Genuine or Imitation?

We live in a world of fake news, fake body physiques, fake products and even fake identities.  So, my question is, "Do you like knock-offs (imitations) or the real (genuine) things?  

Let's do a quick survey of things you prefer:

• Eggs you shake & pour from a carton or real eggs? 
• Spam or real ham? 
• Miracle Whip or real mayonnaise? 
• Creme Betweens or real Oreos?
• Knock-off apparel, footwear, handbags, electronics; or the real thing?  Just imagine telling someone about your beautiful new "genuine imitation" leather/fur coat!

Too often, we settle for imitations, rather than striving for real aspects that strengthen and grow our marriages, friendships and even work relationships. Peter challenges Christ-followers to "up their game" and stop settling for cheap imitations such as...

• Manipulation is a cheap imitation for humility
• Outward appeal is an imitation for inward beauty
• Knowing right is a cheap imitation for doing right
• Providing a living is a cheap imitation for sharing a life
• Leverage is a cheap imitation for leading
• Jealousy is a cheap imitation for honor
• Sex is a cheap imitation for love
• Selfishness is a cheap imitation for sharing
• Security is a cheap imitation for satisfaction.
• Religion is a cheap imitation for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Peter challenges wives, husbands, and believers in general to raise the bar and stop "settling."  If we settle for imitations, we will find our relationships defined by division, irritation, resentment and bitterness. As believers, we should strive to be real and show others the joy in serving Jesus with a pure heart that wants to give God our best.

In today's world filled with cheap, fake, imitations; let's determine to be real followers of Jesus Christ!

February 2021 - Celebration & Praise Report

February was an amazing month at Grace!!!  I just have to give praise to God and tell you what HE has done!!

Did you grow-up in or ever attend a church that sang the Doxology?  The Doxology is a short hymn-like chorus that gives praise to God. In years past, churches of various denominations would conclude their services by singing it. Listen to the words:

        Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow

        Praise Him, all creatures here below

        Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

        Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

That is exactly what I want to do... I want to give praise to God for the blessings HE brought to and through the ministries of Grace Church and Highlands Christian Academy during February 2021.

First, as you know, February is known as the “Love Month;” so Grace capitalized on that theme:

• Pastor Gary has been preaching through a marriage series titled, “LORD of the Rings” and offering biblical counsel for Christian marriages.
• On Sunday, Feb. 14, couples stood across our congregation and renewed their marriage vows. COVID has added much stress to marriage, but with a commitment to Christ and to each other, we are confident that Christian marriages can weather the storms of life.

Other “Love” opportunities were seen each Sunday in February:

• Feb. 7 - we loved-on our community – and collected food, clothing & toiletry items for “The Lord’s Gift House,” a ministry to the homeless in our community.
• Feb. 14 – we loved-on our spouse, family & widows in our congregation.
• Feb. 21 – we loved-on each other, as our Grace family gathered around fire pits; cooked hotdogs and enjoyed making s’mores under the stars.
• Feb. 28 – we loved others as we distributed bread and pastries to the homeless, our friends, and our neighbors. Each loaf/box had a Gospel tract telling people about the Bread of Life.

February also brought us a feeling of some normalcy as we hosted some larger “events.”

• Our children are now meeting in-person and started a new Bible program titled, “Eat this Book.” Dozens of children are attending in-person and Miss Julie is also making the program available online.
• Steve Merritt brought a trio from FBC of Ft. Lauderdale that blessed our church family. We saw many guests in attendance and had our largest 1^st service attendance since the pandemic started.
• Grace also hosted a Winter Bible Conference, which included:
  • Guy Melton from Oasis Church in Pembroke Pines, FL
  • Chris Lane from First Priority of South Florida
  • Michael Chin Quee from Food for the Poor

Each of these men challenged us to look past the pandemic and “renew our passion” to reach people in new, creative and personal ways with good news of the life-changing Gospel.

“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow” for the people who are were saved, baptized, returned to worship and were added to the Grace Church family in the month of February!

We also experienced wonderful blessings in our school ministry - Highlands Christian Academy.

We have truly been blessed under the leadership of Dr. Steve Lawrence and God is blessing us with new leadership for our 2021-2022 school year:

• Mr. Larry Smith with take the reins as our new Head of School
• Mr. Bill Canning will become our new Upper School Principal
• We are also blessed to be adding several new faculty to our staff, which will allow us to bring back several elective classes
  
• In addition, budgeting and recruiting are in warp-speed for next year and look forward to going post-pandemic and seeming growth and enhancements in every area of HCA.

Another BIG achievement was HCA’s celebration of 100 Days of School!

• While many schools have remained closed or online only, HCA started meeting in-person back in August. Our thanks to Dr. Lawrence for his courageous leadership and also to Governor DeSantis for keeping Florida open.

We also want to congratulate our Knights Varsity Boys Soccer Team as the Regional Runners-Up! They had a great season under the leadership of Coach Davidson Loristan and we are so proud of our boys’ performance during this difficult year. We also want to congratulate HCA Senior, Payton Caja, who was selected to the Atlantic Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game on March 13 at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland, FL.

We have so much to celebrate & praise God for!  As Ed Stetzer stated, “The moment we are in; does not pause the mission we are on.” The ministries of Grace Church continue strong and we thank God for protecting us during the pandemic and blessing our efforts to make HIM known across our community!

How to Fight Right

Marriage, like any other relationship, takes work and the road we travel is not always (if ever) easy. There are unexpected twists, unforeseen turns, slippery slopes, and even some very rocky terrain. Conflicts can make us sharper and they are sure to occur when two individuals have differing opinions. Sadly, we live in a world that does not teach conflict resolution. We find ourselves in a world that wants to "cancel" anyone who has a differing opinion. What happened to listening, gleaning, hearing-out, compromising, or coming to a win-win?

As Christ-followers, we follow the Bible as our model for conflict resolution. These biblical principles work and will make our marriages, neighborhoods, and workplaces better; IF we choose to implement them into our various relationships. Allow me to list a few below:

1. BE HONEST & RESPECTFUL

Honesty, integrity & respect are building blocks for relationships.  Dishonesty and a lack of respect will certainly drive a wedge in any relationship. Tell the truth, be transparent, and show respect; even when you disagree with someone -- especially your spouse.

Eph 4:25- Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEAPONS

There are weapons for "hand-to-hand" combat (swords, bayonets, etc.); weapons of warfare (bombs, missiles, etc.); and spiritual weapons (Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-18). In relationship conflicts, we must lay down the worldly "offensive" weapons and pickup the spiritual weapons. Too often, we forget who the real enemy is. Satan wants to steal, kill & destroy... and this includes your marriage & family.

Eph 4:26 - Be angry, and do not sin…  (guard your heart & actions)

Prov 18:14 - The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?  (Don't destroy the spirit of those you love, as it will take MUCH time to rebuild.)

3. USE STRATEGIC TIMING

You've heard the statement that "timing is everything." Many fights are started because of bad timing (i.e. - in the last 2 minutes of the Super Bowl, etc.). Consider timing comments & conversations so you don't provoke a fight; BUT also consider the right timing to END the fight. Do not allow disagreements to go on and on. In fact, the Bible states that the matter should be settled before you go to bed. 

  

Eph 4:26-27 - …Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

4. RESOLVE & RESTORE

If a conflict ensues because of something you did, then fix it! Repent, restore, make restitution, etc. Confess your sin, come clean about your actions, own the problem you created. I'll never forget the lesson my dad taught me about confession, after breaking the neighbor's window with a baseball and then working to replace it. A broken window is easy to replace, but a broken spirit is MUCH more difficult. Take the time to heal the hurt and restore the relationship.

Prov. 18:14 - ...who can bear a broken spirit

Prov. 18:19 - A brother (or spouse) offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like bars of a castle.

5. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY

It is difficult to control our tongue, BUT it is even more difficult when you are angry.  Remember the statement, "Keep your words sweet, as you might have to eat them."  Jesus experienced righteous indignation with the money changers in the temple, but there is no record of him cussing, cursing or embarrassing Himself with careless words. He turned many people off by His positions, but never due to His disposition.

Eph 4:29-30 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

6. FIGHT PRIVATELY, NOT PUBLICLY

The Bible is very clear that disagreements should be settled 1-to-1. We are not to make a matter public, unless it is unconfessed sin and it should be brought before the church with a heavy heart and for the purpose of restoration. In today's world of keyboard cowards, when people post every grievance on the internet; we as Christ-followers should NEVER be guilty of such actions. Keep our disagreements private and seek to resolve them privately.

Matt. 18:15 - Moreover, if your brother (or spouse) sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone... 

Eph 4:31 - Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

7. BANDAGE THE WOUNDS

In every fight, someone gets wounded. The frequently forgotten bandage that will heal almost all emotional wounds is forgiveness. It's too bad that the Church is more known for being "judgmental" rather than being "forgiving." Let strive for all of our relationship disputes to end with forgiveness.

Eph 4:32 - And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

It is important to understand that disagreements are a normal part of any marriage and any human relationship. Disagreements can be opportunities for people to learn from each other and come to a compromise that strengthens their relationship. So, learn to "fight right" and recognize Satan as the real enemy... not your spouse!

Commitment is the Key

 

It is both sad and humorous realizing how uncomfortable people get when you mention the word "commitment;" but commitment is required in successful careers, life endeavors, spirituality/faith and even marriage. If you ask a couple who has been married 50+ years, "What is the key to a long marriage?" They will likely reply with the word "commitment."

The Bible speaks of commitment in many passages. Consider the instructions to "...have no other gods before ME," to "be doers of the Word and not hearers only," to "not go after other gods," to "diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God," and for "husbands to love their wife as God loves HIS Church."

Let me offer 4 Conditions that Weaken Commitments:

1. Determining morality by the majority -- 

The majority of Israelites wanted to return to Egypt; the majority of people felt comfortable living in the sinful society of Sodom & Gomorrah; the majority chose not to go into the ark & died; the majority voted to crucify Jesus. Majorities are wrong the majority of the time; because they operate based on popular "opinion" and usually follow the path of least resistance. Commitments based on comforts are weak.

2. Changing your theology, rather than your lifestyle -- 

Rather than aligning their lifestyle with the teachings of Scripture, people will often choose to change churches, denominations or counselors; in search of someone who will accept & condone their sinful behavior. Remember, those who truly love you will speak truth into your life; not merely tickle your ears. Having a weak theology results in weak commitments.

3. Assuming a delay in consequences equals God's approval -- Eccl. 8:11 TLB

Quote from John Fisher -- "...if a dog having a great stone bound about his neck is cast down from a high tower, he feels no weight of that stone, as long as he is falling down; but when he is once fallen to the ground, he is burst all to pieces by that weight." Sin is fun for a season; but "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap." - Gal 6:6-7. Assuming that God would EVER condone sinful behavior certainly reveals a weak commitment toward spiritual maturity.

4. Becoming tolerant of sin --

The way that Christians succumb to sin, is similar to the proverbial frog that gets boiled in the kettle. Sin takes over gradually and we often don't even realize it, until it is too late. It only takes a little leaven to ruin the whole loaf of bread (Gal. 5:9). Being tolerant of sin in our lives is a symptom of a weak level of commitment.

Now, let me offer 4 Principles that Strengthen Commitments (Especially as it relates to marriage):

1. Understand that conflicts are part of marriage --

1 Cor. 7:28b NIV - "...but those who marry will face many troubles in this life..." Too often, couples try to avoid conflict, rather than learning how to resolve conflicts. Learning to listen to and respect differing opinions is one of the greatest ways to gain knowledge and one of the lost arts in today's "cancel culture" movement.

2. Working through is better than walking out -- 

1 Cor. 7:27 NIV - "Are you married? Do not seek a divorce." Walking out is easy, but the baggage follows you out the door and into the next relationship. Working things through takes much more work, but it is much more beneficial and satisfying in the long run.

3. Rights are relinquished at the marriage altar --

1 Cor. 7:4 and Phil 2:3-4 reveal that couples give-up their rights, when they enter the covenant relationship of marriage. Selfishness is most often the root cause of broken relationships and selflessness is most often the key to marriages surviving for the long-haul.

4. Choose holiness over happiness -- 

Nowhere in the Bible does God command us to be happy, but HE does instruct us to be holy. In general, those who pursue holiness will usually find happiness is a natural benefit of living in obedience to God's commands.

After reading these principles based on Scripture and realizing that there are many, many, many more where those came from; let's "commit" to being fully-devoted followers of Jesus and fully-devoted partners in our marriage. Let's love our spouse, the way that Christ loves HIS Church.

Habits of Happy Hubbies

The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly impacting people physically, but it also impacting people emotionally. The statistics are showing that interest & inquiries for divorce are up 34% from the the same quarter of the previous year. 20% of couples married 5 months or less sought divorce, compared to 11% in 2019. Some are estimating that divorce rates will continue to rise as quarantines and work-from-home situations continue. 

So, I want to offer 12 "Habits of Happy Hubbies" that can be helpful to all married couples:

1. EMBRACE YOUR SEASON

Stop looking ahead or looking back. Embrace your present season and make the most of every moment. 

2. COMMUNICATE KINDLY

Sticks and stone's can break bones AND words can hurt very deeply! Spouses often say things to each other that they would never say to their employer, pastor or even their friends. Choose your words wisely.

Prov. 25:11-5 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

3.  LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS 

Too many marriages end due to the fighting caused by poor financial decisions. Couples MUST learn to live within their means, pay cash, build credit, save and set goals. While stuck in the house, consider taking a Dave Ramsey course online.

Eccl. 5:10 NLT - Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 

Matt. 6:24  - No man can serve two masters… you cannot serve God and money. 

4. COMPLIMENT; DON’T CRITICIZE 

      No one likes to be criticized. Continual criticism has a devastating effect on a marriage. 

1 Thess 5:11 NIV - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

Eph. 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

5.  CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Couples should find ways to worship, serve, pray, study and grow together!

Heb. 10:24 – And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. 

6.   LIVE IN LOVE

      Look at this verse, as it reveals what true love looks like and should be the goal in every Christian marriage.

1 Cor. 13:4-7 - Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 

7.   GIVE PREFERENCE 

Preferring your spouse is a simple way to show your care. Selfishness will destroy a marriage, while selflessness will deepen the love relationship.

Phil 2:3-4 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 

8.   GIVE HONOR

Honor is defined as giving the highest respect or granting esteem. Spouses should honor one another; and look at the last part of the verse -- if we fail to honor our spouse... our prayers could be hindered!

1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.  

9.   DRESS FOR SUCCESS

      During this time, of quarantine and working at home, so many people have stopped dressing-up for work. Don't forget that your spouse deserves to see you at your best. Practice personal hygiene, shave, fix your hair, put away the sweat pants, and ladies, feel free to wear some make-up while work from home.

10.  NURTURE INTIMACY

Intimacy goes far beyond just the physical relationship in marriage. Strive to cultivate spiritual and emotional intimacy in your marriage.

Heb 13:4 - Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled…  Sadly, this is the only verse some men ever memorize! :)  

11.  SHARE THE LOAD 

Working from home or being quarantined obviously increases the chores around the house. Share the load, pitch-in, and help your spouse. Those acts of kindness usually pay-off BIG! Also, during this time of anxiety, layoffs, financial uncertainty; share openly and bear each others burdens.

Gal. 6:2 - Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

12.  RESOLVE CONFLICTS QUICKLY 

Holding onto anger NEVER ends well. No one wins -- everyone loses!  Settle the matter quickly and try to do so before going to bed. No sense losing a night's sleep and carrying conflict over to the next day.

Eph. 4:26-27 - Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil.

ULTIMATE GOAL

Eph. 5:24-28 - As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.

Jan. 2021 - Celebration & Praise Report

 The Psalmist knew of God’s goodness as evidenced by the words he penned in Psalm 145:6-7, “Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.” As we look back over the month of January and the start of a brand new year, we want to take a moment to remember God’s goodness to the various ministries of Grace Church.

Celebrations & Praises during January in the Church:

• We celebrate a person who came to salvation through a Gospel tract and various other stories of people whose lives are being changed by the Gospel.
• Many guests worshipped with us in January, and we have a good number of people expressing interest in baptism and church membership.
• We emphasized “Sanctity of Life” Sunday on Jan. 17 and hosted a baby shower for the moms who choose life through Hope Women’s Centers. A special “thanks” to our Grace family for responding with such generosity!
• We recognized School Choice Sunday and reminded folks that Highlands Christian Academy is a GREAT choice, helps students develop a Christian world-view, and is more affordable than most people think.
• Our Grace family experienced a wonderful time of corporate worship in our recent “Night of Worship."
• Pastor Craig continued teaching through the Book of John and laying foundations for personal discipleship in our youth ministry.
• The Spanish ministry started the renovations to the Upper Room, which will double their meeting space, add an office for Pastor Samuel and create storage space. Almost all of the work is being done by volunteers, and they hope to finish in the next couple of weeks!
• The Haitian ministry has now reopened all of their meeting times and returned to their normal pre-COVID schedule. This is a true blessing and folks continue to return to the campus.
• The Brazilian ministry hosted a yard sale to benefit missions on Saturday, Jan. 30 and it was followed by a time of fellowship.

There are also many things to celebrate in our school ministry: 

• Martha Canott recently told of a student who shared a Gospel tract resulting in a parent being saved.
• Monica Colon shared about a student who came to her stating that she wanted to be “born again.” The young lady prayed the sinners prayer and invited Jesus to be her Savior.
• Ruth Pirrie just launched a HUGE marketing campaign for the school, which includes a new website design and much, much more. You will begin seeing a whole new look in the weeks ahead.
• HCA has also entered the membership process with ACSI - Association of Christian Schools International. Our team continues to move HCA to new heights and we are already well-underway with enrollment for 2021-2022.
• Mr. Larry Smith has been chosen to serve as our new Head of School in the 2021-2022 school year, as Dr. Lawrence will be leaving us to serve as the Executive Vice-President at Louisiana Baptist University. We wish both of these men great success in the roles for which God has called them to and prepared them for.

Other January Blessings:

• Our missionary to Haiti, Kevin Falde, broke ground on a new church building this month.
• The Falde’s ministry also saw 600 people at their medical clinic, and 50 came to know Christ in the first 2 days!
• And get this… a dear friend of the Falde's, Bro. Samuel and his family, have started attending Grace and he has already jumped into serving with our band and worship team! Welcome Jacques family!
• We were also blessed through our Christmas offering that not only helped us “catch up” on missions giving, but even propelled us ahead of budget! Thank you for your faithfulness in supporting our missionary partners.

God continues to shower His blessings on our Grace & Highlands family! We just wanted to provide you with a brief report of “some” of the things HE is doing through you and your faithful support of this ministry.

God's Design for Marriage

The premise to this post is that marriage is God's idea and the outline for marriage is given in Scripture. We live in a world in which marriage has been politicized, downplayed, attacked and even "redefined" for the better part of four decades. 

So let's go back to basics. If we desire to gain insight regarding marriage, we cannot look to politicians, courts or culture; instead, we must look to God and His Word. Realizing that God is the Master Architect of marriage, let's take a minute to see what God recorded in His Word pertaining to the topic of marriage.

In the Garden of Eden, during the days of creation, it was God Who recognized is was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 1:18a), so God determined to make a helper comparable to the man (Gen. 1:18b). Other Bible translations use the words: suitable, perfect and just right for the man. The woman was God's gift to the man to provide companionship, comfort and to complete him by bringing strength to his areas of weakness.  God put the man to sleep while He removed a rib and designed a perfect partner and lover for the man (Gen. 1:21-22).  I can only imagine what it was like when God presented (Eve to Adam) the bride to the bridegroom! He had never seen anything so beautiful, their love was so pure and their companionship ran so deep.

God gave instructions to the new couple that would serve as the blueprint and set the parameters for all marriages to come (Gen. 2:24).  He outlined the plan for construction as follows. First, a man is to leave his parents, which means to honor them; but to cut the apron strings and his new bride is to be his most important human relationship! This step is repeated in the New Testament in Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7, Ephesians 5:31, to name a few. The unity candle or unity sand ceremony is symbolic of the new household being formed. Problems will come if a spouse continually compares their partner to his/her parents and/or refuses to view their spouse as their priority human relationship.

Second, a man is to cleave to his spouse, which give the instruction that marriage is to be permanent. He is cling, hold close, secure and create a permanent bond with his wife. God's plan was and is one man, plus one woman for a lifetime!  That does not mean serial monogamy or one at a time... God said one for a lifetime. Why is this important? Because marriage is a picture of Christ's love for bride -- the Church! He said He will never leave His bride, He will never be unfaithful to His bride, and He will always be willing to forgive His bride. God even incorporated the story of Hosea and the love he had for his unfaithful bride, to give us a picture of how much Christ loves HIS Church. Men, you are instructed to love your wife that way, too (Eph. 5:25).

Third, the husband and wife are instructed to become one flesh. While this does apply to the physical union in marriage, it also goes much deeper. A husband and wife are to express intimacy both physically and emotionally. They are to exhibit unconditional love, to appreciate their differences, to communicate at a deeper level, to challenge each other to rise to their highest potential and to push each other to fulfill his/her dreams. God wants marriages to thrive; not merely to survive.

Inevitably, couples will experience some structural damage along the way and can head-off the deeper problems by doing some preventative spiritual maintenance (Gen. 3:1-6). The culture will throw lies at them and try to convince them that they are missing out on something. Like Eve, some will buy into the "myth of greener grass," only to find out it's greener only because there is more manure in the other field. Some will disobey God's plan for marriage and choose the way that seems right, only to discover it is the way of death. The responsibility of keeping the marriage and family on-track has been assigned to the husband/father. In the Garden of Eden, Adam stood silent as the serpent talked with Eve and ultimately Adam chose to engage in the same sin (Gen. 3:6b). It is my belief that many marriages could have been saved if only a godly husband would have simply stood-up, fulfilled his spiritual duty and led his family into the truths of Scripture. 

You may be at the phase in which your marriage needs a little "remodeling" (Prov. 24:3-4). It is possible to restore or rebuild your marriage to the point of flourishing.  Build your house with wisdom, establish order, make things right and stabilize your house on the firm foundation of God's Word. Proverbs 2:6 tells us that "the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding." There is no time like the present to use these tools and make your marriage overflow with satisfaction!

So, now it's time to complete the "Seller's Disclosure" or maybe even ask for an "appraisal." Assess what needs to be removed, sure-up weak areas and remodel areas that are outdated or maybe even dilapidated.  Is it time to restore some flare in your marriage with something simple like new paint? Is it time to address bigger problems or hidden damage inflicted by life's "termites?"  Homeowners can ignore the problems with their house and watch it fall down around them; or they can address the little things, before they become big things. Couples have the same choice in their marriage.

Go ahead... get started on that assessment by comparing your marriage to God's original design. 

Motivated by Love

Like the picture on the box cover of a jigsaw puzzle, Mark 2:1-12, gives a picture of what the Church should look like here on earth.  It shows the love, concern and compassion the Church should have toward those who need to encounter Jesus. This passage tells the story of four friends whose love drove them to overcome a variety of obstacles in their journey to bring a paralyzed friend to Jesus.

The story in Mark 2 is a very familiar one; but we often read it so quickly that we miss the fine details. Consider some of these gems:

• Jesus preached the Word (vs. 2),
• Crowds came to encounter Jesus (vs. 3). They were not drawn by the theatrics of the church.
• The 4 friends encountered obstacles; but used innovation, found a ladder, found tools, tore through a roof, and found some rope to lower their friend into the presence of Jesus (vs. 4).
• Jesus rewarded their faith (vs. 5).
• The religious people did not even recognize God the Son right in front of them (vss 6-7),
• Jesus not only showed-up; but He also showed-out by healing the lame man (vss 8-9),
• Spiritual healing took place, before physical healing (vss 10-11), as Jesus accepted the man in the condition in which he came, but loved him to where he needed to be.
• The man, after being healed, IMMEDIATELY got up! He refused to lay there any longer (vs. 12). I am perplexed that so many who experience salvation, still choose to continue in their sin.
•  Jesus’ actions cause people to glorify God (vs 12). Preachers would do well to follow Jesus’ example, rather than trying to build fan clubs to themselves.
• When people truly encountered God, rather than religion; they said, “We never saw anything like this!” (vs 12) 

These are just a few of the amazing things that we see in this picture of what a church “on mission” should look like.  In all of this, one major thing stands out – LOVE.  The men loved Jesus and they loved their friend. Their love drove them to bring their friend to Jesus and it made an impression on all who witnessed the event. 

John 14:34-35 states, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Tertullian wrote, “See how these Christians love one another.” A mark of the early Church was their love and it should still be a mark of the Church (true believers) today.

As I close, l encourage you to ask yourself, "How well am I loving others – inside and outside the Church?" If you have time, listen to and think about the old song, “They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love.” --  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo4ijOIs6as

 

Abortion is a Biblical (Not Political) Issue

On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision in the case known as "Roe vs. Wade." Their decision was in favor of Norma McCorvey (alias "Jane Roe") and held that women in the United States have a constitutional right to choose whether or not to have abortions without excessive government restriction. Their decision struck down an abortion ban in the state of Texas. Interestingly, in 1998, Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe) revealed that she had experienced a religious conversion, which resulted in a change of heart and her ultimate opposition to abortion.

Abortion continues to be a "hot" topic among politicians and political groups today, but abortion is NOT a political topic... it is a biblical one!  Only God is the Giver of life and no man has the right to end a life whether by abortion, infanticide, genocide, senicide, suicide or any other means. Former President, Ronald Reagan understood the balance of religion and politics. He stated with great wisdom, "We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life - the unborn - without diminishing the value of all human life."  We must see the sacred value in ALL human life.

Each year, around the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, churches across America take time to remember those people who never experienced life outside the womb, due to abortion.  It is estimated that 6 million Jews were exterminated in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and 30 million people died under Stalin's tyranny in the Soviet Union; but America surpasses their combined total with over 60 million lives having been lost to abortion since 1973. 

Many women claim they have the right to decide what happens to their body, but Mother Teresa said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." Ronald Reagan noted that, "Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born."  The former US Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, stated that not once in his entire medical career, did he ever see one instance in which an abortion was necessary to save a mother's life. The truth is that abortion is not a medical issue, it is a biblical issue. It is not a medical decision -- it is a selfish one. 

The following bumper sticker slogans give cause for contemplation. "Aren't you glad your mother was pro-life?" "Abortion doesn't make you unpregnant, it makes you the mother of a dead child." "If it's not a baby, then you're not pregnant." "Abortion stops a beating heart." And one of my favorites, "As a former fetus, I oppose abortion." 

The topics of abortion & adoption have prompted several projects by pro-life / anti-abortion film makers:

• Bella (2006)
• Meet the Robinson's (2007) - Theme based around adoption
• Horton Hears a Who (2008) - Theme is "A person's a person, no matter how small"
• October Baby (2011) - Powerful story of an abortion survivor
• Crescendo (2011) - Powerful short film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CafJJNETvqM&feature=youtu.be
• Gosnell (2018) - Based on true story of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell
• Unplanned (2019) - Based on the true story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee
• AKA Jane Roe (2020) - Interview with Norma McCorvey about her journey from pro-choice to pro-life
• Final on my list is The Silent Scream (1984) in which a former abortionist teaches about the specifics of the suction abortion.

Realizing that the Bible has been proven to be supernatural by archeology, history, science and prophecy; take time to see what it says on the matter. The absolute truth of Scripture trumps any argument based on moral or cultural relativism. I've included a few pro-life Bible verses below and a link to many more:

• Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." 
• Ps 139:13-16 - "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place... 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." 
• Ex 20:13 - "Thou shalt not kill (murder)"

Click the following link to see more Scriptures - https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/scriptures-advocating-for-the-pre-born/

It is our prayer that Christ-followers would put their politics and political correctness aside to consider what God's Holy Word says on this matter of abortion. We pray that your view regarding the "sanctity of life" will be shaped by the truth of God's Word, rather than politics and culture.

On this anniversary of "Roe vs. Wade," let's take some time to pray for those women who are still struggling with grief and guilt following their decision to abort; for those women who are currently deciding between life, death and/or adoption; for children & families who have experienced adoption; for those medical personnel that care for these women; for Christians to have the courage to follow the teaching of Scriptures; and for our nation to truly understand that ALL LIVES MATTER.

Jesus Prayed for Unity Among the Disciples

Last week, an angry mob stormed the Capital building in Washington, D.C.  The political provocations over the last 4 years reached a boiling point and the political pressure cooker exploded! I won't address the motives, as I cannot answer for each individual; but their actions I do condemn as wrong. Some of the 2020 protests had good reason and intentions; but mobs, looting, riots, vigilante justice, defacing of statues & Federal buildings, destruction of cities & businesses, or overtaking the Capital can never be condoned. No matter how warranted your cause or what issue/decision you might disagree with, anarchy and chaos cannot be endorsed or justified by a follower of Jesus Christ.

It is time to call the Church of Jesus Christ to repentance and seek to restore unity in the House of God.  Dr. Tony Evans said it this way, “

Simultaneous to our medical pandemic, we’re in a cultural pandemic – a devolution of our society caused by a spiritual pandemic. We have wondered away from a value system that was established by God for how human beings were to live and act and relate to one another.”

Dr. Evans added, "Before change can take place in the White House, it must take place in God’s house.”

Today, I call your attention back to what is known as the High Priestly Prayer:

John 17:20-23 NLT - I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one -- as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.  I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.  

This is one of Jesus' last prayers here on earth. In this prayer, He is asking the Father to make the Disciples (then & future) to be as one. He was praying for unity.  Jesus could have asked His Father for anything, but He asked for unity among the Disciples (the Church). So, allow me to share a few thoughts about unity...

1. Unity is imperative for the sake of the mission!

The Church has been commissioned to carry the message of God's unconditional love and forgiveness both locally and globally (Matt.28:19-20) . When an unsaved world sees believers who are unforgiving, hate-filled and cannot get along with each other; that pushes them away. Why would anyone desire to have a relationship with God, if His people are so angry?  We are ambassadors for Christ and what others see in us, they assume is true of the One we represent!  Jesus said it is by our love that people will know we are His disciples (John 13:35).  Division destroys our credibility and hinders this mission!

2. Unity reveals God's glory.

"Glory" is symbolic of the tangible presence of God. You see it mentioned when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, when the angels appeared to the shepherds, etc. God's glory was given to His Church, so let us live and act like we are in His presence. We are to be lights shining eternal hope into the darkness of this world.

3. Unity should be the standard for Christ-followers.

• Pursue it

 Rom 14:19 - Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

• Maintain it

Eph. 4:1-3 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• Glorify God by it

Rom. 15:5-6 - Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our world is in chaos and looking for direction. Let us unify behind our one, God-given mission of making disciples and put all of the other "distractions" aside. The church was never called to engage in politics, denominationalism or social activities -- we have been called to impact eternity by sharing the Good News of the Gospel. Let's rally around that cause in such a time as this!