Resolution 2014 - Prayer Strategy

As we prepare to launch into a new year, I want to encourage you to write out and commit to a prayer strategy for 2014.  As the new year dawns, many of us will make New Year's resolutions.  In fact, when it comes to diet and health, most of us will have a plan or a new strategy in 2014.  When it comes to our finances or educational goals, many have plans or strategies for success in place.  But what about a prayer strategy?  

This past Sunday, my heart was touched again concerning the importance of intercessory prayer.  In Genesis 18, we read about Abraham's plea for the wicked city of Sodom.  Abraham interceded with God on behalf of Sodom and his righteous life and intercession attracted God's attention.   Job also interceded for his family lest they had sinned against God (Job 1-2).  Jesus interceded with the Father on behalf of his disciples (John 17).

Too many of us lead prayer-less lives.  Why?  Because intercessory prayer is work!!!  It takes time, energy and focus.  Are you too tired, too busy, or too pre-occupied with other pursuits to intercede.  Here's the challenge - In 2014, let's come up with a prayer strategy for our families, our church, and our community.  At New Life, a big part of our mission is connecting you with Jesus and His mission.  We can help you pray!!!

We already have two opportunities for prayer in place at New Life.  Every Saturday evening (6-7 PM) in 2014, we pray at the church office.  I would ask every New Lifer to make a commitment to be present for this prayer meeting at least 1x per month.  Secondly, we spend time in prayer together as a church from 9:00-9:30 AM on Sunday mornings.  You are invited to join us!

What about your personal prayer life?    Do you have a strategy for prayer in your personal prayer life.  We all need quiet time with the Lord, if we are going to lead significant and successful Christian life.  Are video games, netflix, TV or movies stealing away your time in the Lord's presence?

I challenge you to develop a specific plan for prayer in 2014.  Write out when you will pray, where you will pray, and for whom you will pray.  Attending Sunday worship on a regular basis can encourage you to pray.  Participating in a small group on a weekly basis will kindle the fire of prayer in your life.  But, nothing can replace your prayer time with the Lord through out the week.

I'm planning to pray for my spouse and children, my church, our missionaries, and our community on a regular basis in 2014.  During the Daniel Plan I am committing to prayer walk 1x per week and to fast one meal per week.  One of the most exciting realities about intercessory prayer is that intercessory prayer attracts God's attention.

2014 is going to be an exciting year as you commit to a prayer strategy and intercede with God for the needs of our family, our church, and our community.

Daniel Plan is almost here

The Daniel Plan materials have been ordered and the groups start the first week of January.  I hope you will make plans now to join a group or host a group.  We have ordered the Six sessions on DVD, but we need to know how many study guides to order.  So sign up on the web at http://www.newlifecolumbia.org/daniel_plan.aspx as soon as possible.

The New Life Campaign includes a 5K Run/Walk to raise Funds for RISE & Build, plus a challenge to set a weight loss goal and a prayer walk goal.  The Daniel Plan at New Life will run six weeks.  Let's get healthy!

New Heavens and New Earth

The Bible begins with the words, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)  The Bible ends with a similar theme in Revelation 21:1.  John writes, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."  These two verses place every other teaching in the Bible into the context of creation and God's redemptive work of recreation!

God is a creator!  We learn about this characteristic of God even before we come to know him as a sovereign Lord and savior in the biblical story.  Genesis 1-2 tells the story of God's original creation.  Every aspect of our physical world was "spoke" into existence.  God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." (1:3)  By the power of God's word, this beautiful planet flowered and flourished.  Then, God created man and woman and crowned them with his image (1:27).  And this was "good" (1:10, 12, 18, 22, 25), "very good"  (1:31).  In fact, God even "blessed" his special creation (1:28).

Then came the fall and the curses in Genesis 3.  Paradise was lost.  The beauty of God's original creation was beat down by Adam and Eve's sin.  But God was not overcome by their sin!  Man would know God as a redeeming savior--a friend of sinners!  Following Genesis 3, God's plan of redemption, restoration, and recreation becomes the crimson thread of Biblical revelation.  God is a creator, but also a redeeming, restorer, and re-creator!

In the New Testament, Jesus pointed to a day when all things would be made new.   He said, "I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28)

Paul spoke of a personal transformation (Romans 12:1-2) and new creation in 2 Corinthians 5:17.  He writes, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  Again in Galatians 6:15, Paul writes of this new creation in Christ which is produced by God's Spirit!  

Peter wrote of a new heaven and a new earth in 2 Peter 3:13 echoing the words of the prophet Isaiah when he declared, "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17)  

All of God's story (of which we are a part) culminates in the new heavens and new earth.  In Christ, we have received a "first fruits" or down payment of that new creation promised.  In Christ, we can live above the curse and walk in the blessings of God.  In Christ, we can experience restoration and redemption.  What a bright future we have as Christians!  

In the beginning God created, but in the ending God will create again.  And in the meantime, God is creating something special in you!  Blessings on a great week!  Pastor Tom

The Daniel Plan

The Daniel Plan Small Group Study Guide

Looking forward to January 2014.  At New Life we will be launching a six week campaign called "The Daniel Plan"  It was developed by Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California.  You can go to http://www.danielplan.com for more information.

In January and February all New Life Small groups will workout the six week study together.  And it is a workout (kinda).  The study itself focuses on five aspects of health and wholeness.  They are: Faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends.  I hope you will "get pumped" now about the upcoming Daniel Plan Campaign.  I believe the Daniel Plan can help to make 2014 your best year ever.  Together we can live "DANIEL STRONG"!

Leadership Retreat - A New Anointing

January 2014 we are inviting all current and potential New Life Leaders to join us for our 3rd annual leadership retreat - January 10-11.  The retreat theme is "A New Anointing" and the theme verse comes from Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  Our guest for Friday evening will be Pastor Ray Brewer, Northern Missouri District Superintendent.  Register at www.newlifecolumbia.org.

The Resurrection and the Rapture

This Sunday, we are focused on the Biblical teaching on the second coming of Christ and specifically the idea of a "rapture" in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.  I encourage you to read that portion of scripture, but let me just point out a few things of interest about the rapture.

1) The rapture is connected to the resurrection.  If the resurrection is a historical reality, then so too can we expect a rapture with great confidence.
2) The rapture is a great hope for all believers.
3) The rapture encourages all believers to live for Christ confident of His return.

Join us Sunday as we dig into 1 Thessalonians 4-5.  See you at the ARC at 10:15 AM.  Pastor Tom

Christmas is here! Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Christmas is almost here!  Matthew wrote, ""Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" (1:23)  The miracle of Christmas is that "God is with us!"

I'm sure you have already been out buying presents and listening to your favorite Christmas song.  Won't be long and we will be enjoying some family time around the Christmas tree!  At New life, we want to encourage you to celebrate the real reason for the season . . . the birth of the Savior!

When I think about that first Christmas in the manger in Bethlehem, I am reminded that God works in mysterious and sometimes small and subtle ways.  And He is still working in our world today, but not always in the foreground.  Take time this Christmas to consider all of the ways God may be working in your life and in your world and ask Him how you can partner with Him!

Each Sunday this December, we will focus on "Messiah is Coming" as a way to celebrate the first advent of Christ and look forward to His second advent.  I hope you will join us each Sunday as we celebrate at the ARC.

On December, 24th at 7 PM (Holiday Inn Executive Center) we have planned a very special Christmas Eve Candle Light gathering and invite you and your whole family to join us.

Merry Christmas!  Pastor Tom

Building Blocks of a Healthy Home

Investing in your family is really the best investment you can make in life.  It will pay big dividends as your children grow up to serve God and live productive lives.  Recently, at New Life's Family Life conference, we learned about the "Seven Building Blocks of a Healthy Home".

Building Block#1: Be a healthy person
Motto: “Only you can be you!” 
Key Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:8, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Application: What are some areas of your life that need to change so that you can be a healthy parent and create and environment of health in your home?  List your top three.

If you want to parent healthy kids you need to be a healthy person.  Health equals wholeness.  the ABCs of a whole person include 1) Accept yourself, 2) Balance your life with spiritual pursuits, and 3) Commit to a courageous lifestyle.

One thing I've noticed about parenting over the last 20 years.  All of my five children are different, but each one (in their own way) is looking to me as an example and following my lead.  If I am leading an unhealthy life or have destructive habits, it won;'t be long before I begin to see these attitudes or behaviors develop in my kids.  Only you can be you!  And your kids need you to be the very best you can be in character and deed.  Be a healthy person and raise healthy and whole kids!

Family Life

The Family Life Conference was a great success this year.  A number of families suggested that providing materials online would be a good idea.  So I thought I would blog about some of the material.  One of the sessions which I led was entitled, "Parenting Like a Horse-Whisperer".  The four main points were: 1) Strive to be steady, 2) Strive to be single-minded, 3) Strive to be strategic, 4) Strive to be prize-oriented, and 5) Strive to develop a partnership.

I. Strive to be Steady (Video on overcoming fear)
Horses get to know you by sight and smell, and the tone of your voice.  They sense the mood!  They know if you are nervous, angry, or anxious.  A good horseman is calm and collected when working with a green-broke horse.

How can I be calm and collected as I parent a toddler or teenager? 

1. Be Confident - Fortunately or unfortunately, no one is an expert the moment they become a parent.  The same is true of a horse whisperer.  It takes a lot of time to develop the skills and patience of a horse whisperer.  

• The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert to be confident.  Stephen Covey opens his book on family life with this chapter title, “You’re Going to Be ‘Off Track’ 90 Percent of the Time.  So What?”  He writes, “Good families--even great families--are off track 90 percent of the time!”
•   But, you can still be confident!
• Confidence comes when you remember that you are the parent, they are the child.
• Confidence comes from your love for your children.  If you love your kids deeply from the heart, they will sense that love.
• Confidence grows as you overcome your fears.  What makes you anxious about parenting?
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2. Be Consistent - Horses want to know what you expect from them.  For this reason, it is important to act consistently when working with them.  The same is true of children.  

• Consistency is a choice and a habit which can be developed.  You don’t have to know everything or do everything just right.  If you will simply be consistent, trust will develop.  Developing trust with your children is more important than anything else.
• Consistency flows out of establishing boundaries and borders.  Your child really wants to know your expectations for attitudes and behavior.  If you will be consistent in your behavior and your expectations, all the guess work is removed.  

3. Communicate clearly - communication is both verbal and non-verbal.  How you manage your emotions communicates very loudly to your children.

II. Strive to be Single-minded (Video - “Treat them like you want them to be.”)

If you ever watch an experienced horseman work with a horse, you will notice that they are not very easy discouraged.  Like children, horses can easily disappoint.  They don’t always act or react like we plan.  Having a mental picture of the attitude, character, or behaviors we are trying to influence into our child is very important.

1. Be single-minded by exhibiting patience when your child doesn’t respond like you desire.
2. Be single-minded by exhibiting a persevering attitude focusing on what your child will become, not the behaviors which are currently being demonstrated.

“Don’t treat them like they are  . . . Treat them like you want them to be.”  (Buck Brannaman)

III. Strive to be Strategic (Video on groundwork)

When you work with a horse it is understood that you have an agenda or a purpose.  You want to educate the horse so that horse and rider can work together without a lot of drama.  The same is true of parenting.  It’s OK to have an agenda for your kids.  In fact, we are all God’s children.  Just as God has an agenda for His children, so we also should have a strategic agenda for our child.  Parenting requires a strategy.  If you’re like me you want your kids to grow up to be successful and significant in God’s will.

1. Parent with the end in mind - What are you expecting of your child?  Does he or she know what you are expecting?  Make your expectations clear.  Write them out.  Talk about them.  If you communicate your expectations, your child will surprise you by fulfilling them.
2. Parent with short term goals -- It’s easy to be overwhelmed by parenting.  Short term goals help me keep moving forward when I feel like I’m failing as a parent or things seem to be slipping backwards.  One motto I learned in my youth when working with horses went something like this - “One step forward, two steps back”.  The point is that with kids and horses, “slow is fast.” 

IV. Strive to be Prize-oriented (Video #1: Bribery Doesn’t work)

Every horse whisperer knows that you reward good behavior.  If the horse with which you are working cooperates, you pat them on the neck or speak softly and encouraging to them.  You don’t ignore good behavior, you reward it. 

1. Be an encourager in your child’s life.  Notice when your child does something right.  Be a voice of encouragement.  Your child should hear you say, “I love you” and “I’m proud of you”.  
2. Don’t bribe, but reward.  As far as I’m concerned it’s OK to offer rewards to your child for desired behavior.  Most of life is wired this way.  But be careful not to bribe your child.  All that is required is that you make the reward clear and wait for the desired behavior before you give the reward.

V.  Strive to develop a partnership (Video on partnership)

What makes a horse whisperer a horse whisper?  Are they just patient, soft-spoken people?  Horse whisperers are good at “joining up” with the horse.  Horses are herd animals with herd instincts, so they naturally want to “join up” with you.  Likewise with children, seek to form a partnership so that they want to follow your lead.

1. Be relational - Kids need relationship with mom and dad.  So be available.  Be touchable.  Be real with your kids.
2. Spend quantity time - There is no replacement for quantity time with your kids--that’s when the quality time happens.  If you will spend time with your kids, you will build a healthy relationship with them.

• Go on vacation together.
• Go on a date.
• Develop shared hobbies.

Enjoy, Pastor Tom

People of God - People of Presence

Exodus 6:7 reads, "I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians." The Hebrews were in slavery 430 years in Egypt.  Then God sent Moses and set the people free (Exodus 16:35).  God's presence was with the people in the desert wanderings for 40 years -- a pillar of fire in the night and a cloud by day.  

Hit the rewind button some 500 years and Abraham is just appearing on the scene of God's redemptive story.  Adam and Eve and Noah and the Ark are long gone (like 800 plus years past, Genesis 7:6).    God's story is just beginning.  Adam, Eve, and Noah are just one act in a grand play.  Now Abraham takes center stage. 

Genesis 12:4 tells us that Abraham was 75 years old when he set out to follow God's call.  The preceding three verses are pivotal.  In Genesis 12:1-3, Abraham receives the call to leave his country and head out to the "promised land"(12:1).  God promises to make him into "a great nation" (12:2) and to bless him and make him a blessing to all peoples on the planet (12:3).  The second part of 12:3 reads, "and through you all the people of the earth will be blessed."  Imagine that - God was choosing Abraham and promising to make him a great nation so that "all peoples" (literally all ethnic groups) would be included in God's plan and promise of blessing.

The rest is history so to speak . . . Israel does become a great nation and in Christ Jesus, the church becomes the people of God witnessing to the power and presence of God in the world today.  In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter writes, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  You might think Peter is referring to the Israelites, but no . . . he is referring to the church (the people of God). 

The biblical pattern is clear - 1) God is a people choosing God, 2) God blesses his people so that they might be a blessing, and 3) the presence and the people of God belong together.  I began with a passage from Exodus so I will leave you with Exodus 33:14 says -  "The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

I'm grateful that God has a people called the church.  We are far from perfect and more importantly we are dependent on God's presence in our lives.  As I look at how God has worked in the past, I am reminded that God still has a people today--a people of the presence.  May God help each of us to cherish the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and seek to share him with those we meet.  Pastor Tom

Christianity teaches that God 

people of God

presence of God 

Thankful for friends

This Sunday, November 17, we are focusing on being thankful for friendship.  As we do, we will take a look at David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18-20.  David and Jonathan's relationship is a great example of loyalty, integrity, and friendship.  In their relationship we notice at least three qualities of friendship.  First, they were willing to sacrifice for one another (see 1 Samuel 18:4).  Second, we learn of Jonathan's loyalty to David in 1 Samuel 19:1-3.  And third we notice Jonathan and David's strong emotion towards each other (1 Samuel 20).  Each characteristic reminds us of the great value of a good friend.

The best way I can relate with the friendship of David and Jonathan is to compare it to the relationship between brothers or men who have fought together in the military or played on a sports team at a high level.  Perhaps you have another example in your life of true friendship which helps you relate to David and Jonathan.

The truth is we all need at leas tone good friend.  I know I am thankful for the friendship I have with my spouse, my brothers, and my church family.  How about you?  What are the friendships in your life for which you can be thankful?

Good to give thanks

Psalm 92:1 encourages us with these words, "It is good to praise the Lord."  On Sunday, November 24th at New life you are encouraged to join with us as we give thanks to God for all of our blessings.  We will have a "Parade of Thanks" during the gathering followed by a RISE & BAKE Luncheon.

It's good to give thanks.  See you Sunday.  Pastor Tom

30 Days of Thanksgiving - gratefulness and contentment

Some people are too quickly satisfied with God's blessings, others are never satisfied with God's blessings.  I came across two humorous stories about gratefulness and contentment that might make you laugh.  Michael Hodgin shares them in a book entitled, 1001 Humorous Illustrations.  The first story goes something like this --- A food editor of the local newspaper received a telephone call from a woman inquiring how long to cook a 22-pound turkey.  'Just a minute,' said the food editor.  'Thank you very much,' replied the novice cook, and hung up!    The second story follows ---  In a region of Mexico hot and cold springs are found side by side. Because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry, boil their clothes in the hot spring and then rinse them in the cold spring. A tourist watching this procedure commented to his Mexican guide, 'They must think mother nature is generous to freely supply such ample clean hot and cold water.' The guide replied, 'No, señor, there is much grumbling because she does not supply the soap.'  Some of us are satisfied too quickly and others are seemingly never satisfied.  So what's the point?

First, it's important to understand that God takes ungratefulness very seriously.  when God gives us a blessing, we should be quick to give thanks.  Consider King Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 32:24-25.  The Bible says, "In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.  He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.  But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.”  The New Testament provides another example in Romans 1.  Paul connects ungratefulness with "darkened minds" (Romans 1).  Wow!  Being thankful is really important.  

Second, gratefulness can produce an attitude of contentment in your life.  It works, really!  Next time you feel like complaining or reciting all the negatives in your life, take a deep breathe and begin counting all your blessings!  Repeat until your attitude changes!  Plus gratefulness is contagious.

Third, gratefulness can balance out your expectations in life.  Remember, some of us are too easily satisfied, while others seem to never be satisfied.  Gratefulness can produce patience and perseverance in your life.  We when focus on the good things in our lives rather than the troubles, we are reminded of God's grace and we gain hope for more of the same. 

Practice gratefulness and contentment this week as you walk with the Lord.  Pastor Tom

Truly Thankful

Thanksgiving season is upon us!  At New Life, we are celebrating with 30 Days of Thanksgiving.  I will probably blog a Bible verse each day on thanksgiving.  We have so many things for which to be thankful.  So count your blessings and watch as a positive attitude and better health begins to take hold in your life.  The Bible tells us that an attitude of gratitude can defeat such negative attitudes as envy, jealousy, pride, and cynicism.  Join us in November at the ARC!  Stay tuned for more information.  Pastor Tom

Messiah is coming!

This Christmas season, we will focus on the first advent of Christ and His soon return.  I've been looking forward to this series for some time.  The Bible has a lot to say about end times events.  I am planning on three sermons - "Signs of the Second Coming", "The Rapture of the Church", and "The New Heavens and the New Earth."  

Without a doubt, the Bible teaches us to believe in a beginning and ending to human history as we know it.  How close are we to the end?  Is Jesus planning to return soon?  Get ready in December for the sermon series "Messiah is Coming!"  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says,  "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 

Check out current or future sermons online at http://www.newlifecolumbia.org/new_life_media.aspx

What about work ethic and generosity?

I hope this post will be just controversial enough to get you thinking about God's view of work.  We live in a day when more and more people are needing and asking for a hand out.  Increasingly, our government is conditioning people to ask for help rather than work to be self-reliant (just my opinion).  I'm not certain of the numbers, but I know the number of people receiving government assistance in 2013 is way up compared to when I was a teenager in the 1980s.  

Maybe you saw the movie Cinderella Man--it was a true story about James J. Braddock and his boxing career during the depression.  During the movie, he brakes his hand and has to work on the docks.  In the process his utilities are turned off and he looses his kids.  Really tough times!  As a result, he stands in line to receive government assistance, even tough it was a shameful thing to do in those days.  Then, he gets another chance to be in the ring.  He wins big!!  But he didn't forget about the government assistance.  You know what he did?  He stood back in the same line and paid the government back.  Wow!  He's my hero!  It's better to give than to receive.

In Ephesians 4-6, Paul is writing to Christians about living as children of the light.  He writes about behaviors such as anger and love, sexual immorality and purity, coarse joking and wholesome talk, and then . . .  he writes something very interesting about work!  Here's what he says, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." (Ephesians 4:28)  

It's true, the Bible says that work is good and stealing is bad.  But what else can we learn from this surprising verse in Ephesians?  First, Paul considers work to be "useful"--work has a purpose.  We are not all blessed to have jobs we really enjoy, but our work does have a purpose.  As we work, we provide for our family, for instance.  1 Timothy 5:8 says, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."    As we work, we have opportunity to bless others with our generosity.  That seems to be Paul's message here about work--don't be a taker (i.e. steal), be a giver (help those in need).

Here's my goal -- I want to work as hard as I can "unto the Lord" so that I can provide for my family AND so that I can become a generous person helping others who are truly in need.  I believe Christians should have a great work ethic.  We should work hard to provide for our family and to be generous with those suffering loss in life.  I'll leave you with Proverbs 13:4, "A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."  I hope this got you think ing about work and generosity.  Have a great week.

Conflict with those you love

Let's face it--conflict causes stress, anxiety, and relationship troubles.  Conflict can affect your health, your family, and even your work performance.  Portland State University’s Institute on Aging studied over 650 adults over a two-year period and found that ‘stable negative social exchanges’ (in other words, repetitive or prolonged conflict) was significantly associated with lower self-rated health, greater functional limitations, and a higher number of health conditions. ( see www. stress.about.com and search for and article titled, "Conflict in Relationships" by Elizabeth Scott)

Conflict is stressful; but it doesn't have to be that way.  The next time you are in conflict with someone you love, LAUGH your way out.  Below are five suggestions for healthy conflict resolution using LAUGH as an acronym   Remember, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

L - Listen well (Seek to hear, before you are heard)

A - Attend to emotions (Become proactive in dealing with the emotions of self and others)

U - Understand and respect - (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.)

G - Generate alternative solutions (Become an imaginative problem solver)

H - Honor God, others, and yourself (Pursue integrity and relational justice for all)

The next time you are in conflict, take a deep breath and LAUGH your way out of conflict.  You and the person with which you are in conflict will both be better off.  

Have a great day, Pastor Tom

Family Life Conference

What's the difference between a parenting conference and a family life conference?  I'm not completely sure yet?!  But . . .  this year we are launching a Family Life Conference at New Life focused on parenting and family adventure.  We are inviting the whole family (yes, kids of all ages) to join us on Friday, November 8th for a hands-on experience related to family life.  Then, on Saturday, November 9th we have prepared some special sessions just for the parents.  I am especially excited to share a brand new session called, "Parenting Like A Horse-Whisperer".  You don't want to miss it!  Spread the word.  You can register at www.newlifecolumbia.org.  Just hit the Family Life Conference icon.

The problem of evil and redemption

The Bible is full of redemptive stories which reveal God's grace and mercy and the human need for a Savior.  Our world is full of desperate situations that cause us to long for a hero.  This Sunday at New life in School of the Bible, we will be discussing "The Problem of Evil" and God's plan of redemption.  Classically, theologians and philosophers have given the problem of evil the title of "Theodicy", meaning "God and justice".  The problem is stated something like this -- If God is good and all-powerful, then why does He allow evil (or where does evil come from)?  Join us at 9:30 AM at the ARC as we take a look at what the Bible says about God's goodness, evil, sin, and redemption.

Christian Maturity

What does Christian maturity look like?  Is it a high level of emotional intelligence or self control?  Is it ethical behavior and Christlikeness?  Is it living a life of love, kindness, and grace?  At New Life we have developed a path towards Christian maturity that is shaped by four core values - biblical truth, relationships, service, and friendship.  We strive to help every New Lifer begin a relationship with Jesus by exploring and embracing biblical truth, belong by enjoying Christian community, become by enriching the lives of others through service, and branch out by encouraging others to follow Jesus.   

So what does Christian maturity look like?  Christian maturity looks like a person who is growing to understand God's word, engaging in authentic Christian relationships, actively engaging in service, and encouraging friends and neighbors to follow Jesus.  These four values are just a start, but they help us move in the direction of maturity as we follow Christ and become more like Him.  Ephesians 4:11-13 gives us an idea of what God has in mind for those who follow Christ.  It reads, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Looking forward to Sunday as we strive to become more like Christ.  See you at the ARC, Pastor Tom

A Theology of Blessing

Last week, we began a new study entitled "Understanding the Bible" in our 9:30 AM Sunday School.  The Bible is truly an amazing book and can transform our lives as we meditate on its teachings.  For me, the most amazing thing about the Bible is it's inspired nature.  Although the Bible consists of 66 books written over a period of 1500 years by around 40 different authors, we can detect common themes which run from cover to cover.
This week our focus is the theme of "Blessing".

A Theology of Blessing

The Psalmist declared, "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever." (52:8)  The Bible teaches us that God is love (1 John 4:8) and from that love flows blessing.  Terms for blessing occur over 600 times in the Old Testament.  Most of these terms are related to the word meaning "to kneel" because in ancient times one would kneel to receive a blessing.  The New Testament continues the theme of blessing, but focuses more on spiritual blessings of knowing Christ Jesus, rather than physical blessing.  Primarily, "God's blessing" implies two important aspects in the lives of God's people: (1) favor, and (2) fruitfulness.  We can't look at every verse dealing with the topic of blessing, but let's trace this idea of blessing through the Bible.

Adam and Eve - Genesis 1:28 (5:1-2)- "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'"
Noah - Genesis 9:1 - "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.'"
Abraham - Genesis 12:2-3 - ""I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Jacob - Genesis 27 & 32
       Jacob receives Isaac's blessing - Genesis 27
       Jacob wrestles with God - Genesis 32:26, "I will not let yo go until you bless me."
Joseph - Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Moses - Exodus 23:25-26, Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span."

Blessings for obedience - Leviticus 26-27 / Deuteronomy 28:1-14

High Priestly Prayer - Numbers 6:24-26, "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

The prayer of Jabez - 1 Chronicles 4:10, "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request."

The Righteous Path - Psalm 1:1-3 - "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers."

The Beatitudes - Matthew 5:3-10

The blessing of abundant life - John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The blessing of faith - John 20:29, "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The blessing of perseverance - James 1:12, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

The Bible begins (Genesis 1-2) and ends (Revelation 20:6, 22:7) with "blessing".  God wants to bless you with his favor and fruitfulness.  I trust the knowledge of God's blessing is an encouragement to you today!  Be blessed!  Pastor Tom

Last will be first

Most of us know that the famous phrase, "The last will be first" traces back to Jesus.  But, what did Jesus mean by this expression?  The expression occurs in Matthew 19:30 and 20:16.  In that place in Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard.  Remember the story?  Each laborer is hired at a different time during the day, but they are paid the one denarius promised at the end of the day.  They all received the same pay off, even though some only worked one or two hours in the fields.  So what is Jesus teaching us?

In God's kingdom, many truths are important, but the greatest principle is the truth of God's grace.  In fact, "grace" is what makes Christianity unique.  In Christ, God offers to us unmerited favor and kindness.  In the parable, those hired last received the same wage or "reward" as those hired first.  Don't get hung up asking "is that fair?", because the owner was just in the story.    From God's perspective, the most important thing is that they were all hired and received a reward.  The parable emphasizes God's amazing grace.

In his book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace,” Phillip Yancey points out that part of our problem with understanding grace is in the nature of grace itself. Grace is scandalous. It’s hard to accept, hard to believe, and hard to receive. Grace shocks us in what it offers. It is truly not of this world. It frightens us with what it does for sinners-you and me.

The next time God offers you grace, take it.  The next time God offers grace to someone you think doesn't deserve it, rejoice in God's grace.  Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that our relationship with Christ Jesus is all about grace.  I'm thankful for God's grace in my life and I hope you are too.  

Daniel's Secrets

I'm in a planning mode today and getting excited about January 2014.  We will be kicking of a two month series on the book of Daniel.  I'm really looking forward to this study as Daniel is a mix of prophesy and spiritual challenge to be full of faith and courage.  We will focus on the secrets of Daniel's spiritual strength and Daniel's secret prophesies.  Both emphases will enrich our faith.

We will also be working our way through the Daniel Plan developed by Pastor Rick Warren and Saddleback church (Go to www.danielplan.com to learn more about it).  One of our goals in studying Daniel will be to become spiritually, emotionally, and physically healthy.  More to come.  Can't wait for January 2014.

Miley Cyrus Goes Crazy

Whatever happened to Hannah Montana- the sweet and funny disney actress that my daughter and I would tune into on Saturdays?  Is anyone in America concerned about the emotional health of pre-teens and teenagers today?  That's my main concern here.  I know it is old fashioned, but what about modesty?  The Bible encourages Christians to dress with modesty.  Paul wrote to Timothy, saying, "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." (2 Timothy 2:9-10)

Simply put, it is not healthy for our kids to present themselves as sex objects in the way they dress or behave.  Sure being attractive and dressing with modesty and beauty is a good thing, but not presenting yourself as an object of sexual desire..  Sadly that is exactly what Miley Cyrus is teaching.  She is teaching that any behavior is acceptable if it gets you attention.  Parents, we need to step in and engage with our kids.  they are getting some seriously wrong messages from media and culture.  So rather than just aksing your teenager not to watch such things, take some time and talk about modesty and image and the dangers of focusing on external beauty especially in this messed up world.   They will be better off and you will be glad you did! Modesty is always beautiful!

Divorce, Marriage, Relationships, and Life

This sunday at New Life we will be preaching from Matthew 19 on Divorce, Marriage, and Relationships.  I know the subject of divorce has touched all of us in some way.  It is a subject which requires truth and grace.  I hope to offer both this Sunday.  In this blog, I focus on divorce and marriage from the vantage point of someone who might be struggling in marriage or considering divorce as the best option.  Whatever marriage you are in--your first, second, or third--I believe your best course of action is to stay married and grow to become more like Christ, especially if children are involved.

It's true, "the Beavers don't live here anymore."  For decades now, divorce has become common place in American society.  What is more surprising is the reality that being a Christian doesn't seem to function as an inoculation against the pandemic of broken relationships across our great country.  According to George Barna, "Born Again" Christians are divorcing at a similar rates as the society in general.  Barna writes, "America now boasts the highest divorce rate in the world. . . . For Americans, the allure of divorce is that it appears to offer the simplest solution to what typically amounts to a complex web of problems.  As always, appearances can be deceiving.  Divorce often shatters spouses emotionally and financially.  In fact, the consequences of divorce can be more harrowing than the troubled marriage."  (The Future of the American Family, George Barna, 65)  The statistics demonstrate that people who are in troubled marriages and do the hard work to rebuild their marriage tend to be happier five years later than similar couples who get a divorce and remarry.

The Bible is clear, God "hates" divorce because it represents a "broken promise" and it is damaging to adults and unhealthy for children (Malachi 2:15).  Jesus taught us the divine ideal for marriage to be a lifelong bond that unites husband and wife in a "one flesh" relationship (Matthew 19:5).  Marriage is about life-long companionship and love.  Marriage is an opportunity to grow to become more like Christ.  Of course, love and companionship is good fro us and great for our children.

So what about love?  Is there anything greater than love?  Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Perhaps the biggest marriage allusion is that love "just happens" or that love is a "feeling".  In reality,  love is more of a choice and a character quality.  Love is a gift that we offer to our spouse on a daily basis even if they do not respond accordingly.  Sometimes that love is appreciated and reciprocated.  Other times it is ignored and violated.  In any case, true love flows from God's fountain of love (1 John 4:19).  To love your spouse in difficult circumstances, you need to tap into a huge reservoir of God's love that is available in Christ.

So what about growth?  Some marriages are made in heaven, some it seems in hell (just being honest).  In either case, marriage is worked out on earth!  Whether you have an "easy" marriage or a "challenging" marriage, you have seasons in life when you must work at your marriage to restore it or refresh it.  Otherwise, your relationship of love and companionship will disintegrate into thin air.  What you once felt for your lover and friend will disappear.  So why not work on your relationship and grow in the process?!  

I believe God designed Christian marriage to be an object lesson of God's relationship and love with His people, the church.  Paul seems to agree in Ephesians 5:23-32.  That means that your marriage is a reflection of your relationship with God and your relationship with your spouse is closely connected.  It also means that if you are willing to grow in your relationships with God, your marriage can also be transformed (Romans 12).  

Becoming more like Christ could be the key to saving your marriage and finding true happiness in life.  I know it seems like some marriages are destined to fail.  And yet, no one comes together on their wedding day with a secret plan of divorcing down the road (or maybe some do?!).  We are attracted to our spouse, "fall in love", and make plans for a life together.  Our hope and dreams are that we will experience life-long love and companionship.  Life has a way of challenging those dreams.  But, God has a way (if we will let him) of keeping those dreams alive and growing us into stronger people in the process.
  
If you are struggling in your marriage or considering divorce, My hope is that you would give God a chance to change your marriage and change you in the process.  All things are possible with God (Philippians 4:13)

See you Sunday at the ARC (9:30 AM and 10:15 AM).  Pastor Tom