Seventh Day...Every Day.

There are those whose religious worship, not only includes, but emphasizes Sabbath-keeping as being vital to one's salvation.  I want to begin by honoring the disciplines of these people who keep this law with the utmost of integrity and good intention.   Further, I understand them because I too used to be bound by legalism, only in a different form.  Where mine was based on restrictions of dress, jewelry, sports, television etc, theirs is based on the Sabbath rest.

One cannot deny a large body of evidence concerning the Sabbath found in the Old Testament.  Not only is there a number of references, but they are strict directives from God to absolutely remember and keep the Sabbath Day holy.  One of the Ten Commandments is to keep the Sabbath holy by not doing any work.  (Ex 20:8-11)  Without an understanding of Grace and Jesus Christ's granting us release from the law, one would automatically be inclined to feel constrained to keep the Sabbath.  This is where many get off track.  

We have to remember the Sabbath law is different from the others because it was not duplicated in the New Testament.  There are many civil, judicial, and levitical laws that are not intended to be transfered to the New Covenant.  The laws intended for us today, including all moral laws, are mentioned 'again' in the New Testament.  For example, Jesus Himself re-affirms the moral laws with His own lips.  (See Matthew 19:18-19, etc.)  In no place in the New Testament are we commanded to keep the Sabbath.  This commandment Jesus willfully left out.  What is more, Jesus broke the Sabbath (John 5:9-16) healing and working on the Sabbath day.  He did so with intent - that we may know He is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mk 2:27-28) Jesus came to fulfill the law and not create more of them!  Man couldn't keep the ones he had at the time.  Get this...when you have Christ, you have fulfilled the obligations of the law.  When Jesus died, He in effect nailed the 'ordinances' - or the laws of man (non moral)- to His cross.   (Col 2:14)  Thank God we do not have to kill a lamb for a sacrifice, nor wash at a laver, nor keep the Sabbath, nor build railings on our roof, nor a thousand other laws.  I must mention that we are bound to keep the moral laws (no murder, adultry, idolatry, etc) which are mentioned again by Christ.

The Sabbath is about rest, of course.  But it is more about completion.  When God made the heavens and the earth in six days and then rested on the seventh...it was not because God was tired and needed a break.  It was to signal that creation was complete!  The sabbath is only a type or shadow of things to come.  The anti-type or reality is Christ.  The ceremonial religious law were to lead us to Christ.  They were our school-master to take us by the hand and lead us to Christ.  We are not to worship the School master!  Paul wrote and said, "We are complete in Him...." (Col 2:10) We are not made complete through law-keeping.  All of that revealed how incomplete man was without Christ.  We fulfill the Sabbath when our lives are made whole or complete in Christ.

In Isaiah 28:11-12, we discover a prophecy of the Holy Spirit.  It was prophecied to be accompanied with stammering lips and another (unknown) tongues.  The fulfillment of this at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-) was and continues to be the fulfillment of this prophecy.  Notice what else it says about the Holy Spirit.  "This is the 'rest' wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing:"  Wow!  Again we find the fulfillment of the Sabbath rest in Christ and experientially in the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 4:3 states, "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, 'As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."  Verse 8 goes on to bring further light to the coming Holy Spirit.  The rest was ultimately fulfilled in the Holy Spirit.  At last, read the 9th and 10th verses.  We are to cease from works.  Sabbath keeping is a work.  It is something we do.  But when you enter into Grace...you cease from works!  What a revelation!  

Finally, I want to bring Paul's instruction into view.  It does not matter as to which particular day one sets aside for worship.  (Romans 14:5)  Paul admits there are some folks who are bent on worshipping on a particular day.  It may be that he even included those Jews still bound to the O.T. law.  In either case Paul establishes that we shouldn't quarrel with them necessarily.  Leave them alone and let them worship in their own way.  "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."  Certainly Paul is saying, 'It is the worship that is important and not the day.'  God receives it if given on Monday or Friday.  

The problem with Seventh Day believers, like with other legalistic groups, is that they infer, if not outright declare, that you are 'not' saved if you do not adhere to Sabbath worship.  Many Seventh Day Adventist's follow the writings of Ms. White with more tenacity than the words and life of Christ.  This is the rub.  If one wants to exercise certain disciplines of their own accord and as part of their worship, they should have that right.  If some want to refrain from wearing jewelry, watching TV, eating pork pizza, wearing red ties....more power to them!  But just don't attempt to use the Bible and declare that all pizza lovers are going to hell!  Those who worship on Sunday are not violating the Bible.  Born again believers who have Christ are keeping the Sabbath, the rest, each and everyday in their hearts.  It feels so good to be free!!!

PS.   There is a growing number of people leaving Adventism and other legalistic groups.  Let's pray for them as doing so requires much fortitude.  Let me hear your comments.

Regards,

Pastor Tim

Tribute to Dottie Rambo

Saturday, May 17th, 2008 the memorial service was held in Nashville, Tennessee for one of gospel music's most prolific songwriters.  Her name...Dottie Rambo.  Dottie's earthly life ended when her tour bus was apparently forced off the road by high winds, near Mt. Vernon, Missouri.

I have long appreciated Dottie's music.  It is said that she wrote over 2500 songs.  Each one of her songs had a strong Biblical message, with a twist of country/down-home flavor.  She was mightily anointed and gifted.  Many of her songs are hymnal standards.  The powerful messages set to music, moved me to tears.

As a boy, I remember laying in front of an old, console stereo and listening to long-play albums of the Rambos.  Each song evoked strong feelings inside me.  Even to this day I am moved to hear her sing songs like, "I will glory in the cross", "He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs", "Tears will never stain the streets of that city", "Just build my mansion next door to Jesus" and countless other wonderful songs.

Having written her first song at age eight, Dottie's mother knew that there would be a price to pay for such a gift.  Dottie's life was filled with suffering, both physically and emotionally.  Yet, she persevered and the 'thorns' in her flesh gave birth to the aroma of many 'roses' of life.

I personally respect Dottie as a hero because she broke away from a legalistic denominational affiliation many years ago.  She and her family were virtually crucified for it.  The Rambo's became fodder for many sermon illustrations among the legalists.  Dottie sang about the gospel message and grace...she knew it, loved it and lived it.  In the book entitled, "The Legacy of Buck and Dottie Rambo" you can read where the former General Superintendent of the denominal group they left, called for Buck and Dottie to come to his bedside where he lay dying.  Upon their arrival the man asked the Rambos to forgive him for the way he and the denomination had treated them.  I honor them for staying the course and following their heart, as well as the Word of God.

As long as her songs are sung, Dottie Rambo will continue to influence the lives of people all around the world.  I just want to thank God for flavoring my life with the amazing sounds and sermons found in the songs of Dottie Rambo.  Rest in peace sister, sheltered safe within the arms of God!

Let me know if Dottie's songs influenced you.

Tim Estes

My Requests; Balancing the Big with the Little

Been watching the news lately?  It is like seeing a horror film with the earthquakes and cyclones in the orient, not to mention the tornadoes that have recently ripped through the Midwestern states of our beloved land.  Seeing clips of people trapped beneath rubble, and watching a death toll climb into the ten's of thousands is almost more than a body can stand.  

With all that going on I found myself, actually caught myself, asking God for rather trivial things.  Things like, "Lord help us have a good day today."  Or, "Lord, let us have good weather for my fishing trip."  There perhaps countless prayers such as these that we pray daily which are mostly about our own selfishness.  

This caused me to ponder..."Do I have the right to pray these things when there are so many greater needs in the world."  In other words, I feel some guilt for asking God to bless my corn patch when there are mother's going hungry and sleepless on the other side of the globe, worried sick about their children trapped beneath tons of masonry and steel.  My wants are so small compared to the big needs around the world.  

So, I looked into the Word for some help.  James 4:1-3 states, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?  Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you?  You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it.  You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them.  And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it.  And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure." 

The whole idea of motive comes to mind here.  James is writing specifically about our selfish, greedy humanity which is the lust that corrupts all things and ultimately leads to war.  I have to constantly check myself, so that the focus of my prayer is not on my own selfishness.

Now for the balance.  As children of God we are to make our requests and petitions known.  God's Word said, in Psalm 37:4, "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires."  I think of other texts which invite us to "Ask and we shall receive...", or "If two of you shall agree...you shall have it."  etc.  Well, many consider this an open invite to start asking for a new BMW or a six-figure income, or a new this or that.  I have found when I do the first part of Psalm 37:4 (delight myself in the Lord), my selfish appetites disappear.  I believe our selfish prayers are mostly asked amiss.  (a KJV word)  

At the same time, we should never be afraid to make our most simple requests known to God.  He loves us and wants to bless our lives, even with the things we 'want' rather than 'needing'.  As for me, I am certain God knows my personal want list.  My best option is to pray God's prayer requests (Mt 9:38, John 17), and then at the appropriate time, God will bless me with the things I need as well as with the blessings that I am capable of handling.  Since God is the God of the whole world, (Did you know God is not Democrat or Republican, He is not Asian nor American...He is God) I personally think I should be praying for those suffering in China, than to be concerned with my fishing weather.  If I do my part for others, God always does His part for me.  

Whether or not we get the BMW is immaterial.  God has promised to provide all our needs, according to His riches.  I'm trying to balance the big with the little.  Hope this makes sense to ya. 

Food for thought!

Pastor T  

How Do You Know there is a God?

As a child grows and matures in his thinking, he one day reaches a moment of formulating the most important question he will ever examine within his being.  That question is the topic of this blog.  How do you know there is a God?  In some way the question itself is a proof.  For the created to wonder about its maker is, in a sense, proof of a maker.  Following are some ways to help us know.

First, we must come to an understanding of faith.  Faith is simply knowing and trusting without the tangible facts in hand.  Faith believes what is yet to be seen, but is still known in the spirit and heart of a man.  For instance, one may believe in the wind.  But have you seen the wind?  Nobody has seen the wind but we can see ample results of the wind.  A flag standing straight out on a flagpole is proof of the wind.  The roar in the treetops or the waves on the lake are reasoning for their being wind.  Yet, we can't actually see wind.  God is the same.  He is a spirit (Jn 4:24), and being thus, is not visible to the human eye.  Like the wind, we can see His influence and grand design and know.  (Heb 11:3)

1.  Take a look at the stars on a starry night.  They hang perfectly in place night after night.  Billions of galaxies are out in space and with in each galaxy there are literally billions of stars.  How did they all get there?  What holds them up?  Read: Hebrews 1:2-3  The arrangement of the planets is noteworthy.  If the earth were a bit closer to the sun we would burn up.  If we were a bit further away, we would freeze and life could not exist on this planet.  If you believe this all occurred by coincidence, you are using much more faith to believe there is no God than it takes to believe there is a God.  It is difficult to illustrate how impossible the 'big bang' theory is.  I mean it would be like taking all the components of your computer apart...all the wires, chips, and tiny pieces and then get up on the roof of a ten story building.  Toss all the individual parts at once into the air.  While they are floating (in slow motion) toward the sidewalk let me ask you a question.  What are the chances that those parts will land perfectly assembled as a working computer?  Get it?

2.  Consider the constant cycle of water that serves to provide life for every living thing.  This amazing system was put into place by God.  Water falls in the form of rain, filling the water table, watering the crops etc.  Then, it runs off into the creeks and streams...down to the rivers and finally back to the ocean where, by God's design there is salt (a cleansing agent to kill bacteria) contained in the water.  Next, the water mysteriously evaporates back to the clouds and it just so happens that the atmospheric flows bring it right back over the land and the process begins again.  Now you tell me is that just pure happenstance or is there a Creator, a God who put this all together?

3.  Within the human body are proofs too numerous to mention.  The nervous system recognizes a rock thrown at you and quickly sends a signal to your brain that trouble is coming.  The brain fires a signal back to the body causing the arms to go up, eyes to blink and the torso to duck down in an automatic mechanism of defense.  As your food processes through your intestines the liver washes the food with bile to break it down into a form that can be re-absorbed and used for energy and the remaking of cells.  The human eye is a machine man cannot reproduce.  We initially see upside down but the brain flips the image produced and brought to us by all the intricate parts of the eye.  We inhale air into our lungs.  The oxygen is taken into the blood stream and the carbon dioxide is exhaled as a toxin.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made....not evolved.  Speaking of evolution...if we evolved to this point, why did we stop evolving?  Why haven't we gone on to the next level?  Further, if we evolved where is all the scientific proof?  I mean we have complete skeletons of dinosaurs, but not a single proof of a part man - part amoeba.

4.  Scientific study has proven the Bible to be true.  Archeological digs have unearthed cities, relics, names, etc which have proved the biblical events.  There are over 400 prophecies from the Old Testament which have been proven to be fulfilled.

5.  Jesus is proof there is a God.  All the Old Testament prophets who wrote about Jesus did so thousands or hundreds of years before Christ's birth.  Most of the prophets did not know each other or live in the same time period.  Yet, Jesus fulfilled their prophecies in an exact fashion...including where He would be born, how He would die etc.  One man figured the odds of this happening by pure chance.  He stated, (paraphrased) "Suppose you filled the state of Texas 2 feet deep with silver coins.  (Texas is a big state)  Then you marked one of those coins with a marker.  Next you blind fold a man and ask him to walk anywhere he wants to in Texas covered 2 feet deep in coins, and ask him to pick up the marked coin.  The odds of a man picking up the right coin would be similar to the odds of Jesus randomly fulfilling all of prophecy."

6.  Among many other things, perhaps the greatest proof of God is personal experience.  When man follows the laws of the Bible, his life inherently tracks toward betterment; better life; better health; better rest; better family etc.  The opposite is true as well.  When a person rejects God and His Word, he usually winds his way downward in all areas of life.  To experience peace, love, forgiveness through the power of the Holy Spirit is something words cannot describe.  Through faith you can know!

Through time, study and experiences of life we all should come to acknowledge there is a God and the only way to get to Him is through Jesus Christ.  One day all men will acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Hope this helps.

Have a good one...and wear a safety belt if you try the computer experiment!  ha.

Tim

Jesus is Still the Only Way

At the risk of sounding a bit 'preachy' on a blog, I want to go on record as saying, "Jesus is the only way for man's eternal salvation."  That seems so very simple and that is the point...it 'is' simple and man has complicated it. In honesty, I get very upset at man-made religions...especially those who detract from Jesus' and His salvific sacrifice on the behalf of lost humanity.

No more profound words ever came from the lips of the Savior of the World than when He said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me."  It is my understanding that, contained in this solitary verse, is the plan of God for every man.  In order to get into relationship, both now and in eternity with God, one must come through Jesus.  So what does that mean?

In short, Jesus became the ultimate, permanent sacrifice for the sin of man.  Everything we could not do within ourselves, Jesus did for us.  He was perfect and therefore was accepted as the ultimate sacrifice for all time.  Jesus was tempted in every facet of life and yet He was sinless.  He is the only man ever to live who has had not sin!

God laid upon the man, Jesus, the punishment or wrath that sin demands.  The wages of sin is death.  Because Christ died He paid the debt.  Because He rose again, He became the first fruits of all who trust in Him, giving hope of life eternal for all mankind.  Without Him, all our good deeds would be fruitless.  We cannot do a solitary thing to merit salvation.  Our good works are fruits of salvation and not a requisite for it.

Jesus said, "I am the door to the sheepfold."  There is no other way to get in.  I believe that Christ, while in the grave, preached to spirits in the prison of death. (Eph 4:7-10, 1 Pet 3:19)  This was, in my judgement, the Old Testament saints who will be saved and ultimately cleansed through Jesus' blood.  Further, those who overcome in the Tribulation will do so by washing their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Christ).  All men throughout time will have to enter through the life, death and burial of Jesus Christ.  Salvation is by faith.  It was for the thief on the cross, the Ethiopian Eunuch, the Philippian Jailor and all who come to God.  There is joy in heaven when a sinner repents!

For those who are lost in sin; for those who are twisted up in religions of various kinds;  for those bound by legalistic ideas;  for all men every where, let me remind you that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Instead of waiting to be forced to do that in eternity, why not bow today and confess Jesus as Lord of your life.  Ask Him to forgive you and He will...immediately.  Be baptized in His name 'because' He has forgiven you and receive the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you.  

Men are seeking to find other ways to salvation.  Check out Oprah's message, denying that Jesus is the only way.  I wonder how many will be lost because of her?  Be careful not to buy into these evil seductions of the last days.

Keep Jesus as the focus of your life.  Follow Him...obey Him....imitate Him...and most of all give Him your life.  In the end that is all that really matters.

Be blessed on this beautiful day.

Pastor T  

PS.  Following are some great references for personal study.  John 3:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12, Acts 5:29-32, Acts 8:37, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38-39, 48, Acts 16:30-31, Rom 3:21-25, Rom 10:9-10, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:1

 

Christmas Lights in April

Just before Christmas this past year...and every year before that, we put our holiday lights up on the house, the yard and inside.  I remembered being so frustrated over the way those lights seem to love to tangle themselves up.  It took a long time to get them lined out this past Christmas, as I recall.

Why am I thinking of Christmas lights you might ask?  Because I just took the last of them down today.  That's right, the ones on the two evergreens by the garage.  When I took them down I bunched them up in a pile.  Looking at the pile, I could already see the tangle and already envision that same frustration that would occur next Christmas when I take them out and they have to be untangled.

This blog is about seeing more than the problem, anyone can do that.  This is about seeing the source of the problem.  It doesn't take rocket science for folks to quickly point out all that is wrong.  Seldom does anyone comment on that which goes right...that seems to be expected.  But when the sound squeaks, the air conditioner goofs, or the singer hits a sour one, everyone is quick to notice.  

Take it to the next level.  When someone makes a huge mistake (I have certainly made them) people tend to forget the 'leven-fifty other things that have been done correctly for numbers of years.  We human-beings are so prone to see the ugly.

Once we had an aerial photo of our home taken.  When we got the picture there was the house, the barn, the nice landscaping...and you want to know what someone noticed?  The first thing they said was look how uneven those lines are in the driveway.  Give me a break.

Let's talk about the source of the problem.  The source of my Christmas light tangle is the way I put them up in the spring or summer or...whenever I get good and around to it.  Your area of trouble likely has a source.  Most people in prison come from broken homes.  80% of men in prison had no relationship with their fathers.  Their crime is the trouble, the broken relationship the source.  Anger, fear, broken relationships, frustration, pain, and unforgiveness are often good places to look for the sources of trouble.  The trouble manifests itself in any number of ways...hostility, social drop-out, alcoholism, suicide, chronic depression, etc.

I think I shall either put my lights in the box in an orderly manner, or I shall prepare for frustration next winter about Christmas time.  Check your sources.

Pastor Tim 

Measuring Church Growth

"How is your church doing?"  That is a question I am often asked and it is a great question.  I appreciate the concern of people.  However, I have been around long enough to know what they mean.  When the above question is asked they really mean, "How many people are attending your church now?"  Most people have more tact than to ask that directly.  The reason is, as churches go, your numbers may be up or down depending on the current circumstances.  They don't want to be embarrassed if you were to say, "Oh, thanks for asking....we are down to about three (3) people now."  In reality true growth is not completely dependent on numbers alone, although it cannot discount them either.

If we were measuring 2x4's we would use a tape measure.  If we were measuring earthquakes we would use a Richter scale.  But how does one go about truly measuring the growth and productivity of a church?  Obviously, numbers is the most visible way but it may not be the most important way.  As a pastor, I find it equally important to see if people are growing spiritually, emotionally, maritally (if applicable), in values, in contextual theology, in service, in gifting, etc.  There are many area's to increase our capacity.  It is not enough to hit numbers of people, if there is not significant change occurring within them. A properly growing (physical) body must do more than put on weight.  There has to be improvement in coordination, balance, mentality, etc.  

For instance, a few years ago there was a pastor in Oklahoma who gave away $10 bills to every guest on Easter Sunday.  The reason?  So he could have the biggest number of guests in his particular denomination!  While I am all about getting people through the door...even giving $10 bills if I had them...it would be superfluous for the pastor to give folks his Easter number as evidence of his regular attendance.  (A hazard for some ministers)  Some tout their membership as their official number or a designation of the health of their church.  Perhaps that is appropriate.  I am not the authority on it...just tossing our somethings for us to consider.  Talking about running a marathon and running one is two different things.  You can own tennis shoes, subscribe to 'Runners Weekly' but never jog a day in your life and read your weekly during your daily lunch at McDonalds.  See the point?  Following are some thoughts I had about real measurements of actual church growth.  (It is pouring rain and I am stuck in a coffee shop...so I had a few minutes to consider some potential measuring devices.)

1.  How many people last year, were personally involved in a season of prayer and fasting that God had called them to?

2.  Announce a potluck dinner one time and count the attendees.  Next month, announce an off-night prayer-meeting one time and count the attendees.  Perhaps the number that represents the difference between the two numbers could be a useful measuring device.  (The lower the number...the better the church!?!)

3.  How may people in your church actually give 1/10th (tithe) faithfully? 

4.  How many sermons are designed for "patching holes" (fixing problems within the church) compared to preaching that is designed to bring sinners to repentance (pure evangelism)?

5.  Give the number of altar services in a given year where people are inclined to remain in prayer although it may be time for the normal dismissal.

6.  How many people volunteered for service...(missions, cleaning, mowing, prep work, behind the scenes, bus ministry, etc)...without there being a pastoral 'push' for the need?

7.  How many were baptized last year?  How much was given to Mission projects?

8.  Maybe we should take the number of converts in a given year and 'not' count them until two more years have passed.  If they are still there, they count!  This would eliminate momentary, excitable, temporary numbers which mean nothing or almost nothing.  "Flash-in-the-pan" anything....people, leaders, institutions are, in my opinion, little impressive to God.

9.  Perhaps we could come up with a point system that looks like this:

*  Ten points for every community wide project.

*  Five points for willingness to open the pulpit to someone with a different theological perspective.

*  Five points for every Bible study night that has at least 75% of the members present.

*  Two points for each person who personally volunteers for service on their own.

*  One point for every service that breaks the former attendance record.

10.  How many people are preparing for ministry...including people taking music lessons, going to school to be teachers, mentors, volunteers in summer camps, looking to make an eternal difference by serving others.

While I certainly appreciate the numerical growth in my own assembly, I am interested in total growth.  Much of real growth, I contend, is invisible.  Sometimes you even add by subtracting!  In the medical field, bodies are saved everyday by surgery.  This is simply some food for thought.  I am sure you can think of other 'measurements' for real growth of a church.  Put 'em on the blog.  

So..."How is your church doing?"  Mine can certainly do better, but I am grateful for the growth that has occurred in the last 12 months!

Pastor Tim