Posted by: Diane | August 26, 2008

From the Pastor…

Mother,

Boy’s want to be with her. Girls want to be like her. Husbands want to adore her. God carefully shaped her.

Mother,

Her love soothes babies. Her gown shields toddlers. Her elegance pleases her husband. God gave her to strengthen.

Mother,

Children are lulled to sleep by her soft voice. Husbands are encouraged by her strong heart. God made her to compliment.

Mother,

She embodies compassion. She exemplifies charity. She lives out forgiveness. God made her to encourage.

Mother,

She shows us how to love. She shows us how to give. She shows us how to serve. God made her a helper.

A mother obeys her creator and designer, God the Son (Col 1:16; Gen 2:18,20).

Friendship

The word “friendship” only appears twice in our King James Version. Both are warnings. The first is to make no friendship with an angry man. The second is a warning against friendship with the world. The word “friend,” on the other hand, is found 53 times.

In Proverbs 17:17, a friend loves at all times. In 18:24, one who has friends is friendly, and they stick closer than a brother. In 19:6, we find the scripture’s wisdom on buying friends. In 27:6, even wounds caused by a friend are faithful. In 27:9, hearty counsel is a perfume of the heart in which one should rejoice. Iron sharpens iron, as man sharpens the countenance of his friend (27:17). God called Abraham His friend in Isaiah 41:8.

Of all these references, the one scripture that is most comforting to this pastor is Luke 7:34. Here we find Jesus is accused of being a friend to publicans and sinners. Without this truth, we may never enjoy Heaven.

Thank you, Jesus, for being my friend. Yours is the only friendship I need. Thank you for befriending me. I would never have sought you. Thank you for your friendship, I would never have given you mine. Yours is the only friendship that is eternal. Thank you, Jesus, for befriending the unfriendly. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | May 23, 2012

Ladies Tea 2012 — “Growing in Grace”

Chris Senter with two of her granddaughters, Ashley and Kaitlyn.

We had a wonderful ladies tea event on Saturday, May 12.  The theme was “Growing in Grace,” and our speaker was Deirdre MacGill who serves with her husband Dick at Red Cliff Bible Camp in Pinedale, Wyoming.  Please click here to see the gallery of photos.

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Posted by: Diane | May 15, 2012

What is a Help Meet?

When we looked at our tests of friendship we found examples of pure selflessness, dedication and sacrifice. Our Savior exemplifies these attributes. The scripture is God’s revelation; it reveals God to us in His full glory. When we see these tests in scripture where people exhibit true, loving friendship toward one another, we know that the perfection of these examples lives in our God. He is the perfect friend.

Scripture’s test of friendship is to make Jesus manifest when you are a friend. Scripture’s test of friendship is to seek Jesus for the strength to be as good a friend as those the Holy Spirit chose to immortalize in scripture. A test of friendship is to understand you may not be, but you need to be a friend like Jesus. Tests of friendship include a faith in Christ that invites Him to live for others through you. The test is knowing that without Him you will not succeed in true, biblical, Christlike friendship.

This week we talk about mothers. It’s Mother’s Day today. Many a young lady would claim her best friend is her mom. Young men are regularly admonished (or should be) to remember the sacrifices of their mothers. Some young men still hide around their mom. Moms have tremendous and special talents. Today we honor our mothers.

Go back to the beginning of scripture, to Genesis 2:18 please. These are our creation passages. We begin with by exploring the creation of the creatures of the Earth. We also recognize something; man is alone. God made animals of all kinds and had man name them. However, there was no creature like man. God addresses the problem. This is not just companionship, but a deep and abiding relationship. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | May 8, 2012

Test of Friendship

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

Last week we considered God’s tests of obedience. We looked carefully at our Savior and His vicarious sacrifice and the emotional stress He suffered for us. What a great and glorious God we serve, who would take our sins upon His own body on the tree (1 Pet 2:24). Jesus bore our grief and sorrow of isolation and sin so that we would not have to (Is 53:4). Last week we discovered a little more about the pain and suffering He took upon Himself. We learned that His suffering gave us a heavenly companionship. We found we never have to feel alone; we can know we have Him with us at all times. We know He loves us. His Spirit is with us. The Father is with us. The more I learn about our God, the more in awe of His love and grace I become.

Under these circumstances, we considered obedience to be a desire of the Christian rather than a chore. We should do our utmost to bend our will to serve God. We should know that obedience does not mean that to do so will always make sense. Does it make sense to place yourself and your life in jeopardy for the likes of the worst wretch in the world? Jesus did. Does it make sense to suffer the full judgment of the Father for the likes of a child molester? Jesus did. Does it make sense that God would subject Himself to the ridicule, persecution, degradation and complete indignity of mankind’s worst? Jesus did. Does it make sense that the God of the universe would subject Himself to the authority of men of antipathy and utter disregard for life? Jesus did. God subjected His Son to this world and its worst, then took God’s holy wrath upon Himself so we would never have to. We truly serve the most glorious of Beings. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | May 4, 2012

The Test of Obedience

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

“In many ways, before Christ there were no tools available to fight off sin. Since the New Covenant in Christ we have many at our disposal.”

In the past two weeks we have discussed commitment and loyalty. Many might equate these two terms, but they are very different. Where both commitment and loyalty may call upon someone to sacrifice, functionally they are different activities. Commitment calls for a dedication to task or to a duty. It is a matter of a pledge. The pledge calls for us to set aside personal issues and drive in unity to complete an objective. In our armed forces, each man and woman swears to an oath that commits them to service for our country. Commitment is the attitude that one has to complete an obligation, engagement, action or responsibility.

Loyalty, our subject from last week, is not focused upon completing an activity, though that can be involved. No, loyalty is normally given to an object, not a concept. The definition actually reads, “firm and constant in one’s support for a person, one’s country, etc.”[i] In another definition, we find more generality but the same meaning, “the quality of being loyal to someone or something.”[ii] An individual committing to a concept or objective is far and away different from the loyalty demanded by a specific object, especially when that object is a person. Once again, we find the perfect example of this in our military. Every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine may commit to serve in their respective service, but each one of them has a problem with one of their superiors, whether in their immediate command, the mid-level echelon, with their Commanding Officer, or even the President.

We found the first necessity in loyalty is a willing decision. We must contemplate and be decided in our mind. With a decision, comes the need to act. Action may be verbal, physical, or both. Loyalty, and the decision to be loyal, also means one must submit to needs, requests and desires. This takes loyalty to a greater level than commitment. Great demands are made upon individuals in their efforts and desires to remain loyal. People are often pressed and stretched past their personal comfort zones as demands are levied from the object of their loyalty. This leads to sacrifice on the part of the individual, in their efforts to fulfill their decision for loyalty. Loyalty does not waiver. It is not a “yes man” situation; in fact, loyalty requires one to encourage or even lovingly chasten another to promote the relationship. Loyalty demands honesty and steadfast dedication. Finally (and probably because of the overwhelming pressure loyalty can place upon someone), loyalty is rewarded. The Lord rewards loyalty in many different ways. The Christian strives for these rewards, the greatest of which is to hear a few simple words, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:21, 23) Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | April 27, 2012

The Test of Loyalty

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

Last week we discussed how Christ asks us to commit to a new life, a new family, and a new faith. We considered men who left their professions to follow Jesus. They considered their old lives, earthly family, and the things they sacrifice for the Lord a worthy offering. We can either be intimidated by this or approach it in a biblical fashion.

Biblically speaking, once a disciple began to follow Jesus, their whole life changed. These men would become apostles. Their lives were dedicated to Christ and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God on Earth. Every disciple of Christ has a huge shift in life priorities. Once a disciple, their chief priority is to spread the gospel. Disciples of Christ no longer consider our life on Earth, the things of the Earth, or acceptance among those on the Earth to be paramount. Our attitude changes such that our friendships and associations focus upon glorifying God.

We also found a new family. All the disciples had to leave their families to minister for the Lord. Those who balked at complete commitment to the Lord over the family of the world were challenged by Jesus requirements. Many were saved from wretchedness, debauchery, and wickedness. Some were saved from demon possession. All were saved from false religious beliefs, empty of eternal life. All their beliefs depended upon works. Jesus told them that faith in Him was the only way to Heaven, and they needed to leave all other beliefs to follow Him. This does not mean we automatically walk away from our families, though it can come to that. It does mean that we have to commit to Christ over their desires. Like “Christian” in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, disciples of Christ seek to follow the Lord regardless of their families’ reaction or desire to restrain them.

Jesus also called us to a new faith. For some, such as the rich young ruler, their misplaced faith is in wealth. Others have a misplaced faith in self-discipline. Yet others have a misplaced faith in their knowledge of scripture. Others misplace their faith in their own testimony or years of life in service. While all these things can be good, they are only valuable if dedicated to the Lord. That does not mean we sell everything and move into a monastery. It does mean that, as with Job, we should know who really owns all we have and dedicate our lives to serving Him, others, and especially His children selflessly with all those resources. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | April 17, 2012

A Test of Commitment

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

Last Sunday was Easter Sunday. We celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We looked at a variety of evidences of the resurrection. One glaring fact: everyone knew the tomb was empty. The entire struggle to disprove the resurrection proves the tomb was empty. There would be no concern if the body remained. We also found direct evidence that many saw Jesus. If people had not seen Him, there would be no reason to theorize concerning His appearances; no reason to explain why people saw Him. The fact is that in their denial we find testimony of the truth. Jesus Christ arose the third day to defeat death and Hell and all the fears of mankind’s mortality.

Jesus humbled Himself to be with us; He came from a perfect Heaven to an imperfect Earth. Jesus gave us living examples of heavenly love, service and life. Jesus ministered to the people in Judea in the first century and He continues to minister to us today both in Heaven and through the Word. Jesus lived on Earth for 30 or so years. He continues to live among, through and in us today. Our Lord is a risen Lord. Our Lord is a living God. Our Lord says worship Me and Me alone and I will give you eternal life. Our Lord has proven He can provide life and access to Heaven because He provided it to Himself. Christianity is about this person, not about ritual or ordinance or rigorous discipline. Christianity is about Christ. Christianity is about loving the Father through the Son with the Holy Spirit. Jesus fulfilled the Father’s requirements for entrance into Heaven and He imputes that righteousness upon all who believe in Him. Jesus sent the Comforter to encourage our souls. Only through Jesus can you have the Holy Spirit. Only through Jesus can we have life eternal in Heaven. We serve a truly awesome loving God who sent His only Son to secure our salvation.

We will consider three verses today. Our first verse, Matthew 8:22, is taken from a passage where Jesus is testing the veracity of an individual’s commitment to follow Him. The man still worries of the things in the world. Our second passage in Matthew 10:35 is extremely serious. Most anyone in the world would balk at its message. Many question Jesus’ love and devotion to the salvation of man because of this passage. They also point to this as a passage where Jesus might condone breaking the fifth commandment to “honor thy father and mother.” The passage in no way indicates that, but testifies of a believer who is committed to the family of God, not the family of man. The final passage, Luke 18:22, is another one that has confused many. This coupled with verses that follow seems to say being wealthy disqualifies you from Heaven. This could not be farther from the truth. Like Job, knowing where that wealth comes from and to whom it actually belongs is the key issue (Job 1:21). If God calls you in service to liquidate all you own and seek to follow Him, He is testing your commitment. Read More…

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Posted by: trsenter | April 14, 2012

The Resurrection’s Testimony and Denial

It may be God’s providence that last week we discussed the great and glorious wonders of God’s creation in the universe. What great beauty is available for us to see now with tremendous telescopes in space. We rejoice at the splendor of God’s creation on earth, and all the more to see His handy work in the heavens. We serve a magnificent God. We see His majesty in His creation both in space, and on earth. Each person is a sculpture. Each has his or her own beauty in God’s creation. Where we may see a deformity, God sees a special creation. Where we see a disadvantage, God sees opportunity to excel and inspire others to greater excellence. God’s greatness and optimism is beyond our comprehension just as His love is limitless. Truly, His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Today is Easter Sunday. What a wonderful day to continue talking of God’s great majesty, love and magnificence. He is glorious and there is no more glorious event in the history of man than Jesus’ resurrection.

Today is the day we celebrate the resurrection of the Son of God from the tomb of death and into life eternal. We see His greatness on display as a brilliant light in history. Turn with me to Matthew 28:11-16 please.

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Posted by: Diane | April 5, 2012

A Test of Dedication

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

Last week we discussed bearing the burdens of others and even caring for their belongings when we find them. The Old Testament teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love them as God loves them, to care for them and their needs as God cares for us. Our test is to turn all these things over to God and even care for those whom we know are at angst with us. We receive great blessings when we obey God, especially in times of strife.

We noted that we can have great blessings of the Lord when we concentrate on giving others hope and the love of Christ. We saw not only a way to share the love of Christ, but we saw that Christ’s commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves was not as new as many think.

Our test is: Would we put ourselves out for one another even when we do not think it would be appreciated? Would we do all we can even for those that hate us? Would we take steps to serve another we know does not like us and is even out to hurt us? It is easy to love those who love you. It should be just as easy to love those who do not love you because of Christ within us.

Today we talk about tests of dedication. When we open to our passage we find how deeply our Lord loves children, but we find much, much more. What we see here is how deep a faith we should display in our great and glorious redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Though we will focus on the passage in Matthew 18:4, we will also look at two other passages in Genesis for perspective. We will open by considering Psalm 19, though, the passage we read in our scripture reading. We will consider this passage before our main passage as a way to orient our mindset toward the One to whom we are humbling and dedicating our selves. Understanding His greatness is vital to our perspective. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | March 31, 2012

A Test of Bearing Burdens

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

Many see Jesus’ commandments to love one another, love our neighbor and even love our enemies as unique to the New Testament. Ladies and gentlemen, we have to face the fact that the love of God is taught throughout the scriptures, and the love we are to have one to another as humans is equally taught in both the Old and New Testaments. Abraham took in the three traveling strangers as they were on their way to Sodom to destroy it. Scripture tells us we do not know who we may be entertaining at our campsite.

The cities of refuge in Numbers 35 are great illustrations of how we are to help one another. If one is in the city, the accuser cannot hurt him. The cities were founded to take in wanderers seeking refuge from an accuser. They are given food, water and shelter regardless of their supposed crimes. They may be innocent. No one in the city can count them as guilty until a proper court judged them. Only then could they be turned out.

We get our concepts for trial by jury from these passages. Where “the congregation” as a whole determines the guilt of one, we adopted a group of 12 jurors of one’s peers. The number 12 was not arbitrary either. One juror or representative from each of the 12 tribes of Israel makes the determination. We should note that provision and shelter are never in question. Their ability to stay was only affected by a judged guilt for a wrong perpetrated against another. Those being put out of the city were put out because the leadership determined their guilt. They were only given refuge until their judgment was finalized. Still, even a guilty murderer could be permitted to stay in the city. Granted, these determinations were normally based upon an assessment of accidental death, regardless the guilty would not be put out if the congregation judged in their favor.

One might ask what all this has to do with a test of our bearing one another’s burdens. It is simple. Every person in the city of refuge knew they would house and feed individuals who sought justice. Another issue is that even those we may hate are required to receive our compassion. How much more compassion are we to display for the innocent? The justice system of the United States was designed as a city of refuge system. The jails and their protection from outside as well as inside are supposed to provide that. Neither irate family members nor vigilantes can get to the accused. We should be a city of refuge, not just for some accused of crime, but for all those we claim to love. Greater than that, we should bear their burdens and willingly do so.

Where we opened to the Old Testament book of Isaiah last week, this week we go further back to the Pentateuch. We move first to Exodus 23:4-5. Then we will open to Deuteronomy 22:4. Please look at Exodus 23:1 and we will read our opening scriptures today. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | March 15, 2012

The Test of Judgmentalism

This message is part of a series entitled, “God Tries His Children”.  To see all of the messages in this series, please click here.

Tests of preference first involve being able to live with all men peaceably. We understand that our challenge is not to provoke purposefully, but our passions to serve the Lord and dedicate ourselves to Him can be provoking. We need to accept the fact that while we may have control over our passions, we have no control over the response of others. Our passionate faith in Christ may offend.

We also found that a very vital test of preference involves not impeding the development of a believer. We should prefer a successful relationship with the Lord in all believers and endeavor to do nothing whatever to hinder that development.

Identifying with the whole truth of these two texts we found that Jesus is fighting for us. He also stands to convict and encourage us. Jesus is our advocate before the Father and we rest in His perfect love. The tests of our preference come through the temptation of our flesh that can outwardly provoke another or if we take action to lead someone down a road away from the Lord and resting in His pure provision.

Another issue that occurred to me is where a perfect storm of growing faithlessness and sin can develop. As we prefer our fears or reasoning over faith, or we prefer our desire to control and completely understand over faith, we can impede the faith of those around us. As we let our personal pride dominate, faith and the great power of God grows dim in the rear view mirror. Pessimism breeds pessimism, faithlessness feeds further faithlessness. When we promote our abilities over that of the Lord to do His will, we fail Him. Where we offend others in the process we violate Matthew 18:6. As we choose to prefer ourselves, our smarts, our abilities and our rationale over faith, we choose to ignore God’s mercy, power, grace and love. We should always prefer God.

Today we talk about judgment. We open a discussion concerning our attitude with respect to judgment. We find in our scriptures that judgment is not discernment and discernment is not judgment. Read More…

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