North Stafford Church of Christ

Am I Free? IV

So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!  Romans 6:15-18

But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.  Romans 6:22-23

How well would democratic freedom work if everyone ran stop signs with their cars?  Or if everyone just decided to not pay their taxes?  How well would democratic freedom work if everyone simply shot, with a weapon, other people who were in their way or otherwise bothered them?  Or how effectively would free people in a society be able to work together and co-exist over the long haul if they did not assist each other with education, health care, security, or transportation?  (This is not a discussion of communism vs socialism vs democracy.  It is a discussion about a free people taking care of each other as responsible citizens.)  Not very well, for sure.

A free people who are not able or are unwilling to exercise the inherent responsibilities and privileges of freedom are destined to lose their freedom.  This applies to not only democratic freedom, but to spiritual freedom, as well.

Paul explains to his readers in Rome that, in fact, freedom in God does not allow for a person to do anything that comes to his mind willy-nilly.  Paul tells that the random exercise of so-called personal freedom actually destroys over-all freedom.  He states bluntly but obliquely, "exercise your own personal freedom - it will be your last act of freedom!"

Freedom has boundaries and rules.  Paul said that, "God [is the] one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!"  Commands that bring freedom.  Maybe not the kind of freedom many of us understand or like to hear about.

Am I Free? III

A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.  Romans 8:1-2

In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.  Romans 8:3-4

Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.  Romans 8:5-8

It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life.  Romans 8:9-11

Leon Morris writes, “People do not always, or even usually, realize that they are in bondage. They tend to rest in some fancied position of privilege - national, social, or religious.”  For some, being in slavery doesn't feel like being a slave at all.

Unlike one being bound by chains in a prison cellar, many held in spiritual bondage and slavery are very often not even aware that they are being held.  After all, they are making whatever choices they want to make and they are more or less happy with their condition of well-being.  The thing is, Paul writes to people in Rome that "obsession with self...is a dead end."  He adds that "anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God."  So, is it possible that there might be some who are slaves and don't even know it?  Of course.

The tragedy of spiritual slavery and bondage is that, for many, it is hard to notice, feel, or be aware of.  This kind of slavery is insidious and treacherous.  But as long as one is beholden to anything or anyone other than God, then one is a spiritual slave to a non-God (Galatians 4:8).

May the true God be with us all as we, together, attempt to break the chains of spiritual slavery and allow ourselves to be drawn to the one and only Jesus Christ.  As Paul wrote, "The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death."

Am I Free? II

With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back. Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us. He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn't notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn't notice. They didn't notice it then and they don't notice it now, don't notice that there's nothing left behind that veil. Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can't see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there's nothing there.

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.  II Corinthians 3:12-18

Incredibly, when Moses would speak with God on Sinai, the face of Moses would begin to glow from being in the presence of God's glory (Exodus 34:29-25).  When Moses, then, would return to the Israelite people to tell them all that God had told him, the people would shy away from Moses in fear and not want to look at him.  Here Moses had words directly from God but the people couldn't bear to look at and listen to Moses out of fear.  A tremendous divide yet existed between God and an unbelieving and fearful people.

Paul, many years later, explained to the church in Corinth that the veil that once stood between God and people had been permanently removed but only for those who followed Jesus.  Paul told about people who still were blinded by a veil due to their allegiance to old and tattered ways - ways of tradition and secularism.

Paul said, to followers of Jesus, "We're free of it!  All of us!"

The question for you and me is this - "Am I now free or still a slave?"  Can we see beyond the veil and, as Paul said, see God "face-to-face"?  Or are we still clinging to misunderstandings and confusion such that I only see a dark, thick veil and nothing else in my pursuit of a higher being?

May the veil be lifted from in front of you due to your faith in Jesus.  You are free. 

Am I Free? I

Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."  John 8:31-32

Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through." John 8:34-38

Freedom is talked about so much by so many who don't know what true freedom is.

You see, some would think that being free solely means not having to do what someone else tells them to do.  In other words, if I don't like what someone or something else makes me do, then I want "freedom" to not do whatever it is I believe I am being compelled to do against my own will.  Is this the kind of freedom that Jesus talks about?

Recently, an acquaintance unthinkingly said, "Well, I appreciate the boys and girls defending our freedoms because I like my car and house and food..."  Within moments, this person realized what had been said and tried to restate the case.  Too late.  The damage had been done.

You see, many (most?) equate freedom with personal comfort and satisfaction not realizing that true freedom is not found in selfish anarchy and chaos and but, rather, in selfless allegiance and sacrifice.  To find freedom in Christ is NOT to be able to think whatever I want to think, say whatever I want to say, and do whatever I want to do, is it?  Instead, freedom in Christ is found in discipline, humbleness, and sacrifice.

The kind of freedom that Jesus talks about is not about being more, but about being less by following him.  This is the truth that will set us free.

Something to Think About - A Mother's Foolish Request

Charles Jackson
July 7, 2009

"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.  'What is it you want?' he asked.  She said, 'Grant that one of these two son of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.'"  (Matthew 20:20-21)

A story is told of a mother in court where her son is tried for murder.  The D.A. treated her tenderly after she had perjured herself.  He said, "No sin that heaven finds so easy to forgive than that of a mother swearing for her son."  It is on these grounds that we judge Salome, the mother of James and John.

I like Salome very much.  She is a good woman, a follower and friend of Jesus.  She possesses wealth above average and has probably contributed to the small band of disciples. What's much more, she has contributed to strong sons who follow Jesus.  Oops, she thinks the kingdom is to be political and visible...as did all the disciples.  The twelve often argued over who would be the greatest in it.  The two sons knew Jesus too well to ask for themselves these favored positions.  They hide behind their mother's skirts. After all, Salome is Jesus' aunt (Mary's sister) making the boys his cousins. The request is unconditional...regardless of...

The request is totally selfish.  Was it for the sake of the kingdom, other disciples, others mothers?  No.  If it helps or hinders, give it to my sons.  Nor, did she die without leaving a large prodigy.  Do you know one of the main questions in the church today?  Who is going to run it!

Jesus was no political hack who deals out favors according to whim.  His response to Salome was, "You do not know what you ask...to sit at my right and my left is not mine to give...it is given to those prepared by my Father."  It's the same as a couple coming to me asking, "Give us a perfect marriage."  I say, "It is not mine to give."  It's like one going to the librarian and asking, "Give me the knowledge contained in all these books."  She says, "It is not mine to give."  There are empty seats in the kingdom.  One must prepare to occupy them. 

Charles is a retired but busy missionary and preacher of the Gospel.  Charles and Mary live in various places (depending on the time of year) but are surrounded in love and respect by family and friends from all over the world.  Charles is a mentor to and supporter of those associated with mission work at NSCofC.  Charles likes to tell stories just like Jesus liked to tell stories.  We reprint with permission.

Kendall Burch - Don't Be Passive But Go!

On Sun, Jul 5, Kendall presented some prepared thoughts to her Middle School Bible Class.  She had asked in advance if she could talk for a few minutes with her peers.  She commented that she had recently enjoyed attending Carolina Bible Camp but noted that it seemed like young people, after heading home from camp, seemed to lose their fire and will to serve God.

With this in mind, Kendall shared the following thoughts:

1.  When Jesus died, he didn't do it to help Christians do nice things.  To do all of the stereotypical Christian things.  No, the death of Jesus was serious and was meant to help us with more than being just nice.

2.  Knowing that Jesus died for us as Christians, we should live a life on offense, not defense.

3.  In Matthew 10:34, Jesus says that he didn't come to bring peace, but that he brought a sword.

4.  Deuteronomy 20 is all about going to war but also about being prepared with God's help.  God will be with us all in our battles.

5.  We, as Christians, were not called to be passive even when it seems like so many of us actually try to learn how to be passive with our Christianity.

6.  Psalm 35, like so many of the other Psalms, is about contending and fighting and being courageous and knowing that God will be with us in conflict.  Again, Christians have not been called to be passive in this world.

7.  The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) tells that we are to "go".  Not sit and try to impress people with how nice we can be but to "go".  Literally, the word in the Commission is "go".

Jonny Diaz - More Beautiful You

Mike & Ann in Nicaragua #10-09

Mike Faris
Jul 3, 2009

Greetings Fellow Workers,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note between groups.  But first, if you’ve been keeping up with the news I’m sure you are aware of the situation in Honduras.  Just wanted to let you know it has not affects us one bit here in Jinotega. Groups are traveling in and out of the country without incident.  So, in case it crossed your mind, we are fine busy and enjoying ourselves.  It’s the rainy season here but it sure has been hot lately and not much rain.  Good for working.

The groups from Grapevine TX and Summerville SC departed Jinotega today for their return home.  While it was a busy time having 37 workers here it was a great time.  We had a chance to renew friendships got to make some new friends and had a good time working together.  The group worked on 5 projects while they were here: painted the new church we build last month at Yanke (a community about 45 minutes north of Jinotega), completed the addition of a classroom to our school in Santa Inez (a community about 30 minutes south of J inotega), started construction on a house for one of the widows in the church in Jinotega, held a medical clinic every day in a different community and visited a different school or day care every day with the Mobile Library.  And, there were a few other places they went to work for only a few hours, in their free time.  Some of the work they did can be seen at photos.misionparacristo.com.

Ann did a wonderful job of hosting the group.  She was up preparing breakfast every morning, made sure they had “fixin’s for their lunch”, took care of the laundry and all the little problems that can crop up. 

The interns - Shauna, Lilly, JR, and Donovan - have been a tremendous help.  They have been out with the groups every day and are now helping us prepare for tomorrow.  Donovan has a good command of Spanish and does some translating out on the job.  Tonight we are all going out to dinner on Benny.  Can’t wait.

Our next group, Grapevine youth, (13 strong) will arrive tomorrow (Sat, Jul 4) for lunch.  I will squeeze in a half workday for them (wouldn’t want them to feel they were wasting their money to come here to serve and not serve).  They will continue with the house construction, make cinder blocks and build a latrine for a lady here in Jinotega.  The group is scheduled to depart on Jul 11.    

Around the mission:

1.      We have one or two leads on available warehouses.  We’re negotiating with the owners but nothing firm yet.

2.      Next week (Jul 9)  we will have three possibly four groups here at the same time for a total of 48-60 people.  Preparation is underway.  This is gonna be fun.

3.      Our container has been shipped from TX.  It contains a lot of medical items (no medicine) and a variety of general items (like chairs) that we can use around the mission. We’ve sent the paperwork to our customs agent in Managua for processing and hope to have it here in Jinotega in two to three weeks.

4.      Two more interns arrive this weekend.

Mission needs:

1.  Funds to rent a warehouse.  The cost is $300 a month with a one year contract or we would gratefully accept a one-time gift of $3,600.

2.  A utility truck. Cost: $15,000 - $17,000 dollars.

3.  More books for the mobile library

Prayer needs:

1.  Our container is not delayed and is delivered to Jinotega on schedule

2.  Safe travel and work for the groups

3.  Pray the situation in Honduras is settled quickly and without any major violence. Especially keep our Christian brothers and sisters working there in your prayers. 

Well, that’s about it.  Got to run to get some water for the next group.  Again, thanks for your support.  We wouldn’t be here if you weren’t there.  Blessings.

Mike Faris
Misión Para Cristo
www.misionparacristo.com
http://photos.misionparacristo.com/

More and Less

• On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless
• The homeless population is about 50 percent African-American, 35 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Native American and 1 percent Asian
• 28 percent of homeless say they sometimes or often do not get enough to eat, compared with 12 percent of poor American adults
• 44 percent of homeless did paid work during the past month
• 22 percent of homeless have been physically assaulted
• 7 percent of homeless have been sexually assaulted
• The root cause of rural homelessness anywhere is nearly always poverty
• Approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year 
• 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America, including 12.9 million children.
• 100 billion pounds of food is wasted in America each year
• On average, American households waste 14 percent of their food purchases.

Experiencing God - Jul 1

Ben Litalien
Jun 29, 209

Greetings!

We will resume our class this Wed night(Jul 1) at 7pm on “Experiencing God”, considering some thoughts from Dr. Henry Blackaby’s book.  Attached is the outline we’re working through and below is the section we’ll be covering this Wed night:

Four ways to discern if you have drawn apart from God

1.  You no longer hear from God – Deut 30:17; Amos 8:11-12

2.  You lose your joy – John 15:9-14

3.  Your life does not produce spiritual fruit – John 15:1-8; Gal 5:22-23

4.  You no longer experience spiritual victory in your life – Duet 28:25; Rom 8:31

I hope you can join us and share your thoughts and experiences.  Also, I wanted to pass on something I received from a good friend of mine, Rich Kolb, that I thought was insightful:

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"  Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.  The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm and if hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. "   As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.  When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now let them down for a moment if you can.  So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.   Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

*  Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
*  Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
*  Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
*  Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
*  If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
*  If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
*  It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.
*  Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
*  Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
*  Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
*  The second mouse gets the cheese.
*  When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
*  Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
*  You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
*  Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
*  We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*  A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Proverbs 23:23 " . . .get wisdom, discipline and understanding."

We meet on Wed nights at NSCofC at 7pm to discuss "Experiencing God".  Be with us.  You can purchase the subject book, written by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, from Amazon at Experiencing God.