Zacharias, a Jewish priest, serving his turn burning incense, was visited by an angel. The story is told in Luke 1, and in verse 13 we read that the angel said to him, quite literally, "The prayers that you quit praying a long time ago have been heard." The angel was referring to the prayers of past years for a child. The next thing the angel said was that in their old age, they were going to have a child, to be named John.
What caught my attention was when the angel said: "You quit praying a long time ago. But the shelf-life in heaven for prayers is really good. Your prayer was heard, and God has answered your cry." Zacharias wife, Elizabeth did give birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ.
"Your prayers have a long shelf-life." They still do. What prayers have you quit praying, that need to be revived and re-prayed. I just wanted to remind you that God has not forgotten, and those prayers do have a long shelf-life.
Now you don't need an angel to tell you, because I just did.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A New Era
No matter how we voted or what we think, we have a new President. Having observed his record, his writings and his campaign rhetoric, he is admittedly the most liberal, leftist President this country has ever elected.
The Scripture tell us to pray for those in authority over us, to hold up our leaders in prayer. I encourage you to do just that. Pray for our President. Pray diligently and fervently...daily. He needs our prayers more than ever before.
I pray that he and his family be protected and safe. I pray that somehow wise, godly, conservative men and women of character will come alongside this President and give him needed counsel as he makes decisions for our nation and the world. I would even pray for a Biblical Book of Acts Damascus "Saul to Paul" experience for our President.
He has stated his intentions to lead this nation to the left and into socialism. In that sense, I hope he fails miserably. Though he has said he is a Christian, the evidence is that he is a religious leftist, which is a moral-relativism-based Christian faith of the far left. If interested, you can read more in Matt Barber's column, "The Gods of Liberalism."
As was said today, we are at the hinge of history. Truly, it is a new era for our nation. What this portends for our nation can be positively impacted by those Christians across our land who will continually, consistently and humbly pray for our President and our leaders. I encourage you to join me as we lift them before God, our Heavenly Father, Who inspired and directed our founding fathers to create this great nation of ours.
We are not done. It is not over. I refuse to bow to the nay-sayers and religious (or even non-religious) pessimists among us. I serve a great God, who has turned the course of history before, and He is still in control. He still loves us and cares for us and will walk with us through whatever we face in the next four to eight years.
As we often say at the beginning of our services, "God is great, all the time...and the best is yet to come." I happen to believe that. It is a new era, and one in which God is at work. Let's see what He will do.
The Scripture tell us to pray for those in authority over us, to hold up our leaders in prayer. I encourage you to do just that. Pray for our President. Pray diligently and fervently...daily. He needs our prayers more than ever before.
I pray that he and his family be protected and safe. I pray that somehow wise, godly, conservative men and women of character will come alongside this President and give him needed counsel as he makes decisions for our nation and the world. I would even pray for a Biblical Book of Acts Damascus "Saul to Paul" experience for our President.
He has stated his intentions to lead this nation to the left and into socialism. In that sense, I hope he fails miserably. Though he has said he is a Christian, the evidence is that he is a religious leftist, which is a moral-relativism-based Christian faith of the far left. If interested, you can read more in Matt Barber's column, "The Gods of Liberalism."
As was said today, we are at the hinge of history. Truly, it is a new era for our nation. What this portends for our nation can be positively impacted by those Christians across our land who will continually, consistently and humbly pray for our President and our leaders. I encourage you to join me as we lift them before God, our Heavenly Father, Who inspired and directed our founding fathers to create this great nation of ours.
We are not done. It is not over. I refuse to bow to the nay-sayers and religious (or even non-religious) pessimists among us. I serve a great God, who has turned the course of history before, and He is still in control. He still loves us and cares for us and will walk with us through whatever we face in the next four to eight years.
As we often say at the beginning of our services, "God is great, all the time...and the best is yet to come." I happen to believe that. It is a new era, and one in which God is at work. Let's see what He will do.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Getting Off the Treadmill
Just saying "treadmill" sure brings up a lot of thoughts. Merry-go-round, being all caught up in the same old thing, an endless routine, some wearisome or monotonous activity. It is also a very popular method of exercising. When I Googled 'treadmill' it took three pages of ads before I came to the Dictionary definition of treadmill.
In looking over (very quickly) the first few dozen ads, I found you could even have a "treadmill desk" so you can walk and exercise while you work. Now we're getting somewhere...maybe! I discovered in my studies that it is a proven fact you learn much more when you are active while studying...such as on a treadmill & reading. Really! Go find the book, "Brain Rules." You will be fascinated by what is being discovered. Ah, but I digress.
Recently I disassembled our treadmill and carried it, piece by piece, out to my office. There I reassembled it, so I could use it in a warmer climate than our unheated garage. I figured if I didn't have to put on long-johns, parka and gloves to go use the treadmill (hey, at least I didn't get rained or snowed on in the garage) then maybe I would find more time to do some healthy exercise through the winter.
Ok, winter is here, the office is definitely warmer than the garage, so why aren't I out there more often? Why indeed. It is this thing called time...and discipline. This week it's been twice, so far.
Perhaps I will let you know how I am doing. Then again, perhaps I won't. Especially if I'm not doing well. So here's my challenge...be sure to ask me how I'm doing. With that kind of motivation, perhaps I can be a bit more diligent about arranging my schedule.
You know, we really get done what we really want to get done. When it comes right down to it, we do what we really want to do. We will find time, find the funds (usually) and we will do what we really set our minds to doing. Even if it's a boring exercise on the treadmill.
It is a new year. What have you set your mind to doing this year? Treadmill, anyone?
In looking over (very quickly) the first few dozen ads, I found you could even have a "treadmill desk" so you can walk and exercise while you work. Now we're getting somewhere...maybe! I discovered in my studies that it is a proven fact you learn much more when you are active while studying...such as on a treadmill & reading. Really! Go find the book, "Brain Rules." You will be fascinated by what is being discovered. Ah, but I digress.
Recently I disassembled our treadmill and carried it, piece by piece, out to my office. There I reassembled it, so I could use it in a warmer climate than our unheated garage. I figured if I didn't have to put on long-johns, parka and gloves to go use the treadmill (hey, at least I didn't get rained or snowed on in the garage) then maybe I would find more time to do some healthy exercise through the winter.
Ok, winter is here, the office is definitely warmer than the garage, so why aren't I out there more often? Why indeed. It is this thing called time...and discipline. This week it's been twice, so far.
Perhaps I will let you know how I am doing. Then again, perhaps I won't. Especially if I'm not doing well. So here's my challenge...be sure to ask me how I'm doing. With that kind of motivation, perhaps I can be a bit more diligent about arranging my schedule.
You know, we really get done what we really want to get done. When it comes right down to it, we do what we really want to do. We will find time, find the funds (usually) and we will do what we really set our minds to doing. Even if it's a boring exercise on the treadmill.
It is a new year. What have you set your mind to doing this year? Treadmill, anyone?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Where Did Sunday Go?
Sunday is over…again. How do they come and go so fast? I am often so amazed on Sunday night, or Monday morning, to realize another week is gone. So quickly, too. I treasure my Sundays. There are the hours and hours of preparation, prayer, writing, reading, study, listening…and more that goes into sermon preparation. I want Sunday to be a special time. I want my congregation to go home chewing on some thought, some truth, encouraged and uplifted…and happy. My thought is continually, “How can I bless the people today?” I don’t want to just preach sermons, I want to touch lives, encourage, lift, laugh, impart a word of wisdom, share my knowledge of the Word, and when we leave, I want those who attended to say, “Now that was good!”
Now, it is Monday, and my thoughts are on next Sunday. Where am I going in my teaching, what will my sermon focus on? It is January, so I look to preach and teach on subjects centered around the new year, goals, schedules, and whatever I can to help us look positively ahead. There are some great opportunities before us this year, again. We want to take advantage of them, and find ways to reach out to the community with love, acceptance and forgiveness.
Now, it is Monday, and my thoughts are on next Sunday. Where am I going in my teaching, what will my sermon focus on? It is January, so I look to preach and teach on subjects centered around the new year, goals, schedules, and whatever I can to help us look positively ahead. There are some great opportunities before us this year, again. We want to take advantage of them, and find ways to reach out to the community with love, acceptance and forgiveness.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Am I Having Fun Yet?
Welcome...a very stormy winter evening welcome. Two items to write about tonight, both of historical importance...at least they are to me.
This is twice...twice in two weeks...and absolutely historical. Twice in two weeks we have had to cancel a church service. First, it was the Sunday before Christmas, Sunday morning and even the scheduled Christmas Program for Sunday evening (and we had to miss all those goodies with the social time that always follows). It seems a winter storm moved into the area on Saturday, following a week of below freezing weather (not necessarily normal for the Pacific NW), and it dumped 3-8" of snow, depending on where you were in Pierce County. Further snow was forecast for late Sunday afternoon (which brought another 5-8" of that white stuff...guaranteeing a "white Christmas"). Across Pierce County many churches, ours included, canceled services for that Sunday.
Now tonight we had to cancel our regular Wednesday night Bible study. Only tonight we were going to have our annual "Planning Session," where we all bring our calendars and together we lay out the year's activities for the church family. Well, tonight it is flooding across Western Washington, with extreme flooding for parts of Sumner, Orting, Fife and surrounding areas. Highway 410 through Sumner is closed (we currently have almost 100 road closures in the county, most of them around us), Orting is undergoing an evacuation, as is Fife south of I-5. We decided it was a wise choice to reschedule our Planning Session for next week and let people stay home...or evacuate as may be necessary.
I cannot remember the last time we canceled a church service, let alone two, on account of winter storms. Perhaps now we can just get on with our normal mild, wet winter for which the Northwest is known for.
Now for the second "historical" item. Tonight our church website has gone live (they call it "published" in the web world). The web site has been ready for several months, but I just did not have the time to finish the final details. Over the Christmas holidays I took the time to finish and proof the site (however, that doesn't mean it is perfect...this is a project in motion). Now I was ready to "publish." Well, it has taken almost a week to accomplish that intricate little detail. First our hosting site decided they could no longer host "Front Page" web sites as they have in the past (ok...perhaps we may be a bit antiquated, but we are still using "Front Page"). It took them almost three days to finally, finally, come to that conclusion. I'm not sure how many tech's I sent home with migraines as we tried to work out the bugs, only to find out their Linux system was incompatible with our Front Page. So on to find another hosting site. It then took them four days to work out the bugs, and tonight, a brilliant tech walked me through some final details (why couldn't the first tech tell me those things???)...and it was "published." Ok, so I lost most of you back there about fourteen paragraphs. Simply put, a week's work, lots of phone calls and emails, and we are "live."
Perhaps I have a few less hairs, but am delighted that we are now "on line." Perhaps you are reading this because of finding Valley Christian Center on line. Welcome...I'm so glad I'm finally here...and you are here. Let's have a great journey together. Come on back. I promise you I'm going to have some fun here. Just wait until I get warmed up! Why not join me. Besides, we're "The Happy Church."
This is twice...twice in two weeks...and absolutely historical. Twice in two weeks we have had to cancel a church service. First, it was the Sunday before Christmas, Sunday morning and even the scheduled Christmas Program for Sunday evening (and we had to miss all those goodies with the social time that always follows). It seems a winter storm moved into the area on Saturday, following a week of below freezing weather (not necessarily normal for the Pacific NW), and it dumped 3-8" of snow, depending on where you were in Pierce County. Further snow was forecast for late Sunday afternoon (which brought another 5-8" of that white stuff...guaranteeing a "white Christmas"). Across Pierce County many churches, ours included, canceled services for that Sunday.
Now tonight we had to cancel our regular Wednesday night Bible study. Only tonight we were going to have our annual "Planning Session," where we all bring our calendars and together we lay out the year's activities for the church family. Well, tonight it is flooding across Western Washington, with extreme flooding for parts of Sumner, Orting, Fife and surrounding areas. Highway 410 through Sumner is closed (we currently have almost 100 road closures in the county, most of them around us), Orting is undergoing an evacuation, as is Fife south of I-5. We decided it was a wise choice to reschedule our Planning Session for next week and let people stay home...or evacuate as may be necessary.
I cannot remember the last time we canceled a church service, let alone two, on account of winter storms. Perhaps now we can just get on with our normal mild, wet winter for which the Northwest is known for.
Now for the second "historical" item. Tonight our church website has gone live (they call it "published" in the web world). The web site has been ready for several months, but I just did not have the time to finish the final details. Over the Christmas holidays I took the time to finish and proof the site (however, that doesn't mean it is perfect...this is a project in motion). Now I was ready to "publish." Well, it has taken almost a week to accomplish that intricate little detail. First our hosting site decided they could no longer host "Front Page" web sites as they have in the past (ok...perhaps we may be a bit antiquated, but we are still using "Front Page"). It took them almost three days to finally, finally, come to that conclusion. I'm not sure how many tech's I sent home with migraines as we tried to work out the bugs, only to find out their Linux system was incompatible with our Front Page. So on to find another hosting site. It then took them four days to work out the bugs, and tonight, a brilliant tech walked me through some final details (why couldn't the first tech tell me those things???)...and it was "published." Ok, so I lost most of you back there about fourteen paragraphs. Simply put, a week's work, lots of phone calls and emails, and we are "live."
Perhaps I have a few less hairs, but am delighted that we are now "on line." Perhaps you are reading this because of finding Valley Christian Center on line. Welcome...I'm so glad I'm finally here...and you are here. Let's have a great journey together. Come on back. I promise you I'm going to have some fun here. Just wait until I get warmed up! Why not join me. Besides, we're "The Happy Church."
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