Are You Covered in Debt?

That is what the radio commercials ask every day.  Do you have over $10,000 dollars in credit card debt, then call ____________.  The President signed a bill provided relief to big businesses, where is your relief?  We can help you get out of debt so you can live the life you deserve.

Like most of you I have debt.  I have a mortgage on my home, I am in the process of paying off a second vehicle, and some small loans that we have a plan to pay off within 9 months.  I also have one debt that leaves me feeling helpless.  This debt is so large that I know for certain that no "debt relief" company can handle it for me.  This is the debt I owe God.  I owe Him for creating me, I owe Him for paying for my sin.  You know the scriptures, "The wages of sin is death."  "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  I am in the negatives so much that I can NEVER work my way out!  But thanks be to God that my balance sheet looks better than I just described. Written on the top of my balance sheet is "Paid in Full, by Account of my Son."

Jesus, the Son of God, the Sinless man who was also God, paid the way for me to come to God.  Paul says it something like this, "God made Him who had no sin (debt) to become sin (indebted) for us that we might become the righteousness (state of being debt free) of God in Him." (2 Cor 5:21).

How did I acquire this debt relief?  Simply.  I did the same thing God asks of you.  By faith, put on Christ. - Gal 3:26-27.

Are you covered in debt or are you living debt free?

Scott

Lost?

Three weeks ago, Andrew (age 12) and I changed the oil on my truck as well as the fuel filter.  There is a trick to changing the filter so that you do not spray fuel over yourself and your son.  That trick to relieve the pressure is in the "repair manual" I keep in the garage.  But I could not find my manual.  The last time I used it was for a brake job. I knew where it was supposed to be, but it was not there.  I had lost my instruction book, I even wondered if I had thrown it away or if it was in the "yard sale" pile.  I spent more time looking for that book than I did on the fuel filter, which I changed anyway and did not relieve the pressure properly.  I despise losing things.


When I was about my son's age, my parents took us to that Wonderful World in Orlando.  My older and younger brothers went one direction with Mom while Dad and I went a different way.  When Dad and I finished our ride, we were to meet the other three at a certain shaded area.  We arrived early and I convinced Dad to let me go to the restroom around the corner.  Making my way back to Dad, I came to realize I was on the other side of the Park -- I was in Frontier Land headed toward Liberty Square instead of Adventure Land.  Once I realized I was lost and calmed down, I decided I had made a wrong turn at the water fountain.  I ran back to where I went wrong, and ran to the meeting spot.  Mom and my younger brother were there waiting nervously.  Dad and my older brother had gone to look for me.  This was decades before cell phones and family service radios, we had to wait for them to get back before we could go on.


I share these two events to introduce you to two similar events in the Old Testament:


1. Josiah in 2 Kngs 22:13, "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us." When the workers discovered the lost book of God, the king knew they had to return to following that law. 

2. Hosea 14:1-2, "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips." Like Israel, when I was lost, I had to return.  I had to admit I was wrong in the direction I was going and turn around to find my father.


Lost? Find the Book, and come home. 

Vacation Bible School is Coming Soon

Here is a pictorial review of our VBS since 2005.  At the end is an advertisement for VBS 2010 - Journey to Egypt: Digging into the Life of Joseph.

Enjoy and come be with us.
Scott

What are Your Answers?

I love God because . . .

Universal Care

Universal Health Care, Insurance requirements, penalties, etc:  I am not sure what to say or think about this new policy in the United States.  Like Majority Leader Pelosi suggested, I guess we will find out what is in this bill now that it is passed into law.  However, I am concerned about forcing folks to purchase insurance and the ultimate cost to our nation and to individual consumers.  One friend was correct when he suggested that we simply trust God no matter what.

I want to tell you about a greater care package available to you.  It is the Universal Spiritual Health Care Package.  Jesus offers this USHC system though His agency, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me," (Jn 14:6).

The Spiritual recommendations of this policy promote spiritual growth in the following way: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pet 1:5-8).

Following this Spiritual Health Regimen produces great Spiritual benefits, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal 5:16, 22-23).

One feature of this USHC policy that lifts it high above any other plan is that the premium is paid in full by the policy writer (Acts 20:28; Phil 2:5ff; Rom 5:7-8).

Consider this policy for your Spiritual Health.

God on the Mountain

Last night, my family and I attended Curry Church of Christ to fellowship with our brethren there and to hear a message from a dear friend and fellow Faulkner Alumni - Neal Pollard.  The theme of Curry's meeting is Mountain Top Experiences and last night, Neal took us to Mt Carmel.  He drew a great mental picture of the setting of Carmel and what the mountain may have represented in physical, social, and religious settings.   Then he pointed out four things about God's power demonstrated around the events of Elijah's confrontation with the 450 prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel.  

On the Mountain We see God's Power . . .
1. Over Nature.  God had stopped the rain for 3 1/2 years. Something the Baals could not do.
2. In His Word.  The drought came about because Ahab led the people away from God's command.
3. Over the Competition.  Baal is simply an idol and had no power.  God clearly demonstrates this when He is able to rain down fire (which Baal could not do) and not only consume the sacrifice, but the alter, the wood, and a trench full of water.
4. In His Name.  Elijah acted in the Name of the Lord.  It is by the authority of the Lord we have access to God.  God's name is great and is always to be honored above all names.  Everything we do is "in the name of the Lord." Col 3:17.

Where do you see God's power demonstrated?

Have a great day!
Scott

Mission Effort

Last night our elders met with a young Couple -- Richard and Mary Harp.  The Harps are dedicating the next 5 years of their young life and young marriage to work with a mission effort in Scotland.  Scotland recently declared itself by an act of Parliament as a Pagan Nation. This declaration only confirms by decree a truth about this country.  The Scottish people are kind but post-Christian as far as religious culture.  The Harps will be working with the East Kilbride congregation.  Follow this link to their mission plan: HarpsinScotland

Please pray for this young couple and their desire to work in the Kingdom.

Scott