Walking As Jesus Walked

It's been quite the adventure hosting Hank (the cow dog) over the holidays. He is currently living in a pen where the kitchen table once rested. I wasn't really able to work Hank into the sermon but just wanted everyone to get a look at him before he grows to his adult size of 50-60 lbs!

Willie, on the other hand, provided a wonderful example for the sermon. At last we've solved his pulling tendencies by the use of the "Gentle Leader." This collar places a strap across his nose which only applies pressure if he runs ahead of his master (PC alert! Formerly the adopted parents of dogs were called masters. Gasp!)
If Willie would simply trust his Master, he would happily walk beside him without any type of collar or lease.



When God calls us to "walk as Jesus walked" he gives us total freedom. We can (foolishly) choose to walk in darkness (and suffer the consequence) or we can joyfully walk in the light (and enjoy all the benefits!). The blood of Jesus makes it possible for us to follow the desire of our heart to live obediently to God in spite of our sins. The only "requirement" is faith! As the old hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus; but to trust and obey."

Do Not Be Afraid

Whew! What a day yesterday was. The two sermons were designed to emphasize the topic of Fear on Sunday morning and Peace Sunday night during the candlelight service. To aid in communicating we pulled out all the stops and employed lighting, decorations, video, drama (that angel really did look frightening with his wig :-), music (were you shocked to hear Buffalo Springfield play during the slide show?), power-point, candles, cardboard testimonies, and two choirs (adult and children). David Layman did his usual fantastic job of making it all come together (where would we be without him?).

One person asked for a copy of the contrast between being controlled by one's Faith or one's Fears that I read during Candlelight. Here it is, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Fear is destructive; Faith is constructive

Fear causes doubt; Faith brings confidence

Fear leads to reactive decisions; Faith leads to redemptive decisions

Fear pulls one inward; Faith leads one outward

Fear makes us protective; Faith makes us bold

Fear can freeze us; Faith activates us

Fear says "You can't"; Faith says "God can"

Fear says "Satan is strong"; Faith says "God is stronger"

Fear creates panic; Faith creates love

Fear makes us weak; Faith makes us strong

Fear makes us anxious; Faith makes us courageous

Fear brings disorder; Faith brings peace

Walk in the Light

Today's sermon is one of my all time favorites. I actually preached the sermon at Clear Lake back in early January of 2000. After the sermon, someone at church commented that in the margin of 1 John, chapter 1 she had formerly written, "Direction, Not Perfection."

It really is good news that Jesus saves us from sin. Not only our past sins, but also present and future. How wonderful it is that when the goal of our lives is to please God the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from sin, thus enabling us to grow in our Christlikeness. As a result we become more involved in loving and serving others instead of trying to find life by focusing on ourselves. What a Savior!

Real Life

My opening illustration this morning was taken from Dr. James Dobson's book, Hide or Seek. Since my children were small the book has been revised and reprinted. I highly recommend anything Dr. Dobson has written on child rearing.

One point that I decided not to make it my sermon (I may later in the series) has to do with the last verse of 1 John, "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols" (5:21). At first glance it appears to be out of place; as though as he finished his letter John added an addendum. Upon reflection, however, it becomes obvious that this has been his warning throughout the letter. Jesus, eternal life in the flesh, has appeared. Everything else that promises life is an impostor or, to use the phrase most common in John's day, an idol. We are to keep ourselves from thinking and acting as though beauty, intelligence, money, athletic ability or anything else can give us life. "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11)