Truth or Consequences

by Tim Howard

I just finished reading a narrative found in Acts chapter 5 which talks about a young couple named Ananias and Sapphira. This Biblical story is very dramatic and ultimately ends in their death. It all happened because this husband and wife team concocted a plan, which involved lying, deception and greed. Money wasn’t the core issue but it was the vehicle that revealed their flawed character.

The core issue is seen when this young couple makes a bold faced, calculated lie to the Apostle Peter regarding some financial dealing they were involved in. Their lies, their deceitfulness and their false pretense led to their demise.

You may wonder about the severity of the penalty they paid for this falsehood but you must admit that in similar fashion many long lasting, healthy relationships have experienced the same fate because someone decided to lie and act deceptively.

Lying kills! Lying destroys! Lying severs relationships! Yet we all are tempted to do the same thing for a myriad of reasons. Peter asked Ananias and Sapphira, “Why? What made you lie to me and ultimately to God? How could you do such a thing?” Any person reading this text should begin to understand that lying is not the real problem or the main issue. It is a symptom of a deeper problem. Why do we lie? What prompts us to be deceitful? Allow me to suggest three reasons:

1. We lie to COVER UP something we don’t want seen. John 3:19-20 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” Many marriages and families have suffered severe ramifications because secrets were kept and lies were told.

2. We lie to avoid CONSEQUENCES. A child will lie to his mother so he doesn’t have to take a ‘time out’. An employee will lie to their employer to avoid some punishment and some adults will lie to protect themselves from an undesirable repercussion.

3. We lie to CREATE a better self-image. This is when you lie to impress people. Proverbs13:7 “One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” The word ‘pretends’ used in this verse is rooted in the word: ‘pretense.’ It is an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. When you live a life built on pretense, the path is littered with lying. You're trying to create an image or cover up low self-esteem so you lie. That’s what seems to be the motivating factor behind this couple’s act in chapter 5. They wanted to be viewed by others more favorably than they deserved. They were caught in the web of conceit and pride.

So what's the solution? It starts with identifying the motivational factor. Once you understand the motivation behind your lying, then you can begin to deal with the real issue by seeking God’s help. He is the author of truth. Everything he does is based on truth and there is no deceit in him. When you fall in love with Jesus and begin to follow instructions, you start growing a love of truth. Then if you look for the truth, learn the truth and listen to the truth, you will be on your way to becoming a person of integrity. The Consequences that come from living a truthful life outweigh the ramifications of a life based on lies and deception.

Who Do You Trust?

by Andrew Cromwell

If you are anything like me, you find yourself being caught up in some of the anxiety over the economy and the future. Reading the paper or listening to the evening news is like exposing yourself to a highly infectious flu called “worry”. You may not catch the flu the first time around, but eventually if you keep exposing yourself, it’s going to move into your body and run its ugly course.

But it’s not just the news. Our own hearts conspire to make us worry about the future. We start worrying about losing our job or our house. We get nervous and start hoarding things thinking that we might not have enough.

But it’s a downward spiral. Once you start putting your trust in your bank account or your job or your inheritance, you are putting your faith in something that will always let you down and will also make you a smaller person. When you are worried about the future and put your trust in what you have, you become stingy and closed-fisted. You hold on to what you have because you believe your source of supply is small and undependable.

What is fascinating is that it doesn’t matter if you have a little or if you have a lot. We all find this infection creeping into our hearts. We are like the millionaire workaholic who was asked, “How much more money do you need?” His response: “Just a little bit more.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to be free from this “little bit more” trap? The answer is simple, but it takes a lifetime to live it out. The Bible says in Romans chapter eleven,

Everything comes from God; everything exists by His power; and everything is intended for His glory.

And here is the secret -- we must put our trust in God as our source and supply. Nothing else is truly stable and trustworthy. And when we trust Him, we don’t have to worry about the future because He takes care of His children.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. — Matthew 6:33

Putting God first is something we do everyday and in everything we do. It is also something that is easy to forget to do! Before we know it, there we are putting our self first yet again. The pastors in Kings County would love to encourage and remind you that putting God first is the only way to live worry free. Why don’t you give them a chance this weekend?

A Guide to Health

by Tim Howard

When the topic of the American economy and the economic stability of our nation is broached, most would agree these are challenging times. There is a sense of powerlessness when it comes to the multi-Trillion dollars of debt we carry as a nation and the projected 23+ Trillion dollar debt by 2019. It is enough to cause fear and insecurity in any person who is trying to make ends meet. When that happens there is a tendency to hold on to what we have, stop giving to others and put a moratorium on all outflow.

Many, however, have decided to remain faithful to the giving principles taught in the Bible and I too want to be among them. I have visited impoverished countries in the past and even though they have far less than most in America, many haven’t lost their spirit of generosity.

The Bible gives at least 10 reasons why we should give at any time and in all times. If I were to note them in a top ten list they would look something like this:

10. You will receive a REWARD. It may not be the highest motivation but Luke 6:38 reveals you will receive back a great increase whenever you give. We should guard ourselves against a selfish bent toward life but at the same time not despise the reward that is offered.

9. You have a RESPONSIBILITY or to put it another way, you ought to give something. People who take but don’t give back develop an unhealthy lifestyle and perspective. It does more harm than help.

8. The Bible clearly TEACHES the principal of giving. Phil. 2:4 Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and the needs.

7. It is BETTER to give than to receive. Jesus said that and many have experienced the reality of this truth.

6. Giving puts FEET to your faith. Too many people profess one thing but practice something totally different. When you give to others, you are putting your money where your mouth is. Check out James 2:18. It’s one thing to espouse a certain philosophy but much more difficult to live it out. One person said it is easier to make someone think you are great than to actually be great. Jesus said if you really want to be great, be a server - give!

5. Giving brings BALANCE. Those who give are blessed because they give and those who receive are blessed because they have their needs met.

4. It provides an OPPORTUNITY for God to move. When you give to a person in need, you release ministry to happen.

3. It MIRRORS God to people. You can’t read the Bible without seeing God as a giver and no one will ever give back to him or others more than He has given to them.

2. God absolutely LOVES it. He loves a cheerful giver. I can identify with that. A tremendous joy comes to me whenever I see my children giving to others and helping people.

1. God has DEMONSTRATED so much grace that we would be remiss if we didn’t pass some of it on.

I grew up with a sense of right and wrong but very little explanation as to why I should do the right thing. God has a reason for every commandment He gives to us. When He says to GIVE, it’s not because He needs your money but because He wants you to be healthy.

Why not check out one of the many church families in Kings County this weekend and give God some of your time.

Prepared

by Andrew Cromwell

Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the global financial crisis, the Aztec end of days in 2012, oil at over $100 a barrel, the Middle East melting down—are we getting close to the end of the world? There is so much anxious talk going on that you would think that we humans like obsessing over things that cause us fear and anxiety.

It happens without fail. Something major happens in the Middle East—a war, an attack on Israel, a dictator makes threats—and someone writes a book about how it fits into the end times plan as laid out in the Book of Revelation. People get worked up and spend time anxiously fretting about what they should do when the next shoe drops and they start stamping “666” on people’s foreheads.

I’m not making light of the Book of Revelation. Not at all. But I do think it is humorous how we have this unfailing tendency towards alarmism and fear-mongering. We spend so much time on “what ifs” when this rarely results in anything positive.

I am not advocating sticking your head in the sand and ignoring major natural and economic disasters. And I am not suggesting that you shouldn’t ever talk about them. But I do believe that instead of focusing on forecasting the future and panicking in the present, we do the thing that God has told us.

Be prepared.

Jesus told His disciples that no one knows when the end of the world is except for Father God. He did say that there are some signs that we are getting closer to the end (see Matthew chapter 24) and in that list are earthquakes and famines and wars. Well, as far as I can tell there seem to be plenty of earthquakes and famines and wars, and maybe they are even getting more frequent.

Jesus’ advice -- get ready! Wise people can read the signs and they make decisions before the panic hits. People that have a plan are always at an advantage in the moment of calamity. What are you going to do if you lose your job? What are you going to do if your house burns down? What are you going to do if an earthquake hits?

Panic won’t help you. Ignoring it won’t help you. And worrying without end that the worst might happen won’t help you. Instead, save some money. Buy some fire insurance. Stock up with some extra bottled water. Don’t panic, prepare yourself.

The pastors of Kings County would love to help you be prepared spiritually for whatever might come your way. Perhaps you should reconnect with God this weekend.

I Quit

by Tim Howard

Back in the day, a man named David Allan Coe wrote a song which was made famous by a singer named Johnny Paycheck. The song was about the bitterness of a man who worked long and hard with no apparent rewards to show for it. The title was: "Take This Job and Shove It" He evidently reached a point where he couldn’t endure the pressure any longer and finally quit. That may only be a song but it speaks of a reality faced by many of us throughout the journey of life.

Paul the Apostle talks about the pressures he faced and what was true for him can be true for you. He said: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (2 Corinthians 4: 8-9)

Paul reminds us that pressure comes from many sources. He said: “ We are pressed on every side…” You may face it in a marriage when your mate tries to remake you into what he or she wants you to be. It may come from a job that has downsized and now expects you to pick up the added workload without increasing your income. The sheer responsibilities of paying the bills, walking the dog, fixing the car, cleaning the yard and meeting the day to day necessities can weigh heavily on a person and bring them to the point of contemplating those two words: ‘ I QUIT’

The best news from Paul’s comments is that pressure doesn’t have to break us if we respond to it in God’s strength. It may bend us to the breaking point but it doesn’t have the power to crush us. When we fall under the weight, we can still get up and keep going if we put our trust in God and follow His instructions. Knowing that God is on your side is a key to the resilience and strength needed to face the everyday pressures. He is with you and will not abandon you. You don’t need to quit! You don’t need to give up! The Bible says that, it’s not just my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong! There are some things you should quit. You should quit complaining because it causes you to focus on the negative side of life. You ought to quit making excuses and start following the right path. We all should stop lying, cheating and defrauding our friends. The list goes on… Rodney Dangerfield said he contacted his father to tell him he had stopped smoking. His dad responded by saying: I knew you were a quitter! I laughed as I read that joke but there are some times when we all should be quitters. Wisdom will have to make the judgment call.

You can withstand the pressure that’s designed to hinder your progress. You may be pressed on every side like the Apostle Paul but God is with you. According to Romans 8:32; God can use anything, even pressure for the purpose of shaping and making you into a person of character. If you love God and have responded to His grace, you are a candidate for his transforming work. He says to you: Don’t be conformed to the world by yielding to various pressures. Allow Me to give you a new way of thinking so these pressures will produce something positive in you. If you do, even the greatest pressure can’t make you say: I QUIT!

Extra-Ordinary

by Andrew Cromwell

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is smaller than what we think. We look at the most successful people and business organizations and believe that they have either been extremely lucky or possess some special talent that puts them ahead of the crowd. And while it is true that some do possess great talent and have experienced good fortune, these are not the people of whom I’m thinking.

Forget all the famous people and the multi-billion dollar organizations. Consider the extraordinary people you know. They are our friends and neighbors whose lives are making a meaningful and significant difference in our community. They look just like us on the outside. They don’t have big salaries and they are not particularly talented. Very often, these people don’t leave a big estate behind them when they die, but they do leave a legacy of changed lives.

What makes these people different? What makes them extraordinary? Well, I believe their secret is that they have simply added something a little “extra” to their ordinary lives. They have decided that they are going to put a little “extra” effort into things. They have dedicated a little “extra” time to things that matter. And they have chosen to have a little “extra” attitude (the positive kind).

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is nothing more then this little “extra.” A little extra decision to invest in those things that are worthwhile. A little extra choice to focus on that which is positive and life-inspiring. A little extra encouragement given to those all around.

We all would do well to take a lesson from the extraordinary people around us. They remind me of the verse in the Bible in Galatians that says, “So let’s not get tired of doing good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Imagine what would happen if more of us decided that we were going to just invest a little more time and energy into the things that matter—our families, our communities, our marriages. My guess is that we would see a lot more extraordinary things happen.

This weekend, why don’t you consider investing a little “extra” into your relationship with Father God? The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to encourage you to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

In The Waiting

by Tim Howard

If you ever see me at a store waiting in the checkout line, don’t get behind me! I’ve not been given the gift from God that enables people to choose the line that will require the shortest amount of time. It doesn’t matter what store I frequent or what time of the day, the result is generally the same. In similar fashion, I am positive that all the slow drivers in Hanford follow me around town whenever I get behind the wheel of my car.

Whether it’s waiting in the checkout aisle or waiting behind an automobile driver who seems to move slower than I prefer, patience is not my strongest suit. That’s unfortunate because waiting is a part of life and there is no escape. I remember this incredible feeling that surfaced in my senior year of High School when I just couldn’t wait until I graduated. Then I couldn’t wait to get into college, I couldn’t wait to get married, I couldn’t wait to have children, the list goes on and on… you are always waiting for something!

Patience is the ability to wait with a positive attitude. It is an old English word that means ‘longsuffering’. One person asked, “How long does one have to suffer?” and someone answered: “Longer than you want.” That says it all! Patience is waiting longer than you want for something to happen.

What we often overlook is the work God is trying to accomplish in us while we are in the waiting process. From His vantage point it is not idle time. It is not a time to twiddle our thumbs or tread water until something changes. It is an opportunity to expose what’s on the inside and deal with our character. When I wait with the wrong attitude, I see frustration, irritation, sometimes anger and intolerance coming to the surface. The waiting doesn’t create these character flaws but reveals them.

God tells us in the book of James, chapter one, that times of waiting will test our faith. Once you pass the test, however, you can move on to greater things. The author puts it this way: “…when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

Learning to wait is essential. Everything cannot, should not and will not happen NOW or as quickly as you might desire. Instant gratification may be prevalent in our culture but delayed gratification will build character when your attitude is correct.

There is danger in the waiting period. You might be tempted to draw wrong conclusions about God. You may start to doubt His love for you. You may think He has forgotten about your situation. You may even be tempted to take matters into your own hands since He isn’t moving as fast as you would like. Let me assure you God hasn’t forgotten you. He is never late and He always has your best interest in mind.

The next time you are in the waiting process, check out what’s going on internally and take note of what’s coming to the surface. Don’t forget that God is at work in you to develop your character in these times. If you remember this you might even be able to relax and rejoice in the waiting!