The Gores have split after 40 year. Yep! Tipper and Al are going their separate ways. One daughter had already divorced and the other decided to call it quits as well. It seems that more and more people are splitting their marriage and giving up on the vows they have made. It is a sad state of affairs.

At our recent couples’ retreat I shared the following rules for a lasting marriage. Read them carefully and make your marriage “until death do us part.”

Lessons for couples:

Eight rules for a lasting marriage by James Hinkle

1. Always acknowledge the presence of the other spouse.
2. Listen before you answer.
3. Elevate your spouse above all others.
4. Watch for opportunities to complement the other spouse.
5. Never entertain thoughts that your marriage is bad.
6. Never think that others’ marriage is better than yours.
7. Pray for your spouse every day.
8. Always be ready do things for your spouse as much as you would do things for others.

If you take the more conservative number and multiply it across a person’s average lifespan, you get somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 million words spoken! An average novel holds a measly .07 million words. By the end of your life, your daily speech accounts for the equivalent of writing 2,800 novels!

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that all those words aren’t getting published. James says the tongue is restless, a dangerous evil (James 2). It’s like a serpent, waiting to strike. Based on these numbers, it has plenty of opportunities.

We should remember that what comes out of the mouth reveals what is inside the heart (Matthew 15:11). What would the novels of our lives reveal? Books of gossip, slander, anger, complaining, and hate? Or are our words “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) or are they just useless, idle chatter?

I’m not sure I’d like to see what the volumes of the words of my life would contain. I can’t do anything about the books I’ve already written, but I can improve the next chapter. Consider these words of Proverbs 10:8, “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”

This verse has always fascinated me. I have often heard the expression, “He is impossible.” It doesn’t take long to run into some of those impossible people in our daily walk. We pray “Lord! Give me patience and please hurry.”

I suppose that Paul understood the problem as well or better than most. He met people all over who would not listen to any form of reason. “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up.”

At Lystra (Acts 14) Paul and Barnabas were about to be worshiped as gods when they stopped the sacrifice. It took only a few verses later before the people stoned Paul, dragged him outside the city thinking that he was dead. What a fiasco!

The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius once pinned the following lines:

I am going to be meeting people today who talk too much –
People who are selfish, egotistical, ungrateful.
But I won’t be surprised or disturbed
For I can’t imagine a world without such people.

Maybe Paul was telling the Romans just to be patient with people. Try to see the good in others. Overlook the bad. Suit your actions to what is inside of you not on what is external to you.

Our world could be a much better place. The church could be a happier place. “As it depends on you”.

Have you spent much thought about your personal integrity? We don’t want to become obsessed with showcasing our character but it might be good to give it some consideration.

Here are some questions to ponder:

* Am I the person others believe me to be?
* When others are not observing, am I still a person of integrity?
* Am I perceived to be an honest person?
* Am I someone who can be trusted?
* If my books were opened how would they read?
* Does my character exude love, grace and humility?

Some are heard to say about certain people, “He’s a character.” What they mean is that he is a bit strange in thinking and habits. He might have certain antisocial habits that isolate him from normal activity.

The same word that is translated “Character” in Romans 5:4 is translated “stand the test” in II Corinthians 2:9. (“severe trial” – II Corinthians 8:2, “demanding proof” II Corinthians 13:3) Paul uses the same word with his appraisal of Timothy in Philippians 2:22. “You know that Timothy has proved himself”.

Some people seem unconcerned about their reputation. Shepherds are to have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (I Timothy 3:7) Maybe we should all be a bit concerned about our character.

Patience and perseverance can produce character and character will not disappoint us because it brings hope.

Was Thursday, April 15th a taxing day for you? Millions of Americans dutifully filed through post offices and financial offices to complete at the last minute their obligation to Uncle Sam. I’m not sure that anybody would label April 15th as one of their favorite days of the year!

As frustrating as government waste, spending, and thus, taxation is to me, I have to remember that God has chosen to work through governments, and they “bear not the sword in vain!” (Romans 13:4). Christians are subjects of a different kingdom, citizens of heaven. What are we to do with this mess here on earth?

Christians should be good citizens. We should be good neighbors. We should be good employees and employers. We should stand for righteousness and cry out against injustice. We should give real help to the poor and hurting—dollars and sense. We should declare that there is good news in a “kingdom not of this world!”

At the same time, we remember Jesus’ words when we fill out our 1040s: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, to God what is God’s. The second half of that phrase is vitally important: are we giving God his due? Uncle Sam will come find us if we shortchange him. God’s evaluation of our lives doesn’t come in the form of an audit with penalties. Do we worship him in spirit and truth? Do we serve him with enthusiasm? Do we build up his body, the church, at every opportunity? In the end, what we do for Caesar matters far less than what we do for God.

I love to sing the song “The Kingdoms of earth pass away one by one but the Kingdom of heaven remains.” It points to an everlasting truth that God is the only guarantee of permanency in our ever-changing world.

If I go back to where I grew up the changes are enormous. The high school where I went to school is still there but the changes are many. The place where I lived as a child is still there but there are houses now standing where I spent many a hot day picking cotton. The old barn is long gone where I milked the cows in the early morning and late evening.

People that I once knew have grown old and many are no longer on this side of eternity. The cars that I thought were so cool are now in the junk yard or made into classics. They now are reserved for parades and old car museums.

Jesus laid a great burden on all His people when he talked about the kingdom that is not of this earth. He is talking about the way the kingdom begins and grows. It is a matter of what is going on inside our hearts. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God. The soil of the kingdom is the good and honest hearts that will open for the master to come in.

When the word is planted in our hearts and grows we become part of the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even death is conquered by those who become part of King Jesus’ worldwide and everlasting rule.

The kingdoms of earth pass away one by one but the kingdom of heaven will never end!

There is an apocryphal story about a village warrior in a cannibal village in a remote South Pacific Island. He came down with a stomach ailment and went to the local witch doctor for help. After the good doctor had given him a careful check-up he diagnosed the malady: “You are just fed up with people.”

People that are different from us are sometimes rejected. Peter was an apostle of Jesus, specially chosen to be the chief spokesman on the beginning day of the church. He had spent 3 ½ years with our Lord and could have been a learner at His feet.

Yet, there was one important truth that Peter had failed to learn: God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:34, 35) It took a series of miracles to convince this beloved apostle to look at people through the eyes of Jesus.

Don’t be surprised that after 2,000 years we still have an “eye problem”. Seeing others as God sees them is no easy task. We see what they wear, drive and do. We see where they live and with whom they chum. We make our judgment on the bases of outward appearances.

It is difficult to look deeper into the hearts of people we see each day. It is no easy task to look at people through the eyes of God. But we must do it. We may not do it as well as God but we can move in His direction. After all, only God can look down on people. James

You know how the story ends—the runt of the litter, little David is selected to be the next king of Israel. By the power of God he is the conqueror of giants and kingdoms. Were it not for God’s heart-piercing gaze, Samuel would never have given him the time of day.

It’s easy to dismiss people as useless or worthless or less valuable—but this story serves as a cautionary tale. We can’t see inside the hearts of those around us. Only God can see the result of his plan.

Gideon was called as he was hiding in a winepress. Abraham was called in old age. David was anointed while the current king still sat on his throne. Jonah preached repentance after his time in the belly of a fish. I promise you that God can work in your life. Have you invited him in?

You can click on a photograph to go to Picasa Web Albums and email it to a friend, download it to your computer, download the entire album, or order prints online.

Watch our men show their expressions of love…

…and our parody of a classic love song….er, song about love! ;)

…and finally, check out the slideshow from all of the Sweethearts’ Banquets of yesteryear. We have pictures from almost every year, along with some video of the “entertainment.”

Sweetheart’s Banquet Slideshow from Matthew Hiatt on Vimeo.

Frankly, these objections don’t matter. If Jesus rose from the dead, nothing else matters at all! If Jesus rose from the dead, he is every bit of who he says he is. He is Lord; he is the Messiah. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He’s the purchaser of grace, and he will be the judge of the world.

We need to latch on to this truth. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. It reduces death to an empty threat. It provides eternal perspective to those who grieve. It shapes our ethics and our values. The cross becomes our identity, the empty tomb, our power.

I challenge you, this week, read the stories in the gospels of the resurrection of Jesus. Imagine what the disciples felt—fear, when Jesus was arrested; dread, when he was condemned; despair, when he gave up his spirit; and finally, uncontainable, uncontrollable, indescribable delight when they saw their Lord again. Let’s recapture their enthusiasm for our risen Lord!

There is something that makes God laugh. It is not that it’s so funny but that it’s so sad. God laughs in derision at those who think they can accomplish things without him. Those who think they can breathe without His oxygen. Those who want to live without His food and water. Those who forget God and the world HE has made.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) Why plan without God. Why makes any move without saying If God is willing. (James 4:14) Without divine support and help, no human effort can really be successful.

I should be in Tauranga, New Zealand when you get this bulletin. The time there is 17 hours ahead of Tennessee time. That means that it is already Monday here. Many of you have expressed to me that you will be praying for the work there. I received a call from Miriam Masters Tuesday night and she wanted me to know that she is praying for the work in NZ. Please keep praying!

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

I should return, Lord willing, on March 18 and will be back in the Burns pulpit on March 21. Matthew will bring good lessons and you have the opportunity to hear Jeff Kuhns once again.

I try to live by this verse: Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

If we have oozed out of some slime millions of years ago and have reached the present state of being a humanoid, who are we and of what value? How do we place a value on us humans? Is it because of the chemical makeup of our physical natures? Do we arrive at great value because we can think about things and plan ahead? Are we valuable because we are ahead of others animals in our evolutionary process?

Any evolutionary theory of how man came to be winds up being degrading to humans. If all we are is more advanced animals, where is the super value we put on humans. Why not just bury the death and shoot the wounded in Haiti and let other animals take their place?

You must understand that humans are of immense value. Not because they have evolved more than other animals but because there is a God in heaven who has put his mark on his creation and man is the climax of his creation. He who created Adam from the dust and Eve from his rib breathed into them the breath of life and man became living beings in his image.

Man has fallen – oh how he has fallen – but he remains in the image of God. He is valued because he is created by God. We don’t just ignore the suffering in Haiti because they are men and women, boys and girls created in the image of God. Being special creatures of God makes them valuable.

Man has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, But no matter how far man falls he still retains the glory of God. God thought so much of His creation that he sent his son to make us right again. How valuable is that?

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once wrote:

I am going to meet people today who talk too much –
People who are selfish, egotistical, ungrateful.
But I won’t be surprised or disturbed
For I can’t imagine a world without such people.

As people living in a fallen world we are battered by outward circumstances that seem bent on our destruction. It is easy to fall victim to the old diabolical adage that we have no control over what happens to us. So we spend our lives blaming others or basting in self-pity.

God is never happy when we fail to take personal responsibility for our thinking, attitudes and actions. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)  Through right thinking we can move to godly faith.  When we move to godly faith we can begin to squeeze out of life hidden good that life has to offer.

What do you expect to se in your life?  Most of us are aware that we get out of life more than we expect when we walk withy God. When we walk against God or treat Him with indifference, what could we expect?

What kind of people are you going to meet today?  Will they all be kind and accepting of you? Will they offend you by their rejection?  Will you be angered by others actions and reactions?

Maybe we could learn to listen more and talk less.  We might be able to control our thoughts better and feel less rejected when people don’t do what we expect. What kind of people do you expect to meet today?  Since we don’t always have a choice of what people we might meet in a given day a better question is “How will we respond?”

Knowing and learning are the tools of the preacher.  He must always be reading and studying to be sure that he speaks from the overflow and not drain the brain before he completes a lesson. The ministry of study is a choice that preachers must make early in their ministry or they will not last long in the pulpit.

The problem that I have is that the more I study the more I realize my ignorance. The wider my knowledge becomes the more I know I don’t know.  It is only the ignorant who know everything and can be positive. It is only the ignorant who become fanatics. The more I learn, the more I know I need to learn.

Many years ago I heard a prominent preacher say that he had not changed his mind on a subject since he was very young.  That seems to be a rash statement to me.  I am ever learning as I study my Bible.  I learn new truths and desire to share them with others.  I did that last Sunday and I will have another go at it this Lord’s Day.

The Bible is an ocean of God’s truth and none can swim the Atlantic.  We study and learn and grow and prepare.  We open the books and wade into the ocean of truth and put into action the things we learn.  It is a wonderful day when we give up on perfect understanding of the Word and just do the parts we understand.

It is a happy day when we realize that it is because of the death of Jesus that we can be right with God. Christians are not perfect people but people who have been perfected by the grace of God found in Christ Jesus.

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1      James

There are few of us who have not had a share in some conflict that has arisen among us.  Churches and communities are alive with external and internal fighting. We have been fortunate to have avoided any bad fights for the last seven years.  Praise God!

The verse above is in the context of wise leaders who are peacemakers and not peace destroyers. 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Strife is never initiated by wise leaders who are peacemakers.  It is not something that is necessary in a local body.  It is of the devil and fits with his desire to make people miserable.  Strife that is destructive is when men allow the devil to get inside.  It is internal “among you”.

Human nature is in the grip of an internal invasion.  Satan’s army of occupation is on the prowl eagerly ready to devour. Satan’s natural aim is to cause as much confusion and conflict as possible.  His diabolical mind knows that one way to discourage the work of the Lord is to get disciples discouraged.

God’s Spirit is in control in the Christian’s life.  The evil desires of Satan cannot be allowed to invade and make a home base. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (4:7).

If an angel suddenly appeared to you what would be your first reaction? I would look for the trick and at what is going on that could cause this trick. Maybe you would just accept it as real and go with the instructions the angel gives.

An angel appeared to Zechariah as he ministered in the temple. His reaction was expected. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. (Luke 1:12)

Next on Gabriel’s agenda was a visit to a young virgin of Nazareth. Her reaction is also expected. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. (Luke 1:29)

When Joseph had learned of Mary’s pregnancy he considered his options. Then the angel came and helped him make the right decision. Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Imagine how the sleepy shepherds must have felt as they were recipients of a visit from and angel. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:9)

After Jesus had resigned his flesh to suffer his fate on the cross, An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (Luke 22:43)

The Bible ends with the testimony of an angel. (Revelation 22:16) We remember the angel and we rejoice!

Change doesn’t come easy. Some have given in to the devilish idea that a person cannot change. What one is is destined and there is no power to change.

People in Jeremiah’s day felt the same way. We have little or no power to change the direction of our lives and we should just accept the way we are and make the best of it. What a defeatist attitude. Human beings become like a dog with instincts or a lemming that cannot help but rush into the nearest ocean and drown.

“Choose you this day whom you will serve” says Joshua to his people. He understood that men were created with the freedom to choose. What we choose, we are accountable for the choices we make. Accountability makes no sense when there is no choice.

We often complain of living powerless, of living by the expectations of others and being prevented by external circumstances from making real change. “Since I was a child I have felt” (You fill in the rest). I was born with Ethiopian skin and I cannot change. I have the spots of a leopard and I have no hope of change. Look again at the verse from Jeremiah. Can Ethiopians change their skin or leopards their spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. (NRSV)

We are not passive victims of life. We do make choices. We do have the power to change the major directions of our lives. We struggle and we fight and we make better choices then the outcome will be better.

Families aren’t built with Lego bricks or new sweaters. Most kisses do not begin (or end) with Kay Jewelers. A new Kia (that’s free if it snows) or Lexus with a ribbon is not a “life changer.”  Budweiser doesn’t make you happy, sexy, or smart. Moments that are truly priceless never show on the statement of your MasterCard.

Families are built with time, love, discipline, and commitment. You may express love with a gift this winter, but your daily actions convey the true feelings of your heart. Do you love your kids? Tell them every day! Do you appreciate your spouse? Make sure she knows in words and deeds, every day. Has a friend been there for you? Tell him what it meant to you. Are you grateful to God for the blessing of life? Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere!

Micah asked a great question that I’ll paraphrase: With what can I come before God? Can I thank him with 10,000 rivers of oil? Can I praise him with all of my possessions? Sure, but what God really wants is this: do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with him. (See Micah 6:6-8)

What Christmas gift do you bring to the one who gave his Son for you? The only gift fitting is your heart and your life. That’s how you show what really matters, this time of the year, or any time of the year.

“Pride is the root of all evil,” so some have declared. Pride led Adam and Eve to make bad decisions. Pride led the people of Babel to choose the wrong direction. Pride has been the detrimental cause of many a fall.

Pride puffs up the chest. Pride seeks to be the center of attraction. Pride wants to be the focus of every gathering and the source of all attention. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. (Psalm 10:4) When pride comes, then comes disgrace. (Proverbs 11:2)

This verse leads to another problem with pride. There is a kindred emotion to pride that can so devastate you that recovery can become impossible. Once you have flexed your muscle of pride you can fall into the emotion of shame. When pride begins its destruction, shame follows closely behind.

Shame will cause you to hide from God. Adam and Eve felt the need to hide in the Garden and could have lived in shame for the rest of their lives. God was not willing to let them live in their shame and he came to them with a new way for living that included moving from the Garden.

When the fall occurs because of pride you have the tendency to avoid. The erring husband avoids going home. The worker avoids going to work. The offender avoids facing the questions from his constituents. The Christian might even avoid the only help that is available to him. He will avoid the church.

I have found that church people are the most forgiving of all the people in our world. We are taught to say “But there for the grace of God, go I.” We understand that we are forgiven to forgive.

When pride seeks to destroy don’t let shame keep you down. When a haughty spirit causes you to fall, let Jesus help you up.

Boaz has checked it out; Ruth is a woman of character.  Her character is known in the town.  He does not realize that he and Ruth are destined to become the ancestors of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He only knows that she is a woman of character.

“Character Counts” is a program that caught on a few years ago in the nation’s schools. Our nation was being buried in the manure of character failures.  We had reached the epitome of degradation and character failures.  It was time for us to regain the old ways that brought the character of individuals to the forefront.

We had moved from the character ethic to the personality ethic.  Stephen Covey is his book The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People notes this change in emphasis in our nation.  He found that the literature in early American focused on qualities of honesty, integrity, virtue, and faithfulness.

Today the literature shows a dramatic shift toward a personality ethic that focuses on learning to manipulate, look good, personal satisfaction and a move people toward goals. There is a growing awareness that somewhere we have taken a wrong turn.  Our jails are full of young and old who attempt short cuts to happiness and find the road is full of potholes and pain and disappointment.

God has always shared with us that Character Counts:  3 we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5)  Without character there is little room for hope.  We need to get our nation back to attending church, studying the Bible and living the way we were designed to live.  Only then can we become a great nation. People who have no knowledge of God and His word have a hard time with character. Let’s get with God’s program because Character Counts.

At the beginning of the 20^th century, James Allen, an English clergyman, wrote a remarkable book he titled As a Man Thinketh. He based his book on the verse above.  Through the intervening years the book has inspired countless numbers of people. The central message of the book is “good thoughts can never produce bad results; bad thoughts can never produce good results.” It is a very simple formula.

The brain is a marvelous and vital part of our wonderful human machine.  No amount of time for any amount of evolution can explain the brain.  It is God made and God infused. No matter what action one takes it is anticipated and followed by thought. The Bible has told us that we are what we think.  Think about such things (Philippians 4:8) is a given in the Bible.

How can I be a kind person? Think kind thoughts. How can I become a contented person? Think contented thoughts. You can live out what you think. Healthy living is a product of healthy minds.  Thinking can determine the direction of your life.

John Chapman wrote, “Our goodness comes solely from thinking on goodness; our wickedness from thinking on wickedness.” You want to live a good life and avoid the pitfalls of the modern transgressor? Avoid the thinking that can lead you to bad choices and diabolical action.  Want to get out of the ruts you have found so debilitating? Change the way you think. Troubled people have troubled minds.

If you find that your life is crazy, work on your thinking patterns.  Bad patterns of thinking can destroy our lives just as cancer can destroy our bodies. Paul is clear about our thinking. Fix your thoughts on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things (Philippians 4:8)

I’ve heard a lot of confessions made at church over the years. Most of them go something like this: “I’ve not been the Christian I should be. I’ve struggled and let folks down. Please pray for me.” There’s nothing wrong with this confession, but it’s not really confessing much. There’s not a single Christian who couldn’t make that confession. None of us are always the Christians we should be. All of us struggle. Everyone fails somebody sometime—and we certainly all need prayer!

I suggest this week that you confess something—something real, something meaningful, to someone you know and love. I suggest you then confess to God.

In New York City a few years ago an art student created a project that sparked great public interest. It’s called Post Secret. People were given addressed post cards with a blank backside—and asked to share a secret that nobody else knew. The results have been incredible—so much that several books have now been published containing these revealed secrets. People have confessed almost everything: fears, dreams, hopes, abuses, crimes, and psychoses! People were thrilled at an opportunity to get something off their chests.

The thing that saddens me most about these books is that these confessions were made to no one. They were made to an uncaring public, to a book publisher. There is no support for the individual.  There is no relationship. There is no forgiveness.

That’s not how Christian confession works; it is an immensely personal experience. It is humbling and pride-crushing. It is a key element to salvation and it is necessary for Christian fellowship. See what passages like  Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9-10 can do, lived in your life this week.

James is a practical man as he writes his book. If you want to get some practical advice for your daily living, read this little book. In the paragraph that contains the above verse, James has talked about making plans for the future. Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.

Most of us will make plans for the future and will expect to accomplish what we plan. Planning is certainly a legitimate activity. But why does James seem to downgrade it. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

There is more to the statement than meets the eye at first look. How true it is that we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We are not even sure what will happen today. Tomorrow may never come for us. You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

It is not that James doesn’t want us to plan for tomorrow. It is not that he forbids advanced planning. What he really wants is for us to realize that tomorrow is the Lord’s and we must never make plans without Him in mind. You ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Making plans for tomorrow or next week or next year is only as secure as our plans for including God in them. Any success that we might have tomorrow will depend on whether the Lord gives us tomorrow. If tomorrow never comes then what? Will we be in relationship with Jesus that will sustain us if tomorrow never comes. Planning with God in mind just makes sense in our world of insecurity and uncertainness. It is good and right to say we will do this and that tomorrow IF THE LORD WILL.

Our understanding of God governs everything else about our lives. What we do on Sunday. What we do on Monday-Saturday. How we work at our job. How we treat our neighbor. Where we spend our money. What activities we choose to participate in.

Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem in 445 B.C for the express purpose of rebuilding the fallen walls of the city. He was a man of one mind. He was able to get the people focused on the task at hand. Along with Ezra the scribe, he was successful in getting the people to acknowledge their sin and bring praise to God.

The rest of the verse above has the focus of all our praise to the God of creation. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. The God who created this world and sustains it is worthy of all praise.

Perhaps in this 21st century of skepticism and doubt, it would be good to go back and reflect on the creation of the world. We are met on every hand with what the scientist had found out about the earth. We are led further into a world of nothing to a world of nothing. Matter created all life and matter is easier to deal with than a God of all power.

Our world is floundering on the brink of total disaster. There is no fear of God in the heart of today’s citizens. While our world collapses men are moving away from the one who can bring stability to society. We must stand in the gap and proclaim the God of the Bible and be sure that we have our ducks in order in our own faith.

It is not enough to out argue the world we must out live the world. Grow in our understanding of God and grow closer to Him. That is where the hope of the world lies.

If you’d like a taste of what they learned, check out Zipped PDF’s of Bible Bowl Questions, and the Newsletter. Way to go teams!!

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. Ephesians 6:7

If you want to study one of the great characters of the Bible you only have to go to a man by the name of Caleb. He was that other spy that came back from the first trip to Canaan and with Joshua stood with God and said that the land could be conquered with God’s help. The other ten said it couldn’t be done and preferred to go back into the wilderness for forty years.

I punched in the word “wholeheartedly” into my computer and five times the word applies to Caleb. He is said to have followed the LORD wholeheartedly.’ (Num. 32:12; Deut. 1:36; Josh. 14:8, 9, 14). One translation gives the phrase as “He stuck to his guns, heart and soul.”

What does it mean to wholeheartedly serve the Lord? It may be defined with what it is not. It certainly is not half-hearted commitment to the Lord. It is not a take-it-or-leave form of service. It is more than one hour each week dedicated to serve Him. Most of us could tell others what it is not.

“Whole” and “heartedly” seem to go together. When one’s heart is wholly committed to something the whole mind and strength and soul are in harmony with the direction of one’s life. There is no question where your heart lies and your allegiance is focused.

The passage above is in the context of slaves serving their masters. Paul enlightens us and confirms what it means to serve wholeheartedly. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Not just when you think others are looking. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. (I Thess. 2:4) Be wholly doing the will of God from your heart.

Enjoy this slideshow of our pictures!

Champions learn to play hurt. We know that our favorite football player must play sometimes hurting.  He can’t just stop when he is hurt.  I once read a story about a man who played a half of the game with a broken arm.  That may be a bit beyond the call of duty.

“Amateurs can produce when they feel like it. Pros can produce when they don’t feel like it.” There is a local advertiser whose slogan seems to be “Life dose not have to hurt.”  I’m not sure about that. Life has its hurts.  Pain is a way of life for many this side of eternity.

Perhaps the character of a man is more evident when he has his back to the wall.  What we are really comes out when the pressure rises.  It is at this point that our faith really comes out.  If there is no testing of faith there is no certainty that we are really true believers.  James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Paul was a man familiar with pain.  He faced it with strength and fortitude.  It was a daily battle with difficulty.  When Paul pleaded with the Father to remove the thorn in his flesh, He answered: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

We don’t always equate power and weakness, but Paul did.  When we think of our walk with Jesus, we often can quit because of some pain in our physical of emotional make-up.  It is at this time that our faith is being tested and we need to endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ (II Timothy 2:3)

• Church: noun. An assembly of Christians. Never used to describe a building, a location, or a set of beliefs; always used to describe the people. We want to be the church (the assembly) of Christ! (See Matthew 16:18, 18:17, Acts 11:22, Ephesians 5:23, et al)
• Bible: noun. The authoritative, inspired holy book for Christians. Its name means book – and it is a book of books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. It rests on the greatest evidence of any book of antiquity, and is the only book that is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12) See also 2 Timothy 3:16.
• Worship: verb. To offer praise and demonstrate admiration for God. Comes from an ancient phrase meaning either to serve or to blow kisses. Worship is an act of love and humility that must be offered from a sincere heart in a way that honors the will of the worshipped one. Worship should belong to God alone. It can be done informally through action in our lives and formally as we pray, sing, give, study scripture, evangelize, encourage one another, or partake of the Lord’s Supper. Worship s a dominant activity of Heaven. See John 4:24, Mark 7:7, and Colossians 2:18.
• Baptize: verb. To immerse. In the Bible the term always refers to a complete envelopment, a burial. It is the transformational process in which a believer signifies a “death” to his old way of life and experiences forgiveness of sins and receives the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ promised comforter (Acts 2:38). It is undertaken by those who are willing to live in the grace of Jesus—those old enough to believe, repent, and confess. It is the process by which man comes into contact with the blood of Jesus, and thus—it saves us through him. See 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 8, and Romans 6:1-12.
• Hope: noun. Eager anticipation; desire and expectation. Hope is not wishy-washy; it is a solid anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19). Christians have hope because we look forward to the return of Jesus, and we are certain that it will happen. Hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).
• Burns Church of Christ: You won’t find this exact phrase in your Bible, but we believe that you will find it described. It is an assembly of Christians who gather regularly to worship God and encourage each other. They trust the Bible as our sure guide to understanding Jesus and his desire for us. We are not perfect—anything but—but we are made right with God though the blood of Jesus—and that gives us hope. Join us this Sunday and find out more!

Some concepts in the Bible and the words used today to describe them need to be rescued from man-made distortions.  These distortions have accumulated through the years and have reversed the original meaning that we find in the Holy Scriptures.  We believe that we should go back to the Bible, not just to the current use of Bible concepts.

The word deacon is one of those words that we have a lot of baggage attached to and it is difficult for us to go back to the Bible for our understanding.  What pops into our minds when a word is used is conditioned by our own experiences and background.  Pastor is one of those words. When the word is used a certain idea, based on past experiences, pops into our minds.  Depending on our background the word deacon is likewise fraught with imbedded ideas.

Jesus has forever changed the use of the word deacon.  He has placed the responsibility on all his disciples that they be deacons.  Deacons in the text above is somewhat akin to a household servant.  A deacon is one who cares for the needs of others.  He is one who leads in a particular ministry, ministering out love to meet the needs of the local body.

If translators had translated the word rather than make an English word out of the Greek word, it would have simply been servant or minister.  Then we could get on with what Jesus said in Matthew 20: find a need and meet it by serving others.  That way we could all be ministers in the Kingdom and obey the orders of our beloved King.

Long-standing traditional boundaries very often restrict our freedom to think under the direction of the Holy Spirit in the Word. What could this church be like if all of us would show the attitude of Jesus in serving others?

What would it take to get people to wake up and be zealous/earnest about what is right and repent?  Would it take a natural disaster the size of Noah’s flood? Would a tsunami make us aware that this world is not our home? Would an invasion of our country so shock us that we would get involved in our spiritual nature and repent and turn our live over to a higher power?

The verse above calls for immediate repentance and a constant and continuous zeal for the Lord. The purpose of the Lord is to save. Jesus died to bring it about. God is concerned that we turn away from sin and turn to him. Paul describes it this way in I Thessalonians 1:9 how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

As a church we could add a lot of zeal to our lives and begin making more of a difference in our community.  It is a little like the church that caught fire on Sunday night and the little community came out to observe.  One old fellow who had never darkened the door of the church was there watching.  One friend said to him, “Well, Bill, I never thought that you would come to church” His reply was cutting: “I never saw the church on fire before.”

We believe that we should light a candle and not just curse the darkness.  Many are living in this community and have no knowledge of God.  They can’t tell you the different between Abraham and George Washington. Our world is like Nineveh of old who cannot tell their right hand from their left (Jonah 4:11)

We need zeal for Jesus to tell our family, our friends and our neighbors that in the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30)

Crossword John 12-17

Review Questions 12-17

Lost – John 1-9

After you’re done playing, use your browser’s back button and leave your high score and your name as a comment on this post. Remember, questions are taken from the official sycamore Bible Bowl text, which is the NKJV.

Science says that the shedding of tears is beneficial. Doctors say that tears are cleansing—providing an exit for your body’s toxins. Ophthalmologists know that tears cleanse and lubricate your eyes. Psychologists say that a “good cry” is a psychological release, a catharsis that helps you deal with your emotions. It makes me wonder why we avoid it so much!

John tells the story of Jesus raising his beloved friend Lazarus from the dead. His family is very upset by his death, and people say all sorts of things to Jesus: “If you had been here, this wouldn’t have happened!” In the midst of all of the turmoil and pain of loss, we find the Bible’s shortest verse: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). The Bible goes further to say that he was troubled or grieved in his spirit.

Many things may have triggered Jesus’ tears that day: seeing his friends and family hurt, witnessing disbelief, or just understanding the consequences of sin in a fallen world. Regardless of the reason, our savior was human enough to cry. He had a heart vulnerable enough to feel pain, and he wasn’t afraid to show it.

We need to be more like our Savior. We must be willing to put down our armor when we love and be willing to have our hearts broken. C. S. Lewis once compared the human heart to concrete: it isn’t soft and pliable very often, and once it sets, it is nearly impossible to form again. May we work to keep our hearts tender!

Even if you are one of the less than four percent globally who are afflicted by amusia (tone deafness) – you can still worship God in song! “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”(Psalm 1001-2)

Music affects us. It soothes the savage beast. Psychologists have repeatedly documented its power to change our moods. Violent music (in terms of both lyrics and style) markedly increase aggressive thoughts and feelings. David’s harp and song were the only respite King Saul could find when afflicted with a harmful spirit (1 Samuel 16:23). It’s no wonder that James said, “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise!” (James 5:13).

Good songs provide a sort of spiritual fuel for us. They bury themselves in our psyche. The easiest way to memorize is with a song. Did you ever notice that the longest chapter of the Bible is in the book of Psalms?

Let me challenge you this week to fill your hearts and minds with spiritual songs—and see their wisdom doesn’t overflow into your life.

Crossword on John 1-11

Did you know that we have links to several great online Bible Studies and tools? Check out “Resources” or “Links” on the right-hand navigation.

One of the great tools that is available is an online video called Searching for Truth. Check out http://www.searchingfortruth.org/ for more information.

• What happens in JOHN
• Places in John 1-4
• Overview Questions John 9-11
• Map 1-11
• John 5-8 Review Questions
• John 5-8 places and numbers
• John 1-4 Review Questions
• Crossword John 7-8
• Crossword John 5-6
• Crossword – John 1-4
• Bible Bowl 2009 Plan

Here’s what Carnegie had to say about money: “Millionaires who laugh are rare. My experience is that wealth is apt to take the smiles away.”

Someone whose name has been lost in time captured the essence of his thought more clearly: “Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.”

God’s love is even more satisfying. The Hebrew author wrote, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he [God] has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6 ESV)

I pray that our nation, our churches, and our families will turn from seeking joy in things to seeking the face of God-and finding unending and incomparable joy! I pray that we will learn to “owe no man anything-BUT to love one another” (Rom. 13:8). I pray that we will look for joy in the arms of Jesus. It is he who became poor for our sake – and gave us the greatest riches ever known!