It Seemed Good At The Time!

That's usually when we get into trouble. It's when life gets out of balance and as the trainer on my Wii Fit says, "You put your foot down, didn't you?" That's what happens when we don't listen to God's Word and obey His instructions; we fall off the balance board!

In the email I sent out today "All Questions - One Answer" from 1 Chronicles 13:7 it reads:

They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.
1 Chronicles 13:7 (NLT)

The problem came about when Uzzah disobeyed God concerning the commands about the Ark, or so it would seem.

Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.
1 Chronicles 13:10 (NLT)

What seemed like disobedience in Uzzah's life, was actually the result of David's failure to follow God's command regarding the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant. In Exodus we're told:

And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.
Exodus 25:14-15 (ESV)

Then we know that God gave strict orders that the Levites were to carry the Ark whenever it was moved. God never intended for the Ark to be carried on a cart, but to be carried on the shoulders of those who had been appointed to do so. Okay, some of you are saying, AYTMTB? (And Your Telling Me This Because...)

Because when God speaks, He means it! That's why there is nothing more important than knowing and doing the Word of God. If you read all of 1 Chronicles 13, you'll see that David got mad at God for killing Uzzah and didn't take the Ark to Jerusalem for another three months (I think he was pouting!) But all the while, David knew what God's word said about the Ark, the rings, the poles, and the Levites. As a matter of fact, read 1 Chronicles 15:1-2 and you'll see that David repented (changed his mind) and finally brought the Ark back to Jerusalem. What a great and glorious day that was!

We must learn that God is God. When He speaks our response is to hear and obey, even if our way may seem right at the time. God's Word teaches us that...

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of
death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

Sunday's Monday Download

AYTMTB...
(And you told me that because...)

Because I want you to hear the great things that God is doing at TVCC! We had a great weekend together and God blessed in a wonderful way! I want to especially thank the greeters for the wonderful job they do each and every weekend as they welcome and set the stage for newcomers as well as us regulars. They 'take the edge off' as they extend a warm hand and warm heart that causes first time guests to say, "Wow, this is a friendly place, even outside; it must be great inside!"

• 5 indicated receiving Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior
• 3 celebrated their new life in Christ through baptism
• 7 first time guests
• 3 second time guests
• 3 volunteered to serve
• 10 recommitted their walk with Christ
• 10 requests for life groups
• 22 requested text announcements
• 2 signed up for Celebrate Recovery

Have a great week and why not share your faith with someone who needs some Good News! Just brag on Jesus - He will do the rest.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

I hope many of you are still reading your Bible through this year. If you're not, today's a great day to start! Here's my own journal entry for today from Matthew 10:27.

DAYBREAK

S "What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!" Matthew 10:27 (NLT)

O Jesus has a bold message for His people to share with all those around us. His command is that we will shout it for all to hear!

A If I am going to have something to say to those around me, there is nothing more important than spending time in God's Word. If I don't hear him in my personal daily quiet time (what He whispers in my ear in private), I will have nothing worth talking about throughout my day.

P Thank you Father for your Word. May I hear your voice everyday so that I will always have something worth talking about! Amen.

S.O.A.P. of the Word: You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. John 15:3 (NKJV)

txt: wiifm

April 21, 2009

What's In It For Me?
BLESSINGS! It's an inside job! That's what you get when you're a part of the body of Christ, joining together with the other members of the body to do the work of ministry. Because of your faithfulness, God is doing great things through you in the lives of others.

What a great weekend we enjoyed as we worshipped together and once again experienced God in wonderful ways. Here are a few of the goodies from Sunday:

• 1 commitment to Christ
• 5 more first time guest
• 3 second time families (plus many 2nd time children!)
• 3 volunteered for service
• 3 signed up for Celebrate Recovery
• 25 recommitted their walk with Christ
• 25 signed up for Life Groups!!!

I'm so excited to see what God is doing to grow the family of God at TVCC. He is working in so many lives; how about yours? What's the next step of faithfulness in your life? Don't know? Ask Him and He will tell you and multiply Himself through you.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Quick Links...
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Our Website www.tvcc.us
TVCC Blogs
Pastor Steve: http://www.stevegallimore.blogspot.com/
Gene Walden: http://www.waldensongs.com/
Ken Wells: http://kenwellstvccus.blogspot.com/

WIIFM - What's In It For Me?

Join us this weekend as we look at part 2 of our new series, txt: God Has A Message 4U. The next txt is WIIFM or What's In It For Me. To be honest, there's a great deal in it for you. But to know what it is, we have to learn the difference between pleasure and true happiness.

Join us this as we tune in to the #1 radio station going, WIIFM - only at TVCC this Sunday. Be sure to spread the word through a txt message, forward my blog, or send them to our web site at www.tvcc.us. Oh, and bring someone with you as well!

See you at the station!

Easter 2009 - And So It Began

WOW! Way to go God! Way to go TVCC!

The numbers are in and what a blessing to see what God will do through His people who are passionate about reaching others.

• Already Christ followers - 100's
• Began journey with Christ - Salvations - 36
• Considering Christ - 8 (One of those prayed to receive Christ during a follow up call (Yeah God!)
• Don't ever intend to follow Christ - 1
• Weekend Attendance including Children - 1076
  

As my good friend Allen said, "We had a great day at church...now we need to continue what we started!" AMEN Allen! I agree completely. When God's kids get excited about His promises and begin to act upon them - look out! He WILL show up in power, just as we witnessed this weekend.

The difference between 'having church' and 'being the church' is expecting God to use us and trusting Him enough that we would open our mouths, thereby allowing Him to do so.

Let your friends and neighbors know, the series "txt: God Has A Message For You" continues this weekend with Part 2 - WIIFM: What's In It For Me? Finding Real Happiness In A World of Pleasure.

TXT: GOD HAS A MESSAGE FOR YOU Part 1-MIRL is ready online for viewing

It's Saturday, but Sunday's-a-Comin'!

What do you do when a bolder is in the way of hope? It’s too big to move, there are others who are keeping you from it, and even if you could move it, it’s just another dead end. Well, that depends - on whether you’re talking about your view or what’s going on behind the bolder or God's view.

Jesus’ followers must have felt the same way. Everything they had placed their hopes and dreams in lay dead in the garden in a new tomb. That Saturday represented death, loss, and an unfulfilled life.

What does Saturday – today, represent in your life? What have you placed your hopes and dreams and based your very future on? My friend, it may be Saturday from your side of the bolder, but grab hold of some hope because Sunday’s-a-comin’! Saturday represents the way we see things in our lives – the problems too big, there are too many people in the way, and even if we tried it, it would only be another dead end. But Sunday – oh sweet Sunday, is a view from God’s side of the bolder, where death is not final, but only a seed getting ready to burst forth into new life!

What we see as death, God sees as the doorway to life. Don’t give up! It may be Saturday, but Sunday’s-a-comin’!

Finished - When He Said So

Have you ever heard anyone say, "It will be finished when I say it's finished?" In other words, they're controlling the situation and it will be done when they say it's done! Notice this last act of Jesus Christ on the Cross:

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

Matthew 27:50 (NLT)

He didn't just die - at least not as we think of it. I've been at the bedside of many who have, as we say it, passed away. While many have been ready to go on to be with the Lord, they died when they weren't able to live any longer. Not so with Jesus.

When Jesus released his spirit, he voluntarily died at the appointed time; when he was supposed to. In other words, it is as Jesus said in John chapter 10:18:

No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” John 10:18

Which further proves the fact that all Jesus did, was from divine appointment and of his own free will. As the old song says, "He could have called ten thousand angels, but he died alone for you and me." And, truth be known - if he had not chosen to die at that moment - he would not have. It was of his own free will in obedience to the Father. What great love!

May you, wherever you're reading this and wherever you celebrate Easter this weekend, know that by repenting of your sin and accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, you have released your life into His hands and that your redemption is complete through the all sufficient death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

HE IS RISEN!

THE LESSON ON SERVING

Clues to Pursue: Jesus on Thursday - A lesson on serving others-John 13:1-17 "…slaves are not greater than their master.”

As Jesus was preparing Himself and his disciples for what was now only a few hours away, he taught them the greatest lesson on serving others that has ever been given.

One of the main teaching tools of Christ was that of symbolism. Baptism is the symbol of the death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a symbol; the bread is a symbol Christ’s body which was broken for us, and the wine was a symbol of the blood of Christ which would be poured out for us.

When Jesus taught to “wash one another’s feet” is was the greatest symbol we can imagine of how we are to serve one another with that kind of humility and sincerity. When we care for someone else, more than we care for ourselves, we too take up the towel and the basin.

One way we can serve others by inviting them to the greatest celebration in history: THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. Remember, the celebration begins at TVCC, Saturday 6:00 p.m. and continues Sunday at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

HE IS RISEN!

Easter Week - Tuesday's Clue to Pursue

DOES IT COST TOO MUCH?

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste of money,” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Matthew 26:6-13 (NLT)

On Tuesday, Jesus certainly was busy. One of the events that Jesus saw as necessary, others - particularly Judas Iscariot - thought too extravagant. Jesus praised Mary for the act of unselfishness and assured her and others that her generosity would be remembered throughout the world.

What are we doing that has lasting consequences for Christ? What are we willing to pour out as a blessing to Christ this week as we pursue a life that is pleasing to Him?

Yesterday we were seeking couples to help serve in a particular area of need this weekend during our Easter services. One young couple said, "Pastor Steve, we'll serve at any service you want us to." I said, "Great! Which one are you attending?" To which they replied, "All three."

Extravagant? I don't think so...neither would Jesus. What are we willing to pour out so that we will bless others? No sacrifice is too expensive for the King!

Easter Week - Monday's Clue to Pursue

On Monday of Passover Week, Jesus cursed the fig tree. Why?

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Matthew 21:18-22 (NLT)

Figs are the fruit of the fig tree. According to the Bible Background Commentary, figs appear first, then the leaves or at least, the figs and leaves will appear about the same time. The fact that there were leaves indicated there should have been figs; even though they might have been green, they would have been there.

The lesson for Jesus' disciples is simply this: Figs should be on fig trees. Leaves alone are like saying, I have fruit, but yet none appears. Certainly Israel professed religion, but there was no true fruit for they had rejected Christ, the Messiah. Faith for the Christian means a fruitful life. Jesus is teaching his disciples, then and now, that a life that professes Christ (leaves on the tree) will be marked by faith (figs-fruit) as proof of it.

Who are you praying for and inviting to Easter services and to Christ? May God give you figs (fruit) for your faithfulness.

THE GENOCIDE OF SILENCE

The following is an excerpt for the book As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda by Catherine Claire Larson.

“The gash across the face of Emmanuel Mahuro, a seventeen year-old Rwandan native, is no longer an open wound. Today, like a jagged boundary line on a map, a scar juts down the plateau of his forehead, across the bridge of his nose, and up the slope of his right cheek. It is impossible to look into Emmanuel’s eyes without seeing this deep cut, a mark of division etched across his face — and the face of Rwanda — fifteen years after the genocide.

My first reaction to such scars is to avert my eyes. But to look away from Emmanuel’s scars is to look away from him. Strangely, as my eyes adjust to Emmanuel’s face, there is an impulse, not to recoil, but to follow the line of the scar across his skin. Emmanuel’s scar testifies to two realities. It is a witness to the human capacity for evil. To look at it is to hear it scream the brutality of an April that aches in the memory of an entire people. Yet his scar testifies to another truth: the stunning capacity of humans to heal from the unthinkable. To trace that scar is to discover the hope of a people who, despite losing everything, are finding a way to forge a common future for Rwanda.

On April 28, 1994 Christine Shelley, spokeswoman for the State Department, was asked whether what was happening in Rwanda was a genocide. She responded, “…the use of the term ‘genocide’ has a very precise legal meaning, although it’s not strictly a legal determination. There are other factors in there as well.” Meanwhile, the State Department issued a secret intelligence report identifying the killings as genocide.

March 15, 1998 President Clinton apologized to Rwandan genocide victims, saying, ‘We did not act quickly enough after the killing began . . . We did not immediately call these crimes by their rightful name: genocide.’”

Copied From As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda by Catherine Claire Larson

April 7, 2009 marks the 15th anniversary of the genocide of Rwanda. And to think, it could have been averted had people who held the power to do something about it wouldn’t have turned their backs and walked away. Had they called it ‘genocide’ from the beginning, the very word would have mandated the calling in of peace keeping forces…but they would not speak the truth, therefore because of the unwillingness to say the word ‘genocide’ more than 800,000 Rwandan’s lost their lives.

As I read this story my heart broke from the continued ‘genocide’ that is going on in our world today, not only as millions of innocent people are dragged from their homes and killed, but the genocide of the heart. We have the Peace Maker on board in our hearts if indeed we are followers of Christ, but we have to care enough, to be aware enough, that we will open our eyes to the plight of all those around us who do not know Christ as Lord. Satan’s greatest desire according to John 10:10 is to “…steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” Jesus said however, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Paul said, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 (NKJV)

As we consider the question Paul presents next, let us “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24) for Paul said the way to prevent the genocide of those not yet in Christ, is to care enough to tell them, to invite them, to help them to hear the greatest story ever told this Easter. Don’t keep quiet, while those around you die.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14 (NKJV)

He is Risen Indeed! Go now, and tell!

NO APRIL FOOLS HERE!

Jim Elliot was a missionary who, along with three other men, gave their lives which were poured out as a sacrifice to Christ while trying to bring the Gospel to the Auca Indians in Ecuador. But know this: Jim and his fellow missionaries were no April fools. Jim wrote these powerful words in his diary and I challenge us with them today:


How true those words are: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. What are we willing to give of ourselves in order to get someone to the Gospel of Christ this Easter? Be sure to give away your "txt phones" and invite many to come hear the Good News this Easter! Services are Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Bring friends to all three!