Monday Morning Thoughts

What a wonderful Sunday we had in the presence of the Lord! It was communion Sunday and it was very easy to sense His presence as we worshiped and ate at the sacred supper. My heart is always touched by our times around the communion table, because that's what my [our] relationship with Jesus is all about. A fellowship meal that provides a powerful reminder of what He did for us on the cross, but also what He continues to do and will do in the final consummation of His will for the days we live here on earth.

Just in this morning: Cyclone kills nearly 4,000 in Myanmar... thousands (still) missing. Father God, may your grace and mercy be shed upon the people of Myanmar and may they turn to you alone who can give strength to endure the pain and suffering they're going through.

Indeed, most us us have little, if anything to complain about. As a matter of fact, when you hear about things like a storm killing over 4,000 people in one fell swoop, it makes a few damaged trailers or barns seem terribly insignificant.

God's hand of protection and blessing is STILL upon His people, but may we never take for granted how privileged we are as Westerners as well as children of the Living God.

Have a blessed and grateful day in Him!
RAK

Looking Forward

I was just thinking about how hard it would be to drive my truck in a forward direction, while only looking in the rear view mirrors. I suppose I could eventually get the hang of it, but I'm sure I'd crash many times before I finally perfected it, if ever.

Much like trying to drive by only using our rear view mirrors, looking back at the good times, the bad times, the high times, and the low times will never allow for a safe and accurate journey forward. May we each look forward to what God has in store for us, because His heart is for us NOW and IN THE FUTURE.

I'm LOOKING FORWARD to this Sunday... Many great things are ahead. Let us all keep LOOKING FORWARD!

PS: Please take a moment to vote in the surveys to the right. Thanks!

RAK

Cosby's Right

For years I've loved Bill Cosby as a comedian, but now I love him as a prophet. Well maybe he's not really a prophet, but his words echo in my heart like the words of a prophet.
For quite sometime now, he's been an unwelcome mouthpiece for the Black community. It seems that his no nonsense style or as he puts it, his "blunt" way of putting things, continues to raise people's ire. I think he does raise powerful and important questions - allot of cultural interrogatives that tend to rightfully place blame where it should be - on us. Oh, what a novel thing, personal responsibility.
I don't know where Bill's at in terms of his relationship with Christ, but I will say that what he's saying, should be said by the people of God.
We of all people should speak the truth in love, but we don't. We just speak "love" and we never get to the heart of the problem.
And then on top of the Cosby issue, CNN splashes a headline across the screen "Blood in the Streets" 36 people shot, 9 die, this weekend alone.
Where is the answer to these and so many other problems found?
IN CHRIST ALONE! Whether anyone wants to believe it, we are living in the Last Days, and we're getting closer and closer to that Last Day.
Can we as Christians, the people of God, finally begin to open our mouths and speak out about our dyer need for God's intervention? Can we take up the torch where Jesus and John the Baptist left off, "REPENT... FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR".
I just believe that we have a responsibility to speak the truth in love, and we'd better start in our homes and in our churches... before it is too late.

RAK

The Clock is Ticking

Just a quick thought. Will there soon be a day when the mention of God or Intelligent Design will be illegal [see the movie Expelled], or will the day come when true followers of Jesus Christ will have their children taken away, because we are poisoning their minds with "hate" doctrine [see the polygamist issue - granted they're deceived, but the government did just take away over 400 of their children, for the children's protection - I agree with protecting children and prosecuting pedophiles], but could we too someday be prosecuted and have our children taken away? And what about the Reverend Wright? Was he wrong? Maybe, but the very fact that "guilt" by association may genuinely upset Senator Obama's chances of a bid for the White House, should cause us to at least think. Will the day come that New Testament doctrine RE sin, become such an offense to the culture around us that individuals become targeted by the government, due to their guilt by association - the length of time you've been a member in a church, or sat under "sin" preaching?

Just makes me wonder... How about you? Are we actually discerning the signs of the times?

RAK

Feeling Much Better

It's rather late, on Monday night, and I was supposed to be at my annual District Council kick-off service, but I strayed away.

Earlier in the afternoon at another meeting I found out from another pastor that some very special meetings were being held at another local church [Heartland AG in Ankeny, Iowa]. Some might call them revival meetings... I kinda think of them as much more. I had attended a service last Thursday night and it was good, and God really showed up and because the services were so powerful over the weekend, the guest minister stayed on... and actually will return next weekend.

So although I missed my DC kick-off service... I DID NOT MISS GOD! That's my point. Regardless of what we have planned or what we think we should be doing, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NOT MISSING GOD.

When I go to bed in a few minutes I don't want to MISS GOD. When I get up in the morning I don't want to MISS GOD. As I go through my days this week I DON'T WANT TO MISS GOD. For when I DON'T MISS GOD... miraculously I feel MUCH BETTER about myself, others, the world in general, and especially Him, Father God.

I know life's not all about FEELINGS, but just try to live one minute of one day without FEELINGS and my guess is you'd be dead.

So if you are not dead yet, then EXPERIENCING GOOD GOD FEELINGS IS CRITICAL!

Then next time you have a choice, and the options are MISSING GOD or NOT MISSING GOD... don't MISS GOD. Adjust, change, move, run, jump, avoid, excuse yourself, make a call, do what ever you must... but DON'T MISS GOD! I guarantee you will FEEL MUCH BETTER. I know I did...

RAK

Week of Prayer January 6-12, 2008

POINTS ON PRAYER
Discovering the road to God’s Glory & Power for your life

Knowing How to Pray & Why

Luke 11:1 “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (NIV)

Matthew 6:5-15 “…This, then, is how you should pray…” (NIV - look up and read the entire passage)

Q: When was the last time you asked the Lord – how to pray?

The answer to that question will determine if you have begun to understand the gravity of Ephesians 3:20-21 and if you have begun to understand the gravity of that passage, then you are likely ready to engage in the following THREE ACTIONS.

This road to God's Glory and Power will require at least THREE ACTIONS on your part:

Prayer
Planning
Prioritizing

Q: Are you willing to engage in these essential actions?

If you will engage in these actions THREE THINGS WILL OCCUR:

1. a RELEASE of POTENTIAL – Sermon 1 Jan 6, 2008
2. a REVELATION of POSSIBILITIES – Sermon 2 Jan 13, 2008
3. a RENEWAL of PASSION – Sermon 3 Jan 20, 2008

The above THREE ACTIONS that cause the above THREE THINGS TO OCCUR indeed begin with prayer.

Knowing What to Pray
There are many good and proper things to pray, but to be most effective and to develop in the skill of praying, one should first follow the Lord’s pattern of prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them a simple 6 step pattern to follow, known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” Jesus didn’t intend for us to just pray the same words he spoke in Matthew 6:9. He intended it to be an outline for prayer. Use each verse of the Lord’s Prayer as a guideline to help keep your prayer-time on track.
THE PRAYER a decision to obey the Lord and just do it
THE PLAN a specific place and time that you fit into your life even just 10 minutes a day
THE PRIORITY of the prayer should follow the Lord’s pattern



Matthew 6:9-15 “Pray, then, in this way:”

Step 1 “Our Father Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” This is the call to praise and worship. Take time to honor the Lord and consider His greatness. Remember His faithfulness to you and be encouraged by His promises.

Step 2 “Thy kingdom come Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”
Align yourself with God’s will, and listen so you can know His desires. Proclaim God’s will over your life, family, church, the lost, etc. Wait and allow the Lord to share His heart and will with you.

Step 3 “Give us this day our daily bread.” Ask God for your needs and the needs of others. Be specific, and ask in faith for anything and everything the Lord wants to give you, i.e. Ask and you shall receive.

Step 4 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Ask God for forgiveness in any areas of known sin, and speak out forgiveness toward anyone you have not forgiven. Remember Jesus said from the cross “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Most people who sin against us don’t have a clue as to how much hurt they’ve subjected us to, yet we must still forgive.

Step 5 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Ask God for the grace to stand firm in the face of temptation and resist the schemes of the enemy, always remembering to look to Jesus for the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Step 6 “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Finish with proclaiming who God is and exalting His name. Take time to thank Him for the answers to come, and to worship Him.

Going beyond the above pattern

The following is a list of things you may focus on as you pray this week:

Personal repentance of sin
A greater desire to pray
A greater desire for the lost to be saved
Holy Spirit power to witness
Revival in our church and America
A deeper hunger for God’s Word
Pastor Kinney and church leaders
Souls saved weekly in church
Visitors each Sunday AM
100% tithing and faith promise participation
The church to grow numerically and spiritually
Your family / church families
Your unsaved friends and loved ones
Our missionaries
A weekly move of the Holy Spirit
A spirit of humility and forgiveness
Healing to occur in our bodies and souls
Prosperity on all levels
Our schools
Our local government and authorities
Other churches and pastors
Your immediate neighbors

What ever the Holy Spirit leads you to pray

Just What the Doctor Ordered

“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (8) Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT

“Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. (8) It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8 AMP

As I read these verses, I begin to understand a bit more about God’s provision for healing through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED [Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24]. Meaning that, as His body was wounded and bruised, God made provision for our bodily healing [our flesh = mind, will, emotions, and physical body].

Over and over the Bible clearly declares that we can and should expect to receive healing from God, but have we ever considered that there may be some conditions to that healing? First we must understand that, what Jesus did for us and what was provided by His scourging is already done and in place.

Much like a miracle drug that cures every disease, affliction or injury, so too is the power of God working through His Son’s suffering before, during and after the cross. So understand this, the miracle of healing is already in place. The prescription is already filled and all we have to do is TAKE AS DIRECTED.

That’s right, just like a medicine is designed to be taken as directed, or it will not work AS INTENDED, so too with the power of God’s healing virtue.

Consider the Great Physician’s directives on taking His RX for our healing. TAKE AS DIRECTED: DON’T BE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR OWN WISDOM, FEAR THE LORD, TURN AWAY FROM EVIL. When taken as directed refills are unlimited and healing is guaranteed.

So consider now if you will; are you taking God’s RX for your healing AS DIRECTED? Are you willing to follow the Doctor’s Orders today and everyday from this day forward? Always remembering that for a prescription to be fully effective, one must TAKE THE ENTIRE prescription. Don’t stop when the bottle’s half empty and your symptoms have subsided. If you do, the affliction may return.

I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more important GOOD HEALTH is to my daily living. I want to live the FULL LIFE that Jesus suffered, died and rose from the dead for. I really do want to live out the promised purpose of Jesus’ coming [John 10:10].

Do you?