On of the biggest problems after the fall of man-kind (sin) in the Garden of Eden is the problem with our memories. We can't remember much and when we do it seems to be pretty selective. My Uncle Hilmer tells me all the time he knows everything, He then adds that he just has trouble recalling it sometimes.

I think that is one of the biggest problems we face as a race. We can't remember! History is repleat with mankinds forgettfulness. War, crime, abuse, violence and ignorance caught for all to see in the pages of history.

Paul talks a little bit about our predicament in the first chapter of the book of Romans.

Romans 1:20-22 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" (NIV).

There it is! We can't remember! or we choose not to remember.

Thanksgiving Day is a time set aside by the leaders of our great country. It is a time our nation is supposed to reflect on the incredible provision of Almighty God.
Historically it has been connected to the very first settlements in this great country and William Bradfords incredible declaration for a Day of Thanksgiving for the Pilgims at Plymouth is a wonderful example of that history.

We are approaching a day that has been set aside to remind us of how we should be living all year long. Let us not forget!

Chack out these other texts:
Nehemiah 12:46 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Psalm 100:4 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Colossians 2:6-7 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Shadows serve a lot of purposes don't they? Some are good, some are not. They cover, hide and conceal that which we don't want fully seen.

The scriptures use this picture of us under the shadow of God's wings seeking refuge. That is a good shadow. It preserves us until we are able to stand on our own.

I trained with the military in the Mojave Desert in California. In that environment we needed, coveted, looked for shade continually. We could not handle the direct powerful strength of the sun. Even the most experienced soldiers sought out the shade when needed.

I have been reading through Luke chapter 7 for the past week. It is a really neat story about Jesus as a guest at Simeon the Pharisees home.

Luke records for us that out from the shadows steps an incredibly brave and daring woman. A woman who wasn't on the guest list. A woman many in town knew and talked about because of her reputation. She was said to have been a woman who had led a sinful life.

This woman steps off the wall, into the light, and falls at the feet of Jesus. She begins weeping uncontrollably and wipes Jesus feet with her tears and hair and then pours perfume on them. She was done running, hiding, holding back. She had heard the stories about this Jesus and her hope would not allow her to stay in the shadows any longer. She went for it and when she sensed his acceptance of her all the years of rejection, hurt and pain boiled over into this heart felt display of worship.

Simeon didn't invite Jesus into his home to worship him but to investigate him and maybe even try to discredit him. We see this because he does not render the traditional honor to his visiting guest. He doesn't wash his feet or allow him to refresh himself before dinner.

Jesus reads Simeon's thoughts and tells a parable. A story about two people who had debts they could not satisfy. Two people who needed the grace and mercy of their master. The story is a picture of Simeon and the woman. One who was ready to admit and deal with their debt and the other who was still denying his own need.

This story shows us that where ever we are at in this process of trying to settle our debts with the master he is willing to work with us.

He is safe and will not embarrass us if we venture from the shadows and into the light. The threat of punishment, abuse and shame are over. David says in the Psalms, "The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

Lets be done with trying to hide our inadequacies. Lets come out of the shadows and walk in the light. It is safe for all of us.

Check out these other verses...
Psalm 139:11-12 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Isaiah 9:2 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Diercks Bentley got it right when he wrote his country western song called "What was I thinking?" It is a song that did well and I know it is because sooo many of us could identify with saying. There were times in my life when I have asked it of myself, times when others have said it to me, and times when I have asked it of others. We have perhaps all felt the sting of that question. It is dangerous for us to live without evaluating our thoughts.

Today in the scientific community many have rallied around this concept of linking our behavior to our thoughts. One of the most popular psychological approaches being taught today is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It corrects thinking behind behaviors to make changes. The American Psychiatric Association indicated that among psychotherapeutic approaches, CBT is the most effective treatment for major depressive disorders.

We are being confronted with the truth that our thoughts drive our actions.

The Scriptures have always linked our thoughts to our actions. Gen 6:5 "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." God knows our predicament. Christ connected thoughts to actions in the sermon on the mount. In reguards to murder and lust he said if you think it, you might as well have done it. The Apostle Paul indicates that we can win in this area of our thought life in 2Cor 10:5, "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”

How did he do that? Could We? What if we could somehow learn how to filter our thoughts?

I think Paul gave us a great filter for our thoughts in oen particular verse in the scriptures. Look at Philippians 4:8 with me. In it Paul uses 6 adjectives and 2 nouns that lay a great foundation for creating this filter.

I memorized it and shared this message with amny of you this weekend in service. It is my sincere hope that many of you have committed this text to memory and are using it to help you walk in the victory Christ has provided.

A couple weeks ago I preached a message created after listening to a sermon series by Gregory Boyd at Woodland Hills Church over in the Twin Cities area. After listening I did a little research and I was surprised at how many assumptions about our founding fathers I had adopted into my beliefs with out really checking out. I quickly found contradicting statements on opposing websites and found it tricky to sort out the truth. I may not have the exact truth to ever quote these folks used but I feel like I have a better understanding of the diversity, passion and heart of our founding fathers.

I want to be on the side of truth and justice, but like our founding fathers I am a little sceptical of any system ordained by men. I don't think Christ came to tweak the system but to show us a whole new one. He never joined any party, but operated outside of and separate from them all. He affected change like no other and never bowed to the power systems of this world.

I will never stop fighting for the rights of the weak, widowed and wounded. I want to influence this world like Christ did...the way Christ did it. I will come under and along-side of others and stop trying to gain advantage over. I will lay-down and be willing to be hammered, whipped and beaten like my Savior.

I will intelligently use my vote on every seat, office and position being voted on this election. I will not punch a party ticket. I will be faithful to investigate every individual who makes the ticket. I will be fair, honest and faithful in exercising my civic duty so that I honor those who have sacrificed so much for my freedom.

"Everything hangs on our imitating Jesus...
Even when it looks like we are loosing.
Even when it looks like Jesus is being arrested.
Even when it looks like immorality is winning the day.
Even when it looks like our rights might be denied
Even when we might loose our lives" (Gregory Boyd).

Here are some of the passages that lead to this reflection. Read them over and see what they stirr-up in your heart.

1Pet. 2:11 we are “aliens and exiles” in this world.
Eph. 2:19 we “are citizens…and members of the household of God…”
Phil. 3:20 “our citizenship is in heaven”
1John 5:19 “…the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.”
Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 Satan is “the ruler of this world”
2 Cor 4:4; Satan is “the god of this world”
Eph 2:2 “the principality and power of the air”

What is a myth? Dictionary.com says that it is, "a legendary story usually without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation." That is what we have been talking about for the last couple weeks at church. We have some distinctively christian myths lurking around that needed to be examined in the light of day.
The first one we looked at was the myth that God would never give you more than you could handle. As christians it is often given as an attempt at encouraging someone who is going through a hard time. I think it often fails at that. One of the scriptures associated with this legend is supposed to be 1 Corinthians 10:13. which is Pauls exortation to those who are being tempted by sin. In those situations, Paul is saying that God will never give you more than you can handle, but he will make a way out. In other words, God won't let you be tempted when there is no way for you to resist sinning. That makes much more sense than when we try to make it say God will never allow more suffering, pain or trials than we can handle.

The scriptures are full of people who appeared to have more than they could handle. The Biblical examples are numerous: Paul (2Cor 1:8); Moses (Num 11:13-15); Job; Elijah; Jeremiah; David and Jesus. Each of these people are recorded in the scriptures as hurting beyond what they could endure. Hurting to the point of breaking. It is God's ability to fix what is broken that is on display in each of their lives.

If someone in your past told you that God would never give you more than you could handle, there is a chance that some of you tried to burry the hurt or pain of having more on your plate than you could handle. There is a chance that some of you have never dealt correctly with that pain and it is hard for you too trust God any more because instead of growing you remain wounded.

The ideal response to the suffering is acceptance and trust. Jesus Christ modeled that for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Ask yourself these questions to see if you have believed this myth.

1)God will often allow you to have more than you can handle. Where in your life do you need to say “or” instead of “and?”

2)What are you holding onto that you need to release to God?

I recently stumbled across the writings of a British journalist and poet named Steve Turner. He wrote a poem that captures alot of the hypocricy and duplicity in our modern thinking and world. If you like satire you will appreciate this piece; it is both humorous and true
“Creed”
We believe in Marx, Freud,and Darwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don’t hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.

We believe in sex before, during, and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy’s OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.

We believe that everything’s getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.

We believe there’s something in horoscopes UFO’s and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha, Muhammed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.

We believe that all religions are basically the same-at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.

We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn

We believe in Masters and Johnson
What’s selected is average.
What’s average is normal.
What’s normal is good.

We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors.
And the Russians would be sure to follow.

We believe that man is essentially good.
It’s only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.

We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust.
History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth
that there is no absolute truth.

We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.

If chance be the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky
and when you hear

State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Whites go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man
worshiping his maker.

There is a big shift out there in this world. I feel the separation growing between computer users and none computer users in my life. When I was in seminary I focused so much on building a great library so that my sermon prep would not be limited to what I knew. The internet in several ways has made my library much less critical. I have been luggin around boxes and boxes of very heavy books for years in anticipation of someday using them to prepare sermons. I'm a pastor now and I don't use them much at all. I have instant access to the most current scholarly articles and research avaiable to me at my fingertips. Sermon prep is a lot easier. communication and planning are a couple of other things that are changing because of online access. Recently a friend of mine introduced me to a website that is dedicated to enabling people to plan better and meet less. It can greatly reduce the number of meetings in your life. Your weakly, monthly, quarterly calendars can be online and the discussion and input is open to every member of your team who can view and comment on the calendar. It improves comunication. It speeds up how much contact we have. I recently met a young man at church. We invited him to dinner. From the 5 minute conversation I was able to find him online, facebook him, see pictures of his family, visit their family business online and really get a good look at and understanding of him before I even officially had an introductory meeting with him. Our abilty to communicate quickly with others who live online is incredible. Facebook, myspace, and plaxo, are just a few of the websites dedicated to connecting us and keeping us connected. Mass comunication at the touch of a button is here. I'm excited about these changes but I'm also being a little cautious. Not everyone in our faith community has arrived not everyone wants to commit to living life at the touch of a button. Somehow bridging these two worlds is going to be tricky. I do not want to be left behind and I don't want to be a leader who leaves others behind. Who are you introducing to your new world? Are you inviting other generations and family members to be a part of this journey to a new world. My admonission is to slow things down and bring those we love along for the ride. Don't blow by the signs others are left holding that indicate they need direction to even enter the conversation you are having about your new online world.
Invite, share, expalin, and train. Lets make sure everyone who wants to walk with us can. I was so excited awhile back when one of our senior leaders jumped into the mix and created a profile on facebook. She is one of 10 people I'm connected with who are over 60 years old and pushing forward in this brave new world. "Carpe Diem"

Years ago I saw a tree that marked my soul. Now all other trees get measured by that one. Everything else is compared to this mental image that I have of this luminated beauty in all its fabulous fall regalia. So far none have ever compared.

The first year I moved here (WI) I caught (about) 10 Muskie and 10 big Norther Pike. Nothing has compared since. This year was pretty dismal as far as gettin it done out on the lakes. The season is ending. I'm running outta time! Once again old man winter is shuffling slowly into town. I hate to hear those footsteps.

Sometimes I feel like I have locked myself into a room of discontentment. What is it that drives me to always be looking for the next best thing? There are times When I have unplugged from that pursuit and have felt contentment, appreciation and simplicity come back to me.

The seasons are going to change in my life again. I have never been more aware of how precious time is. I am deploying to Iraq soon. Very soon I will not have time each day to spend with my family. I don't want this change. I am content here. I am happy. Couldn't the Lord just move things around so I wouldn't have to go?

I think I know what is best for me, for my life! I know what I need the most...Don't I? The folly of this whole line of thinking seems so obvious to me when I'm writing about it or talking to someone else about it but in my day to day life I still struggle with acknowledging who is responsible for best moments of my life. I still struggle with giving God glory for the things he has made and the things he has provided.

If I am happy it is because of him. If I see the world's most beautiful tree it was a gift from him and if I catch anything while fising it is because of his wisdom and grace.

Failing to move forward with the Lord, when he leads causes great discontentment.
When we follow the Isrealites we see this in their wonderings. I don't want us to get stuck in this trap. Lead on! Lord I will follow.

Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble" (NIV).
Philippians 4:11-12 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" (NIV).

In your mind does the term "do gooder" usually carry a good or bad conotation with it? Listen to some definitions on the term dogooder: Dictionary.com says that it is "a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer." Webster's Colligiate Dictionary defines this person as an impractical and often naive and ineffectual humanitarian or reformer." With definitions like that I think we can see why the word is so shunned.

The craziness comes when I remember that I am called over and over again to "do good deeds" by the God I am trying to follow.

We all back away from half-hearted sales attempts. We are leary about being taken, getting suckered by a smooth talker. So how do we do it? How can I be faithful to Christ and not be seen as an ineffective or disingenuous humanitarian or reformer?

One way to avoid that ending is to never look back; never dig-up dead things. Our old nature always scratched and clawed to place itself first. In Christ we have a new directive, to put others first. To treat others like we ourselves would like to be treated. That is a paradigm shift, that is the new calling and nature we have been called to embrace.

Matthew 12:33 says that we will know them buy there fruits. That a person can only be what he is and that we will be able to tell eventually by watching and examining the fruit of their lives.

Is your life attractive? Does your presence attract or repell those watching you?
Has anyone ever called you a dogooder? If they did how would they mean it?

In and through the power of Christ living in us we can become agents of change in a world dying to see the way out. Christ is the victor and he displays that victory in and through believers who have been transformed by his love and grace and filled to over flowing with his Holy Spirit.

Are you helping to redefine the term? Are you a dogooder? We can, and we should be agents of change for the good of those we serve.

Is God still amazing you? Has he changed?

Lets read Joshua 3:9, and remember a time when God promised to do amazing things among his people.

"Joshua told the people, 'consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

Why do we look back in time and see differences in the wonder-working power of God among his people? Individually, I know that there are times of testing and trail and in those times my own faith is proven. I understand and accept that. But I never want to confuse those times with the reality that sometimes it could be my personal agenda, my abilities, or my anxiety that stand in the way of me seeing and experiencing God's amazing presense.

The first obstacle that trips us up is agenda. At times we all find ourselves struggling with God's agenda verses our own agenda. I believe God's agenda for our lives is found in the word of God. God's purposes if they are done in God's way are going to receive God's supply. We have to be careful of attitudes or actions that go against God's word.

So the first obstacle at times is agenda. The second obstacle is our own ability. Staying inside of our comfort zone. Only attempting what we know we can do. Following God in God's way is a risk and it will often lead us to places where we are very uncomfortable. If we fail to risk our Christianity becomes human sized, bland and boring, a toy-sized version of the real thing.

We will not see God's amazing things until we hear and respond to God's challenge, see his agenda and step toward him in that direction.

The third thing that gets in our way is anxiety. Fulfilling God's agenda with God's ability is scary at times. It is supposed to be. Courage is not action in the absense of fear. It is action in the face of fear. It is faithfully acting even though am afraid. It is consciously obeying the orders as I have understood them even though I do not understand how that will accomplish the task.

We must be found faithful even above looking sucessful. We must be willing to lay down our pride and accept that at times God is going to take us places that make us lean on him. That way, in the end, He is the one people notice working through our lives in "absolutley amazing" ways.

To Him be all honor and glory and praise