Worry Well

Here is the list of things Americans worry about more than anything else: Getting to heaven, money and the economy, what comes after death, individual health, relationship with significant other, terrorism, health of a family member, Bird Flu (or some other strain), job, and the end of the world.

Perhaps you could add several to the list: What people think of you, bullies, war, crime, what your teenagers are doing, car trouble, etc…

Let’s admit it, worry is something we all do and something most of us think we shouldn’t do. But worry itself is not a bad thing. It’s how we worry and how we respond that determines if our sleepless nights are helpful or paralyzing, motivating or depressing, a path to despair or a path to peace.

Sometimes worry can be a good thing. (Take the time to read Proverbs 22:3, 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 and 11:27-29, Philippians 2:19-21 and Luke 22:41-45) We can’t control our feelings but we can control our response.

If you want to discover how to worry well, Philippians 4:4-9 gives us some tips. First, the right kind of prayer. You need to tell God exactly what you want. You need to thank God for all He has already done. Pray Philippians 4:4-9 as often as you need to. (See also Psalm 55:17, Luke 18:1-8 and John 14:27)

The right kind of focus is the second tip to discover how to worry well. What we focus on determines what we see. Focus on facts, not the “what if’s”. The “what if’s” will destroy you. (Read Philippians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Peter 1:5-7 and 2 Corinthians 10:5)

The last tip is the right kind of life. (See Philippians 4:9) Obedience breeds confidence whereas guilt produces fear. Sin honestly removes God’s protection. (cf 1 Peter 3:12-14)

The next time you find yourself in a state of worry, why not try these tips?

Blessings, 

The ABC's of Christmas

Have you seen or heard about the Christmas ABC book? Each letter of the alphabet connects with the Biblical story in a little rhyme. For instance, A is for Angel; an angel was the first to tell that Christ had come on earth to dwell. D is for Donkey; a donkey followed Joseph’s track and carried Mary on his back.

Some of them are a stretch, like O is for Oxen; ox and donkey’s wondered why so many people knelt nearby. All in all, it’s a great book to help children know the ABC’s of Christmas.

2 Corinthians 8:9 says “For you know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” This verse gives us the ABC’s of Christmas and sums up the great truth behind our Savior’s birth.

A) He was rich. Rich in His person – He is the eternal son of God who has always existed. (Isaiah 9:6)     Rich in His position – He sits on the throne of the universe. Rich in His power. (Colossians 1:16-17) Rich in His possessions. If you take the 10 most powerful rulers who ever ruled, the 10 wisest men, the 10 mightiest generals who ever went into battle, the 10 strongest athletes, the 10 most memorizing orators, or political leaders or any other 10 greatest men left on earth, calculated their accumulated wealth, power, influence, skill, genius, wisdom, insight and ability – whatever the vast sum comes to, Jesus had more in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3) No one comes close.
 

B) He became poor. What does that mean? He was rich in eternity. He became poor in time. He left heaven to be born in a manger (that is, a feeding trough), live in a remote village in a foreign province and join a despised race.

 Notice a very important thing in 2 Corinthians 8:9: the verb says He became poor, not He was made poor. He voluntarily gave up the riches of heaven for the poverty of earth. He did this of His own free will, something we would not do. The richest person in the universe, of His own free will, became poorer than the poor. This is called the incarnation – God became flesh. (John 1:1,14) God entered the human race in the form of a man.

C) That we might become rich. Here is the purpose of Christmas. He came so that we who were poor might become rich. How does that happen? Grace. All the grace of God is available to me by virtue of my relationship with Jesus Christ.

Think of it. All the riches, all the power, all the prestige of His good name are mine. You might say, “I don’t deserve that.” Indeed, you don’t. That’s the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. If I deserved it, I wouldn’t need Jesus. But through my association with Jesus Christ, suddenly, I am a rich man.

This concept is called imputation. He takes my sin and I take His righteousness. I don’t earn it, it is imputed to me. It is credited to my account the moment I trust in Jesus as my Savior.

There you have it. The ABC’s of Christmas. There is only one question to ask: Have you placed your trust in Him and what He did for you? (Born to die in the place of your sin and was raised from the dead).

Merry Christmas!
 

Freshly Bru’d will be on vacation until January 7, 2015.

P.S. Don’t miss Sunday services. We will look at how to get along with relatives and people that are difficult without robbing us of keeping Christ in Christmas. Don’t forget your sack of groceries to give to Lincoln’s Food Distribution Center – Just leave it by your car as you come to church. 

So let it be written; so let it be done

With Christmas day just two weeks away, I thought I would commit the next two Freshly Bru’ds to the subject of Jesus’ Birth. One of the things that has always been impressed on me are the hundreds of prophecies foretelling the birth, life and death of Jesus hundreds of years before that historic night in Bethlehem.

Each prophecy reminds us that God is trustworthy. He does not and cannot lie. He always tells the truth (Theologians call this the veracity of the scriptures). The truth is always accurate, dependable and will come true.

Here are twelve of my favorite prophecies about Jesus. There is one for each of the twelve days of Christmas: these are prophecies fulfilled in the coming of Jesus.

1. From the seed of the woman would come Jesus who would destroy the Devil.
Prophecy: Genesis 3:15 – Fulfilled: 1 John 3:8

2. Jesus will come from the line of Abraham.
Prophecy: Genesis 12:3 – Fulfilled: Matthew 1:1

3. Jesus will be a member of the tribe of Judah.
Prophecy: Genesis 49:10 – Fulfilled: Luke 3:33

4. Jesus will be a descendant of Isaac and Jacob.
Prophecy: Genesis 17:19 and Numbers 24:17 – Fulfilled: Matthew 1:2

5. Jesus will be born in the family of Jesse.
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:1 – Fulfilled: Luke 3:32

6. Jesus’ mother will be a virgin.
Prophecy: Isaiah 7:17 – Fulfilled: Matthew 1:18-23

7. Jesus will be born in the town of Bethlehem.
Prophecy: Micah 5:2 – Fulfilled: Luke 2:1-7

8. Jesus will reign on David’s throne.
Prophecy: 2 Samuel 7:14-16 and Jeremiah 23:5 – Fulfilled: Luke 1:30-35 and Matthew 1:6

9. Jesus will be called out of Egypt.
Prophecy: Hosea 11:1 – Fulfilled: Matthew 2:13-15

10. Jesus’ birth will be accompanied with great suffering and sorrow.
Prophecy: Jeremiah 31:15 – Fulfilled: Matthew 2:16

11. Jesus will enter the temple. This is important because the temple was destroyed in AD 70 and was never rebuilt.
Prophecy: Malachi 3:1 – Fulfilled: Luke 2:25-27

12. Jesus will live a perfect life, die by crucifixion, resurrect from death, ascend into heaven and sit down at the right hand of God.
Prophecies: Psalm 22:16, Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 53:10-11, Psalm 68:18 and Psalm 110:1 – Fulfilled: 1 Peter 2:21-22, Luke 23:33, Acts 2:25-32, Acts 1:9 and Hebrews 1:3

What are some of your favorite prophecies? Take one prophecy each day until Christmas and thank God for sending Jesus as the fulfillment of them. Enjoy!
 

P.S. Ever wonder why we put angels on top of Christmas trees? Or candles in the window? Or the history and significance of the candy cane? Come Sunday and discover how to keep Christ in your celebrating. 

Time for some self-evaluation

Every December I begin an internal evaluation of my life. Since there is only one month left in the year I evaluate how my life had been lived. Did I grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus? (2 Peter 3:18) Was I more conformed to the image of His Son than last year? (Romans 8:29)

Did I share Christ with people who have not trusted in Him? How was my marriage? Did I nurture that relationship as I should? How was my influence upon my children and grandchildren? Did I pastor First Free with integrity? You get the point.

But there is something else I do in my evaluation; I ask myself “If this was my last month to live would I finish well?” Would I be able to say as Paul said “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished the course.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

I want to talk with you about finishing well. To help you understand this week’s Freshly Bru’d you need to read two stories in the Bible. One is about King Uzziah who had a great start (2 Chronicles 26:4) but ended up as a leper (2 Chronicles 26:21). Read the entire chapter to see why Uzziah didn’t finish well.

In contrast to Uzziah is the story of Joseph of Arimathea who had a late start but finished well. (John 19:38-42; Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-54) Contrasting these two stories presents four principles we must never forget to finish well.

1. A great start is no guarantee of a happy ending. (Consider Uzziah and these passages: Matthew 13:1-9; 1 Peter 5:9; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

2. A late start is better than no start. (Consider Joseph of Arimathea and these passages: Matthew 21:25-32; 1 Timothy 1:12-16)

3. Only a fool stops fearing God. (Proverbs 1:7, 16:18, 19:27; 2 Timothy 2:5; 1 Samuel 15:22)

4. If you've stumbled and fallen, get up and run again. (Proverbs 24:16; Deuteronomy 4:25-29; Revelation 12:10; 1 John 2:1-2; Matthew 21:28-32)

So, this December why not do some internal, honest soul evaluation and make a commitment to finish well; not just this year, but the rest of your life.

Blessings,
 

P.S. This Sunday concludes our series “Bittersweet: The Story of Ruth.” The ending of the story will help prepare you for the significance of Christmas. Come and discover how. 

Lying (is not a ) Game

By the age of four, 90% of children have grasped the concept of lying; and it gets worse from there. 60% of adults can’t have a 10 minute conversation without lying at least once. (The average was 3 lies in 10 minutes!)

Here is how America breaks down the whole concept of lying. 86% have lied to parents; 75% to siblings; 69% to their spouse; 40% on resumes; 90% lie about their profile on an internet dating site.

What does the Bible say about lying and telling the truth? Let me give you some food for thought. There are three reasons why we lie. We lie to make ourselves look better (read Acts 5:1-11). We lie for personal gain (read 2 Kings 5:1-27). And we lie to avoid negative consequences (read Exodus 32:19-24).

There are at least three Biblical reasons why we shouldn’t lie even if we live in a culture that thinks its ok. First, God hates it (Proverbs 6:16-19 and 12:17-22). Second, it’s an indicator of who we are following (John 8:31-47 and Ephesians 4:25). I used to tell my children we are closest to being like Satan when we lie. Third, we become slaves to it and it robs us of our freedom (Proverbs 19:5, James 3:3-12 and John 8:32).

Here’s the bottom line: you really can’t put a price on your integrity and obedience. Honesty at home, work, church, and play is always godly. No one can afford the costs and consequences of being labeled a liar. Let’s strive to be honest, truthful, and to think before we speak.
 

Blessings!



P.S. What is the test of one’s character? Have you ever been manipulated by someone for their benefit? Would you prefer to do the easy thing or the right thing if it was extremely costly? Don’t miss our Sunday series “Bittersweet” as we delve into these questions. 

What is your attitude toward your job?

What is your attitude toward your job? Boring? A drag? A necessary evil? A delight? A privilege? I read a book some time ago by an Evangelical Free Church pastor entitled “Work Matters.” In this excellent book, Tom Nelson, the author, reminds you that work is really an extension of our worship of God. In other words, the experience between Sunday and Monday should not be that big of a difference. After all, God ordained us to work. Adam and Eve worked in the Garden of Eden. Colossians 3:17 says “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” The “whatever” includes your work. There are a couple of principles to always remember relating to your work. First, you don’t have a job, you have a ministry assignment. Just a little adjustment like this in perspective toward work enriches your life. God wants to use you to influence others for Him where you have been assigned to work. Second, the path to greatness is found in the path of service. (cf. Mark 10:42-45) View your job as a way to serve others, help others, encourage others and contribute to others. Right now you may not like your job. Maybe it’s a dead end job or is unfulfilling. Maybe your boss is a real jerk or the company you work for is corrupt. You’re asking yourself “What am I supposed to do with this?” Here are some verses to consider: - There is no such thing as a perfect job. Every job has its ups and downs, good and bad. (Genesis 3:17-19)   - If you can’t find a better job, this must be the best job. That was the perspective of Daniel when he found himself in a place that was less than ideal but could not be changed. - If you can’t respect your boss, respect the position. (Titus 3:1-2) - God is in control of who’s in control. (Romans 13:1-2) - If you want to have influence where you work, become an invaluable worker. (Colossians 3:22-24) Do you need a change in perspective about work? Your job? Remember, God will use you there (at work) if you allow Him to. Enjoy work!Blessings! P.S. What do we do when something is hard? Life, relationships, a job, calculus, reconciliation, being single, conflict resolution, communication? – and the list goes on and on. This week we will discover the answers to this question. See you this Sunday at 9:00am or 10:30am.

The Top Ten Ways Churches Drive Away First-Time Guests

When I come across an article of interest I want to pass it on to you. I just read an article from Thom Rainer who serves as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. The article is entitle “The Top Ten Ways Churches Drive Away First-Time Guests.” He admits that he did a twitter poll to ask first-time guests why they chose not to return to a particular church. While not a scientific poll, what he discovered was fascinating.

I am listing his ten reasons to remind us as regular attenders that every once in while it’s good to evaluate things we do in the church through an outsider’s vantage point. Thanks to Thom Rainer for helping us see things through the eyes of guests by providing the following list. My personal comments are in brackets.

1. Having a stand up and greet one another time in the worship service. This was the most frequent response.

2. Unfriendly church members. [Hopefully, this is not true of us]

3. Unsafe and unclean children’s area. [How do you think we are doing here?]

4. No place to get information. [Have you noticed the “Just Ask” signs? Thanks Julie for overseeing places to get information]

5. Bad church website.

6. Poor signage. We may forget about signs because we know where rooms, bathrooms etc… are. Guests do not.

7. Insider church language. Thom’s favorite example: “The WMU will meet in the CLC in the room where the GA’s usually meet.”

8. Boring or bad service. Thom Rainer was surprised that this was not ranked higher.

9. Members telling guests that they were in their seats. [Please assure me that no one at First Free has ever done this.]

10. Dirty facilities. Comments were: “No trash cans.” “Restrooms were worse than a bad truck stop.” “Pews had more stains than a Tide commercial.”

If you have any additions or insights, let me know.
 

Blessings!




P.S. You come to a fork in the road, do you go to the left or right? One road is expedient! The other road is costly. Which one should you take? Sunday’s message at the 9:00 and 10:30 worship services will provide guidance to these questions in our Bittersweet: The Story of Ruth series.