Hand me another Brick

Leading at all times

Rev. Adam Fox

Excelsior!
I was challenged at the end of last year by a missionary to read the Bible in one year. I have always wanted to do it, and Andrea and I downloaded an app that guides us into reading the Bible in one year, a little old testament and a little new testament. And it has been good and at times a little difficult - getting through the Pentateuch was a struggle. But Thursday I started the book of Nehemiah.
Now I know the story of Nehemiah, and have been through a few sermon series of this book. It is a good read with many life lessons on working together, leadership, making the best out of a bad job, priorities... But God showed me this scripture again, and I was Wow.
So a quick summary of the Book first.
Israel and Judah are captives. Jerusalem has been wrecked. The people are slaves in foreign lands. One of them is a man named Nehemiah. He is the cup bearer to King Artaxerxes.
While this is not a glamour job, he does have the ear of the King. And when the king notices that he is saddened and troubled, it is an opening to tell him the plight of his home state, his capital city.
The King approves of a wall  to be built with Nehemiah as the head of it.

And work gets done, the foreign king helps supply materials to rebuild the outer wall of the city, and give it some defense against invaders.
One of the neat things about this book, there are a lot. But one of them is the walls of Jerusalem get rebuilt, but it is rebuilt by commoners. It is described how each man and women built there own section. the people built it themselves. Were they skilled in wall-building? Nope. But they did it themselves. We can learn from this as Christians today.
The work of the Church, the ministry of the Gospel will be carried out in the world today. But it is common in the church that the 10% do the work 0f 90%.  God does not want the perfect Christians giving back of their talents and skills, he wants us to do that. Be active. Be a leader. Find a niche to develop your talents and skills. Be more outspoken in your community. Work on your section of the Wall. But make it great looking.
And the other thought that hit home was Nehemiah's job. He was a servant of the king, the food tester. While this is a high place for a servant lets not spit on my cupcake and call it frosting, it is still a slave. And he is the one responsible for advice - unofficial and guess what happens when the food is poisoned.
Do we read of Nehemiah being sour or bemoaning about his place in life? Nope. Chapter two tells us that he never was sad. 

And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”

So I became dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”
Even though his job well, sucked, he still brought his best. We need to do the same. A lot of us are not comfortable with our job, or co-workers, or tasks of our job... but we have them. We need to be examples of God in these difficult growing jobs.
Be a leader, start building your wall.

Getting out of your comfort zone

Pastor Adam Fox
 

Comfort zones are great. They are that unique sense of relaxation where we get fed emotionally instead of having to give. We do not have to try. It’s a safe place.

For me, a comfortable place usually is at home, with a pizza or huge burger and fries, and either a good movie or a game – or why not both! And sometimes these days are refreshing, but if that is all we do, every night movie and a burger, that would ruin us. Physically, it would make us lazy and so fat. But more importantly, emotionally and spiritually – it would never challenge us. Every difficult time in our life we would cower and hide, every opportunity for growth we would be at home where it is safe. Comfort zones can be good if used rightly, but very dangerous.

The other weekend, Andrea and I went to the zoo for a day. Nothing like seeing all the wondrous creations of our God. I always love looking at the otters – assuming they aren’t sleeping. But the camels, and the red pandas are always a must. We were amazed at seeing the road runners so close. They are so fast!

But after a cold but wonderful day of walking and looking at animals we stopped off for dinner. We went to a burger joint that looked interesting in LaGrange – Back Alley Burgers. No one had to twist my arm to eat a burger.

But when we got there and as we were figuring out how to order, I looked around, looked a the fixtures, the design, even what makes up there menu. It was a menu designed for the Millennial.

While neither of us are Millennials, Generation Y, but I know that a lot of business cater to that growing market, and sweet sweet cash.

I would be lying if the atmosphere and feel of the restaurant did not make me feel uncomfortable.

Is that a bad feeling? No.

While we will be asked to leave our comfort zones for various things. It could be taking a new job, going away to college, taking that next big step in your relationship… to name a few. But as we leave our bubble of safety, are we going alone? Not on your life.

God promises us, PROMISES us that we will never be alone. The 5 word promise in Hebrews 13 tells us that “I will never leave you”

God will be with us always, EVEN IN THE SCARY TIMES. AS believers, we even have God living with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

So with that amazing promise, we need to take steps out from our area of safety. Grow spiritually and emotionally. Maybe even eat a hipster burger with a big side of pretentious. 

Relationships or just relations

Relationships or just Relations

Excelsior True Believers!

God reminds me of so many things. Sadly, sometimes He has to tell me a few times somethings because I just did not hear him the first or second time. 
Today I was in my devotional time with God, and I was brought to Psalm 133 and Romans 12. And in Psalm 133 verse 1 says "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!"

How great is it when brothers dwell in unity. Unity of course is the key word here. We are called to live, work, act in unison. And sometimes that can be difficult, especially among Christians. 

We let the minor things become major things and make us into wolves instead of sheep. Like last night for example. Captain America: Civil War came out to theaters, Team Cap all the way! And the premise of the movie without spoiling it is that Iron Man wants the government to regulate them and all super powered peoples. 

This tiny thing disrupts the team, and the universe into a brawl in which feelings get hurt, friends split apart, even some die. 

While a great read, or watch for the movie adaptation, this should not be how we are in the church.

We are called to love each other, to support each other in good times as well as rough times. We are the bride of Christ. Why do we forget that? Why do we focus on the color of the carpet, who owes whom an apology, should the lights be on our off for a candle light service...

Lets strive to live in unity with our brothers. To not only love them as God loves them, but to actually like them too. To dwell in unity. 

Until next time.

Take Care and Spike your hair!

Kids Say the Darnedest Things

Excelsior True Believers

What a busy season. But worth it. So many have been praying for growth in our church both spiritually and numerically. And God has answered that. We have had some new families come to our Children's programs and more opportunities - and God has answered. The power of prayer.  But one of our new families has two adorable boys.
I was teaching last night at AWANA about the faith of the Centurion and going through the Gospel message too. And This new kid - Billy (not his real name) was listening like he always does, eager to learn and trys hard personality.
And I was telling them that God loves them and Sent Jesus to save us from our sin problem - Jesus took our sin punishment and let people die.
 I was right in the middle of this amazing fact of how we can accept Christ as our savior then Billy says something. While I am not surprised, 20-25 minutes is a lot for kids to sit quietly, but Billy said something that made my night.
When I said Jesus let people kill him and He died but He did not stay dead, Billy says " This is the best part"
I stopped. A little shocked that he would interrupt me but Billy was right. This is the best part.
Jesus died on a cross for my sin, for all our sins. But did not stay dead. He rose from the grave 3 days later.
It was such a simple remark, but was so honest and to the point.

Keep praying!

Pastor Adam

www.firstbaptistchurchoflockport.com

Christmas Miracle

Miracle.
A word that we use too liberally, along with hate and love. But Miracle can be used to describe some time saving invention, face cream, to the 1980 US Men's hockey team. But what about a Christmas miracle.
Yesterday, on Jesus' 2015th birthday party, a very special person told me that I saved her/him Christmas. Now I should have corrected this person, but it did make me feel very special. So I let it slide.
But thinking on this, the real miracle that day was Jesus coming down from Heaven to be our, to be my redeemer. In our Christmas Eve service here at church that was the point from Pastor Gil. Jesus came to Earth kn owing He had to die in order to save us from our sin, to be the ultimate sacrifice.
That is a real savior. A real Christmas Miracle. Jesus chose dipper rash, colds, sore throats, school, crushes... and all the other joys of childhood because He loved us.
Did I save Christmas yesterday? In one person's eye I may have. But did I really? No. It was already saved for me and for all of us so many years ago.
Merry Christmas!

Adam

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving, turkey day, extra football Thursday, early Black Friday shopping.
the day of Thanksgiving is being watered down.

Do we as Christian Americans, as the Church need to refocus on what is important? God, family, freedom to name a few. To not take for granted the everyday luxuries that we have and liberties.
But should we isolate the one day of the year for extra thankfulness and go back to our normal state of taking things for granted?

As Christians, it is clear that we are called to have an attitude of Thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:6 ESV 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 7:17 ESV 

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Psalm 107:1 ESV 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Ephesians 5:20 ESV 

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,


The Bible is clear, we are to have an attitude of Than ks, and not just for the day, but everyday. After all, we have a lot to be thankful for. We are Children of God. Forgiven by God.
“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” ~ Harry Ironside


As Christians, I think we need to be thankful more. In every circumstance, not just contingent on turkey and the Lions and Cowboys.

Until next time, Excelsior!

Pastor Adam

www.firstbaptistchurchoflockport.com

Timing

Excelsior True Believers!

It has been a while since I wrote to you all, but like everything I start in my life, I bite off more than I can chew.
But lately I am reminded of timing.
It is a fact that God has a plan for each of us, and nothing we do or happens surprises Him. Sickness, unemployment, death, anything.
It takes us a while to understand that our dreams, our desires, or needs and greeds are not always what God has planned for us.
If God had left things up to me, I would be a traveling reporter for a dying business - newspapers, while going to church when I can. That is not what he had for me.
But lately I have been teaching on the life of Joseph and just starting David. These two men are great examples of God's timing.
Joseph has such a hard difficult life from slavery to wrongful imprisonment, to being forgotten completely. All this happened I believe so that Joe would be in the right place when he was needed, to save Egypt, his family, and the known world.
Did Joe want all this bad things to happen to him? Of course not, but the great thing in this lesson, is that God was shaping Joe into the man He needed him to be.
Somethings in our life will happen and we will not like them. I struggled with the fact that I was at Pizza Hut for over a decade, but God has not forgotten us, it is just He is teaching us, shaping us, for the moment our skills, our talents, us - are needed.
And for let us remember from David and his struggles with Saul, or with Joseph his horrid life in Egypt - that God shaping us into the men and women we need to be hurts us, but it is transforming us into more like God - all in his own time.

Until next time

Adam

www.firstbaptistchurchoflockport.com