Sunday, August 31, 2003
In the United States, this is Labor Day weekend—the unofficial end of summer. It’s time to get back to the normal routine of school and work and many churches will be starting up their fall programs. Summer is a good time to take vacations, to relax and take it easy, but summer also brings lots of extra work, like mowing the lawn, weeding gardens, etc.
Unfortunately, there are many people that take a vacation from church during the summer. With all the summer activities, vacations, and extra things going on, many just don’t seem to find the time to go to church. I wonder how long a person would go without eating or drinking in the summer, just because there are too many things to do. We manage to find time for the things that are important.
As we enter the fall season, I encourage you to renew your commitment to be faithful in church attendance. But, be sure of one thing. God won’t forget about your commitment when summer comes again. He is faithful to us—we should be faithful to Him, too.
-Ardis Rivera
-Hebrews 10:25 NIV
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Saturday, August 30, 2003
I thoroughly love being a dad! I’ve been one for nearly 15 years now, and I’m more fulfilled by being a father than nearly any other aspect of my life. I also have had the privilege of spending precious one-on-one time with each of my children, as we haven’t had them in daycare settings much.
One morning this week as my 11-month old daughter and I were spending some alone time, I was reminded of how our heavenly father comforts us. Kathryn was fussing and I had tried just about everything to comfort her. I gave her a bottle, took her for a short walk, even tried singing to her, but nothing would work. Finally I just pulled her into my lap and held her, all the while telling her how beautiful she was (just like her mother), and that I loved her. Just like that she curled up into my arms and fell fast asleep, safe in her daddy’s arms.
What a great reminder to me that when we “fuss” about life, there is someone who loves us and is waiting with arms open wide. Your heavenly father is always available to “hold” you in his loving arms…arms that love you so much that they hung on a cross for you. Have you spent time with your “daddy” in heaven lately?
-Garrett Novak
-Rom 8:15-17 NIV
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Friday, August 29, 2003
God is waiting to hear from you.
The reason that many prayers go unanswered is that we don’t pray them. We may think about them, we may worry about them, but often times we just think that God ought to just know and do stuff for us. He is waiting to hear from us before He acts.
-John Roe
-Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Thursday, August 28, 2003
The other day I was reading in Ezekiel where God tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll. I thought of the different times in the Bible when God instructed a person to eat His word and what that means for us.
When we eat something, it becomes a part of us. If we eat things that are healthy, we have a better chance of avoiding disease than if we eat only things that are bad for us. In the same way, if we have a steady “diet” of God’s Word, our spiritual life will be much healthier than if we feed on worldly things. There are people who will stay up late reading the latest romance novel, or the latest mystery, but who spend little if any time in the Word. The TV programs and movies we watch will also affect our spiritual lives. I remember a book that I read that was made into a movie. It was a pretty scary movie, yet not too bad compared to what is out there. But, one night, I had a dream in which I saw my family as the victims in this story. I removed the book from my house the very next day. I thought of giving it to someone, but realized that it needed to be destroyed.
I have heard people say that they can listen to music that promotes violence, or read novels and watch movies that promote violence or drugs, or whatever and they say it has no impact on them. But I don’t believe that. We need to take a stand for what is right, and stay away from the things that promote ungodly behaviors. Then maybe, our neighbors and friends will notice that there is something different about us and want to know what (or Who) that is.
-Ardis Rivera
-Ezekiel 3:1-2 NIV
And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
-Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Last night I went to the Minnesota State Fair. I ate a bunch of unhealthy, greasy food and walked what seemed like a million miles in the heat. As I walked down the midway I noticed people lined up to get on rides that would obviously scare them. When you take the time to think about it, the word “strange” enters my mind along with “why?”
But even stranger was what I saw when I came to the most scary ride of all. In fact, it looked like most people were barely breathing when they got off that ride. I am quite sure there was a lot of left over lunch by where you exited it. But the part that caught my eye was that in front of this ride they had landscaped it with the most beautiful flower bed and shrubs making it look like it was the nicest, safest, friendliest ride anywhere. It was so deceiving because it gave people a sense of peace and safety only to almost come to life’s end on the ride!
Then I thought of how Satan paints the same look in things in life to distract us from the reality of the rough times ahead on the “sin ride.” The problem with the “sin ride” is that you actually can lose your life!
-Lyn Sahr
-Job 15:31 NIV
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
for he will get nothing in return.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
The Price of Church is Too Cheap!
In recent weeks I have heard of people going to rock concerts where the tickets cost $80 or $90. For me, being older than dirt, this seems pretty far-fetched that anyone in there right mind would pay that kind of money to listen to a bunch of people who can’t sing or play! But because the people who told me have no reason to lie I know it is true. Can you imagine paying any amount of money to hear someone stand up and swear, damn God, give glory to the devil, promote illicit sex, advocate disrespect for parents and all authority, encourage suicide as an escape or payback, deify drugs use and promote killing cops or anyone else you don’t like. Frankly, I can’t imagine anyone attending even if the tickets were free let alone paying that kind of money.
I also know that it is becoming commonplace for even Christian concert tickets to be $35 to $50. This too seems far-fetched considering that Jesus never sold a ticket to hear him preach or teach in His entire ministry.
And then we have the televangelists, many who are still on their soapbox giving away their trinkets for $10 a month. Some of them have accumulated personal and ministry wealth of multi-millions of dollars. But for every one of them there are thousands of churches, pastors, missionaries, and small para-church ministries that are an empty donation envelop or empty offering plate away from ceasing to exist. And it goes unnoticed.
The local church has stood the test of time but many of them are in trouble financially and some are closing right before our very eyes because they are not “commercializing.” Churches that really care about people are going to disappear if we do not support them generously. And we are going to miss them. After they close it is too late to help financially.
The value of our churches in our community is immeasurable. Can you imagine calling up the rock star, Christian recording artist or the televangelist the next time your family is devastated or your life is in distress and in need of help? What do you think they would say? I think they would say, “Buy a ticket” or “Donate and we will send you a trinket!”
It’s been a busy summer for all but as you settle back into your church fall schedule I encourage you to contribute generously to the Lord’s work. After all, the price of admission is still the same, “Come as you are!”
-Lyn Sahr
-Heb 10:19-25 NIV
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Monday, August 25, 2003
I used to think that church was a bunch of dos and don’ts. Like many people, out my own ignorance I criticized it. Today I am thankful that the scriptures and Christianity is a bunch of dos and don’ts. Without it we would know nothing of right and wrong and even more people would be “doing the don’ts!”
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 34:11-18 NIV
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Sunday, August 24, 2003
A little over a week ago, my youngest son and I went to see some dear friends. They used to pastor a church we attended and have been very special friends. When we arrived at their house, we saw that there was a problem with one of their cars—the engine had burned up. As we heard the story, we learned that they had taken it in for repairs and the mechanic had overlooked something. The mechanic had not double-checked to see if he had sealed the gas line. The result of that error was very destructive. In this case, the only thing hurt was the car, but it could have been much worse if our friend had not been able to get away from the car or if the fire had reached the gas tank before the firemen got it out. In looking back over the day, our friend said that there were signs that there was a problem with the car, but he didn’t stop to check it out either.
Sin is like that. If we overlook a sin in our lives, we may not think much of it at first, but the results can be very destructive. God’s Spirit is at work in our lives each and every day, pointing out sin in our lives. But if we ignore His voice, we are headed for trouble. It is a much better idea to be attentive to the signals God sends our way that something is not right, and to deal with it immediately, than to have to deal with the destruction that sin can leave.
-Ardis Rivera
-Psalm 119:11 NIV
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
-John 16:8 NIV
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment .
Saturday, August 23, 2003
While waiting at a stop sign the other day an elderly couple passed by the walkway in front of my vehicle. Now this isn’t an out-of-the ordinary experience, but what caught my attention was the way they were holding hands and how the wife looked at her husband with nothing but love in her eyes.
Throughout my day I kept “revisiting” that encounter with the couple wondering how long they had been married? Did they have any children? Any grandchildren? Had their life been easy or hard? How many “bumps” were there? Did she still love him as much today as the day they said, “I do?” Through everything in their lives, love had obviously prevailed. What a great example of what God intended marriage to be. I had no idea where they stood with the Lord, but watching them walk slowly down the sidewalk, I smiled.
Now, I love my beautiful wife more and more with each passing day, and I hope that when we are old and gray we still walk hand-in-hand and gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes. God has created a special thing in marriage, he knew it wasn’t good for me (man) to be alone, and he created my wife (woman) to be my partner in this great adventure called life. There have been plenty of bumps along the way, but we are still holding hands and smiling. God has been faithful.
If you are struggling in your marriage, talk to God about it, and ask him to make you rediscover why you fell in love with your spouse in the first place. Seek the counsel of a pastor or Christian friend if need be. Don’t give up and be a divorce statistic this year. Marriage is God created, God designed, and God healed when there are “bumps”
-Garrett Novak
-Genesis 1:26-28 NIV
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Friday, August 22, 2003
A number of years ago I decided that I would like to go hang gliding. Across the river from where we lived there were high cliffs that people would go to the top of, run of with their hang gliders; float down over the valley and land. It looked like great fun and I wanted to try it until one weekend a downdraft of some kind occurred and one of the hang gliders splattered unto the road below. It took away all my desire for hang gliding. I have never once thought about trying it again.
Not so with people and sin. It doesn’t seem to matter how many young people are killed from driving while drunk or riding in a car with a drunk driver, they still drink. It doesn’t seem to matter how may friends die from an overdose, people still do drugs. It doesn’t seem to matter how may people suffer from venereal disease or unwanted pregnancies, people still engage in illicit and premarital sex. It doesn’t seem to matter how many terrible or abusive relationships that people have or their friends have, they still continue to involve themselves in relationships that have disaster written all over them from the onset.
The problem with most people is that they never learn until they, like the dead hang glider, are splattered on the road of life from their choice of risks.
The good news is that God still knows how and loves to put splattered lives back together.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 80:3 NIV
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Yesterday I spent about four hours taking care of my two-year-old grandson; shopping and helping his mother have his two-year-old pictures taken. He is normally quite cooperative about pictures and, in fact, he is normally quite a “ham” about it. But yesterday just wasn’t his day so we struggled to get the pictures taken. Then we were off to the department store.
He was quite content for a while in the stroller he was confined to but then I felt sorry for him so I turned him loose. Up and down the isle he ran like a young calf turned out to pasture for the first time. He was free and having the time of his life laughing and talking to everyone who came in contact with. He was free, seemed to want to demonstrate it and let everyone know. He was ecstatically free!
I thought of how so many people are trapped and confined in their sin. Sin takes people wherever it wants to go. It controls them, they don’t control it. But like my grandson, when people are set free from sin they are ecstatically free!
Jesus is the only one who can set you free like that!
-Lyn Sahr
-John 8:36-37 NIV
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Last week I treated my front steps/deck entry on our house. I used a slightly tinted oil based stain to match the green treat and cedar boards. Lonna and I worked side by side brushing on the finish, each finding our own sections to do. Finally we were done with the exception of the floor. So, side-by-side we brushed on the finish, each taking about half of the width of the floor. Then I hurried off to the office after finishing just before noon.
Later that afternoon Lonna called to tell me the floor looked terrible because she had put on more stain than I had and her side was darker. I told her it would look better after it dried. She said she didn’t think so.
When I got home that evening I immediately went to look at the newly stained floor and she was right, it looked terrible. It reminded me how often we work along side people in the church doing ministry and each person has their own distinct touch, methodology if you will, to what they are doing. And sometimes it doesn’t always look or work so good right away until it has a chance to settle in a little.
Well, by the next day it did completely dry and looked somewhat better, but not perfect. This too reminds me of the work of the church. God knows that we are not going to put people together to do the work of the church and have it turn out perfect on our own. If He expected perfection, He would do it Himself and forget about us. No, God knows that the work of the church looks a lot like our stained floor as a work in progress until it takes on maturity (dries) and, even then, it isn’t and doesn’t look perfect. But it is usable!
Don’t give up on your church or church in general because it is not perfect. Go grab your brush and add your distinct stroke to its beauty. Maybe your stroke will bring that special beauty that the church is lacking.
Later that second day we were expecting company and I discovered that one of the posts on the front side had not been stained. I thought, “I just can’t seem to get this right!” But I didn’t quit, I just went back to work.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 50:1-2 NIV
The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Last night on the way home I decided to make a left hand turn into a convenience store. As I was making the turn the car behind me speeded past going at least 65 miles an hour on the shoulder (there was no passing lane) spewing gravel everywhere. What amazed me was after she went by me I saw three little kids in the car. My immediate response was, “Is she nuts?”
What possesses someone to put their children and themselves art risk like that?
As unsettling as it was I realized that many people put themselves at risk everyday with foolish and sinful things that can have terrible lifetime impacts or perhaps even terminal results. Everyone seems to be in a “rush to get a rush.” How crazy is it, doing things that are senseless or going places where temptation and trouble abound, all in the name of fun? Don’t expect the glory of God to rub off someone who lives like the devil.
But perhaps the greater question is, “Who possesses someone like that?” Certainly not the God I serve.
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Cor 4:6 NIV
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Monday, August 18, 2003
Although I never felt poor, we really never had a lot. I learned at a young age that there are always people out there who had more things than we did. I remember some neighbors of ours who went skiing quite often on weekends in the winter. It never bothered me because I never wanted to ski. However, the time that a father took me into his garage to show me the Go Cart that he was giving his son for Christmas brought instant anger and jealousy. I quickly realized that I would never have such a gift. After all, it was the ultimate gift for a 12 year old, a Go Cart!
As children and teenagers we must learn and understand the lessons of jealousy. As adults, we certainly can’t afford to entertain jealousy. If we do sense it we must squelch its emotion instantly. One of the great lessons in life is to learn to be happy for the accomplishments and successes others and the benefits they receive from it. If we can’t do that, it will affect us spiritually.
We all think we are not jealous, until some buys something or is given something we would like to have and can’t afford! We are all susceptible to Jealously. If we allow it to enter into our lives, it will stand in between a close relationship with God and us. God cannot co-exist with a jealous spirit.
Jealousy causes people to lie, slander, gossip, steal, hate and even kill. Jealousy is not the root of all-evil but is certainly from the same plant!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 14:30 NIV
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
Sunday, August 17, 2003
The other day I was talking with someone about friendships and my friend brought up the word ‘value’. We discussed how we can tell if someone values a friendship. When something is truly valued, we seek it out. Think about how many people spend a lifetime working to create a retirement fund so they can enjoy family and friends during their retirement. Then, stop and think about something else. We have no guarantee of reaching retirement age. We have no guarantee of tomorrow; we aren’t even guaranteed the next moment. All we have is this moment and if we are too busy to put value on our friends and family now, there may not be another moment to do so. If you truly value someone, make time to keep in contact. Don’t wait for the other person to get in touch. Possibly, your voice or your letter could brighten someone’s day.
The same thing applies to God. God is always there and He is reaching out to us, but many times we are just too busy to notice. We all know that God is the creator and that through His Son, He has provided salvation for us. But, sometimes we forget the impact of that. He loves us so much that He wants to spend all of eternity with us. But, did you ever stop and think that He wants to spend time with us right now? He is waiting for you to come to Him. I know He loves to hear our prayer requests and He treasures the times when we pour out our hearts when we are overwhelmed by one thing or another. But, did you ever think that He also just wants us to come to Him, with no agenda, other than wanting to spend time with Him? He longs for us to just come and spend time, enjoying His company. Have you ever spent time with a friend when nothing needed to be said because you just wanted to be together? This is what God longs for. If you have never taken the time to spend time with God unless it is to present your list of prayer requests, take the time. He is your best friend, and He wants to know how much you value His friendship.
-Ardis Rivera
-Proverbs 18:24 NKJV
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Saturday, August 16, 2003
As I am writing my thought this week, I am sitting on the floor of my office, my desk nowhere in sight. My wife and I are in the process of swapping my old desk for a newer one, and “giving” my perfectly good desk away to relatives.
As we cleaned off my desk (it really wasn’t that bad), we removed things that had been sitting for almost two years, things that I “needed” and couldn’t live without. I have a lot of microphone cords and computer gear on my desk as I do production work and commercials for a local Christian radio station, and I need somewhat of an “organized mess” to function. But my wife found a new desk that would make my basement-recording studio more “suitable” for use.
At first I resisted, but as I sit here awaiting my new desk and imagine how things will fit together, I wonder if that is what God wants of us as his children… to clean off our desk from time to time. Maybe we need to take the things we really don’t need in our lives and grab a newer desk that has less room for us to put things that keep our attention away from God.
Do you need to do some cleaning or “re-arranging of your desk?” Maybe it’s time for a new one altogether.
-Garrett Novak
-Ps 51:10 NIV
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Friday, August 15, 2003
I have this great picture that my daughter took of me lying near the bay with my two-year-old grandson sitting next to me. I was talking to him and he sat next to me for fifteen minutes listening as if he understood every word that I was saying. He understood very little of what I said but he knew that he had my undivided attention and that was worth him sitting still for fifteen minutes. As I look at that picture I realize the importance of giving someone our “undivided attention.” This especially holds true for husbands and wives. But even more so in our relationship with God.
Many Christians really don’t have much of a prayer life. In other words, they don’t give God their undivided attention. I will always remember those precious fifteen minutes with my Grandson but my spiritual life is absolutely dependent upon those precious times when I give God my “undivided attention.” It is those times that He works on completing a good work in me and gives me peace.
-Lyn Sahr
-Phil 1:6 NIV
…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Last Sunday at a church I was visiting, the evangelist proclaimed that God had destined us for greatness. I thought about all the dreams of greatness that people have of one kind or another. I also thought about all the shattered dreams I have seen in my travels. Every time you drive by a closed business or deteriorated farm you see the remains of a shattered dream, certainly far from greatness. Every time a divorce occurs it is the ripping apart of “one flesh” and the shattered dream of marital bliss. Sometimes it is hard to believe that we are destined for greatness with the circumstances that surround us in life. Suddenly greatness seemed so distant for me until I sought the Lord for an understanding of it. Then in the stillness of that moment God reminded me that greatness is not who we are, what we are or where we are but rather where we are going.
Yes, as believers, we are all destined for greatness in eternity and nothing can be greater than being in the presence of God forever.
-Lyn Sahr
-Phil 3:18-21 NIV
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Evangelists are a thing of the past or so it seems. When was the last time you asked someone what they did for living and they said, “I am an evangelist!” Or when was the last time you asked a young person what they wanted to be when they grew up and they said, “I want to be an evangelist!” Or when was the last time you asked someone what their spiritual gift was and they said, “I am an evangelist!” Yes, being a bringer of the gospel to people for a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is not very popular. The strange thing is, I thought we were all supposed to do the work of an evangelist.
You may be that someone special in the life of an unsaved person that can bring them to Christ by sharing the gospel with them. The first question is, will you? The second question either why did you or why didn’t you? The third question is what was the result of your decision?
Christians who never share Christ with other people are like a selfish little child unwilling to share a special treat with a friend.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 119:46-48 NIV
I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,
for I delight in your commands
because I love them.
I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,
and I meditate on your decrees.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
When we live in a country that has the freedom we do it is hard for me to understand the antagonistic attitude that many Christians have toward our government. The real culprit in our society is the devil, not the president or congress. Unfortunately, a few narrow people choose to believe that those in government are constantly conspiring to spread injustice across our nation. Although I agree that there may be those who are corrupt, ungodly and atheists I also believe that it is our role to pray for our leaders. I also do not condone silence in the time of moral crisis, which can come in government, society or the church. But I am convinced that the problem, at least in America, is not the government but the devil that has corrupted and continues to decay an already fragile society. Therefore, our energy should be spent fighting the right enemy in the spiritual realm and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in our neighborhood, cities, states, nation and around the world.
It’s like sending a logger into the forest to cut down all the poplar trees only to come back a few days and find that he has wrongly cut down all of the Pine trees in the forest because he didn’t know the difference. Ignorance is not acceptable in the logging industry and neither is it acceptable in the battle for the soul of man.
-Lyn Sahr
-Eph 6:12 NIV
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Monday, August 11, 2003
If your church closed its doors tomorrow, what effect would that have on your life? Perhaps you have never thought about it. For those with indifferent or negative attitudes it may be a relief but for those who really love their church it would be totally devastating. We have so many people these days that are apathetic and non-committed to their churches it is easy for me to forget about those who really love their church.
Last night I attended a special worship service in a church that is going through major transition. They have a most wonderful heritage but their pastor retired and they are left to chart new waters in the style of pastoral leadership and mode of operation. This dear Pentecostal church is not in danger of closing but with the wrong choice in a pastor it could quickly find itself in peril. I was quite moved by their obvious love for the Lord and their love for each other, their church.
When the service leader made note of my attendance, he referred to the fact that I wasn’t a Pentecostal but most of my friends were. People are always teasing me, a basic evangelical, because most of my friends are all wild Pentecostals. As I sat there observing the people and preparing my own heart for worship a quite voice spoke to me and said, “Tell them that the next pastor they get has to be able to see past the pulpit. It has been a long time since they have had a pastor who could do that. And many of the speakers they have had could not see past the pulpit either.” Ooops, I thought. Here I have just been proclaimed as a non-Pentecostal in front of the entire congregation and God wants me to share something this personal with this congregation of strangers. I thought, “God, you’ve got to be kidding!”
Well, in typical Pentecostal style the service started with 35 minutes of Praise and Worship followed by the guest speaker who proceeded to speak for an hour. He then asked people to come forward for prayer and then the praise team sang some more as prayer was going on as we neared the two-hour mark. This whole time I am battling with God about keeping my mouth shut, speaking up and, if so, when.
Finally at the end of the service the leader asked the guest speaker to pray for him and the church as they were going to pick between two candidates to become their pastor. The leader was overwhelmed with tears of concern and the stress the church had been going through. I made my way to the front and took the microphone and shared with the congregation that God wanted them to have a pastor who could see past the pulpit and see the people. I explained to them that meant they had to have someone who was not building their own ego but to see beyond themselves to the people and love them. A special sense of God’s presence and peace filled the sanctuary.
I am deeply moved by the reality of the tremendous love some people have for their local churches. In reflection, it is a shame that more people don’t have that kind of love for their church. But in today’s church world, how could they? People show up Sunday morning, drop in less than the price of a movie admission per person into the offering plate for the performance of the day and go home, never to be heard from until next Sunday. You may “love to attend church” that way but you will never “love your church” that way. In the performance based distant learning center mentality of many modern churches, loving the church has never occurred to most people! After all, the church is the people.
If I went to a movie every Sunday with mostly the same people and just left after the movie ended I could attend the movies for years and still not know any of the people, much less love them! Of course, you may say, “You sit in the dark in the movies.” Of course, I may say, “Just like a lot of churches!”
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Peter 1:19-20 NIV
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Today, our church is celebrating our first anniversary. It has been an interesting year. I am amazed at how God has worked. Has it been an easy year? No. Have there been surprises? Yes. When I look at the people that are now part of the congregation, there are few that we thought would be coming. It’s funny how we humans have our ideas of who will be excited about a new church plant, only to find out that God has a whole different set of people in mind.
As I look at the people that are now very special to me, I realize that I didn’t know the majority of them just a year ago. Now, they are dear friends. God has taken a group of strangers and joined them in His body.
There is a special bond in this infant church. We have all come from different church backgrounds, but we have come together with the purpose of reaching out to the lost. There is a real sense of love in this church. We have learned to be there for each other. This is truly what a family is to be.
-Ardis Rivera
-Hebrews 13:1 NIV
Keep on loving each other as brothers.
Saturday, August 9, 2003
Pressure! Yes, it’s what makes the teapot whistle when the steam builds up so much inside the kettle that it has not where to go but up and out of the spout.
We can all handle pressure for a time (some of us can handle it for a long time), and then, bam, the steam needs to escape. If you are like me, it doesn’t matter who is in the way, they are the recipient of my “blowing steam” when the pressure builds to the boiling point. I’m working on it though, and trying to give Jesus my “steam” instead of someone I love. He sets me on a “cool” burner of his grace and allows my steam to slowly disappear. It’s not always easy, but the thought of hurting someone I love because I’m “spouting” isn’t the answer either.
Is the pressure building in your life today? Is the “steam” ready to fly at your spouse or children? Pick up God’s word and let his “cool” love and mercy flow over you until the steam is gone. Spend time along with him and his streams of refreshing, cool water that will quench the “steam” of life. It’s a process, and it will take a while, but when the pressure is more than you can “hand”-le, then “hand” it over to God.
-Garrett Novak
-Ps 18:1-2 NIV
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Friday, August 8, 2003
When the hand of God fails to move, you have to move the hand of God. How do you move the hand of God? Well, you start on your knees and He finishes in your heart!
-Lyn Sahr
-Deut 4:39 NIV
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Thursday, August 7, 2003
Seekers Bay is a special place to me. I look over the bay and I see the beauty of God in the night, at the dawning of a new day, the fullness of the day and the sunset. This morning I am writing before sunrise as I woke up early, still reflecting on the events of the past two days.
I tried to explain to a young person about the devils traps only to be treated as if I knew little of what I was talking about. Unfortunately, I know a lot of what I was talking about, some from watching the horrible mistakes of others and some from personal experience.
Another young person came to my office yesterday. This person went with us on a short-term missions trip to Mexico some time ago and I witnessed how God had really touched his life placed a special call on Him. But because of the inability to say no and the tendency to follow the crowd drugs replaced the Jesus high. This young person is a victim of the devil’s schemes and believed that those who sold and did drugs were friends. This is a tragedy but the real tragedy is that there are literally millions of these stories taking place every day.
So today if you or someone that you know is taking drugs, I give you the same advice that I gave this young person. Quit listening to the lies of the devil and start listening to the voice of God. Unbeknown to you, the picture you are living in is changing from bad to worse. Soon the picture fades and the only thing left is the pain. The devil always paints a beautiful picture but the picture is not real!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 31:14-16 NIV
But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
As I looked out at the street in front of our office I saw a car speeding by. Moments later I noticed another car racing after it. The second car was a police car. Oops, busted!
I couldn’t help but think about how fast people are speeding through life these days. Everyone seems to be in a hurry, but for what? Where are we going? Does it help to live at such an outrageous pace? I don’t think so.
Evangelical Christians take up all kinds of cause to protect life and happiness including abortion, euthanasia, divorce, evangelism and a host of other issues. I find it of interesting that we would be so apposed to abortion but cannot find the time to enjoy life ourselves. Jesus came to enhance our lives, not make them busier. It has been said, “Idle hands are the devils workshop. I say; hands that are too busy are the devils pantry!” Why? Because people that are too busy do not grow spiritually and are on the “spiritual shelf” but they just don’t know it. Eventually, they will deteriorate, just like food that is left in the pantry, and their spiritual life will suffer and their relationships, family life and marriages destroyed. Christians were intended to grow close to God, not be busy for God. No where do I read in scripture that we are supposed to “serve til’ we unnerve!”
Remember, in a rat race only the rats win!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 62:5-8 NIV
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Tuesday, August 5, 2003
It is amazing the different attitudes people have about the same thing. Someone is offended because you offer to help him or her with something while others break down in tears from the offer. Jesus encountered the same thing when He offered people eternal life. Some broke down in tears of joy while others burst out in anger against Him. Could it be that our attitudes are a reflection of the unforgiveness or sin in our lives?
Periodically it is good for us to do an attitude checkup and see what our attitudes reflect in our lives. The problem is the attitudes are not a reflection of who we are but rather our attitudes are who we are!
-Lyn Sahr
-Phil 2:5-11 NIV
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Monday, August 4, 2003
Joy is something that is not easily maintained. As I was working at our church booth at the County fair this weekend I noticed a lot of people who surely didn’t seem to have much joy. We quickly forget that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Without it we are…weak!
How important is joy? Not important enough as unhappy as many people are. To be strong in the Lord you must experience joy.
How is your joy?
-Lyn Sahr
-Neh 8:10 NIV
“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Sunday, August 3, 2003
Today, our church will start year number two of services. The actual anniversary celebration will be next week due to other things happening in the community. But today is the start of the second year.
I remember when asked about helping in a new church that my reaction was that I would never do that. Little by little, God started dealing with me and I knew what I needed to do if I wanted to be obedient to Him. When I finally came to the point of saying yes to what I knew God wanted me to do, it was like a weight lifted—one I hadn’t even known was there before.
There is a freedom in obedience. And every step taken in obedience strengthens our faith. When I said ok to God I had no idea what the first year would hold. I never guessed the things that would need to be started, with no one willing to take the initiative. I ended up doing things that I had always said were not my giftings. I still say that I have done things that were not easy for me. But God honored the obedience, and little by little, programs have been started. Now, others who are far more gifted are taking over. This past year meant stepping out of my comfort zone in many ways. I am convinced that God has taken it all and used it to prepare me for something else. God never wastes His time with us.
Has God been dealing with you about a new venture? Does it mean stepping out of your comfort zone? Don’t be afraid to try something new. And if God has been dealing with you about something, and you have not been obedient, ask God to forgive you and step out in faith. You won’t be sorry.
-Ardis Rivera
-Isaiah 43:19 NIV
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Saturday, August 2nd, 2003
Take time out to be a kid again!
My wife and I were driving home after picking up our oldest daughter a few days ago and in the distance we could see a large irrigation unit (used on farm’s to water the crops), spraying out jets of cool water over a field.
Now our air conditioning in our minivan was not being very friendly at the time (and the temperature was in the 90’s), and I shared a story about how when I was young we used to ride our bikes through the irrigators around my town and get cooled off. I realized that the 14-year old mind of my daughter was working…”Dad,” she said “let’s stop by the side of the road and run through the water.” I was reluctant, but after the “look” from my wife, I realized that it would be fine if she stood in the ditch and got a free shower. She was laughing and giggling in the cool water, when I noticed my wife glancing my way and asking why I wasn’t out there. “I’m too old for that,” I said—-really, I didn’t want to get wet (but it sure looked refreshing)….”honey, I don’t have a towel and my clothes are too nice.” Then the “look” again, and the next thing I knew I was standing in the ditch with my teenager laughing, arms held high, and getting soaked by the irrigator.
It’s like that with God’s urging. Many times even the strongest Christians feel a little nudging from God but we use excuses—-“not now God,” “I couldn’t do that,” “I don’t have the training to go that direction.” If we would only take that step of faith and step into the ditch like I did, raise our arms, and just let God have his way in our lives, we would be blessed more than we can imagine.
So, be a kid again today. Run with reckless abandon into the father’s arms and let his will be done in your life. And don’t worry if you don’t have a towel.
-Garrett Novak
-Luke 18:17 NIV
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Friday, August 1, 2003
Yesterday, I was at our church’s booth at the County Fair. The weather was strange. One moment the sun was shining, then suddenly it would cloud over and we would get a downpour. That was the weather pattern the whole day. Every time it started raining, everyone ran for cover.
God has promised to pour out His spirit on us. But there are people who run whenever they sense a move of God. I’m not sure why, but they do. There are others who don’t mind getting a little of the Spirit, but they don’t want too much either. Then there are those who allow God to soak them in His spirit, wanting everything that God has for them.
I believe God is looking for people who want as much of His Spirit as He is willing to give. Those are the people He can use to reach the lost in our world today.
-Ardis Rivera
-Ephesians 5:18b NIV
be filled with the Spirit.
