Seven Things!

Proverbs 6: 16 - 19           ESV

¹⁶ There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue,  and hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans, ¹⁹ a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Yesterday I dreaded what I had to do right after the lunch hour.

I had my annual physical, and I heard music to my ears when I arrived… “We no longer perform rectal exams.”

I wonder if that’s how some people feel about going to church?

I’m in the middle of a book entitled: “Why Men Hate Going to church”, written by David Murrow.

According to statistics, 60% of female evangelicals go to church each week, as compared to 35% of male evangelicals.

Men say church is boring…it’s full of hypocrites, and it’s irrelevant.

The book suggests that Christianity is the only world religion with a  chronic shortage of men.

Maybe the reason men don’t like going to church, is that perhaps there are sowers of discord in that church?

Maybe the devil is using people to be sowers of strife?

The consequences those people face one day will be severe unless they confess and repent.

Here’s a simple guide to follow, if church isn’t fun anymore:

·         If you can’t say anything good about your church, then keep your mouth shut!

·         If you think church leadership doesn’t know what they’re doing…then go talk to them privately.

·         And lastly, pray each day that God would give your church leaders Godly wisdom.

And the best news of all…churches should never require us to get into uncomfortable positions!!

Don't get entangled

2 Corinthians 6: 17 (ESV)

17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

This verse quoted by Paul, was actually from Isaiah 52: 11

It was a challenge to God’s people, not to get entangled in the pagan culture.

Most of the people I counsel these days, are folks who got too close to something they shouldn’t have.

This command says to touch, “NO”, unclean thing. “Maybe if I just touch an unclean thing once in a while”?

Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.

Why is it that most people are provoked to touch things they shouldn’t?

The list is almost endless of the things we shouldn’t touch.

Would people see you as separating yourself from the entanglement of the world?

When an off colored joke is told, do you walk away, or do you stay for the punch line?

When a porn pop-up scrolls across your computer screen, do you separate yourself from it?

I think it’s amazing that God says we can get as close to Him as we want to.

(James 4: 8)

If we touch no unclean thing, God will receive us, and draw near to us.

If we keep getting close to the things God says we shouldn’t, then it’s no wonder why people can’t sense His presence…

The Right Stirring!

Hebrews 10: 24  (ESV)

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…

This verse is a great directive for the church.

Frankly, when it comes to the Pastor, most people like to stir up other things that have nothing to do with love or good works.

The month of October is Pastor appreciation month, and I think most people feel this is just another conspiracy date created by Hallmark to make more money.

I got this e-mail last night from my favorite daughter-in-law,  who just happens to go to the same church I do. This was the perfect Pastor Appreciation gift.

She’s already in my last will & testament so I’m sure that wasn’t her motivation, and she has no need to suck up to me, because I already think she’s pretty special.

It isn’t very often I get notes like this one, but it sure did stir up in me the power to do more today for the Kingdom of God. What are you stirring up in your home church?

Pastor Dan - I'm sharing this story with you because it has built my faith, and I hope it does the same for you :)

Last weekend, I was doing mom-stuff and I heard 'katergazomai'. I knew I had heard the word before, but just kept going on with my day.

I heard it multiple times throughout the weekend, always when I was doing monotonous things. I tried to remember if it was from one of Pastor Wayne's messages,

or from something John had talked about during Monday Morning studies, or something from one of your sermons.

Monday morning came and during our ladies Bible study, we turned to Philippians 2:1-3. There, in my Bible, right next to this verse I see it - 'katergazomai'. It's the word for 'work out' in Philippians 2:12.

I had written it in my Bible during one of your Bible studies - probably 5 years ago. Remember when we went through the book of Philippians? And met at the Legion?

God used something you taught over 5 years ago to teach me a lesson this week. That is so crazy to me! God knew that I would be turning to that page in my Bible on Monday morning.

Katergazomai- It means to perform, accomplish, achieve. It means to effect by labor. Basically, to DO something.

God has been stretching me to DO what He is asking me to do. Usually stuff outside of my comfort zone :) But as I take a step and DO something, He gives me my next task. Way cool!!

Just thought I should share this with my Pastor! I'm grateful that you've been hearing from God for me for over 10 years now...and that which you taught me years ago is still producing fruit today!

Love you, Pastor!

Ashley

Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 5: 11

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

In these last days in the church, we need encouragement like never before.

I think it means something when the body of Christ, roots one another on.

This e-mail is from a friend who attends Calvary Bible Church in Neenah.

I was deeply encouraged, that he would drop a note back to our church.

Who are you encouraging in your home church?

Are you involved in your home church? If not, then you can’t be a very good encourager.

Maybe this week you need a change in your walk with God…just maybe…

Pastor Dan, 

Please express our thanks to your team and your church for hosting, Heaven's Gate/Hell's Flames. 

It was a wonderful event and a great community outreach.  I know that a number of lives have been forever changed. 

When one life is changed it has a ripple effect on others around them.  We enjoyed it very much.

I will pray that you will see lasting fruit in your congregation and for those who attended the event.

All the best,

Ken and Barbara Hasner

FamilyLife - Wisconsin Area Directors

1584 Nelson Court

Neenah, Wisconsin 54956

920-205-3930

Burn!

Luke 24: 32

³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Sometimes we can have that spiritual mountain top experience with Jesus, but when it’s all over…then what?

Our church had a mountain top experience the last few days/weeks.

Actually, somewhere near 100 people came to know Jesus as Lord, during our recent crusade.

The time of prayer and worship before each performance and throughout the start up weekend, was so incredibly powerful.

All 73 people from… our church who that took part in it, would agree whole heartedly.

I wonder if we can get so saturated with spiritual excitement, that in the days after, do we hardly recognize Jesus anymore?

How will you prevent that from happening?

How will you keep that memory fresh?

At the beginning, during and then after the mountain top experience, we should bask in the greatness of Jesus.

So often though after the applause stops, sometimes the excitement with Jesus stops too.

Walking with Jesus everyday is not at all boring.

Walking with Jesus is gloriously, difficult.

What’s going to keep you heart burning nonstop? What’s it going to take, to keep your eyes wide open?

Light Reflections will return on 10/25/2015

Rest!

Matthew 11: 28

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

For the people of our church, this has been a crazy, hectic, and an incredible week.

I went to bed on Monday night at 11:30am, and got up at 4:00am for prayer on Tuesday morning.

I have to confess something to you…I honestly didn’t feel like getting up.

It would’ve been so nice and easy just to stay in the sack.

I’ve found out though that when I got to prayer, some of the other guys must have felt the same way.

It wasn’t until we “CAME” to God, that He was able to give us rest.

How often do you come to God to find your rest?

How often do you try to do things on your own, to find lasting rest?

It just doesn’t work that way, my friends.

When we make this life about God, we will find the rest we need.

When we make this life about us, it becomes so toilsome.

Maybe that’s the reason so many people feel so much unrest and are heavy burdened these days?

I know some people today from our church, who are totally and completely spent.

I hope they take the time to “COME” to Him, and I hope you do too…

Focus!

1 Corinthians 9: 26

²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

Sometimes our walk with Jesus can be compared to a boxing match.

Paul was focused on hitting his target.

Are you focused on hitting the target?

Or do you on the other hand waste a lot of time punching at nothing?

Paul used a number of sports analogies to drive home his point.

Don’t you get sick and tired of the sucker punches the devil lands?

Maybe it’s time we hit him below the belt?

Maybe it’s time we fight this fight of the faith in Christ’s power, and not our own?

The Kingdom of Heaven grew again last night.

The people from our church are serious about this faith business.

We don’t have time to waste, for we need to be calculated in throwing hay makers the devil’s way.

The power of Jesus landed another powerful blow last night.

If you're down on the mat, then maybe it’s time to get up and land some punches in the name of Christ.

Besides, we’re in the 12^th round of an epic battle, and it’s time for God’s people to answer the bell with a steady barrage of our own…

What's your Soul Level?

Luke 15: 10

“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I can’t even imagine what kind of rejoicing goes on in Heaven, when one sinner repents.

Well let me tell you something…last night must have been really loud in Heaven, since so MANY souls repented.

Our church has been preparing for Heaven’s Gates/Hells Flames for many weeks now, and it has certainly paid off.

We logged over 600 hours of prayer in 6 weeks, and that’s the sole reason many people came to Christ last night.

I can’t begin to tell you how deeply proud this old Pastor is of his flock.

From the people who made and served food, to the child care workers, and all the behind the scenes people.

So who will you re-invite for Monday’s performance?

You do care for their perishing soul’s, don’t you?

I mean, let’s the give the angels something powerful to shout about.

Let’s believe that the party in Heaven last night, won’t compare to the party tonight.

My soul is full, and way overflowing.

How is the level of your soul this morning?

I realize that many of you in the cast are tired today, but don’t forget to take time to join the Angels, and rejoice with great gladness… 

Sprinkled!

Ezekiel 36: 25 - 27

²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Some people have been sprinkled with clean water, and frankly, some have not.

People will come to our church beginning on Sunday night, and they won’t expect a sprinkling.

When my two adults boys were little, and they started to learn to walk, they would hang on to anything to keep themselves upright.

It wasn’t until they learned to let go, did they find good footing.

It’s the same with us. Unless we stop hanging onto the world, and all our impurities and idols, can we depend on our Father in Heaven for traction and direction.

People who refuse to let go of the things that hinder them, will be forever struggling, and falling on their faces.

I know struggling people right now, and they may think they’re clean, but their actions tell a different story.

Those are the same people who have all the Christian lingo down pat, but no kingdom fruit to show for it.

Maybe those are the folks who have a heart of stone, and don’t even know it?

Maybe they are the ones who think they have a new spirit, when in fact they still have the old one?

Unless God put’s His Spirit in you, you will be forever frustrated.

Maybe the reason you’re not moved to follow God, is that you’re still holding onto your old stinky life?

I suggest you run through the sprinkler, and I’d recommend you do it sooner, than later…

Draw near!

Luke 15: 1

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him…

One would expect that these lost people would draw near to Jesus, because He had a heart for the lost.

That’s why Jesus came…to seek and save that which was lost.

It’s as if this group of people were hanging on every word that Jesus spoke.

I think they were anticipating that something powerful was about to happen.

I believe that’s where we are as a church today.

The excitement is brewing, and people are anticipating something powerful.

But why should that surprise us?

Jesus hasn’t changed, and His power has never been diminished, and it’s available all the time.

Maybe it could be this way consistently if we just paid better attention?

What if we purposed ourselves to hang onto every word that Jesus ever spoke?

But I’ll take the excitement now any day, and I love what God is going to do with the everyday common folk of our church.

Jesus is still seeking and saving that which is lost., and that’s what’s going to happen Sunday through Tuesday.

He’s never changed, and He never will.

Maybe as you anticipate the movement of God’s power, you’ll actually be changed?

I’d welcome that for our church people, in a Winneconne minute…

Do your part!

Romans 12: 4 - 5

⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,

⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

I have to confess, that I’ve read this text of scripture many times, but without a whole lot of thought, frankly.

That was until yesterday morning, and then these words just jumped off the page.

I’m thankful for a dear friend, who taught a bunch of church people how to be a real team.

I’m thankful for the wisdom they poured out, so I knew which people God wanted on what team.

I love coaching people in our church to be better followers of Jesus. Today I’m a better coach than I used to be.

Our church is filled with some of the most talented people around, and they bring great glory to God.

That all came to light in the best way yesterday morning, and it all started with a phone call from a Godly woman.

She had someone working for her, that was in a really dark place…so much so, they wanted their life to end.

I got ready to go out yesterday morning, and God’s plans were executed with wonderful accuracy.

The first thing I did, was enlist a team of prayer support from some of my closest confidants, and then God did the rest.

In 60 minutes flat, this person went from petrified (suicide), to eternally satisfied.

All because a woman cared…and some people prayed…and a Pastor moved into action…and then the great Gospel went out.

Because the church worked in perfect harmony, the team can celebrate a great victory, because this person gave their heart over to the Lord.

I’m praising God for an operative church, and for a person who was just sick and tired, of being sick and tired! Amen!!

And the weekend isn’t even here yet… 

You Must!

Colossians 3: 12 - 13   ESV

¹² Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

My Mom had a lady who really hurt her a number of years ago, and every time that ladies name came up in conversation, my Mom’s stomach did a flip flop.

The same lady just died a few days ago, and my Mom’s been gone for almost 11 years. I don’t think either of them found any peace with each other.

The problem was that I don’t think Elsie ever recognized how much she hurt my Mom.

But the real problem though, was that my Mom never found it in her heart to forgive that woman.

There was a time in their lives, when they were pretty good friends.

No matter what that woman did  or didn’t do wrong, according to God it was my Mom’s role to forgive Elsie.

Forgiveness is not conditional, it’s actually a command.

You’d be surprised the people who needlessly hang onto offenses.

It troubles the offended person greatly, and it affects every person around them.

How do I know that? I lived in that home, and when Elsie’s name came up it was never a pleasant experience.

“…as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also MUST forgive…”

That means that we have to stop the blame game, and stop pouring out all the guilt.

We also need to stop referring to the offense, and never use it as a trump card.

We may not feel very much like forgiving, but we had better learn to operate out of this spiritual mandate…

911!

Jeremiah 33: 3

³ Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ve ever had to dial the emergency number 911, have you?

Ironic that when something bad happened on U.S. soil, it happened on 9-11.

It is suggested by many, that especially the people of the United States, are some of the most Biblically illiterate people of all time.

I wonder if that’s some sort of Guinness record?

When we call out to God, He knows automatically whose calling out to Him.

When we call out to Him, help is just a moment away.

Who do you call when things get crazy in your life?

Who will you call out to, when things get crazier in our world, than they already are?

Yesterday I had two (2) people contact me, that think something epic is going to happen in the not too distant future.

Maybe it’s something prophetic, or maybe it’s just gas…I don’t know.

When’s the last time you asked God to reveal to you, “hidden” things?

If we’re so Biblically illiterate, it doesn’t really have to be that way.

God said He would reveal things to us, that we have not known.

There isn’t a dispatcher in the world, that can help us when that kind of trouble comes, but our GREAT God, can dispatch us a remedy in no time flat…