Thanksgiving Success!

Thanksgiving at the Community Center was such a great success thanks to the whole family. All of us working together as the Body of Jesus enabled us to make this work again. Whether you actively participated or not you are a part of the success by virtue of being in the family. When one rejoices we all rejoice. Thanks to all who participated in prayer as well as providing financially, with turkeys and volunteering time.

The whole event from preparation to execution went so smooth that sometimes we felt like we must be missing something. Even with sickness in our family we still managed to push through without a hitch. Thank you Father!

There was such a wonderful atmosphere yesterday as we were able to feed somewhere between 250 and 300 people on site. Several people I spoke said that they felt the family atmosphere and the happiness in the room. God is so good. He was there having dinner with us! Everyone was so grateful and so on behalf of our guests I thank you!

As usual we had volunteers come to help that are not believers but just wanted a place to serve on Thanksgiving. They came in as strangers and left as friends to many! Please continue to pray for them as God is working in their lives.

We had a few experiences of people just showing up with supplies that we needed! Some anonymous person came by and left enough bread for all the stuffing plus extra to give away to the dinner participants. Another local farmer showed up with a box of onions, some squash and other pumpkins and gourds. Deanna randomly met a man who works at Scolari's and took it upon himself to provide a lot of our food needs along with some other kitchen items! With all of this we were able to save quite a bit of money...thank you Jesus!!!

These are just a few of the many things that happened in the course of preparing for and serving the Thanksgiving meal. If you have any cool stories to share please feel free to pass them along.

Thanks again,

Paul

Sketchy Start To A Great Day...

Earlier last week I went and had keys made for our storage locker where we keep our clothing and supplies. Being a former locksmith I should have known better and checked the keys, but when we arrived at the locker the new key didn't work! I was able to modify the key with some effort, which allowed it to go into the lock but it still didn't work. So, we had to drive to the church office to hopefully find another key, which we did...thank you Jesus!

While we were struggling to get downtown with the clothing the rest of the team was already there handing out wonderful handmade sandwiches and cookies. Jamila and Hannah made well over 100 (they think closer to 140) sandwiches which were received with much thanks. Judy and Michael were already there as well giving out first-aid supplies, socks, underwear, combs, towelettes, deodorant and other items. We rolled in about 30 minutes late with the clothing and some other food and drinks that Janice Aramaki provided for the folks.

We made some really good connections again and had some wonderful conversations. One friend, Billy, is new to the area and had such a sweet heart. He is living at the Rescue Mission and volunteering there while looking for work. He seems very willing and able, would you please pray for him? I believe we will see him at church sometime soon...he is a believer.

One irony of the day was watching a group of young homeless folks in their early 20's. They came early and stayed till the end, mostly just sitting in a group nearby. As one of the young girls was going through the clothing finding some nice stuff I noticed her hoodie had "In Satan We Trust" emblazoned on the back. I thought of the irony as it was Jesus that was taking care of her in such a tangible way today and every day. The one she flippantly promotes came only to steal, kill and destroy, often slowly with small gradual step, while Jesus came to give life with a bold display of love and acceptance not wanting any to perish.

We gave away quite a bit of stuff Saturday so would you please pray that we could replenish our supplies? Please consider making a clothing donation yourself too, it is the only way we can keep this up. Thank you all for being a partner in this effort to put God's Love In Action! Keep looking for ways to do it today and every day. Paul

Zogby Poll: Most Americans Want Strengths and Weaknesses of Darwinism Taught In Schools

Zogby Poll: Most Americans Want Strengths and Weaknesses of Darwinism Taught In Schools
Monday, July 13, 2009
By Christopher Neefus


Charles Darwin
(CNSNews.com) - A Zogby poll commissioned by the Seattle-based Discovery Institute says more than three-quarters of Americans would like teachers to have the freedom to discuss both the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian evolution, with an even higher number reported among Democrats.

According to the report, which was commissioned by the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, respondents were given the two following statements:

Statement A: “Biology teachers should teach only Darwin’s theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that supports it.”

Statement B: “Biology teachers should teach Darwin’s theory of evolution, but also the scientific evidence against it.”

Of those surveyed, 78 percent said Statement B came closest to their own point of view on the issue, representing a 9 percent increase over 2006, the last time the question was asked.

More striking, though, was the finding that 82 percent of Democrats also chose statement B, versus 73 percent of Republicans.

Self-identified liberals showed stronger support than self-identified conservatives, 86 percent to 72 percent. Those who did not identify with any Christian or Jewish denominations supported teaching evidence against Darwinian evolution at a level of 82 percent.

When young adults age 18-24 were posed with the same choice, the poll said no respondents -- 0 percent -- thought only Darwinism and its supporting evidence should be taught.

Another question, asked in the same poll but released separately, showed a corresponding skepticism of pure natural selection as the basis of human evolution.

Respondents were asked whether they believed “the development of life came about through an unguided process of random mutations and natural selection” or “the development of life was guided by intelligent design.”

A slim majority, 52 percent, said they believed intelligent design played a role in evolution, but only 33 percent alternatively believed evolution was an unguided process. 8 percent were unsure and 7 percent chose “Other.”

Dr. John West, associate director of the Center for Science and Culture, said the findings contradict the prevailing notion that “a small group of the uneducated” – as critics charge -- drove skepticism over Darwin’s theory.

“Media reports insinuate that a right-wing conspiracy of know-nothings and religious-extremists is afoot,” he said. “But the new Zogby poll represents a broad-based and well-informed public consensus for academic freedom on evolution. The Darwin lobby has isolated itself from public opinion.”

But Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), told CNSNews.com the poll was “meaningless” because the phrasing of the questions skewed the results.

Branch said asking whether or not respondents believe all evidence should be taught puts them in the position of being for or against freedom of information.

“(I)f you commission someone to do a poll asking whether we should teach the evidence for and the evidence against heliocentrism, they’d say yes, too,” he argued, “even though it’s scientifically established that the Earth goes around the sun, rather than the other way around.

“The very terms of the question presuppose that there is credible scientific evidence against evolution, which there isn’t,” he said.

Branch also said the poll muddles the distinction between “evidence against” Darwin’s theory of evolution and “intelligent design.”

The second question “presupposes that evolution is incompatible with guidance by a divine being,” Branch alleged, pointing out that many scientists accept Darwin’s theory and believe in God.

“There are plenty of people [who believe both], including for example, Kenneth Miller, who is a biologist and also the coauthor of one of the most widely used high school biology text books in the United States,” he said.

In a 2005 Gallup survey, 52 percent said they were “not too familiar” or “not familiar at all” with the term “intelligent design.”

Similarly, a 1999 FOX News poll found 26 percent of respondents said both the Bible’s account of creation and Darwin’s theory of evolution, conflicting ideas, were accurate.

In the Gallup poll, only 35 percent disagreed with the notion that evolution should be presented as the most convincing theory for how humans developed.

Chris Mooney of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry has criticized Zogby polling methodology in the past, agreeing that their wording accounts for the disparity in their poll numbers.

“The answer to the first question is a no-brainer for anyone who believes in open-mindedness, no matter what they think about evolution,” he said. “Sure enough, Zogby-Intelligent Design polls have shown overwhelming support for option B.”

As for general polling on the subject of evolution, Mooney says steps need to be taken to clear the confusion, and Americans need to be better educated on these terms.

“Taken as a whole, polls about evolution certainly do suggest that we need much better science education in this country,” he said, and “Americans need to understand the difference between evolution and its pseudoscientific rivals.”

But John Zogby, president and CEO of Zogby International, defended his poll, saying that he wasn’t polling people about pseudoscience.

“[W]e’re polling people’s perceptions and attitudes, not their level of knowledge,” Zogby told CNSNews.com.

“I know that one might quibble with the scientific evidence against Darwin’s theory . . . but the fact of the matter is, in terms of the public response to the way this question was asked, the public just says, ‘If there is scientific evidence against it, it should be taught.’ It doesn’t make a premise, it doesn’t lead, it is statement A vs. statement B.”

He pointed out that problems with the fossil record – what he called the “Cambrian explosion” and current studies on the mutations of bacteria pose purely scientific challenges to the natural selection explanation at the root of Darwinian evolutionary theory – and have nothing to do with creationism.

West also denied that intelligent design factored into the question about science curricula.

“We don’t advocate requiring people to learn about intelligent design,” he said.
“[W]e don’t favor mandating it, although we think teachers should be free to discuss it.”

West told CNSNews.com this year was the first time Discovery and Zogby had asked the intelligent design question, so he could not say whether the results corresponded to a desire for it to be taught in classrooms.

“What we do know is there was a nine point jump in people who thought you should teach both sides and a corresponding six or seven point drop in the minority who thought you should just teach one side,” he said.

“I think we certainly have been seeing more openness on the part of the general public to wanting to get all the evidence.”

In a press release distributed with the poll West said, “There seems to be a backlash against the strong-arm tactics that have been used in recent years to censor and intimidate scientists, teachers, and students who raise criticisms of Darwin.”

With regard to the 52 percent of respondents who said they subscribed to the perhaps-confusing intelligent design concept, Zogby said, “I think more today know about [intelligent design] than two years ago,” and “folks need to understand there’s a lot of conservatives in this country.”

The Zogby poll, conducted in January among 1,053 people, has a margin of errors of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The new poll was conducted ahead of the 150th anniversary this November of the publication of Darwin’s seminal book, On the Origin of Species. The book outlined the scientist’s theory about natural selection as the engine of biological evolution.

Are You A Slave?

Someone asked the question the other day. Do you consider yourself a slave of Jesus as Paul did in writing to the Corinthian church. Here is my reply.

Yes, I am a slave...a bond slave. The Lord Jesus has set me free from my chains of sin and given me complete liberty to choose a direction to walk. Like Peter I have to say, "Where else will I go Lord, You have the words of life." I have chosen to submit myself to Him now willingly. I have given up my right to make money...I have chosen to make some hard decisions and not to pursue money but to pursue relationships and to encourage others in their relationship with Jesus. I have suffered greatly in one sense because of these decisions, but I have also had the privilege of seeing God provide in ways that causes Him to receive glory and honor. If we never live our life fully trusting in Him, we never get to experience His provision. I we take control of our life and are able to do everything on our own where is the need for God? As a bond slave it is my Master that tells me what to do. I have to admit that at times it is very hard, but if I will pray and talk with Jesus He speaks the words that set me free and help me to do the right thing. Just the other day I was riding my bicycle home from the store. While I was riding I was telling God how hard life was for me and I was asking if all of the sacrifices are even worth it. I wasn't sure I was even making the right choices. As I was riding along and talking with Jesus I looked down and rode past a coin in the street. I turned around and picked up the quarter and the first words I read on the coin was, "In God We Trust". I knew immediately that God was asking me once again to trust Him. He was encouraging me to be like Peter and "choose" once again to trust Jesus. To choose to be a "living sacrifice". I will continue to be His bond slave because He has the power of life.

Share
|

I am always amazed at God's faithfulness when we step out to serve and touch people in love. Yesterday's trip downtown to give away clothing, first-aid supplies and personal hygiene items was such a great time of connecting. We had so many wonderful conversations, times of prayer and giving of practical aid. We can sense that the people there trust us and value the efforts we make to help out.

The theme that kept coming up all morning was to be faithful in the small things. This was a topic that others kept bringing up and it became obvious it was the theme of the day. We talked amongst the homeless about how the giveaway is just one small act of sacrifice and service...but if each one of us would live a life of sacrifice and serve the other God could literally use us to change the climate on the streets. Many of them had stories already of the small things that they are doing to help others on the streets. We talked about how Jesus is the example of true love, sacrifice and service and how he can give us strength through by His Holy Spirit.

Find more videos like this on The Hub

Patrick had a wonderful conversation with a gentleman during the giveaway who came to church today. Patrick is working hard to help meet some of his immediate needs and perhaps someone can come along side and help too.
During the giveaway Ralph came up and asked for prayer. When he was asked what he would like prayer for he responded that he wanted to give his life back to Jesus. He had become addicted to alcohol and let it push him away from Jesus. We prayed for him and then encouraged him to pour out his heart in prayer. He did and God heard from heaven I am sure. We encouraged him to not isolate and to connect with the family. Who knows, we may see him joining us soon.
Shortly after that we got to meet "Amanda" who is dying of cancer. She had visited Santa Barbara once before and when she was diagnosed she "came here to die." We listened to her story, prayed for healing and then bought her a round trip bus ticket to visit her 7 year old son in L.A. who she gave up to the foster care system. She will be back in Santa Barbara in a day or two and we are praying she will make good on her promise to visit us and be baptised. There was a sparkle in her eye as she left and was giving thanks to Jesus. She has a good friend on the streets who is a Christian and is working with her. Please pray for them.
After we had packed up a few of us were sitting around talking about the day when a group of college aged kids came up and asked us if we would like a free lunch. Turns out this crazy bunch of Jesus lovers were down there to provide a meal for the homeless. We went down and joined them for a wonderful meal, worship and fellowship. I was so encouraged to see these guys out there all on their own providing such a banquet. They had one of the homeless guys cooking the food they provided which was carne asada, sausages, pasta salad, tortillas and dessert. They had chicken in the cooler they were going to cook for dinner in a couple hours too! I was humbled as I stood in line with my friends who we just gave clothes to and was served by this gracious group of Jesus People.

Find more videos like this on The Hub

Keeping Our Focus

May 2009

Keeping Our Focus

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses

Surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance

And the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run

With endurance the race that is set before us,

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”

(Heb 12.1-2)

Turbulent Times

We are living in times of increasing storm winds of change, bringing fear and uncertainty to those around us. Economic crisis, climate change, natural disasters, violent conflicts that take a terrible toll—especially on women and children, breakdown of the family and relationships

leaving children subject to abandonment, abuse, and the tragic fallout that follows.

We witnessed a powerful declaration of the Redeeming Love of God from the fury of the

tempest in Tevis’ life this past Sunday. God reigns in the midst of the storm!

Refuge in the Storm

We have been called out as the Family of God to be a place of safety and restoration into the fullness of our true identity—a place of face to face personal transformation in the midst of the

tumult of an increasingly impersonal world. We need to remember who we are!

Our Core Values

Warm – Embracing all with God’s love, committed to cultivating deep friendships and small groups where we receive God’s heart and each other’s hearts—to be the family we need, and

the world around us needs!

Worship – Come early—to welcome newcomers and greet friends—with an undivided heart to experience the Presence of God that restores our souls, renews our vision, strengthens our

faith, and inspires fresh hope to run the race.

Word – Building our lives upon the rock that withstands every storm…The Word of God.

1^st Sunday – Marty, family communion service, Living out the Lord’s Prayer.

2d Sunday – Dan, Colossians, Newcomers, Specialty Coffee in the Courtyard.

3d Sunday – Fresh input of other voices, young and old.

4^th Sunday – Dan, Colossians, strengthening the foundations of the family of God.

Wind – Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to love, heal, sustain, and transform.

World – Reaching out to all, especially those unlike us—those unfamiliar with God and His

ways—providing a way home to His heart and into His family.

Each of us are MVP’s: Most Valuable Players

M = Mission = Messengers of Heaven

V = Vision = Bringing Heaven to Earth

P = Purpose = Discovering Our Potential in Him—and helping others find theirs

Each of us has a sphere of influence no one else has, with a story no one else has.

Let’s let God use it to bring healing to hearts and to welcome His kids home!

National Vineyard Conference: Heroic Leadership in Times of Change

There were six keynote messages that were gripping:

• Paying any price to follow Jesus – Cherith Fee Nordling
• To reach our generation – Bert Waggoner, National Director
• By the Power of the Holy Spirit – Don Williams, Elder Emeritus in the Vineyard
• Moving beyond our comfort zones to reach our cities – Jay Pathak, Church Planter, CO
• Especially Our Children! – Wes Stafford, Director of Compassion International
• Ultimately to love our enemies – Sami Awad (Palestinian Christian) and Rich Nathan

Check out www.holylandtrust.org for Sami’s ministry in Palestine.

You can hear each of these outstanding messages at our National Website. Go to:

www.vineyardusa.org, click on “National Conference” at the top of the screen, and enjoy!

The Treasure of the Generations

For those of us approaching fifty or beyond, it is not time to “relax,” but to pray, to impart the legacy God has entrusted to us, to invest in and support those younger than us, and to

strengthen each other to run faithfully to the finish. Let’s finish well and strong.

For those of you in your 40’s, you are modeling and carrying primary leadership in our family in this season of your lives. We love you, are grateful beyond words, and pray for God’s strength

and vision as you provide such vital strength to our family.

For those of you in your 20’s and 30’s, it’s your turn to lead a new generation into the adventure of the Kingdom of God with a model and wineskin that reflects who you are. Every

generation has its own unique personality and expression. Go for it! We’re with you.

For our teens and children… they are our Father’s highest priority investment!

Take a fresh look at Matthew 18.1-14.

85% of all who say “Yes” to Jesus, make that decision between the ages of 4 and 14.

9% make that choice between the ages of 15 to 20. That means 94% by age 20!

6% make that choice after the age of 20.

“It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.”

Giving Our Best

Let’s invest in the values of eternity—giving the Lover of our souls our first and best, not just

the margins and leftovers of our lives.

Let’s give the first and best of our Time, our Strength, and our Money to see His Kingdom reach our city, our region, and the nations—and to hear those wonderful words at the end of the race

“well done, good and faithful servant.”

Proud to be with you on the adventure as our God Protects, Provides, and Empowers us to be

and do all that He has called us to!

P.S. Don’t toss this aside… keep it visible so we can remind ourselves to “Keep Our Focus.”

Are You Healthy?

Over the years I have thought a lot about what it looks like to be "healthy" as a believer and as a church because one thing that I want for my life is to be as healthy spiritually as God would allow.  

Before I was a Christian I had way too much experience in living an unhealthy life and to be quite honest I didn't even know what a healthy life would be like.  I guess that if I had thought about it I would have pictured a life in black and white, looking like something out of Leave In To Beaver.  But when I became a follower of Jesus it was like a splash of vibrant color and my life turned completely right side up.

I rode on that high for a while and then I started asking, "Now that I'm a follower, what should I do?"  "How should I live?"  I want to grow and be healthy because everything that is healthy grows; that's just the way God made things.  Jesus said that, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."   That's for you Dave!  I want that.

As I read through what Jesus said and what the writers of the New Testament were saying it became obvious that the main focus of our life has to be about Love.  I think that we would all agree on that.  I have said it before and I guess I will say it again, when it's my time at the mic I really have only one message and the message is: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.     But one thing I figured out is that I didn't really have a clue as to what love really was.  I realized that the Love that Jesus is talking about is not an emotional love or a passive love, but a love that reaches out in real tangible ways.  But what does that look like in the "real world"?  What does it mean?  

Jesus gave his followers a job to do before he went up to heaven.  He laid it out pretty plainly what He wants us to do until He returns and it has to do with love as well.  Jesus told us, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

I think that God's love is wrapped up in these two verses and believe that as followers of Jesus we should be focusing on 5 things.

1. Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength: Worship

2. Love our neighbor as ourselves: Ministry

3. Go and make disciples: Evangelism

4. Baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Fellowship

5. Teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded: Discipleship/Teaching

 

I think that these 5 areas are like broad categories that we need to focus on in our lives as individuals and in the life of the church. The first is toward God, and all the rest have to do with others with the exception of loving others as ourselves which has do with others and ourselves.  I think that most of us will be able to agree that they are important.  The question will be, "How important?", and, "How are these being lived out in my life?" 

My belief is that if we want to be healthy as individuals and as a church, we have to be growing first of all in our love of God and second in our love for the people that Jesus came and laid down His life for.  It's pretty much as simple as that.  The love of others comes from our understanding of God's love for us.  It is our response to a merciful and loving God who looks at our crazy lives and loves us anyway.

Over the years I have ebbed and flowed with these, but they are the overarching aim of my life.  I have to make it clear that this life of faith is progression and that none of these things are meant to be put on you as a burden.  They are here to guide us and help keep us on track, especially as the winds of change blow in the church and kicks up dust to disorient us.  You know in those times when we are not sure if we are doing what God wants us to be doing?  Those times when we are trying to decide what to do and which way to go.  When we are trying to figure our the direction God had for us.  It's at those times that we can measure our life against these things to help evaluate the road ahead.

What you will find is that while all of these things are important and even necessary, you will be stronger in some and weaker in the others.  It's just the way it is.  We all have natural gifts, talents, and abilities so we will tend to favor some over the other.  It's like having a dominant hand, both work but you will favor one over the other and can do some things better using the one.  And, while having two hands is not totally necessary and you can live without one or both, you will be able to accomplish more by having both.  So what you will find is that some of these will be easier for you, while others will need to be a spiritual discipline.

This is also why we need each other and why we need to be in the body using our gifts.  We need to use our strengths to bless others and allow ourselves to be blessed by others.

 

I'm only going to talk about the first two today which in my mind is actually one.  Worship and ministry.  So let me share a few of the things that have helped me over the years. Why I love God and why I love my neighbor.

What I am realizing is that the message of love never changes but my understanding of what love is and what love looks like continues to be challenged and grows all the time.  

Love is a heart issue and looks differently at different times because love is actually our response to others and what is most helpful to them at the time.  True love has nothing to with how we are treated, but has to do with our heart and how we treat others. 

The other thing I am realizing is that I can't separate how I love God and how I love people.  How I love my brother is how I love God.  "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 

So, I guess what I am realizing more and more is that Love really is a verb.  It is not a feeling.  Love is action.  Love is what we do.  It is the way we treat people "in spite" of how we feel.  Love actually looks to the interest of others rather than looking out for itself.  Love is Sacrifice. 

But I have to say that it's really easy in the church to get caught up in so many good "things" and completely miss the heart of God.  We can easily get so focused on the trappings of church culture we forget what we are really about...loving God and loving our neighbor.  We subtly shift from self-sacrifice to being self-centered.  We are always looking for "the blessing".  We want to feel good in worship, in the message, in our marriage, with our kids, at work etc.  Now, none of that's bad in and of itself, but when the focus becomes "what can I get" we are off base in my opinion.

From what I can tell He has already given us everything and it's up to us to give what he has given us away...for His sake.  We do it because we love Him and that's what He did for us.  I'm not talking about material things although it could include that.

I am also not talking about a works mentality here.  Most of us have read 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul says that he can do all of these seemingly righteous things, but if he doesn't have love it's all worthless.  Or what about when Jesus talked about those that come before Him and say, "Lord, didn't we prophecy in your name and cast out demons and do all these miracles?"  And he will say, "Away from me!  I never knew you."  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.   Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'   Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 

To me these are two of the scariest verses in the bible and keep me focused on trying to love God and my neighbor.  It's not about some of the things that we value so highly...it's about love.  It's about knowing Jesus and if we know Jesus will work at loving our neighbor.  But equally scary are the verses that rebuke us for not showing God's love in tangible ways.

So what is love?

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."   Love is God literally sending His Son into the world to die...for us!  And, love is Jesus agreeing to go.  He wasn't forced.  It's like Abraham who took his son Isaac and laid him on the altar because he knew that God had made a promise raise up a nation through Isaac and God's promise was good!  He knew that even if Isaac died, God could raise him up from the dead and that is really what He did, because Abraham had gone through with it in his heart.  If God had not provided the substitute Isaac would have died that day.  Abraham passed the test.

You know who also passed the test?  Isaac!  Isaac knew that there was no sacrifice other than himself.  There were all the necessary items for a sacrifice that day...except the offering.  Isaac knew it and allowed himself to be bound and put on the altar.  He willingly followed his father's directions.

Jesus too was literally led to the altar willingly.  He was there when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac and God provided the substitute Ram.  And, He knew that this time He was the sacrifice and there would be no substitute for Him.  Indeed, He WAS the substitute....for us!  It was going to be Him nailed to the cross, taking the pain of separation from God and the penalty of sin...for us!  THIS is love.  Laying down His life for His friends.

The bible says that, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son."   Some people look at that and say, "How could a loving God do that?"  "How could he send His own Son to die?"  What they don't know, or forget, is that Jesus willingly came and laid down his life.  This is love in action.  Both the Father AND the Son sacrificing for US!  The bible tells us that God is Love.  He is the very definition.  We can look to the Father and to Jesus as the premier example of Love In Action.

So, the first is: Love the Lord your God, or Worship.  This is where we begin.  Now it has to be said that even before this can happen there has to be a spiritual awakening, a re-birth.  We can't even begin this relationship with God without first surrendering our lives to him in Faith and having our spirit re-generated.  That is actually our first act of worship.  If we try and impress God before that happens we will fall into "religion" and not "relationship".  

We cant even begin to please God without faith.  The bible says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."   He will give you life...abundantly.  You will have living waters flowing out of your innermost being.  You won't necessarily be rich, healthy, or successful...but you will be satisfied.  Your life will be rich, your soul will be healthy, your life successful...you will be satisfied.

Once we have this re-birth, once we realize the depth of His love, surrendering our life to him is the natural result.  This surrendering of our life is true worship.  This is what Jesus did.  He was so secure in His Father's love and His ability to watch over and protect Him that He could fully surrender Himself.

We know that ultimately He will never leave us or forsake us.  We know that He will never lose any of those entrusted to Him. "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.   I and the Father are one."   If you haven't had this type of revelation about Jesus and you want it you need to start calling out to Him and seek Him with all your heart.  Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes.  Once your eyes are opened you will know what I'm talking about and the natural response will be to lay down your life for Jesus because He laid down His for you.  

 

 

This where we start if we want to be healthy; with a right understanding of God's love for us.  Knowing that the Father gave up his Son, and the Son gave up His life for us so that we could be brought back into a right relationship with them.  Because the bottom line is, if you are not following Jesus, if you haven't laid your life down willingly on his altar like Jesus did, you are separated from Him.  

Jesus came so that we could have life to the fullest, but we can't have that life unless we are willing to die to ourselves first.  It is the greatest paradox ever.  Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;  and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."   Hard words I know...but Truth nonetheless.  When we can enter into the place of surrender, we enter into the place of true spiritual worship.

Paul the Apostle said it this way, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

 

What we're talking about is total surrender.  To love God with ALL that we have and ALL that we are is true worship.  The songs that we sing put words to what is hopefully in our hearts as we open them up to Jesus.  Often the words express an ideal that we are striving for and that God is producing, but they are just a reflection of our heart.  What Jesus is talking about is total, all-out 100% commitment to the Father.  It is an act of the will to love Him, or serve Him with everything.  This is what Jesus did.  It is about considering others as more important than ourselves, whether that be in our marriage, with our kids, our friends, our brothers and sisters, our parents!  What would this world look like if all the people of God started to really look out for the welfare of others more than their own welfare? ^"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.   Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." 

You see, this is why these two cannot be separated.  Jesus loved His Father, and because His Father loved the world, He loved the world.  It is the same with us.  If we love Jesus, we will love the world, because Jesus loves the world.  We will love our neighbor because Jesus loves our neighbor.  We will love our parents, our spouses, our fellow christians, even our enemies...because Jesus love them and laid down His life for them.  So, we too should lay down our lives for one another.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.  

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.