Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day has been celebrated in the United States since May 30, 1868. We have been remembering and honoring those who have given their lives for our country for 139 years. And every year that I am able to attend the ceremony in our local cemetery I am always moved as the names are read of those who have served in our military services that passed away the previous year. As I have grown older I realize more how young our fallen soldiers are. Many of them barely out of high school, sent to foreign lands and fighting for something we call freedom.
Freedom, a democratic government, is not the way much of the world lives. And even with freedom we have great restraints by our government as a means of protecting our people. Many people scoffed at the necessity of greater government influence in the private lives of people. But after 911 we have come to better understand the necessity of stronger government controls is some areas.
The church, ordained by God, also has many restrictions that have often been scoffed at by people. Today, much of the practice of churches is resembles a “mental health club” and there appears to be little reverence for the Almighty. Many leaders in our churches are trying to please those who are or may be attending and not bent on pleasing God Himself. The insecurity of many of our pastors beckons them to a “my team-their team” mentality thus causing divisions in the church and in some cases driving even the most faithful away from their church homes. If our churches do not “buck up” and reactivate the Biblical principles for church operations we will find ourselves with our own spiritual 911. Many individual churches are already experiencing the crisis and the chaos is spreading throughout the church world.
When the church operates in desperation instead of dedication the result is consternation!
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Tim 4:1-5 NIV
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Saturday May 19, 2007
When others around you seem to “fall” for anything the world has to offer—will you “stand” for Christ?
-Garrett Novak
-Job 19:25 (NIV)
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
-Romans 3:23-24 (MSG)
Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
What would happen if you smiled at everyone you met and said hello? You would make a lot people happy, including yourself. It is said that happiness is a state of mind and how we treat others has a lot to do with our happiness. Actually, it might be better said that our happiness is revealed by how we treat others.
The great example of this is Jesus Himself as His heart and attitude was constantly revealed by how He treated others. Yes, Jesus showed His love, compassion and forgiveness in action and deed.
Too many people show hate, anger, jealousy and bitterness.
-Lyn Sahr
-Luke 10:25-28 NIV
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
Monday, May 14, 2007
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
Divorce changes the course of children’s lives because it is hard to walk a balanced path when you have a whole blown through your heart from the pain of divorce.
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 103:6 NIV
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
C.O.D…. Children of Divorce! We often hear people say what a horrible thing it is the kids when a couple gets divorced. No one can begin to describe in words what children feel and experience because of S.A.D…. Spouse Action Disorder!
Often the mother has the children for a majority of the time and fathers become D.O.A…. Dad’s on Arrival! What is horrible is that some dads like it this way. Too many young men today do not want any responsibility, wife or kids! Some dads who want their freedom tell their wives, “You’re a big girl. You can take care of yourself.” That is true in most cases but the wives are not required to take care of just themselves. Many are now in a position where they must be the mother and father to the children besides trying to make a living. I would not want to stand before God as a D.O.A. and try to explain to God why I left my children. Society may have given divorce and child abandonment a passing mark but don’t count on it on the judgment day.
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 6:32-33 NIV
But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away;
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
The effects of divorce on the spouse who wanted the divorce, especially those wanting a divorce of convenience or without Biblical cause is even more devastating than the spouse who didn’t want the divorce. The spouse who didn’t want the divorce at least knows they didn’t violate their marriage vows to God, to the church and to each other. There is some peace in the pain from that situation. But for the one who violates the marriage or abandons their vows before God, they will suffer throughout their lives. Many will deny it but most of them do not make very good liars. Their plight is one of a hole in their heart that, although can be forgiven, they will always bear the scars of their actions. Sin has a way of scaring people’s lives.
I think of a song by Lanny Wolfe with lyrics something like this;
Satan always paints a beautiful picture.
It always seems to be ideal.
He always paints a beautiful picture.
But the problem is the pictures not real.
The party abandoning their marriage vows thinking that they can find happiness outside of their commitment to their spouse and children has been deceived. It is like thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence only to discover that after you have bought the property next door that your view was tainted by a shadow from the sun and the grass next door was actually brown!
As a pastor with extensive experience with listening to people’s marriage issues, I am convinced that there are many, many similarities in every marriage. Therefore, getting a new spouse will only bring déjà vu!!!
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 9:10-12 NIV
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
Monday, May 7, 2007
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
The effects on the spouse who did not want the divorce is deafening, they can’t hear anything except what their mind is telling them. Sometimes both parties want a divorce but usually there is one who does not and feels abandoned, deceived, foolish and frightened, especially when there are children involved. And then there is the flood of guilt as if they did something wrong and the ever present question, “How could he/she do this to me?” The wound of divorce has speared the heart of many men and women who thought they would be married forever only to discover a spouse who wanted something different, often being something less.
Several years ago my mother passed away and I felt an emptiness that has never left me. When she died a dear elderly lady in our church came to me and said, “My mother died forty years ago and I still miss her.” I have come to the realization that people never really get over the death of a parent. So it is with divorce.
A business acquaintance told me that this first wife left him and he felt that the divorce was caused because they lived in their house while they tried to remodel it which caused too much stress and destroyed their marriage. In listening to him I realized that he still felt pain from what had happened even though he was remarried with children from the second marriage.
I know there is no such thing as an innocent party in divorce but some people are just more guilty!
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Cor 7:10-16 NIV
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin… but it ought to be!
Little is said about the effects of divorce on those family members and friends outside of the marriage. Parents of the divorced couple are suddenly in an awkward position of having a son or daughter in law that they may be angry at or who they are heartbroken over the circumstances. Friends are put in the unfair position where they are expected to make a choice, pick a team if you will. And usually one spouse has to change churches. You see, divorce is often a selfish thing exercised by one spouse wanting to “be free” but everyone else is imprisoned by painful emotions.
I recognize that there are many marriages that dissolve because of sexual involvement outside of the marriage. These situations are the obvious. But most of these involvements are because people do not have enough courage to deal with their marriage problems and they run to another man or woman who gives them a reason to leave. It is a coward who walks away from the marriage this way.
Divorce is devastating to everyone, even if it is justified.
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 19:3-9 NIV
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
