MINISTRY NOTES

Hi Everyone,

Our state is gaining in national rankings. Oklahoma is now considered the 6th fattest state in the country. In 08, it was reported that the US life expectance was lower than 27 other countries and the report mentioned that we spend the most money on health care. Many of the criteria suggested as effecting life expectance are related to life style. We cannot blame the medical industry for our life style. Also, we cannot expect that money spent on medical care to offset poor life style habits such a bad eating habits and lack of physical exercise.

In the beginning of our marriage workshop, I share many positive benefits of marriage. A new study from the University of North Carolina suggests, "married individuals are twice as likely to become obese than single people who are dating". In another place in the workshop we appropriate from Jesus' letter to the Ephesus in Revelation 2:4 (NKJ) "… you have left your first love." And then relate what Jesus suggested in Revelations 2:5 (IC) "… do what you did at first." Followed by suggestions like, if you held the door open for your girlfriend on the first date, it might be good to hold the door open for your wife, (wives relate that frequently, if they don't put their hand out, they might get a broken nose J ). Maybe in the future I will suggest that you keep you body in the shape it was when you were dating.

Message Notes:

Jesus Sets us Free

God states that He will help people who are oppressed1 and Jesus says that one of the reasons God sent Him was to set people free that are oppressed2. Oppression seems to take place in every industry including Medical, Religious, Credit Cards, Petroleum, etc. Our government has varying effectiveness in reducing oppression in some industries, with laws such as anti-trust laws. On the most basic level, the most effective tool in relieving oppression is our police force. More laws and more government probably has a decreasing effectiveness in reducing oppression. The root causes of oppression are things that Jesus describes as coming from peoples' hearts such as "…evil thoughts… greed …"3. Government can discourage greed but to eliminate it, there must be a change in the heart. Enabling people to have a change in their hearts is one of the ways Jesus helps reduce oppression. During Jesus' ministry on earth He helped people who needed medical care4 and who were hungry5. Jesus tells us, we can also do things like this6, but overall to eliminate the root cause of oppression we must help all people follow Jesus, which includes His teachings like, "Treat others as you want them to treat you"7. At this suggestion, many will correctly think, "dream on", because getting all people to stop being greedy and selfish is not realistic, as long as God gives everyone a free choice (to go to hell). Jesus also gives us guidance how we can have our basic needs met. Most people will say, "my basic needs are being met, why should I care?" There is coming a time when you will have basic needs.

Middle of February 2009, God told me we will have an economic meltdown in our country. I was not told how soon in term of months or years. When someone tells you God told him something, be careful. Check it out with the Bible and with God. I am putting this part in italics so you will know the part that God told me. The way God described the meltdown was with a generic loaf of bread that in 1985 cost $.43, in 2009 it cost $1.24 and soon will cost $5 and then $10. Our money will be worth less. People will have money from jobs or savings or government support but will not be able to afford basics. You will have needs.

The way Jesus teaches us to have our needs met is to totally put God first in our lives and only do what God wants us to do. Then God will provide all our needs8. I know from personal experience that God will provide. Shortly before I was married, I was on a business trip in Chicago and took an old school friend and her roommate to dinner. She had left a high paying job in Chicago and was living on faith. I though she had lost her mind and I remember that I kept asking how they were able to survive, as I kept hearing, "God provides". A long time later, I realized that I was part of the provisions by taking them out to eat. Sixteen years later, when I went back to school to study for ministry, God told me that my wife and I were not to get paying jobs, when we moved to Tulsa. For the next two and a half years, God provided, in many ways for our family of four, while I was in school.

"God help us all to be prepared for the economic meltdown and to put You first in lives. Help us to remember to ask You before we make any decisions or take any actions. Thank You for guiding us and providing for us, in Jesus name, Amen."

1. Psalm 12:5

2. Luke 4:18

3. Mark 7:21-22 (NIV)

4. Matthew 4:24

5. Matthew 14:20

6. John 14:12

7. Luke 6:31 (TLB)

8. Matthew 6:33