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 Well, today is my
birthday! I turn 25 today! Of course, I'm also dyslexic!
Through this week, I have had some fun telling this to people.
Announcing my birth age backwards may seem like an interesting and
moderately humorous way to tell your age. It lets people know the truth,
but in some way seems to mask an accurate accounting of just how old I am.
But make no mistake - I am every bit of 52, and not 25. At 25, I was
just in the beginning of my years of ministry, serving as a minister of
music in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Much has changed in the twenty-seven
years that have passed since then. And, although I had certain thoughts and
plans for my life, I surely had no knowledge then that as the next century
began, I would be pastoring in Delaware. My life was music ministry. My
desire was to add youth ministry to my responsibilities. And, beyond that,
I really had no thoughts. There was nothing that I purposely did or pursued
with the intent or thought of preparing me for where I am and what I am
doing today.
However, the Lord orchestrated the events in my life - perhaps not
always in the way I would have selected - but, nonetheless, guided my path
into events, situations, and experiences that would supernaturally allow me
to become prepared and ready for what He had designed.
The Bible says in James 4:13-15, "Come now, you who say, 'today or
tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and
sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen
tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a
little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord
wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"
Yes, there have been choices that I made, believing that I was preparing
myself for the future. But, through it all, I have come to recognize that
the Lord is in control, and will bring about His perfect will in my life as
I yield my thoughts and ways to Him.
At 25, I believed that I had the vast majority of my life ahead of me.
Today, I know that the majority of my earthly life is behind me. But, I
also know that ALL of my life is in the hands of the Lord, and what I may
do and where I may go is in His hands.
So, today - as I celebrate the twenty-seventh anniversary of my
twenty-fifth birthday - I again surrender myself to the Lord, as His
servant, to do as He wills.
Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS,
Volume 8.03. Live for God, on purpose, all the
days of your life, for your life belongs to Him!
 Speak
the Truth in Love!
Ever told a lie? If we are being truthful, we most likely have to admit
that at some time we have lied. In fact, if you said that you have never
lied, you probably just told a lie!
While most of us don't set out intending to lie, to one degree or
another, many people will lie. Oh, they may call it an "untruth"
or a "partial truth." Or, maybe they will justify it by calling
it "just a little white lie."
But a lie, no matter how you may describe it, is a lie. And, the ninth
commandment, found in Exodus 20:16 tells us "You shall not give false
testimony against your neighbor!
Interestingly, giving false testimony can sometime be more than telling
lies. When we speak words that ought not to have been said - when we are
not speaking in love - we are sinning as well.
As human beings, because of our sinful nature, each of us has a
propensity to sin with our lips. How can we avoid this, and how can we
learn to speak in a way that pleases the Lord? Be sure to join us this
Sunday morning, as we share part 9 of our Ultimate Top Ten List - God's Top
Ten Important Principles for Living - "Speak the Truth in Love!"
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 Dealing
with Difficult Relatives
by Max Lucado
Does Jesus have anything to say about dealing with difficult relatives?
Is there an example of Jesus bringing peace to a painful family? Yes, there
is.
His own.
It may surprise you to know that Jesus had a difficult family. If your
family doesn't appreciate you, take heart, neither did Jesus'.
"His family ... went to get him because they thought he was out of
his mind" (Mark 3:21).
Jesus' siblings thought their brother was a lunatic. They weren't
proud-they were embarrassed!
It's worth noting that he didn't try to control his family's behavior,
nor did he let their behavior control his. He didn't demand that they agree
with him. He didn't sulk when they insulted him. He didn't make it his
mission to try to please them.
Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an
expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn't
have that expectation. Look how he defined his family: "My true
brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants" (Mark
3:35).
When Jesus' brothers didn't share his convictions, he didn't try to
force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his
physical family didn't. If Jesus himself couldn't force his family to share
his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?
Having your family's approval is desirable but not necessary for
happiness and not always possible. Jesus did not let the difficult dynamic
of his family overshadow his call from God. And because he didn't, this
chapter has a happy ending.
What happened to Jesus' family?
Mine with me a golden nugget hidden in a vein of the Book of Acts.
"Then went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.... They all
continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of
Jesus, and Jesus' brothers" (Acts 1:12, 14, emphasis added).
What a change! The ones who mocked him now worship him. The ones who
pitied him now pray for him. What if Jesus had disowned them? Or worse
still, what if he'd suffocated his family with his demand for change?
He didn't. He instead gave them space, time, and grace. And because he
did, they changed. How much did they change? One brother became an apostle
(Galatians 1:19) and others became missionaries (1 Corinthians 9:5).
So don't lose heart. God still changes families.
from "He Still Moves Stones," © 1999, Max
Lucado
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 Three
Quick Tips for Guidance
"We should make plans - counting on God to direct us." -
Proverbs 16:9 (TLB)
It's said when Christopher Columbus (one of the first European explorers
to discover America) set out he didn't know where he was going, when he
arrived he didn't know where he was, and when he returned didn't know where
he'd been! From time to time we all need help knowing which direction to
go; which college or university to go to, should you take a certain job, or
whether or not to start going out with that special someone! The Bible
says, "We should make plans - counting on God to direct us." So
how does He lead us? Through:
1. The Bible: "Let the word of Christ -
the message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your
lives" (Colossians 3:16 TM). One author writes: "The Bible is to
God what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch
deep within you." But that requires reading it, personalizing it, and
acting on it.
2. Prayer and listening for His voice: Jesus
said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow
me" (John 10:27 NIV).It can take time to learn to listen not just talk
at God, try going for a walk, find a quiet place, give yourself time. Write
down what you think Jesus might be saying - does it match what the Bible
says? Learn to listen.
3. Get Advice: Other people have gone through
the same stuff as you, so "Remember what kind of lives they lived and
try to have faith like theirs" (Hebrews 13:17 CEV). Remember your
youth leaders, pastors and yes, even parents, were your age once! They can
help.
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 The Power of Three Little Words
Some of the most significant messages people deliver to one another
often come in just three words. When spoken or conveyed, those statements
have the power to forge new friendships, deepen old ones and restore
relationships that have cooled.
The following three word phrases can enrich every relationship:
I'll BE THERE - Being there for another person is the greatest gift we
can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things
happen to them and to us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are
restored emotionally and spiritually. 'Being there' is at the very, very
core of civility.
I MISS YOU - Perhaps more marriages could be salvaged and strengthened
if couples simply and sincerely said to each other, "I miss you."
This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired
and loved.
I RESPECT YOU - Respect is another way of showing love. Respect conveys
the feeling that another person is a true equal. It is a powerful way to
affirm the importance of a relationship.
MAYBE YOU're RIGHT - This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an
argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side of "maybe you're
right" is the humility of admitting "maybe I'm wrong."
PLEASE FORGIVE ME - Many broken relationships could be restored and
healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of
us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be
ashamed to own up to he has been in the wrong, which is by saying, in other
words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
I THANK YOU - Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who
enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take
daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for
their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle
of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of
gratitude.
COUNT ON ME - "A friend is one who walks in when others walk
out." "Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it
is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those who are rich in their
relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a
good friend is there, indicating "you can count on me."
LET ME HELP - The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When
they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked,
they pitch in and help.
I UNDERSTAND YOU - People become closer and enjoy each other more if
they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting others
know in so many little ways that you understand him or her is one of the
most powerful tools for healing your relationship.
GO FOR IT - Some of your friends may be non-conformists, have unique
projects and unusual hobbies. Support them in pursuing their interests.
Rather than urging your loved ones to conform, encourage their uniqueness -
everyone has dreams that no one else has.
I suppose the 3 little words that you were expecting to see have to be
reserved for those who are special; that is I LOVE YOU.
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 How
to Get Your Church Members to Invite Their Friends
by Richard Reising
Here's a truism: People that have had a life-changing experience with
God want others to find God in a life-changing way. This is surely true. It
is also true that most people that sat in church pews last year never invited
one single person to their church. So where is the disconnection?
I think one of the biggest disconnects we have in the church is that, as
leaders, we often forget what it was like to go to church for the very
first time. The intimidation factor for a lone visitor in a new church is
simply huge. But it is nowhere close to the stress and vulnerability that
is put on a churchgoer who invites a visitor. All inviters put their
reputations on the line every time they invite someone to church. You can
rest assured that your church members will not invite someone if they do
not expect a positive outcome. And most of the time, that's why one church
isn't growing and the church around the corner is. It has led us to say
that "People are not ashamed of Christ, they are ashamed of their
church." Ouch!
I asked a young friend how he was enjoying his church; he admitted that
he loved it but was bothered by the fact that the church wasn't growing. I
asked him why it wasn't growing; he acted bewildered and said, "I have
no idea."
"Yes, you do," I challenged him. "You know why it's not
growing."
After a silence, I asked, "When was the last time you invited
someone?"
"Well, it's been a long time," he said ashamedly.
"Why don't you invite people?"
He shuffled his feet and said, "I don't know."
"Yes, you do," I said. "The reason you don't invite
people is the same reason why your church is not growing."
I could tell that bells went off on the inside. He responded,
"Yeah, I know why." He had known it all along. He just had never
connected the dots between the challenges of inviting people and overall
church growth.
It might be simple. A congregant might be embarrassed about the church
decorations, the woman who shouts from the back of the church, the inexplicably
deep or dry sermons, or the pastor telling jokes about his wife. The harder
it is to invite people, the more challenging church growth is.
You see, I knew my friend loved God and wanted others to experience
Christ's love. Unfortunately, most people are not intimidated about being
Christians. They are intimidated about inviting people to their church.
The simple truth is that if an invitation is hard to make, for whatever
reason, fewer people will be invited. The battle for growth is first fought
in the hearts of churchgoers who want to better the lives of those around
them. This is actually the desire of the vast majority of churchgoers.
I cannot say this emphatically enough - all true Christians want other
people to become Christians. It is planted in them when Christ is planted
in them. This means if your church has to beg, push, cajole, offer
incentives, or even just remind people to invite others, it is a telltale
sign that, for whatever reason, they do not believe the ministry that takes
place will make a successful connection with the people they would invite.
This is where the rubber hits the road. Is your church connecting with
your community? The main link is through your congregation, and if they
think you're not connecting, you won't.
It is no wonder Paul challenged us in advance to "become as one to
win one." The ability to relate to our communities and church growth
go hand in hand. When a ministry can successfully relate to the people in
its congregation in a way that reassures them that their guests will be
connected with, the churchgoers will be willing to invite others because
they know it will relate to those they invite.
By analyzing the temptations and challenges associated with inviting
people to church, we found the following to be true. If a churchgoer can
answer these questions positively, then inviting friends and family will
not only be easy, it will become a lifestyle. The church will explode with
growth! As a side note, my guess is that none of these topics would ever
show up on a visitor survey. They require us to look closely in the mirror,
as even our closest allies would have a hard time advising us of some of
these issues.
1. Will my friend feel welcomed? Principle: Hospitality - The
atmosphere, nomenclature, and style of service should be inviting and not
intimidating to the unchurched.
2. Will my friend fit in? Principle: Comfort and compatibility - Like it
or not, invitations and visitor comfort decrease when social or cultural
gaps exist.
3. Can I feel confident that I know how the service will turn out?
Principle: Consistency - People need to know what to expect, because they
will invite accordingly.
4. Will my friend get something out of it? Principle: Relevance - The
message should be relevant and powerful for people at all spiritual levels.
5. Will my friend understand it? Principle: Understanding - Jesus taught
through practical illustrations. The songs and message should be
understandable for people at all spiritual levels.
6. Will everything that could seem strange to the unchurched be
explained through Scripture? Principle: Sensitivity - Scriptural actions
should be carried out with clarity and considerate explanation.
Having said all this, I am convinced of one thing. If members walk out
of your service saying, "I wish my unchurched friend had been
here," they will start to think about inviting their friend. If a
member walks out of your service three weeks in a row and says every time,
"I wish my unchurched friend would have heard that," nothing will
stop that member from dragging that friend through your doors. The
challenging thing is that often, when members walk out of churches, the
only thing they can say is, "I wish my other church friends would have
heard that."
It's time to evaluate. Are we creating an atmosphere that fosters growth
or are we just ministering unto ourselves?
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 Why America Deserves Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears
by Richard Mansel
Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears are burning up the internet. The public is
insatiable for information on their tumultuous lives. Lies, smears,
innuendos, payoffs, and whispers spew forth from media outlets like sewage.
Daily updates on their behavior contain so many contradictory story lines
that it is almost impossible to know the truth. However, America just wants
more, more, more.
The United States does not have royals to harass, so Hollywood stars
become their surrogates. The spotlight on them never goes dark. On the
fictional show, "Hannah Montana," Miley Cyrus plays a teenager
who lives a dual life as a regular girl and singing superstar. The premise
is hysterical considering today's reality. Stars are hunted, harassed and
their every public move and utterance is filmed. They sell their privacy
for fame and fortune and then complain about their lack of privacy.
Britney and Jamie Lynn are responsible for their actions. Nevertheless,
they are mirrors of the declining American culture. By showing America for
what it is, these women find the resentment of a nation for being the
embodiment of a guilty national conscience.
The American culture is dying. The time for niceties is past. Depravity
is corroding the culture we inhabit and it damages everything it touches.
Nothing is safe. Music, movies, clothing, television, the internet, and the
language of the day are all robbing children of their purity. Satan steals
their most cherished possession and rips it to shreds. Sadly, parents are
most often the flesh and blood hands of Satan, destroying the souls of
their own children through their lack of parenting. God's hatred of such
behavior is some of the most sobering in Scripture (Matthew 18:6).
Sixteen-year old Jaime Lynn Spears is pregnant by her nineteen-year-old
boyfriend. Her announcement spread in "OK! Magazine" caused an
outrage. Roundly condemned by almost everyone, magazine editors pulled her
from their covers. The national condemnation is still loud and clear. At
the same time, though, it is terribly ironic.
A society that sells thongs with "hottie" emblazoned on them
and Bratz dolls dressed as whores to five-year olds is outraged that a
sixteen-year old is pregnant. Fashion editors who parade condom ads, sex
advice, and nearly naked models to teen girls rebuke a teenager for her
pregnancy. Producers who make movies filled with sex acts and jokes to
children are shocked that a teenager is pregnant. Websites who hungrily
post nude photos of actresses and encourage kids to engage in fornication,
condemn a child for her pregnancy. The hypocrisy is staggering!
We ask where the outrage is for the man who made Jamie Lynn pregnant.
Should a society that treats girls as sex objects and winks at the males
who take advantage of them have any moral authority? When we glorify
rappers who treat women as trash and condemn the women, we relegate women to
second-class citizens.
Britney abuses drugs and alcohol, parties obsessively, prances around
town without underwear, shoplifts, spends the night with cameramen in hotel
rooms, crashes her car, runs over people, divorces twice, loses custody of
her children, holds her children in a standoff with the police while stoned
and becomes a national disgrace.
A culture that turns actors and singers into idols to be worshiped in a
24-hour news cycle should not be shocked when their behavior becomes
increasingly bizarre so the camera will stay on. Wholesome behavior and
charity work is a blip on the radar screen while debauchery bring in
millions of dollars. When America builds a monster, they should not be
shocked when it attacks.
God said, "Righteousness exalts a nation" (Proverbs 14:34).
What does unrighteousness bring? Look around.
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ate.com
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 The
Last Impression
I was sure that my wife was getting hard of hearing, so I called the
doctor to ask him what we should do.
"I'll have my nurse make an appointment for her," the doctor
said, "but in the meantime, there's a simple, informal test you can
run to give us an idea how bad the problem is. Here's what you do: start
out about 40 feet away from her and in a normal conversational speaking
tone, say something and see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then
20 feet and so on, until you get a response."
That evening, my wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner and I was in the
living room. In a normal tone, I asked, "Honey, what's for
supper?"
No response.
So, I moved to the other end of the room and repeated, "Honey,
what's for supper?" Still no response.
Next, I moved into the dining room. "Honey, what's for
supper?" I still got no response, so I walked up to the kitchen door.
"Honey, what's for supper?" Again, there was no response, so I
walked right up behind her. "Honey, what's for supper?"
And she replied, "For the fifth time, I said chicken!"
My kids like to tell me that I am losing my hearing, I guess especially
now that I am in the "over-fifty" crowd! But, I am so very
thankful that, no matter what, God ALWAYS hears me! And, regardless of my
natural hearing ability... and between you and me, my hearing is just
fine... I am thankful that we are all able to hear that "still, small
voice" of God!
Keep listening to Him! And, be sure to come to WFA this Sunday as
together we listen to what God is saying to us!
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