Against All Hope

Romans 1; Romans 2; Romans 3; Romans 4
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Against All Hope

Scripture

Romans 4

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.


Observation


The story of Abraham and Sarah is an amazing story of unbelievable faith. Can you imagine being promised by God that you would be the father of many nations and yet at a hundred years later you still haven’t been able to have children? The Bible said that Abraham’s body was good as dead and Sarah’s womb was dead. So what are the odds that they could still have children? Yet Abraham did not waver he was fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.


Kathy tells me that the surgeon told her that I had less than a 5 % chance of surviving from surgery to the ICU floor. Yet Kathy and all my brothers and sisters in Christ, against all hope never quit believing. They were fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. I told Kathy just a few minutes ago that I don’t think I could have been as strong as she was during this whole thing. I believe what she went through was a lot more difficult than what I experienced or am experiencing right now.


It must have been a terrible moment for my family when they asked Kathy and my children to come in and see me. They asked them to come in and see while I was still alive because the doctors and nurses thought my death was imminent. And then to make it even worse they had to be ushered out of the room because I had quit breathing and they had to shock me back to life.


I can’t imagine how hard it was for Kathy when the nurse came out during the surgery and handed Kathy my wedding ring. It was a ring that she had bought for me when we were 18 years old and it has never been off of my finger. When I woke up it was one of the first things I saw was my wedding ring on one of Kathy’s fingers. Kathy celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary out in the waiting room with all my brothers and sisters in Christ. They brought her a cake and her favorite food – tacos! Kathy’s sister and nieces gave us a gift card for our anniversary to Bern’s Steak House that we are going to enjoy just as soon as I get back on my feet.


Kathy was able to be as strong as she was because of her faith and because so many people were there with her helping her through each difficult day. I am so thankful for every person that came to our rescue and they did it in so many different ways. I have so many cards to read. We have had so much food brought to us. We have had so many different people giving us tokens of their love in so many different ways. Our sidewalk in front of our house has chalk messages written from people that care about us and wanted to express their love in a fun way.


So remember…with God all things are possible. Never give up hope. Against all hope is just the place where God works best. I am reminded again that nothing is too hard for Him.


Application


I will not quit praying for the seemingly impossible things in my life. I will not quit praying for my nephew Jonathan who is still in a coma like condition and has been for the past 4 years. Against all hope I will continue to believe that God has power to do what he had promised.


Prayer


Heavenly Father, the story of Abraham and Sarah reminds me of Your Mighty power. It reminds me of how much You love us. It reminds me of Your Faithfulness. Over and over again in the scriptures You do what to us is totally impossible. And over and over again You challenge us to have more and more faith. I have learned a huge lesson about prayer through this ordeal. I am so glad that so many people kept praying for me even though all the reports that first week were so negative and gloomy. It was against all hope that Kathy and I don’t even know how many other people around the world cried out to You. They believed that You had the power to do what You had promised. You know how grateful I am. Bless Kathy. Bless my children and bless my grand children. May this be a spiritual lesson that they will always remember. Bless our church and all the other churches that cried out for You to save me. I am fully persuaded that You had power to do what You had promised.


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Give Me An Attitude Like Paul's!

1 Thessalonians 4; 1 Thessalonians 5; 2 Thessalonians 1; 2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Thessalonians 3
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Give Me An Attitude Like Paul's!


Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


Observation


Let me repeat what Paul just said, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” and I think that key words in this verse are the words, “always, continually, and all.”


As I continue to get better every day Kathy has had to remind me several times that my attitude next some readjustment. I have become frustrated and angry at times over such petty things. I am glad that I have a wife that has learned to call me down when I am acting in a way that doesn’t bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine me getting frustrated and angry…believe it!


Paul was stoned and left for dead, he was flogged with a whip multiple times, he was shipwrecked, he was put in jail, he was persecuted and the Jewish leaders were constantly trying to kill him and yet he writes, “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”


I believe I am right in the center of God’s will for my life and yet He allowed me to experience what it is like to have a massive heart attack and experience a slow (at least I think so) day-by-day recovery. Yes, God allowed it. And He expects me to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks even in these circumstances.”


I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Don’t get me wrong I don’t ever want to repeat it over again, but it has been one of the most spiritual times of my life. I am totally overwhelmed when I think about it. It has nothing to do with me personally but it has everything to do with how Christians from all over the world prayed and prayed and prayed for me. I cry every time I think about how our church responded and how St Joseph Hospital had never seen anything like it. How people surrounded Kathy and my children and stayed with them throughout the ordeal and brought food and how they constantly prayed for my recovery. I have been told that people lined the hallway in front of the intensive care where I was and cried out for God to save me! I am humbled and totally overwhelmed by emotion thinking about what was done on my behalf.


So I have reason to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances” for this is the will of God for me in Christ Jesus. 

Application


I will write these verses on a card and put them up in several places in our house to remind me of the attitude that I should have as I recover. And I will get Kathy to say them to me every time I start to lose it over something small and trivial.


Prayer


Heavenly Father, help me to rejoice always. Help me to pray continually. And help me to give You thanks in all circumstances because I know that this is Your will for me in Christ Jesus. Thank You for every thing that I have gone through over the past 5 weeks. Thank You for every person that has lifted my name up to You. You are worthy of Praise. You are the Creator God. Thank You for delighting in someone like me!




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Give Me A Heart Like Paul’s

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Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1; 1 Thessalonians 2; 1 Thessalonians 3

Give Me A Heart Like Paul’s

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 3

12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Observation

As I read these passages this morning I felt Paul’s love for those believers in Thessalonica. It was like a father’s love for his children. You can pick up his strong desire to return to them to encourage, comfort and urge them to live lives worthy of God. Do I have that kind of heart for the believers that God has allowed to become part of my life?

Then Paul says that when he stands before the Lord Jesus Christ that his glory and joy will be them! He says, “Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”

In chapter 3 Paul prays a blessing on these new believers and it is a blessing that you and I should pray for those that we love. Paul has such a father’s heart for these Christ Followers and it is how we should feel about those that God has brought into our lives. Do they know that you love them? Do you encourage, comfort and urge them to live lives worthy of God?

To anyone reading this blog this morning, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

Application

It is my responsibility to help believers be all that what God wants them to be. I will think of them as if I was their spiritual father and I will encourage, comfort and urge them to live lives worthy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, our church is full of young people that need the love and encouragement. Help those that have been Christians for a while to open up their hearts to these new believers and to these seekers. Give me the heart of Paul for the people around me. Help me to touch the lives of those that come on our campus. One day when I stand before You in Heaven these believers will be my hope, my joy, and my crown and they will be my glory and joy!

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Trusting in the Lord is a Win - Win Proposition

Psalm 125; Matthew 26; Matthew 27

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Trusting in the Lord is a Win - Win Proposition

Scripture

Psalm 125

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the LORD surrounds his people

both now and forevermore.

Observation

Have you ever thought about all the things that the Lord has promised to those that love Him? It seems to me to be a no-brainer that living for God makes more sense than to live life without Him. That is why He has saved us so that can share the Good News to everyone around us. God created us to live in a close relationship with Him. When we choose to live our lives like He doesn’t exist we are the ones who suffer. Those loved ones around you that are living life like God doesn’t even exist might need to hear your testimony.

Since God gave me a second chance at life it is my plan to clearly share the Gospel to those around me. I am going to continue to challenge my entire extended family to trust in the Lord. Psalm 125 shows us what God does for those that love Him and call Him their Lord and Savior. He surrounds us just like the mountains surround Jerusalem. We are like a mountain that cannot be moved. Wow. I love it!

Hugh and Millie Roberts are some of our best friends in the entire world. Right now they are just arriving in Peru on a mission trip. Hugh shared several passages of scripture with me before they left. Here is one for you that he shared with me. Psalm 18:19 in an Eddy paraphrase, “God delights in me”. As I reread Psalm 18 yesterday the Lord gave me another verse to hold on to and it is verse 39, “The Lord will give me the strength for the battle!” I am holding on to this verse as I recover.

The Bible is full of promises and blessings for those that put their trust in Lord!

Application

I will share God’s love with as many people as I can as long as God lets me live.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I still am amazed that You delight in me! You surround me like the mountains surround Jerusalem. With You as my God what do I have to fear. You brought me up from the pit of death. I pray today for Pastor Bruce as he preaches. May Your Holy Spirit move in our congregation today. I pray for people to be saved. I pray for many people that today they will make a decision to serve You in some ministry in our church. I pray for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering that our church would sacrificially give so more missionaries can go overseas. I pray for the missionaries that are taking part in our mission’s conference. Bless them and their families Lord. Use them to take the Gospel to the world that still hasn’t had the chance to hear about Jesus.

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Serving The Lord By Serving People

Matthew 23; Matthew 24; Matthew 25

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Serving The Lord By Serving People

Scripture

Matthew 23

11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Observation

I just had a visit from someone from Christ Fellowship and she was so excited because she has found a place to serve at our church and now she is excited about going to church. I had a visit the other day from one of our young men and he had just served in our preschool. He also volunteers in our greeter’s ministry. He is so excited about our church.

If you are serving at your church in any capacity I hope that you grasp the importance of these verses. I had someone write me from Jacksonville and she said that what I had written earlier about serving made her rethink why she was serving in the choir at her church.

Having a servant’s heart is something that happens when you stay in a close relationship with Christ. As you try out places to serve at your church let me encourage to keep trying different ministries until you find the place where you excel. I love being involved in the greeter ministry at Christ Fellowship, but I would not serve well if I tried to be in the choir or the praise team. Wow … that would be a disaster.

I look forward to the day when I can be back serving my Lord by serving the people that God draws to Christ Fellowship. I love people. I love encouraging people. I love to help make people more successful. Let me encourage you to serve the Lord faithfully with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.

My wife, Kathy has a servant’s heart. I am putting her to a huge test these days. She has had to stay right with me and I have not always had the best attitude during this first week at home. I also love to watch her serve at church. She is amazing. God has gifted her in so many ways to be able to serve in the way she does.

Application

I will work from here at the house for right now and try to encourage every person that comes to visit me and challenge them to serve with all their might! Pastor Bruce needs so many more people to say, “YES” to serving.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may Your mighty Holy Spirit move through out our church and stir hundreds to say “Yes” to serving You. You are doing something very special at our church. You are moving people to do things that they had never done before. They are volunteering and serving and it is exciting. Help every person that is serving to understand the principle of being a servant and having a servant’s heart. Thank You for doing such a mighty work in the hearts of our people. Use Pastor Bruce tomorrow along with the testimonies of our missionaries to change many lives. You are worthy of Praise.

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Who or What is the Number One Love Of Your Life?

Matthew 20; Matthew 21; Matthew 22
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Who or What is the Number One Love Of Your Life?

Scripture

Matthew 22

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Observation

We have so much to be thankful for don’t we! Yesterday we had Thanksgiving with our children and our grand children here at our house. All of our kids brought the food. My son Tim cooked the turkey. Cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving has always been my job but this year I had to yield. Our tradition on this day is to go around the room and have everyone share what they are thankful for but this year I decided to share something with my family since God gave me another Thanksgiving to enjoy with them.

I shared with them that there was a time in my life when God was not the greatest love of my life. The first year of our marriage my focus was on everything but God and my life was headed in the wrong direction. God brought a man into my life named Charles Hartwig and my life was forever changed. It was through his influence that I realized that I needed a personal relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ.

It was at that time in my life when God became the number One love of my life. And God has been number one in my life over the past 40 years. I challenged my children and my grand children to love the Lord your God with all of their hearts and all of their souls and with all of their minds.

We have the greatest kids in the world and they have provided Kathy and I the best grand children on the planet. We are so excited to see what God is doing in and through our family. I am so proud of how they have supported their Mom during this whole ordeal. By the way, I am getting better everyday! Thanks for all of your prayers!


Application

I will continue to try to be like Charles Hartwig and help those around me find Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, what You are doing in the lives of my family and what You are doing in the lives of those in our church is totally overwhelming for me. I am so full of joy. I pray that even this Sunday there will more people that will make You the number one love of their life. Thank You for giving me such great kids and such wonderful grand kids. You are an Awesome God. Bless our children, our grand children and everyone at church in a powerful way today! You are so good!

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You Must Turn From Your Selfish Ways

Matthew 14; Matthew 15; Matthew 16
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You Must Turn From Your Selfish Ways

Scripture

Matthew 16

4 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

Observation

When Pastor Bruce came up to the hospital and told me how many people had stepped in and volunteered to help do some of the things that I had been doing at church I was so proud of them. Then he told me how many people had volunteered to serve at the Fall Festival and Feed The City and I was filled with joy. When the Body of Christ turns from its selfish ways and steps in and begins to serve then God's Holy Spirit can do some awesome things!

It was totally unselfish to spend so much time up at the hospital praying for me. So many people stayed with Kathy and my children while I was so critical. People made so many visits to the hospital to check on me. All of these things were done to minister to me and my family...totally completely unselfish! I am so proud of you!

When we stand before our Father in Heaven there is only one thing that He is going to examine and that is how we served Him here on this earth.

One of our church members made this comment to me not too long ago and I think that it was meant to be a put down. This is what they said, “you used pastor the church and now you are out in the parking lot parking cars.” My reply to their comment was this, “I am not parking cars in the parking lot. I am greeting people the moment they arrive on our campus.”

I love making guests feel like Christ Fellowship is the place where they can find what is missing in their lives, whether it is a relationship with Jesus or just getting connected with a church where they grow and serve. There is no more important job on Sunday morning for me than to serve our guests the moment they drive on our campus. I am so proud of everyone else that serves as greeters, whether inside the building or outside. I am amazed at what God is doing at Christ Fellowship!

Application

I will continue to look for ways God wants me to serve Him. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please continue to raise up an army of volunteers at Christ Fellowship. Bless every person that has said “yes” to serving You. Show them how important serving faithfully is. Keep them from drifting back to a life of selfish living. I pray for Pastor Bruce and Heather and Gwyn that You give them a great Thanksgiving with their family. You an awesome God. You are worthy of Praise!

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Raised From The Dead

Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13
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Raised From The Dead

Scripture

Matthew 11

4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—5 the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

Observation

It was a month ago yesterday that I had my heart attack. I am still learning every day more and more about what happened. I can't totally comprehend it and I probably never will. But this much I know that all the people that prayed for me didn't just pray for a sick person to get well. The church prayed and raised me from the dead! My primary care doctor told me that I was dead twice and his concern because I died was that the brain could have been left with no oxygen during the time it took me to come back and I would not be the same. He was very concerned about that.

God's church when the Holy Spirit moves the church to action can raise the dead. I know. I am a living testimony of the power of God's church.

“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.” 2 Chron. 7:14

Kathy and I in all of our over 40 years in ministry have never ever experienced the mighty power of God's church like we have over this past month. She told me about how so many people poured into the hospital and stayed with her and prayed. How so many lined the walls of the intensive care hallway praying and crying out for God to save me. She told me that people brought food for her and my family during the entire time that I was in ICU. The St Joseph Hospital staff both doctors and nurses were moved by the number of people praying. They say that they had never seen anything like this before.

My surgeon told his assistant that he didn't think that I would make it. The reports for most of the first week that he would share with the entire church that was out in the waiting room gave very little hope.

But the church didn't give up. I was dead, but now I am alive because of the power of God's people. When the church prays like they did for me there is nothing that can contain its mighty power. I have cried and cried as I have writing this. I owe you my very life.

Application

I will now pray knowing with even more assurance that I have a Mighty Heavenly Father who wants to answer our prayers.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your church. Thank You for giving them the power to raise the dead. I was dead but now I am alive. Thanks for smiling on me and my family. Thank You for showing Your church how powerful it is. You know that I am totally overwhelmed with everything that You have done for me over the past month. Bless every person and every church that took time to pray for me. Bless them really good.

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Compassion For The Helpless

Matthew 8; Matthew 9; Matthew 10
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Compassion For The Helpless

Scripture

Matthew 9

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Observation

The first sermon that I ever preached was on this passage. I believe in 1973. Pastor Ervin Benz helped me work on the message. I remember that the key word for me from this passage then and still now is the word compassion. The people around us are confused and helpless. They are like sheep without a shepherd. Some of the most special people that God has brought into my life are those that have been marginalized by most of the people around them. They may have messed their lives up on drugs, or immoral living, or maybe they are a little slow mentally. Maybe they don't smell too good or dress very well. God wants us to have compassion on them. He wants to love them through us. Do people know that we really care about them? Are they being transformed into all that God wants them to become because of our compassion for them.

Application

So many people had compassion for me and cried out to God to save me. I understand that the surgeon told Kathy that I had less than a 5% chance of making it from surgery up to ICU. I think he was trying to prepare her for my leaving this world. He definitely did not think that I would survive. Later when I was awake he called me “the miracle man”. Then every doctor and nurse said the same thing. A lot of people had compassion for me and prayed to our God for me to make it through. I am home. I still have a long way to go. It has been a huge spiritual lesson for on both prayer and on compassion.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this experience. I don't care to repeat it. You are teaching me so much because of what I am going through. I am so grateful for all the people that had so much compassion for me. I was truly helpless, but You surrounded me with an army of people that were determined to save me. Give me the same kind of heart for those around me.

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Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7

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He Will Certainly Care For You

Scripture

Matthew 6

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Observation

I have just come home after 26 days in the hospital. A massive heart attack is what sent me to the hospital, but the prayers of so many people is what brought me back from the pit of death. The doctors and nurses called me the miracle man. The hospital had never experienced so many people praying for somebody. It had a huge impact on my surgeon who did not think I would survive. I really have nothing to do with this miracle except being the recipient of it. God’s people prayed for me and God rescued me from the pit of death. Psalm 30

Application

This has been the biggest spiritual lesson that I have ever experienced from God. He will certainly take care of me. I am so thankful that so many prayed for me to make it through and they didn’t give up.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are so good to me. You have surrounded me with such wonderful people. I am so blessed. Thank You for taking care of Kathy during this part of our journey. I know that days ahead are going to be even better than all that we have ever experienced before.

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