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Luke 16:10-15 One of the best ways for the devil to get us off track is when he gets us confused on values or the things which truly matter. He is the master of lies and deception. When we begin to place more value on worldly things than on those which God has identified as crucial and of an eternal nature, then we have started to lose our way. In the context of our scripture, Jesus has just finished telling the parable of the dishonest steward which taught that it wasn’t money which mattered but how a person put money to use. The Pharisees were scoffing at Jesus about this because they loved money - in other words, they had the wrong values. Jesus rebukes them (v 15) by observing “that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” This demonstrates that what God values and what the world values are light years apart! > People value money while God values treasures in heaven. > People value power and control while God values liberty and free will. > People value position and fame while God values service and humility. > People value lust and sexual license while God values love and sexual fidelity. > People value self-indulgence and pleasure while God values self-control and real blessedness. > People value their own rules and narrative while God values His word of truth. > People value self-preservation at all cost while God values the saving of souls for eternity. Whose values are yours? Have you bought into the value system of the world, or do you embrace the values of the Lord? In the end, it will make all the difference. ><> Jeff

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 Tomorrow is one of our favorite days. Tomorrow offers new hope and freedom from the disappointments of today. Tomorrow is a “clean slate,” a “fresh start,” a “new day.” Tomorrow has nearly endless possibilities. Tomorrow, so much will be accomplished. Hove you ever reflected, however, that you never do anything tomorrow? It’s impossible! Someone has observed: “It is noteworthy that whenever the Future comes, it is always wearing Today’s clothes.” How many tomorrows have turned into todays, and still nothing was accomplished? Tomorrow becomes the escape from the responsibilities of today. The apostle Paul knew the need to act “today,” in the present moment, while there was time and opportunity. He quotes Isaiah who speaks of God’s seizing a favorable time to bring salvation to Israel. The Corinthians had to “get off of square one” and decide if they were going to believe Paul and follow his teaching. He states that for them “now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’.” They had all of the information they needed, and the body of Christ in Corinth had to choose to whom they were going to listen. Any more delay would prove disastrous. Joshua (24:15) was also aware of the need to act in the now and not put off doing important things. As the Lord had prospered Israel in driving out the inhabitants of Canaan and helping them settle in their new home, Joshua issues a final challenge to the people: “...choose for yourselves today whom you will serve...” They needed to make a definite decision as to whether they would whole-heartedly serve the Lord God, the gods of the Amorites, or those whom their fore-fathers had served long before. They needed to choose “today.” What do you need to do today? Yesterday you said you’d do it tomorrow. Well, tomorrow is here. Putting it off only makes it more difficult. It also gives Satan more time to work against you. Now is the acceptable time. Ask God for help, and do it! ><> Jeff

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" It's one of the most common questions asked of Christians by non-Christians. Many people of faith hate answering that question. They feel like it's a dead-end question that people only ask to challenge believers because they know there's no solid answer. Personally, I love this question. I think it's a fascinating thought experiment. More importantly, I feel like it is one of the best ways to teach people to see things in a different light. The way I've learned to think about situations from trying to address this question has helped me cope with less-than-ideal circumstances time and time again. So, let's answer an unanswerable question. The most important part of addressing this question is understanding that we never have solid, factual answers as to why God does anything, or why he allows anything to happen. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9). God knows everything. With this in mind, we can't assume we can understand why He does what He does when He knows so much more than we do. He knows what the effects of every event and decision will be, and He always choses the best one. He's often looking to bigger and better things in the future that we can't see from our position. So, the simple answer is, "Whatever bad situation you may find yourself in now is always for the greater good of either you in the future, or for other people around you." As true as that is, it's not much of an answer. Instead, this is the alternate mindset that I alluded to. God loves to use positions of weakness as positions of strength. How many stories in the Bible are about people fighting from underneath? What would we learn from David if he had never been challenged? If Saul hadn't betrayed him and then tried to kill him time and time again? If David hadn't spared Saul twice? If he hadn't sinned with Bathsheba? What would we learn from Job if he hadn't had his life ripped away from him by Satan? What would we learn from Joseph if he hadn't been sold into slavery by his own brothers? What would we learn from Jonah if he hadn't refused to go to Nineveh? What would we learn from Paul if he hadn't persecuted the church before joining it? If he hadn't been thrown into prison for years on end because of his faith? In every one of these scenarios, these good people suffered. And yet, today, we can look back and see how big of a difference they made and how incredible their faith in God was. Why did bad things happen to them? Look at all the good that came from it! So, here's the thought experiment. What good can come from less-than-ideal circumstances? To those who are sick or hurting, first I pray that God gives you a speedy recovery. He really does work miracles. We came up with the word “miracle” just to be able to describe the incredible things that God does. Secondly, if you stand up for Christ in spite of your condition, that's so much more impactful than any “normal” testimony. Your pain is to help people, I promise (John 11:4). To those who have been mistreated or persecuted, know that it's not for nothing. God sees your struggles. He has a purpose for them, whether it's a lesson for you, or maybe for someone else who sees your struggles but sees you stay strong in your faith anyway. And, in the end, God is always watching out for you. (Isaiah 35:4) To those who are young and feeling ignored or neglected and feel like they're struggling to make an impact on others, how much bigger of a deal is it when you stand up for Christ? (1 Timothy 4:12-16). To those who are stressed or worried, go read my blog on comfort! In all seriousness, though, know that we all struggle. However, God will never push you past your limit. Lean on Him. You can't ask for a better person to share your load. (Matthew 11:28) When you struggle and choose to lean on God instead of away from Him, it builds faith like nothing else. To those who have stumbled in their walk with Jesus, know that it happens to all of us. It teaches us valuable lessons, as long as we choose to listen and repent. It also gives us the experience to help others who struggle with the same things. Our struggles and failures can open doors to helping so many other people who you never would have been able to reach or understand otherwise. (Romans 11:11) There are so many things to put into this category. Why didn't I get that job, raise, scholarship, invite, or acceptance letter? Why did I lose all of that money? Why did my investments or my business fail? I hope you see where I'm going with this. It's not just the idea of a "silver lining." Everything that God allows to happen has a greater purpose. It's often hard to see in the moment, but it's always there. You just need to be willing to see things that way. Once you are willing to see things from that perspective, it becomes so much easier to tolerate unfortunate circumstances, because you know that God has bigger things in mind for the future. If this is how we have to get there, then fine. God will make it worthwhile

Ephesians 5:15-17 At our last refocus meeting, we had much to think over and discuss from previous meetings and from all the suggestions from the congregation. The following items are those which we decided to do at the present time. There are others still under consideration. Card Connection - This is nothing really new. The time may change based upon the weather and the seasons. Please see the bulletin note about the Card Connection scheduled for this month. Congregation Luncheon - Again, this is not something new, but has been a frequent request. We have secured the Shadyside Community Center on December 11 for our next luncheon. Lord’s Day Assembly Modification - Every other month, we want to use one Lord’s Day assembly to allow our brothers to make more use of their spiritual gifts and gain more experience in leadership. You may remember we used to have the prayer assembly and the song & scripture service. We want to continue these, but also have videos with associated teaching, and perhaps short talks. Mid-Week Fellowship - On two Wednesday evenings a month, we plan to have a fellowship get-together. Though not a formal Bible study, this is a chance to ask questions, share insights and apply scripture to things from Bible subjects to items in the news which are affecting our lives. This will be opportunity for mutual edification and encouragement. We plan to schedule this for 6:30pm. We want to thank everyone in the congregation for your suggestions and for your prayers. Please continue to entreat the Lord as we move forward in doing His will and striving to be pleasing to Him in the things which we do.

Ephesians 5:20 Paul instructs us to be “always giving thanks for all things.” That often requires us to get a different perspective on those things. Be thankful for... ...the alarm in the morning for it means you have awakened to another day of life. ...that visit to the doctor’s office for it means you live in a place in which you can get medical treatment. ...your wife’s doing some shopping on the internet for it means she isn’t out carousing at some bar. ...some rather off-key singing on Sunday morning for it means you are still able to hear. ...that pile of laundry to do for it means you have changes of clothes and a way to get them clean. ...beans and weenies for supper because it means you have food on your table tonight. ...dust on your furniture and a kitchen floor that needs mopped for it means you have a safe and comfortable place in which to live. ...your husband’s watching the game on TV for it means he’s not blowing his paycheck at the casino. ...the preacher’s rather uninspiring message on Sunday (in your estimation) for it means you can still use your mind. ...those utility bills for it means you’ve got running water, heat in the winter, lights at night and appliances for your convenience. ...your grocery bill for it means that food was available and you had money to buy it. ...tired and aching muscles in the evening for it means you were able to work and exercise during the day. ...the Lord’s chastising you for it means that He loves you. BE THANKFUL!

Romans 12:15 Perhaps you never thought of “grieving” as a ministry, but times of sorrow certainly give opportunity to help people in need, and serving others is at the very heart of the Christian’s walk. Paul wrote the quite familiar “weep with those who weep,” but I’m not sure we’ve grasped all the possibilities in those five words. Weeping with others is well illustrated in this story told by author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia: A four-year-old was next door neighbor to an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man crying, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.” Wow, what an insight into weep with those who weep! Too often our own fulfillment of Paul’s directive is to make a visit to the funeral home and maybe a covered dish to the home. Perhaps a sympathy card in a couple of weeks. But then the one in the throes of sorrow is left to themselves. Death makes us all uncomfortable, and we’d just as soon not talk about it nor be around it. But what a great opportunity to show the love of Christ when death has visited among us - Christians who should know more about death than any other people on earth. How can we help others cry? Consider each situation carefully. Pray with, sit with, visit with, listen to. Take that meal; a snack; a cake. Donuts and coffee. Gift card for food. Make a call (more than one). Offer to go get groceries or other necessities. Give a hug, hold a hand, shed a tear. Provide a scripture. Above all: remember and be available. Pray for guidance, and let God lead you in gracious ways of helping others grieve. ><>Jeff

Matthew 5:13 Jesus taught that His people are “the salt of the earth.” He wasn’t referring to salt’s capacity as a preservative or an antiseptic but as a seasoning. Christians are to “flavor” life with God’s love and grace. This came home to me some years ago in a very personal way. That day, my schedule had me in an establishment to send money by electronic means. This happened to be a place which also offers “pay day” loans, short term loans and other financial services. Most of the clientele are struggling to make ends meet. There were several ahead of me when I went in, so I took a seat - the line moves slowly at times. While I was waiting more people came in. Then another lady entered. To say that she was shabbily dressed would be an understatement. Silver slacks which could have passed for pajamas and a red, sleeveless top (It was jacket weather). She smelled of cigarette smoke. She was wobbly on her feet, and it was hard to tell if she had some kind of medical condition, or it was because of the black, out-of-style dress shoes she was wearing. They appeared to be too small. She hobbled over to another lady seated in a chair and paid her respects. As she wobbled back to the middle of the waiting area, she looked in my direction, and I got up and offered her my seat. She kind of stared at me while a look of pure amazement came over her face. I said, “Please sit down.” She stammered something which I could not comprehend as she looked at me and then at the chair. Then she turned to face the counter. But in just a few moments she turned around to me, this time with a smile on her face and then did the strangest thing. She hugged me. I hugged her cautiously in return. Then she tottered over to the other side of the waiting area. Who knows how that lady had been treated in life or what her problems were? But that day Jesus salted her life with grace. Someone noticed her and thought she mattered enough to be offered a seat. And I was humbled and astonished to be part of it all.

Romans 15:4 The individuals whom we encounter on the pages of the Bible learned about life, about themselves and especially about God. If they had written books in today’s “self-help” style what might they have wanted to tell their readers? We offer our own tongue-in-cheek conjectures as to what they might have penned. “How to Run from God and Live to Tell About It” - by Jonah “Fasting Made Simple” - by Moses “Handling Sibling Rivalry” - by Joseph “Getting to the Top the Hard Way” - by Joseph “Church Work Made Easy” - by Paul “Resolving Family Problems” - by Abraham “Getting the Last Laugh and Other Old Wives’ Secrets” - by Sarah “Knowing What to Say and When to Say It” - by Peter “Seven Keys to Expert Conniving” - by Jacob “Power Corrupts & Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely” - by David “How to Have It All and Lose Everything” - by Solomon “How to Lose Everything and Still Have It All” - by Paul ><> Jeff

Philippians 2:3-4 We have entered the holiday season in which everyone searches for just the right gift to give to all those on their Christmas list. If we are true “givers,” we really want to find something which will bring joy, surprise and a sweet blessing to those for whom we buy gifts. It is often not an easy task. There is, however, another kind of giving in which we should be engaged year round. It is the kind of giving to which our Lord calls us and doesn’t necessarily involve anything material at all, although it may well include such at times. It is the giving of self with the interests of others in view. Consider these: Be the first one to smile and say “Hello!” Be sure to express your thanks every time someone gives you a gift or does something for you. Say “Good morning!” to your spouse. Say it with a kiss. When you feel the “crabbies” coming on, leave the room, say a prayer and get yourself under control. Nobody wants to be around a “crab.” Overlook those little things someone else does which “bug” you. Remember, they are just “bugs” not alligators. Give hugs. Lots of them. Clean up your mess. Don’t be so judgmental. Everybody gets it wrong now and then. Even you. Offer to help with something which isn’t usually yours to do. Give lots of compliments. Remember, whether it’s a dented fender, burnt dinner or lost money, the person is always more important than the thing. Always say “Good night” to your spouse. Say it with a kiss. Tell the truth. There are 1000s more.Such giving is a true joy year round. #faith #communityengagement

Psalm 145:8-9 Discussions about the “attributes” of God often focus on His omnipotence, omniscience, omni-presence, etc. We need to remember that God is a “whole” being, and any such discussion must include His inner person. One prominent characteristic of God found throughout scripture is His mercy. David writes that “...His mercies are over all His works” and that “He has not dealt with us according to our sins” (see Psalm 103:8-14). Without the mercies of God we are all lost. When you forget about praying or reading the Word, He forgives you. When you are sullen and moody, and make others feel unwelcome, He forgives you. When you play your little games with your spouse to get under their skin, He forgives you. When you spend such time at the lake, in your garden, at the mall, in the fairway or even at work that you neglect the spiritual, He forgives. When you go into one of your tirades, He forgives. When you open your mouth with cutting words or gossip, He forgives. When you keep your mouth closed when you should speak up for the Lord, proclaim the gospel or rebuke the lie, He forgives. When you spend your money on worthless stuff and worldly pursuits, He forgives you. When you keep too much for yourself and don’t give enough to the Lord or for the needy, He forgives. When you stay home on the Lord’s day for no good reason, He forgives. When your worship is half-hearted, your prayers lukewarm, and your singing mechanical, He forgives. When you are puffed up because of your knowledge and self-righteousness, He forgives. When you lust and lie and complain and covet and strut and judge, He forgives. When your faith is iffy, and your love shallow, He forgives. In Christ Jesus, God forgives us. He delights in forgiving. He is merciful. Let us trumpet His mercies, but let us also learn to fear Him. Let us not presume upon His mercies. We must truly repent and acknowledge all of our failings. Unless He forgives us, we are lost. ><>Jeff

James 2:14-20, 26 For those of us who are Christians, it is somewhat difficult to understand that some people live their lives without believing in God. Yet, the ranks of atheists, agnostics and skeptics have never been empty and, according to many polls, are increasing these days. We, however, could not begin to fathom life without our Lord Jesus Christ since He is so much a part of us, and we are so much a part of Him. James, however, provides those of us who believe a much needed warning about our faith. He says (2:19) that it is a good thing to believe that God is one (or “there is one God”). But he then balances that with a word of caution: “... the demons also believe, and shudder.” In other words, simply believing in God still leaves us in the company of wicked and rebellious underlings of the devil! Having faith alone is to have the same death sentence as the demons! What, then makes faith alive? Faith comes alive when it comes alive in a person’s actions. Faith lives when a life is changed to demonstrate that belief. James uses the illustration of seeing a brother or sister in need of food and clothing. Some believers (note carefully that they are believers) who have dead faith offer a very nice sounding word of encouragement: “Go in peace, be warmed and filled.” What a lovely little speech! The only problem is that they did not provide what these naked and hungry people needed. Their “faith” lacked any substance whatsoever. It is dead and lifeless since nothing was accomplished to alleviate the suffering. We can study and study and study. We can discuss and discuss and discuss. We can worship and worship and worship. But until we TAKE ACTION, faith is lifeless! The faith of platitudes and good intentions dies on the vine. Whether individual Christians or entire congregations are in view - if it’s about feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, sharing the gospel, etc., it’s all the same. Those who don’t live out their faith are no better off than the demons. That’s pretty horrible company. ><> Jeff

Isaiah 5:18-23 Through Isaiah, the Lord pronounced woes upon those in Israel who redefined good and evil. Know that this was not out of ignorance but a purposeful disregarding of the word of Yahweh. The prophet writes that these people were “wise in their own eyes.” In other words, they believed they knew better than the Lord God and so devised arguments to circumvent reality and the plain word of God to accomplish their own self-serving ends. As a result, judges were bribed. Widows were cheated in the courts. Orphans were neglected. People worshiped idols and bowed down under every green tree and on the top of every high hill. A people chosen to glorify God looked just like the nations around them. Today, the same attitude persists: people call evil good and good evil. You have heard some of this fine-sounding rhetoric: “What’s in your womb isn’t a human being; it’s not a child. It’s just a fetus, a glob of cells. After you go through this procedure, everything will be fine. You won’t even think about it.” “Parents aren’t the most qualified to rear their children. The government, teachers and school psychologists know what’s best.” “People of the same sex should be allowed to marry. If they love each other, why shouldn’t they have the same rights as everyone else? After all, what could it possibly hurt?” “It’s only right for us to help a child “change” their sex. If they are having these urges and feelings, we should not try to stifle them. It could do them great damage.” “Prostitution should be legalized. These ladies provide a very valuable service, and no one is really harmed.” “Humans are descended from that first one-celled organism and are nothing but a bag of chemicals. Without free will, we are pre-programmed through our DNA just to respond to our environment.” Beware of those who call evil good and good evil. Their speech is smooth and their arguments tricky. Know the truth. ><>Jeff