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…