Saturday, Mar 08, 2008

March 8, 2008

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March 8 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Genesis 6; Ezekiel 11; Hebrews 3

Today is March 8 this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. TWG is a covenant to seek the LORD God with all our heart and with all our soul. If you seek Him, He will be found by you so be strong

Another work week is past – maybe for you, but mine is not over yet. Not until Sunday Evening. Yesterday I worked most of the day on this Sunday’s sermon on “the little green monster of greed,” dealing with Gambling. Come on out to see what the Bible says about it! Pastor Mike Ruyle stopped in to visit. We are planning to have him share with us at a Missions Banquet in April about his trip to the Sudan. He has lots of exciting stories to tell of his incursion into that Muslim Country. Zac called a few times to talk about our phones – we are thinking about getting new ones. Our old ones are just about worn out. I published several more podcasts to the internet. Go to our “solid teaching” page and check them out. http://www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com/radio.html. Dave also stopped by to chat. He wanted to know a few things about some Old Testament characters. Maybe we will post some of that stuff to the forum page. Just then I got a phone call from Susan about our truck repair. It is in the shop. More bad news. There are some serious problems with the truck. Pray for the bill! After work I worked out with Kyle & Marcia. Shawna and son Brady were there. Then it was home for an evening with Susan. I talked for quite a while to John on the phone. EE is doing well. They got to present the gospel to a long time church attendee who did not know how to have eternal life!

This week’s theme verse. Matthew 5:8-11 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be persecuted “for righteousness sake?” I suppose if we generalized and took the broad view “righteousness” would mean anything that is right, no matter how big or small. This idea seems to indicate that we should stand for right on every level. If it’s right, I’m going to make a big deal about it and if it’s wrong I am going to vigorously dig my stubborn spurs in and I will not move. Standing for what is right is a good idea, but sometimes we can overdo it. There are different levels of right. There is the moral level: theft, slander, immorality and lying are examples. Surely we should stand for righteousness there and not be involved with those kinds of things. There is the ethical level: Company regulations forbid some things that in other circumstances would be ok, like talking about their products (They are trade secrets if you are talking to a competitor) or talking about politics at work, or dating a co-worker. In certain circumstances each of those may be acceptable or unacceptable. There is the process level: you know, the right way to do things, my way! Or the highway! Some processes may seem right until a more inventive person comes along with a better idea. Then there is the spiritual level. This relates to the central truths of our faith: Jesus died for my sins. Eternal Life is a free gift of Grace. The Bible is God’s Word and the way to find Eternal Life. Etc. Each of these categories deserves some degree of response. The process level gets the lowest score, it’s only worth standing for as long as it’s the best way. The Ethical level should be followed as best we can as long as it doesn’t contradict a higher class of “righteousness.” The Moral level is important for us to conform to, and we should do our best to see that others share these values, even though sometimes we may not be in a position to see that they conform to it. That takes wisdom. But the Spiritual Level is the one that this verse is talking about (as we will see next week). That is where we should take the firmest stand. I’ll stand for Jesus because his righteousness has made me righteous and given me eternal life. That’s what it’s all about!

Dear Jesus: Thank you for giving me your righteousness. I have none on my own. When I think of the way I am on the inside I realize that I am so blessed to have you living inside me to change me bit by bit. I am willing to stand for my faith. I know that it is the most important thing that I have. I treasure it. It is so precious to me! Thank you Father for making me a new creature in Christ Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit for your holy presence in my life! I am blessed!

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