Pastor Rick Warren: Why You Need a Church Family

September 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

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”[Christ’s] love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center” (2 Corinthians 5:14 The Message).

You cannot fulfill the five purposes (worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism) on your own. Life is not a solo act. You were created for community. The only way you can fulfill God’s five purposes is with people in your life who are giving you spiritual input. You need a church family!Why? Because the church helps you center your life on God.

God didn’t put you on Earth to live a self-centered life. His purpose for you is to build your life with him at the core. You were planned for God’s pleasure. He made you to love you, and he wants you to love him back. God says, “I want to be the hub of your heart. I want to be the focus of your attention. I want to be the center of your life. I want to be the axis of your existence.”

The Bible says, “[Christ’s] love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center” (2 Corinthians 5:14 The Message).

How can you tell when Christ is at the center of your life? You stop worrying. Philippians 4:7 says, “It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (The Message). There’s a word for this: worship. Whenever you focus your life on God, that’s called worship. And worship is the antidote for worry. If you want to worry less, worship more.

When are we supposed to worship? The Bible says, “You have six days when you can do your work, but the seventh day of each week is holy because it belongs to me. No matter where you live, you must rest on the Sabbath and come together for worship” (Leviticus 23:3 CEV). God says, “Once a week I want you to come together with other believers to refocus, recalibrate, and re-center your life on me.”

Where are you supposed to do it? Acts 2:46 tells us, “They worshiped together regularly at the Temple” (TLB). For us, that means to gather at our local church—wherever that may happen to be.

Can you see that God meant for you to be a part of a church family? When you are, it helps you focus and center your life on God so that you can fulfill his purpose for you.

Talk It Over

  • Worship is the antidote for worry. If you want to worry less, worship more. This week, when you start to worry, worship and praise God instead.
  • How do you think your life would change if Christ were consistently (or more consistently) at the center?
  • How can a church family help you refocus your life on God?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Your Daily Prayer: A prayer for meekness

September 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

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A Prayer for Meekness
By Mark Altrogge

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

To be meek is to be gentle, humble, lowly.

“The meek are the ‘gentle’… those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events.” ESV Study Bible notes:

The first reason we should be meek is because Jesus is.

blessed-are-the-meek

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:1

If God, the infinitely great and all-powerful one, is gentle and meek, how much more should we be!

Meekness shapes the way we relate to our Christian brothers and sisters

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

We’re not to fight and scrape, intimidate or pressure our brothers and sisters to get our way. Rather we should relate to one another with complete – “ALL” – humility and gentleness.

Meekness changes our speech

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

The way to impart life is with a gentle tongue. Anger won’t produce God’s righteousness (James 1:20). Anger may intimidate others to do what we want, but it won’t change their hearts.

Meekness affects the way we correct opponents

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 2:24-25

We can’t persuade anyone by getting in their face. Yelling “murderer!” at a pro-choice person won’t win them to our side. Calling someone who differs with you an idiot won’t persuade them you are right. When we correct opponents, we must realize we can’t change them. Only God can grant repentance. So all we need do is gently submit our correction then trust God to change their heart.

Meekness affects the way we treat people ensnared in sin

We’re tempted to judge those trapped in sin. “How could you possibly do that? I would never do that!” But the Bible tells us we should restore sinners gently:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1

We are gentle when we help others who fall because we remember our own spiritual bankruptcy and sins. Each of us is capable of any sin. Remembering this will go along way to helping us restore others gently.

The world says the assert yourself. Put yourself forward. Grab. Fight. The Bible says be meek and you will inherit the earth. When we inherit something we don’t work for it but receive it as a gift. God gives the meek everything they need. Those who are meek find deep contentment and joy.

And someday we will inherit the new earth.

Father, we pray today that you would draw us into meekness. We pray that you would soften our hearts, that you would remind us of the gift of gentleness, that you would show us through Jesus how to live in love day by day. We pray that you would forgive us of our sins and open our eyes and hearts to forgiveness for others in our lives. We ask that you would help us to guard our speech, that the words we say would be life-giving and glorifying to you. We are so grateful for your refining fire in our lives. In your holy name, Amen.

Editor’s note: This article can be read in full on BibleStudyTools.com here. Prayer added by Rachel Dawson, design editor for Crosswalk.com.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: Democrats only care about keeping a Republican off the Supreme Court

September 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

 

Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination remains in suspended animation Thursday. Thanks, as you well know, to allegations that he assaulted a psychology professor called Christine Blasey Ford some 36 years ago while both of them were still in high school.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

‘Gotta Travel On’

September 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

I like to look at what I do in this space as small ‘portraits’ of life through my eyes. Today’s ‘portrait’ involves fading summer, a lifelong love affair and ‘travelin’ on.’

Let me explain.

I’m asked to speak at various venues on a regular basis, a list that in the past year has included sports banquets at a half dozen high schools, a junior high and high school graduation and various civic groups. It’s something I enjoy.

Recently, I experienced a ‘first’ – I was asked to speak at a birthday party for 100-year-old Stella (Burzynski) Stewart, of Benton. I hold the Stewart family in high regard and I saw the request as an honor and a challenge so I readily accepted the invitation.

Stella is one of 12 children of immigrant parents and grew up in Rend City, an area located northwest of Benton, near Valier. Stella raised eight children and still lives alone. To say Stella is a remarkable lady who has lived a remarkable life would be an understatement.

When I arrived at the party at the Benton Kiwanis Hall I knew many people there and I sort of just mixed and mingled and visited – something I do very well. The person I spent the most time talking with that day was Ruth Grammer, Stella’s 88-year-old ‘younger’ sister.

Ruth was married to former Grand Ole Opry star Billy Grammer, who passed away in 2011. Billy also grew up in Rend City, one of 13 children, and achieved stardom in 1958 with his million-seller Top 5 hit, “Gotta Travel On.” Ruth and Billy were married 65 years.

On an afternoon when reminiscing was the main theme I listened as Ruth told me about graduating high school at age 16 and traveling alone 900 miles to Washington, D.C. for her first job. She said it was the most excited and scared she has ever been in her life. I heard about Billy borrowing $50 from Verbal Rea, who ran the relief office in Valier, to hitchhike to Virginia for a job possibility with nationally known disc jockey Connie B. Gay, who had a live radio show at WARL Radio in Arlington, Va.

You could still see the pride in Ruth’s eyes when she finished the story by telling me that Billy beat out 150 other guitarists and won the audition and a spot on the national radio show. She talked and recalled Billy’s success in country music that led to appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “Dick Clark’s American Bandstand,” “Bill Anderson’s Backstage Opry,” “Hee Haw” and others. He also worked as a front man musician for the likes of Patsy Cline, Grandpa Jones, Charlie Pride, Louis Armstrong, George Jones and Ernest Tubb.

I did more listening than talking but thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Ruth.
Last Sunday morning, the day before Labor Day, Ruth did what she has done every Sunday morning for virtually her entire life – she headed to Rend City Baptist Church – the church she attended as a child, the church where she married the love of her life way back in 1944. During the service, and without a sound, Ruth simply slumped over in the pew and passed away – suffering a massive heart attack. Much like a cowboy dying with his boots on, Ruth passing away at the church she loved and that had been such a huge part of her life seemed proper and fitting to me.

After I heard about Ruth passing away I spent a good deal of time recalling our conversation only eight days earlier. The single thing that stood out to me was that she really missed Billy every single day. As she had told me the weekend before she died, she missed talking to him, she missed holding his hand, she missed listening to him ‘make a guitar talk’ … she just missed him.

“Oh, how I wish I could sit and watch him play guitar again,” is one poignant comment that stuck with me.

Through the wonders of modern technology I went to YouTube and found a recording of Billy Grammer performing “Gotta Travel On.”

I watched the black and white video and I was struck by the irony in the chorus of the song and the timing of Ruth’s death. The chorus goes like this:

I’ve laid around and played around
This old town too long
Summer’s almost gone
Yes, winter’s comin’ on
I’ve laid around and played around
This old town too long
And I feel like I gotta travel on

While fall does not officially begin until September 23, I’ve always thought of Labor Day weekend as the unofficial end of summer. And on Labor Day weekend 2015, with summer almost gone and winter comin’ on, Ruth Grammer traveled on and crossed the threshold from this life to the next one. And I believe her beloved Billy, probably with guitar in hand, was there waiting for her. What a reunion that must have been!

While there was a sense of sadness for me that Ruth had passed and the world had lost such a remarkable woman, there was a greater sense of joy because she is reunited with the love of her life. And of course I have to believe there’s a lot of pickin’ and grinnin’ and hand-holdin’ going on.

RIP Ruth and Happy Travels!

Filed Under: Columns

Commentary: Democrats’ smash and smear agenda reaches new heights

September 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

A nation gawks as Washington sinks deeper into the muck, but put aside your disgust long enough to digest what we’re seeing. Three big things are on display.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: God Shaped You for Service

September 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

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”God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV).

God shaped you to serve him.The Bible says, “God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV).

Before you were born, God had already decided what contribution he wanted you to make with your life. God didn’t put you on this planet just to take up space, to use resources, and to die. No! He put you here to serve him by serving others.

And nobody else can be you. If you don’t serve God the way he intended for you to serve him, then the world misses that part of the jigsaw puzzle.

Another name for good works is ministry. Anytime you use your talents and abilities to help somebody else, you are actually ministering to them. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (TLB).

You know the talents that you’ve got? They’re not for your benefit. God gave you your talents for the benefit of other people. That’s why nobody’s got it all together. God wired the universe so that we would need each other.

When you get to heaven, you’re going to love God, so he wants you to practice now. You’re going to love other people in heaven, so he wants you to practice now. You’re going to grow spiritually in heaven, so he wants you to practice now. And you’re going to serve God in heaven, so he wants you to practice now.

You serve God by serving others. On Earth it’s impossible to serve God directly. The only way you can serve God on Earth is by serving other people. So anytime you help somebody else, God says it’s like you’re doing it for him. You’re practicing on Earth what you’re going to do for eternity.

Talk It Over

  • In what unique ways has God shaped you so that you can serve others well?
  • How are you using your talents and abilities to serve others?
  • How much does your motivation matter when you serve? Why?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: Pritzker misfires after Rauner’s mea culpa

September 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

J.B. Pritzker has labeled Gov. Bruce Rauner a failure and called the incumbent’s agenda “radical” and “extreme.”

Here’s a link to the editorial at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Columns

Laura Ingraham: I’ve known Kavanaugh for 25 years — If this can happen to him, I tremble for our country

September 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

It’s 1991, all over again. 

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Your Daily Prayer: A Prayer to Help You Know God’s Delight in

September 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

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A Prayer to Help You Know God’s Delight in You
By: Jennifer O. White

He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me – Psalm 18:19

Jesus is known as Emmanuel, meaning God is with us. He has chosen to dwell with us because He is delighted with us. He is also our Wonderful Counselor: our ever-present fountain of God’s wisdom. He is God’s wise Word delivered to us in human form long ago and now present with us by His Holy Spirit.

Are you delighted with yourself?

God longs for us to be united with Him in thought and deed. Choosing to see ourselves through His eyes is a life-changing, joy-restoring act. If we have trouble delighting in ourselves, the Holy Spirit is with us to help us change our thoughts. Here is a simple prayer to help us reach for the help He is ready to deliver:

God, I need help believing that You are delighted with me. Please fill me with Your wisdom and defend me against condemning thoughts about myself. I know I am lovingly, wonderfully made by you. I know that you know every breathe I take, and I know that you are acquainted with all my thoughts, the passions of my heart, my longings and trials. Nothing about me is lost to you, and all you know about me, both the good and bad, never changes your love for me. I know when you look at me you see something ‘very good.’ Help me know these things, help me live confidently and at peace because of your delight in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This simple change can usher in healing in hearts and our relationships. When we rest in God’s love for us, we gain the courage to consider how much He must delight in other people. When we grow in our love of Him, we grow to love ourselves more, and can love others better too. This is the life changing love that God offers all of us!

Editor’s Note: Portions of this devotional were taken from Jennifer White’s A Prayer to Help You Know God’s Delight in You. You can read that piece in full here.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: God Wants You to Grow Up

September 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

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”From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son” (Romans 8:29 TLB).

God created you to become like Christ. He wants you to grow up spiritually!The Bible says, “From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son” (Romans 8:29 TLB). God’s goal has always been to make you like himself—not to become a god but to become godly, with godly character.

The number one question I’m asked as a pastor is, “Why is this happening to me?” I’ll tell you why: It’s to help you grow up spiritually. Everything in life is designed to help you grow up spiritually—the good, the bad, the ugly, the stuff you bring on yourself, and the stuff that other people do to you. God is not the author of evil. But God can bring good out of bad things.

Instead of asking, “God, why is this happening to me?” ask, “God, what do you want me to learn from this?” Every situation in life will either make you bitter or better. You choose how you will respond to it.

Every problem has a purpose, and the purpose is to help you grow up spiritually to be more like Jesus Christ.

So if one of the purposes of your life is to grow up spiritually and to become like Jesus, what is Jesus like? When you look at him, you see what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. It says, “He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 TLB). These are the qualities God wants to build in your life.

How does God produce those qualities in your life? How does God grow character and help you grow up spiritually? God teaches you these qualities by putting you in the exact opposite situation.

He teaches you love by putting you around unlovely people. He teaches you joy in the middle of grief. God teaches you peace in the middle of chaos. He teaches you patience in the Department of Motor Vehicles!

God will teach you all of these qualities throughout your life—and it will take the rest of your life. It’s a process. He will use all kinds of situations in your life to help you develop spiritual depth and become more like Christ.

Talk It Over

  • What kinds of situations have taught you the most about becoming more like Christ?
  • Why do you think so many Christians are still spiritually immature?
  • What priority does spiritual growth have in your life? How might your priorities need to change?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns
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