Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009

6-30 Timeline Interrupted

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Is your cup half empty or half full? Do you just see black clouds, or do you see the silver lining? Ok, this is really a question for yours truly… ME! Yesterday I struggled to see things from the positive side. Why? First of all, over the weekend, I had two checks bouncing around out of state and it seemed like I could do nothing about it. Like a lot of people, my finances have been tight and my Health Savings Account is no exception. I caught wind of it Friday in an email. I called on Saturday. There was nothing they could do on the weekend. By Monday morning I had accrued almost $100 in charges because they just kept sending the same two checks back through… boing, boing, boing! If one bounce is good, let’s send them back two or three times! Hello! Here’s the bright side. I didn’t even have to ask them to reverse the charges! They volunteered! And then as a bonus threw in an EXTRA 10 bucks! Like when does that happen! …but bad moods are hard to shake. It took me until almost noon to leave the house! And then my trailer got a flat tire! Great! Now I’m grumpy! The silver lining? I have two spare tires. God is good. No need to let circumstances ruin your day. He’s taking care of me!

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 19:23-43; Nahum 3; Luke 6:1-26
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people… 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

I hope you did your best to follow my math class yesterday. It is one of the coolest prophecies ever! Let me review this amazing prophecy in simplified form. A) The first 7 weeks (49 years) – Jerusalem will be rebuilt in troublesome times. B) Add 62 more weeks (total of 483 years) – to Messiah “The Prince” at the triumphal entry. After he presents himself as Prince he will be “cut off” or killed, but “not for himself!” He died for our sins. This is really awesome stuff! C) AFTER Messiah is cut of then the people of the “Prince that is to come” shall destroy Jerusalem. That happened in AD 70 when General Titus took Jerusalem. Remember Jesus piercing cry as he looked down upon Jerusalem? While his supporters shouted “Hosanna in the highest” he saw the city and wept over it. Jesus cried out, oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:42-44) Jesus knew Daniel! He was simply expressing Daniel’s prophecy in expanded form. Because He, the Messiah was rejected and cut off, the rest of the prophecy came into play. The people of “the prince to come” were going to leave the city desolate and the nation again would be scattered to the four winds until God brought them back into the land in fulfillment of yet another prophecy. D) Now get this! The prophetic timeline for Israel was interrupted when they rejected their Prince at the Triumphal entry. The things that happened after that are OUTSIDE the days planned for Israel. They occurred during the prophetic period we call “The Times of the Gentiles!” Once they rejected their Prince, God “set them aside” for a time! Tomorrow we will look at the last week of prophecy for God’s earthly chosen people.

Dear Messiah, my Savior and Lord. Thank you for being “cut off” for my sins and for the sins of the world. Help me to understand the time of my visitation, that now is the time for me to tune in my heart to you! Help me to always embrace you and your plan for me.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:28 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Jun 29, 2009

6-29 The Messiah Will Be Cut Off

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Update on Esther! She is doing great! The swelling and redness are gone! Thanks to those of you who prayed!

What’s the best kept secret of Douglas County? I’ll give you a few hints: The grass is as green as the day is long! Beautiful carpeted lawn. Hundreds of flowers are blooming in reds, yellows and a cacophony of colors. A dozen tall stately pine trees surround the place like sentinels, while another dozen maples stretch out their leafy branches to cover the hidden garden with their shade. Above, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. A dragonfly of a color and beauty I can’t describe lazily hovers across the lawn for all of us to admire. Behind is the quiet cascade of Deer Creek running endlessly past. The sound of beautiful music and blended voices just seems appropriate for this setting. It’s Sunday at the Pine Grove Amphitheater and if you’ve ever been there, you know what I mean, and you love to be there! This is the best kept secret of Douglas County! Thank God for its beauty. For a look go to www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 19:1-22; Nahum 2; Luke5:20-39
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people… 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

I dare you to predict a significant earth shaking event that will occur exactly 483 years in the future. The good news is, if your predictions are that far into the future you won’t be around to face the music when they don’t come true. How can any one of us nearsighted little humans think that we could possibly know the shape of things to come! 483 years ago would have been the year 1526. By now Christopher Columbus has been dead for 20 years! The conquistadors are landing with alarming regularity on the Americas. William Tyndale has just begun to print “The Tyndale Bible” in English with the help of Martin Luther. The crossbow is in production and the production of firearms are still 25 years in the future. How could any person in 1526 predict the rise to world power of the United States of America? It was an inhospitable wilderness inhabited by hostile “savages.” Who, in 1526 would have predicted the automobile, air travel, space travel, the internet, or the host of other amazing changes that have occurred in the last 100 years alone! God dared to do so. The Almighty named the exact year when Christ would die 483 years before it happened! Let’s do the math, and I hope you like math because this can be confusing! 62 weeks (or sevens) plus 7 weeks = 69 weeks. That equals 483 “Sabbath years” of sevens. Jewish calendars used a 360-day year, so our total is 173,880 days (rather than years). When do the 173,880 days start? The “command to rebuild Jerusalem” was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on March 14, 445 B.C. In the first 7 weeks, 49 years Jerusalem was rebuilt! Even despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, Ezra and Nehemiah saw the fulfillment of that portion of the prophecy. Exactly 173,880 days later on April 6, 32 AD Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey proclaiming himself as “Messiah the Prince!” Immediately after those 69 weeks he would be crucified. How could Daniel have known this in advance? How could anyone have contrived this detailed prediction over three centuries before? This stunning prophecy, correct to the very day, is one of the most amazing proofs of the almighty power of God in Scriptures.

Dear All Powerful Lord. Once again I am reminded that you know all things! You scripted them out so perfectly. You have all things under control. They may not seem so to my perceptions, but to you, all things work together for your glory! I will trust in you.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

6-29 The Messiah Will Be Cut Off

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 11:40 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Jun 26, 2009

6-26 Seventy Weeks!

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“What do you think it is?” Ken and I peered deeply into granddaughter Esther’s face. It was red all right, and swollen. Just let Dr. Dennis look! He’ll tell you! “I’m not sure. It could be poison oak, but then again, it doesn’t exactly look like it. I just don’t know.” Esther’s normally light completion was now a soft color of red… all over her face! Her cheeks were beginning to puff up like the cheeks of a little chipmunk. Esther was embarrassed and didn’t want anyone looking. When she went to the doctor, she tried to hide her face, and she cried. Poor little thing! It turns out that it is an allergic reaction, perhaps to make up or something. Ken even sent us a “phone to phone” picture mail after the doctor appointment.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 18; Nahum 1; Luke5:1-19
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

By far one of the most amazing prophecies in all of Scriptures is the prophecy of the “70 weeks” given to Daniel. Daniel had been studying the books of the Old Testament. It was there he came across Jeremiah’s prophecy that the nation would be in captivity for 70 years in Babylon. 65 of those 70 years had already past! Daniel was a very old man by now, probably in his nineties! When Daniel “understood” the prophecy, and calculated the time remaining he set his face to seek God with fasting and prayer. While he was praying, the angel Gabriel came to him to give him a stunning new prophecy. It was the prophecy of the “70 weeks” or more literally seventy sevens. Here’s how the math works out. Judah went into captivity due to the fact that for some 490 years they did not observe the “Sabbath land law.” The law was that for one year of every 7 they must leave the land fallow… no plowing and no reaping. Out of greed and disobedience they failed to do that. Because of that, and because of the wickedness of the nation, the curses of Deuteronomy 28 came upon them. For every missed Sabbath year, they spent one year in captivity. 490 years divided by 7 = 70 years of captivity. But now Gabriel was turning the tables on the nation. Those 70 years would be reversed and returned to them! Thus 70 x 7 = 490 years. “Seventy weeks of Sabbaths are determined for your people and for your holy city!” Note well that this prophecy is aimed specifically at the nation of Israel. The nation had 490 years of prophetic history to fulfill! These 70 weeks were decreed by God to accomplish six purposes. 1. To finish the transgression, 2. To make an end of sins, 3. To make reconciliation for iniquity, 4. To bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. To seal up vision and prophecy, and 6. And to anoint the Most Holy. The first three relate to the work of Christ on the cross, and the second three relate to the return of Christ to set up His kingdom. In His first Coming, at the cross (483 years into the prophecy) Christ would die, pay for our transgressions… the finished work of the cross and reconcile us to God. That leaves one week, or 7 years to fulfill the last three at His second coming… to usher in his kingdom of righteousness, to put his finishing touches on prophecy and to come as the anointed King, bringing the very presence of God into the midst of mankind! Even so, Lord Jesus come!

Dear Lord Jesus, even so, come quickly. Thank you for your first coming where you paid for my sins, completely! I look forward to your second coming when you inaugurate your reign of righteousness! As you have fulfilled prophecy in the past, I expect it to be fulfilled in the future!

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:56 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Jun 25, 2009

6-25 When it’s too late.

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“So do you think your life would be better or worse if God were the center of your life?” It was a question neither one of them had contemplated! He rubbed his chin while her eyes tracked to the side reaching deeply for the answer. The questions only got tougher! “If God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My heaven,’ what would you answer?” She didn’t know at first. He said that he always believed, that he’d tried to live a good life and that he’d done his best… she agreed. The greatest news EVER is that heaven is a free gift! “The gift of God is eternal life!” I gave them the “good person test” based on the 10 commandments, and like everyone else on the planet they failed, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Another uncomfortable question: “If God were to judge you based on the 10 commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?” Guilty as charged… do not pass go, do not go to heaven! The good news is that Jesus, God’s son, died in our place for our sin and he offers us heaven as a free gift, if we will trust Him. It’s like saying “I do.” Just like that, he was ready…, but she was apprehensive; “I’m afraid.” She said. We prayed and He made the decision to trust Christ, and God is still working in her life! Pray for both of them.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 17; Micah 7; Luke 4:29-44
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Jeremiah 25 4 "the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 "They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever… 7 "Yet you have not listened to Me," says the LORD, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, 9 ‘behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land… 11 ‘And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Jewish Rabbinical literature suggests that king Nebuchadnezzar was a descendent of the Queen of Sheba in her marriage to King Solomon! It also suggests that the exiles, on their way to Babylon were not allowed to stop even for a moment, as the king feared that they would pray during the respite granted them and that God would be willing to help them as soon as they repented. Whether either is true or not, they bring an interesting twist to the story. Jeremiah 25 is a further development of the blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 28. God had sent prophet after prophet with messages of warning about the curses waiting them, but the people refused to listen. 2Ch 36:16 comments, “But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” “The weeping prophet,” Jeremiah lived through this terrible siege. He warned the nation that it was too late! There was no remedy! The nation was going into captivity! The Babylonians easily crossed the city walls with the help of defensive towers. The defenders of the city were unable able to cope with this advanced technique, Metal military equipment, catapults, and the well planned tactic of attack. In 587 BC the nation was taken into exile. Jeremiah was not one of the exiles. He was allowed to stay in the land. Tradition says that his own people killed him because of his dismal prophecies. One of the most stunning prophecies he made was that the nation would only be in exile for 70 years, one year for every Sabbath year they had failed to observe. The Sabbath years occurred every 7 years, during which the land was supposed to remain fallow. When the land had observed all it’s Sabbaths, then the people would return. History tells us that Ezra and Nehemiah led the people back to the land exactly as Jeremiah had predicted 70 years later. What else would you expect?

Dear Father, I am amazed that what you say always comes true. I should not be amazed, but I am. Help me to trust you for the Scriptures yet unfulfilled as I trust you for those that have already been fulfilled. It is clear that you are have the master plan. Thank you for loving me.

The Lord bless you; we bless you in the Lord’s name.”

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:57 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009

6-24 The Blessings and Cursings

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“I’m an evolutionist,” Erik said sincerely. Erik is in his first year in college. “So, have you ever considered the case for creation?” He hadn’t. He’d been taught evolution in school, never heard anything different at home, so that’s what he believed. I asked him a few penetrating, yet simple questions: “So can you explain how life can come from something non-living?” He couldn’t. Despite the impossibility, the believers keep believing. “Can you tell me how a big explosion (bang) can create harmony and order?” He didn’t know, but that didn’t seem to faze him. “Can you tell me how a toxic puddle could give birth to the first living thing?” His answer? “Those questions are not in my field of expertise!” At the most basic, simplest level Evolution fails simple scientific tests, yet the believers keep believing. Pray that we will gain some independent thinking skills!

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 16; Micah 6; Luke 4:1-28
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Deuteronomy 28 " 1 "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God… 15 "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

What is one “proof” that God exists? Joaquin Miller wrote as if in answer… “Who gave your very God to you? Your Jew! Your Jew! Your hated Jew!” One of the most amazing stories of prophecy and history is the dispersion and return of the Jews to the Holy Land. The blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 28 are crucial to our understanding of the prophetic future. There are about a dozen blessings promised to the nation and about three times as many cursings in that chapter. If Israel obeyed the voice of the Lord and followed His commandments they were promised that they would be blessed above every nation of the world! All their foes would be defeated, they would have abundance and plenty of goods, they would be the head, and not the tail… if they would obey the commandments of the Lord. But we know what happened! They have not… so the curses have overtaken them time and time again. They have become troublesome to the kingdoms of the earth, and many nations have ruthlessly ruled over them (36). Their sons and daughters have gone into captivity (41). They have been scattered among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other (64). All these cursings were for a sign and a wonder to all who would come after them of what happens to those who do not serve the Lord (46). Solomon restated many of those blessings and cursings in his prayer in 2 Chronicles 6 & 7. He asked that if the people were taken captive in a foreign land, and if they prayed and sincerely turned to God with all their heart, then God would hear and forgive and return them to the land (2 Chron 6:25&37). He concluded his prayer with that well known phrase; “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (7:14). This early prophecy would become an important pattern for understanding the future. The nation would go into captivity. They would be scattered throughout the earth… but God is not finished with them yet. He continues to bring them back to the land to fulfill His word.

Dear Lord Jesus. I love reading about the blessings, but pray that the cursings would pass me by. I pray that I would learn from the nation Israel how foolish it is to live a life independent of you and your plan. I want your plan for my life to be my plan! Thank you for the promise of a life lived to the full.

"Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:14 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009

6-19-09 Time With God

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Today is June 19, this is Time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis who will be back before the mike on Monday - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Time With God is a complete turn of events; it is a 180 degree turn around. God is changing us and turning us around as a community. This is not business as usual, this is life transforming, this is spiritual, this is essential.

Today’s quote is from Paul E. Billheimer:
“From heaven’s standpoint, all spiritual victories are won not primarily in the pulpit, not primarily in the Klieg light of publicity, nor yet through the ostentatious blaring of trumpets, but in the secret place of prayer”

Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 14; Micah 4; Luke 2 verses 21-end
To Listen to Today’s Reading at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Thanks for joining me in this life transforming journey. This is one step forward daily in your relationship with God



Prayer:
"Ah, LORD, I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep and the floods surrounded me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ For You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple. I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD."

We are a wired church! www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com Surf on over to our “sound teaching” page and you can listen in on any service of the church.

Dennis’ phone number is 541-672-7278 – or email him at info@pinegrovecommunitychurch.com

Encouraging Verse:
Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Let’s take 60 seconds to close your eyes and just focus on Jesus and his love for you. Draw near to God with all your heart and he will draw near to you.

This is Time With God, for Pastor Dennis, I’m Dave, and Dennis be waiting for you on Monday morning

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 12:17 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Jun 18, 2009

6-18-09 Time With God

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Today is June 18. This is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community.

We are doing something of eternal significance. We are redeeming the time. That is one of the basic premises of Time With God. We believe that what we do every day is so important that we must do the important things each day. That is why we read the word every Day.

Today’s quote is from Hudson Taylor, “Whatever is your best time in the day, give that to communion with God.”

Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 13; Micah 3; Luke 2 verses 1-20 (the Christmas story)

To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Prayer
The LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. O LORD, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known. In wrath remember mercy. Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

You’ll find me at www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com

Dennis’ phone number is 541-672-7278 – or email him at info@pinegrovecommunitychurch.com

Encouraging Verse
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus

Let’s take 60 seconds to close your eyes and just focus on Jesus and his love for you. Draw near to God with all your heart and he will draw near to you.

This is Time With God, for Pastor Dennis, I’m Dave, and I’ll be waiting for you right here, tomorrow

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 11:08 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009

6-17-09 Time With God

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Today is June 17, this is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community.

You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

Today’s quote is from R. V. G. Tasker: “An essential condition of listening to God is that the mind should not be distracted by thoughts of resentment, ill-temper, hatred or vengeance, all of which are comprised in the general term, the wrath of man..”

Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 12; Micah 2; Luke 1 vv 39-80 (end)

To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Daily Prayer
The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; Lord we pray that you will send out laborers into His harvest and help us to Love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and we pray for those who spitefully use us. If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. We believe and do not doubt in, so we know the things we ask will be done, and we will have our requests.

Encouraging Verse
Cast your burden on the LORD and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 11:49 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009

6-16-09 Time with God

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Today is June 16, this is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. This is your invitation to take one step forward every day in your relationship with Christ. We invite you to do something unbelievably radical. We invite you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus

Today’s quote is from Andrew Murray “We are to be shut out from men, and shut in with God.”

Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 11; Micah 1; Luke 1 vv1-38
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Daily Prayer
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Encouraging Verse
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 11:35 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009

TWG 6-15-09

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Today is June 15, this is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow.

Today’s quote is from Robert A. Cook “Cut your morning devotions into your personal grooming. You would not go out to work with a dirty face. Why start the day with the face of your soul unwashed?”

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 10; Jonah 4; Mark 16
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Prayer
I pray that we may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. I pray that our faith will not fail; and that if it does that we will return to Jesus, and strengthen each other. I pray that we may not enter into temptation. Father, if it is Your will, take life’s difficulties away from us; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. God, be merciful to me a sinner!

Encouraging Verse
He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 5:58 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Jun 12, 2009

6-12 The Sun Must Refuse to Shine!

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So who would Jesus torture? My nephew Kevin asked me that  His comments on facebook always stimulate lively discussions! One of my questions is “what do you mean by torture? Define it for me.” I don’t believe in torture, although Hell isn’t going to be a cakewalk! Am I mixed up here? I’ll let you sort that out. But while I’m thinking about what Jesus would do, torture and Hell, it brings up the broader question of “What should Dennis be doing?” In light of an eternity of “torture” in Hell, shouldn’t Dennis be putting every possible energy he has into letting people know What I know Jesus Did? He was tortured in our place on a cruel cross, so that we could trust in Him to receive a free pass from eternal torture. His torture for our freedom! Pass it on.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 9; Jonah 3; Mark 15:21-47
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Jeremiah 31:31-37 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah …I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people… 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name): 36 "If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever." 37 Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD.

Has God abandoned Israel? Are they no longer “His Chosen People?” Has he cast them aside forever? That is the question Paul asked in Romans 11:1. The principles of prophecy hinge on this question! Some people believe that Israel has been set aside in God’s plan and replaced by the church. So when we read “Israel” we now mean “church.” That completely changes the way we read the future. Either it is right or wrong, true or false. If it is true, our world view philosophy changes racially and our prophetic view changes with it. How can we ignore such sweeping statements like Jeremiah 31:37. Here are the conditions for casting off Israel for all the wrong things they have done. Our sun must first grow old and die or explode! No more sunshine, no more Israel. Our moon and stars have to wink out at night forever. No moon, no stars (no universe!) no chosen people. The ocean needs to be drained dry, or at least down far enough so we can take a bath in it without making waves. At that point Israel will also cease from being God’s chosen nation. Are these just terms of exaggeration or does God really mean this stuff? Based on the three covenants (Abrahamic, Davidic, Palestianian) we would say that God is serious about one prophetic assertion: Israel is central to his plan for the future. Now enter a fourth covenant: “The New Covenant” of Jeremiah 31. This is the plan by which God intends to restore Israel to a nation He can govern with pleasure. Under the New Covenant, God will write his law on every one of their hearts! He will take away their unruly and hard hearts and replace it with a heart for God! No longer will they wander away from Him as they have done since day one, instead they all will follow Him and love Him wholeheartedly! The New Covenant will make a marked and stunning change in the way the nation and individuals behave! It is a fundamental change of human nature! Our societal tendency to sin will be gone, and Israel will one day be “the ideal nation.” That’ll be the day! That’s why Paul emphatically says “absolutely not! God has not cast away His people!” Romans 11:1 & 2

Dear Lord! Thanks for the promise of the New Covenant. I could use a change of heart right now! Please change me and make my heart acceptable to your heart. I want to love you wholeheartedly. I want to obey you sincerely. I cannot do it on my own. Thank you for Jesus who makes that possible.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:44 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Jun 11, 2009

6-11 The Weirdest Biblical Ritual Ever

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“So Kyle is really going to teach about the rapture? Huh?” Jayn was at church planting flowers in the memorial planter out front. “There seems to be so much negative stuff out there about it! And I heard that the word ‘rapture’ is not even in the Bible.” Right there, out in front, we held a short “Bible Study discussion.” No, the word Rapture is not in the Bible… neither is the word Trinity, or if you want to be technical… neither is any other English word! It was all written in Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic. But the Greek word “harpazo” is. And it could have easily been translated “rapture” if we were speaking Latin! The word Rapture is a Latin word. We call it the “catching away” of the church. It’s in there. And yes there is a lot of negative stuff out there about it. However, what I have discovered is that most of the criticism is aimed at people who believe in the rapture, and only a small portion of that is discussion about Scripture itself… why is that? Could it be that Paul believed in the harpazo?

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 8; Jonah 2; Mark 15:1-1-20
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Today’s thought comes from Genesis 15:9-18 So God said to Abram, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two… 17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates”

This is one of the weirdest ceremonies ever recorded in the Bible! It is a ceremony which would gross out even strongest of Vegans! What is this about! You’re never going to believe it… it was the strongest possible way of solemnizing a Middle Eastern oath back in the day of Abraham. There are three essential covenants (or oaths) in the Old Testament… The Abrahamic Covenant of Blessing, The Davidic Covenant of the Messianic Seed, and now, back to Abraham for what we call “The Palestinian Covenant of the Land.” …Land, Seed, Blessing. All three find their basis of fulfillment in the promises made to Abraham. The Palestinian Covenant is no exception. God promised the land of “Palestine” specifically to the nation of Israel in Genesis 15. How do we know that? Get your Bible out and read the verses I didn’t print above; 11-16. There God lays out a prophecy of promise. “Abraham’s descendents will be slaves for 400 years in a foreign land. Then after the 4th generation they’d return to Palestine to take the land.” Historically, who fulfilled that prophecy? You got it! The nation Israel. But they have never possessed all the land promised to them! God said that one day their little 8000 square mile nation would possess the land all the way down to Egypt South and from the Euphrates River to the east! How much land is that? It is a small portion of Egypt, half of Iraq, all of Jordan, about a third of Saudi Arabia, three quarters of Syria and all of Lebanon! Those are fighting words! Do you think those nations are ever going to cede their land to the Jews? No way Jose! Not in this life! That’s because it is a prophecy yet unfulfilled. Just as the nation of Israel spent 400 years in Egypt and returned as prophesied, so they will one day possess all that land… in what we call the “Millennial Reign of Christ.” God gave this oath in the serious, solemn way possible. He cut 5 animals in half and laid them out on two sides with a path between them. Then He, in the picturesque form of a torch walked between them. In Middle Eastern terms this would have meant, “If I (God) ever fail to fulfill my oath may my life be like the lives of these animals… slain and cut in two!” That’s pretty strong language. Look to the future. One day God intends to fulfill this stunning prophecy!

Dear Father. I am surprised at how serious you are about keeping your word. The possibility of it sometimes is staggering and beyond my understanding. It doesn’t seem possible. But you know the times, you understand the future. I’m going to leave all that up to you and trust you for the future as you have been faithful in the past.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:01 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jun 10, 2009

6-10 Land, Seed, Blessing

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“I’m Bob Jameson from the Jackson County Mental Health Facility. I understand your church needs Puppet Counseling?” The phone was very fuzzy. I didn’t think I heard him right, but he repeated it, and yes he was asking if we needed “puppet counseling!” I didn’t recognize the voice, but we did have a hilarious and dysfunctional puppet play in Sunday School so I played along. “Yes we have a few schizophrenic puppets! They won’t follow the script and they continually engage in impromptu puppet fights! And one of them keeps calling the other a retard!” It was John! Dave had called him and given a blow by blow commentary on Sunday’s play, it was so funny John decided we needed puppet counseling! You had to be there! It was a blast!

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 7; Jonah 1; Mark 14:32-72
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from 2 Samuel 7:12-16 12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."’"

Land, seed, blessing… these are the three catchwords we use when talking about the Prophetic covenants God made with Israel. The Land has to do with the little 8000 square mile strip of land that the nation now possesses. To give you some perspective, Oregon is 98,000 square miles or 12 times larger than modern Israel! Of course God promises that in its final form Israel will be much bigger than that! The blessing is about the fact that all the nations will be blessed through Abraham. And the Seed has to do with the royal line which leads to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. That’s what 2 Samuel 7 is all about. We call it the “Davidic Covenant.” God made an unconditional covenant with David (although parts of it are conditional) that He would set up David’s descendents on the throne of Israel forever – this is the unconditional part. For 500 years one of David’s children or grandchildren ruled from Jerusalem, and then in 586 BC they all got carted off the Babylon. Since that time not one of David’s children has ever ruled the nation! Instead what has happened is that since they committed iniquity God has chastened “him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men” and this is the conditional aspect! If they didn’t follow God, he would bring chastening in the form of exile and foreign rule. So what happened to the Davidic Covenant? For 2500 years there has not been one single descendent sitting on the throne in Jerusalem, ruling the nation! Has prophecy gone bad? Enter one child that would change the world, Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew and Luke take great pains in tracing the genealogy of Jesus back to David, to Abraham and to Adam. The promise of the Deliverer was first made to Adam and Eve. Christ fulfilled that promise. The Promise of the Blessing was first made to Abraham. Christ fulfilled that promise. The Promise of the reigning King was made to David. Christ is the fulfillment of that promise! That promise is fulfilled now, but not yet! The “now” part of that is that Christ is seated on the throne in Heaven. His resurrection and ascension sealed that! The Martyr Stephen said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" The “not yet” part of this prophecy is that when Christ returns he will reign over Israel from the throne of David in Jerusalem… but not just over the nation! The book of Revelation promises He will bring a reign of peace to the entire world!

Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly! May you bring a reign of peace and hope to this confusing and difficult world. We all want peace, but it seems so elusive. We know that peace only comes from You, the “Prince of Peace!” We anxiously await your return.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and warning one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

6-10 Land, Seed, Blessing

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 8:54 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Tuesday, Jun 09, 2009

6-9 Blessing and Cursing

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Bob came to know the Lord years ago at Pine Grove. I hadn’t seen him in a while. He runs a wholesale nursery. He and his brother… both who love the Lord helped me load up $50 worth of plants. “Are you keeping track of how much we are loading up?” “Yes,” said Bob as he kept piling on the plants! How about a few more of these? And a few more of these? We talked about the Lord and how Jesus makes it possible for us to survive and live the full life in spite of this world. We talked about Bob’s son Pat… who, unknown to us, at that moment was meeting Susan at a rental. Isn’t life interesting! Susan and I gave each other a look of surprise when we swapped stories. No coincidences… just God’s hand.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 6; Obadiah 1; Mark 14:1-31 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Blessing and cursing. I’m pretty sure that most of us would like to be blessed, and few of us really want to be cursed! If there is a way to get the blessing, I’m all for it. And there is! The central core of the Abrahamic Covenant is that God was going to make Abraham into a great nation, and that for the rest of the nations and peoples, the way they treat that nation would result in either blessing or cursing. We know, historically, that from Abraham’s descendents came the fledgling nation of Israel. Why did God choose Israel? Not because they were the brightest or the best… but because God has chosen to demonstrate His love and his faithfulness to a lost world through His choice of the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-10). Now I know that if you bring up the nation Israel in conversation around the table of a local restaurant, many of your buddies will have some pretty passionate feelings about the Palestinians and the Israelis. I have seen people flash from 0 to anger in under .0465 seconds! What brings out the passion in people over this issue? Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and some people have some strong political opinions! You may have heard it all! “The Palestinian people are oppressed…” “The Israelis are our best friend in the Middle East…” and on and on into an ever widening black hole of political discussions we go! I don’t know how you resolve the Middle East crisis, but I can tell you one simple fact: God said that He would bless those who bless His earthly chosen people, Israel, and he would curse those who curse them. And that brings up a sticky ethical question; “so we should bless them even when they are in the wrong?” That’s food for thought. If you figure it out, let me know. I can only tell you this. In the Old Testament, the nations that God used to punish Israel, when they were way out in left field and deserving of punishment, were in turn punished for punishing Israel! Just check out the list! Babylon, destroyed, Assyria, relegated to a second rate nation, Egypt, crippled… and there were many more! I think it might be safer to err on the side of blessing! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and bless God’s earthly chosen people… and then hold them accountable to live up to that blessing! With blessing comes responsibility. When you bless, you will be blessed! Count me in!

Dear Lord. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I pray for the nations of the Middle East that they would seek justice and live in peace with one another. I will bless your chosen people for from them the Messiah, Jesus came! Thank you for your Son Jesus!

Above all things put on love and let the peace of God rule in your hearts and be thankful.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:45 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Jun 08, 2009

6-8 The Covenant of Blessing

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Ed from Awana was our speaker Sunday. He was down to earth and great to listen to, even the second time around (two services). He extended his right hand and said “the purpose of teaching is to take the student…” then he extended his left hand “and the Word of God and bring them together” as he said this, he brought both hands together and clasped them. Good stuff. Later in the message he extended both arms and twirled his hands slightly as he said, “We want to teach as much of the Word as possible” then moving both hands center and down to the floor, “And go as deep as possible” finally he pointed both hands in the air as he twirled both hands “to as many children as possible!” Those two visual illustrations tell us what our goals are in children’s ministry!

Today’s Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 5; Amos 9; Mark 13

To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Ever heard of the Abrahamic Covenant? It is one of the most important covenants in the Bible. A covenant is a contract or agreement between two parties, in this case it is between God and Abraham. Usually a contract is an agreement where party “A” agrees to perform one action and in exchange party “B” agrees to do another. In contracting, I (Party A) might agree to build you a house if you (party B) agree to pay me $100,000 dollars. This is what we call a conditional covenant. If one of us breaches the contract it may become null and void. That’s what courts and lawsuits are all about… failure to perform. (I want my money back because you didn’t build me a house like you promised!) In the Genesis 12 case, however, we have what we call an unconditional covenant. An unconditional covenant is an agreement where Party A (God) agrees to do something for party B (Abraham and his descendants) and expects nothing in return from Party B. Party A just does it out of the generosity of his heart! In the business world, unconditional covenants are rare! We see unconditional covenants illustrated by the relationship parents have with their children. Parents decide to care for their children and raise them regardless of whether or not their children ever give them anything back at all (except a lot of love and joy). So what is this unconditional covenant that God made with Abraham? “I will make you a great nation… I will bless those that bless you and curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed!” What was Abraham’s part? Well he messed it up! He didn’t trust God as he should have. God promised that the great nation would come through Sarah. Sarah didn’t have children until 90! So Abraham took a concubine and another wife! Yet even though Abraham messed up God remained faithful because He made an unconditional promise! To understand prophecy we must understand the importance and influence of the Abrahamic Covenant. At 90 Sarah had a son named Isaac. Isaac had a son named Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of Israel. Eventually one of the twelve, Judah, became the grandfather of King David. From David’s line came Jesus Christ. And today every nation on the face of the earth has been influenced by Christian values and the message that Jesus is the Savior.

Dear Father. Thanks for the promise you made to Abraham. I have been blessed by it. Thank you for making it conditional on your faithfulness to perform and not on our performance! You have chosen to bless us because you love us, not because we are such “good” people! Thanks for your love!

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:15 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Jun 05, 2009

6-5 The Roots of Middle East Conflict

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Jim is in good spirits. He grinned at me from the hospital bed when I asked him how he was doing… “The nurse asked me the same question when they admitted me!” he said, “And I told her, ‘I’m checking into the hospital! How do you think I’m doing?’” The nurse replied, “Well, I’m in the hospital and I’m doing pretty good.” Jim snorted, “Well that’s because you’re on the other end of the stick! If you were in my position how would you be doing?” Jim is as ornery as ever! And that’s a good thing. He had a successful operation and should be going home today between 10 and 12. We talked for quite a while, read from Isaiah 40 and prayed. Melinda came up and I said my goodbyes.

on another subject, I did a poor job of the amphitheater advertisement explanation yesterday. We are interested in advertising our outdoor Summer Services… does it make more sense now? I hope so. Thanks to Keith for bringing it to my attention… and thanks for your encouragement! Keith writes I scan the sermon and read the prayer on each email. I am using and reinforcing the closing prayer with each email. I just wanted to say thanks. I am glad you are sharing your faith with me in this fashion.

Today’s Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 4; Amos 8; Mark 12:28-43

To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The book of Genesis bumps along with some amazing historical events like the flood, and the tower of Babel, but not too much in the way of prophecy until we get to Abraham. And then we discover the roots of the Middle East conflict! Abraham himself! In chapter 12, in this powerful and important prophecy, he’s still called Abram meaning “exalted father.” God used his name as a play on words to tell him, “Abram, you exalted father, you… you will be really exalted! You will become the father of A great nation!” And that’s where the conflict comes in. The Jews claim Abraham as their father and the Muslims claim Abraham as their father! The Quran teaches in no uncertain terms that Abraham is the founder of Islam! The Jews claim that they are the nation of blessing and the Muslim’s say they are! So which is it? Door #1 or Door #2? I have to admit a bias. I believe the Bible to be an accurate record of history and consider the Quran (Koran) to have serious historic, literary and prophetic problems. So, I’m going to go with Door #1. Here’s how the Bible frames the problem. Abram’s wife was childless so she encouraged him to take her maid as a concubine. She had a son named Ishmael. About the time that Abram’s concubine gave birth to Ishmael, God changed his name from Abram “exalted father” to Abraham meaning “The father of a multitude.” In Ge 17:5 God told him, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations!” Now many nations and kings would come from him! Do you see the problem developing? Later in life Sarah died and Abraham took another wife and had another six sons! Abraham sent all his sons away to the east but Isaac, and many of the Middle Eastern people are descended from them! But Isaac stayed in the land and the promise was passed on to him! Thus the conflict! Had Abram stayed Abram, there might not be this terrible Palestinian problem or Arab problem! (There’d be different ones instead). Way to go Abe! But Abraham went his own direction and had more kids through a few different wives! And we all know that kids feud! And they are! But the good news is that from Abraham comes blessing. Jesus, the Messiah came from Abraham… and from Jesus all the nations have been blessed with the offer of eternal life!

Dear Father. Thank you for the blessing of Abraham, that all people are blessed because of the Messiah which came through him. I do pray for the conflict in the Middle East and pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the nations around. I pray that you will bring peace first to the heart through the prince of peace, Jesus, so that peace would prevail.

I do not think I have made it yet; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:14 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Jun 04, 2009

6-4 The Very First Prophecy

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Desiree from KPIC came out to see me yesterday. She lives in the Dixonville area. I gave her a tour of the church and then we went down to the Amphitheater. It really is beginning to look awesome! Every year it looks better and better! She loved the idea of outside worship. (of course every salesman is going to tell you that if they want to sell you their product!) Then we went in to discuss prices. A 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl only costs about $3 million bucks! But local TV is much cheaper! She quoted a price of about one Dollar for every 30 second commercial! What a price! That’s hard to beat! Desiree was very helpful and gave me all kinds of ideas… what do you think? Should Pine Grove Community Church advertise our Amphitheater on TV? Let me know.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 3:22-39; Amos 7; Mark 12:1-27
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Genesis 3:14-15 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall crush your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

What is the very first prophecy in the Bible? You guessed it, Genesis 3:15. Ever hear of the Law of First Mention? Very often, in the Bible, the first mention of a subject is key to understanding the rest of the matter. For example… the first mention of sin is in Genesis 3. In order to understand why we are all born sinners, you must understand the story of Adam and Eve. If you don’t know the origins of sin, you won’t understand why all of us are the way we are, and you surely won’t understand the solution to the problem. That’s why the secular world, pop psychology, self esteem ideology and the world’s religions each have such different solutions to the sin problem (if they call it sin at all) and why they don’t work! Understanding the problem of sin leads us to the solution to sin – Jesus Christ. In fact that is what the very first prophecy is about. The “Seed” of the woman will crush the serpents head, and the serpent will bruise his heel. Who is this “Seed?” Galatians 3:16 narrows down the search for the “Seed” to one people group of the world. The “Seed” will be one of Abraham’s descendents. The “Seed” is Jesus Christ! In fact, Jesus is called “The Last Adam” in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15. Sin came though the first Adam, Salvation came through the second Adam. Condemnation came through the first, emancipation came through the second. Corruption came from Adam, transformation came from Christ. All of history has looked for the Messiah who would set us free from the power of sin and restore the relationship we originally had with God. Jesus crushed the serpents head! He fulfilled that prophecy on the cross. In Luke 10:18-20 Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." And in John 12:31-32 “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Satan, not understanding the cross instigated it thinking that he would “kill God!” Instead all that old Serpent did was bruise His heel. The Resurrection must have come as quite a surprise for the shocked demonic army that watched the tomb that morning. But for us, it is the joyful fulfillment of the promise of Genesis 3:15.

Dear Father. Thank you for sending your Son to deal with my sin problem. Help me to cry out to the Savior for salvation. Deliver me, fill me with yourself and transform me into the image of Your dear Son! Thank you Jesus!

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:10 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jun 03, 2009

6-3 The Hope of Prophecy

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Advertising is expensive! In case you didn’t know it! I was asked to check some out for our outdoor amphitheater and summer worship. Here’s how it breaks down. Over $2000 for one full color page one time printing in the newspaper – NOT! $1000 per month for a 12 foot billboard… better, but, probably not in the cards! TV? I find out that today. I’m not optimistic! I was talking to Kyle and Marcia about it when a brainchild hit us! Why not buy one of those large vinyl signs and find some sympathetic business owner (like Jim) in Roseburg who will let us put it on his property! Great idea. Now I need to find out how much printing would cost and check out sign ordinances. And we are looking at giving away a wedding package this summer as a way to promote the use of our amphitheater… pass the word around.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 3:1-21; Amos 6; Mark 11
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Today’s thought comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

How many times God says “fear not” in the Bible? Eleven. Mentions of “be not dismayed?” Sixteen. “Do not be afraid?” Forty-eight! “Do not fear?” Fifty-one! Hundreds of times God hands down hope to his people in a prophetic message… be comforted! Be encouraged! Be strengthened! One of the great purposes of prophecy is to bring hope, encouragement and strength to God’s people. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2). Comfort one another with these words! Jesus is coming! We shall be changed! Now I have noticed that some Christians are “prophecy lovers” and others are “prophecy critics.” The critics deadpan like Ben Stein, “oh boy, another message on prophecy… the pastor is making another prediction that won’t come true, another attempt to make world events fit your scheme... so many viewpoints, so little consensus. Bah Humbug!” And, granted, there are many religious leaders who sensationalize and set dates and see things in the Bible that are not written in the text. They create them out of their own vivid imagination! "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ (Jeremiah 23:25) There is no end of prophetic abuses! And who do you think is happy about prophetic apathy and prophetic confusion? You guessed it, your enemy the Devil. But get this! Over 1/3 of the Bible is prophecy! If we ignore prophecy, we are going to miss out on some of the best encouragement, hope and empowerment the Bible has to give! God didn’t give prophecy so we could ignore it! Check out what Paul said about it in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21! “Do not quench the Spirit! Do not despise prophecies! Test all things; hold fast what is good.” Test all those prophetic ideas. Get rid of the interpretations that are bad, but hang on tight to the truth! And don’t despise prophecy because in so doing you are quenching the Spirit! Above all, be encouraged, because Jesus is coming soon!

Even so Lord Jesus, come quickly! I love your return. I will watch for your coming. I am encouraged because I know that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 4:25 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Tuesday, Jun 02, 2009

6-2 Even So, Lord Jesus, Come Quickly!

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It was slated to be a quiet evening at home recovering from a long day working on the rental… and then Cami called. Cami rents from us. She came over immediately to talk. She has a lot going on in her life! Her dad can no longer care for himself and needs her help! She has had her brother’s three children (plus her two) for the last week. Her brother and his wife are going through a very difficult time! Cami herself is in the middle of a divorce and struggling. To top it all off one job in her department is possibly on the chopping block and she’s the “low man” on the totem pole! She came over to talk about the lease… God had other ideas! I softly asked, “what difference would it make if God were in your life? Would your life be better or worse?” “I’ve been struggling with that very thing for several years.” She said. After a long discussion… with tears in her eyes, Cami made a decision to trust Christ! She was ready! It was a divine appointment!

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 2; Amos 5; Mark 10:32-52
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Jeremiah 18:5-10 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 "if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 "And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 "if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

God is smarter than a 5th grader! He could handily win “Who wants to be a millionaire” without using any of his lifelines! Who’s God going to call anyway? He knows it all. He could give the answers before Meredith could ask the questions! Imagine what would happen if God played the stock market or the lottery! Cha ching! Not that He has any need to. Which brings me to a question that’s on my mind; “what’s the purpose of prophecy anyway?” To show that God is smarter than the rest of us? He is. To tell us what is going to happen in the future? That’s a given. There are several other purposes of prophecy such as… God uses prophecy to communicate to the prophet and to His people. Sometimes that communication is in answer to the prophet’s prayers and questions. God uses prophecy to encourage His people. Sometimes prophecy gives instructions on things like who is to be king etc. But one of the main purposes of prophecy is to elicit repentance. Jeremiah 18 is a classic case in point. The underlying principle behind a prophetic message is that God is the potter and we are the clay. In other words God molds history any way he wants it. He can do anything he pleases! Because God is all powerful, when He sends a prophetic message we’d better listen up and repent! The causal purpose of prophecy is not so much to inform us what will happen tomorrow, no, the real point behind it is because God is going to bring judgment tomorrow, we’d better straighten up today! The objective of prophecy is to motivate us to turn from evil and turn to God! If we do we will be blessed, if we don’t? You don’t want to go there! Some of us are really into prophecy as an intellectual exercise. We have our charts and diagrams. We are pursuing what will happen next and which world events are in fulfillment of which prophecies! But we are missing the point! If prophecy does not impact and change our lives its real purpose is lost on us! If prophecy does not drive us to our knees in humble repentance and submission to God, we’re just playing the Bible like a fortune teller plays her Chrystal ball and tarot cards. It is high time we took God seriously and it is high time we cried out “Lord Jesus come quickly! I will serve you with all my heart until that time!”

Even so Lord Jesus, come quickly! I will serve you with all of my heart until that day! I want to love your return and have a passion for service to you. I am your humble servant. Teach me obedience and love for you.

Even so Lord Jesus, come Quickly!

6-2 Even So, Lord Jesus, Come Quickly!

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:05 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Jun 01, 2009

6-1 God Tells All!

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Are you sharing your faith? Sometimes you wonder if anyone really is? But Sunday night there were several who had done so. Vivian did. She shared her testimony with her coffee group! Great! Connie did. She asked her optometrist. The optometrist said she didn’t believe in God! But I’m sure it got her to thinking! Deann has had several opportunities to tell others about Jesus because she has the joy of the lord regardless of the fact that she just lost her job! They can’t comprehend such joy! God is good! And there were others! Be encouraged. God is working. You can be a part of the big picture! Share your faith.

Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 1; Amos 4; Mark 10:1-31
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” William Shakespeare. The script has been written on your life! World history is unfolding in a screen play written by God himself! Is that so? What is the nature and scope of prophecy? There’s one thing I’m pretty certain about: There are no specific prophecies mentioning Dennis Kreiss or his place in this great drama… at least none that I know about. I’m merely a minor actor on the big stage. You will find my name in very small print in the credits somewhere near the end. Another thing is clear. Not every great historical event of consequence has been chronicled by the prophets. How about the discovery of America by Columbus? The defeat of Napoleon? The slaughter of his own people by Stalin? The first man to walk on the moon? There are thousands, perhaps millions of events not heralded by prophecy. Did God know about them in advance? Yes. Were they part of his great plan? Uh huh. So why are some things prophesied about and so many others ignored? Here are the reasons. #1 For the most part prophecy is the revelation of God’s direct divine intervention into the affairs of mankind. #2 much of prophecy deals with God’s dealings with His earthly chosen people, the Jews and His heavenly chosen people, Christians. That’s why much of history and many of earth’s peoples are ignored in prophecy. Amos 3:3 notes that Prophecy is about God’s actions (surely God does nothing unless…) and prophecy is most often in relation to His people (…His servants the prophets). But here’s the amazing news. In relation to us, God’s chosen people, God has revealed the most important secrets of the future! God does nothing unless He tells all to His prophets! Want to know what’s going to happen in the future? God has revealed it. He’s skipped a lot of intrigue, worldly manipulations, the rise and fall of many nations… but you can bet when it comes to the plan of God for believers it’s in there! That’s why we can be confident that no amount of legislation, persecution, hatred, wars, twists of history or any other thing can ever wipe out Christianity. We are dismayed at how America is becoming apathetic toward the things of God are we? Are we concerned about worldwide persecution and hatred of Christians? Be of good cheer, said Jesus, in the world you will have tribulation… BUT… I have overcome the world. I read the last page of the Bible and guess what? WE WON!

Dear Lord. Forgive me for being so distressed and down about how you are working in this world. I know that you are in control. I know that you are LORD! I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Help me to be convinced of that! I am not afraid because I am part of your grand plan.

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 8:31 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT