Whatever

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart . . ." (Col. 3: 23).

     I grew up in a town so small that the sixties didn't get there until the seventies (actually it's where I still live).  As a teen back there and then, friends would often ask me the probing question, "what it is?" I remember feeling stumped, and usually responded with a question of my own, "yeah, uh, what's happening?" We would then end the philosophical dialogue at the same time saying "cool." 

     It all happened quick.

     Later in college I learned that the "what it is" question is such an important one that it has its own school of thought:  "Ontology"-the study of being ("what it is").  "It" can be a pretty big subject.  Really, it is.

     Groovy.

     Kids today continue to ponder the question "what it is."  The response of "cool" has now been replaced by a statement that is far more cynical, "whatever."  Who among us has not heard the juvenile response, "whatever," accompanied with a roll of the eyes and shrug of the shoulders, to some comment or request?  I think "whatever" is a twenty-first century kid's response to a "sixties"  kid question:  "what it is . . ."

     Not so groovy.

     Leave "it" to the Apostle Paul to bring clarity to the discussion, with his "whatever" discourse in Colossians, saying, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (3: 17a) . . . and "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart . . ." (3: 23).  

     Paul acknowledges that it is a problem knowing what it is (whether "it" is a career choice, a marriage partner, a calling, a medical diagnosis, and etc.) but goes on to say that in the mystery of whatever we can know "who" (". . . in the name of the Lord Jesus") and "why" ("work at it with all your heart").  In other words the answers to the "who" and "why" questions may have to suffice until we get to Heaven and know "what."

     Many young adults today remain immature "adult-olescents."  Why?  They live in a world of options: so many colleges, majors, careers, potential partners, and etc., leading to "paralysis by analysis" and the response "whatever" to life's choices.  Paul might counsel, "don't just sit there in your parent's basement, do "something" and do it for the Lord and work at it with all your heart."

     The next time your teen responds, "whatever," finish the thought with "(whatever) it is do it for the Lord" and "do it with all your heart."

Blessings for a Sabbatical peace growing out of an understanding of the "Who" and the "why" in a vacuum of knowing "what"--

Pastor Tim

     

     

     

     

Our Mixed-Up World

"And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory" (Isaiah 66: 18).



     We live in a mixed-up world.  Fortunately, the Bible contains "mixed messages" for us to ponder.  Let me explain.

     The Old Testament prophets existed for two purposes:(1) they preached God's judgement toward sinners, and (2) hope that He would provide a Savior.  This mixed message of judgement and grace reflected not contradiction but coordination.

     The prophets wanted readers to know that the hardships they were facing were not by accident but design--i.e., that God intentionally used the plague or the Babylonians to punish Israel for her rebellion. Israel was not at the mercy of random and unrelated accidents of history.  God was in control.  Thus, He could bless or punish, using whatever or whomever He willed to be His instruments.  The Good News was that a God capable of judgement was also capable of mercy.  Judgement was redemptive in nature.  He disciplined those He loved.  But those who continued to reject Him would continue to reap His wrath.

     Isaiah has 66 chapters (the Bible has 66 books), of which the first 39 deal primarily with the judgement of God (as does the first 39 books of the Bible, the Old Testament), while the last 27 reveal the God of Mercy (as does the 27 books of the New Testament).  Isaiah wraps up his message at the end by forecasting Heaven and Hell, reminded that God is capable of wrath and mercy.

     Living here, East of Eden and short of Heaven, we respond to the "How's Life Question" with, "well, do you want the good news or the bad news first?"  Life's a mixed bag of good and evil, but it's comforting to know that God is Lord of both, and that evil has a short shelf life for the one who trusts in the mercy of Christ.  God can even use the evil acts of His adversary to accomplish His purposes.  The evil that God allows is relieved and redeemed for the repentant.

     Hell, itself, is good news for the saved.  God is preparing a place where Satan and all of evil will be contained and destroyed so goodness can triumph for eternity.  History (God's Story) is not random, but has a glorious beginning (because God is Creator), a mixed-up middle (because man is a sinner), and a decisive end (because God gets the last Word).  There is purpose and meaning all the way through.

Blessings for Sabbatical peace lived out in a mixed-up world, en route toward a new world of pure joy,

Pastor Tim

REMINDERS:
This week's meal is potluck soup.  Bring a pot of soup to share or cornbread, crackers or dessert.  Tea and lemonade will be provided for everyone.  Please let Julie or Pauletta know if you are bringing soup.  We just need to make sure we have plenty of the main dish for everyone.  If you are bringing crackers, cornbread or dessert, there is no need to let us know unless you just want to.

Also, we are excited for the beginning of our worship choir!  If you are a joyful worshipper, we need you to join us!  If you plan to sing, come a little before 6 to eat and join us in the sanctuary at 6:15.  Looking forward to an awesome time of worship Saturday night!

We would like to say a special "thank you" to all our faithful volunteers who come early to set up tables, help serve,  clean up after the service, help with the nursery, play /sing on the praise band.  We are so blessed to have such a hard-working group who love their Lord so much, they are willing to get their hands dirty and serve Him however needed.

   

True Peace

"We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" (Isaiah 53: 6).

     When it comes to ministry, is it typically your way to "over" or "under" commit?

     Do you easily say "yes" to requests driven by a desire to please or to attain, or do you tend to say a quick "no" having learned to spare yourself the trouble?

     When it comes to ministry, there is a peace which "passes understanding," but also a complacency that passes as peace.  In other words, it is possible to find peace with God being affirmed that we are living our lives in obedience to His commands--we know our spiritual gifts, have evaluated our natural abilities and have answered His call to be a steward in His kingdom.  We are able to say "yes" to the very best that is offered, and "no" to the good things that are an enemy to the best.

      Complacency sneaks in undercover as peace.  Complacency makes ministry decisions based on what's in it for us.  We say "yes"only to things that further our personal agenda or "no" to opportunities that challenge our sloth or desire to be spared the trouble.  We are complacent in our rut and call it peace.

     The Bible is our compass and the Holy Spirit our guide to help us chart a life path between the illusionary heights of selfish ambition and the swamp of slothful complacency.  We must be quick to hear and know our Shepherd's voice and confidently respond to His command.  In making ministry decisions we must guard against the "push" of personal ambition and the "pull" of sloth and irresponsibility.  We must constantly seek with discernment the One who knows and shows His way for us to follow.

Blessings toward a Sabbatical surrender of wills to the One who knows best,

Pastor Tim

REMINDER:

Saturday night Sabbath Eve service...Taco Salad at 6 PM and worship at 7 PM.  This is a great opportunity to invite your unchurched friends and neighbors.

ALPHA studies are in full swing on Sunday mornings, but that doesn't mean you've missed it and can't still come and participate!  We have a class for everyone...even the children!  Coed and children meet at the home of Tim & Julie Everett at 10 AM. Women and men's only classes meet at the home of Ruel & Pauletta Davis at 10 AM.  Make sure you are availing yourselves to regular Bible study.  We are hearing some awesome testimonies of what God is doing through these ALPHA studies...you don't want to miss it!

Bridge Building

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this, not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast ( Eph. 2: 8-9).

     Our new ministry is intended to be inter-denominational.  Why inter-denominational and not non-denominational?

     In my mind, non-denominationalism has become something of a denomination in itself.  Certain things come to mind when someone says I go to a church that is Baptist, Methodist, or Non-Denominational.  Non-denominationalism testifies, I think rightly, of the evils of religious tribalism, but may deny some of the achievements that various denominations have contributed to the Kingdom.

     Inter-denominationalism speaks to the fact that no sect of churches has a monopoly on God's will, and chooses to celebrate the value of each (each that is orthodox, of course, and consistent with the essentials of Scripture).

     Non-D. may be thought of as a "fence" that separates itself from others, while inter-D. can be viewed as a "bridge" that identifies and connects and learns from the traditions of others.  We should study history in light of Scripture and learn to borrow from the best and discard the rest.

     Four recent Texas Aggie graduates are on a quest to ride mustang horses from the Mexican border to Canada in order to shoot a documentary that portrays the plight of the American mustangs.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is still possible in America to travel 3,000 miles on public land void of fences.

     While fences must be built to separate ourselves from heresy and unbiblical models of doing church, it is imperative that we strive to connect with the very best that we can learn from others, and work together with them to obey God's commands and purposes.  The landscape of church life in America reveals far too many fences and not enough bridges.  May we extend the grace we receive from God toward others, and resist boasting of works as though we were the only one doing them.

     I dream of a congregation of members of various denominations that share a pew and a concern to reach the lost for Christ, and not to win "christians" to their particular denominational or non-denominational tradition.


Praying blessings for you as you seek a Sabbatical rest from striving to convert Christ followers to your brands be it Baptist, Charismatic, Methodist, Catholic, etc. and etc.,

Pastor Tim

Freedom

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5: 1).

     How can we, the church,  lead "philistines" to salvation in Christ without turning them into "pharisees?"

     Paul writes the letter of Galatians to warn of the tendency to use religion as an instrument to control and keep people in their place.  Paul's passion for freedom was grounded in his memory of living the Pharisaical life "BC" (before Christ).  He couldn't stomach the news that believers were cashing in their freedom in Christ for a false sense of security in conforming to the demands of the religionists. Paul did not want the Church's future to look like his past.   Paul the "freeman" had no use for Saul the "lawman," or for that matter, Christians demanding gentiles be circumcised to prove their worth to the church.  

     Believers must learn the Scriptures to counter the demands of a "Christ-less" religion.  Every church is cultic to the point it impedes or supersedes the example and teachings of Christ.  True worshippers of Christ will see through the efforts of those who use religion to manipulate and control.  The sad history of religion bears out the concern and warnings of Paul to the churches of Galatia.

May the Lord lead you into a sabbatical rest from the efforts of Satan to burden christians with demands that run counter to His Word--

Pastor Tim

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

We are so excited about the fish fry this Saturday night at 6 PM!  Make sure to give out those tickets to unchurched friends and neighbors to invite them to come be a part of what God is doing among us.  Jim, Ron, Smiley, Ruel, Grover, and Garrett promise to have plenty of delicious fish, fries, and trimmings for everyone...thanks guys!

Also, we need 4 more people to volunteer for dessert for Saturday night.  Be sure to let Julie or Pauletta know if you can bring something sweet.

Thanks again for the amazing way you all have worked together as a faith family to make Sabbatical Life the great success it is!  We have heard some powerful testimonies of how God is moving through this ministry, and it is such a blessing to be able to witness it first-hand!

Eluding "IT"

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you" (Psalm 56: 3).

     Remember as a child playing chase and trying to avoid being tagged by "IT"?  The only safe place from "IT" was a place called "base" where "IT" was not allowed.

     I heard from a quirky news report of some state that had outlawed the game of "tag, you're it."  I can't remember the reason it was banned, being distracted by the thought that in this state, some poor kid had just been tagged, and will now have to remain "IT" for the rest of his life!

     What is "IT" that scares you today?  As we age, we continue to run from "IT."  "IT" no longer is a best friend, with a goofy grin on her face, giggling while she chases . . ."IT" can be any number of things with any number of masks and names.  "IT" may even be a nameless, faceless dread that chases us in the day and haunts us through the night.  We fear that we will be tagged by this monster and become "IT'S" slave.

     The Bible gives us a full narrative of King David who knew what it was like to be chased by "IT."  But David also knew where his safe "base" was.

     Do you?


God's blessings as you flee to the Sabbatical Rest base, where "IT" can't pursue,

Tim

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Sabbath Eve Service Saturday night....meal begins at 6 PM with red beans and sausage with rice, cornbread, and dessert.  Worship at 7 PM.  Garrett Ranz will be preaching in my absence.

After much anticipation, ALPHA studies begin this Sunday morning at 10 AM! Ladies only and Men only classes will be held at Ruel & Pauletta Davis' home and Co-eds will meet at our home.  There will also be children's Bible study and activities at our home.  Looking forward to this exciting time together!

Don't forget....we need volunteers for nursery during Sabbath Eve services on Saturday nights.  This is a very important, much-needed ministry.  If we get enough volunteers, we will only need to serve once every couple of months.  Please pray whether or not God would have you serve in this awesome ministry!

     

9/11

"Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy,  do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it"  (Isaiah 8: 12).

     Where were you on 9/11/2001?

     Today is the12th anniversary of the taking down of the twin towers--the "coming of age experience" of most Americans in realizing that radical Islam desired the end of western civilization.  America woke up to realize the threat of a "new" enemy.

      Zach and Hannah had just enrolled at Sarepta School and were staying with grandparents while Julie and I were finishing packing in Alexandria and preparing for our move.  It was a tough day to be separated from family and to be making a major transition in life.  We held to our faith and trusted that God was on His throne.

     Later we saw how our faith became sight in a very real way.

       Hannah had a man enter her 5th grade classroom on that same fateful day, to deliver a red New Testament with the date 9/11/2001 inscribed in the front.  The timing of this faithful Gideon and the gift of God's Word serves us still to know God is in control and remains vigilant in the watch-care of His own.

     Wars and rumors of wars of the past twelve years remind us that Islamic terrorism remains real.  But Isaiah, having witnessed the awesome presence of God enthroned in chapter 6, reminds us in chapter 8 not to fear what others fear and not to quake at every conspiracy theory we hear.  Isaiah testifies that when we have a holy, healthy, and reverent fear of God then we need not fear anything or anyone else.

Blessings as you pursue the Sabbatical Life experience and the comfort in knowing that peace is coming to the Middle East (and to your heart) when the Prince of Peace leaves His throne to call us to the new place He has prepared for His own . . .

Tim