Blog 12-22-2011

Here is a blast from the past that holds true today.  I originally wrote this in 2008 and I was on clean up today and found this on a CD and as I read it I found it important to repeat.

Monday

PRaP 5/12/08

 

“Alien”

 

Do you ever feel that way? You go to an event and feel like you are the only one that doesn’t fit in? What is really weird is when you feel that way amongst so call brothers and sisters in Christ. You walk in and you listen in on conversations of others and all they seem to be talking about is their house or their car or how much money they are investing in this and that and women are talking about the latest sale at the shoe factory or the makeup counter and they are doing this at church. I know that as we grow spiritually that the worldly things seem to be further than ever from our minds but I sometimes also wonder if maybe there is a point that just maybe we can take that too far? Am I set apart so far as to not be able to relate with people my own age and worst of all with the same belief system I have. When I think of this I can only imagine how Christ felt. He, the Perfect sacrifice for the world was so set apart you wonder how he ever had any friends. He related better with sinners, non-believers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. I find myself being pulled further away from “Christians” in my own age group because they seem to be so wrapped up in the world they have lost sight of Christ. Maybe I am missing something here? Christ got along with everyone except the leaders of the Jewish people who denied His existence, well they denied Him being the Christ. But the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:11; “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” I guess this is what it means to live by faith. Hebrews 11:13 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.” When you are at a party are you the alien? When you admit to being a virgin are you laughed at and called weird? When you refuse to follow the culture of this world do you feel alone? You’re in good company and you’re not alone. The Bible says that we should live as a peculiar people not like the world. Try and find that balance that you can be all things to all people in order that you may help lead a few to Jesus, whom they cannot see.

 

Hebrews 11

 

Key Verse:

Hebrews 11:40
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:39-40 (in Context) Hebrews 11 (Whole Chapter)

 

Week 20 for those of you doing the Bible in 52 weeks program, http://www.c2cministry.org/Bible

 

Send your questions to us if you need help. There is a link on our web site called “Ask The Pastor”. We will answer all questions live on our weekly Ask The Pastor program on Saturday nights from 8-10 PM and if you want an emailed reply be sure to include your email address. Remember the only dumb question is the one not asked. All names are kept confidential unless you say it is ok.

 

 

PEACE and AGAPE LOVE, Pastor, Dad, DJ Dude

 

From The Desk Of:

Pastor Stephen Eldridge

steve@c2cministry.org

c2C http://www.c2cministry.org

 

Got Jesus?

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Blog 12-21-2011

Wednesday

PRaP 12-21-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 13 of 31

Proverbs 13

 

“Spare the rod spoil the child” Proverbs 13:24 is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible.  There is nothing in that verse that even looks like it says this.  Here let’s look at several versions of this scripture

 

NIV: Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
   but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

NAS: He who ^(A)withholds his ^[a]rod hates his son,
But he who loves him ^[b](B)disciplines him diligently

NLT: Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
      Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

KJV: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

NKJ: He who spares his rod hates his son,
      But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

 

Hmmmm, none of these versions say spare the rod spoil the child do they?

 

It is not easy for a loving parent to discipline a child, but it is necessary.  The greatest responsibility God gives parents is the nurture and guidance of their children.  Lack of discipline puts parents love in question because it shows a lack of concern for the character development of their children.  Disciplining children averts long range disaster.  Without correction, children grow up with no clear understanding of right and wrong and with little direction to their lives.  Don’t be afraid to discipline your children.  It is an act of love.  Remember, however, that your efforts cannot make your children wise; they can only encourage your children to seek God’s wisdom above all else!  Also this doesn’t give you permission to beat your children with a stick into submission either but a swat across the backside with an open hand can be used to get their attention if they are about to hurt themselves or someone else.  Many parents out there beat themselves up because they have tried to discipline their children but their children didn’t accept the discipline.  Don’t beat yourself up for their foolishness for it will only bring their own personal downfall in life. Stay true to God’s plan and it will go well with you.  Continue to discipline them when they need it as God has told us to do and when they reach the age of accountability it will be upon their heads and not yours.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-16-2011

Friday

PRaP 12-16-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 12 of 31

Proverbs 12

 

3 A man cannot be established through wickedness,

But the righteous cannot be uprooted.

 

To be established means to be successful.  Real success comes only to those who do what is right.  Their efforts stand the test of time.  Then, what kind of success does wickedness bring?  We all know people who cheated to pass a course or to get a larger tax refund – is this not success?  And what about the person who ignores his family commitments and mistreats his workers but gets ahead in business?  These apparent successes are only temporary.  They are bought at the expense of character.  Cheaters grow more and more dishonest, and those who hurt others become more callous and cruel.  In the long run, evil behavior does not lead to success.  It leads only to more evil.  Real success maintains personal integrity.  If you are not a success by God’s standard, you have not achieved true success but worldly success.  I don’t know about you but I want my success to be regarded as a true success where God is present and He is there in everything I do for Him through the success that only He can give.  If you think you are successful, step back and check where that success has come from and how your integrity is in the eyes of the people who work with you or for you.

By the way my favorite verse in Proverbs 12 is the first one.

 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

But he who hates correction is stupid.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-14-2011

Wednesday

PRaP 12-14-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 11 of 31

Proverbs 11

 

God gives us advice about our money and in Proverbs we get some practical instruction on the use of money, although sometimes it is advice we would rather not hear.  Its more comfortable to continue in our habits than to learn how to use money more wisely.  This advice includes being generous in our giving, place peoples needs ahead of profit, be cautious countersigning for another, don’t accept bribes, help the poor, store up for the future, be careful about borrowing, and several other wise teachings about how we are to handle our finances.  We are in the season of giving and sharing what God has blessed us with be sure that the seed you sow is the seed of love. 

 

Here are a few of those money verses from Proverbs 11:

 

¹ The LORD detests dishonest scales,
   but accurate weights find favor with him.

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
   but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
   another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

 ²⁵ A generous person will prosper;
   whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain,
   but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

 

Remember God loves a cheerful giver so give until it hurts and do it with joy in your heart and a smile upon your face.  There are more lessons to learn in Proverbs 11 this is just one that I needed to hear this time of year.

 

Peace and Agape love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-09-2011

Friday

PRaP 12-09-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 10 of 31

Proverbs 10

 

Wisdom for all people, these are the Proverbs of Solomon who was a boy king that was right in the eyes of God.  But like all us other fleshy people he fell too but in his fall he fell up.  In his failure his wisdom was gained in a way like no other.  Goes along with the saying if it don’t kill ya it will make you stronger.  I can use the analogy of the Lunar moth.  If you help it out of it’s cocoon it will die because it needs the struggle of the exit to gain the strength it needs to survive.  In Solomon’s last breaths he said too that it is all worthless without God.  All the riches and wisdom of the world are utterly worthless without God.

 

These short verses are what are commonly recognized as proverbs.  They cover a wide range of topics.  This first part is written by Solomon but the second by others but were collected by Solomon.  These sayings give practical wisdom for godly living at every stage of live.  The first 9 chapters of Proverbs were for young people but for everyone to learn.  These are for everyone to take to heart to live.

 

¹ The proverbs of Solomon:

   A wise son brings joy to his father,
   but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

 ² Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
   but righteousness delivers from death.

 ³ The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
   but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

 ⁴ Lazy hands make for poverty,
   but diligent hands bring wealth.

 ⁵ He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
   but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

 ⁶ Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
   but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.^[a]

 ⁷ The name of the righteous is used in blessings,^[b]
   but the name of the wicked will rot.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-08-2011

Thursday

PRaP 12-08-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 9 of 31

Proverbs 9

 

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly is what this Proverb is titled and for me one of the key verses is number 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.  This is so true and if you walk away with this one thing today then you will succeed.

 

This Proverb again speaks to us as if wisdom is a female and she has built her house and prepared her food and wine for those she calls in.  She calls out to the simple mind to eat and drink of what has been prepared and to leave their simple ways and live and walk in the way of understanding.

 

The way of understanding is that of the Holy One which is Christ.

 

Proverbs 9:1-6

¹ Wisdom has built her house;
   she has set up^[a] its seven pillars.
² She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
   she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her servants, and she calls
   from the highest point of the city,
 ⁴ “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
 ⁵ “Come, eat my food
   and drink the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Leave your simple ways and you will live;
   walk in the way of insight.”

 

All of this begs the question:  Where do you eat and drink from?

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-05-2011

Monday

PRaP 12-05-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 8 of 31

Proverbs 8

 

Wisdom’s call is contrasted to the call of the adulteress that we read in chapter 7.  Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who guides us and makes us succeed.  Wisdom was present at the creation and works with the Creator.  God approves of those who listen to wisdom’s counsel.  Those who hate wisdom love death.  Wisdom should affect every aspect of our entire life, from beginning to end.  Be sure to open all corners of your life to God’s direction and guidance.

 

The more a person fears and respects God, the more he or she will hate evil.  Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist.  Harboring secret sins mean that you are tolerating evil within yourself.  Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God.

 

Wisdom calls out to us to embrace us and love us and prosper us.  Proverbs tells us that wisdom is more precious that gold or silver.  Tastes better than the finest foods but those whose refuse wisdom will fail.

 

¹⁷ I love those who love me,
   and those who seek me find me.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
   enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
   what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
   along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
   and making their treasuries full.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve