Parking Lot Sale

Hi. Encore'ees.

I finally was able to get with Pastor to get his approval.   (He has been involved with a jury trial so his time is limited.)  He had some questions which I think I answered.  But he does have several suggestions.

1.  He would like us to have at least 15=20 spaces committed to being a part of the parking lot sale.  This would mean that we need to have a sign-up sheet available for people to enlist.  It also means that we need several Sundays to promote and prepare.  That might mean we will need to delay the date for a week or two (or whatever is needed).  We can talk about this on Sunday at Encore meeting.

2.  He thinks it would be wise to have our intended ministry identified so that people will know where the money is going to be used.  So we need to be praying for God's guidance in this area of who we would be blessing.

Marilyn (church office secretary) is excited about this and wants to be a part of the promotional effort (flyers, newspaper articles, etc.).

I checked with the Rec Centers calendar, and I don't see anything that would be a hindrance to our project.

Also, I think we need someone from our group who would be the coordinator of this effort, perhaps someone who has had prior experience.  Any volunteers?

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday afternoon.

John

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD AND STATE

GOD AND STATE

Matthew 22:17, 21b

" 'Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' …. And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' "

It's a tricky business, this separation of God and state. I live in two worlds and each one makes its demands. I must recognize that God instituted government to maintain order in society, and I have an obligation to respects its authority because it is God-ordained. But the greater obligation belongs to the God who gave authority to the state. My allegiance to Him supersedes allegiance to the state. So I am called to give to Caesar what it due it, but at the same time remember that God is my source, and my primary loyalty and obedience is to Him.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A Christian is called to respect the authority of the state, but recognize that God is the greater authority and is due the greater allegiance.

[end]

Have an "allegiance to God" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A SNARE TO AVOID

A SNARE TO BE AVOIDED

Matthew 22:15-16

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth, nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.' "

Lies! Lies! Lies! The Pharisees did not believe that He was true or spoke God's way. If they had believed Him, they would have become His disciples. The only thing they said that was true was that He did not try to curry their favor by stroking their egos in order to get their approval. The lesson: Beware of flattery, especially from enemies whose goal is to trap and entangle in order to promote their own agenda.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Flattery is a hidden snare to be avoided.

[end]

Have an unflattering day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WEDDING CLOTHES

WEDDING CLOTHES

Matthew 22:11-14

" 'But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" And he was speechless. Then the king said to his servants, "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." For many are called, but few are chosen.' "

The parable of the wedding feast; scene two. Again, Jesus took direct aim at the chief priests and Pharisees, who thought all their religious piety would get them into heaven. Somewhere, I heard that the bridegroom's family supplied the wedding garments for the wedding guests. I don't know if that is true or not. But I do know that when I stand before God, I can only be acceptable if I wear the garment that He has provided – the garment of Salvation (Isaiah 61:10). I must be dressed in His righteousness (Philippians 3:9). All of my own righteousness is a filthy rags in the sight of a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). As the hymn says it: "Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne" [The Solid Rock]. When I stand before His throne, and God says, "How did you get in here?",  I will be speechless unless I am clothed in His righteousness. Thank You, Jesus, for providing a covering for my sin.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The only garment that is acceptable to God is the clothing of His righteousness.

[end]

Have a "clothed" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COME TO THE WEDDING

COME TO THE WEDDING

Matthew 22:1-2

"And Jesus answered as spoke to them again by parables, and said: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son…...' "

In this parable, the king sent his servant to invite neighboring people to come to his son's wedding. Some of these people made light of the invitation, and some ignored it because they were too involved in their own business to attend. Some were so antagonistic that they abused and killed the messengers. So the king sent his servants to other people who were in the byways. They came and the wedding hall was filled. As in other parables, the picture Jesus painted was that God sent messengers to the nation of Israel, calling for them to "Come." But they rejected the invitation and even killed the messengers. No wonder John wrote, "He came to His own and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). So God went outside of the "in" group to those who were outside – the Gentiles – so that heaven would be filled for the marriage of His Son. In a broader sense, this parable pictures all humanity. The invitation is for everyone to come. Sadly, many people make fun of the invitation, some ignore it, while others are antagonistic to the call. But there are those in the highways and byways who will come, and heaven will be filled with people who, even though unworthy, heard and answered the call to "Come to the wedding." "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' " (Revelation 22:17).

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God calls everyone to come to the wedding of His Son.

[end]

Have a "yes" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FEARLESS PROCLAMATION OF THE TRUTH

FEARLESS PROCLAMATION OF THE TRUTH

Matthew 21:45-46

"Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parable, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because the took Him for a prophet."

Jesus spoke the truth without fear, knowing that some people would not accept it. It takes a strong man to tell people what they don't want to hear. There will be back-lash by people who reject the truth. Jesus was not deterred from His message just because people did not like it. By and large, people do not want to hear the truth, especially when it applies to them. When it hits close to home, they will attack the messenger and try to destroy him. May I not be afraid to speak the truth, even though I know it will be rejected. Many will be offended when their sin is exposed, but since Jesus died to save sinners, people need to hear the truth that they are sinners in order to receive His salvation. This message needs to be proclaimed whether people accept it or not.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's truth needs to be proclaimed regardless of whether people receive it or not.

[end]

Have a fearless day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE CHOICE

THE CHOICE

Matthew 21:42, 44

“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” …. And whoever falls on the stone will be broken; but on whoever it falls, it will grind him to powder.’ ”

Jesus is the chief cornerstone – the foundation stone for the Church, His sanctuary or holy abode (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14a). But He is also a stumbling stone, a rock of offense (Isaiah 8:14b). The Jews were faced with a choice. Either they would accept Jesus as the Messiah, or they would reject Him. They ended up stumbling over Him and their nation was crushed. It is my choice also – either to fall on Jesus in brokenness, or to be crushed by Him. I choose to come in humility to Jesus and have my pride broken. I admit my need for Him, and cry for His mercy, lest I be crushed under His judgment.  When Peter cited these references to Jesus as the chief cornerstone, He said that to those who believe, He is precious (I Peter 2:7-8).  The Lord Jesus, my Savior, is precious to me.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is either the foundation for faith or a stumbling block.

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Have a “choice” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE VINEYARD

THE VINEYARD

Matthew 21:33-35, 37, 39

“ ‘Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country. Now when the vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another …. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” .,,. So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.’ ”

This parable of Jesus took direct aim at the Jewish religious leaders. God had planted the nation of Israel, and from time to time sent His servants (prophets) to the nation, but they were rejected and abused. Finally, God sent His Son they rejected and killed Him also. The end result was this verdict: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it” (vs. 43). So when the Jews rejected Jesus, God raised up another nation – the Church – to bear God’s fruit. Although this parable was directed to the Jews, but it also has application today. If I don’t receive God’s word and His Son, He will still have a people who will bear kingdom fruit. I am a part of that kingdom. I want to hear His word and bear His fruit.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: God will have a vineyard that will bear His fruit – if not me, then someone else.

[end]

Have a fruitful day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TWO SONS

TWO SONS

Matthew 21:28-29

“ ‘What do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, “Son, go, work today in my vineyard.” He answered and said, “I will not,” but afterward he regretted and went. Then he came to the second son and he answered and said, “I go, sir,” but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of the father?’ ”

This is a parable about two sons that illustrates the difference between the religious priests and the sinners, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes. The priests were like the second son. They had made commitment to be righteous, but they were far from being what they professed and did not believe Jesus. The sinners were like the first son, who at first rejected God’s call to righteousness, but then later had a change of heart, and followed Jesus. The Bible has many illustrations of two sons who had different responses to godliness, like Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and Absolom and Solomon. It is not the first commitment and promises I make. It is how I finish the day that counts.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Commitments to follow Jesus are important, but they mean nothing if there is no follow-through.

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Have a “follow-through” day. Love you.