Welcome Back, Andy Stanley--Taking Responsibility for Your Life

Diabetes is rampant among men and women in our society, obesity has been recognized as a national crisis, heart disease is the number one killer among men and is not far behind in women, the divorce rate soars, and the percentage of unwed mothers in America is appalling. Prison construction is at an all-time high and the prison population continues to grow. All of these maladies are related to lifestyle decisions and our failure as individuals and as a society to take responsibility for our actions and to be responsible for our lives.
In today's lesson, Andy Stanley begins a series entitled, "Taking Responsibility for Your Life." Part I has the subtitle, "Let the Blames Begin." During the lesson, Andy asks the question, "Am I taking responsibility for my life...REALLY?"
Andy suggests that it is almost impossible to see in the mirror. However, our whole culture is becoming less and less responsible. For many of us, we have adopted the creed, "I have the right to be irresponsible, but you don't have the right to hold me accountable...and, oh, by the way, you are also responsible to foot the bill or clean up the mess for my irresponsibility." Wow! Isn't that attitude so common today?
Andy Stanley also reinforces another principle in today's discussion: "What gets rewarded, gets repeated." Therefore, if, as a culture, we tend to reward certain behaviors, those behaviors will tend to be repeated. If we reward those who refuse to work with free food, free education, free housing, free transportation, etc., more and more people are likely to refuse to work. Andy also brings out the fact that irresponsibility can be contagious. However, anytime an individual, a group, or a family acts irresponsibly, somebody else ALWAYS has to come along to shoulder the responsibility and carry the burden. In the case of runaway rates of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, we have seen our health care system overloaded and we have experienced unsustainable rates of increase in healthcare costs and insurance rates designed to meet the requirements of such costs. The government has felt a need to intervene in this area and we have seen the consequences. Healthcare providers are having their hands tied and are being limited in their practice by the dictates of Medicare and other government interventions. Unwed mothers are often driven to poverty and the government is compelled to provide basic food provisions, medical attention, housing assistance, and other basic necessities. Yes, someone or some group always has to step in to shoulder the burden when we act irresponsibly.
In today's discussion, Andy makes the point that each of us is responsible ultimately to our Heavenly Father. As Christians, we were created to e responsible. In Genesis 1:27-28 we see the first example of God's expectation that His children have respopnsibilities. We are happiest when we have responsibility and we are in compliance with that responsibility. Irresponsible behavior always creates conflict according to Andy Stanley in today's lesson. Blame is another form of irresponsibility according to Andy. Therefore, we should take responsibility for our own actions, refuse to get involved in the blame game, and seek diligently to meet our responsibility to our Heavenly Father. In doing so, we will be meeting all other responsibilities in our life. Are you being responsible for your life....really?


PLANS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CURRICULUM:
We will be using Andy Stanley material at least for the next five or six months. This series, "Taking responsibility for your Life" will last approximately four weeks.
Then, we will begin two Andy Stanley series that will last eight weeks and will take us to Christmas. They are both designed to lead our thinking and our worship up to and through the Christmas season. The first Christmas series is entitled, "An Unexpected Christmas" in which Andy goes through the unlikely family tree of Jesus. Finally, during the last three weeks leading to Christmas, we will engage in a series called "The Thrill of Hope," in which Andy takes us through the story of Zechariah, personalizes our own Christmas Story, and then reiterates Luke's story of Christmas. I think we will find these weeks ahead to be exciting, enjoyable, and thought-provoking. Most of all, I hope that this time that we will be spending together with one of the truly great Bible Teachers of our time will bring us to a season of worship, to a time of Honoring God, and to a time of deep personal introspection. I look foward to joining you on this journey! See you in Sunday School!

New Testament Prophecy--Jesus Our Victorious King

Several years ago, my family and I visited Yellowstone National Park. I remember pulling off the road at one point and walking down a short path to view a mighty waterfall. Even though we were a good distance from the actual flowing water, the roar of moving water was so intense that one could not hear anything else. The roar of the water literally drowned out all other noise. In today's lesson, the voice of God is compared to the sound of "many waters." In other words, the almighty, all-powerful God of the universe is described as the ultimate victor in the confrontation of good against evil, the struggle of the righteous against the unrighteous, and the battle of light versus darkness.
We were made for peace. In Philippians 2:9-10, we are told that God highly exalted His own son and bestowed upon Him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. The Scripture makes it abundantly clear that we are all made to honor and worship Him. Yet, throughout the ages, we have experienced divisions, disagreements, and wars. In Genesis 14, we are introduced to the word "War" for the first time and since that time, millions have died and suffered in wars around the world.

Our lesson today focuses on the New Testament Prophecy found in the book of Revelation. Revelation is a book of incredible hope for those who love Jesus. It describes the outcome of the final war. It provides a vision of Jesus as the Mighty King, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. In the book of Revelation, John, the apostle of Jesus, shares a vision of Jesus with the seven churches. Perhaps, one of the most relevant exhortations made in this sacred scripture is found in Revelation 3:15-16. In this selection, Jesus warns the church that they have become neither hot nor cold and that he is about to spew them from His mouth.

The last book of the Bible further predicts the events that will occur at the end of time when God decides to end the war of good against evil, to terminate the competition between purity and sin. During our lesson today, our host points to four signs that the end may be near:
1. The very existence of the nation of Israel is a precursor to the coming of Christ for the second time.
2. A period of intense spiritual deception as described in 1 Timothy 4:1 seems to also provide evidece that the time of deliverance may be near.
3. A time of intense and progressive moral decline is also an indicator that Jesus may be on His way soon. The description provided in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 seems to reinforce this possibility.
4. Finally, an increased intolerance of the Truth as described in 2 Timothy 4:1-4 is another good indicator to suggest the time of Jesus return and God's ultimate Victory is on the horizon and could occur soon.

However, whether Jesus returns and the events of Revelation occur today or tomorrow or a thousand years from now, we can be sure, "Our God Reigns!" Think about the power of the voice of God the next time you get near a powerful waterfall! Our God Reigns. The next time you see evil, remember, "Our God reigns." Regardless of how dark it gets, our deliverace is near!

Jesus Our Teacher--Lesson 5

"We behave as we behave because we believe as we believe." Think about this quote. Isn't it the truth? If we truly believe that it is important to spend time in the Word, we will make time to read the Bible. If we believe that God honors prayer, we will ensure time for daily prayer. Today's lesson reinforces this truth.
The New Testament writings cover Romans through Jude. These books are letters to the early church and their relevance for us has not diminished in two thousand years. There are 21 letters of which Paul wrote 13. Nine of these were directed to churches that were dealing with various issues of immorality and persecution. The letters were written to the churches and to us as lessons of instruction, correction, and encouragement.
This section of the Bible is divided into three areas by the presenters of today's lesson. They are identified as the 3 D's: Doctrine, Discipline, and Deceit. Biblical Doctrine teaches us what to believe about God and us. We learn that God is a loving God (see 1 John 4:8 and 1 Cor. 13). The proof of our love of God is seen in our obedience to His Word.
Spritual discipline includes those actions that we take as believers to mature in our faith. A book titled Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster was referenced in today's lesson. In his book, Foster describes three different kinds of discipline. The first is "Inward Discipline" which focuses on personal examination and change. These disciplines include meditation, prayer, fasting,and studying. The second is "External Discipline" which focuses on making the world a better place to live. This discipline requires service and evangelism. "Corporate Discipline" is the third component of today's lesson outline. Corporate discipline is designed to bring us closer to each other and most importantly, closer to God.
Our lesson facilitator today shared several of her personal strategies for prayer. She mentioned that she finds time for prayer before the day gets busy, she prays aloud, and prays on her knees. She also mentioned that she prays the scripture. These are some great strategies for regular prayer.
The final "D" in today's lesson addresses the issue of deceit. The last 8 letters of this section address this issue of false teaching that appeared to be problematic in the early church just as it is today. The letters were warnings against adding to the Woird of God or taking away from God's teaching. Also, the lesson facilitator makes the point that it is important to know the truth so that we can recognize false teaching when it occurs around us. Here is a list of verses referenced in today's lesson: John 14:6, Ephesians 6:2, Romans 12:2, Titus 2:3-5, Hebrews 12:5-11, Ephesians 6: 11-17, and Col. 3:12. Let's all keep the doctrine of the Bible in our hearts and minds and practice the disciplines of the Bible in order to accomplish this task and let's be prepared for the false teaching of Satan and the world. have a great week....and, GIG'EM, Aggies!

Jesus Our Savior--Week 4 Invincible Love, Invisible War

"Not one of us will get out of here alive." This quote came from today's lesson which began in a cemetery. Yes, it is true. We will all die someday. The wages of sin is death and we will all pay that price unless we live until Jesus returns. The discussion today focuses on the first five books of the New Testament. The Gospel writers and the book of Acts tells about the fulfillment of prophecy. There was a span of four hundred years between the old testament prophets and the birth of a savior in the New Testament books of history.
We have likely all heard the argument from naysayers and non-believers that the Bible contradicts itself, especially when one compares the eyewitness accouns of the Gospel writers as they described the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. However, today's facilitators did an excellent job of explaining the differences in the details of the events described by different writers of the Bible. He used the analogy of an accident occurring in an intersection with witnesses on each corner of the intersection. As a result of the unique vantage point of each witness, and as a result of each witnesses' individual interests and knowledge and experiences, and, since each author was speaking to a different audience, it is understandable that small discrepancies in the descriptions would occur. Yet the facts of the case and the important realities of the events are not disputed and never have been!
Another important concept outlined in today's discussion: "God lives in the pauses." Psalm 46:10 encourages us to "Be still and know that I am God." Our speaker today emphsizes the importance of waiting to take action, of allowing time between a stimulus event and our response. Such waiting will help us to respond in a more Godly manner.
We also saw in today's lesson the importance of being able to quote the scripture of God. Using Jesus as an example, the speaker told of the temptations that the devil laid before Jesus and how Jesus overcame those temptations by quoting scripture. However, we learned also that we must be cautious of Satan quoting scripture and using half-truths to deceive us. Satan also takes the scripture out of context. It was said in today's lesson, "Scripture taken out of context is simply pretense."
Finally, we enjoyed a short discussion on the evidence of the resurrection. First, the earliest followers of Jesus who would have been eyewitnesses to this event have steadfastly described the event and have reported their personal interactions with the risen savior. Many of these early followers actually died as a result of their refusal to refute the resurrection. Had the resurrection not been true, they would likely have been much more resistant to the idea of dying for this cause.
The introduction and discussion of the Holy Spirit concluded today's lesson. As we follow Jesus and seek to be more like Him, we will become more like Him as the Holy Spirit guides our minds and bodies.
Have a great and blessed week.

God is Our Judge: Week 3

Who would you like to serve as the judge if you were accused of some wrongdoing? What traits would you like to see in your judge? Would you want him/her to be fair and honest? You probably would prefer that the judge have integrity and would not be susceptible to bribes and outside influences that may cause him/her to judge you unfairly. Would you hope that he/she had knowledge of the law and experience in the interpretation of legal issues? In today's lesson, we consider the 17 books of Prophecy in which God declares that He is our judge.
In this section of God's Word, we see that God sends His prophets with a message for His people. The people have fallen away from God and have slid into lives of sin, violence, and bloodshed. God repeatedly sends His prophet to warn a hard-hearted people of His judgement and punishment if they continue to disobey and dishonor Him. Part of the prophetical message includes an invitation to repent and to turn away from the sin that is destroying the country. God's message continues to offer forgiveness and restoration of their relationship with Him if they will repent from their sins and turn away from their sinful lifestyles and behavior.
The books of prophecy illustrate God's faithfulness. God ALWAYS does exactly what He says he is going to do. We see examples of fulfilled prophecy in these books of the Bible and we also see examples of prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. Either way, we can rest assured, God will fulfill prophecy just as He says He will.
The books of prophecy are a great way to introduce people to the future. God depends on His children to know the prophecy and how it impacts us today. Remember, God is a Judge. There will be justice. God's righteousness will prevail.

BACK TO SCHOOL SWIMMING PARTY: After church on Sunday, August 21, I hope you will bring lunch for your family and join us for lunch at the Emerald Forest Swimming Pool. We can eat lunch in the air conditioned comfort of the pool clubhouse. After we eat lunch, the pool will be available for kids and parents from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Bring your sunscreen, floaties, water cannons, etc. and come join the fun for one last time before beginning the school schedule this week.

WISDOM--Lesson 2 "Invincible Love, Invisible War"

This week, our Sunday School study takes us to consider the concept of "wisdom". As we consider wisdom, we think about intelligence and discernment and knowledge. The lesson starts out in a library. As we all know, the library is filled with "How-To" books on nearly every topic conceivable. The problem with this kind of wisdom is that it is man's wisdom. For example, in the 18th and early 19th centuries, medical books suggested making cuts on an ill person in order to "bleed" the illness from one's body. Leeches were recommended as a means of sucking blood from a sick person in order to bring healing. In 19th century London, England, when cholera was devastating the population, killing thousands of people, the city government correctly determined that the source of the deadly illness was the accumulation of human waste and animal waste in a crowded, dirty environment in which there were no sanitary treatment procedures. In order to solve the dilemma, the city dumpted tons of waste into the Thames River, thereby polluting the entire water system and exponentially increasing the deaths due to Cholera. Clearly, man's wisdom is not always true and it often changes over time and circumstances. But, is there a book of wisdom that stands the test of time? Is there a book of wisdom that can be counted on to be accurate and true?
Pastor Tom Jones defines wisdom in this week's lesson as "good sense, the exercise of good judgement." Godly wisdom is described as "a knowledge, understanding, and sense of God's own heart." Check out the following scripture to learn more about what God's Word says about wisdom: Proverbs 1:5, Psalm 111:10, and Acts 13:22. The Hebrew word for wisdom means skills for living. The act of applying God's Word to our own life gives us a sense of God's own will and way in our lives.
Interestingly enough, the presenters of this week's lesson suggest that these are learned skills. They are not something that you and I are born with or that we inherit. Job 28, Psalm 111, and Proverbs 9 all provide examples of how we can learn wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge applied to our own lives. Understanding of God's will and direction in our lives is tied to our obedience. The more obedient we become, the more we understand. Wow. Having trouble understanding God? Try being more obedient. You may find that your understanding increases dramatically.
The lesson identifies three realities of suffering:
1. No one is exempt from suffering.
2. We don't often have control over the causes and consequences of our suffering.
3. We can CHOOSE how we will face suffering and how we will persevere.
Make the decision AHEAD of TIME. I loved the quote, "God is NEVER late, but seldom early." It has been said that you are either in a battle, coming out of a battle, or going into a battle. Either way, you need to be prepared with God's wisdom and with decisions made ahead of time about how you will respond and persevere.

Best advice from today's lesson: Go to God's Word whatever the season of your life. Whatever difficulty you may be facing, God's Word provides wisdom and discernment. Seek His guidance in His Word. Amen. Have a great week.

Invincible Love, Invisible War--Lesson One--Our Sovereign King

Today, we began a new series. The series is a study of the Word of God. It breaks the Bible into six divisions, the first being the History of the Old Testament--the first 17 books of the Bible. In this review, we learn that the Bible over a period of 1500 years, has more than 40 authors, was written on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) and in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic). Even with all this diversity, there is one constant theme throughout the Bible. Indeed, our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Bible tells us that ALL scripture was inspired by God (2Timothy 3:16). The Bible was the first book to be mechanically printed and is the most widely distributed book ever written!
In today's lesson, we were given a summary of the first 17 books of the Bible. The first chapters of this great book help us to understand that God created everything out of nothing! God was at work before we got here and He had a plan for us before time even began. Hard to fathom isn't it? Today's lesson also included a discussion on sin. We learned that the word "sin" simply means "to miss the mark." We also learned that from the very first sin, God associated the shedding of innocent blood with sin. The three major consequences of sin were reviewed: 1. death, 2. estrangement or separation from God, 3. shame.
We then learn of God's grand plan for our salvation even though we have missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God. We also saw in today's lesson how the world (the system of man-made rules and institutions) tends to influence us against God. Our own flesh has become our own worst enemy. We desire to do things that are against God's will. The World system has fashioned hooks that snag our flesh.
We see how the early Christians experienced the same obstacles. God's people wanted a king when they did not need a king. Yet the world system led them to request a king. Out of 39 kings that ruled the people of God, only 8 of them were "good" kings and even those 8 had issues with God. A loving God disciplines His children. Therefore, throughout history, we have seen God at work disciplining His Children. And yet, He also loves his children. We saw in today's lesson the tremendous patience that God has demonstrated in his love for His children and we were shown that God's plan, His Sovereign Plan is unfolding even in our lives. Thank God for His Sovereign Power.

Here are some thoughts from the workbook that may help you to understand the enemy with which we are in spiritual warfare.

Satan is a creation of God. (Genesis 3:1)
Satan can tempt us or fill our hearts with evil desires. (IChron 21:1), (Luke 4:1-2), (Acts 5:3)
Satan has a kingdom in conflict with God's kingdom. (Luke 11: 18, 20)
Satan is a ruler men can choose to follow: (I TIM 5: 15), (2 Tim 2:26), (Eph. 4:27)
Satan can cause illness or tribulation. (Luke 13: 11, 16)
Satan is a liar and murderer. (John 8:44)
Satan's end has already been decreed by God. (Matthew 25:41)

END OF SUMMER SWIMMING PARTY
We are planning to have one last summer swimming party on August 21 after church. We are going to check Monday to see if we can rent the pool again for our class on Sunday, August 21. If it is available, we will set up the meeting room at Emerald Forest Pool for a potluck lunch after church and then swimming from 1:00-4:00 p.m. We will let you know as soon as we find out if the pool is available. JC