January 4, 2016

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

This great chapter of Romans would be just as great even if you read it backwards. You can start at the end and it still communicates the same great truths. Romans 12 has much to say about discovering God's purpose for your life and this final verse is the purpose statement.

The purpose of every believe is to overcome evil with good! Is that a great goal or what? Who could be against that? Why wouldn't everyone want to sign on with that purpose?

I can think of at least two reasons why this is not as easy as it sounds:

First, how can we overcome evil when we ARE evil?

What? Me evil?

Yes, you! And me. Thanks to Adam, all inherit an evil fallen moral nature. Everyone of us have been born into sin and that sin separates you and me from God. So, the fallen moral nature is cut off from the only hope it has of changing. So, the first evil that has to be overcome in the evil within!

Second, who defines good?

Does it make sense that evil people would be left to define what is good? No way! We would define goodness down to such a level that there would be little difference distinguishing good from evil. That largely describes where our culture is today. Goodness has been defined down because moral absolutes have been abandoned. So, goodness becomes the subjective opinion of each individual based on what works best for them. That is the moral chaos we see around us today. That is why we have political correctness. God has been replaced by the government and the worship of the earth, so goodness is defined by what is good for the state and what is good for the earth. Think where that ultimately leads - whoever has the most strength and power will ultimately define what is good and what is not. It is called totalitarianism. God is the Only One Who is good and only He is the source of all that is good! Good is what God says it is! Good is what God is!

Verses 1 and 2 of Romans 12 tells you how to overcome the WITHIN you so you can confront evil in the world AROUND you. That is your purpose. It is the only way you can fulfill the purpose statement delineated for you and me.

Tired of the evil within? 

Ready to become an overcomer? 

Begin living on purpose today!

January 3, 2016

 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

The key to knowing God's purpose for your life is to know God on purpose. Paul, writing to the Romans, says that if your want to know God's purpose for your life make knowing God your purpose. If you do that, He promises that He will reveal His will for you.

Why is it important to know your purpose for living?

If you are not guided by your purpose, you will be misguided by your personal preferences.

 A purpose gives you something to live for that is bigger than yourself and what you want. A life guided by personal desires never seems to end well.

If you are not guided by your purpose, you will be misguided by your passions. A purpose takes emotions and emotional decision out of play. How many good decisions have you made when you were overcome by your emotions? A purpose begins with the end in mind and chooses or decides based on what accomplishes your purpose.

If you are not guided by your purpose, you will be misguided by your prejudices. A purpose is based on a process and on principles not on personalities or people. A purpose is focused on arriving at a certain result and prioritizes according to whatever accomplishes the purpose rather your petty personal judgments.

Are you living on purpose? Do you have a clear idea of what your life is to accomplish?

If so, it is because you have purposed to know your purpose. You have purposely made knowing God your purpose. That purposeful quest has lifted you above your personal preferences, above your passions and above your prejudices.

Know God, know purpose.

 No God, no purpose.

January 2, 2016

^"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:14-16

(NOTE: When I post this I do so knowing I will have one less devoted reader of my blog. It's not a though I have many who read it to begin with, but this one was a special one. My sister-law-law, Jan Gee, went home to be with the Lord yesterday following a brief but intense battle with ovarian cancer. So, I post this in her honor knowing I will never post another devotional without thinking of her.)

I wonder how many times I will write "2015" on a check before I adjust to the new year -2016?

In spite of my struggle with adjusting to a new date, New Year's Day is one of my favorite holidays! I find it more relaxing than most holidays because it is less demanding than most of the other holidays. I get to stay up late and sleep in on that day without feeling guilty.

New Year's Day allows me to be a "couch potato" for a day, watch football, snack on some munchies and not feel too guilty. I like that!

Overlook the fact that I am writing this post on New Year's Day, and it is one day I get to be a "normal" guy!

This is the 65th New Year's Day I have celebrated. I am hoping I will get to celebrate quite a few more! There is a LOT of football left to watch!

Having said that and having expressed my love of New Year's Day, I am looking forward to something MUCH greater than New Year's. Some day I will get to enjoy "no years"! "No years" is where the vast majority of my life will be lived!

"Brad, what are you talking about? What is "no years"?

"No years" is eternity!

There are no clocks in eternity!

There are no calendars in eternity!

There are no dates, or day-timers or deadlines in eternity!

In eternity time is measured in millenniums not in minutes! Eternity is lived in the "everlasting moment"! Think about the best moment of your life - that moment you wished would never end. If you project that forward you have a glimpse of eternity!

When I run out of New Year's I get to have "no years" for one reason only - because "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!" God's Son stepped out of eternity and into time to pay the penalty of my sins by dying on a cross! He died in time so I can live in eternity!

Wow!

I can have a happy New Year because I know for sure I will some day enjoy a happy "no years"!

Do you have that assurance?

Have you trusted Christ to be your Savior?

Have you repented of your sins, confessed that He is your only hope for salvation, and accepted His sacrifice for your sins?

If you have or if you will - Happy "No Years"!

January 1, 2016

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:2-3

There is no perfect church. But there are healthy churches and a healthy church is as close to perfect as a church can be this side of eternity. A healthy church is a representation of God’s dream and desire for the Promised Land He wanted for His people.

In this great promise accompanying God’s covenant with Abraham (which is a wonderful promise to claim for 2016) we can see the components of a healthy church. It is:

1) A Place to Believe

2) A Place to Belong

3) A Place to Bless

When you allow God to use you to create a place where it is easy to believe the truths and promises of God’s Word that is a blessing; to you and to others!

When you allow God to use you to develop the unity of a community where new people find ready acceptance you are blessing others with the blessing of belonging!

A healthy church is a place of blessing because people can be loved to life in a healthy church.

When I refer to “blessing” I am talking about the favor of God. When God is pleased with the mission, the motives and the ministry of a local church – THAT is a blessing!

Living in a covenant relationship with God through faith in Christ, THAT is a blessing!

Sharing the covenant relationship in fellowship with other like-minded Christ followers in the unity of a local church – THAT’S a blessing!

Welcoming others into the fellowship and introducing them to this covenant relationship with Christ – THAT’S a blessing!

My life has been blessed by knowing Christ as my Savior and passionately pursuing God’s favor upon my life.

My life has been further blessed by allowing God to use me in developing local church fellowships where others are blessed.

Perhaps the greatest blessing of my life has been introducing others into this blessing of knowing Christ.

I can’t imagine my life without His blessing! I don’t even want to.

I am blessed by the prospect of God’s continued blessing on FredWes in 2016!

I am blessed by the thought of sharing that journey with you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

December 31, 2016

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:2-3

What sort of place did God envision for His people?

When God extended His call to Abraham He provided a window into His dream for the Promised Land. He wanted it to be a place where it was easy to believe, easy to belong and easy to bless

I believe a healthy church should aspire to develop those same three qualities. I want these things to be true of FredWes.

In my last post I dealt with the importance of being correct in what you believe, convinced about what you believe and able to clearly communicate what you believe.

This morning I want to talk about the importance of being a place where it is easy to belong.

God created you with a strong need to belong and then He put you into a family where you would be accepted, loved, nurtured, developed and shaped. Everyone needs a place to call home. People who are deprived of a family or a home suffer deeply.

More importantly, God created you with a fundamental spiritual and emotional need to belong to Him!

No wonder the Church occupies such a significant role in human culture! The church is the place where you can belong to a loving and accepting group of people AND also be shown the way to belong to God!

This week I came across a recent survey that discovered nine reasons why visitors came back to a church after their initial visit. Or, we could also say they are nine things that made people feel like they belonged at a church.

How can FredWes make it easy for people to belong?

Here is the list based on their responses to why they made a return visit to a church:

1) “Someone had an umbrella waiting for me in inclement weather.” 

2) “A member actually invited me to lunch.” 

3) “The kids area had leaders who were friendly and helpful.” 

4) “There was a time of meaningful prayer.” 

5) “Someone walked us where we were supposed to go.” 

6) “There was genuine friendliness outside of the stand and greet time.” 

7) “People followed up with my prayer requests the next day.” 

8) “I loved having the opportunity to speak with the pastor.” 

9) “I received a gift at the end of the service.”  Their favorite gifts are freshly baked cookies or freshly baked bread.

Keep in mind, those who responded to our survey noted only one of these nine surprises that caused them to return. They considered any of these efforts above and beyond what they expected.

FredWes needs to be a place where it is easy to believe in God and FredWes needs to be a place where it is easy to belong.

As a member of FredWes, what are you correct and convinced in what you believe? Are you able to clearly communicate it?

As a member at FredWes what are you doing to help visitors and newcomers feel like they belong?

December 30, 2015

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:2-3

Nothing happens until you believe in God. At least nothing that lasts.

When God called Abraham He made him some promises and then it was up to Abraham to decide if he would believe God. In order to believe in God it is necessary to know God through faith.

God didn’t call Abraham to blind faith. He called Abraham to be willing to believe what he saw and heard from God.

Believing begins with knowing God personally by faith. When you invite Him to be your God and Savior He will reveal Himself through His Holy Spirit. As Romans 8 says, “His Spirit will bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God”.

Once you know God personally you grow in that personal relationship by learning His Word and doing His will!

After you become a believer you will find it vitally important to become part of a church since worship is the next step in getting to know God, continuing to learn His Word and being encouraged to live our His will and purpose.

A healthy church, like FredWes, will make it easy to believe for the following reasons:

1) A healthy church will believe so strongly in God’s will, God’s Word and worship that it will make it easier for you to believe!

2) A healthy church will believe in you! You will be accepted, loved, encouraged, developed, given a place to serve, and always given the benefit of the doubt!

3) A healthy church will be something you can believe in! You will find leaders who are sincere and who lead with integrity. You will be able to trust the leaders because they are servant leaders who are under accountability to a Leadership Team and members who have committed to a high standard of membership expectations.

4) A healthy church will have unity which will allow the Spirit of God to move and change lives! Seeing lives transformed by God’s love, power and grace makes it easier to believe in God and in that local church!

5) A healthy church will have teaching and preaching that is believable because it is comes directly from the Bible and will be presented in a clear way that applies Bible principles to daily life.

God’s dream for His Promised Place was a place where His people could believe in Him, in His Word, in His ways, in His will and will have a witness of His Holy Spirit doing His work among the people.

That dream captured Abraham’s heart and called him to a life of faith. Abraham became one of the reasons we believe, a foundation for the faith we love and live by.

This same vision is the passion that drives my life and ministry. I have a strong belief in God and His Word, I want to live a believable life. I want to share my belief with those who don’t believe and convince they that they should believe. I want to strengthen those who do believe by building a Biblical foundation under their belief. I want to build a church that believes strongly in God, believes in the mission He called us to do, believes in people and loves them to life.

What do you believe?

December 29, 2015

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Genesis 12:2-3

Have you ever wondered where FredWes got the idea of “Loving People to Life?”

There is little doubt it is a catchy slogan that has a warm sound to it, but so what?

What does it mean?

Why does it matter?

Over the next five Sundays at FredWes we plan answer the “So What” question about our mission and we will go retro to do it!

I could go to the Book of Acts and document our mission as an extension of their mission (because it is) but I will go back to God’s call to Abraham. It is powerfully clear what God intended for His people in the Land of Promise He envisioned using Abraham to establish.

God’s covenant-driven call to Abraham was shaped by God’s vision of what a place that developed healthy God-worshippers should look like. It captivated Abraham and lured him far away from his comfort zone.

In these several but significant verses I see God’s guidance and blueprint for a healthy place for His people, a place where people can be loved to life! As I framed the vision for FredWes I shared the same passion God infused in Abraham when He called him to be the Founder of a Land of Promise.

A place that attracts and develops healthy God-followers creates an environment that is:

A PLACE WHERE IT IS EASY TO BELIEVE

A PLACE WHERE IT IS EASY TO BELONG

A PLACE WHERE IT IS EASY TO BLESS

At the risk of being presumptive, I believe the reason you decided to make FredWes your church home is because you found these healthy faith factors in operation within our fellowship.

In an environment created by these faith-building factors it is easy to love people to life!

If you have been drawn to FredWes because of this environment I want to ask you for three things as your pastor:

1) Commit to loving God with all your life

2) Allow us to continue loving you to life.

3) Ask God to use you to love others to life and let FredWes help

Will you make a place in your heart for that?