I have so many fond memories of my dad’s dad.  I loved working with him pulling water wells and fishing with him on the Guadalupe River near Gonzales Texas.  One of the big treats when out on jobs with him (or fishing on the river) was eating some hot German sausage with cheese, bread & ketchup and washing it down with a Frostie Root Beer.   There was nothing quite like it!

I haven’t had a Frostie Root Beer in years.  I may not have had one in 20-30 years, but I had one today and it was as good as ever.  Even better than that great taste was reflecting on memories of my grandfather and my dad and the great times we had – which often included a Frostie Root Beer.

I read a couple of commentaries related to the passage and Warren Wiersbe who is a great theologian, author and Bible teacher said this about these verses: ”…the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly.”

Think about it!  What’s your (our) responsibility to the church?

One of the reasons the LA Arsonist was caught was because “a person of interest” was seen on a video near one of the fires that was set.  Many arsonists like to set fires, then hang around nearby and watch the damage & destruction as it’s being done. 

Some arsonists set visible fires – some set vocal fires (with their words, social media and/or blogs).   If you claim to be a follower of Christ, you shouldn’t set visible or vocal fires.  

God’s Word says…..

1 Cor 10:23-24 NASB   All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

You may feel you have the freedom to say whatever you want, but as we saw in Part 1 of this Blog – we’ll be held accountable for every careless word.  In addition, Paul says you may feel you have the freedom to do certain things, but the higher standard is to ask yourself is it beneficial – does it build up – is it going to create a good situation for my neighbor?

Eph 4:29 NIV states:   Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Unwholesome words are those that are rotten & worthless.  Gossip, malicious attacks, words that are a result of anger, abusive speech, slander, careless words should be as repulsive to us as eating spoiled rotten food.

If you struggle with Vocal Arson consider the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus just prior to His crucifixion and resurrection in John 17…here’s a portion of that prayer….

John 17:20-23  NIV    “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

When we use words to attack one another we are in effect destroying the very thing Jesus prayed for and impacting those who are not followers of Christ in a negative way.

What do we do when we’ve blown it?

a.  Confess your sin to God.  1 John 1:9 NIV  says:  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

b.   Ask forgiveness from those you’ve hurt – if it’s private, do it privately – if it’s public – do it privately first and ask their permission to do it publicly. 

Eph 4:32 NIV  says:  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Jesus said in Matt 6:14-15 NIV - “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

One of the reasons the LA Arsonist was caught was because “a person of interest” was seen on a video near one of the fires that was set.  Many arsonists like to set fires, then hang around nearby and watch the damage & destruction as it’s being done. 

Some arsonists set visible fires – some set vocal fires (with their words, social media and/or blogs).   If you claim to be a follower of Christ, you shouldn’t set visible or vocal fires.   God’s Word says…..

5 So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.  7 People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  James 3:5-10 NLT  

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.   Eph 4:29-32 NIV  

16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:  17 haughty eyes,  a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,  18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,  feet that are quick to rush into evil,  19 a false witness who pours out lies  and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.   Prov 6:16-19 NIV  

35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matt 12:35-37 NIV

9 Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Rom 12:9-10 NLT

If sin is involved, the best way to deal with issues according to Jesus is found in Matt 18:15-17

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’   17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Out of the following list of values/virtues, which ones do you think have been largely forgotten or lost in our culture?  Please pick your top 4 and let me know what you think with any commentary you want to make on the virtue/value.  Thanks for helping with this!

Here’s the list:  Loyalty,  Gratitude,  Purity,  Honor,  Integrity,  Teamwork,  Hard Work,  Faithfulness.

I look forward to your response. 

1.  Myths, Legends & Legacies from our True Grit Marriage series

2. Big Change from our series called: BIG

3. 90 Minutes in Heaven with special guest Don Piper

4. Courage Vs Complacency in our Courageous (family) series.

5. Fighting For Your Family with guests Larry & Myra Lundstrom

If you’d like to check any of these out – go to www.gfcfamily.com where you can view them on our Video Podcast archive.

A nimals  (with the exception of skunks) even though I guess I should be thankful for them too.

B arrett and B enaiah – my two new grandsons

C hurch – my church – our staff team – our leaders & vols – our family

D ad – my dad who is definitely one of my heroes

E ternal life

F orgiveness – b/c I’ve been forgiven of so much

G race – w/0 it I would be lost – I live under grace

H olidays

I phone – really I love using it even though I have a love/hate relationship with AT&T

J anet – my wife and “hot mama” of nearly 35 years

K ids – my kids and their spouses – the fact they’re all followers of Christ

L ife – b/c every day is a gift

M 0ther – my mom is an amazing woman who loves genuinely no matter what

N ature – love the beauty & majesty of the creation that God has given us to enjoy

O pportunities to serve Christ

P eople who have influenced me toward Christ & those who still do

Q uicken – helps me keep our finances in order  (really)

R elationships with family & those genuine friends in my life

S avior – Jesus Christ

T oys – and the joy they bring to kids (even big kids)

U mbrellas – when it rains – it looks like I have no hair on my head w/o an umbrella !

V acations

W ord of God

X ylophone – b/c I like music and there aren’t many X words

Y oung Believers b/c they’re so passionate & hungry

Z oos – b/c we went to them often when I was a child & I love watching the animals

This Sunday at Grace Fellowship – we will have ACCOUNTABILITY CARDS available for you in the Atrium.  Pick up as many as you’d like.  We’ve made them compatible for a men’s or women’s group.

A number of you asked me about the Accountability Card used for years in my Men’s Small Group.  Here are the questions if you’d like to make your own card or a similar card.

1.  Did you spend quality & quantity time seeking God?  Share a Quiet Time highlight.

2. Did you talk with, communicate with, pray with and encourage your wife regularly?

3. Did you spend special time, encourage and pray with each of your kids regularly?

4. Did you expose yourself to any movies, videos, magazines, internet sites, etc, that were immoral, pornographic or encouraged lust?

5. Did you interact with a (man/woman), in any way that was not pleasing to God?

6. Did you memorize your verse for the week?  Share it with me.

7. Did you attempt to share the love of Christ with anyone this week?

8. Did you demonstrate integrity and Christ-likeness in your business or ministry affairs this week?

9. Did you just lie to me about any of these?

10.  What are some of your struggles right now?

PS:   WE WILL HAVE PRINTED ACCOUNTABILITY CARDS AVAILABLE FOR YOU THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY AT GRACE FELLOWSHIP !

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes real happiness. It is not obtained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.“  Helen Keller