Three ways ...

that are sure fire to get a congregations attention and no this does not involve anyone removing anything while standing in front of them.  Although, I saw a Missionary from Greece, or was it Holland, I don't remember exactly, throughout his sermon, take off his coat, shoes, etc until he was standing before us barefoot with his sleeves rolled up.  It sure did get our attention and made his point by the way.

No, nothing so dramatic as that until you say it.

1.  Tell the women in the congregation that they are sons rather than daughters of Christ.  It confuses them.  Now, so you know I have no problem being a woman or being called a daughter, after all I am one.  However, when you're talking about matters of Spirit Paul tells us in Ephesians that we are predestined to adoption as sons.  That means that when I stand before the throne, I am a SON and joint heir with Jesus.  Words of triumph and positive but still gets people going a bit.  Usually we counter this one by telling the men that they are the bride of Christ so really...it all works out.

2.  Say the words "we are more than just sinners saved by grace".  This is a big one.  We mean no disrespect in it and really the words themselves are true.  We were sinners and we were saved by grace but that's as far as it goes.  See number 1.  We are joint heirs with Jesus.  We are fellow inheritors.  We are Christ to the world.  We are saints.  We are HIS.  We are more than the sum of our past.  Stand upright you Bride of Christ and walk head held high toward your bridegroom who is the Light of the World.  Ephesians 1, and yes we have heard teachings on this for years and have been teaching on this for months, says that we are HOLY and BLAMELESS in Christ.  That finishes it doesn't it?  We are not worms, we have 24/7 access to the throne room because that's where we live.

3.  This is really the big one.  Tell people that sin is no longer on the table for the Christian.  Now to balance that, and we always do, that doesn't mean that we don't mess up.  Please, I'm the poster child for that one.  But once again, we are more than the sum of our past.  We are more than what we were before Christ.  When you came to a saving knowledge of Christ everything you would have been died at the altar and you raised Christ.  A new creation, literally a new species.  The world has never seen anything like you before.  When Christ died for the world, He took on Himself all the sin that had been, all the sin that was, and all the sin that would ever be.  It's covered.  HALLELUJAH!  This a freedom point and yet we are so wrapped up in ourselves and what we were that we miss it. 

When Ephesians says we are predestined to adoption as sons it means everyone.  Free will is the opposite side of the coin.  To be adopted all we have to do is come to a saving knowledge of Christ.  They're not mutually exclusive.  Isn't that wonderful?  The entire world all who have been, all who are, and all who will be are predestined as sons.  But how will they know unless we tell them?  How will they know if we haven't figured it out yet?  How can we show the world that being a Christian is more than just the can't dos and the be goods?  How can we show them they can be forgiven of their sins if we don't walk free from ours?

Just a thought.

Blessings in Christ,

Mike and Tina

On to the next step

Our God is most gracious.  Has anyone noticed?  I know, I know, gee Tina you're being a little obvious aren't you?  Of course God is gracious.  Well, I'm glad that you think that I'm being a obvious but really how many of us ever think about how gracious our God truly is? 

Everyone who reads this blog knows that I have been scheduled to step out of my job on May 6 of this year...that's Friday of this week.  About 3 weeks ago I found out that the president of my company decided that he wanted my branch closed on April 29.  For those of you keeping track that's one full week before my scheduled leave date.  I raised my hand to my immediate boss and said, um, hello, staying until May 6th.  I was frustrated with this decision to say the least.  Just so you know the president of the company is a great guy and always has his finger on the pulse of the industry.  He wasn't being mean or deciding arbitrarily to get rid of me a week early.  He's doing what he believes is for the good of the company.  So I huffed and I puffed but I did what I was asked to do and began the process of closing the office.

 I worked hard, did my best, and got the branch closed.  (Can I just say that my wonderful husband came and emptied filing cabinets and basically did whatever his very bossy wife asked? Is it any wonder I love him!)  My boss came in the last two days of last week and got everything that I couldn't do done.  I heard him talking to various people on Friday and heard him say that it looked like I was just going to work to the last possible moment.  Well, what else would I do right?  Now, you're reading this and saying what exactly does this have to do with the graciousness of God?  Well, I'll tell you now.  My boss assured me that they would continue to pay me for this week without taking any vacation weeks from my vacation bank.  My thought was yes, well I will believe it when I see it.  BUT GOD...two of the greatest words ever put together.  God is gracious and will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory.  I received a phone call from human resources last Friday and was assured that, because of all the work I did, they would indeed pay me for this week and give me my vacation pay as well.  HALLELUJAH!

We are going on allowance this month (gulp) and getting these extra weeks' pay allows us to figure out how all of that works without stressing about how the bills are getting paid while we're doing that.  Basically God made it so that my old job would pay the first full week of my new job.  To Him be the glory forever and ever amen.

To fill you in on what's up with us, when all of the pledges we are expecting come in we will be at 18% of our budget.  We are booking services right now and have things booked pretty solid.  We are in Geneseo on Mother's day (Happy Mothers Day Mom!) and at district council all of next week.  If God brings us to your mind on Thursday 5/12/11, pray for us.  We are giving a 3 minute, our first, window sharing ourselves in front of all the Pastors (double gulp) for the Missions service. 

In June we go to Missouri for 3 1/2 weeks for training and our commissioning service.  We are very excited for that and then we're right back into it for July.  Several of our Sundays are double booked with Mike being at one church and me at another.  We are booked up almost solid right until November and even into 2012. 

We have faith that God will continue to open doors for us as He as said He will do.  It is His nature to be Faithful and even though we're His favorites we're not important enough for Him to go against His nature.   Jealous?  Don't be you're all His favorites too.  Ephesians says that we are all predestined to adoption as sons, that makes us all inheritors!  We'll talk about predestination and freewill another time, but suffice it to say that He has already made provision for us all. 

Here ends this blog entry and here begins the real job that God has set before us.  Keep us in your prayers as you are always in ours.

Blessings In Christ,

Mike and Tina