In reality, however, is it even possible to cut back on Christmas? Sure it is possible to reduce the gift giving and some of the other trappings of the holidays. But is it possible to cut back on what Christmas is all about? If we give NO gifts, and eat NO candy, and exchange NO cards, and visit NO family, will it still be any less Christmas? Does any of that impact the incarnation of God? Will Jesus Christ be any less the Savior of the world? Of course not! Christmas is about Jesus becoming a man for the purpose of saving mankind! We celebrate the wonderful concept that the unique God-Man arrived in the form of a baby.

Of this fact, it is impossible to “cut back.” Our country, and even most of the world, is experiencing stressful times. In the midst of these financial difficulties, I hope that our attention and affinity will be driven to the Savior even more so than in our past. In light of the need to cut back on the trappings of the holidays, it is my prayer, that we will all be driven to hewn our gaze upon Jesus Christ, the God-Man who humbled Himself to become a man, even an infant! Perhaps these lean times are indeed, an actual blessing from God to refocus our interests and passions after Him and not on the peripheral things.

What a great opportunity is right in our laps THIS year to develop new traditions and plans that focus on Him. Our families can reinvent worship of the Christ child with new or even revamped activities. Some suggestions:

• celebrate the anticipation of the incarnation with an advent wreath in our homes
• use a series of Scriptural readings at the nightly dinner table to focus us on the Christ
• pool a portion of our money designated for gift giving to advancing an organization who is doing a great job of spreading the message of the Gospel particularly at the Christmas season
• engage in old fashioned carol singing in our Homes and with friends
• engage in seasonal journal writing along the theme of how Christmas REALLY affects me
• and many more fabulous ideas from YOU!

In these lean financial times, I would suggest that we should not be cutting back at all! In fact, in full light of the lean times, we should be doing just the opposite - we should be ramping up our celebrations and realizing that the hard times are a divinely orchestrated opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a more rich and full manner than perhaps we ever have before.

Cut back for Christmas? I don’t think so!

On the airplane from Miami, I spent some time chatting with a business man. For work he is an importer/exporter of engine parts for heavy duty trucks and heavy equipment. He inherited this business from his father. By Guyanese standards, he is quite wealthy. On top of this, he has begun to dabble in mining for gold in the rain forest interior and is apparently just beginning to see that “pay off for himself.” This man is quite proud of his accomplishments and fancies himself a tremendous success. His spiritual background is eclectic to say the least. His mother is a Muslim, his father is a Hindu, and his wife is a Christian. He is a “nothing,” he proudly proclaimed to me. As he sees it, if all his relatives are busy praying to a God by way of three separate religions, then He must be quite confused or not really that important. After all, I am successful without God, why do I need to both with him?

There is not a question in my mind, that even though the cultural differences in this man are significant from the typical American businessman, his spiritual condition is identical… LOST!! Whether we are sinners by way of religion, or by way of supposed atheism, or by way of wanton paganism, we ARE all sinners. There is no way around it!

I asked this man if he felt he had any need to have his sins forgiven. He said, “Why do I need my sins forgiven?” From his perspective, there are no consequences for sin. Sounds pretty “American” doesn’t it? That is, at least, what I thought.

Do the following Scriptures drive home the point?

Romans 3:10

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

IN NEED… DEEP NEED!!!! That is the only conclusion we can come to when contemplating mankind and his eternal destiny. You see, we don’t just die and turn into worm food. Our sin DOES have an impact on us… literally for all of eternity!

Our message is not intentionally doom and gloom and certainly NOT the whole of the message!!! It IS, however where the message begins for fallen man. We cannot be saved, if in our feeble sin impaired desperate little minds, we don’t need to be saved!!!!

The source of my learning is derived from God’s Word (Galatians 6:1-10) and from my humble observations.

1) I need to be looking to help others who feel trapped in their sin with the goal of restoring them. My radar must be on looking for need in others.

2) We reap what we sow. God has made this a certainty. To think otherwise is self deception. Unfortunately, in his last moments, Clay was full of self deception.

3) I AM my brother’s keeper. (Genesis 4:9)

4) This day was avoidable! Only because of my brother’s terribly selfish decision, are we gathered here. Let’s not ever gather together again under these circumstances.

5) What really matters are the things that really last. Physical and temporal things are significantly less important than relational and spiritual things.

6) I simply cannot continue to put off doing good for others - I need to do it now while I have the opportunity. Such examples are:

• on-time B-day cards
• apt words of encouragement
• timely phone calls
• simple gestures of thoughtfulness & kindness
• time investments to build relationships

With shame, I must admit, that Clay was far better at doing this than I have ever been.

7) Relationships with people matter. We all need close friends.

8) Keep going… God will give the strength to carry on. To be honest, I am not sure just what I am going to do without my brother. I don’t really know how I will carry on and what my life will be like - but I must keep living it!!

9) The VERY BEST gift that I can give others is to let them know by my word and by my life that I am ready for heaven, no matter what may happen to me. How about you, today? Are you ready for heaven? Do your loved ones know this for sure?

Excerpt from message delivered at memorial service for

Clay O. Selley on Sat, Sept 20, 2008 by Brad D. Selley,

Clay’s youngest brother.

First, it is a good thing for people to be involved in our governing process! We are incredibly blessed to even have the opportunity to be involved. In fact, if we are not involved for a protracted period of time, we will actually lose the ability to be involved! A gloomy thought indeed. As Believers, it is well within our NT description to engage our culture and to exercise our citizenship. These, can, in fact, be wonderful outreach opportunities for us to serve others and to be salt and light in “our world.”

Second, differing opinions are welcomed in the church. No doubt, all opinions needs be founded upon Scripture and its principles. Whether differing opinions regarding political candidates and parties or differing opinions regarding preference practices in the church - opinions are welcome! We MUST get along even if we differ. That is a NT imperative in the church.

Third, church business trumps political business. When these two are in competition, the church wins out for our priority. THE job of the church is to make disciples! If our politics rivals that essential imperative, then the choice is clear - the politics lose. This is not to say that politics do not matter and have no merit. In fact, I believe the political realm to be of great importance. It IS to say, though, that the job of making disciples to the Glory of God is superlative!! This perspective is needed, yea demanded.

Fourth, the church must be lawful. We are not to operate outside of or deceitfully silent of the governing laws of the land unless they force into a position that compromises the Bible’s instructions. We are first and foremost, a church! That is what we are to be. We are not called to be a “front organization” or a political party, candidate, or agenda.

In this political season, I encourage you to exercise your national citizenship. Yet, in every season, I implore to exercise your spiritual citizenship!!

In the midst of sorting out all of the media blitz, I found myself wondering if the day isn’t coming quickly, when charitable contributions to a church will not qualify as a legitimate deduction for donors. This has long been the law in the US, but will it remain so? Just like you, I am grateful for the record of receipt allowing me to benefit from a nice tax deduction on my personal taxes. In the midst of rising fuel costs, slumping real estate markets, and a troubled recessionary economy, indeed, every bit helps!

The next natural extrapolation of my thinking drew my to ponder what the giving and income would look like at NWBC if no one was allowed to receive a tax benefit for their contributions. Would our profit/loss statement take a major hit?

Hopefully, we will never have to experience the answer to the above question. The motivation for our giving truly comes out when we are squeezed by the crucible of financial pressure. Do we give for a nice tax break? Do we give so that the church can meet its bills and obligations? Do we give because it makes us feel good about doing our part? Do we give because we others expect us to? All of these are logical reasons. None of these are right reasons. We are to give because we desire to worship God! There it is, a doxological approach to giving. We are to give so that God receives glory, even from  our finances!

I trust that if all of the tangible benefits of giving were legally removed from donors, our bottom line would not suffer. In fact, I wonder if it might not increase as we all reevaluate our hearts as we open up our checkbooks. After all, remember that we own nothing!!! We are simply managers of His funds. He has instructed us to give. In the OT that was by tithing (like a tax). In the NT, we give by God’s grace. Either way, it is about worshipping the God who owns everything. In conclusion, I must ask myself . . .

Why do I give?

Unity is crucial for a church to move forward in fulfilling the mission and task of being a local body. We are not to be splintered in our mindset. The NT clearly points out the attitude or mindset that any and every local church is to genuinely own and manifest.

Philippians 1:27

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 2:1-2

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

As our local church continues to grow and move forward with the task of making disciples for His honor and glory, it is imperative to the outcome, that we proceed in a Biblical manner. That Biblical model is to move forward in unity. The above verses speak of a united spirit and of having one mind. What does this look like? Well, first of all, I don’t believe it means that we all must have exactly the same ideas and opinions. In fact, there is tremendous benefit in having varying views. At NWBC, differing ideas are welcomed! No one should ever feel afraid or ashamed to propose a new thought or a different viewpoint. As we put forth differing ideas, what we do insist on, is that all ideas MUST be supported by the Scriptures. In essence, differing views and fresh perspectives are very welcome, but unbiblical or Biblically erroneous ones are not. That can be a hard balance to strike. We are striving as a church, to foster a harmonious mindset of Biblical accuracy yet within that framework, leaving the door wide open for new ideas and thoughts.

Much like Paul stated in Philippians 1:27, I am personally encouraged that I see this balance amongst NWBC. Every so often, I speak with fellow pastors and colleagues that report on the divisive nature of their business meetings, their Bible studies, etc… I am so proud of God’s Word working in us, as a church family, to save us from those fights, tensions, hidden agendas, and the like. From the deepest part of this pastor’s heart, I want to say a sincere and hearty thank you for conducting yourselves in a worth manner. Indeed, we are and want to continue to be united!

We tend to view God as “I Was” and as “I Will Be.” We do not view Him as “I Am.” Our expectations of how He will work in OUR lives are really very low. I would venture to say that the average Believer today has, in fact, NO expectations for God to work magnificently in and through our lives! Some of the contributing factors which have led us to such low expectations of God are our prayerlessness, our Biblical anemia, our affluence and apparent lack of need, our lack of zeal for worship, and more. Rarely, is the average local church poised ready to see God move in magnificent ways in and through our lives. We expect nothing to happen and that is exactly what we get . . . nothing!

It is unfortunate, yet encouraging to note, that Believers of all ages have had a propensity to be this way. In Acts 12:6-17, the church called a special prayer meeting to entreat the Lord for Peter’s release from prison. Indeed, even while they were praying, God answered and affected His release. He came to the house where they were gathered and was greeted at the gate by Rhoda the servant. She reported this to the praying crowd in the house. Their response is disappointing, yet familiar.

They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” Even in the midst of the first century when God WAS doing magnificent things, the praying church really did not expect that God actually would act. Are we any different?

The facts are that God was, will be, and IS working magnificently in and through lives!!!! He wants us to be praying like mad for His will to be accomplished and for it to be accomplished in and through US!!! Not the super-saints that have mountain sized faith, but rather, in and through US, the saints with seed sized faith.

Will He move? Do we even truly expect that He will? Can He do such things as truly cause our local church to grow in spiritual maturity and in numbers? Can He do such things as provide a building or land for our church? Can He do such things as save our lost loved one whose life is in a mess? How about cause a revival in the northwest corridor? Do we even expect Him to move at all or is our deep down honest thought like the Believers in Rhoda’s day, “You are out of your mind!”

He is not just the God of “I Was” or even just the God “I Will Be” but He is the God, “I AM.”

What do we expect from I AM??!!

Hunter (9) and Jesse Javens (13) were laid to rest this week. Their family has suffered horrendous emotional strain. It was overlooked by many, but Mr. & Mrs. Javens previously buried another child who died from a medical condition. Wow! These parents have lost three out of their five children! Hunter was actually buried on what would have been his 10th birthday. He was a twin. His twin sister will forever have her own birthday flooded with excruciating reminders of the death of her brothers, especially Hunter. Another, little reported point . . . the boy’s older brother had been married the previous weekend and was on his honeymoon when the accident occurred. He, of course, cut his honeymoon short and returned so that he and his new bride could be with the family. Every anniversary will forever serve as a reminder of this tragedy!

WHY would God allow this “Job - like” experience? If He is sovereign, and He is, WHY would he cause, or at least allow, this incredible amount of pain to be inflicted on this family, especially these parents? What is He up to?

I would like to submit two reasons straight from the Bible. This is a very complex issue and in this little article I am not attempting to produce an exhaustive tutorial on suffering. I do think these two divinely originated thoughts are worth thinking on, though. They are both clearly found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

#1 - Our sufferings helps us to connect with the suffering of Jesus Christ. Even though our sufferings are of a different nature and intensity, they serve very well to implant a deep appreciation for what He went through on the cross! Of course, even more mind boggling, He suffered on our behalf!

#2 - Our sufferings yield purposeful comfort. Even though our suffering is not removed or eradicated, we nonetheless receive comfort in the midst of our suffering. That comfort, which comes from both God Himself and from others, does help. It gives us a poignant sense of God’s mercy to help us. Remember, we do not deserve comfort. We are sinners. Yet He is so very gracious to pour out comfort in our lives. In addition, the very same comfort that we receive equips us to help others. This is all in His plan. Those who suffer and receive comfort are the best trained to aid others in the midst of their suffering.

Whatever our tragedy - great or small, physical or emotional, permanent or temporary, God is using it for our good, for other’s good, and ultimately for His very own glory!

A great advantage of this method, apart from incredible time savings, would be the level of care that a professional or expert could render. A man that did nothing but visit people all day long would get very good at learning the right things to say in certain situations. He would learn quickly the appropriate demeanor to exude in particularly difficult situations. In addition, he would master certain texts of Scripture that apply to such crisis situations and would become streamlined and proficient in applying the selected Biblical texts. You might even say that the patients and their families would be helped in greater capacity than if their “novice hospital visiting pastor” were there fumbling his way through each encounter.

Now to the real challenge… How could a smaller church afford to pay for such a designated hospital visitation expert? Well, two solutions were proffered. First, since many churches were banding together, the cost would be split up amongst many churches, thus reducing the actual cost to each individual church greatly. Perhaps, this could even be incorporated into the church’s missions budget? Secondly, why not just charge the patient for the service of an expert hospital visit? Should the church be collectively paying for a service that only one individual is receiving? This, of course, would translate into “free” for each banded individual church. This would place the burden on the visitation expert to earn his money. In essence, he could be on a commission basis. The more visits he was able to make, the more money he would be able to pocket. There couldn’t be a more convincing motivation for creating and inventing ways of being more productive, could there? The cost may even be able to be passed along to an insurance provider, if the hospital would cooperate! In fact, the expert could even pay a fee to the churches for the right to represent them at the hospital(s). Wow, not only would the pastor be saved enormous amounts of time, energy, and angst . . . but the church could actually see a profit from this method! Brilliant.

Hey, hold it . . . it just struck me! Why limit this principle to just hospital visits??!! Why not use the same productive paradigm for funerals, weddings, baptisms, counseling, and even message preparation??!!

Do you see any problems with this proposal? Does it strike you the wrong way? Are you bothered by the implications? Does it leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth?

Just think of it . . . “Rent - A - Pastor.”

“Pastor, where are you going with this?” you may wonder. Well, I would like to address the difficult question of God’s involvement in this animal attack. Did God allow this tragedy or did God cause this tragedy? I submit that God planned every single detail and ordained its outworking. IF God allowed it, as opposed to caused it, then some other force or person would have to have initiated it. What force would that be? Is there another force that directs nature (animals, weather, climate, earthquakes, etc…) at God’s allowance? The answer is NO!! God directs nature.

Ezekiel 14:21-23 (ESV) “For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast! But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it. [23] They will console you, when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God.”

We may not know or comprehend the “how” of why God directs the way He does, but make no mistake - - HE is the one who holds nature at His control. Nature does His bidding. God rules the world as He sees fit and He answers to no one. He does not need to justify His sovereign and providential dealings with His creation. He is the epitome and origin of justice. He does His own holy will without the advice or urging of anyone.

Ephesians 1:11 tells us that we have been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

God did not allow that tiger to attack and kill that 17 year old, but rather He caused it.

As difficult as that is for us to wrap our limited, sin-impaired minds around, it IS the truth.

There is tremendous comfort to be gleaned in the midst of such tragedies, since God is up to something. There are no random events of carnage. Because He is the only one who can control nature, we can be assured that He will accomplish His will His way! All life and nature are tools in His hands. We must hold firmly to the truth that calamities are God’s providential work that ultimately glorifies Him!

Tiger attack or not, God is in control!