West Christmas Card 2008

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Nathaniel is Famous!

Holly submitted our Christmas card picture to the Bonnie Hunt show. The picture of Nathaniel and Chewy was actually chosen to be shown on the air last Friday!

Trust In The Lord, Sermon Notes

Closing to our Holiday Trip thru Proverbs, Searching for Wisdom...

Remember where we have been..Life for Dummies, Proverbs 1:7; Living the Lazy Life, Proverbs 10:4; Marriage is a Good Thing, Proverbs 18:22; Spiritual Value of Friendship, Proverbs 13:20; Words at their Best, Proverbs 12:18; Handling Criticism Well, Proverbs 12:1...
If we just look at that list and are not careful, we can think that it is all up to us! But, underneath it all, I need to rely on God! It isn’t just up to me!

Simple message today; Our text today is my favorite passage of Scripture. Memorize it!
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean. not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5-6

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” The Message

1. Trust in the LORD with all your heart

What does it mean to trust?
~Trust always includes unanswered questions!

I talked about Trusting God Anyway and a special I had just watched on CNN by Christiane Amanpour on Genocide...http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/scream.bloody.murder/

“Always trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom

“In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” Ps. 22:4-5

The flowers and the birds. (Mt. 6:25-34). What would Christ say to you? "O you of little faith?”

~Trust is required.
We trust in an invisible God.

“He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.” Prov. 28:26

~Trust is active.
“I choose to trust in you, God.”

~Trust is daily.
When difficulties come our way, we can worry, fret, fear or trust.

2. Lean not on your own understanding

God doesn’t always do things the way that we think they should be done:
~Joshua and Jericho... ~Gideon losing his soldiers...
~Why should I give when I can’t afford it? (economy, media...hoarding isn't Biblical...give and it will be given unto you)
~Deciding that I really do have to forgive that person, even if they really hurt me, if I don't forgive God can't forgive me...

3. In all your ways acknowledge Him

What does it mean to “acknowledge him in all your ways?” The opposite -- To be “un-acknowledged” is to be ignored; to be snubbed.

In ALL your ways. There is nothing in your life that God is unconcerned about!
Not in some of your ways; not in the ways that you can’t figure out for yourself. (everything)

4. And he will make your paths straight

We cannot skip to this result if we have not done steps 1-3.
Your paths will be straight (purposeful); they will not always be easy.

“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. 7 And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7

“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.” Psalm 125:1

Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army

I have the privilege of being a volunteer bell-ringer for the salvation army again this year at Fred Meyer in Grants Pass. If you wish to help out, give me a call or shoot me an email and I'll give you my contact number for Lt. Colin. So, this last Saturday morning I got to visit some "old friends" while bell-ringing (they just happened to be visiting Freddies that morning). Anyway, they let me take their picts with my bell. IT JUST IS'NT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT LISTENING TO THE DING DONG WHILE SHOPPING!

Christian Life School Christmas Program

Celebrating 30 years of Christian Life School, Mrs. Vicki West (my amazing mama) wrote and directed this Christmas program traveling in time from 2008 to 1978 and back. My favorite part was when Jeremy (the boy who did the time travel) exclaimed, "And Mrs. West was STILL the Music Teacher!"

Coo Coo for Christmas

Pictures from board and staff christmas party, harvest team at the community bazaar, and even some pictures taken for our christmas card...

How to handle Criticism / How to grow in Discipline...Sermon Notes

Holly sent me this email this week:
I can't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I don't even come close...
I do keep my promise to raise my children in the Word of God.
I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."
My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."
My four-year-old "mary" said, "that's no 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "mama - mamma."
Mary grabbed the doll wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "we are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation...

Continuing sermon series on PROVERBS: Searching for Wisdom

Review -
Life for Dummies, Prov 1:7
Living the Lazy Life, Prov 10:4
Marriage is a good thing, Prov 18:22
Spiritual value of friendship, Prov 13:20
Words at their best, Prov 12:18

George Burns once said, "Too bad that all the people capable of running our country are driving taxis and cutting hair...!"

Indicators of destructive criticism:
1. Personally Focused (attack, pointing finger)
2. Overly General / vague
3. Focuses blame without solution
4. Without best interest of recipient
5. Little or no credibility in dealing with

Action Area: Have I allowed people to criticize without being DEFENSIVE?
(Let God be your defense)

Bill Cosby: "Don't knowkey to success, but I know how to fail...try to please everyone..."

Five questions to ask before giving criticism:
1. Are my hands clean? (Matthew 7:1-5)
2. Is the Lord calling me to give criticism?
(some things are better left unsaid...)
3. Will I confine my comments to the issue and not about the person?
(God never asks us to demean another person...)
4. Will I express criticism in the right spirit?
5. Is this the right time and place? Am I the right person? (Acts 18)

Scripture says: He inhabits the PRAISES of his people (Praising the Lord, Praising one another)... I believe God disappears when things turn critical...

Boyd Powers: The real lesson in receiving criticism is the Appraisal Process. It's not so much the words others say to us, but the significance we give to these comments.

Three questions to ask when faced with criticism:
1. Is it true? (If one person call you a donkey, ignore it but if 5 people tell you, buy a saddle)
2. Am I going to change if it is true? (humble, teachable)
3. Can I maintian a bond with the person bringing the criticism?
(relationships can grow stronger as a result...depends on how constructive)

Dealing with criticism is never easy, but it doesn't have to be a five hundred pound gorilla that eats your lunch!

John Maxwell: two kinds of people...whiners or winners!

We learned in Homebuilders this week...Focus on your own weaknesses and focus on others strengths...life will be much easier...We can never change anyone else (leave that in the Holy Spirit's hands)

PROVERBS 12:1...Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid...

Warning about rejecting God's wisdom
Proverbs 1:20-33

How do I build discipline into my life?
1. DREAM! Don't settle for less than God's best for your life!
2. WAIT! Learn to delay gratification...
(The problems of our economy are linked to a lack of practicing Biblical Stewardship)

3. BEND! Learn to handle correction...
Proverbs 13:18 & 5:11-14
Michael Jordan...If I ever had a problem, my parents never had a problem telling me I had a problem...

4. PLAN! Make important choices AHEAD of time...
Decide now: sexual purity (dont wait until the heat of the moment)
Decide now: Bible reading, diet, exercise, prayer, committment to the local church, gambling, drinking, financial priorities (tithe, offering, savings)

5. CELEBRATE! Notice big AND SMALL victories...
Proverbs 15:15 & 17:22

This week's bulletin: Don't miss all the Christmas FUN!

And don't forget the community Christmas Bazaar at the community center this Saturday...Harvest Team has reserved two tables and worked very hard on all their homemade treasures...
(remember you can "click" on the image to make it large enough to read)

Rogue River Assembly Of God Heroes: Edith Hoggard

It's been awhile since I blogged about the amazing souls that call Rogue River Assembly Of God home...

Edith Hoggard is a very special woman! She listens to the LORD and has a heart to do His Will! Edith is a DOER! She practices what she preaches! A couple years ago she came to me with a heart overflowing with ideas to change the world! She began a ministry which she named HARVEST TEAM. I would never have enough room to blog all their projects...bags filled with necessities for the homeless shelter, quilting and crocheting hats and blankets for the needy...this week they joined the community bazaar: reserved two tables for all their homemade treasures! Thanks Edith for being an example of the vision: EVERYBODY IS A MINISTER, EVERYBODY NEEDS A MINISTRY!

Otters holding hands

Larry Risher just emailed me this!
SO CUTE!
Keep watching even after they break apart...
It's all about Loving God and Loving People and Loving otters!

Words At Their Best

We had the privilege of dedicating little Micah Kingston Barella in yesterday's Celebration Service...

Here's yesterday's sermon notes, continuing our Search for wisdom this Holiday Season...

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Prov.12:18

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Prov.18:21

Words at their best are honest.

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Prov.15:4

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Prov.26:28

John Ortberg: “Impression Management” we want to shade things so that people get the impression we want them to get. Jesus said: “Let your yes be yes, your no be no!” (Mt. 5:37)

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Eph 4:15

My Pastor, Brent Sorlien taught:
Speaking the truth – even when I don’t feel like it.
Speaking the truth – even when it may cost me something.
Speaking the truth – even if it may be misunderstood.

In his book, Be a People Person, John Maxwell tells this story.
Mr. Myrick had to go to Chicago on business and persuaded his brother to take care of his cat during his absence. Though his brother hated cats, (he was a wise and godly man).
Upon his return, Myrick called from the airport to check on the cat. "Your cat died," the brother reported, then hung up.
Myrick was inconsolable. His grief was magnified by his brother's insensitivity, so he called again to express his pain.
"There was no need for you to be so blunt," he said.
"What was I supposed to say?" asked the perplexed brother.
"You could have broken the news gradually," explained Myrick. "You could have said, 'The cat was playing on the roof.' Then, later in the conversation, you could have said, 'He fell off.' Then you could have said, 'He broke his leg.' Then when I came to pick him up, you could have said, 'I'm so sorry. You're cat passed away during the night.' You've got to learn to be more tactful.
"By the way, how's Mom? After a long pause, the brother replied, "She's playing on the roof."

Words at their best are calm.

A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger. Prov.15:1

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Prov.25:15

Words at their best are few.

“If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin; if you are wise, you will keep quiet.” Prov.10:19 (see also 11:12 and 17:27-28).

Perhaps we should talk to God more and talk to people less! Just a thought.

Ask:
Are these words true?
Are these words uplifting?
Are these words necessary?
If they do not pass these three tests, “keep quiet!”

God has given us 2 ears and 1 mouth!

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, and most fools do." Benjamin Franklin

Words at their best are encouraging.

Literally, it means to “put courage into” someone!

The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl. Prov.25:11

 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Prov.12:25

 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!” Prov.15:23

Barnabas (son of encouragement)
Acts 9:26-31
Acts 15:36-40
2 Tim. 4:1

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Prov.11:25