Fall Creek Christian Church

"As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' He looked at them and said, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went, their leprosy disappeared. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, 'Praise God, I'm healed!' He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, 'Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?'" Luke 17:12-17 Raising kids has been and will always be a difficult and hopefully a wonderfully rewarding experiencing. The tension of both meeting their needs and training them to be grateful is such a fine line to walk. We don't want them living longing for love nor do we want them living with an entitled attitude. One of the tools that helped us when our kids were little was a kids song entitled, "'Please' and 'Thank you...

"Then Moses spoke again to Korah: 'Now listen, you Levites! Does it seem a small thing to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the people of Israel to be near him as you serve in the Lord's Tabernacle and to stand before the people to minister to them? He has given this special ministry only to you and your fellow Levites, but now you are demanding the priesthood as well!" Numbers 16:8-10 "...the ambition of treacherous people traps them." Proverbs 11:6 Growing up, our kids had what we called the "Whiner's Timeout Chair." It was located in the room next to the kitchen and faced the wall. All day long, the chair would be filled and emptied several times. When one of the four girls began the screeching, high pitched whiny voice, off to the chair they'd go. We'd say, "We can't understand you when you're whining. Sit in the chair until you're done and then you can come back and join everyone else...

"When you have eaten your fill, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and laws."  Deuteronomy 8:10-11 My family asks me every Christmas and every birthday what I would like for a gift. I typically meet this question with a perplexed look on my face followed up with an awkward, "Um ... I don't know." I'm kind of a simple guy with no real desire for a lot of stuff. Being healthy, well-fed, and sheltered, I don't really think about wanting anything. Unfortunately, I too often forget to be thankful for what I've been given. Moses was fully aware of the human propensity to lose sight of the giver of the blessings in the midst of the blessings. It's easy to start assuming that this is the way it will always be or worse that somehow God owes us a happy, healthy, full life. Moses warn...

"You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!"  Psalm 119:4-7 I really enjoy playing golf. I'm not very good at it, but I enjoy it. The fresh air, the fellowship, the challenge - good stuff. Every once in awhile, once or twice in a round of 18, I'll actually hit a shot that any pro on the tour would be happy to claim. It's the shot I'll tell everyone about later. Unfortunately, the next shot I hit is almost always completely forgettable. Inconsistency isn't exclusively a problem for novice golfers. The Psalmist makes the point that it is a real danger as well for those claiming to be Jesus followers. God has loved us so deeply. Our lives reveal whether or not we're thankful for that love. The consistency or lack thereof bet...

"Jesus answered him,'Simon, I have something to tell you.' 'Tell me teacher,' he said. 'Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred danarii, and the other owed him fifty. Neither had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?' Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.' 'You have judged correctly,' Jesus said." Luke 7:40-43 I was dreading the day. An inescapable obligation, to which I had no desire to go, was getting closer and closer. I was literally feeling sick about it. All my emotions kept escalating. Frustration gave way to anger. "Clearly, this situation is completely ridiculous," I would tell anyone who would listen. Mercifully, I received a call telling me all was cancelled, done, over and out. Thankfulness flooded my soul.  Jesus had an audience made up of self-righteous religious types, those who we...