Fall Creek Christian Church

This is the time of year that is we often hear people start to talk in terms of this Spring Cleaning Attitude that they are getting into, and this means something different for everyone. The Garage is the place that we typically tackle with this Spring Cleaning attitude.  We remove all the items, sweep it out, empty the shelves and dust them off and next comes the fun.  We play with things we had forgotten were there and then discuss what is still in good shape that we don’t need that someone else could use and if we know someone specific or if we should donate it.  The next step is more difficult and that is we discuss what needs to be disposed of because for whatever reason it doesn’t have a place in our life any longer. In surveying the garage last night I started to take mental notes of items that might fall into that last category and then occurred to me that that this Spring Cleaning Attitude fits right in line with Matthew 12: 43-45. "When an impure spirit comes

"I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Luke 3:16 On a regular basis in my home, my beautiful wife generates quite the extensive "to-do" list. The list includes cleaning bathrooms, laundry, fix-its, vacuuming, dusting, yard chores, light bulb changes ... well, you get the picture. For any one person, it would be a formidable list, to say the least. Mercifully, however, one person is never charged with the whole list. We all get our own list. The alphabetized sub-categories are cleanly divided between the familial labor force. We all moan and groan equally. Yet, at the end of the day, we are all thankful for at least three things: none of us had to do the entire list, the house is clean, and mama's happy. John the Baptist had a job to do. He was preparing the path for Jesus. He cleared out the overgrown vegetation

This is the time of year when whether you are an NCAA basketball fan or not you are going to hear about basketball.  If you are a fan, then you have no doubt been working through your bracket, trying to figure out who is going to win each game and ultimately win the National Championship. You are truly excited that March Madness has arrived.  I will admit that this is a fun time of year for me as I really enjoy college basketball.  This many quality games back to back is just a lot of fun to watch and enjoy with friends and family.  Sunday, after the selection show, I was watching all the commentary regarding the brackets from quite a few individuals with a great deal of knowledge about these teams.  It really struck me how they all put their personal spin on what team would eventually be the National Champion.  It seemed funny that they all had the same information, the same teams, and yet, they each put their own personal opinion into their analysis and developed a different answer.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd put their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.'" Mark 12:41-44 In the context of family budgeting, the idea of an emergency fund or "rainy day" fund is one most of us are familiar with even if we are yet to establish one. Basically, an emergency fund recognizes that life is unpredictable. Unexpected financial storms can kick up at anytime leaving us at risk and in peril of serious consequences. To prepare for that, we create an emergency fund, something to bail us out when the going gets tough. I