Excitement

What is exciting for you? For some it is going to a ball game and enjoying the atmosphere, and the competition, and the great athletic abilities. For others it is going to Disneyland, or some other amusement park and experiencing the fun rides. And still for others, it might be going to an action/adventure movie. We all have different thoughts of what is exciting.
I want to propose to you that church is exciting as well. Now I know for many, they think that church is boring. But often times this is because they don't understand everything that is going on, and/or because they don't allow themselves to experience church how God designed it.
So what makes church exciting?
First, there are the friendships that we build. This is called "fellowship." There is nothing more exciting than to have special friends in your life. Now I know that church is not the only place you build friendships, but it is an important place to not only establish friendships, but also nurture those friendships. Having good friends is exciting, and even more when we can experience God's presence with others.
Second, there is the giving of our money. You might want to say to me, "Hold on here, giving my money is not exciting." But the truth is, it should be. In the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:10, we are told: "For the love of money is the root of all evil..." Money has a tendency to control us. We desire it, hoard it, use it selfishly. But when we learn how to give money away, we are freed up to enjoy money. On top of this, we learn that our giving helps others. THIS IS EXCITING!
Third, church is a place where we learn how to help others. This is called "service" or "ministry." Life for so many is spent selfishly caring for themselves, and maybe a few others. So many people give so little of themselves to this world. It is really a travesty to see. But when you go to church, and connect with God in church, you begin to dream a bigger dream for your life, and for this world. You begin to taste what love is, and that is largely about caring for others. There is nothing more exciting than making a difference in somebody else's life.
Fourth, church is the place where we learn about the mysteries of God and connect with God. This is called "worship." As we are told in Colossians 1:25-27, ^"25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
How exciting it is to know that God wants to reveal to us the mysteries of God, and life, and heaven. Church is the place where this can happen. In church we experience who God is, and how God is present in our lives, and in our world. God designed for church to be that place where God's people love each other, work together, and feel His presence at work.
How is church for you, boring or exciting? Why? Let me know what you think by clicking on the "comment" button below and sharing your thoughts.

Frustration

Unfortunately the truth is that in life we are going to get frustrated. Maybe our computer isn't working right. Or maybe we can't learn something we want to learn. Or maybe someone is causing us to be frustrated. Do you allow yourself to get frustrated easily? Did you notice I used the phrase "allow yourself"? Because the truth is that we have control over whether or not we get frustrated. We usually don't have control over those things that frustrate us, but we can control how we react.
And in those times that we are frustrated, how do we act? Maybe we become impatient. Or maybe we become angry. Or maybe we get down on ourselves or on life. There is nothing good that comes from feelings of frustration.
So what are we to do when we get frustrated? I believe the best thing to do is to seek God. One of the best ways to overcome frustration, if you have the time, is to find a quiet place and just BE in the presence of God. Imagine God giving you words of comfort and encouragement. Imagine God telling you that He loves you in spite of what is going on around you. But also, ask God to help you to focus on what is important in life. If your computer crashes, maybe you can get the job done another way, or with another computer. Think about a solution to the problem, instead of letting the event cause you frustration.
In focusing on God, we remember that we have One who can help us get through these times of frustration. As Psalm 42:11 says, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."
But even more, we have to work on not allowing ourselves to get frustrated. Again, this is about focus. As Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we keep our focus on the goal of what God has us to do in life, and we don't let the things around us derail us.
How do you overcome your frustration? How do you keep from getting frustrated? Share your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Where do you get your strength?

People don't ever want to be thought of as weak. Consequently, many people don't seek help when they need it. We picture strong people being those who can do it on their own. We are taught from a young age to be able to pull your own weight, and not to rely on others.
For many, they think that religion is a crutch for the weak. Those who can't live their life on their own need a "god" who can help them get through. In those times when you are struggling, then call on god and get the help you need.
But the truth is, even if you don't believe in God, we all need help at some time. There are things that we cannot do alone. For example, let's say that you are moving. There are many things you can move yourself, but what about the couch, or the entertainment center, or the refrigerator? You need help to move these things, so you call some friends to help you. Are you weak because your friends have to help you carry these items? Most people would say "no."
So why are you weak when you seek the help of others in emotional matters, or for advice, or for support? The truth is, our make-up is such that it is good to seek the help of others. We are designed in a way that we actually desire the connection of others.
The Bible let's us know this early on, when we are told in Genesis 2:20-23 ^"20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. ²³ The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." We are created to be in partnership with others. This is not a sign of weaknesses, but adds to our strength.
On top of this, we are created to be in relationship with God. This too adds to our strength. We do not seek God because we are incapable of living life alone, but because this fulfills who we are. In that relationship, God walks with us and helps us. Joshua 1:9 tells us, ^"9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Just as a child is strengthened in their courage with the help and presence of their parents, so we are strengthened by the knowledge of God's help and presence.
Where do you get your strength? For me it is in my relationship with God, and knowing that God walks with me. Share your comments by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Can you be in God's will and not go to church?

Can you be in God's will and not go to church? I think the answer to this has to be "NO." I say this, because you cannot be partly in God's will. I believe God has not only created us to be in relationship with Him, but to worship Him, and to serve Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He is also to be our Lord. And to be our Lord, we must worship Him. Of course, it is possible to worship God individually, but God has also designed worship to be done together. There is something special and profound when we worship with other believers and interact with other believers that cannot be reproduced when we are alone.
Secondly, going to church helps us to be plugged in. When we accept Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus promised us this in John 16:7, when He said, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." And having been filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given gifts of the Spirit, as told to us in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. But these gifts are not to be used for ourselves, or for just a few chosen people. The apostle Paul makes it clear that these gifts are given "for the common good." It is impossible to use them for the common good if you are not plugged into a church.
A third important factor about being connected to a church also relates to giving. Not only are we called to give of our gifts to the work of the body of Christ, but we are called to give of our money. In the Old Testament, Malachi 3:8-10, ⁸ "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." When we don't give back to God a tenth of what God gives to us, then we are in essence robbing God. We need to be giving our money to God's work through the church.
So my questions to you are: Are you regularly going to church? If not, why not? How can you give of yourself the way God desires if you are not connected to a church? Tell me what you think by clicking on the "comment" button below and sharing your thoughts.

Conforming

Our world can be a challenging place to live. We are surrounded by so many things that entice us. There are always new cars, new brands of clothes, new computers, new televisions. We see these things, and the desire is put in us so that we want them.
On top of this, we are challenged by others to believe a certain way and act a certain way. The company we keep will determine who we are, what we believe, and how we act. But in the Bible we are challenged to not let others create who we will be. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2, ^"1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
The problem is that we think our life belongs to us. And because of this, we think we can think any way and act any way. But if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and your Lord, then you are under the authority of Christ. In another part of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul says, ^"19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." If we want to live like a Christian, we need to live in a way that pleases God, not people. We need to seek things of God, not of the world. We need to not allow ourselves to be conformed by the world's way of thinking. We need to love, even when it is hard to love. We need to forgive, because Christ forgives us. We need to not be materialistic, but seek to give away. And on and on it goes.
So I ask you: Where do you need to stop conforming? How do you need to change your attitude and behavior? How can you let Jesus be your Lord, instead of you trying to run your own life? Why is this so difficult for people to do?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. If you'd like to share, click on the "comments" button below.

Managing our Emotions

Not too long ago I was thinking about emotions. I was contemplating how our emotions are a big part of who we are. When you think about emotions you might think about love, anger, hate, or fear. We don't necessarily have an understanding of our emotions, but we know that they affect how we live our lives.
The word "emotion" comes from the latin word meaning 'to agitate or stir up.' Our emotions arouse in us perceptions and feelings about life. This is a good thing, because it is what keeps us from being robots. But the challenge is learning how to control our emotions.
It can be a challenge to control our emotions, because our emotions are often stirred up by situations that seem out of our control. EX. You are driving along, and someone rudely cuts you off. This stirs up anger in you before you even realize it is there. OR, someone smiles at you and opens the door for you, which stirs up feelings of happiness.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts..." We should contain our emotions through our will and our intellect, but this isn't always the case. We don't always think before we feel. We don't always try to control how we react to situations. But we should, because our emotions can get us into trouble. When we get angry at someone before we think, we might say something hurtful, and cause ourselves greater problems. If we let our love for someone get out of control, we could become obsessed with them.
Proverbs 25:28 tells us, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." In Galatians 5:23 we are told that self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit. In Titus, chapter 2, Titus is told by Paul that in his teaching, he is to teach the older men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:2), the women to be self-controlled (Titus 2:5), and the young men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:6). We need to control our emotions so that life is best experienced. If you are like me, and you react to situations, you know that it is very important to exercise self-control over your emotions. By being in control of our emotions, we will keep from making life more difficult and complicated, and we will be able to live the life God calls us to live.
If you have trouble with controlling your emotions, please e-mail me at pastorchrislogan@yahoo.com and I would love to pray for you in this area. If you would like to add your thoughts on this subject, please click the "comments" button below, and share your thought.
Note: Your comment goes to my e-mail address first. If you don't want it published, please let me know.

Happy are those

When I lived in Pueblo West, Colorado, we moved into a brand new house. Within the first couple of months, we had the front yard landscaped. But the back yard we left alone for the first year. Every week I would go out and pull the weeds. This wan't too difficult, because the weeds were small and pulled out easily. But I got lazy over a period of time, and pretty soon the weeds were tall. When I decided to go out one day and pull the weeds, I was astounded at how difficult they were to pull out. I had to dig and dig before they would come out!
In the book of Psalms, chapter 1, verses 1 - 3, it says:
¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
This psalm tells us that we are blessed, or happy, when we walk with the counsel of God; we are happy when we do not hang out with sinners; we are happy when we delight in the law of God, and not the ways of the world; we are happy when we plant ourselves by a water source (which in our case is the aforementioned actions).
When we plant ourselves in the world of those who love and seek God, and when we seek out God's word for our lives, then we will root ourselves firmly in God. Like the weeds I tried to pull out, we will be securely connected with God!

I want to suggest to you, that if you are not happy, it is probably because you haven't plantedd your self in the right place, and you are not seeking God the way you should. What do you think? Let me know by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Making an Eternal Difference

If you have ever been to Sea World, you would have seen a scene like this, where a dolphin performs and is rewarded with some food. In life, we often perform for the rewards we receive. Maybe the reward is friendship, or a promotion, or a kind word from another. But we often live for rewards.
Rewards can be nice, but the rewards we seek are usually very temporary. What if we could live our lives in a way that would make an eternal difference? If this could be true, then how amazing our lives could be. The truth is, it is true. The apostle Paul wrote in the bible, in 2 Corinthians 4:18, ¹⁸"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
In the Bible, we are told that we can make an eternal difference. But we have to understand that what is eternal is limited. What is it we can do to affect the eternal?
The most important thing that we can do is to tell people about Jesus. The Bible is clear that those who accept Jesus into their lives will have salvation; meaning they will live with God in heaven for eternity. How wonderful would it be to get to heaven and know that there are people there because of you?! We cannot just stand around and let people get lost in this world. Those of us who know about Jesus need to share Jesus with those who don't know Him.
A second way we affect the eternal is to help people live out their purpose. God created each one of us unique and with purpose. Too many people are going through life not being all that they were created to be. By helping people to discover and use the gifts God gave them can help give people the life they were meant to live. This life will be so much more exciting, meaningful, and effective.
A third way we affect the eternal is to love others. Love is the one emotion that will carry on into heaven. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us, "¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Since God is love (1 John 4:8), love is what heaven will be all about; loving God, God loving us, and us loving each other. When we learn how to love, and teach others to love, we experience a bit of heaven on earth.
Do you really want to settle for temporary rewards, or do you want to shoot for the eternal? Tell me what you think by clicking on the "comments" button below.

A Power Struggle

Have you ever felt like you are fighting a battle that is difficult to win? Have you ever wondered how there might be a power at odds with you?

What does every good story have? It has a villain. It is hard to think of a tale that doesn’t have a villain. The Big Bad Wolf, the Troll under the bridge, Darth Vadar in Star Wars, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. And in the great story of J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, we come to dread the Dark Lord Sauron.

And just as every story has a villain, so does your story and my story. Though we don’t want to admit it, we don’t like it, it is a reality. There is evil cast around us. With war, famine, betrayal, and murder all around us, we surely know there is an evil force. Where did it come from? What is its motive? How are we to find refuge from it? We ask these questions.

The good news is that we are not alone in this battle. The battle is being fought for us in another realm. As the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” God has created angels. Angels are powerful. That is why every time an angel shows up in the Bible, they have to say “Fear not…” They strike fear into humans by their presence.

It is interesting to see how naïve so many people are about evil. Most people don’t take it seriously. They don’t live as if there is a villain in their story. They don’t believe that Satan is real. The truth is, life is very confusing if you don’t take into account that there is a villain. As C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity,

“One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament

seriousl,y was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe—a

mighty, evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death, disease, and

sin…Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was

good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees…this is

a universe at war.”
Today is Easter Sunday. Easter reminds us that we will see Christ again in heaven. Easter is about Jesus making all things new. No longer is Satan in charge. No longer does sin and death reign over us. Because Christ has died and been risen from the dead, the Evil One is cast down. I lift this blog up to you today to give your life over to the risen Christ, and receive the power and victory that Christ has for you. God bless. Tell me what you think by clicking on the button below and sharing your thoughts.

Uplifting

As a minister, much of
my day is spent
seeking to find ways
to teach, lead, and
help people. The nature
of the job is one of
giving myself away.
Because this is true,
I do know that for me
to do my job well, I
have to stay physically,
mentally, emotionally,
and spiritually healthy.
Consequently, having
people in my life who
give to me, who fill me
up, is vital. 

      
I thank God for my wife
(Tami)and my 2 children
(Tyler and Tiffany).
They bring great
happiness to my life.
They are great
supporters of what
I do, and their love
and encouragement helps
me to stay grounded.
Their faith and strength
increases my faith and
strength. Their desire
to know and love God
pushes me forward as
well.

I believe it is important to have encouraging and positive people around me. These people help to further the mission of the church, and remind me that I don’t walk alone in this journey. My elders are not only called to govern the church, but to pray for me, and the ministry as well. My Deacons are not only called to minister to those in need, but to pray for me, and the ministry as well. I am thankful for my prayer support team that regularly prays for me and brings me spiritual strength. My church overall is a great to support as we walk together to carry out God’s call for our church. And I am equally thankful to those in my life who mentor me and keep me on task and accountable. God has blessed me with many people who love me and support me; who pray for me and care for me; who want to see me succeed. God does not call us to do life alone.
Do you have people in your life who lift you up? Who keep you going when things are hard? Who are they?
Let me know your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below. Blessings.

Six Important Words

Old Faithful



If I were to ask you to what are the six most important word you would give a person to remember you by and why, what would you say? As we come to holy week, we remember how Jesus knew that His time was drawing near to when He would be crucified, die, and be resurrected. When He met with the disciples, He knew this would be the last time they would have together. What did Jesus do with them? He shared the Lord's Supper with them, so they would understand what He was going to do was for them. As I think about what I would want people to know about me, I think it would be: “I have faithfully served the Lord.” With these words I believe it explains who I am, what I have done, and why I have done it. As people, our lives are very complex. We have a job, a family, hobbies, and so on. Each part of my life is important in its unique way, but the one thing that connects it all for me is God. God is a part of all that I am.

So, when it comes to my family, “I have faithfully served the Lord.” I do my best to try and be a good and loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. If I seek to “faithfully serve the Lord” in regards to my family, then I will try and be there for them when they need me; I will try and balance my time appropriately with each part of my family (giving the most of my time to my wife and children). I will also seek to help them follow, serve, and love the Lord. I will seek to be a good example of what it means to love God with all of my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, and what it means to love my neighbor as myself.

But there is also my church and my ministry. In this I seek to continually “faithfully serve the Lord.” I write about this commitment second, because I believe that my role in my family comes first. If I do not have a healthy family, then I won’t be able to “faithfully serve the Lord” in ministry. I try and faithfully serve the Lord in ministry by teaching the Bible faithfully, sharing how Jesus makes a difference in my life as my Lord and Savior, and by helping others to know that they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as well.

I hope when I die, and people are remembering me, they remember me as one who could say: "He has faithfully served the Lord." What do you want to be remembered by? Click on the comments button below and share your thoughts. Blessings.

Judgment

In the gospel of Matthew, chapter7, we are told in verses 1-5,
"¹"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." We love to be so quick to judge, and yet we forget that we ourselves are not blameless. God gives us forgiveness, and second chances, and calls us to do this with others.
The other day I came across a poem called "The Dusty Old Shoe." It is fairly long, but a good read: My alarm went off...It was Sunday again. I was sleepy and tired, My one day to sleep in.
But the guilt I would feel So I'd go and I'd pray. I got there and sat In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer As I closed my eyes, I saw the shoe of the man next to me Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side, I thought, "Why must our soles touch?" It bothered me, his shoe touching mine,But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: "Our Father" I thought, "This man with the shoes has no pride. They're dusty, worn, and scratched Even worse, there are holes on the side!"
"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet "Amen." I tried to focus on the prayer,
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
"Aren't we supposed to look our best When walking through that door? Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended And the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud, Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters, His hands were raised high, The Lord could surely hear The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering And what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoe man reached Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out, What the shoe man put in, Then I heard a soft "clink" As when silver hits tin...
The sermon really bored me To tears, and that's no lie. It was the same for the shoe man, For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service, As is the custom here, We must greet new visitors And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow And wanted to meet shoe man. So after the closing prayer, I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark, And his hair was truly a mess But I thanked him for coming, For being our guest.
He said, "My name's Charlie, I'm glad to meet you, my friend." There were tears in his eyes
But he had a large, wide grin.
"Let me explain," he said Wiping tears from his eyes. "I've been coming here for months, And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"
"I know that my appearance Is not like all the rest, But I really do try To always look my best."
"I always clean and polish my shoes Before my very long walk But by the time I get here, They're dirty and dusty, like chalk."
My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide my tears As he continued to apologize For daring to sit so near.
He said, "When I get here, I know I must look a sight. But I thought if I could touch you, Then maybe our souls might unite"
I was silent for a moment, Knowing whatever was said Would pale in comparison. I spoke from my heart, not my head.
"Oh, you've touched me," I said, "And taught me, in part, That the best of any man Is what is found in his heart."
The rest, I thought, This shoe man will never know. Like just how thankful I really am That his dirty old shoe touched my soul...
I pray that today we would seek to love and learn from others instead of judging. Wouldn't our world be such a better place if we did this.
Tell me your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below. Blessings

Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

We are called to sacrifice ourselves for God. But what does that mean? Obviously, it doesn't mean to lay down on a stone table and give our lives for God. But there is a call from God to us to find ways to give of ourselves freely and fully.
Especially here in the United States, most people do not know what it means to sacrifice. We have everything we could want and need; AND USUALLY MORE! Actually, the people who show sacrifice the best are mothers. Most mothers, after they have a child, give up their needs and wants, and focus on the needs of their child. They give up their time, their sleep, their money, and their freedom to care for their child. This is a beautiful picture of sacrifice.
So, how can we turn this picture to us, as God's children? The truth is, we should be more concerned with what we can do for God and the kingdom of God than we can do for ourselves. As the Bible tells us in Matthew 6:33- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." We don't need to worry about our own lives. When we give ourselves to God, God will take care of us. We need to give generously of our time, our money, our energy, and our resources to God's work. Could you imagine what kind of work we could do if people sacrificed in this way?
So why is it so hard to give? The fundamental reason is because of sin and selfishness. We are very selfish people. We are more concerned with what we can gain and what we can possess. Consequently, we struggle to give of ourselves in a way that we could call "sacrifice." So my challenge to you is this; FIND WAYS THAT YOU CAN SACRIFICE FOR GOD. What could you do that would be a sacrifice for you, but would benefit God's kingdom? Are you willing to do it? When will you start?
Click on the "comments" button below to add to this discussion. Blessings

Social Justice

Isaiah 61:1 says- “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” The Lord set apart the church for the specific call to care for those who are oppressed, poor, marginalized, and struggling. The church is to come alongside to help and to be an advocate for those who can’t always help themselves. This is an example we saw in Jesus when He was on the earth. Jesus often taught, or healed, or blessed someone before He preached to them. We as the church, the visible sign of God’s presence, should be seen caring for those to whom Jesus did. When Jesus said “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus was referring to the outcasts and the downtrodden.
I am thankful for how our church seeks to respond to social justice, and yet I know there is always so much more that we could do. Currently we have a small food pantry, we give away free loafs of bread, we served 140 people at our Thanksgiving dinner, and we seek to help people with their special needs when we can and in the ways we can. I am the moderator of the Evangelism committee in our Presbytery, and we are seeking to team up with the Social Justice committee to find ways to combine social justice acts with the message of God’s love. These 2 go hand in hand, and the church is remiss is she fails to do both.
Many Christians are fine with focusing on themselves and not worrying about the social justice issues. But I don't think this is what God desires from us. We need to seek to do our best with the resources we have available to us. What do you think Christians should be doing in this area? Click on the "comments" button below and tell me what you think.

Smoking and Drinking

A few months ago I had the opportunity to be part of a question and answer column for clergy in the Long Beach Press Telegram. One of the questions asked of the clergy was:

Since it has been medically
determined that things like smoking
and excessive drinking is bad for one's
health, what are your views on leaders
in the church who do either and do you
believe this sets a bad example for their followers?

Here is how I answered the question:

The Bible instructs us that the body is a gift to us from God. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we are told: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Above and beyond being a leader in the church, we are all called to care for our body. I do believe it is not a good thing to smoke or drink excessively, because it harms this holy temple God has given us.

Even more, the Bible speaks to those who are leaders to set a greater example. In 1 Timothy 3 it is said that leaders are to not be “drunkards” or to have much “wine.” In Titus 2:7 we are told: “Show yourself in all respects a model of good works…”

When I was a youth pastor, I decided that even though it was legal for me to drink, and seeing that many youth struggle with drinking, it would not be a good example for me to drink. So I decided not to drink alcohol at all. This was my choice for myself, and not one that everyone needs to make. But there is always the temptation to drink too much, and so moderation is important.

In regards to smoking, it is quite addictive, and I know many good people who want to stop, but cannot. This is not good, because it will affect their health negatively. When others see them smoking, it could cause another to stumble by leading them to smoke as well. So I do believe that it is not setting a good, healthy example of how God wants us to live.

And yet, those who struggle in these areas would do well to speak to others about their struggle and how they desire to do well by God with their body. Being a good example would mean for them to learn moderation for themselves, and teach moderation to others. I believe this is important for not just leaders in the church, but for all Christians. Share your thoughts on this by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Friends

Friendship is important. God has created us with the need to be in relationship with others. When we have close friends, we are blessed in so many ways. Close friends can strengthen us, encourage us, challenge us, build us up, give us confidence, help us to feel loved. When we have healthy friendships with others, we will experience strength and blessing in our lives. As Ecclesiastes
4:10-12 says: ¹⁰ If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I want to lead you through an exercise. Write down 5 - 10 names of close friends. Now, if you talk to them at least once a week, circle their name. Now if you think that they would write your name down on their list, underline their name. Now, did you put Jesus on that list? Many times in life, we forget that Jesus considers us a friend. Jesus would put your name and my name down on a list of friends. As we are told in John 15:15, ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
I want to encourage you to think about Jesus not just as Lord and savior, but as your friend. God is daily inviting us to be in friendship. We accept God's invitation when we read the Bible, live out the dreams God gives us, listen to the small voice of God. And with Jesus as our friend, we can overcome the doubt, fear, insecurity, confusion, and frustration that can wreak havoc in our lives.
What do you think about friendship? What do you think about Jesus as your friend? Let me know by clicking on the comment button below. Have a blessed day. Chris

Another Chance

In the Bible, the gospel of Luke, chapter 13, Jesus tells a story of a fig tree which is planted in a vineyard. The owner of the vineyard comes to visit, but there is no fruit on the fig tree. The owner wants to tear the tree down and plant something else that will make good use of the soil (since if a fig tree has produced in 3 years it probably never will). But the caretaker of the vineyard talks the owner into giving him one more year with the tree. The caretaker wants to do 3 things. These 3 things I believe give us an important lesson for our lives as well.

1. Work the soil- The caretaker wants to first work the soil. He believes that
by preparing the soil, the tree will have a better chance. The truth is, without good soil, a tree cannot produce. This is true for you and me. If we don’t have good soil (which Jesus likened to our hearts), then we will not be able to produce. So we must make sure that we are letting God soften our hearts to care for others around us.

2. Fertilize- Second, the caretaker wants to fertilize. Fertilizer helps to put nutrients into the soil that will make the soil more able to nourish plants and trees. For us, fertilizer is the word of God and Christian fellowship. When we are reading the Bible and when we are around other Christians, we will be more likely to live in a way that will bless others around us, and help others understand the need to believe in and follow God.

3. Extra care- Last, the caretaker wanted to give the tree extra care. Sometimes extra attention can help provide the right conditions for growth. Maybe there are insects that are affecting the tree. Or maybe the tree isn't getting enough water. That extra attention can make the difference. This is true in our own lives. It is good to have someone in your life who is making sure that you are doing the things you need to do to grow. It is important to have someone checking up on you, in love, so that you might become all that God created you to be.

This is a parable of second chances. This tree was given another chance. Jesus wants us to know that He gives us another chance. So if we stumble, if we fail, if we stray, if we sin, if we feel like we don't measure up, Jesus is there to pick us up and help us move forward. Are you in this place in any way? Do you need this reminder that you get another chance? Who do you need who might need this message? Pass it on. And if you want to add to what I have said, please click on the "comments" button just below and share your thoughts.

Do we need to go to church?

It is interesting how our society has gotten to the place where they don't think that going to church is that important. I have had many people tell me that they are Christians, but don't feel they need to go to church. They have many reasons. Some just like to stay home and watch a church service on TV. Others think that it is their only day off, and so they want to sleep in and take it easy. Or they think that church is boring, and they don't get anything out of it. Others think that they will be judged at church. Still others want to watch the football game or go to the beach.
There are many problems with this thinking. I want to just mention a couple. One is that God created the church as a place of worship. While we can worship God by ourselves, worship is also designed by God to be a corporate experience. There is something that happens in the presence of other believers that helps to draw us closer to God. When we worship with other believers, the presence and power of God can and should be experienced in profound ways. It is more than just singing songs and hearing words spoken. It is being touched by the Holy Spirit in an environment where God's people are drawn together. There is a mystical experience that happens when God's people join together in giving praise and glory to God. As Psalm 95:1-2 says, "O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." Do you see that the psalmist says "us" and not me. The psalmist uses the plural. This regularly is spoken of in this way in the psalms, because worship is something that God's people are to do together!
The second is that God created church to be a place of fellowship. The church is the body of Christ, and the place where we are to use our gifts. It is completely apart from God's design to use your gifts on yourself. The gifts you have been given have been given for the purpose of being a blessing to the body of Christ; the church. When we use our gifts apart from God and God's work, then we are just bringing glory to ourselves, and not to God. As we are told in 1 Corinthians 12:7, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
As a place of fellowship, the church is to be a family. In any family, there are going to be gatherings that aren't the most exciting. And there are people in the family that we don't always like. But we are still a family. And if a member of the family doesn't come to a family event, then that member is missed.
If you are not a part of a church, or if you are not going to church regularly, then you are keeping others from being blessed by your presence, and you are missing out on the kind of worship and fellowship you created to have.
Tell me what you think at pastorchrislogan@yahoo.com.

As I talked about in my last Blog, there is going to be a documentary on the

Discovery channel about some lost tombs, one of which they believe to be Jesus Christ’s, one they believe to be Mary’s, and one they believe to be the son of Jesus and Mary. This show is one of many events where people are trying to bring forth evidence that they hope will show that Jesus is not God in the flesh, and that Jesus was not resurrected.

Many do not believe in the resurrection. They think it is a fictional story. I mean, all people die, and once they are dead, they are dead. Right? So a story about someone dying, and then coming back to life has to be fictional. Doesn’t it?

Illus. You might remember the television show “The Twilight Zone.” Each week

the crisp voice of Rod Serling would come out and set-up the show. And his last words before the show started were always: “As we travel into another dimension known as….The Twilight Zone.” And each week the show would indeed take us into another dimension where things would happen that could never happen in our dimension. The events of the show were bizarre and wild, and led us into facing our fears. But the truth of the show is that it was not real; it didn’t happen.

That is what so many people believe about the resurrection. It wasn’t real; it didn’t happen. Something like that could never happen in our world. Death is final and cannot be changed once it happens. Even scripture affirms this:

Genesis 3:19- “You will have to work hard and to make the soil produce

anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed…”

Ecclesiastes 3:1- “There is a right time for everything: A time to be born and a time to die…”

Hebrews 9:27- “Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God.”

So if scripture itself teaches this, then how could we believe that Jesus could have been raised from the dead?

To believe this would mean that we would have to go into a real twilight zone; a dimension apart from our own. And to do this, we need to follow the thinking, the teaching of Jesus Himself. Jesus Himself would talk often in ways that didn’t fit into the thinking of this dimension. Jesus often made statements that sounded other dimensional.

Let’s look at a few of them: (John 18:36)- Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

Jesus tried to tell people that earth was not where He came from and not

where He was going to stay. He had a mission, and after that mission He would return to His place; heaven.

Then in Luke 7:21-23, ²¹At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²²So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. ²³Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

Now even though Jesus didn’t raise anyone from the dead in this passage,

He did start to speak about this possibility. Matthew 17:22-23, ²²When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief.”

Here Jesus straight out gives the statement that He would be raised from death to life. The disciples were filled with grief because they did not believe it could be possible. Others I’m sure just scoffed at His statement. But Jesus is talking about accessing a power beyond this world; the power of God that can bring people back from death to life.

It is important to understand that Jesus’ death and resurrection make the difference, because when He died, so did our sin. And when He rose, so did our hope. When Jesus rose from the grave, your grave, and my grave, and the grave of everyone who believes was changed. It was no longer a final residence, but temporary housing. When we die, our permanent address will be heaven, and our permanent place will be in God’s glory. Share your thoughts on this (pastorchrislogan@yahoo.com)

Lost Tomb of Jesus

As I write today, I want you to know I am not writing in any way as an expert, but as one who is passing on my thoughts and information. A couple of days ago there was an article in the paper about some filmmakers who are doing a documentary on "The Lost Tomb of Jesus." They believe that researchers have uncovered 2 ancient stone boxes that they say may have once contained the remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. If this is true, it would make the New Testament non-valid.
Many scholars have already come forward to deride these claims as unfounded and contradictory. But on March 4, on the Discovery channel, Oscar-winning director James Cameron is producing a show that will talk about this finding. As Cameron says: "There's a definite sense that you have to pinch yourself."
However, the evidence is very sketchy, and not to be believed. If you want a more scholarly take on this, you can go to Ben Witherington's blog (www.benwitherington.blogspot.com). In his blog he shows how these "ossuries," as they are called, are not to be received as Jesus' remains, and that the proof is not there.
Above that, if you were to understand the evidence that shows Jesus being resurrected, and appearing to hundreds of people, and the fact that His remains were not found in the tomb he was buried in, then you would understand that this "lost tomb" idea could in no way be true. The evidence about Jesus' death and resurrection is overwhelming. For more on this thinking a great book is Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ." Also, you can go to Mark Roberts blog and see several blogs about Jesus' death and resurrection (www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/eastermore.htm, www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/jesusdivine.htm).
I am amazed at how people are trying to prove that Jesus was not God in the flesh, and that Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins, and that Jesus was not raised from the dead. In fact, people seem to get excited if they think they come across information that contradicts this teaching (i.e. The DaVinci Code). And yet, the truth remains that Jesus is God in the flesh, He did die on the cross, and He was resurrected, and He did ascend into heaven. Jesus is alive, and is our Savior and Lord. The Bible talks extensively about it, and history supports it.
What do you think? Let me know (pastorchrislogan@yahoo.com).