I walked home, by this time utility crews and police officers were arriving. A power line for no apparent reason had snapped and hit the ground. The smoke was billowing, the fire powerful and the heat intense. The ground was on fire. 3-4 months later I was walking by, and this is what I found…. (show and tell of the melted dirt…). I am amazed at the transformation… as far as I can tell, this is melted dirt…the fire was so intense… the blazing heat, for a very long time…. It has its own beauty…
Last Fall I was at the old Lion’s Den in Nooksack… suddenly the lights went out. Debbie Redinger comes running in a panick, “Come out and look, it looks like a bomb exploded.” Two blocks away, in front of the old post office in Nooksack, smoke was filling the street and engulfing the Nooksack City. We could tell there was a single source, and it did look like I’d imagine a bomb detonated, but no explosion.
I walked home, by this time utility crews and police officers were arriving. A power line for no apparent reason had snapped and hit the ground. The smoke was billowing, the fire powerful and the heat intense. The ground was on fire. 3-4 months later I was walking by, and this is what I found…. (show and tell of the melted dirt…). I am amazed at the transformation… as far as I can tell, this is melted dirt…the fire was so intense… the blazing heat, for a very long time…. It has its own beauty…
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Your life is a story. God is the author. You don’t know how the story will unfold. You don’t know the end of the story.
Author Marshall Shelley, who suffered the deaths of two of his children, says: "Even as I child, I loved to read, and I quickly learned that I would most likely be confused during the opening chapters of a novel. New characters were introduced. … seemingly random events took place. … But I learned to keep reading. Why? Because you know that the author… will weave them all together by the end of the book. Eventually, each element will be meaningful. At times, such faith has to be a conscious choice. Even when I can't explain why a chromosomal abnormality develops in my son, which prevents him from living on earth more than two minutes ... even when I can't fathom why our daughter has to endure two years of severe and profound retardation and continual seizures ... I choose to trust that before the book closes, the author will make things clear." I love the thought: “I do not have a soul. I am a soul. I have a body.” The essence of me is more than this earthly vessel. I am a spiritual creature. every person has an innate sense an innate sense that we are more than our earthly bodies, a spirit awareness which transcends the bonds of this earth.
What is your nature? your primary identity? As a pastor I try hard to think of all people as people first who need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I make it a priority to care less about this church and more about the kingdom… I like seeing good things happen, yet I have to distinguish between my human competitive nature and that which is most important to Christ. Jesus did not come to fill up the pews of SACC, he came to gather his kingdom. I like this little story told by Chuck Colson as a reminder of a healthy perspective of what’s important, how we think of ourselves…. Running with the wind, you no longer have to live with the same attitudes, the same questions. To be a Christian, to live by the Spirit, is to be changed. Listen to this testimony of a person that is negatively impacted by self-perception:
“While I had been a committed Christian for many years, my primary identity was defined not by God’s love for me but by what others thought of me. This negatively impacted every area of my life – marriage, parenting, friendships, leadership, even my hopes and dreams. But now I had lost the fear of what others might think or say. There was no longer anything else left to lose. I had given so much of myself away that I no longer recognized myself. Gone was the creative, outgoing, fun, assertive Geri. Now I was sullen, depressed, tired, and angry.” Geri Solquist Don’t settle for less than the full calling of what God has for your life. Living in Christ is a life of joy, / satisfaction, to open up the throttle and to go full out, like running with the wind, no hindrance holding you back. … if you knew you could not fail at whatever you set out to do, what would you do? Would you buy a lottery ticket? Would you apply for that new job? Would you ask the girl on a date? Go back to school for more training… I don’t really know about all those other things, but I know this: when you seek to serve God in the fullness of his calling upon your life, you cannot fail. You cannot fail. What’s holding you back? Run without hindrance. Run with the wind! Like the child that stands up to sing in front of the church, little children are successful by the mere fact that they stand up. The person who rises above mediocrity and serves God in unabashed freedom cannot fail. The Story is told of pastor Carter Jones. Carter had a small room in the attic that he used as a place of prayer. When he was especially burdened, he would make his way up the winding staircase to that room to spend quiet moments with God. The members of his family knew that when he went to the attic room, they were not to bother him. One day he climbed the stairs and knelt beside the chair to pray. He hardly started when the door swung open; there stood his little girl. The moment his eyes met hers, she knew she had done wrong. She said, "Daddy, you've been so busy lately I haven't seen you much. And I just wanted to tell you that I love you." And with that she threw her arms around her father's neck, gave him a big hug, wheeled around, and was gone as quickly as she had come. "Father, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time for you. I just want to tell you again that I love you."
Many years ago a girl hit her head when she dove into a swimming pool. Joni Ericson Toda describes her first distressing realization of the grim reality of her paralysis. Joni’s journey of faith has been an inspiration to a generation. Joni was only 15 when she was permanently paralyzed from the neck down. She was rushed to the hospital for extensive tests and x-rays to determine the extent of her injury. She writes in her book, Joni, that as she lay unclothed on a hospital cart, the sheet covering her slipped to the side leaving her partially exposed. In her modesty, Joni desperately wanted to cover herself, a small task easily and quickly accomplished before her accident. But now, as much as she wanted to make her arms and hands move, they simply would not respond. Joni knew in her mind exactly what she wanted to do, but her body was totally unresponsive.
What is it about finger pointing that is so frustrating? What is it about finger pointing that is so tempting? What is it about finger pointing that is so wrong? The message of the Bible is don’t point fingers, but look inward. As you look at today’s scripture, notice how often Paul uses the word “I.” “I” “me” or “my” -- I counted a full 35 times. Paul is saying, this is what I am like, I am at fault, this is my nature. I read one person’s opinion that the #1 reason why people don’t come to church is because////they don’t feel good enough. They feel like they are too bad and the people at church are better than they are… they don’t feel like they can measure up… A doctor, an architect, and a lawyer were arguing over who had the oldest profession. The doctor said, "the first operation was performed on Adam, so the medical profession is the oldest." "No," said the architect, "Architectural planning and design was needed to create the earth and the universe out of chaos, so I represent the oldest profession." The lawyer chimed in: "Where do you think the chaos came from?"
“Chaos” is one of the results of “sin – the uneasiness, out of balance, the guilt, the internal and external tension. The goal of the life of a Christian is peace, peace with God, peace with others, peace with yourself, I believe a strong argument can be made that the key idea in the entire book of Romans is PEACE. Rom. 5:1. chaos vs. peace. The search for peace. Peace in family relationships. Peace in the community. Peace in your heart. If there is one gift this I want to see this church pass on to others, it is the peace of God. Is this what your heart/mind/soul is like: (Rip sheet in two)… Confusion. Uncertainty. Torn apart. Here is what you need to know about living the spiritual life: You don’t fully live until you die. Until a person is completely broken, God cannot resurrect them. The upshot of this entire scripture is moving towards the truth expressed in Rom. 8:11. Resurrection. Death and life. The promise of a resurrection is not a one time event that will happen someday, it is a promise of a quality of life beginning today, a God ordained life, a victorious life, a spirit filled life. While we wait for the fullness of the resurrection life, we are torn, a foot in two worlds… Perhaps you can relate to the yearnings of the domesticated goose, well fed and happy in the barnyard, never wanting for grain and abundance. A flock of wild geese flies by overhead honking in rhythm, and the barnyard goose looks up, yearning for the freedom, makes a half hearted attempt to flap his wings knowing he’ll never be able to gain lift with his full body from the abundance of food and lack of flight. Torn by something greater, to be able to take flight, but grounded by the life of temptation, overindulgence. To be torn, knowing what is better, to take flight with the Lord, but stuck on the ground…take flight. Die to the old so that your spirit can take flight… Jenna (Esther's roommate visiting for Thanksgiving) is going to Costa Rico for a semester, living with a host family. She says she is going to try and speak Spanish exclusively… a way of life.
It seems in this church and community, in the past few years, an incredible number of people have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is no secret that there is one incredibly powerful way for diabetic people to live healthy: medications yes, but perhaps more important – to completely change the way you eat as a way of life… Today we focus on your spiritual health, transforming an unhealthy way of life, a life of sin, abuse, for a life focused on Christ. Becoming a Christian is not merely a matter of accepting the truth of Christ, and then going on with a new found knowledge. Christianity is a way of life, something completely new. I know what your thinking… me change? When Cows Fly… (encore of the Cow, see photos in Rom. 6:1-8 sermon). Can a person change? Can you change? Can you become a different person and transform to become a person of peace, a satisfied person, a child of God that knows the peace of Jesus. I know what some of you are thinking: not in a million years will some people change. Some of you don’t believe you will ever be able to find peace and happiness. You are thinking, “Change?” impossible. When Cows Fly!
I’m here to tell you, God can change your life. That’s what Rom. 6 is all about. (show my flying cow. When Bianca turned 18, this was my birthday present to her ….click any photo to enlarge.) “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…” If I could give one gift to so many people in Sumas and the community, it would be the gift of living with confidence regardless of life’s circumstances. Living with conviction, absolute certainty in Jesus Christ: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justifation” (Rom. 4:25). I love the phrase: “Against all Hope, Abraham in Hope believed.” A confidence based in reality, and unwavering confidence -- not blind confidence, not wishful thinking, but absolute assurance that God’s promises are certain… Against all Hope, Carl Crouse/ (your name) in Hope believed…” Try it… Paul doesn’t care about teaching a history lesson on Abraham, he is using Abraham as an example so that all people everywhere know that the outrageous hope Abraham lived is also for us… “Also for us” the scripture says in Rom. 4:24. “Also for us…”
Everything hinges on faith. There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats. All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously heights. Then he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow. An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, "Tightrope walker, I don't believe you can do it, but I'm willing to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls." Now, Tightrope Walker wrote back, "Sir, although I've never been to America and seen the Falls, I'd love to come." In Tribute to the 10th Anniversary of 911, this video was shown during the worship service: A few messages left for loved in the final moments of life from 9-11-01...
* Flight 93 flight attendant Ceecee Lyles, 33 years old, in an answering-machine message to her husband, "Please tell my children that I love them very much. I'm sorry, baby. I wish I could see your face again." * Fire Capt. Walter Hynes on his wife’s voicemail heading toward the Towers, "Honey, it's real bad," he said. "I don't know if we'll make it out. I want to tell you that I love you and I love the kids." * As American Airlines Flight 77 was winging toward the Pentagon political commentator Barbara Olson called her husband, US Solicitor General Ted Olson. She discretely tried to share information with him about how the situation was unfolding. "It’s going to come out OK," she said. "I love you." * On United Flight 93, passenger Mark Bingham called his mother and got her voicemail. "I want you to know I love you very much, and I'm calling you from the plane. We've been taken over. There are three men who say they've got a bomb." What’s Right? We focus so much on everything that’s wrong, but there is so much that is right! How easy to list everything that is wrong…what’s wrong with your world/life/ teachers/the community/the government, but there is great value in focusing on the good, the positive, the desires of God are wanting the best for his children.
Here’s a story about sin. It was submitted by Nettie Bos… THE CHURCH WHITE LIE CAKE Have you ever told a white lie? Alice was to bake a cake for the Church Ladies' Group, but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack up for Scout camp. When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!" This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church, and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of The cake. She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. And, before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home. When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone & called her mom. Alice was horrified-she was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people talking about her behind her back. The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend, but having already RSVP'd , she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home. The meal was elegant, and, to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, another woman exclaimed, "What a beautiful cake!" Alice, still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself.." Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good.” What’s Right? We focus so much on everything that’s wrong, but there is so much that is right! How easy to list everything that is wrong: what’s wrong with your world/life/teachers/the community/the government, but there is great value in focusing on the good, the positive, the desires of God are wanting the best for his children. Society criticizes the church, everything that is wrong with her: too restrictive, too judgmental, too unfriendly, too opinionated, to exclusive…I want to look at what’s right. Just as children need consistent parents, students need consistent teachers, workers need consistent bosses, wives need consistent husbands, so the world needs consistent Christians. (llustration of the pancake mix…just as pancake mix has to be mixed just right for the right consistency, so the Christian. You cannot make pancake mix the night ahead and put in the refrigerator, because it will get to thick, have to get it just right. One recipe I had called for exactly 30 stirs..., ). The right feel, the right sense of goodness, the right sense of humility and confidence. Earlier this week I posted the need for consistency on Facebook and asked for responses. One person looked ahead to the next chapter and the need for grace-- all God, I agree, yet God allows us to choose our attitudes. The judgment of God is good! Judgment that is kind and loving is good and leads to changed lives and spiritual maturity. We bristle at the word “judgment” because the negative kind of judging is too common. Ironsides, a century ago, tells a story in the life of a man called Bishop Potter. "He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share the cabin with him. After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser's desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship's safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, 'It's all right, bishop, I'll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!'"
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Carl Crouse, Pastor
At SACC we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Every Sunday the worship service includes a message from the Bible. My words are an attempt to understand and apply the Bible to our daily living. I post weekly sermons and other biblical messages on this page. May you find meaning and hope as you read through each message and seek to hear God's voice. Leave a comment to ask questions or inspire others with your insights. Categories
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