It Looked Good but Destroyed Most of His Family

A Summary of the July 15 morning Message:
How many times do we make decisions for our families based on what seems good for them?

Lot chose what looked good but it almost destroyed all of his family. In Genesis 13 we discover Lot's poor choice.
Lot was Abraham's nephew and had followed him when God called him to leave home. Over the years they had both become wealthy "in livestock and in silver and gold"( Genesis 13:2b).

As a result the herdsmen began to quarrel. Abraham did not want any fighting between himself and his good nephew so he recommended a generous way to settle the problem. He gave Lot the 1st choice to land - dry hill country or a lush green valley.
Sounds like a no brainer to the modern mind - but comfort can be deceiving.

In the green valley was Sodom and Gomorrah - the sin cities of his day.
He "pitched his tents NEAR Sodom" but later ended up IN Sodom.

Just how did that happen?

Like folks today who come near the things of God but end up living in sin.
In the end this righteous man had little or no influence. In the valley he sought a life of comfort for his family and lost them. His values were seriously compromised in the process.

Abraham on the other had moved to the hill country and "built an altar to the Lord". Notice he put God in the middle of his life.
It made all the difference then and still does.

How many people do you know that have enough of God to make them miserable because they camp out near Sodom and never seem to get around to going all out for God. It is like they want God but they want to live like this world and it's values.

Abraham had a freedom from the things of this world. He made his share of spiritual mistakes but his life continued down the path toward Godliness.

How about you? What draws your attention the most -- the near and the here or the long distance journey with God?

Refuse to follow Lot near the sin of this world and lose your family --- follow Abraham --build an altar to God - stay as close to God as you can and a far from the world as possiblle.

Are you blessed and being a blessing?

Just a short note from The message for Sunday July 15--
"He (Lot) had been blessed but was not being a blessing"
Is that true of us?
Pastor

Do Not Be a Dumpster

Here are some shortened notes from the July 1 PM message on not allowing people to use you as a dumpster --that is not allowing people to dump complaints and negative, faithless talk on you.

Philippians 2:14a - " Do everything without complaining..."
Philippians 4:8 - " Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

I. HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE BECOME A DUMPSTER?
- What is said to you
- Do you enjoin complaining talk?
- Do you join in?

II. Why do people come to you? They trust you, you give good advice, you agree with them(egg them on) , sympathize with them, listen

It often makes you feel --important , or used , even tired

What does God want you to do?
- Direct them to Christ
A complainer has lost his/her way spiritually-- they no longer go to God or trust in God like they used to....
- do not encourage negative talk

Biblical examples: Luke 10: 38 -42
Martha at work in the kitchen complaining about Mary at the feet of Jesus listening.
When she complains -Jesus immediately point to a SPIRITUAL Dimension.

Same in John 11: 17 - 25 - Martha complains after Lazarus death " ..."if you had been here..." Jesus again point to a SPIRITUAL Dimension.

The Point -- As people dump on us - if they claim to be Christians - we need to point them back to SPIRITUAL aspects of their complain.
Are they trusting God?
Have they prayed about it?


III. What Does God Want You To Do?
1st do NOT - enable by agreeing to all their whining and pain

Do Direct them to Christ

This is a time you can witness to them - the LIGHT OF CHRIST can shine.
It is your opportunity to point to God!


Remember : Philippians 3 12- 20 --- V 19b " Their mind is on earthly things"

You must remember and remind them: V 20a --- ...our citizenship is in heaven"

Do not let earth talk -dirt talk sound as if it is the best and most important talk-

Talk that recognizes our future home is of the most value.

"When love gets low, criticism gets high. I find myself, whenever i get out of touch with Christ, I begin to be critical of others. But when I am in living touch with Christ and therefore filled with love, then love hides a multitude of sins. I feel sorry for people rather than critical of them." --E Stanley Jones

VBS - a success

Thank you to all who worked to make VBS success. Thursday night the children prayed the the Prayer of belief or Sinner's prayer -- what a great sound!

VBS again has injected new life into our church. It is an amazing time-children learn about God, adults have fellowship - work hard and all grow.

Thank you Tyla for your work.

To Complain or not - a Biblical directive

Josh will preach a sermon on July 1 about complaining. The Bible tells us to "do everything without complaining". What a tall order!!

We are going to go on a short journey to try and rid our lives of the habit.

Let us be honest about this endeavor.

It is a chance to grow ---

Direction

God wants us to ask direction - the question is - do we ask enough? Sure we do on the big things but what about the smaller things.

Direction in our lives is affected by God as we listen but God speaks through so many people and circumstances around us. How perceptive we remain is crucial.

My prayer is God help me listen- listen - listen
an really see.

A Healthy Mix for Christians

Think of this:
How best can the church give to it's members a positve spiritual experience? In other words ----what does each Christian need in the journey?
I think I believe(at this time) the following:
- worship and praise by the Body of Christ -the vertical strengthening
- education of the Body of Christ
-fellowship - the horizonal strengthening

This is a healthy mix and the church of our day - even the small church needs to adjust

Too often we have seen churches go off in the direction of one or two of the above three -emphsizing Sunday School or worship or small group but all are needed.

Careful thought and planning must go into this since in the smaller congregation people resources are limited.

Acts 2 :42 - 47 gives us the Early Church pattern. They.....
V. 42a ... "devoted themseves to the apostles' teaching" -(education)
V. 42b..." and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread" ... (fellowship - horizonal)
V. 42c... "and to prayer"...
V. 47 Paraphrased - they praised God - ( worship)