Panhandle Parson

Work and Worship

2010-07-18T09:50:00.002-05:00

Today we are discussing Mary and Martha. Martha was busy preparing a meal for Jesus and His disciples whom Martha had invited for supper. Meanwhile, as the guest arrived, Martha was busy in the kitchen while Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to His teachings. The longer Mary sat and worshiped and Martha worked in the kitchen the more upset Martha became. Martha finally reached the "boiling point" along with all the pots on the stove, and came into the room with an explosive, bitter, pitiful attitude. Martha marched over to Jesus and tattled on Mary. "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
Can't you just see Martha standing there in the middle of the room with a tea towel thrown over her shoulder, sweat from the heat in the kitchen pouring down her face and a smudge of flour on her cheeks as she points her finger in Mary's face? Martha was expecting Jesus to take her side, she was expecting the Savior to reprimand Mary and tell her to get up and go and help. This, however is not what happened. Jesus says to Martha, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
What things are you worried about today? Are you consumed with worry and busyness, or are you prepared to sit at the feet of the Master today and worship?...Till then, Bro. Alan

Rest and relaxation

2010-07-12T22:55:00.001-05:00

Well we made it to Ruidoso! We plan on staying for a few days here with the family and the in-laws. I plan on using this time for some study and sermon preparation and of course some R&R! Tonight Graham, Lilly and I went fishing at the lake and I was the only one that caught anything...ha, the old man has still got it...Graham and I plan on getting an early start on the fishing in the morning and then reading and relaxing in the afternoon while the ladies go and drain the bank account at the shops in town...
This Sunday we are talking about Mary and Martha, so this should be a good exercise on letting go of the daily drain and spending some time focusing on worship and praise to the Father...I hope I have a "Mary" week...till then...Bro. Alan

The Lord's Day

2010-07-11T08:05:00.002-05:00

So often we hear, or at least used to hear, of Sunday referred to as "The Lord's Day." This was to be because this was the day that is dedicated to the worship, fellowship, and service to the Lord. As I was praying and thinking this morning about "the Lord's Day," the thought occurred to me that, "yes, this is the Lord's Day, the day set aside for the Body of Christ to gather together and corporately worship and fellowship together, but should not every day be the Lord's Day?" After all everyday we are to serve Him, everyday we are to commune with Him, everyday we are to strive for Him to live through us...So as we celebrate this "Lord's Day," let us be reminded that everyday is to be lived for the glory and honor of the Lord...
May GOD be glorified in our worship today...until next time...Bro. Alan

Here We Go Again

2010-07-08T21:32:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been a while hasn't it? Busy is just the "tip of the Ice-Berg" to describe what has been going on lately. I just finished a Master's at Wayland and am about to begin another at the B.H. Carroll Theological Institute in August. It "should" only take until November of 2011 to finish this Master's and then I'll see if the Lord is still leading to pursue PhD. work.
This Summer has been eventful. Maegan has been home and we are getting ready to move her back to College Station at the end of July. Graham is involved in Summer workouts and Lilly is, well, Lilly. She has really been growing and maturing this Summer and I am so proud of her.
Gail has been quilting like a mad woman and enjoying every minute of it and I have still been in shock and awe at how good God is in bringing us to WD. We will have completed our 6th year here in October. The church and the people of this community bless us daily and it is such a privilege to be their pastor.
We are going to get some R&R next week as we take the family to Ruidoso and join Gail's parents there for a few days of relaxing, fishing, and some rest. We are so grateful to Anne and Findley for making their "mountain home" available for us to use and enjoy.
I'll try to make some more post in the days to come...God is Good!

A Tale of Two Sons

2009-11-12T16:35:00.002-06:00

We are exploring the parables of Jesus right now on Sunday mornings. This Sunday 11/15/09, we will be looking at the 'parable of the prodigal son,' So many times we look at this from the view point of the younger son and in reality really miss the point of the parable.
Tim Keller has written a great book called, "The Prodigal God." In this book he talks about what the word 'prodigal' really means, look it up sometime...
We are going to use this book as the reference point for the next two Sundays, this week we are going to look at "act 1" and deal with the younger son and see how God's grace and mercy are truly that of a Prodigal God. Come and let's explore and see what God wants to speak to us through His Holy Spirit.

Rahab & Redemption

2009-08-16T15:43:00.003-05:00

Well, this morning we discussed Rahab and Redemption. In the book of Joshua we have the accounts of Israel crossing the Jordan River and taking the land that God promised them through Abraham. It is a book of conquest and battles, a real manly man's book if you will, But it is interesting to note that the first story that is told in Joshua is the one of Rahab the harlot.
This is the story of salvation, redemption, restoration, forgiveness and overcoming. Why would God chose to save someone like Rahab? She was a harlot and not a very desirable person, she was not known as "Suzy Church-goer," as a matter of fact she was most likely known by a lot of other names that I can't talk about here. But the fact is that God did save her and her family, God saw in her someone worthy and lovely and a person of great value in the Kingdom.
So many times we think that we are not worthy of God's grace nor His mercy, and you know what? We are NOT worthy, but the amazing thing is that He saw fit to save us through the sacrifice of His Son. Just like Rahab, we fall short of God's glory, just like the harlot of Jericho, we find ourselves living lives of sin, just like this prostitute, we often find ourselves selling out to the world around us and being used by the enemy. But there is good news!!! We don't have to stay that way. Rahab acknowledged that the God of the Israelites was, "The Lord of Heaven above and of the earth below." She recognized that He is the ruler of all that there is, and when we do the same, God does the same thing for us that He did for Rahab, He saves us...He saves us from the life that we once knew, He forgives our past, He gives us a bright future.
No, Rahab was not your average "Church-goer" and I hope that you are not as well, I hope that you are who God called you to be, forgiven, restored, redeemed and resting in His salvation.
There is an old song by Ray Boltz that talks about Rahab's Great-great grandson called, "Shepherd Boy." In that song the chorus says, "When others see a shepherd boy God may see a King, even though your life is filled with ordinary things, in just a moment He can touch you and everything will change, when others see a shepherd boy, God may see a King." Others saw in Rahab a prostitute, but God saw one worthy of being in the linage of Jesus, What does He see in you today? He has a plan for you and it's out of this world...
Till, "Whenever"...Bro. Alan

It's Been A While

2009-08-10T09:06:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been a while...Like many of you, summer is not a time of leisure and rest, it is a time of meeting commitments, keeping appointments, planning family time, and for me, working on finishing a master's degree.
This summer has been busy to say the least. Our oldest daughter is preparing to leave for college at Texas A&M in College Station, TX., we had a funeral in Dallas last week, I have written 67 pages in research papers in the last three weeks, not to mention preparing and studying for sermons and Bible studies, and oh yeah, we moved my wife's "Quilting Studio" home this week, which involved much heavy lifting and sore muscles. Our son started two-a-days last week, so we have to get up and get him to practice by 7:00am every morning, our youngest daughter is keeping us on our toes as well. We have totally rearranged the house to compensate for our oldest moving out and the quilting machine coming home. So, things have been moving at a furious pace in the Wilson household. And you know what? I wouldn't want it any other way...I love life at a fast pace...

Well, I know it's been a while since I've blogged, as if anyone really reads these anyway, as a matter of fact it's been so long that I had to reset my password and wait for the blogging site to reconfirm my information. Anyway, we have finished our study of Exodus and are now diving into the book of Joshua. Joshua is an amazing study of the life of a faithful man of God. He serves as a worthy example for us to follow today, a man that remained faithful till the end, a man that was not concerned about popular opinion or what the latest poll had to say, a man that was steadfast and committed to his mission that the Lord had given him.
As we travel with Joshua and enter into the Promised Land I will try to write about where we are and where we are going in our study together, as of right now, we are getting ready to cross the Jordan, we are standing on the banks of the river, looking over into Canaan Land, there is going to have to be faith, trust and dependence on God to get us across that river...but it can and it will be done. What rivers are you at today? Does it seem impossible to try to get through the problems that you are facing today? Let's try to look tomorrow at how we can cross the rivers in our lives and begin to live atthe place that God has chosen for us...Till then, Bro. Alan

Jesus, Our Rock Of Salvation

2009-05-19T10:04:00.002-05:00

Philip Ryken in his commentary over Exodus states, "The whole Bible is about Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament His coming as Savior is expected. In the Gospels His glorious person and redeeming work are exhibited. In the Epistles His way of salvation by faith is explained. Then in the book of Revelation His majesty as King is exalted. From beginning to end it is all about Jesus.

We have encountered Christ throughout our study of Exodus. We saw Him in the birth of Moses--the baby in the basket who was born to be the savior. We saw Him at the burning bush, where Moses met the Great I Am. We also saw Him in all of God's signs and wonders. The finger of God in the plague of gnats pointed us to Jesus and His miracles. The plague of darkness reminded us of the black hours He suffered on the cross. Then we saw Jesus at the Red Sea, where God's people were baptized from death into life. We saw Jesus in the wilderness too. The sweet desert springs refreshed us with His living water, and the manna tasted like the true bread from Heaven that gives life to the world. The history of Israel's deliverance is the story of our own salvation in Christ."

2009-05-13T10:53:00.002-05:00

When you look at it, the Israelites really had nothing to whine about...They were crying and complaining, saying that they had nothing to eat, when in fact if you look at Exodus 17:3 the Israelites talk about needing water for their livestock. They still had herds and flocks that they could eat from. So, they were not starving, they just weren't getting their way and what they wanted when they wanted it. Sound familiar?

You see, the Israelites were confusing their needs with their wants. We often find ourselves in the same situation, we let our greeds become our needs in our own minds. The Israelites also did something else that we often find our selves doing, they exaggerated the advantages of their former situation. they said, "Remember the good old days? how we used to sit around pots of meat in Egypt and eat to our fill?" REALLY? The good old days? Yeah, the good old days, the days when they were in slavery and bondage, the days when they were told what to do and had no choice whether to do it or not, the days when the task master's used to beat them for not performing their task well enough, yeah, those were the days.

We find ourselves many times wishing that we could go back to the 'good old days,' but were they really that good? Was life good before you met Christ? Was life fulfilling before the Savior saved you? These are the good days, as the old song says, "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more..." Rejoice today, because it is a good day with Christ who has saved us and delivered us from the bondage of sin...This is the day that the LORD has made I WILL rejoice and be GLAD in it!

Till later...Bro. Alan :)

2009-05-12T14:45:00.002-05:00

Amazingly enough, in spite of Israel's whining, God listened and gave them what they asked for.
God not only heard them, but he also provided for them: "The LORD said to Moses, 'I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, "At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God."'"
God not only provided for them, but He provided in abundance. He fed them until they were satisfied. The only reason that God did this was for His Glory and because of His infinite patience, because after all their grumbling, it was much more that Israel deserved.
God made good on His promise. He provided food that very night and then again the following morning.

God is gracious and full of mercy, He meets our needs always, even when we grumble. He gives us what we need and not what we deserve. I'm glad He does! Thank Him today for what He has given you and thank Him that He has not given us what we deserve...

Till whenever...Bro. Alan

It's Been A While

2009-05-11T09:11:00.002-05:00

Yes, it has been a while since my last blog, so long as a matter of fact that I had forgotten the password to access my account! I'm sorry that it has taken so long to update, but things have been a little busy. May is a maddening month, with all the banquets, ball games, graduation preparations, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and the fact that I am going back to school to complete my Master's, time seems to get away from me these days.

Anyway, This week we are going to be looking at Exodus 16:1-20. This is the account of God providing the people with their daily need of food. It's when God rained down manna upon the Children of Israel every morning to feed them, everyday that is except for Saturday, the sabbath, which was to be a day of rest.

Yesterday in church, we looked at when the Children of Israel had come to the water's of Marah. The water was so bitter that it was not suitable for human consumption, and the people began to complain and whine to Moses. Moses prayed, received instructions from the Lord about how to make the water sweet by putting a tree into the water and did so and the people drank sweet, refreshing water to their hearts desire.

Now, you would think that after whining to Moses and Moses praying to the Father and the Father meeting their needs that they would learn to trust in God to provide for their needs. You would think that, but that's not what happened.

In verse 2 of Exodus 16 the people begin to complain and whine once again. At least this time Moses is not alone, they are also calling Aaron out as one that should be held responsible.

Think about it, they had just been delivered from Pharaoh and his army, they had seen the LORD destroy Pharaoh in the Red Sea, the very sea that they passed through on dry land to safety, they had seen the LORD provide fresh, sweet water for them from a bitter source, they had gone into Elim and found palm trees to rest under and pools of water to relax by and again, at the first sign of trouble what did they do? They began t owhine and complain again.

Now before we are too judgmental, let's think about our own lives for a moment. How many times has God provided for you? Has He met all your needs? Has He shown Himself to be faithful to you in all things? Yet how many times do we want to just quit, give up and complain about all that's wrong with the world?

We look back on the Children of Israel in the desert and wonder why they just couldn't have faith and believe, because God would meet all their needs. Well, can I tell you that GOd has not changed, the same GOd that met the needs of the Hebrews in the desert is the same GOd that wants to meet your needs today. Don't complain, instead thank God now for the provision that He is going to meet today.

Till 'whenever'...Bro. Alan

The Cup; His Blood Shed For You

2009-04-17T14:21:00.002-05:00

"And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink for it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:27-28

When Jesus handed the cup to the disciples, they naturally would have thought of the blood of the Passover Lamb that was applied to the doorpost of their ancestor's homes in Egypt. In preparation for the tenth plague, God had instructed the children of Israel to put the blood of the Passover Lamb on the two doorpost and on the lentil of the house. God made a covenant with the people: When the death angel saw the blood of the doorpost, he would passover that house and not take the life of the first born son. But if a house did not have the blood on the doorpost and lentil, the death angel would visit their home and take the life of the first-born male. The Lord said, "And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." Exodus 12:13

As the disciples drank the wine, they remembered the blood covenant. But Jesus gave new meaning to the wine to let it symbolize a new covenant. In the Lord's Supper, Jesus' blood now symbolizes more than salvation from a single night of terror, instead, it celebrates eternal salvation.

As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:18-19 "...knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood , as a of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

See You Sunday...Bro. Alan

The Bread; His Body Broken For Us

2009-04-16T15:18:00.002-05:00

In the midst of their meal, Jesus took some unleavened bread and held it up and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." In the Passover meal, the bread had a particular significance. When the Hebrew women made their household, everyday bread, they took a piece of fermented dough that they had saved from a previous day and mixed it into their fresh flour. With time, the yeast would overtake the dough and she could then make her families daily bread. (After saving a piece for future baking, of course.)

When God delivered the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, there wasn't time to bake bread or hassle with the yeast. So God instructed them to make the bread as unleavened.

So, eating unleavened bread became a reminder of the time when God delivered the children of Israel out of bondage. In Exodus 13:8-9 God gives meaning to the unleavened bread. He said, "And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.' And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt."

At the Lord's Supper, the bread that celebrated the people's deliverance from Egyptian bondage took on a new meaning. Now it commemorates Jesus' broken body and celebrates the Christian's deliverance from the eternal bondage of sin. Because of Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb, eternal life is possible to all who believe.

Tomorrow the wine...till then...Bro. Alan

Taking It Seriously

2009-04-15T13:39:00.002-05:00

In 1 Corinthians 11:26-32 Paul talks of the seriousness of our attitude as we partake of the Lord's Supper. We need to approach this sacrament with jumility, gratefullness and thankfulness--We need to take it seriously.

Before we enter into this sacrament together Paul urges us to confess our sins, to check our motives, to see if there is anything that we have against another believer and go to that person and ask for forgiveness.

As a matter of fact Paul says, "If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later."

Take time today to come before the Father and ask Him to search your heart, to see if there is anything that you have against someone else...and take care of it! Confess to the Father, or you may need to call someone and ask their forgiveness.

Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Lord's Supper

2009-04-14T10:34:00.002-05:00

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom. Matthew 26:26-29

Knowing the story of Passover, do you see what Jesus did? He was saying in essence, to His disciples and to us, "I am the new Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of the original Passover Lamb saved the lives of God's people in the old covenant, my blood will save your lives." The big difference? Those protected by the blood of that first Passover lamb still died, those who are saved by the blood of Jesus, the new Passover Lamb, are given life for eternity! That's what communion is all about! So, what should our attitude be? How does this affect our approach to this sacrament? The apostle Paul points us in the right direction in his first letter to the Corinthian church and that's where we will begin tomorrow...I Corinthians 11:26-32...till then...Bro. Alan

Communion: What Does It Mean?

2009-04-13T09:12:00.002-05:00

This week we will be looking at Communion.
Some people refer to communion as the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist.
Jesus observed a Passover meal with His disciples the night He was betrayed, arrested and eventually led to Calvary. During this Passover meal Jesus gives 'new meaning' to the Passover meal and instates the Lord's Supper. You see, the Passover was a celebration of, a remembrance of God's protection of the lives of the Jews and their deliverance from slavery and captivity in Egypt.
The people of God had been enslaved by the Egyptians for some 400 years and God told Moses to go and lead them out of their captivity. Of course Pharaoh wasn't too wild about the idea of letting his entire work force go free. Who would build his buildings and erect his monuments? Pharaoh refused to let God's people go, so God sent 10 plagues against the Egyptians in an effort to convince Pharaoh to let God's people go. The final plague was the killing of all the first born males in Egypt who did not have the blood of the Passover Lamb upon the doorpost of their houses.

Exodus 12:13
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will PASS OVER you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. (Emphasis mine)

As Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, near the end of the meal Jesus did something surprising...He deviated from the normal script of the meal and established something new...

We will look at 'that something new' tomorrow...if you want to read ahead and can't wait till tomorrow, read Matthew 26:26-29.

Till then...Bro. Alan

HE IS RISEN

2009-04-12T19:13:00.002-05:00

In John's gospel, we find Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb early on Easter Sunday morning. She went with the intention of anointing the body for burial but when she arrived at the tomb she found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. She quickly runs back and let's Peter and John know that someone has stolen the body, so she thinks. Peter and John run to the tomb to check it out for themselves.
After the inspection by Peter and John they return to the house while Mary remains. She is still weeping and upset because she thought that the body of her Lord had been stolen. She looks in the tomb and sees two angels sitting inside and they ask her, "Woman, why are you crying?" Her response is that she does not know where they have taken the body of her Lord. She turns around, still upset and crying, and sees someone whom she thinks is the gardener. She as, "If you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away."
The next thing that happens is for me, one of the most meaningful passages of Scripture. Jesus said to her, "Mary." Did you get it? Jesus calls her by name and she recognizes his voice and falls down to worship the risen Lord.
All the loss, despair, weeping, depression, agony, and grieving is gone in a moment all because He called her name. What an amazing moment when the Savior calls our name. At that moment we realize that life is worth living, that despair is vanquished by the voice of authority and love.
This morning in our Easter worship service we had a young lady who heard the Savior call her name, and she answered and received Christ as Lord and Savior. What a great Easter gift that the risen, living, loving, ruling Savior who defeated sin, death and the grave still calls out to people in this world and they hear His voice and respond to and accept His gift of salvation...
Praise be to the LIVING LORD!!!...Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Good Friday

2009-04-10T10:53:00.002-05:00

I've often wondered why today is referred to as 'Good Friday.' There really seems to be no good thing that happened on this day, after all, this is a day of agony and suffering and death and despair and abandonment and darkness and loss.
Christ is taken to Calvary and after He had been beaten and mocked and ridiculed, He is crucified.
According to the ESV Study Bible; crucifixion was widely believed to be the worst form of execution, due to the excruciating pain and public shame. Hanging suspended by one's arms eventually caused great difficulty in breathing, which could be alleviated only by pushing up with one's feet to take the weight off the arms. But that motion itself would cause severe pain in the feet, arms, legs and back, causing the exhausted victim to slump down again, only to be nearly unable to breathe once more. Eventually, the victim would succumb to suffocation, if he had not already died as a result of the cumulative effect of the physical trauma inflicted on him.
Jesus suffered all that for you and for me, and although we understand the physical pain and cause of death by crucifixion, I believe that the true cause of death for Christ was the weight of our sin. Think about it for a moment...Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. He took upon Himself all the sin of mankind from the fall to the last day of existence on planet earth. Hanging there suspended between heaven and earth Jesus bore the weight of my sin and your sin and every person that has ever lived and will ever live on this earth.
As we reflect on the Savior death today, here are some questions...Have you accepted His sacrifice for you? Have you received His sacrifice for your sin? Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Lord, receiving the gift of eternal life that He died to give?
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Maundy Thursday

2009-04-09T08:43:00.002-05:00

This is 'Maundy Thursday,' now as Baptist we normally don't observe much of Holy Week, so when someone hears that today is 'Maundy Thursday' they usually say, "What? We're having Monday on Thursday?"
Maundy is Latin for 'mandated'. What was to occur on this day was mandatory for Christ to go to the cross and pay the ultimate price so that we could receive salvation.
This is the night that Jesus washes His disciples feet in the upper room and demonstrates for us how to truly live as a servant and how we need to love and serve one another. This is also the night that Jesus initiated the Lord's Supper, giving new meaning to the passover. Showing us that He was God's Passover Lamb and instructing us to observe the Lord's Supper in remembrance of His death for us.
This is also the night that Judas betrays the Lord and the night that Jesus goes to the garden to pray and then arrested and tried.

So much happened on this night during Holy Week. There was so much significance in every act of love that Christ did for us. So much that He taught and so much that He showed us about how we are to live.

So, today here are some things to think and pray about:
How are we serving one another? As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples He was showing us how to serve.

Do we remember that it was His body broken for us and His blood spilled for us? How much do we thank God daily for the sacrifice of His Son?

Jesus prayed for us, do we pray for others? Take some time to read "the Lord's Prayer" in John 17. This is what is commonly called the "High Priestly Prayer of Jesus" Read it today and reflect on what Christ did for us and how He prayed for you during that stressful hour of His life.

Remember today that Jesus died for you because He loves you. Out of obedience to the Father Jesus goes to the cross to bear the weight of the sins of the world for you and for me...

Allow the Father to let this be a Holy Thursday for you...Till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Silent Wednesday

2009-04-08T14:43:00.002-05:00

In the gospels Wednesday is not recorded. Not one event is told of that happened on this day, therefore it is known as Silent Wednesday.

In the Psalms we find the phrase, "Be still and know that I am God." Take time today to pause, reflect and spend some time in silence before the Father.

Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

2009-04-07T08:29:00.002-05:00

As we continue to observe Holy Week, or Passion Week, together we come to toady and see that Jesus used this day as one for teaching in the Temple. Yesterday He cleared out the Temple and cleansed it from the corruption that had settled in through the money changers and sacrifice sellers.
Today, He enters the Temple and begins to teach in the Temple courts. You can find these teachings in Matthew 21:23-23:39; Mark 11:27-12:44 and Luke 20:1-21:4. In these teachings Jesus presents three extended parables showing God's judgment on the religious leaders for their failure in not encouraging the people to accept Jesus' invitation to the kingdom of heaven. The religious leaders retaliate by trying to trap Jesus in an argument. Jesus then reveals His true identity as the Son of God.
The day closes with Jesus teaching His disciples on the return trip to Bethany in what has become known as the 'Olivet Discourse.' It is found in Matthew 24:1-25:46, Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-36.

Can I encourage you to spend some time in study today? I know, you didn't or don't like studying while in school, so why would you do it in your free time...Well, this is just isn't studying for study sake, this is time with the Father, intimate time with Dad. Would you just take a few moments and pick a passage and read it and pray over it and ask the Father to speak to your heart today. I know that it will be worth your time and effort.

Passages to read...just pick one or two to read

Matthew 21:23-23:39 or Matthew 24:1-25:46

Mark 11:27-12:44 or Mark 13:1-37

Luke 20:1-21:4 or Luke 21:5-36

Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

HOLY MONDAY

2009-04-06T08:46:00.002-05:00

Today, as we observe holy week together, is 'holy Monday.' After Jesus spent the night in Bethany after the Triumphal Entry yesterday, he and his disciples walk back to Jerusalem. As they approach the Holy City Jesus sees a fig tree that looks like it should have figs on it because of the leaves that are present. But, as He nears the tree He noticed that although it had many leaves and appeared to be a healthy tree it had no fruit. So, Jesus cursed the fig tree. This was symbolic in the sense that Jesus was stating that although Israel and it's religious leaders looked good on the outside, they had no dedication to the LORD on the inside, in other words it was all talk and no walk.
As Jesus and His disciples continue to make their way to Jerusalem, Jesus enters the Temple. He notices that the Temple has become a place of corruption and greed. Money changers are at their tables charging ridiculous rates to convert money into the currency required for sacrificial animals that were sold at unfair prices.
So, in anger, Jesus drove these corrupt men from the Temple, God's house. When the religious leaders witnessed this they became indignant toward Jesus. "How dare He come into their place and disrupt their business!"
Jesus told them, "It is written, My house will be a house of prayer for the nations, but you have made it a den of robbers."
Today, on Holy Monday, Jesus cleared and purified the Temple. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Paul tells us that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. In essence we are to be a house dedicated to the Father and to prayer. When was the last time you allowed Jesus to clean your temple? When was the last time you spent some time in prayer?
Today, allow Jesus to clean house, maybe we need to confess to Him today the things that we have been struggling with, maybe today we need some serious 'spring cleaning.' Take time today to spend in prayer on this Holy Monday.
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Lamb Selection Day

2009-04-05T16:42:00.002-05:00

Today is 'Palm Sunday,' some refer to today as the Triumphal Entry, but actually today is "Lamb Selection Day."

In Exodus 12, God gives Moses instructions for the people..."This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household....The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the houses where they eat the lambs...Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover..." (Exodus 12:1-11 selected portions)

As Jesus entered Jerusalem on this day, it was the time that the people were selecting the lamb that would serve as their sacrifice for the coming Friday. I find it amazing that on "Lamb Selection Day" God brought His perfect, spotless Lamb before all of Jerusalem and in essence said, "Here is the Lamb that I have selected for you."

Is He the Lamb that you have selected?

This week we will walk together as we journey with Christ to the cross. Please join us as we observe Holy Week Together...
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Are You Sure?

2009-03-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

"You don't know what you are asking,...Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" This is the reply that Jesus gave when James and John came to ask Him to sit on His right and left when Jesus established His kingdom.

I wonder if we still hear the call of Christ when He ask us if we have "considered the cost of what it means to be one of His disciples?" Jesus said that we must deny self, take up our cross and follow Him.
I think that so often we answer like James and John in Matthew 20:22-23...we very quickly and sure of ourselves answer with a loud, "We Can!" But can we? We see a little bit of pride here in James and John's answer. Do they really understand what it means to drink from the cup of judgment that Jesus is about to drink? If they didn't understand it here, there is no doubt that they are about to understand when Jesus is led to the cross and crucified. As a matter of fact they too will be persecuted later and partake of the cup that Jesus is talking about here.

The Apostle Paul said that it was an honor to be considered worthy to participate in the sufferings of Christ. He knew what it meant to deny self, take up his cross and follow after Christ, as a matter of fact he encouraged others to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ.
Whose example are you following today?
Have you considered the cost of following Christ?
Jesus told us that whosoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whosoever loses his life for the sake of the gospel will find it (life).
Are you truly living today? You can, lose your life today for the sake of the gospel and find out what real life is all about as you allow Christ to live in and through you...
till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

The Journey To The Cross

2009-03-29T08:30:00.002-05:00

I know, I know, it's been a while since the last entry in this blog...and I could give all the usual excuses, like how tired I've been, or how busy I've been, or how my dog ate my computer, or the blizzard that we just went through, or the revival that we just finished and on and on...so, just pick one of the above excuses and go with it:)

For the next two weeks we are going to look at the journey to the cross, the tomb and the resurrection as we prepare for Easter.
In Matthew 20:17-28 we find that Jesus tells His disciples for the third time that He is going to Jerusalem and there he will suffer, be ridiculed, scorned, crucified and die...but that He will rise on the third day.
The disciples don't understand what He is saying and they (at least James and John) are still focused on what Jesus had said in Matthew 19:28.
They are looking for glory, power and recognition. They are looking for a throne, a place of power. Their mother, Salome, comes to Jesus and makes a request of Jesus.

"Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." Salome was the precursor to the 'soccer mom' she wanted the best for her boys, she wanted to make sure that they got the recognition that they deserved. Doesn't every mom though?

More tomorrow...

I WIll #3

2009-03-05T14:06:00.002-06:00

"And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD." (Exodus 6:8)
God keeps His promises.
We have been looking this week at the seven I Will's of salvation and we are seeing that this is the proving ground that God is God and He demonstrates that by saving His people, by liberating them, by redeeming them, by adopting the and giving them a land to be their very own.
We see this paralleled in Christ. Remember, God has a plan and He was giving everyone a preview of His plan through the children of Israel, you see, Exodus is not simply the history of Hebrew children; it is also the story of our salvation. Philip Ryken says, "As we listen to Exodus we hear the first strains of a melody that becomes a symphony in the Gospels."
You see, Jesus repeats, essentially what God is saying to Moses in the Exodus. Jesus tells us that HE WILL save us from our bondage, that HE WILL deliver us from the yoke of our sin, that HE WILL redeem us because He has purchased us with His blood, that HE WILL make us His very own through an intimate, real relationship with God the Father, and that HE WILL give us a glorious inheritance. Jesus is our liberator, our redeemer, our deliverer...
2 Corinthians 6:16 says, "...For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'"
Is He your God today? He can be....

I Will #2

2009-03-04T19:33:00.002-06:00

"I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians" (Exodus 6:7)
God says he will take you, literally, He will adopt you...How about that? God adopts us as His own. Not only is He our liberator, the one who frees us from the bondage of sin, but He is our God, our Father! He adopts us into His family. The cool thing about God adopting us is this, according to adoption laws, once you adopt a child you cannot ever disown that child. The same rule applies in our relationship with God, He is our God, and He will never leave, nor forsake us.
Guys this is the heart of God's covenant with us. It's a family thing! God takes us to be His, to be His children and he our Father. He made this promise to Abraham way back in Genesis 17:7 and the promise is still good in 2009.
When God brought His children out of Egypt it was an act of His love, of His Fatherly love. God brought Israel out of Egypt into an intimate relationship of mutual affection. That's why Jesus came. To fulfill the covenant, to bring us out of our Egypt, our bondage to sin and death and to give us life and hope and peace and joy and freedom! Wow! What a great God we serve.

I WILL #1

2009-03-03T16:26:00.002-06:00

Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why are you treating this people so badly? And why did you ever send me? From the moment I cane to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, things have only gotten worse for this people. And rescue? Does this look like rescue to You?"
The LORD responded to Moses, reassuring him, "I AM GOD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...I established my covenant with them...I've heard the groanings of the Israelites...I've remembered my covenant. Therefore tell them, "I AM GOD, I will bring you out from under the cruel hard labor of Egypt. I will rescue you from slavery..."
Moses took his problems to the LORD and that's a good thing because He is truly the only One that can do anything about our problems. He just doesn't sit there, He is active in helping us. Look what He promises for the Israelites...He promises liberation: "I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them." This is what salvation is all about. Being freed from slavery or delivered from captivity. The Hebrew children needed to be freed from slavery, we need to be freed from the slavery of sin and that's exactly what God promised to do and did through Christ. Christ is our liberator, the One who has freed us from the bondage of sin.
This is the promise of God, that Jesus came so that we might be free. Are you free today? Free from the bondage and guilt of sin? You can be...Trust in the God of the I WILL...

Problems

2009-03-02T16:43:00.002-06:00

Moses was having major problems...He was doing and saying everything that the LORD was instructing him to do and say, but everything was turning out all wrong. Now, the Hebrew children were upset with him and Moses was getting frustrated. The people were blaming him, so he decided to turn the blame toward God.
God told Moses, again, that He is the LORD, that He is the God of his fathers, that He is going to keep His covenant with His people an d lead them to the promised land that He had promised Abraham and that He was aware of His people's suffering. We need to be reminded from time to time of God's promises, we need a constant reminder that God is God and that He and He alone is in control, that He will never leave nor forsake us, that He is faithful even when we are not, that He forgives our sin completely, that He loves us and that He is our constant help and so much more.
Starting in Exodus chapter 6:6-12 God continues to speak to Moses, and us, and He tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and tell them that He is the God that WILL...as a matter of fact God gives Moses seven 'I Wills,' to tell the people. This week let's look at those 'I Wills' of God's salvation together and discover anew the God that is not only there, but the God who cares and acts on behalf of His children...

WDMD? What Did Moses Do?

2009-02-25T08:02:00.002-06:00

When you do everything right and it turns out all wrong. That's what happened with Moses in Exodus chapter 5. Moses did exactly what the LORD had instructed him to do and things went from bad to worse. So what did Moses do when things got bad? What should we do when things don't turn out like we thought?
Well, for one thing, I can tell you what NOT to do. In Exodus 5:16-19 we see the Israelite foremen going to Pharaoh to try to get some relief. That's what NOT to do. They went to the source of their affliction. They sought comfort from the very one that was abusing them and holding them in slavery. Sometimes we do the same thing. We seek answers to our problems from the very source of our problems. We look for answers in the world, in our financial institutions, in our government, and within ourselves. The answer and comfort does not come from any of those sources.

In Exodus 5:22 is where we find the answer as to what to do when things go from bad to worse...'Moses returned to the LORD...' That's where we find the answer, by returning to the LORD. In chapter 6 God answers Moses' concerns and gives him 7 promises of deliverance.

Today, if you are thinking that things are going from bad to worse, return to the LORD, find comfort, find satisfaction, find relief, find hope...Bro. Alan

This is not how it's supposed to be...

2009-02-23T16:46:00.002-06:00

Sometimes things don't turn out like we think they ought to. Take Moses for example in Exodus 5. Moses goes to Pharaoh and tells him exactly what the LORD told him to say, you know, "Let My People Go!" and Pharaoh replies, "NO!" And not only, 'no' but 'no, you lazy people get back to work and just to show you that I still have a say in what goes on around here, make your bricks without straw."
So, let's review...Moses goes and tells the elders of Israel that God has heard their cries and has seen their misery and is going to deliver them. The elders bow and worship the LORD and are filled with hope and enthusiasm...next, Moses goes to Pharaoh, just as he was told to do, and tells Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. Pharaoh refuses and makes the children of Israel work harder and has their foremen beaten when they don't make their quota of bricks. Things weren't going how Moses thought they should go. Moses is doing exactly what the LORD has told him to do and it is turning into a complete disaster.

Moses is disappointed to say the least. Philip Ryken says, "It is not hard to understand why Moses felt so disappointed. Up until the end of chapter 4, everything was going beautifully...Now, just a few days later, the exodus was in shambles and the people were letting Moses have it. As far as he could see, God's plan had backfired. Not only had Moses failed to rescue his people, but their deliverance seemed further away than ever..."

Moses is at his ropes end. Nothing is happening the way he dreamed it would.
How do you respond when this happens in your life? What do you do when nothing is turning out the way you think it should, even though you know you are following the LORD's will? What do you do? Where do you turn?
Let's see how Moses handles it, and maybe get some clues as to what our response should be...till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Just Like He Promised

2009-02-22T08:26:00.002-06:00

Exodus 4:29-31 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heardthat the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

The elders heard the good news, they believed and they saw the signs and they worshiped. This was the correct response, to worship. There, while still in their bondage, while still on the hot desert sand of their incarceration, they bowed down and worshiped and gave thanks for the future deliverance.
Everything was going according to plan, according to promise. Aaron had gone out to meet Moses on the mountain of God, just as God had promised. Moses reported to Aaron everything that God had said at the burning bush. Aaron agrees to help, just as the LORD had promised. Together, the two brothers return to Egypt and gather the elders, just as God had promised. The miraculous signs are performed in front of the elders and they believed, just as God had promised.
Everything was happening according to plan, there was excitement in the air, deliverance was neigh, the end of their slavery was in sight and new day was dawning all according to God's promise.

God's promises are true, and they are for you and me, and yes, sometimes God's promises are refreshing and uplifting. Rejoice in His promises today...we will look at the full scope of His promises this week

Moses, Aaron and the Elders

2009-02-19T13:52:00.002-06:00

Moses, in the end of chapter 4 of Exodus, is finally off the mountain and on his way to see Pharaoh. He meets with Aaron, his brother, and they gather the elders of Israel together. They tell them all that the Lord has said to them and show them all the signs that the Lord gave to them. The elders believed and worshiped the Lord, the God of Israel.
WOW...isn't it amazing that it turned out just like the Lord had previously told Moses? And why shouldn't it? God had come to rescue His people from their misery and there was excitement in the air.

In the beginning of chapter 5 we see Moses and Aaron going to Pharaoh and saying, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: 'Let My people go...'"
DO you see it? Can you sense it? Can you feel it? What you ask? The boldness that Moses and Aaron have as they approach Pharaoh. There is something different, something that has changed since we last left the aging shepherd on the mountain of God. Moses seems to have been given a new character. You see, the difference is simple...Moses had met with God...Moses was not acting on his own behalf, but rather he was following the direction of his God, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Great I AM.

We see the same thing happen in the New Testament after Pentecost. The disciples before Pentecost, are running from the cross and scattered after the crucifixion. But after Pentecost we see the boldness of Peter as he preaches to the masses and the boldness of the other disciples as those common men turn the world upside down for the sake of the gospel. The difference? They had met with the Lord, they were walking in obedience to the Father. They were acting and preaching and ministering because of who Christ is in them.

Have you met with God today?

Why I haven't blogged in a while

2009-02-17T15:43:00.002-06:00

I've had 'the flu' for the past couple of days and have been 'under the weather.' I will begin blogging again tomorrow...hopefully.
thanks for your patience...Bro. Alan

Song by Andrew Peterson

2009-02-11T12:02:00.003-06:00

These are the lyrics to a song by one of my favorite artist called "Passover Us."

Well, we all remember Moses by the banks of the river. He said, "Pharaoh, you've got to let my people go. You don't want me to have to tell you this ten times over, the Nile (Denial) ain't just a river you know?"

So we all remember Pharaoh he just wouldn't do it. So the plagues came upon Egypt one by one. His heart was hard and the other nine just couldn't move it. So the last was the worse the death of the firstborn son.

Oh, but The Lord He gave to Moses a word for the people. He said their firstborn sons would live to see another day. Put the blood of a lamb on doorway and death would pass right over. That night all the children of Israel prayed.

They prayed, "Lord let Your judgment passover us, Lord let Your love hoover near. So don't let Your sweet mercy passover us. Let this blood cover over us here."

So the years went by and the people they whined and they wondered. But only sacrifice atoned for the sins of the land. SO you see the priest they placed on the holy altar, the body of a spotless lamb.

And they prayed, "Lord let Your judgment passover us, Lord let Your love hoover near. So don't let Your sweet mercy passover us. Let this blood cover over us here."

Arguing With God

2009-02-09T11:04:00.002-06:00

"But who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" "Who shall I tell them has sent me?" These are the first two questions that Moses asked of God while standing barefoot by the burning bush. It seems the more he asked his questions the less he had his inhibitions...Remember Moses had hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God, but now it seems that he is not afraid to talk to Him, and even to argue with Him.
In Exodus 3-4 we find a lengthy discussion, or some might even call it a dispute, between God and Moses. Who do you think is going to win?
After the first two questions God proceeds to give Moses detailed information about what He wanted Moses to do. Rarely has a man ever been given such explicit instructions for carrying out God's will. And that is what we are going to look at this week, God's instructions to Moses.
What instructions is God giving you today? Let me encourage you to take time today to listen to the Father as HE instructs your day. And if we can learn anything from Moses, it is most likely a good idea not to argue:)
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan (Portions of this blog are quotes from Philip Ryken)

I AM

2009-02-06T10:51:00.002-06:00

When Moses asked God what to tell the Israelites who shall I say has sent me, God's answer to Moses was to tell them that I AM has sent me.
the name I AM is quite a mystery. The name that God revealed to Moses means something like "He who is,' or "I am the One who is." The great Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck wrote that, "God is that which He calls Himself, and He calls Himself that which He is." Who is God? God is who He is and that's all there is to it.
God is self-sufficient He does not have any unmet needs or unsatisfied desires. He does not need any help. He is not co-dependent. He does not live or move or have His being in anyone except Himself.
Knowing the name of God as he met at the burning bush was a great help to Moses. Knowing God's name is also a great help to us. For you see, the God of Moses has given us a name to call Him. It is the only name by which we must be saved: Jesus Christ. In John 8:58, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!"
Jesus Christ is the God who saves, and anyone who does not believe in Him has no hope of salvation. Jesus' death on the cross for sinners proved that He is the true God of our salvation. Becoming a believer is a person that believes that Jesus Christ is the Great I AM. And once we place our faith in Christ alone, then we may come to Him with our questions as Moses did. He will not turn us away. But what He wants us to do is to put our faith in Him, going where He sends us and trusting in the promise of His everlasting presence.
Do you know the name of Jesus? Is your faith in Him alone? Is He the Great I AM in your life today?
Let's talk about it Sunday...Bro. Alan

Who Are You?

2009-02-05T10:58:00.002-06:00

Philip Ryken has written an amazing commentary over the book of Exodus and in it he says, "Who is this God we are called to glorify? That was the second question Moses asked. Before agreeing to lead Israel out of Egypt, he first wanted to know who he himself was. Next he wanted to know who God was. It was all very well for God to promise to go with him, but who was this God anyway? 'Moses said to God, 'Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you, " and they ask me, "What is His name?" Then what shall I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13)
It is easy for us to criticize Moses for his question. To begin with, he started badly: "Let's suppose I go, Lord..." SUPPOSE he goes? What was Moses thinking? He had just received a direct order from the God of the everlasting covenant. Such divine commands are not open to negotiation. There was no supposing about it: Moses was going!...Also notice how self-centered Moses' thinking was: 'Suppose I go...what will I tell them?' Moses was still focusing on his own inadequacy rather than on God's sufficiency. To regain his focus he needed God to say to him, "I AM WHO I AM."
This whole conversation would have been much shorter if Moses had simply taken God at His Word. Moses still had to learn how much simpler life is for those who simply trust and obey." (page 93-94)

It is easy for us to look back and see the mistakes that Moses made, but we need to be careful, because many times we find ourselves doing the very same thing. Is God calling you to something today? What is your answer? Remember life is simple when we simply trust and obey, as the great old hymn says, 'there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.'
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Who I Am...

2009-02-04T08:39:00.002-06:00

In Exodus 3:11 Moses asks the question, "Who am I?" It was not so much a question of who Moses was, he knew who he was, the question, rather, was, 'do I have what it takes to do the job that God is calling me to do?' Remember that Egypt at this time was the most powerful country in the world and Moses was supposed to go and tell the ruler of the most powerful country in the world that he was supposed to let the entire labor force go free. The last time Moses tried something like this it took him 40 years to recover.
However, Moses was focused on his ability to get accomplished what the Lord had called him to do. We often find ourselves in the same situation that Moses found himself in on that mountain. God calls us to a task and our reply is, "Lord, I can't do that, I'm just a lowly ______ (fill in the blank), or Lord, I don't have the training or education to do what you have called me to do." And you know, you are probably right, you are just a lowly _____ (fill in the blank), you most likely do not have the training or education, but the good news is found in Exodus 3:12...'And God said, "I will be with you...'"
God is with you! It doesn't matter what your qualifications are, what matters is that God is with you.
There is an old saying, "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Who we are is irrelevant, what matters is that God said that He would be with us.
God had spent the past 40 years teaching Moses how to shepherd sheep to prepare him to shepherd His people, God had spent the previous 40 years of Moses' life teaching him about the culture and condition of the people that he would go and confront in Egypt, remember, God has a plan.
What is God preparing for your life? He has a plan, and He is calling you to something in your life that will bring honor and glory to His name. Is He calling you to something that you feel inadequate about? If He is remember, He Is With You! It's not about your abilities, it's about His majesty.
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Who AM I?

2009-02-03T08:35:00.002-06:00

We left Moses barefoot by the burning bush on Sunday. When God called out to Moses from within the burning bush Moses' answer was, "Here I am." Moses' answer was literally, "Here I am, At Your Service!" Moses answered before he knew what God wanted him to do, and as soon as he found out what God wanted him to do he started having doubts.
Moses was the kind of person that said, 'yes' first and asked questions later, as a matter of fact we will find out that Moses actually had five questions he would ask.
This week we will concentrate on the first two questions, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' in Exodus chapter 3:11 and in verse 13, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
Who am I? and Who are You? Two important questions, questions worth our attention this week. Let's find the answers together and discover not only who we are in Christ, but who Christ is in us.
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Holy Ground

2009-02-02T09:21:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we talked about 'holy ground.' How Moses on Mt. Sinai came into the presence of God, how it was not Moses finding God, but rather, God drawing Moses. So many people talk about how they have found God through a relationship with Christ, and although they have good intentions, the truth is that we have not found God, but God has found us. Moses did not find God on Mt. Sinai, God brought Moses to the mountain so that He might speak to Moses.
God heard, saw, remembered and acted in response to the Israelites prayers, and we can be assured that God hears, sees, knows and will act when we come to Him. Just as God came down to meet with Moses at the burning bush, God has come down to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and when Christ ascended back to the heavens, He sent us another, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who is with us continually, constantly and abundantly.
This week we are going to continue in Exodus 3: 11-21, I encourage you to look at this passage throughout the week as we study together.
Remember, God is with you today through the presence of the Holy Spirit and He hears, sees, knows and will act in His perfect timing and His sovereign will...till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

FIRE!!!

2009-01-28T09:45:00.002-06:00

The children of Israel groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and HE remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. SO God looked on the Israelites and was concerned, God understood.
God answered their cry, and the answer to Israel's cry began faraway in the wilderness where Moses was watching over his father-in-laws flock of sheep.
Moses had fled from Egypt and for the last forty years he had been in the employment of Jethro, his father-in-law, as a shepherd. What a humble and humiliating job. You see, Moses had grown up in the royal courts of Pharaoh. The Egyptians were not the sheep herding type, they thought of it as a lowly, below their pay grade, type of profession.
So, here is Moses, raised in the royal courts of Egypt, a fugitive and murderer on the run living a life that he probably thinks he deserves because of his sin of murder, punished for the rest of his life to live as a humiliated shepherd.
Remember Sunday, when we talked about Exodus not just being some old story about some people long ago, but rather how it is a part of our story? Well, some times in our lives we think that we are being punished because of some sin in our past and that we are 'doomed' to live the rest of this life as the ultimate living example of what not to do. Just like Moses, God uses situations in our lives to teach us and prepare us for what He has for us next. God knew exactly what He was doing in the life of Moses. For you see, God wasn't waiting for Moses to move, but rather God was moving Moses. God brought Moses to the 'back side' of the desert to 'the mountain of God' so God could speak to Moses through the burning bush.
There was fire in the desert and that fire was the holiness of God. In the 'bleak mid-winter' that we are experiencing in the Texas Panhandle is there fire that God wants to call your attention to today? Has He moved you to a place that you can stop, listen and worship today?
Till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

More Wanderings

2009-01-27T08:51:00.002-06:00

As most of you know I have been sick lately, I don't know if God is preparing me to speak about the plagues and giving me some first hand experience or what? :) But anyway, Sunday we saw how God has a plan...He brought the children of Israel into Egypt and they grew into a nation, they multiplied and their numbers grew 'exceedingly great.' The 'new king' felt threatened and put the people into slavery, but God had a plan...Moses was born, raised in royalty, committed murder, was caught and ran...but God has a plan. We ended Sunday with Exodus 2:23-25, the people cried out in their persecution and God heard their cry and looked upon the Israelites and had compassion. God has a plan. This week we are going to look at God's call to Moses. We are going to see how it is not about Moses delivering the children of Israel, but rather how it is about God's plan...not only God's plan for Israel, but God's plan for Moses and God's plan for us. So, this week let's seek God's plan for us as we study...

Wanderings 2

2009-01-22T15:58:00.002-06:00

In Exodus 1:6-14 we find that there arose a King in Egypt that did not remember Joseph. This was bad news for the Israelites. They had enjoyed a time of prosperity because of 'grandpa' Joe, but when the new King was on the throne, he didn't want anything to do with these people who seemed like 'free loaders.' As a matter of fact the New king felt threatened by the Israelites. After all they were beginning to outnumber the Egyptians and there was a fear that they might try to overtake the country. So, what was the answer? SLAVERY...
The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and oppressed them by the use of forced labor for about the next 430 years...
The people of God began to cry out because of their persecution and one of the most beautiful verses in Scripture is the response of the Lord..."God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."
God heard their cry! When we are in trouble, we can be confident God will hear and display His faithfulness--He knows about your trouble and He wants you to reach out the Him in the midst of your turmoil...Will you call out to Him today? He's waiting...Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Wilderness Wanderings 1

2009-01-21T16:11:00.002-06:00

One of the most difficult things for a pastor/teacher is to preach/teach over a passage that people have heard ever since they were children and try to make it interesting, fresh and relevant. Now, don't get me wrong I truly believe that God's Word will not return void and that God's Word is powerful, fresh and VERY relevant, the problem is not with the Word of God, the problem is with us.
As we begin this journey of 'wilderness wanderings' through the book of Exodus many will think to themselves, "Oh, I know the story of Moses and the children of Israel, how they were in slavery and Moses went to Pharaoh and said, 'Let my people go,' and then the plagues came and they crossed the Red Sea on dry land and then wondered around the dessert for the next 40 years...I've not only heard the story in Sunday School when I was a child, but I've even seen the MOVIE, The Ten Commandments, you know where Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and then became the president of the NRA." And even the younger generation will think the same thing except their point of reference is not The Ten Commandments but rather the animated film Prince Of Egypt.
As we begin our journey through Exodus we are not going to have the special effects of Cecile B. De Mill, or any animation rather we are going to journey through with the original author, the one that does not need special effects for He had the REAL EFFECTS. We are going to consult the original script and hopefully allow the original Author show us in a new and refreshing way how He is still at work in the world today and how we need to follow the original script in our own lives and learn the lessons that were taught to our forefathers in the faith.
God still wants to guide our steps in the wilderness that we call the world, the question is, "Are we going to walk by faith or by sight?"
Are you ready to go? Let's pack, prepare and persevere...Bro. Alan

Where We Are Going

2009-01-20T19:36:00.002-06:00

OK, after praying, waiting, praying, pleading, praying, and waiting, calling brothers and sisters in Christ and talking with them, praying and waiting, I feel like the Father has finally given me direction on where we need to go for the next few months.
There is something that you need to understand first; although it might not be apparent, I am very organized in my thinking and studying. After we finished our study of the sermon on the mount (that we had been in for the past 5 months) I had no idea, or direction from the Lord as to where we were to go next. You have to realize that it is 7:41 on Tuesday night and usually by this time the Lord has given me the majority of the sermon for Sunday. Needless to say, this afternoon and evening have been spent seeking the Lord's will and way for what we were to study next.
The main thing that the Lord has laid upon my heart is this, "Stop, be still, know that I am your Father, your Provider, your Comfort, and your Sermon Giver." It seems that Father wanted to teach me to stop hurrying to the next 'campsite' in Scripture, and take time to enjoy the journey.
So, we are going to 'Wander' in 'Wonder' for the next few months.
We are going to look at how God provided for the children of Israel during their wandering through the wilderness. We are going to seek where God wants us to go next and what He wants us to do. Are we being faithful to what He has called us to or are we just walking around in the wilderness of this world without direction, every now and then catching a glimpse of His glory but finding that it has faded before we truly hear and obey?
Jesus went through a 'wilderness' journey before He began His public ministry. So, get ready, get prepared, we are about to embark on an adventure that promises to be interesting to say the least.
Let's go...Bro. Alan
PS, thanks Scott for the insight and Godly guidance

What A Great Day

2009-01-19T09:20:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we talked about being wise in the building of our lives. We saw how we need not 'try harder' but rather we just need to give up. If we have listened and read the sermon on the mount and thought, "That's some good moral stuff that I need to try to abide by," then we have missed the point. We don't need to try, we need to quit trying and start living a life of surrender. Give all of yourself to Christ and let the Rock of your salvation, the Cheif Conerstone, the stone that the builders rejected, be the solid foundation that you find yourself in.
Realize that it is not what you can do for Christ, but rather what Christ can do in and through you.

We have finished our 5 month study of the sermon on the mount so the next question is , "Where do we go from here?" And the answer that I have for you is, "I really don't know...I'm still praying about where God wants to take us next." On one hand I feel the Lord leading us to study the parables and look in depth at Jesus' teachings and what we can learn and apply in our daily lives. While on the other hand, I feel God leading us to study the book of Exodus and see how He brought the Children of Israel out of bondage and slavery and how He can deliver us from the bondage that we find ourselves in while at the same time see how important it is to walk in obedience so that we don't find ourselves wondering for 40 years in the wilderness of complacency and apathy.
I'm going to continue to pray and seek where God wants us to go, I encourage you to pray as well and let me know where God is speaking into your life on this matter...you can comment at the bottom...
Till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Building Materials

2009-01-16T14:51:00.002-06:00

In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Paul talks about building materials, there are good materials like gold, silver and costly stones and then there are not so great building materials like wood, hay and straw. He goes on to talk about how the building materials will be tested by fire and that the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If the material survives, then we receive a reward, if not we suffer loss, but the good news is that we will still be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames...
We have been talking about building on the firm foundation of Christ this week and how important it is to realize that Christ is our firm foundation for life. But, do you realize that even if we build our lives on Christ that it is possible to still build a 'shabby' building.
Some will say, "Yes, we all must build upon a firm foundation," but do we realize that it is possible to build wrongly upon the foundation? When we build wrongly upon the right foundation we find ourselves still not enjoying true happiness or true security either.
What are you building today? Some would say, "Oh pastor, if I am building wrong at least I'll still be saved." Yes it is true, but did you notice what Paul said? He said you will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. I don't know if you have ever been burned or tried to walk through fire, but let me tell you, it doesn't look like much fun.
Start building with the best materials today, things like gold and silver and costly stones. You say you don't have any of those materials? For gold use the 'golden rule' that we talked about a couple of weeks ago, for silver try treasuring a friendship and for costly stones try expressing to the Father today that He is truly more beautiful than diamonds and let your desire today to be able to say, "Nothing I desire compares with You, Lord."
See You Sunday...Bro. Alan

Wise & Foolish

2009-01-15T08:43:00.002-06:00

To listen to Jesus' final words of the sermon on the mount and think to yourself, "I really like what He had to say, these are some good moral points and I need to try harder to live by these words." Is to miss the point of the sermon althogether. It is impossible to try on our own to keep the teachings in the sermon on the mount. How can we keep from murder by not ever thinking bad thoughts of others, how can we keep from adultery by never looking at someone of the opposite sex with lust? The bottom line is that in and of ourselves it is impossible. But what is impossible with man is possible with God. Jesus is not telling us to try harder, He is in essence telling us to stop trying at all.
What? Stop trying? That's right, it is not about how hard we try, it is about how much we surrender. When we realize that living for Christ is not about how good we can be but rather how can Christ live in us and and through us then we begin to get the right picture of what being a disciple is all about.
You see, Jesus didn't deliver the sermon on the mount, He WAS the sermon on the mount. In order to build on the Rock, the solid foundation, we have to turn the plans of our life over to the Great Architect. Jesus has the plans for your life, He came up with the blueprints that have your name on them. When we try to alter those plans we have structural damage. He sees the whole plan laid out when we only see a portion of the plan. Everyday we need to trust Christ to build our lives and when we do, we become a great neighborhood or community if you will, built on the Solid Rock that can withstand the storms of life.
Be wise today, build on Christ, let Him have control of your life, after all you've been bought with a price and you are no longer your own, therefore glorify the Father in all that you do today...
Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan

2009-01-14T10:36:00.000-06:00

So, are you wise? or are you foolish? Jesus said that the wise build on the firm foundation...the firm foundation of what? Well in Matthew 5-7 Jesus gives us the foundation to build upon. Jesus said that the wise would be the ones who listened and built upon the teachings in the sermon that He just delivered.
In our church we have been looking at the sermon on the mount for the past five months. It took Jesus just a couple of hours to deliver this sermon, it has taken me 5 months. Jesus, the greatest preacher of all time delivered the greatest sermon of all time in Matthew 5-7, that gives you a hint about what kind of preacher I am:) Figure it out, Jesus 2 hours, me 5 months...
Anyway, in order to show ourselves as wise builders we need to heed and obey the wisdom in the sermon on the mount. Of course the bottom line is that we show ourselves wise when we build on the foundation of Christ alone.
Tomorrow we will look at some of the things in the sermon on the mount that we need for a strong foundation, until then...Bro. Alan

Foundations 2

2009-01-13T14:52:00.000-06:00

So, what foundation are you building your life upon? Most reading this would overwhelmingly say, "I am building my life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ!" I mean really, I go to church every Sunday, well OK not every Sunday, but the ones when I can, when a good football game is not on and when family doesn't come for a visit, or the kids don't have a sniffle or a cough, I make it to church every Sunday that I can...I build my life on the foundation of Christ by studying the Bible. Well, I read the Word when I am in trouble and need God to get me out of a tight situation, or when I need something 'nice' to think on. I build my life on the solid foundation of Christ by praying. Well, OK my prayer life is kind of like my Bible study, just when I find myself in trouble or something goes my way I offer up a quick, "Thank You, Lord...yea for me..." prayer.
My kids know that we have a Christ-like home, well, we don't make it to church that often, but we talk about it alot, and they know the grandma and grandpa were good people that went to church.
NOW, some of you know that I am being sarcastic, others of you might be offended by my sarcasm, and to the latter, sorry, but there is some truth to what has been said.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27 Those people who are listening to Me, those people who hear what I say and live according to My teachings--you are like a wise man who built his house on a rock, on a firm foundation. When storms hit, rain poured down and waters rose, levies broke and winds beat all the walls of that house. But the house did not fall because it was built upon rock. Those of you who are listening and do not hear, those who are listening and ignore My teachings and those who take the wider, eaiser path, keep company with false prophets; you are like a fool who builds on sand. When a storm comes to his house, what will happen? The rain will fall, water will rise, the wind blow, and his house will collapse with a great crash. Because it is built on nothing, on ephemera, on shifty, shifting sands." (The Voice)
Till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Foundations

2009-01-12T15:41:00.000-06:00

My family andI lived and served a church in Amarillo from 1996 till 2004. When we first moved to Amarillo much of the area around the edges of the city were still undeveloped. By looking at the landscape all you could see were plyaya lakes and mostly low lying areas.
Not much later to our moving to the city did we see these low lying areas start to be developed into housing. My first thought was, "There is no way that they can build houses in those areas, the foundations will not last because of the plyaya lakes."
Needless to say, after the housing developments were finished and people started moving in, soon there began to be problems with the houses foundations. These nice expensive houses started having cracks in the walls, the doors were not lining up and some experienced major foundational problems. The reason was because they were not built on a firm, solid foundation.
Jesus, in the 7th chapter of Matthew, ends the sermon on the mount by telling those in attendance to be sure to build their lives on a solid foundation. He tells them that if they build on solid material, they show themselves to be wise, if not, then they are foolish.
This week, let's examine what kind of foundation we are building upon, the solid Rock of Christ, or the sifting sand of society...till tomorrow...Bro. Alan

Are we on the right road?

2009-01-11T08:22:00.000-06:00

As we journey together down this road of ministry this year it is important that we have some things in place first...it is important to prepare for a journey.
First we need to ask some questions and seek some answers as we get going on our journey...questions like, "Are we on the right road?" "Can we trust those who are going to guide us on this journey?" and, ""Who are we really following?"
When you are on a journey it is important to pay attention to the signs...sings tell you how fast to go...if there is road construction ahead...ice on the bridge (even in the middle of summer). Some signs encourage us to pull over and rest, others tell us where we can stop and get the best chicken fried steak, or the fastest and best service...some even tell us where to get fuel and who has the cleanest restrooms...

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

So, the first question is, "are we on the right road?" Good question...The people that Christ was speaking to as He delivered the Sermon on The Mount needed to know that they were on the right road. They had been on a detour for some time. The Pharisee had told them that the road to follow was one marked by signs that only they could rightfully read and that it was their duty to make sure that everyone was following not only the major road signs but also every sign written in the small print.
It became difficult to travel, and many were just along for the ride.

Jesus spoke of a road to follow that was narrow and a gate that was small, to many it would be discouraging, thinking that they had enough trouble following the road as it was in their day. But Jesus is not speaking of a road of rules and regulations, He is speaking of a journey of relationship. As a matter of fact He says later in John, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Way, no one comes to the Father except through Me." He is the way, He is the right road.
Which road are you on? The road of rules, or the road of relationship?

2009-01-10T17:18:00.000-06:00

Love and Serve Christ and Community...that 'saying' has been in almost everything that we have sent out for the past four years... it is time to make it more than a saying. This year it is my hope that we become so familiar with this that it becomes part of our spiritual DNA, that it becomes second nature to us...that every situation we find ourselves in, every day at work, everyday at school, every time we go to the store or the mall, everytime we find ourselves at a football game, basketball game, track event or any community function...wheter we are out hunting with the guys or drinking coffee and tea with the gals, in every situation in life we find ourselves that we find ourselves asking the question..."How am I loving and serving Christ and my Community?"
My prayer is that ever day our prayer would be, "Father, use me today for Your glory and Your honor, Christ, live through me as my life becomes a reflection of my love for You and my love for those you have placed within my sphere of influence..."

Loving & Serving

2008-12-28T08:50:00.000-06:00

Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your strength and with all your mind...what does that look like? How do we truly love God with all that we are? Do we sell everything that we have and give it to those less fortunate, do we go around quoting Scripture all the time? Do we abstain from all 'worldly' things like TV and movies? Or do we seek to look at everything from God's perspective instead of ours?
Do we instead of viewing the world as secular and sacred, view the world as redeemed and in need of redemption? Do we strive to see this world from God's perspective, through His eyes...
These are some questions that we are going to hopefully explore this new year in our fellowship...what does it look like to the world around us when we truly focus on loving and serving Christ and community? Here we go, want to come?