I Have Fought the Good Fight

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4:7 NIV)

If I were able to offer people my age one thought to hold close to their hearts, it would be expressed in just two simple, yet powerful words: Finish well.

Throughout history we have examples of men and women who began their journeys as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, pastors, businessmen, and friends with a bang. Life was good and they were at the top of their game in every area of life. Their walk with God was good, their relationships with their wives/husbands and children seemed to be second to none. Their zest for life was energized simply by waking up in the morning. Then something happened, the circumstances of life took over and some, sadly enough, ended their journey here, sad, burntout, brokenhearted, rejected and alone.

Finishing well begins by viewing life not as a sprint, but rather as a marathon. Sprinting through life puts the weight of completion on our shoulders and when circumstances cause us to trip and fall, we become disillusioned, convince ourselves that we deserve better and we often feel like failures and ultimately, many times give up. Realizing that life is a marathon helps us to make it through the pit falls of life and get up again, not to give up, but rather to continue towards the finish line of life, longing to hear the most important duel words in eternity, well done.

Satan would have us think that we should rush though life and get all we can before the other guy gets it and all the while destroying anyone or thing that gets in our way. He also wants us to think that happiness should be our goal in life. Jesus on the other hand set the example of the marathon in life that takes one day, one moment, one circumstance, one person at a time, keeping our eyes on the “Author and Finisher of our faith!” (Hebrews 12:2) He also told us to expect trouble, not happiness. (see John 16:33)

Where are you today? Are you on the sidelines, tired, unhappy, bruised and injured after a long sprint? My friend, it’s not over, it’s far from over. Extend your hand out and our Lord and a trusted brother or sister in Christ will join hands with you and help you to the finish line. Are you running well? Slow down and take a moment to pick someone else up and don’t rush through life so fast that you forget that you won’t truly finish well unless you bring someone else across the finish line with you.

This week, purpose anew not only to finish, but by the grace of God to finish well. And along with that know that God is more concerned with your holiness than your happiness.

Pastor MJ

God’s Forgiveness and Mercy

David's Prayer

He was a shepherd boy who was skilled as a musician as well as being a man’s man. He killed a bear, he ripped apart a lion, and he eventually killed a giant with a stone and a sword. He held kingdoms in his hand and had the favor of thousands upon thousands. He was a part of one of the greatest nations in the world; God’s chosen people’s favorite son and he became their greatest earthly king. He had the “whole world” in his hands, and we read in Scripture that if he had asked for more, he would have received it.

With all that David had, with all of the power, prestige, women, followers, and God’s favor, he still came to a point in his life where he stepped off course and set aside all God had done for and with him and he gave into fulfilling the passions of his flesh.

However, the incredible thing about this story is not that a great man fell, (all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God), but that a holy, pure God would still love and forgive someone who shamed His name and spurned His favor. In David’s life and in the lives of men and women throughout history, we see God continuing to reach out His hand through the hands that were nailed to the cross, saying, “I offer you forgiveness and I love you”.

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, God’s forgiveness and mercy are available to you. And He’ll never stop loving you. You worship the God of mercy today. Before you come, pour your heart out to Father God confessing your sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing from the One who know you best, yet loves you most.

Beautiful that's how mercy saw me

Though I was broken and so lost

Mercy looked past all my faults

The justice of God

Saw what I had done

Mercy saw me through the Son

Not what I was but what I could be

That's how mercy saw me.”

~Geron and Becky Davis

Now, that’s something to praise Him for!! Amen?

Freedom of Expression in Worship

It's amazing how the "face" of corporate

worship has changed over the years.

Not only in the music, but in the personal expression in worship. Back in the seventies and early eighties, the only churches that were using, what we know as praise and worship music or contemporary music were charismatic or Pentecostal churches. I remember attending a Assembly of God church with a friend in the early eighties, I was blown away. People were actually engaged in participatory worship. They were not only praying out loud, they would clap after a song, raise their hands while singing with their eyes closed.

There were even those who would kneel with their

heads and hands on the floor.

This was new to me! In the church where I grew up, if you raised your hand during the service, you'd better have a question. If you clapped...well, we didn't have any of that.

For all of the struggles that the Church at large has gone through, one of the many things that I am encouraged about is the continuing freedom of expression in worship.

I remember being so confused being at a Yankee game with members our church on a Saturday, seeing and hearing everyone's response to a great play or when they saw their favorite player. And when their team won, they smiled, shouted, high fived and rejoiced boldly. Then I'd see them in service the next morning and during worship there was little to no expression at all.

There the Guest of Honor was the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the creator of the universe! We'd hear messages and sing songs about the victory that we have in Christ, that He has defeated the enemy, about our eternal home and there were no shouts of joy, no raised hands, no outward expression at all from they same people who the night before were "raising the roof"
with expression for a sports event.

Now sports and a worship service are indeed different, but it is something to consider when we express outward excitement about our favorite pastime and remain silent about the creator of our past and the One who holds time in His hand.

At TBC, we understand that we all have different personalities and ways that we express our joy and excitement. With that said, we also give you permission, under the biblical directive of 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40, (that all should be characterized by peace and done in a decent and orderly way) to worship the Lord with your "everythingness". If that means raising your hands, do so. If that means responding with a "hallelujah, amen!" go for it.

If that means remaining silently in your seat reflecting on the majesty of God or doing business in your heart with Him, do it humbly before an audience of One.

May our worship time together so reflect biblical response so that when we get to heaven and join the eternal worship gathering, that we won't experience culture shock.

Mark W. Jones

Check out my about.me link
http://about.me/Heisgood.com

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."Proverbs 27:1

It was 106 degrees outside, but on the field it was hovering between 115 and 120. The boys seemed to be doing alright and the coaches and team doctor were doing a great job of keeping the boys hydrated and as cool as possible. Cold water, buckets of ice with sponges and large misting fans were in abundance.

Right at 6:00pm it was time for a dinner break. As the players and coaches headed to the field house they looked hot, but all in all good. Moments later as he approached the field house, one of our coaches hit the ground. While the coaches and team doctor worked to revive him, we prayed and we hoped that coach would sit up and be okay. That would not happen. As his son, wife and other members of the coaching staff and some football dads looked on, a coach, friend, teacher, father of five and husband took his last breath and went home to be with the Lord.

That was very hard to watch and although he is now with his Lord, our hearts are braking for his family and their loss.

This again was another reminder to me of the brevity of life and the importance of making sure we remember that we are not promised another moment. Which is why, most importantly we need to make sure that we are in right relationship with God-knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Additionally, realizing that God's purpose for us is not limited to eternal life in heaven, but a Full Life lived in the image of His Son, we need to strive each and every day to live a life of obedience all the while committed to pleasing him in all that we do in and with our lives.

This week got me thinking again, "What has God designed and desired for me?" and am I striving to please Him in all that I do? Also, have I fulfilled my commitments to Him as a faithful follower, so that whenever my final moment arrives, He will say, "Well done?"

Commit with me today to live this life like it was our last opportunity to bring pleasure to our Lord on this side of glory. That's lifestyle worship as a participant rather than a spectator.