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Just wanted to talk about a song that the Tharp family sang at our services on Sunday called Where are the Monuments. It is a great song. It is based on the stories in the Old Testament where Joshua took the Israelites across the Jordan river and then placed stones as a monument. At different times God had His people do this and it was so that future generations would ask why they were there and could then be told the reason and of God's provision and goodness. The song asks us where are the monuments we have placed so that our children will know the way home and to God. The song really struck me and I pondered my own self and the world also about two different ways this song can be taken and applied. I prayed during the song that I had placed enough monuments in my children's lives that they would see, know and trust in God. I also prayed that there were enough monuments placed by me that they would always want to come home to my house. We moved a whole lot as my children were growing up. The longest we lived in any one house was 6 years. But I am trusting in the old saying that Home is where the Heart is. So many times children never want to visit their parents because of different reasons but possibly because not enough of those monuments were raised to keep them desiring to visit. I want my home to always be a safe haven for my kids and future grand kids. No matter where you visit for vacations or business or whatever, there really is No Place Like Home! The smells, the sights, the family traditions...these are the things that are familiar and comfortable and what brings contentment and joy.
On the spiritual side of that, there are most certainly not enough Christians building monuments of God and Jesus to point the way to a heavenly home for the next generation. Often children see double standards, apathy, un-Christian like behavior, etc. that they want no part of God or church. It saddens me.
Not enough Christians will carry the torch into their politics and stand firm once elected! How can God continue to bless this country when the monuments pointing to Him are slowly and assuredly being removed? I'm just about ready to kick both dominating political parties out of office and start new and only elect those who want to stick by God's Word - without twisting it to suit them! Liberty doesn't mean no rules. It means that someone can't be put in prison or tortured or anything else for expressing their opinion even if it is different from someone else's. As a parent, I have never given my children everything they have ever wanted... I have given them what I thought they needed and only what I believed good for them. Sometimes it may include things they asked for but not always. People in the world today think that just because they want it they should have it or get to do it. No matter who it harms or what the damage may be.They also want it without having to do anything to get it! But that's a whole other post! :)
Let's remember to build good monuments because like it or not you are building some sort of monument for people to remember whether good or bad, whether you want to be building it or not! That is just the way it is.
We had 38 for our service and it was a great day! Our church has gone through some transitions and struggles the past year and a half and we have been maintaining around 12 to 15 people. ---that is the reason for the move to the smaller building. Through it all God has continued to bless and we are seeing alot of Spiritual growth in those who have stayed and stuck with us. We have had quite a few visitors and many have said they will return. One of the young men who came as a visitor to the anniversary was in our old youth group as a teen. He expressed how glad he was to be there and that he would definitely be back. As a worker in ministry though you don't count those chickens too early. We have had a family of six that expressed how much they enjoyed the service and almost every Saturday they tell us on our visits that they will be there the next day but then don't show. We are just going to continue pressing forward and sowing the seed and trust that God has a plan for us and His church in Cuba Missouri!
This Sunday (May 6th) is our 5 year anniversary. We have seen the Lord bless in many ways even though we are currently not where we thought and idealistically believed we'd be at 5 years back in 2007! We have a special day planned with the Tharp Family singing and Bro. Tharp preaching the first service. There will be dinner on the grounds outside if weather permits and then Bob will preach an afternoon service right after the dinner. We are also having Friend Day and the person who has the most "friends" show up will receive a KJV study Bible. One of our men handed in cards for 5 people he has committed to coming! (Boy it is hard to get folks these days to commit to anything especially if it has to do with church!) Bob has 4 committed to coming with three maybes and I have invited quite a few but only have one commitment so far. Please pray for our big day! We are trying to see how many we can fit in our new building. Our building is small but we want to pack it out! I will let ya know how it goes.
In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus tells us that we will know those who are good and those who are evil by their fruits. This is a passage that is telling us that not everyone that is in the church is a Christian -- possibly even the pastor. Verse 15 warns to beware of false prophets that have on the clothes of a sheep (saved person) but are really a wolf after destruction. Often these verses are used to say that you will recognize a Christian if they are a soul winner. I agree that is one way to know, however, I have in the past few years had preacher's on deputation to go to the mission field suddenly get saved and they have already lead many to the Lord and have even spent time on the mission field. So how do you explain that? I used to be of the opinion that a person doesn't care about another person's soul until they are saved. But I have heard alot of stories lately that people are claiming they were not really saved and "playing church" and now were accepting Christ. I don't know. This passage in Matthew tells us that an corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit and neither can a good tree bring forth evil fruit. Verses 16 & 20 both say that you will know them by their fruits. It also shows that you will know if they are corrupt or evil by their fruits! How can a lost person bring forth the good fruit of a Christian? Could it be that the person just got backslid and then convicted about it and just felt they were lost because "how could a truly saved person do that?" Satan is always working on our minds and trying to convince us we are not a child of God.
Prov 20:11- Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. You can tell if a child is well behaved or a brat by his doings. Forgive the harsh wording or even judgement but I hope I have made a point. (yes I know ALL kids can have bratty moments but you generally know the difference in a well mannered child and one who isn't - some children have not had enough knowledge applied to the seat of learning!) I'd also like to point out that good fruit is not only soul winning. It can also be the fruits of the Spirit shining out from you! By the way, fruit doesn't produce fruit - fruit produces seeds that get planted and then grows a plant that later produces the same kind of fruit! Let that one process for awhile! Our job is most importantly to plant seeds. If the seed sprouts and we are given opportunity to cultivate and water and help that plant to grow and get rooted and become a strong, thriving plant; we will eventually see fruit. But the Bible is plain, we don't always get to do the cultivating! Someone else may do it! And GOD will give the increase! Always! That He may be the one glorified. ---Just some things to ponder.
A couple years ago, Bob preached a sermon about losing your blush. It was about how in the world today, anything goes. If it feels good do it....only problem with that is, what feels good to one person causes others harm, shame or becomes a stumbling block to them. Some people get a rush and feel good when they steal or when they hurt others. I have been working at Walmart for about six months now and as I observe customers and even co-workers I am still dumb struck at what I see and hear. ---Women who curse worse than any sailor ever thought about. There was a time in society that only a certain type of woman did that and most men watched their mouths in the presence of women. It is so common place now that no one seems to watch their mouth. And, I'd like to know when under garments became part of everyday fashion! I'm sorry but colored bras should not be used as part of the layering style of today. And I'm also tired of seeing everyone's pjs! There are verses in the Bible that talk about losing your blush and shame. I think we've arrived! After each initial reaction (inward) when I see those things around me, I realize that they need Jesus. At least most of them do. Unfortunately, some Christians have fallen prey to the fashions of the world and decided that Christian liberty means anything is a go. Problem is, I am limited at work to my witnessing. I can only try to give good, friendly customer service and show good work ethics and not be a complainer and then praise God when I can.
Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. milk
2 pkgs. taco seasoning mix
2 1/2 c. mashed potato flakes
2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
3/4 c. BBQ sauce of choice
1/2 c. water
8 oz. container sour cream
1 c. shredded cheese of choice (I use colby-jack)
1 c. shredded lettuce
1 med. tomato chopped
Preheat oven to 350. In a medium sauce pan melt butter.
Add milk and 2 Tablespoons of taco season. Remove from heat and stir in potato flakes til mixed. (will be thick but should not be dry) Press mixture over bottom and sides of 10 inch pie plate.
In skillet, brown beef and onions. Drain grease. Stir in remaining taco season and bbq sauce. Cook til bubbly, stirring constantly. Pour into crust.
Bake uncovered in oven for 30 minutes, til light brown on crust. Let cool for 5 minutes. Spread on sour cream, then cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Cut into wedges and serve warm. (Doesn't always hold together good but tastes great)
Just wanted to let others know about two new sites I've just discovered. Many of you may have known about them for a long time but sometimes I'm a little slow on the internet discoveries. First is Pinterest.com and second is Tipjunkie.com There are so many neat ideas on both these sites. I'm still learning about pinterest but it is interesting so far. Check them out if you never have and you get the chance.
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