October 3,2015

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12

Showing respect is an essential component of living by the Golden Rule by virtue of the fact everyone wants to be respected so they must show respect toward others.

Raising Home Run Kids demands teaching them how to show respect to other people.

Showing respect is a second base issue.

A second component of the Golden Rule is showing compassion. Showing compassion involves doing intentional acts of kindness. That just happens to be a key component of our outreach efforts at FredWes.

Let me share a couple of real good reasons why compassion is essential in the Home Run Life.

The first good reason is Jesus showed compassion. What Jesus did better than anyone else was embrace people without embracing their values. We used to call it loving the sinner but hating the sin. It is very effective if you can do it. Jesus could do it!

One example is the woman taken in adultery. He rescued her from her accusers and he forgave her but made it clear to her she would have to change her ways. All the evidence indicates she did.

And then there was the woman at the well. She had a sordid past and a complicated life. She possessed a thirst nothing could satisfy. Jesus befriended her and made her a better offer. She could turn from her sin and He would give her water that would satisfy her thirst forever. She did and He did. She changed and changed her city.

Jesus knew how to show compassion. He calls you to do it, too.

The second good reason for showing compassion is because you need compassion. Again, the Golden Rule reminds us that we do for others as we want for ourselves.

In a world largely devoid of faith and confused about morals, kindness still translates into compassion. Loving people to life is an effective way to touch people with faith.

Showing compassion is a second base issue but it won’t happen unless you are connected at home and winning at first.

October 2, 2015

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12

This kid obviously needs some help at second base. So do your kids!

Here are some practical fundamentals for winning at second and living out the Golden Rule.

1) Value Others

2) Show Compassion

3) Make Good Friends

Today I will deal with the first fundamental.

Home Run Kids know how to value others! It is much easier for your kids to value others when he is connected with God at Home Plate. Learning to respect God helps a Home Run Kid find self-respect and self-respect leads to respecting others. If a Home Run Kid respects God he will value what God values and the Bible is clear that God values people.

To Raise A Home Run Kid a parent must model respect for God, for his spouse, for his child and for others. Like many values respect is caught more than it is taught.

A Home Run Kid must not be allowed to be disrespectful toward others in either his attitudes or his actions. He must be taught to respect his parents, his family, and those in authority especially. Disrespect must be confronted with stern correction.

The Golden Rule says, “Respect others as you want to be respected”.

A Home Run Kid should not be allowed to speak disrespectfully. Words matter! Words mean things. Words cannot be taken back once they are spoken. Name calling should be prohibited and punished. Profanity must be forbidden. There is an old saying that goes, “What you say is what you are.” True!

The Golden Rule says, “Speak only words you would want to hear.”

A Home Run Kid must be taught to show respect in his actions. And when he acts disrespectfully he must be taught to make it right.

The Golden Rule says, “Show respect as you want to be shown respect.”

Second base in baseball is called “scoring position”. Once you get there your chances of making it back to Home Plate for the score go up significantly. In the Home Run Life it is very important to for Home Run Kids to know how to get to second and what to do once they get there!

October 1, 2015

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12

One of the things I have always enjoyed about baseball is that it’s a team sport. I may be able to get to first base on my own but I cannot get beyond first without help from my team mates! The same is true of the Home Run Life. It is meant to be shared and experienced and enjoyed in fellowship with other believers. That is essentially what the church is.

In the Home Run Life, second base is the community base where you learn to win with others. Winning at second is the result of winning with God at home plate and winning with character at first base.

In this passage from Matthew 7, Jesus shares the secret for winning at second base, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”. We know this as “The Golden Rule”.

How can you possibly lose if you apply the Golden Rule in all of your relationships? You can never fail with others if you respond toward them as you would want them to do toward you.

Do you want appreciation? Appreciate others.

Do you want gratitude? Be grateful to others.

Do you want kindness? Be kind to others.

Do you want forgiveness? Be forgiving to others.

Do you want others to be patient toward you? Be patient with others.

Do you want encouragement? Be encouraging toward others.

See how it works?

Good, because it really works!

If you have won at home plate and at first base you will be able to live by the Golden Rule.

Once you get it working for you, teach it to your children!

September 30, 2015

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12

Gold is a precious metal because it is relatively rare and therefore always has value. Gold becomes more valuable when cash and stocks lose their value and declines when the opposite occurs but it always has worth.

No wander they call this portion of Scripture the “Golden Rule”! Doing unto others as you would want them to do to you always has value in developing relationships. When culture grows more course, selfish and narcissistic the “Golden Rule” becomes more rare and, therefore, more valuable!

The “Golden Rule” is a Second Base concept. Second Base is the Community base where we learn to develop and enjoy healthy relationships. Is there a better way to love others than to do for them as you would want them to do for you? Or, doing for them what you would do for yourself.

Being kind, gracious, generous and compassionate toward others always adds value to their lives and to yours!

Raising Home Run Kids must incorporate the Golden Rule into your child-rearing! You will only be able to do that if you have learned to connect at home plate. Nothing good happens until you connect with God at home plate! How is your Home Plate connection?

Neither can you train Home Run Kids in the Golden Rule if you have not spent time at First Base. First Base is where your connection with God develops your character. Your love for God matures into a healthy self-love. First Base is where you gain the character to “love others as you love yourself”. Loving yourself equips you to do loving things for others at Second Base. The “Golden Rule” is the evidence of the “Great Commandment”!

What are you feeling that you need today? Find someone and do for them what you wish someone would do for you! That person will feel better and so will you!

Home Run Kids practice the Golden Rule!

Practicing the Golden Rule IS a home run!

September 29, 2015

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12

I am much more excited about this week’s lesson than about last week’s. Sunday’s message was a tough one for me. Those of you who know me well probably knew I was struggling and why it was tough for me. I prefer to preach from a position of strength and my childhood and child-rearing are not highlights of my life for complicated reasons. Actually, it’s probably good for us to be willing to minister from areas of weakness when prompted by the Spirit. I refuse to allow my struggles to prevent me from teaching practical Biblical truths to the people I love.

So, home plate is the most important place because everything starts with a connection at home and ends at home plate with a score. A good solid connection at home is revealed when you arrive at first base. First base is the character base where we master self-love in a healthy helpful way.

Over the first two weeks of “Raising Home Run Kids” I have shared some very practical Biblical principles for connecting at home and arriving at first. This stuff is so good I wish I would have heard it years ago!

When you get to second base you are halfway home! That is true in baseball and it is true in the Home Run Life! Arriving at second base significantly increases your chances of scoring. Second base is the community base where you learn to enjoy redemptive relationships! Obviously you can’t get to second base if you haven’t connected at home and rounded first base. In the same way you cannot develop healthy redemptive relationships unless you have a connection with God and enjoy His love operating in your life.

FredWes does second base very well! The spiritual community we enjoy there is certainly one of the great strengths of our church! It is a perfect climate for Raising Home Run Kids!

Our second base is our LIFE Groups. I enjoyed the love that was shared in our LIFE Group last night! This morning I heard stirring reports of the deep fellowship shared at our other LIFE Group! Evidence abounds that FredWes is connecting at home and arriving at first!

Isn’t that what you want for your kids? Don’t you want them to love God in a strong personal faith connection? Don’t you desire a Godly character developed in them through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their heart and minds? And don’t you want your kid to know how to build healthy life-long relationships?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions you will NOT want to miss this Sunday’s message on how to help your kids learn to build strong and strengthening relationships.

You want to Raise Home Run Kids!

FredWes needs to be populated with Home Run Kids!

Come let me help you coach them up!

September 28, 2015

Peter has been giving us great advice on how to work out the graces He planted in us when we received Jesus Christ for salvation.

^"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control" II Peter 1:5-6

As I have thought about this great portion of Scripture I think of how few people I see who actually live self-controlled lives.

I have recognized three ways people deal with life in the 21st century:

The Self-Dedicated Life

The Self-Medicated Life

AND,

The SELF - CONTROLLED Life, I Corinthians 9:24-27

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

“self-control” = “getting a grip on your life - establishing stability”

This is the life God has called you and equipped you to live!

Five Qualities Of Self-Controlled Living:

POSITIVE GOALS, V. 24 – “Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win”

Self-controlled people live for a goal bigger than their own desires and wants. Here are some positive goals to live by:

Take responsibility

Spiritual growth is your responsibility. You will have to answer to God for how well you developed the grace He placed within you. It is up to you to bend every effort to add moral courage to your faith and to know the heart, the mind and the holiness of God!

Live with integrity

Integrity means to integrate what you believe into how you live. Self-controlled people will say what they mean, do what they say, and humbly seek forgiveness when they don't.

Welcome accountability

Self-control requires help from the outside. Just like an athlete needs a coach and and a referee, a growing Christian who values self-control will allow a trusted friend to hold him to a high standard.

PRACTICES DISCIPLINE, V. 25 – “All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize”.

What disciplines have you built into your life? Discipline means saying "no" to harmful things and "yes" to helpful things!

World-class athletes can't be gold medal contenders by sitting at the Krispy Kreme every day. Olympians give up the donuts to have a chance at the gold.

PROVIDES FOCUS, V. 26 – “So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches.”

How do you maintain your discipline in the pursuit of your goals?

I watched the sprinters in the Olympics and they were running directly at the finish line with their full focus on that tape. They weren't looking back or to the side or zig-zagging but striding straight to the finish.

Self-controlled Christians stay focused on the goal of pleasing God with their spiritual growth!

PROMOTES WHOLENESS, V. 27 - "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

Self-controlled people, whether athletes or believers, are fully engaged in the race. They train the mind, the emotions and the body in order to compete at the highest level. I did not see any half-hearted competitors at the Olympics this Summer/

Do you daily surrender your mind, heart and body to God’s will?

PARTNERS WITH HOLY SPIRIT, Galatians 5:22

The bottom line on self-control is you or I can't do it! Self-control is actually God-control and self-control is self-surrender!

Self-control is one of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit once He is in control of your life!

D.L. Moody said,  - "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."

So, how is your self-control?

What are your goals?

How is your discipline?

Where is your focus?

Are you entirely engaged?

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?

September 27, 2015

"Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:2-4

This is just a great story in every way!

I want to focus on another aspect of the story. I want to call your attention to the four men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus!

Are you concerned about bringing your friends to Jesus? 

These men show how to do it!

Bringing your friend to Jesus takes a concern. These four cared enough about their needy neighbor that they came up with a plan to carry him to Jesus!

How can you say you are concerned about a friend if you don't have a plan for getting him to Jesus?

Bringing you friend to Jesus takes a conviction. These men had a strong belief that their paralyzed neighbor needed to be saved and healed. They also had a firm belief that Jesus could heal their friend if they could somehow take him to Jesus. Their conviction was demonstrated by their actions.

Do you have a friend or family member who needs to be saved? Do have a strong conviction that unless they are touched by Jesus they will perish eternally? Are you ready to act on that conviction?

Bringing your friend to Jesus takes commitment. These men had to take time and effort to get their friend's bed carried to the house where Jesus was speaking. After they carried this friend on his bed all the way across town their commitment was challenged when they discovered there was no way to get through the crowd and into the house. What now? Should they give up and go back home? No! They were committed enough to carry their need friend up the back steps and onto the roof, then tear a hole in the roof and then carefully lower the bed down into the house.

Do you have a friend or a family member who needs Jesus? How committed are you to carrying him to Jesus?

Bringing your friend to Jesus may take cooperation. These men obviously all cared about the spiritual and physical welfare of their neighbor. Each of them wanted to see their friend meet Jesus. But due to his situation and circumstances none of them could get their neighbor to Jesus by themselves. To get his man to the Savior was going to require the cooperation of all four. Because they were willing to work together their friend was healed and saved by Jesus!

Christians are not called to be lone rangers. We need each other's talents, gifts, support and encouragement. By cooperating in worship, giving, prayer and serving we can get more people to Jesus than any of us can working alone!

In part, this is what this Sunday's Pigskin & Pig-picking event is about!

Getting people to Jesus is the calling that God has given to His followers. It is the Great Commission not the good idea or the best option!

Be inspired by the example of these four men who had enough concern, enough conviction, enough commitment and enough cooperation to get their neighbor to Jesus. 

Be inspired enough to follow that example!