COURAGE

"Leonidas, King of Sparta, was preparing to make a stand with his Greek troops against the Persian army at Thermopylae or the ‘Hot Gates” in 480 B.C. when a Persian envoy arrived. The man urged on Leonidas the futility of trying to resist the advance of the huge Persian army. "Our archers are so numerous," said the envoy, "that the flight of their arrows darkens the sun." "So much the better," replied Leonidas, "for we shall fight them in the shade." Leonidas made his stand, and died with his 300 troops."

Courage? Or foolishness? That debate about the Battle of Thermopylae has gone on for centuries. Leonidas had no way to win that battle but Greece would ultimately win the war. The courage of the Spartans inspired the rest of Greece to stand against the Persian army. What does it take to have courage? What does that look like in a typical week?

John 16:32-33
"Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to is own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

I love this challenge from Jesus. The focus is on a bigger truth or more importantly on Him. He has overcome the world...TAKE COURAGE. I think that Jesus is challenging us to step out and live for Him in a way that says, 'I'm going to live for Christ no matter what comes.' That is the biggest challenge to asking the question what would Jesus do? It is in knowing that what He would do is be courageous and honor God with EVERY part of His life.

NOW...we GET TO do it too. Have fun. LGLO, Pastor Peter

PRAISE the LORD

"Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever." Psalm 111

I wasn’t afraid of water. It had always seemed tame to me — something I put into little bottles for drinking, something I listened to when it came down in big rain droplets outside. But on that June day while we sat stranded on the only highway that would lead us home, I gained a new perspective on water.

As we watched it rush over the highway ahead of us, tearing up chunks of asphalt and making the road impassable, I stood in awe. Once we got our car turned around and headed away from the flood, I watched the mini-waves lap the side of the road and our tires. I discovered a new respect for water.

Until I experienced a flash flood, my relationship with water was an illusion. I thought I had it under control. After the flood, I realized that water is a powerful force — one that has been around much longer than me! I don’t shy away from water, but I approach it with a new reverence. I respect its authority in a new way, and I am wiser for it. I wonder what experience the psalmist had with God to elicit this same realization? Micaela Wood

MOVING and HOW's IT GOING?

Dear WWJDers,
Sorry I have been so disconnected this week. The move got my whole schedule out of whack. Looking forward to getting back on track.

How is everything going? Would love to hear how God is working in and through you! Remember next week is lunch and we will take some time to discuss what has been happening.

THANKS for your faithfulness!

LGLO,
Pastor Peter

CLING to HIM

"Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him." Deut. 13:4

In these times it seems like the best admonition doesn't it?  CLING TO HIM!  Where else are you going to cling today?  Yourself?  How does that help?  Go to the source of life and breath and everything else.  It's a good day to CLING!  Enjoy it!  LGLO,  Pastor Peter

STOP SINNING

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2.so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God." 1 Peter 4:1-2 ESV

"So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning. 2.And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God." 1 Peter 4:1,2 NLT

Stop sinning!  Seems like a simple idea.  Amazing that it is so hard.  The admonition from Peter is to focus on how we are connecting to Christ in order to stop sinning.  In this case his admonition is to connect to His sufferings.  I think the reason why Peter does that is so that we will see the pain of sin.  That we will see how much Christ suffered and realize that His suffering brought us hope.  That we would not easily fall into sin because we would see the more obvious implications of that sin.

Jesus died so that we might have life and have it to the full doing the "will of God".  That is...not sinning!  Have fun!  LGLO,  Pastor Peter

A Guest - Love for the Least

I love Max's simplicity and directness. Good stuff. Enjoy! LGLO, Pastor Peter

Love for the Least
“I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.”
Matthew 25:35

What is the sign of the saved? Their scholarship? Their willingness to go to foreign lands? Their ability to amass an audience and preach? Their skillful pens and hope-filled volumes? Their great miracles? No.

The sign of the saved is their love for the least.

Those put on the right hand of God will be those who gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, warmth to the lonely, clothing to the naked, comfort to the sick, and friendship to the imprisoned.

Did you note how simple the words are? Jesus doesn’t say, “I was sick and you healed me…I was in prison and you liberated me…I was lonely and you built a retirement home for me…” He doesn’t say, “I was thirsty and you gave me spiritual counsel.”

No fanfare. No hoopla. No media coverage. Just good people doing good things.

BOUGHT

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This is a great admonition and honestly I can't think of a thing to add except...get on it! LGLO, Pastor Peter