tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82455012926997774542024-02-19T20:49:41.472-08:00BUT GODJoe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.comBlogger793125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-1122122415707958122020-07-08T10:28:00.001-07:002020-07-08T10:36:23.453-07:00Fear Not I Am With You<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
people reach those moments where they are so frustrated they don’t see any
value or have any desire to continue with something, they might begin to
question the value of what they are doing or maybe even their own value. Their purpose
seems clouded and they begin to say things such as “Why? Why am I doing this?
Why bother? I put in all of this time and effort and look at where I am. When a
people’s lives have been headed in a direction without any thought of change
and suddenly a change is faced upon them it can be really tempting for them to
throw their arms up in the air and say, “What now? What am I supposed to do?” These
past several months have demonstrated this as we’ve been told to isolate from
others, to not go to school, to work from home if you are able to work at all, and
to keep our distance. And, the longer this continues the more it seems at least
to me that there is something far more threatening than a virus laying below
the surface. Now, as we have combined this with widespread civil unrest and
people forcefully telling other people that they either buy into their agenda hook,
line and sinker or they then become the cause and as the cause deserve judgment
and punishment, things have really gotten nasty. People have become not only
alienated, but now they have also become fearful making almost a perfect storm in
which the enemy or the evil one can revel.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
crazy thing is that at the heart of all of this there really is a virus and we
do have a long history as a people of not treating all people with the same love,
mercy and grace which our God has shown to us. We need to be careful as we walk
through trying to gain victory over this virus which means also that we have to
walk in love as we care for those who respond differently to it than we might
feel ourselves. And, as the voices of hurt are crying out in the midst of the
unrest, we do need to be reminded that particularly in some sectors of our
country racism is still very much an issue. It is not a ‘some sectors’ issue.
It is a “we the people issue” as we hear stories from every sector of those who
have experience it resultant discrimination on a regular basis. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There
is much of this later issue that I may not be ‘qualified’ to speak to because I
have not been the recipient of the treatment or resident where its roots were
the most evident. But I know enough to know that going after things with a
distorted purpose in a distorted way is not the answer. I also know that in anything
I align myself with it is my responsibility also to make sure that I know what
they stand for and that I am in agreement enough to link elbows with not only
the people but the cause itself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twenty-five
years <span style="background-color: white;">ago, Pastor Rick Warren released a book <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“The Purpose Driven Church”</span>
focused on encouraging pastors and church leaders to build their churches on
God’s purposes and not their own ideas of ministry. Nearly twenty years ago though,
in 2002 his most popular book, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“The Purpose Driven Life”</span> was released which swept
through churches around the country and even the world. It’s focus was to adapt
the principles of the first book to the lives of the body of the church itself.
The early versions of the book had five major focuses in answer to one leading question.
That question was, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“What on Earth Am I Here For?”</span> I suspect a huge part
of the success of this book and the videos and studies and other stuff that sprung
from it was the connection th</span>at people had with that question itself. And it
was in answer to that question that Pastor Warren sought to connect people with
answers or purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purpose #1: You Were Planned for
God's Pleasure (Christian Worship)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God's
Family (Christian Church)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purpose #3: You Were Created to
Become Like Christ (Discipleship)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for
Serving God (Christian Ministry)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission
(Christian Mission)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What Pastor
Warren sought to do was to take people to the Word of God to guide people in
answering their questions concerning their purpose in life as His in Christ. It’s
not surprising that as I looked at reviews of a later version of the book that
I found one particular one-star rating to stand out. This person expressed
their disappointment because as a non-Christian it did not address that
individual’s own questions about purpose. While the world as we see here many not agree,
the Bible boldly declares that our purpose in Him creating us was for us to be a
people in a personal relationship with Him. Anything outside of this really is
outside of the purpose of the Creator. It was as man acted outside of God’s
purpose and instruction that sin entered the world, and it is only through His intervention
through His Son, Christ Jesus that we are restored in that purpose both
individually and corporately. Outside of Christ, any search for purpose is only
as good as the transient issue, cause, desire, or goals that individuals and
those they align with hinge themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purpose
is huge. We all want to know that we have a purpose, and when what we have become
used to is yanked out from underneath us it then becomes easy to surrender and
lose hope. For most this might be only a momentary thing, but for others it may
persist for longer periods of time. I have seen this over the years with
seniors and particularly surviving spouses. I’ve seen it with those who have
struggled to provide for their families. I’ve seen it with people who have
chronically struggled is issue of abuse of one form or another. And now we are
seeing it even in our children as their world as they have known it has been
closed off and there is no real answer for what lies ahead, especially for
those whose college goals are in question as they wait decisions as to whether
they will be able to “go” or not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Discouragement
or the lack of courage to continue comes when purpose doesn’t exist, is
distorted in some way, or is repeatedly fought back. Encouragement comes with
hope. Its with hope that people move forward today with a level of trust that
some normalcy will return. Its with hope that those who have suffered at the
hands of others move forward trusting that good will come out of what is happening
now. And while people hope their hope is also challenged by those whose desires
are not as theirs and whose means are not so virtuous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last Sunday
I taught from Acts 18:9-22, with a particular focus on verses 9 and 10. “(9) And
the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer,
but go on speaking and do not be silent; (10) for I am with you, and no man
will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.””
(Acts 18:9–10, NASB95) In looking at these two verses I would encourage you to
divide in each of them the words of Jesus into two parts (an ‘a’ and a “b’). In
9a (“Do not be afraid any longer”) and 10a (“for I am with you”) we have both
an instruction and a promise that are spoken throughout the Bible in both Old
and New Testaments that apply to all who trust in God. We are not to be afraid
any longer. The “any longer” acknowledges that it may have described us in the
past but is not to mark us for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
are to stop being afraid. The reason is not found in the rest of verse 9 where
Paul is instructed by Jesus in what he is to do or the purpose for which he was
sent (“but go on speaking and do not be silent”). Instead it is found in the
beginning of verse 10 in the assurance of the presence of Christ with him. God
was with him and would never leave him nor forsake him (abandon or give up on
him). And the reason he could feel comfortable in this was not even the promise
that followed in the middle of the verse, “and no man will attack you in order
to harm you.” No. The reason that Paul was no longer to fear was the reminder
from God that God was with Him. God was on His side and ‘yes’ in that
circumstance unlike many other circumstances where God also proved His constant
presence, in this one unique circumstance no harm would befall him. It is then
that verse 10 concluded the vision with a restatement of the purpose for Paul
being there which was to reach the people that God had chosen. What Paul was
reminded by God was that in sending Paul to do a work which he ordained for him
beforehand that he was not to fear what the enemy might throw at Him because
God’s strong hand was there for him. This was also true when he was stoned elsewhere
and even when he was later martyred in Rome. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God
has a purpose for those who place their trust in Him. We may not always see how
that purpose is being worked out, but we do know that He does and it is our response-ability
to keep our hope and trust in Him in the waiting and the walking. “For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, NASB95) </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The details
of that purpose may not always be clear and there may be obstacles in the way
with detours and delays, but we should never lose hope by focusing on those
things but instead always living with hope knowing that we are His and first
and foremost He has called us to seek after Him and trust Him fully for every
moment, every event, and every other thing that we may encounter. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due
time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity,
let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household
of the faith.” (Galatians 6:9–10, NASB95; see also 2 Thessalonians 3:13)</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-87628585563517372682020-04-17T09:27:00.002-07:002020-04-17T09:47:37.483-07:00In These Days<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Encourage One Another<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Bible speaks quite a bit
about end times events as Christians look forward to the day when the Lord
Jesus will come for His church and then to establish His millennial reign. The
Bible also tells us that we do not know when that time is. So, the natural
thing that happens when something big happens is to wonder if the end is near.
Certainly, it is nearer than it was before, but we still do not know when that
is because that is information that God holds closely to Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the passages that
speaks of this time is found in 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 1-11. I’ll include
the verses for context, but not really comment on them other than to address
how it is that we are to live right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. “(1)
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have
anything written to you. (2) For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of
the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (3) While people are saying,
“There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as
labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (4) But you
are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (5)
For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night
or of the darkness. (6) So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep
awake and be sober. (7) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get
drunk, are drunk at night. (8) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of
salvation. (9) For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us so that whether we are
awake or asleep we might live with him. (11) Therefore encourage one another
and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11, ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are ominous words as
they point to this future event whose timing we don’t know. In these words, we also
see two categories of people. There are those who live oblivious to the things
outside of what they can see, sense or even fear. They respond to things as
they come in whatever way seems reasonable to them. This passage speaks of a
time when things will crash as if a thief broke into their home and disrupted
their entire life. In a present context, that thief may be a life-threatening
virus, a cancer, loss of ability or source of work or what have you. It catches
them off guard and they are not prepared, and their responses vary as I suspect
we have all been a part of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then there are those whose
hope is not in their daily circumstance, but in a God who is holding them
firmly in whatever their circumstance might be. These same life events aren’t
any lighter or less impacting. Disease and death still happen, and lives are
disrupted in so many ways. But in these events, they know that there is hope.
There is hope for the present knowing that God encloses them before and behind
and that He will never let loose of them. And there is hope in knowing that
even this, as good as it might get or as dark as it might seem, is not the end.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Verse 8 in this passage says
that we all belong to this day. We are living through the same things. The
question is, “How are we doing at it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Verses 9 and 10 tell us how
God has provided our ultimate help. This is why we just celebrated Easter. Jesus
came to pay the price for our sins and to rescue us from the wrath that would
result because of them. He not only came to provide that, but He also came that
we might have life even now. Because of Him we’ve been drawn into a relationship
with God where He calls us children and we have become immersed in the hope of
knowing that our God has us firmly wrapped in His hands and that He has
everything under control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s got us when we are awake
(or alive) today, and He’s got us when we die (or fall asleep) and enter His presence.
He’s got us and He’s got the entirety of everything we face. It is out of this
reality that we then have verse 11, “Therefore encourage one another and build
one another up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we know there is help,
we have reason to be encouraged and to encourage. And, as we encourage, we
build into each other. As we walk through these days and this season seems to
drag on, focus on the hope, the help and build into the lives of those who God has
in your path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paul went on to write in the next
two verses. “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are
over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love
because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13,
ESV) Taking this out of the context of those serving in the church, the encouragement
here is to look to those around you who are giving of themselves for our
welfare to remember and encourage them. We’ll see an example of this Sunday in
Philippians 2:19-30 in the streaming of the Grass Valley service on Facebook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beyond this, live peaceably
with one another. James wrote these wonderful words: “Be quick to hear, slow to
speak and slow to anger.” (James 1:19)</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-26430963670164710012020-04-07T15:26:00.001-07:002020-04-07T15:26:26.584-07:00Shelter in the Storm<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I went outside an enjoyed the
most incredible sunset as the sky turned all of the wonderful orange colors
setting around Mt. Hood. As I did this I reflected not only on the day and some
of the stress I had seen but also on the joy that I was experiencing being
where God has me and my family and the people that He has placed us with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wondered at the difference that a
change in perspective makes, and most specifically when the perspective is
reminding myself that I am always under the shelter of God’s wings. As I
continued to think and enjoy the sunset, I found myself racing inside the house
to grab a tablet to jot down some notes. What I wrote was about King David who
seemed to be really open in his psalms about the trying situations in his life.
As he would begin to write he would share about the situation, but then we find
himself changing his focus Godward, and as his focus changed and he reflected
on who God is and how God was faithful to him, we then find him turning to
words of praise and even being able to find real rest knowing that not a single
thing has changed in regard to whatever it was that brought him to that moment
in the first place. The situation was still there, but David realized also that
God was more powerfully there, and it was in Him that he would trust and find
rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1 Samuel 22 and 24 David found himself
hiding in caves from King Saul who had his full force out looking for David and
seeking to put him to death. In fact, in 1 Samuel 24:1-7 King Saul himself had
led three-thousand men in pursuit of David, and oddly enough we read that King
Saul during that pursuit went into a cave to relieve himself (yes, that’s what
he did). David was hiding in that cave, recognized King Saul, briefly thought
about killing him, and then realized that he had no authority to life his hand
against the king even though he was already anointed as the next king. So, he
withdrew, and Saul left unaware that anything had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two psalms that I think of
that are specifically mentioned as being written while David was in the cave.
One of them is Psalm 57. After going back into the house I sat down and checked
my notes to find that it was this situation and this psalm that I had the
privilege to preach about on September 16, 2001 just five days after the
horrific terrorist attack on our country (9/11). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we once again find ourselves under
an attack, but this time from an unseen enemy in the form of a virus and
uncertainty about how it will impact us is huge. The threat extends beyond our
health to that of our finances and even future. But our God who was present
with David in those caves and on 9/11 is still the same and still just as in
control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Won’t you take a few minutes and read
this psalm? Maybe even you can copy it somewhere to reflect on should you get a
little on edge or are feeling pressed. And, possibly you might even share it
with someone else as we continue to encourage one another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 57. TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING
TO DO NOT DESTROY. A MIKTAM OF DAVID, WHEN HE FLED FROM SAUL, IN THE CAVE. (1)
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction
pass by. (2) I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for
me. (3) He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who
tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his
faithfulness! (4) My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery
beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues
are sharp swords. (5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be
over all the earth! (6) They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah (7) My
heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!
(8) Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! (9) I will
give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among
the nations. (10) For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your
faithfulness to the clouds. (11) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your
glory be over all the earth!” (Psalm 57, ESV)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-74922663666808344632020-04-01T14:53:00.001-07:002020-04-01T14:53:48.426-07:00God's Got This!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not to get to deep into this coming Sunday’s message as we celebrate
what is known as Palm Sunday, I find it amazing how many times in my life I’ve
been caught up into something that I really didn’t know what was going on.
Sometimes its been a good thing and other times something that I want no part
of and that I want it quickly gone. But I think it safe to say even as now that
there is much in our lives that we don’t greatly understand, have a firm grasp
on or control over and we scramble in various ways to get through it and come
out standing on the other side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In John 12:12-15 we read, “The next day the large crowd that had come
to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of
palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a
young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”” (John 12:16, ESV)
It’s called Palm Sunday because it was their coats and the branches of palm
trees that the people laid in the road before Jesus as He rode on that donkey on
a quickly made carpeted path for royalty. To Him they shouted “Hosanna!”
Hosanna is a word meaning ‘salvation has come,’ and as they fulfilled the words
of an Old Testament prophet, they proclaimed the coming of the one they hoped
would be their rescuing and present king. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strange as it was, their king came in on a young donkey rather than a
strong and stately steed. And, He surely wasn’t dressed as one might expect a
king to dress. Yet the crowd rushed to hail Jesus who up to this time many had
known as the prophet who healed. And as they hailed Him we know from the record
of history that their expectations that day were not met as they had hoped.
There was no quick and immediate relief to their oppression, and as the week
would unfold their joy would be swallowed up later in the week by shouts for
His crucifixion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For many there was going to be disappointment. For others who knew Him well
there was going to be distress and anguish. But only Jesus knew what was really
going on. Only He knew the real reason that He was riding into town in this
way. And though He would speak to His disciples during the week about humility
and servanthood, their expectation was different, and that expectation was
shattered, and their hopes were crushed when they saw Him give His life on that
cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John 12:16 continues, “His disciples did not understand these things at
first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had
been written about him and had been done to him.” (John 12:16, ESV) It would
not be until after Jesus’ resurrection and until after they had spent time with
the living Christ who they would see ascend before their eyes into heaven to
wait then on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that they would then
begin to remember and understand just what it was that He was doing that day
and what He had shown and taught them in all of their days together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On that day they joined in with the rest as they celebrated Him
entering Jerusalem, probably amazed at the reaction of the crowds to this man
that they had grown to know and love. And like the crowd, even they did not
grasp the significance of the events going on before their eyes. The king had indeed
returned to Jerusalem. It was there that He was crucified just as God had
planned. This was followed by his burial in a tomb that belonged to someone
else, and it was from that grave that He arose on the third day to be seen
ultimately by a great many before leaving for a season. We live in that season
of post-cross and pre-return. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world is still a mess. But even in that mess we know that our God
reigns and that Jesus is Lord over all creation, which means every single
aspect. Palm Sunday is not about a parade and the coronation of a king gone
wrong as people stood by and watched. No. It is and always has been about God
sending His Son for the purpose of going to that cross to pay the penalty for
our sins, be buried and then rise again on the third day so that we might have
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we look to the circumstances surrounding us we can be encouraged
that our God has not loosened His grip on His creation. He’s got this. The
praise on one day that turned to grieving later in the week two-thousand years
ago did not catch God by surprise, and neither does a single circumstance of
our lives today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust,
and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has
become my salvation.”” (Isaiah 12:2, ESV)</span></div>
<br />Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-67026217356624547402020-03-26T14:00:00.000-07:002020-04-16T22:06:12.067-07:00Emerging From Isolation<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
was thinking about my parents and my growing up this morning. Church was not a
part of our lives. It's not that my parents were in opposition or anything like
that, but they early on had just simply drifted away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
as kids we wanted to go with a friend that was fine, and they even encouraged
it. As a teen when I became a Christian and started attending regularly they
were in favor. But neither church or seeking after God in a daily relationship
with Him was a part of their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then
as my dad was approaching thirty years serving in the US Navy he was offered an
opportunity to retire and go to work for a major engineering firm that was
building a city in Saudi Arabia from the sewers up including a desalination
plant and the whole works. So, he my mom and my two youngest sisters headed off
to Saudi Arabia where my parents lived for ten years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One
thing about living there is that what they could have freely chosen to do in
attending church here in the United States was something forbidden for them to
do in Saudi Arabia. Amazingly enough, after returning to the States and
settling in Grants Pass, Oregon going to church and growing in their
relationship with God became something important to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
this time of being told what we cannot do, though for a different reason, I
have been wondering what people will first choose to do when the restrictions
are lifted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where
are you in this life picture of my parents? Has there been a drift in your
relationship with God? Maybe, you've not even stopped to think about Him, you,
and what might happen if this pandemic was much worse and the death toll much
higher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Man
has been separated from God for a long time, and its not because God went
anywhere. In fact, He has spent the entirety of our time reaching into us and
through His Son, Jesus Christ we have been given free admittance into a
relationship with Him here and now and the certainty of His presence for
eternity. This is real hope. The hope that doesn't fade away when the situation
of the moment does or on the other side when things become so big that we are
tempted to give up, crawl in a hole, and hide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
I first learned about God in this way I had invited myself to church and the
pastor was speaking on Psalm 139.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here
are the words of that psalm. Why don't you think about them for you,
particularly in this context of our disease imposed isolation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm
139. "For the choir director. A Psalm of David. (1) O Lord, You have
searched me and known me. (2) You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You
understand my thought from afar. (3) You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. (4) Even before there is a word
on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. (5) You have enclosed me behind
and before, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And laid Your hand upon me.
(6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(7)
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (8) If
I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are
there. (9) If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of
the sea, (10) Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay
hold of me. (11) If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the
light around me will be night,” (12) Even the darkness is not dark to You, And
the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(13)
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. (14) I will
give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your
works, And my soul knows it very well. (15) My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
(16) Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all
written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(17)
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
(18) If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am
still with You.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(19)
O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of
bloodshed. (20) For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your
name in vain. (21) Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not
loathe those who rise up against You? (22) I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(23)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; (24)
And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”
(Psalm 139, NASB95)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That
was forty-six years ago, and this simple truth that I had heard years before
made all of the difference in coming to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB95)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[After
making the post I was thinking about verses 19-22. Maybe we don't have enemies
in this sense that are foremost in our minds and lives, but this season of the
flu reminds us that there are always things that challenge us and from which we
desire deliverance.]</span></div>
<br />Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-57709439494750804552019-10-14T16:00:00.000-07:002019-10-14T16:00:04.870-07:00Go, God’s Got This<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Acts chapter 9 we read about the salvation of the apostle
Paul (Saul). He was a fierce opponent of the early followers of Jesus and had
gone to extremes to have them arrested and even put to death. While traveling
135 miles to Damascus, Saul was stopped in his tracks by a light from heaven with
Jesus speaking to him asking him why he (Saul) was persecuting Him (Jesus).
Saul was then instructed to go to Damascus to wait for further instruction.
Being blinded he was led into the city where he waited three days, praying
while not eating or drinking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Saul was waiting, God was also prepared Ananias who was being
sent to this notorious opponent. The details given to Ananias in a vision were
very specific, even to the point of him being told that Saul also had a vision
that Ananias, by name, would come to him. As specific as the instruction was,
Ananias still responded with a “but,” fearing that Saul may actually be given
access to them to further their persecution. Jesus responded to Ananias with, “Go,
for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings
and the sons of Israel…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Ananias had a choice. He could disregard the instruction from God and live in
fear of Saul, or he could listen and go, trusting Jesus to do as He said.
Ananias went and became the one blessed to lay hands on this most famous
apostle to the Gentile world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God may not speak to us through visions as was done with Saul and
Ananias, but every day we have choices to make as we seek His leading in the
varied situations of our lives. The encouragement for all of us is to trust His
leading on our hearts and in the situations laid before us, and obediently go
forward to see what He does knowing God has it under control.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters - 10/11/2019</span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-15931856320359772862019-10-14T15:58:00.002-07:002019-10-14T15:58:52.473-07:00The More Excellent Way<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 the
apostle Paul wrote about how the Holy Spirit supernaturally gifts believers
above and beyond whatever skills and talents they might have to accomplish the
common good in the church. These gifts are coordinated with ministries overseen
by Jesus Christ as Lord in order to accomplish the intended outcomes of the
Father. We also see in this chapter the church as a body of diverse members of
which none are the same who are to function according to their own abilities for
the welfare of the body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chapter ends with “…And I show you a still more
excellent way.” Then comes chapter 13 which is all about love. It contains
great statement on the value of love, descriptions of love and not love and how
love functions. Included are two great statements on what love is--patient and
kind. Patience is the putting up with things that might otherwise push our
buttons having the meaning of being long-tempered. Kindness has the meaning of
showing active goodwill even when the other person is by our standard not
deserving. These are love in action, and the framework for this is remembering
just how much God has loved us when we were strangers and aliens, living in
active disobedience and yet He sent His Son to pay the price required to
satisfied the wrath of God and secure our forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The greatest gift we can know from God is His great love for us and the
best way that we can walk with one another is by demonstrating that love.
Everything else will pass away when the Christian steps into eternity, but love
endures forever. We read at the end of chapter 13, “But now faith, hope, love,
abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters - 09/20/2019</span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-53018872927741506632019-10-14T15:57:00.002-07:002019-10-14T15:57:26.167-07:00The Face of an Angel<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s so hard when we are challenged
in some way to not let it show in some way. In Acts chapter 6 a man named
Stephen was selected with six others to care for the needs of some of the
widows who were not being helped. The qualifications for the six in being
chosen were that they had good reputations, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.
Additionally, we read that Stephen was also full of faith and of the Holy
Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we move on to the rest of chapter 6 and then all of
chapter 7, we learn Stephen was also full of grace and power. We find that beyond
caring for the widows, he also was actively speaking about Jesus Christ in the
synagogues of non-native Hebrews or Hellenists, and that the Spirit of God was working
miraculous signs and wonders as proofs of God’s sending him. As this was
happening, we learn that the leadership in one of the synagogues challenged him.
When they could get nowhere in their debate, they then hauled him before the
greater Council of leadership who listened as false charges were brought
against him. When his accusers had finished the Council turned their attention
to Stephen. This is what we read in Acts 6:15, “And fixing their gaze on him,
all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine that, having the people you had worshipped with
growing up now coming against you because of your faith in Christ. Add to that the
entirety of the Jewish leadership. Yet, this man as he sat before them and they
observed him even in disagreement, had a countenance that could be spoken of as
comparative to how one would imagine the face of an angel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all have challenges in our lives and things that might tend to rock
our boats. Stephen demonstrated for us how a firm faith in God, knowing His
security in Christ and living according to the power of the Spirit made all the
difference. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters - 08/16/2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-52429592073827154452019-10-14T15:56:00.001-07:002019-10-14T15:56:20.072-07:00Go, Stand and Speak<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Kent and Grass Valley we have
been working through the book of Acts. In the early chapters Luke moves back
and forth between glimpses inside the new and quickly growing body of believers
that we know as the church and snapshots outside where the Spirit is working
miraculous things as people are being healed and hearing the whole message of
salvation in Christ in response. But as the message spread, the leadership in
the temple began to feel threatened, not because of any signs of uprising, but
because the apostles were gaining favor in the sight of the people and
responding by belief in Christ. The leadership, we read, had become jealous of
what was going on inside the walls they oversaw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Acts chapter 4 Peter and Paul
were apprehended and commanded by the ruling Council not to speak of Jesus
anymore. Then they were threatened and released. In Acts 5, after continuing to
speak, all of the apostles were then arrested. Once again after having been
released from prison in the middle of the night by a messenger of God and being
told to “go, stand and speak” the whole message of Life, and the subsequently
then rearrested they were threatened, beaten, and then released (lot more to
the story – Acts 5:12-42).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems that for fear of the people the ruling Council could not take
any significant action yet against these followers of Christ, though things
would quickly change. For the time being, their tactic was intimidate to
eliminate with the hope that by exercising enough resistance and threat they
would give in. The interesting thing in studying these early believers is that
even when faced with these things and even death, they responded with respect
while always being clear about who they were compelled to serve knowing that
their trust and hope was in God and His strong hand. We can trust Him still
today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters - 08/09/2019</span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-48246026834978593002019-10-14T15:55:00.000-07:002019-10-14T15:55:04.345-07:00Boldly Shaken<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“And when they had prayed, the
place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts
4:31)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After being arrested for
proclaiming salvation in the name of the risen Jesus Christ, Peter and Paul
were threatened and warned to not speak again of Him in public. They responded
that they could not abide by this directive, but that they were compelled to
continue proclaiming Christ. Unable to take action against them, they were
released and told their companions all that had happened. The group then went
to God in prayer to worship Him as not only the creator of all things but the
One who continues to keep them even in this resistance which they were told
would come. As they prayed, they did not ask for the trials to stop, but rather
that they would have boldness to continue despite them. It was at the
conclusion of the prayer that this verse occurs as God demonstrated He had
heard their prayer and was powerfully with them such that they then continued
to do what they had been sent to do which was to speak boldly the good news of
salvation in Jesus and Jesus Christ alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their response in the face of a
life-shaking event was to go to God who moved in them in such a way that they
could then go forward with unshakable confidence. It is the certain confidence
of God’s presence and His strong hand in our struggles that enables us to rest
when everything else seems to be moving way to fast or in a direction that we
would not have chosen. God’s goodness isn’t measured by Him keeping us from
trials, but in His faithfulness to bring us through to the other side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right
hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters - 07/19/2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-65623585055233519332019-10-14T15:53:00.003-07:002019-10-14T15:53:42.936-07:00The Hope of Perfect Health<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Acts chapter 3 tells us of a
forty-year-old man being healed who had been lame and unable to walk from
birth. He was well-known in Jerusalem because he had asked for help at the
temple gates for years. So, you can imagine the excitement that burst forth when
people saw him leaping and dancing before their very eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the apostles Peter and John
approached the temple gate, they stopped to respond to this man’s plea. Peter
told the man that they had no silver or gold to give him, but what he did have
he would. With that he told the man in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene to
“WALK!” The immediately Peter reached down and grabbed the man, and as the man
was being pulled to his feet, his ankles were strengthened such that he could
do the very thing that amazed the masses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter then challenged the gathered crowd to repent or change
their minds about Jesus, speaking of the example of the man…. “And on the basis
of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man
whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this
perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:16, NASB95) The “perfect
health” spoken of was not found in his new-found physical condition, but in his
being eternally made whole by faith in Jesus who had done both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this life everything fades. But when something happens to us or someone
we love; many find themselves challenged to their very core and struggle in
knowing where to turn. But in Christ we
have great hope. Our God can and does heal according to His perfect will, but
more than that He has promised to all who believe through His Son eternal
wellness or perfect health that goes far beyond our temporary. God is good. He
is our help, and He will not fail. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters - 07/12/2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-4818531093046272672019-07-10T10:02:00.004-07:002019-07-10T10:02:37.819-07:00Unchanging in the Face of Change<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prophet Isaiah wrote and is
quoted in the New Testament these words, “All flesh is grass, and all its
loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower
fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:6–8, NASB95)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We live in a time where truth is
viewed by many as relative and the Bible is held to be outdated or archaic. That
position stands in stark contrast to what the Bible says about itself. While
everything around us changes as we see demonstrated in the annual process of
farming wheat or raising livestock. They all have their season and we in
response move on from one to the next. We even see this in our own lives and
our families. Much of Sherman County stands on generations of hard-working
people who have gone before those who are now as their descendants continuing
these cycles of work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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All that we see around us is temporal, and it is so easy to then think that
even that the unseen must be changing as well. But God and His Word stand in
stark contrast. While the wheat might mature and be harvested and our loved
ones go before us, God and His Word stand enduring and unchanged. This
unchanging-ness means that the truths of His Word are reliable and applicable,
that His promises are the same today as when they were made, and the hope of
which it speaks is not wishy-washy but certain. The question for each of us is,
“How are we going to respond?” This includes the salvation it declares as only
being found by faith in His Son—Jesus Christ and the hope that endures for
those who believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was originally posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on June 21, 2019</span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-65021671511940559732019-07-10T10:01:00.001-07:002019-07-10T10:01:22.460-07:00Happy Father’s Day<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“For you recall, brethren, our
labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any
of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is
God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one
of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner
worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1
Thessalonians 2:9–12, NASB)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this passage as Paul is
writing to the Thessalonian believers he expresses as a spiritual father many
of the traits that we treasure in our own fathers and to which end fathers can
seek to be with their own children. No longer in their presence, Paul reminded
them of the example of labor and struggle as he put in the time both night and
day to do what was necessary for their benefit. In this case, Paul labored for
his own provision, but in the case of the father and his family it pictures the
diligence that is necessary to tend to the needs of the family as he sets an
example of work and perseverance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is also the example of
teaching. As Paul taught them about God and how to walk before Him, so does the
father in the family have the privilege and responsibility to pass on what he
has learned to train up his own children both in life and hopefully in their
lifelong relationship with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, there is the example of
exhortation as a father to a child who encourages them to walk in a manner
worthy of who they are and the God who loves them. Fathers have the awesome
privilege of setting a pattern for life and encouraging their children as they
move forward in the path set before them. We also have a heavenly Father in God
who desires we seek Him as He does this for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was originally posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on June 14, 2109</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-88289862556626057472019-06-12T09:34:00.000-07:002019-06-12T09:35:08.264-07:00“Quick to Hear”<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be
quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not
achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and
all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which
is able to save your souls.” (James 1:19–21, NASB95)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Verse 19 is a favorite verse of mine in counseling because
it works in two incredible ways. The first, and primary one, is in relation to
our hearing from God before responding to others or even trials in our own
lives. When we take the time to listen to Him and reflect on His truths hidden
in our hearts (Psalm 119:1,11), we recognize in that moment how good, loving,
powerful, faithful and wise He is. It is in looking to Him for His wisdom and
trusting in His strong hand that we then can rest in Him in any situation,
respond in His ways, and rest in His peace. It is this peace of His that we
receive that calms our hearts and holds back our own anger. It is in relying on
Him and what we know of Him that He works in us to lift our worries, bring the
healing to our bodies and the refreshment to our bones that we read about in
Proverbs 3:8 or the rescue which gives rest for our souls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, we also know that the wisdom of verse 19 works in
our human relations as well. When we take the time to really hear not only what
is being said but also pay attention to the heart, then we are better prepared
to respond in a right and proper way which heads off the likelihood that the
situation will lead to further exasperation and heightened anger on our part or
others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was originally included in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on May 17, 2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-25953989996951827882019-05-11T22:21:00.003-07:002019-06-12T09:34:41.427-07:00Thank You Moms!<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This Sunday is that annual observance of Mother’s Day that
keeps Hallmark, American Greetings and florists around the U.S. in business.
Not intended to become commercialized, it was first established with its singular
possessive spelling of “Mother’s” as a purposeful reminder of the individual
nature between the mother and the child? As I thought about the impact of a
mother, I thought of the apostle Paul as he set out on a missionary journey
without his mentor Barnabas for the first time. Upon arriving in Lystra in Acts
16 he selected a disciple of his own to bring along with him. We read that he
selected “Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer.” The reason he
chose Timothy was because of his reputation as one who was “well spoken of” in
the community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later, in Paul’s last letter before his death, as he wrote
to encourage Timothy, he said “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within
you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I
am sure that it is in you as well.” (2 Timothy 1:5) And the reason for this,
aside from him growing in his faith was the firm foundation laid by his mother
and grandmother as Paul reminded him, “and that from childhood you have known
the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This weekend as we once again celebrate Mother’s Day I am
reminded of the great gift and rich heritage we have because of the countless
intensely personal loving, attentive, and sacrificial lives that have been
given for us by moms, whether they are held tight in our memories or currently serve
in the clinches of little hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband
also, and he praises her:” (Proverbs 31:28, ESV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Mother’s Day!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was first posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on May 10, 2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-40577550968629819042019-05-11T22:19:00.001-07:002019-06-12T09:35:39.072-07:00The Fruit of the Harvest<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week we looked at the unrealized potential of what a perfect
wheat harvest might look like. Farming is impacted in every way by this world from
the labor and threats involved to the variability and market acceptability of
the end product. Similarly, man struggles like wheat. There is so much that
enters our lives that have the potential for destruction. Just like the stuff
that grows from the ground, God created man who He intended to rule over the
earth without ailment or defect. But when man chose to disobey God, sinned entered
the world and everything changed. What once was perfect and intended for life
became fallen and enslaved to sin, destruction and death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Easter is more important than Christmas, because God chose
to intervene in His creation by sending His Son to go to the cross and then on
the third day to rise again. The cross is where God’s wrath against man’s
rebellion was satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son when He who knew no sin
became sin for us. The Bible tells us that we are saved by trusting in God’s
truthfulness as we accept His gift of forgiveness and life. Jesus’ death wasn’t
the end. His resurrection proved His claims and His power to restore life, but
this life did not extend to everything. What it did do was to give forgiveness
and life to those who believe and give the power to live in a fallen world
until He takes us into His presence where perfection is once again realized.
The reality is that this world will perish. But not everyone will perish with
it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John
3:16, NASB) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- the real fruit of the
harvest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was first posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on April 19, 2019</span></div>
<br />Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-79040690217682766262019-05-11T22:17:00.002-07:002019-06-12T09:36:17.441-07:00The Potential of the Harvest<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a recent Wednesday morning men’s study in Kent we read through another section of the book “Disciple” by Bill Clem. In it we read of the consequence of the curse of mans’ fall due to sin in Genesis 3:17-19, “Man was told that it will take pain and sweat equity to get earth to yield its harvest, and there will be thorns and thistles. There is no way for us to know how a pre-cursed garden looked or functioned, but it was surely a paradise. It is hard to imagine what fruits or vegetables would taste like in an un-cursed state.”</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As a community
reliant on farming for livelihood, you know the work that it takes to produce a
harvest. Each year the hard work is done of preparing the ground, removing the
rocks, seeding and spraying for those things that will hinder the wheat,
feeding and caring for that wheat as it grows hoping for adequate water, proper
temperatures, and freedom from things that threaten its outcome such as fires,
infestations and equipment failures. Even with all of this, there is still no
certainty that the crop once harvested will be well received in the market.</span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just what is your
real potential though? I’ve been told that if we were to get a June “Million
Dollar Rain” that the wheat might even produce a couple of extra kernels per
head implying that even what we see as good does not approach what might be
perfect. Just what does perfection look like? This is a question we can’t answer
because we live in a sin cursed world that the Creator of the world has also
chosen to mercifully and graciously intervene in such that even in the trials,
we might live with hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next Friday we’ll
wrap up this particular thought, so stay tuned. Be thankful for the rain, enjoy
the green, pray for the sun, and look for the hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Originally posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on April 12, 2019</span></div>
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Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-58112360388218077182019-03-28T13:50:00.002-07:002019-03-28T13:50:22.203-07:00Envy Destroys<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wife and I were away the first part of the week at a conference
in association with the Kent and Grass Valley churches. At one of the sessions
the keynote speaker addresses issues that get in the way of connectedness in
partnerships and relationships. In doing this he pointed to envy that he felt
was the greatest hurdle. Looking at this he went to a relationship that I
touched on in the last post, that of Jonathan and David as well as Jonathan’s
father King Saul. Last time we looked at the positives in the relationship.
Here we are looking at the negative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David had been engaged in battle on behalf of King Saul and
met with great success. In response, the people began to sing his praise. We
read in 1 Samuel 18:8-9, “Then Saul became very angry, for this saying
displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to
me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” (1 Samuel 18:8–9,
NASB95) We see in this account that Saul heard the comparison and it weighed
heavy on him. He desired to have the glory given to David for himself, and from
that point forward he viewed David with resentment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Envy is said to be a green monster. We see in this record
and what followed that it began to consume Saul and he spent an exhaustive
amount of time trying to bring David down so that he might have that
recognition for himself. It robbed him of joy as it festered in him and
consumed his thoughts and energies, even leading to his destruction. In
contrast to this, his own son Jonathan chose to lay aside his own glory in favor
of the one that God had raised, and rather than being consumed by what he did
not have he chose giving, sacrifice and love. He chose freedom over bondage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on March 15, 2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-86805295564020311122019-03-28T13:44:00.001-07:002019-06-12T09:36:44.207-07:00Through Thick and Thin<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Before David became king of Israel, he was brought into the
home of Israel’s first king, Saul who had a son named Jonathan. David and
Jonathan hit it off, and we read of them, “…the soul of Jonathan was knit to
the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.” (1 Samuel 18:1, NASB) Later
when king Saul would become jealous of David’s success, Jonathan sought to protect
David against the attacks of his own father. After an extended time of being
pursued, David heard of the deaths of both Saul and Jonathan in battle. He
honored them both, but of Jonathan he said, “I am distressed for you, my
brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more
wonderful than the love of women.” (2 Samuel 1:26, NASB)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later David’s son, Solomon wrote, “A man of too many friends
comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
(Proverbs 18:24, NASB) Surely, Solomon must have heard the stories about the
great friendship between his father and his dear friend and all that they endured
together. It was not an easy friendship, and things happened that would shatter
most relationships. But these men remained strong together and their love
endured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beyond them, we all have things that come into our lives
that can shake us at our cores. The question is whether you have someone who is
or can be that faithful friend who you will stand with your like a Jonathan? God
loves us this way. But what about someone with flesh and blood who along with God
the three of you can endure all things? Solomon also wrote, “And if one can
overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not
quickly torn apart.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NASB)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are not intended to walk alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on March 8, 2019</span></span></div>
<br />Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-67531984399913955442019-02-18T19:08:00.002-08:002019-06-12T09:36:56.639-07:00According to the Scriptures<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Have you ever wondered who the “they” or
“authorities” are when someone claims that “they” or “authorities” say
according to some source that something is true? Frequently these anonymous
authorities prove to be speculative and even baseless, having gained ground
because they play on the emotions, sympathies and desires of others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite passages in the Bible is one
that the apostle Paul called the most important truth. It is 1 Corinthians
15:3-4 where we read, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I
also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and
that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, NASB95) In this passage we read twice that
the things given to Paul to proclaim had happened just as they had been
prophesied “according” to the Scriptures. Not only do have the record of the
events, but we have the record of it having been foretold in advance as well as
others verifying it afterward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is true of Jesus Christ’s death which was
proclaimed by the prophets and himself in advance and proven by the record of
his having been crucified and then been buried which stands strong in the
historical record. The proof of his death is the record of his being buried.
Next concerning his resurrection which also was foretold in advance and
foretold by him. In the next several verses not cited here Paul went on to
describe the witnesses to the risen Christ which included 500 witness at one
time of whom many were still alive at the time of the writing of this Corinthian
letter who could have contested it if it weren’t so. From beginning to end God
took the time to say it, do it, and then affirm what He did. Some say there is
no real truth. God’s Word claims and supports otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on February 15, 2019</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-9568476505040104682019-02-18T19:06:00.002-08:002019-02-18T19:06:18.477-08:00Grow in Wisdom<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not like the east coast last week, Sherman County
is experiencing its own cold weather this week. With that, there is an
admonition for outdoor activities, “Stay Warm Stay Safe.” Little will cause
great harm more consistently than going out without the proper clothing and
placing yourself in unsafe circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Stay Safe Stay Warm” are simple but profound words
of wisdom for being outside. Grasping this piece of wisdom makes sense. We know
in or hearts and our minds that this is a wise thing to do, and to disregard it
is foolishness. The book of Proverbs is classified as one of the wisdom books
of the Bible, and from its beginning Proverbs contains one brief statement
after another of wise things for us to observe. It begins like this: “<span lang="EN">(1) </span>The proverbs of Solomon, son of
David, king of Israel: <span lang="EN">(2) </span>To
know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, <span lang="EN">(3) </span>to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity; <span lang="EN">(4) </span>to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the
youth— <span lang="EN">(5) </span>Let the wise hear
and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, <span lang="EN">(6) </span>to understand a proverb and a
saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. <span lang="EN">(7) </span>The fear of the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and
instruction.” (Proverbs 1:1–7, ESV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s true that fools despise wisdom and
instruction. I don’t think many of us would question that, but what about how
we regard the ultimate source of all wisdom. God is that source, and He has
revealed Himself to us through His Word. When you next step prepare to step out
into the cold, and you pause to dress properly thank Him for the simple wisdom.
And when you next sit down for some quiet rest take the time to open His Word,
listen to His leading and learn from Him.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on February 8, 2019</span></span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-3825822109375477012019-02-18T19:04:00.004-08:002019-02-18T19:04:44.262-08:00The Church is More than a Building<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday morning I drove by the old Methodist church in Grass
Valley and was struck by its winter splendor. The noises of this church and its
regular services have been silent for seventy years, and though it is an
extremely popular photo stop the reality is that one day this building will
pass away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish this could only be said of the structures, but it’s true of the
people to. Some pass into eternity and the fullness of joy in the presence of
our Lord. Others go away through moving, church migration, and even sadly
because they simply walk away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the church is more than a building. The apostle Paul wrote in
Ephesians 2:19-22, “…you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s
household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being
fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also
are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (NASB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The church is the body of Christ, and Jesus is its corner stone. He is
the One on whom it is built and who frames up its very structure. God
sovereignly worked through the prophets and apostles to lay its foundation, and
He continues to work through those He calls to Himself through salvation by
trusting in His Son to be its very building blocks in which His Spirit dwells
and actively works. Then one day we are promised that the fullness of His
church will be presented to His Son (Jesus) as His perfect bride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These old buildings will pass away. Our bodies
age and so do we. But one thing we are assured of is that Christ’s church
won’t. Don’t forsake the building, but more than that seek Him and enjoy His
people.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on January 18, 2019</span></span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-77423937729856637752019-02-18T19:02:00.000-08:002019-02-18T19:02:02.963-08:00Truth in a Treacherous World<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Driving back to
Sherman County yesterday I saw a sign warning of “possible” black ice
conditions. When it comes to the weather, hiking a perilous, or swimming in a
swelling river we commonly refer to the conditions as treacherous. This means
that they are dangerous, unsafe, precarious, and laden with hidden or deceptive
risk. It also means that because of their dangerous nature they are unreliable
and frequently unstable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But treacherous
also is used to refer to people. The Bible speaks frequently of the dangers of
hanging out with treacherous people who act treacherously. In this sense the
word is used to describe betrayal or deception because the person is unfaithful,
deceitful, false, double-crossing, two-faced, untrustworthy, unreliable, and undependable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After two chapters
in the Bible of “good” and “very good” (Genesis 1-2) we read in the first verse
of chapter 3, Satan (or the serpent) is described as “more crafty than
any beast...” The serpent then proceeded to tempt Eve to eat what God had forbidden, which she and Adam did do. In Genesis 3:13
God asked her, “What is this you have done?” Eve’s response was “The
serpent deceived me, and I ate.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From this point on the story of God in the Bible
includes His unveiling to us His plan to bring us back from the hands of that
deceiver through His Son who is described as the Way, the Truth and the Life
(John 14:6). This story unfolds until the point that we are brought to the
cross on which Jesus is crucified where He declares “It is finished” (John
19:30). Sin and death had been defeated and in the last verses of the third to
last chapter of the Bible we see it all wrapped up, leaving us once again with
two chapters of God’s eternal very good for all who believed in His Son
(Revelation 21-22).</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on January 9, 2019</span></span>Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-46591030003823404872019-02-18T19:00:00.001-08:002019-02-18T19:02:54.886-08:00Sent to be Wrapped<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"In those days a
decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all
went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from
Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were
there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn
son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there
was no place for them in the inn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And in the same
region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (And the angel said to
them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find
a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke
2:1–14, ESV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next time we have
a record of Jesus’ being wrapped in cloths is at His burial after His
crucifixion which was followed on the third day by His resurrection for the
purpose of our salvation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on December 21, 2018</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8245501292699777454.post-16788263097553645032018-12-14T23:21:00.000-08:002018-12-14T23:21:16.521-08:00Celebrating the Newborn King<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people have regular
Advent observances from the non-religious little hidey-hole chocolate calendars
to various highly regarded practices of faith. In our house we have the tree,
the lights (inside and out), the decorations and yes, even the little chocolate
calendar. I think we even have a construction paper ring in one of our
children’s rooms. But we also have the 3 nativity sets (including a toy one)
and an Advent quilt that my wife’s sister made for us. When I received it, I
took the time to select Bible verses for us to read each day, beginning with
the prophecy of Isaiah. But my favorite calendar day is December 4</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
which is our only daughter Elizabeth Joy’s birthday. We started our reading in
2003, but in 2006 with her birth that day’s reading became extra special
because of what we read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“And she [Elizabeth] cried out with a loud voice
and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For
behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my
womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment
of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”” (Luke 1:42–45, NASB)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The unborn child
John (the Baptist) recognized even in the womb that the Savior of the world was
soon to be born, and he responded with joy. The circumstances of Jesus’ birth
were foretold in prophecy hundreds of years before. This was God’s way of
introducing His Son to us, and now we not only remember His birth but also His
death and resurrection that results in His great gift to us of forgiveness and
life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How special is the
babe of Christmas to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on December 14, 2018</span></div>
Joe Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903188358553068247noreply@blogger.com0