Pastor Tim’s Blog

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

Did you know that God led the Israelites out of Egypt the REALLY REALLY long way to the promised land because He knew if they faced war they might “change their minds” and turn toward Egypt once again?

It begs the question: What would make you change your mind? Turn back? Give up?

I often wonder if New Englanders have gone soft…

This is New England. Yet for the past two days we were more freakishly scared of snowfall than I have seen in recent memory. What happened to the New England I grew up in? We used to go to school no matter what the weatherman said. Now parents get a cancellation phone call the NIGHT BEFORE the snow even starts coming down. I say again – snow isn’t yet falling and school gets cancelled! Both of my children could have gone to school and come back before one flake accumulated in our yard yesterday. Times have changed. Why do we act like it’s the blizzard of ‘78 every time we see the 6-snowflake graphic on the 5-day forecast?

In my day we used to walk uphill both ways to school in three feet of snow with canvas shoes on and 12-5 pound books in our bags (exaggeration intended). Now the whole neighborhood rushes the grocery store to stockpile because 12-18″ are expected.

What happened? We let the snow get the best of us. We changed our minds. We’re letting the forecast diminish our fortitude. We’re acting like a bunch of South Carolina softies.

Is there cause for concern when snow is on the way? Yes. The #1 concern should be whether our snow man is bigger than the neighbors snow man! But I digress….

Is there something that would make you change your mind when it comes to following Christ? Is there a life “forecast” that would make you turn back on your faith, give up on your standards, or wane in conviction?

If there is one problem with the Church of today its that we’ve gotten soft. Our ancestors in the faith were cut in half, crucified, torn in two, burned at the stake, stoned and beheaded. Today we lose heart if our 401k tanks! We cry out to God, “Why?” when our boss/coworker is calloused.

One of my absolute favorite verses that radically convicts me comes from Jeremiah 12:5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

The Holy Spirit hits me with that verse every time I got into panic mode because my checking account dips below $25.00. Is there really cause for panic when I still have $25.00? I don’t think so.

Church, let’s get back to fierce Christian faith. Let’s get back to taking the best the devil has to offer with the fortitude of a first century Christian. Don’t let whatever is bugging you right now change your mind or turn you back. It could be worse, much worse.

And if it’s anything like the snow we had yesterday . . . (ha ha ha) . . . we have nothing to worry about!

Peace.
PT

How are the New Year’s resolutions coming?

Great?
Not so good?
Great?
Fair?
What New Year’s Resolution?

I found something interesting online about the often failure of New Year’s resolutions. They are usually made in response to something negative in our lives.

“I’m out of shape.”
“I have bad diet habits.”
“I need to stop smoking.”
“My relationships aren’t healthy.”

You don’t last with a decision to change something negative because negative habits are terrible motivators. And you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, right?

So how did you enter 2010? With something bad to eliminate? Or something positive to emulate?

Here’s a fresh perspective on change: Focus on who you’d like to be instead of who you wouldn’t like to be.

The Bible tells us to do this:
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Notice that even Jesus had to put JOY before Himself. For Christ is was the joy of saving mankind from sin and dwelling with them forever (Revelation 21:3). It was the positive dream of God set before Christ that got Him through the horrors of the cross.

Here’s the important truth: What is before you is much more important that what is behind you. 2009, thankfully for many is behind us. 2010 lies before us. And as we keep the hope Christ offers before us, change will happen because He loves to help get our baggage behind us.

R U RESOLUTE?

God says in the OLD TESTAMENT the first of every living thing belongs to me.

Exodus 34:19 (NIV) “The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock.

The first of our increase goes to God:

Numbers 15:20 (NIV) Present a cake from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor.

The first city in Caanan – Jericho – belonged to God.

The First day of the week is our day of worship as Jesus rose on the first day – a “first fruits” of the resurrection of the dead.

God clearly portrays a theme – the first of everything is HIS!

And it applies to us today. And each day. And this year. January is the month where we can give our year to God. Either through fasting something for the month or beginning with a read through the New Testament in 31 days.

Here’s where God is challenging our family. The first of our time. The morning is the first part of the day. We should give the first of our attention not to the news or the days tasks – but to the Lord. To read His word, to receive His Spirit, and to refresh ourselves in His presence.

The awesome truth concerning first fruits in the OLD TESTAMENT: Whenever the Israelites gave God the first of whatever they received, the rest was blessed.

If you want the rest of 2010 blessed, or just the rest of tomorrow blessed. Give the first to God. Start each week FIRST in the house of worship with your church family. start each morning with God attention first.

And the rest will be blessed.

And remember . . .

He saves the best for last.

One of the most incriminating statements I ever heard from an atheist goes like this: “If Christians really believe the Bible is ‘God’s Word’, why don’t they read it all the time?”

My sentiment exactly.

Let’s get serious about some serious Truth!

It’s a New Year and a New Opportunity to commit to some change regarding your diet, your figure, your habits, or your vices.

Instead of another “temporary” fix for your body, your relationships, or your looks, I want to give you a great resolution suggestion:

Get through the Bible in 2010.

As I shared on Sunday, www.youversion.com has new reading plans available to keep you on pace to make this year the year you read the whole Bible. The best part is you can sync it with your smart phone or iPhone and keep up to date on the train, in the waiting room, or . . . in the “throne” room (if you know what I mean.)

• Instead of playing some mindless game when you need to wait for your wife/husband to get the milk and bread at the grocery store, log on and read!
• Instead of reading “Country Living” at the Dentist office, log on and read!
• Instead of grabbing the iPod for some tunes on the exercise bike – log on and read!

Check out: THIS PAGE and select your plan now. 2 more days and you’ll be well on your way. You can take it easy and get through once in 365 days or you can B90X it . . . and blast, blast, BLAST your way to a fitter and trimmer spiritual walk!

I’d love to hear about your decision and I’ll let you know I’m going for this plan!

Happy New Year!