CHARACTER QUALITY # 42 Gifted

1 Corinthians 12:4-31

          4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

HOW	WHO
Different gifts	same Spirit
Different Service	same Lord
Different Workings	same God

          7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (Common good does not mean we are gifted to just bless other Christians – common good – we are gifted for service to work for the good of others = the common good. Neighborhoods, schools, cities, Nation, world.) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.   11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

          Who gives gifts?  THE HOLY SPIRIT.  What does the Holy Spirit give?  GIFTS.  To whom?  Those who have the Holy Spirit?  Who is that ?  Christ’s followers = Christians.  Why? For the common good.

          12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit (Baptism in the Spirit – is a quality every Christian possesses) into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Like water baptism – we were baptized into the Holy Spirit (surrounded by…) and like taking a drink, the Spirit is in us.

          14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

          If we were one part and not many parts making one body – we would be an organ – not an organism where each part is dependent on the other to make a wonderful living whole person/body.  So it is with the Church.

          21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

          When your little finger gets hurt, the other hand/wrist/palm/fingers jump in to protect it.  The body functions as a perfect unit caring equally for all other parts.  When one hip suffers, the rest of the body suffers with it.  When one body part is renewed, all body parts work better.

          27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

          Is this a comprehensive list of gifts given by the Holy Spirit? NO – In verse 8 was another list and in Ephesians is another list.  This list sounds like church planting.  The point of the previous list was to show that all gifts are equal – it is not who gets them, rather who gives them – the HS.  Think about any list of spiritual gifts as merely a sample list – none is comprehensive.  The Spirit is not limited to those listed and they are in no order of importance.  For instance: ADOPT A SCHOOL – which of these acts of service that require different gifting are more important than any of the others?... 

…Painting Doors, Landscaping across from school entrance, Providing location and food for a beginning of school orientation breakfast, Provide gift baskets for teacher (supplies they would normally buy), Provide food and beverages for teachers meetings, Grandparent readers, Tutors, Playground assistants, Encouragement notes, Prayer partners, Collect and provide school supplies for the students, Collect and provide coats, hats and gloves, provide appropriate books for the school library, participate in career days; serve as resource speakers, sponsor awards for bringing up grades, most improved student, perfect attendance; sponsor academic awards banquet, citizenship projects, students of the month; be a mentor for a student, develop or sponsor arts festivals; sponsor visits by performing artists; provide scholarships to local cultural events, assist with classes in cafeteria during lunch; award mini-grants for teachers or departments; recognize teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, assist families in need.

          And now I will show you the most excellent way.

READ: 1 Corinthians 13

You may be the best looking, the wealthiest, the strongest, the smartest, the most business savvy, the best bible scholar, the greatest preacher or teacher of scripture, but if you don’t have love you are nothing more than the most annoying cymbal crash the world has ever heard.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Ephesians 4:7-13

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."  9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (WHY?) 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

          How has God gifted you?

Why has He gifted you that way?

How has your giftedness been used in service for God’s glory?

How might your giftedness be used for God’s glory?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 41 Servanthood

“Here is a story about two blind men…”

Matthew 20:17-34

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 "What is it you want?" he asked.  She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."  22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered.  23 Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  26 Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  32 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33 "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve.  That statement by Jesus is HUGE!  When Jesus returned to heaven, his character did not change.  He is still a God who serves.  He served in many ways beginning at a wedding in Cana to a cross on Calvary.

Can you think of other times Jesus showed himself as a servant?  Add them in a comment below.  Later if you think of other ways, add them as well.  Are there other ways you have seen God’s character of servanthood through the Old Testament or New, or throughout history.  How has God personally served you?  In what ways have you, are you, or will you take on the character of servant hood as a way to follow Jesus?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff

CHARACTER QUALITY # 40 Mobile

"The Wheels on the bus go round and round and so must the church!”

Scripture:                                             Acts 1:4-11

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Congratulations! You Have Been Chosen!

You have been chosen to live during the most accelerated rate of change in human history. Human knowledge is doubling every two years. Think for a moment of all the ways life has changed in the last fifty years: communication, technology, medicine, science, culture, global economy. How has all this change affected the church?

Just fifty years ago, eight out of ten Americans got up on Sunday morning and went to Christian worship. Today fewer than two out of ten Americans attend worship on any average Sunday. What changed? Everything!

How will the church respond to today's challenge?

Missional church is a growing movement throughout America in response to this time of change. A missional church is "an authentic community of faith that primarily directs its ministry focus outward toward the context in which it is located and to the broader world beyond."

You are invited on this missional journey as we seek God's Spirit and ask the important question, "What is God asking of the church today as we serve in this time of change?"            Rev. Dr. Ron Carlson, Missional Church Strategist & Rev. Glynis LaBarre, Transformation Strategist

Whether you call them paradigms, metaphors or mental models, we all use internal images to make sense of our world. These mental models not only affect how we think about something, they also control our actions. Mental models are powerful because once they are accepted as reality, they influence how we interact with others, with our community and with the world. Churches have ecclesial mental models based on scriptural interpretation and historical traditions. In the past, some of these mental models worked well in connecting churches with their community. For example, churches viewed themselves as an integral part of community life, giving society a unified spiritual identity and moral order, providing social services and even governance. Churches often served as an ethical standard for society. As the Northern Hemisphere moves into a post-Christendom understanding of the world, the meaning and purpose of the church are questioned.

Christian churches, most of which are considered “mainline” because of their historical position of significance in society, often find themselves in decline. Growing old together, these congregations no longer attract residents from their communities; nor do they influence their communities as they did in their glorious past. Once the pillars of society, many are now alienated from their communities. For other churches, this cultural alienation is intentional. Separatist churches operate out of a mental model that views the world, including their communities, as hostile to religious life. Such churches view themselves as bastions of faith, protecting their members from “worldly evils.” Some churches overlook their disconnection with the community.

Churches focusing on an attractional or church growth mental model often see their role as attracting people from this world and calling them to a heavenly future. At best, the relation of attractional churches to their communities is that of indifference or cordiality. Because attractional churches tend to draw members from outside of their host communities, and because many of these churches occupy large tax-free prime real estate, townships are beginning to view attractional churches as liabilities rather than as assets to community life. To mitigate the resentment against their existence, some attractional churches provide volunteer community service. Social service, however, is usually limited to activities that give the church favorable visibility in the community in hopes of attracting residents to the church. Today, we are exploring an emerging mental model of church that takes seriously the need for churches to be reconnected with their world for the purposes of participating in the work of God in a post-Christendom era.

At first we want to deny that things are different.  We become the proverbial ostrich with our head in the sand to say what worked 50 years ago – 10 years ago – will work today to bring people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. 

When is the last time you took someone to a Christian event or drug them to church and they accepted Christ at that moment?  Cry, whine, moan but the world has changed.  The way people process information has changed.  Why people make decisions has changed.  Yes we are still human, yes we still all fall short of the glory of God, Yes, Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave to give us eternal life when we put our trust in him. But how that message gets heard, then processed, then acted upon is different.  Therefore we must deliver it differently to meet the need so that some will come to faith in Jesus.  And that is our hope – YES?  YES!!!

Last week some people were confused about Jesus’ words – or my interpretation of them form Matthew 28 where Jesus says ”GO!” into all the world, baptize, make disciples and teach them about him.  It does not say nor did I that you are to tell the person ringing up your grocery bill that they are going to hell unless they repent.  It didn’t even say share some bible verses with a good friend who doesn’t know Jesus.  All it said was one thing – “GO!”  Jesus gave a broad direction for what we are to do as we go – but he did not say how to do it.  A missional church is an authentic community of faith (authentic in that the relationships are not superficial; community in that individuals who respond in faith are connected with the triune God and with each other; faith in that it is a response to the living God revealed in Jesus Christ) that primarily directs its ministry focus outward (the church is called to be engaged in the mission of the kingdom of God. Mission is the church’s primary purpose, and that mission is to be participated in as the primary function of the faith community.

Members of FirstB, First Baptist Church, The church with Heart, the church at 9th and Shoshone, the church across from farmers - call it what you will, WE will no longer be seen as a church who simply gives to mission, but we will be missional as we learn to be mobile.  We will become volunteer missionaries with a mission to Twin Falls and the  Magic Valley, the United States and the World (you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth)

LOOK – this is still a biblical mental model.  The same one as always – we just live it out differently – and we take it seriously. Churches and Christians who are not missional and willing to be mobile need to step aside for those who are because too many churches are dying daily and way too many people are dying without Christ every day.  That is unacceptable for those who have received eternal life in Christ.  He is a missional and mobile God, we must therefore be a missional and mobile people for his kingdom.

How have you been mobile for God lately?  How has God used you as you have been going?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 39 Missional

Scripture:     Matthew 28:18-20
     Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

"One word that will change your life”

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho [place of fragrance, in the midst of a vast grove of palm trees. It was the most important city in the Jordan valley and the strongest fortress in all the land of Canaan. It was the key to Western Palestine.] *and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. (Sinner) [Strike 1 - An agent who collected taxes for the Oppressive Roman government. Most tax collectors were usually not very wealthy. They were probably familiar to the people from whom they collected taxes.  They were classified as "sinners

because they were allowed to gather more than the government required and then to pocket the excess amount. John the Baptist addressed this when he urged tax collectors to gather no more money than they should.  Jesus, set a new precedent among the Jews by accepting and associating with the tax collectors. He ate with them, bestowed His saving grace upon them, and He even chose a tax collector (Matthew) as one of His twelve disciples. ZACCAEUS was a Chief Tax Collector] 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. (Short) [Strike 2 – austrisized by his physical stature] 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Seeker) [Isa 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.] 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."  6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "*He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." (So Giving) [Jesus saw in him what no one else did.  Jesus was not surprised by his response as we would have been.]  9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (Saved) [Gen 15:6   Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.]  10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

* Jesus was missional – this entire story happened as he was GOING:

Matt 28:18-20      Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

          Jesus didn’t wait for Zacchaeus to come to church – instead, he went to his town, met him in the streets, and even went to his house. To be missional, we must get going out of the church.  We must Go Go Go Go Go!  Jesus word to change our lives and the life of FirstB is “Go!” It describes what it means to be missional.  To be American Baptist means to Go.  To be a Christian means to Go. To be like Jesus was with Zaccheaus – Go!

Notes:

HOW DID JESUS SEE ZACCHAEUS?

S_________________

S_________________

S_________________

S_________________

S_________________

What word will change your life?

G____________________

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 38 Prayerfulness

“One Nation Under God with Liberty and Justice…”

From the Heart,

Teresa Charbonneau

CHARACTER QUALITY # 37 Contentment

Philippians 4:10-13
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


From the Heart,
Joel Stamper (Director of Student Ministries)

CHARACTER QUALITY # 36 Trustworthy

Scripture: Psalm 136
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.      His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.      His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:      His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,      His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,      His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,      His love endures forever.
who made the great lights —       His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,      His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;      His love endures forever.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt    His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them    His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;      His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder    His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,      His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;      His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the desert,      His love endures forever.
who struck down great kings,      His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings —       His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites    His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan —       His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,      His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel;      His love endures forever.
to the One who remembered us in our low estate    His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies,      His love endures forever.
and who gives food to every creature.      His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.      His love endures forever.

The Apostles' Creed

 I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

Over the centuries, the Church has understood this to mean that there is only one God. This one God has not only existed from all eternity. He is the one Being who must exist. We also profess our faith in God as Creator of all things visible and invisible. To create means to bring something into existence something out of nothing. In creating, God begins with nothing. Creation, therefore, is Almighty Love, because all the benefits of creation are gained by the creatures, and not by the Creator.

The world is not eternal. The opening words of the Scripture declare, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). And Christ tells the heavenly Father, “You loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

Needless to say, God was not obliged to create the world. He was not constrained by anything within Himself or by anything outside of Himself. His only motive for creation was to share something of Himself with the thing he would create.

          With this in mind we can understand why the Psalmist put together this chorus of creation by our heavenly Father in Psalm 136 to show how great and eternal is his love for us:

Psalm 136 - Part 1

The Father loved us so much he gave us new life by giving us a way for salvation.

Ephesians 1:3-14     7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. 13b Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

On Sept. 10, 2010, Brian and Erin (pregnant with their first child) were traveling through Washington to visit family when a vehicle began weaving wildly, headed right for them. Brian swerved to ensure that he would take the worst of the hit as the vehicle slammed into them. He was killed instantly. Had he not made that decision, the collision would have been head-on, likely resulting in the deaths of Brian, Erin and their unborn child. But, instead, Erin and baby are okay, and the baby is now 8 months old. Brian Wood may never hold his baby, but there's no doubt that baby will know the hero who gave it life.

Psalm 136 - Part 2

The Father loved us so much he gave us new hope and the certainty of his love forever.

My name is Mike - His name was Brian, and he was a student at the small high school I attended. Brian was a special education student who was constantly searching for love and attention, but it usually came for the wrong reasons. Students who wanted to have some “fun” would ask, “Brian, are you the Incredible Hulk?” He would then run down the halls roaring and flexing. He was the joke of the school and was “entertainment” for those who watched. Brian, who was looking for acceptance, didn’t realize that they were laughing at him and not with him. One day I couldn’t take it anymore. I told the other students that I had had enough of their game and to knock it off. “Aw, come on, Mike!” We are just having fun. Who do you think you are anyway?”

The teasing didn’t stop for long, but Brian latched onto me that day. I had stuck up for him, and now he was my buddy. Thoughts of “What will people think of you if you are friends with Brian,” swirled in my head, but I forced them out as I realized that God wanted me to treat this young man as I would want to be treated.

Later that week I invited Brian over to my house to play video games. Pretty soon he started asking me questions like, “Hey Mike. Where do you go to church?” I would politely answer his questions, then turn my concentration back to the video games. He kept asking why I was different from some of the kids at school. Finally my future wife, Kristi, who was my high school sweetheart at the time, pulled me aside and said, “Michael, he needs to talk. How about you go down to your room where you can talk privately?”

As soon as we arrived in my room, Brian asked again, “Hey, Mike. How come you’re not like some of the other kids at school?” I knew I needed to tell him about the difference that God had made in my life. I got out my Bible and shared John 3:16 and some verses in Romans with him. I explained that God loved him just the way he was and that He had sent Jesus down to earth to die on a cross, rise from the dead, and make it possible for everyone, to spend eternity in heaven if they believed. I didn’t know if he was comprehending what I was telling him, but when I finished explaining, I asked Brian if he wanted to pray with me. He said he would like that.

We prayed together “God, I know I am a sinner, and that even if I were the only person on earth, You still would have sent Your Son down to die on the cross for me and take my place. I accept the gift of salvation that You offer, and I ask that You come into my heart and take control. Thank you, Lord. Amen.”

I looked at him and said, “Brian, if you meant those words you just prayed, where is Jesus right now?”

He pointed to his heart and said, “He’s in here now.”

Then he did something I will never forget as long as I live. Brian hugged the Bible to his chest, lay down on the bed and let the tears flow down the side of his cheeks. When I cry, my sobbing is very loud, but Brian’s was unearthly silent as the emotions he’d held inside let loose. Then he said to me, “Mike, do you know that the love that God has for me must be like the love a husband has for his wife?” I was floored.

Here was someone who had trouble comprehending things in school, but had now understood one of eternity’s great truths. I knew now that he understood what I had shared with him.

He lay there for another five minutes or so as the salty drops continued to flow. I still remember the incredible feeling I had at that moment knowing that God still works miracles in everyday life.

It was about a week later that everything came into perspective for me. It was then that Brian really opened up to me. He explained that his dad had left him and his mom when he was five years old. As Brian stood on the porch that day, his dad told him he was leaving because he couldn’t deal with having a son like him anymore. Then he walked out of Brian’s life and was never seen again… Brian told me that he had been looking for his dad ever since. Now I knew why the tears kept flowing that day in my bedroom. His search was over. He found what he had been looking for since he was five years old.

Psalm 136 - Part 3

Conclusion

Have you ever wished your life was like a video game? In a game, it never really matters if the car you're driving as fast as you can spins out of control or if the character you're laying gets decimated some other way.  With the push of a button, the character springs back to life, and you can start over. No harm done and life just goes on.

We all know that real life is different. Reckless behavior has real consequences.  True life story of another man: He says, “Growing up, I made a lot of mistakes I wish I could erase. I didn't always make the right choices. (Actually, I rarely made the right choices.)  I hurt a lot of people. One of them was my dad. I told him a long time ago I was sorry for causing him so much grief during those tumultuous teenage years and beyond.

I'm sure he spent many sleepless nights wondering what in the world he was going to do with me, because I was out of control and would not listen to reason.

In my mind, I knew best. I wanted to be independent. I wanted my own way, and if I didn't get it, there was hell to pay.

I left for college with the intention of never looking back, happy to be on my own, away from all that arguing.  Away at college, I lived like I wanted to, and all I had to show for it was heartache and regret. A few years into it, I came to recognize that I didn't have all the answers, but I didn't know how to change, and I was desperately unhappy.

This was pretty evident to some of my classmates, who invited me to hang out with them and eventually to visit their church.  I have no doubt that this was what my father had been praying for, because that interaction with my Christian classmates changed my life forever.  When they embraced me, I was able to watch how they lived, and before long, I wanted to be like them.  When they told me that God is a loving, forgiving father who would accept me, I was able to wholeheartedly believe this and embrace God as such.

Why? My dad is a loving, forgiving father.

No matter how much my behavior must have disappointed him (and I know it did), he let me know that he loved me regardless — just as I was right then, right in the middle of my mess.  None of the mistakes mattered. He had loved me before I ever made the first mistake, loved me through it all and would actually never stop loving me.

Because of how he has allowed God to change him throughout the years, my father has been able to emulate the trustworthy character of God.  And that has enabled me to trust that just as my dad loves me unconditionally and won't walk away when I let him down, God — a loving, faithful father — is just as trustworthy.

Invitation

          Have you put your trust in the one who is worthy?  Your heavenly father through his Son Jesus?  As a father, is your love a characteristic of your life that your children find trustworthy?  If yes – keep it up – if not – start this moment / past failures are over and done, live a loving trustworthy life from this moment on.

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper