A meditation on Psalm 77.
In these difficult times men's hearts are failing them for fear. Fear of losing their jobs, fear of noo finding a job, fear of losing their homes, fear of being unable to support their families.
Many are in depression over their situation. The writer of Psalm 77, Asaph, was also depressed over his situation. We can find the same solution to our depressive mood today as he did in his day.
Psalm 77 (NIV)
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Look at the Asaph's condition in his situation. He was "in distress...my soul refused to be comforted...I mused, and my spirit grew faint...I was too troubled to speak."
Today we might term this a low level depression. Consider that this righteous soul was calling to God for help, he was seeking the Lord. Yet as he remembered, he "groaned; I mused in my spirit and grew faint." This is not a statement of faith, but of doubt. He is considering his circumstances and groaning over them, he calls out to God in this doubt.
He writes, "Where are you God? Will you reject me forever? Will you never show your favor again? Has your unfailing love vanished forever? Has your promise failed? Are you no longer merciful? Are you so angry at me that you have withheld your compassion from me?"
Asaph in the midst of his depressive groaning can only see his troubles and has turned from faith in God. His thoughts are on the "former days, the years long ago; I remember my songs in the night." He was thinking about the "good ole days" of the past comparing them to the present " bad days".
Many today are doing the same thing. We think that in former days we had jobs, we had a secure mortgage, we were assured our company would continue to employ us, not down size and lay us off, and we partied, singing our songs of joy into the night. We think on those days and compare them to today and our spirits grow faint within us. We cry out to the Lord, "Why me God? Why did you allow me to lose my job? Why God, is my house being foreclosed on? Why is my company downsizing? Where are you God in all my distress?
Asaph finally finds the solution to his depressive mood. "Then I thought, to this I will appeal." He is kind of saying to himself, "Wait! Stop this foolish musing and groaning! I have an appeal, a hope, a light at the end of this dark tunnel!"
What was the hope of Asaph? The goodness and great deeds of the Lord.
"To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." The "right hand of the Lord" or Most High, is used to express the goodness and blessings of God. Asaph goes on to remember the former days when the Lord did great miracles for Israel.
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."
Now Asaph is thinking in faith. He has stopped musing over his present situation and comparing it to the good ole days. Now he is thinking of the faithful deeds of the Lord.
Instead of crying out, "Will the Lord reject forever?" He says, "Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph."
Asaph goes on to recount the display of God's great power in the parting of the Red Sea, and how God led Israel through the Sea as a shepherd leads his flock.
Let me recommend this same solution to us today. Instead of musing over our present difficulties, let us remember the might deeds and miracles of our Lord. Let us trust in Him who has shown Himself faithful in the past. Instead of meditating on our problems, let us meditate on all of God's works.
Meditate on God delivering Israel out of four hundred years of bondage in Egypt. Meditate on God's great deeds as recorded in all the history of Israel. Consider that if God kept them in all their difficulties, he can keep us in these present difficult times.
Let us meditate on the miracles of Christ and his great works of redemption for us.
Let us meditate on the great works of God in our own lives and those we know. Let us consider that as God has carried us through our own past difficulties, He will carry us through these present times as well.
This is a good spiritual discipline, an exercise that will build our faith in God and can relieve our depressive mood. When we think on our present difficulties, let us remind ourselves of the goodness of God and trust in Him.
By meditating on the miracles and mighty deeds of God, we will better be able to face these days, with a strong faithful trust in God, rather than depressive musings.
May the Lord bless you and keep you in peace in your inward man, and pour out his grace on you that you may trust Him in all your ways.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Monday, September 22, 2008
Food Ministry
At present I am jobless and homeless.
The depression in this area is tremendous. Most construction work has been shut down for two years. Lay offs are a weekly affair, as construction jobs are finished.
Finances to start new jobs are still hard to come by.
Many are without work, or have only one spouse working supporting the family, where previously they had both spouses working. Families that were barely surviving on two incomes, now must exist on one.
The welfare and food stamp benefits are being stretched to its limits. The charity of believers is relied upon now more than before.
We are called to help "...the least of these my brethren." by Jesus, and all true believers are stepping up to the plate and helping everyone that they can. We are learning to support one another, and share all good things with each other. In the midst of hard times, the grace of God is flowing, building relationships in the Kingdom for His Glory.
I have been with out a regular job since last December. Because of this I have just signed up for food stamps. In the process of looking at food sources in my area I found Angel Food Ministries.
Angel Food supplies monthly food boxes which are available for purchase. The main package costs $30 and has first quality food that is worth over twice that amount. They also provide additional packages for about $21, that can be combined with the main package.
This service is available to all. No qualification is necessary. Ordering and distribution is handled by local volunteers, Churches and Civic groups. Payment is made up front when ordering.
They take cash and food stamps as payment. So this can really help those on food stamps stretch their benefits.
This is a wonderful way to stretch your own food dollars, and be better able to help those in need of food.
Web site is : Angel Food Ministries
The depression in this area is tremendous. Most construction work has been shut down for two years. Lay offs are a weekly affair, as construction jobs are finished.
Finances to start new jobs are still hard to come by.
Many are without work, or have only one spouse working supporting the family, where previously they had both spouses working. Families that were barely surviving on two incomes, now must exist on one.
The welfare and food stamp benefits are being stretched to its limits. The charity of believers is relied upon now more than before.
We are called to help "...the least of these my brethren." by Jesus, and all true believers are stepping up to the plate and helping everyone that they can. We are learning to support one another, and share all good things with each other. In the midst of hard times, the grace of God is flowing, building relationships in the Kingdom for His Glory.
I have been with out a regular job since last December. Because of this I have just signed up for food stamps. In the process of looking at food sources in my area I found Angel Food Ministries.
Angel Food supplies monthly food boxes which are available for purchase. The main package costs $30 and has first quality food that is worth over twice that amount. They also provide additional packages for about $21, that can be combined with the main package.
This service is available to all. No qualification is necessary. Ordering and distribution is handled by local volunteers, Churches and Civic groups. Payment is made up front when ordering.
They take cash and food stamps as payment. So this can really help those on food stamps stretch their benefits.
This is a wonderful way to stretch your own food dollars, and be better able to help those in need of food.
Web site is : Angel Food Ministries
Sunday, September 21, 2008
How to Start a House Church: Step 1
I found this old article on the web doing a google of me, and thought I'd post it again...
HOW TO START A HOUSE CHURCH
STEP ONE
RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE
STEP ONE
RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE
by Kent Secor
One of the first things I think you need to consider is why you want to be in a HC? Why did you leave the last church you were part of? Many when they first leave an Institutional Church setting have many issues to deal with. One of the most important is they have spent a lot of time with their attention on programs rather than relationships. Often they have left their first love, Jesus, to be involved with programs. It is so easy to be busy in meetings and programs. To be more concerned with if the carpets are cleaned in the Church building, then if your heart is clean before the Lord.
We spent so many Sundays showing up for meetings in our Sunday best with our Sunday smiles on. We told everyone the same lie week after week, that every thing is going great, that the Lord is wonderful to me. No matter how bad we felt, we just didn't want to be honest and risk the looks and comments we would get if we told people the truth.
What you are looking to be involved in is harder than anything you may have ever been involved with in your whole Christian life. It will involve sacrifices you have never had to make before. It will be the hardest thing you have ever done, and the most rewarding. There will be those who will question your sincerity, will think you are in serious rebellion to the Lord, will accuse you and warn you of becoming a cult. Some may shun you in hopes of bringing you back to the correct walk in the Lord. Some will shun you afraid to be drug into the rebellion you are walking in. Some will come to you just as hurt and confused as you are now.
You may be going through a process many call a "wilderness" experience. You think that you may have lost your relationship with God. You miss the feelings of God's presence you felt in the Worship Services. The truth is you may have well left your first love because of those "Worship Services" replacing time alone with Him for singing and other activities.
If you are going through a dry time of the soul, a wilderness experience, you may not be ready for relationships with other believers. Spend this time seeking Him who first called you, decide that nothing else matters but Him and knowing Him. Think on Him, pray without ceasing. As you get humble before Him, really humble without all the religious fanfare, you will find Him, you will sense His presence once again. The light of His relationship with you will shine forth bright as the sun once again. I know, I've been down that road, I had been lost in the darkness of my own wilderness.
Jesus said to the Church in Revelations 2:4, 5 "But I hold against you that you have given up your first love. Therefore, call to mind from what you have fallen, and repent and practice what you did previously; or else if you do not repent, I shall come to you and remove the lampstand from it's place."
And Revelations 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone listens to My voice and opens the door, I shall come in to him and dine with him and he with Me." (both from the New
The first step is to return to your First Love, Jesus, who loved you first and called you out of darkness and translated you into His kingdom of light.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Judgment starts with the house of God
This study has been percolating in me for many years now. The attack on America of 911 brought it into focus. I have discussed the idea of God's judgment with a few people, now is the time to share it to all who will listen. I don't know if it is prophetic or just Holy Spirit taught truth.
Either way if I and others are correct we as a nation are up the proverbial creek and the paddle has long been lost. It's time to cry out to the only one who can help us.
Read the study here, Judgment starts with the house of God.
Either way if I and others are correct we as a nation are up the proverbial creek and the paddle has long been lost. It's time to cry out to the only one who can help us.
Read the study here, Judgment starts with the house of God.
Evangelism are we doing it right?
I've been part of the evangelical church since my rebirth into the Kingdom of Christ/God. I fully understand that to enter into the redemptive relationship with God in Christ is one that involves the work of the Holy Spirit and of man in cooperation.
Predestination or Free will?
I do not hold to the extreme Calvanistic view that some are predestined to be saved and others are not. I read too much in the NT about the entering into redemption being of one making the choice to submit to God for redemption, or free will.
I also see that within the concept of the sovereignity of God that even if we really don't have free-will in this area, that God's choice for us is hid in the mystery of God's knowledge within eternity and we are not privy to that information.
This whole debate in the church becomes one of division rather than encouragement to evangelize or live our lives in Christ. And as Paul points out to the Corinthian assembly, division of the body of Christ is sin.
True Evangelism is based on a Loving Community.
One of my observations regarding the foundation of evangelism is that it must be based on a loving community of believers.
Jesus taught the disciples a new command, John13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus taught that the foundation of our communnities is love. Here he shows that the world, all men, would recognize that we follow Christ by our love for one another.
We have alot of ideas as to what the church is. It is very popular to think of the church as being the universal body of Christ, encompassing all beleivers, every where all around the world, as well as the living and the dead. This idea is meantioned in the NT, yet it is not the main way the church (Greek word is ekklesia, literally meaning an assembly of called out ones) is defined. The NT is mostly discussing the local assembly. The brothers and sisters we are in direct fellowship with.
The basis of our local assembly life is to live out the love for one another. In doing a study of the NT to understand what they did for meetings I found very little about meetings, in fact only one passage of teaching, and that was corrective in nature, 1Cor 11-14. The major teaching regarding assembly life is about loving one another in real practical ways. (If you would like to read my study, please email me as it is comprehensive and too long to post in this format.)
Jesus is not talking about the church universal in this reference. He is talking about the local group of believers that you and I fellowship with on a normal basis, daily, weekly.
Jesus says that the world will recognize that we follow Him by the way we love those we are in relationship with.
This is one reason that division in the Body of Christ is so sinful. For us to be divided over doctrine or practice to the point that we can't love one another prevents those outside the body of Christ from recognizing that we are Jesus' disciples. Remember this love is practical, not just making statements that we love all believers. We must show it in serving one another, even considering the needs of another believer as being more important than our own.
The world is not fooled by our love statements. They want, they need us to show them the money. To put feet to our statements. To work to show ourselves approved of God by actively, practically loving one another.
The world is not impressed with our temples made to house God. They want love.
The world is not impressed with our programs. They want loving relationships.
The world is not impressed with our Christmas or Easter extravaganzes. They want daily loving relationships.
The world is not impressed with our books, DVDs, tv programs. They desperately need to know that we really, really believe what we say. That we are willing to die for our beliefs, and really do walk them out in love for each other.
Look at all the literature and self help programs, helping people learn how to love. Look at all the misguided attempts of men to find love. Dating services, hook up places, meet markets of all types from bars to coffee shops to book stores. They want love....
For any of our evangelism to be fruitful it must be founded on real, practical loving relationships with one another that spill over to all our neighbors. The division of the body of Christ into unloving denominations prevents many from seeing Christ, from being drawn in by His love.
Predestination or Free will?
I do not hold to the extreme Calvanistic view that some are predestined to be saved and others are not. I read too much in the NT about the entering into redemption being of one making the choice to submit to God for redemption, or free will.
I also see that within the concept of the sovereignity of God that even if we really don't have free-will in this area, that God's choice for us is hid in the mystery of God's knowledge within eternity and we are not privy to that information.
This whole debate in the church becomes one of division rather than encouragement to evangelize or live our lives in Christ. And as Paul points out to the Corinthian assembly, division of the body of Christ is sin.
True Evangelism is based on a Loving Community.
One of my observations regarding the foundation of evangelism is that it must be based on a loving community of believers.
Jesus taught the disciples a new command, John13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus taught that the foundation of our communnities is love. Here he shows that the world, all men, would recognize that we follow Christ by our love for one another.
We have alot of ideas as to what the church is. It is very popular to think of the church as being the universal body of Christ, encompassing all beleivers, every where all around the world, as well as the living and the dead. This idea is meantioned in the NT, yet it is not the main way the church (Greek word is ekklesia, literally meaning an assembly of called out ones) is defined. The NT is mostly discussing the local assembly. The brothers and sisters we are in direct fellowship with.
The basis of our local assembly life is to live out the love for one another. In doing a study of the NT to understand what they did for meetings I found very little about meetings, in fact only one passage of teaching, and that was corrective in nature, 1Cor 11-14. The major teaching regarding assembly life is about loving one another in real practical ways. (If you would like to read my study, please email me as it is comprehensive and too long to post in this format.)
Jesus is not talking about the church universal in this reference. He is talking about the local group of believers that you and I fellowship with on a normal basis, daily, weekly.
Jesus says that the world will recognize that we follow Him by the way we love those we are in relationship with.
This is one reason that division in the Body of Christ is so sinful. For us to be divided over doctrine or practice to the point that we can't love one another prevents those outside the body of Christ from recognizing that we are Jesus' disciples. Remember this love is practical, not just making statements that we love all believers. We must show it in serving one another, even considering the needs of another believer as being more important than our own.
The world is not fooled by our love statements. They want, they need us to show them the money. To put feet to our statements. To work to show ourselves approved of God by actively, practically loving one another.
The world is not impressed with our temples made to house God. They want love.
The world is not impressed with our programs. They want loving relationships.
The world is not impressed with our Christmas or Easter extravaganzes. They want daily loving relationships.
The world is not impressed with our books, DVDs, tv programs. They desperately need to know that we really, really believe what we say. That we are willing to die for our beliefs, and really do walk them out in love for each other.
Look at all the literature and self help programs, helping people learn how to love. Look at all the misguided attempts of men to find love. Dating services, hook up places, meet markets of all types from bars to coffee shops to book stores. They want love....
For any of our evangelism to be fruitful it must be founded on real, practical loving relationships with one another that spill over to all our neighbors. The division of the body of Christ into unloving denominations prevents many from seeing Christ, from being drawn in by His love.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Kingdom of God, Heaven, Christ
Hi all,
Welcome to my blog....you must be bored....lol
I am starting a study on the Kingdom. In the NT we have different terms used with the word Kingdom...kingdom of Heaven, kingdom of God, kingdom of Christ....we could also talk about the kingdom of Israel or David, but in NT times that kingdom was subjegated to the Roman Empire.
I thought that I would post on my blog here as I did my study.
The first thing I do when I start a topic study like this is to go to the Greek helps I have. Then go to the Everyman's Greek Concordance to look up similar passages.
In the Vine's article on kingdom, he writes that of the three main NT terms, Kingdom of God is the over all term. It applies to all the universe at it's widest context. In particular all those who submit to God as ruler, king over their lives are in the kingdom of God., therefor to all believers in God.
The kingdom of heaven, Vine's says, is in reference to the physical nation of Israel only.
And the kingdom of Christ to those who follow Christ alone.
I will post that article next time.
Welcome to my blog....you must be bored....lol
I am starting a study on the Kingdom. In the NT we have different terms used with the word Kingdom...kingdom of Heaven, kingdom of God, kingdom of Christ....we could also talk about the kingdom of Israel or David, but in NT times that kingdom was subjegated to the Roman Empire.
I thought that I would post on my blog here as I did my study.
The first thing I do when I start a topic study like this is to go to the Greek helps I have. Then go to the Everyman's Greek Concordance to look up similar passages.
In the Vine's article on kingdom, he writes that of the three main NT terms, Kingdom of God is the over all term. It applies to all the universe at it's widest context. In particular all those who submit to God as ruler, king over their lives are in the kingdom of God., therefor to all believers in God.
The kingdom of heaven, Vine's says, is in reference to the physical nation of Israel only.
And the kingdom of Christ to those who follow Christ alone.
I will post that article next time.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Unity of the Church in our city
For about 10 years now I have been considering the practices and doctrines of the modern Church. I have been comparing them to the NT examples of Church life, trying to find a real way to live this life in Chirst.
I have come to many different conclusions,
One, those who divide the Body of Christ because of doctrinal differences are sinning. Paul dealt with divisions that were forming in the Church he founded in Corinth, which was based on their favorite teachers, or what gifts of the Spirit that operated through them. Paul called this division sin. I see the same thing at work in our denominations today.
Two, life in Christ is not about building a better program, building, system...etc. All the parts of the modern business of Church. Instead it all is about relationships, friendships in Christ that take on a family type of loving care and concern for each other.
This life of Christ can be found in any of the walls of any of the buildings used for religious meetings. Sometimes it exists there in spite of the system operating there. Anywhere there is a true followers of Jesus, this life will be found.
I have asked from my first years in the Lord, why we didn't do or see what is reported in the NT in the Church today? All I got was non-answers to my questions. Maturing of the organization was the most given answer, like the Church matured beyond loving one another, giving to those in need, the poor, the widows, the orphans...
As a response to what I saw, the abuses, the political posturing of Church leaders, the false distinction between clergy and laity, the lack of real service in the average Church member, the lack of pratical loving relationships replaced by operating programs. So much is wrong, that it is hard to find a place to start.
But start I feel we must.
My first response was to try to find a better way, a better way to live in Christ in community with other believers. I read about House Church, and at first I thought I had found the main missing element. A simple way to meet, without many of the problems that seemed to me to be inherent in the systems of Church I had seen.
I still feel that way about the systems, but see something else. Something that has always bothered me, the division created in the Body of Christ by denominations.
I have studied many different denominations, the history, how they started, why they started, what their early goals were and where they ended up.
I found first off that most denominations believe the same things doctrinally, but choose their own ways to express them.
As I read biographies I found that all true believers experienced the same things, but expressed them in the terms of their denomination's doctrinal stance. The revelation of the Holy Spirit, the guiding of the Holy Spirit, learning to love one another and reach out to help those in need, being conformed to the image and character of Christ, are all common elements.
Yet denominations will go to war with each other over how they word these life experiences.
What I am hearing today is that the Lord is calling his Church back to unity. To see beyond the minor doctrinal differences, and learn to love one another in more than words, but in deed. To take one another by the hand, and serve one another, and serve with one another.
To find the unity that is in Christ alone.
A link where this is in the works now is... The Church of Liberty, Kansas...
http://www.thechurchofliberty.com/index.htm
I have come to many different conclusions,
One, those who divide the Body of Christ because of doctrinal differences are sinning. Paul dealt with divisions that were forming in the Church he founded in Corinth, which was based on their favorite teachers, or what gifts of the Spirit that operated through them. Paul called this division sin. I see the same thing at work in our denominations today.
Two, life in Christ is not about building a better program, building, system...etc. All the parts of the modern business of Church. Instead it all is about relationships, friendships in Christ that take on a family type of loving care and concern for each other.
This life of Christ can be found in any of the walls of any of the buildings used for religious meetings. Sometimes it exists there in spite of the system operating there. Anywhere there is a true followers of Jesus, this life will be found.
I have asked from my first years in the Lord, why we didn't do or see what is reported in the NT in the Church today? All I got was non-answers to my questions. Maturing of the organization was the most given answer, like the Church matured beyond loving one another, giving to those in need, the poor, the widows, the orphans...
As a response to what I saw, the abuses, the political posturing of Church leaders, the false distinction between clergy and laity, the lack of real service in the average Church member, the lack of pratical loving relationships replaced by operating programs. So much is wrong, that it is hard to find a place to start.
But start I feel we must.
My first response was to try to find a better way, a better way to live in Christ in community with other believers. I read about House Church, and at first I thought I had found the main missing element. A simple way to meet, without many of the problems that seemed to me to be inherent in the systems of Church I had seen.
I still feel that way about the systems, but see something else. Something that has always bothered me, the division created in the Body of Christ by denominations.
I have studied many different denominations, the history, how they started, why they started, what their early goals were and where they ended up.
I found first off that most denominations believe the same things doctrinally, but choose their own ways to express them.
As I read biographies I found that all true believers experienced the same things, but expressed them in the terms of their denomination's doctrinal stance. The revelation of the Holy Spirit, the guiding of the Holy Spirit, learning to love one another and reach out to help those in need, being conformed to the image and character of Christ, are all common elements.
Yet denominations will go to war with each other over how they word these life experiences.
What I am hearing today is that the Lord is calling his Church back to unity. To see beyond the minor doctrinal differences, and learn to love one another in more than words, but in deed. To take one another by the hand, and serve one another, and serve with one another.
To find the unity that is in Christ alone.
A link where this is in the works now is... The Church of Liberty, Kansas...
http://www.thechurchofliberty.com/index.htm
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