind of knowledge they put into their minds. It’s not time or action, but the kind of knowledge you put into your time and action. The passing of time is no guarantee of happiness. Neither are activities … no matter how varied or numerous. The key to great living is great knowledge! The key to great Godly living, is great Godly knowledge!

Cheap knowledge, plus faith-action, plus time, equals a cheap life. Baby knowledge, plus faith-action, plus time, equals a baby life. Mediocre, false, self-centered, materialistic knowledge, plus faith-action, plus time, equals a life of mediocrity, falsehood, self-centeredness and gimmicks!

The Bullet of Growth: Three Principles

There are three principles of growth that are inescapable! If you are to make progress in any area of endeavor you must first, gain knowledge; second, faith-act on that knowledge; and third, patiently allow time to work.

For instance, when I learned to fly for the Air Force, I first had to know something about the principles of flight and the airplane. Second, I faith-acted on this knowledge by pushing the throttle, pulling the stick, kicking the rudder, coordinating the instruments … these initial efforts at “acting” on my “knowledge” were very uncoordinated, rather sloppy and amateurish, and brought on the wrath of my cussing instructor whose expletives I will delete. Only the third principle, time, allowed my to practice (act on) my knowledge until I mastered the challenges of flying and received my wings as a pilot. It was a great moment!

All of life’s pursuits demand the same threefold process … knowledge, faith-acting and time. A doctor, student, pianist, salesman, repairman, coach, bookkeeper, typist, etc., and any other job, form the simplest to the most complex … demands knowledge (content), faith-acts (application), and time (experience)!

Thanksgiving In America

It seems the first Thanksgiving celebration in what was to become the United States was a prayer service in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. The most storied of early Thanksgivings was that of Plymouth plantation after its first successful harvest in 1621. A participant, Edward Winslow, left us the following account:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, so that we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming among us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed fiver deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others.”

There were many days of Thanksgiving declared in the early history of the colonies and the nation they became but it was not until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed an annual, nationwide Thanksgiving Day. The date for this remembrance was finally fixed as the 4^th Thursday in November by Congress in 1941.

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

From all the Ventures for Christ staff; may you joyful celebrate all the Lord has done for you this past year.

The Price of a Stamp

RA Stites, Ventures staff

The Smithsonian Institution

Election 2006: Stamp found on vote packet may be worth a fortune

The Inverted Jenny is among the most rare -- and valuable -- U.S. postal stamps. And now one may have been found in Broward County -- among piles of absentee ballots from this week's election.

No one knows where the ballot came from. The person who cast the vote was not identified on the envelope containing the ballot, so the vote didn't count.

Now the stamp -- which may be worth at least $200,000 -- is locked up with the rest of the ballots, because by law it must be held for a designated amount of time.

From the Miami Herald, 11-10-06, by Diana Moskovitz and Jennifer Lebovich

Apparently someone made up the needed postage for an absentee ballot out of a stamp collection. For 24 cents of the amount he or she seems to have attached one of America’s rarest stamps. Although the authentication of the stamp must wait on the law, there is a lesson we can learn from this episode – the face value of a thing is not necessarily its true worth!

Suffering is a perfect example of this truth. We usually rate our suffering low in value preferring not to engage in any more pain than absolutely necessary. In reality it is of tremendous value as we enter into oneness with our Lord’s suffering through our own. Furthermore, suffering has a way of drawing us deeper and deeper into fellowship with the Father as we seek His face in the depths of our pain and despair.

The next time trials and tribulations come your way, remember the lesson of the Inverted Jenny!

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; Philippians 3:8-10

The Drive to Attain Something Higher

I find inspiration from reading about the men who formed our nation. Consider the following quoted from Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington by Richard Brookhiser.

State militiamen, who signed up for short terms during the excitement of 1775, were not enough. “When men are irritated and the Passions inflamed,” he (Washington) write the President of Congress from Harlem, “they fly hastily and cheerfully to Arms; but, after the first emotions are over, to expect, among such People, as compose the bulk of an Army, that they are influenced by any other principles than those of Interest, is to look for what never did, and I fear never will happen.”

Washington’s plea to Congress reminds me that self interest will never drive a man to his highest attainment. Most people are coasting … they have never suffered or struggled to create anything bigger than themselves! Yet those who stood with Washington and put the emerging nation above themselves achieved the impossible – they defeated the British army and set America free from foreign control.

The Bullet of Focus: A Four-fold Formula

How does a Christian deal with conflict and controversy? I offer a four-fold formula of life to combat the pressures of daily living – take your reading, take your stand, share your truth and wait on God.

First, just as a quarterback reads the defense before he calls a play all of us must do the best we can to understand what’s really going on in this beleaguered world of war, conflict, death and error. Awareness increases with experience, but based on what I know (read) today, I make my evaluation.

Second, evaluation leads to daily decisions. I know my plans and responses are not perfect, but I’ll do my best with the light I have. “This is where I stand on this issue today” should be my attitude.

Third, I’ll share the truth I’ve discovered with anyone who cares to listen and as the Lord gives me opportunity.

Fourth, I’ll wait on God to vindicate me or correct me as He teaches me how to “read life” better.

Joseph of Egypt followed this pattern and is the man most like Jesus in the Old Testament. When he could have condemned his brothers, he refused to do so and declared, “Am I in the place of God? You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good! (Genesis 50:19-20)”

Conflict and controversy on this fallen and error-gripped planet are inevitable. The situation will drive us to despair or drive us to God. I’ve made my choice and developed my plan. How about you?

The Bullet of Focus: In the Midst of the Mess

Frankly, I have great difficulty really understanding the motives and needs of other because I am increasingly aware that there is much I don’t understand about my own motives and needs. As I grow older, advance more deeply in the study of Scripture and gain experience in counseling scores of people, it is my conclusion that the balanced, integrated, truth oriented life is not an easy thing to grasp. We not only deceive others, but we deceive ourselves!

So what do we do? We begin with humility. My basic concern in life is to find my own place with God through Jesus Christ and to make my primary goal that of pursuing His Lordship over my life. It’s a long process! Even when we discover purpose and peace in the claims of Christ, it doesn’t stop the confusion in the world all around us.

Hence, I have adopted a four-fold formula of life as I combat the pressures of daily living. One, take your reading. Two, take your stand. Three, share your truth. Four, wait on God.

(Read more on this four-fold formula in our next post!)

The Bullet of Discipline: The Price of Our Words

I can still remember a bit of poetry I was required to memorize in my high school days!

“Words are like leaves, and where,
They most abound,
Much fruit of sense beneath is
Rarely ever found.”

Proverbs 10:19 sums it up … “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” In other words, all of us talk too much!

Reducing your number of words won’t necessarily spare you embarrassment. Even “men of few words” can say “too much” if they say the wrong thing. Proverbs 10:11 tells us that, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals trouble.”

The Bullet of Discipline: Words, So Many Words

Words, words, words, words! Millions of then are heard and spoken each day. Most of them, routine words of necessity. Some are essential words of education or business transactions. Many are useless words of complaint, error, criticism or hatred.

As I look back over my life … and as I have listened to other sensitive people, I have come to the conclusion that one of our bitterest mistakes in living is “poor tongue control.”

It’s not really the words we speak but what they reveal that accuses us. The Scripture is right when it proclaims, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45) James 3:2 tells us that the person who can control his tongue is a perfect man! I’ve never seen one of those “critters!” Have you?

Worth Quoting: Christ in You

From In His Face by Bob Sorge

“Here’s the gospel message: God kills off your “old man,” and then starts all over by birthing you anew with incorruptible seed (1Peter 1:23). Now you have a whole new basis for looking at yourself. Now you’re a child of God!”

What a great truth! Grasp that and you are on the way to living the “Christ Life”!

Miracles Still Happen: One Happened to Me

Guest Blogger, Larry Floyd

All of our Lord’s MIRACLES began with a PROBLEM! We see a man who could not walk, one who could not see, a crowd that needed to be fed, a little girl who was sick, a dead man, and many others. All miracles began with a PROBLEM, something was wrong that only Jesus could change. And Jesus performed a miracle in each of these situations. Only Jesus could!

That all miracles begin with a problem is still true. Are you to the point that you have realized that SELF effort cannot give you a miracle? Your SELF cannot deliver you. You say, “O.K. God, I acknowledge that SELF cannot deliver me – cannot take this problem away – You do it for me.” Guess what the next step is? Not deliverance but PRESSURE!

“You mean I might NOT get delivered immediately like some of the other miracles in the past? That is exactly what may occur and it is for your own good if it does. Once this pressure comes, you begin to say, “Why me?” The answer is because your SELF cannot deliver you – only God can deliver you! (Psalm 37:39-40) He uses pressure to “squeeze you” … and you need to be squeezed if you are going to learn to trust Him!. Are you getting the picture yet?

How do you react to God’s pressure? Do you moan and groan? How about blaming God for your circumstances? How about ignoring God? “Why doesn’t God care about me anymore?” you may ask. These questions are dead ends unless they lead you to the next step that creates the miracle? There is a NEXT STEP? Yes, PRAYER!!

You must get on your knees and call upon the Lord – the only Deliverer you have. The only true Miracle Worker wants to show you His will. He will do so through the words of His Scripture. (John 5:22) “Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7; see also Joshua 1:8 and Philippians 4:6-7) You must “eat them”, “meditate on them”, “desire them”, etc. Do you spend more hours in prayer and the Word or at the ball game or in front of the television set? Is it any wonder you don’t see miracles happen very often?

God does answer prayer – Miracles can and do happen and then comes PRAISE! Can praise come in the midst of pressure? The answer is YES, YES, YES! (Isaiah 41:10) When it does you are living the wonderful ABUNDANT LIFE that God wants you to live. (Galatians 2:20)

Crucified with Christ …., Die to self, Alive in Christ, Trust and Obey, Gave His own Son for you … Crown of thorns – Cross!

Why should you escape thorns and the Cross? Don’t be afraid – trust!

One day while sitting in an office, my vision immediately and totally went BLACK! Most people will never experience this shock to their lives, but, may I tell you, it is a very “scary” experience. Your first thought is – “This can’t be happening to me! It must be a mistake! It will pass in a moment and I’ll be fine.” It didn’t pass – my first step in a miracle occurred, the PROBLEM – “I can’t see!”

The fearful diagnosis of my problem was detached retinas. The ophthalmologist scheduled me for “belt and buckle” surgery. I’ll spare you the details but what mainly occurs is the surgeon puts a thread-like silicon belt around your eyeball and “squeezes” (PRESSURE) in order to reattach your retina. Right about now is when YOUR PRAYER LIST gets short and YOU are at the top of the list. Fear tries to set in but, “Do not fear but Trust.” (Isaiah 12:2)

I believe in the Great Physician! He also uses some physicians here on earth to aid Him when needed. This was one of these times.

Did I PRAISE Him during this ordeal? NO! Sad to say I discovered the principle of praise only after the experience. I certainly praise Him now for every day of sight.

Having experienced this miracle, I ask:

• Why does it take us so long to experience the abundant life? (Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:19)
• Could it be that we are too blinded by self and selfish interests?
• Do you want a miracle to happen to you?
• Do you want to be a miracle to others?

If so, remember the four P’s of abundant, miraculous living: PROBLEM, PRESSURE, PRAYER and PRAISE! How thankful I am that I have learned the power of these four Biblical truths, especially the power of PRAISE!

Larry Floyd is a 26 year resident of Fayetteville, AR, and is employed as a State Farm Insurance Agent. He, his wife Tanya and their three children grew up under the teaching of Pastor H.D. McCarty at University Baptist Church. Larry has an undergraduate degree from Ouachita Baptist University and a Masters degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a deacon, elder, Jr. High Sunday school director and interim minister of education while at UBC. He now has 20/20 vision and does not have to wear reading glasses. A miracle indeed!

The Bullet of Mission: Spiritual Warriors

While this Bullet is addressed to men, it applies to all Believers – men, women, young, old, of every race and nation.

Part 2

We have an enemy who will not bargain, negotiate, or compromise his ultimate purpose to deceive and destroy us. Our only recourse is spiritual combat! There can be no secret peace treaties! No special deals! Appeasement will only magnify disaster. Every man, especially the Biblical man, is a target for destruction.

Commander Satan will orchestrate continual, major crises in a man’s life to blind his priorities. His demons will strike with hundreds of emotional “fiery darts” in order to sap the believer’s strength! We must choose to be Christ’s warrior or Satan’s slave! All other doors on this earth are closed!

The combat Christian must also consider it an honor to sacrifice his life for his Master. Our “divine wind” is the Holy Spirit given in power to the obedient disciple.

The biblical man views his entire life as one of combat. There are times of peace; there are furloughs; but he always returns to his post. He must consider death to his own desires (mental, emotional, or physical) to be irrelevant to his commitment to the mission!

Mission: Endure everything for the sake of God’s elect (2 Timothy 2:9-10)

Mission: Love your wife as Christ love the church. (Ephesians 5:25)

Mission: Bring every thought into obedience for Christ. (2Corinthians 10:5)

Mission: Build Christ’s church against the forces of evil. (Matthew 16:18)

Mission: Provoke not your children to wrath. (Ephesians 6:4)

Mission: Endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3)

Mission: Rejoice always. (Philippians 4:4)

Mission: Give absolute obedience to prove you love Him. (John 14:21)

Mission: You fill in the rest ___ there are many other combat mission to give evidence you are a Biblical man.

The “Grand Canyons” or our personal spiritual journeys can only be conquered by the man who is willing to die for his chief! We must have eagle hearts. “Christ died for us, and we are bound to die for our brothers.” (I John 3:16)

The Bullet of Mission: Spiritual Warriors

While this Bullet is addressed to men, it applies to all Believers – men, women, young, old, of every race and nation.

Part 1

It shall forever amaze me that we men are so naïve (if not dense) about the dangers of living on planted earth! No doubt our eyes are blinded by the evil one. (II Corinthians 4:4) Our lives are continually at risk. There is a “force” seeking to diminish and decimate us. I’m not speaking of physical warfare, but of “spiritual combat”.

In my younger days I ignorantly assumed that suffering, sadness, and grief were unfortunate but avoidable! I marveled that the adults I knew were so foolish in managing their lives. As I grew older, I began to believe conflict and stress were inevitable but controllable. At least I was certain I would control mine! Yet in my older years, I see the truth for what it is. Pain and agony are inescapable but bearable.

Though many feel they are “bearing up” under life’s traumas, the majority simply hide behind defense mechanisms of which they themselves are unaware! Illusions and masks are tragically inadequate in a real war! The Biblical man has only one course of action open to him. He must take evil seriously and vow to engage in spiritual combat.

Dr. Larry Crabb, Christian psychologist and author, has observed that “Life is profoundly sad!” I concur. The Creator did not make it that way in the beginning. It was Adam and Eve’s listening and heeding the counsel of the “snake” that caused them and all mankind to embark upon that insane experiment of trying to be a man and a woman without God! The Fall was more hideous and terror-filled than our dull fleshly minds can imagine! Every agony, every hurt, every despair, every fear, every loneliness, every injustice in your life is ultimately a consequence of letting “the snake” tell you what to do!

Foolish men are still listening to his (Satan) lies! The objective of spiritual combat is to defeat “the father of lies.” (John 8:44) The beloved Apostle summarized the mission of the Master in I John 3:8 … “The Son of God appeared for the very purpose of destroying (breaking up, undoing) the works of the devil.” We share that mission?

Look for Part 2 of the Bullet on Thursday.

The Bullet of Vision: Desire

Guest Blogger, R.A. Stites, Ventures staff

Both Dr. McCarty and I enjoy feeding the birds in our back yards. As with many other enthusiasts, we engage in an unending war with squirrels. Dr. McCarty likes to take the battle to the little pests but that is not always possible even though they are persistent in raiding his feeders, when his back is turned and sometimes to his face. One day this last summer I was telling him about a wonderful, new weapon in the war on squirrels, the Yankee Flipper squirrel proof feeder produced by the Drool Yankee Company. The Wild Bird Center in Fayetteville runs a video showing the remarkable flipping power of this innovative product. It is great fun to watch the furry little rodents fly through the air, becoming non-traditional flying squirrels. While I usually co-exist with these wily raiders, I could feel desire building to have one of these powerful weapons in MY back yard!

It is fine to fight the battle of the feeder in your back yard but there are more important battles in life. It is wise to be on the alert for new weapons or new uses of old weapons in the spiritual warfare we engage in daily. Have you desired some new advancement to your spiritual arsenal? I hope so. Desiring new insights, new understandings, new approaches to living the Christ Life will help you draw ever closer to the Savior. Those things we desire define our lives in significant ways. The Apostle Paul talks about being caught between two desires, to live for the people he loves and desires to see saved and to “depart and be with Christ.” (Phi. 1:23, 24) Have we caught the same great vision? Do we feel the demands of our calling and or love of Christ so strongly that we are torn between the two? If we began to understand what the Apostle was speaking of, we have begun to understand the power of the Christ Life – longing so much to be with Christ, like Christ that He alone is sufficient to keep us obedient to the mission He has assigned us!

Take a moment to do a Desire Inventory. Long ago, the Psalmist instructed us on the secret of obtaining our heart’s desires. It was to “Delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). If you focus on delighting in Christ, you will find the desires of your heart are, like the Apostle Paul’s, conformed to seeking Him and His kingdom. The desires of a heart delighted in God will provide powerful weapons for the Christ Life. If you desire purity, you will find it. If you desire wisdom, it will be given you. If you desire boldness, it will be granted. It would seem a long way from wanting a squirrel proof bird feeder to living the Christ Life but it is not so far after all – desire the weapons of the Spirit and you will seek them and be delighted with them just as the back yard birder is delighted with a bird feeder that creates disgruntled squirrels!

How Adequate is Your God?

It would be amusing if it were not so pathetic – the ideas that people get about God.

• Some view God as a celestial Batman eager to swoop down from heaven and clobber “bad guys.”
• Others view Him as a stuffy “Judge of the Universe” waiting to sternly evaluate all who stand before Him. He sits with arms folded, daring anyone to ask Him for anything.
• Still others identify God with religion. As religion is usually a “last resort” enterprise, God is viewed as running an “atmospheric flop house” for the dropouts of life.
• Another view is the Puritan, holier-than-thou, naughty no-no God. He’s having a dull time in heaven, and it “bugs” Him when folks have fun (sin) on earth!
• One must include the “Know it all” view. I know what’s best, and I’ll do it my way, regardless!
• Another false view of God sees Him as the proprietor of hell. He’s invested a lot of money in this piece of real estate and will be terribly disappointed if a lot of folks don’t end up going there!
• A final view, although there are many others, is the frantic view. God is nervously pacing the floors of heaven, wringing His hands in despair over the world condition. This is seeing God as a victim of situations too big to handle.

Like it or not, all of us will act out our view of God, or perfection, or greatness, or our ideal. First, we play God by assuming we can live independently of others … and even of God Himself. Second, we play God in the causal way we judge, berate, condemn and reject our fellow man. Although we deny it verbally, we act toward others as though we possess more perfect knowledge about their situations. Thirdly, we play God when we put ourselves at the center of our universe. We view ourselves as the whole and not simply a part of reality. Lastly, and most serious, we play God when we exalt ourselves in ignoring and/or rejecting the truth and authority of the true God.

Where does one get clued in on what God is really like? How does man find his place in this vast scheme of things and “plug in”? The answer for the Christ Believer is in Jesus, the only perfect Man who ever lived. His life defies imitation. It can be explained only in terms of a Lord from heaven! He blows men’s ideas of God to pieces! He is not vengeful, stuffy, dull, uncompassionate or worried. The God Jesus revealed is forgiving, free, exciting, loving and has everything under control. People experience hell in their lives because they are attempting to follow the god of their own making who is false and inadequate. Man’s insane experiment to try and be man without the God who created him is as foolish as trying to live a day without breathing.

Man’s pride continually projects him into the role of God – a part he can never play. He doesn’t possess the power or the script. Only God can be God. Come, let us be man … but God’s kind of man. This is the only realistic, healthy and positve choice open to all of us!

²⁶ You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

As Little Children

He (God) does not want me out on my own, trying to earn merit stars for him. He wants us, rather, to lean into him, walking with him as closely as possible. He is not so much interested in our doing as in our receiving from him. Jim Cymbala, Fresh Faith

This quote reminds me of the way I relate to my grandchildren. My first thought with them is not what they will do for me but how I can do for them and enjoy them where they are! How much more does the Father yearn for His children to come to Him in simple faith.

The Bullet of Faith: Knowing God Will

One of my dearest friends in India is Bobby Gupta! I’ve know him and his family for almost forty years. Following is a thrilling reminder of prayer on the offensive!!

Rural India: Yadala Brahmayya was a practitioner of witchcraft and divination. He had his targets firmly in view, those Christians! An Indian village suffered from the witchcraft of Yadala. Death, sickness and loss fell upon it as the believers were attacked by their implacable enemy. Days passed and the church prayed regularly for Yadala. Still he sought to bring harm on the village.

The Lord prompted the Believers to pray all night for this man who hated them. The church met at 9:00 that evening. Time passed. In the small hours of the morning, a wild eyed and repentant Yadala burst into the church and fell face down and weeping. Confessions of his sins pored out of the witch. At first the church was stunned then rejoiced as they saw the resurrection power of the Lord work on their sworn enemy.

Having accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, Yadala and a few of his new brothers returned to his house and threw away the idols and other trappings of sorcery. He was baptized “and his life is being transformed.” Yadala’s changed life and witness is touching his village with hope where he once brought a message of despair.

This story comes from an e-mail sent by Dr. Bobby Gupta, HBI Global Partners, relating it from a church planter he works with in the Indian countryside. We rational Americans may wonder at the reality of the witchcraft but our faith is strengthened when we realize that the Lord Jesus works in every culture, with every belief system and in the hearts of men half a world away to bring redemption.

Dr. Gupta tells the story to illustrate a statement he quotes, “Faith is not believing that God can, but it is knowing He will.” A church of Believers had faith to pray for an enemy and witnessed the miracle of redemption. What have you believed God about lately? Have you put your faith to work in prayer and service?

“Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:18

Biking for Jesus at Bikes, Blues and BBQ

Guest Blogger, R.A. Stites, Ventures staff

The Bikes, Blues and BBQ festival is one of the big events each fall in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In its sixth year, it is expected to bring an astonishing 300,000 people to the city to enjoy the motorcycle rally, great music, and savory food. In an interview on KFSM, TV Channel 5 news cast, Leo Palmer of the Sons of Soteria Motorcycle Ministry said, “There is a new statistic out that there are more Christian biker organizations than other biker organizations. They're springing up everywhere and giving positive impact in the world."

One such is CMA, the Christian Motorcyclists Association. With three booths to serve festival goers, CMA fulfills its mission to ministry in the name of the Son of God. I spent a few minutes talking to James Gore, a member of the local Lifeline Riders Chapter, at his booth on Dickson Street offering free water, coffee and the Gospel. One of the most interesting things he said was that members had to earn their “colors”, the insignia on the back of his jacket, through training in ministry.

The commitment and challenge represented by CMA’s requirements for wearing its colors has to be one of the appeals that attract people to biking. Another is freedom. From Channel 5’s interviews with participants, one of the chief attractions and benefits of a bike is the freedom of the road. Freedom is also one of the hallmarks of the Christian life. Jesus sets Believers free from sin. (John 8:34-36) That is a freedom that lasts long after the “hog’ is in the junk yard and the rider has passed from this life into the next. It is exciting to think that CMA and the other ministries at this year’s festival will be presenting the message of true freedom to these lovers of the open road this weekend.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. …” Galatians 5:1

The Bullet of the Word: A Meditation on Psalm 18:34

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Psalm 18:34

I have always loved the phrase “He trains my hands for battle,” because that is what the true Christian life is about … spiritual combat! But for the first time the Lord arrested me with the promise that He will teach us to “bend a bow of bronze!” Most bows were made from wood and could produce tremendous tension that would throw the arrow forward with great force.

A bow of bronze can only mean the ultimate in power … if it can be pulled! The Lord whispered to me through this verse that He has given me a task to do in life that is equal in difficulty (or challenge) to a bow of bronze! I can only pull it off if I allow Him to put the force in me! The thought really lifted my spirits! All my battles and pressures have just been to teach, strengthen and enable me to “bend a bow of bronze!” Thank God that the Savior has chosen us to be warriors of power for the cause of the joyful Gospel!

The Battle: Men on the Front Lines, Continued

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4

A third essential step to enter significant combat is to radically embrace a battle plan, both personal and corporate, from which you will not shrink. Only then will you share the Master’s combat confidence. Most men seem to have no tactical or strategic spiritual battle plan. Some live in the hope that the war will pass them by. Others simply pretend to have been in combat. A man must become a serious student of the combat living of Jesus Christ for it is fascinating to see His responses to the hostilities of men. (Hebrews 12:3)

The Master’s combat confidence is demonstrated in the statement, “He despised the shame.” (Hebrews 12:2) He had contempt for the injustices of life in a sinful world. He viewed criticism, hardship, persecution, loneliness, rejection and suffering as mere trifles if they stood in the way of His allegiance to the Father. As He was confident in combat, we too can display that confidence and valor in the spiritual battle. Whatever price we have to pay to be obedient to Jesus Christ and bring glory to the Father is worth it!

The bloodiest and most costly battle in the history of the United States Marine Corps was on the island of Iwo Jima in World War II. For days, beginning on February 19, 1945, over 30,000 marines sought to defeat the well dug-in Japanese numbering in excess of 21,000. Only 1,083 Japanese soldiers survived the onslaught. Over 20,000 died in undiminished ferocity.

Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayshi, the Japanese commander, gave his life in a last fanatical stand. This statement from a letter to his son reveals the reason for his combat confidence: “Will power is the essence of manhood.”

But what of the victors? At battle’s end over 6,800 marines had died in combat and over 19,000 lay wounded. Admiral Chester Ninitz said of the marines who fought at Iwo Jima, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.” In fact, of the eight marines who received the Medal of Honor in all of World War II, twenty-two of those came from the combat on Iwo Jima.

Men become great when they give themselves heroically to a task … a battle, bigger than they are. Their goal isn’t to be know as heroes, but only to do the heroic thing.

Combat confidence comes only to the man who is willing to sacrifice his all for the battle plan of Christ, his Commander. Our nation, our churches and our families desperately need men who have been captured by their King’s heroic vision!

The Battle: Men on the Front Lines

In war battles have to be fought! There is no option if victory is prized and envisioned. To refuse the “price of battle” is to surrender your destiny to the will of an enemy. The consequences are tragic!

Too many men in the church (including some pastors, sad to say) are like the dim witted boxer who still can’t comprehend at the end of the fourth round why that other guy keeps hitting him. These men aren’t even aware they’re in a battle.

When a man becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, he steps into the ring against demonic opposition. A faithful man’s only real choice is to fight. The other options are repugnant to a champion disciple – to be disqualified, to cover up and stall, or to be knocked out!

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13

The first step to enter significant combat is to put yourself under a leader who intends to lead his command into battle. John Paul Jones, Revolutionary Navy hero, put it best. “He who sails with me had best sail fast, as I intend to put myself in harm’s way.” God has either called you to be a pastor or to follow a pastor. You have no other choice if you are to be faithful to Christ. You do have the choice of picking a pastor who “means business” about the Gospel.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… Ephesians 5:25

The second step, if you are married, is to determine that you will be what you ought to be to your wife. It’s never what your wife is to you, but what you are to her that is the mark of Godly manhood.

The greatest battle in marriage is to choose to change into the character of Jesus no matter what your mate does. If the man will pay the price to turn loose the Spirit of Christ through his life on any person or situation, then God’s Word guarantees that eventually positive change will come, one way or another!

The death of a relationship is in the arrogant refusal to change unless the other person changes first. A real man is always the first to change, to make a “Christ adjustment” regardless of what others do. “We love Him because He first loved us!” (1 John 4:19)

(The third and final step for men in The Battle will continue in our next post.)

The Bullet of Direction: A Magnificent Obsession

One of the first things I learned after accepting the Lord Jesus as my Savior was that I should have a personal vision for Christ and for His purposes on the earth. The man who led me to the Lord was associated with a group of Christians called Navigators. Their motto was “to know Christ and to make Him known.” I’ve fought to make these words the ambition and aspiration of my life.

I’ve learned that a Christian can either labor in the energy of the flesh or in the anointing of the Spirit. Only God will reveal to us our true motives when we stand before Him. I have no doubt that I love the Savior more now than ever. I want to be totally His man with His message - in any place, time, and way that will please Him. I see the delusions, shams, and trivialities of this fallen world so very clearly, and I know man’s only hope is in a personal, radical pursuit of knowing God’s Word and giving “sprit obedience” to its truth. I gladly confess my own inadequacies, failures, and weaknesses because they bring me to see my desperate need of Christ in all things.

The doctrine of weakness before God (2 Corinthians 12) has been one of my focuses. It’s only when we discover how weak we really are that we are motivated – even propelled – to seek our only source of strength, release and peace: Jesus. The goal is to know experientially, what it means to be “in Christ.” If our hope as Christians is to have the greatest impact for the Messiah, then each of us must be caught up in this magnificent obsession.