Yesterday, I killed a man...

Judi, a long time patient of mine, came into my office yesterday...and I got that "feeling." You know, the gut-wrenching, "somethin-aint-right" feeling. A little background on Judi. She is a cancer survivor, though suffers from several remnants of the repeated chemo and surgies required in the victory. she has twice survived wild fires in the local mountains, in which her house was only one of a couple still standing in the neighborhood when the smoke had cleared...leaving much work ahead. She is a devote mother and desperate lover of Jesus.

So I asked the question..."how are you?" Not in the "what's up fashion" but in the "I see you are not well, why is that." Without hesitation she explained to me that her husband of 17 years had just run off with someone else. The same husband that: fathered her child, stood by her through "better and worse" in fighting cancer. The same husband that lifted countless prayers of healing and pleas for strength for he and his wife. The same husband actively involved in church...

He left! Before he did, he neglected to pay the mortgage to their house for the past 6 months, so 2 days after his departure, a foreclosure notice arrived in the mailbox...she is soon to be homeless. Her once strong husband has refused court orders to pay spouse and child support, and she had NO money for legal action. On top of it all, the husband, and once good father has partial custody of their 13 year old son, but chooses to drink beer, smoke, and shoot-up (his latest hobby...narcotics) while watching TV and telling his son, who is trying to figure out life to "get lost." Who is the lost one?

So, long story short...the thoughts that when through my mind were not pleasant! As I wept with her, I committed murder in my heart. Jesus say that if you think evil, it is murder. I have repented, and continue to repent for this. My question...how can someone hear or see stories like this and not become enraged? We sing "Break my heart for what breaks Yours." This the heart-breaking stuff of life.

We talked about Faithfulness on Tuesday night, and this is what I see first thing Wed. morning. When you are not seeking the Faithful One, you are destined to be unfaithful. He is the only source of being even remotely faithful. If we put our faith in ourselves, the result will be the sin of our hearts manifest for all the world to see. If we put our faith is the One True Faithful, we will, like Judi, press on knowing that God here.

in grace, tim

early sermons...

Being that I feel called to be a teacher of the Word, I am compelled and passionate about listening to as many pastor-teachers as possible...to see how they do it, hear where they are coming from, etc.

Something struck me yesterday as I was reading through 1Cor. chapter 1. The letter was their sermon. We will dig into it and analyze it and pull truths from it and apply them to our lives for sure, but for the church @ corinth it did not go down like that. You see, this letter is the apostle Paul's sermon to them, authored be the Holy Spirit, and read to the people from the local leader. There was no 5 points or application beyond that listed. What you see is what they got.

What would you think if you showed up Sunday to hear Pastor Rod read a letter from another pastor the entire time? What if we gathered to hear the reading of the Word and nothing else. If I can be honest before I have to go repent for this...I would not like it. The Word is the only source of power in a sermon, and it is the only reason we really gather when all is stripped away...yet I would be bored and disappointed if all we did was had a reading of Scripture for an hour straight. Tragically, I would feel ripped off! That is sad, and pathetic I confess. I have a hunch I am not alone...

Is it pride? Is it a quest of entertainment? What is it? I ask you! Speak freely, speak honestly, speak from your heart...

Lord, focus my heart to see that You alone are my everything!

in grace, tim

hospital

Have you ever considered the parallel between a church and a hospital. Both contain life and death. Both strive for life. Both contain countless hurting people. Many people get "freaked" out and weird about the thought of each.
Praise God this past week we were only there less than 24 hours with the entry of Ainsley into this world. I had a number of interesting conversations, and some amazing opportunities to share hope, love, and compassion with others...
Isn't that what church is? Not an obligation or responsibility to fulfill with free time on Sunday, but a place to share with others. Hebrews 10 says to "not forsake the assembling together." So the questions stands and begs to be asked...are you?
Are you going to church to "stir one-another up to love and good works"? Are you seeking to bring comfort to the hurting, healing to the broken, life to the dead, and salvation to the lost? This is not the responsibility of the "staff" alone. This is the command to the church. Go make disciples of all nations is just as true and focused at you as it is to Greg Laurie and Billy Graham.

quatro

that's right...#4 is here! Ainsley Joy was born yesterday evening at 5:43pm and was 7lbs, 19.5 inches, and healthy as could be! thanks for your prayers. my apologies for the lack of blogs as of late...things have been crazy busy. though thing will continue to be busy, we are home now and attempting to "normalize" our routines, so the blogs should be coming. I have a lot to share, and in the chances I get...I will!

in grace, tim

why...simple...why?

Why are you a Christian? Yes, YOU; reading this right now, I am absolutely asking and speaking to you right now!

We have 40+ people reading this blog daily...YOU ARE ONE OF THEM! I presume most to have placed their faith in Jesus...so, why?

Reply HERE. Let me know. This is your time to chime in and share. What you share may have eternal consequences. We are all in this journey together, so share...

in grace, tim

NEW SERIES...

As you may have gathered from the new header, we are shifting gears a bit in PaRaDoX. We will be working through and discussing the letter "to the Church of God at Corinth." We will examine it verse by verse and it is going to be awesome.

I hope you can join us.

in grace, tim

worship...

tonight was amazing! we discussed "worship" in depth. then Jill lead us beautifully in some amazing songs, as we closed by praising our Lord in "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs"!

next week, we begin a journey through the letter to the Church at Corinth..."what happens in Corinth, stays in Corinth." I am excited for one reason...I know the Lord has a plan...for His good pleasure, in the midst of it all!

in grace, tim