“If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1Corinthians 8:2-3). Which I take to mean that until we know in such a way that we love God more because of it, we do not yet know as we ought to know.

Alongside “All truth is God’s truth,” we need to say, “All truth exists to display more of God and awaken more love for God.” This means that knowing truth and knowing it as God’s truth is not a virtue until it awakens desire and delight in us for the God of truth. And that desire and delight are not complete until they give rise to words or actions that display the worth of God. That is, we exist to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and merely knowing a truth to be God’s truth does not glorify him any more than the devil does.

All truth exists to make God known and loved and shown. If it does not have those three effects it is not known rightly and should not be celebrated as a virtue.

I give thanks that unbelievers see God’s truths in the natural world in a limited way. They know many scientific and cultural facts. But they do not feel desire for God or delight in God because of them. So these facts are misused. This is not a virtue.

I also give thanks that that believers may learn many of God’s truths from unbelievers and see them rightly and thus desire God more and delight in God more because of those truths, so that unbelievers become, unwittingly, the means of our worship.

Thus an unbeliever’s knowing God’s truth is not ultimately a virtue, that is, not a knowing that accords with God’s purpose for knowing, nevertheless that knowing may be a useful knowing for the sake of what God makes of it for his self-revealing and self-exalting purposes in the world, contrary to all the expectations of the unbeliever whose knowing God uses.

It is fitting, therefore, for God’s sake, for love’s sake, that believers learn what we can from unbelievers who see many things that we may miss, but do not see the one thing needful.

All growing up the verse 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is a great verse! And it truly does bring us joy to know that God will forgive us when we mess up and sin. But instead of living with that constantly in mind what would it be like if we lived life with this verse in mind, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”- Romans 6:11?

You see sin is slavery and Jesus Christ set us free when He died and rose again. We are no longer slaves to sin! We no longer have to bow to its power! We have a power with in us that is greater called the Holy Spirit. I am not saying that we can live sinless because of course that is not possible as long as we are here in the flesh but we can live our Christian life victoriously!

So I challenge you, instead of living your life in fear of sinning, live it in the freedom of knowing you don’t have to bow to its power. Live in the freedom of the GRACE of God.

It can understandably be said that since most of people from either church do not even know most of the people from the other church, why bother to have a picnic together? This being said, you can see why some do not have a motivation to get very excited about having fellowship with a large group of “strangers” that they don’t even know. This thought is a valid feeling.

My hope is that we will and can get past those uncomfortable feelings and recognize the greater import of staying connected with our roots and heritage. That is easier said than done. To illustrate . . .

My dad is very excited about genealogy. He has researched all kinds of branches on our family tree and has exhausted the search for distant cousins, rogue relatives, and the like. In his zeal, from time to time, I will receive a “packet” of printed material from him containing updated information, ancient photographs, and biographical data. To be honest, I personally, have a hard time getting too terribly excited about learning about a bunch of people that I don’t even know or about people that are long dead and gone. I usually just glance over the material and then toss it in the bin that I keep all of this information in. Perhaps, someday, I’ll want to look at it all.

I don’t fancy myself as very out of the ordinary in this realm. Most of us don’t really want to invest time and effort into strangers!! Try to think beyond that, however, to a greater privilege of connecting with fellow Believers who have demonstrated great sacrifice in obediently launching a daughter church. I want to know how they feel. I want to hear their stories of church life, post-launch. I want to find out how God is using their church to get ready to launch even another church plant in the future. My interests are varied and even somewhat driven by an agenda.

IF we are a “church planting church plant,” then we are going to go down the very same road that they have gone down. We are going to experience equivalent experiences. If for no other reason, I want to stay connected to our roots!

It is ironic that we see this demonstrated these days not in the U.S.A. but rather in Iran, of all places. We are witnessing an undercurrent of dissatisfied oppressed protesters stand up and refuse to be thwarted their “human rights.” They have had enough of a dictator. They have experienced enough nepotism and tyranny. They are decrying their forced silence and are demanding a fair voice in their lives. This best shows up in a political manner. The people believe that they have been ripped off and that corruption has stolen their will away during the recent presidential elections. They are not eating hot dogs (mainly because they are Muslims), or shooting off fireworks. They are preparing to sacrifice, to protest, to fight, and even to die if need be in order to be free. They are doing today exactly what our forefathers did over two centuries ago.

What are WE doing today? I would like to suggest two very simple yet profound things are appropriate for us. First, we need to be sincerely and profoundly grateful. By taking stock of the tremendous price that was paid and is still being paid for our freedom, we engender and foster a true spirit of humility and deep appreciation. This should manifest in honest and humble prayers. It should show up with grateful remembrances. It should shine with patriotic celebrations with true meaning and sincerity. We need to be grateful for our freedom!!!! Secondly, we need to support freedom efforts all around us. In this case, in the country of Iran. This will manifest itself in much the same way… by honest and fervent prayers for the protesters and new Iranian patriots. It will display by a swell of well wishing for freedom in the Middle East. It will shine as a rising tide of support for their cause, even here at home.

Let’s never forget, however, that even if the Iranians are politically free, they can never truly be liberated until they renounce their allegiance to the false god named Allah! He is no God at all. They can only be free as they embrace by faith the only God and Savior, namely Jesus Christ. Our gratitude, must be primarily allegiant to Him!!! Let’s be grateful for freedom, yes… REAL FREEDOM in Christ!!!!

Our theology and practice has been subtly, yet greatly, effected by our infatuation with self. This can be exemplified in the popular worship song by Michael W. Smith entitled “Above All.” Millions of Believers sing this song unknowingly filling their hearts and heads with what I will tab “narcissistic theology.” In fact, my hunch is that even the author of this song doesn’t realize the focus of self. The crux of the lyric says this: Crucified, laid behind a stone, you lived to die rejected and alone, like a rose trampled on the ground, you took the fall, and thought of me above all.

Indeed, at first blush, this song is a nice sentiment of Jesus’ sacrifice, but was it really me that drove his thought life? Yes, He died for me – but I am not his driving motivation. The Scriptures are pretty clear that Jesus was thinking of His love for and desire to do the will of His Father. That was preeminent in his heart and mind – not ME! Does He love me – - clearly! Did He think of me above all – - clearly not!

By way of another example, people no longer commit adultery out of sinful lust and lack of self control. Instead, we commit adultery because we have unmet longings and needs that have to be fulfilled in order for us to be happy with ourselves. WHAT??!! Give me strength.

And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ~ Matthew 22:37-39

Interesting . . . I don’t see self anywhere in the mix of what Jesus taught and certainly what He modeled. Christian, be careful of narcissism raising its ugly head in your life, in your family, and even in your church. It has no rightful place. It does not belong! As I like to say, we all too often find ourselves singing the selfish opera – - – Me Me Me Me Me Me Me!!

A doxological perspective is the cure for narcissism. It is all about God and His glory. I am just a tool to magnify Him!

Not too long ago, I was perusing a reunion website from my high school. It was exciting to be reacquainted with so many that I had enjoyed knowing so many years ago. As a Christian at a public high school, my circle of friends centered largely within a vibrant large Bible Study that I was apart of. As I continued to search the website and get reacquainted with my former classmates’ updated profiles, I found myself quite crestfallen. Person after person, that used to be plugged into our vibrant Bible Study, were now, not living for the Lord. Many of them made NO mention of following Jesus, attending church, etc… Many of them, in fact, were finding their happiness in self absorbed lifestyles filled with drinking, partying, and living for the weekend. What happened? How could so many have descended so far? Was their Christianity ever real? What is to say that I won’t eventually end up like them? Do YOU ever feel tired of being a Christian?

Keep Going!! Don’t quit. Stay faithful. There are several reasons that we should consider, as we continue to display our relationship with Jesus Christ.

1. God has called us. His calling is effective and sure. We are not called to a part-time life, but rather to an eternity.
2. God is sovereign. He knows what our life will experience and has, in fact, allowed/caused all things. We can trust our God since He has already been where we are going.
3. God’s Word is true. The promises of reward, joy, perseverance, Divine intimacy, etc… are all true! They are not just platitudes, they are rock solid truth.
4. God promises us rest. There will be a future of resting in Him. Even along the journey, we are given sabbaticals of rest. He will grant us the necessary rest, we won’t burn out!
5. God empowers us. We cannot live our Christian life on our fleshly strength. To do so, is a sure prescription for personal disaster. WE are not living our life, He is living His life through us! It is empowering to realize that no one is capable of living their Christianity and yet He is more than capable of living it out through us.

Don’t quit!

Some observations are clear as we look at this flood event:

1. God controls the river and all the weather precipitating factors!!! All the sandbags in the world cannot stop what God has intended. From the Bible:

   Job 37:6 ~ For to the snow He says, Fall on the earth, and to the downpour and the rain, Be strong.
   Job 37:10 ~ From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen.
   Job 38:25 ~ Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the thunderbolt?
   Psalm 89:8-9 ~ O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? You rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.

   These and many other passages like them clearly point to God’s sovereign control over nature, His creation.

2. God uses all things to bring Himself glory. He is Doxological in His dealings with His creation. From the Bible:

   Romans 11:36 ~ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
   Job 1:21 ~ The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
   Revelation 16:9 ~ They cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give Him glory.
   Colossians 1:16 ~… all things have been created by and for Him.

   This flood brings its Creator glory. He alone can cause it and He alone can abate it. Man is forced to recognize the glory of the flood’s creator, since man cannot stop its effects.

3. Believers are called to aid others in need. No matter God’s purpose(s) in natural tragedy, we are reach out to those in need. Sometimes that is displayed in physical ways, sometimes, that is best displayed in prayer. Either way, we are called to action. From the Bible:

   Psalm 50:15 ~ Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you , and you will honor Me.
   Matthew 25:40 ~ The King will answer them and say to them, Truly I say to you , to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.
   Philippians 4:6 ~ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God.

   Let’s pray that God’s purpose . . . His glory will be tremendously displayed in and around the Red River Valley these coming days!!!

First, it is going to be increasingly difficult to know everyone in our church. I already am finding it hard to keep all the names in my Swiss cheese memory. It will be easier and more common for people to remain anonymous. Lord, deliver us from being tolerant of this possibility. To combat this, we all need to step up and introduce ourselves to people that we do not know. We all are going to need to broaden our horizons and enlarge our personal “worlds” by intentionally getting to know others that we do not currently know. If fact, a good idea suggested to me lately, was for everyone to come on Sunday morning with the mission of meeting one person each and every week that they do not know or do not know well. Continue to talk with your familiar circle of friends, by all means – but take the time to meet just one new person each week.

Second, a tendency may develop for a smaller percentage of people to be doing a larger percentage of the work. As we add people, the work load will increase. There will be more chairs to set up. There will be more things to haul in for the nursery. There will be more children to teach in SS and AWANA. There will be more people to visit with meals in times of need. There will be increasing numbers of people to assimilate into small groups on Wednesday and Sunday nights. You get the point. The workload will grow as our church grows. We can combat the old 80/20 problem (80% of the work being done by 20% of the people) with increased volunteerism. The truth of the matter is, the church NEEDS each other. Our personal ideal for NWBC truly must include the concept of our own personal service unto the Lord in His local church. It cannot be just about what we receive but it also must be about what we give. Both are part of being in the church family. It is not unreasonable to think of NWBC as an exception to the rule when it comes to volunteerism and service. Equal sacrifice by all.

Third, with greater numbers will come the pressure to make the messages and teaching more palatable to the growing numbers. Will we be able to resist the pressure and temptation to rely on topical driven messages and less Bible centered messages? This is primarily a duty of the leadership team to set the rudder as to our teaching. This being true, it is not an exclusive leadership job. We ALL play a part in determining the course of teaching within the church family. We are committed to expository teaching & preaching based upon exegetical study. Our name is intentionally Northwest BIBLE Church.

“Lord, make us grow.” A wonderful prayer but I would submit, one with strings attached.

“Lord, make us grow as YOU would have us grow!”

The gist of the book is that we often view our relationship with our local church as one of dating. There is no firm commitment in place, so we are not tied down. In a marriage, we are held accountable to provide for those in our family. We are permanently joined to them and take ownership in their lives. Harris outlines several practical and Biblical suggestions driving us to conclude that we, in fact, are supposed to be married to the church and not just dating her.

An excerpt from pages 44-45:

Is belonging to a church really just a formality? When asked what church she belonged to, one Sunday-morning visitor told a pastor, “The universal body of Christ…” Technically, she may be right. As we saw in the last chapter, every authentic Christian does belong to Christ – and that’s wonderful! But is it either wise or right for a person to be linked spiritually to the universal Church yet have no connection to a local church? Is it even possible? Wouldn’t that be like telling your new bride that while your love is true, you have other priorities? Your heart, of course, is all hers, but as for the rest of you . . . well, you’ll be in and out. I propose that for sincere followers of Christ, the Bible allows for no such disconnect. If you and I identify with and love the idea of church, we must consider how we can identify with and love an actual church.

In our culture today, we are hesitant to join anything. We do not want to be tied down to anything. Commitment is a dirty word. We can give all kinds of reasons and rationalities as to why we should not and cannot be tied down. In the midst of our information driven world, we don’t want OUR information to be connected to someone or something. Our knowledge comes preferably by anonymous e-mails, impersonal voice mail, untraceable web pages, sterile text messages, etc… We bank, shop, research, read, and live without interacting with people.

It is impossible to be a Christian and to stay removed from people. Well, perhaps I should say, it is impossible to be an obedient Christian and to stay removed from people.

Think about it . . . Christ certainly loves the church. Shouldn’t I love what He loves?

Many of us have found ourselves guilty of overindulgence when it comes to holiday treats and goodies. The season intrinsically lends itself to tremendous fare of all sorts.

Well, with the gluttonous tendencies of the holidays, come the obvious consequences such as clothes that fit a bit tighter, feeling a bit sluggish, lack of energy, etc…

Millions of people will be making New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, etc… I would like to suggest that we, as Christians, consider making some serious resolutions regarding our spiritual discipline. The above verse lays it out for us nicely. The truth is that this physical body is quite temporal and only lasts for several decades. Our spiritual man is permanent and lasts forever. In our culture, we have seen an alarming trend to prioritize our outer man over our inner man. Looks, optimal health, and self-confidence have trumped the traits that REALLY matter. By really matter, I mean, matter forever! Oz Guinness wrote a book several years ago that sums up the whole issue with just its title ~ “Fit Bodies, Fat Minds.”

We tend to marginalize the spiritual disciplines in the church, these days. Last year, one of America’s most famous pastors, Bill Hybels was forced to make an alarming statement regarding the seeker sensitive worship service and ministry model. He came out publicly to pronounce that it does not work. It does not produce well balanced growing disciples. He said that what they should have been doing all along was encouraging people to read their Bibles, pray, fellowship together, serve, etc… These core disciplines are tried and true methods for the church because their source is actually the NT! These are God’s way to grow.

The great commission in Matthew 28 commands us to “make disciples.” With this imperative driving our ministry both corporately and individually, we need to set some goals that aid us in growth as disciples.

The concept of being strengthened and stretched in the spiritual disciplines such as

Bible reading, Bible memorization, prayer, service, encouragement, doctrinal study, intentional evangelism, etc… is not a priority that can be taken lightly, or even just lighter than it should be taken. We NEED these things in our lives to be ever increasing and ever strengthened!

What will we do with this truth? What changes will 2009 bring in our spiritual discipline?

What resolutions or life-style adaptations will we make? Remember, the things that really matter are the things that really last!