MINISTRY NOTES

Week of February 28, 2010

Hi Everyone,

A Praise Report from Char

Hi, Terry is doing great. He will go back to the cancer Dr. in 1 week for a check up. Last time he went to this Dr---in DEC, ---the Dr. said he was "doing great" no sign of any cancer left in his body. I expect the same report this time. PRAISE GOD! He went back to work last Monday, after being out of work since Nov. 12, 2009. The company he worked for before called him back to work. ANOTHER PRAISE REPORT!

Thank you all for praying for Terry.

God is working in our lives.

Love you all, Char

A Cute Black … Story

On the POL Trail Marathon last Saturday there was a short portion on a gravel road that leads to the Botanical Gardens. A young woman came by my left and said, "Who's your friend?" I looked to my right and there was the cutest little pure black puppy about 12 inches long running along with me a couple feet away. As I turned my head to look at him, he moved off the road further to the right and stopped near a gate in the fence. I thought what is a cute little lap dog doing out here when there are no homes in sight. I turned back to the young woman and said, "A cute puppy." She responded, "I think it is a bear cub." I looked again and then responded to her, "You are right. I'm glad I didn't try to pet him. I bet his momma is sleeping." She agreed. It reminded me of a few years ago before I became a runner. I used to ride my bike at daybreak in Mohawk Park and deer would some times run along with me for a few minutes.

Marriage Workshop Moment

To refresh what you have learned in our Workshop or entice you to experience our Workshop

"Remember, all marriages can be better, if you use what you learned."

People don't just fall out of love. Their feelings of love get crowded out over time by poorly handled disagreements and arguments. It takes a lot of positive statements to offset one negative statement. When you have a disagreement it is a good time stop the conflict and then resume the discussion using the Speaker Listener Technique. Becoming one as God said we could (Genesis 2:24) is difficult when people in a marriage are afraid of rejection or even criticism. When you get angry, it is never helpful to threaten divorce. Being selfish can destroy a marriage. Jesus discourages us from being selfish in Luke 9:23. It is good to consider your spouse when you read Jesus words in Luke 6:31 (TEV) "Do for others just what you want them to do for you."

Cam age 10 said, "Twenty three is the best age to get married because you know the person FOREVER by then!"

Remember that how you communicate and handle conflict is crucial for how your marriage will go. If you see selfishness in your self or in your spouse, with prayer, God can help improve your marriage. Pray for God's will to be done in your marriage, daily. Remember Jesus said in Mark 10:27 (NIV) that "…all things are possible with God."

Howard age 10 said, "The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them…. It's the right thing to do."

The Better Half "When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better"

Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage ("all things are possible with God", Mark 10:27 NIV). Marriages usually decline over time as a result of poorly handled disagreement or arguments. Try to avoid conflict and never threaten divorce. It is good to consider what Jesus taught when He said in Luke 6:31 (TEV) "Do for others just what you want them to do for you", as you try to improve the way you treat your spouse. The old cliché about using honey instead of vinegar could apply to improving your relations with your spouse also.

A Psalm for reflection "The wicked shall be sent away to hell; this is the fate of all the nations forgetting the Lord." Psalm (9:17 (TLB)

Understanding the Teaching: What I share in the teaching is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote).

A Jesus Teaching:

How to Avoid Hell

Jesus gives us guidance about where we could go when we die. The most popular destination, where Jesus says "many" will go, is often called hell1. Once a very fine Christian told me that hell was just a place without Jesus. She was right that it is a place without Jesus, however Jesus refers to it in this passage as a place of "destruction". Jesus also refers to it as a place "where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched"2. Does not sound like a good destination. If you want to stay out of jail, it is good to know what could cause you to be put into jail. In the same way if you want to stay out of hell, it is good to know what could cause you to be put into hell. Although Jesus makes it clear that God has given Him the authority to judge, He goes on to say that He will "judge" based on what God wants and He also tells us to "fear" God who can send us to "hell"3. To stay out of hell or go to heaven Jesus teaches we need to "obey" God or do what He wants, which includes "obeying" Jesus4. This obedience is not described as just appearing to obey while relying on God's grace or permissiveness.

Knowing we should obey Jesus is pretty simple on the big stuff like "Do not murder … commit adultery… steal …" etc.5. But what about the little social recommendations like "Do to others as you would have them do to you"6 which is sometimes called the Golden Rule. Can we risk ruling the Golden Rule out when eternal life or eternal death is involved? Jesus talks about when He returns and He separates people with the good people or sheep on the right and the bad people or goats on the left. His criticism of the bad people is they did not help people who were hungry or thirsty or who were strangers and needed a place to stay or who needed clothes or who were sick and needed care or were in prison and needed visitors. It sure sounds like He is describing people in need that others didn't help. Just like they would have wanted people to help them, as He describes in the Golden Rule. How serious does Jesus treat those who neglect to apply the Golden Rule? You decide as you read that Jesus said to them, "…Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels"7. Sounds very serious. If omission of the social niceties found in the Golden Rule, can result in spending eternity in the fires of hell, we may need to reconsider how we treat others. When Jesus tells us to "deny" ourselves8, we may need to reject our selfishness and focus on God and also reject our selfishness and be considerate of others or "treat others just as you want to be treated"6. When Jesus tells us "If you love Me, you will obey what I command" and in His instructions for new followers to teach them "to obey everything I have commanded you"9 and we know He does not exclude the Golden Rule, exactly what did Jesus command that you would risk excluding?

Let's pray,

"Thank You for sending Your son Jesus. Thank You for all that Jesus taught us. Help us to obey You and Jesus. Give us the strength to be unselfish in helping others in need. Thank You for this help and strength in Jesus name, amen."

1. Matthew 7:13-14

2. Mark 9:48 (NIV)

3. John 5:22-30; Luke 12:5

4. Matthew 7:21(CEV); Mark 9:7 (AB)

5. Mark 10:19

6. Luke 6:31 (NIV)(CEV)

7. Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

8. Luke 9:23

9. John 14:15, Matthew 28:20 (NIV)