KAREN: Our problem now is the truck. On Saturday, he took the team to the Citadel. One the way UP… truck overheated, bad. On the way down, the brakes gave out. Started working again on level ground, but not real good. So, at the tourist market, we were standing there and realized the gas tank had a huge hole in it. Don and several guys on the team spent Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday working on the truck. (Had to re-weld the cage, too, since the lumber broke it in places.) It’s limping along again. This has been a real trial for Don.

For me it was an awesome site to see the lumber in that truck. God continues to supply and answer prayers. Have a great rest of the week. Remember the Men’s Summit, open house times at the Marietta church site, the funeral on Saturday afternoon and Sunday service. As you pray for these things pray for me as I prepare what I will share this weekend. Also, my mother remains in the hospital as we await more test results.

There are other things to pray about and I’ll try to get more out to you soon.  Thanks for your prayer support as it is very important.  We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday as we begin a New Year together. 

You should not read anything political into my reading this book (for which I make no apology). In fact, last night a couple of political comments came up and I decided that was a good time to go reload my dinner plate. As a pastor I’ve chosen to not get into politics and I think everyone in my congregation has the privilege and right to support the candidate and or political position of their choice.

Anyway, back to my point. I read the book like I do every book, with a pen and marker in hand. I read, underlined, highlighted and put the book on my shelf. But I keep picking it up just to read the cover. I am drawn repeatedly to that title and the byline beneath it. The Audacity of Hope, thoughts on reclaiming the American Dream.

Let’s think some this week about what it takes to reclaim God’s dream for your life. To do that, think about the term, “audacity of hope.”

Audacity is a great word meaning boldness or daring, especially reckless boldness. It is not calculated, not something you’ve thought out by considering all aspects and all odds. It is build on “presumption” which is our assumption that something is true.

When was the last time that any of us were daring? I find that I calculate away any possible boldness I might otherwise have. Some of that is just the way we were or were not raised and each of us finds ourself somewhere on that continuum. It is wise to not be rash and assuming on any number of earthly matters but here we are talking about the how we approach hope. How many times have we dashed hope with our calculations? How few times have we approached hope with true audacity?

Hope as a noun in the NT is defined as a “favorable and confident expectation” in terms of the future and the unseen. It is the word that describes the anticipation of good. As Christians we can feel this because all of our hopes are focused on Christ. 1 Timothy 1:1 Hope as a verb in the NT is basically translated “to trust.”

So hope by its very nature contains the element of audacity. Does my current relationship with the Lord produce in me the anticipation of good? Does it produce confidence? Does it engender actual acts of trust? Does it produce within me greater boldness and daring (audacity)?

I hope these comments serve as a STARTER to where your meditation and study of the Word will take you this week.

(Message) But there is one thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They are created new every morning. How great is your faithfulness!

Every morning God has created a brand new (fresh) cycle of his mercy and love. And he does it our of his personal faithfulness to each of us.

Have you stopped to think about the cycles in your life. The main cycle for me is Monday through Sunday. Everything in my week moves toward or in someway prepares for Sunday. Sunday is the focus of the week. Monday it starts all over and it has been that way for 37 years of ministry.

It is interesting how that has played out. Sometimes all the work seems to pay off and Sunday is a great service with rewarding moments. It is tempting then (I’ve done it often) to try to carry that into the next cycle and measure the next Sunday by the past. Of course, God never intended that. Other times the work seems not to pay off and Sunday seems flat or less than expected. The cycle provides the opportunity to leave that behind and start fresh focusing not on the Sunday past but on the Sunday coming. I wish it was always as easy as that because sometimes its a day or two before I choose to let go the the previous Sunday and whatever emotion it brings.

Having shared my key life cycle, maybe you realize yours. Do you see the faithfulness of God in it and the opportunity it provides to let go and move on?

In Genesis God created human beings and put them on a cycle. Six days of work and the seventh day was to be a day of rest from work and a day set aside as holy for God. God knew it was critical to have one day of every seven that you did no work.

My cycle of each week focused on Sunday flows into the cycle of a new month and then into a new year. Always the challenge is to leave the past behind and accept the new that is before me. The truth I hope we all see on this Friday is that these cycles are part of God’s loving design. He cares about you and offers you newness everyday and it is all backed up by a fresh cycle of his love and mercy.

Now go have a great day! - PD

Here is the instruction of Jesus from Luke 10:2,3 The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields. Go now and remember that I am sending you out…

The message says it this way: so on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.

Well it all starts with the end of the verse - Jesus emphasizes that we are to “go” that he is sending us. We have the primary responsibility for the spiritual harvest before us. Church as a comfortable and safe place for those of us already in our little family has its place but it cannot be all there is. We have a duty to be people of the harvest. So reaching others and seeing the church grow has to start with us. No excuses!

However, we cannot do it alone. We need others to join us in the harvest and Jesus says that we are to get on our knees and pray that God will send more workers to join us side by side in this ministry. For a couple of years I asked you to pray with me that God would send 10 more families into our church that would be workers with us in the harvest. Maybe some joined me in that focused prayer but if so I’m not aware of it. I am aware of those who took offense and saw the request as an indictment that those already here were not good enough or sufficient enough or appreciated enough. They misunderstood the need for more workers. Instead of seeing this as it is - instructions from Jesus it was taken more as a personal rejection or offense. This saddens my heart deeply.

Recently I talked to a pastor about his church plant. One of his comments was that his people had carried the load for a number of years and were tired. Sometimes I see that here at New Hope. This is typical of a church plant our size. The same people serve over and over without a break or the opportunity to try a new phase of ministry. I am so thankful for your faithfulness but at some point we all need to see the needs to which I refer. But, we need to see it not just in practical terms but in spiritual terms.

If all we can do is take care of what currently exist, then something is wrong. It may be comfortable enough but it is still wrong. That condition is keeping us focused only on ourselves and not reaching out. If all we can do is recognize that a few carry the load or see the tiredness that exist in some after eight years, then something is wrong. Recognition is not enough. With the knowledge we gain from recognition comes responsibility.

At some point we have to move to the spiritual place and activity God is waiting for us to reach. It doesn’t matter how many years I present this focus at some point we will have to accept responsibility for this truth. God not only wants us to do our part in service and outreach but he wants us to go to our knees and ask Him to send more workers into our family.

Like any structure we are only as good as our base. Unless you enlarge the base you are limited as to the heights you can reach. We must have a mindset that accepts Jesus instructions and buys into what He is telling us to do. You have to buy into this Biblical plan. That means that you will come to own this truth for yourself. If you don’t own it and it is only words from Pastor Doug you’ll never actually do it.

In the end there will never be a substitute for the actual praying on our knees for others to join us. This is no reflection on anyone who is already a partner in our family. Don’t let anyone feed you that line. It is way past the time when we need to be on our knees about this one matter. We are years behind.

Will anyone join me? To be honest right now my flesh would settle for even a couple of new families that were solid “workers” and willing to come along side us in this ministry. We have all the tools we could ever want with which to do ministry and outreach. We have so much that we do, that we can do and that we should do. I know that over 2 years ago I was impressed to pray for 10 new families that would be workers, sharing the load. Who will actually get on your knees and pray Luke 10:2 and persist until God answers our prayers.

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

There is always this dance between you and God and we have the lead. It is what we do or do not do that enables what God wants to do for us and through us. The Message puts it just right in saying that we are the ones who cut ourselves off for God’s part.

We are forever connected to God as we are co-laborers together with God. Labor is a work intensive term involving action on our part. I often wonder what God would have done in my own life if I had done a better job with my part of the relationship. Foutunatly, everyday the dance is new, as is His grace and faithfulness. Everyday, today, is an opportunity to do my part.

The illustration in Matthew is one of forgiveness which will be our topic this coming Sunday. The power of forgiveness on our part not only impacts our relationships here but it enables us to recieve the forgiveness we need from God. Maybe you can find the time to pre-study this topic in preparation for the coming Lord’s Day.

I recommend you read Matthew 7 from the Message.  Jesus is speaking to important behavioral and character issues.  This one chaper of only 29 verses has the potential to be life changing and why bother to read the Bible if not to effect real change in our own lives.

Here is verse 13&14 don’t look for shortcuts to God.  The market is flooded with surefire easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time.  Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.  The way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention.

Do you know anyone that isn’t looking for a shortcut?  Doesn’t matter what the topic is we want shortcuts.  The secular and the religious market place is built on "formulas" that are surefire, easygoing and take nothing more than a part time commitment.  We are conditioned by our culture to look for God to be active in our lives in the same way. 

If you really want God at the center of your life Jesus teaches us that it will not be easy.  It will require total commitment.  As you read on in the passage you’ll find these words.  What is required is serious obedience. 

It will be hard to choose "serious obedience" because the crowds are all falling for the easy and spare time approach to God.  They are falling for preachers who sell the easy approach by their charisma not substance.  Read on and you will find, don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character.  Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say.

Take the time to give this chapter a good study.

1. What do I celebrate?  What makes me laugh?
2. What causes me to lament?  What makes me cry?
3. Into whose life am I investing & why am I doing it?
4. From whom do I learn & what am I learning?
5. Is anyone holding me accountable?

We would all do well to take some personal time and work through that.  Another aspect of this he was sharing with me is looking at these questions in terms of "community" - others not myself.  For example do I celebrate just when I win? Do I cry only when I am on the loosing end of something? Do I invest in others or learn from others only for what I can gain from it? 

We all know that our culture is highly focused on a "what’s in it for me"  mindset.  As Christians how are we living our life around what is good for the whole.  How do we flesh that out within our New Hope family?

Jesus suffered for nothing he did -  it was our pains he carried - our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us… it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him…

Jesus suffered for all not just some selected ones - we’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.  And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him.

Jesus TOOK IT - listen to these phrases… but he didn’t say a word…he took it all in silence…he died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody…he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch

It was God’s plan - God’s way, and that is so obvious because none of us would see it as a plan at all.  But God’s way was and continues to be the way to life.  life, life and more life.

Reading this always reminds me of the love of Jesus for me and renews my appreciation and thankfulness but today I see even more meaning as I think of how I can apply and live this out in my own life circumstances.

There are times when (I) (you) will suffer for nothing we did ourselves.  God doesn’t give us the luxury to select the people we are willing to "take it" from.  It may be the people we have the least possible patience with.  Maturing in the Lord often requires us to take it in silence without thinking aobut our own welfare or personal defense.  And as we grow we come to see that yes, even this, is what God had in mind all along.  He designs life in such a way that we discover real life infused into our being when we learn to keep our mouth shut and "take it."

Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it…

(v8) look, I’m rich! I’ve made it big! And look how well I’ve covered my tracks: not a hint of fraud, not a sign of sin!

This is a pattern that repeats itself generaltionally among us humans. It is in this verse that you see that telling phrase - sold his soul to get ahead.

(12) Are you going to repeat the life of your ancestor Jacob?  He ran off guilty to Aram, Then sold his soul to get ahead,  and made it big through treacherty and deceit.

I wonder about that.  At what cost do we get ahead?  What do we sell of ourselves?  How good do we feel if we can keep the surface looking good inspite of what is really going on underneath?

As always God has something to say about the matter. (9) But not so fast!  I’m God, your God!

God lays out two important truths:

The first should be obvious.  Whatever seed we plant will come up to harvest. (14) now he has to pay for his life-destroying ways.

The other truth is less obvious but so vital to grasp.  Often the path you take is life is not the real you and most certainly not the person you have the potential to be.  God has something else in mind.  The passage says your real identity is formed through God-sent prophets, who led you out of Egypt and served as faithful pastors.

This really is the role God has given me to play.  My job is to be a faithful pastor that helps you form your real identity.  So what kind of person does God want you to be?  Is getting ahead more important to you?  Stop selling your soul because in the end it will not pay off.

So often I bring out to all of us the truth of what a battle living the Christian life is, especially in terms of our culture and our personal preoccupations.  I don’t do that to make us feel bad but to impress on each of us now critical it is for us to be making good decisions.  Remember that a preoccupation has our attention so that we miss something else in the process.

Luke 12:29-32
What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with GETTING so you can respond to God’s GIVING.  People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.  Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.  You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  Don’t be afraid of missing out.  You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

We see that our preoccupation causes us to miss out on what God wants to give to us.  We are caught up in the fuss over things what we feel we need and what we are afraid we will miss out on.  This preoccupation is defined as the very thing that is keeping us from God meeting our needs.  We are called to change our preoccupation to God himself. 

He puts this in practical terms in verses 33-34. 
Be generous.  Give to the poor.  Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on.  It’s obvious, isn’t it?  The place where your treasure is, is the place you will want to be and end up being.

The practical steps for moving our focus from the fuss over getting to allowing God to give includes:

• relaxing in terms of what we making such a fuss over & fearing we will miss out on
• saturating ourselves in God stuff - what’s real about him, the initiatives God is up to, the things he gives in life
• becoming a generous and giving person yourself -

The final sentence teaches us so much.  Whatever you are pouring your money, your physical energies and your emotional energy into will be where you are going to want to be and where you will be.  It will win out no matter how much you say it won’t.  As a law of reality, whatever it is will end up coming before God.  There is so much God wants to GIVE to you up to and including his eternal kingdom.  It is a battle to not become so preoccupied that we miss God’s gifts.  Relax the "fuss" and think about this today.

You and I, like the egg are fragile though we think we are strong.  The wall is not a good place for us because it is a place of risk and when Humpty climbs up on the wall he is asking for it.  But, knowing the danger he climbs up anyway.  This is the tragic flaw in our humanity.  God’s plan calls for us to be hero’s but we believe we can do ___________ (whatever it is in your case) and get by with those choices even though no one else can pull that off. 

Then, predictably we fall.  Our lives come crashing down. We who love you can sit and cry for you, even with you, but we cannot put you back together again.  The delusional part of all this is that we think that whatever happens we can just get up and keep going on without lasting consequences. 

No one can put it together again for some things are lost forever (innocense, trust, reputation, character, relationships)  Forgiveness is certainly possible.  A future is possible but it will be a different one than the one you could have had because some things are lost forever. 

I read these words recently - the pain of discipline is easier than the pain of regret…  think again before you loose the opportunity to be a hero…