Obama and health care sermons in church??

I was reading a little article today (it's HERE), where President Obama was basically asking Jewish and Christian leaders to preach health care reform to their congregations!

Huh?

""I am going to need your (religious leaders...) help in accomplishing necessary reform," Obama said...Obama told the rabbis that "we are God's partners in matters of life and death" and asked them to "tell the stories of health care dilemmas to illustrate what is a stake" in their sermons, Moline wrote.
"Critics say Obama's message seemed to "cross a line" and imply a kind of "scriptural or holy support for the program.""

You think!!!
It's interesting that he would stoop to this level. Funny thing to me is that if a preacher stood up and told his congregation who to vote for or not vote for in an election, the ACLU would have him and the church sued into the ground. But now it profits his agenda to have churches get on his side.

You've got to be kidding me.

Sorry President Obama. Health care reform and the gospel are miles apart. Since I'm preaching this weekend, I think I'll stick to the gospel. And maybe you should steer clear of telling preachers what you think God is telling you.

I've gotta agree with Rev. Barry Lynn...
"I can't imagine why it would be appropriate for a president even to suggest a partnership with God somehow was connected to his ideas for health care," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
"Whenever politicians give a message that implies that God is on their side on an issue ... this always troubles me."


Jim

Final Bell Week 2

This morning was the second week of the Final Bell series at FVCC.

We talked and identify obstacles and enemies of regular Bible reading. It was a good message and I felt confident with it. Second service was really great.

If you missed it, you can listen online right HERE. Enjoy!

Good reminder about communication...

I got a good reminder tonight of communication... and how most of the times people can't read my mind... which is a shame.

I had a bunch of student leaders over to my house tonight for pizza and to make some plans for our upcoming Messfest (fall kick off event). So I called Pizza Hut to order some pizzas and wanted to try their new pizza rolls. In conversation with the guy I was ordering the pizza from, I asked him how many pizza rolls come in an order. He responded that there were 4 rolls in each order and then immediately asked me how many I would like. I assumed that he meant "how many pizza rolls would you like?" So I answered 8.

He actually meant, "How many orders of 4 pizza rolls would you like?" So when the pizza guy arrived, there were 8 orders of pizza rolls in the bag (pictured above).

Note to self: Remember to try to be clear in communication.

Not everyone knows what you're thinking.

Which is likely a really good reminder for evangelism...

Jim

August 9th Sermon... Final Bell, week 1

I preached this morning in both of our adult worship services. (If you missed or were otherwise unable to attend, HERE is the link to the MP3 on fvcc.com.)

It was a good message. I felt confident about it and second service went very well this morning. For some reason, and it's one of those things that regular speakers understand but most others don't, I couldn't get in the groove first service. Everyone seemed to feel that it went well, but for me, I just wasn't there for about the first 8 minutes. Second service was much better. I came out at the bell ready to go! (A little inside joke... we showed the training scene from Rocky followed by a picture of Rocky from Rocky III with my face photoshopped in... and I came out with boxing gloves... It was classic! That's the only time that I wish we videotaped our messages...)

Today's message is the first of three on a topic that I love... (I blogged the Scripture verses for this text yesterday HERE) Bible Study and personal discipleship. We've invited the FVCC congregation to help us with a couple of polls about how often they read their Bibles and what keeps them from reading. Results are flowing in (check them out HERE).

So it should be fun.

But right now I'm tired. I was out of bed this morning at 4:45 am and at church about 6:15 am. So it's been a long day and hopefully I can go to bed soon!

Jim

Preaching in the morning...

I always get nervous before I preach in adult service. Even after nearly 10 years of ministry, countless messages to students and quite a few to adults, I still get nervous when I teach in the main service.

I feel like I'm ready... but I still get nervous.

Here's what I'm preaching on tomorrow morning (as I start a 3 week series)...
Philippians 3:12-14
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Psalm 119:1-3
Hebrews 4:12

So... I guess I should hit the sack so that I can get up to the church early in the morning.

Jim

Sermon from the weekend...

Hey all...

Those of you who keep up with my life, especially through Twitter, know that I preached over the weekend last minute in adult worship. If you want to listen, and I will warn you that the audio is not good at this point (Monday, May 5, 2009) and we are hoping to get it fixed in the future, that would be great. For some reason the audio on the recording was "way" up so it sounds like I'm yelling... but I wasn't.

I felt good about the content and delivery (although the delivery may not come through until we've had some time to 'fix' it up a bit). So I enjoyed it.

So... without further adieu, you can listen to the sermon on Romans 12:2 (check out Romans 12:2 HERE) HERE.

Jim

31 Days Later sermon online!!!

My sermon from the weekend, 31 Days Later, is now online.

If you missed this past weekend at FVCC and would like to hear the message, it's online. If you don't normally make it to FVCC for the weekend and would like to listen as well, it's online. You'll find it HERE. I don't know if it is from 1st Service or 2nd Service... I don't think it really matters all that much, they both seemed okay.

Enjoy!!!

Jim

Preached this morning!!

I preached in main worship this morning.

I always get incredibly nervous when I preach in adult worship. It's not a rational thing. I always get incredibly nervous. Everyone always says that I do a great job... but I still feel nervous. Working and speaking to the students doesn't really make me nervous like the adults do on Sunday morning... which I think is backwards to what most people would think. (I think most people would be more comfortable with adults than students.) And I actually teach less time-wise with the adults than with the students. So, who knows.

But I think it went well this morning. We talked about having a regular Bible reading plan. Here is the outline:
---------------
If you make one New Years’ Resolution this year, make this one:
-Begin a REGULAR Bible reading plan.
“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” Psalm 119:1-2

It will -EMPOWER your worship.

-INCREASE your service.

-IMPROVE your evangelism.

-BETTER your relationships with others.

-DEEPEN your personal connection to God.
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

Tips to making it happen:
1. Write down YOUR GOAL.

2. Choose a READABLE translation.

3. Schedule A TIME that works.

4. Begin MANAGEABLE.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
“With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:14-16

Action Steps:
DECIDE if regular Bible reading is a goal for you.

DETERMINE to push through the difficult times.

DEEPEN your study of Scripture with new and challenging ways of engaging God’s word.
“Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.” Psalm 119:129-131

The Bottom Line:
Reading God’s Word is FOUNDATIONAL to following God.
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Once the audio recording is available online, I will post a link so you can listen, if you want.

Thanks to those who prayed for me this morning. I know that several of you, my faithful readers, did and I appreciate it.

Jim