Church News

Marlys Johnsen Norris (Life Message Workshops) Marlys Johnsen Norris believes strongly that every person has a Legacy worthy of writing and she has held workshops during 2006 to help people write them. Marlys is a published author of five books, one of which won Best Christian book from Northern California Publishers and Authors for 2003-2004.

God's Road Map

I know of no other book whose words “come alive or have power to transform” lives like the Bible. Daily I hear stories where the God of the Bible has spoken to the heart of someone and made a huge difference in the direction of their life. They share about having an experience with the Living God who gives them a spiritual birth that is recorded in the word, called born-again. (John 3:3) It seems throughout their life from this time on, the Word of God gives them clear directions.

God provides a roadmap for life in His word. He demonstrated His profound love for His creation when He sent His Beloved Son to earth to provide mankind a way to be reconciled to Himself through His death and Resurrection. A simple life of a Servant and the Lamb of God willingly laid down His life for you and I. Old Testament scriptures tell of His coming and New Testament scriptures give us the story.

Words preserved for thousands of years. Words dynamically powerful because the Creator of all that is-- inspired the writing. Words about His love and His design for mankind are written as a guide to live the best life possible. Words of truth and instruction to demonstrate the power provided for a life surrendered to God.

A loving God of justice gives words of warning to direct a path set on destruction. God being mans final judge shows the consequences of sin and rebellion, and why they are, needlessly, on their way to the eternal fire. Yet, this God of love provides a way of escape through the “door” of His Beloved Son to those who will heed His call

To those who refuse to listen and reject His words, they shall reap what they sow! God sends no one to hell, man chooses that for himself. He chooses to take the wrong roads of sin and rebellion against God.

Marlys Johnsen Norris LIFE MESSAGE WORKSHOPS “Intimacy Begins Going God’s Way” Marlysj@sbcglobal.net

Pastor Ray Dare

God Uses People Who Never Give Up

Did you know that the Bible says that until the time of the flood it had never rained on earth? In Genesis 2, it says that the earth was watered by a mist that came up from the ground, kind of like dew in the morning. The whole atmosphere was different because it had never rained. Some scientists have explained that's probably why they lived longer in those days.

So here's Noah building an ark in the middle of the desert. People around him say, "Why are you doing that?" and he says, "Because it's going to rain." They say, "What's rain?" It didn't make sense. Not only had it never rained, but Noah was at least 500 miles from the largest body of water -- the Mediterranean Sea.

Can you imagine the ridicule Noah received from the town folk? The Bible says he preached for 120 years without a single convert! They all thought he was nuts! One of the real tests of faith in life is how do I follow God's will when I don’t see any progress. How do I follow God’s will when people criticize me? How do I follow His instructions even when they don’t make sense?

The key to being used by God is persistence.  I bet there were many days that Noah hated to look at that ark.  I bet there were weeks that he wanted to say, "I don't want to work on the ark anymore.  I'm tired.  I've done my duty."  But he is the example of persistence, day in, day out, building, nailing, tar papering... whatever.  For 120 years!  Noah never gave up.  One of the reasons why God does not use many people is because they give up too soon.  There are many things that will tempt you to give up, but here are two big ones:

Problems Problems will tempt you to give up on God's plan for your life. Every good idea has something wrong with it. In every possibility, there is a problem. But that's how you grow. That's how you mature. There were an infinite number of problems with Noah building the ark. For example, can you imagine - how do you separate the animals in the ark that like to eat each other? Obviously you don't put bobcats next to rabbits. You don't put the birds next to the worms. You've got to keep them all separate. That's a problem.

People People will tempt you to give up. People will disappoint you. People will misunderstand you. People will criticize you. But you can’t allow them to tempt you to give up. God used Noah because he didn’t allow the actions of others to get him down. He never, never gave up. See, what matters in life is not how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep on going. How many times you get knocked down and get up again and keep on going. That’s the stuff champions are made out of. That’s why God used Noah.

Question: What are you tempted to give up on? Have problems got you down? Have pressures become too much for you? Have people misunderstood or criticized you? God wants to say, “Don’t give up! Hang in there even when there's a delay; even when you don’t see any progress.” One of the tests of faith is how long you can wait. Do you keep on keeping on? Would you say, "Lord, help me to be a persistent person, not to cop out, not to drop out, but to keep on keeping on, doing the things that I know are right even when I don't feel like it. God, I want to follow You as much as I know how.” Pastor Ray

Calvin and Lisa Wulf

Idol Time

Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry.  But you said, "It's no use!  I love foreign gods, and I must go after them."  Jeremiah 2:25 (NIV)
The alarm clock rings, "Time to get up."
The grandfather clock chimes, "Time to go to work."
The computer beeps, "Time for your next appointment."
The time clock punches, "Time to go home."
The microwave dings, "Time for dinner."
The cuckoo clock sings, "Time for bed."

We live on the clock.  It tells us when to go out and when to come in. We either try to beat the clock or kill time. So the pressure mounts. We juggle our lives to keep as many clocks in the air as possible. If one should fall, the whole system shatters

Ever notice that the clock is often the focal point of a room? It's given an honored place on the mantel.  Even churches aren't immune.  The cross used to be center stage. Today many sanctuaries have no cross but there's a clock in the back so the preacher can get us out on time.

Jesus never said, "Hurriest thou for we are late!" We don't see him rushing around. Yet he accomplished everything that was necessary. That's because he fixed his eyes on the Father, his compass, and not on the clock. Let's get real. Time consciousness fuels our modern world so we can’t eliminate clock tyranny altogether. But we can make better use of our compass. God gives us all the time we need to do what he has for us. Want to stop dividing life into seconds and minutes?  Here's how:

• Try an experiment.  Take off your watch for a bit.
• Evaluate your schedule.  Do you need so many timetables?
• Follow God's clock.  It runs on eternal time.

Does your wristwatch have you by the throat? Perhaps now is the time to stop juggling and let your timepieces fall to the ground. Don't let clock worship eclipse God's plan for your life. Free up your hands and eyes to follow the one true compass.

Living for God (TM) offers resources on Christian living.  Check them out at www.livingforgod.net or call (719) 578-8837.

© 2008 Calvin R. Wulf and Lisa Are Wulf

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