Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Words are important
I was reading from the Book of James this morning and was reminded that I am to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath today. Someone once said that there is a reason that we have two ears and only one mouth. God also designed us such that our tongue is situated behind two barriers: our lips and our teeth. A pastor friend this past weekend used the illustration of trying to put toothpaste back in the tube is easier than taking back words that have been spoken. I have met some people that speak very little but when they do, it is worth listening to. I have met others who speak all the time and say very little worth listening to. I can choose to build up or tear down with my words. My prayer today is that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my hear will be acceptable in God's sight.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Distribution and Transport
I was doing some reading recently about distribution channels. The new ways of getting information distributed to those that need it. I came across the following. I am not sure of the source of this but I like the concepts. It is a great time in history to be alive.
“In 1893, a ten thousand dollar Congressional appropriation established RFD or rural free delivery. Up until that point, rural Americans had to ride their horse into town to pick up their mail at the general store. RFD provided mail service to rural residents for the first time.
Two entrepreneurs named Aaron Montgomery Ward and Richard Sears spotted a business opportunity. They saw a new distribution channel for their products. They produced so many catalogs that they were the second most widely read books in the country behind the Bible at the turn of the 20th century. They redeemed a new medium--rural free delivery--and turned it into a distribution channel.
That is what podcasting and webcasting and blogging are all about. Jesus told us to go into all the world, but he didn't specify how. It used to be traditional modes of transportation--ships, horses, and airplanes. But digital technology is a new mode of transportation, a new distribution channel, a new medium. We've got to redeem every technology and use it for God's purposes! The message is sacred, but the medium isn't.
A few distribution channels:
Podcasting is circuit riding at the speed of light.
Blogging is digital discipleship.
Video technology turns screens into postmodern stained glass.
Websites are virtual front doors.
Email is word of mouse.
As new technologies emerge so do new distribution channels for the gospel.
What a time to be alive! Our generation has greater potential to fulfill the Great Commission than all previous generations combined.”
I am sure that my grandparents, who witnessed the advent of the automobile and airplanes had these same feelings of excitement about transporting distribution.
“In 1893, a ten thousand dollar Congressional appropriation established RFD or rural free delivery. Up until that point, rural Americans had to ride their horse into town to pick up their mail at the general store. RFD provided mail service to rural residents for the first time.
Two entrepreneurs named Aaron Montgomery Ward and Richard Sears spotted a business opportunity. They saw a new distribution channel for their products. They produced so many catalogs that they were the second most widely read books in the country behind the Bible at the turn of the 20th century. They redeemed a new medium--rural free delivery--and turned it into a distribution channel.
That is what podcasting and webcasting and blogging are all about. Jesus told us to go into all the world, but he didn't specify how. It used to be traditional modes of transportation--ships, horses, and airplanes. But digital technology is a new mode of transportation, a new distribution channel, a new medium. We've got to redeem every technology and use it for God's purposes! The message is sacred, but the medium isn't.
A few distribution channels:
Podcasting is circuit riding at the speed of light.
Blogging is digital discipleship.
Video technology turns screens into postmodern stained glass.
Websites are virtual front doors.
Email is word of mouse.
As new technologies emerge so do new distribution channels for the gospel.
What a time to be alive! Our generation has greater potential to fulfill the Great Commission than all previous generations combined.”
I am sure that my grandparents, who witnessed the advent of the automobile and airplanes had these same feelings of excitement about transporting distribution.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Harmony in the foyer
We had one of those wonderful full days at church yesterday with one of our favorite missionaries followed by our annual Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey and all the trimmings. Lots of food and good fellowship. Our evening service was informal with an old fashioned hymn sing in the foyer. Lots of fun to sit around in a circle and sing some of the old hymn that we remember but rarely look at all the great lyrics in the verses. Acapella harmony was great. The song that sticks with me today and will be rolling through my head as I walk through the day is "No, not one". It's good to know that Jesus knows all about our struggles and will be with us til the day is done.
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
Was ever a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
Was ever a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
We are podcasting : )
Audio Podcasts and sermon notes are now available on our church website:
www.harlanfirstaog.org
Click on the "Weekly Sermons" link.
It will also soon be available on itunes.
Thanks to the hard work of our awesome computer technology webmaster team of Jan and Sue.
www.harlanfirstaog.org
Click on the "Weekly Sermons" link.
It will also soon be available on itunes.
Thanks to the hard work of our awesome computer technology webmaster team of Jan and Sue.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Strong connections
I spent some time this morning thinking about authenticity of connections. One of the core priorities of my day needs to be checking connections. I spent many years in the electronics field as a technician. I learned early that most problems are a result of a weak connection rather than a failed component. We live in a day of module replacement. It is cheaper to replace the circuit board than to diagnose a problem component. The frustrating thing is that the new component will not fix the problem if the issue is with the connection leading up to it. I find this concept to have application in all areas of life. If my connection is weakened by lack of maintenance, friction and heat can burn out the wires and cause inefficiency.
Here are some solutions that will work:
Shine up the contacts. Dirt and grime in our lives can coat us and keep us from being able to transfer energy to each other.
Blow out the dust. Junk in our lives not only keeps us from getting into the rooms, it can blur our vision to the point where we run into wall and barriers instead of entering rooms and hallways of people’s lives.
Study the blueprint. The Bible is God’s plan on paper. It explains what a good connection looks and feels like. When we know it inside out, we are not trying to find apples on the orange tree. Many connections in our lives have been “temporarily” bypassed to get us by and we have forgotten to re-establish the original design. Let’s get the gator clips off and get it back to the way it was made.
God does not make mistakes. He does not need improvement in His plan. If we connect well, we will be fruitful.
An old Chorus:
It will flow like river
It will fall like the rain
It will rise as the dawning of glory o’er the land
For the Glory of the Lord
Shall fill all the earth
And the Spirit of the Lord Shall fall
Here are some solutions that will work:
Shine up the contacts. Dirt and grime in our lives can coat us and keep us from being able to transfer energy to each other.
Blow out the dust. Junk in our lives not only keeps us from getting into the rooms, it can blur our vision to the point where we run into wall and barriers instead of entering rooms and hallways of people’s lives.
Study the blueprint. The Bible is God’s plan on paper. It explains what a good connection looks and feels like. When we know it inside out, we are not trying to find apples on the orange tree. Many connections in our lives have been “temporarily” bypassed to get us by and we have forgotten to re-establish the original design. Let’s get the gator clips off and get it back to the way it was made.
God does not make mistakes. He does not need improvement in His plan. If we connect well, we will be fruitful.
An old Chorus:
It will flow like river
It will fall like the rain
It will rise as the dawning of glory o’er the land
For the Glory of the Lord
Shall fill all the earth
And the Spirit of the Lord Shall fall
Monday, November 2, 2009
Arrivals
Sermon Notes from Yesterday:
God planned this day. It’s here.
Old Chorus: He is here, He is here, My heart tells me that He is here.
Arrivals and departures are a constant part of life.
Sometimes we don’t know if we are coming or going
They can look very much alike
We know Jesus arrived in heaven because He sent the Holy Spirit.
Being where we are supposed to be when important arrivals happen
Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
Life arrived on the 6th day of creation
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Appointed time of leadership arrive and we must be ready
Joshua 1:1-2 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites.
God’s Word arrives at just the right time
1 Kings 17:2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah
Visitors arrive
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
When you arrive, Do something
Acts 8:14-15 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them
that were with them. ... And as they thus spake, Jesus himself
stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you. But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that
they had seen a spirit. ... He shewed them his hands and his
feet," and asked for meat, and he ate broiled fish and
honeycomb before them, and spoke with them at length Luke
21:33,36,37,40
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in their
midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ... Then were
the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20)
You are expected to arrive
Acts 10:24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Lessons :
1. Arrive on time
2. Arrive with expectation
3. Arrive with openness
4. Arrive with Something to give
5. Arrive with knowledge of where you are
6. Every Arrival is significant
7. God has never experienced arrival ( Omnipresent )
The roar of the Lion of Judah shakes creation to the core
Realm of authority
Mark 7:31-37
The deaf hear and the mute speak and they were overwhelmed with amazement.
God planned this day. It’s here.
Old Chorus: He is here, He is here, My heart tells me that He is here.
Arrivals and departures are a constant part of life.
Sometimes we don’t know if we are coming or going
They can look very much alike
We know Jesus arrived in heaven because He sent the Holy Spirit.
Being where we are supposed to be when important arrivals happen
Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
Life arrived on the 6th day of creation
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Appointed time of leadership arrive and we must be ready
Joshua 1:1-2 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites.
God’s Word arrives at just the right time
1 Kings 17:2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah
Visitors arrive
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
When you arrive, Do something
Acts 8:14-15 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them
that were with them. ... And as they thus spake, Jesus himself
stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you. But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that
they had seen a spirit. ... He shewed them his hands and his
feet," and asked for meat, and he ate broiled fish and
honeycomb before them, and spoke with them at length Luke
21:33,36,37,40
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in their
midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ... Then were
the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20)
You are expected to arrive
Acts 10:24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Lessons :
1. Arrive on time
2. Arrive with expectation
3. Arrive with openness
4. Arrive with Something to give
5. Arrive with knowledge of where you are
6. Every Arrival is significant
7. God has never experienced arrival ( Omnipresent )
The roar of the Lion of Judah shakes creation to the core
Realm of authority
Mark 7:31-37
The deaf hear and the mute speak and they were overwhelmed with amazement.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
God Strength
Just a few thoughts about the economy:
The rules of efficiency really do not change because of economical downturns. Many people are facing tight budgets today and the following rule never goes out of style.
“If our outgo exceeds our income, our upkeep will be our downfall”
That axiom stands true no matter what our bank account reflects. Staying true to integrity in these trying times certainly can mean belt tightening on the budget. With the advent of online banking, it is easier than ever to keep tabs on the daily balances and current status.
It is good to also remember that God’s promises do not change. God is not in financial trouble and still supplies our needs “according to His riches in glory” ( Philippians 4:19 )
It becomes all the more important to spend time in the Word of God and to keep the prayer lines of communication strong. Remember where our source is. Your strong connection to God will help you keep focus and balance in these “interesting” times. God wants to show Himself strong. He is always “Beautiful for situation” ( Psalm 48 )
The rules of efficiency really do not change because of economical downturns. Many people are facing tight budgets today and the following rule never goes out of style.
“If our outgo exceeds our income, our upkeep will be our downfall”
That axiom stands true no matter what our bank account reflects. Staying true to integrity in these trying times certainly can mean belt tightening on the budget. With the advent of online banking, it is easier than ever to keep tabs on the daily balances and current status.
It is good to also remember that God’s promises do not change. God is not in financial trouble and still supplies our needs “according to His riches in glory” ( Philippians 4:19 )
It becomes all the more important to spend time in the Word of God and to keep the prayer lines of communication strong. Remember where our source is. Your strong connection to God will help you keep focus and balance in these “interesting” times. God wants to show Himself strong. He is always “Beautiful for situation” ( Psalm 48 )
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