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Out of Our Mind

Greg Ells — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:39:00 GMT

    In light of the infinite sacrifice which has been supplied to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (undoubtedly He gave all). Does then your life reflect your understanding and appreciation of it? Does He receive your all, or merely your left-overs?

    According to Scripture we should be indebted and appreciative servants 24 hours a day, all the days of our lives; for when we reflect on what He did for us on the cross, how can it be otherwise? The apostle Paul tells us: "If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Cor. 5:13-15).

    Missionary C.T. Studd said: "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him".

    It is so common for all of us to let down, and become lackadaisical in our service to God and others.        Let me illustrate!        Which is easier--to make your bed in the morning or leave it unmade? To volunteer for a community project or to watch TV all weekend? To vacuum, wash and wax your car or leave it dirty? The easiest choices reflect the Second Law of Thermodynamics which states: All work processes tend toward a greater state of disorder over time without fresh injections of new energy.

    This Law works physically and spiritually. Leave your car parked in a field, and it will rust and fall apart. The same will happen to your spiritual life. Forget to maintain the spiritual disciplines you have learned and, in time, your life will take on increasing signs of disorder. That's what happened to the Israelites when they returned to Jerusalem from captivity. They started off obeying God, but in time lost their energy. They stopped giving their first and best to God, and the prophet Malachi called them to account..... If you can see disorder creeping into your life, take a moment to evaluate, make sure you're still giving your first and best to God!

    Remembering and responding to God's will takes new energy every day. That's just the way it is this side of heaven. General William Booth, when asked about his success in establishing the Salvation Army, replied, "I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me to have".

    The hymnist wrote:
                                            Were the whole realm of nature mine,
                                            That were a present far too small;
                                            Love so amazing, so divine,
                                            Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Does Jesus have all there is of you?

Pastor Greg Ells

Set in Concrete

Greg Ells — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:11:00 GMT

    An observation and concern of mine lately, is the lackadaisical attitude that our current generation has developed toward church attendance and membership. But an equally troubling trend that I see developing is the abandonment, or even the rejection of Sunday school.

    From my earliest memories I was carried to Sunday school and church. Though through a period of adolescence I'm sure I put up quite a resistance, nevertheless Mom and Dad were faithful in their responsibilty to God's instruction towards parenting. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6). I think about the foundational Bible Truths which I learned as a child in Sunday school, and the mental pictures I carry to this day as a result of early Biblical instruction.

    Some may say, "Well, we can give our kids those Foundational Truths at home", and that is true, but I know all too well how busy and demanding mom and dad's schedules are these days. Today in our pressure-cooker society we have so much trouble keeping up with the demands of our family's physical welfare that our family's spiritual welfare all too often suffers neglect.

    Every week across this great country countless men and women are spending hours in the preparation of lessons with the anticipation of having a class full of eager recipients, only to be disappointed by half-full, or nearly empty chairs. I know because I have as well spent countless hours over the years in the study and preparation of sermons or lessons, often to look out at nearly empty rooms.

    This trend has prompted many churches today to forsake the time-tested program of instruction. It's easier for some to just accomodate the people's wishes, than to help them to see the churches role in the parenting of their kids.

    Today as never before, the family is under attack. If history shows us anything, it is that, the battleground that we concede will most likely never be regained. There is a tremendous battle for our children's minds, a subtle warfare that's being waged on every front against the family. We must be faithful in the Biblical instruction of the family, because the damage is irreversible.

    I once heard a story about a young mother who had an unusual request of a concrete finisher who was finishing a new sidewalk at her home. She asked if she could press her baby's feet onto the concrete. When the man said yes, she stood the child on the wet concrete and pointed his toes in the direction of a nearby church. The mother apparently wanted to make a permanent impression that would influence the future direction of her little boy's life.

    This unusual expression of concern and commitment should reflect the desire of all Christian parents for the spiritual welfare of their children. We must position our young ones on the right way and recognize the importance and the role of the church in their lives. Our children's spiritual training must begin at an early age. We have the responsibilty to encourage them to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior as soon as they are old enough to understand the meaning of salvation. If we do that, we will cultivate in them a respect for the church and instill in their hearts a love for God and His Word.

    Let me challenge you!!! If your church has abandoned the Biblical instruction of your children, talk to your pastor, and share your concerns. If after ample time, a plan to redevelop a child's instruction time has not been implemented, than consider moving your membership to a church that shares your vision for developing the family.

    By our teaching, our example, and our resolve, let's set our children's feet in the right direction. Faithfulness to our family's spiritual wellness is our responsibilty as parents.

Pastor Greg Ells

A Good Stretch

Greg Ells — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:14:00 GMT

                                                                                        A Good Stretch

I love a good stretch. Whether it's while sitting on the edge of bed the first thing in the morning, or during a yawn at the close of the day, they always feel so gratifying to my tired or stiff muscles.

    I also learned that stretching one's muscles and joints prior to a work-out is important to a fitness program. Without a warm-up stretch you can pull, damage or even tear body parts, which can set-back fitness routines for days or weeks.

    There's also the often painful stretching of physical therapy associated with recovery from surgery or injury. That stretching can make you wince, for it makes you stretch outside your comfort zone.

    God has sometimes urged me to share my faith with someone I didn't know very well, or to give an offering that was far beyond what I usually give, or to confront someone about a situation. Most recently God has urged me to "stretch" far greater than what I ever thought was comfotable. He asked Liz and I to leave the comfort and security of family and friends and set out on a journey of faith.

    Abraham's life illustrates the importance of faith when God asks us to move beyond our comfort zone. "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going" (Heb. 11:8).

    While we stretch our spiritual muscles, we may feel discomfort. But God assures us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). Our adequacy--our sufficiency--is found in Him (2 Cor. 3:5).

    Let me encourage you to boldly step out in faith and obedience to God, you will be surprised at how a "good stretch" can strengthen your spiritual life!

    Here's a quote from Dave Dravecky that most accurately states my own experience: "Looking back, [my wife] Jan and I have learned that the wilderness is part of the landscape of faith, and every bit as essential as the mountaintop. On the mountaintop we are overwhelmed by God's presence. In the wilderness we are overwhelmed by His absence. Both places should bring us to our knees; the one, in utter awe; the other, in utter dependence".

Pastor Greg Ells

Welcome

Greg Ells — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:10:18 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.