Fall Creek Christian Church

"Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the body they were burying into the tomb of Elisha. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!" II Kings 13:20-21 I love words like refresh, revive, restore and renew. Just to say them sparks life. I love driving at sunset, windows down and radio up. The colors of the sky, the wind in my face, the melodies of the songs allow me for a few short minutes to take a deep breath. I gain perspective. God rules. When all is said and done, his purposes and his plans will be accomplished. In those thoughts, my anxieties and worries dissipate and peace comes. The story today is wild illustration of the life giving power of God. God chooses in a dramatic way to remind the people of Israel that he rules over everything, including life an...

“And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  Matthew  22:39 "To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper." Proverbs 19:8 There are times when I'm looking at my wife or my children listening intently to every word they're saying. I understand the meaning of the words, but I have no idea what they're trying to communicate. I'll give them my all too familiar blank look and say, "I have no idea what you just said or what it is you're asking me." After another pass or two, we normally break through to clarity and move on from there. I've noticed there are times when I'm reading the Bible where I have that similar experience of lack of understanding. The second greatest command of Jesus is one of those examples. It's not so much the "love your neighbor" part. It's the "as yourself" part. What does that mean? One of the great truths about the Bible is ...

“And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love." Acts 20:22-24 The boss man's arrival on the job site was normally followed by several barked instructions which would typically be changed two or three times before taking his next breath. He was a no-nonsense, "we gotta job to do" kind of guy. I learned many wonderful lessons from him during those college summers shoveling asphalt. One of which, very simply, was "Do what you're told". It's amazing how many people simply drop the ball on their assignments. With the boss man, you either figured it out right away or you were invited to go home ... with your ears ringing ... ...

"This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."  I Peter 2:21-23 Being a directionally challenged person, I've learned the value of following. It doesn't matter if it's following a someone or a GPS. I just don't like being lost. It's unsettling. I've been lost in cities. I've been lost in the woods. I've been lost on lakes. I've even been lost in buildings. Having someone or something to follow that is reliable has saved me from a great deal of grief. In our verses for the day, Peter has a thing or two to say about following. First and foremost, follow Christ. There are many options to choose from, but at the end of the day, come hell or high water, you will...

"For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die."  Philippians 1:20  As I watched one of our brave military members receive their congressional medal of honor, I was completely mesmerized. The acts of heroism recited and recognized by those honoring them left me wanting to be a better person. My mind whirled imagining the scene they encountered and the decisions they made in the midst of it. It was inspiring to all to see such selflessness, courage, and sacrifice. Honor matters. In our verse for the day, we find honor prominently placed right next to Jesus. He embodied honor at every level in every circumstance he faced. What "medal" is he worthy of? His Father bestowed upon him the "name that is above every name." What about us? What could we possibly give Jesus that wou...

"As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. For God says, 'At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.' Indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation." II Cor. 6:1-2 I have received some pretty amazing gifts in my life. At the time of their arrival, my heart absolutely overflowed with joy and gratitude. These gifts represented the meeting of desperate needs or deep longings. They've come in all shapes and sizes with values so huge that no price tag could contain them. Sadly, however, not even the magnitude of these incredible gifts has kept my heart attentive to them over the long haul. Given Paul's plea in our verses today, it is clear that this problem is not unique to me nor our moment in history. Paul calls out this church for receiving the most marvelous of gifts, God's kindness, and then ignoring it. What?! God heard them. H...

"But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it."   Numbers  14:24 In the too few moments in my life where I could honestly say, "I got it right", each one would have a connection point with God's instructions.  I have never experienced regret, guilt or shame when I chose to trust and obey God.  I am unable to recall any time when I did not obey God and left feeling good about it. In Numbers 14, we find a man named Caleb who got it right.  God told Moses to send some men to explore the land which he was about to give to the Israelites.  Ten of them decided to change the mission.  They decided it was their job to determine whether or not it was a good idea to take possession of the land or not, essentially disregarding God's instructions.  They got it wrong and it cost them their lives.  Caleb, however, was firmly fixed on one que...

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this? ... When he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, 'Lazarus come out!'  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'"  John 11:25-26; 43-44 I've attended and officiated several funerals at this point in my life.  Naturally, the story of Lazarus' resurrection is a regular feature at such moments.  It is a powerful foreshadowing of what is going to happen when Jesus returns. Jesus makes it clear in this story that HE is the Author of life.  Death, tombs, stones, and grave clothes are no match for the one who is "the resurrection and the life."  Life is important to him.  We are important to him.  He desires for the t...

"Help me, O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love.  Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it."  Psalm 109:26-27 After recounting an amazing story of healing my friend was asked, "How did that happen?"  The answer was short and oh so sweet, "God."  The doctor who had told him that he only had months to live died years ago, while he continues to live an active life.  Truly remarkable. The writer of these verses would have smiled if he would have heard that story.  That's what he wanted.  He didn't just want to be saved.  He wanted to be saved in accordance to God's love and in such a way that it could only be explained by the hand of God.     Each of us in one way or another are seeking to be saved today.  Very few of us, however, are asking or looking for a God-sized moment.  We'll try to save ourselves or try to find someone else to bail us out and in so doing, we leave no room for God's lo...

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV) The miracle of life being formed. It is enough to make our heads hurt. There are so many things that happen in our world that are hard to comprehend. It is hard to theorize everything that God has created and everything that God does. It is beyond our limited intellects. It interesting to note that God can be so complex and so rich in thought, yet at the same time he can be so accessible, simple, and close. This is the work of God. The work that exceeds our wildest imaginations, and the work that even a child can begin to understand. This is the Maker of all things, our God.

"Make it your ambition to a lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."    I Thessalonians 4:11-12   In visiting with a friend recently, he found himself in the all too familiar story of a company making cutbacks.  Rumors.  Phone calls.  Anxiety.  Painful waiting.  All these experiences and emotions swirled around his life and heart as his livelihood was on the line.  As the cutbacks rolled out, people began to call and ask if he was let go as well.  After an agonizing weekend of waiting, he finally called his boss and asked if he still had a job.  The answer was "yes".  After additional conversations, he found out why.  As it turns out, those in charge had been taking careful notice of the performance and attit...