Author: littleflatrockchurch

We live in a society that constantly asks, “What are my chances?”  Most of the time our fears are what motivate us, like the following information that originated from a blog entitled, I kid you not, “A Whole Lot of Nothing.”

“The odds of an adult having to visit the ER due to an injury from a pogo stick is 1 in 115,300 which tells us the dangers of pogo sticks.  Of course, it doesn’t mention how many of the examples were due to complete stupidity.  The good news is to avoid such a situation, we just need to stay away from pogo sticks. However, the bad news isthat you are more likely to be injured by soap (1 in 11,380), a hammock (1 in 85,350), a toothbrush (1 in 99,340), or a drinking straw (1 in 100,600).  However, you are less likely to be sent to the hospital after having a mishap with a leaf blower (1 in 171,100).”

On a more serious note, another survey tells us that only 1 in 10 Americans read their Bible daily.  This leads to another area of chance that we should never participate in: Our lack of God’s Word leaves only the thoughts of others for our interpretation.  Doubt, a close cousin of fear, then becomes the by-product, as we listen to the skeptics and not GOD’S SOURCE.

For instance, if you happen to be unconvinced that a particular baby born in a Bethlehem manger 2000 years ago was anything more than just an ordinary human baby, let me challenge you with a few of “the odds” in that regard.

Did you know that the prophet Micah, writing about 700 B.C., out of the thousands of cities over the world in those days, designated Bethlehem of Judea as the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2)?  And at that same time, Isaiah (7:14) said that the Christ would be born of a virgin?  Or, that a prophecy made 1000 years before Jesus’ birth specified that the Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced, a clear reference to death by crucifixion, 800 years before the Romans instituted crucifixion as a form of capital punishment?  This brings us to our final thought.

Many years ago, Peter Stoner wrote a book entitled Science Speaks. The writing was based on the science of probability as it calculated the odds of any one man in all of history fulfilling even 8 of the 60 major prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. The probability that any one person could have fulfilled 8 such prophecies would be 1 in 10¹⁷.  That’s 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.

Stoner claims that it would take that many silver dollars to cover the state of Texas 2-feet deep. Now, who in his right mind would CHANCE that a blindfolded man, heading from Dallas in any direction, would be able, on his first attempt, to pick-up one specifically marked coin out of… 100,000,000,000,000,000?

Well, God’s Word tells us that we should take that chance because Jesus was that baby in the manger!

“Food, football and family” are the trio of answers that seemed to dominate the minds of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) students at the local junior high school this past week. The question generating the responses: “What are the first things you think about when you hear the word, Thanksgiving?”  After some gentle prodding, they also remembered the word itself is somewhat of a self-defined sort, as Giving Thanks might be a valuable part worth mentioning for the fourth Thursday of November. 

As the years continue to march forward, my attitude of gratitude still sometimes gets stuck on the provisions of thanksgiving and not on the GIVER that grants the provisions.  This is not something new within our society as the following words from the past attest to our forgetfulness:

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

These words are part of a proclamation given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863.  Even during the depths of our nation’s Civil War, our sixteenth Commander-in-Chief recognized our desire for self-reliance and self-sufficiency. A craving that continues more than 150 years later.  However, our nineteenth century ancestors were also not the first to forget God…even though these forerunners, the Hebrews, were warned prior to crossing into the Promised Land more than 2000 years before.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not FORGET the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.” (Deut. 4:9a)

Then the second portion of this verse tells them/us how to remember God and not forget Him: 

“Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deut. 4:9b) 

This Thanksgiving let us focus on remembering the GIVER and FORGIVER as we continuously share this spiritual gratitude with our family and friends.

I believe in the God of fruit time and harvest, who makes the land to bear gifts in its time and fills our tables with the bounty of his hand;

I believe in Jesus Christ his Son, who was the first fruit of those that slept, and brings us to spiritual tables where our cups are always full;

I believe in the Holy Spirit, who causes us to remember all for which we are grateful and teaches us to see a relationship between our gifts and the giver;

I believe in the world as the arena of my spiritual life, where I am to share hospitality with the stranger; for in so doing I shall fulfill the desires of him who has given me everything, and of his Son and the Holy Spirit.

—John Killinger, Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise

Join us Saturday, October 29 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the church for games and crafts for kids, Cake Bingo for the adults, and a costume parade with prizes.  Our traditional treats of cider and donuts will be served.  It’s a fun night for all ages!

The month of October always reminds me of so many things:  pumpkins, fall foliage, homecoming games, apple cider, candy corn, Harvest Ingathering, corn mazes, orchards, scary movies, hay rides and caramel apples to name a few (Ok…A LOT!). This last item also reminds me of one more thing that is associated with this time of year:  Halloween.

This particular holiday has some controversial agendas, but this particular trick-or-treater would probably still be on the outside-looking-in of faith in Christ if it were not for a friend’s once-a-year invite to his particular congregation’s annual harvest party. In other words, respectfully conscious of other’s thoughts and opinions, I enjoy this particular opportunity every year to remind myself and others about the Apostle Paul’s following words:  “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”  2 Corinthians 11:14

Paul’s second letter to the Church at Corinth contained the above statement as he was attempting to warn the followers about being “…deceived by the serpent’s cunning…” and being “…led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”  The Apostle realized that “…just like Eve…” the Corinthians were being fooled by the original liar.  Jesus had this to say regarding the Devil’s masquerading ability and proficiency:  “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  John 8:44b

This brings us back to our caramel apple.  Did you know that Satan pretends to be like this delectable treat, but with one BIG difference?  That old Serpent wants us to think he is offering us a treat, but really it is nothing but a trick.  His offering is actually a caramel onion masquerading as its similar-looking counterpart.

This brings me full-circle and finally to our title.  Several years ago, a well-meaning deacon in a congregation I served within was fooled in the same “caramel onion” manner.  After we watched a film to conclude our study series on The Devil and His Demons, this man came to me with the following response, “I sure hope that none of my offering went to pay for that!”  Just as I was about to reply, another leader at this assembly quickly intervened and made the most inspiring comeback conceivable, “Don’t worry. I am positive that your donation went towards the electric bill!”

That disarming retort has always reminded me to watch out for Satan’s masquerade and remember that our investments are not to just “keep the lights burning,” but to show The Light of eternal significance to those lost in the liar’s tricks.

 

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,” proclaims Psalm 20:7 (NKJV), “But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”  Do these antiquated modes of transportation make this verse irrelevant to us? Not if we broaden our notion of chariots and horses.

Some trust in fancy cars, boats, bikes or snowmobiles for status or entertainment.  Some trust in big houses, expensive furniture or high-end fashion to feel important.  Some trust in investments or a promised inheritance for security.  Some trust in food, painkillers or alcohol to feel good — for a while.  Some trust in military might, academic degrees, sports, relationships and so much more.

Let’s help one another trust instead in the name – and trustworthiness – of our God.  Even the psalmist didn’t do so alone; verse 7 says “we.”  We need friends, Christian mentors and, above all, the Holy Spirit to assist us.  In God we’ll find our answers, our strength and our purpose.

When Jesus called his apostles to follow Him, the scriptures tell us that they left their worldly ventures behind.  In the opening chapter of the gospel of Mark, we discover that many of these followers were fishermen.  Jesus utilized their profession to steer them towards a different type of seeking outside of themselves.

“As he was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. ‘Follow Me,’ Jesus told them, ‘and I will make you fishers of men!’ Mark 1:16, 17

This word picture of sharing the message of salvation with those they met along the way was a wonderful analogy of the Great Commission.  It is actually still in force today asALL of us have a position that counts on God’s Team.  With that stated, I would like to use a different (and somewhat similar) correlation as the NFL kicks-off their 2016 season.  This scenario begins with the Church Team’s Offense on the field and their Opponent’s Defense awaiting the action.

The Church Team realizes they’ve all got to play, so they’re on the field in a huddle. They huddle…and huddle…and huddle. The referee calls a penalty for delaying the game and then moves the ball back five yards. Still the team huddles and huddles…and huddles.The referee calls penalty after penalty after penalty, until finally the ball is moved all the way back to their own goal line. “Hey, Coach!” shouts the quarterback to the sidelines. “This is the greatest huddle I’ve ever been.  What a group of guys! We have the best fellowship…and some of these guys are amazing students of the play book. Some have memorized over 100 plays and can analyze them precisely.” 

It is wonderful and exciting that we learn so much in our “congregational huddles!”  Spending time together in worship and fellowship is encouraged within God’s Word, butwhy don’t we get up on the line and play?  Why should we?  What many of our Lord’s so-called followers really desire are bigger and better huddles!  Besides, we might get hurt….No one ever gotten hurt in a huddle!  Our congregations are in big trouble if they become only a “Holy Huddle,” that is a band of Saints (not New Orleans) gathered Sunday after Sunday as we sing, praise and fellowship but never get out on the playing field to apply what we learn.

We are supposed to be Christ’s body—His hands, His feet, His voice—by which He carries out His plans in the world. God intends that we, His Followers, are to be a part of this process:  “…through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known”(Ephesians 3:10).

The church is to be God’s light in a dark world. However, the Christian life was never meant to be lived only in a church building for a few hours on Sunday.  It is meant to be lived in the public arena – “doing some fishing” – at school, the workplace and within our neighborhoods.  Of course, we also need worship and fellowship with other Christians—just like a football team needs the huddle.  But remember, it is what happensafter the huddle that really counts.

Pastor Pat