What Did You Learn This Past Sunday?
We have visited a good number of churches since coming to West MI and each has had some great teachings. Yesterday was not only another great one, it was one of those messages that really stood out for several different reasons. Can’t recap the entire thing, but one point really made me think. Christ came to not only save us free from sin, but to set us free from fear. I began to see fear is a form of not believing. Anyway, the point: We live in one of the richest, most powerful countries in all of human history. Yet for all of our money and security and so on, we are some of the most fearful people on the planet.
Think about what makes the headlines, the economy, H1N1, terrorism, unemployment, the uninsured. It’s on the minds of adults and children alike. But why? God has said, if I am for you, who can be against you? YOU. the individual. God is on your side. So much so, He sent His Son to save us.
When the world gets overwhelming, we need to remember just that – God is for us. Even in the worst case scenario or the pinnacle of confusion, we have a hope that is undeniable. That hope gives us so much to be thankful for.
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
We had a chance to preview this movie last fall, and while there is a great start to get people starting to think things deeper, there was one thing missing. One can’t help but see it was a big glaring omission.
While I don’t think you would find many who would disagree that we need to love, respect, and treat others with kindness, the question becomes what love and respect looks like. When you really love and respect someone, you will tell them the truth. For instance if Chris is wearing an ugly shirt, I will tell him it doesn’t look flattering. If I cook a dish that Chris really doesn’t like, Chris will tell me. Respectfully, and honestly, but never avoiding the truth. If you omit the truth, you open yourself up to more problems. Chris realizes the shirt isn’t flattering some other way, and now realizes I was lying and He looks foolish. Or I make the dish again thinking Chris likes it…and you can fill in the rest
“Jesus Save Us from Your Followers” takes us up to the edge of the pool, but we never really jump in. You can’t dangle your toes in the pool and call it swimming. While it can be uncomfortable to share the truth, it is always best in order to avoid further problems. What people trapped in the homosexual lifestyle do not need to “like us”. They need to know that their problem is not being gay. There problem is that they have not learned to trust and believe God. Their sin is ultimately unbelief. But there is hope. We too at one time lived in unbelief.
Today’s JQ verse is so perfect: John 3:17. “God sent His son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him”. He came to “Testify to the Truth”, John 18:37.
God does not ever just turn a blind eye to sin. But He does offer salvation from the sin that separates us from Him. How can someone receive that salvation if they see no need of it? At the end of the day, the evangelical Christian and the homosexual both walk away feeling better about themselves. But there was no “transformation by the renewing of the mind” talked about in Romans.
Our goal, as Christians, is not to get people to like us. Jesus said, “They will hate you, but remember they hated me first”. Jesus did not want us to concern ourselves with being liked by others. Our goal must always be to point others to the salvation from the sin that holds them captive. This is how we love our enemies. Dan Merchant never leaves his comfort zone of -if they like me, maybe they’ll like Jesus too. The people he spoke to all walked away still dead in their sin, with no desire to escape the bondage that separates them from God.
Holland/Zeeland, MI
Holland, MI falls in the number 2 slot for “Happiest Place to Live” and ABC hits the streets of Holland to find out how this can be. The harsh winter, the high unemployment – how can people still be happy? ABC correspondent, Diane Sawyer, almost seemed dumbfounded. But, locals by and large know the answer.
It gets back to– Not Letting Your Circumstances Dictate Your Attitude. If we all did that, Columbus never would have sailed the seas, we would have no anesthesia during operations, and we would not be swimming in Bibles, able to read God’s word at a whim. Those who accomplished these great things did so in some of the most adverse oppressive conditions.
So what really gives you happiness? Well the word Happiness actually comes from an old Scandinavian term “hap” or happenstance. Happiness is the feeling you get from the situation around you. But “Joy” is something altogether different. The Bible talks about that “joy unspeakable”. In other words, you are joyful, but you can’t really explain it since your circumstances may be less than desirable. Joy unspeakable does not come from being in ideal circumstances. Rather it comes from God, as a gift. That joy, or happiness as some call it, comes in spite of unemployment or harsh winters. The world does not understand it. But from that joy come things like kindness, generosity, and putting others first. An attitude of looking after others instead of self is what puts places like Holland at #2 in the nation.
Holding on to that Biblical World View, believing in God rather than man, and knowing that He is our provision. Not government, not our employer. God has been known to provide in miraculous ways. It may be through the church, a neighbor, or a friend, or even by sending bread directly from heaven. No matter how he chooses to provide, we know He loves us as a perfect loving father loves his children. In love there is no fear. No fear for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Our first trip to AZ since moving to MI
Monday morning was the most tired we have been in a long time. We had a performance in Tucson over the weekend. To save money, we booked a flight with a layover in Dallas on our trip back to Michigan. We don’t understand! It’s like one of those math word problems that is really more of a riddle. You know…
A plane leaves Grand Rapids at 12:15 p.m. est.
It stops for a connecting flight in Chicago and
arrives in Phoenix at 6:30 p.m. mountain time.
If the travelers stop at DFW International airport on the return trip,
what is the probability they will never see Michigan again?
Bonus Question: Taking two flights totaling 5 1/2 hours in the air is LESS expensive than one 2:45 minute flight. How is this possible?
Nonetheless, we enjoyed Arizona immensely, but we are back in the snow and lovin’ every minute of it. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
Celebrate the New Launch
Celebrate the New Launch of Because I Believe
Thursday Night, November 5th at 6:00
at Christ Community Church
in the Oasis Room
7801 E Kenyon Dr
in Tucson
As you have probably heard us say, one of our favorite things to do is to get together with people and share in the Joy of the Lord. This Thursday at Christ Community Church in Tucson, AZ will be another opportunity for us to get together with you. It’s a Kick-off Rally for the Because I Believe ministry and everyone is invited. It’s a free event, starting at 6p.m.
We would love to see you. It will be an evening of comedy, music, and we’ll share with you the vision of Because I Believe and how you can be a part of it.
No need to RSVP, Come as you are!
There will be Music, Laughter and Fun with Chris & Emilee
Frozen Oasis
The only possible way for this Scandinavian duo to appreciate cold and ice even more, is to get out on a sheet of it in the middle of the desert. Arcadia Ice Arena (in Arcadia area of Phx of all places) is a frozen oasis in the midst of the heat. Emilee does her lame Dorothy Hamill while Chris pretends he’s Wayne Gretzke. It’s a great way to work off the stress of the day. Oh, and if you ever get the chance to go, check out the really cool dasher boards promoting Because I Believe. If everyone spent a couple hours at the ice rink, it would be the ultimate global cooling trend!
December will be time for a fabulous Christmas party on the ice. You’re invited, details coming soon!
Arena owners, Jim & Lori Rogers with Chris & Emilee
The Thought Police Are Here
How shall the righteous live? Last week both the House and Senate passed the hate crimes legislation which includes sexual orientation. President Obama will undoubtedly sign it. This is the first time in the history of America that thought will be considered illegal and a punishable offense. (Orwell’s 1984?) This legislation specifically targets Bible Believing Christians who stand on God’s Word. May God grant us the strength to continue to stand firm in the love offered to us through Christ. For we know that God considers homosexuality an abomination (Romans 1:26 & 27 and countless others) and we know that his plans for us are for good and not ever for harm. Let us never be afraid to help others to find His good pleasing perfect will.
When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,” and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself… Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Ezekiel 33:8-9,11
The Need For Speed
Chris & Major Tim Smith
What a way to end the week! As Emilee doesn’t ever feel the “Need For Speed”, I headed off to Luke AFB with Jake, Hannah, and a few friends at the invitation of Major Tim Smith. We spent the better part of the day touring the base and some of the jets. Understandably, we couldn’t take any pictures inside, but we ultimately lived the dream of flying United States Air Force fighter jets. Okay, we didn’t actually fly the jets, but we did the next best thing. We played war games in the flight simulators. Yes the very ones our service men and women use in training. It was AAAWWWESOOOME!
To all the people who serve in all branches of the Armed Forces. We salute you. We love you. We owe you a debt that could never be repaid. And so thank you and God Bless.
Top Guns
Homeschooling Rocks!
Stormy
Frazzled was an understatement when Chris walked in the house and told me the monsoon toppled our tree in the front yard. My first thought was, “but I’ve done everything that I know how to do”. I fertilized, trimmed, and moved the waterlines out to get the roots to go deep. But all my thought and care wasn’t enough for the little tree now dubbed “Stormy”.
But in all things God is demonstrating Himself. Stormy looked great above ground. Even with everything I tried to make Stormy grow big and strong, his roots just kept wrapping around themselves. They couldn’t break through the hard ground. And so it is with us. God showers us with everything we need, but even if we look great and all together on the outside, if we stay wrapped up in ourselves, the winds and storms of life will topple us. The dry spells we go through can be very difficult, but if we persevere and break through the hard ground, we will be stronger for it.
We have a God who knows when we need watering and when we need pruning. When we need comforting and when we need to go through some hardening off. Trust Him and be thankful in all things.
Mother-In-Law
Over the course of your life, you will put on many hats. I like to refer to this more as slipping on many pairs of shoes. Initially we start off life wearing our “baby” shoes. It is during those first few formidable years, we become known to someone as “friend” and we start learning how to walk in someone else’s. We will wear the comfy shoes of cousin, classmate, or neighbor. Then the romantic shoes of fiance, husband, or wife.
There are some less comfortable shoes like the shoes of co-worker, or supervisor, but no shoes have the potential to pinch like putting on the “In-Law” shoes. You guessed it – I am now a Mother-in-law. I have very recently put on those shoes, and boy are they big shoes to fill. So I am thinking of going back to the story of Naomi and Ruth. Even though mine is a son-in-law, I’m thinking there HAS TO be some grains of truth as to how Naomi and Ruth developed such a loving in-law relationship. Particularly how Naomi related to Ruth.
A few days ago, Chris- in his loving wisdom- pointed out that you can rearrange the letters in the word “Mother-in Law” to spell “Woman Hitler”. OK. That can be funny, but it did give me food for thought. In all relationships, there is a potential to build up – like Naomi – or to tear down. So with all the wisdom God will give me I start down this road in my new shoes resting in the promise that His grace will be sufficient – even for me.
