Kinsman Redeemer

This past Sunday we continued our series Soul Art. It's truly been a life-changing month for a lot of us.

You can listen to this message on on our website at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can listen on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

During the middle of my sermon and the story of Ruth I mentioned the concept of Kinsman Redeemer. I didn't have the time on Sunday morning to dive into this powerful teaching so I wanted to cover it in this weeks blog.

A kinsman redeemer in the Old Testament would have the responsibilities to...
1. To redeem or buy back a poor man's person, family, or property from indenture from arising out of poverty (Lev. 25:25) or warfare.
2. To redeem a person or thing dedicated to the Lord. (Lev. 27:13)
3. The responsibility of the nearest kinsman to bear a son through the widow of the deceased and childless relative. (Ruth 3:13)

How did you become a kinsman redeemer? How did you qualify?
  1. Had to be a blood relative.
  2. Had to be able to purchase forfeited inheritance.
  3. Had to be willing to buy back forfeited inheritance.
  4. Had to be willing to marry the wife of the deceased kinsman.

There were many people in the Old Testament who fulfilled this role for others. Even though it cost them a lot they still did the right thing. In the story we talked about on Sunday, Boaz was an amazing kinsman redeemer for Ruth. But here is a POWERFUL TRUTH. JESUS WAS OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER. Let's look at the contrast.


1. Had to be a blood relative. Christ was born of a woman.
2. Had to be able to purchase forfeited inheritance. Chad had the merit to pay the price for sinners.
3. Had to be willing to buy back forfeited inheritance. Christ willingly laid down his life on the cross.
4. Had to be willing to marry the wife of the deceased kinsman. We became the bride of Christ, the Church! 

I'm so thankful that even though I was dark and lost in sin, Jesus still purchased my forgiveness and freedom on the cross!!!

We all can reach GOLD

I just read a blog from author & life coach Tommy Newberry and thought it was worth sharing with you!! Hope it inspires you and challenges you to be everything God has created you and called you to be!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

You may have watched this inspiring ad on TV. The commercial begins with images of Olympic athletes training and then we hear their voices:

“Take a day off; shoot, I don’t take a morning off.”
“I haven’t ordered dessert in two years.”
“You know that book everyone is reading? I haven’t read it.”

This summer, your commitment to self-discipline can determine your capability to thrive in an economy where most are simply happy to survive. It no doubt influences your finances, your marriage, your parenting, your career, your spiritual health, your physical health, and just about everything else as well. No area of your life remains untouched by self-discipline for very long.

Self-discipline is the connective tissue that links ambition with achievement. Mastering self-discipline is like strapping turbo boosters to your vision and goals. It helps take you where you want to go faster, easier, and makes it possible for you to get more out of life along the way. But here is the rub. We live in culture where “now” is often not fast enough.

Logically, self-discipline helps us conquer this mass impulsivity and the desire for instant gratification. Like world-class athletes, those who understand the value of long-term goals are willing to sacrifice something lesser today for something greater tomorrow. But the self-discipline of deferring pleasure requires practice and lots of repetition. You must be willing to pay a price today in order to receive the rewards that will very likely not show up until tomorrow.

Because their appetite is aimed at the pleasure of the current moment, underachievers are at a great disadvantage in this arena. To the contrary, high achievers dwell on and are motivated by the value and lasting pleasure triggered from big accomplishments. With self-discipline, you are choosing success and the life of a peak performer. (And this is a good thing!)

Because self-discipline can be learned, it is an equal-opportunity character trait, and arguably the second most important ingredient in reaching your full potential. Self-discipline is the ability to funnel your desires and passions in a productive direction, for a sustained period of time in order to achieve your goals. It is an investment in your future, and demonstrations of self-discipline carry with them the added blessing of also inspiring others, as we recently observed with the London Olympic Games.

It’s a shame, though, that many people believe that self-discipline just isn’t “their thing,” that some people have it and some don’t. But they are wrong. People often want to take short-cuts to success, but success demands character and character demands self-discipline. If you learn to value self-discipline and harness its power, you will stand head and shoulders above the crowd.

Simply put, those who master themselves, master their potential.

With self-discipline, you do what needs to be done without a teacher, boss, parent, coach, or supervisor looking over your shoulder to make sure you’ve accomplished your job or training regimen and done it with excellence.

Self-discipline helps you synchronize your goals with your choices and keep you moving in the direction of your desired objective. It is developed by moving forward one step at a time and creating momentum in small, daily acts. The first step is to recognize you’re not a slave to your feelings. You can still make positive, goal-directed choices in spite of your emotions. 

Most people get tangled up in unproductive decisions because they don’t understand this reality. Undisciplined people are slaves to their feelings, so they experience self-inflicted problems and frustrations that disciplined people typically avoid.

No matter what your goals may be, your commitment to self-discipline will keep you focused on your intentions and off your fears and worries. You will do what you need to do when you need to do it, whether you feel like it or not.

Life will seldom be about what you can’t do and more often will be about what you won’t do. Learn to distinguish between the two and you’ll surge ahead of those around you. Learn to engage self-discipline to overcome the “won’t,” and forge ahead, in spite of how you feel at the particular moment.

Understand that future change is an illusion and a myth. Tomorrow changes only as a result of what you do today. In my coaching practice, I’ve discovered that the most unhappy people in the world are those who use the word “tomorrow” most often. Because of delay and chronic indecision, they don’t even really show up for their own lives, and when they finally realize it, it’s too late.

Remember, discipline happens…eventually. Either we take the lead and discipline ourselves or life will, at some point, step in and play the role of disciplinarian for us.

My own field of dreams!

This past Sunday we continued our new series "At the movies" with "Field of Dreams"

You can listen to this message on dreams on our website at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can listen on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

We looked at the life of Joseph in Genesis and talked about the reality, "The size of our dreams reveals the size of our God!" 

The harsh reality is that many of us are so busy and so consumed with temporal things, we don't take time to DREAM BIG!! When I say dream big it doesn't necessarily mean having to compare ourselves to the President or Mother Theresa. We all have the same opportunity to seek God and allow Him to birth dreams for our world and sphere of influence. 

What dreams do you have for your marriage? (I know my dream is to celebrate my 50th anniversary with my wife!! Hey, 12 down only 38 more to go :) 

What dreams do you have for your family? 

How could your community, city, neighborhood be better? 

How could God use you to mentor and be an example to children and teens?

Is there something that God could use you to create that would meet a current need in our society? 

How could God use your gifts and talents to make your church community more effective?

Allowing God to show us how things could and should be is a part of the process. God is the master and planting dreams in the hearts of his children and then providing the strength and even the miraculous provision of that dream.

May we not settle for small dreams that we can obtain in our small finite strength and limited wisdom. Let's allow God to birth God sized dreams in our hearts that cause us to rely only on Him and to take risks trusting He will be faithful and come through!!

Incredible Life

This past Sunday we continued our new series "At the movies." We followed the life of "Bob" Mr. Incredible and the challenges he faced.

You can listen to this message on purpose on our website at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can listen on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

Mr. Incredible was alive when he was a superhero. However, when he was placed in the Super's Relocation program and forced to work in an insurance office, he became an empty shell? How many of us today are really empty shells?

We all want to live a life full of purpose. Every single one of us has greatness etched in our DNA. Yet, how do we live a full life with purpose? How do we obtain what so often seems to be like catching steam in our hands...elusive. 

Ralph Barton (Famous Cartoonist in the 1920’s) left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: "I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day."  

Many have looked to fame, money, success, drinking, relationships, parties and a whole more to find purpose. Yet, when the dust settles, we still feel empty and like we are not living life to the fullest. Why is that? 

No matter how hard we work, how popular in our sphere of influence we get or how many friends we have…OUR SOUL LONGS FOR REAL PURPOSE!! Why? Achievements are eventually surpassed and forgotten, records are broken and reputations fade. 

Many people are living but they are not alive. Many simply don’t realize the significance of which they were born for. Many people want to be significant and live a life of purpose but they look in the wrong areas. If you want to know WHY YOU WERE PLACED ON THIS PLANT, you MUST BEGIN WITH GOD!

We struggle to find purpose because we begin at the wrong starting point—ourselves. What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future.  You were made for God not vise versa—Rick Warren

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-10—⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

True meaning and purpose is birthed from knowing God. You can disagree with me, think I'm crazy or even call me narrow minded. However, deep down in all of our souls, there is a longing for more, for something than bigger than ourselves. Why? God placed that inside of us and it can only be fulfilled in Him. 

May we all come to know God personally and discover the purpose that we were placed on this planet for!

Are you looking for the six fingered man?

This past Sunday was the kickoff of our new series "At the movies." We followed the life of Inigo Montoya in "The Princess Bride." 


You can listen to this message on forgiveness on our website at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can listen on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 


A great book to read about forgiveness and redemption is "Through the Gates of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliot. It's a true story and you will be sucked in right away. 


She went through a very challenging situation and was faced with a choice. Was she going to become bitter, angry or was she going to forgive and trust God. 


You can buy the book on amazon by clicking on this link...
http://www.amazon.com/Through-Gates-Splendor-Hendrickson-Biographies/dp/1598564692/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341505351&sr=8-1&keywords=through+the+gates+of+splendor


You can watch the movie "The End of the Spear" as well even though I highly recommend the book :) 

We all have a GAP

Upick was a great series. We really appreciate everyone's honest questions as people seek to know God and follow Him. We always want to welcome questions and in the words of Mark Batterson, "I don't get worried when people are asking questions, I get worried when no one is asking questions." 
You can listen to any of the messages on our website at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can listen on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 


Dealing with the question, "Why are Christians so judgmental" was probably the most challenging for me. WHY? Because judging is not a Christian thing it is a people thing. If we are authentic with each other, we all struggle with it to some degree. 


Even the fact that I spoke on homosexuality and temptation this past Sunday reveals that truth. I have had people who don't even know me or have never talked to me call me names and judge me from a distance. 


I also saw people who never listened to the actual message I spoke comment on my sermon. 


So, judging is something we all face. Is it possible for two people to disagree and still love each other and treat each other with respect. I believe so. 
As a follow up to my message this past Sunday, I wanted to expound on the GAP that we all encounter in our relationship with God. There will come a point and time where the Bible (our life source as Christians) and our feelings, thoughts and/or experiences disagree. 
When the gap happens we have a choice to make. Am I going to trust God's heart and believe He knows best or am I going to throw out that part of the Bible and choose the way I feel. 


I came across this quote today and thought it summed up the gap thought pretty well...


‎"We are either in the process of resisting God's truth or in the process of being shaped and molded by his truth." - Charles Stanley


Do I like everything God says...of course not. Are there things He asks me to do in His word that are difficult...YES! However, I choose to trust Him and obey Him because I know He loves me and has my best interest in mind. I believe He is the creator and therefore the designer usually knows best :) 
As you come to a GAP in your own life, may you choose to trust God's word and find yourself walking in greater freedom!!!

Is it all about money?

So far it's been a great month at Wyandotte Family for "Upick." This past Sunday we talked about "Why are Christians so judgmental?". You can listen to the message on our website at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can listen on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 


Let’s continue through our "Upick" questions this week as we look at blog question #4 "Why does the church always ask for money?"
That is a great question. Money. Something everyone in the world wishes they had more of. If you and I were authentic in this moment, we probably have thought that more money would = more happiness. Obviously, it really doesn't in the long run. So, what's up with the church asking for money. 


There are several reasons and 3 different angles of the topic I would like to address. Before I do, however, I can't ignore the reality. Have many pastors, priests and churches done wrong and abused the money, yes. In every profession and every field, there are those who give others a bad reputation by their poor choices. There are other pastors and churches that have affected all churches with their poor choices. Unfortunately you have not heard of the thousands of churches that are handling the money given with integrity and excellent stewardship. 
In spite of people’s wrong and evil choices, it still doesn't change the importance and blessing that comes with giving. 


#1--Practical--Money is needed to operate. Every organization, business, non-profit operates on money. They have an overhead of employees, facility, utilities, supplies etc. We are all too aware of businesses closing due to the recent economy. 
The church is in the same boat. However, we are not selling a product. What we are striving to do; share the truth of God's love, get people connected to a family & help people discover the gifts & talents in order to serve others, is all free. We don't have a cover charge to get in church. Therefore, if people do not give, it is pretty simple, that specific church body will no longer have a meeting spot or the programming for children's, teens etc. 


#2-Community--The more people that give the more can be accomplished in a community. Every church as a specific vision and focus. At Wyandotte Family we give 16% of our general fund away. We love to practice the very thing we are asking you to do. We support missionaries in 2 countries and Life Challenge of Detroit, a Christian rehabilitation center and have a missions fund to help support missionaries that are in need. We also give 12% back into the community through Third Friday's, our annual "Week in Wyandotte" (www.weekinwyandotte.org), the Street Fair and our "Blessing Project."

When the people of the church are faithful in their giving, the collective church is able to give back and touch other people's lives.


#3--Spiritual--Money is not the root of all evil...the love of money is. Money is often the #1 contender with God for our heart. It wants to give us the illusion of control and power. Yet, we all know how elusive, unreliable and unsecure it really is. It can be here in one moment and gone the next. 


God has set up practices and principles of giving as a way to keep us from making it our God. If we continually give to Him, then we are saying, God you are my #1 and I'll show you by my obedience and generosity. Here are 6 benefits of giving. 


Six Benefits of Giving


1. Giving makes me more like God
John 3: 16-God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…


2. Giving draws me Closer to God.
Matthew 6:21-Where your treasure is, there your heart is also


3. Giving is the antidote to Materialism.
1 Timothy 6:17-19-Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to be generous and willing to share. In this way they may take hold of the life that is truly Life!


4. Giving Strengthens my Faith
Proverbs 3:5,9-Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of your income, and He will flow your barns to overflowing.


5. Giving is an investment in Eternity
1 Timothy 6:18-19 LB-Give happily to those in need, and always be ready to share whatever God has given you. By doing this, you will be storing up real treasure for yourselves in heaven - it is the only safe investment for eternity.


6. Giving Blesses me in return-Proverbs 22:9A generous man himself will be blessed. Proverbs 11:25A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.


Questions about the spiritual practice of "Tithing"


1. What is tithing? “Tithe” means “a tenth part.”


2. What is the difference between a Tithe and an Offering? A “tithe” is giving the first tenth of my income. An “offering” is anything I give in addition to my tithe.


3. Why should I tithe? 
Because God commands it.—“A tenth of all you produce is the Lord’s.” Leviticus 27:30
Because Jesus commended it.“Yes, you should tithe, and you shouldn’t leave the more important things undone either.” Matthew 23:23


4. Tithing demonstrates that God has first place in my life.
“The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God in first place in your life.” Deuteronomy 14:23 LB


5. Tithing reminds me that everything I have was given to me by God!“
Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18


6. Tithing expresses my love to the Lord.“ Each of you should bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 16:17


7. God says that refusing to tithe is stealing from Him! 
“God says ‘Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!’ But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ God says ‘In tithes and offerings ... Bring your whole tithe to My house.’” Malachi 3:8-10

I know this was a longer blog but I wanted to address this sticky and hot topic. I pray that you grow in generosity and grow in giving throughout your life. I pray that God blesses you and continues to provide for your needs as your trust in Him!!!