Headlights

Pastor Bob Alderman

First Baptist Church

I drive a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup truck. It is not new, but it runs well and transports me from place to place. Age sometimes brings problems, even in Ford trucks.

Over time the plastic cover over the headlights had become weathered, scratched and dull. This happened slowly, over the eleven year life of the truck; so slowly that I had not noticed. I was quite happy with the performance of the headlights, until my wife drove my truck one night and complained that the headlights did not work very well. I took the truck out the next night and, for the first time paid close attention to the beams of light coming from the headlights. They were very dim and just barely lit up the road. Something had to be done, quickly!

I was not looking forward to the hundreds of dollars required to replace the entire headlight assembly! This was money I had not planned on this expense and, as we all know, money is tight in today’s economy. A few days later I pulled into Wal-Mart and saw a sign that advertised “Headlight Restoration” and I went to check it out. They said that they could restore my headlights to “almost new” condition for about forty bucks! Seeing how this was much cheaper than my only other alternative I paid the money and had them do their best to restore the lights.

I was really kind of skeptical about how successful they would be; the headlights were in pretty bad condition, but figured even a little better may save me a bunch of money! They called me when they were finished and I went to see how much yellow haze was left on the headlights and was SHOCKED to see that they really did look almost brand spanking new! The change was amazing!

That night I took my truck out and was very excited about the beams of light that now illuminated the roadway in from of me! The headlights now lit my path for a very long distance ahead and a wide swath from side to side! The change was immediate, intense and very, very pleasing!

In our lives today, sin and spiritual distance from God brings cloudiness to our vision of life here on earth. Things around us begin to look darker and darker until we become quite pessimistic about life and our future. God does not desire for you to live in this kind of darkness! God wants to bring restoration to your life. God is light and He wants to drive out all of the darkness around you.

John 12:44-47 “And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” ESV

Jesus is the only One who can restore our vision, our hope and give us new life.

The Bible also teaches us that Christians do not know everything. The Bible actually says that our vision of God and what He is doing is more limited than my trucks headlights.

 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” ESV

 ‘For now we see in a mirror dimly” is a piece of scripture that lets us know that we are not nearly as wise as we think we are! There is so much about God that we do not know or understand!

The Good News is that, one day all those who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will come to a full knowledge of Him and His love.

When we don’t understand what is happening around us we should trust God! He knows everything and understands the bigger picture of what is truly happening around us. In your darkest times grab hold to what is real and lasting, not on temporary “quick fixes” that may seem to help in the short term, but never last beyond the dawn.

Grab hold of your faith in God that’s trusts Him with your everything; the hope that you know you have in His power, His wisdom and His compassion, and the love that you know He has for you, love that will never let you down. When life seems difficult and hard; when your future looks as clear as mud, grab hold of God and allow Him restore your faith, hope and love!

The closer you get to God the clearer life becomes until the day that we are called to His Heavenly Home forever.

Remember that God loves you!…and so do I.

 

Be Bold for the Gospel

Pastor Bob Alderman

First Baptist Church

      Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 

ESV

     No one ever accused the Apostle Paul of being timid about his faith!  Paul was always willing to share his faith, no matter what the cost. 

     Paul often found himself in jail for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but he never stopped.  Paul knew that people were hurting and needed the healing Jesus had for them and he was willing to pay any price for the opportunity to lead them to our Savior Jesus Christ.

     This kind of boldness is very rare today.  The sad part is that the world needs a relationship with Jesus Christ more than ever, but fewer and fewer people are willing to admit their faith, much less share it with others.

     There are a few brave souls in our world who will stand boldly against the tide of self and worldliness to profess their faith in Jesus Christ.  They are the few and the brave.

     I was very impressed with the courage displayed by University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy after the BCS Championship game.

     This was the game Colt had strived for his entire football career.  This is the game all football players dream of playing in; and Colt McCoy was set to be the star.  But, he was injured just 5 plays into the game and was not able to play.

     Colt McCoy’s dream quickly turned to a nightmare.   His throwing arm was now as useless as a wet noodle and his team was now losing the National Championship game…badly.  A winner wants to play, and Colt is a winner who could not play.

     In his darkest moment this young quarterback would have had every right to be angry with God and curse his injury; but not Colt McCoy. 

     Hear his words from that night: “I worked and played my whole career to be on this stage, to be given this opportunity,” McCoy said. “I know what it would have been like had I played that game. To know that is tough. But at the same time, I am a man of faith. I stand on the rock. I’ll never question God for why things happen the way they do. … There’s bigger and better football days to come.”

     Colt McCoy faced his worse nightmare with faith and boldly told a national audience of millions that his faith was in God, not football.  Colt was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he knows the power it holds for hurting people.

     How about you?  Are you ashamed of the Gospel that gave you faith, hope and love?  Are you  ashamed of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who so willingly gave His everything for you?

     Share your faith!   Allow others to know that you are a Christian who loves God and loves them.

     Share your faith, share your story, share the Word of God and share His love.  We need not be timid or afraid because God has promised to be with us every step of the way.

     We often think we need to be theologians or pastors to share our faith, but we do not!  Each and every Christian is commanded by God to share our faith and to be ministers of reconciliation.

     God does not need your great abilities!  God is waiting for you to simply be available to Him!  He will do His work through you, if you allow Him.

     Join Paul and Colt in boldly professing your faith!  Start locally, in your home and neighborhood, then spread on into the world around you.

     Remember that God loves you…and so do I.

 

Finding God in Disasters

Pastor Bob Alderman

First Baptist Church

How do we find God in the midst of tragedy?  Well, we need to know where to look and listen.

1 Kings 19:9-14 “There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and  stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.  And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ESV

When bad stuff happens, whether it be a tornado, earthquake, wildfire, or any other type of disaster, we often focus all our attention on the problem.

We want to know how big the storm was, what it rated on a scale and how devastated our community is after the storms passing.

We will miss God if we are obsessed by the storm.  God is not in the storm.

Even in the most violent earthquake or devastating hurricane, there is calm and peace just a little ways away.   Moreover, there is peace heading your way.  The storm will soon end.

Take a step back, pray fervently, have a good look around.  God is not in the storm, God is inside of you and the lives of those who now respond to help.

Elijah could have given into the fear he must have felt and ran away; but he would have missed the voice of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” ESV

Faith makes more sense that human reason and logic, especially in times of trial and trouble.  Trust God, not your thoughts.

Perhaps God was even speaking about earthquakes when He led Isaiah to pen this scripture, Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” NIV

It sure sounds like Jesus was speaking of a terrible storm when He spoke these words in Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ESV

The message?  Build your house on the solid rock of the Word of God!  Then you can face any kind of storm with faith and not fear.

God understands our fears and our doubts.  God also knows that we will have times of terrible tragedy that we doubt we will survive.  He will be there, not with more devastation, but with love.

This should be our cry,

Psalm 69:1-2 “God, God, save me! I’m in over my head, Quicksand under me, swamp water over me; I’m going down for the third time.” The Message

Do you feel like you are about to go under for the final time?  Are you about to give up all hope and give up?  Call out to God!  He will hear your cry and respond to you.  Trust in Him and not yourself.

God is able to do far more than you, or anyone else in the world is able to do.  Trust God.

The great thing about God is that once you have Him, He will always be there for you!  Friends and family may desert you and your boss may fire you; but God will never give up on you!

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ESV

Hebrews 13:5b “for he (God) has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ESV

Tragedy, trouble and disaster will come and there is nothing we can do to prevent them!  We can be protected from them by the Grace of our Savior Jesus.

Jesus Himself said,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” ESV-John 14:27

God wants us to call upon Him for help.  God is near those who need Him.  Our very salvation is based on our realizing our need for His Salvation.

Matthew 5:3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” – Jesus

Are you looking for God?  Stop looking and start listening.  Separate yourself from the noise and distractions of everyday life, and the devastation of the disaster around you and get alone with God.  Open a Bible and read, ask Him for wisdom, help and a relationship with Him that makes a real difference in your life.

God is calling your name.  God is trying to reach you.  Are you able to hear Him?

With God on your side nothing is impossible!  You can weather any storm, survive any disaster and experience real life, safely in the arms of Jesus.

Always remember that God loves you!..and so do I.

 

Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes and thoughtless comments

Pastor Bob Alderman

First Baptist Church

I know that many of you have heard a well known Christian “talk show” host proclaiming that the earthquake in Haiti is their own fault, brought on by their own sinful actions.

I would like to address this statement in very simple terms:  This person is absolutely wrong!

God’s plan is a plan for salvation and hope, not destruction.

So why does bad stuff happen?  This is a very deep question that I will try to answer in the limited space available in this article.

First, People make bad choices.  Our bad choices affect us, our families and those around us.  Your bad choices are not God’s plan for your life.

Many years ago I lost a friend in a horrific motorcycle accident.  During his funeral I overheard people talking about “God’s will” and “God’s time.”  I do not believe that it was God’s plan and desire for my friend to be operating his motorcycle drunk at night at very high speeds on a very curvy mountain road.  My friend made several very bad choices.

God has a plan for you but you must choose to follow His plan and not yours.   Jeremiah 29:11-14a “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,  I will be found by you, declares the Lord,” ESV

You are responsible for your choices.  We cannot blame others, you are responsible for you.  Choose God and seek Him with your everything.

If you choose to associate with criminals, you will begin to become like them.    It is impossible to spend time with pigs and not get a little mud on yourself.

If you choose to get drunk or high, things are going to happen to you.  You have less control and inhibitions, as do those you are with.  Make better choices for yourself, your family and your community.

Second, the bad choices of others can affect you.  One person makes the choice to drink and drive, then causes a accident that hurts or kills an innocent person.  This is not the will of God, it is the will of a person who made bad choices and inflicted their will upon others. Encourage others to make better choices.

Thirdly, we inhabit bodies made of flesh and bone that are not designed or constructed to last forever.  Our bodies are prone to disease and damage, as well as simply wearing out.

We can extend the life of our bodies the same way we extend the life of our vehicles!  Put only good stuff into it, keep it clean, operate it (exercise), don’t “hot rod” it and take it to the mechanic (doctor) for regular servicing and maintenance.

Unfortunately, even with the best of care, our human bodies will eventually wear out.  While this loss is very painful for us, it is reality.

The good news is that God has a plan for you to live forever!  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ESV

Fourthly, we live in a world that is both dynamic and temporary.

The earth is a very dynamic object that is constantly in motion and has several processes for maintaining and controlling the balance of life.

Earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes are just three of these processes.  They are the three we hear of most often because they tend to have a major effect on the humans that live here.

God knows the “expiration date” of our planet and He is desperately calling out to us to believe in Him while there is still time.

Finally, we have an eternal enemy who always stands against us.

We often try to blame every bad thing on the devil, but the reality is that he is not that powerful. While we cannot blame most of our troubles on him, satan is a very real factor in our world.

The good news is that, while satan came to take life, Jesus Christ came to give it!

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and  kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – Jesus

Do you want life, real life and not just existence?  You need to get closer to Jesus.

What did our Christian talk show host miss in his statements?  Love.

God loves you!  God will never leave you or forsake you, especially in the darkest time of your life.

People have tried to claim God’s Judgment upon hurting people since the beginning of time.   Hear the words of Jesus about this false claim:  Matthew 5:45b-48 “For he(God) makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” ESV

Jesus Himself even addressed the issue of sin in relationship to disaster in Luke 13:4 when He asked if 18 men killed in a tower collapse were worse sinners than those who live in Jerusalem, and His answer was “No!”

We are all sinners.  If we follow this faulty logic to its ultimate reality, none of us would be here!  We would all be destroyed.   So why are we here?  Because God loves us!

Here is what the scripture says God did for sinners,

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ESV

Yes, you read that right, God loved you so much He sent His Son to take the punishment for your sins!  Jesus died for your sins and the sins of the people in Haiti, New Orleans or anyone else in the world.

Salvation, not destruction, is God’s plan.  Life, not Death, is what Jesus came to provide us.

Everyone will experience storms in their life!  Christians have the benefit of being anchored to and protected by Jesus Christ while non-believers have to face life’s storms on their own.  This is their choice, not Gods.  God has done everything He can to call every person to His saving Grace. Will you believe?

Remember that God loves you! …and so do I.

 

New Years thoughts

I pray that each of you enjoys a happy and safe New Years Celebration!  The new year gives us the opportunity for a new beginning and second chances.  WE can begin again with more than a clean slate!  We can have a clean heart!  That is a new year worth pursuing.    Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.“  ESV

2009 may have been a bad year, but 2010 can be much, MUCH better if we will love God like we should and love others like we know He wants us to! 

Lets not dwell on the problems, issues and mistakes of 2009, let us instead look forward to the Grace and Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ and what is possible in 2010!

Philippians 3:13-15 “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  ESV

 

pre-existing conditions

Preexisting conditions

With all of the debate and fighting in Washington over the new healthcare bill; one phrase is being used over and over to help justify the need for healthcare.  This phrase is “Pre-Existing Condition”

Medically speaking, many of us have “pre-existing conditions,” medical issues that have occurred to us in our past that may be able to affect us now.   Heart attacks, cancer, high blood pressure, strokes, and hundreds of other issues are “pre-existing conditions.”

Unfortunately, these are not the most devastating “pre-existing conditions” in our lives.

Anger, Greed, Lust, Pride, Lying, Stealing, Arrogance, Selfishness, Deception, Fear, Idolatry and Gossip are all “pre-existing conditions.”

These are infections that have infested us all.  No one is exempt from these and they get us all in trouble with God.

Romans 3:23-25 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” NLT

Insurance companies often reject people because of their “pre-existing” conditions.  They will not provide them health insurance because they already have health problems.

Thankfully, God does not reject us because of our “pre-existing” conditions.

God knows our faults and our failures, every single one; but God still loves us!  Think about that level of love and commitment!  To continue to love someone even though you know every mistake and impure thought they ever had!  To love someone even after they ignore you, ridicule you and even assault you.  That is a God sized love!

John 3:16-19 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” ESV

God knows that you could never change yourself.  Your pre-existing condition” runs way to deep.  The infection has been in you way to long for any antibiotic to work, much less and good works or religion to do any good.

We, you, are rotting away from the inside out and there is nothing on Earth that can save you. You are doomed. You have been diagnosed by God, the Great Physician, and the prognosis is not good!

God knew this as well, and His perfect love and commitment to you moved Him to do something for you.

You see, when there was nothing on earth that could heal you, that could save you; God sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ from Heavens Golden Streets to Earths dirty streets.

Now, with Jesus Christ here with us, there is Someone on Earth that can and will save you, if you will believe.

When a Doctor gives you medicine, you have to actually take the medicine for it to do you some good.  The same with Salvation.  God says it is a gift from Him to you.  All you have to do is believe in His Son enough to accept the gift He is offering.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ESV

You do have many pre-existing conditions!  The Bible calls them sins; but you do not have to live with these infections in your life!  They can be removed, completely cleansed from your life, like you are re-born with the ultimate second chance; new birth by the grace of God through Faith in Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

 

Commit

First Baptist Church

Pastor Bob Alderman

     Without a crème filling there could be no Oreo cookie; without Tom, Jerry would be unemployed and without Christmas there would be no Easter.

     These two holy days represent two very special things: The amazing grace of God and the lengths He was willing to go for a relationship with you!

     Jesus was born to a virgin, a young woman who had never been with a man. Mary was pure, chaste and faithful enough in her walk with God to willingly submit to His plan for her life. God did the impossible so that it would be possible for you to have a relationship with Him.

     The birth of Jesus was marked by a sign that read “NO ENTRY!” but He entered our world anyway Even in the death of Jesus Christ, God did the impossible! In the reality of our worldly understanding, dead means….well dead. We know that our lives here on earth have an expiration date, one that is unknown to us.

     This human law was miraculously broken by Jesus Christ! He was raised from the dead by a power that could only come from the God of all creation. Jesus walked out of His tomb alive and well. Even though tombs should be marked by signs that read “NO EXIT” Jesus walked out.    

     These are just two examples of how God did the impossible so it would be possible for you to have a relationship with Him. God is committed to you! God is committed to loving you!

     John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” ESV

     This is the mystery of Christmas and Easter, that God loves you enough to send His Son to you and to send His Son to take the punishment for your mistakes. The answer to this mystery is found in God’s love for you! Even when you are hard to love!

     Romans 5:6-11 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” ESV

     Without Christmas there could be no Easter. Without both the manger and the cross, God’s love for you could never be known.

     Yes, God is truly committed to you. You know, commitment is the true measure of love; not emotion and not mere words, but commitment. God is willing to do everything in His considerable power to have a relationship with you!

     The question I would like to challenge you with is this; “Are you this committed to God?” God gives everything, even does the impossible, so it would be possible for you to have a relationship with Him. Are you willing to make that kind of commitment to your relationship? Can God count on you?

     Remember that God loves you!…and so do I.

 

more

More

 We have just entered the “holiday” season.

 The period of time between November 25^th – January 3^rd is a time when Americans truly shine at their very best!

 You know the season I am talking about??

 This is the CONSUMPTION season.

 This year on “Black Friday” Americans spent over 10 BILLION dollars at our retailers.

QVC sales were up 60% from last year – over 32 Million bucks in one day

 Ebay was up 205 from last year

 How many of you heard the old standard..”Anyone want more turkey, ham, pie”  on thanksgiving?

 I was sure wishing that the Aggies had 11 more points!

 Yes , this is a time when America really shows its true self!  And the Battle cry is MORE!

 Sandy Duncan said, “We’ve been raised to compete, to want more! More! More! It’s a way of life. It’s about greed.”

 More rebates!  More sales!  More food!  More time off!  More football!  More – MORE – MORE!!!

 Donald Trump teaches us that “The point is that you can’t be too greedy.” 

 Yes, this is the time of year when we show our greed and our gluttony while we spend our gold…or our Gold Cards!

 People were camped out for THREE Days in the Valley to get a few MORE dollars off a TV or Video game..or some other ESSENTIAL need.

 People fought and argued over microwaves and toys in the aisle of American stores.

 Gimme MORE!

 All of this greed and gluttony is openly displayed for all the world to see….many are openly proud of their desire to spend more on their decorations, meals and gifts.

 Consumerism – Commercialism gone BESERK!

 And all of this greed and gluttony is so warmly embraced and encouraged in a time when we are SUPPOSED to be celebrating Thankfulness and the greatest gift ever given – The Gift of God to His fallen creation of His Son and the salvation He was born to die for!

 I think the great philosopher Little Richard had it exactly right when he said “Greed has taken the whole universe, and nobody is worried about their soul.”

 Cyclist Lance Armstrong said, “The riskiest thing you can do is get greedy. “

 I encourage you to make this holiday season different.

 Show the world that we can be better than the stereotypical greedy American.

 Lets show them our good side!

 Do you want MORE of something this year?  Here is a suggestion:

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” ESV

 1.      Get more Jesus

1. 1. a.      Worship more
   2. b.      Learn more
   3. 2.      Get more like Jesus
      1. a.      Give more
      2. b.      Care more
      3. c.       Love more
      4. 3.      Give more glory to Jesus
         1. a.      Live for Him and not you
         2. b.      Live for others and not yourselves

 These three will be our themes for our Christmas Season Message Series.  But I hope you will take this season seriously and begin making them the theme of your life.

 

more

More

We have just entered the “holiday” season.

The period of time between November 25th – January 3rd is a time when Americans truly shine at their very best!

You know the season I am talking about??

This is the CONSUMPTION season.

This year on “Black Friday” Americans spent over 10 BILLION dollars at our retailers.
QVC sales were up 60% from last year – over 32 Million bucks in one day
Ebay was up 205 from last year

How many of you heard the old standard..”Anyone want more turkey, ham, pie” on thanksgiving?

I was sure wishing that the Aggies had 11 more points!

Yes , this is a time when America really shows its true self! And the Battle cry is MORE!

Sandy Duncan said, “We’ve been raised to compete, to want more! More! More! It’s a way of life. It’s about greed.”

More rebates! More sales! More food! More time off! More football! More – MORE – MORE!!!

Donald Trump teaches us that “The point is that you can’t be too greedy.”

Yes, this is the time of year when we show our greed and our gluttony while we spend our gold…or our Gold Cards!

People were camped out for THREE Days in the Valley to get a few MORE dollars off a TV or Video game..or some other ESSENTIAL need.

People fought and argued over microwaves and toys in the aisle of American stores.

Gimme MORE!

All of this greed and gluttony is openly displayed for all the world to see….many are openly proud of their desire to spend more on their decorations, meals and gifts.

Consumerism – Commercialism gone BESERK!

And all of this greed and gluttony is so warmly embraced and encouraged in a time when we are SUPPOSED to be celebrating Thankfulness and the greatest gift ever given – The Gift of God to His fallen creation of His Son and the salvation He was born to die for!

I think the great philosopher Little Richard had it exactly right when he said “Greed has taken the whole universe, and nobody is worried about their soul.”

Cyclist Lance Armstrong said, “The riskiest thing you can do is get greedy. “

I encourage you to make this holiday season different.

Show the world that we can be better than the stereotypical greedy American.

Lets show them our good side!

Do you want MORE of something this year? Here is a suggestion:
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” ESV

1. Get more Jesus
a. Worship more
b. Learn more
2. Get more like Jesus
a. Give more
b. Care more
c. Love more
3. Give more glory to Jesus
a. Live for Him and not you
b. Live for others and not yourselves

These three will be our themes for our Christmas Season Message Series. But I hope you will take this season seriously and begin making them the theme of your life.

 

Are you a people pleaser?

Pastor Bob Alderman

First Baptist Church

How much time do you spend trying to impress somebody that you don’t even like? I think that one of the things that separates us from the critters is our desire to please people we may not even know. We spend countless dollars, hours and energy trying to impress people, gain their favor or just make them like us.

I have some good news for you today! Here are 4 realities we could all gain by knowing:

Reality Number one: You cannot please everybody. Jesus is the only person to walk the pathways of this earth that truly loved everyone, had compassion for everyone and never violated any part of God’s Word, and even He could not please everyone! Everyone from politicians to preachers despised Him and plotted His demise. Neither can God please everybody today! We pray for the Rattlers to win and our opponents pray that their team will win; so half will be disappointed. On any given weekend ranchers may be praying for rain while beachgoers are praying for bright sunshine. Even God cannot please everyone! Why would we believe we can do what even God cannot? You cannot please everyone; so stop trying.

Reality Number Two: You are not required to please everybody! There is no rule, law or moral imperative to please everybody you meet. We are commanded by God to love them just as we love ourselves; but we do not have to please them! This is really good news since we have already discovered that we cannot please everybody.

Reality Number Three: Being rejected by others will happen and it’s OK! Sure, rejection hurts and it usually causes us to wonder where we failed, but if we remember the first two realities we can move forward with peace. There are many, many people that we will never be best friends with, or even friendly acquaintances. Rejection may not be fun, but sometimes it is for the best! There are people out there who can quickly become destructive influences in our lives and being rejected is a very good thing for us. Quit trying to please everybody! Remember that nobody can make you feel rejected or hurt unless you give them permission to hurt you! This means we can believe this: “God likes me, and that is good enough! I like who God is forming me into and I am not going to worry about everyone else. I like who I am and if you don’t like me, then that’s your issue, not mine.”

Reality Number 4: There is only One you need to worry about pleasing! God. Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ESV Paul knew the secret of these four realities! Paul sought only to please God in all things. Paul, like David, had a heart for God. We can all learn that our goal should be to make God smile as we grow into the Christian He created us to become.

Who are you striving to please? Review your checkbook, your calendar and your lifestyle and figure out who is most important in your life. Once you make this determination, make the changes necessary to please God. These four realities also mean that you can RELAX and be the person God has created you to be and not be drowned by the desires of everyone around you! Remember that God loves you….and so do I.