Friday, October 29, 2010

The Ultimate Lifestyle: The EZRA Principle

GodThoughtsWired!                  Friday, October 29, 2010
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!
the ultimate lifestyle!

THE EZRA PRINCIPLE

"For Ezra had set his heart to study
the law of the Lord and to practice it,
and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."

Ezra 7:10, bold mine


It's not enough to study.  I would suggest that there are no "professional students" in the Kingdom of God.  No, the purpose of study is to become a skilled practitioner.  The Bible tells us that Ezra was "skilled in the law of Moses."  He was a living example of Proverbs 22:29,

"Do you see a man skilled in his work?
  He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men."



Indeed, the Bible says,


Prove yourselves doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who delude themselves."
James 1:22

However, there is an additional step, perhaps the greatest step.  And that is to...TEACH.  God blesses us in order that we might become a blessing to others.

STUDY...PRACTICE...TEACH. 

In my opinion, it's the "Ultimate Lifestyle!"

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Got HELP?

GodThoughtsWired!                  Thursday, October 28, 2010
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!
GOT help?
"And God helped him."2 Chronicles 26:7
Yeah!  That's what I'm talking about!  How would you like for the God of Creation to help you?  Help with your ministry, help with your job, help with your marriage and family...Help with your life!
Do you know that God wants to help?
"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..."2 Chronicles 16:9
But here are the sobering realities:
-Despite His omnipresence, God is NOT with everybody"The Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you" (2 Chronicles 15:2, underline mine).
-Despite being the Savior, God does NOT save everybody.  "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:11-12, underline mine).
-And despite His great desire, God does NOT help everybody (see 2 Chronicles 16:9 above).
I call it the "Our Part" of the Christian walk.  As long as Uzziah sought the Lord and did right...God helped him (see 2 Chronicles 26:4-7).  But when he became proud and acted unfaithfully, God took His good hand off of Uzziah...and punished him (see 2 Chronicles 26:16-21).
Have you ever heard the old adage, "God helps those who help themselves?"  Well, uhh, yeah... WRONG!  The biblical reality is,
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO...
PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

PAWNS!

GodThoughtsWired!                Tuesday, October 26, 2010
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!
pawns!
In the game of Chess there are a variety of pieces, the least powerful of which are the pawns.  Though they are of little esteem, they are very strategic to the skilled player.
Be encouraged child of God.  As you faithfully follow Jesus, the evil around you and, yes, even the evil done to you will be used by the Master...as "pawns."  Pawns to accomplish what concerns you (see Psalm 138:8b).
"Now do not be grieved or angry
with yourselves, because you sold me here,
for God sent me before you to preserve life."
Genesis 45:5, bold mine
Yes, the God of Joseph is the same God of today.  The most horrific evils done to him, and the worst of the people around him, were ALL PURPOSED BY GOD to bring about great good and grand blessing.*
"Now, therefore, it was not you
who sent me here, but God
."

Genesis 45:8, bold mine
God crafted good out of evil by using it to mature Joseph to the extent that God could use him to bring healing and blessing and glory to the nations.
"As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good
in order to bring about this present result,
to pre
serve many people alive."
Genesis 50:20, bold mine
Pawns.

*Do you know your Bible well enough to understand the following statement:
"God didn't just allow the sufferings of Job...
He CAUSED them."

Friday, October 22, 2010

Which is more 'Scientific:' Evolution? or Christianity*

GodThoughtsWired!                             Friday, October 22, 2010
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!
which is more 'scientific:'
evolution? or christianity*
"They did not receive the love of the truth
so as to be saved.  For this reason
God will send upon them a deluding influence
so that they will believe what is false..."

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11
Do you see it?  This "Age of Delusion" exists because the vast majority no longer "love the truth."  Why?  Because an honest pursuit of truth leads us to a Creator and, if there is a Creator we must be "morally accountable" to Him and most of us, well, most of us don't want some "higher power" cramping our style.
AN HONEST PURSUIT OF TRUTH
LEADS US TO A CREATOR.*

-pastor Brad
Is this really true?  Well, you tell me.  When you honestly ask yourself "How did this chair get here?"  I suggest to you that the logical, reasonable and rational answer is..."Somebody made it."  Am I right? 
And how 'bout the car you drive, "How did it get here?"  Again, I would suggest that the most logical, reasonable and rational answer is that "Somebody made it."  Am I right?
The definition of the "scientific method" is, "that which is measurable, repeatable, and observable."  So...
Which is more "scientific," the belief that human beings are here because "somebody made us?"  Or, is it more "scientific" to think that, "OVER A BAZILLION YEARS...WE JUST CAME TO BE."
C'mon!
*For further study, please click on, What Does the Bible Say About the Theory of Evolution?

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

FREE ADVERTISING!

GodThoughtsWired!                   Wednesday, October 20, 2010
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!
free advertising!
Oh, how I love god's
sense of humor
"Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other Rock?
I know of none."
Isaiah 44:8
The other day I was in a very busy local Post Office.  When I finally reached the front of the line I leaned over to the lady next to me.  Having noticed her relationship with the woman next to her using a walker I whispered,
"I'm the pastor over at Willow Spring Church
and your mom's walker reminds me of our
Seniors Ministry.  On Sunday mornings we
have an area in the corner of our Sanctuary
known as the "Walker Parking Lot."
It was clear that the mom couldn't hear me but was interested in what I was saying to her daughter.  So, in turn, the daughter leaned over to her mom to reveal what I had said to her.  And the conversation went something like this:

Daughter (in a whisper):  "This gentleman is the minister at Will..."

Mother (loudly):  "Ha?"

Daughter (a little louder):  "This man is a pastor at..."

Mother (even louder):  "HA?"

Daughter (in a comically loud voice that everyone in the Post Office could clearly hear announced):
"The man said he's a minister at Willow
Spring Church and they have a wonderful
ministry to Seniors - their Sunday Service
is filled with walkers!"

Everyone in the entire Post Office burst into laughter as the Postal worker promptly announced, "NEXT!"

I made my way to the front desk thouroughly enjoying my newfound celebrity and the impromtu FREE ADVERTISING.

And I'm not sure, but as I exited the Post Office back into the 80 degree temperature of our Northern California "Winter"...I'd almost swear I heard laughter coming down out of the heavens.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

There's Just Something about that Name!

GodThoughtsWired!                 Tuesday, October 19, 2010
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

there's just something
about that name!
"They observed the confidence o
Peter and John and...began to
recognize them as having been with Jesus."
Acts 4:12-13

That's my goal!  I want people in my family, the marketplace, on the street, and in the gym to recognize the fact that Jesus is with me.  About a month ago I changed the way I talk about God outside the church.  You know, it's fairly easy to use the word "God" without fear or consequence.  It's become such a generic term, "God," that it's fairly acceptable in our culture.

But about a month ago...I began to exchange the word "God," with...JESUS!  Oh my, what a difference!  Have you experienced it?  Truly, there's just something about that name.  I remember the very first time I referenced Jesus in the high school locker room...immediate spiritual warfare.
So two Sundays ago I challenged our congregation to do the same thing, use the name of Jesus whenever they are referring to God.  WHAT A DYNAMIC DIFFERENCE!  We've begun a "There's Just Something About That Name" testimony time every Sunday morning after worship.  Powerful!

Will you join us?  Do you have the courage?  Seriously, in the end - every knee will bow and every mouth will confess the Lordship of Jesus anyway...

Why not start now!  :)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

DUPED! 3

GodThoughtsWired!           Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

DUPED!

Resurrecting the Spirit of the
Bereans in the Age of Delusion


3

Who are the "Bereans?"  And  what does it mean to "resurrect their spirit?"
  Let's start with the biblical text,

"Now these (the Bereans) were more
noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the word with
great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether
these things were so."
Acts 17:11, bold mine

There are three key elements that make up the "spirit of the Bereans."

1.  "They were noble-minded."  That is to say they had great strength of character.  Literally, they were not easily "duped."  Why?
2.  "They received the word with great eagerness."  They were hungry for the word of God.  They were "proactive" in their quest to know God and therefore sought Him dilligently.

3.  "They examined the Scriptures daily."  The Bible was their ultimate source of guidance and understanding.  They used the Word of God as their "decision making grid" and only followed leaders whose words and actions were in line with biblical teaching.

In other words, they put into practice the admonishon of Jesus in John 7:24,

"Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgement."


"Resurrecting the Spirit of the Bereans" is our only hope to keep from being "DUPED!" in this Age of Delusion.
GodThoughtsWired!   Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

DUPED!

Resurrecting the Spirit of the
Bereans in the Age of Delusion


3

Who are the "Bereans?"  And  what does it mean to"resurrect their spirit?"  Let's start with the biblical text,

"Now these (the Bereans) were more
noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the word with
great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether 
these things were so."
Acts 17:11, bold mine


There are three key elements that make up the"spirit of the Bereans."

1.  "They were noble-minded."  That is to say they had great strength of character.  Literally, they were not easily "duped."  Why?

2.  "They received the word with great eagerness."  They were hungry for the word of God.  They were "proactive" in their quest to know God and therefore sought Him dilligently.

3.  "They examined the Scriptures daily."  The Bible was their ultimate source of guidance and understanding.  They used the Word of God as their "decision making grid" and only followed leaders whose words and actions were in line with biblical teaching.

In other words, they put into practice the admonishon of Jesus in John 7:24,


"Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgement."


"Resurrecting the Spirit of the Bereans" is our only hope to keep from being "DUPED!" in this Age of Delusion.