My Sin and Shame

Scripture

He [God the Father] made Him [Christ the Son] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

~2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB

Quote

I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon the cross.

~Tim Hughes

Can you imagine someone loving you so deeply and completely that they are willing to take your sin and shame, and not just yours but that of the every human being. This includes perverts, pedophiles, murderers, rapist, liars, abortionists and even arrogant preachers.

If there is one thing that could get me down and keep me down, it would be the weight of my sin, guilt and shame. I have done some low down despicable things. There are some sins that I have confessed only to God. One of the reasons I long for heaven is to be totally separated from all my sin and shame. The only reason I am getting to go to heaven is Jesus willingness to become my sin and bear my shame in His own body on the cross. Jesus made it possible for me to become righteous like Him. How could I not love Him!

• Joe David and I attended the COLS of Myrtle “Millie” Smith yesterday. Although I did not know Mrs. Smith, I know her children and grandchildren. Some of you might remember Judy Payne {Jan Fields sister-in-law}. Judy donated $6,000 on our first church van. I don’t think I will ever forget the Wednesday morning when she called. Millie Smith was Judy’s mom. Judy has two brothers, Alvis and Randall. Alvis was our neighbor on Craze Road back in the 90’s. I know all of you remember Matt and Anna Brown: both faithfully attended DBC back in their high school days. I got to disciple Matt one on one. Millie was Matt’s grandmother. Judy stayed single after Roy’s accidental death until her children were grown, then the LORD gave her a second good man to love and protect her, his name is Bill Welch. Both Judy and Bill are active in church and love Jesus. I got to visit with Matt just a few minutes after the service and I got to meet his wife. Matt is a fine young man. Most of you remember the night Tray, John and Matt wrecked on 36. It is a miracle that these boys survived.
• I saw Randy Lewis last evening at Ironman. He just finished another round of chemo and was feeling weak but still going. He said he had gained two pounds. Everyone loves Randy. He wants us to continue praying for him which we will do.
• I wake up in a new world practically every day. I generally make my plans the night before but sometimes they get changed. Harold and I were going to work on my old Ford tractor today but I’ve  had  to alter my plans. I have some hard visits to make and I have to get ready for Sunday. If you want to say a short prayer for me, I have no objections.

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How Important Is The Cross

Scripture

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

~John 20:25, NRSV

Quote

Jesus forever joined our humanity to His divinity and for all eternity will be fully God and fully man.

~David Mathis

No tears in heaven but there will be scars. Jesus resurrected body bore the scars of the crucifixion. Jesus through eternity will bear the image of the invisible God and His nail scarred hands will be a perpetual reminder of what He did to secure our salvation. The CROSS is a triumph so grand that God will not allow it to be forgotten. Jesus scars echo the message that God loved us so much that He was willing to suffer with us and for us. A God who suffers, wow!  Jesus, God in the flesh, shed His tears with us and His blood for us. Reminds me of an old Baptist hymn…

Have you failed in your plan of your storm tossed life?
Are you weary and worn from its toil and strife?
Are you walking alone through the shadows dim?
Christ will comfort your heart put your trust in Him.

Would you follow the will of the risen Lord?
Would you live in the light of His blessed Word?
Is you soul burdened down with the load of sin?
Throw your heart open wide let the Savior in.

Place your hand in the nail scarred hand.
Christ will keep you to the end,
He is your dearest Friend,
place your hand in the nail scarred hand.

• Steve Hardy got a good report.
• Marti Got Robert in Lake Shore Rehab which is located near the Samford Campus.
• I though Gary was about the same. He was asleep when I was there.
• My good friend Randy Lewis is also taking chemo–Lung cancer.
• Tracey’s mom, Elnora Carrol Morris, better known as Blondie is sick.
• Sue Turrentine comes home today, just in time to baby sit.
• Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday evening at 4:30, Church wide fellowship at 5:30 with pizza and chicken fingers plus party staples.

Keeping The Cross In A Safe Place

Scripture

But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

~Luke 9:45, NASB

Quote

“It is the fellowship of the Cross to experience the burden of the other. If one does not experience it, the fellowship he belongs to is not Christian. If any member refuses to bear the burden of another, he denies the law of Christ.”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

When Jesus mentioned His passion [suffering/death] the second time, the disciples did not understand, it was concealed [veiled] from them and they did not absorb the truth into their minds. Was it Jesus who concealed the truth from them? Why would He mention it if He didn’t want them to understand. The word understand is agnoeō from which we get the word agnostic, to know nothing, to be ignorant. An agonistic does not claim faith or disbelief, he pleads ignorance saying, “we cannot know”. The word ‘concealed’ means to cover or veil. The key word is ‘afraid’{phobeō}. Fear puts us on the defensive and when we get tense and defensive, the blinds to our mind close, we stop receiving information. We do not process or understand what is being said.  I don’t think we are that different from the disciples.

We keep the cross locked up as a sentimental relic relegated to the past. We don’t think of the cross in presence tense–Its a moment to remember, a doctrine to study, a sermon to preach but it is not a way of life. By keeping the cross at a safe distance, we are allowed the luxury of being religious yet isolated from the suffering of others. [J.W. MacGorman]

It would help if we were more evangelistic but a bigger problem is our unwillingness to bear the burdens of others. We prefer to stay emotionally detached. You talk about a white harvest, people are hurting and dying all around us while we are in the self-preservation mode, like the disciples.

Jesus was open to questions but the disciples were afraid to ask. They had all the truth they could handle for the moment.

• I checked on Gary yesterday, his eyes were open but I could get him to talk. I am not a doctor nor the son of a doctor but he looks better to me. Joe David checked on Buford and he wasn’t doing well. I think he has stopped eating. I also looked in on Carman Livingston Sunday evening. He is getting tired of the bed.
• Busy week–took DIGEST to Alabama mail yesterday, preparing for tonight and the JBS at Athens February 28-March 2.
• Had some old friends from Cherokee to drop by today, what a refreshing surprise. Bobby and Nelda Thompson on they way back from Birmingham. Bobby lives on one of the best Crappie lakes in the country. They live just this side of the Mississippi line, only a couple of miles off of Hwy 72. It is always good to see old friends.
• SWAMP JOHN’S tickets are going better: we are over the half-way mark. We have to sale 91 tickets before March 28. I think they would make a good gift, buy one for a friend. Remember, you are supporting St. Jude’s Children Hospital.
• Some things to look forward to: Kenny Evans [Christian Entertainer] from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee will be with us Sunday morning May 15. Evangelist Junior Hill will be with us on Sunday morning August 21 and Wade Morris is coming back in November. How many Baptist churches have the top two Evangelist in the Southeast in one year? Are we blessed or what! Junior is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for EASTERN GATE MINISTRIES.

Kenny Evans

Dr. Junior Hill

Wade Morris

Trees

SCRIPTURE

The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

~Genesis 2:9, NLT

 QUOTE

“If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today!”

~Martin Luther

 

When I am doing my daily bible reading the strangest things grab my attention. For example, reading Genesis 1-3, I noticed the emphasis on TREES.  I counted some 20 times the word tree is found in the first three chapters of the bible. Martin Luther, the great reformer, loved trees and so do I.  [1] First of all, trees are beautiful and God made all sorts. I love maples, oaks and even sweet gums in fall. It is better to see a sweet gum on the side of mountain than in your yard. When fall arrives each year, what to you hear most: people talk about the magnificent colors of the leaves and some drive hundreds of miles just to see autumn the beauty of the trees. [2] Trees are also a source of food. I love apples, oranges, pears, pecans and peaches to mention a few. [3] An assortment of good things come from trees: sugar, paper, furniture, tooth picks, ball bats, adhesives, cardboard and a thousand other things. [4] Trees are the number one provider of shelters; most of our homes are built out of wood, some of our clothing comes from trees and who does not understand the value of a good shade tree. [5] Trees also have spiritual value. The Tree of Life in the middle of the garden foreshadows Christ who four thousand years later would die on a tree. Jesus transformed the Roman cross into the Tree of Life.

One thing is certain: Jesus is our source of life and everything revolves around HIM: He is the true center.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR FAMILY

• SENIOR DAY this Sunday in the a.m. service: Seniors will be recognized in the a.m. service and Joe David and Lori will take them to lunch.
• BACCALAUREATE Sunday Night at 6:00. We have a great line up and we are doing something we have never done before: imagine that!
• WEE CARE Graduation Sunday evening at 2:00.
• We will have a Deacon’s meeting this week at 8:15.
• May 29 Senior Adult Cook Out.
• I may as well go ahead and tell you: DAYLIGHT donuts are closing for the entire month of June.
• June 6…Rally for Biblical Marriage in Montgomery. I think the time is 3:00 PM
• June 8-12…VBS and VBX
• June 14…Vote on Minister of Music [AM in the foyer, secret ballot]
• Two new articles on the SOAPBOX. One is a cut and paste job about Obama mental disorder. One is by me on the future of Israel in comparison to the U.S.
• GREAT LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY Lesson this Sunday…Its on serving others humbly with love. There is a question in your quarterly, “What opportunities does our group [your class] have to work for the good of others?” I want every class to come up with at least one idea of things we can do to help others. I hope you come up with more than one. Turn them in to me. I want to hear your ideas.

Proud of Ginger…she puts up with a lot but keeps smiling.

LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY LESSON PREVIEW

STICK WITH SERVICE

Introduction

Super Glue can fix just about anything but a relationship. Relationships are fragile and often this frailness leads to fractures; unfortunately, there is no super glue for fractured relationships. In my line of work, it would be a precious commodity. It breaks my heart when moms and dads go separate ways leaving their suffering children in the wake. Divorce is like an oil tanker with a leak, it leaves an oil slick a half of mile wide.

The sad thing is that most fractured relationships would have survived had they been nurtured properly. How do we strengthen a relationship? This is where today’s lesson comes into play, STICK WITH SERVICE. Nothing says “I love you” more than humble service.

I love the story in the introduction: A man books a last minute flight because his grandson is dying and he wants to see him one more time before his departure. He gets caught in traffic and runs 12 minutes late. He hurries to his gate hoping that there may have been a delay. He was shocked to the see the Pilot waiting for him at the ticket counter….The Pilot said, “They can’t go anywhere without me and I wasn’t going anywhere without you. So relax, we will get you there and again, I’m sorry.”

I like Ben Mandrell’s quote…Good customer service isn’t about making a sale or even keeping a customer. It is about doing what is right and helping another person.

We are not talking about customer service or running a business; we are talking about ministry, serving others as a tangible expression of love.

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 5:13-15

¹³ For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. ¹⁴ For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

Galatians 6:1-6

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ⁵ For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

1. Christ has set us free but what are we free to do?
2. Paul talks about the ‘sinful nature’ in verse 13: how would you describe this nature? Do all human beings share this nature?
3. Following the sinful nature can lead to selfish ambition where we become competitive with those around us. This lifestyle is often referred to as “Dog eat dog” or “Rat race”. What has happened to those who become proud of having more than others?
4. Christ has freed us to serve others: our old sinful nature tempts us to focus on ourselves, after all, if you don’t look out for yourself, who will? This inverted, self-centered attitude harms relationships and hinders us from serving others in love and humility. Has Christ given us the power or freedom to crucify our selfish nature and put the emphasis on others?
5. Draw a cross…at the top of the vertical line write Christ…at the end of the horizontal line write others. What happens when we get our focus on the vertical relationship?
6. What do you think would be an ideal service project for your class?
7. Relationships are built on honesty and integrity: do you have a relationship when a friend or family member who is honest with you about your blind spots?
8. How do we come to know the needs of our friends?
9. Do believers need ministry? What would Paul say about you helping another believer?
10. Our writer says, “We are not to ignore the needs outside the body of Christ but we are to do good[especially] to those who belong to God’s family. Do you agree or disagree?
11. Who can you help today? [Take lunch to a shut-in, help you wife clean the kitchen after lunch, send a friend an encouraging text or maybe make a call]
12. Be intentional: make helping others a part of your daily routine. I call it an ARK, Act of Redemptive Kindness. What is keeping you from making this commitment?

 

Guilt, Horrible Guilt!

SCRIPTURE

I turned away from God, but then I was sorry. I kicked myself for my stupidity! I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.’

~Jeremiah 31:19, NLT

QUOTE

The greatest shame is have none.

~Pascal

I was in Jeremiah 31 yesterday when I came across this verse. The first thing that popped into my mind was, “This could be my life verse.” I can’t number the times I’ve wanted to kick myself for my stupidity. Actually, Jeremiah is speaking prophetically for the future Israel who comes to realize that Jesus was the Messiah and that they missed the truth because they were living in rebellion against God. You see one day and I think soon, Israel is going to acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah and then they are going to express shame and regret for not seeing the truth sooner.

Bennard

Sin produces guilt and guilt produces shame and condemnation. You and I are helpless; we are powerless to do anything about sin, guilt, shame or condemnation. Thankfully, Jesus on the cross, during the three hours of horrible darkness, took upon Himself our sin, guilt, shame and condemnation. God made HIM who knew no sin to become sin for us all. [2 Cor. 5:1] Jesus deliberately remained powerless so they we would have the privilege of being freed from sin, guilt, shame and condemnation. We are no longer helpless because He was. The morons who mocked Him thought that His remaining on the cross in a helpless state was proof that He was not the Son of God. He refused to save Himself in order to save us.

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. How I have come to love that old cross where the dearest and the very best for a world of lost sinners was slain. Try to convince me that George Bennard was not inspired when he wrote this hymn.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE WORLD

• Regular schedule tonight: Supper at 5:30, AWANA at 6:15 and GATHERING at 6:30.
• GOLDEN GIRLS this Saturday morning 9:30 at Cracker Barrel in Hartselle.
• Chloe Bug surgery went well, PTL.
• Good thing I worked on blog when I got home from work because I was at West Park until 9:00 PM which is too late for Seniors and it was also too cold. Big Mama and Josie Tate went home after 2nd inning.

The Robe

SCRIPTURE

After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

~Matthew 27:35, NLT

QUOTE

The cross is the center of the world’s history.

~Alexander MacLaren

The Robe is a 1942 novel about the crucifixion of Jesus written by Lloyd C. Douglas. Douglas, like his father before him, was a Lutheran Pastor. He retired from the pastoral ministry at the youthful age of 52 and began a career in writing and what a career it became. The Robe make the New York Times Best Seller list in October of 42 and in four short weeks, rose to the number one best seller and held the position for nearly a year. The Robe remained on the list for another two years, returning several other times over the next several years including 1953 when the novel was made into a movie.

Hazel McCann, a department store clerk from Ohio, wrote to Douglas asking what he thought had happened to Christ’s garments after the crucifixion. Douglas immediately began working on a novel based on this question. The Romans soldier in Douglas’ novel who won Jesus outer garment [Robe] was Marcellus Gallio. He was the commander of a Roman Garrison in Minoa, a port city in Southern Palestine. He was in Jerusalem for the same reason as Pilot whose head quarters was in Caesarea on the coast. Pilot beefed up security due to the influx of Jews coming to observe Passover and he went to Jerusalem himself to insure peace and order.

Long story short, Marcellus was put in charge of the crucifixion. Like Pilot, he did not believe Jesus was guilty of any crime. He has misgivings about the entire ordeal and was very moved by the death of Jesus. Someone dared him to wear the Robe and he put it on but it so disturbed his mind that he had a mental breakdown. At the advice of his Greek slave, he begins to treat the Robe with the utmost respect and his mind is healed. He goes back to Jerusalem to talk to the Christians, there he is converted to Christianity and later in Rome dies a martyr’s death. Before his death, he gives the Robe to Peter who was also in Rome at the time.

I have a couple of observations: [1] Things have really changed since 1942 when the Robe became number one as a novel and 1953 when The Robe won several academy awards. I was talking to some of our young people this week [mid-40’s]: they cannot go back to the 1950’s but I can. We never heard the words gay, feminism or abortion mentioned on TV or Radio. All these social evils came out of the closet in the late 60’s and early 70’s. [2] The ROBE was a novel based on a historical event [greatest is history] but the characters were fictional and no one knows what happened to Jesus’ robe. This does not change the fact that JESUS death on the cross changed lives then and now. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened during the execution. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” [Matthew 27:54]

The death of Christ is the most life transforming event in history because Jesus died because of sin [ours, the Jews, Romans, everyone], He died for sin [as an offering, a propitiation] and to sin [liberating truth that sets us free]. It freed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus: hither to, they were afraid of their Jewish brethren but the death of Christ broke the grasp which fear had on them and set them free.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR SENIORS

• Sorry about the length of the blog: takes a lot of time to condense my thoughts and I was running out of time.
• Front Pew Bridal Shower for Ginny Shaneyfelt: for those who do not know, it is Zed’s sister.
• Schedule: LCBS at 9:15, worship at 10:15 and 6:00.
• Today and next Sunday: ROSES FOR MAMA.
• GOLDEN GIRLS meet next Saturday at CB in Hartselle, 9:30 am.
• Blood drive today in FORTE. [For Kane Hogan]
• Keri got a better appointment at Vanderbilt, May 7th. {PTL}
• This Wednesday night is the last family night supper before Summer break.

Dread And Anxiety

SCRIPTURE

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.”

~Luke 12:49-50, NLT

QUOTE

“The load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.”

~John Newton

I was reading Luke 12 last Sunday morning and came across the above verses where Jesus shares His burden with His disciples. Of course, they turned a deaf ear which made the burden more difficult to bear. I am not accusing Jesus of anxiety but He certainly dreaded the cross and longed for it to be history.

Anxiety is created by emotional stress when we feel pulled in two different directions at the same time. Anxiety divides the heart; it keeps us from being integrated and disturbs our peace. What Jesus said comforts me, “I am under a heavy burden until my mission is accomplished.” I know I have read this verse 100 times but Sunday morning it gave me a comfort to know Jesus experienced our feelings of being burdened. I do wish His disciples had been sympathetic but true sympathy is hard to come by in this sin cursed broken world.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE WORLD. Ken emailed me about a new plan to get the gospel to unreached people groups. Lets pray about this new initiative. It will be possible for us to sponsor a project directly without sending the money to Richmond. We do need to finish the TASK.
• Kenny got his N-G tube out and he was thrilled. He gets his med through an IV port and it can do it himself. His middle son Brad came in from Texas yesterday evening around 4:20 and he was excited about seeing his son. He did not feel as well yesterday as he did the day before. Do not stop praying for Kenny.
• REMEMBER THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ON THE CHURCH DIRECTORY. If for any reason you cannot make your appointment, call Mandy ASAP.

ROY MIMS

CELEBRATION OF LIFE service for Roy Erskin Mims, 78, of Moulton will be Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jack Bailey, Dr. Lee Hartselle and Rev. Tony Smitherman officiating. Graveside service will be in Martin Memorial Cemetery in Clanton at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Visitation will be tonight from 5 to 8 at the funeral home.

Mr. Mims died on Sunday, January 11, 2015, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was born March 8, 1936, in Chilton County to Ocie Mims and Inez Mims. He was saved and attended Danville Baptist Church. He was best known for the Dari Delite Restaurant and his famous chicken fingers. Roy taught school at Jemison for 12 years, where he coached basketball and football. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and golf, and was a member of Burningtree Country Club. In his early days, he and his father raised produce and he was always a worker. Roy was a registered Brangus cattle farmer. He was preceded in death by a son, Todd Allan Mims; sister, Mary Mims; two nephews, Don and Frankie Mims and his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Mims; two sons, Kyle Dewayne Mims of Clanton and Camron Tye Mims of Hartselle; three daughters, Rhonda Scott of Boca Raton, FL, Traci Patrick of Clarksville, TN and Regina Tetreault of Gulf Breeze, FL; two sisters, Ruby Dean Driver of Clanton and Betty Gorrie of Biloxi, MS; 11 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Camron Mims, Kyle Mims, Casey Mims, Brandon Mims, Keith Driver, Jeremy Tetreault and Scott Coffman.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorials be made to the Hartselle Animal Shelter and to Alzheimer’s Research. 

 

Forgiveness And Worship

 

 

SCRIPTURE

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

~Psalms 130:3-4, NLT

QUOTE

It may be possible to have awe and not worship but it is impossible to worship without awe.

~Yaakov

God is holy and there is a record of our sin. Fortunately for us, Christ took all our sin and shame upon Himself and on the cross and suffered our hell and death. As Paul said to the Colossians in chapter 2…He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Praise God, our sinful deeds have been blotted out by the blood of Jesus. Understanding the above: there are two things needful for worship: [1] We must get a glimpse of the holiness of God and His hatred for sin–this should produce fear and awe. [2] We have to feel a sense of deep gratitude to God for sending His Son to be our Savior and of course, a deep love for Christ who died for our sins.

Most of what we label worship is a subtle form of narcissism. To counter narcissistic worship and the consumer mentality we have to be intentional. FIRST: We must desire transformation into the image of Christ. This means change and I am not talking small alterations but deep change. If you refuse to embrace change, there is little chance that you will worship. SEDOND: We have to be actively resistant to the world’s pressure to conform us to it’s image. Not only must there be radical change which God does gently and incrementally by grace, there must be our awareness that this change is going to be opposed by the world and the powers of darkness. THIRD: We have to be like Paul and have a deep desire to know HIM and partake in the fellowship of His suffering. This is where the rubber meets the road. Are you willing to bear shame for Christ sake? Are you willing to bear a cross, to suffer for His sake? Can you say honestly, Thy will be done? Are you willing to express your love for Christ by serving others? Can you give up self and live sacrificially?

There is little chance that we will experience transforming worship until we stand in awe and repent of sin. Choose any worship style, any music: it will not matter. A mute who fears God trumps an angel who does not. Don’t forget: Satan, a fallen angel is the father of narcissistic worship.

• Wow! You talk about blown away, 35 at our SENIOR ADULT CHRISTMAS at Cracker Barrel. It is not a record but it is the best turn out in the last five or so years. I was thrilled. LORD willing, I have one more SA Christmas party and I can tell you, it will probably be at Cracker Barrel.
• TODAY WE PRAY FOR STUDENTS…
• Normal schedule tomorrow with Deacon’s meeting at 8:00, LCBS at 9:15 and worship at 10:15 and 6:00. We are starting a Christmas series of three messages in the morning. The choir will be doing a Christmas song to go with the message.
• Next Sunday [Dec.14] morning Joe David preaches and next Sunday evening the children will do their play at 5:30 followed by our annual CHRISTMAS SUPPER in the FORTE. On the 21st we will have LCBS at 9:00 and morning worship at 10:15 with no pm services. We will follow the same schedule on December 28th. We will meet Christmas Eve at 6:00 for a candle light communion service but no services on New Years Eve.

LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY PREVIEW

December 7, 2014

The Shelter of God’s Presence

Key Question: What is the biggest storm you’ve ever encountered?

Make a Top Ten

What are things about Storms that you do not like.

1. Make us feel small and helpless.
2. Make us afraid.
3. ______________________
4. ______________________

Some of us have weather apps on our phones that help us see approaching storms but not all storms can be detected. Sometimes they arise suddenly with no advance warning. No one is their right mind walks out into a storm. We a storm happens, we look for shelter. Storm shelters are a big business in this area. Today we are going to talk about some storm shelters of a different nature. One of the great storm shelters in the bible is Psalm 23.

¹   The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Facts About Storms

1. They happen: life is a series of storms, they are unavoidable.
2. They have super power: hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes are all devastating. No human or group of humans can stop these storms.
3. Storms humble us: they make us afraid. They knock the props of pride out from under us.
4. Storms take things: sometimes our homes, our possessions and even the lives of our friends and love ones. The 2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, Alabama tornado was a violent, long-track EF5 tornado that devastated several towns in northern Alabama, before tearing through the western suburbs of Huntsville and causing damage in rural portions of southern Tennessee on the afternoon and early evening of April 27, 2011. It was the deadliest tornado of the April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak in United States history. The tornado reached a maximum width of 1.25 mi (2.01 km) and was estimated to have had peak winds of 210 mph (340 km/h). The tornado killed 72 people, making it the deadliest tornado in Alabama history. It was the deadliest tornado to strike the U.S. since the Udall, Kansas tornado of 1955 until the catastrophic tornado on May 22, 2011, which killed 158 people in Joplin, Missouri.
5. Storms bring people together.
6. Storms are great teachers. In Matthew 14 Jesus sends His disciple into a storm intentionally to teach them some valuable lessons. The April 11 storm taught me to love light and electricity.

How is Psalm 23 like a Storm Shelter?

1. It reminds us that we have a Guardian Shepherd in Jesus. The ancient Palestinian shepherd was everything the sheep needed embodied in one individual. He lead the sheep; he fed the sheep, he protected the sheep, he rescued them from themselves and from danger. Jesus HIMSELF is our SHELTER. He is our ARK. He is the same thing to us that the Ark was to Noah and family. In Christ we are safe.
2. It reminds us that Christ our Great Shepherd is present with us, even when we walk through difficult places. The disciples were terrified of storms but when Jesus manifested His presence to them, they cease to be afraid. Jesus presence calmed their hearts before His voice calmed the sea. The key to weathering any storm is the presence of Christ in the storm.
3. The key verse is 4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and staff, they comfort me.” The rod [club] could be used to discipline a rebellious sheep but primarily, it was a weapon used against the predators. David killed both a lion and a bear by clubbing them to death. The shepherds presence had a calming effect on sheep who by nature are timid and defenseless.
4. Two things I think you should keep in mind: Christ is present with us. Our awareness of His presence has nothing to do with the fact of His presence. He was with the disciples on the road to Emmaus but they did not recognize His presence: regardless to what they recognized–Jesus was present. HIS PRESENCE IS A FACT NOT A FEELING. We must live by faith in His word and not rely on feelings. The second thing is that you under surveillance.  You are being pursued by Goodness and Mercy [love]. Women looking for a husband could only hope to be pursued by a good man who loves them unconditionally.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some things that keeps us from recognizing God’s presence?
2. Do you know what or when your next storm will come?
3. How do you think Peter would answer the key question: “What is the worse storm of your life?” Did Peter see the storm coming? Who did?
4. When do you seem to feel God’s presence most?
5. What is the most frightening aspect of a storm?
6. Have you ever enjoyed a storm?
7. Have you learned from a storm?

INSIGHTS

1. One diagnosis, one accident, one tragic event can change your life in a matter of seconds. Who knows, today would be the worse day of your life but Jesus is praying for you and He will see you through…Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. {Hebrews 7:25}
2. The Presence of Christ gives us Peace and Courage. His goodness gives us Hope and His love gives us fulfillment.
3. No believer is ever without hope.
4. Christ is our shelter, our ARK of safety.
5. Everyone needs a shelter from the storms.
6. When we do not know what storm lies in our path, Jesus knows and He is praying for us.

Footnotes:

Crucifixion

SCRIPTURE

Jews: Put Him away; crucify Him!

Pilate: You want me to crucify your King?

Chief Priests: We have no king but Caesar!

~John 19:14-15, The VOICE

QUOTE

“Crucifixion is the most cruel and disgusting punishment ever devised and should be far removed  from the mind, the eyes, and the ears of every Roman.”

~Cicero

How many Jews did the Romans crucify? I don’t think anyone knows the answer to this question. They say that Titus crucified as many as 500 per day during the siege of Jerusalem [70 A.D.] and the siege lasted three months. If my math is right, that would be 45,000 and the Romans had been crucifying Jews for more than a hundred years before Titus. Over the century and a half that the Romans ruled the Jews, I’m going to guess  the numbers are more than a quarter of a million.  So the Romans crucified hundreds of thousands of Jewish men: can you name three of them?

No but you can name One and only One. Is Jesus unique or what! Is this not amazing! They crucify over a quarter of a million Jews and we can remember only ONE. The world says He is just a man. Yeah, right; the world would not recognize the truth if He were looking them in the face. Jesus is the unique Son of God. He not only stood out in history; He will stand out in eternity. Hallelujah, what a SAVIOR!

EXTRA

• JET, Terry and Becky’s grandson got here in a hurry, born before 6:00 am yesterday morning. I got into it with the volunteers at the desk, I ask for Cassie Brenner. They said, “We do have a Cassie Brenner.” I said, “Yes you do, she had a baby this morning.” “I’m sorry sir, but we have no one by that name,” said one of the two. I said, “look under Kassie, she may spell it with a K.” She retorted, “No, we don’t have a Kassie, we have a Klarissa with a K and it is probably her, but I can’t give you the information. You have to know the correct name.” I said, “You have to be kidding, Do you work for the government or the hospital?” She said, “We don’t work for either, we are volunteers.” I said, “Are you democrats.” The one on the left said, “Sure, that explained it all doesn’t it.” She was mad as an old sitting hen but the other one was laughing. Some of you probably don’t get it but Bill Clinton is the bird that got this stupid law passed so that preachers have to have the full name before they can get information. The law has sometime to do with protecting the privacy of patients but I guarantee you it is connected to the gays somehow.  Speaking of Slick Willy, I never thought I would miss him but as sorry as he is, he beats what we have now. I did get the information.
• Joe David just called, we have breakfast for the football team on August 29 at 7:00 am in the parlor. We are taking volunteers. I imagine he wants a high protein meal so we will do eggs, meat, biscuits and gravy. Maybe some hashbrowns or grits if we have enough help.
• Remember visitation for Ben Blankinship’s grandmother is tonight at Pecks, 4:00-6:00.

The 4:00 PM Crowd

The toughest job in the park and the young married love it.

The BEST funnel cake team in the USA

A beautiful smile by Floyd…{Catfish, I’m going to kill you}

He’s hot, he’s hot: it is Sir Lancelot

Two of a kind; either that are the peace sign

Lessons From The Cross

SCRIPTURE

But many were amazed when they saw Him.
    His face was so disfigured He seemed hardly human,
    and from His appearance, one would scarcely know He was a man.

~Isaiah 52:14, NLT

QUOTE

Non-Christians seem to think that the Incarnation implies some particular merit or excellence in humanity. But of course it implies just the reverse: a particular demerit and depravity. No creature that deserved Redemption would need to be redeemed. They that are whole need not the physician. Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it.

~C.S. Lewis

The crucifixion of Christ exposes man’s depravity. The cross brought out the worst in all of us. The disciples were cowards and the religious Jews were blood thirsty savages calling for the innocent blood of the Son of God. Can you imagine, religious people whose two greatest commandments were to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as your self were shouting “kill Him, kill Him.” These same hypocrites who celebrated the brutal treatment and bloody death of Jesus were no better than the Romans whom they despised for their blood thirsty lust for gladiatorial events. The only noble and truly good human being on that ugly hill was Jesus.

But the cross is also the greatest expression of God’s love and this is the good news. No man ever loved like Jesus; no man could because Jesus was not merely a man, He was God in a human body. The highest and most noble prayer ever to fall from the lips of man was: “Father, forgive them, they do no know what they are doing.” If you have any doubts about God’s love for you, watch the Passion of Christ. If you have enough conviction to watch, it will erase all the doubts.

• Well folks it has been a day [10:42 April 11]. Two of my beautiful granddaughters are playing in the Morgan County tournament and I got home from Wilson Morgan about 9:00 and Chloe was waiting on me. By the time I rocked her to sleep and got to my computer it was 10:20. When I get the blog posted, I have to make plans for tomorrow. The good news is that Joe David is preaching Sunday morning so that reduces the pressure.
• I invited a family to the Egg Hunt Sunday evening and I think they are coming. Let’s make this an outreach event. I think it is going to be a 40 pizza night: what do you think?
• We have a baptism Sunday morning at the end of our worship celebration.
• I got word late yesterday evening [April 11] that Alva Wayan was killed in an automobile accident and his wife Quanita is seriously injured. I don’t know if Alva understood, I can’t remember talking to him about it but he helped me at a critical time in my life. One of the eight milestones came when I was with him at an A.L. Williams meeting in Albertville, Alabama. That was in the 80’s and it was the first time I had ever heard the 10-10-80 rule. I knew it was good the moment I heard it explained and I came home and put it to practice. It would not have happened without Alva.
• I also go word that Ruby Woodham, age 93, of Rogersville, Alabama passed away. This is Ramona Roy’s mother. Ramona has one brother David Hanson, and two sisters: Jenette Rawlston and Bonnie Ann Hanson. Visitation is today, April 12, 11:00 A.M. until 12:30. They will be a graveside service at 1:00 P.M. at Pettus Cemetery. Visitation is at Green Hill Funeral Home.
• No pics today: I am give out.