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Archive for the ‘Faith in practice’ Category

Making America Great Again-G-A

21 Mar

Value of Truth -Nothing is more important in understanding the past than the truth. At Jesus’ trial, many accused Jesus but they had conflicting testimony.  Finally, Pilate got tired of the arguing. As he questioned Jesus, Jesus stated that he came to proclaim the truth but Pilate asked, “what is truth?” (John 19:37-38) Liberals say there is no absolute truth-Truth is what you believe to be true. As a result it may vary from one person to the next. In essence, they can never lie because whatever they say is considered truth by them. Therefore we need to weigh carefully what they say. When they support climate change for instance, they consider that true. They seek evidence to support it and if any evidence contradicts that, they dismiss it as irrelevant. They give the appearance of basing their ideas on science, but do not really seek the truth, they only seek evidence to prove their theories. In fact, the belief that the world is the result of chance accidents actually discourages scientific discovery because it denies that there are any set laws that govern the universe. They do not believe that there are any set laws to be explored. Everything is a matter of throwing things together in the off chance that it will create something useful. In addition, research is limited to those things that will benefit the researcher.

Christians believe there is an inherent truth that does not change. They look at the evidence to decide what is true and if new evidence comes in to the contrary, they change their idea of what is true. While liberals say that science and faith are at odds with each other, in fact science proves faith every day. True believers support scientific discovery to learn more about how the world works so they can develop new things to make life better. Understanding natural laws gives you a starting point that enables you to follow a line of reasoning to a logical conclusion. Discovery isn’t a matter of chance, it is simply following a trail to the end. Science is the discovery of the laws that govern the universe and then developing things based on those laws that make life better. Research may seek to develop many ideas that won’t benefit the researcher but will have great benefit to someone else.

 

 
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Posted in Faith in practice, Values

 

Making America Great Again-F-A

21 Mar

Value of time- Too often today history is portrayed as a meaningless list of names and dates to remember for a test and then we promptly forgot them. My mother was a genealogist who studied the family history. It wasn’t simply an exercise to prove we were descendants from the Pilgrims so she could join the Mayflower Society, but a real interest in our family’s history. She didn’t just rack up a list of names and dates but took a real interest in who they were and what they did. The family history was the story of our family, the struggles they went through, the obstacles they overcame, and the tragedies they endured. However, it was much more. We  can learn from the mistakes and successes of the past. There is an old saying that he who does not remember the past is destined to repeat its mistakes. God showed how He valued history when He ordained three celebrations that the Israelites were to celebrate forever, not just for a while. Each celebration was designed to teach important aspects of the faith and had three aspects. It had a past physical event that explained an important part of the faith and was to be remembered. It also had a present to celebrate it which reenacted the event. It reminded everyone of its meaning in order to teach the children, and to remind the adults. At each celebration, the oldest boy or girl would stand and ask why they were celebrating it. The father would then explain the past event and its meaning.  The celebration would also remind them of a future physical event. The event  would fulfill a spiritual promise that God had made. (see the lesson on the celebrations in the course “Basic Christian Beliefs”)  Had the Jews remembered what the celebrations meant and what the prophets had foretold, they would have recognized what Christ was doing as He carried out what was predicted in the Passover meal.

 

 

 

 
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Posted in Faith in practice, Values

 

Second Sunday in Lent Mar 16

21 Mar

 Matthew 18:1-5 Like A Child-Many people now think that Sunday school is for children. When they grow up, they don’t need to go anymore. Jesus says that unless you are converted (born again) and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. When we are born again, we become like a child and need to learn how to walk in the way God wants us to, just as a child has to learn to live the way society expects him to behave. Children are not apathetic about the world around them, they are fascinated with everything around them. They want to see everything, feel everything, and try everything. We should be just as eager to learn about God and how to walk in His ways. That involves listening to Biblical preaching, discussing it in a class setting, and living it out in a close fellowship, just as parents need to lay down rules for their kids, talk to them about how to obey them, and then allow them to interact with the family where they gain experience.

 

 
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Posted in Body Ministry, Faith in practice, Lent

 

First  Sunday of Lent-Mar 9

10 Mar

Liberals have failed to create the great society they expected because they fail to understand man. They feel that man is good by nature and society corrupts him. All man needs is to be freed from the restraints of society and he will develop best. They feel that if laws prevent him from doing what he feels best, he should ignore the law. However we know from watching a child that they are selfish by nature and want to do what they should not do. We have to establish rules to prevent them from harming themselves and others. As they grow up, they should learn to control themselves and as they do, laws are not needed as much, but we still have to have laws because the desire remains and some don’t learn to restrain themselves. If a child does not learn to control themselves, they become a threat to themselves and others. We, as a society are reaping the results of not training children to restrain themselves. Jesus said “You must be born again” He is not talking about a mere makeover but a new life, a fresh start. We can’t continue to live in the way of the flesh and expect to have fellowship with God. We must die to self and be born again through the Spirit of God. Paul says in Ephesians 4: 22-24. “We must lay aside the old self which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” During Lent, let us seek to put off the old man of flesh and be born again through the Spirit of God.

 

 
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Posted in Church & Society, Faith in practice, Lent

 

Fifth Sunday of Epiphany-Feb 9

07 Feb

–Volunteer at food Banks/Community meal sites. As the cost of food and other expenses rise and incomes fall, money becomes tight and families must choose between paying the rent and purchasing food. Many are turning to food banks for help. Food banks are facing rising demand and need donations of paper products not covered by food stamps and food, as well as money to meet operating costs. In addition, they need volunteers to help collect food, sort the food, stock shelves, and assist clients. Many churches are also starting congregate meals for the homeless and for elderly and single residents that do not otherwise get adequate nutrition. Donations of food are needed as well as volunteers to assist with cooking, setting up facilities, serving clients, and cleaning up afterward. Many such meals are run completely by volunteers with donated food.

 

 
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Posted in Church ministry, Faith in practice

 

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany-Feb 2

30 Jan

Volunteer for Social Service Agencies. With increased cuts in funding to government poverty programs, many of those in need are turning to non-profit agencies like the Salvation Army for help. Such agencies are being overwhelmed with those in need and lack the funds to meet the needs. Many are in need of donations to meet the increased need. Many also lack funds to hire adequate staff. Volunteers are needed to answer the phones, interview clients, do filing and assist with data entry. Many jobs are fairly simple and the agencies provide training. Hours are usually flexible within their office hours and agencies are glad for whatever time you can provide. Many companies hiring require experience in addition to training and volunteering helps a worker gain experience and often provides access to companies and agencies they deal with who may be hiring. In addition, the company or agency they volunteer for may have an opening and will often hire someone they already know over a stranger.

 

 
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Posted in Epiphany, Faith in practice

 

Sixth Sunday of Kingdomtide-Oct 6

02 Oct

Encourage involvement-Many church positions are filled by a few central members. They often ignore the vast majority of members who are often little more than spectators. Many members don’t really feel a part of the church’s mission and don’t support it wholeheartedly. As a result, they are easily distracted by activities that may take them away from church. Involving more members in a church in the church’s ministry will increase the morale of the members and decrease the number of members who drift away from the church. By being actively involved in the church’s ministry, they feel a part of the church’s work and are more willing to support it financially and with their attendance and less likely to drift away from the church. It will also supply the workers needed to carry on the church’s ministry. Few churches make a real effort to enlist members in the churches program. They usually wait until an opening occurs and then try to twist the arm of one of their central members to take it on in addition to the other work they do and few approach members at large. Those recruited often have no interest and no experience in what they do. If the church does try to recruit help, it is normally between Easter and Pentecost when they recruit volunteers to help with summer activities but should be a year-long program to enlist members in active ministry. Many churches have a nomination committee selected at random but have little knowledge in recruiting personnel. They usually meet a few weeks before the annual meeting to nominate candidates to be elected to church positions but it should be a permanent committee of people with knowledge and experience in personnel recruitment that meets regularly with various members to inform them about opportunities for service in the church and community and helping them discover their talents. They should also help them find places in the church and community to serve. This allows the church to find people with an interest in what they do and allows time to train them before the workers take over the position.

 
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Posted in Church ministry, Faith in practice, Kingdomtide

 

Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide-Sept 29

26 Sep

Adults-Dealing with Issues Many pastors tell me they don’t get involved in political issues, however many of those political issues are also moral issues. Supporting abortion isn’t just a political viewpoint, it is a violation of God’s moral law and destroys the fabric of the nation. Many adults have no other source of information besides the liberal media, which has increasingly pushed liberal agendas without any discussion. In fact, the liberal media often blocks any attempt to present the facts and allow voters to decide the issue for themselves. Politicians seek to control the population by controlling what they hear. If people only hear one view, they think it is true. As a result, the church must teach Christian values and help people decide what is right. Christians cannot live a Christian lifestyle unless they have the freedom to be able to do it. Liberal politicians and judges are determined to take away our right to do that through laws and judicial decisions. The church must help members understand the results of liberal policies and oppose attempts to impose liberal policies which are detrimental to the country and violate God’s moral law.  If we are to maintain the right to spread the Gospel, we must oppose attempts to force Christians to go against their beliefs and support actions condemned by Scripture. That requires a membership that understands the issues and who votes in judges and politicians who will uphold citizen’s rights and the rule of law. Liberal politicians are trying to silence the church because they know that informed citizens will not fall for their lies.

 
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Posted in Church ministry, Faith in practice, Kingdomtide, Politics

 

Fourth Sunday of Kingdomtide-Sept 22

21 Sep

Youth-dealing with issues Many youth groups have lots of fun stuff but are short on teaching about the faith. In addition, most teaching is theological and does not deal with the basic issues young people are struggling with every day in school and at home. As a result, most youth drop out of church when they graduate from high school or before because they do not see the church having anything relevant to say in the issues they are struggling with. They will be discussing the issues with their classmates and teachers where they get a secular view, but youth groups need to have regular discussions of important issues they face so young people can get a Christian view of the issues. Without it, the youth accept the secular view by default because they do not have the knowledge to recognize the errors in liberal teachings. (see “Truly In The World, But Not Of It”-part A & B for information on important issues today. I also have a number of courses on Christian values in my series on Basic Christian Beliefs)

 
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Posted in Church ministry, Faith in practice, Kingdomtide, Ministry To Youth

 

Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost-Aug 25.

22 Aug

Neighborhood Bible Studies-The sad fact is that today, very few churches have Bible Studies. Many have dropped adult Sunday School and have teaching for young children during church. As a result, few adult church members have much knowledge of the Bible or how it applies to their everyday life. There may be families in your neighborhood who attend a church but have no real Bible knowledge. Neighborhood Bible Studies often include people from a variety of denominations united in the common interest of getting to know more about the Bible. While some passages may refer to beliefs held differently by different churches, most of the Bible is not controversial. You either believe it or you don’t. There are good Bible study guides available. It will help if the leader studies the material ahead of time and refers to a good commentary to help understand the study guide. It is also good to ask members how they feel the information will benefit them. Due to busy schedules, the group might feel that once a week is too ambitious and the group may consider twice a month during the school year and once a month in the summer. The church might group its members together that live near each other but live at a distance from the church to form the core group in the beginning but should plan for growth as new members are brought in and the group split when it gets over 12-15. If the group gets too large, members might not feel comfortable sharing and are not likely to invite their friends.

 
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Posted in Church ministry, Faith in practice, Pentecost

 
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