The Coolest Thanksgiving

 

Why not make this the Coolest Thanksgiving Ever?

 

We all can remember back to Thanksgiving Days past. Perhaps it is the smell of a turkey and pumpkin pie cooking, or the gathering together of family and friends. Maybe it was the road trip to Grandma’s house, or even perhaps the all-day parades and football. Whatever the memories are for you that reality is that those times play an important part in the forming of who you are and in who you have come to be.

Holidays make an excellent time to “make memories” for you and your family. President Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard.” Kind of makes you wonder what some of his memories were of family gatherings!

Take the time to remember some of those old family traditions, so that you can honor the past in your life. Take time to enjoy the present, so that you do not wish your life away. And then, take time to make future memories, so that, should the Lord tarry, your children will still have a reason to get together and reminisce.

Whatever you do, why not make this holiday the Coolest Thanksgiving Day ever?

 

Serving Him by Serving You

 

pastor

Post – Election Statement

The following is a statement posted by our General Superintendent concerning our reaction to last Tuesday’s elections.

 

It can be viewed online at www.ag.org if you would rather see the video version.

 

Enjoy – and May God Bless America.

 

 

POST-ELECTION STATEMENT

Dr. George O. Wood

Assemblies of God General Superintendent

 

The election, at long last, is over.

 

As fellow believers, we offer to our new leaders the pledge of our prayers and our commitment

to be good citizens in this wonderful land that the Lord has privileged us to live in.

 

In this moment as I talk with you, I do not know the results of the election because this was

recorded prior to the election. I wanted to bring these comments to you without knowing who won –

because our responsibilities as Christians transcend politics – and we must be who we are regardless

of who wins.

 

The first century Christians lived in a time far different than ours. The government was a

repressive dictatorship. Life was cheap. Slavery was practiced. Infanticide was common. Romans

chapter one outlines the steep and deep degradation morally and ethically in the prevailing culture.

Christians then, unlike us, did not have the right to vote. In fact, throughout the first 200 plus

years of the Church, Christians were a persecuted minority.

 

Yet, those early Christians turned the world upside down and right side up. How did they do

it? Through the ballot box? No. Through electing leaders that were preferential to their point of

view? No.

 

They changed the world by being what Jesus called them to be – salt and light.

 

I must confess that during these past long months of electioneering, I let the externals of

politics take too much of my time and interest. Perhaps you did as well. It’s easy to get so overly

absorbed in politics that we lose sight of the fact that our citizenship is really in heaven – that

governments, presidents, senators, and political leaders come and go – but the kingdom of God lasts

forever.

 

I am not saying that we should not be involved, as citizens, in political issues; but I think it is

vital that we keep perspective. Our focus should be more on winning people to Jesus than winning

elections. We need to be more concerned about the progress of the Gospel than the progress of a

political party.

 

I want to call you to refocus on the health of the church – that the real answers to eternal

issues lie not in the government – but in a revitalized body of believers that transforms neighborhoods

and communities through our witness in word and deed.

 

The apostles told the first century Christians five things.

1. God is the sovereign Lord over human history and government.

In Romans 13, Paul wrote: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for

there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been

established by God.

 

This admonition applies to any Christian living in any country at any time period – whether in

China, Uganda, Cuba, Russia, India, Nigeria, or the United States.

But, what does it mean that the authorities that exist have been established by God? Exactly

what you think it says. God raises up nations and leaders.

 

The results of this election did not catch God by surprise. Although we voted, nothing happens

without God’s permissive will. He allows us to choose good or evil and, in a democracy, the

government He gives us is the one we choose. Sometimes our vote results in leaders who fail us and

they become a means of God’s judgment; other times leaders follow after God’s heart and they

become a means of God’s blessing.

 

Daniel said to the unrighteous world ruler, Nebuchadnezzar: the Most High is sovereign over

the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men

(Daniel 4:17). To the unrighteous ruler, Pilate, governor of Judea, Jesus said: You would have no

power over me if it were not given to you from above (John 19:11).

 

So, as we come out of this election as Christians, we must catch our breath and pause. We

must put on our Biblical glasses and see Jesus as the Lord of human history. If the early Christians

could flourish under a persecuting totalitarian government, then in America we Christians have even

more reason to flourish because of the democratic system that gives us the freedom of speech,

assembly, and worship.

 

2. The second advice the apostles gave was that government is designed to restrain and

punish those who do evil.

 

Read Romans 13:3-4 or 1 Peter 2:13-17. In fact, Paul calls human government God’s servant

to do good by bringing punishment on the wrongdoer. The word he employs for servant is the same

word that elsewhere is translated as deacon. Those in civil government are meant to be God’s

deacons. They are to approve what is right, and disapprove what is wrong; and thereby serve the

cause of justice. Of course, if they fail in their task then the society and culture that they represent

crumbles. Paul’s view was that the Roman dictatorship, as bad as it was, was preferable to anarchy.

When there is no government, everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes.

 

If you don’t believe that, then remove government totally from your community for just seven

days – all kinds of mayhem to person and property would occur.

 

 

3. None of us necessarily like the third counsel given to early Christians – but, if you look in

Romans 13:6-7 you’ll find it: if you owe taxes, pay taxes! Need I say more? Without taxes, the

government cannot provide the duty it owes citizens to keep them safe from harm.

 

 

4. That brings us to the fourth counsel the apostles gave to Christians living under any

desirable or undesirable government – pray! Paul writes this to his younger colleague, Timothy: I

urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone –

the kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and

holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

 

So let’s do what Paul asks. Let’s offer to God both intercession and thanksgiving for those

elected to office. Why? Not because our candidate lost or won – but because, the Lord hears our

prayers and it’s His desire that we have the kind of governmental climate which permits us to flourish

as the followers of Christ. Look at what Paul says in the next verses from 1 Timothy 2 (verses 3 and4):

This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a

knowledge of the truth. In other words, a government that provides peace for Christians makes for an

environment in which the church can multiply.

 

The apostle Paul gave the counsel to pray in the face of a looming threat of persecution. He

asked the church to pray that the oppressive and persecuting hand of the government would be

stayed. And, early Christians kept praying for that even in the midst of fierce opposition and

martyrdoms.

 

We may be inching into a day in America when Christians no longer have the favored status

they have enjoyed. Increasingly, the secular culture seeks to marginalize followers of Jesus, hold

them up to caricature, and portray them in the most unfair manner possible. There may come a day

in America when believers face outright persecution. So, we must continue to pray that the Lord will

help America to preserve its freedoms; and that, resulting from our freedoms, we may continue to see

Christ’s kingdom grow in America; and, that from our land will come a powerful awakening that results

in world-wide revival.

 

5. We are to show respect for those who hold office – whether executive, judicial, or

legislative; whether national, state, or local; whether Republican, Democrat, Independent, or other

parties. The New Testament explicitly tells us to do that. Hear the Apostle Paul: Give everyone what

you owe him . . . if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor (Romans 13:7). Hear the Apostle Peter

say the same thing: Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God,

honor the king (1 Peter 2:17).

 

Obviously, in America we do not have a king. But, we have a president and we have a

governmental system that has three branches nationally – and these three branches also form state

and local governments. We are to honor those who hold positions of authority.

As Christians, we must set the example for being respectful to those in office – whether

executive, judicial, or legislative.

 

The recent campaign at all levels and all parties was often filled with bitter rancor, distortions,

smears and lies. That must not be a part of Christian’s behavior. We must not lose our principles

when fighting for principle.

 

As believers, we can help set a better tone for the national discussion. We can hold to our

views without being unkind, without rancorous voices, without becoming filled with anger or hatred

toward those with opposing views.

 

Our ultimate goal as Christians is not to win an election, but to win people to Jesus. We will

only win those whom we clearly love, and for whom we show love.

 

Now that the campaigns are over, let the real campaign begin. Let’s win America for Jesus!

Let’s pray that the Lord will send to America a Great Spiritual Awakening – that from sea to shining

sea, the glory of the Lord will break forth in the lives of our fellow citizens. May God bless America as

America blesses God!

Survey

Today is Wednesday August 27, 2008

 

Greetings in the Matchless Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today I have been preparing for this Sunday’s message about the most important things in our lives.  Some time ago I sent out an informal survey which simply asked the responders to list the five most important things in some of the responses or lack thereof surprised me.  All of this has me thinking of what is the most important thing in my life and if I am really living my life in accordance to what I believe?

Let me suggest that you take a few moments today and ask yourself that survey question and then compare your answers to your activities over the last few days.  Are they a good representation of your answers or is your life being persuaded by things which are not really priorities in your life?

It is easy for us to get busy and forget the simple and yet most basic things in life.  All but one of the respondents first answer was their relationship with God.  Yet one of the greatest struggles we often face is making time for Him each and every day.

May this serve as a challenge to you today.  Make time for what is important or risk losing those things which are most precious.

 

Have a great day!

 

Serving Him by Serving You,

 

Joe Jackson

Arrival

I have been waiting paitently (mostly) for this day to come.  This inagural post heralds the arrival of the beginings of our new church web-site and our entrance into the wonderful world of the “blog.”

I enter this cyber world with a bit of trepidation because I do not know exactly where this will take me and our church family.  I am excited though at yet another avenue which has been opened to me to communicate to our church family and to others who are just interested in looking.

I will take this opportunity to say a great big THANKS! to Dave M. for spending the time to learn how to make this happen and for making my plans reality.  Where to next Dave?

I also will take this opportunity to say that God has been/is doing some really great things in our services.  We have proclaimed the month of June to be “Faith and Miracles Month” and thus far God has not disappointed us.  We look forward to Sunday morning worship where I will be presenting a message titled “Faith and Reality,” a look at the difference between our view and what God sees.  At the end of the service we will be praying for all who have a need, whether big or small.  Last week we witnessed at least two miracles right before our eyes!  Come be a part of what God is doing here at WVAG.

So much for my first post – no where but up to go from here!

Serving Him by Serving You,

joe