Monday, September 29, 2014

9/29/14

This morning I want to depart from the usual devotional format for my Speaking the Truth in Love piece.  At Crossroads Christian Church we are in a significant season of what we are calling…ReVision. This month we have been challenged by a series of weekend messages dedicated to renewing our identity as disciples and recasting our vision as a disciple-making church. Our new mission statement as a church is that we are Disciples Making Disciples.  And to answer the critical question rising up out of this mission statement…What is a disciple? A disciple is anyone who is personally committed tofollowing Jesusbeing changed by Jesus and being on mission with Jesus. Our next step in this vital journey is to engage every member and attendee of our church to attend one of ten identical Vision Nights planned at the Sweetwater Conference Centeron October 8, 21-23, 28-30 and November 4-6 at 6:30 PM. 
 
The evening will begin with an informal reception time with desserts/beverages furnished…and an extended opportunity for celebrating our special fellowship in the bond of Christ.  Then there will be a time of sharing our stories and presenting the direction God is leading our church in response to the prayers of our elders/pastoral leadership.  We are especially suggesting that our small groups, or the people who serve together, might attend on the same night.  Of course, all who consider Crossroads their church family are more than welcome…you are wanted!  Register online at cccgo.com/all-in or at the Connection Center in the atrium next weekend or call 812-518-1404.
 
Pray with me…Father God, thank you for Your church…our church. Thank you for calling us to Yourself in Jesus and for welding us into a such a wonderful family of Christian brothers and sisters. Amen.  

Blessings,
Pastor Ken

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

9/22/14

In 1985 Whitey Herzog was manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.  One of his players, Darrell Porter, was the team’s starting catcher and a devout Christian.  The day before an interview with Whitey in the clubhouse at Busch Stadium, Porter had struck out three times with runners on base.  The thing that infuriated Whitey was that Darrell never took his bat off his shoulder.  He watched a total of nine fastballs go by – all belt high and right down the middle – and never swung the bat.  After the game, Whitey called Darrell into his office.  “Darrell, what’s the problem?  You are killing us out there!”  To which Darrell said, “I don’t know Whitey.  I guess when the Lord wants me to hit, I’ll hit.”  To which Whitey replied, “Darrell, the Lord can’t help you if you don’t swing the bat!” 
 
Though no one will ever accuse Whitey Herzog of being a great Bible scholar… that was a pretty good piece of theology.  The Bible teaches that the Lord blesses the efforts of His people.  But, in fact, he cannot bless the inaction or inactivity of His people.  We cannot hit the ball out of the park for God’s eternal purpose if we don’t swing the bat of diligent effort.  Titus 2:14, “[Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Our eagerness to do what is good in our community and in the world will be evident. It will show up in the unselfish giving of our time, our talents and our treasure to make disciples. It will be measurable in the extent of our involvement in the life of the church, the bride of Christ and the body of Christ. 
 
To the church in Sardis, the Risen Lord spoke these words in Revelation 3:2, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”

Pray with me…Father God, we want to measure the ‘measureables’ in our life of faith.  Bring conviction to our hearts and consciences about that which we need to do as good and faithful servants for your Name and Your Kingdom.  Through Jesus we pray, amen. 

Blessings,
Pastor Ken

Monday, September 15, 2014

9/15/14

It has been several months ago now that The Today Show told the story of a multimillionaire from New Mexico named Forrest Fenn.  Mr. Fenn had this idea of getting America to turn off their televisions, turn off their video games and go on an adventure.  So he took some of his assets – gold, diamonds, emeralds…probably over a million dollars in valuables – and he put them in a treasure chest, sending America on a treasure hunt.  He provided a poem with nine very obscure clues.  The poem was difficult to decipher.  But thousands of people went off looking for this hidden treasure, using only a poem with nine clues.  He wrote an autobiography called The Thrill of the Chase, and he talks in the book about how the most valuable things, the most beautiful things, are not easily found.  They’re out there; but they are hidden.  You’ve got to search for them.  You have to make an effort to discover them.  There is spiritual insight in this premise. 
 
In Matthew 13:44, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” I have been a personal eyewitness to both the diligent search and the joy of discovery in the lives of people who were on a quest for the abundant life and the promise of eternal life.  And here’s the good news/the great news: Deuteronomy 4:29, “But if…you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
 
Pray with me…Father God, I pray to you with thanksgiving today because You are the supreme treasure and because of the promise that all we need to do to possess this treasure is sincerely seek You and submit to You.  In the name of Jesus, amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

9/8/14

USA Today reported this morning about the Joan Rivers funeral that it was ‘quintessential New York.’  The service included a eulogy by Howard [Shock Jock] Stern and the music of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus.  One attendee said, “It felt like a Broadway show with tons of humor, lots of tears, and ended with a standing ovation.”  In Rivers’ 2012 book, I Hate Everyone…Starting With Me, she wrote that she wanted a ‘red carpet and sobbing Meryl Streep’ at her funeral.  Once again, as with the recent death of comedian Robin Williams [by his own hand], there has been an avalanche of tweeted tributes and hundreds of bouquets of flowers placed by her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   But, let’s be honest…isn’t all this celebration pretentious?  Isn’t it just an elaborate denial of reality to make people feel better about death? 
 
Being born into a Jewish family, Joan Rivers chose to fall in line with her biological father’s religious heritage.  Throughout her life of 81 years, she joked a lot about her religion.  Many faiths have definitive teachings about the afterlife.  But, in answer to the question “What happens after we die?” the Torah, Judaism’s most important religious text, is surprisingly silent.  Nowhere does it discuss the afterlife in any detail.  In the Jewish faith there is just no definitive explanation for what happens after we die.  As a result, Joan Rivers lived and died without hope…because there is no hope in the Jewish faith except maybe looking forward to the [first] coming of Messiah.  Jews rejected and crucified Jesus, despising him because he claimed to be the Son of God.  Jews today reject Jesus as the Messiah.  Sadly, as a result, Joan Rivers never professed faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. 
 
The apostle John said of Jesus, “Whoever has the Son of God has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  This statement is impossible to misunderstand.  It is considered by anyone and everyone to be either true or false…either believed or disbelieved.  And the only way to life everlasting is to confess with your lips and back it up with obedience…“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  And I trust Him as my only Savior and Lord.
 
Pray with me…Father, we pray for the millions who are not in a saved relationship with You through Jesus Christ Your Son.  We pray for those who are in love with this present world and so are alienated from You.  As Your disciples, may we find them, one by one and make disciples of them one by one.  We Your children say with the Psalmist in 116:15,“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.”  In the Name of Jesus, amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

9/2/14

Aaron was an eleven-year-old boy whose behavior was described by Dr. William Glasser, his psychiatrist, as ‘horrible.’  In his book, Reality Therapy, Glasser says Aaron was the most obnoxious child he had ever met.  The boy would kick, scream, run away and hide, become withdrawn, disrupt his classes and generally make everyone miserable.   Dr. Glasser saw something obvious that no one else had observed.  No one had ever told him that he was doing wrong!  No one had ever set limits on what he could and could not do.  The psychiatrist decided to try a completely new tack.  The boy would have to behave, to act reasonable, or be punished.  He became courteous, well behaved and his grades went up.  For the first time, Aaron began to play constructively with other children.  Dr. Glasser calls this ‘reality therapy’ and says one of an individual’s greatest needs is to be made to realize that he is personally responsible for what he does… and that right behavior is more personally gratifying and beneficial than wrong behavior.
 
There are several examples in Scripture of people who needed reality therapy.  These people needed someone to come along and kick their ‘rear end,’ but there was no one.
 
Samson – Where was his dad or a friend who would stand up and tell him he was out of line and out of control… some one who would confront him about his disregard for his Nazarite vow and the immoral lifestyle he lived?
Absalom – Where was the person who would impress on him the consequences of his rebellious spirit and talk straight to him about his disrespect for his father?
Jonah – Where was the man or woman who could help him realign his compassion and ‘get in his face’ about running from God?
Woman at the well – Where was the woman-friend who would say, ‘Honey, you need to learn about self-control and self-respect!’?… You need relationship counseling!
 
Pray with me… Father God, I pray today for a spirit of humility when confronted by others when I need it and I pray for the courage to confront in love those who are on a self-destructive path.  And thank you for the promise in Your Word that, ‘whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his ways will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.’  In Jesus’ name… amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken