As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week as a nation, it is a great time to reflect on the many ways that God has blessed us as a nation, as a church, and as individuals. In fact, I would highly recommend in the midst of spending time with family and friends, eating some good food, and possibly watching a parade or a sporting event; to take some quiet time and make a mental (or possibly a written) list of the personal blessings in your life. This practice will help keep in perspective any challenges or trials that you have possibly recently experienced.
Toward the top of my “blessing list” is my gratitude for the Southwest Church Family. I am continually thankful for the faith, devotion, and generosity of this congregation. On a personal note, I am extremely grateful for the privilege to worship and serve alongside so many dedicated followers of Christ. The following words expressed by the Apostle Paul for a church located in Thessalonica (Greece), articulate in so many ways the sentiment of my heart toward the Southwest Church:
You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it's only right that we give thanks. We're so proud of you! 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 MSG
My hope and prayer is that you will have a meaningful Thanksgiving Holiday!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a worldwide mission effort spearheaded by Samaritan's Purse. This year the Southwest Church partnered with the Coffman Family YMCA in Springboro to become a collection site for shoe boxes filled with gifts for boys and girls in poverty stricken areas of the world.
It was exciting to see various individuals, schools, and churches in the community partner together to share God's love with children in need. The picture above shows some of the cartons of boxes (1,508 total shoe boxes) that were collected this past week.
My prayer is that God will work throught the distribution of these boxes to communicate a small reflection of God's greatest gift ... the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
What is Pure Religion?
Would you describe yourself as a religious person? I commonly describe myself as a believer or a follower of Christ, because often the term “religious” carries a connotation of someone who is self serving, hypocritical in their lifestyle, or judgmental toward others. Since I want to avoid those pitfalls, I typically emphasize being in a relationship with Jesus as opposed to being a person of religion.
The Bible rarely uses the term “religion,” and most of the usages of the word are cast in a negative light. One scripture reference describes the term in a positive way and it is found in the extremely practical New Testament book written by James. Listen to James’ description of pure religion…
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:26-27 NLT.
How does James describe “pure religion?” He characterizes it as a way of life in which believers take care of “orphans and widows.” Why are orphans and widows mentioned as the recipients of concern by genuine worshippers of God? Could it be that orphans and widows are people who are not going to be able to “repay” acts of kindness and acts of service? Could it be that the LORD wants his followers to give of themselves to others in selfless expressions of love without ever expecting anything in return?
The other facet of pure religion is “refusing to let the world corrupt you.” Jesus calls his followers to remain in the world and to be a positive influence in the lives of others. And this passage reminds believers to make sure that they are the ones doing the influencing as opposed to being the ones influenced. How about you and me? Are we seeking to influence others in our world? Or are we being influenced by the world around us?
As we examine the Biblical definition of genuine religion … Would you describe yourself as a person of “pure religion?”
The Bible rarely uses the term “religion,” and most of the usages of the word are cast in a negative light. One scripture reference describes the term in a positive way and it is found in the extremely practical New Testament book written by James. Listen to James’ description of pure religion…
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:26-27 NLT.
How does James describe “pure religion?” He characterizes it as a way of life in which believers take care of “orphans and widows.” Why are orphans and widows mentioned as the recipients of concern by genuine worshippers of God? Could it be that orphans and widows are people who are not going to be able to “repay” acts of kindness and acts of service? Could it be that the LORD wants his followers to give of themselves to others in selfless expressions of love without ever expecting anything in return?
The other facet of pure religion is “refusing to let the world corrupt you.” Jesus calls his followers to remain in the world and to be a positive influence in the lives of others. And this passage reminds believers to make sure that they are the ones doing the influencing as opposed to being the ones influenced. How about you and me? Are we seeking to influence others in our world? Or are we being influenced by the world around us?
As we examine the Biblical definition of genuine religion … Would you describe yourself as a person of “pure religion?”
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thoughts on Veteran's Day
Although I have never served in the military, I have great respect and gratitude for those who have served in the past or are presently serving in the military. On this Veteran’s Day, I wanted to extend a special thanks to those who have served (or are still serving) to help protect the freedoms that we enjoy in this country. If you are reading this article and you are a military veteran or are presently serving in the military, then I want to say … “Thank You!!”
The freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion are four freedoms that I especially cherish. I am grateful to live in a country in which I can assemble with other believers, speak publicly regarding my faith, and publish through the written word a description of my faith in Jesus Christ. It is important to be reminded that there are many people throughout the world and throughout history who have not experienced these freedoms that we can so easily take for granted.
And yet as you and I reflect on these freedoms we experience in this country, we are challenged to ask ourselves the following question: How are you and I responding to our freedom? Do we view freedom as something entitled to us or do we view it as a gift to be cherished and protected? Do we view freedom as something to utilize for personal gain or for the collective good of others?
In the Bible we find the following teaching regarding a proper response to freedom:
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? Galatians 5:13-15 MSG
Are you utilizing your freedom to explore God’s purpose for your life to serve Him and to serve others? Let’s take the above passage of Scripture to heart and continue to look for ways to utilize our freedom to serve others in love!
The freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion are four freedoms that I especially cherish. I am grateful to live in a country in which I can assemble with other believers, speak publicly regarding my faith, and publish through the written word a description of my faith in Jesus Christ. It is important to be reminded that there are many people throughout the world and throughout history who have not experienced these freedoms that we can so easily take for granted.
And yet as you and I reflect on these freedoms we experience in this country, we are challenged to ask ourselves the following question: How are you and I responding to our freedom? Do we view freedom as something entitled to us or do we view it as a gift to be cherished and protected? Do we view freedom as something to utilize for personal gain or for the collective good of others?
In the Bible we find the following teaching regarding a proper response to freedom:
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? Galatians 5:13-15 MSG
Are you utilizing your freedom to explore God’s purpose for your life to serve Him and to serve others? Let’s take the above passage of Scripture to heart and continue to look for ways to utilize our freedom to serve others in love!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
One of the many joys of being a parent is witnessing the unique God given personalities that children display from a very young age. Prior to becoming a parent, I struggled with knowing how much of human personality was the result of nature (God’s creative design) or of nurture (parental influence). As my wife and I became parents of our first child in our 20’s, it was still unclear to me the degree with which God given temperaments were at play in human development.
But upon entering the arena of being a parent of more than one child, it became increasingly obvious that our three children all possessed unique personality traits. Although we made every effort to be consistent in our approach to parenting, our children would react very differently to our parenting. It became obvious quickly that although we loved our children equally, we would have to utilize a particular approach or discipline that was best suited for each child. In other words, we began to realize that when it comes to parenting, “one size does not fit all.”
In this discovery, we would even begin to make remarks to family members and friends that a particular child came out of the womb with a certain temperament. This life experience led me to begin to realize the following passage of Scripture described not just the physical development of the baby in the womb, but also the God given personality:
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
This week in the small groups at Southwest Church we have explored the unique personalities of the first followers of Christ. It has been encouraging to see that Jesus called, taught, and molded the characters of 12 very different individual. This realization leads us to recognize that regardless of our personality (extrovert or introvert; sensing or intuitive; thinking or feeling; judging or perceiving) that God has a plan for each of us because … we have all been fearfully and wonderfully made!
But upon entering the arena of being a parent of more than one child, it became increasingly obvious that our three children all possessed unique personality traits. Although we made every effort to be consistent in our approach to parenting, our children would react very differently to our parenting. It became obvious quickly that although we loved our children equally, we would have to utilize a particular approach or discipline that was best suited for each child. In other words, we began to realize that when it comes to parenting, “one size does not fit all.”
In this discovery, we would even begin to make remarks to family members and friends that a particular child came out of the womb with a certain temperament. This life experience led me to begin to realize the following passage of Scripture described not just the physical development of the baby in the womb, but also the God given personality:
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
This week in the small groups at Southwest Church we have explored the unique personalities of the first followers of Christ. It has been encouraging to see that Jesus called, taught, and molded the characters of 12 very different individual. This realization leads us to recognize that regardless of our personality (extrovert or introvert; sensing or intuitive; thinking or feeling; judging or perceiving) that God has a plan for each of us because … we have all been fearfully and wonderfully made!
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