Fall Creek Christian Church

"The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be, Jehovah-Shammah - 'The Lord Is There.'" Ezekiel 48:35 "Hey dad. Dad. Hey dad! Dad! Hello-o-o-o Dad!" These are the words of my sweet daughter trying valiantly to capture my attention. Sometimes numerous attempts are needed even if we're separated by only a few feet. Lost in a news article, a game, or my mind's often visited nothing square, it doesn't even register that she's wanting my attention. Sharing space and being present are not the same thing. In the very last words of his message to Israel through Ezekiel, God tells his people that the city in Ezekiel's prophecy will have the most significant distinguishing feature in the universe - The Lord Is There. It's not just a name, it's a statement of connection with his people. No longer will they worship from a distance. He will be up close, personal and fully engaged ...

"People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:7-8 "Don't say it! Don't say it! Don't say it! ... Oops, I said it." There are too many moments in my life where all the self talk in the world could not keep my mouth shut. Inevitably, this failure to keep quiet necessitates a sheepish apology. Unfortunately, my family is most often the unwanted beneficiary of my discouraging words. I didn't want to be negative and hurtful, but I was. Maybe you are familiar with this struggle..?? In our verses for the day, James lays it out clearly and concisely. It's just his style. "You ... cannot ... tame ... your ... tongue." It's restless. What a great descriptor! Left unchecked, the evil tongue will spew a destructive poison. Isn't that the truth!? Now what? Jesus, James brother, weighs in at this point in the conversation, ...

"All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they had come from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16 Dropping kids off at camp can be a challenging experience, particular the first time. Spending a week separated from mom and dad can be a scary proposition. One of our daughters cried herself to sleep every night holding onto the little notes we wrote for her for each day. There is something very special about a healthy home. Belonging and security to be sure. However, the biggest part of home is WHO is the...

 "Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin. Why should I let them ask me anything? ... Therefore, give the people this message from the Sovereign Lord: Repent and turn from your idols, and stop all your loathsome practices." Ezekiel 14:3-6 While doing some serious yard work, my wife and I came across an extensive patch of poison ivy. We had gloves, but were not properly covered to protect from the oil that causes all the itching and burning. Unfortunately, my wife is extremely sensitive to it. In short order, her skin was red, blistered and itchy leaving her absolutely miserable. Some things simply need to be militantly avoided. God, through the prophet Ezekiel, laid out some of those, "Danger! Stay away!" items. Idols. The context here was not little statues. Specifically, he was speaking to the unseen idols they had set up in their hearts. God will not be one of many gods we worship...

"Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops." Proverbs 26:20 I've sat around what seems like a thousand campfires in my lifetime. Ever since I was a kid, the mesmerizing orange glow has held my complete attention. Singing, praying, laughing, telling stories, and making s'mores have been a regular feature around those fires. As time goes by, the fire dwindles and the air gets colder which leads to the inevitable request for another log.    The author of the Proverb for the day makes a significant observation for all of us to consider carefully. A campfire isn't the only thing that goes out when there's no more fuel. Fights need fuel too. Gossip, slander, harsh words and the like keep fights going. He uses a short but decisively clear word to embrace when it comes to battling each other -- STOP. Stop fueling the fight. Too many people, too many families face each other as if on battle lines. The ensuing estran...

"Later Johanan had a private conference with Gedaliah and volunteered to kill Ishmael secretly. 'Why should we let him come and murder you?' Johanan asked. 'What will happen then to the Judeans who have returned? Why should the few of us who are still left be scattered and lost?' But Gedaliah said to Johanan. 'I forbid you to do any such thing, for you are lying about Ishmael.' ... But in midautumn, Ishmael ...and his ten men suddenly drew their swords and killed Gedaliah ..." Jeremiah 40:15-41:3 On more occasions than I can count, I've searched in vain for any number of items around the house that I just knew "had to be here somewhere." I've emptied drawers, emptied closets, climbed into attics, and rummaged through the garage and shed with vigorous intensity only to unearth frustration. It's at this point where my wife asks, "What are you looking for?" I tell her. She says, "O, it's right here." Ask...

  "The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions." I Timothy 1:5-6 As a teenager in the 80's, I watched puzzled as Mr. Miyagi kept having Daniel LaRusso put wax on his cars in the movie Karate Kid. "Wax on. Wax off." He then told him, "Paint the fence. Up. Down." It wasn't until after days of this that Daniel ran out of patience and demanded to know why he was doing all this work. It was then Mr. Miyagi revealed that he had actually been teaching him karate defense moves. Purpose. It's a big deal. We want to know the answer to the why question. Paul wanted to be sure he had clearly communicated that all important answer to Timothy. Specifically, "Why keep giving me all these instructions Paul?"...