Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men?

Really now. Is that what the scripture says? If so, where is all the peace and goodwill? We have nations at war, governments in anarchy, communities divided and homes in turmoil. What about this goodwill to all men? In these last days, goodwill toward each other has become lost in our self-will. We have become people who are more concerned about self and barely concerned about others. So, who gets to enjoy peace on earth and goodwill?

First, let’s look at what the scripture says. Luke 2: 14 says “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased.” This rendering comes from the Amplified Bible. I referenced it with other translations that also give clearer meaning to the Greek and Hebrew words and they translate this passage similarly. God giving us Jesus intended peace and goodwill for everyone but not everyone will accept Jesus.

Peace and goodwill are for those who please God. The first step in living a life that pleases God is by accepting the most wonderful Christmas gift of His Son. The second way to please God is by living a life of obedience. An obedient life is one that does what God wants us to do, when He wants us to do it, how He wants us to do it and where He wants us to do it. This is also a lifestyle of worship in which one’s life is surrendered as an offering to God.

Real peace and goodwill come to those who live a life pleasing to Him. These blessings do not follow those who don’t please the Lord. There is no greater gift than peace and good will that follows you all through your life. Please be among those who accept this wonderful Christmas gift.

The Forgetfulness of God!

How could the God of the universe be so forgetful? Is it because He has so much on His mind? Or is it because He has selective memory? I think it’s the latter. There are just some things that God chooses not to remember. God says in Hebrews 8: 12, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.” He has made a deal with us in His new covenant that if we repent and choose His Son, He will forgive us and choose to forget our sins. Wow! God chooses to forget our sins.

Micah 7: 19 tells us, “He will have compassion on us and subdue our iniquities and casts all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

Psalm 103: 3 and 12 states that “God forgives all our iniquities and as far as the east is from the west, He has removed our transgressions from us.”  With all of the undiscovered galaxies and universes, from east to west is infinite.

Hebrews 9: 26 declares “Jesus appeared to put away our sin by sacrificing Himself.” When God sent Jesus to die for our sins it was a completed work. It then got put into the completed file. Completed things don’t have to be thought about anymore.

God doesn’t think about our sins because He has forgotten them. He has forgiven them and He has cleansed us from them. 1 John 1:9 reminds us,” that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When God puts our sins away it means that He no longer carries the offenses and we don’t have to either. Praise God for His forgetfulness!

Are You a True Disciple of Jesus?

Biblically speaking a disciple is a learner or follower who serves as an apprentice under the teaching and oversight of another. Are you a learner? How often are you reading the Word of God? Do you have any devotionals or books you regularly read or study that help you be more like Jesus? Do you consistently attend church and any small group Bible studies? Are you in relationships with others where there is a sharing of faith, encouragement and accountability? If not, then how are you learning?

Are you a follower of Jesus? Are you living according to the teachings of Jesus? Can people tell by your actions and attitude that you are a follower of Jesus? Are you faithful, giving, loving, compassionate, truthful, committed and serving? Do you share your faith by the way you live? Our lives speak for us. We can say one thing and live another but the only person we end up fooling is ourselves. It’s time for self examination. Here are a few qualities of true disciples of Jesus:

1.    24/7 worshipers, not Sunday only.

2.    Committed to lifelong learning about our faith.

3.    Submission to the Holy Spirit in all our decisions.

4.    Hearts that are sensitive to sin and wounded every time we offend God and others.

5.    Cheerful givers of money, resources, talents and time.

6.    A deep commitment to the body of Christ.

7.    Spontaneous acts of selfless compassion.

8.    Naturally share our faith by the way we live.

9.    Lives that conform to the word of God without cutting corners.

10.  Constantly acknowledging the presence of God.

Let’s strive to be like Jesus, representing Him well in our families, workplaces and communities.

BARACK OBAMA!!!

Praise the Lord for our new president! Yes, praise the Lord. I didn’t vote for him only because I can’t support the Democrat’s stance on the killing of unborn children or legalizing gay marriage.  Otherwise, I do celebrate this historic moment. I look forward to the walls of racism continuing to fall in our nation. He is God’s man for this time and God will use him to fulfill His purposes.  Although, I didn’t support him with my vote, I will support him with my respect and prayers.

This, my friends, is our Biblical obligation. God expects us to submit, honor and pray for those in authority over us. It has nothing to do with whether we voted for them or agree with them. Consider Romans 13: 1-2. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resists will bring judgment on themselves.”

1 Timothy 2: 1-2 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

The burden and responsibility of our president is great. He will be faced with decisions that affect the moral fiber of our country, our safety and economic well being. We must pledge our prayers and support. He will need it. His family will need it and our great country will need it. Let’s join together and pray, God Bless Barack Obama and God Bless America.

The Vision of Glorious Life Church

Glorious Life Church is committed to reaching out with kindness, growing strong families, building healthy relationships and breaking down the walls of racism in our communities.

How will we carry out this vision?

Reaching Out with Kindness – We must allow God to change us so that His kindness can flow through us as individuals and as a church. We will do outreaches and fellowships that are unparalleled acts of hospitality and service. We will show people just how special they are.

Growing Strong Families – We will model and teach God’s design for our families. We will give people the tools they need to have great marriages, be the best parents and bring up great kids. There will be regular teaching, conferences, parent’s nights out and counseling available.

Building Healthy Relationships – We will teach the timeless relationship principles found in the Bible and utilize the best research available. It will be taught in services, classes, conferences and counseling will also be available. We will continue to connect people with each other and provide opportunities for healthy relationships to form.

Breaking Down Walls of Racism – Our outreach, fellowship, ministry and services will be done to reach people of different races. We will provide opportunities for any race in the ministry and life of our church.  We will live out the standard that we are all one in Christ and regardless of one’s color they are welcome here.

Who Are You Voting For And Why?

Or do you even know? You may know who’s going to get your vote but do you know why? What party are you? Why? Do you know what the parties stand for? Please pull yourself away from all of the superficial campaigning and media coverage and figure it out. Isn’t it time we become mature enough to think for ourselves? Regardless of your party affiliation please go to their websites and read their agendas. Don’t you want to know what each party stands for? Or do you just want to blindly cast your vote in ignorance? Or maybe you’ll vote from what everyone else tells you. Or better yet, you’ll vote for your favorite personality. Did you know that research confirms that a candidate’s personality will get them voted in more than anything else? Isn’t it more important than that?

Our vote could change the course of our nation. The future of our families and faith is at stake. This being the case please do some research before voting. I realize that both parties give you ample to read on their websites, but at least scan over the most important issues to you. Please care enough to do that. The politicians realize that you probably won’t and that’s why they put so much money into television. We are satisfied believing what we see on television. Tragically enough, what we see on television isn’t reality including politics. So my challenge to you is to know what you believe and why? Do this by finding out for yourself and then making informed decisions.

I have decided to do this myself. After all it is a good practice, to practice what I preach. I am not going to be political or diplomatic with you because, when we are it just means were dodging the issues. I am not sold out on either of our presidential candidates but then again I’m not supposed to be. My faith is in God. I also don’t agree with either party’s position on all the issues. I think both parties can do harm as well as good, so for that I pray for the best. However, as a Christian there are a few things that matter to me above the rest.

These issues are far more important to me than money, the war or national security. Therefore, the party that supports my position on these issues gets my vote. These issues aren’t just important to me they are important to God. How do you think He feels about the killing of unborn innocent children? The Bible says “that He hates hands that shed innocent blood.” Do you think God’s cool with same-sex couples? God loves all of us but homosexuality is an abomination of unnatural proportions. He loves us but He doesn’t love our sin and He definitely isn’t ok with us making it legal. Who are we to declare something as right that God has said is wrong?

Then there is the issue of religious freedom. God sent His Son to die for us to be free to worship Him. I absolutely will not vote for anyone (party or person) whose platform is to take that away. I don’t tell others who they can or can’t worship so don’t tell me. I will worship God and cast my vote for the person that is in support of the freedom and the values most closely associated to that. I am voting as a God worshiping, Bible believing Christian. Do the research and you will know who will get my vote. More importantly, do the research before you cast your vote.

Politicians with Poor Self Esteem…

Don’t you get sick of the negative campaigning that political hopefuls do against each other? It can be hard to find any hope in all of the negativity, criticizing and tearing down of those who seek to lead us. Really, is that good leadership at all? I realize the imperfection of us all but shouldn’t leadership be a cut above? Why is it that our leaders continue to resort to this time and time again?

Are their positive achievements not enough to get them elected? I wish that someone pass a law that no negative campaigning could be done by those who are seeking office. It would be so nice to see our leaders get elected based upon their own merit. Have they not done enough good for it to stand out above the bad? Have they not made a significant difference with the power that they have been given? Have any of them made enough positive contributions that will be stand alone evidence for the positions they seek? If they have to tear down another person to get where they want to go, then they probably have no right being there.
I will be the first to admit that I am not well versed in political strategy. However, I do have a growing understanding of the human condition that is rooted in a constant examining of my own behavior as well as the ongoing study of human behavior.  So, let’s discuss why we have a tendency to criticize others. Criticism defined by Webster, is the inclination to find fault or to judge severely.

We teach our children that when a schoolmate makes fun of them, it’s because that person feels bad about themselves. The only thing that can come out of a person is what’s in a person. When negativity and faultfinding are regularly coming out of a person they are projecting the feelings that they have about themselves. Leaders are no exception. This ongoing backstabbing, blindsiding, dirt digging, fault magnifying is the product of a poor self esteem. People with healthier self esteems are less inclined to find fault with others. Their projections toward others are more positive as a result of how they feel about themselves. Wouldn’t we get further in life by working to correct our own flaws than focusing on the flaws of someone else?

It would seem that very little self correction and growth can take place with all the energy that’s spent dissing other people. It’s easier to criticize others than address our own issues because nothing is really being changed. Positive change always requires more effort. There also seems to be a false sense of consolation in highlighting the faults of others because it makes us feel a little more superior. This type of criticism is never an attempt to help someone but only to help ourselves. It also means that the interest of others is not really our main concern. After all, don’t politicians tell us they are in it for people?

I believe that we should honor and pray for our leaders. The only way things change on any level is if leadership changes first. We need an internal extreme makeover. A makeover of the heart is what leaders of families, churches, schools, communities, businesses and governments need. We need a wholeness that will produce wholeness in others. Wholeness begets wholeness. As long as we continue this slide toward negativity and criticism wholeness will be greatly deficient. We will never make the difference in our world that we have the potential to make. Every time we hurt another we hurt ourselves.

Our Society of Substitutes…

Sugar with artificial sweeteners. Salt with No Salt. High Test with Diet. Eggless eggs. Sugar free. Fat free. Taste free! Energy drinks. Energy pills. Weight loss pills. Diets without dieting and workouts without exercise. Surgery when none of these work. Housekeepers, tutors, daycares and babysitters. Families without parents. Parents without responsibilities. Psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and counselors for relationships without intimacy. Drugs when none of those work. Time needed with time out. Direction with Redirecting. Choosing our battles for really choosing none at all. Discipline with Permissiveness. Frustration, anger, abuse, giving in, giving up and drugs when any of those don’t work. Cash with credit. Freedom with debt. Personhood with Possessions. Real purpose with status .Peace with stress. More debt when that doesn’t work. Pastor’s with CEO’s. Church boards with corporate directors. Servants with managers. Called ones with volunteers. We end up with leadership without service and service without passion. We fire one and hire another and when that doesn’t work we start another program.

The church has been substituted with bigger buildings, bigger crowds, and bigger budgets. The presence of God with program, presentation and pretension. We have come up with substitutes for just about everything. A substitute is a replacement or an alternate. Most are intended to be better for us but that’s rarely the case. Substitutes often replace values. Values that if I allowed to develop in my life would make me a better person on many levels. Moderation, discipline, self-control, selflessness, commitment, sacrifice, love and compassion for others and love for God are often the things that get side-lined.

The extra effort required to develop these core values makes substitutes more attractive to us. Substitutes are easier on the front end but not in the long-haul. Living a valueless life will always create problems for us in every area of our life whether it is our health, finances, relationships, ministry or relationship with God. Substitutes can never fully replace the real. The replica is never as valuable as the original. Let’s be careful that we aren’t diminishing our values by substitution, particularly our values that honor God. There is only one substitute that I am certain of that was better and that was Jesus becoming our substitute for sin. He took our place and the place of our sin that we might be free and have the opportunity of an eternity of peace.

Beam Me Up Scotty!

Glorious Life Church you have energized me! You have increased my faith. Two weeks ago, you decided with me to take a step of faith and order our new parking lot knowing that we didn’t have all the money for it. That’s crazy and so is faith. Real faith is that radical. This is just the beginning of many things that we will radically believe for as we advance the kingdom. Seeing God answer this expression of our faith is only going to wet our appetite for more. Your faith is awesome! We will see God provide for our ministry in many ways but the real impact is going to be experienced on a personal level. We are moving from faith to faith! I am so excited that I can’t stand it! You and I will begin to take greater steps of faith in our personal lives and see God do the miraculous just because we trusted Him.

God honors and responds to our faith in Him. Listen to a few of these faith statements from the Word of God:

• “Go and be it done unto you as you believe”
• “If you believe without doubt in your heart, you shall receive what you believe”
• “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed , you shall say to this mountain be removed and cast into the sea and it shall be done”
• “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”
• “I believe therefore I speak”
• “Faith without works is dead”
• “That your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God”

To God be the glory! Faith is rising. If we can believe for the material things that it takes for our ministry then we can believe for even greater things. We believe that lives will be changed, souls saved, bodies healed, and the possessed and oppressed set free. We believe that God’s transforming us to be a different church with a different sound of worship and a different message. A holy church with a powerful praise that attracts the presence of God. A bold church that preaches an uncompromising message of repentance, redemption and hope. A loving church that extends grace to all men regardless of their race, class, background or past. Get ready to be energized with this new explosion of faith! GLC it’s time to believe!

Who Cares?

Who cares that in the next 24 hours:

• 1000 unwed teenage girls will become mothers.
• 1106 teenage girls will get an abortion.
• 4219 teenagers will contract a sexually transmitted disease.
• 500 adolescents will begin using drugs.
• 1000 adolescents will begin drinking alcohol.
• 135,000 kids will bring a gun or other weapon to school.
• 3610 teens will be assaulted; 80 will be raped.
• 2200 teens will drop out of high school.
• 2750 kids will watch their parents separate or divorce.
• 90 kids will be taken from their parents’ custody and placed in foster care, a group home, or institutional care.
• 7 kids (ages 10-19) will be murdered.
• 7 juveniles who are under the age of eighteen will be arrested for murder.
• 6 teens will commit suicide.

A few more sobering facts to ponder:

• Homicides are the second-leading cause of death among fifteen-to twenty-four year olds.
• Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for ten- to twenty-four year olds.
• 4 million American alcoholics under the age of 18.
• 57.5% of kids born to married parents will experience divorce prior to age 16.
• In step families 33% of these kids will endure this trauma again.

Children in single parent families:

• 6 times more likely to be poor.
• 2-3 times more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems.
• More likely to drop out, be expelled or suspended from school.
• More likely to get pregnant as teens.
• More likely to use drugs and get in trouble with the law.
• Struggle with intimacy and have intimacy issues with parent(s) often being the cause to sexual or substance addictions.
• Struggle holding steady jobs as adults.

Marital instability in married homes makes teens feel threatened, afraid and angry and is a significant cause of teen rebellion against parents.

So, who cares? Who cares enough to be a better parent, keep your marriage together and be a better spouse, be a good example, pray for youth on a regular basis or get involved in ministry to youth? If we aren’t willing to do anything then we don’t care. If you want to get involved in youth ministry let our youth pastor and Christian education director know. Please prove you care by doing something.

- Pastor Al Hill