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What a Good Church Can Do for You, Part II

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“They [the early disciples of Jesus] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”1

Yesterday we pointed out that one of the major benefits of a good church was improved family life.

Friendship. Two more important benefits provided by the church are friendship and a sense of belonging.

In their book, Growth, a New Vision for the Sunday School, Charles Arn, Donald McGavran, and Win Arn emphasize the important part that friendship plays in a live and growing church. Surveys and personal interviews have shown that this is what attracts most people and what keeps them actively involved. In fact, the number one reason people gave for joining a new church home was “the friendliness of the people.”

Personal care. Another benefit of the church is its care for and support of its members.

I’ve belonged to churches where members band together to care for the sick, provide volunteer therapy for the handicapped, take meals to the shut-in, provide homes for the poor, give care to the aged, and provide social activities for the youth.

One church I belonged to sponsored a divorce and grief recovery program, and provided support groups for parents of teens and pre-teens, for codependents, for singles, for helping people with sexual, drug and alcohol addictions, for incest and rape victims, for those with eating disorders, and care groups for everybody in the entire church.

Inner peace and strength. It is true that some people go to church for false motives, but most, like me, are people who have blown it at times, who have fallen and made mistakes, are struggling to become the person they feel God wants them to be, and know if they are going to make it, they need a power greater than their own.

They go to church because here, in spite of their failures, they have found not only forgiveness and acceptance, but also a sense of inner peace knowing that their life is right with God, and strength to help them cope with the struggles of life.

To be concluded …

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that a good church provides wonderful friendships, a place where members truly care for one another, and a sense of inner peace and strength that comes from meaningful worship with fellow believers. Please help me not only to be a receiver of these benefits but also a giver to others so that they, too, will experience all of these benefits. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Acts 2:42 (NIV).

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What a Good Church Can Do for You, Part I

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“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”1

Leon Norsworthy, a very successful family man and business leader, was promoted to the directorship of a national organization—a promotion which involved a move to another city for him and his family.

Before buying a new home in the general vicinity of his work and moving his family, however, Leon and his wife, Sally, did an interesting thing. They first looked for a good church, and when they found the one they felt would best meet their family needs, they then bought a house close to the church.

They did this because they have experienced the benefits of belonging to a good church and realize its importance for personal, family and spiritual life.

The Norsworthys aren’t alone in their feelings about the church. In fact, 120 million or 61 percent of Americans belong to a church. What other volunteer organization can boast such a following?

True, every church has some weaknesses and some churches suit some people more than others, but for the church to survive for 2,000 years and continue to thrive as it has, there has to be many benefits to attract and hold its vast following. The following are some of the most important ones:

Improved family life. A Gallup poll showed that the number one personal need expressed by 82 percent of the American adult population was having a “good family life.”

Many people besides the Norsworthys believe the church helps make for a good family life. In a special study, Edward A. Rauff, director of the Research and Information Center of the Lutheran Church Council in the U.S.A., found that the dominant reason a high percentage of the respondents gave for establishing a relationship with a church was “to keep the family together and to strengthen family life.”2

That the church helps strengthen family life is supported by a study conducted by sociologist Steven Nock of the University of Virginia. His conclusions showed that couples who attend church regularly are 42 percent more likely to be married for the first time, and those in the church who were committed to its beliefs had a 23 percent better chance of having a “very happy” marriage than those who don’t go to church.

To be Continued…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you designed the church, not only for your people to worship you together, but also to help meet many needs of the body of Christ—your Church. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV).
2. Why People Join the Church, p. 73.

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How Can You Forgive Abusive Parents?

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“Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.”1

MT writes, “I have a problem which I would appreciate your help with because I don’t know what to do anymore. People tell me that I’m too nice because I let people push me around a lot. But my biggest issue is that I can’t forgive my parents. I have this hatred toward them that I can’t explain. I repeatedly try to make peace with them but they never want to help me back. My relationship with them is very difficult. My main concern is how can I get rid of this sour feeling I have for them?”

When we have been hurt—especially by parents—it can be very difficult to forgive them. However, if we don’t forgive them, we end up hurting ourselves even more because our inner resentment eats away at us physically, emotionally and spiritually. As someone has said, “Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

So how can you forgive your parents? First, it is impossible to forgive anyone until we first resolve our hurt and our anger. Unresolved, they block forgiveness. However, once they are resolved, the door is open for forgiveness, which becomes a choice.

Second, I would strongly advise that you seek professional counseling to help you resolve your hurt and anger so you will be able to forgive your parents.

Third, forgiving them doesn’t mean that you allow them to continue to hurt you, so you need to exercise tough love and establish healthy boundaries to protect yourself. Let them know, lovingly but firmly, that if they continue to treat you in a hurtful manner, you will need to distance yourself from them.

Fourth, realize, too, that people who are being “too nice” aren’t really being nice. They are being weak because they are afraid to stand up for themselves. So you need to work on this problem too so that you will be able to establish healthy boundaries. You will probably need counseling to help you in this area too. You can’t change your parents, but with God’s help and the help of capable counseling you can change you, and in so doing this will change your life.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to resolve any negative emotions that may in any way be affecting my relationships as well as my physical and spiritual health. Help me to resolve every impaired relationship and freely forgive all who have ever hurt me as you so freely forgive me when I ask for it. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

For additional help read the following articles:

“Taming Your Anger” at: http://tinyurl.com/b439f
“Boundaries” at” http://tinyurl.com/2x9a6u
“Developing a Healthy Self-Image” at: http://tinyurl.com/af5hf
“Forgiveness: The Power That Heals” at: http://tinyurl.com/3bw3q3

1. Matthew 6:12 (TLB).

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What Is Sin?

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”1

What is sin and why does God hate it?

Someone has argued if God is the creator of all things then he must have created sin. Actually, sin, as another has suggested is not a “created” thing at all. It is an action on our part or a failure to act as we know we ought to act or behave. God created people but he didn’t create sin or sinners. Sinners are people who have chosen to go their own way rather than God’s way. It’s the same with evil. It is the evil actions of people who have chosen to do evil things that make them evil.

In the Bible there are three facets to sin. First has to do with breaking God’s laws that are found in his Word, the Bible. Second applies to rebelling against God and going one’s own sinful way. And third has to do with falling short of God’s standard of perfection; that is, being less than whole and all that God envisioned for us to be. The latter also includes sins of omission—not doing what we know we should do—as well as sins of commission.

And why does God hate sin so vehemently? Because it destroys those whom God loves—us. It causes us to be spiritually dead, and separates us from the God who created and loves us, and dooms us to a lost eternity in the place the Bible calls hell—whatever and wherever that may be.

While sin totally destroys those whom God loves, his mercy and love have provided a way of escape from sin’s destructive consequences for all who put their trust in him and become a true Christ follower or Christian. For help to be sure you are a real Christian go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to understand the totality of sin, its devastating consequences, and why you hate and despise it. Help me also to understand your plan of salvation and deliverance from sin’s dreadful consequences through Jesus Christ and be absolutely sure that I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and have received your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Romans 6:23 (NIV).

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Christian Worldview

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“In the beginning God.”1

We hear quite a bit these days about the worldview people have. Simply put, one’s worldview is the way we view the world in which we live. It serves as a road map for one’s life—the guide for the way we live and orchestrate our life. It has to do with one’s belief system about the world in which we live.

A Christian worldview is based on reality—on truth—on truth as it is revealed and/or confirmed in God’s Word, the Bible, which is the only viable source of truth that can realistically answer the four questions one’s worldview takes into account. These questions are as follows:

“Where did I come from?
Why is the world in such a mess?
Is there a way to fix it?
Is there a purpose for my life?”2

First, where did I come from? The Christian believes that we came from God; that in the beginning he created all—including you and me. Because of this we are accountable to him and are morally responsible for all our actions.

Second, why is the world in such a mess? We believe that this is because of sin and evil which was introduced into the world by Satan the devil, a fallen angel, who wanted to dethrone God and become God himself. “I will become as the Most High,” he said. Consequently he was dismissed from God’s Heaven.3

Tragically, because mankind chose to disobey God’s directions and follow Satan’s, sin entered the entire human race. Because sin cannot exist and sinners cannot survive in the presence of a holy and just God, any more than a moth can survive in a flame, our sin has destined us to eternal separation from a just and holy God in the place the Bible calls hell—the place prepared for the devil and other fallen angels known as demons.

Third, is there an answer to mankind’s dilemma—a way to fix our problem? Fortunately for mankind there is. As the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”4

In other words, because God’s justice required that the just judgment for all sin is death; that is, eternal separation from God the author of all love and life, God gave his only son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place to pay the just penalty for all our sin. Because of Christ’s sacrifice God now offers to all who will accept it a free pardon and the gift of eternal life with God in Heaven forever. Based on the Word of God, Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for mankind’s sin, and the only way into God’s Heaven.5

Fourth, is there a purpose for my life? According the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “Man’s chief end [purpose] is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” We glorify God, first by building a deeper understanding of and a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ, and then by living a morally upright life, in loving God and worshipping God, by loving our neighbors as ourselves, and by our service to God. And we serve God by using our God-given natural and spiritual gifts to serve others. The important thing is: do you know what your specific God-given life purpose is?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that your word, the Bible, gives us the only secure road map for all of life’s journey—from the cradle to the grave and beyond. Please help me to be certain my world view is in line with your Word so that I will live in harmony with your will here on earth and spend eternity with you in Heaven forever. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Genesis 1:1.
2. Chuck Colson, BreakPoint, http://www.breakpoint.org/generic.asp?ID=2541.
3. See Isaiah 14:12.
4. John 3:16 (NIV).
5. See John 14:6.

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God’s “Security” Team

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“When the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.”1

Bruce Ferris wrote, “My wife and I recently saw a television show on The History Channel titled, ‘The Man Who Predicted 911.’ Long before September 11th, Rick Rescorla, the 62-year-old head of security at the Morgan Stanley Bank, developed an evacuation plan for the bank. The bank’s offices were situated high up in the South Tower at the World Trade Center. Rescorla was convinced that Osama Bin Laden would use jet planes to try and destroy the World Trade Center. The plan and its preparation were hugely unpopular with the Morgan Stanley staff, many of whom thought Rescorla was mad.

“On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 hit World Trade Center Tower 1 at 8:46 am. Rick Rescorla ignored building officials’ advice to stay put and began the orderly evacuation of Morgan Stanley’s 2,800 employees on 20 floors of World Trade Center Tower 2, and 1,000 employees in WTC 5. Rescorla reminded everyone to ‘be proud to be an American … everyone will be talking about you tomorrow,’ and sang God Bless America and other songs over his bullhorn to help evacuees stay calm as they left the building. Rescorla had most of Morgan Stanley’s 2800 employees as well as people working on other floors of WTC 2 safely out of the buildings by the time United Airlines Flight 175 hit WTC 2 at 9:07 a.m.

“After having reached safety, Rescorla returned to the building to rescue others still inside. He was last seen heading up the stairs of the tenth floor of the collapsing WTC 2. His remains were not recovered. As a result of Rescorla’s actions, only six of Morgan Stanley’s 2800 WTC employees were killed on September 11th, 2001, including Rick and three of his deputies who followed him back into the building.

“The remainder of this very moving broadcast focused on Morgan Stanley Bank employees who, now in tears, were praising and acknowledging Rick Rescorla for having saved their lives from total destruction that day. Many felt so guilty and apologetic [because] they had thought Rick foolish to keep preaching and standing for what he believed would happen if they were not ready. Those interviewed said they would never forget Rick Rescorla. He was their hero.”2

The first coming of Jesus Christ is an indisputable fact of history. Be assured, his second coming will be just as certain. His first coming was to give his life to die on the cruel Roman cross to pay the just penalty for your sins and mine so we could receive God’s forgiveness and his gift of eternal life. His second coming will be as King of kings and Lord of lords and to bring judgment on all who have failed or refused to accept God’s warning and gift of forgiveness and salvation.

While ancient Noah built the ark he was mocked and ridiculed. None but his immediate family believed God’s warning about the impending flood. And as Jesus has warned, it will be the same when he returns to judge the world and destroy all who have rejected his gift of salvation.

If you have never received God’s offer of salvation, I urge you to do that today so you are ready for God’s day of judgment. For help go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9 and read, “How to Be Sure You’re a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious.”

On the other hand, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, will you be as a “Rick Rescorla” to help notify all in your circle of influence about the coming of God’s judgment and the impending doom of all who refuse to accept God’s free gift of salvation. For an extremely simple way to do this go to: https://learning.actsweb.org/announce.php. And for those who live in the U.S. also go https://actscom.com/index.php to order a supply of the Good News business size witness cards to give to family, friends and contacts.

And will you help support the “Rick Rescorlas” who are on “God’s security” team warning multitudes of people of God’s coming judgment and are spreading God’s good news of salvation around the world. To do this go to: https://actscom.com/donate.php

Think of all the people whose lives Rick Rescorla saved. You and I can do the same; that is, help save lives for all eternity. There is no greater privilege and responsibility in the entire world. Will you make this commitment today by genuinely praying the following prayer:

“Dear God, I am available. Please use me to be as a ‘Rick Rescorla’ and help save lives for all eternity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Luke 17:26-27 (TLB).
2. Bruce Ferris, www.SermonCentral.com.

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Count Your Blessings

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“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.”1

According to Michael Shannon, “In Reed, North Carolina, you will find the Reed gold mine. It was first excavated in 1799 when Conrad Reed discovered a strange rock on the Reed farm. In 1802, a jeweler in Fayetteville offered Reed $3.50 for the rock. It turns out the rock was gold and was actually worth $3,600 dollars. What did Reed do with the rock for three years? He used it as a doorstop at his house. How often are we oblivious to the true value of things?”2

I don’t know about you but I find it all too easy to be blind to the endless blessings daily at my door step and take these for granted. I am afraid that this is especially so in much of the free world where most of us have never suffered real persecution, experienced terrorism first hand, gone hungry, been homeless, and pretty much have all of our personal needs and many of our wants—often extravagant wants—met.

And, tragically, here in the West so many feel that the world owes them a living. Too soon we forget that the freedoms we enjoy were paid dearly for us by previous generations—many of whom gave their lives to purchase our freedom. How soon we forget that “eternal vigilance is still the price of liberty [freedom],” and that “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”3

Every day I make an effort to thank God for all the incredible blessings that I experience daily. As the chorus of the old time hymn we used to sing with great enthusiasm in years gone by encourages:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.4

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so that I will no longer be blind to the endless blessings you have given to me every day of my life. Most of all I thank you for the incredible blessing that you have given to all mankind—the blessing of giving your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sins, and for your gift of forgiveness and that of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Psalm 92:1-2 (NIV).
2. J. Michael Shannon, Source: Preaching.com http://tinyurl.com/2cxgrg
3. Psalm 33:12
4. Johnson Oatman, Jr.

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What’s Your Purpose in Life?

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From the Apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”1

“Josh McDowell tells about an executive ‘headhunter’ who recruits corporate executives for large firms. This headhunter once told McDowell that when he interviews an executive, he likes to disarm him. ‘I offer him a drink,’ said the headhunter, ‘take off my coat, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he’s all relaxed. Then, when I think I’ve got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and say, “What’s your purpose in life?” It’s amazing how top executives fall apart at that question.’

“Then he told about interviewing one fellow recently. He had him all disarmed, had his feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then the headhunter leaned over and said, ‘What’s your purpose in life, Bob?’ And the executive said, without blinking an eye, ‘To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.’

“‘For the first time in my career,’ said the headhunter, ‘I was speechless.’”2

I’ve asked this same question to scores of people over the years in seminars I have led. Just about everybody believes God has a God-given life purpose for them, but when I ask them what it is, very few have ever carefully thought it through and written it down.

If we want to die well, we need to live well, and if we are to live well, it is imperative that we know what our God-given life purpose is and with God’s help give it our best shot.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to discern my God-given life purpose so that I know exactly what it is. And please help to fulfill this purpose so when I come to the end of my life’s journey, I will know that I have not lived in vain. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Timothy 4:7-8, (NIV).
2. Dr. Gary Nicolosi, “Preparing for the End Time.”

Hiding in the Shadows

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“For in the day of trouble he [God] will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”1

“In the movie, ‘The Bear,’ a bear cub whose mother died took up with a male bear. They traveled together. One of my favorite parts happened when they got separated and the little bear came upon a mountain lion. When the mountain lion came at the cub he stood up trying to scare it away. The mountain lion all of a sudden started backing away. The little bear cub thought he had scared him away but what had really happened was that the big bear came up behind the little bear. It wasn’t the cub but the big bear that frightened the lion away. We may not look very frightening [to our enemy, the devil] but we have a Father that is all powerful [standing behind us]”2

For example: in the following poem, “Hide-and-Seek,” I have written:

“Sometimes it seems that life / makes little or no sense / as we wander blind searching for a ray of light / to lead us to the truth / or to a God who isn’t there. / But if we will stand still and / listen with our heart we will / hear a rustling in the leaves, feel the brush of angel’s wings, / and sense the presence of a loving / Father playing hide-and-seek, waiting patiently / wanting us to find him.”3

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that when I commit and trust my life and way to you on a daily basis, you are always present to be my guide and help—regardless of whether I feel your presence or not. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

Note: Hide-and-Seek poem available (framed or non-framed) at: http://tinyurl.com/33g35b

1. Psalm 27:5 (NIV).
2. Sharon Stonestreet on www.SermonCentral.com.
3. Dick Innes © Copyright.

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

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“Don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like.”1

“Mirror, mirror on the wall … lie to me!” Don’t we sometimes wish?

Either fortunately or unfortunately, mirrors don’t lie, unless, of course, the mirror is distorted. If so, its reflection will also be distorted. And if I am not true to my word and do what I say I am going to do, there is something distorted within me. As the old saying goes, “Talk is cheap.” Keeping one’s word and promises is a character trait to be highly valued. It is being authentic and maintaining integrity.

Unfortunately, it seems that keeping one’s word for many anymore doesn’t amount to too much. Like a worker I used some time ago who claimed to be involved in Promise Keepers. It was a joke. He rarely kept either his word or his promises. Sadly, a person who doesn’t keep his word or his promises can’t be relied upon. Neither can he be trusted. And a person who claims to be a Christian and doesn’t genuinely and consistently seek to keep and obey God’s Word can’t be relied on either. Perhaps not trusted either?

As James said, “Don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.”2

If we are mature, we will act in a mature fashion. If we are responsible, we will act in a responsible manner. And if we are sincere and genuine, we will act accordingly and be known as men and women whose word is their bond.

For after all –
It’s what we do
Not what we say –
That says the most of all.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a man/woman of my word and, with your help, one who seeks to obey your word. Always. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

1. James 1:22–24 (TLB).
2. James 1:22–25 (TLB).

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