From the Nuggets File:
It is according to the nature of God to pity the miserable and forgive the guilty, "for he is good, and his mercy endureth forever."
Charles Spurgeon, Christ in the Old Testament, pg. 4.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Russians Are Coming!
Upon moving to St. Petersburg, Florida, I began to sense God wanted us involved in reaching St. Petersburg, Russia. Our St. Pete was founded and named by a native of the Russian St. Pete; our city has a sister city relationship with them; and we have Russian immigrants, businesses and restaurants in our area. I've met several who have the same sense from God - something is brewing! Indeed, over the last two years amazing things have been happening, related to this idea.
So, on September 17 we are hosting Global Cities: St. Petersburg. The morning session will be a time of learning about ministry in St. Petersburg, Russia; meeting our missionaries on the ground; and skyping with others involved in ministry there. With each we will pause to encourage and pray.
In the afternoon, SPIFFS (St. Petersburg International Folk Festival Society) will host an educational time discussing the history of our city and the relationship between the two St. Petersburgs. This will be open to the public - hosted at North East Park Baptist Church.
And in the evening we are hosting the first annual Russia Festival at a local park. A Russian choir will sing, a well-known music group will perform as will a Russian dance troupe, and there will be other cultural expressions. This will be an evening for Russians in Florida to have a piece of home, and for our citizens to experience a taste of Russian culture.
Our desire is for this day to become an annual event. The pastors of Russian churches in Florida are lonely. They need encouragement and fellowship opportunities with each other. This day can be their annual mini-convention/time of revival.
Please pray for this event coming in September. Pray for the Russian pastors and Christians in Florida. Pray for the ministry being done to reach Russians in St. Petersburg, Russia.
And if you would like to be involved in an amazing work of God...email me.
The Russians are coming! Praise God...they are coming!
So, on September 17 we are hosting Global Cities: St. Petersburg. The morning session will be a time of learning about ministry in St. Petersburg, Russia; meeting our missionaries on the ground; and skyping with others involved in ministry there. With each we will pause to encourage and pray.
In the afternoon, SPIFFS (St. Petersburg International Folk Festival Society) will host an educational time discussing the history of our city and the relationship between the two St. Petersburgs. This will be open to the public - hosted at North East Park Baptist Church.
And in the evening we are hosting the first annual Russia Festival at a local park. A Russian choir will sing, a well-known music group will perform as will a Russian dance troupe, and there will be other cultural expressions. This will be an evening for Russians in Florida to have a piece of home, and for our citizens to experience a taste of Russian culture.
Our desire is for this day to become an annual event. The pastors of Russian churches in Florida are lonely. They need encouragement and fellowship opportunities with each other. This day can be their annual mini-convention/time of revival.
Please pray for this event coming in September. Pray for the Russian pastors and Christians in Florida. Pray for the ministry being done to reach Russians in St. Petersburg, Russia.
And if you would like to be involved in an amazing work of God...email me.
The Russians are coming! Praise God...they are coming!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
A Patriotic Message
Today was July 3rd...the 4th is tomorrow, a day of national celebration. In church today we sang patriotic hymns, wished everyone a happy 4th, even had the flag prominently displayed. The message was from 1 John 5:6-11.
We didn't discuss patriotism, or being a good citizen. We didn't talk about bravery, courage, freedom or praying for our leaders (all important topics, just not ours for the day). We did talk about...
...the most important thing for helping America...
...Christians believing in the One who paid our debt, proved life beyond death was real, and who offers us this eternal life in Heaven freely - if we will only believe.
It's important to remember that this new life is not ours because we KNOW facts ABOUT Jesus; but when we KNOW JESUS! A personal, intimate relationship is required. Afterall, as the Bible says, the demons believe in God - that is, they know God and lots of facts about Him - and they tremble. But they do not have a personal, saving relationship with Him.
John made it clear that if we believe, then we can KNOW we are safe and secure; that Heaven is our destination. This assurance; this "I know that I know" certainty, is the most important thing for each Christian to settle in their own life. For once we know, we no longer have any doubts. And without doubts nagging at us, we are much more confident and assured...which leads to more faithful and obedient Christians.
And what America needs most, is more Christians, who from a position of victory and strength in Christ, are living faithfully and obediently each day! This is the answer - the only answer - for helping America, and our world!
We didn't discuss patriotism, or being a good citizen. We didn't talk about bravery, courage, freedom or praying for our leaders (all important topics, just not ours for the day). We did talk about...
...the most important thing for helping America...
...Christians believing in the One who paid our debt, proved life beyond death was real, and who offers us this eternal life in Heaven freely - if we will only believe.
It's important to remember that this new life is not ours because we KNOW facts ABOUT Jesus; but when we KNOW JESUS! A personal, intimate relationship is required. Afterall, as the Bible says, the demons believe in God - that is, they know God and lots of facts about Him - and they tremble. But they do not have a personal, saving relationship with Him.
John made it clear that if we believe, then we can KNOW we are safe and secure; that Heaven is our destination. This assurance; this "I know that I know" certainty, is the most important thing for each Christian to settle in their own life. For once we know, we no longer have any doubts. And without doubts nagging at us, we are much more confident and assured...which leads to more faithful and obedient Christians.
And what America needs most, is more Christians, who from a position of victory and strength in Christ, are living faithfully and obediently each day! This is the answer - the only answer - for helping America, and our world!
Friday, July 1, 2011
What are we doing?
"...you have to know what the organization was set up to do..."1
What are we doing as the Church in the world today? Are we meeting the objectives or accomplishing the vision? Doesn't seem like it.
Our society is growing more non-Christian each day. Over 70% (maybe way over) of our churches are declining or dead. Even among the largest evangelical groups, the number of new converts - new Christians - is down from past years. Meeting the objectives? Accomplishing the vision? I don't think so!
Why aren't we? Probably because we have lost touch with "what the organization was set up to do." We have grown too busy doing too many good things; but have forgotten what God intended for the church to accomplish. Look at the weekly bulletin at most churches. Lots of activity (almost all of it for the already saved!). Follow a typical pastor around for a few days. Meetings, counseling sessions, visits, phone calls - lots of these coming in the middle of the night - plus all the normal activities at the church building. All this leaves precious little time for sermon/lesson preparation. And he hasn't even had time to pray yet! The lives of many church goers are just as busy.
Maybe it's time for a simple reminder: We only have one command and one commission.
We are to love - love God, our neighbors and ourselves. Seeing our love for God and each other, and by experiencing our love for them, non-Christians are impacted profoundly. To paraphrase: seeing how much we do care, they begin to care about the God we know!
We show our love best when taking the Gospel into the world and sharing with others what Jesus has done for us. In fulfilling the Great Commission, we make disciples...the Kingdom expands!
What are we doing? Answer: too much activity; too little results! Spend some time reflecting on the passages of Scripture about the early church. Focus. Let God's original purpose for this organization become the one driving force when planning, and especially when putting things on the calendar.
Let's try to do what we were designed to do...what God wants us, as His Church, to do.
1 Allen, Roger E. Winnie-the-Pooh on Management: In which a Very Important Bear and his friends are introduced to a Very Important Subject Penguin Group: New York, 1994; pg. 45. (A silly, humorous, yet profound presentation of the basics of effective organizational management. - Pastor Sam)
What are we doing as the Church in the world today? Are we meeting the objectives or accomplishing the vision? Doesn't seem like it.
Our society is growing more non-Christian each day. Over 70% (maybe way over) of our churches are declining or dead. Even among the largest evangelical groups, the number of new converts - new Christians - is down from past years. Meeting the objectives? Accomplishing the vision? I don't think so!
Why aren't we? Probably because we have lost touch with "what the organization was set up to do." We have grown too busy doing too many good things; but have forgotten what God intended for the church to accomplish. Look at the weekly bulletin at most churches. Lots of activity (almost all of it for the already saved!). Follow a typical pastor around for a few days. Meetings, counseling sessions, visits, phone calls - lots of these coming in the middle of the night - plus all the normal activities at the church building. All this leaves precious little time for sermon/lesson preparation. And he hasn't even had time to pray yet! The lives of many church goers are just as busy.
Maybe it's time for a simple reminder: We only have one command and one commission.
We are to love - love God, our neighbors and ourselves. Seeing our love for God and each other, and by experiencing our love for them, non-Christians are impacted profoundly. To paraphrase: seeing how much we do care, they begin to care about the God we know!
We show our love best when taking the Gospel into the world and sharing with others what Jesus has done for us. In fulfilling the Great Commission, we make disciples...the Kingdom expands!
What are we doing? Answer: too much activity; too little results! Spend some time reflecting on the passages of Scripture about the early church. Focus. Let God's original purpose for this organization become the one driving force when planning, and especially when putting things on the calendar.
Let's try to do what we were designed to do...what God wants us, as His Church, to do.
1 Allen, Roger E. Winnie-the-Pooh on Management: In which a Very Important Bear and his friends are introduced to a Very Important Subject Penguin Group: New York, 1994; pg. 45. (A silly, humorous, yet profound presentation of the basics of effective organizational management. - Pastor Sam)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Are 52 Hours Enough?
Most people who claim to be Christians are malnourished.
At least they are spiritually. How can they be anything else? By far, most "Christians" (at least in America) only spend an hour each week with God. For most, if they have any interaction with God at all, it is the one hour of worship each Sunday morning. No small group experience. No daily walking, talking and living with God through Bible study and prayer. This one hour per week diet leads to spiritually malnourished church goers. (I'm not calling them Christians anymore, because true disciples spend time - lots of time - with the Master!)
Just think about it for a moment.
If you only experience/interact with God one hour each Sunday, and if you never miss a Sunday; then you get a grand total of 52 hours per YEAR with the Father! (1 hour/week for 52 weeks = 52 hours/year)
One long work week is usually 60 hours or more.
If you spend 30 minutes eating lunch and 30 minutes eating dinner each day, that equals 7 hours/week just for eating; or 364 hours/year...7 times the amount of time spent with God!
Now, I like to eat. But, can you really call yourself a Christian and spend more time - 7 times more time - feeding your face than you do feeding your spirit?
Here's the point (if you haven't gotten it already): one hour a week with God is not enough...not even close.
No wonder so many church goers are bored. No surprise such persons find their "walk" with God uninspiring, ineffective and lacking in meaning, fulfillment or purpose. Without realizing it, they are starving themselves spiritually.
We know this to be true; but what can we do about it? Follow the example of others. As a start, commit to spending a little amount of time each day with God. Read a short passage of Scripture; voice a short prayer. Rise a few minutes early, or stay up a few minutes late - with the TV off! If spending time with God is important to you, you will find the time to make it happen. You find time to eat, don't you?
At least they are spiritually. How can they be anything else? By far, most "Christians" (at least in America) only spend an hour each week with God. For most, if they have any interaction with God at all, it is the one hour of worship each Sunday morning. No small group experience. No daily walking, talking and living with God through Bible study and prayer. This one hour per week diet leads to spiritually malnourished church goers. (I'm not calling them Christians anymore, because true disciples spend time - lots of time - with the Master!)
Just think about it for a moment.
If you only experience/interact with God one hour each Sunday, and if you never miss a Sunday; then you get a grand total of 52 hours per YEAR with the Father! (1 hour/week for 52 weeks = 52 hours/year)
One long work week is usually 60 hours or more.
If you spend 30 minutes eating lunch and 30 minutes eating dinner each day, that equals 7 hours/week just for eating; or 364 hours/year...7 times the amount of time spent with God!
Now, I like to eat. But, can you really call yourself a Christian and spend more time - 7 times more time - feeding your face than you do feeding your spirit?
Here's the point (if you haven't gotten it already): one hour a week with God is not enough...not even close.
No wonder so many church goers are bored. No surprise such persons find their "walk" with God uninspiring, ineffective and lacking in meaning, fulfillment or purpose. Without realizing it, they are starving themselves spiritually.
We know this to be true; but what can we do about it? Follow the example of others. As a start, commit to spending a little amount of time each day with God. Read a short passage of Scripture; voice a short prayer. Rise a few minutes early, or stay up a few minutes late - with the TV off! If spending time with God is important to you, you will find the time to make it happen. You find time to eat, don't you?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Backwards Believers
We've got it backwards. And it's killing the church!
Most people - probably almost all of us - view Sunday as part of the weekend. Therefore, we view the Sunday worship gathering as the end of our week. It is something we come to after a long week. We come to hear the music and message; to fellowship; to check another item off our list...for whatever reason. Then we go to lunch, go home, watch tv and wait for Monday morning for our week to start.
Sunday's worship becomes one hour at the end of our week; detached from the week before (after all, there is Friday night and all day Saturday between our busy week and Sunday morning), and not connected to the week ahead (because it starts the next morning). Sunday just sort of stands alone.
As believers, we come to hear the great preacher! A better preacher, and more of us will show up. Same is true about the music - the better the production, the larger the crowd. As for the lost, we feel they should come Sunday to hear the great preacher and amazing music, too. It is at the Sunday gathering that the Gospel is proclaimed, the lost hear and are saved, and the saved enjoy the fellowship.
Right? WRONG!
Let me say again: We've got it backwards. And it's killing the church!
The Sunday morning gathering should be viewed by believers as the beginning of our week. My week does not begin with the work day on Monday; it begins with the worship on Sunday.
Gathering on Sunday is R&R for believers... a time of Refreshing and Re-energizing. This time with God and each other prepares us for the week ahead. We encourage each other, strengthen each other and sharpen each other (see Hebrews 10). Now we are ready to enter the world and share the Gospel, serve the Lord and make a difference for the Kingdom!
The lost should come to Sunday and not just hear the Gospel, but see the love we have for one another (and thereby know we are Christians). They should sense the presence and power of God. They should see the Refreshing and Re-energizing we receive, recognize that is missing from their lives, and desire to have what we have.
Ask yourself this question: Should I only bring people to church on Sunday to hear the preacher and respond to the Gospel? (Backwards approach)
Or: Should I come to worship to be Refreshed and Re-energized so that I can go out and share the Gospel; thereby impacting lives and building the Kingdom daily? (Correct approach)
Church is not the end of your week. It is the very first part of the new week. Let's get this in order, and make a real difference in our world.
Most people - probably almost all of us - view Sunday as part of the weekend. Therefore, we view the Sunday worship gathering as the end of our week. It is something we come to after a long week. We come to hear the music and message; to fellowship; to check another item off our list...for whatever reason. Then we go to lunch, go home, watch tv and wait for Monday morning for our week to start.
Sunday's worship becomes one hour at the end of our week; detached from the week before (after all, there is Friday night and all day Saturday between our busy week and Sunday morning), and not connected to the week ahead (because it starts the next morning). Sunday just sort of stands alone.
As believers, we come to hear the great preacher! A better preacher, and more of us will show up. Same is true about the music - the better the production, the larger the crowd. As for the lost, we feel they should come Sunday to hear the great preacher and amazing music, too. It is at the Sunday gathering that the Gospel is proclaimed, the lost hear and are saved, and the saved enjoy the fellowship.
Right? WRONG!
Let me say again: We've got it backwards. And it's killing the church!
The Sunday morning gathering should be viewed by believers as the beginning of our week. My week does not begin with the work day on Monday; it begins with the worship on Sunday.
Gathering on Sunday is R&R for believers... a time of Refreshing and Re-energizing. This time with God and each other prepares us for the week ahead. We encourage each other, strengthen each other and sharpen each other (see Hebrews 10). Now we are ready to enter the world and share the Gospel, serve the Lord and make a difference for the Kingdom!
The lost should come to Sunday and not just hear the Gospel, but see the love we have for one another (and thereby know we are Christians). They should sense the presence and power of God. They should see the Refreshing and Re-energizing we receive, recognize that is missing from their lives, and desire to have what we have.
Ask yourself this question: Should I only bring people to church on Sunday to hear the preacher and respond to the Gospel? (Backwards approach)
Or: Should I come to worship to be Refreshed and Re-energized so that I can go out and share the Gospel; thereby impacting lives and building the Kingdom daily? (Correct approach)
Church is not the end of your week. It is the very first part of the new week. Let's get this in order, and make a real difference in our world.
Cure for Discouragement
One day recently I woke up very discouraged. (I'm sure it was a Monday; the day of the week most ministers quit and leave the ministry forever.) I got up anyway, and as is my usual practice, did my morning Bible reading. Near the end, I turned over to the passage for the next Sunday morning's message. As I read through it, very clearly God opened the passage to me and the main idea, outline, key points emerged...the sermon just happened right before my eyes. But more than revealing a sermon for others to hear, the words of Scripture impacted me. And that experience in God's Word filled me with joy!
Same problems were still there. Same issues to deal with at the office. Same circumstances of life. But God had spoken...touched me...challenged me...enlightened me...and I would have the opportunity the next Sunday to share His Truth with the flock I am privileged to shepherd.
This was not an isolated event. I have found that anytime I feel discouraged, or am absolutely in dispair, God's Word meets my need, informs my mind, encourages my spirit, and fills my heart with joy. So I make it a daily practice to read a portion of Scripture. Sometimes a lot; sometimes just a little. Quantity doesn't matter - consistency does. By regularly being in the Bible you allow the Bible to be in you, doing its wonderful work.
Pick up the Book. Open it...read a few verses. And be blessed!
Same problems were still there. Same issues to deal with at the office. Same circumstances of life. But God had spoken...touched me...challenged me...enlightened me...and I would have the opportunity the next Sunday to share His Truth with the flock I am privileged to shepherd.
This was not an isolated event. I have found that anytime I feel discouraged, or am absolutely in dispair, God's Word meets my need, informs my mind, encourages my spirit, and fills my heart with joy. So I make it a daily practice to read a portion of Scripture. Sometimes a lot; sometimes just a little. Quantity doesn't matter - consistency does. By regularly being in the Bible you allow the Bible to be in you, doing its wonderful work.
Pick up the Book. Open it...read a few verses. And be blessed!
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