21 Seconds to Change Your World by Mark Batterson; A Book Review

The Lord's Prayer

Sometimes prayer is difficult for us to do.  But it really is easy if we would follow the instructions of Jesus found in Matthew 6: 9-13. 

In the book "21 Seconds to Change Your World" by Mark Rutland, you are shown just how easy it is to pray The Lord's Prayer for your life.  And if you consistently practice praying this prayer, you will find that God will answer this prayer and work in your life.  I, for one, do this every morning and can see that God is working in my life for His good.

Mark Rutland uses the King James Version (KJV) and points out this little twist that I enjoyed. 

Matthew 6:10 KJV, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Matthew 6:10 NIV, "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Most modern versions translate this verse like in the NIV.  But notice the difference in the KJV, "in earth" and the NIV, "on earth". 

Mark Rutland points out that we were made out of the earth.  So when we pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth" , we are praying for God's will to be done "in" us.  Maybe a technical point, but I like it. 

The other thing that I have learned through this prayer is the phrase "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."  I was filling in for a church last summer for 8 weeks and I heard a woman use the phrase, "I do not want my soul captured in sin."  I had never heard that phrase before and now I use it almost daily when I say this prayer.  I also use what I have learned from John Piper when I come to this phrase as well.  I pray that my joy would come from fellowship with Jesus, His Word, and the Holy Spirit.  So, I would encourage you to try this prayer and watch it change your life. 

Moving On - "Who Is This"

Song of Solomon 8:5  (KJV)

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

This verse comes to my mind as I watch a pastor friend leave a church he has pastored for 8 years to take another church across the country. I know he will do well, but the church he left now must choose a new pastor. I live in a town where it seems like on every corner there is a church and a chicken restaurant. And most of these churches are large churches, this particular church is approximately  100 to 130 and has carved out a nice niche in the community. All the while, it makes the hire of the new pastor so important. Whether or not the new pastor can build on what has already been done so the community will be able to say, "Who is this?".  Or if the church makes the wrong hire the community will say, "Who was that?".  You say, surely this could not happen but I reminded you of 1 Samuel 16: 6-7.  

1 Samuel 16:6-7New International Version (NIV)

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”  7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

 Remember it is the heart that matters, not the outward appearance and credentials.   Somewhere out there, there is a "David" that has been forgotten about.   

1 Samuel 16:11-13New International Version (NIV)

11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”  13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

So my prayer for this church is that God's will be done for this church, so the community will be able to rise up and say, "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning up on her beloved?".

"The Three Heavens" by John Hagee; a book review

I just finished the book "The Three Heavens Angels, Demons and What Lies Ahead" by John Hagee.  I was expecting to hear how Pastor John Hagee would interpret the bible's view of heaven and his personal view of heaven, which he did in this book.  I was not expecting Pastor Hagee to describe some personal experiences of spiritual warfare he has encountered in his ministry.  It was refreshing and eye-opening as Pastor Hagee explained some of his personal encounters of spiritual battles.  It was refreshing in the sense that it reminded me of how serious spiritual warfare really is.  It was eye-opening in the idea that we must be careful of what we allow in our lives that can be an open door for demonic spirits to attack or influence us.  I have heard these things before, but these were great reminders for me, especially in the hour we are living in. 

"The Three Heavens" by John Hagee

This book not only reminded me of the spiritual battle we are all involved in, but it also encouraged me with the fact that our home is in heaven.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  (Phil 3:20) It is a reminder that Jesus is preparing a place for us. (John 14:1-3) And that one day we shall see Jesus face to face. (1 John 3:2-3)

“I shall rise from the dead…I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines. I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began…No man ever saw God and lived. And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die.”

                                                                                    JohnDonne

Worship That is Pleasing to Him

Isa.42:10  Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

Recently I attended two different churches, in two different cities. Both churches I would say, that 1/2 of their congregations were over 50 and many of those were probably over 60 years of age. (Which is probably true with a lot of churches.)

But the problem that I heard from the leadership at both churches, was the music. It seemed that both congregations were in favor of hymns.  I don't have a problem with hymns and have attended and pastored churches where worship was made up of hymns.  When visiting both churches, hymns were incorporated in their worship services.

Psalm 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

One leader told me that the music pastor had been at the church for two years and people were still leaving the church over the music.  At the other church, the pastor told me the week prior to us being there, there was a big discussion in the foyer of the church about the music being too loud, and not enough hymns.

Amazing Grace (public domain)

I know this is an age old problem, but when are we as the people of God, (young and old alike) going to start working together?  You can look around and see that a lot of churches are dying.  Maybe we should focus on reaching people for Jesus and building the Kingdom and quit worrying about whether we are singing hymns or praise songs and just worship God in the way that is pleasing to Him.

Psalm 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

The Bible is full of verses about singing a new song. So sing a new hymn, sing a new praise song, but worship God and quit getting mad and causing problems and leaving church over it, because some one's eternal destiny might just depend on you, young or old alike.

Be Blessed,

Ronnie Spoon

Not My Style

Hebrews 10:25  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.

Why so many churches?  Have you ever asked that question?  Are all of them being effective for the Kingdom of God?  I would say the answer to that question is yes if they are declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1Cor.15:1-5

There are churches on every corner in the town where I live.  I have been to several churches in our area when we were looking for a home church.  I have to say looking for a home church was probably one of the more difficult things I have ever done.  I was acclimated to the church we called "home" for several years.  I grew accustomed to the way we did worship, prayer, and preaching.  Every detail of the service, even the offering was done in a certain way.  I was "at home with" our style, our flavor.

So being thrust out and looking for a new home church we encountered many differing of styles of worship, preaching, and prayer.  Even the giving of the offering was incredibly different in each new place we visited.  Everything was different to us; we were not used to the styles.  It didn’t matter if it was contemporary or traditional, we had lost what we were accustomed to and nothing seemed to fit.  

So here is my point in all of this.  We had to change our way of thinking.  We can't judge churches by their styles.  We need to evaluate the heart of those ministering in the service.  The heart is what matters, not the style or method.  What is truly important is that those who are leading the service are promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If they are, then my heart is with them, even thought there style or method may or may not be my style.  

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