It hasn’t been too long ago [2008] that Focus on the Family surveyed Christian leadership couples with thriving marriages to find out some of the things they habitually do, as a couple, that builds their marriage. If some of the following [in no particular order] habits are missing from your marriage, I encourage you to take the initiative to develop them:
-They schedule a regular time for undistracted [no I-phones, no TV, no I-pads] communication.
-They kiss hello and good-bye.
-They fight fair. They don’t attack each other. Rarely do they raise their voices or start sentences with “You never…” or “You always…”
-Their differences compliment. For instance, the organized and detailed spouse balances the checkbook, while the night owl stays up until the last teenager is home.
-They pray together and look for ways to develop spiritual intimacy.
-They carve out time for regular dates and getaways.
-They encourage each other, concentrating on the positive, not the negative.
-They laugh together.
-They often say, “Please forgive me” and “l love you.”
Now, most reading this will say, “I’ve heard that. I knew that!” But what we know is never the issue is it? It is much more important to say, “I do that!”
James 1:22, “ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Pray with me… Father, thank you for your wisdom that is so easy for us to tap into as we read and meditate on your Word each day. And thank you too for your wisdom that is not necessarily revealed in a book, chapter and verse in your Word, but is available to us if we ask you in faith, nothing doubting. Thank you for the way prayer and intimacy with you make us wise for salvation and models of wisdom for those who are watching us, those close to us we are teaching by example. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
9/24/12
I do love the four Gospels. Speaking personally, they are my strongest spiritual vitality ‘lifeline.’ I am especially blessed by the eyewitness accounts of the synoptic Gospel writers [Matthew, Mark and Luke] about their experiences with Jesus. One of these is the dramatic parallel narrative found in Matthew 8, Mark 4 and Luke 8, as they tell about Jesus calming the storm – I said, “What!?” Yes, that’s right… and the disciples’ response on that occasion is just like ours when we read about it.
A furious squall came up, the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it nearly swamped it. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and cried, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
I am sure that the Holy Spirit prompted the Gospel writers to record this moment for some important reasons. I cannot think of a more reassuring passage for us to internalize for life… so many great lessons:
- Storms happen, even to the disciples.
- Fear is the ‘knee jerk’ reaction to storms.
- If you belong to Jesus, he is in your boat.
- The fact that he is asleep should help you keep your perspective.
- Panic may be predictable, but it is not admirable.
- Jesus has the authority to calm any storm.
- Faith should ‘trump’ fear if you are a disciple.
- There is always going to be peace and calm after the storm.
When Job’s trial ended, God removed his affliction and returned to him twice as much as he had lost [Job 42:10]. Joseph, after years of slavery and imprisonment, reached the highest levels of government, all the riches of the country at his disposal [Genesis 41:39ff]. When Christ’s confrontation with the devil in the desert had ended, angels came to minister to Him [Matthew 4:11]. When the storm is over, He restores and multiplies His blessings to us. As the psalmist observes, “His anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” [Psalm 30:5]
Pray with me… Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit thank you for the many places in scripture we are reminded that the strength of our faith will sustain us in the storms of life. Forgive us for the way we nibble around the edges of faith instead of internalizing its substance and experiencing the kind of strength to be able to enjoy the ride when the storms come, knowing that with Jesus asleep in the boat, the storms are powerless and the calm is just ahead. In Jesus’ strong name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
A furious squall came up, the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it nearly swamped it. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and cried, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
I am sure that the Holy Spirit prompted the Gospel writers to record this moment for some important reasons. I cannot think of a more reassuring passage for us to internalize for life… so many great lessons:
- Storms happen, even to the disciples.
- Fear is the ‘knee jerk’ reaction to storms.
- If you belong to Jesus, he is in your boat.
- The fact that he is asleep should help you keep your perspective.
- Panic may be predictable, but it is not admirable.
- Jesus has the authority to calm any storm.
- Faith should ‘trump’ fear if you are a disciple.
- There is always going to be peace and calm after the storm.
When Job’s trial ended, God removed his affliction and returned to him twice as much as he had lost [Job 42:10]. Joseph, after years of slavery and imprisonment, reached the highest levels of government, all the riches of the country at his disposal [Genesis 41:39ff]. When Christ’s confrontation with the devil in the desert had ended, angels came to minister to Him [Matthew 4:11]. When the storm is over, He restores and multiplies His blessings to us. As the psalmist observes, “His anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” [Psalm 30:5]
Pray with me… Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit thank you for the many places in scripture we are reminded that the strength of our faith will sustain us in the storms of life. Forgive us for the way we nibble around the edges of faith instead of internalizing its substance and experiencing the kind of strength to be able to enjoy the ride when the storms come, knowing that with Jesus asleep in the boat, the storms are powerless and the calm is just ahead. In Jesus’ strong name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
9/18/12
The “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” code was broken recently when someone partying with Prince Harry snapped cell-phone photos of the naked royal in a hotel suite after a game of ‘strip billiards.’ The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority [LVCVA] isn’t taking this violation lightly. “Las Vegas is about adult freedom,” is LVCVA spokeswoman Courtney Fitzgerald’s response. “It’s important for friends to know what activities can be shared publicly and what activities are protected by the code.”
The city tourism arm has launched an ad campaign condemning the person or persons who took the photos of Harry that wound up being video-cast and viewed around the world. The ad urges defenders of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” to sign a pledge to keep Vegas indiscretions in Vegas and to report offenders who share embarrassing Vegas pictures on Facebook. Britain’s Daily Mail reports that Virgin Holidays is seeing increased demand for Sin City air/hotel packages since Harry cavorted around pool tables and cued up in the buff.
But before these faddish/impressionistic types book their reservation, they should think deeply about the reality behind a short-lived hedonistic romp in Las Vegas… Here it is: Psalm 90:8, “You [God] have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give an account.” 2 Corinthians 4:2, “We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God.” Proverbs 15:3, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”
Does it really matter who else does not know where you were or what you did whether in Vegas or anywhere else on earth? The fact is, we must all give an account to the only One who truly knows and the One who truly cares about the character of your life on earth and your destiny in the greater life to come. It was the young Scottish preacher Peter Marshall who offered this counsel: “When asked about whether or not to engage in a questionable activity, ask yourself this question: Of what shall I think of such a thing in my dying hour?”
Pray with me… Father, there is no escaping Your watchful eye. Your Word reminds us that Your eyes are upon us from the beginning of the year even until the end of the year. And that is not threatening to those of us who know Your love and grace in Jesus Christ for we are your children by Your choice and ours. Mature love for You has cast out all our fear. We have no secrets from you Lord. You are not only the silent Observer of our daily activities; you are the Discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We are secure in You. In the name of Jesus our Lord, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
The city tourism arm has launched an ad campaign condemning the person or persons who took the photos of Harry that wound up being video-cast and viewed around the world. The ad urges defenders of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” to sign a pledge to keep Vegas indiscretions in Vegas and to report offenders who share embarrassing Vegas pictures on Facebook. Britain’s Daily Mail reports that Virgin Holidays is seeing increased demand for Sin City air/hotel packages since Harry cavorted around pool tables and cued up in the buff.
But before these faddish/impressionistic types book their reservation, they should think deeply about the reality behind a short-lived hedonistic romp in Las Vegas… Here it is: Psalm 90:8, “You [God] have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give an account.” 2 Corinthians 4:2, “We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God.” Proverbs 15:3, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”
Does it really matter who else does not know where you were or what you did whether in Vegas or anywhere else on earth? The fact is, we must all give an account to the only One who truly knows and the One who truly cares about the character of your life on earth and your destiny in the greater life to come. It was the young Scottish preacher Peter Marshall who offered this counsel: “When asked about whether or not to engage in a questionable activity, ask yourself this question: Of what shall I think of such a thing in my dying hour?”
Pray with me… Father, there is no escaping Your watchful eye. Your Word reminds us that Your eyes are upon us from the beginning of the year even until the end of the year. And that is not threatening to those of us who know Your love and grace in Jesus Christ for we are your children by Your choice and ours. Mature love for You has cast out all our fear. We have no secrets from you Lord. You are not only the silent Observer of our daily activities; you are the Discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We are secure in You. In the name of Jesus our Lord, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
Monday, September 10, 2012
9/10/12
Nineteen-year-old Liu Shih-Kun was an esteemed concert pianist in China until the Cultural Revolution banned all things related to Western influence. Refusing to renounce his beloved music, Liu was deemed an enemy of the people, beaten and imprisoned. There he languished in a tiny cell with no books, no paper, and even worse for Liu – no piano. Six years later, for propaganda reasons, he was asked to play in Beijing with the Philadelphia Orchestra. After years without an instrument to practice on, he performed brilliantly. And eighteen months later when he was finally released, he again played flawlessly. His secret? Stripped of everything musical, for seven and a half years Liu disciplined himself to shut out negative thoughts and practice hour after hour on an imaginary piano.
We don’t realize the extent to which our disciplined thinking contributes to our performance in life. If we are able to be thoughtful moment by moment day after day, it will elevate our quality of life. Our thoughts have power to direct our lives and determine our destiny. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.”
Pray with me… Father, we want to exercise discipline… self-discipline… In the single most important area for us to use it… our thought life. Jesus told us that ‘as a man/woman thinks in his/her heart, so is he/she.’ Nothing defines us more than our thought life. We pray we would seek to honor you there, in that vitally important space between our ears. Lord, deliver us from ‘stinkin-thinkin’ and move us, by the Holy Spirit, to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. In His strong name we pray, amen.
Blessing,
Pastor Ken
We don’t realize the extent to which our disciplined thinking contributes to our performance in life. If we are able to be thoughtful moment by moment day after day, it will elevate our quality of life. Our thoughts have power to direct our lives and determine our destiny. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.”
Pray with me… Father, we want to exercise discipline… self-discipline… In the single most important area for us to use it… our thought life. Jesus told us that ‘as a man/woman thinks in his/her heart, so is he/she.’ Nothing defines us more than our thought life. We pray we would seek to honor you there, in that vitally important space between our ears. Lord, deliver us from ‘stinkin-thinkin’ and move us, by the Holy Spirit, to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. In His strong name we pray, amen.
Blessing,
Pastor Ken
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
9/4/12
The most famous story about lying in American history is the one about George Washington chopping down a cherry tree. When his father asked him who did it, George supposedly replied, “I cannot tell a lie; I did it with my little hatchet.” That story was in a biography written by a man named Weems in the nineteenth century. But listen… he later admitted to making the whole story up! Can you believe it? The most famous illustration in America about not lying was itself a lie! And truthfulness is still in short supply. Politicians spin promises and facts during an election year, telemarketers scam the elderly to make more in commissions, job seekers pad their resumes to gain an advantage in the competitive marketplace, repair shops shamelessly inflate their bills, college students steal essays from the internet to pass classes and spouses lie to each other about money and infidelity.
And did you know that the IRS maintains what is informally called a ‘cheater’s account,’ to which people with guilty consciences can send money they know they owe? There is a story about one letter the IRS received that read, “My conscience is bothering me because of cheating on my taxes, so I’m sending $10,000. If my conscience doesn’t clear up, I’ll send in the rest of what I owe.” Now some think that since most everybody seems to lie and cheat, it’s no big deal. Wrong! God’s Word says: in Proverbs 12:22, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men/women who are truthful.”
Pray with me… Help us to be ‘in the moment’… living the truth, every day so it can be said of us as Jesus said of Nathanael… ‘Behold an Israelite in whom there is no deceit/no false thing.’ Lord, in this world of lies, distortions, half-truths and propaganda, we want to walk in the truth, because we know that you have no greater joy than to know that your children walk in the truth. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
And did you know that the IRS maintains what is informally called a ‘cheater’s account,’ to which people with guilty consciences can send money they know they owe? There is a story about one letter the IRS received that read, “My conscience is bothering me because of cheating on my taxes, so I’m sending $10,000. If my conscience doesn’t clear up, I’ll send in the rest of what I owe.” Now some think that since most everybody seems to lie and cheat, it’s no big deal. Wrong! God’s Word says: in Proverbs 12:22, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men/women who are truthful.”
Pray with me… Help us to be ‘in the moment’… living the truth, every day so it can be said of us as Jesus said of Nathanael… ‘Behold an Israelite in whom there is no deceit/no false thing.’ Lord, in this world of lies, distortions, half-truths and propaganda, we want to walk in the truth, because we know that you have no greater joy than to know that your children walk in the truth. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
8/28/12
At Crossroads, for the next seven weekends, we will be developing a theme from the Word of God that seems totally out of sync with where things are in our world today. The theme is ‘The Good Life Now.’ Come on…. is this even remotely possible? With the war against terrorism raging in both Iraq and Afghanistan? Or, the national debt close to the breaking point at over $16 trillion dollars? Or, unemployment stuck at over 8%? Or, a morally divided nation on the issues of abortion and same sex marriage? Or, a politically divided nation during an election year? Or, you fill in the blank….
I submit to you that experiencing the good life now has more to do with the inner life of the believer than the outer circumstances of life in the world in our generation, or any generation for that matter. The epistle of James [the half-brother of Jesus…. same mother, different fathers] has a powerful message that can open up a whole new approach to processing whatever daily life deals us. I will explain and apply scripture in the following ways in this series:
The Good Life Now: Blessed in Our Trials
The Good Life Now: Victorious in Our Temptations
The Good Life Now: Controlling Our Tongue
The Good Life Now: Controlling Our Temper
The Good Life Now: Living With Patience
The Good Life Now: Living With Wisdom
The Good Life Now: Faithful in Prayer
Pray with me…. Father, we need to first understand and then be empowered to life a life without limits…. the good life you desire for us to live abundantly now and eternally with You one day. Lead us to hear and know and obey your Truth so we may live life to the full.
In the Name of the Good Life-Giver…. Jesus, we pray, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
I submit to you that experiencing the good life now has more to do with the inner life of the believer than the outer circumstances of life in the world in our generation, or any generation for that matter. The epistle of James [the half-brother of Jesus…. same mother, different fathers] has a powerful message that can open up a whole new approach to processing whatever daily life deals us. I will explain and apply scripture in the following ways in this series:
The Good Life Now: Blessed in Our Trials
The Good Life Now: Victorious in Our Temptations
The Good Life Now: Controlling Our Tongue
The Good Life Now: Controlling Our Temper
The Good Life Now: Living With Patience
The Good Life Now: Living With Wisdom
The Good Life Now: Faithful in Prayer
Pray with me…. Father, we need to first understand and then be empowered to life a life without limits…. the good life you desire for us to live abundantly now and eternally with You one day. Lead us to hear and know and obey your Truth so we may live life to the full.
In the Name of the Good Life-Giver…. Jesus, we pray, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
Monday, August 20, 2012
8/20/12
Related to our sermon on the family, I want to recommend a book titled, Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna. The book explores ways that parents can raise ‘spiritual champions.’ Here are the bullet points that reveal the content:
-Revolutionary parents know you can’t pass on what you don’t possess. Kids become Christ-followers largely because they see it being lived out consistently by mom and dad.
-Revolutionary parents know godly parenting is their primary full time job eclipsing all other responsibilities.
-Revolutionary parents have a constantly developing and maturing faith.
-Revolutionary parents focus on instilling godly character as a priority.
-Revolutionary parents know that they are not called to be their child’s best friend, only his/her best parent.
-Revolutionary parents know the distinction between quantity time and quality time is a myth. There is just time. Spend all you can on your kids.
-Revolutionary parents trust the Bible as their family guidebook and sourcebook.
-Revolutionary parents engage in Biblical living, not just Bible knowledge.
-Revolutionary parents know their children were created in God’s image, not theirs, and they want to raise them to be imitators of God as loved children.
Pray with me… Our loving Heavenly Father, we cannot fully take it in… The fact that we can create living, eternal souls…our own offspring…our own children. Thank you for the gift of life that we enjoy as we seek to raise our children to know you, love you and serve you above all else. We pray for these priorities to be evident in us and we pray that we will be successful, above all else, to plant and nurture these priorities in our kids, who are really Yours, on loan to us. In Christ, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
-Revolutionary parents know you can’t pass on what you don’t possess. Kids become Christ-followers largely because they see it being lived out consistently by mom and dad.
-Revolutionary parents know godly parenting is their primary full time job eclipsing all other responsibilities.
-Revolutionary parents have a constantly developing and maturing faith.
-Revolutionary parents focus on instilling godly character as a priority.
-Revolutionary parents know that they are not called to be their child’s best friend, only his/her best parent.
-Revolutionary parents know the distinction between quantity time and quality time is a myth. There is just time. Spend all you can on your kids.
-Revolutionary parents trust the Bible as their family guidebook and sourcebook.
-Revolutionary parents engage in Biblical living, not just Bible knowledge.
-Revolutionary parents know their children were created in God’s image, not theirs, and they want to raise them to be imitators of God as loved children.
Pray with me… Our loving Heavenly Father, we cannot fully take it in… The fact that we can create living, eternal souls…our own offspring…our own children. Thank you for the gift of life that we enjoy as we seek to raise our children to know you, love you and serve you above all else. We pray for these priorities to be evident in us and we pray that we will be successful, above all else, to plant and nurture these priorities in our kids, who are really Yours, on loan to us. In Christ, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)