NOT Time to Panic
In December of 1973 the USA was in a precarious situation. Inflation rates were starting to run away, 8%, 9%, 10%. There was an oil shortage and cars were lined up at gas stations. Shortages of food popped up across the nation. It appeared to those at the time that all the abundance & prosperity Americans had was about to be snatched away.
On December 19, 1973, Johnny Carson walked on to the live set of THE TONIGHT SHOW and made one of his opening monologue jokes, “There’s an acute shortage of toilet paper in the United States.” He swung his invisible golf club, took a commercial break, and went on with the show. But it wasn’t funny to the millions of nervous viewers.
The next morning hundreds of thousands of frantic shoppers lined up outside supermarkets to buy toilet paper. They dashed in. There were brawls and arguments. Some stores limited 4 rolls to a customer. By noon on December 20th, America was sold out of toilet paper.
We live in precarious economic times, but there is no reason to panic. History has shown that panic only makes the situation worse. This is the time for us to pray, to worship, and to focus on the one who doesn’t fluctuate with the stock market - God.
Posted on 09/29/2008 1:48 PM by Pastor Bob
"God Rejoices Over ME?"
I was reading today in Isaiah 62 and was struck by God's feelings toward His people, the Jews. After all they've been through, after all their spiritual failures, and dabbling with other gods, God reaches out to them and restores them to Himself. He exclaims in verse 5, "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." The very thought that the God of the universe, the Holy One who tolerates no sin, actually finds imperfect people a source of joy is stunning.
I immediately remembered ho wI felt yesterday morning. As I lay in bed, the sun shining through the window and birds singing back & forth to one another outside my open window, I put my arm around my wife, who had snuggled up to sleep next to me and prayed - she was mine and I was her's. Contentment and joy filled my soul.
Verse 4 reads, "for the LORD will take delight in you." Before that, verse 3 sings out, "You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God."
If God feels THAT way about a wayward group of people, how much does He feel the same toward me - One who He has chosen and connected to His Beloved Son?
Stunned once again by His grace.
Posted on 09/22/2008 8:41 AM by Pastor Bob
Why People Leave Churches
I was musing this summer...
REASONS PEOPLE LEAVE A CHURCH:
o I was in the hospital and only the pastor visited me … and that was out of obligation.
o I was in the hospital and all these people visited me … except the pastor.
o The church is too lenient.
o The church is too strict.
o The church is too small so we need to bring in new people.
o The church is too big so I don’t know anyone anymore.
o I didn’t like what someone said to me.
o No one spoke to me.
o There’s nothing for my kids.
o There’s so much emphasis on children & teens that I don’t get fed as an adult.
I'm sure there are plenty other reasons people give for leaving one church and going to another. I have a feeling that many of them are merely products of our self-centered consumer culture. It made me consider what is a vaild reason for moving from one faith communtiy to another. Here's what I thought of:
- Death
- Relocation
- Serious doctrinal disagreement
- A specific calling from God to serve somewhere or to some group
Just my thoughts.
Posted on 09/08/2008 1:02 PM by Pastor Bob
