A.W. Tozer's Prayer

A.W. Tozer prayed this prayer before his ordination: I have taken liberty to update the prose. I keep this prayer taped on my wall before me as a reminder of how much I need His Gospel.

It goes like this:

Though I am chosen of You and honoured by a high and

holy calling

let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes,

a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague

the race of men

I pray to You, therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me

from

myself and from all the injuries I may do myself while

trying to be a blessing to others.

Fill me with Your power by the Holy Spirit,

and I will go in your strength and tell of your

righteousness, Yours only.

I will spread abroad the message of redeeming love

while

my powers endure.

enough said,

Your undershepherd,

Mark

Gospel-Centered Lives in the Marketplace Colossians 3:22 - 4:1

How many times have you heard, "I can't stand my job!" "I hate my job!" "My boss is driving me crazy!" Well in my message I addressed how God is not only redeeming his people he is redeeming our work as well. Our work is worship to him.

I asked two questions:
First: What difference does the Gospel make in our lives as an employee?
The Gospel makes us aware of our behavior (v.22a)
The Gospel effects our heart and our motives. (v.22b)
The Gospel gives us perspective in our work. (v.23-24)

Application questions to ponder:
Are there relationship conflicts at your work? What is God asking you to do in those relationships? How does he want you to work through them? Are you a good steward of your time and finances? Some employers see poor stewardship as stealing from the company.

Do you ask yourself the question, "How can I represent Jesus to my co-workers or my boss." Do you find your work difficult? What is your motivation to work? Is it to please your co-workers? Your boss or manager? Your manager's boss? Your clients? Yourself? Or is to please Jesus?


What difference does the Gospel make in our live as an employer or personal business owner?
Gospel shows no favortism. (v.25)
The Gospel produces integrity. (v.4:1a)
The Gospel gives perspective. (v.4:1b)

Application questions to ponder:

As a business owner do you say what you mean and mean what you say? Do you follow through with your commitments with your clients and employees? Do you treat them in a fair manner?
Do you see your work as worship to God? If not, why not?

Other application questions:
Paul seems to be addressing Christian slaves and Christian Masters, but in the reality you might have bosses who are unchurched or employees who are looking for hope? Where does this leave the Christian in the marketplace of unbelievers?

In a wonderful position to let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father, (your true boss) who is in heaven. Matt5:16 (emphasis mine).

Have you ever thought of starting a Bible study with some co-workers? Maybe its meeting with some of your colleagues and praying for them?

So what difference does the Gospel make in the Marketplace? All the difference. May your work glorify your true Master, Jesus.

SDG,

Pastor Mark

Gospel-Centered Lives in the Home Colossians 3:18-21

As we continue our Stand Mature series in this great book written not only to the Colossians but to us, we now focus on the importance of the Gospel-centered home.

I asked some questions on Sunday:

Are we settling for less in our relationships concerning:
our wives?
our husbands?
our parents?
our children?

It is for His glory that we respond to these commands because our glory wants to avoid what these texts really say and try to make them say something else.

What difference does the Gospel make in our marriages?
What difference does the Gospel make in our families?

Resources you might be interested in for your marriage:
Marriage, Whose Dream?; War of Words, both by Paul Tripp Another one you might want to check out is: When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering the Power of the Gospel of Marriage by Dave Harvey.

Resources you might be interested in for your family?
Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp; http://www.therebelution.com/blog/
http://www.homeword.com/

Application questions:
Wife: Where are some areas in your relationship with your husband where Jesus is not Lord over your marriage? What are some steps you can take to cultivate a heart of humility?
Do you believe your husband is a gift from God? If not, why not? and If so, why? Let your husband know how much you respect him.

Husband: Where are some areas were your not loving your wife? How can you cultivate a sacrifical love for your wife? Are you forgiving? What are some ways you can guard your own purity in order to guard hers. Let your wife know how much you cherish her. How can you be encouraging to your wife?

Children: Think about what messages culture is communicating and then ask yourself if you believe those messages. Do you respect your parents? If not, why? or If so, why? Let your parents know how much you appreciate them. Think of ways you can serve right now and whom you might serve without asking for anything in return.

Parents: What are some ways that you cause your children to become discouraged or disheartened? Do your children lack motivation because of you? If so, why? What are some ways the Lord wants you to change? What are some ways you can pray for your children?
Let your children know how much you love them, and not their accomplishments.



SDG,

Pastor Mark

The beauty of living and dying-remembering Patricia Petras

Reflections on the homegoing of Patricia Marie Petras...October 26, 2007
I can still remember like it was yesterday getting the news that my mother-in-law's battle with acute myleod leukemia and MDS (a cancer in the blood) was almost over. The doctor called from Cleveland Clinic and in no uncertain terms said "if you want to be with her before she passes away, the time to come is now." We had heard similar words about six weeks prior, or so we thought, when Pat was getting fresh platelets every five hours through her IV port. That was a false alarm, perhaps this would be too? Cancer is that kind of emotional roller coaster.

For the next four days, I was doing laundry because Pat wanted to be assured that Bill had "some clean underwear", helping Pat with the most basic of needs, and greeting the steady stream of family and friends coming to say goodbye, while attempting to keep my kids from feeling utterly neglected in the process. The most beautiful and powerful of life's experiences are its beginning and its end. We watched Pat go from a lively and feisty body of energy to a helpless and pale woman taking her last breaths. This is still strange to me, but as gruesome as death can be, it is one of the unbelievable miracles of beauty. I sensed the peace of God as we sang and read scriptures over her as she lay unconscious. Then, when she woke up one last time at 4:45am, Mark and I were at once overjoyed and deeply grieved to tell her to "take the hand of Jesus and go home." It still brings me to tears and laughter at the same time.

Only five months prior God gave us his gift of Micah Nathan through a drug-free VBAC. I had a cesarean with Anna due to her breach position. I wanted so badly to have her naturally, and God did not allow it, but when he did with Micah, the joy was more than we could have imagined. Mark stood in awe as I worked with all my might to get Micah into this world. He coached me to trust in Jesus and to make it through the next contraction. While we waited for Mark's mom to die, with anticipation and angst, we had also waited for Micah to live here with us with anxiety and hope. And we still hope, for the resurrection, the new life, when we will be reunited with Mom Petras. She is dancing and singing and probably playing bingo in Heaven, getting to know her Savior, having forgotten this place, thank the Lord.

We miss you, Pat, but we are so grateful for what you taught us in living and in dying.

The Gospel-Centered Church Colossians 3:15-17

Summary of the message:
Jesus is still captivated by his Bride, the church. Are you? Jesus' relationship with the church will never change. Jesus will always love his Bride.
2 points
As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus make the decisions (Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts...)
As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus lead the worship (Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...)
Bottom line is that sanctification is a group project. We only have fellowship with one another because of Jesus. We are not meant to live out are Christian life alone, we have each other because we were called into one body!

Application questions: What is the local church? Is it simply to come on Sunday mornings and that's it? Remember everytime we point the finger at the church we are pointing the finger at us because we are the CHURCH!

I referred to a great book, that if I had the money I would buy each of you a copy. Maybe some day. Stop Dating the Church: Fall in the Love with the Family of God. The book listed some good questions to think through concerning choosing a church:
1. Is this a church where God's word is faithfully taught?
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?
3. Is this a church in which the Gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the Gospel?
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God's Word?

If you want to know the other four I would encourage you to buy it. We really need to be thinking about what it means to be the church.

SDG,

Pastor Mark