Sunday's Sermon Notes - Church at Antioch

Notes I took from a sermon preached by Wayde Miller.

The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Not as a way to differentiate from the Jews, not as a negative term by their enemies, but as a name of love from God. God gave the disciples this name.

The church at Antioch was a church filled with grace, there was no prejudice -- Jewish descent, Greeks, all types worshiped together in Antioch. Today we are to beware of prejudices among Christians - we are all one -- no difference in color, economics, family ties, friendship, etc. All should be ONE in Christ.

Acts 11:19-30
19&20 - the church was established at Antioch both Jewish Christians and Gentiles. The message preached to them was the Lord Jesus - a message on ONE saving.
v 21 - told to believe and turn to the Lord.

Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, a paganistic, materialistic, sinful city. The church thrived in this city, it was a church of grace, always helping other churches, the brethren, and teaching the Lord Jesus. We too should teach their same message --

Whose Message? What Question? Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

"The worst the sinner, the more in tune he is to hear the Word." Christ taught to the sinners. We should all remember that we are sinners and be willing to hear the Word and to study God's Word.

More than belief is needed. "Faith Only" is not what Jesus wants. Salvation is simple: the Christians at Antioch believe AND turned to the Lord. New Testament belief IS doing something.

John 12:42&43 -- believe AND confess (confession is doing something)
Romans 10:13-14 -- believe AND call on the name of the Lord (calling is doing something)
Hebrews 11:6 -- believe AND Come to God (to come to God is doing something)
Mark 16:16 -- believe AND be baptized (to be baptized is doing something)

The message was always the same -- believe and do something. Even the devil believes -- we are to do something.

Always remember -- Christian is a name that God has given YOU. Do NOT take it for granted, it is an honor, not a classification of religion as it is seen in today's society. But our family name, our name in Christ Jesus.

~DEATH~

This is an email that I received last week -- there's no elaboration needed, it says it all...

WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT..

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to

Leave the examination room and said,

'Doctor, I am afraid to die.

Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know? You, a Christian man,

Do not know what is on the other side?'


The doctor was holding the handle of the door;

On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room

And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,

'Did you notice my dog?

He's never been in this room before.

He didn't know what was inside.

He knew nothing except that his master was here,

And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death,

But I do know one thing...


I know my Master is there and that is enough.'

Wednesday Night Bible Study Notes

Bible Class

Wayde Miller, Evangelist led the Bible class discussion:
-- we started the book of Romans tonight -- the preacher chastised us -- we were supposed to read the whole book -- I didn't, I read some, not enough, not very much at all, shame on me...

Notes: The Book of Romans is about Christianity -- lots of discussion about justification. Now when I say a book about Christianity, this book pretty much sums is up as far as what a Christian is. It is written by Paul from Corinth to the Romans. Paul considers Rome to be a good church unlike those he chastised (Corinthians). It was pointed out that the city of Rome in that day was very large and very vile, yet this church made of Jewish, Gentile, and Barbarians was a good church.

Notes as reviewed by verse:
1) Paul describes himself as three S's -- servant, sent out (definition of apostle), and set apart (sanctified).
2) The word gospel means good news -- the OT is mentioned in this verse because the apostles relied heavily on its prophecies to preach Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies.
3) Jesus - is the good news -- he is both flesh and spirit (Son of David, II Sam 7, and Son of God)
4) Proof of his power and that he is the Son of God is His resurrection.
5) Apostles (sent out) had a purpose. We cannot look at Paul's life without seeing his dedication to the gospel (good news). "It is not enough to be good, you have to be good at something." You need a purpose. In our lives we may be good people, but we need to do more with our lives and spreading the good news using our talents.
6) Not only are the apostles called, but all are called.
7) The Romans are called and loved by God.
8-14) Paul mentions the goodness of the church at Rome. Their faith is known (v8) Paul is getting ready to preach to them the good news via this letter because he has been hindered from coming to Rome (v14). Paul flatters the Christians at Rome, he is both encouraged by them and wanting to encourage them. He wants to mutually encourage each other with his faith and their faith (v12). He is speaking of them very positively.
11) Paul mentions that he would like to give them a spiritual gift. But never specifies what that give can be. If the verse is read contextually with verse 10 -- we can speculate that the Spirit has called him else where and in verse 13 possibly the Spirit has prevented him from coming to Rome. Could this gift of the spirit be the gift to him and the Romans of the Spirit calling him to Rome? Yes, he will make it to Rome one day.

Our evangelist stressed that we really need to read the book in its entirety. Romans is very contextual -- stick to the context, forget about references and footnotes, just read it in its context and look at the big picture. A picture of a good church and how Christianity is to be.

INVITATION
KB one of our members gave the invitation talk (mini sermon)

"Committed vs Compliant"

Compliant is to do only what is necessary to some it is just the bare minimum.

Committed is to go beyond and perform to the best of our ability.

In Matthew 19:16 the rich young man was compliant, he didn't steal, he didn't murder, he didn't lie... and the list goes on, but when he was told to sell all he had -- he could not do so -- he was not willing to commit.

In John 21:15 -- Jesus after his resurrection asked Peter Do you love me? He did this three times -- Peter said Yes. Peter was committed.

As a Christian do we just do the bare minimum (attend services, give money, sing, pray, the "checklist") or are we committed giving ALL of ourselves to the Lord?

Great Job KB.

Wow...

Was talking to my father-in-law the other night and relaying a story of someone speaking to a psychic. The ideas that the woman relayed were amazing and it was impossible for her to know facts that she revealed. It was a touching revelation and made us say WOW.

The psychic avows that she is strong in faith to the God in Heaven and I do not doubt her, I am amazed at this power, and I pray for her, because it must be an awful burden to bear.

A friend of mine warned about psychic interaction and that we need to be certain of the source of her visions. What is her source of revelation? By hearing the account of the reading, and hearing what she said, I feel that she gave God the glory for her gift (note she did not say she was talking to God).

Would I want a psychic reading? I doubt it -- Que sera sera "Whatever will be, will be." I don't want to know -- I don't want anything to sway my life choices or to cause me to rethink or to avoid life happening. I have faith that God will help me through and I am an independent, free willed spirit, that just likes to do it myself.

Some will say (Christians) that the spiritual gift of prophecy no longer exists. I agree that spiritual gifts (miracles) were acquired by the laying on of hands by the apostles, but is her gift something to be considered a miracle. If so then anyone who has had a "vision" would be considered a heretic. I myself have dreamed of someone saying goodbye, only to find out the next day that they have passed.

But -- I ramble just to tell of this one incident --

Does God talk to us and comfort us today? Yes -- I think he does.

Recently I was told by someone close to me that they do not believe God exists. This to me was disheartening, I fretted all day and into the night. I went outside near midnight and looked into the sky and the moon was more bright than I had ever seen it and around it were the colors of the rainbow. Wow I thought how beautiful.

I ran inside to the computer to see who I could IM to go out and look at the moon. I IM'd my first friend (one who claims to be an atheist) and lives in the next county (within 25 miles). He looked and came back and said -- "I don't see it." It is bright, but no rainbow. I then IM'd another friend, a photographer at that, (he is not a Christian, but something like a Wiccan) he came back and said -- "It is very bright, but no colors." (This man lives in another adjacent county within 15 miles).

Father-in-law got up and I said -- come look outside at the moon. He looked up and said "Wow."

I truly believe that God set that moon and that rainbow in the sky for me. The rainbow is a symbol of His promise. He talks to us, not by sitting down and having a conversation, but he knew I needed His fatherly touch that night.

Wow.

Orca

First Grade project -- to create a three dimensional animal and learn about it. We chose an orca. To make him -- you take a paper bag, stuff it with plastic grocery bags, paint it to look like an orca -- add fins, a habitat, and a plume of water (rolled up construction paper cut into strips).

Voila -- an orca.

She's really proud of him.

Bragging on Easter (umm hypocrite)

I know -- bragging is boasting -- and you are not supposed to boast. But aren't they pretty?

We had a really nice Easter Sunday. We went to J's mom and stepdad's house. The children hunted eggs (215 plastic eggs) It was a nice time.

J went to church with us on Sunday morning and our preacher had a really great sermon. The main point is that God delights in our return to him from darkness. He used the image of a father bent down with a toddler just learning to walk and saying come to daddy, come to daddy and how delighted the father is when the child stands on his own two feet and learns to walk the right way.

He also reminded us of the father of the prodigal son and one thing that I had never noticed from the passage. That the father was always looking for the son and his return. The father ran to meet the son and was delighted that his son had returned from the darkness.

God wants us all to come to Him. J was very touched by the lesson. I so want J to come to God and learn of the delights of having God as his father.

Footprint

Picture this scenario

You share a vehicle with your husband -- he drives to work at night and brings home to you to drive in the morning.

You get in vehicle, driving down the road you notice a bare footprint on the inside of the windshield on the passenger side. Too big to be one of the children's. Too small to be your husband's.

What runs through your mind?

Hmmm.

It's been a while

I know, I know, it has been a long time since I have written here.

Things are just wild.

Kids going to school.
Kids going to dance.
Softball tryouts.
Girlscouts.
Church.
Website development.
Flu * 6 -- and it's after illnesses have us all down.
The house looks worst than it ever has -- it is nasty. The loveseat in the den is now a huge laundry table.
There is just always something.

To top it all off -- as I have said, time and again, I feel like a single parent. Hubby just won't do anything -- other than add to angst.

I knew the type of man I was marrying, so I shouldn't be surprised. Read something the other day that I thought I should post on the bathroom mirror "The only person that can make me happy, is me."

Yes, he is still drinking -- once a week real good, but it is sort of "out of site, out of mind." With him working third shift, he gets drunk, and is in bed sleeping it off when we get home.

But even if he is not drinking - he still spends the entire time we are home, hidden away in our bedroom upstairs. His is a miserable existence and I explained this to him yesterday. He had been drinking or doing something to make him "not just right" and was an hour late getting in from work. He ate 4 BLT sandwiches, 3 eggs, and a huge glass of milk. Needless to say -- there wasn't anything for the kids -- so I had to make another breakfast for them. He took his food to his cave and when he came down the stairs - he fell all the way to the bottom with his plate and glass breaking on the way down. "Take me to the hospital. "

I examined him, and there was nothing wrong with him, I told him to go to bed. He whined for three hours and kept yelling down the stairs for me -- you don't love me, I probably have a broken rib puncturing my lung, you don't care. I told him to get in the car -- and I took him to the hospital and left him there. Needless to say, there was nothing wrong with him.

Now why all the fuss? Well, his orthopaedic doctor has taken him off of his pain pills. Need I say more?

Earlier this week, he drove his dad's car to my niece's house (same day he had his doctor's appointment) and wrecked it. He wasn't hurt, police didn't get him, but yes, he was drunk and the car looks bad now. Grrrrrr.

So everytime, I try to accomplish something, someone else's needs come up.

Right now -- I am waiting for someone to call because they have NO money, they are sick, they say no one is hiring, and they have 2 babies. They asked for money, I called and told them I would take them to the grocery. I have to get my 3 babies out to do this. Wonder if they will call since I am not giving cash? Things for them have got to change.

Sometimes I just wish someone would say -- "What can I do for you?"

---------------

Just happened to glance up and the kids are watching a DVD with music and the boy is dancing. My Little Pony Christmas "There is nothing that says Christmas like a pair of socks." Makes me remember every year my brother would come in from Florida and have a huge bag full of really nice socks -- we would pass around the bag -- and everyone would get a pair of socks. Good times.

I Need a Reality Show Makeover

I know -- watching those reality show makeovers is like watching a train wreck. You know it is hideous and terrible of you to want to see such horribleness, but you can't help it -- you just have to gawk.

So here goes --

What Not to Wear
Yep -- I need to be turned in to the fashion police. I still wear clothes that I wore ten years ago. My good clothes were hand me downs from a woman old enough to be my mother. I only buy things off of the clearance rack - because I am "frugal, cheap, broke." I spend my days in pajamas unless I go to work or church. I am a fashion nightmare, my clothes are worn and thin. From time to time -- yes, I know -- too much information, I still wear my nursing bra.

The Super Nanny
I try to instill the best that I can in my children. But find myself resorting to threats, and yelling. I have no backup from my husband who rolls his eyes and retreats to another room. He hides away the whole time we are here and I am placed in a position of single mom with a husband. My day starts at 5:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 a.m. I work, I take care of children, house, yard, car, homework, teach Bible Class, and try to have a home website business. Trying to give full attention to one child for homework, the other two run rampant. Trying to clean house, they run rampant, trying to get them to help -- but Daddy doesn't do anything. We need supernanny.

Overhauling
Hubby and I got an '88 Mustang back in 2000 and he drove it for one summer and out went the transmission. Now -- it sits and sits and rots and sits and well, it would just be way cool if Chip Foose would come and make the darn thing run and look good. Then I'd have something cool to look at in my back yard instead a rusting hunk of metal.

Clean Sweep
My house is completely out of control. There is no organization, it has been overrun by toys, animals, children, and computer equipment. If my friend at work's wife were to come over -- she wouldn't go past the front room -- which stays clean because it is too small to do anything in. The kitchen table doubles as a homework table, mail spot, catch all, eyesore. The den is a playroom and god forbid I have company, they would have nowhere to sit. The loveseat is a laundry table -- with three kids -- laundry is neverending -- I wash then fold, sort, etc... on the loveseat. They stay there and just keep getting recycled.

Outer Spaces
I love to spend a lot of my time out doors, I like to sit on the porch. I hate my yard. I grew up with a father that took care of the yard. Well as I said previously I am married to a hermit. A couple of months after we bought this house there was a storm -- and it blew off a shutter. That was in 2004. The shutter is still missing. Our yard is full of kids toys, yard tools that he uses for a tiny project that I make him do and he doesn't put them away. I mow, I clean the yard, I trim the trees, I can't keep up -- the dog has warn paths in the back yard, the swing is falling apart, there is a big "crop circle" looking thing in my yard where the kids had their pool -- which was moved to the other side of the yard to kill the grass and make a new semi circle. Oh yeah -- there's the '88 mustang and dead garden.

Intervention
Okay, he's not as bad as the folks they show on this TV show, but it would make an enlightening episode to show how a man that is still drinking, and fighting drinking alone -- needs to seek help. This is why he is a hermit. He drinks heavy once a week. His life is miserable, ours is miserable. He needs help, he refuses help, he works, he drinks, he sleeps, he is a hermit.

Biggest Loser
I love myself by eating. When I feel used, abused, taken advantage of...not loved. I eat. Not out of stress, but out of lack of attention. I am fat - I know that. Hey Sis -- let's apply for the casting call.

Maybe they can all just have one big mini-series featuring "us". Wouldn't that be something.?

An Email I Received

Every once and a while, a seemingly-simple email comes

around that ends up being quite profound. This is one of them.

Awesome!!

We complain about the cross we bear

but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.


Whatever your cross,

whatever your pain,

there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;

But God's always ready, to answer your call....

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,

a word from His lips, can calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,

But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,

to give you His grace, and send you His love.

May God fill your day with blessings!!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle!

Busy, very Busy

I've been very, very busy lately -- that is why I haven't been blogging as I should. I have found that blogging is very therapeutic for me.

This is what I have been doing in my "spare" time.

3xBlessed.com

On top of that they have put me in "charge" of the implementation, installation, and deployment of the Sharepoint Server -- or intranet server for our agency. Don't ask -- it's complicated. So, I spend a lot of time on Microsoft's website and others researching how in the heck I'm supposed to do this.

Kids are great. Husband is doing good. I'm proud of him today. He don't drink a whole lot in the winter -- as I've said before, it is seasonal with him. His shoulder is still stiff, but he is doing better.

The house is a mess -- will be until the kids are grown. Had lunch with Sis today. Have I told ya'll that I love her. Basically, she is my favorite adult in the whole wide world.

I have sciatica and am on cortisone for a few days -- it is making me act weird, but the pain has pretty much subsided.

And this just makes me angry. The man is dead for heaven's sake. Isn't anything sacred.

Article about PETA tombstone.

Got to go now -- need some sleep. Will check back in soon.