tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758288893819334682023-06-20T05:31:54.580-07:00Immeasurably Morerhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-32899378327656385142017-04-10T09:00:00.000-07:002017-04-10T09:00:08.105-07:00Something is Coming!"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Luke 19:38<br />
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Happy Holy Week! This is the week we prepare our hearts for something amazing to happen once again. That something is life, and life external. That something is God's love displayed in the most audacious and selfless fashion. This week is about the passion of Christ, and God's power over death.<br />
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Today I would like to just invite you to participate in Holy Week. Find a Maundy Thursday service (The invitation to Communion). Go to a good Friday service and feel the weight of the cross of Christ. Have some family time on Saturday. Pray on Saturday and get ready. Then arise and enjoy the celebration of Easter Sunday! God has won, and death is defeated. Jesus proves He is the King of Kings, which means that we are adopted Sons and Daughters into God's House!<br />
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Somethings coming this week Y'all and I could be wrong but I think it's gonna be Big! <i>Selah</i><br />
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Richard<br />
focusonthecross.orgrhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-17750249299688527272017-04-03T07:48:00.003-07:002017-04-03T07:49:31.376-07:00Extravagant <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Check out this moving song "Your Love is Extravagant" by the band Casting Crowns : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BqJO64a3Dc</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">"Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the Lord your God, am a passionate God. I punish children for their parents’ sins even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generation </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of those who love me and keep my commandments." <b>Exodus 20:4-6 Common English Bible</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I love this song about </span>the<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span>extravagant<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> love of God. When I say something is extravagant I mean it's </span>wildly displayed, no expenses spared, and breath taking to the beholder. As we look over the 10 commandments we start with the premise that God is jealous with love for Gods people. He puts His love on display over and over again. Parting the reed sea, rescuing His people from the most powerful army (Egypt) in the world, and coming as the <i>Logos</i> to be full God, full man in the person of Jesus Christ to die for our sins. We see that the </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">command to have no idols is both a sign of God's extravagant love for His people. I will punish 3 or 4 generations for those who hate me. In other words, those who refuse to reciprocate love back toward God breaks Gods heart and He turns away. How can God not turn away when someone refuses something so extravagant and beautiful? God has put Himself in the seat of humility by cutting a covenant with Abraham and Sarah. He has overthrown Egypt. God has displayed Gods power to full extent to save His people. So how could He not turn away when His love is rejected? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">But, before you get all huffy and even begin to think that God is not good, lets look at how long Gods blessings last! "I will be faithful to the 1000th generation for those who love Me!" There is a bit of a disparity between these numbers isn't there? God's love on display for a thousand generations all because one person decides to trust in the one true God of Israel instead of all the other religious propaganda of the day. If the average age of a person is 70 years that's 7,000 years of blessing, because someone came to rely on Gods goodness. If even one more person chooses to follow Him in the next generation, 14,000 years of blessing! Do you get what our author is doing here in this text? They are revealing that when you come into God's kingdom and see His goodness the extravagance of Gods grace and forgiveness that is poured out beyond human comprehension. God's jealous love may punish or correct for a moment, but His mercies are made new every morning! Not just this morning, but for a thousand lifetimes over! Gods goodness gets poured over Gods children. Now that is truly extravagant! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">My prayer for you and I today is to know that God's love is so jealous if we would choose to love Him today He will pour out all His love for us day after day for a thousand lifetimes and more! Make today one of extravagant love, because God surely has spared not love for you. <i>Selah</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Richard</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">focusonthecross.org</span></div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-69599153305950177952017-03-27T11:54:00.000-07:002017-03-27T11:54:29.408-07:00It's in Di Gestion <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, Sunday March 26 2017, was a good one for me as a person. People kept coming up to me and commenting on the weight I have lost, and inquiring the "how?" Now before you start to wonder "how much weight have you lost?" The answer is; "I don't know." Because my goal in this isn't weight loss, instead it's energy gained. I desire to be an active and energized human being at any weight I occupy. So, I focused my attention not on what was leaving my body (lbs.) Instead I focused on my ingestion, or simply what I am adding to my body to make it run better. A great analogy is to go out to car and put brown sugar in the gas tank. If you do this you will spend thousands of dollars in repairs because your car cannot run on sugar. Matters of fact, it clogs up the fuel lines and does immense damage to your vehicle making it unable to run at all. Our body behaves the same way, the ingestion of healthy food leads to a well running body, and the converse is also true the ingestion of unhealthy foods leads to fatigue, and stagnation. So I am being energized to action not by loss but by gain. I am ingesting things that improve my life and empower me to be active in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now let's look at this great scripture from the prophet Ezekiel 2:8-3:4 As for you, human one, listen to what I say to you. Don't become rebellious like that household of rebels. Open your mouth and eat what I give to you. Then I looked, and there in a hand stretched out me was a scroll. He spread it open in front of me, and it was filled with writing on both sides, songs of mourning, lamentation, and doom. Then he said to me: Human one, eat this and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. He said to me: Human one, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you. So I ate it, and in my mouth became sweet as honey. Then he said to me: Human one, go! Go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We see that God's word is fed to Ezekiel and fills his belly. I love that God's word is sweet as honey! Ezekiel is going to call Israel to repentance and conversion back to the living God of Israel. It's a mighty task and the only way Ezekiel will be able to accomplish it will be with the Word of God fueling him. Christians today have a noble, but large task in front of us as well. Declaring the goodness of God in a world that sees Him less good everyday. The idea of sin and conviction are becoming "outdated" according to a society that claims no absolute truths, and promotes individuality above all other needs. But, just as with Ezekiel we are called to be the voice of God to help people to turn from sins that lead to destruction, and back into the arms of a good, and loving Heavenly Father! The only way Christians can accomplish this task is to ingest the Word of God and allow it to call us to action by the guiding of God's Holy Spirit. Christians who try to live out their call without feeding on the work of Jesus who is the bread of life, and the also the teachings of the Bible become malnourished and burn out. Or, sadly their task losses it focus and it become social justice without God's mission. Without feeding on the word of God our tasks becomes about human efforts and lacks the power of God's Holy Spirit! The other conviction is gluttony with no action. Feeding on Jesus' teachings day, and night but not being moved to action. This leads to a Christian who knows what God commands but doesn't share this bread of life with anyone else. Anyone who eats too much bread without sharing, and refuses to move, becomes paralyzed by the weight of it. Their lives are all about truth but lacks action, or love toward people whom God loves. They too are waisting their Spirit given potential within God's mission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instead today I am asking God to help me ingest His good Word. To soak in the Scriptures and bring my heart to life! To hear the Holy Spirit calling my name and showing me His goodness and love, and eating the bread of life to becoming energized and alive within my heart. Then from that fount of love pouring into me finding ways to show it off and to share it with a world that needs to know God is both love and truth. This week I am challenging myself and you to eat of God's word everyday! Don't let one day go by that you don't sit down and prayerfully search the scriptures! Trust me it's sweet as honey and filling as bread! Then find ways to share His love and grace with those around us! God's word is the bread of life and His table is open to all who come! Take and eat all you who are hungry, and drink all you who are thirsty, come and find life in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ingest on Friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Richard</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">focusonthecross.org</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-27915998450671933382017-03-19T19:16:00.000-07:002017-03-20T07:04:55.336-07:00Beast into a Beauty! <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just a quick warning if you haven't seen either the animated or new version of Beauty and the Beast this post might spoil the plot for you. Read on with caution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look! New things have arrived!" <b>2 Corinthians 5:17</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I admit it proudly I had the privilege of watching Disney's live action remake of Beauty and the Beast in Theaters. It was my favorite Disney movie as a kid, and still is my all time #1. Tonight I was reflecting on why this is? What is it about this love story that connects so close to my heart? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I find my answer in the Corinthians passage above. It's the beast that intrigues me. We meet him as a vile and terrorizing creature. There is no way anyone could love such a monstrosity, someone who is filled with pain, regret, and rage. In all ways the beast is meant to be seen as the unlovable monster. We take the beast at face value, he is ugly and easily dismissed as too far gone. I know if I am honest I have my "Beastly" moments. Times when my mouth is not encouraging. My attitude is not good. In those moments I feel like an unlovable creature a "Beast." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But, the story shifts and Bell who is the beauty of the story begins to unlock a deeper truth about the beast. She begins to see the monster as something more and in doing so he indeed becomes something more. My favorite part of the film is not when the beast is made beautiful, that's too cliche. It's the moment I see the beast as a hero in the film before his physical appearance is altered. Nothing outwardly has changed at all in our monster. At first glance there are still horns, teeth, and overall I should see a beast. But I don't any longer. I see a person (Yes a large bear wolf hybrid person) but still something that can indeed be loved. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I see this at what Christ does for me. Paul tells the church in Corinth that being loved by Christ changes us. When we are living into the power of Jesus Christ even though we don't have a magical outward transformation, inwardly we are created anew. When I accept the love of God into my life the old beastly parts melt away in some miraculous sense.The fears of being an unlovable creature no longer exists, and in its place is the knowledge that I am a child of the Most High and His love for me is unending. That's the beautiful thing about God's love it cannot help but overwhelm us, change us, move away our beastly lives. Following Christ is not beauty and the beast. No dear friends, that implies that nothing changes in us, and God merely loves the beast but leaves the monster in its brokenness. Gods love for us is more powerful than that! Accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the beast becoming beautiful. This Easter let's put down the beast of sin and destruction, because God is not interested in walking with the "Beast" in us, because Jesus has better news for you and I. Christ makes the "Beast" beautiful. Be beautiful Everyone! By Christ alone. <i>Selah</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">focusonthecross.org</span></span>rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-25476111344011566552017-03-13T06:39:00.002-07:002017-03-13T06:39:45.813-07:00"Where are you?"<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Gen-3-8" id="en-CEB-64" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b>"</b></span><span class="text Gen-3-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">During that day’s cool evening breeze, they heard the sound of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps;">Lord</span> God walking in the garden; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps;">Lord</span> God in the middle of the garden’s trees.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Gen-3-9" id="en-CEB-65" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps;">Lord</span> God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?'” <b>Genesis 3:8-9 CEB™</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lent is a time where we take a deep look into our own souls. The victory of eternal life is the payoff of Easter, but before we get there first we have to address sin. We see Adam and Eve the first two people after they have openly disobeyed God and now are living in a sinful state. They hear the footsteps of their Heavenly Daddy and assume the worst. They hide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's be honest God knows where they are, and their hiding spots aren't that great, but the more interesting piece for me is the symbolism of the hiding. Before sin, Adam and Eve would walk with God in the cool of the evening. It was the equivalent of a nice family meal together. This would be the time they could laugh, and learn from God and God would display the beauty of creation for them. It was a Father and child relationship that brings tears to my eyes. Until, they sinned. Now the presence of God is terrifying, and sin has caused Adam and Eve to run into hiding believing that God is no longer good, loving, or would care for them. Maybe, as you read this you too are in a state of hiding. Have you ever said this phrase; "If I walk into the doors of a church, God will burn the building down." I know this is meant to be cute, and funny yet all I hear is; "Can God really love me, even though I know I'm not perfect." Sin is the master of deception and it causes us to believe that God cannot be good, nor loving toward us in this broken state. However, God is bigger than you and I tend to give Him credit for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God doesn't wipe out our sinful beginning. God doesn't come as an accuser. Instead, God asked a simple and painful question; "Where are you?" Think about the pain in God's heart as His creation now runs away from Him. Noting feels more wonderful than when a toddler comes walking up to me. Conversely, I feel like a monster whenever a little baby looks at me and runs away. How did God feel that moment He entered into the garden only to find that the people He had created were hiding from Him? God calls out, wanting them to come and be in His presence. God wants to love Adam, and Eve yet sin has convinced them that they are now unlovable. This moves us back into the question "Where are you?". It's not a question of location, but a question of relationship. God wants to love and care for Adam and Eve, we wants to walk with them again. But, there is a critical shift in the relationship. God is calling His beloved back into His presence to care for them, but they hide in shame from their Heavenly Creator. But finally Adam and Eve sheepishly come out of hiding and God goes to work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First, comes an honest inventory. Now sin is here and God is not shy to reveal the brokenness that it has caused. Life will now come with pain, relationships struggle to be balanced, and working will become a struggle. All things we know today about life. Yet, our story doesn't stop there. Even though we have revealed the curse of humanities sin, next God reveals what He will do with them. If I were God this is the point of the story where we start over. The painting can be fixed, and I would make dolphins in my image (they are adorable). Yet, that is not the heart of God, and He offers provision and life in midst of this new sinful state. God dressed the two in leather, a sacrifice in order to cover the humans. He sets them mindfully outside of the garden. This will be the heart of God forever. Painfully knowing that humans will suffer the pain of sin, yet if you listen you can hear God's voice calling out "Where are you?" "I will walk with you even in the middle of this brokenness, and I will provide a sacrifice in my perfect Son Jesus the Christ to cover your brokenness with my holiness, or wholeness." This God how calls out to us even the midst of sin is drastically different than what sin would have us believe. Instead of destruction, there comes provision, and salvation. Lent must deal with sin, and it must be dealt with in death. But, if we listen to easter we see that even though sin always ends in death, when we come to calling voice of God death becomes life. So, are you still scared to darken the doorway of a church, because God is calling to you. "Where are you?"<i>Selah</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Richard </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">focusonthecross.org</span><br />
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<br />rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-63700739932589479362017-03-06T06:03:00.002-08:002017-03-06T06:12:37.969-08:00Why?<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1488679568113_6466" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know, I know…yet another play on John 3:16. But, Lent is a season of reflection and contemplation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, murdered at the hands of Jews and Romans to atone for humanity’s shortcomings (sin).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am approaching this Lent in a new and fresh way, being single again, and contemplating the idea and ideals of love, and, if you’d allow, me I’d like share.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I have surmised thus far is that we can approach this season of suffering with apathy, or with a sense of overwhelming joy. The fulcrum on which this attitude tilts is John 3:16. Either this is a played out verse that has been placed on too many bumper stickers and T-shirts to affect us, or God really loves me, and you, and the world. I believe it is the latter. The heart of the divine creator turns warmly and powerfully to us. We see His unrelenting love being poured out in death for us. As Paul writes, “Even while we were yet sinners…He died...for me...for you…for us” (Romans 5:8). The love of God for his creation is crazy enough to take a bullet for us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am challenging you, as the reader of these words, to pause for a brief second and evaluate if this will be just another calendar Lent for you. You will give up some bad habit in hopes of self-improvement. You will say the “right” Christian phrases, and even darken the door to a faith community during this time. Or, will you, in your heart, with honesty and humility, realize someone died for you, someone jumped in front of a bullet for you? As Jesus lays there bleeding, will you ask yourself one question: “Why?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because…God so loved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Him,</span></span></div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-16100044345020849312015-06-11T08:55:00.000-07:002017-03-04T15:40:29.080-08:00Lifelong faith<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<a href="http://www.yodaquotes.net/much-to-learn-you-still-have-my-old-padawan-this-is-just-the-beginning/"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Much to learn you still have…my old padawan.” … “This is just the beginning!”</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">– Yoda (<a href="http://www.yodaquotes.net/page/6/">http://www.yodaquotes.net/page/6/</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You know its going to be a great blog post when we begin with a Yoda quote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This week I had the privilege to attend our annual West Ohio Conference (WOC) of the United Methodist Church. I wanted to share a thought with everyone on continuing the learning process. The WOC brought a teacher Dr. Thomas Long from the Chandler School of Theology in to teach the entire conference. Dr. Long brought one simple premise to a room full of trained theologians. The four gospels, and what they would look like if they were actual churches. On the outset, it seemed to be far too simple a subject to educate trained professionals. “Really?” “The gospels?” Most Christian pastors spend a majority of their time in the gospels because these are the teachings of the Christ. But, masterfully Dr. Long began to wander down the road of the four churches, leaving even the most well trained theologians in the room teary eyed, and awestruck by the teachings of Jesus. Here’s a brief summary:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The church of Saint Mark</b>: “We do what we can!” God is bigger than we are, is the mighty power in the world, not humankind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The church of Saint Matthew</b>: “Casting the nets deep.” Christians are not meant to be saved and moved on, but becoming a disciple of Christ is a forming process, and through the power of God, God’s people can become great by His Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The church of Saint Luke</b>: “The main piece of the building is the fellowship hall.” Luke sees Jesus as the master of a great banquet and all are invited. Luke’s church is open to all people, and no one is refused fellowship with the God of grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The church of Saint John…kinda…The House church of Saint John. </b>“Love” Love and people are the focus of John’s church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dr. Long taught us in two parts Monday afternoon, and Tuesday Morning. Check Him out along with the whole conference here at: <a href="http://livestream.com/accounts/4268345/events/4095662">http://livestream.com/accounts/4268345/events/4095662</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have no doubt you will love Dr. Long’s teachings, but that’s not why I have called this blog conversation to order..oops…Sorry, too many days being in session with parliamentary procedure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The point today is to note that no mater how long you have traveled the road with God and others there is never a point where you are a know it all. If a conference with over 1,000 churches represented can be moved to applause, and tears with a simple teaching on the most basic books of Jesus. That should signify that God is the great teacher and we are all on this journey to know Him better, no matter our time on the Christian journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In college, I had the overly wise roommate who seemed to know, or informed everyone around that they were the wisest person in the room. This person was always cynical, and never amused by anything, because why find joy when you have mastered the universe? Hanging around this individual was always draining, and everyone always felts undermined, and belittled. No questions could be asked, because our wise all-knowing friends always responded with snarky and mean answers. No ideas where brought about because they were too petty for this wise sage. Are you beginning to understand the environment around this person? Not a very powerful, or positive one. Why? Because, part of the human to God exchange, or, simply part of being on this earth with others is the vulnerability to express growth, and expose ignorance. Ignorance is not a negative concept, it simply states there are things yet, I as finite person do not know. When we travel the road of life surrounded by people who are willing to help us learn, and also let us teach we are growing in unity together. Otherwise, it becomes a tense place where growing cannot is stifled, or worse, belittled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Have you learned all you can know about God, and people?” If the answer is “Yes” The the appropriate thing to do is of course repent of this lie, and accept the teachings of the prophet Isaiah, who in the 40th chapter declares, “Who can understand God?” Not that God is entirely a mystery, but that all the ways of the Almighty can not be known in a few quick readings of scripture. Or, unpacked in a few quick listening to skilled teachers, or read in lofty academic theology books. But, God is learned in pieces, movements, and especially in God’s Holy Spirit. Every lesson will lead you one step closer to knowing God and people. But, do not fool yourself into thinking this road will somehow come to an end. Because, the tragedy in life is not that we cannot know all about God and people, but the converse. The tragedy is not enjoy the journey towards God and people. We are called to be curious creations following after our brothers and sisters in the world, whilst trying to find our Heavenly Father and know Him in every facet of His Grace! If we become less sure about our knowledge, and more sure about the adventure here the seeds of a life long faith are planted. I would like to suggest that as the Christians church we do two things. One, God is working in us and our relationship is growing with every breath of the Holy Spirit, and through every curious creation seeking their Creator. Secondly, we cannot believe the journey can end, because we must know more about God, through The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, because the Triune God deserves to be known.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am pleading with you in all sincerity, if I as a trained clergy can be renewed by a simple gospel lesson, then you can be renewed in whatever step you need to take in knowing more about God and others. Whether you have never known God through the powerful story of Jesus Christ, or you have been around God for a century. You do not know all God wants you too. You have not mastered God or people. Know this friends the adventure is not in arriving at full knowledge, but chasing after God into the wild unknowns of the world, and the Heavens. Finding new roads, new understanding, new emotions, new lessons. Life is the adventure to know God, and to love people. Will you adventure with me? I will adventure with you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Strive on my friends, Strive on,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.lewisburgumc.org/">f</a>ocusonthecross.org</span> </span></div>
rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-49514105198835015642015-04-03T08:57:00.005-07:002017-03-04T15:40:50.976-08:00"Hold Your Breath!"<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today is the most polar opposite day of the year for us as Christians. One the one hand there is the blessing. Jesus gave up his life for you, and I on the brutal, bloody, and unforgiving Cross for the sake of forgiveness of our sins, and the chance to be connected with God again in Spirit, and truth. This calls for a celebration right? Wrong! Not yet, Sunday is on its way you can toast the campaign then, but for the next three days we need to enter into a Holy State of breath holding. When Jesus gave up his life on the cross the apostles, and all of his followers had to retract themselves, and wait. There was no jumping ahead to Easter morning. All they had was darkness, despair, and hopelessness. Sounds like a barrel full of fun right? They were in a shocked moment of wondering if God would indeed resurrect their Messiah, teacher, and friend Jesus or would this be the last of his teachings, and legacy. All the while they were asking softly and genuinely for God to perform a miracle, and bring Jesus back as he had foretold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I look around at the Easter weekend I see egg hunts, festivals, clowns, and novelties. This is great to enjoy the joy of Easter with family, and so that churches can try to attract families to hear the resurrection story on Easter morning. But, where in the busy schedule of entertainment do we as the church carve out a serious time for asking God to forgive us. Being made aware that it was the sins, and brokenness all of us that put him there. In Celebrate Recovery™ a Christian based recovery group the 4th step is “Creating a Fearless Moral Inventory.” This is writing down all good, and bad moral qualities in a hopes to reconcile past mistakes, and pave the way to a bright, and healthy future. The 4th step is not just addicts in hopes of recovery, but for all Christians and is aptly named “Good Friday”. This is the day when sins are forgiven, but everyone must also make peace with the fact that no matter how perfect anyone has been it was added to the suffering of the Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I am hoping for this weekend is a call to Holy breath holding like the apostles. Spend the great times laughing with your family. Enjoy all of the festivities that all the local churches have to offer. But, create some somber space in your life. During these next two days be in some sorrow, and be grounded in our failures. As a pastor, I have hurt people in my church with my quick to respond personality. As a husband, this was one of the hardest years in my marriage, and it has taken a lot of forgiveness, repentance, and improvement. As a son, I have failed to check in with my Mom like I should. The list goes on and on, and while its not easy to post these realities out there on the world wide web its the heart of “Good Friday.” If we are brave enough to mourn our failures over these next two days. Then we can be the first to run to that open tomb on Sunday and receive God’s full pardon as His son Jesus comes back to the world to prove that he is indeed the God of grace, love, and forgiveness. Be somber today, but know that Sunday is just around the corner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, I hold my breath with the apostles so I may celebrate with them in the fullest on Easter morning. Will you join me in this time of breath holding today? Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Strive on my friends, Strive on,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia", "times new roman", serif;">focusonthecross.org</span></div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-56356034321179810312015-03-24T09:14:00.000-07:002017-03-04T15:41:06.136-08:00Mind your Manners!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13px;">
Please and Thank you. These are the basics of manners, and are taught to us as children early on. When someone is generous to us the correct response is “thank you.” If you are in need you say “please” its simple, and easy. But, what if the gift is too big, grandiose, excellent, expensive, or overwhelming. What happens when the gift is too good? My response to gifts that are so kind, and thoughtful is shock, awe, and being overwhelmed by someone’s extreme generosity. The please and thank you system is easy for small things, but the larger the ask the harder these systems are to us. </div>
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Now is the time of year when we ask God “please renew our faith in your son Jesus as he goes toward the cross”, and we say in soft muttered words, “thank you for taking my place on the murderous Roman cross.” As I prepare for our Palm Sunday service I am overwhelmed with the, “Thank you.” Don’t make fun, but, every time I say it to God for the gift of His Son. I get choked up, and it becomes more surreal that Christ would take my place on that bloody cross. </div>
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This weeks blog is simple, and easy in the ask. I am challenging all of us to spend the next week to get down on our knees, and tell God “Thank you!” That’s all. Simple, but what will happen afterward is what I am excited about. They say attitude is everything, and with your heart in the proper place any task become more focused, and enjoyable. What I am praying happens over the next week as we pray, and say thank you over, and over, again is our hearts will be aligned to the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. So that Good Friday is more that “TGIF”, but that we are broken with our Lord, and cry over his death. It’s ok you manly men, its a great thing to cry, especially when you realize that the celebration of Good Friday is being forgiven by God above, and that it was all paid in blood through Jesus. Why do I want you to be broken on Good Friday? </div>
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Because, if you are able to handle the weigh of Jesus’ death, and if it crushes your Spirit. When we all come together for Easter Sunday you will have something to resurrect. The celebration of God’s Son overcoming the grave will be thunder and lighting to those who have taken the weight of His death on their shoulders. What I want for Easter this year more than anything else, is not a church full of people, its not some new crazy good candy. Nope, I want our hearts to be broken with the weight of God’s gift, and the transformation that comes with the understanding of God’s resurrection. “Please”, and “Thank you.” Can we say it to God until our hearts are changed? Until,our lives are filled with more of God than anything else? I think so, what do you say we try? Amen.</div>
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Strive on my friends, Strive on!</div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-84173904766577023052015-02-25T13:26:00.002-08:002017-03-04T15:41:41.992-08:00Spiritual Fitness: Prayer<div style="font-family: 'times new roman';">
<b>“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.” Exodus 17:11</b></div>
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Lent is a journey. We are walking in memory with our Savior Jesus Christ and this journey always ends in sacrifice and victory. But Lent is the perfect time to explore different types of spiritual discipline. It’s a great time to engage ourselves in different practices. The way I look at it Easter is for the church, the same as New Year’s is for the gym. why not try it out, see what works, and explore new and different spiritual disciplines. In the excitement of the risen Lord now is our time to engage our faith journey’s with intent, focus, and passion. </div>
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So, as part of the weekly blog series I am going to engage us every week with different spiritual disciplines.</div>
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This week we are looking at the most basic but often overlooked discipline <b>Prayer</b>.</div>
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Prayer is so effortless that is can be mistaken for powerless, or too easy. It’s like the stretching of spiritual exercise, “There can’t be much value, because it’s so easy to do.” But without limbering up after every work out soon, the harder stuff like weights, running, or cross fit can lead to injury, or stiffness. Stretching keeps the body limber and able to move well. What is the use of being a 230 lb. muscle machine if you can’t move well. Same with prayer. How can you know God only through a book or public opinion, but never really have dialogue with Him.</div>
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The practical challenge this week is 1.) Reading this story in full in Exodus. Moses has to keep his hands in the air as a sign of prayer and as long as Moses is in this prayer posture Israel is winning the battle, but when he lets his hands drop, or looses his prayer posture <b>Boom!</b> Israel begins to loose.</div>
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Take this in our spiritual lives. The moment we stop praying, even if we maintain some other spiritual disciplines we are loosing our relationship with God. Paul says to pray without ceasing. </div>
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The other piece to the practical challenge is this. Visit this link: <a href="http://www.positiveprayers.com/4-types-of-prayers.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">http://www.positiveprayers.com/4-types-of-prayers.html</span></a> </div>
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Check out all this different kinds of Prayers, postures, and even positions.</div>
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About three Easters ago my pastor and I were in his office and he said “come let’s get down on our knees and pray!” Then without question this grown man gets on his knees in the middle of his office and starts to pray. I joined in and he grinned afterward and said, “Hey why did you change?” When I was face down before God my language, attitude, and entire demeanor changed. Because I put myself in a different prayer position it reminded me of the reverence I need to have when in God’s presence. It was amazing. Try the tradition kneeling bed side, or the standing with arms out like moses. Just shake up your prayer life this week, because God is dying to hear from you!</div>
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Just remember prayer is our connection to God and when we walk away from it the battle is all but lost.</div>
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Strive on my friends, Strive on!</div>
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Pastor Richard</div>
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<span style="font-family: '"georgia"', '"times new roman"', serif;">focusonthecross.org</span> </div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-64807176732266253972014-11-25T08:01:00.002-08:002017-03-04T15:42:31.177-08:00Happy Thanksgiving<div style="min-height: 12px;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Serve the Lord with celebration!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Come before him with shouts of joy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Know that the Lord is God—</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> he made us; we belong to him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We are his people,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> the sheep of his own pasture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enter his gates with thanks;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> enter his courtyards with praise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Thank him! Bless his name!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because the Lord is good,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> his loyal love lasts forever;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> his faithfulness lasts generation after generation.”</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Psalm 100 Common English Bible (CEB)™</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here we are again another time of Turkey stuffing, family, and shopping. If you are expecting the pastoral rant about making the holiday more about Christ, thats not exactly what I had in mind. No, thanksgiving comes to us as a time to be thankful in all things, and for all things. While we may spend that time in the food, or football, or in my family all the holiday shopping ads, those things are not wrong nor do they make God angry. This year I would like you to consider that instead of forgetting all about God, or going all extremist and all things about the holidays are a sin, instead can He be first? I am hoping that my family will start with prayer, or will start with a heart of Thankfulness to God before gorging into the stuffing, and the green bean casserole (My wife’s favorite!) Here are some suggestions for us to keep God first!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My prayer for you this year is to find out God’s greatest gift for you is Christ! I am thankful that you would dare even try to figure out what Christ means this Christmas.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strive on My Friends Strive on!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">focusonthecross.org</span></div>
rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-68615511771751283492014-10-13T12:07:00.000-07:002017-03-04T15:43:00.750-08:00Off to the Races<div style="font-family: Grackle;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">“He has told you human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” <b>Micah 6:8 Common English Bible (CEB)®</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This small piece of Scripture is a very eye opening tale into what the people of God are to do. Micah 6:8 is what is known as the Great Requirement. The short hand version is that we are to be a loving people, who look out for oppression and abuses of any kind, to defend the weak and helpless, and to never walk without our Heavenly Dad in a humble position allowing Him the authority to guide us all of our days. The one thing you do not see on here is an age, or social status when you may no longer need to fulfill this requirment. Matters of fact, the only qualifying note God places on Micah 6:8 is “human one”, if you consider yourself to be a “human”, then guess what, God requires this of you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">More so, the lack of qualifiers of who this requirement belongs to leads us into the knowledge that these are active statements, not passives one. Here in Micah 6:8 is an understanding that loving God, and living for Him is mission driven. God does not call people to experience the salvation of Jesus Christ simply rot on this planet until they’ve reached a heavenly goal. John Wesley the founder of Methodist believed that “Heaven starts now!” Waiting for an after world religion to Wesley was a foolish and unproductive one. Today we intrinsically know this still to be true, think about the saying “so Heavenly focused of no earthly good.” Micah 6:8 should act to the Christian, the same way as the shoot opens for the horses at the Kentucky Derby. The world should looked amazed as our Lord Jesus says “And they're off!” seeing the people of God mobilized in their requirement for faith, loves, and justice. Yet, in my darkest moments I must confess that I look outward to others, and inward toward myself and all I can see is a stagnant faith, which doesn’t energize the Christian, nor transform the world. Micah 6:8 becomes only another theological knowledge of what God wishes for His people, but not a serious request to be taken in “fear and trembling”. I lost my father (Mark) in his early 40’s when I was only 18 years old, my Grandma (Daisy) when I was 25, and buried my uncle Ron in 2006 he was only 53. At 32 I have already seen several personal deaths, and more in leu of my profession as minister. Micah 6:8 should make us charge this world with a passion that is unearthly because we do not get to stay here. If you found the love of God in Jesus Christ you are a blessed person. As a matter of fact you are “a blessing to all the nations” (Genesis 12:2) What God needs from us as His people is to actively pursue the world sharing with all the blessing we have received, the salvation from our own brokeness through Jesus Christ. But, not in a calm orderly state as to suggest we are in no real hurry, but as thoroughbreds pounding our hooves into the sand as if one lap is all we have for victory. Because today is the only day you and I are guaranteed, and to show love, justice, and share Christ our only requirements. Let us be of earthly good toady, and Heavenly focused when we get there! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Strive on my friends, Strive on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pastor Richard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">focusonthecross.org</span></div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-76249731707278840962014-09-08T06:35:00.002-07:002017-03-04T15:43:26.739-08:00You're Running the Wrong Way!<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">In John 21 Peter who was ashamed that he had denied Jesus three times decided that instead of continuing the journey he went back to his old way of life. Peter left the pulpit to pick up the fishing net in order to start a life where maybe he could once again be successful and whole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a rule of thumb we are prone to want to give as much as we receive. Yet, in God’s world that is impossible because no one can wholly live up to being Holy (Perfect)! This is why remembering that in our weakness we can have God’s strength. The burning question before us today is which way are we running? Is God’s perfection too much? Instead of going toward the light we are sprinting into the darkness at break neck speed. If you feel in the pit of your stomach this feeling of longing, urgency, and loneliness maybe its time to stop, catch your breath, and look at the compass your of life. Just like Peter when he tried to run away from who God had made him to be, or when he placed value and worth into things other than God namely his trade as a fisherman all he got was a night with no sleep, and zero fish. Yet, when Jesus appeared and told Peter to throw the net on the other side of the boat his nets were overflowing. As soon as Peter realized this strange man was Jesus he jumped off the boat and swam fearlessly toward Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Do you feel lack of purpose and value in your life, work, and family? Do days pass by mindlessly and your thoughts run wild about having a different wife, kids, job, and to live in a different place, or country? The problem might just be that in our daily lives we have been chasing after money, popularity, and comfort for so long only to realize we missed the greatest goal to chase after our Heavenly Father with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength! (Matthew 22:37) The goal of this life shall either be the safety and comfort of this lifetime, or to live for something bigger than only one lifetime. What would our current state of affairs look like if Peter would have stayed on that boat? After all the first sermon about Jesus was preached by Peter in Acts chapter 2. Peter chose in a moment to leap from the security of what he had always done and ran back to Jesus despite feeling as if he was a failure. This is what we must do as well. Instead of looking at life with mundane glasses we start to see what God can and will do with us if we allow him space, and we chase after a real relationship with Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The Challenge this week should you choose to accept it. Take 15 minutes each day in a quiet place praying to God to show you forgiveness for your faults. (He Will!) Then ask God to show you an adventure this week and to live for something bigger than your one lifetime. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">This is a small feat, but can you see if you did this for weeks? Months? Or even Years? As the clock ticks by you will be so busy in God’s adventure you will not have time to see the world through mundane glasses!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Strive on my Friends! Strive On!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Pastor Richard Hiltibran!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: '"georgia"', '"times new roman"', serif; font-size: 16px;">focusonthecross.org</span></span></div>
rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-19639148395597306052014-01-30T10:57:00.001-08:002017-03-04T15:44:12.558-08:00Alive and Well<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>“Jesus responded, "You are wrong because you don't know either the scriptures or God's power. At the resurrection people won't marry nor will they be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like angels from God. As for the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what God told you, I'm the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He isn't the God of the dead but of the living." Now when the crowd heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. One of them, a legal expert, tested him. "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>He replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Matthew 22:29-30 CEB</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When was the last time you took the time to think back to yesteryear? Was it happy? Was it horrifying? There is nothing you could trade me to go back to a former time. I was the awkward fat kid in High School. The cocky college kid. The out of place mechanic. Today I was both reminded of my father who passed away in 2001, and my best friend in high school. What it reminded me of is that God has brought me through so much in the short life I have already lived. But more so, I can attest to a living God. Because a dead God would never have the grace to drag me through all the tests this world brings. All the tears, and scars of life. To look back at what God started with this broken pot and to see His hands molding my life gently one day at a time. What kind of God would take time with us? We the broken creatures in an equally broken creation? A God who is racing ahead. A God who still looks at this spinning globe and sees hope for it. Today, I challenge you to look back and see how the hand of the Father has been molding you. What has God done? What have you done to help or hurt the process? Can you see that the love of Jesus hasn't stopped for you, and that no matter what you do Jesus will not give up on you. That is what the Cross symbolizes right? God's unwillingness to leave this creation a mess, and His unearnable gift to all mankind. I challenge you to write your story down, play with it, dare to see Jesus in your life. After all your story is not just for you but the testament to God's mighty love and grace in the 21st century. You are a part of God's Word, matters of fact your story is the most recent book. In 1 Timothy 4:16 it says to watch your life and doctrine closely so that it will save both you and anyone who hears it! At Lewisburg UMC our mission is: <b>To Connect Our Neighbors to Jesus One Person at a Time! </b> The most important thing we can do to change the world is to help people see Jesus as the Savior of the world. That connection may start with scripture, it may start with a simple talk, but it hits home when it hits you! Why after 10 years of being in God's house, and being in His presence do I still tear up? Because I know God has not given up on this porn addict. I Know God is not done with this pervert. I know God is not done with this stubborn mule. I have seen it in my work first hand within my own life. Your story is the home run to loving your Neighbor, because when we worship a living God and can tell His story in our lives it is a reminder to the 21st century that God is not Dead! He is not done! Please share your story. Tell it with passion and know it well it is after all the most current volume of His Word. It's His power Alive and Well today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strive on My Friends Strive on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Richard Hiltibran-Pastor</span></div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-92098145117113460782014-01-07T19:16:00.002-08:002014-01-07T19:16:52.885-08:00Light Em Up!<i>"Set yourself on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around just to watch you burn."</i> <b>John Wesley</b><br />
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Have you ever had a story so funny, awkward, and almost unbelievable that you just had to be there?<br />
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This Christmas Eve God gave Lewisburg UMC the gift of laughter in an almost unbelievable sequence of events. We had a total of three services 6:00-7:30-10:30. It was a powerful time of learning about God coming down in the middle of chaos to show the world His love. Before the sermon section of our service we had a customary lighting of the Christ candle which is part of the advent wreath. An advent wreath for those who don't know (I just learned this year!) is a 5 candle wreath and week by week candles are lit then you light the final candle on Christmas eve as a symbol of Christ being the light of the world. At the 6:00 and 10:30 services this ceremony went off without a hitch and there was no minor malfunctions, but the 7:30 service I learned what could be one of the most important lessons of my life. If you are going to do an advent wreath make sure to either use battery power candles, or use a fresh set of candles at the start of each service. Needless to say this ends with the advent wreath catching on fire at the end of the sermon, and everyone looking in awe as two brave folks wrangled the fire and the grand finale was one gentlemen punching the fire out with a manila envelope that he had. It was one of the coolest/funny/awkward things I can put down on my resume. All I could do was to think back on the fire, what it looked like, how it glowed, and most of all how when the fire happened all the attention was focused right on it!<br />
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We are in the start of a brand new year and like most I am thinking on the minute ways that I can change my life to do things better. But for some reason my mind won't get away from the idea of fire. This quote from John Wesley fits so well with the attitude and lifestyle of a practicing Christian. In 2014 the thing that has challenged me most is "Am I on fire?" Does my relationship with Jesus matter to me? Would it matter to anyone else? I have been thinking and milling the question over and over what are Christ Followers here to do? I believe what God wants for all of us is to do exactly what good ole' John Wesley is suggesting in his quote, which is to be so passionate about our relationship with God that its an adventure. I have been wrestling with how the 21st century Western church wants to make everything black and white. Sinners go to Hell. We know who the sinners are, and we know who the saved are. This fault is acceptable, while this fault will lead to to condemnation. I am not supposing there is no sin (missing the mark or not being perfect like God), but more so that why do we focus on it? I know I am jacked up in more ways than I care to share, and could possibly make the same guess about anyone reading this blog. But, if life is a journey and we are being called to walk it with our Lord Jesus Christ how come most church services look at the past mistakes not the future adventure? I want 2014 to be the year that I am filled by the Holy Spirit and my faith makes my daily life an adventure. I want a prayer life that feels real not stale and robotic because pastors are supposed to pray good. I want to look at scripture with the awe and passion that a child looks at it, not strictly to fulfill my pulpit duties, win theological arguments, and not read scripture solely like a text book (most pastors wrestle with this). All the latter uses of Scripture are important in there times but not before we get to the "good stuff" which is knowing that I have a Heavenly Dad who tells me daily that "I am worth a damn in this world." I don't want a highly educated sophisticated relationship with God. I don't want to picture God and I having tea together at a Golf Club exchanging lofty ideals while hiding from the rest of the world. I want to be God's little boy first. I want the God that lets me in the tree house. The God who takes me on adventure. The same God who split the Red Sea for Moses, and this Jesus who scared the crap out of the disciples by rising from the dead and appearing to them in the upper room. Maybe, if the church takes of its nice suits and put on its muddy clothes and followed God into an adventurous faith more people would want to follow. The point this year is not to bash the theological heady knowledge that I and so many have been blessed to gain in this life, but to make sure that knowledge is not the only part of me that believes in God. I am asking what about my heart? Is my heart on fire for Jesus? Am I on fire for Jesus? Because I have seen that when something is lit on fire everyone can't help but stare. We all joked that I might burn down the church but the truth is I do want to set it on fire! Because I want everyone to come from miles around and know that Jesus is the greatest adventure they can ever take in this lifetime. What about you? What is your 2014 to hold this year? I pray you are ready for God to use you in a way you never thought possible! <br />
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Strive on my friends, Strive on!<br />
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In Him,<br />
Richard Hiltibran<br />
Lead Pastor-Lewisburg United Methodist Church<br />
www.lewisburgumc.orgrhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-79100043779566451722013-10-21T13:20:00.003-07:002013-10-21T13:20:47.934-07:00Other Worldly <br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” </span><span style="font-family: 'Gotham Bold'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Colossians 3:2-4 NIV</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This Sunday we walked about how the Bible reveals to us that there is another world. Sometimes we get stuck living in the world we are in, and forget that there are bigger fish to fry. I am talking about living as if we are have access to something bigger than we are. In this Colossians verse Paul instructs us to have our minds set on things above. To think through the lens of Heaven and act as if being a Christian gives us access to some sort of other worldly power. Crazy right? I mean if some dark stranger walked up to you in an alley and said “Hey you have access to a higher power” and lurked away in the darkness, you would not think different of yourself, instead you would think different of them. They are crazy, nuts, and out of their mind to think that there is other worldly power. Maybe, just maybe that is what is wrong with the church today! Think about the arguments sprung forth from the church and you will hear mainly about the color of the chairs, and the types of songs they play. That is this worldly a bit. Not saying that the church is not allowed to worry about those surface things. But, what if the church had to ask itself “Where is the Holy Spirit here?” Now, what if each believer would also ask this question? The idea behind our faith is, that there is something behind our faith! This mysterious idea that if we allow God (The Creator of Heaven and Earth) into our sports, school, career, and technology filled lives that He will come. Christians call this phenomenon “The Holy Spirit.” God coming into our being and living within us. That is why no matter the faith tradition baptism is a big deal because it is the celebration and the request for God to inhabit us. I am a huge comic book junkie. I think about the X-men-mutants who look like normal people until you push them a little then BAM all of a sudden they reveal that they have special power. Guess what! So doesn’t the Christian! Now there are no lasers or claws, but their is something that no one can explain. A people group that devotes themselves to love and simplicity. A people group that has no enemies because they refuse to put anyone into that category. This strange group of people who speak to and feel the divine daily in prayer, and weekly in worship. Who strive in self control, and are open to loving even the hardest of people. At bare minimum step by step and day by day these people look forward to achieving this goal. At first glance there is no power. These are all things a rational good person does or at least try to do, right? Wrong! The laws of nature prescribe us to push and shove our way up the food chain, because we might not survive otherwise. We are fed the diet that material goods and this life are all we have, and all we should worry about. Day in, and day out humans push, pull, bite, spit, and fight to go ahead of each other and in the process throw the world into chaos. After the Government shutdown I know a lot of people who now see this to be true. Yet, wedged right in the middle of this chaotic order are the Christ followers. A freakish group who do not run forward like a wild pack of Zombies. They stare upward. They move where they hear His voice, this strange God of grace. They offer open arms to all the beaten and bruised in society. They kick back against the flurry of greed. Sometimes the ones who bear the most power are the ones who look like they may have non at all. What is your next step. To hear God’s voice? To let Him in? To listen to His instructions? Now is your moment to accept your freakish nature, to know that you, yes YOU! have an other wordily power, and purpose in this crazy life! A Paul says “Set your mind on it!” It’s there be open to it. The ancient God of life and grace has made you a mutant in your own world now go be powerful in a way that the world cannot understand. If the church commits to this life then we will change the world by His mighty power.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Strive on my Friends, Strive on!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Richard Hiltibran-Lead Pastor</span></div>
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rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-17879774848389832072013-09-04T12:39:00.000-07:002013-09-04T12:40:51.761-07:00The Fruit of the Spirit Must be a WatermelonOne unique gift with my new position is that I am able to go home for lunch. Before I was 30 min. away so it was packed lunches everyday. Now, I can swing into my home and do some simple chores before heading back into the office. We were blessed to have some friends coming over to the house and one of my tasks was prepping for dinner. After cleaning the dishes I looked up only to realize that there was one more chore to be done. Cutting up that stupid watermelon. No one I know likes to cut watermelons, because they are big, clumsy, and always makes a mess. Maybe, I do not like to view watermelon is because they often times remind me of myself. :) As I proceed to cut the melon the I do the same thing I have always done. I cut it way off center. Then the juice starts going everywhere. So frustrated, and swimming in a pond of sugar water I am not enjoying the task at all. To make matters worse the puppies are now at my feet enjoying their nectar at my feet. Can you see why cutting a melon is no longer a joy? Minute after minute goes by and it seems like Jesus himself is causing this thing to multiply. Are we trying to feed the 5,000? There is piece after piece and just when you think that you are done, BOOM there is still one quarter left. ARGH! Then fighting off every urge to throw that last stupid quarter away and lie to my wife when she asks "Are you sure this is all of it? It looked a lot bigger than this." I cut up the final quarter of this giant melon of doom. Once I finished there is no time to relax because now I have to clean up this pacific ocean of juice and chunks of rhine. Finally, looking around making sure the kitchen is up to par with my wife's standards, and monitoring the dogs now that they have had their fill of rocket fuel. Putting the dogs in their cages and just before leaving to go back to the office I must sample this laborious melon from the depths of hades. BAM! Best thing I have eaten ever, I MEAN EVER! That moment when you forget all the work that went into the prep, the moment of sheer bliss. Why is it whenever you bite into a watermelon the same silly grin comes over your face, the same smirk like when you were a child. Then the juice runs down your chin and you don't even notice. After sneaking a few of the biggest pieces out of the bowl (Hey I cut it all up remember!) I closed the bowl up and headed back to the office.<br />
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When you think about the passion narrative, the moment when Jesus gave His life up for you, do you still cry? I do! When you think about the grace of God to overlook all of your shortcomings don't you get that same stupid grin, you know that funny little smirk that you do every time you go back to that moment. When we follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit the prep work can seem like an eternity. Trying to nail down love, peace, patience, kindness, and the whole nine yards is less than easy and is more like work. After all, this is not the short and wide road, it the long narrow trip uphill. But, there is no question that after all the work it takes to silence the inner sins, the outer temptations, and all the noise of the world. When you hear the voice of the Father, when He whispers to your soul all the work slips away and you are near your Daddy! You may not like the prep work some days but trust me nothing takes the place of aligning yourself with the Lord. When you walk into His presence and He gives you grace, Yeah there is nothing that can touch that kind of love here in this world. So, roll up your sleeves, commit to knowing its labors are hard, but the rewards of Christ are incomparable to any labor we have to endure.<br />
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Strive on my friends, Strive on,<br />
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Richard Hiltibran<br />
Lead Pastor-Lewisburg UMC<br />
www.lewisburgumc.orgrhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-82669436470374819922013-08-19T07:56:00.002-07:002017-03-04T15:44:37.630-08:00From Gavel to Embrace<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power love and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7NIV</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The whole point of this scripture is moving God from his traditional view as judge to becoming a Father. Now, this gets very complicated I know. See because part of God's very nature is justice, God has the right to judgement at any given moment. Think of it in the same way your mom, or dad gets the "Because I said so rule." He is all wise, and all knowing, and therefore must surely be able to see farther out than we can. That can be a terrifying thought because that means God can judge sin. God is allowed to be angry with us when we fall short, when we fail, when we hurt others, or when we point blank stand against Him. None of us can be mad at that thought if in fact you believe that God is in deed the maker and creator of the world. As a matter of fact there is a principle in scripture floating around called "The fear of the Lord."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which bring me to the point how can scripture both say God has not given us fear, yet we should fear He himself? If we have no Messiah this whole thing is a wash right? But, Jesus Christ took the Father's judgement on Himself. In essence the Holy mystery is this, God punished God's self in place of our judgment. I am not going to dig deep into this one because mystery means something we do not understand, or know. Let's just settle with God has forgone His own judgment on Himself through the person of Jesus of that you and I could be imputed into the fold of God. In other words we are allowed to walk into Heaven as equals with no interaction on our part. God's plan for salvation begins and ends with Jesus Christ, our role and responsibly is to accept that "Yes" God can love his creation that much to save it racially. What this verse is trying to peak out show us is that God's grace is radical. Its more than a gift, more than a favor, the heart of the divine is so passionate toward each and everyone of us that God being rightful judge slammed the gavel of guilt onto Jesus (The perfect Son) in order to set us free from the crimes we have committed against us (sin). Timothy is making a moving point here with us that if we understand the doctrine of Grace, if we know that Jesus has come in our place we are a part of the Heavenly family. God then becomes a Father figure to us. With that thought in mind we can play the "our dad is bigger than you dad" card. Christians were called, and still are called to have spiritual power, love, and a sound mind. Because God is on your side, because He moves in front of you, because your Heavenly Father clears the road for you and I we are able to look at life with a sense of recklessness for the mission of Christ. After all, how can you be afraid to fail the God who is on your side? How can you not feel the power given to you by God in the form of the Holy Spirit (God inside of us)?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you living today as if God is going to punish you, hurt you, judge you? Maybe you need to reconsider that if you believe in the sacrifice of the Cross of Christ, God is not your judge any longer, He alone is your Heavenly Father, and will make a way for you to fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ everywhere you walk. His grace goes before you! Live as if Heaven is today, love wildly, give grace to everyone. EVERYONE! Hate nothing, and no one. Most of all share this great news that Jesus is your savior, and Heaven is your home. God is not evil judge but the radically loving God who wants all creation to accept His gift to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strive on my Friends, Strive On.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Richard Hiltibran-Lead Pastor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">focusonthecross.org</span></span>rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-79953374162521512412013-07-09T08:39:00.000-07:002017-03-04T15:44:54.604-08:00Supreme<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Colossians 1:17-18 NIV</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Now we look at the word supreme with very little pose. Think about what we relate supreme with? Surfer lingo, and a pizza filled with toppings. When was the last time you let your mind wander on this word? Or, how about the word King? Even Lord? Being a Lead Pastor most people often associate you as the head of the Church. Not many of these people do this in negative fashion or disrespect to Christ. The reality is though that no Lead or Senior pastor is the head of the church, no Bishop, and not even the Pope gets that title. It belongs to only one that is Jesus. Supreme is a word that means "</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">incomparable" nothing can stack up against it, and nothing can overcome it. That is Jesus Christ and His role in the church. Often times we look at Jesus though the eyes of Savior, or friend. Both are good references to Christ and both are found in the Bible. However, we can quickly loose sight of His Lordship, and Kingly position if we only focus on our friendship to Him. Think about all of the churches you pass on your way to work, school, anywhere for that matter. Think about your own church, or a church you grew up in. Jesus is in change of all if them even if the people in the building don't think so! That is so crazy to understand Jesus is the lead pastor of every church. As a matter of fact the churches sole purpose in existence is to teach about Him, and further His mission. Now, to make it personal. When was the last time you looked out your window and said King Jesus I will go wherever you want me to. I will obey your teachings and I will be a loyal servant in your Kingdom. I often times wonder what the church could do if every single one of us (myself included) would stand and say "King Jesus lead us on your mission!" It would be a sight to see when an army of grace and hope flooded the streets. Nothing could stand against it, nothing could overwhelm it. Nothing could overcome it. Until that day when Christ returns to teach us this truth face to face we have to move forward day by day. It may not be a wave a people, but you and I we can serve our King one loving gesture at a time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Strive on my Friends, Strive on,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Richard Hiltibran</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">focusonthecross.org</span>rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875828889381933468.post-76139028693784938992013-07-06T06:10:00.000-07:002017-03-04T15:45:27.877-08:00The beginning <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Preserve in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16 NIV</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In an age where we are being feed constant information it is hard to know what to believe, what to think, but most of all what are we to do! This post marks a change for me, not a small change but quite a large one. I have stepped out of a secular career to stand in the trenches with my brothers and sisters in full time ministry. In preparation for this weeks message I found this powerful verse in 1 Timothy. What it implies is that no matter what you hear You and I are responsible to uphold our faith regardless of the information overload of the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you and I approach our relationship with Christ with this sense of urgency and importance? As if what we say, do, and even think will have not only the power to transform our lives, but also the lives of those around us. Sometimes in an age of self absorption its easy to forget this faith in Christ does not just belong to us. I myself fall into the trap of "it must not be important to anyone else." This is a fear mechanism. I do not share because I am afraid my beliefs are outdated. But, the reality is that the grace of God cannot be outdated. People need to know that there is someone who gives a crap about them, that being is God Almighty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The charge for us all is to treat our faith in Christ as if it matters. Can you imagine what the world would look like if all the Christians in the world stood on this verse's foundation. If every morning we awoke with a true sense of urgent evangelism? The call to be a Christian is not an easy one, but one that will change the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strive on my friends, Strive on,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Richard Hiltibran</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">focusonthecross.org</span></span>rhiltibranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454218781552890089noreply@blogger.com0