Joplin relief efforts

Please help get the word out. We are partnering with other churches, agencies and KCVO Spirit FM to collect supplies for the people in Joplin. The drop off will be at KCVO as they are planning to load up Wednesday evening and be on the road early Thursday morning.
Greatest needs: Bottled Water, ready to eat, non-perishable food items, toiletries, diapers, wipes, formula, extension cords, blankets and towels. Currently we are asking you to purchase and deliver your items directly to KCVO.

Pastor Tom has been in contact with the Baptist organization in Joplin and they have immediate need for cups, plates and paper towels in case lots. If you would like to contribute to this need by donation or purchase, drop contribution by the church office today or early tomorrow as he is planning to head west this week to bring what he can to them.

Finally, we are being told that at this time, volunteer labor is not being allowed in to the area. As the days and weeks unfold, we know that help will be needed and our plan is to provide volunteer work teams in the days ahead. As soon as a contact person for PH is established, we will get that information out. If you are available to organize the volunteer team effort, please give us a call at the church office -346-3951 x 11.

Thank you followers of Christ!!

“They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.” Acts 2:45

Palm Sunday Thoughts

What an experience on Palm Sunday!! AWESOME!! God opened up the heavens and poured out His Glory for all to see. 12 Baptisms, a moving final message in our series WHY AM I HERE? on "GO"ing, followed by an evening of fun, fellowship, food and fund raising that blew the top off of the Launching Pad. Over $7000 was raised to fund the Mexico mission trip and providing seed money for future ones. The monies collected surpassed the God-sized goal that was set. Once again He showed up and "SUPER-SIZED" our offerings...to Him be all GLORY!!

As you know, we are in the middle of Holy Week. I encourage you to read or re-read the passion event in one of the gospels and meditate on the events leading up to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This morning, my reading time was in Matthew 26 where Jesus was in Gethsemane "overwhelmed with sorrow" and praying. It becomes all too easy to imagine Jesus as a demigod, striding heroically through the world without a care, when in fact, He felt emotions, toils and burdens just like we do. Please take some time this week to ponder the suffering He did for you. It will make Resurrection morning all the sweeter!

Finally, I want to encourage you to "GO" this week by inviting someone to one of the Easter services we will be hosting. Plant a seed in the life of a person you know needs a fresh touch from God. Easter is a GREAT time to plant that seed. All the metaphors of spring apply...new life, a change in season, fresh growth, etc. It's not a coincidence!!!!....it is God's Plan. So be bold this week....stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing your story and an invitation to join you in celebrating the Resurrection.

We will be hosting two locations this week. 10 AM at the Main campus of the Potter's House and 10:30 AM at Captain Ron's in Sunrise Beach. We'll see you there!! Don't miss this week, Guy. As good as last week was, this one is looking like it is going to be the BEST ONE YET!! Let's Grow....

Sheep or Goats??

Two weeks ago, I shared in my message the Greek word " mathetes " which translates into follower, learner, disciple and the fact that God calls us to be followers of Jesus and His Way...to live like He lived, loved like He loved, do what He did.

Read Matthew 25:31-46

We entirely miss the point if we read this story as a list of 'rules to be obeyed'. To be sure, these are conditions that demand attention. But Jesus isn't telling us to keep this list and carefully mark them off as we do them. He instead desires "His" disciples to do these things 'naturally' — as though it were a kind of 'second nature' — without stopping to think about them or consider the cost. (Kind of sounds like an Acts 2 community, doesn't it?)

This lifestyle shift demands effort, particularly getting started. Though people of many traditions and beliefs are kind to outcasts, visit prisoners, feed the hungry, and many other kind acts, it is noticeable, especially in our increasingly "what about me" society, that those who sign up for these activities on a regular basis, and who do these and similar things automatically even when 'off duty', are people who day by day read their bibles, say their prayers and week by week serve and worship the God we know in Jesus.

That was how the Good News spread so fast in Biblical times. The called out "sheep" were people the community saw behaving differently. The world back then was full of people who didn't help, didn't feed the hungry, and didn't care for the weak and vulnerable. The "little Christs", as they were called, were modelling a new and loving way. It was, and remains, a compelling way....it's Jesus Way! Sheep or goats? Choose and start today....let's grow!!

FORGIVING SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES

A Lenten thought from Matthew 18:15-35

Upon first reading, we can glance over the significance of Jesus' answer to Peter. The conversation has been around how to handle a brother (or sister) who sins against us. The disciples were more than likely feeling the heat and taking some arrows. Someone had to ask the next question. I probably would have asked before Peter had a chance if I had been there. "Ok, Jesus, so when do we get to go off on this sucker and let him/her have it? Or when do I get to walk away from this person so others will see my hurt? I'm liking this binding on earth talk and I know some folks I want to bind...."

"Not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

WHAT? You mean, I never get to get even? But that means he'll never be brought to justice for how he hurt me. She'll never have to repent and say "sorry" for the things she said and did.

Jesus' answer is not how we feel like responding most of the time. Forgiving over and over and over? But His response came out of His nature and out of His purpose for coming to earth, not a human reaction. And He further explains in the parable that followed, in which God is the master and we sometimes can be that servant. We truly want (and need) forgiveness and gladly accept it but can be so unwilling to give it in our day to day lives.

This virtue was even in the prayer He taught his disciples in Matthew 6. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." It wasn't to be an option....it was to be a way of the transformed life.

Today, I am reminded again that my life needs to model my Saviors and not the world. What does Jesus' reply to Peter say to you? May we apply what we hear Him say to us today and let's grow!

LOSE TO GAIN...AND GROW

Philippians 3: 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Paradoxical thought isn't it? Lose to gain? I don't believe it is a stretch for us to relate to the Jews of Paul's time. Think about it. They were God's chosen people. They knew that God has picked them to be a great nation. They hear about this Jesus who some say is the Messiah and were asked to follow a new Way. Their response…."Give up all this? For this maverick from Nazereth? I have everything I could possibly want. You want me to give up my reputation, my power, my money, my camels with spinners and boots with the furs? For some carpenter rabbi? I would be thought crazy. People would mock me. I would be the fodder for gossip. They would laugh at me at the Wal-market when I invited them to church or talked about Him. NO THANK YOU! I am happy right where I am. I know God loves me, and that is enough".

Paul goes on to share his desire: 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… His words to me are saying “I want to be like Jesus, one of His disciples.” Sunday I quoted Charles Spurgeon who said “an ounce of heart knowledge is worth more than a ton of head learning”. This may be where the rubber meets the road in our spiritual growth. Do we really desire to know Jesus intimately? Or just socially so we can be thought to be a part of His crowd?

The "F" Word

The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships. Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, friendships or the church, the strategy is the same. A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt. What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:15

When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer. Breaking satan's foothold requires at least one person to press into God's grace. It cannot happen when either party "feels" like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving. None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt. Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party. It is only obedience that allows God's grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.

Let us choose grace instead of bitterness and grow together not apart, praying that we will be able to work through the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.

GROWING IN HIS GRACE

Driving to a funeral I was officiating the other day, I drove past a gas station where an old friend was filling up. I still consider him a friend but he has chosen to sever ties due to his disagreeing with decisions leadership of TPH has made. As it happened, he noticed my car, we made eye contact, and I waved. He turned, without any response and proceeded to grab a sweatshirt out of his truck.
Now, I can understand people disagreeing. Everyone has opinions, thoughts and expectations...me certainly being all in on that. (some of you are laughing at that understatement) What I can't understand is how "disagreeable" some folks can be and how they can be that way for a LONG time. There have been events in my life, disagreements with others, even harsh arguments that have strained and/or ended relationships. Several times things have caused me to "disassociate" with the other person. I understand all those feelings and actions.
God calls us to a higher commitment though when we become His disciple. My explanation to people in these type of situations is this: some day, if both sides have Jesus as Lord of their life, there will be a reunion. They are going to HAVE to get along in heaven. Father will see to that! Now if that is the case, then shouldn't we try to do the same with our relationships here on earth? Someone once said that our life here is practice for eternity. I like that!!
At the end of his teaching on the mount, Jesus said "For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don't forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing." MATTHEW 6:14-15
Tough to hear....harder to live out...but no less our directive.
If you find yourself as I have, holding on to "stuff", make amends, forgive and move toward Jesus likeness......Let's Grow!!