Health Care and other Crap

Health care, bingo, gambling, Sunday alcohol sales, blah, blah, blah. I have heard so much hate over the past several months. It seems people cannot disagree about issues without being mean spirited toward other people and I find myself doing the same thing. It makes me sick. Do we not realize that we are spewing venom (to use my son’s word) about somebody’s mom or dad, daughter or son, sister or brother. Regardless of what someone may think they may even have a friend or two. Behind every issue are people – real people. People that God saw fit to create. People that Christ died for. They are people that do care and need to be cared for. They are people that do love and need to be loved. Right now I don’t care what you think about health care, Obama care, bingo, slots, alcohol, Foxnews, msnbc, CNN, etc. Make my day and let’s show a little kindness, love, forgiveness, and as much as depends on you live at peace with others. Can we disagree and still treat each other like people?

My Take On Yesterday

It is always a great opportunity to see someone come to Christ through salvation. So, to be able to see Jonathon saved just 10 minutes before our worship time was a special blessing.

It was great to then be able to baptize three more as the service started. This year has been a great blessing seeing so many come to Christ and make it public through baptism.

I pray the message was challenging and moves us to realize and live out the live of liners. We are to move the gospel, love, resources and truth. This week let's make sure we do not just go in circles. Fight the tendency of a cruise ship mentality. It is not about what the church can provide for us as much as what we can provide as a church.

Last night was a powerful time of praise. It was so easy to preach after being able to freely go into the presence of God through praise and worship. It was a time that God was really moving in some lives. Oh to have a love so strong for our faith family that it causes us to long for each other.

This week just obey Him. In one of my devotions today it said:

If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will.

That is good!!!

Invisible

How much in your world has become invisible? What color is the house that is three doors down from you? Who did you walk by yesterday and did not see? Who in your world is invisible? We live such fast paced lives that we do not see the world around us. There will be people at work who will show us through our facial expressions that they are hurting. There will be people who wait on us that really need someone to pray for them. A poor person will need just a little for food. A thought for you today - Look around and see who you have not seen. Many who Jesus ministered to were people who had become invisible to society. Who are your invisibles?

Where are we going?

Where in the world are we going? Have you ever go into a car with someone and they had no clue where they were going? I’m sure most of us have at some point and we find ourselves riding around with no destination and we get there. We end up nowhere. I challenge you this week to tell your spouse, kids, girlfriend or boyfriend to get in the car and see how quick it takes someone to ask, “Where are we going?”. We always want to know our destination. The same is true of our church. We want to know where are we going (or at least we should want to know). If I am going to buy into a church, I want to know where we are going. What is the vision? What is the direction? Will we know when we get there? Well, let me give you some answers. At Harvest Church we know where we are going. We are going to Create and Enable Faithful Followers of Christ. That is not so much a place as it is a process for our faith family and those whom we influence. We have the most remarkable gift to give that has ever graced the face of the earth – Jesus Christ. We have the map to get there. We just have to be willing to share it. Here is our challenge. We have to develop relationships with people who are not currently in a relationship with Christ. If all of our associations are with those who are already Christian we must broaden our horizons. So, here we go, get in and join us. Where are we going? We are going to Create and Enable Faithful Followers of Christ.

Begin with the End in Mind

1 Tim 4:10, “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially to those who believe.”

This Sunday we begin looking at why Lord of the Harvest Baptist Church/Harvest Church believes our purpose is “Creating and Enabling faithful followers of Christ”. That is our purpose. We as individuals, families and as a faith family are to be doing everything we can to help everyone we come into contact with become “faithful followers of Christ”. If we are going to do that we have to put that first. We have to begin with the end in mind. We have to see the importance of radiating the glory of Christ so that Christ will be revealed to everyone. If we forget the end desire, we will forget why we do what we do. We will grow faint. We will get confused and disoriented. I ask you to take time to memorize 1 Tim 4:10. Remember why you do what you do. Remember why you get up everyday. What we do as a faith family is seek to bring people/everybody to become faithful followers of Christ. Do what it takes today. Remember everybody is on a journey and we can accomplish more when we walk together in Christ.

WFMP GO

WFMP

Nehemiah is one of my favorite books in the Old Testament. He was a man who saw that things were not the way they should be and stepped aside from his great job, responsibilities, and pace of life to make things different for those in difficulty. Each Sunday 70% of people choose not to go to church anywhere. Going to church is not the main point. The point is they are choosing not to be part of the Body of Christ. I believe if Nehemiah heard this news he would WFMP. This is what we should do. If we will WFMP we will find ourselves following God into a radical life. Jesus was radical. The WFMP was not a plan it was an immediate response. That would reveal his heart. So as we consider how many people choose not to be part of the body I pray we WFMP then Go. So today, weep, fast, mourn and pray then go and live a radical life for Christ. It’s a heart thing. "Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established" (Prov 16:3, ESV).

Read Nehemiah 1

R U Available?

There are times when someone brings a great message, sings a great song, lives an exemplary life, acts in generosity, or sets an example in some godly manner and people will express their gratitude and appreciation for being an instrument of blessing. I remember as a young preacher I would have people come out and shake my hand and say that was a great message (that is what people say when they come to shake the preacher’s hand at the door). I felt uncomfortable with such comments as most people do. I would give the spiritual answer, “It’s just God!” as most people do. Now, that sounds spiritual, but it is not the whole truth. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine a you are the branches he who remains in me and I in Him will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.”

So, with that in mind we do play a apart. We are to abide. We are to make ourselves available for His use. I can assure you that no man can preach a great sermon, sing a great song, live an exemplary life, act out of generosity or set an example without God, but God also has chosen to use men and women, boys and girls. He will demonstrate His power through people that have been grafted into the vine. On our own we are “NOTHING” but with God we can do all things through Christ our Lord. Make yourself available today.