Day 3 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Meditation: Families are knit together by their stories. What binds God's Family together is His Story. Are you so familiar with God's Story that it has become the foundation of your own story?

Prayer: God in Heaven, you are the Word that existed in the very begining, that became flesh and lived and walked among us. Please open my heart and mind, to know you. Give me the dedication and discipline to open the pages of scripture and read and meditate on your Story. And most importantly, Father, give me the courage to live it.

Day 2 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Romans 8:12-17 & Galatians 4:1-7

Meditation: Recently in the UYG (University Youth Group), we’ve been talking about the names of God. One that we looked at was “Abba”, which means “Father”, or a closer translation would be “Daddy”. That night in class we talked about how cool it is that we can call God our “Daddy”. He is LORD, King, Creator, and all those other things…but He’s also our Daddy.

Over the last month or so, I have spent considerable time just sitting in my chair holding my brand new little girl and staring at her face. Obviously, the idea of calling God my “Daddy” has changed enormously over that time. I cannot wait until I can hear Addison call out to me and call me “Daddy”. I can’t wait to tickle her and amongst her laughs and giggles hear her call me “Daddy”. I can’t wait to come home from the office and be greeted by her running up to me with her arms open yelling “Daddy!” and just swoop her up into my arms while I hug and kiss her.

And then I think of Mark 14:36. Jesus is in the garden, about to go to the cross, and He falls down and cries out to Abba to take this cup from Him. To hear His Son call out to Him, “Daddy! Don’t make me do this”, must have been so hard to listen to. When Addie cries out to me and begs for her Daddy to come rescue her, you better know that nothing is going to stand in my way of coming in and saving her. So what love must our Abba have for us that He listened to His Son call out to Him, and yet still allowed Him to die on the cross for us. Your Abba loves you so much!

-Josh Jones

Prayer: Almighty God, Creator of heaven & earth, You are known as Elohim, Adonai, El Shaddai, and Yahweh. You have been our provider, watcher, banner, and shield. You are a Consuming Fire and a gentle breeze. You are God Most High, yet you have invited us to call you Daddy - Abba. We love you for all that you are, but most of all that you are our Father.

Day 1 of 40 Days of Prayer

Reading: John 1:10-13

Meditation: Is there any greater status in this world than to be a child of God? I think not.

Prayer: Father, thank you so much for enabling me to become you child. Help me to trust you fully as my Father, knowing that you know me and what I need better than I do, and that your desire for me is more healthy than even my own desires. Help me to live up to the name you have given me.

40 Days of Prayer

In the days of Noah, God sent rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights so He could prepare the world for a new beginning.

Moses stayed 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the Law that would transform fleeing slaves into the mighty nation of Israel.

Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness praying and fasting before choosing the 12 disciples thus beginning his public ministry and the work that would change the world forever.

Why God has chosen 40 days for preparing His people to do great things is unknown, but itcan’t be ignored.

In the next 40 days starting tomorrow, I would like to challenge you to set aside some time each day when you can spend time with God in prayer, scripture reading and reflection. You can do this alone, or if you haven’t been already, start praying together as a family.

For the next 40 Days, we will be reminded that we are indeed a ‘community of believers’ as our vision statement here at University declares. But more than just a simple community, we’re part of a family.

Through readings, meditations, and prayer, this Family prayer time will lead us into a closer walk with God and with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The last 40 days of 2009 can be a powerfully moving experience for us. We each have different experiences with our earthly family; some good, some not so. Regardless, be thankful in every circumstance. And if possible, and if needful, strengthen the bonds that have grown weak in your relationships.

God is interested in families. The last words of the Old Testament look forward to the ministry of John the Baptist (figured as Elijah) who would be preparing the people for the coming Messiah. Listen to how God pictures his ministry:

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:5-6).

Are you ‘turned’ toward your family? Turn to God in prayer in these 40 days, and let God turn your heart in greater ways toward your parents, children, spouse, and your brothers and sisters in Christ.

(Each day, starting tomorrow, I will post that day's reading and prayer meditation. I hope you will be blessed in your participation. -John Wheeler)

Sermon in 60 Seconds

I know it has been a while... I'm still here. I am going to start posting my sermons here each week in a 60 second format. I hope you like it. If you want to listen to the same sermon as delivered on Sunday morning, go to www.universitychurchdenver.org and you can down-load or listen on line. Powerpoints are also available for down-load.

This Sunday's Sermon is titled: Oxymoronic Faith

Just Some Thoughts - From a Friend

Larry Adamson is a man I highly respect. He and his wife Barbara were members at the Garretson Rd. church in New Jersey when I preached there. He became one of my mentors, and has had a great influence on Leisa and me over the years

Larry began his career as a High School Basketball coach in Indiana, then moved to New Jersey and worked with the USGA, until he retired and moved to Nashville to be closer to kids, warmer weather and music. He is a remarkable man with the best 'people skills' of anyone I've ever known. Larry is also a 'blogger' at heart, yet doesn't have a blog page of his own. He sends out his "thoughts' via email. This is one I received a couple of weeks ago and asked him if I could post it here. I thought you might appreciate it.

Just some thoughts:

I'm uneasy with people who have been in a position of power or authority for an extended period of time and appear unwilling to make changes and give up that position. For me this has recently been aptly represented when a United States Senator changed political parties in which he acknowledged he could not be re-elected if he remained with the party that had put him in this position of authority. The man is one year away from eighty years of age and has been at this position for twenty eight years. Why is it that some have difficulty in "moving over?" Joe "D", some say he left before his time, well at least his fans did not have to witness his demise.

I've come to believe that for some "power" is a strong drug and hard to give up and as I said that makes me uncomfortable. In the business world, politics, sports ,churches, schools, you name it and most all of us can think of cases and people who could not give up that role of authority or power and it came to the demise of that group they were representing. Because one has been at a certain position of power or authority for a period of time what makes them think they should continue at such? My family and I had a doctor that we loved and respected dearly, but time and medicine brought change and we no longer sought him as our doctor. Respect for him and our indebtedness continues to this day but we and thankfully he knew when it was time to remove himself from that role.

Recently I ask Vince Gill about a song he had written that had caught my attention. "It's a young man's town" is the song. I ask Vince to share with me how he came to write that song. He told me he was having lunch with one of his producers/record people and he (producer) said "Vince your just not getting the air play you should, they just aren't doing you right." Vince said he told him "Hey that's ok, it's a young man's town." From that came the song. Vince went on to say "the song is about more than music, its about change and realizing when change must come to you."

You wake up one morning and it's passed you by

Don't know when and you don't know why

So why b---ch and moan and say they done you wrong

Just teach' em what you know an' pass it on down

Leaving a position one has held for a long period of time does not mean "its over." From personal experience, it means a lot of things and many of them good. New avenues to travel, interest to pursue, people to meet, places to go. Time one can now give "to teach' em", to mentor, to volunteer, to spend with people you previously have not had time. The possibilities are vast. As I grow older I am skeptical of the reasons some people give when trying to keep or stay at positions they have been at for a long time. Often others realize it is time for change but they don't or better still, just plan and simple, won't. I fear the reason far too often, is one word, power. Some say power corrupts, and absolute power, well it can really corrupt. So to the Senator from Pennsylvania who is nearly 80 years old and held his seat for twenty eight years......come on..."move over and move on." Notice I did not say retire, I don't think one has to ever retire... but accept change, absolutely.

Larry Adamson

I met a Giant once...

From what I had been told, I had just been talking to the Anti-Christ himself. Needless to say I was a bit nervous, because he told me he was coming by for a visit. It was January of 1989. I was preaching in a very small church in Farmington, MO and had only been there since September of 1988. I was only 27 and not at all prepared to meet the Anti-Christ.

His name was Carl W. Ketcherside, and I was preaching in his home town, among his relatives. I had no idea. I had only just heard of Ketcherside right before we moved to Farmington, when a Texas elder warned me I was going to Ketcherside country. I said, "Who?"

So the day came, and I met Mr. Ketcherside at the front door of the building. He was not what I had expected. He was 81 years old, friendly, and kind. We visited for about 45 minutes and talked about ministry and the church in Farmington; I really don't remember any specifics. I wish I had known who he really was. I didn't know I had met a giant that day. If I had, I would have asked him more questions, spent more time learning from him, listened better to what he had to say. I didn't and to my and many other's loss; Carl died a few months later in May.

Now I know more of who he was - still not much. I've started reading his writings again. (His daughter is a member of the church where I now preach, and I need to spend some time with her.) A friend of mine from New Jersey posted this article written by Carl Ketcherside on facebook recently, and I thought it worth sharing here, since it is in the spirit of this blog. I hope you will be blessed by it.

(The following is an exerpt from the Mission Messenger, Vol 31, #8, August 1969
40 years ago yet suprisingly relevant)

The Authority Totem

At the risk of becoming offensive when my only aim is to be objective, let me be as specific as possible. One of the mainline journals published in Texas in defense of Church of Christism has a very personable and well-informed editor. He is, of course, as all such editors are, caught in a partisan trap which makes it essential for him to trim his sails according to the factional winds, and this means that he cannot keep a straight course but must steer by tacking from one week to another. Thus his editorials must veer from left to right and back again, as the passenger load shifts from one side to another.

This method may eventually land him, or a succeeding pilot, close to the goal, but it is a costly way to travel and makes for a lot of seasick voyagers who are going along for the ride. Recently our fellow-editor has had to take note of other godly, sincere and consecrated brethren in the Lord who are heading for the same goal but who see no harm in using instrumental music in conjunction with their expression of praise unto the Father. How does he justify our fragmentation of God’s wonderful family over such an issue?

The answer is made over and over. “It is a question of the authority of God’s word.” It is just that simple. Our Texas editorial brother respects the authority of the Bible. Those who have instrumental music reject and despise that authority. They do not recognize the Lordship of Jesus over their lives. If they say that they do they are dishonest. If they did they would throw the instrument out, confess their sin for ever having thought it was justified, and then the loyal brethren who have always respected the authority of the word would forgive and receive them, and we would all be one. Unity is that simple! It is just that easy!

Is it really? In order to keep you from becoming more confused I will designate the editor of whom I have here been speaking as Editor Number One, for there is another paper published in Texas, and its editor also opposes instrumental music. But he is equally opposed to the support of Herald of Truth and orphan homes which Editor Number One endorses and defends. Editor Number Two says it is simply a matter of respect for the authority of God’s Word, and that division between them is wholly unnecessary and caused by Number One.

All that Number One needs to do is to repent and renounce Herald of Truth and the institutions, and acknowledge his sin in once defending them, and the loyal brethren who have stood for the truth will forgive him and receive him, and unity will follow as day follows night, or better, as night follows day!

In the meantime. Number One calls those who use instrumental music “liberals”, and those who oppose Herald of Truth “antis.” He brands the first as sectarian and the others as extremists. He calls them hobbyists. Number Two brands those who use instrumental music as “liberals” but he also labels the supporters of Number One as “liberals.” He tries to put them in the same boat, but Number One refuses to allow this. He thinks that his is the only boat that has a ghost of a chance of making the crossing. Number Two laughs at this. He thinks that Number One is already on the rocks and doesn’t know it!

However, this is just the beginning of sorrows. There is another paper published in Texas by a genial and perceptive editor. He is opposed to instrumental music and Herald of Truth, but he is also opposed to Sunday Schools, of which Number Two is an ardent defender, even to the point of pushing and promoting the sale of literature to perpetuate the classes. Number Three says that it is simply a matter of respect for the authority of the word of God. He concludes that he reveres the Lordship of Jesus whereas Number Two rejects and denies it.

This crazy-quilt pattern results in absurd simplistic propositions for eliminating division. Editor Number One suggests that if those who use instrumental music love their brethren more than they do the instrument they should give it up and thus restore peace by removing the cause of offense. Since he has adopted the policy of peace by surrender of offending items, Editor Number Four now has a tool for effectively removing individual cups from every congregation in the land. Instead of debating the issue, which always intensifies the sectarian spirit, all he needs to do is to plant a brother in every “cups church,” as he comically and quaintly refers to them, and let these infiltrators demand that what the brethren preach on the instrument they practice on the cups. “What is sauce for the goose is applesauce for the gander.”

Seriously though, what is our difficulty? It is not a question of attitude toward authority at all. Our brethren who keep parroting this moss-covered cliche should realize they are divisive. I know brethren who love Jesus as much as anyone on earth and they feel justified in using instrumental music, not because they do not study the Bible but because they do. The point is that they highly regard the authority of God but they just do not acknowledge the authority of Texas editors. And they can tell the difference! They insist on reading the scriptures for themselves. They acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus but not that of men.

How shall we extricate ourselves from our predicament? We can do it by refusing to play God with the consciences of other men. Not one of our petty divisive issues has one thing to do with fellowship in Christ. We are in that fellowship because we are called into it by God. We are children of God by the Spirit, and not citizens of a pro or con party on any of these matters.

But I am asked, “Shall we accept brethren in error?” Certainly so. There are no other kinds of brethren. No one knows it all. No one is infallible. If brethren accept you they will have to do it in spite of your error. You do not accept the error because you accept the brother, any more than you have to become cross-eyed because a brother in your physical family has such a defect.

And all of this talk about “full fellowship” is sheer poppycock. It is wholly without scriptural warrant and has been conjured up by little minds and dwarfed hearts. God has no stepchildren so we can have no half-brothers. If we are in his family we are in it wholly or not at all. The idea that you can be in partial fellowship is like loving the right side of your wife and hating the left side. You cannot parcel God out and you cannot carve up his spiritual offspring either.

I have a deep sense of compassion for those who are trapped in ridiculous factional positions. I know exactly how they feel. I know their inconsistencies, their vain professions and their empty protestations. And I pray for all of them to be delivered from the dead albatross draped about their partisan necks.We can never offer anything tangible to a world hungry for peace and serenity so long as we think that because men differ with us over music or the millennium, cups or classes, that they are disowned by the Father. Our fathers were wrong when they made the deductions of men on music a test of fellowship. I do not care how honest and earnest they were–they were wrong!

And I was wrong when I followed their factional spirit and made tests of union and communion out of opinions about music, homes, colleges, and all of the rest of that motley horde of things which we turned into devil’s wedges to splinter and divide the royal family into which we were adopted through grace. No man is wrong when he speaks out against that which he cannot condone in the family, but that man sins who destroys the family ties over matters of difference.

I refuse to continue in the wrongs of yesteryear and perpetuate the consummate folly of factionalism. I refuse to project the arrogant and silly position that we have a corner on “respect for the authority of the scriptures.” I regard all of “our” editors in California and Florida as my brothers. I love all those who squat on our totem pole, even those who detest one another as brothers in error. But I go farther than that– much farther. I receive and accept as my brothers and sisters all those upon this whole wide earth whom God regards as his children. It is not their attitude toward a restoration totem pole that makes the difference, but their attitude toward the blessed cross of Calvary. We carved out the totem pole but God drove the cross into the earth. I have brethren on earth who never heard of Alexander Campbell or Barton Warren Stone. So long as they come to Christ they need not come by any group of men. We are saved by the grace of God and not by the favor of the “Church of Christ.”

Let us have done with the silly bickering which has negated our influence and made us the laughingstock of serious people in our generation. Let’s remove the stigma of schism which manifests itself in six or seven divisions in some cities, with brethren hurling thunderbolts of wrath and indignation at one another over the air waves. Shall we perpetuate our shame and glory in it? I thank God that our younger men and women are seeing a vision that their fathers have not caught. It is with these that the hope of our future lies. They are sick of the rehashing of the outworn arguments and the dishing out of slanted interpretations which are dishonest and irrelevant.

I pray that our brethren will sing out for freedom and speak up for liberty in Christ Jesus. We can no longer be held down and held back by skeletal hands reaching out of partisan sepulchers. Do we esteem the praise of men in our own little segments as of more value than the praise of God? The fact is that the kingdom of heaven is greater than any of our factions or all of them put together. Let us find the way to unity of the Spirit by rising above the smoking ashes of our hopes, slain and burned by our unwritten creeds.