Living As Loved - Pastor Marty Walker

terrorists groups formed in Churches...

Latest news reports four terrorist groups have been recruiting, developing training camps and operating in many Christian churches. They have been identified as: Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin.

Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy.

However, there have been occassional counter-intelligence reports of a fifth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin has actually become an effective force against the developing and ongoing recruitment of terrorist factions popping up in so many churches.

The Bin Prayin "freedom fighters" have different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.

Where you Bin?

our posture... (part 2)

"Unhappily, even in the church we seemed to have lost the vision of the majesty of God. There is much shallowness and levity among us.

Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us, "There is no fear of God before their eyes." In public worship our habit is to slouch or squat; we do not kneel nowadays, let alone prostrate ourselves in humility before God.

It is more characteristic of us to clap our hands with joy than to blush with shame or tears.

We saunter up to God to claim his patronage and friendship; it does not occur to us that he might send us away.

We need to hear again the Apostle Peter's sobering words, "Since you call on a father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives in reverent fear." (I Peter 1:17)

In other words, if we dare to call our judge our Father, we must beware of presuming on him. It must even be said that our evangelical emphasis on the atonement is dangerous if we come to it too quickly.

We learn to appreciate the access to God which Christ has won only after we have first cried, "Woe is me for I am lost."

Randy Alcorn

removing a loose body...

"It is a pretty simple outpatient procedure... thirty minutes or so, knee arthroscopy: just three small incisions."

Okay that was Monday. Today is Friday and my knee is still pretty swollen. I have a bad day then a good day. My leg aches, then it's gone! (not the leg - the ache) :)

I still don't understand why I'm so tried even though I haven't really done anything?! Maybe because the entire body is pitching in it's resources to bring healing to the one part.

It is amazing how a seemingly insignificant piece of cartilage can cause such havoc.

There it is, it didn't belong, it has kept me stuck in a chair most of this week - leg elevated - immobile!

I cannot stop thinking about the parables this little guy is teaching me.

Can you think of any?

body building...

Somewhat skeptical of his son's newfound determination to become the next famous bodybuilder, the father nevertheless followed the teenager over to the weight-lifting department.

"Please, Dad," whined the boy, "I promise I'll use them every day."

"I don't know, son; it's really a big commitment on your part," the father pointed out.

"Please, Dad?!"

"They're not cheap either."

"I'll use them Dad, I promise. You'll see."

Finally won over, the father paid for the equipment and headed for the door.

From the corner of the store he heard his son yell...

"What!? You mean I have to carry them to the car?!"

obedience vs. sacrifice...

God says many times that he doesn't want our gifts and sacrifices when we give them out of ritual, religiosity, or hypocrisy.

God wants us first to love and obey him.

1 Samuel 15:22, 23 Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Psalm 40:6-8 God doesn't want sacrifices or offerings; he wants us to take joy in doing his will.

Psalm 51:16-19 God isn't interested in sacrifice; he wants a broken and repentant heart.

Jeremiah 7:21-23 It isn't sacrifices God wants; he desires our obedience and promises that he will be our God and we will be his people.

Hosea 6:6 God doesn't want sacrifices; he wants us to show love. He doesn't want offerings; he wants us to know him.

Amos 5:21-24 God hates pretense and hypocrisy; he wants to see justice roll on like a river.

Micah 6:6-8 God is not satisfied with offerings; he wants us to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with him.

Matthew 9:13 God doesn't want sacrifices; he wants us to be merciful.

sshhhh...

Silence... though often misinterpreted, it is never misquoted!

true love...

If you love something, set it free.

If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours.

If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with.

If it just sits in your living room,
    messes up your stuff,
    eats your food,
    uses your telephone,
    takes your money,
    and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place...

you either married it or birthed it!

happy anniversary...

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has certainly mastered its survival skills.

Today, the United States of America celebrates with BSA as it commemorates 100 years of molding boys into men worthy of respect.

Despite being under relentless pressure to make their message more politically correct, the Boy Scouts have never wavered from instilling traditional values into generations of young leaders.

Although the Scouts have been under intense fire to "get with the times", they continue to show the same character that, as an organization, has developed in millions of American boys.

I applaud the Boy Scouts of America for its commitment to faith and for serving as an example to other groups of what it means to continue stand up for the truth after years of dedicated service.

Scoutmaster Marty Walker

scouting...

Being the Scoutmaster of Troop 119 is just one of the many rewarding things I get to do with my life. Watching the ongoing transformation of boys becoming men--and men becoming boys--is a weekly source of laughter, frustration and joy.

Lord Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of the scouting movement) I think best summed up why I like being a Scoutmaster.

Everything on two legs that calls itself a boy has God in him, although he may - through the artificial environment of modern civilization - be the most arrant little thief, liar, and filth-monger unhung. Our job is to give him a chance.

Happy 100th Birthday Scouting!

who's preachin'...

A man who hadn't attended church in years suddenly began attending faithfully on Sunday mornings instead of going fishing as was his normal habit.

I was highly gratified and at the end of service one morning I told him, "How wonderful it makes me feel to see you at services with your good wife!"

"Well, Pastor," said the fisherman, "Quite honestly, it's a matter of choice. I'd much rather hear your sermon than hers."

wha...

Is anyone able to explain this to me?

http://selleckwaterfallsandwich.tumblr.com/

true credibility...

Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.

At some point in your life you must decide whether or not you want to impress people or influence people.

You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to influence them, and when you do that, they will be able to see your flaws. That’s okay.

The most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility.

People must be able to trust you, or they won’t follow you.

How do you build credibility? Not by pretending to be perfect, but by being honest.

- Rick Warren (p. 277 Purpose Driven Life)

torrential rains...

With all the news lately about the subzero weather and snow that the midwest and east coast areas are experiencing, we shouldn't forget that Southern California has its share of devastating weather also.

Attached is a photo illustrating the excessive damage caused to a home from a west coast storm that passed through the Southern California area this last week.

It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds us not to take life for granted.

[See photo attached.]

what are you reading...

Is Jesus who God said he is through the prophets?

Is God who Jesus said he is through the gospels?

If we read/study the Old Testament, we discover God’s commentary on who the Messiah is; what His character is like and what His role/job description will be.

If we read/study the New Testament, we’d see Jesus giving the whole picture of the “personality” of God and why He does what He does and completing our finite understanding of who God is.

One simply points to the other…

Regarding the mutual discoveries awaiting us in the testaments:

In the old the new contained!

In the new the old explained!

Let’s get reading!!

something to write about...

I grew up believing the book of Acts (following the Good News books in the New Testament) was the record of what the apostles were doing while the Church was being established. It recorded the bold preaching of Peter and the missionary adventures of Paul. It told the story of the followers of Jesus, where they went and what they did… pretty straightforward!

I can see today how I really missed the point. It actually records what it means to be “empowered” by the Holy Spirit, the conditions and resources given through the Holy Spirit for carrying on the ministry of Jesus.

Acts is not about the “Acts of the Apostles,” but rather the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the apostles.

What if they wrote another book today... recording the Acts of the Followers of Jesus… how would that book read – if it recorded what our lives looked like… living for Jesus?

Would it record apathy or action? Lives of abandon!? Passion for the lost!? Compassion for the sick and hurting!? Would it record our willingness to step out on the limb of great faith, living daily in the wonder of true dependence on God? Would it record our conversations explaining the hope we have within (1Peter 3:15). Or would it record our silence in the face of peer pressure? Would it record adventure or indifference?

Our lives are truly empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Let’s give them something to write about!

more than words...

Somehow in the history of the Church, we have reduced worship to the times in a congregational service together and the words and songs used there.

If worship is simply the verbalizings, then all else is someone’s preferential arrangement of the space or environment; the posture, position, and gesture of worship leaders; the music; the books and candles (or lack of them!).

Worship is more!

After all the songs are sung...
And our prayers for Kingdom come...
Do we bring honor to the words we sing?

Does our worship have hands?
Does our worship have feet?
Does our worship stand up in the face of injustice?
Does our worship bow down?
Does our worship run deep?
Is our worship more than a song that fades with our voices?
Does it fade with our voices?

Lord it's you we long to please!
Make our lives a melody!
That we proclaim when we live in Jesus name!

pet shop funny...

A little girl walks into a pet shop and asks in the sweetest little lisp, "Excuthe me, mithter, do you have any wittle wabbits?"

And the shopkeeper bends way down and puts his hands on his knees so he's on her level, and asks, "Do you want a wittle white wabby or a wittle bwack wabby? Or maybe that cute wittle bwown wabby over there?"

She in turn puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and says in a quiet little voice, "I don't fink my pyfon wealwy cares."

pass a donut...

Where does it come from, the custom to “sit-back-n-relax” during worship?

Where is the scriptural reference for slouching like a "couch potato" during a celebration services?

When did it become “cool” to remain seated during the singing of hymns, seated during prayer, seated during the exchange of responses between worship leaders and people, seated even for the closing prayer and blessing?

When did our coffee and donuts replace our hearts and lives as the sacrificial elements for worship?

When did checking our e-mail become more important than checking our spirit?

I simply cannot understand those who remain seated for the entire duration of a celebration service… quite honestly I think it’s dreadful!

Our worship is transformational according to Acts 17:28. In Him we live and MOVE and exist!

home remedies for the new year...

· If you’re choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. PRESTO! The blockage will instantly remove itself!

· Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables. Have someone else to hold the vegetables… while you chop!

· For high blood-pressure sufferers – simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins… remember to use a timer!

· A mousetrap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after trying to hit the snooze button!

· If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives; then you’ll be afraid to cough!

· You only need three tools in life:

WD-40
Duct tape
A hammer!

If it doesn’t move and it should, use the WD-40!
If it shouldn’t move and it does use the duct tape!
If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem!

merry christmas...

The “Herods” in life can’t destroy us when we’re in a place of obedience.