Fall Creek Christian Church

"You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Luke 22:28-30 One of the first things my daughter and her husband did when they bought their first house was get a dog. A big happy go lucky golden doodle named, "Murphy." He is, of course, a family favorite and honestly I kind of like him too. They've worked on training him and have made some real progress. He'll stay when told to, most of the time. However, when the activity around is too much, staying becomes optional. Jesus had much to say to his disciples as he prepared them for his imminent departure. He made them some amazing promises: they would have places of royalty in his Kingdom, to eat at his table and thrones upon which to rule. Wow! Those were some incredible promises. What was so great abou...

"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation." Proverbs 3:3-4 Without reminders, my life would be in chaos. I have them everywhere. Post-it notes strategically placed. Phone reminders going off continuously. Requests to my spouse and coworkers that begin with, "Help! Don't let me forget!" I will still resort to writing on the back of my hand in order to keep me from forgetting. Perhaps, you are a part of the "Reminders Needed" club as well. All indications are that there are a whole bunch of us.    Our verses for today lay out at least two relational skills we do not want to forget. Make a necklace if you have to, just don't forget. Loyalty. Kindness. Make them so much a part of who you are that you cannot be separated from them. Stand by those whom you know. Be friendly to those w...

“But Ruth replied,'Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'"  Ruth  1:16 "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs  18:24    As I heard the person tell me what my friend had said, something inside of me shattered. I was crushed. For the first time in my young life, I felt the inimitable sting of betrayal. It was awful. That day, my innocent naivete' regarding the trustworthiness of friends dropped off a cliff. From then on, loyalty became a non-negotiable prerequisite for true friendships in my life. Naomi knew loyalty. Ruth refused to abandon her to face her fate alone. She stuck close, unwilling to yield her resolve even in the face of Naomi's order to leave. As a result, both women were blessed. A family tree of character and honor was established that soon led...