I am so proud of the good work our service people have done in Iraq. It's only 7 years into what will no doubt be a very long term engagement there. But I am delighted that today we pulled out our final combat troops.
Here is a neat video of President George W Bush welcoming troops back at DFW a few days ago. Love or hate his politics, he is a solid patriot, and I admire that.
Well done troops. Now let's keep praying for Iraq - for stablity, peace and just government.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Ephesians 6:7 Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women...
Sometimes we weary of serving. Our service starts out being a loving response to all that God has done for us, and we serve from a humble and grateful heart. Sometimes however, for whatever reason, we serve beyond our gratefulness. We take our eyes of God and start to look to the other people to our right and to our left. We notice that they don't serve 'as much' as we do. Soon, we resent serving so much. Then, when resentment is ful growm, we become critical, judgmental and sometimes even say mean things.
The antidote to this condition, is to act as soon as we recognize the root of bitterness in our hearts. Two actions must be taken to remedy our 'heart condition':
1. Stop serving. Immediately. Take a 'sabbath rest'.
2. Use the time we now have to stop comparing ourselves to the people around us, and meditate on the Gospel. The best way I know how to do this is to look up all the names and titles of Jesus Christ in the Bible, highlight them and consider each one for 15 minutes a day. Maybe start with "the author and finisher of our faith".
In this way The Holy Spirit wil refresh us, revive us and renew us. Then we will yearn to serve again, and do so with cheerfulness, joy and a happy heart:
2 Cor 9:7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
From your pastor to you: thank you for being who you are, and I thank God for your cheerful service to Him, wherever and however you serve. It is my joy to be your pastor. To God be the Glory!
Sometimes we weary of serving. Our service starts out being a loving response to all that God has done for us, and we serve from a humble and grateful heart. Sometimes however, for whatever reason, we serve beyond our gratefulness. We take our eyes of God and start to look to the other people to our right and to our left. We notice that they don't serve 'as much' as we do. Soon, we resent serving so much. Then, when resentment is ful growm, we become critical, judgmental and sometimes even say mean things.
The antidote to this condition, is to act as soon as we recognize the root of bitterness in our hearts. Two actions must be taken to remedy our 'heart condition':
1. Stop serving. Immediately. Take a 'sabbath rest'.
2. Use the time we now have to stop comparing ourselves to the people around us, and meditate on the Gospel. The best way I know how to do this is to look up all the names and titles of Jesus Christ in the Bible, highlight them and consider each one for 15 minutes a day. Maybe start with "the author and finisher of our faith".
In this way The Holy Spirit wil refresh us, revive us and renew us. Then we will yearn to serve again, and do so with cheerfulness, joy and a happy heart:
2 Cor 9:7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
From your pastor to you: thank you for being who you are, and I thank God for your cheerful service to Him, wherever and however you serve. It is my joy to be your pastor. To God be the Glory!
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Isaiah 1:16–17 NRSV
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.
It's unhelpful to use the phrase 'social justice' in the US now - it has become politicized. So what shall we call the great imperative of God to His children to live recreatively on Planet Earth? Societal Justice? Social Righteousness? Perhaps Social Christlikeness?
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.
It's unhelpful to use the phrase 'social justice' in the US now - it has become politicized. So what shall we call the great imperative of God to His children to live recreatively on Planet Earth? Societal Justice? Social Righteousness? Perhaps Social Christlikeness?
Monday, August 02, 2010
Romans 15:5-6 NIV
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This scripture reminds me of the great prayer of Jesus in John 17. The unity of the people in the church is very important to God. It's is our unity that validates His presence in the church and therefore brings glory to him. The unity we have in not uniformity. The church is an organic whole in which persons live unified by one Spirit, one faith, one Lord. Anything less deprives God of glory, and the church of credibility in a world that needs both.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This scripture reminds me of the great prayer of Jesus in John 17. The unity of the people in the church is very important to God. It's is our unity that validates His presence in the church and therefore brings glory to him. The unity we have in not uniformity. The church is an organic whole in which persons live unified by one Spirit, one faith, one Lord. Anything less deprives God of glory, and the church of credibility in a world that needs both.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)