I’m sure you’re wondering those five letters stand for, but before we get there, let me tell you a story. This is a story that has been teased for quite some time. It’s a story that’s been spoken about for nearly two thousand years, and for us, the story began nearly forty thousand years ago. The story that I am referring to began with a man named Abram. Abram was essentially the founder of God’s nation. God promised the impossible to Abram. Abram lived far from a land that would soon be called the promised land. His relatives worshiped other gods. He and his wife Sarai were well beyond childbearing years, and yet. Those two words; and yet. Those two words sparked the beginning of God’s nation. YGWIT. So, what do these letters stand for? You’ve Got What It Takes. God promised the impossible through a man named Abram, and He made it a realization through a child who was born King; Jesus. So how can I say You’ve Got What It Takes? You and I can do the impossible because God sent His Son. You and I can do the impossible because God sent His Holy Spirit to empower us, and this was after the promised Son gave His life for us. So yes, You’ve Got What It Takes! Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. I’ve been thinking about the future a lot lately. A lot of what I have been reading in the last year or two has to do with this topic. I do think that we can be so focused on the future that we miss what God is doing in the present. With that said I’d like to share with you what I believe about my vision for the future when it comes to His church. For most of our history we have lived in a world we called Christendom, which indicated that we lived in a world where Christianity had a great influence on our culture, but now many believe that we live in a post-Christendom world. So, what does this mean for the church? What does it mean for the disciples who are living on mission? For one thing, I think it means that we must live courageously and to also live with a thriving mentality. I truly believe that this decade is very critical for the church, and thus, for Central as well. I believe that for the church to not just survive, but to thrive, then the disciples of Christ must live on witness. We will need to break free of our comfort zones and live out God’s VISION and not ours. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” These are the words spoken by Jesus after Mary states that she and Joseph were looking for Jesus amid their family caravan on the way back home from the Festival of the Passover. After one day amid the journey home, they realize that Jesus is not with them and they begin to frantically search for Jesus. They initially respond like many parents would in this moment; they begin to retrace their steps. After three days they find Jesus. Where is He? In His Father’s House of course. What is He doing? He’s sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Three days. Hmmm… We’ll get into that more on Sunday. So then, back to the matter at hand; Jesus makes it clear very early on in His life and that He will always be about His Father’s business. Not Joseph, His earthly father, but God the Father in heaven. How about you? Are you about the business of God? Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. Identity theft is a very serious thing, but it’s not a new thing. Now, I am not referring to the type of identity theft that involves someone using your personal/financial information so as to obtain something under your name; I am referring to the efforts of the evil one. Satan is in the business of attempting to steal your identity. You are one who has been endowed with the Spirit or breath of God. This is what we find that makes humanity too unique amid all the created. Where different forms are represented in plant life and the animal kingdom, what makes humanity unique is that we alone are the ones who have been given the very breath of the Creator, and Satan tries to get you to forget that every second of every day. You see, if he can get you to forget that, then he can get you off track long enough to forget who and who’s you are. My challenge to you is that you would not allow Satan to forget who it is that has given you your identity. Your identity does not have to be in the things that you struggle with. You can give those things over to the one who gives your breath. Use that breath to help you call out to Him. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. As the venture in the sermon series for 2020 now makes it way into Luke chapter two, we find ourselves amid a manger. After doing some research, one can find that a manger or trough is a rack for fodder, or a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals. The word comes from the French manger (meaning "to eat"), from Latin mandere (meaning "to chew"). Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising and generally found at stables and farmhouses. They are also used to feed wild animals, e.g., in nature reserves. A similar trough providing drinking water for domestic or non-domestic animals is a watering trough and may be part of a larger watering structure called abreuvoir. So, what’s the point with all this research? Why might we even be interested in knowing this? You see, it comes down to the fact that the moment Jesus encountered the manger that we now view mangers differently. We do not view them the same; we see them differently. They are forever changed. Sound familiar? This kind of sounds like humanity’s story. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. And I choose joy. Let it move you, let it move, let it move you. Oh, I choose joy. Let it move you, let it move, let it move you. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of night. Oh, with You by my side, I'm stepping into the light. I choose joy. Go let it move you, go let it move you, go let it move you. (Partial lyrics to “Joy” by For King and Country) I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy. Down in my heart (where?) Down in my heart (where?) Down in my heart. I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy. Down in my heart (where?) Down in my heart to stay (Partial lyrics to “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy”) In both songs we find an obvious theme; JOY! But do you see what’s also involved in each of these songs? A choice. Now I know that the second song doesn’t use the word “choose”, but it’s there. You see no matter how joy comes into one’s life, it comes by way of a choice. In our choosing to follow Jesus, we are choosing joy. This choice does not mean that life will be a breeze, but more so our choice of trusting in and following Jesus will lead us to discover the one upon whom we are able to lean on amid the valley. Because remember this important fact, on the other side of that valley is a mountain. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. How would you define the word LEGACY? Immediately what comes to mind for me is the song “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns. Let me take this time to share a few lyrics with you concerning this song and our subject theme for 2020. Make it count, leave a mark, build a name for yourself Dream your dreams, chase your heart, above all else Make a name the world remembers But all an empty world can sell is empty dreams I got lost in the light when it was up to me To make a name the world remembers But Jesus is the only name to remember You see, we can seek to do a lot of good things as disciples, but if in the midst of it all we do not give and lead others to remember to Jesus, what have we done? We can open doors, rake leaves, build houses, feed the poor and sit with the sick; but if we do not intentionally give them and lead them to remember Jesus, what have we done? Let’s choose to be a people who is more about doing good things, but let’s choose today to be a people that leads others to remember the only name to remember. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. I remember each time my wife and I went through choosing names for our four children. This was not a process that we just kind of randomly went through. We were very intentional in the names that we chose. The names that they now bear are connected to either people who played pivotal roles in our lives or they were from memorable books that were read in our youth. Either way, these names bring about certain memories. As God’s image-bearers we may not all be named after His Son, Jesus, but we do bear the name or title of Christian. As Christians we go out every day bearing the name of our Savior. As we spend time over the next number of days remembering the birth of the promised Son may we do so in a way that honors the name of one we bear. Sometimes that may mean that we are tasked with the opportunity to change one’s view or understanding of Christ and His Christians. Maybe because of difficult experiences someone has had in the past. What a blessed opportunity it would be to do such a thing. Another thing we get to do as Christians is to help lead others to discover ways to express joy and gratitude and appreciation for all that He has done for us. No matter, may we spend this Christmas season celebrating the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Savior who will come again to claim His own! So what’s in a name? In the name of Christ we find… Life. Hope. Joy. Peace. Comforting. Now that is a gift worth receiving and giving. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. The Bible in 50 Words I wanted to share with you something that I read a few years back. It goes like this. THE BIBLE IN 50 WORDS: God made. Adam bit. Noah arked. Abraham split. Jacob fooled. Joseph ruled. Bush talked. Moses balked. Pharaoh plagued. People walked. Sea divided. Tablets guided. Promise landed. Saul freaked. David peeked. Prophets warned. Jesus born. God walked. Love talked. Anger crucified. Hope died. Love rose. Spirit flamed. Word spread. God remained. This is one way to simplify the Bible in 50 words and my challenge to you is to find the words that best describe His work in your life so that you can have the confidence and passion to share your testimony to others so that they too can partner in God’s mission. Think about it. Pray about it. God bless. While the conversion of the Pharisee of Pharisee’s, Saul of Tarsus, is not the only conversion that takes place in the book of Acts; it is the pivotal conversion given to us by Luke. The story of a man of who once was likely considered to be the textbook image of zeal and piety for the Torah now experiences about as drastic of an about face as one man could undergo when his zeal for the Torah ended up becoming zeal for his mission from God. Everything that takes place after Acts 9 and Acts 10 is impacted by the 180 done in life of the man that history now knows as Paul. This monumental moment in this history of Christianity shows us that we are never too far from God that we cannot experience pivotal change in our life so that we can make pivotal change in the kingdom today. I am reminded of the story of a young man who got into a few fights when he was in school, made some bad personal choices and then found himself hitting rock bottom. I am reminded of this young man because he was once at a place in his life where it seemed like his dream to be a minister, missionary or coach had gone by the wayside. I am reminded of this young and his dreams, because that young man was none other then me. I was not one who went around persecuting Christians, but make no mistake, I had turned away from God. Then, some close friends in my life helped me make a 180. I’m no Paul, but that’s ok, because I would rather look more like Jesus. |
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