Archive for April, 2010

A New Series

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

For so many of us, life is stressful, complicated, fast-paced and demanding. And some of us are even living in quiet desperation trying to keep it all together. In the process, however, we are paying a huge price with our bodies, our pocketbooks and our relationship with God.

In my new series, Balance, which begins this Sunday and goes through the month of May, I will be examining four areas of life where balance is critical for our well-being and hopefully we will be encouraged and equipped to restore a sense of purpose, peace and perspective to our lives.

I hope you will attend or listen on-line at riveroaks.org.

Tim

The God who is

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

In my reflective reading this morning I read the following statement. It stopped me cold. I must have read it 10 times. It comes from Patrick Morley’s book, The Seven Seasons of a Man’s Life. He wrote, There is a God we want, and there is a God who is. They are not the same God. The turning point of our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is.”

Perhaps you would take the time to read that statement a few times too and let the power of his words impact your heart. Truly, God is God and no amount of wanting him to be someone else or act some other way will change him. Our pursuit in life should not be to try to change God into the image we want, but to be changed by God into the image of His Son!

Tim

What Happens to those who don’t accept Christ?

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

This Sunday I will respond to the question, “What happens to those who don’t accept Christ as Savior in this life?” Related to that question are questions about the eternal destiny of people in other religions, of those who live in cultures that have never heard of Jesus, or even those who simply don’t have the mental capacity to understand the message of grace.

I strongly urge you to come to one of the services this Sunday or make it a point to download the message next week. And for those of you who have friends or relatives with issues of the Christian faith because of its exclusive nature, please invite them to attend with you or to download the message.

I also ask you to pray for me as I prepare this message – that I will have true clarity, and that God will do amazing things this Sunday at River Oaks!

Tim

Given, Never Earned

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Yesterday, on my way to a lunch appointment, I noticed this truck parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot and took this picture. What a great statement about the Marines! I am so grateful that the standard for the Marines is high and our soldiers are capable to do what they are trained to do; defend and protect. But what really caught my mind’s attention was the difference between the Marine’s statement and God’s; His is “Given, Never Earned”.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

Take a moment right now and thank God for grace; that he gave us eternal life through his Son’s death and did not demand that we earn it, because we never could! What a God!

Tim

Hearing God

Friday, April 9th, 2010

As part of my morning quiet time, along with reading the Bible, I am currently reading Mark Batterson’s book, Primal. Here is part of what I read this morning, “The Holy Spirit has multiple channels of communication. He speaks through His creation. He speaks in a still, small voice. He speaks through sanctified desires, divine appointments, and open doors. He speaks through Spirit-prompted friends who care enough to rebuke, correct, and exhort. And thank God for all those frequencies. But His primary channel of communication is Scripture. When we open the bible, it’s like God opens His mouth. That’s how we get on His frequency. That’s how we tune in to his voice.”

Good words. Make sure you give God time to speak to you today by spending some reflective time in His word.

Tim

Big Questions Series

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

The next two Sundays (April 11 and 18) I am going to address three big questions:

  • What happens to a person the moment they accepts Christ as Savior?
  • What happens to a person who never accepts Christ as Savior in this life?
  • What happens to a person who never hears of Christ in this life?

For anyone who is not a believer, or is a new believer or just wonders what the Bible has to say about these questions, these two messages should prove to be informative and possibly transformative.

I would like to invite you to these services at River Oaks Community Church the next two Sundays or download the messages at River Oaks Media Center.

Tim

Picnic at Ox Bow

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Did I ever get a treat last evening! I didn’t get home last night until around 7:30 but Gloria was waiting with a great plan up her sleeves; a picnic at Ox Bow Park! We quickly loaded the picnic basket and bocce ball game into the car and took off. Unfortunately, no sooner had we begun eating, a Park security officer arrived informing us that the park was closed and we had five minutes before we had to leave. Undeterred, we finished our picnic at home on our back porch.

I’m so grateful to God for a creative and fun wife. And maybe next time we’ll actually have time for that bocce ball competition!

Tim

Good Friday

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it. This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.”* So that is what they did.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”* A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Maundy Thursday Scripture Reading

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Today’s assigned reading from Luke was the longest one in the “Holy Week Scripture Reading Challenge”; Luke 16-22. I decided to listen to it at biblegateway.com. I have never listened to Scripture read on-line before and I really enjoyed the experience. I want to encourage you to try it sometime soon.

In listening to these chapters being read, I was most captured by Peter’s three denials of Christ in chapter 22. You probably know the story; in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus urged Peter to pray so he would not fall into temptation. Jesus had already told Peter that Satan had singled him out that night and was going to attack him. But instead of praying, Peter slept. And later, instead of standing up for Jesus, Peter denied him. He didn’t mean to. He loved Jesus, but three times he denied knowing his Lord. The realization broke him and he left the courtyard, found a private place and wept bitterly. What a dark moment in his life.

I don’t know when the next attack from the Tempter will come for you or me, perhaps today. But let’s all remember that attacks will come and we need to prepare ourselves with prayers for protection, strength, courage and wisdom to resist the temptations that will inevitably present themselves.

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil…and pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers…” Ephesians 6:11 and 18.

Tim