Sunday, May 4, 2008

 

Announcements - Corrie McClary
1 Peter 3:18-22
next week back at the Halton Theatre at CPCC
next 3 regional services for the NE region at McKnight Hall
Jeff Kryder released from the hospital
Demerio's grandmother died Wednesday night (he is in the teen ministry)
Quinton's Mom - keep in your prayers
arrangements will be e-mailed out by Yahoo group
Ian Cameron graduated
Dante - new brother from campus

 

Communion -- Tim Lauren
They have been in Central Jersey the last five years, he is down here looking for a job, he is hoping to join us once again
We share so many things with the people in the Bible - if we're faithful, we'll see tremendous victories
Sally's had 10-12 surgeries since they found her brain tumor
Tim took a package, restructured out of a job
1 Sam 17:34-37  David about 17 here, young, too young to be in the army.  He has to convince Saul, the King, he is worthy
David gave glory to God, he remembered where the victories come from
It is important to remember our victories
Tim & Sally were converted in South Africa by the Drabots
He saw lions devour horses and animals in a South African safe area, it was very scary
It impacted Tim that David fought the lions and had victories
Luke 24:1-8
Mal 3:10-12   communion 
ours is a delightful land, the poorest of us is rich

 

Ron Drabot -- Are you passionate or are you passive about the things that matter to God?

 

Additional Announcements:   Ryan and Jennifer got engaged last night.
There was a special singles get together yesterday, brothers traveled from CT and MD to be here.   Thanks to Janet for all her hard work. 

 

How are you living your life?  passionate or passive?
It's not that hard to say I love God, to come to church.  What is hard is to be passionate for God and the things that matter most to Him when life is difficult, times of stress, challenges
People get less passionate as they age, in particular men
We live in a world of counterfeits -- BEWARE
Identity theft with credit cars
Restaurants - signs say "no large bills please"
Growing up -- Ron had fake fruit in a bowl - what is with that?  They still sell fake fruit at the dollar store

 

God tells us in Psalm 17:3 
David -- probe my heart, examine me, you will find nothing.   NO evil, no sin, no hypocrisy.   David has repented.
Ps 26:2   Test me and try me.   Examine my heart and mind.   Do we pray this prayer?
2 Cor 13:5  Test yourselves   God brings tests into our lives
Dt 8  God tested the Israelites
God says he wants us to test ourselves, to see if we're passionate
Many churches are filled with men like George McFly (Back to the Future - Marty's Dad)
Rather than seeing mighty men in our society, we see mighty mice
Ron challenges us to be mighty men and women of God -- passionate for what God is
Many men have bought into Satan's lies - you are defined by your job title, by your income, by what you own
We get involved in this competition
Men are filled with pain, loneliness, because of unrepentant sin and isolation from God
Men self-medicate that pain with sex, drugs, pornography
God created us, he knows our pain
Medicate yourself with things of this world, and you will be passive
Demands of school, work and family put a bind on our time
It takes away our energy, we lose our spiritual focus
During the industrial revolution, men left their homes to pursue income - a void was left that they did not fill
They left the raising of the children to the women; they left the leading of the church to the women
Barna Research Group found women are twice as likely to be involved in the church today as men
God has a plan for his people to be passionate
Col 3:12-17

 

1)  Look at what we personally need to do
2)  Look at what we need to practice
3)  Look at our purpose
4)  Look at the result of focusing on what we need to do, need to practice and our purpose, and that results in peace

 

 

1)  Look at what we personally need to do
examine yourself :   clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
Clothing is worn for protection, not just style
Those should govern every relationship you have
God says this is what I need to do :    compassion = sympathy + empathy;   be king to your children; parents, co-workers
are you gentle?   are you patient?  
Is this how people would describe you?

 

On CNN last night - a Monster Dad, raised 7 children.   Kidnapped his own daughter and put her in an underground dungeon, told his wife that she had run away.   The wife had no idea.   He molested them.   Some of his children have never seen the light of day.   Genetic problems, no exercise.   It is amazing how evil we can get.   He's in prison now.

 

People who adopt children at older ages know there are different problems - attachment problems.   Everyone in here has a past, has hurts, has a story.   We need to demonstrate these qualities to each other as God's church.   Ron has been a disciple for 30 years.   He loves God more now than ever.   He loves the lost, loves the poor, has dreams.   He doesn't want to be passive. 

 

2)  Look at what we need to practice
vs. 13  forgiveness -- practice forgiveness   "I forgive you"
2006 shooting in Amish school in PA - 32 year old man, had molested 3 & 5 year old relatives of his, he had a young child who had died.  He was made.   He went to the school with the least security.   The boys brought stuff in from his truck, and then he told them to leave.   He was left with 10 little girls, ages 6 to 13, he tied them up.  He killed each girl execution style, making the others watch while they waited their turn.   It disgusted all of us.
A grandfather of one of the young girls (she had said "kill me first" - hoping the others would be rescued) said "forgive this man, you cannot hate this man".   There were 20 bullets in his granddaughter.  
The parents of the children murdered went to the wife of the killer and his children and forgave them.  
We are disciples of Jesus Christ.   I love and you love our Lord and Savior.  That man who washed the feet of the man who betrayed him.   That man who forgave Peter when he denied them.   He forgave all the disciples who fled.  He forgave the thief on the cross, and all those who heaped insults on his head.   Jesus practiced forgiveness to the very end, his heart wasn't cluttered with bitterness.   
It wasn't cluttered with America's "I've got my rights"
Father forgive them, they know not what they do.
Those of you who have Children --  doesn't it drive you crazy   "she used by comb"   "he touched me"  what's the big deal?   share it!  
If you don't work on it with your children, they will have a hard time as an adult forgiving people.

 

3)  Look at our purpose
vs. 14  put on love
1 Cor 13   love never fails
1 John 3:16  Jesus laid down his life
There is no greater purpose in life than to love - to love god, your family, the disciples
Wherever he goes, Ron shares his faith, we need to be driven to love

 

Bill Nork was in an accident this week.   Their family spent time together, Susan serving him.   He was all banged up, car totaled.   It makes you think about your life.   Bill & Susan's neighbor - the little boy wandered off and drowned in a pool.   Also on the same street, a neighbor had a heart attack and died.  
Think of the things we waste our energies on.   We work so hard to get, get, get, and then fall over dead.  
We were created to love, people need our love.  

 

4)  Look at the peace of Christ that rules in our hearts
if you want calmness on the inside, peace needs to rule, to govern
let the word of Christ dwell in you
Are you reading your Bible? 
It's required to keep peace in your heart
to be thankful - how grateful are you during the day?
Thankful for the leaders, elders, servants in the church
thankful for the young, the middle-aged, the experienced
Thankful for Don and Laura Hall, Bill and Margo Scurry (the e-mail queen, she will keep you posted on everything going on in the church and in the world)
Thankful for James Taylor and all those brothers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and are now fighting as a soldier of Jesus
Thankful for Stan - those who labor so hard behind the scenes.
Thankful for your spouse.    For your children.    I love my kids, they drive me crazy.    They will test you - sent from the Lord.   The Lord knows our weaknesses.  
Imaging little Bruno's and Brunette's running around.   

 

Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are:

1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.

2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.

3. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it.

4. Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.

5. Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.

6. Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues—love, humor, compassion and loyalty

7. Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.

8. Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.

 

 

We are called by an amazing . . .  loving  God

to have a relationship with God

to change the city of Charlotte by changing ourselves

Practice forgiveness.   Be about our purpose of love.   Have a calming peace in your heart. 

Ian Scott - NFL defensive tackle, just signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers, we will have a NFL player /disciple coming here to Charlotte. 

Pray we can fill up Bank of America Stadium.