Memorials

Some memorials are just remembrances on other occassions monuments are erected to enduce a memory. This is not new. In Scripture, Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (KJV)

Then in Joshua Chapter 4 when the waters were parted and the Israelites crossed the Jordan river, God instructed them to take 12 stones and build a memorial as a reminder to the miracle that God had performed.

And in the New Testament, Luke 22:19,20 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (KJV)

In the instances cited above, notice they pointed to God. I have no problem with our Memorial Day Holiday. I think it is great that we have a day set aside for remembrances. (Here is a good history of Memorial Day) It originally was set aside to honor the war dead and has morphed into a remembrance for all of our military who gave the ultimate sacrifice as well as loved ones that have passed away.

What I suggest is we not only remember our couragous men and women who gave their lives that we can still enjoy our great country, its liberties and freedoms, but take it as an opportunity to thank God for the country for which they were willing to make that sacrifice. It is because of God that our forefathers took the direction they did in establishing our government. We have come a long way since its inception and only recently have we attempted to hide, cover and disavow God's involvment in our affairs. Shame on us. Those of us who are believers truly have become the silent majority. We need to be shouting it from the roof tops.

If this memorial day you were remembering parents or loved ones that have gone on to their eternal reward, I also suggest you take the time to give God the praise for the love they gave you. It is only because of Him that we have the ability to love. Love is the greatest of all emotions and 1 John 4:8 and 16 tells us that "God is love." Therefore it is an emotion that allows us to experience a part of Him. Acknowledge it or not, if you are or have been loved it is because of God and He needs to be praised for that.

So as well as making memorial day a day of remembering each year make it a day of thanksgiving as well. Two thanksgiving days a year is surely not asking too much. To God be the Glory for our nation and our loved ones.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to the church. Typically called pentecost because its inception was 50 days after the resurrection. Although not nearly as well known throughout the world, and not celebrated to the extent as Christmas and Easter, it is nontheless important. The term church here is not referring to any particular organization or denomination but to the universal church. It is the body of which Christ is the head. It is made up of individuals not organizations or denominations. (But that is not to say that individuals cannot be members of organizations or denominations.)

This was a world changing event and perhaps shameful that it is not a bigger celebration than it is. I think we miss a great opportunity to share the good news such as we do at Christmas and Easter and in fact it would help us communicate the complete message to those not familiar with Christianity's history.

Just as the coming and infilling of the Holy Spirit changed the lives of the first recipients it is still changing lives today. It is what makes the difference in ones life. In Christian jargon the term used is born again because Apostle Paul said we become a new creature. That coinsides with Jesus' explanation to Nicodemus that you must be born again. It is a spiritual transformation. It is one of those things you must experience in order to fully understand. Until experienced it will always remain a mystery. No amount of study or research will enlighten enough for comprehension. If you are interested in that transformation shoot me an email at davesib@yahoo.com or a comment with your contact information in it and I'll be happy to follow up.

Christian Responsibilities

Christian Responsibilities

I heard an interview some time ago on the Focus on the Family radio broadcast with Mike Yankoski who along with another guy went homeless for 5 months back in 2003 in 6 different U.S. Cities, Denver, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego. He has since written a book "Under the Overpass." It is a real eye opener for the church in America. It gives practical insight into real Christian responsibilities. We have taken "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel" to mean send missionaries to foreign countries while we stay in our comfortable church building collecting the money to send them. (Nothing wrong with that) but Mike and his partner show how we are failing in America to reach the homeless and "the least of these." Not only are we failing to reach them by going to where they are but also by not welcoming them into where we are (unless they are like us.) I hope that interview and Mike's book changes me forever.

Jesus, who is to be our example, spent little time in the Synagogues and much time with the people. Jesus and the early church revolutionized the world in that day with that formula. Today we have abandoned that formula and wonder why America is in the condition it is. You can't bake a cake using a mud pie recipe.

I could expound on that thought a lot but I won't because I believe in trying to build up rather than beat down which is what would happen if I elaborated extensively. Let me just say let's get back to basics. Help the hurting, whether it be the poor, the young, the elderly, the grieving or the broken. People have often misspoke saying "God helps those who help themselves." In reality God helps those who can't help themselves and often He uses people to do it. Let's use the church building for worship and let's get the gospel (good news) out into the streets where it belongs.

Jesus also gave us the parable of the good Samaratian for a reason. The injuried man was not in a temple or synogogue and neither are most of the hurting in our society. Look for ways to help the less fortunate and disavantaged outside the wall of the church. That is where you are most likely to find them. You don't shop for groceries in a used car lot.

Fear Not

Deut. 31:1 ¶ And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.

2 And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

4 And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.

5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

The phrase "fear not" appears 63 times in the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. That is an average of almost 1 time per book considering there are 66 books in the Bible. I think that is significant, indicating 2 things. (1) It is something that is common and (2) Something God cares deeply about.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

In the text in Deut. the Israelites were fearful of the unknown. Hmmm, doesn't that sound familiar. That covers most of our fears as well, doesn't it?

In the absense of trained engineers and building materials to build a bridge, they feared crossing the swollen Jorday river. Then there was still the giants on the other side that their forefathers had feared 40 years before.

However, God's message to the individual Israelites (verse 6) and their new leader, Joshua (verse 8) was the same. "Fear not." But he doesn't just command them to abolish their fears without giving them reason. I like that. I used to hate it when my parents used to say, "Just because I said so."

He gives them three (3) reasons to not be afraid:

          1. He would go with them.
          2. He wouldn't fail them.
          3. He wouldn't desert them.

Does those promises apply to us today? Sure! He is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34. and For I am the LORD, I change not, Malachi 3:6.

So when (not if) fear rears its frightful head, trust God to go with you, never to fail you and never to desert you.

Nameless?

On Mother's Day, I preached a message about a mother who had an encounter with Jesus. Her name is not mentioned in this encounter nor is she ever mentioned again. That is the way it is with most of us. We are nameless so far as most of the world is concerned. If you have ever been in the military or dealt with a government agency on any level you know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm reminded of an incident in basic training in the Air Force when the Squadron Commander got into the face of one of the young recruits, who was struggling to keep up with the group, and yelled, "Your name is Jenkins, isn't it?" and the airman answered back, "Sir, yes sir." To which the Squadron Commander replied, "You know you're in trouble when I know your name, don't you?" In essence they took pride in everyone remaining nameless. That is the way of the world. We expect that. The Psalmist said in Ps 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? And again in
Ps 144:3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! (KJV)

However, that is not God. Psalms 115:12 Says, "The LORD hath been mindful of us:" (KJV) How awesome is that? It is one thing to be aware of someones presence or existence but to be mindful of them take the situation to a elevated level. Actually I can't think of anything in Scripture that indicated God is just aware of anything. We use the word Omniscience as one of the attributes of God but He is more than all knowing he is mindful of all things. That means He cares:

Matthew 6:25-29 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (KJV)

All of this is beyond human comprehension. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (KJV) That means you, even if no one knows your name.