A few weeks ago Joyce pointed to the handle of the hot water on the kitchen faucet and asked me if I had seen how bad it was leaking. I knew it was loose since I had to tighten it occasionally but now it was also leaking all over the cabinet.
Somewhere early in our thirty-five years of marriage she decided that I was Mr. Fixit when it came to things around the house. It is an illusion that I try to maintain by fixing anything I know something about, some things more successfully than others. A leaky faucet was a prime opportunity to maintain my reputation.
On my next day off I went to the store and sought out the plumbing supplies. I knew the problem was likely a worn seal and since it is always good to maintain seals and seats I found the replacement parts for both sides of the faucet, hot and cold. The hot side had always run slow, no pressure, and a plumber had told us that since the line ran under the concrete floor there was no way to fix it. Now it was not only slow but leaking too. So, I thought maybe I should replace the inner workings of that side in case that was where the leak was and save myself another trip to the store.
I turned off the water, took apart the faucet, replaced the parts, and turned the water back on. Whoosh!! Suddenly the hot side was running as strong as the cold side.
“Well how about that!” I thought. It was not a problem with the pipes after all. The faucet was fixed by replacing the old parts with new ones. It was a faulty faucet that foiled the flow!
How many of us are restricting the flow of God’s blessing through our lives with faulty faith? We try to live with it and convince ourselves that our weak faith is normal for us. We try to fix it ourselves by tightening up some habits. Eventually we realize that anything we do is only temporary. This is a work only God can do and only by giving us new inner parts. We cannot change our habits until God changes our heart.
God said, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from you flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
When God changes us on the inside His blessings will flow.
Bro. Robin
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Grits
I stared at the bowl of grits hoping and praying that by the time I lifted the lid they would be miraculously changed into oatmeal. No, there they were, bits of corn meal floating helplessly in a bowl of wallpaper paste.
What a waste of good corn meal! I considered offering cooking advice to food services. There is a way to cook grits that I happen to like.
Take that same bowl of goo, drain off the water, make a log and cool it in the refrigerator. When it is cool, slice off thin slices, dip them in flour, and fry them until you get a nice crispy crust on the outside. Serve the fried grits with syrup and you have a tasty breakfast.
I read about an author from the north who stopped by a café in the south. He looked at the menu and asked the waitress, “What’s a grit?” The waitress answered, “Honey, they don’t come all by themselves.” When God created the world He proclaimed everything good until He looked at Adam all by himself and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Gen 1:18)
We are not good alone. We need each other to be happy. We need each other to see and fulfill God’s purpose. “O taste and see that the LORD is good.” Psalm 34:8
I have friends who like grits any way you cook them. I respect their sense of taste even if I do not share it. I think that this is the way God looks at us. When we are bound together by the glue of His Holy Spirit God looks at us with pleasure and anticipation. He does not look at us as a waste but as a valuable person in His kingdom. He is not looking at me wishing I was someone else. I can only be who He made me to be. I just want to be one of His grits.
Bro. Robin
What a waste of good corn meal! I considered offering cooking advice to food services. There is a way to cook grits that I happen to like.
Take that same bowl of goo, drain off the water, make a log and cool it in the refrigerator. When it is cool, slice off thin slices, dip them in flour, and fry them until you get a nice crispy crust on the outside. Serve the fried grits with syrup and you have a tasty breakfast.
I read about an author from the north who stopped by a café in the south. He looked at the menu and asked the waitress, “What’s a grit?” The waitress answered, “Honey, they don’t come all by themselves.” When God created the world He proclaimed everything good until He looked at Adam all by himself and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Gen 1:18)
We are not good alone. We need each other to be happy. We need each other to see and fulfill God’s purpose. “O taste and see that the LORD is good.” Psalm 34:8
I have friends who like grits any way you cook them. I respect their sense of taste even if I do not share it. I think that this is the way God looks at us. When we are bound together by the glue of His Holy Spirit God looks at us with pleasure and anticipation. He does not look at us as a waste but as a valuable person in His kingdom. He is not looking at me wishing I was someone else. I can only be who He made me to be. I just want to be one of His grits.
Bro. Robin
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Just One More Thing
One of the things that happened periodically during my time in the hospital recently was for a nurse or a doctor to come in and tell me what to expect before I would be allowed to go home. I began to quickly notice a disturbing pattern. One person would come in and tell me one thing and the next person would tell me that plus one more thing. One day it was a test that started as a simple scan and was changed four times before I actually took the test. Then it was the medication. Next it was one more night to observe me on the medication. It was always just one more thing.
When Jesus was on the Cross He said, “It is finished,” then He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit, (John 19:30). While His human task was finished there was still more to come. The third day after the cross He walked away from His grave resurrected from the dead. He had one more thing to do to prove God’s power of life over death. Later, He appeared to His disciples and told them to wait for one more thing, the promise of the Holy Spirit.
When God says, “Just one more thing,” He has something good in store for us. He promises eternal life with an eternity filled with more than He could tell us, more than we can imagine. He promises a life filed with His presence. When we pray for Revival we are praying for a renewal of His presence within us and our relationship with Him.
As the Disciples watched Jesus ascend into Heaven angels appeared to them and said, just one more thing, “This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
Bro. Robin
When Jesus was on the Cross He said, “It is finished,” then He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit, (John 19:30). While His human task was finished there was still more to come. The third day after the cross He walked away from His grave resurrected from the dead. He had one more thing to do to prove God’s power of life over death. Later, He appeared to His disciples and told them to wait for one more thing, the promise of the Holy Spirit.
When God says, “Just one more thing,” He has something good in store for us. He promises eternal life with an eternity filled with more than He could tell us, more than we can imagine. He promises a life filed with His presence. When we pray for Revival we are praying for a renewal of His presence within us and our relationship with Him.
As the Disciples watched Jesus ascend into Heaven angels appeared to them and said, just one more thing, “This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
Bro. Robin
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Prayer Meetings
I remember when I was a child we would have people over at our house for prayer for a couple of weeks before Revival. They were called “Cottage Prayer Meetings” because they were always held in homes. They were happy times with conversation and the smell of coffee. Then they would all bow their heads and almost everyone prayed. I remember the Revivals that followed for all the people who went to the altar and went away changed by the touch of God.
Revivals have taken place over the centuries in many different places and groups big and small in and out of churches. The one thing they all have in common is the prayer meeting. Every great Revival in history began in a prayer meeting. From the time Jesus ascended into heaven the Disciples and followers of Jesus met for prayer daily. An unstoppable movement of God resulted that we call the Church. Revival is first a revival of prayer.
In prayer we make contact with the God of all creation. In prayer we appeal to the savior who has promised to redeem us by His mercy. In prayer we receive salvation and the seal of our salvation, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 hcsb)There is something special that happens when you meet in a group for prayer. Jesus is there with you.
I call on you and challenge you to meet together to pray for Revival between now and the Life Action Summit, April 11-18. If you teach or attend a Sunday School class, or belong to a group of any kind, set a date to meet in a home and pray for Revival. If your class is big divide into small groups and pray together. Pray for Revival when you pray with your family. Invite friends over for coffee and prayer. Meet at least once, more if you can, and pray together for Revival. By all means and at every opportunity pray for Revival.
Bro. Robin
Revivals have taken place over the centuries in many different places and groups big and small in and out of churches. The one thing they all have in common is the prayer meeting. Every great Revival in history began in a prayer meeting. From the time Jesus ascended into heaven the Disciples and followers of Jesus met for prayer daily. An unstoppable movement of God resulted that we call the Church. Revival is first a revival of prayer.
In prayer we make contact with the God of all creation. In prayer we appeal to the savior who has promised to redeem us by His mercy. In prayer we receive salvation and the seal of our salvation, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 hcsb)There is something special that happens when you meet in a group for prayer. Jesus is there with you.
I call on you and challenge you to meet together to pray for Revival between now and the Life Action Summit, April 11-18. If you teach or attend a Sunday School class, or belong to a group of any kind, set a date to meet in a home and pray for Revival. If your class is big divide into small groups and pray together. Pray for Revival when you pray with your family. Invite friends over for coffee and prayer. Meet at least once, more if you can, and pray together for Revival. By all means and at every opportunity pray for Revival.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Pray for a Change
In 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Paul begins by saying, “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone…” and concludes this thought with, “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.” (HCSB)
It is obvious that we should consider prayer our most important activity, as Christians. If we are to have an impact on our world, if we are going to see lives changed, we must pray for people and for that change. Paul urges us to use every kind of prayer we know to pray for every person we know and those whose positions affect our lives.
We are to pray with “holy hands” lifted up. As I thought about this I realized that there are several reasons that we lift our hands that apply directly to prayer.
First, we lift our hands in surrender. That is what makes them holy. When we surrender ourselves to God our hands become His instruments, separated to do His work. Raising your hands is a universal sign of surrender. We cannot serve God unless we belong to Him and when we surrender to Him He becomes our owner, our Lord.
Second, we lift our hands to welcome. Waving to someone is a warm way to say hello or goodbye. It is a sign of affection. We open our arms to greet and embrace people we care about. We reach out our hands to shake the hand of another in a sign of acceptance. When we pray we must pray with affection toward God and toward those for whom we pray.
Third, we lift our hands to draw attention to ourselves. We raise our hand when we know the answer. We know that the answer to every question of our heart is Jesus. We raise our hand to acknowledge that we personally know the answer.
Finally, we raise our hands to celebrate. As I watched the Olympics this week I saw many winners raise their hands in victory as they crossed the finish line or completed a successful program. I remembered my training in high school gymnastics when I raised my hands at the end of the routine to show that I had stuck the landing and that I deserved a high score.
In prayer, we do not raise our hands for points. We raise our hands in prayer because we are celebrating in confidence that the God who made the universe has heard us. “And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.” (1 John 5:15, HCSB)
Robin Cowin
It is obvious that we should consider prayer our most important activity, as Christians. If we are to have an impact on our world, if we are going to see lives changed, we must pray for people and for that change. Paul urges us to use every kind of prayer we know to pray for every person we know and those whose positions affect our lives.
We are to pray with “holy hands” lifted up. As I thought about this I realized that there are several reasons that we lift our hands that apply directly to prayer.
First, we lift our hands in surrender. That is what makes them holy. When we surrender ourselves to God our hands become His instruments, separated to do His work. Raising your hands is a universal sign of surrender. We cannot serve God unless we belong to Him and when we surrender to Him He becomes our owner, our Lord.
Second, we lift our hands to welcome. Waving to someone is a warm way to say hello or goodbye. It is a sign of affection. We open our arms to greet and embrace people we care about. We reach out our hands to shake the hand of another in a sign of acceptance. When we pray we must pray with affection toward God and toward those for whom we pray.
Third, we lift our hands to draw attention to ourselves. We raise our hand when we know the answer. We know that the answer to every question of our heart is Jesus. We raise our hand to acknowledge that we personally know the answer.
Finally, we raise our hands to celebrate. As I watched the Olympics this week I saw many winners raise their hands in victory as they crossed the finish line or completed a successful program. I remembered my training in high school gymnastics when I raised my hands at the end of the routine to show that I had stuck the landing and that I deserved a high score.
In prayer, we do not raise our hands for points. We raise our hands in prayer because we are celebrating in confidence that the God who made the universe has heard us. “And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.” (1 John 5:15, HCSB)
Robin Cowin
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Harvest Heart
We are all different. We come from different backgrounds and experiences in our lives. As a result, these experiences affect our hearts and also affect the way we receive God’s Word.
In the parable of the sower, (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus uses the field to describe four different kinds of heart conditions and how that changes the way we receive God’s Word. In this parable we can also see what kinds of changes God makes in our heart in order for us to participate in His Kingdom.
The parable of the sower is taken out of the common experiences of Jesus and His listeners. Everyone who lives in a small agricultural community sees how the farmer works and usually has a hand in helping their neighbors with the field work.
As a young pastor in my first full-time church I learned quickly that when it was harvest time everyone was in the field. Our church was in a small town in Oklahoma wheat country. One day a farmer came by my office and asked me if I could drive a wheat truck and work for him during harvest. He said it was expected that I work for someone and that all our church was in the field anyway. That is how I learned about farming. I was no farmer but farming quickly became a common experience for me with that church.
Jesus no doubt had a similar experience as a boy. He grew up in a small town in an agricultural community. Tradition has long held that His family was carpenters. However, there are no major parables from the carpenter’s shop, but there are many from the field.
These parables describe for us spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God in language we can understand. The parable of the sower is important to our understanding of what kind of heart is necessary for us to receive the word of God and begin our relationship with God and His Kingdom. Here is a brief summary of the Parable of the Sower. (I will go into more detail later.)
The Calloused heart is the path that goes through the field. As the farmer sows the grain he carries a bag of seed and throws it out on the tilled soil. Where he walks creates a path. So, since the tilled ground is so important the farmer will always follow the same path so that he does not disturb any more soil than necessary.
The path is easy. The path is the place that has the appearance of being close to the farmer. However, it is too well traveled to take root in the soil.
The path is exposed to the enemy. Since the seed lands on the top of the hard path the birds can see it and take it for food. This soil of the path is not simply shallow. This represents a belief that is disconnected from the tilled soil. It is a faith that is held in the hand, not in the heart. That is where you want your things, not your faith.
The Castaway heart is the pile of rocks around the outside edge of the field. Faith in the rocks is shallow. Desperate people fall prey to shallow emotionalism. DL Moody noticed that people in poverty responded favorably to a message of God’s love. In God’s love there is hope. Emotions are essential to religious experience but cannot be the basis for your religion.
Faith in the rocks is faith on the rocks. Without depth we cannot withstand the storms that follow us in life.
The Cluttered heart is the place along the fence where the weeds grow. Clutter is distracting. You can get lost in the weeds. Clutter is restricting. You can get stuck in the weeds.
The Cultivated Heart is the Christ Centered heart. The cultivated heart is open to receive God’s word the way tilled ground accepts the seeds. The cultivated heart activates growth.
Robin Cowin
In the parable of the sower, (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus uses the field to describe four different kinds of heart conditions and how that changes the way we receive God’s Word. In this parable we can also see what kinds of changes God makes in our heart in order for us to participate in His Kingdom.
The parable of the sower is taken out of the common experiences of Jesus and His listeners. Everyone who lives in a small agricultural community sees how the farmer works and usually has a hand in helping their neighbors with the field work.
As a young pastor in my first full-time church I learned quickly that when it was harvest time everyone was in the field. Our church was in a small town in Oklahoma wheat country. One day a farmer came by my office and asked me if I could drive a wheat truck and work for him during harvest. He said it was expected that I work for someone and that all our church was in the field anyway. That is how I learned about farming. I was no farmer but farming quickly became a common experience for me with that church.
Jesus no doubt had a similar experience as a boy. He grew up in a small town in an agricultural community. Tradition has long held that His family was carpenters. However, there are no major parables from the carpenter’s shop, but there are many from the field.
These parables describe for us spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God in language we can understand. The parable of the sower is important to our understanding of what kind of heart is necessary for us to receive the word of God and begin our relationship with God and His Kingdom. Here is a brief summary of the Parable of the Sower. (I will go into more detail later.)
The Calloused heart is the path that goes through the field. As the farmer sows the grain he carries a bag of seed and throws it out on the tilled soil. Where he walks creates a path. So, since the tilled ground is so important the farmer will always follow the same path so that he does not disturb any more soil than necessary.
The path is easy. The path is the place that has the appearance of being close to the farmer. However, it is too well traveled to take root in the soil.
The path is exposed to the enemy. Since the seed lands on the top of the hard path the birds can see it and take it for food. This soil of the path is not simply shallow. This represents a belief that is disconnected from the tilled soil. It is a faith that is held in the hand, not in the heart. That is where you want your things, not your faith.
The Castaway heart is the pile of rocks around the outside edge of the field. Faith in the rocks is shallow. Desperate people fall prey to shallow emotionalism. DL Moody noticed that people in poverty responded favorably to a message of God’s love. In God’s love there is hope. Emotions are essential to religious experience but cannot be the basis for your religion.
Faith in the rocks is faith on the rocks. Without depth we cannot withstand the storms that follow us in life.
The Cluttered heart is the place along the fence where the weeds grow. Clutter is distracting. You can get lost in the weeds. Clutter is restricting. You can get stuck in the weeds.
The Cultivated Heart is the Christ Centered heart. The cultivated heart is open to receive God’s word the way tilled ground accepts the seeds. The cultivated heart activates growth.
Robin Cowin
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
GPS
I drove my grandsons to school one day this week. I know where the school is but just for fun I brought along my GPS. GPS stands for “Global Positioning System,” and it looks like a miniature TV that mounts to the windshield just above the dash. I can put in an address and it will give me directions in a kind but robotic female voice that we have nicknamed “Carmen.”
The boys, Nick and Ben ages eight and Xander almost five, were fascinated by Carmen. I was equally fascinated by the conversation coming from the back seat.
“Poppa, what is that? Is that your coffee? Why does it look like a sippy cup?”
“Why are we going this way? Remember last year in Colorado when the GPS got us lost?”
I reassured them that it would not get us lost. Then, when we had one more right turn before we could see the school, I heard Carmen say, “Now turn left…”
“No Poppa. Turn right, our school is right there. See? The GPS is wrong!” I heard, with much laughter in their voices. I knew the way and they were right. Carmen was wrong.
On the way home, after dropping off the boys, I thought about all the directions we hear in our lives from many different voices. They do not all take us where we want to go. Some will even get us lost. We need to know the way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” (hcsv)
God’s Word, the Bible, is the only sure road map we have. His directions will get us through life and take us all the way to Him. God has a different GPS called God’s Plan for Sharing, (through His Son, Jesus). Sometimes we need to pull over, stop, and look at the map. Then we can start again in the right direction toward the summit of God’s plan for your life.
Bro. Robin
The boys, Nick and Ben ages eight and Xander almost five, were fascinated by Carmen. I was equally fascinated by the conversation coming from the back seat.
“Poppa, what is that? Is that your coffee? Why does it look like a sippy cup?”
“Why are we going this way? Remember last year in Colorado when the GPS got us lost?”
I reassured them that it would not get us lost. Then, when we had one more right turn before we could see the school, I heard Carmen say, “Now turn left…”
“No Poppa. Turn right, our school is right there. See? The GPS is wrong!” I heard, with much laughter in their voices. I knew the way and they were right. Carmen was wrong.
On the way home, after dropping off the boys, I thought about all the directions we hear in our lives from many different voices. They do not all take us where we want to go. Some will even get us lost. We need to know the way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” (hcsv)
God’s Word, the Bible, is the only sure road map we have. His directions will get us through life and take us all the way to Him. God has a different GPS called God’s Plan for Sharing, (through His Son, Jesus). Sometimes we need to pull over, stop, and look at the map. Then we can start again in the right direction toward the summit of God’s plan for your life.
Bro. Robin
Friday, January 29, 2010
Getting God’s Attention
My first job in High School was as a lifeguard at a public swimming pool. I scanned the water looking for signs of distress that I had been trained to identify. When I saw someone who needed help I used my training and skill to rescue them. Over those few years I rescued many who were thankful that I knew what to do.
In 2 Chr. 7:12-16 God tells us the signs He looks for to know when we need His attention to rescue us. We also think of these signs as conditions for Revival.
Verse 14 says:
"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." (HCSB)
God hears His children. There are several things that tell us that we are His children. First, His children are called by His Name. Calling ourselves a Christian is more than a title. It means that we identify with Christ and have invited Him into our heart. We call it being born again because we are born into His family by the Holy Spirit. Our lives start over from that point. We have a new name and a new family because we have a new life in Christ.
Our new life includes some new activities. His children humble themselves. Children humble themselves when they make themselves useful through obedience to their father. His children Pray. Children communicate with their parents by talking to them. We talk to our heavenly Father through prayer. His children seek his face. Children need to spend time with their parents in order to see things from their perspective. Today we use the expression, “See where he’s coming from.” To seek someone’s face means to see where he is going.
There is no forgiveness without repentance. In Alice In Wonderland, Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" The Cat answered, "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to." Our moral decisions depend on where we want to get to.
God’s desire is to heal His Children. He forgives us when He hears us.
Bret Harte said:
If, of all words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these, "It might have been."
More sad are these we daily see;
"It is, but hadn't ought to be."
When we turn from our ways to God’s way He forgives us and will heal our land with Revival.
Robin
In 2 Chr. 7:12-16 God tells us the signs He looks for to know when we need His attention to rescue us. We also think of these signs as conditions for Revival.
Verse 14 says:
"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." (HCSB)
God hears His children. There are several things that tell us that we are His children. First, His children are called by His Name. Calling ourselves a Christian is more than a title. It means that we identify with Christ and have invited Him into our heart. We call it being born again because we are born into His family by the Holy Spirit. Our lives start over from that point. We have a new name and a new family because we have a new life in Christ.
Our new life includes some new activities. His children humble themselves. Children humble themselves when they make themselves useful through obedience to their father. His children Pray. Children communicate with their parents by talking to them. We talk to our heavenly Father through prayer. His children seek his face. Children need to spend time with their parents in order to see things from their perspective. Today we use the expression, “See where he’s coming from.” To seek someone’s face means to see where he is going.
There is no forgiveness without repentance. In Alice In Wonderland, Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" The Cat answered, "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to." Our moral decisions depend on where we want to get to.
God’s desire is to heal His Children. He forgives us when He hears us.
Bret Harte said:
If, of all words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these, "It might have been."
More sad are these we daily see;
"It is, but hadn't ought to be."
When we turn from our ways to God’s way He forgives us and will heal our land with Revival.
Robin
Sunday, January 03, 2010
The Parable of the Snow
(Matthew 13:1-23)
Late Saturday night it began to snow. As the fluffy white snow fell to the earth some snow fell on the road. Although it was the same snow that fell everywhere else it was considered hazardous and the road crews were soon out removing it. They plowed and salted and plowed again until all that was left was a salty, sandy slush along the sides of the road. The roads are always the first place people look to see how much snow we have. But snow on the roads only gets in the way and is the first place we want it removed.
Some snow fell on the roof tops but it did not stay long. The wind blew some away and exposed part of the roof. When the sun came out it shone through the thin layer of snow and heated the roof to melt away the rest of the snow. Even though snow on the roof is sometimes considered the prettiest of all snow it is gone before we can really appreciate it.
Some snow fell in the yards in reach of all the children. As soon as they saw it they gathered up their winter clothes, put on their boots, and ran outside to play in the snow. For a while, there was laughter and squeals as they made snowballs, and snowmen, and used their sleds to slide down every clear hill they could find. The snow was fun but the fun was temporary. Snow men and sleds turn our attention away from the danger snow can be in other places. We can become distracted or lost in snow. Or, we can use it for our own purpose but even that only lasts a short time.
Some snow fell on the fields. The fields were beautiful in a blanket of snow. As the snow melted the moisture seeped down into the soil until it reached the hard winter wheat that was waiting for the snow to arrive. The blanket of snow kept the moisture in place allowing the wheat to soak in it and begin to grow. As the winter ends and the snow melts you can see the green tops coming out of the ground. The wheat will grow through spring and in the heat of summer it will be ready to harvest.
What kind of snow is your faith? The snow on the roads was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The snow on the roof was shallow and melted quickly with the heat of the sun. The snow on the yard was fun for a time but when the fun was over so was the snow. The snow in the fields made the wheat grow. Wheat becomes flour to give us life for many days to come. It fills and satisfies us in many ways, like the wheat roll I had for breakfast.
Dr. Robin H. Cowin
Late Saturday night it began to snow. As the fluffy white snow fell to the earth some snow fell on the road. Although it was the same snow that fell everywhere else it was considered hazardous and the road crews were soon out removing it. They plowed and salted and plowed again until all that was left was a salty, sandy slush along the sides of the road. The roads are always the first place people look to see how much snow we have. But snow on the roads only gets in the way and is the first place we want it removed.
Some snow fell on the roof tops but it did not stay long. The wind blew some away and exposed part of the roof. When the sun came out it shone through the thin layer of snow and heated the roof to melt away the rest of the snow. Even though snow on the roof is sometimes considered the prettiest of all snow it is gone before we can really appreciate it.
Some snow fell in the yards in reach of all the children. As soon as they saw it they gathered up their winter clothes, put on their boots, and ran outside to play in the snow. For a while, there was laughter and squeals as they made snowballs, and snowmen, and used their sleds to slide down every clear hill they could find. The snow was fun but the fun was temporary. Snow men and sleds turn our attention away from the danger snow can be in other places. We can become distracted or lost in snow. Or, we can use it for our own purpose but even that only lasts a short time.
Some snow fell on the fields. The fields were beautiful in a blanket of snow. As the snow melted the moisture seeped down into the soil until it reached the hard winter wheat that was waiting for the snow to arrive. The blanket of snow kept the moisture in place allowing the wheat to soak in it and begin to grow. As the winter ends and the snow melts you can see the green tops coming out of the ground. The wheat will grow through spring and in the heat of summer it will be ready to harvest.
What kind of snow is your faith? The snow on the roads was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The snow on the roof was shallow and melted quickly with the heat of the sun. The snow on the yard was fun for a time but when the fun was over so was the snow. The snow in the fields made the wheat grow. Wheat becomes flour to give us life for many days to come. It fills and satisfies us in many ways, like the wheat roll I had for breakfast.
Dr. Robin H. Cowin
Monday, December 28, 2009
Lost and Found
I thought I lost my wallet. I looked everywhere, the bedroom, bathroom, throughout the house, and the car. I retraced my steps that day since I had taken it out to get gas. I called Wal-Mart and Marvin’s grocery store. I called Joyce and she put my credit card and debit card on hold. Fortunately I do not carry a lot of plastic. Before heading to Wal-Mart to check the parking lot I swung by the house for one more look. I walked into the bedroom and pulled up the bedspread. It was under the bed. Now, how did it get there?
One day later I reached for my cell phone and it was not there. I had been in the house and in the car. It was in the car. I muttered to myself, “Next it will be my head.”
The day after that we watched the weather get worse and the snow begin to fall. I thought about the generator in the shed and thought it would be a good idea to fill the big gas can, just in case the power went out. I unlocked the shed, opened the door, and leaned it to pick up the gas can. Wham, I hit the top of my head. It was a good thing I was wearing a hat. It still left a mark, though.
I was three for three doing something dumb each of the three days leading up to Christmas. It had to get better. I remembered a bumper sticker that read, “Of all the things I’ve lost I miss my mind the most.” I know the feeling.
Christmas day arrived complete with a blanket of white snow. It was a White Christmas! We woke up to happy sounds of grandchildren playing in the living room. We spent the morning cooking together as a family. The ham and all the trimmings were perfect. We read the Christmas story from the Bible, opened presents, and finished out the day playing games.
Heaven is just a breath away. The things we lose are nothing in comparison to the things we gain. Christmas reminds us of this. All the stress and pain we experience leading up to that day are quickly forgotten in faces that surround us as we remember Christ’s birth and share our love with each other.
I am glad Christmas comes at the end of the year. It is the perfect opportunity to remember what is truly important as we begin a new year. God bless you and have a Happy New Year.
Bro. Robin
One day later I reached for my cell phone and it was not there. I had been in the house and in the car. It was in the car. I muttered to myself, “Next it will be my head.”
The day after that we watched the weather get worse and the snow begin to fall. I thought about the generator in the shed and thought it would be a good idea to fill the big gas can, just in case the power went out. I unlocked the shed, opened the door, and leaned it to pick up the gas can. Wham, I hit the top of my head. It was a good thing I was wearing a hat. It still left a mark, though.
I was three for three doing something dumb each of the three days leading up to Christmas. It had to get better. I remembered a bumper sticker that read, “Of all the things I’ve lost I miss my mind the most.” I know the feeling.
Christmas day arrived complete with a blanket of white snow. It was a White Christmas! We woke up to happy sounds of grandchildren playing in the living room. We spent the morning cooking together as a family. The ham and all the trimmings were perfect. We read the Christmas story from the Bible, opened presents, and finished out the day playing games.
Heaven is just a breath away. The things we lose are nothing in comparison to the things we gain. Christmas reminds us of this. All the stress and pain we experience leading up to that day are quickly forgotten in faces that surround us as we remember Christ’s birth and share our love with each other.
I am glad Christmas comes at the end of the year. It is the perfect opportunity to remember what is truly important as we begin a new year. God bless you and have a Happy New Year.
Bro. Robin
Friday, December 11, 2009
Being A Gracious Receiver
Christmas is a time for giving and receiving. We all like to recieve eventhough we say it is better to give. We say there is a gift of giving. I think there is also a gift of being a gracious reciever.
When I was growing up I enjoyed gift giving times. I was the youngest in the family and always got presents from everyone. I piled all the presents on a chair in the living room so everone could see. I was not a very gracious reciever. In time I out grew the need to show off my presents.
I have spent most of my adult life in ministry. Over the years I have recieved gifts for a lot of reasons. I have learned to accept them graciously because of the lessons I have learned through these gifts.
First I have learned that people give gifts because they want to bless someone as they have been blessed. This understanding has helped my recieving and giving. When I see a gift as a blessing I stop looking at the practical use and accept the personal value it was given to express. A gift is a part of the giver they want you to have.
A gift is also an expression of love. Love is more than a part of the giver. A gift of love is an expression of what they wish they could give. There are times when we would give the world if we could. So, we give a symbol of our wishes and dreams.
I like gifts that are creatve and fun. Gifts are about the relatinship between the giver and reciever. We give of ourselves when we give and we accept the person when we accept the gift .
Christmas reminds us that we cannot separate God's gift from His person, and His desire to have a relationship with us. "For God so loved... He gave ..."
Merry Christmas
Bro. Robin
When I was growing up I enjoyed gift giving times. I was the youngest in the family and always got presents from everyone. I piled all the presents on a chair in the living room so everone could see. I was not a very gracious reciever. In time I out grew the need to show off my presents.
I have spent most of my adult life in ministry. Over the years I have recieved gifts for a lot of reasons. I have learned to accept them graciously because of the lessons I have learned through these gifts.
First I have learned that people give gifts because they want to bless someone as they have been blessed. This understanding has helped my recieving and giving. When I see a gift as a blessing I stop looking at the practical use and accept the personal value it was given to express. A gift is a part of the giver they want you to have.
A gift is also an expression of love. Love is more than a part of the giver. A gift of love is an expression of what they wish they could give. There are times when we would give the world if we could. So, we give a symbol of our wishes and dreams.
I like gifts that are creatve and fun. Gifts are about the relatinship between the giver and reciever. We give of ourselves when we give and we accept the person when we accept the gift .
Christmas reminds us that we cannot separate God's gift from His person, and His desire to have a relationship with us. "For God so loved... He gave ..."
Merry Christmas
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanks(for)giving
Thank you. These are words that we use to show our appreciation when repayment is inadequate. Sometimes I think the words are overused. At other times the words fall short of the full measure of our feelings of gratitude. We are thankful for a gift. It may be a deed or a present but it is always at the hands of another person. Mostly I am thankful for the person.
I do not say thank you to my car for delivering me places. It is not an expression for things that do their job. I might say thanks to the mechanic who keeps my car running. When I had a warning light flash on my way out of town I called him and he stayed open late to check it out and get me on my way safely. I said thank you several times to him.
In Ephesians 4:11 Paul says, “And He personally gave some to be…” The gift in this passage is the person. In fact, for me many of God’s best gifts are the people He has placed in my life, as I am sure He has in yours.
Thanks for giving of your time, talents, and treasure to build God’s kingdom in His church. Your gifts are not only appreciated but necessary for us to be the Church God wants us to be. As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families take time to remember the people who have been gifts to you this year.
Bro. Robin
I do not say thank you to my car for delivering me places. It is not an expression for things that do their job. I might say thanks to the mechanic who keeps my car running. When I had a warning light flash on my way out of town I called him and he stayed open late to check it out and get me on my way safely. I said thank you several times to him.
In Ephesians 4:11 Paul says, “And He personally gave some to be…” The gift in this passage is the person. In fact, for me many of God’s best gifts are the people He has placed in my life, as I am sure He has in yours.
Thanks for giving of your time, talents, and treasure to build God’s kingdom in His church. Your gifts are not only appreciated but necessary for us to be the Church God wants us to be. As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families take time to remember the people who have been gifts to you this year.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Priceless Pearls
Jesus tells the story, in Matthew 13:45-46, about a merchant who was searching for fine pearls. When he found one of exceptional quality, a priceless pearl, he sold everything else to buy that one. The interesting part of the story is that he was looking for so special, not to see how many pearls he could accumulate. He knew that hidden among valuable items there was something beyond value, worth everything he had.
Sometimes the treasure we go looking for is the most valuable to us. Sometimes it is the hidden treasure that we find along the way that means the most to us. The pearl merchant’s story may appear to have been an accidental discovery, one pearl among millions, but it was a discovery he was prepared to make. He committed his life to keep his eyes open to see the priceless among the average in a world surrounded by value.
The parable is about the kingdom of God. Finding Jesus and having a relationship with God through Him is not another pearl. He is a priceless pearl worth giving up everything to have. He considered us each to be a priceless pearl as well.
The discovery of priceless pearls brings about life changing experiences. Our relationship with God is a priceless pearl. Finding a spouse, a life-long friend, is a priceless pearl. Some words of wisdom are called pearls. Learning a life changing lesson and making an important decision can be priceless pearls too.
How many of us see the world around us filled with valuable treasure? And then, how many of us have our eyes tuned to see the exceptional among the valuable? Maybe I have become a cynic, but I do not know many pearl merchants. I think this story challenges us to raise our standards, open our eyes, and see the pearls that are all around us. There are valuable people, valuable moments, and valuable opportunities that pass before our eyes every day. We have to be able to see the pearls before we will ever be able to find a priceless pearl among them.
This month of thanksgiving I thank God for the pearls He has placed around me. I am especially thankful for the priceless pearls that change my life for the better, and the ability He has given me to recognize many of them.
Bro. Robin
Sometimes the treasure we go looking for is the most valuable to us. Sometimes it is the hidden treasure that we find along the way that means the most to us. The pearl merchant’s story may appear to have been an accidental discovery, one pearl among millions, but it was a discovery he was prepared to make. He committed his life to keep his eyes open to see the priceless among the average in a world surrounded by value.
The parable is about the kingdom of God. Finding Jesus and having a relationship with God through Him is not another pearl. He is a priceless pearl worth giving up everything to have. He considered us each to be a priceless pearl as well.
The discovery of priceless pearls brings about life changing experiences. Our relationship with God is a priceless pearl. Finding a spouse, a life-long friend, is a priceless pearl. Some words of wisdom are called pearls. Learning a life changing lesson and making an important decision can be priceless pearls too.
How many of us see the world around us filled with valuable treasure? And then, how many of us have our eyes tuned to see the exceptional among the valuable? Maybe I have become a cynic, but I do not know many pearl merchants. I think this story challenges us to raise our standards, open our eyes, and see the pearls that are all around us. There are valuable people, valuable moments, and valuable opportunities that pass before our eyes every day. We have to be able to see the pearls before we will ever be able to find a priceless pearl among them.
This month of thanksgiving I thank God for the pearls He has placed around me. I am especially thankful for the priceless pearls that change my life for the better, and the ability He has given me to recognize many of them.
Bro. Robin
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Change
As we drove from western Arkansas through eastern Oklahoma we were taken by the beauty of the tree covered hills. One wonders how God could combine so many shades of red, yellow, orange, and brown with an occasional splash of green leftover from the summer to create such a panorama. The view was breath taking beautiful. Our conversation was constantly interrupted by, “Look at that one.”
We look forward to fall and the spectacular views of the changing colors. The colors are not the only changes that fall brings. The temperature changes, the sports we watch change, time even changes, and for some our jobs may also change.
Change comes to us all. So why do we all have so much trouble adjusting to change in so many areas of our lives? Change is a regular part of our society and culture. Yet anytime we make changes to our personal routine it takes an effort to make the change.
Perhaps that is the pattern I am looking for. We celebrate change that affects us all. We deliberately drive through the country to watch the changing seasons. But our discomfort with change seems to grow as the change becomes more personal. Changes in our routine in our life, our job, and even in our church takes us longer to appreciate.
I read a quote recently that the only person who likes change is a wet baby. I can’t seem to find the source but it sure makes sense. Sometimes we may even agree that the change is necessary but just do not get in there and help make it happen. If we could get as excited about changes we need to make as we do about the changing seasons we might see good things happen more quickly.
Change is an important part of the Christian life. There is no salvation without repentance, which means change. Paul said, “We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,” (1 Cor. 15:51) One day we will be called to the ultimate change. We will change from mortal to immortal. I don’t think any of us will drag our feet when that trumpet sounds.
Bro. Robin
We look forward to fall and the spectacular views of the changing colors. The colors are not the only changes that fall brings. The temperature changes, the sports we watch change, time even changes, and for some our jobs may also change.
Change comes to us all. So why do we all have so much trouble adjusting to change in so many areas of our lives? Change is a regular part of our society and culture. Yet anytime we make changes to our personal routine it takes an effort to make the change.
Perhaps that is the pattern I am looking for. We celebrate change that affects us all. We deliberately drive through the country to watch the changing seasons. But our discomfort with change seems to grow as the change becomes more personal. Changes in our routine in our life, our job, and even in our church takes us longer to appreciate.
I read a quote recently that the only person who likes change is a wet baby. I can’t seem to find the source but it sure makes sense. Sometimes we may even agree that the change is necessary but just do not get in there and help make it happen. If we could get as excited about changes we need to make as we do about the changing seasons we might see good things happen more quickly.
Change is an important part of the Christian life. There is no salvation without repentance, which means change. Paul said, “We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,” (1 Cor. 15:51) One day we will be called to the ultimate change. We will change from mortal to immortal. I don’t think any of us will drag our feet when that trumpet sounds.
Bro. Robin
Monday, October 12, 2009
Appreciation
There are some expressions that are so common that when we use them we all know what we mean. For example, when I say, “my better half,” everyone knows that I am talking about my wife. When we say, “our pride and joy,” we all know that we are talking about a child, usually a baby. We know this because the feelings we have about our children are as universal as the expression. As our children get older we may stop using such expressions to describe them. But the feelings of pride and joy never go away and never diminish.
We share in the experiences of our children. We may be disappointed from time to time. When they hurt we hurt with them. When they are happy we are happy with them. When they are appreciated for something they have done, we feel appreciated right along with them.
This month you showed your appreciation for my son, Eric, for his service to our country and his sacrifice. The crowd that came for the dinner was overwhelming as you honored Eric and Andria. Congressman John Boozman’s appearance was also a special honor, arranged by some of our members. Eric well deserved your attention that day. My heart was full of pride and joy for my son and for all of you who were there to show your appreciation.
This was also Clergy Appreciation month. I thank you for the way you showed your appreciation when you also honored the staff with many kind words and a dinner. You pulled out all the stops and blessed us more than I can say. Personally, I felt honored two weeks in a row. You showed your appreciation for my family, my co-workers (who are like family), and me. Thank you.
This is a great church and this is what makes this church great. My prayer is that our love and appreciation for each other will grow and spread. This is the heart of the Gospel that we are taking across the street and around the world.
God Bless you for your love for Him and for us.
Bro. Robin
We share in the experiences of our children. We may be disappointed from time to time. When they hurt we hurt with them. When they are happy we are happy with them. When they are appreciated for something they have done, we feel appreciated right along with them.
This month you showed your appreciation for my son, Eric, for his service to our country and his sacrifice. The crowd that came for the dinner was overwhelming as you honored Eric and Andria. Congressman John Boozman’s appearance was also a special honor, arranged by some of our members. Eric well deserved your attention that day. My heart was full of pride and joy for my son and for all of you who were there to show your appreciation.
This was also Clergy Appreciation month. I thank you for the way you showed your appreciation when you also honored the staff with many kind words and a dinner. You pulled out all the stops and blessed us more than I can say. Personally, I felt honored two weeks in a row. You showed your appreciation for my family, my co-workers (who are like family), and me. Thank you.
This is a great church and this is what makes this church great. My prayer is that our love and appreciation for each other will grow and spread. This is the heart of the Gospel that we are taking across the street and around the world.
God Bless you for your love for Him and for us.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Reminders
As we were moving the seasonal decorations from the doorway to our home Joyce noticed little things hidden among the decorations that she had not put there. There among the summer decorations were toy soldiers and cars. It was obvious the grandchildren had been there. They had played some game of their own invention and when they were called away for supper or something else of importance, they left behind little reminders of their presence.
Last week we attended a meeting that included a lot of old friends from our past. It was really good to renew old friendships. We also saw how the experiences of our lives together affect us all. When we allow people to touch our lives we touch each other. They leave an impression that affects us in ways that we may not even realize for years. We leave reminders of ourselves in the lives of others.
I thought about the many places we had lived and the people we have known. Scattered along the way are little reminders of our presence. Most of those experiences were good, some of them regrettable. I remember a bit of advice I often give to people: As time passes we tend to remember best the good things in life and remember less the bad things.
Everything we touch is changed by us in some small way. Everything God touches is changed in a significant way.
Paul said, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” Love God and keep the goal of God’s purpose in sight. When we seek God’s touch, the reminders of ourselves we leave along the way will point to God.
Bro. Robin
Last week we attended a meeting that included a lot of old friends from our past. It was really good to renew old friendships. We also saw how the experiences of our lives together affect us all. When we allow people to touch our lives we touch each other. They leave an impression that affects us in ways that we may not even realize for years. We leave reminders of ourselves in the lives of others.
I thought about the many places we had lived and the people we have known. Scattered along the way are little reminders of our presence. Most of those experiences were good, some of them regrettable. I remember a bit of advice I often give to people: As time passes we tend to remember best the good things in life and remember less the bad things.
Everything we touch is changed by us in some small way. Everything God touches is changed in a significant way.
Paul said, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” Love God and keep the goal of God’s purpose in sight. When we seek God’s touch, the reminders of ourselves we leave along the way will point to God.
Bro. Robin
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Keeping Score
“This is not a competition,” I said, as the teams were reporting on their day.
We were on a mission trip and had divided up into teams to share the gospel in different areas. It was not supposed to be a competition for a number of reasons. We were sharing the gospel to lead people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. To do it right takes time. Doing it wrong does not take as much time. So numbers may not be a good indicator of success. It may only reveal speed and a need to do more follow up.
“Okay, so how many did you get?” a team member asked.
It is human nature to be competitive. Some people are naturally more competitive than others. We keep score in order to know who wins. There are winners and losers. Sometimes we have the attitude that if somebody is going to win it might as well be me. I find that annoying mainly because I know I have that attitude at times, and am praying to change it in my own life.
There is a problem when we feel the need to keep score at everything. There are a lot of times when keeping score is more than annoying; it is the wrong thing to do. We should keep score at friendly games, but not with friendships. We should keep track of debts we owe, but not of wrongs committed against us. Marriage, family, Church, and work are all places where keeping score is wrong.
We can sometimes make a game out of an activity and make it fun and easier to do. Friendly score keeping as part of such a game can bring out the best in us. Unkind score keeping to prove a point of one-up-man-ship can destroy a relationship.
In speaking about love in the classic chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:5b, Paul said, Love, “does not keep a record of wrongs.” (HCSB) Love does not keep score and does not have to win.
When people in a relationship feel that they have to win and someone has to lose they both lose. On the other hand, when we want someone else to win and we set aside our needs for someone else, we all win. That is love, and that is the Gospel truth.
Bro. Robin
We were on a mission trip and had divided up into teams to share the gospel in different areas. It was not supposed to be a competition for a number of reasons. We were sharing the gospel to lead people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. To do it right takes time. Doing it wrong does not take as much time. So numbers may not be a good indicator of success. It may only reveal speed and a need to do more follow up.
“Okay, so how many did you get?” a team member asked.
It is human nature to be competitive. Some people are naturally more competitive than others. We keep score in order to know who wins. There are winners and losers. Sometimes we have the attitude that if somebody is going to win it might as well be me. I find that annoying mainly because I know I have that attitude at times, and am praying to change it in my own life.
There is a problem when we feel the need to keep score at everything. There are a lot of times when keeping score is more than annoying; it is the wrong thing to do. We should keep score at friendly games, but not with friendships. We should keep track of debts we owe, but not of wrongs committed against us. Marriage, family, Church, and work are all places where keeping score is wrong.
We can sometimes make a game out of an activity and make it fun and easier to do. Friendly score keeping as part of such a game can bring out the best in us. Unkind score keeping to prove a point of one-up-man-ship can destroy a relationship.
In speaking about love in the classic chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:5b, Paul said, Love, “does not keep a record of wrongs.” (HCSB) Love does not keep score and does not have to win.
When people in a relationship feel that they have to win and someone has to lose they both lose. On the other hand, when we want someone else to win and we set aside our needs for someone else, we all win. That is love, and that is the Gospel truth.
Bro. Robin
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Change with a Purpose
“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Jesus said this on the way to the cemetery. His friend Lazarus had died and Jesus was on His way to see him. He was not going to a funeral. The funeral had already taken place. He comforted Lazarus’ sisters with talk of resurrection. But they did not know what Jesus had in mind until it was all over. Jesus saw His friend’s death as an opportunity for a new beginning.
New beginnings are not as rare as you might think. Children are born, we start school, and we get new jobs, take on new tasks, and start new things all the time. Some see every day as a fresh new start to something in our lives. Most of the time, in order to start something new, we had to bring something else to an end. We learn as we move through the changes in life that change is good and even small changes can bring great results.
If I can paraphrase Jesus, I believe He is saying to us, “I am a fresh start, a new beginning, and the continuation of this new direction.” Paul said, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). When God brings new things He brings blessings with Him.
As I look at the start of the new church year I can see many changes coming. An old building needs to come down and a new one will need to be built. Some old programs will need to be traded for new ones. If we are going to be ready to reach people in a changing culture we will need to change some old ideas for some new ones. We have done it before. We can do it now.
Some things will not change. It will always be the same Gospel, the same Great Commission, and the same Great Commandment. God’s Word remains the same even when the ways we communicate change. This Church will continue to be a loving fellowship of God’s people, perhaps even more so. We keep our eyes and ears open to see where God is calling us to His work and our hands and feet ready to go.
Are you ready? Let’s go together and see what God can do with a people united in love for His purpose.
Bro. Robin
New beginnings are not as rare as you might think. Children are born, we start school, and we get new jobs, take on new tasks, and start new things all the time. Some see every day as a fresh new start to something in our lives. Most of the time, in order to start something new, we had to bring something else to an end. We learn as we move through the changes in life that change is good and even small changes can bring great results.
If I can paraphrase Jesus, I believe He is saying to us, “I am a fresh start, a new beginning, and the continuation of this new direction.” Paul said, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). When God brings new things He brings blessings with Him.
As I look at the start of the new church year I can see many changes coming. An old building needs to come down and a new one will need to be built. Some old programs will need to be traded for new ones. If we are going to be ready to reach people in a changing culture we will need to change some old ideas for some new ones. We have done it before. We can do it now.
Some things will not change. It will always be the same Gospel, the same Great Commission, and the same Great Commandment. God’s Word remains the same even when the ways we communicate change. This Church will continue to be a loving fellowship of God’s people, perhaps even more so. We keep our eyes and ears open to see where God is calling us to His work and our hands and feet ready to go.
Are you ready? Let’s go together and see what God can do with a people united in love for His purpose.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Worship
Worship is at the heart of our relationship with Christ. It is our expression of God’s worth to us, worth-ship. I have seen it defined as our response to God’s revelation of Himself. To understand worship it is something to experience, rather than define.
There are many examples and descriptions of worship in scripture. I find it helpful to focus on a few things that are meaningful and seek to grow in those areas of worship. I have made an acrostic to help me remember some of the most meaningful ways of worship that I have discovered in scripture and experience.
WORSHIP:
Wait on the lord, as a waiter waits on customers. (Acts 13:2)
Organize my thoughts. God brings order out of chaos. (Philippians 2:5)
Remember what I learn. Take notes and bring something home from each worship experience. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Sing. Singing includes praise and like praise it requires participation. (Ephesians 5:19)
Help. A worship service must include service in order to be worship. (Romans 12:1-2)
Intercede for others in prayer. (Philippians 1:4)
Prevail. The message will prevail, (Acts 19:20)
I hope these simple words will encourage you to experience God today. You can find God anywhere if you take the time to look. Take time to experience worship today.
There are many examples and descriptions of worship in scripture. I find it helpful to focus on a few things that are meaningful and seek to grow in those areas of worship. I have made an acrostic to help me remember some of the most meaningful ways of worship that I have discovered in scripture and experience.
WORSHIP:
Wait on the lord, as a waiter waits on customers. (Acts 13:2)
Organize my thoughts. God brings order out of chaos. (Philippians 2:5)
Remember what I learn. Take notes and bring something home from each worship experience. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Sing. Singing includes praise and like praise it requires participation. (Ephesians 5:19)
Help. A worship service must include service in order to be worship. (Romans 12:1-2)
Intercede for others in prayer. (Philippians 1:4)
Prevail. The message will prevail, (Acts 19:20)
I hope these simple words will encourage you to experience God today. You can find God anywhere if you take the time to look. Take time to experience worship today.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Look to the Future
This year, in addition to my usual garden fare, I planted some grape vines. I found the plants at nearby Tontitown where they grow many varieties of grapes. I have bought grapes there in the summer to make my own grape jam.
My favorite jam is made from Concord grapes. I make it with the whole skins. That is where the flavor is. It is a slow, painstaking, process to slice each grape by hand to remove the seeds and keep the grapes as whole as possible. There are shorter, easier ways to make jam. But the flavor and consistency is just not the same. There are also many varieties of grapes and some of them are seedless and have a better flavor for eating or making other things. I prefer Concord for my jam because that is the flavor I have always enjoyed the most.
Growing grapes is not easy. My dad had grapes when I was growing up and I remember the work that went into them. They had to be watered, pruned, and sometimes treated with chemicals or fertilizers. The end result could be a good harvest. Sometimes the result was simply a hope for a better harvest next year. Besides the time and work there was always the weather and seasonal elements that only God can control.
One thing is for certain. If you do not plant you cannot harvest. You have to look to the future.
Many of Jesus’ parables are taken from the field. He saw the cycle of growing things as perfect examples to explain our role in the kingdom, and in building His Church. It is his Church, His Kingdom, His vineyard, and we are the workers. He gives us everything we need but we still have to plant the seeds, till the soil, take care of the plants, and bring in the harvest. We have to look to the future.
We live and work in the present. Many times our focus is so caught by the present that we have a hard time seeing how the future is ever going to come out good. We forget how many elements are in God’s hands. Our faith needs to be in Him. While we may plant and water it is God who brings the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, CSV) We have many challenges before us and we may not be able to see how we can accomplish them. Our hope is in God as we look to the future.
Bro. Robin
My favorite jam is made from Concord grapes. I make it with the whole skins. That is where the flavor is. It is a slow, painstaking, process to slice each grape by hand to remove the seeds and keep the grapes as whole as possible. There are shorter, easier ways to make jam. But the flavor and consistency is just not the same. There are also many varieties of grapes and some of them are seedless and have a better flavor for eating or making other things. I prefer Concord for my jam because that is the flavor I have always enjoyed the most.
Growing grapes is not easy. My dad had grapes when I was growing up and I remember the work that went into them. They had to be watered, pruned, and sometimes treated with chemicals or fertilizers. The end result could be a good harvest. Sometimes the result was simply a hope for a better harvest next year. Besides the time and work there was always the weather and seasonal elements that only God can control.
One thing is for certain. If you do not plant you cannot harvest. You have to look to the future.
Many of Jesus’ parables are taken from the field. He saw the cycle of growing things as perfect examples to explain our role in the kingdom, and in building His Church. It is his Church, His Kingdom, His vineyard, and we are the workers. He gives us everything we need but we still have to plant the seeds, till the soil, take care of the plants, and bring in the harvest. We have to look to the future.
We live and work in the present. Many times our focus is so caught by the present that we have a hard time seeing how the future is ever going to come out good. We forget how many elements are in God’s hands. Our faith needs to be in Him. While we may plant and water it is God who brings the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, CSV) We have many challenges before us and we may not be able to see how we can accomplish them. Our hope is in God as we look to the future.
Bro. Robin
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