Teen World Red

Here's an artistic look back at the year that was for our national's team:

LACEY - 6, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28

RACHEL - 4, 6, 14, 15, 20, 23

DAVID - 3, 7, 13

JACOB - 3, 5, 6, 14, 21, 22, 27

MASON - 2, 7, 9, 10 & parts of 5, 6, 19

SAM - 3, 5, 7, 12, 13

25 commands (and one bonus extra) from a song of thanks OR this morning's meditation

today, i thought that i would type up David's list of commands in his song of thanks in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 as an aid to thinking/meditating through them:

1. Give thanks to the LORD (vs. 8)
2. Call upon His name (vs. 8)
3. Make known His deeds among the peoples (vs. 8)
4. Sing to Him (vs. 9)
5. Sing praises to Him (vs. 9)
6. Tell of all His wondrous works (vs. 9)
7. Glory in His holy name (vs. 10)
8. Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice (vs. 10)
9. Seek the LORD (vs. 11)
10. Seek His strength (vs. 11)
11. Seek His presence continually (vs. 11)
12. Remember the wondrous works that He has done (vs. 12)
13. Remember His miracles (vs. 12)
14. Remember the judgments He uttered (vs. 12)
15. Remember His covenant forever (vs. 15)
16. Sing to the LORD, all the earth (vs. 23)
17. Tell of His salvation from day to day (vs. 23)
18. Declare His glory among the nations (vs. 24)
19. Declare His marvelous works among all the peoples (vs. 24)
20. Ascribe (attribute or credit to) the LORD:
1. O clans of the peoples (vs. 28)
2. glory and strength (vs. 28)
3. the glory due His name (vs. 29)
21. Bring an offering (vs. 29)
22. Come before Him (vs. 29)
23. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness (vs. 29)
24. Tremble before Him, all the earth (vs. 30)
25. Give thanks to the LORD (vs. 34)

yes, commands 1 & 25 are the same, but here's a bonus command for prayer that comes at the end:

Say also: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" (vs. 35-36)

makin' a list

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

thought i'd make at least a partial list in obedience to this verse (praise God for each of these faithful ones!):

Ethel Richman
Sue Richman
John Richman
Ted Nusser
Dorothy Nusser
Martha Gaston
Helen Lockwood
Ralph McAuley
Phylis Tittle
Irene Reese
Rachel Schafer
Alberta Conley
Ruth Ann Carter
Jim Thomson
Shirley Cannon
Jim Lockwood
Wayne Christen
Scott Chamberlain
Jill Lawrence
Karen Montgomery (nee Young)
Mark Montgomery
Johnny Williams
Bruce Cicchese
Jim Cicchese
Jeff Wright
Diane Wright
Mike Prom
Mark Dunn

Steve Lorah

mayans, winter storms and the unchanging nature of Jesus

Even though many of the kids were hoping for/counting on a snow day today, the flakes are just now beginning to float down, and they are already an hour into their day.

Our FCA reading through the gospel of Mark had us at the end of chapter 4 today. Jesus and his disciples were in a boat. He's sleeping. It's storming. They're panicking. "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Jesus rebukes the wind and waves - like they're his barking dog, "Quiet! Be still!" They obey immediately. The disciples are terrified as they recognize Jesus' power and authority. (Mark 4:35-41)

Yesterday and today, in meditating on Hebrews 13, I am reminded of the great encouragement of verse 8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

Praise God - Jesus has authority over the storm, the days and seasons - and He DOES care! (I'm worth more than many sparrows! - Matthew 10:31)

Trust in the Name of the LORD Our God

I was reading Psalm 20 this morning as I was working on Sunday's bulletin (this week's responsive reading). It is a great reminder for days like today:

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7

ministry strategy

as per the apostle Paul: (with comments by steve)

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: (a weighty place to be commissioned so DO NOT take these instructions lightly)

preach the word; (gotta know it to preach it)
be ready in season and out of season; (that's pretty much all the time... in fact it IS all the time)
reprove, ("to criticize or correct, especially gently")
rebuke, ("to express sharp, stern disapproval")
and exhort, ("to give urgent advice, recommendations or warnings")
with complete patience and teaching. (thorough, time consuming and costly - don't give up)

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (this Bible stuff's boring, let's try something else, something more fun and entertaining)

As for you, (denoting contrast)

always be sober-minded, (don't get distracted or muddle headed)
endure suffering, (persevere - don't give up - and yes, this means that there will be suffering, expect it)
do the work of an evangelist, (tell the good news of Christ's life, death and resurrection)
fulfill your ministry." (see instructions above)

2 Timothy 4:1-5

yeah, i love 2 Timothy 2 OR i'm a list guy

breaking down the content of 2 Timothy 2 based on the commands:

• "be strengthened" 2 Timothy 2:1 - yeah, i know, this first command is kind of a strange one in that it looks to something done for us not by us - the grace that strengthens me is outside of me - it is in Christ Jesus... alone
• "entrust" 2 Timothy 2:2 - the generational nature of the gospel message - four of them are mentioned in this verse...
• "share" 2 Timothy 2:3 - not the usual mother to child command to share... a call to share IN SUFFERING! - mindset: soldier, athlete, farmer
• "Think over" 2 Timothy 2:7 - okay, you've made it this far, review the first 6 verses again - the Lord will give you understanding
• "Remember" 2 Timothy 2:8 - Jesus Christ - His resurrection - His descent (from David - the throne is His by right)
• "Remind" 2 Timothy 2:14 - of these things - ie. Jesus' resurrection, His kingship, Paul's imprisonment, the freedom of the word of God, dying and living with Him, enduring and reigning with Him, denial of and by Him, His faithfulness
• "charge" 2 Timothy 2:14 - not to quarrel about words
• "Do your best" 2 Timothy 2:15 - to present yourself to God as one approved - ie. a worker who rightly handles the word of truth
• "avoid" 2 Timothy 2:16 - irreverent babble - it leads people into more and more ungodliness
• "flee" 2 Timothy 2:22 - youthful passions - in order to be a clean vessel, holy and set apart for honorable uses - useful to the master of the house - ready for every good work
• "pursue" 2 Timothy 2:22 - righteousness, faith, love, and peace - with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart - in order to be a clean vessel, holy and set apart for honorable uses - useful to the master of the house - ready for every good work
• "Have nothing to do" 2 Timothy 2:23 - with foolish, ignorant controversies - they breed quarrels - the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness