Joe Holman

Why we Need Christmas!

The class slides and notes, if any, will be posted on this page each week.

Week 1

PowerPoint Slides (pdf)

Week 2

PowerPoint Slides (pdf)

Acts chapter 12

But it isn’t just Mormons… read on.

This past summer the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released the results of a large survey nationally on religion. Among the other details the Washington Post wrote:

A belief in God or a higher spirit is pervasive. Even Americans who describe themselves as atheist or agnostic have a robust sense of a higher power: Twenty-one percent of those who describe themselves as atheists expressed a belief in God or a universal spirit, and more than half of those who call themselves agnostic expressed a similar conviction.

So more than a fifth of atheists and agnostics believe in the existence of a “higher power.” How does that make sense? The simple answer is that it doesn’t make sense.

So why is that? Why do people believe such weird things? How is it possible to deny the existence of God yet believe in a higher power? How is it possible to buy into Joseph Smith’s teachings? This way of thinking (or not thinking) isn’t limited to just Mormons and the atheists of this study, it is throughout the world.

So why are they so blind? And what should our response be? Scripture answers both of these questions in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6:

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.

So why are they so blind? Their minds have been blinded by the “god of this age,” Satan.

And what is our response? To openly proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord. Are you proclaiming him as Lord through your actions and words? Our lives should be a reflection of his Lordship.

Acts 11:27-30

Acts 11:19-26

Would you like to bring something? Fill out the below form to let us know. For more information contact Karen Gill.

and yes, giving thanks!

As we have progressed through the book of Acts, there is something in it that causes me to reflect on and be thankful for this month…and that is the nation that we live in.  When we remember the culture and government that the early church lived in, we see that they certainly had a difficult time with Rome over them – from being taxed to tortured.  It was a volatile country with respect to how Christians would be viewed and treated.  No Christian would ever be allowed to vote for their leaders!  Rome was supreme and Caesar its “king,” with everyone being its subjects.  You did not necessarily get to say what you wanted, nor did you get to pursue your interests, nor were you necessarily free when it came to your religious beliefs.

As we think on our great nation, we might have a tendency to look instantly to what is wrong with it, or at times even bemoan where we are going.  Certainly it is not perfect, and we have many issues that need to be corrected and wrestled with, but it is still a great country!  It’s something that we can certainly thank God for!

It is a place in which we can vote freely…and pursue an honest living…and bring out new and creative ideas…and share the good news of the gospel freely…and worship without constraint.  It is a freedom and way of life that the founding fathers sought to establish, and men and women (and let this one sink in deeply) gave their lives to maintain.

There is much cause for Americans to give thanks to God for it – He has given us yet another precious gift…in our nation.

This month as you spend time voting, feasting, and spending time enjoying your family, can I give you some specific things to consider when giving thanks?

• Let’s remember to thank God for His protection of us through our government and our soldiers, who are “ministers of the sword,” some of whom come from our congregation.  (And while you’re at it, pray for their well-being too!)
• Let’s remember to thank God for our leaders at all levels in our government, and pray for godly wisdom to prevail.
• Let’s thank God for a country that does not seek to stifle our ability to share the gospel.
• Let’s thank God for those who came before us, taking a hard toll on their personal lives at Plymouth so long ago, and for establishing the beginning of a country that can worship God freely, without the government intervening.
• Finally, let’s not only thank God for all that we have, but let’s remember to continue to lift it up in prayer — that we would be a nation that seeks to value life, to look higher than ourselves, and to seek Truth.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Jack

Last summer I wrote about Josh Hamilton. He’s got a video on IamSecond.com too.

Acts 10:23-48

As citizens of the United States we have a unique role in our government as voters. Because of this we each play a role as members of that “authority” mentioned in 1 Timothy. So we should not only be praying for those who are elected but also for “We the people.”

This coming Tuesday is election day and we are planning to make an all day prayer room at the church available to anyone who would like to participate. Jack will be opening the doors at 7am and I’ll be closing it up at 7pm. The format is casual and anyone who would like to come for a time to pray and lift up those in authority over us on that day are more than welcome. Come for just a few minutes or several hours. Either way we encourage all believers to lift up the people of the United States of America in prayer.

The song that the whole choir sang, “By Faith,” was written by Dan Whittemore, arranged by Joseph Linn, and published by Lillenas Publishing, Co. Special thanks to Katie Gicker for live accompaniment on piano!

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

I know that the economic crisis has most people focused on money. But can you guess what the number one problem we see men struggling with year in year out?

If we take all the problems men face and put the marriage problem in one stack, and put all the other problems in another stack, guess what? The marriage problem alone is bigger than all the other problems combined.

Teach your men how to do something practical and spiritual about their marriages. Teach them to pray “The Marriage Prayer.” I’ve been praying this 68 word prayer for some time now. I don’t know if it has changed our marriage, but it has certainly changed me.

Here’s the prayer:

Father, I said, “Till death do us part.” I want to mean it. Help me love You more than her, and her more than anyone or anything else. Help me bring her into Your presence today. Make us one, like You are three-in-one. I want to hear her, cherish her and serve her-so she will love You more and we can bring You glory. Amen.

David Delk, Man in the Mirror’s President, and I have written a book of the same title that unpacks “The Marriage Prayer.” You can order Prayer Cards and learn more at www.themarriageprayer.com.

Yours for changed lives,

Patrick Morley, Ph.D.

At first I saw Christ as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like the president, I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on, when I recognized His presence, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tendem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life hasn’t been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even through it looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are You taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. When I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people who had gifts I needed–gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, Christ’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I didn’t trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.

And I’m learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do it any more, He just smiles and says, “Pedal.”