3 Fights

This weekend at Crossroads Cranberry we looked Joshua 1 and studied how Joshua faced the fight of his day.  One of the things that God has been teaching me is that we all have three fights in our lives.

There are the fights we need fight:

·      Spiritual Fights:

o   Ephesians 6 “For our battles is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.”

·      Social Injustice:

o   James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

o   Deuteronomy 24: 17-22 “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.  When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. “

·      Personal Holiness:

o   James 1:27:  “to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

There are the fights we need to let Go:

·      Pain, Revenge:

o   Matthew 5:38-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

There are the fights that we need to let the Lord Fight:

·      Romans 12:16-19  “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[says the Lord.”

o   Which fight are you fighting today? 

o   Are you fighting the right one?

o   Are you holding on to something that you need to let go?

o   Is there a struggle (fight) that you need to let the Lord fight for you?

90 Days: Deuteronomy 23:12-34:12

·      Don’t live where you poop. Literally or figuratively (Deuteronomy 23)

·      Take care of the oppressed (Deuteronomy 23)

·      Extend grace to each other (Deuteronomy 23)

·      Be careful what you promise others.  Your word is valuable.  Speak the Truth (Deuteronomy 23)

·      Marriage is sacred.  Treat it as such. (Deuteronomy 24)

·      Do not take advantage of others. (Deuteronomy 24)

·      Invest in others don’t use them. (Deuteronomy 24)

·      “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.”  (Deuteronomy 24)

·      Treat others fairly (Deuteronomy 24)

·      Remember the grace that God has extended to you.  Treat others with the same grace and generosity.  (Deuteronomy 24)

·      Deuteronomy 25:11-12  (This is never good.)

·      The Lord detests anyone who deals dishonestly. (Deuteronomy 25)

·      Remember what God has given you.  Joyfully give back to Him and to others in need.  Remember He is the source of your blessing. (Deuteronomy 26)

·      Remember what the Lord has taught you. (Deuteronomy 27)

·      Your Creator knows the best way for His created to live.  If you listen to Him you will be blessed (Deuteronomy 28)

·      God’s love in unconditional but His blessing is conditional to our obedience (Deuteronomy 28)

·      Even if you walk away God will restore you if you turn back to Him (Deuteronomy 30)

·      “I have set before you life and death, blessings and courses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.  For the Lord is your life”  (Deuteronomy 30)

·      If your trust is in the strength of the Lord you have nothing to fear. (Deuteronomy 31)

·      The Lord loves us even when He knows that we will be unfaithful to Him. (Deuteronomy 31)

·      “He is the Rock, his works are perfect. And all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong. Upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32)

My Daughter's Hero

My Daughter was asked to write about her "hero" in her first grade class.  This is what she wrote.  

“My Hero”

My hero is God.

He is powerful.

He loves us.  He answers our prayers.

He made everybody He is nice.

H is the best.

By Elena Arnold

Fear

“Fear.  It creates anger and selfishness.  They sit together, supporting each other, as inseparable as red, orange and yellow on the spectrum. “

“Generosity, creativity and the graceful are at the other end in a similar cluster.  If you seek to be creative, start by being generous.  Like blue, indigo and violet, they live together.”  Seth Godin

There are a number of ironic truths in this life.  One of them is the counterintuitive path to creativity and happiness. 

We live in a time where we are continually told that we need to “have” to be happy.  If we have the right job, right home, right car, right friends, then life will be good.

But this is just not true. 

In Acts 20:35 Paul remembers the words of Jesus when says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 

Quick thought for today:  Find joy in generosity.  Give to someone this week.  Anyone.  Pick a stranger and give.  I have found that when I do this fear, anger, and selfishness melt away and hope is not that far away.

Love

Every once and in a awhile I ask my 6 year old daughter if she likes “love.”  With great theatrics she inevitably breathes a theatrical sigh, lifts her hands in the air and dramatically states:  “I love. . . LOVE!” 

Who doesn’t love . . . LOVE?  We all need to be loved.  We all search for someone else to love and we all long to have a life full of love.  Right? 

This weekend I will be preaching from one of the most popular wedding passages in Scripture:  1 Corinthians 13 otherwise known as the “Love Chapter.”  In this passage we will see that real love lasts.  “(Love) always protects, always trusts, always perseveres.  Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

This week I encourage you to ask yourself the following questions about love:

·      When is the last time you extended grace to someone because of your love for them?

·      When is the last time someone has extended grace to you because of their love for you?

·      How has someone else’s love for you helped you through a difficult time?

·      How has God’s love for you helped you through a difficult time?

I am looking forward to preaching my first message at Crossroads Cranberry this weekend.  We would love for you to join us!  

90 Days: Deuteronomy 8:1-23:11

·      Sometimes the Lord will humble you to see what is in your heart. (Deuteronomy 8)

·      When He does this, He will still provide. He will be faithful. (Deuteronomy 8)

·      “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

·      The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Deuteronomy 8)

·      Remember the Lord in seasons of success.  He is the one who has given this to you. (Deuteronomy 8)

·      If you forget the Lord in seasons of success, pride will set in. (Deuteronomy 8)

·      “Remember the Lord you God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. . .”  (Deuteronomy 8)

·      Follow the Lord and He will clear the way.  (Deuteronomy 8)

·      Again when he gives you success do not turn to pride.  It is not because of your righteousness.  It is His grace. (Deuteronomy 9)

·      Remember to follow the Lord.  Don’t try to lead Him.  We are here to serve Him, not the other way around. (Deuteronomy 9)

·      “fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him , to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deuteronomy 10).

·      Again do not forget the Lord in seasons of success.  Do whatever it takes to remind yourself that this comes from the Lord. (Deuteronomy 11)

·      Do not value anything more than the Lord. (Deuteronomy 11)

·      Do not mix your faith with the customs of your culture.  (Deuteronomy 12)

·      Follow the Lord.  He will provide. (Deuteronomy 13)

·      It is clear.  The Lord is not a pluralist. You cannot worship Him and others. (Deuteronomy 13)

·      Give the Lord the first tenth of what your gain every year. (Deuteronomy 14)

·      Take care of those the priests, aliens, fatherless, and widows with this first tenth.  (Deuteronomy 14)

·      If the Lord has blessed you share with others in need freely. (Deuteronomy 15)

·      “There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward you brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11)

·      Celebrate and remember what the Lord has done for you.  Do not forget. (Deuteronomy 16)

·      Be just with each other.  Do not pervert justice or show partiality. (Deuteronomy 16)

·      A leader should not use his position to acquire great wealth of pleasure from himself.  He should not consider himself better than others.  (Deuteronomy 17)

·      In conflict, when there is a way of peace choose that option.  (Deuteronomy 20)

·      Be diligent to remove evil from your heart. (Deuteronomy 21)

A New Season

 Rachelle and I want to take this moment to thank you for praying for our family through this time of transition.  God has been good to us through this season and we know it was in part because of your prayers and support.  We are very grateful.

After much prayer and searching I feel honored to announce that I have accepted a pastoral position with Crossroads Church in Pittsburgh, PA.  I will be serving on the Executive Staff Team as the Director of Campus Development and Campus Pastor of the Cranberry Campus in Cranberry Township, PA. 

My responsibilities will include oversight of campus strategy, preaching at both the Cranberry and Oakdale campuses and the development of the Crossroads Training School for future campus pastors and church planters.  My first official weekend with Crossroads will be November 21.  I will be preaching that day at the Cranberry Campus.  We would love for you to join us in the next part of our journey. 

In addition to serving at Crossroads, I will also be spending 20% of my time serving with the Church Solutions Group.  With CSG I will be helping other churches grow through the development and implication of strategic planning on a leadership level.

Finally, Rachelle has also secured a new Job and will continue to follow her passion to serve older adults as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Wexford House Nursing and Rehab Center in Wexford, PA.

Thank you again for all of your love, prayers and support.  We are looking forward to what God has planned. 

God Bless,

Mike

"Paradoxes of a Godly Man" by Philip Brewer

·      Strong enough to be weak.

·      Successful enough to fail.

·      Busy enough to take time.

·      Wise enough to say in don’t know.

·      Serious enough to laugh.

·      Rich enough to be poor.

·      Right enough to be wrong.

·      Compassionate enough to be childlike.

·      Conservative enough to give freely.

·      Mature enough to be childlike.

·      Righteousness enough to be a sinner.

·      Important enough to be last.

·      Courageous enough to fear God.

·      Planned enough to be spontaneous.

·      Controlled enough to be flexible.

·      Free enough to endure captivity.

·      Knowledgeable enough to ask questions.

·      Loving enough to get angry.

·      Great enough to be anonymous.

·      Responsible enough to play.

·      Assured enough to be rejected.

·      Stable enough to cry.

·      Victorious enough to lose.

·      Industrious enough to relax.

·      Leading enough to serve.

90 Days: Numbers 32:20-Deut 7:26

·      Keep your word with others. (Numbers 32)

·      You don’t need to hide if you are walking with the Lord (Numbers 33)

·      If you obey the Lord he will fight your battles for you (Numbers 33)

·      Following God is always an adventure (Numbers 33)

·      God is not open to the idea of us worship other gods (Numbers 33)

·      Be fair to others (Numbers 34)

·      Provide places of refuge (Numbers 35)

·      Extend grace to others (Numbers 35)

·      Grace requires justice (Numbers 35)

·      Choose leaders wisely. (Deuteronomy 1)

·      Do not show partiality in judging (Deuteronomy 1)

·      “Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God.” (Deuteronomy 1)

·      Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1)

·      “Don’t dwell on the challenge ahead, trust God. (Deuteronomy 1)

·      Follow the Lord into difficult places.  You will be amazed (Deuteronomy 1)

·      The Lord honors his promises to all. (Deuteronomy 2)

·      Many people suffer when they follow bad leadership. (Deuteronomy 2)

·      The best path to success is to follow the Lord and allow him to fight your battles. (Deuteronomy 3)

·      Encourage and strengthen those who are coming behind you.  God will use them to do things you could not. (Deuteronomy 3)

·      The Lord is Jealous.  Only worship Him.  Make sure He is the one you pursue (Deuteronomy 4)

·      Remember your story.  Take time to think about where God has taken you. (Deuteronomy 4)

·      Learn from your past mistakes.  Do not repeat them (Deuteronomy 4)

·      You probably do not need to hear from God today.  Read his words and obey.  Wisdom is waiting for you. (Deuteronomy 5)

·      Do what the Lord says.  (Deuteronomy 5)

·      “Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6)

·      Share these truths with others.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them in everyday life. (Deuteronomy 6)

·      Tie symbols on your hands.  Write them on your houses.  Do not forget. (Deuteronomy 6)

·      Do not forget the Lord in your success.  (Deuteronomy 6)

·      Do not compromise your faith and values (Deuteronomy 7)