A Risky Christmas Adventure

Jesus knew a simple addage: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
This is Christmastime in 2009 and it seems we all are trying to be safe. Amidst a face smile of good cheer we are only trying to cheaply mask the fear surrounding our national security, personal finances, and shaky relationships. The last thing we are truly experiencing is peace on earth or good will toward men. But, there is hope.
When it was time to bring God in body into the world (Jesus), a message went out of the Messiah's birth but it didn't go out to he high fleutin' politicians in Washington, DC or the religious leaders in the vatican; instead it went out to the plain old working class folks just like you and I. People who have issues, bad days, and are at time insecure are the ones God saw purpose in and it is them that he brought ground breaking news to.
Today that same knews is coming to you, and you have to face the decision of what you are going to do now that you know where Jesus is. Only a fool would know where Jesus is and not run to him.
If you are encouraged by this session please email and let us know and share it with a friend.

Facing Winter

Death is something most people fear but it is as much a fact of life as is birth. We were are all born and we will all die. This fact should motivate us to seriously consider what happens upon death and determine if we are prepared. If we have recognized the truth of Jesus and put our faith in Him we are prepared for this impending winter which is coming. If we have not seen Jesus for who He is then we are unprepared and standing out in the cold with nothing to protect us from a brutish suffering.
This fact should motivate the Christ follower. We are standing in our prepared state and have all we need to face this winter while others stand unprepared. Some great about Jesus is that when he equips us to face this winter he also gives us everything we need to prepare others. Literally we have the boots, mittens, and coat the everyone needs to be delivered from the impending threat of winter. Sadly, many Christ followers tend to scoff at the ones on the outside and talk about how foolish they are and display their disbelief that anyone would go out in the cold dressed in such a way, instead of sharing the warmth with them.
The last challenge Jesus gave to His followers while on planet earth was for them to share the warm; equip others.
Check out this final session of our "Harvest Before Winter" series. If it blesses you in any way please let us know it and share it with a friend.

Turn Around.

A few years ago I went to a "Revival Meeting". Now, I don't know about you but I always thought that these meetings were intended for current followers of Christ to come and get their spiritual flame to burn a bit brighter. The very work "revival" means to literally revitalize or the rekindle what is already there. So, spiritually it would take the Christ follower who has let their flame die down and bring it a raging inferno again. While I sat in this meeting a seemingly angry man demonstrated to me that he found the intent of these meetings to be strickly evangelistic and aimed toward the non-believer (And, that is fine, we need meeting like this but I would not have called it a revival rather an outreach). As I sat in my seat this angry mans fist repeatedly struck the podium and his voice peaked out the sound system which produce a very unpleasant sound. In this arena I asked myself, "Is this the way Jesus spoke to people when he was trying to show them the truth?" When Jesus spoke the words "I am the way the truth and the life" (John 14.6) was he slapping the Pentatuch against a rock to emphasize each word which he shook a raging finger at the crowd. I don't know about your house when I was growing up when mom and dad acted like that I shook and ran from them instead of running and clinging to them.

Sadly I believe many well intentioned Pastors and Evangelist have missed the point of how Jesus became the days superstar of truth and attracted people from hundereds of miles away to walk days just to see him. Mark 1 relays to us the even of Jesus entering into his adult manhood and calling and also shows us the approach that Jesus took. Verse 15 is the first words Jesus speaks in this book and he says, "Repent and Believe...". Now, these are the same words that the man I saw speak was using but again, I can't picture Jesus, jumping, slapping, and spraying spit onto the crowd. In our society the term "Repent" is associated with a man doing all these things but not Jesus.

"Repent" literally means to turn around. Jesus is inviting people to turn around. Why? Because they won't like the destination they are heading toward. He contines and says "Believe". Jesus is in essence telling them "You won't like where you are heading; believe me on this one, turn around, come back this way... come back to me." That is a bit different that how most soapbox preachers present this verse, isn't it? Repent is not a negative word, it is a positive invitation to a better destination because we believe Jesus.

Have to recognized yet that your natural path is not taking you to the destination you desire to be at? Do you need to turn around, beleive Jesus, and reach the destination your soul longs for?

Watch this session as we learn about this turn around. If it blesses you please let us know and share it with others.

Beautiful World

To all of you in internet land here is an incredibly fun song we have done for a year or so and I thought you would enjoy it!

Sleeping During the Harvest

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a farmer. Likely they would laugh if you told them I ever worked on a farm. I have no farming experience other than a garden my wife and I had at a previous house. Even though I have no such experience though I do know something about agriculture; you have to make sure everything is done right and on time. If you miss a step early on it will effect the harvest; if you miss the harvest all is lost. Timing is essential and the harvest is what makes it all worth while.

You may be asking now, what does this have to do with anything? Let me explain. Spiritually speaking we live on a field; God's field. We are all one of his plants, something or someone that he has invested seed into. We live our life and grow spiritually and may come to the point that we blossom and are ready to enter a whole new purpose in life. If that harvest doesn't come then we will never grasp that new purpose and will instead fall and rot. The same is true to the physical farmer's field; timing and harvest must be done properly.

God has given his followers the task of manning the fields and making sure all goes well in them; we have the responsibility of tending to the plants and assuring they are harvested. Sadly the vast majority of his followers have lost the commitment to their responsibility and are now curled up inside the farmhouse where it is warm and comfy instead of one the field where they should be. The greatest need in the world today is for Christ's followers to get out of the house and back on the field. The greatest disgrace in the world today is that Christ's followers have let Satan trick them into thinking the church if for those who already know Jesus instead of those who don't.

The video session below is part 1 of a series we began this past week and is designed to motivate you to get out of the farmhouse of comfort and get back onto the field. You may not want to watch this session but you need to! If you enjoy it and are moved please email me at pastor@millettbbc.org and let me know and then pass it along to another person who will be blessed by it.

Where You'll Find Jesus

As we continue in our "Preparing for Easter" series we look at what many wonder... where is Jesus today? If he is so loving how could we possibly see the evil present in the world today? Fact is, Jesus is here; as we sit around talking about him, he is waiting for us to recognize him.

Batteries and Jesus.

For all who read this before December 14th, you will be hearing this again on Sunday's Christmas service but here goes.

Batteries and Jesus? What do they have to do with anything? Batteries are little round cylinders that carry an electric current to anything that requires that works off from electricity... that has nothing to do with Jesus. Continue reading.

Growing up we didn't have a whole lot of money when it came to gifts so we never really expected much which worked well because none of us 5 kids required much. We always had more fun playing with each other than with than toys... don't get me wrong, we liked our toys too though. I remember one Birthday, I think I was eight when I received a toy radio controlled car, you know, the ones that turn by going in reverse (the ones that if you leave them like that will make a cat so dizzy it pukes). I thought this birthday was the greatest until the batteries went dead. Thankfully my older brother, 18 at the time, jumped on his bike and went to the nearby store for some more. When he got back I proved I was now a big boy and put the batteries in myself but the car still didn't work. I couldn't figure it out; were they duds? I put the old ones back in it and they didn't work either. Frustration came over me as I went from being the happiest boy in the world to the saddest because me new toy didn't work. Thankfully, big brother nearby was willing to help and showed me that I had put the batteries in the wrong way. Once they were put in the right way they worked perfectly.

So, what does this have to do with Jesus? Jesus did not buy me batteries, nor did he deliver a great incite that they were in backwards. What does Jesus have to do with all of this?

Just like you get birthday gifts on your birthday, Jesus' birthday is coming up and guess what... you get gifts on his birthday too. John 3.16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus' birth began the tradition of giving presents at Christmas as God sent his son as a gift, but you receive something too. There are two thing in that verse give to the world; since you are reading this-that's you. We are given Jesus - The Savior and provider of restoration of relationship... eternal life with God, and we are given eternal life.

We are like the idea of having a close relationship with God. Most people believe in a god or higher power. There is a part ingrained in us that tells us there is a god. We like this idea. However, what people seem to have an issue with is that it is Jesus and Jesus alone that makes this relationship and restoration possible; we like the gift, but not the required power source. We look all around us trying to find some loophole to restoring the relationship and try many different things: money, kindness, numerous "religions", support groups, goodness, organizations, etc... and then we get mad when someone says that these things are good, but won't restore that relationship. We tell people things like "You're narrow minded" and "If God is really a loving God wouldn't he let all religions go to heaven" and the list could go on.

This is where Jesus and batteries get something in common. Imagine how stupid you would sound if you called up that toy car manufacture and said something like this: "You are so narrow minded! If you really wanted me to play with your toy you would make it so the batteries could be put in anyway I wanted to!" or maybe "I can't believe you actually requires batteries to play with this toy. I have been good my whole life and worked hard to get this toy car, that should count for something!" and even "I'm not going to put batteries in it because I know other people put batteries in their cars and they are jerks!"

If you really did call up a manufacture and give these complaints you would end up and the next "list of stupid" email going around the office because they claims are simply ridiculous but we justify saying the same thing about Jesus and having our relationship with God restored.

You can have the greatest gift set before you but if you don't have the batteries it will never be used. You have to have the right power source to get any good out of it. God has given you eternal life but you can only use it by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.

The Rest of the Story

Before you read this article, read the posted before it (most likely just below) entitled, "How do I become a 'Baptism'?"

Upon arriving at church last night for our weekly youth outreach service I was met by the same girl who had asked this question. "Guess what!" sprang out of her mouth. "What?!" I exclaimed in a way that somewhat exaggerated her youthful enthusiasm. "I got saved! ... Sunday night after church I was sitting outside and I started to pray; I cried out to God and asked Him to open His arms and come into my life. After that it was amazing, I just started to cry for like 10 minutes."

I couldn't believe it! What a blessing! I never cease to be amazed at how the Holy Spirit will work in people to bring them to Christ. This young lady has been coming to our youth services for nearly 6 months and now heard dozens of calls for salvation and now, all on her own she cries out to God asking him to come into her life. Rarely to you ever hear of someone getting saved without someone walking them through the "Romans Road", but I just had.

In further talk I asked her what made her decide to get saved then. She said that she knew she needed to, and during our Sunday night song service she kept feeling more and more like it was something she needed to do. Little did she know that it was the Holy Spirit working in her, convicting her or her need of salvation. Whether she knew it or not the results are now eternal history.

But there is more. Last night after the youth service SHE approached ME with the question, "So, when can I get baptized? Maybe this Sunday or next?" Wow, how amazing! She was so excited that she wanted to announce it in person in the service. She did, and all of the other teens erupted in applause!

This was such a great praise I knew I just had to share with you the rest of the story after having posted the question, "How do I become a 'Baptism'?" And there you have it.

Life is Good; Eternal Life is Better

Standing in the line at the Secretary of State is never on the top of someones "Best time of my life list" as the lines are often long and the wait is painfully boring. Yesterday I was, however, one of the many who were there; along with my 4 year old son, and 2 year old daughter. Amid the drone of the crowd and the counter clerks helping others, there was another more familiar sound of music. Nothing too pronounced but still very noticeable. I soon discovered it was coming from beneath me. It was my son singing his favorite song: "Life is good; eternal life is better. Life is good; eternal life is better..." and so on. The song is catchy and has a fun rhythm and he sings is often, including... the Secretary of State office of all places.

I couldn't help but smile. It occurred to me then that while I had been dreading the trip to the overcrowded and intensely boring line, there was still a song to be song and a message to be told. As Jesus told his disciples to "suffer the little children to come unto me" this may be some of what he had in mind; 2,000 years later the fruit of a child coming to Jesus would begin a ministry to people in a place notorious for causing anxiety and discourse.

I did not shush my son nor did I tell him to sing louder. I simply told him, "That's right. Eternal life is better and people need to know about it." He continued singing most of our stay; repeating the opening line over and over. When we had received our number and took a seat in the waiting area we sat next to a man who works at the gas station we frequent. With the song still on repeat we got into conversation and discovered that he too is a Christian. His number was soon called. No one came to sit next to us for the rest of our time, but all heard that their life may be good, but eternal life was better.

You Decide Who Goes to Heaven.

God has left you in charge of who will be in heaven! That is right, you get to decide who will go to heaven and who will not. This of course is based upon the truth that only people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be accepted into heaven (Romans 10.8-9, Ephesians 2.8-9, John 14.6). Recent studies show that 85% of the people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior first heard of Jesus' saving grace through someone personally telling them about Jesus, inviting them to church, or witnessing with some kind of evangelistic medium. In lieu of this statistic, over 8 out 10 people in heaven are there because someone personally shared Jesus with them. The people who were bold enough to share Jesus with them were able to decide who went to heaven.

I personally organize and arrange over 20 outreach activities or events each year and encourage everyone to invite their friends and family members, even their enemies to these events. What I find is that people have no problem inviting someone to Cedar Point, but when it come to telling someone about Jesus they fall short of words and keep their mouth shut. In reality, how much more important is forgiveness unto heaven than a thrill filled day of roller coasters.

Mark 16.15 instructs us to tell people about Jesus, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone. We find it easier to tell someone that it costs $50 for a trip to Cedar Point than to tell someone that the cost of eternal life is death... thankfully Jesus paid that price already for us.

Think of it this way: If I told you, I have 10 free tickets to Disney land, all expense paid including travel, lodging, and food; and you can use them whenever you would like to, you would not wait to start calling people and asking if they wanted to go even though they could be used at any time. No, you would get on the phone asap. When I tell you, I have an unlimited number of tickets to heaven, you can take anyone with you, and you will go at any moment; we then tend to become lazy and not tell anyone about it.

Face it. You decide who will accept the forgiveness of God enter into eternity in heaven; and in turn you decide who will spend eternity in hell. Start praying today that you will have the courage to tell people about the free forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

God of Death?

People can only offer what they have. If someone offers you something they do not have, it is not theirs to offer in the first place. If someone offers you something they don't have but hope to acquire soon, it is a scam. If someone offers you someone else's belongings, they are a thief. So what about Jesus?

Jesus offered us life; "I have come that you might have life," "I am the way the truth and the life." These are powerful claims. But does Jesus really possess this gift to be able to give it? Jesus' claims could be a scam or a thief; but how can we know if it is this or the real thing. How can someone know if they are being part of a spiritual scheme or if Jesus really possess life in order to give it away? The answer: the resurrection.

Matthew chapter 28 tells the account of some of Jesus closest friends coming to visit his tomb. These ladies had come bearing oils and spices to place upon the deceased to help cover the smell of decay. When arriving at the grave, the tomb was open and the tomb was empty. Their curiosity was eased by an angel that was sent to explain what they were seeing. The angel told them that this was not crime scene, rather it was the scene of fulfilled prophecy; "[Jesus] had risen, just as he said."

Jesus is the only person who has died and brought himself back to life by his own power. How could this be done? Because he is God in the flesh, the God of life. If he were the God of death he could not have done this; but since he is the God of life he could honestly say, "I lay it [his life]down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10.18). But this still is no declaration that we can have life just because Jesus did this. Well, John 18.18 may not declare it, but John 11.25-26 sure does, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die." You can't get more plainly spoken then that.

The bottom line is that Jesus is God's Son, God in the flesh, and has come to give us life. If we do not accept this life we are accepting death. If we do not claim His blessings upon this life we are only accepting life when we could have abundant life (John 10.10). If you are not living a holy life, then you are being content with life stopping with you and not interesting or concerned is spreading life to others.

Romans 6.23 says that "the gift of God is eternal life through [by means of] Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus, God in the flesh, possesses all power of life and will share it with anyone who asks. Don't live a life of death, when God laid down his life so you could have yours.

Recognizing Satan

Satan is real. Demons are real. Hell is real. Too often we walk around with the great misconception that God is real and all of His angels and all of the good things in life are real at puppies and cute cuddley kittens... but anything that is evil must never be talked about or recognized as reality.

Last Sunday I had opportunity to sit with a man broken and warn from the pressures that alcohol had placed upon him as he was enslaved to it for decades. It had cost him is family, his wife, and nearly his entire life. At the end of his rope he had found help through a local support group but knew it was time go beyond a support group and come face to face with God almighty. He didn't know where to start. After all, how could the God of the universe love someone who was so evil and irresponsible. The largest hurdle standing between this man and a true relationship with the Father was a relationship with Jesus Christ, but how could he be forgiven?

We all of a tendancy of putting God into a closet until we have the rest of the house cleaned up. Yes, we may even let him in unto salvation but quickly wisp Him away so not to reveal the mess we have occumulated over the years. This is an easy trap to fall into but also a deadly one.

While counseling this man he came to realize that we aren't to get our life in order and then come to God; we must go to God and let him get our life in order. I Corinthians 3.6 says "For I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." What is to be learned here? We can't do anything on our own. God is the one who does the real work, we must let Him.

That man ended up giving his broken life to Jesus and with tears in his eyes he rose from that prayer a man who had a clean rap sheet in life. No matter was man could throw at him or Satan temp him with, he was free.

We all picture Satan to be an evil man who dresses in red and carries a pointy pitchfork, but the reality is, Satan is alive and active in trying to tell us things like, "You aren't good enough to go to God yet", "That isn't a big enough issue for God", or "Your wasting His time." Recognize Satan and cast him far away from you in the name of Jesus Christ.