Lessons Churches Have Learned from the Economic Crisis

Most agree that the financial crisis has forever altered our economy and culture, and most people agree there are lessons to be learned for ministries and those who lead them. Few of these lessons have been easy; most of them are painful. In an article this week, Mark Holbrook, a provider of banking resources to evangelical ministries across the country, has seen three particularly important lessons emerge.

Early Recognition and Response Matters

Holbrook says churches need to recognize the scope and severity of economic conditions and make prudent, sometimes difficult, decisions sooner rather than later. "Ministries that did this generally weathered the economic storm better than those that just kept hoping things would get better. In the early stages of the economic crisis, we heard some ministry leaders say things such as, 'We believe the Lord will see us through,' or 'Our people will step up.' Some of them realized later that the real message from the Lord was probably more like, 'You need to trim expenses and learn to live on less.' In addition, before the decline, effective ministry was often defined in terms of programs, projects and paid staff; in fact, effectiveness may be more accurately measured by factors such as depth of relationship, relevance of message, and the presence of a spirit of joyful volunteerism.

Financial Management Matters

Holbrook further explained that prudent financial management is a must. "More effective ministry does not mean spending every dollar that comes in. While many ministries have learned the critical importance of maintaining adequate reserves and managing cash flow, others consider it almost a moral responsibility to spend every donated dime. Proverbs 6 suggests a wiser approach: Setting aside funds now for the coming season is part of good stewardship."

Relationships Matter

"Now more than ever, leaders are learning the value of relationships and resources that are available beyond the walls of their ministries," Holbrook added. "No church possesses all the expertise needed to pursue their mission well. We all need to recognize the value of outside resources. Interdependence is biblical, as is consulting with people who know things we don't and have done things we haven't." Holbrook suggested networking with ministry peers to find people better versed at handling difficult ministry tasks, such as renegotiating service contracts, project management, budgeting or financial forecasting.

He told the story of one large Southern California church that began its 2009 budgeting process early in the fall of 2008. Church leadership foresaw budgetary issues in the coming year, so, they developed three budget scenarios—one based on the church's giving history, one based on their best guess given what was happening in the economy, and one based on a worst-case scenario. They ultimately went with a hybrid of the best-guess plan, but they also regularly reviewed and adjusted the budget based on current reality. Along the way, they sought counsel from our ministry development team and others with whom they have relationships. In the end, this church not only weathered the storm, but became stronger in the midst of it.

God Bless, and may the Lord bless us as we attempt to be good stewards of His resources.

(from Church Leaders Intelligence Report)

Practicing the "One Anothers"

Did you know that the phrase "one another" is used over 26 times in the New Testament to describe how we are to relate to one another in the Body of Christ? Often times people ask me, "You don't have to go to church to be a Christian do you?" Or they say something like, "I'm a Christian, I just don't see how the church is relevant to me and my life today." Or one other comment, which I'm afraid the church can easily fall into this trap, "Church is so boring, I just don't get anything out of it."

Well, there may be a grain of truth (or maybe a boulder) in each of those statements, but the reality of Church, as the Body of Christ is this: Church life is absolutely essential for us to practice our Christian life as Jesus and the Apostles taught us.

Why do I say that? Well, there are many reasons, but let me just highlight one today. If we are to practice the "One Anothers" of scripture, there is no way of doing that independent of Church Body Life. Let me just list below those one anothers for your perusal and then maybe you can look up the scripture that explains each one.

The "One Anothers" of the New Testament

-Love one another - John 13:34; 1 John 3:11, 24

-Be Devoted to one another - Romans 12:10

-Honor one another - Romans 12:10

-Live in Harmony with one another - Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8

-Do not Judge one another - Romans 14:13

-Accept one another - Romans 15:7

-Instruct one another - Romans 15:14

-Greet one another - Romans 16:16 (and numerous other scrpture)

-Agree with one another - 1 Corinthians 1:10 (that sounds like a hard one, huh?)

-Serve one another - Galatians 5:13 (you can't do that at home alone)

-Be Patient with one another - Ephesians 4:2

-Be Kind to one another - Ephesians 4:32

-Speak to one another in song - Ephesians 5:19

-Submit to one another - Ephesians 5:21 (ouch! That's not popular)

-Bear with one another - Colossians 3:13

-Forgive one another - Colossians 3:13 (not very easy to do, but necessary)

-Teach & Admonish one another - Colossians 3:16 ( we don't like to be admonished)

-Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 10:25

-Spur one another on toward love and good deeds - Hebrews 10:24

-Do not slander one another - James 4:11

-Offer Hospitality to one another - 1 Peter 4:9

-Be Humble toward one another - 1 Peter 5:5-6

Make sure and go to church this week and see if you can put some of these into practice. God will be glorified, and unbelievers will have one less reason to criticize the church.

Loving one another,

Roger

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE

I recently went on a backpacking trip into the Three Sisters Wilderness with two of my boys (Joshua and Nathan) and two grandsons (Jonas and Maysen). We had a great time and really enjoyed being outdoors in the wilderness.

On one of the days we spent there in the wilderness we decided to climb the South Sister. It is a very rigorous and strenuous climb, although it is not a technical climb at all. So we thought we could take my grandsons up with us (4yrs old and 6 yrs old). It was difficult and there was a lot of tears shed in the attempt to reach the top. They made it a long ways, much further than I expected. In fact they made it almost to the very top, but eventually it was too much for the little ones, so their dads turned back with their boys.

But for Grandpa, it was too tantalizing for me to turn back, since the top of the mountain was within my reach. We had been climbing for about four hours, and I knew that I was only about a half hour from the peak.

So I determined to reach the top while the others turned back. It is always exhilarating to reach the top, but at the same time, terribly disappointing to do it without the rest of the climbing party. I ended up on top of the mountain all alone, so it was bitter/sweet, but it was quite a thrill indeed.

It always reminds me of Jesus' Transfiguration on the mountaintop in Matthew 17. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on top of a high mountain. "There he was transfigured before them in all the glory of God himself. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes shone as white as light. Also, the prophets Moses and Elijah showed up and began to talk with Jesus."

What an incredible moment, so incredible that Peter suggests that they build some shelters and just stay there forever. He has seen a glimpse of heaven, and he doesn't want to ever leave. But Jesus shows them that no matter how glorious the top of the mountain may be, we must always return to the normal day to day living where our ministry can really make a difference in the lives of people.

Mountain top experiences are awesome, exciting, exhilarating and enjoyable (they also take a lot of hard work, sweat and effort), but you can't stay in a mountaintop experience, you have to come down off the mountain and get back to work, doing the will and purpose of God in "the trenches" of life.

Love you all and God Bless

Roger

Seven Keys to Lifelong Love

From Dr. James Dobson, Ph. D.

For anyone contemplating marriage, here are seven straightforward recommendations that will increase the chance of living happily ever after.

1. A Sunday school teacher once gave me some advice that I never forgot. He said, "Don't marry the person you think you can live with. Marry the one you can't live without."

There's great truth in this advice. Marriage can be difficult even when two people are passionately in love with one another, but it is murder when they don't even have that foundation to build on.

2. Don't marry someone who has characteristics that you feel are intolerable. You may plan to change him or her in the future, but that probably won't happen. Behavior runs in deep channels that were cut during early childhood, and it is very difficult to alter them. In order to change a deeply ingrained pattern, you have to build a sturdy dam, dig another canal and reroute the river in the new direction. That effort is rarely successful over the long haul. Therefore, if you can't live with a characteristic that shows up during courtship, it may plague you for the rest of your life.

For example, a person who drinks every night is not likely to give up that habit after the honeymoon. If he is foolish with money, or is basically unkempt, or tends to get violent when irritated, or is extremely selfish — these are red flags that you should not ignore. What you see is what you get! Of course, we all have flaws, and I'm not suggesting that a person has to be perfect to be a candidate for marriage. Rather, my point is that you have to decide if you can tolerate a quirky behavior for the rest of your life, because that's how long you may have to deal with it.

3. Do not marry impulsively! I can think of no better way to mess up your life than to leap into this critical decision without careful thought and prayer. Remember, the dating relationship is designed to conceal information, not reveal it. Both partners put on their best faces for the one they seek to attract. They guard secrets that might be a turn-off. Therefore, many newlyweds get a big surprise during the first year of married life. I suggest that you take at least a year to get beyond the facade and into the inner character of the person.

4. If you are a deeply committed Christian, do not allow yourself to become "unequally yoked" with an unbeliever. You may expect to win your spouse to the Lord at some future date, and that does happen on occasion. But to count on it is risky at best, and foolhardy at worst.

Again, this is the question that must be answered: "Just how critical is it that my husband (or wife) shares my faith?" If it is essential and non-negotiable, as Scripture tells us it should be for believers, then that matter should be given high priority in the decision to marry.

5. Do not move in with a person before marriage. To do so is a bad idea for many reasons. First, it is immoral and a violation of God's law. Second, it undermines a relationship and often leads to divorce.

Studies show that couples who live together before marriage have a 50 percent greater chance of divorce than those who don't — based on 50 years of data. Those who cohabit also have less satisfying and more unstable marriages.

6. Don't get married too young. Those who wed between 14 and 17 years of age are twice as likely to divorce as couples who wait until their 20s. Making it as a family requires some characteristics that come with maturity, such as selflessness, stability and self-control. It's best to wait for their arrival.

7. Finally, the ultimate secret of lifelong love is this: Simply put, the stability of marriage is a by-product of an iron-willed determination to make it work. If you choose to marry, enter into that covenant with the resolve to remain committed to each other for life. Never threaten to leave your mate during angry moments. Don't allow yourself to consider even the possibility of divorce. Calling it quits must not become an option for those who want to go the distance!

Taken from, "Seven Keys to Lifelong Love" appeared in Focus on the Family magazine. Copyright © 1995 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured

A PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY

Billy Graham prayed a prayer for our country that, in a very short and concise way, really says it all. Billy Graham is one evangelist that has always had an incredibly clean record. He has never been caught doing something wrong, not even any false charges have been brought against him. He is a man of the highest integrity.

So read his prayer for our nation, and see if it isn't a prayer that you too can join in on.

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good" (Isaiah 5:20), but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and have called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he had ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "One nation under God!"

God Bless,
Roger

The Cost of Faith in Christ

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
--Jim Elliot (Missionary to South American Indians who lost his life at the hands of those he was reaching out to; from the book "Through Gates of Splednor" by his wife Elisabeth Elliot)

"Whenever Christ calls us, his call leads us to death."
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer (A pastor in Germany who resisted Hitler and the Nazi regime, and was ultimately killed for it, from his book "The Cost of Discipleship")

"Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
--The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 3:12)

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
-- Jesus Christ (John 12:23-26)

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
--The Apostle Paul (written while in chains and held in prison by the Roman government, Philippians 1:21)

May your life be a testimony to the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on our behalf.

Love and Blessings,
Roger

PLEASING GOD, NOT MEN!

One of the most challenging Scriptures in the Epistles is Galatians 1:10 when Paul says, "Am I now trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Paul is writing in the context of preaching the full Gospel. Parts of the Gospel message were offensive to listeners. And it required great courage for him to preach the whole Gospel and not just the parts that were easy to swallow.

As a servant of Christ, we are called to please one person - Jesus Christ. How easy it is for us (especially those of us who are natural people pleasers) to seek the accolades of people. Let's face it, we all appreciate an encouraging word or a "well done" slap on the back from others. The rub comes when things are not going so well in our ministries. Attendance is down, giving is down, or there is a critical spirit in the church or the leadership.

This is when the temptation arises to try and change things, to make things better. Later we realize we are operating more in the flesh than the spirit. And all our efforts and energy have not generated a lasting change, but merely placated some of the nay sayers.

Thankfully, when we choose to please God and Him alone, we will please those who are seeking the Lord as well. But there will be times when we can't make everyone happy. It's during those times that we need great courage to walk the path of faith, choosing to please the only One who gave up everything for us.

May you be blessed as you seek the Lord,

Roger

Adapted from Jimi Williams, worshiptogether.com

Uncertain Time, Certain God

Have you prepared for a journey, studied your map and still made a wrong turn…finding yourself in an unknown place? Confusing, wasn’t it? Maybe even a little frightening.

"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." - Daniel 9:3

In Babylon, the Jewish people were in exile and Darius had just become king. Change, confusion and probably fear were in the wind. Yet Daniel knew the Scriptures; he knew what the prophet Jeremiah had foretold. He had the road map for the future of the people of Israel.

So Daniel did what was his norm. He turned to the Lord. He interceded for the Israelites from his own determined depths. He fasted and put on the clothes of mourning. He petitioned the Lord for His own sake to have mercy on the people and on Jerusalem.

Perhaps change has you befuddled; maybe your neighbor is frightened. Won’t you be a Daniel in this time? Make God’s Word and prayer your norm. As Daniel interceded for Israel, you can intercede with determination for God’s mercy on our nation.

Spend some time today praying for God's hand to be upon our nation, leading our leaders, and reviving the church to rise up and lead our nation back to God and His Word.

Love you all,

Roger

TOE NAILS ARE FOR SISSIES!

That seemed to be the theme for the week as we traveled to the Willamette Valley, more specifically Eugene, OR for the Eugene Marathon, and all the surrounding activities in Eugene.With all the training Sherrill did, with her good friend Judi Brooks, it became a reality; toe nails do take quite a beating in walking or running 26.2 miles in a short period of time.
I also got a chance to stretch my lets out a little, I participated in a 5K run (related to the Marathon festivities) on Saturday, the day before the Marathon. Yes, it took me 35 min. and 43 seconds to run 3.1 miles, but I was glad to have done it under 36 minutes.

But the main focus of the trip, and the majority of our time was dedicated to Sherrill and Judi completing the full marathon (lots of people do a Half-Marathon that same day). It started out a very rainy Eugene day as Sherrill and Judi took off from the starting line.As they progressed through the distance and the day the weather got better and better.
It even finally got so much better that the ground dried out and and they were able to get down to their normal walking clothes.
Finally they came across the finish line in record setting time (for them). They had hoped to finish in 6 hours and 30 minutes. But they did better than that, they finished in 6 hours and 12 minutes, which figures out to about 14:12 per mile. What a great accomplishment!
They were very pleased and excited (especially glad to be done), and we were all very proud of them too. Way to go ladies!It was a fun day, and with all these runners and walkers around, and all the dedication to physical fitness it reminded me of the what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-ff,
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

With all the hard work it takes to be in the physical condition to do a Marathon, it makes you stop and think of how hard we should all be working to achieve the "spiritual fitness" we are called to be in to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe we can't all get into the physical condition to run a marathon, but we are all called to be spiritually fit, and to work hard, through "strict training" to prepare ourselves for the ultimate crown, the crown of life!

God Bless,
Roger

The Importance of Prayer

"In God’s name I beseech you let prayer nourish your soul as your meals nourish your body. Let your fixed seasons of prayer keep you in God’s presence through the day, and His presence frequently remembered though it be an ever-fresh spring of prayer.

Such a brief, loving recollection of God renews a man’s whole being, quiets his passions, supplies light and counsel in difficulty, gradually subdues the temper, and causes him to possess his soul in patience, or rather gives it up to the possession of God."

—François Fénelon, 17th century theologian and writer

May you be blessed as you seek the Lord today in prayer.

Roger

An Historical View of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Had Christ not risen we could not believe Him to be what He declared Himself when He "made Himself equal with God." But He has risen in the confirmation of all His claims. By it alone, but by it thoroughly, is He manifested as the very Son of God, who has come into the world to reconcile the world to Himself. It is the fundamental fact in the Christian's unwavering confidence in "all the words of this life."
— Benjamin B. Warfield, pastor and theologian


Benjamin B. Warfield (Nov. 5, 1851 - Feb. 16, 1921) was the principal of Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. Some conservative Presbyterians consider him to be the last of the great Princeton theologians before the split in 1929 that formed Westminster Semiary and the Othodox Presbyterian Church.

For a short time in 1876 he preached in Presbyterian churches in Concord, Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio as a "supply pastor" — the latter church calling him to be their ordained minister (which he politely refused). In late 1876 Warfield and his new wife moved to Germany where he studied under Ernst Luthardt and Franz Delitzsch. Warfield was the assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland for a short time. Then he became an instructor at Western Theological Seminary, which is now called Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained on April 26, 1879.

In 1881 Warfield wrote a joint article with A. A. Hodge on the inspiration of the Bible. It drew attention because of its scholarly and forceful defense of the inerrancy of the Bible. In many of his writings, Warfield attempted to demonstrate that the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy was simply orthodox Christian teaching, and not merely a concept invented in the nineteenth century. His passion was to refute the liberal element within Presbyterianism and within Christianity at large.

Throughout his life, he continued to write books and articles, which are still widely read today.

May we today, in 2009 continue to stand on the foundational principles of the Christian faith, declaring that Jesus Christ is exactly who he claimed to be: equal to God the Father, God in the flesh, the very Son of God who provides the only way to salvation and everlasting life.

Just as we read in the Holy Scriptures: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Belive, and obey! God Bless,

Roger

PRAYER: The Big Picture

Do you ever get frustrated, discouraged, or disappointed in prayer? I know I have experienced thoughts like: "Does God really hear me? Does He care? Am I just fooling myself that prayer makes a difference?" Those thoughts arise in most of us when going through very difficult times, and not receiving the answers we hoped for, or expected. Well, listen to what C.S. Lewis has to say about prayer, and maybe that would be helpful for you to see the "BIG PICTURE" regarding prayer.

Prayer is either nothing more than an illusion, or a real personal contact between developing, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly whole and complete PERSON (God Almighty).

Prayer in the sense of petition (that is asking for things) is only a small part of what makes up prayer.
Confession and a sense remorse for the wrong we have done is truly the threshold of prayer.
Adoration and worship is the "sanctuary" of prayer.
Experiencing the presence, vision, and enjoyment of God are its bread and wine. At that moment of prayer God actually shows Himself to us.

The fact that He answers prayer is obvious, and not the most important point. The most important point is that He reveals Himself to us. What He does, within the context of relationship, helps us to learn who He is.
(This is my interpretation of what C.S. Lewis says in "The Efficacy of Prayer" in The World's Last Night)

Basically, what I believe C.S. Lewis is saying here is that there is so much more to prayer than just making requests of God. Clearly the Bible supports the action of going to God to make requests, but don't you think God already knows what it is you want? So why pray?

We pray to acknowledge God. We pray to experience God. We pray to thank Him, to worship Him, and give Him glory. We pray to develop a relationship with God. We pray to be in His presence, to begin seeing things through His eyes, to gain His perspective. In the process, He DOES hear our prayers, and immediately begins the process of answering those prayers.

BUT! We have to be careful we don't treat God like some kind of genie in a bottle. Oh how often we wish that we could have a "golden lamp" like Aladdin, and make whatever request we like, and always instantly have what it is we want. But God isn't like that. He loves us, and is developing us, helping us become mature and healthy believers, not a bunch of spoiled brats.

So, know that God does hear you. Know that God is good all the time, and that He really does care about you. He already knows what it is you want, what it is you need, but He requires that we approach him in prayer to achieve the ultimate end: A mature believer in Jesus Christ, living for His purposes, living a life that is pleasing to Him, and bringing glory to His name.

As the Apostle Paul prays for us in Colossians 1:9-12...
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light."

That's what God wants for us above all else. Yes, He does answer prayer! But He wants us to become mature in Christ first and foremost.

God Bless, and enjoy your time with God in prayer today.
Roger

The Truth Project

Have you heard of The Truth Project yet? Wow!!! What a great study on understanding our world from a "biblical worldview."

Did you know that the vast majority of Christians in America today DO NOT live their lives from a biblical worldview? Maybe you don't even know what that means. Let me expound on that for a minute. A "biblical worldview" means seeing the world through the lens of the Bible; understanding the word of God in such a way that all things you see, do, and say are influenced by the will and direction of God Himself.

Everyone has a worldview, we all operate in the world through some belief system. The problem comes when we fall for lies versus living according to truth. A worldview is basically truth claims about the world we live in. Listen to the following video clip from The Truth Project about the definition of worldview. The speakers are some of the greatest biblical scholars of our time: R.C. Sproul, Ravi Zacharias, Os Guinness, and Dr. Del Tackett.

Jesus said, "For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:37).

A pretty bold statement indeed! Jesus says if you are on the side of truth you listen to ME! Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth and the life..." (John 14:6). Jesus is saying that he is the truth, and the only truth that is real truth is found in him.

A lot of people define truth in many different ways, there are competing truth claims all around us. Every day we have to make a decision to believe the truth as it is presented to us by the Bible, and Jesus Christ, or the opposing truth claims of other religions, or the secular world.

The sad news is that the vast majority of people who call themselves Christian today do not necessarily live their lives according to the truth as it is presented to us by God's word. The lies of the world are constantly pulling us away from God's perfect plan for life, and leading us down a path of destruction.

God has spoken the truth into every aspect of our daily living. The truth of God is not just for the church, it is for every aspect of life. Whether we are talking about science, education, sex, work, law, government, family, or the arts and media. It doesn't matter what aspect of life you are in, or speak of, God has given us guidelines and directions for how to live and operate in that area of life. If we ignore God's direction and do it our own way we are destined for disaster.

The Bible says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way..." (Isaiah 53:6). Our nation today is running pell mell away from God, forgetting God, and doing things our own way. If we in the church do not wake up and impact our culture positively for God, with the teachings and directions of Jesus, we are in for a very dark time.

May the church wake up and become the powerful influence in our culture that God intended. Find a Truth Project group near you and get involved in making a difference: for yourself, your family, your church, community, the nation, and ultimately the world!

God Bless you as you seek the Truth!

Roger

Praying For Our Nation

Pray for wisdom for President Obama and his team as they discern how our nation will remain vigilant in the war on terrorism.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." --Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Lord, we praise and thank You for the peace we have in knowing that You are sovereign and in control of all the affairs of mankind. In our concerns for the world around us we thank You for Your kind and watchful care over all things—even events and circumstances that trouble us. Lord, we thank You that when we commit these things to You in prayer, You will bring us peace and hope in the knowledge that You are aware of them and have all things in hand.

Mighty God, we ask You today to help President Obama and those serving under him to be ever watchful of the threat of terrorism against our nation. Give them insight as to how to respond to prevalent and ever-changing threats, O God, and help them to do all that is right and necessary to properly protect our citizens and best utilize the men and women of our military against terrorists. Help and strengthen the President and his team, Lord, and encourage them to seek You as they face this issue. In Christ’s name, amen.

Praying Together,
Roger
(taken from, http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/100days/48.html)

The Most Important Things

Of all the commandments of God, which is the most important? Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' there is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28, 30-31

Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

The most important thing in life is love: love for God, and love for others. Obviously we are to love and honor our parents, love our husband/wife, love our children, and other extended family members. That usually seems pretty easy, as we are very committed, quite naturally, to love our own blood/our family.

But God says first and foremost we are to love God; and not just emotionally, or conceptually, or religiously. No, we are to love God with every fiber in our body; heart, soul, mind and strength. The most important thing in life is to be in a loving relationship with God. NOTHING... (let me repeat that)... NOTHING is more important! And please understand, I am not talking about religion.

I often hear people say, "I'm not religious" or "Well, you are just the religious type." Or they may ask me, "Are you religious?" My answer to that question is unequivocally, "NO! I am not religious!" Christianity (although it is identified as one of the major "religions" of the world) is not about being religious, it is about living in a personal, living relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ.

In John 17:3 Jesus says, "This is eternal life: that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Again, nothing is more important in life than getting to know God intimately and personally through a loving, personal relationship. Our salvation is dependent upon the reality of getting to know God in that way. Not "knowing about God," but knowing Him intimately and personally through a loving relationship very much like knowing my wife/husband. It isn't sexual, but it is every bit as personal and intimate.

So, NOTHING is more important than loving God. But Jesus went on to say, a second commandment is like it, or equal to it, and that is to love your neighbor as you would love yourself. So of equal importance is to love others as much as you love and take care of yourself. In reality, I think we all have to admit that loving your spouse, loving your mom and dad, and loving your children and grand-children is actually loving yourself. It always take some effort to love others as much as you love yourself, but when they are your own blood it usually isn't too hard to do that.

But Jesus said we are love our "neighbor" as ourselves. That means we are to love others, not being limited to our own family. We are supposed to actively express our love to others OUTSIDE our own families. That was why God established the Church. It is a training ground for learning to love others who are different from ourselves, who are not necessarily a part of our own blood relatives. As we learn to love others in the church, we learn to love others who are not even a part of the believing community (because "others" or "neighbor" includes non-Christians as well as other Christians).

Life is all about love. Because God is love, the most important lesson He wants you to learn is how to love. As we learn to love others, we become more like Him. Love is the very foundation of every command God has given us. "The whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love others as you love yourself." Galatians 5:14 LB

God wants us to love others, but He is particularly concerned that we learn to love others in His family (the Church). Why is God so concerned that we give special attention to other believers in the church? Because God wants His family to be known for its love for one another more than anything else. God said our love for one another, not our doctrinal beliefs, is our greatest witness to the world that God is real.

So I hope you are committed in this life to the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. We are called to love God, to love one another in God's family, and to love those outside the family of God as well. Step outside yourself today and begin to demonstrate that you love others as much as you love yourself. As it says in 1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

Love,
Roger

HAVE YOU BEEN WITH JESUS?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Have you spent time with him in relationship? If you have, and if you do, it should be noticeable to those around you. Just as with the apostles, your relationship with Jesus should be apparent to all you come in contact with, even unbelievers.

What are the characteristics of a person who has been with Jesus?

1) When you spend time with Jesus, you become more like him. You will exhibit the "Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

People will observe there is something different about you from others. And especially if you are a new believer, your friends and family will begin to observe that you are different. They will say things like, "You've changed. What has come over you?" They will notice a more loving spirit in you. You will be noticeably more patient, kind, and gentle. And you will begin to demonstrate more self-control than before.

2) Also, a person who has been with Jesus will boldly share their faith:
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). In the power of the Holy Spirit it will become your greatest joy to share your faith in Jesus with others. When you have been with Jesus, it will become a relationship that you can't hide from others, even if you wanted to.

3) A person who has been with Jesus will be a person who knows the Scriptures.
In order to be in relationship with Jesus, you must spend time with him in his word. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31). You will begin to surprise yourself that you actually know what the word of God says about circumstances and situations you are dealing with in your daily life. And you will begin to apply those principles and teachings and actually start to live accordingly.

4) The book of Acts shows us that a person who has been with Jesus will also be a person of prayer:
"So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord...And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:24, 31). You will begin to see God work through the power of prayer, and you will gain confidence in God that He actually does hear your prayers, and answers them.

If you share your faith, if you know the Scriptures, and if you are a person of prayer, people will take note that you have been with Jesus. Then you will begin to have a real impact for the Gospel of Christ within your sphere of influence.

May God bless you with His presence,
Roger

You are the LIGHT of the World!

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

The following is a beautiful poem by Anne Johnson Flint

LIGHT
His lamp am I, to shine where He shall say,

And lamps are not for sunny rooms,

Nor for the light of day;

But for dark places of the earth,

Where shame and crime and wrong have birth;

Or for the murky twilight gray

Where wandering sheep have gone astray;

Or where the light of faith grows dim,

And souls are groping after Him.

And sometimes a flame we find,

Clear shining through the night

So bright we do not see the lamp,

But only see the light:

So may I shine -- His light the flame,

that men may glorify His name.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

That is our calling...to be a light for truth in a dark world. May you bring light into someones dark world today.

Love and blessings,
Roger

Hearing from God

Pray for President Obama to keep the vital spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and prayer, that he may hear and obey God’s leading.
"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." -- John 8:47 (NIV)

"What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!"

The words from this hymn, Lord, remind us once again of the incredible truth that You listen and hear us when we pray. In Your Word we read that you often saved godly kings from their enemies. They were leaders who knew how important it was to listen to you and obey your leading and commands. From these true stories we learn You surely do listen and respond when we call on You. We thank and praise You for this O God.

We ask, Lord, that You would give the same realization to the leader of our nation, President Barack Obama. Encourage and equip him, O God, to maintain a daily habit of searching Your ways through the Bible…and of searching Your heart through prayer. Let President Obama speak to You, O mighty God, and may You respond to his praises and requests. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.

I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.
—Abraham Lincoln

As we lift up our nation and our President in prayer each day we can count on the fact that God will hear our prayers and answer them.

God Bless, Roger

PRAYING THROUGH THE FIRST 100 DAYS

Pray for godly influence at every level of the White House
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.—I Peter 5:8(NIV)

Holy and beautiful Lord God, You are glorious, righteous and good. You are the source of all goodness and truth, and there is nothing that is good or true that did not have its source in You. You dwell in unfathomable light and glory, and darkness cannot abide with Your presence.

Lord, we know that we have an enemy—an enemy of our souls that would love to gain a foothold in the halls of influence and power, particularly in the White House and the West Wing. We ask today that godliness and holiness will be the order of the day every day, at every level in the White House. May godly character be valued and sought out by those who lead our nation, so You may be glorified and Your purposes served.

In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

www.presidentialprayerteam.org

Pray For Our President

Pray for President Obama to have the spiritual support and nurture needed to excel in office

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. —II Timothy 3:16(NIV)

Heavenly Father, we praise You today for Your active involvement in the writing of Scripture, an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. It is our life manual, by which we can know how to live a righteous life, through Your direction, that is pleasing to You.

Knowing this, Lord, we now intercede for President Obama, that You would place men and women in his life that would teach and, when needed, correct him from the pages of the Bible. Help President Obama to be open and desirous of this instruction, and guide him, O God, to seek the Scriptures for himself so that he may have the principles and wisdom necessary to excel as our president. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen. (taken from www.presidentialprayerteam.org. Praying Through the First 100 Days. Day 16)

Today (Thursday, Feb. 5) President Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast. In personal terms, he talked about the role of faith in his life, from his Muslim-born father and a mother skeptical of organized religion to his own embrace of Christianity as a young man.

"I had a father who was born a Muslim but became an atheist, grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of organized religion, even as she was the kindest, most spiritual person I've ever known. She was the one who taught me as a child to love, and to understand, and to do unto others as I would want done," he said.

President Obama planned to sign an executive order later in the day creating the White House Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It would expand and refocus the faith-based office founded by former President George W. Bush.

The president will also appoint Joshua DuBois, a 26-year-old Pentecostal minister who headed religious outreach for Obama's Senate office and later his campaign, to lead the partnerships office and name 25 religious and secular leaders to a new advisory board.

May the Lord God Almighty bless us and guide us as we go through a very difficult time in our nation.

Love you all,

Pastor Roger

Every Knee Will Bow

"When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." Exodus 7:5 (NLT).

Teaching the truth of God's word to an unbelieving world is a hard thing to do. In the biblical story found in Exodus, God sends His servant, Moses, to free the Israelites from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.

Egypt does not know Jehovah God, and therefore sets up it's own idols of worship. Pharaoh even ventures to ask Moses, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him...?" (Exodus 5:2).

When people, in pride, look to their own strength, or to gods other they the one true God, God's intention is to humble them and cause them to look to Him, whether they want to or not. When His judgments thunder over their heads, darken their skies, destroy their harvests, and slay their firstborn sons, they begin to catch a glimpse of Jehovah God's power.

God allows such things to happen in the earth so as to bring skeptics to their knees. We don't need to be worried about the hardness of mankind's hearts in rejecting God and His ways, for the LORD can take care of His own name, and He will do so with great power and effectiveness.

The salvation of His own people was another potent means of making Egypt know that the God of Israel was Jehovah, the living and true God. No Israelite died by any one of the ten plagues. None of His chosen people were drowned in the Red Sea.

The day will come when the salvation of God's people (the church), and the glorification of all true believers will make even the most obstinate of God's enemies acknowledge that Jehovah, is the one true God.

Romans 14:11 it says, "As surely as I live," says the LORD, "Every knee will bow before me; and every tongue will confess to God."

We also read in Philippians 2:10, "Therefore God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Just as we sing in that wonderful song, "Come, now is the Time to Worship,"

One day every tongue will confess you are God,
One day every knee will bow!
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
who gladly choose you now.

The day is coming when believer and unbeliever; Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Atheist will all bow their knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is God and there is no other. Those who refuse to submit to him now will one day regret that decision when they finally discover they he is undeniably the Lord of Hosts, the King of kings, and the LORD of lords.
They will suffer great loss as they bow their knees. But believers will be saved, and be rejoicing in his presence and worshiping his holy name.

Pray today that revival will sweep across this land saving thousands, millions, and even billions of souls for all eternity. May the convicting power of the Holy Spirit go forth through the teaching, preaching and encouraging word of His people. May more and more discover the joy of bowing their knees to Jesus as LORD today, rather than the shame and suffering they will feel when bowing to Him when it is too late.

Praying for mankind together,
Roger