Strangers in a Foreign Land
1John 2:15-17

Today I visited a good friend of mine. Billy Craig has been dying of terminal cancer for more than a year now. The Ministerial group that I associate with went to his home in Creswell and spent some time praying and crying over our brother. Billy, really doesn't look like Billy anymore. His facial features are the same but he has lost that zip, his eyes, his body looks tired.

It is in these moments that I am so glad that this life is only temporary. I am so glad I am not stuck here in this body forever. I have a hope, I have a promise knowing my God is watching over me.

In 1 John 2, John points out that we are not to love this world. It is not our only stopping place. Sure, we are here because we have to be, but our place is in eternity with our father in heaven. We are citizens of heaven, as Paul writes in the book of Philippians.

The Philippian people would have understood that concept a lot better than us. Philippi was on the edge of the Roman Empire, it had been controlled by Romans for less than 100 years. Those in Philippi had belonged to the Persian Empire and kept it's culture and practices, while there land was controled by Rome. They were citizens (as far as they were concerned) of Persia, yet they were held in control by Rome and pledge Ceasar as their ruler.

We live here on earth, but we pledge our loyalty, we live for our Father in Heaven, strangers in a foreign land.

Children:

It seems that the Nebraska legislature got themselves into kind of a pickle that has devastating effects on the DHS of Omaha. In July, Nebraska implimented a new law that would allow overwhelmed parents to drop their children off at the hospital, no charges pressed, no questions asked. The intent of the law was to provide parents with small children help in their time of need.

Unfortunately the law is heading to places it was never intended to go. In the past 24 hours, 11 children have been dropped off at local hospitals. Before that, children 11, 15, and 13 were dropped off and yesterday, a man brought in 9 of his children, ages 1 to 17. The intent of the law was to protect the young, now it has become an out for defiant and beligerant children who's parents cannot control them.

Law makers will be taking a deep look at this law and already some in the DHS are saying that these parents may still face neglect and abuse charges because those are not covered under the umbrella of this safe haven law.

It would seem to me that one of the most difficult things in life to do, is to take responsibility. We must not forget that our number 1 ministry is to our families. How are your children, grandchildren doing? How is their walk with the Lord?

A recent study shows that teens and younger children that sit around a table to eat dinner with their parents are less likely to do drugs. Is it in the table? Or is it in the relationship with the parents that makes a difference.

aaron

A Little Encouragement For Monday
Walking in the Light
1 John 2:5-12

There are many times as a Christian that I have felt defeated and hopeless. Many times when trying to do the right thing people don't understand and standing up for what is right can be a very lonely thing. In John 16 Jesus is speaking with his disciples about what is to come, about his death and how alone he will be when his disciples scatter. He even tries to get them to comprehend his return; his connection with God. Jesus ultimately tells them in John 16:33, "I tell you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. Take heart, I have overcome the world."

Those things that drag us down. The people who fail to understand our Lord, the mockery we endure for the high standards we set, it's all over come. It is all taken care of, by our Lord Jesus who brings us peace in the midst of our pain. It's not our fight, it's his and guess what? He's already won!

Hustle
1 John 1:5-2:4

It really is hard to be honest with yourself and others about who you really are. Truthfully we can make all kinds of excuses about why we are not "perfect." I think it is very important to note that God does not expect us to be perfect people. He does expect us to be honest about where and why we fall short, expecting us not to make excuses, but to try harder!

Much of this effort comes when we truly see what and who God expects us to be. We are no longer comfortable with our shortcomings when we recognize who Jesus is and what he has done for you and for me. Much of the strategy for over coming an addiction starts with a person recognizing that they are an addict. It is impossible to overcome when you don't believe you have anything to overcome.

Paul even mentions that God's Law was created just for that purpose, to make us aware that we have sin. (Romans 3:20) It is that recognition that drives us to work on our imperfections, that is what moves us to live beyond ourselves because we are living for a God that expects more from us. He has raised the bar.

I spent many years of my life playing a sport called soccer. I loved that sport and as a youth I was a natural at it. It just came easy for me. When I got into highschool, that all changed, I had to work for it. Unfortunately, I didn't try, so needless to say, I was cut from the Varsity team. Shocked, I was positioned on the JV teamed, so I approached my coach who politely informed me, "It's not about going through the motions, you have to show me a desire to succeed, I need to see some hustle from you."

God is not receive the glory when we go through the motions of living a Christian life. He wants to see some effort, some hustle. As a father, are you hustling; as a parent, are you being the best you can be; as an employee do you go above and beyond; as a husband/wife, do step it up to be who God has called you? How is your Christian hustle.

Seven Years Later

There are some events that occour and you can remember exactly where you were standing when you heard about it. You can remember the very place you were, the very pictures from the TV, the way your heart sank when the reality set in.

When I first saw the pictures I thought, "There is no way that is really happening. . ." The picture of those towers has come to represent for me the fact that we live in a dying world. We can choose to focus our attention on the negative or we can pay close attention to how God moves through the pain.

I hear a lot of people ask the question, "Why do bad things happen?" I often times wonder: "how does God work good things into the messiness of our lives and this world?" The truth is, based upon what I see around us everyday, we do not deserve the love and grace God is so ready to give us. We are messy people, we fight, we sin, we can't get along.

Not that I don't understand that question. Surely I do. I get frustrated when I see cancer tear through the body of a healthy functional person. An untimely death makes me question why some live and some die. Yet, if I was truly to step back and look clearly at the situation on this earth, I can't help but recognize that God is in control. It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous alike. This earth, it is temporal, just like our bodies. I am convinced that if it weren't for God our messes would be bigger, our lives further out of control, and all would be hopeless.

Thank you Jesus for hope.

ae

Having Fellowship
1 John 1:1-4

One of the things that I wish I had gone more indepth into on Sunday are the different things that we have partnership with, or fellowship with in God. As we have looked at fellowship a little this summer, we concluded that true fellowship or koininia has to do more with relationship and partnership with one another and with God. It is a strong foundation in Christ and the having the same goals and purposes in mind that brings us to fellowship with the Lord and also with one another.

Our fellowship with God is based upon an understanding of what and how we are supposed to act and be Christians. What is our fellowship? How do we maintain it? I think John is going to help us a little more as we dig into this letter in the next few weeks, but I want us to get to thinking about some of this fellowship now. We fellowship with God by, loving and being with one another; by sharing with those in need, and by partnering in sharing God's Word with others who do not know Him.

How is your fellowship? One of the things to remember is, before we can truly have fellowship and bring fellowship to this world, we must focus on our fellowship with God. Do you take time to commune with God on a daily basis? Are you in His Word?