newsletter apr.11

8/7/2019 Newsletter Apr.11

1/16

a c h u r c h i n p u r s u i t o f G o d , w i t h a p a s s i o n f o r p e o p l e


2/16

read this article just recently entitled

"Where Did All the Young People Go?(Going beyond style to substance to

empower the next generation in yourchurch)

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Here are a few facts about theAmerican church the author presented:

Only 9.1 percent of Americansattend any evangelical orcharismatic church

Only 3 percent of people under 29

years of age have a favorableview of evangelicals

According to the 2010 census, the

majority of Americans are under40 years old, the largest group ofwhich are 20 - something's

The vast majority of pastors andchurch decision makers will soonbe senior citizens

There's roughly a 2 or 3 decadedifference between the majority ofchurch decision makers and theaverage American

Why do young people not like to go tochurch? There is not enough room in thisnewsletter to write all of the answers tothat question. However the pastor whowrote the article tells that in his church 70percent of those who attend are under 29

years of age.Before I continue, let me say I love

older people and I am one of them. Let mealso say that the young people aren't thechurch of the future...they are the churchof today!

With so many churches in Americaand in our own community that aregoverned and attended by older adults

there is a need for what I call greenhousechurches. Those churches that investheavily into young people and for the mostpart are training grounds for our futurechurch leaders.

The author writes the followingpractical steps his church is taking toreach and mentor this younger generation:

1. Raise up young Leaders by givingthem strategic decision-making posts andvisible positions in the church services,

2. Keep the median age of yourleadership and lead-team under 40 yearsof age,

3 . Allow the youth culture to definethe main services especially in the worshipmusic.

Fathers and mothers, grandfathersand grandmothers often lay down theirlives for their offspring. We so much loveand enjoy our children that we prefer manyof their choices and make room for them inour lives and at some point they make

room for us in their lives.I thank God for the patient loving

caring nurturing people in our church whoare older than the young. And I thank Godfor our young people who are stepping upto the plate week after week to serve inGod's Kingdom!

I present to you The Warehouse

Church!

Thanks for the confirmation and validationarticle author!

R a n d y G i d e o n s . L e a d P a s t o r . W a r e h o u s e C h u r c h


3/16

18

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Maintenance Schedule

aintenance. How often do you

think about this word? Howoften to you think about what

this word infers? I know you have allheard of preventive maintenance, high

maintenance, low maintenance, nomaintenance.. These are all differentkinds of maintenance that all meansomething different. You do maintenanceon your car. You know when you changedyour oil last. You know when its due foran air filter. You know when you changedthe oil in the boat, serviced your mower,the tractor, weed eater, tiller, and air filter

in your air conditioner. Yes, I am sureyou know when all this is due or when youfinished it the last time. You keep up withall of this type stuff (or you have someonekeep up with it) because if you let it slideby, the equipment will not operate properlyand will eventually stop working. That inturn will cost you time and money as wellas a bunch of frustration.

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So, now that we have established that we

keep a lot of our things maintained atcertain intervals, lets switch gears hereand talk about your SpiritualMaintenance. When was the last timeyou read your Bible? When was the lasttime you prayed? When was the last timeyou prayed for your children? When wasthe last time you sat still long enough tolisten to what God was saying to you?

When was the last time you did somethingfor someone else as you would have doneit for yourself? Many times, we will give tosomeone or do for someone but at a muchlesser quality or quantity than we would forourselves.

The point I am trying to make here is this,take a look at your Spiritual MaintenanceSchedule (SMS) and fix it. You might noteven have one. You might not be able toremember the last time you actually readthe Bible beside when Randy waspreaching. When did you last actuallypray about something besides the sameprayer you say before dinner? Theanswer is simply this, if you do not have aSMS, your spiritual equipment willdeteriorate and eventually quit working.

If you dont keep your prayer skills up, theywill become ineffective. If you dont keepyour study skills up, your knowledge basewill deteriorate. If you are not keeping upto date on your SMS, in essence, yourwitness will begin to deteriorate as well.Now folks, dont get caught up in thelogistics of those statements. Understandthe bigger picture. Keep yourmaintenance schedule up to date so thatyou can be a strong and effective witnessfor Jesus.


4/16

You can give an offering also. Just make a memo to Storehouse.

For the month of April (around Easter) we will be giving out food again.For those of you who do not know, we try to distribute food on aquarterly basis until we get into our new facility. We are in need ofmany items, mostly canned meats and things that cant be purchasedwith food stamps. Food stamp items are anything that is edible. Paperproducts such as toilet tissue, Kleenex, laundry detergents, andcleaning supplies cannot be purchased with food stamps. These

products are always needed.

The month of April we are asking for canned meats and paper productsof any kind. We also need vegetables such as corn, green beans andcarrots.

Donations are accepted on Sunday mornings at the Storehouse table inthe back (by the caf). The Storehouse team appreciates your donationsto help us serve our body and community.

If you need assistance, please contact the church office. The officestaff will then contact a storehouse team member.

Blessings to you all,The Storehouse Team


5/16

12... Isabelle Coulson13 Duane Sturgess15... Anna Coulson15 Joe Hambrick16 Joan Didley

17... Dawn Vanryn17 Kevin & Dee Varnum21... Rebekah Mogg24 Brenda Petersen25 Aaron & Samantha Symonds25... Katlyn Rapp28 Sarah Smith

01 Maddie Symonds01... Nicholas Mohnackey02 Olivia Porvaznik03 Raelynn Moses04 Sharaya Striker

07 Michael Wilnau08... Danny Griffin09 Gary Crofts09... Lissy Fuller09... Zane Stoffel10... Parker Caruthers10... Ronnie & Deborah Tiller11... Dot Hannon


6/16

Flying!

andys recent talk to us about his sky

diving lessons prompted me to sharemy first flying lesson. Ok, so it is

equally uncomfortable. I heard the Lord say to me,Sandy you have been standing on the cliff, aware

of the danger long enough. Now I want you to catchthe wind and fly into the expanse.

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I dont like driving through the mountains.The roads are winding and narrow. My husbandwhilst driving through the Rocky Mountains wouldpoint off in the distance and say, Look! Id cringeat the idea of taking my eyes off the road, and Iwasnt driving!

My first flying lesson was about the eyes. Doyou remember when Peter saw the Lord on the Sea

and Jesus said, Come? Peter stepped out of theboat, but as soon as he took his eyes off the Lord,he began to sink. Peter must have had tons of faithto step out of that boat and believe he could walk onwater; it wasnt enough.

Standing at the cliffs edge in the spiritrequires courage. Youre alone, and you know ifyou go off the tip that unless He catches you, itsgoing to hurt. Its the same feeling I had when He

spoke to me about flying.So, Peters faith on water, and Joshuascourage on a cliff might be helpful but apart fromHim, they could do nothing, and I knew it was so forme as well. Telling you about my intimate time withHim is a stretch to hear for many reading this article.Im vulnerable in so doing, like Randy was skydiving, Peter was walking on water and Joshua toowho was heading into a place he had never beenbefore; still the Lord would lead each to do His

bidding, and I am to catch the current and fly.I must have been caught up in the moment,

because I cannot recall the details of when I first feltthe Lords breath lift me up in the expanse. It feltclumsy, and to my surprise I was flying with mystomach towards heaven. My arms were out as youmight expect, and when I realized what seemedeven then upside down to how one must think aboutflying, I asked Him why? It was then that He

reminded me of the importance of keeping my eyeson Him. That was my first flying lesson; keep mygaze upon Him.

When I was learning about faith early on in mywalk with the Lord, I asked why to a lot of things He

would talk to me about. It really wasnt importantmost of the time, nor would the answer help me inwhatever it was the Lord was teaching me. I doknow, however, why He wants me to get off thecliffs edge and learn to fly: He wants me to gainHis perspective in such a time as this. Apparentlythe world I walk in just doesnt get it. No surprisethere.

I have traveled the world, but now I am trulylearning to fly for the first time. I pray that His

perspective will become mine, and that it will in Hislight reflect more of Him in me.

Whats He asking of you that is well beyondyour own ability to do? Whatever it is, you will mostlikely be uncomfortable too. Keep the faith andcourage through faith, and remember to turn youreyes upon Him. He cares about you!

Sandra LindsayP.O. Box 702015Saint Cloud, FL

34770-2015Phone: (813) 714-8999

Website: www.spiritualmeat.comemail: [email protected]


7/16

Its Time to Get Moving

hen God created man in the

Garden of Eden, he did notcreate a car for transportation.

He gave him work to do 6 days a week.Today we move from place to place in

vehicles. Seldom is it safe to ride a bike orwalk to work. Industrialism has eliminatedour need to draw water from the stream,plant a garden to grow our food or chasean animal in order to eat. We havebecome what the medical community callssedentary. God never intended man to besedentary.

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A Science Daily article stated, Most

people know that exercise is important tomaintain and improve health; however,sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates areat all-time highs and have become majornational issues. I would add that thesedentary lifestyle impacts our physical,emotional and spiritual health in negativeways. Our productivity is decreased andour relationships suffer. Being sedentaryhad an impact on my life. I was at anuncomfortable weight, I had trouble gettingout of bed, my joints ached and I wouldinjure my back easily. I was moody andhad very little energy.

Being sedentary may not be affecting yourlife in the same way. Unfortunately, it iswhat we cant see that is more damaging.What we cant see is our arteries

becoming clogged with cholesterol, ourcells not being able to utilize glucose(called type 2 diabetes), and a myriad ofother health issues that impact our livesand those around us.

Sadly, when a society errs from what isnormal, we then have to define what isnormal.

Experts agree that regular physical activityis 2 hours of moderate intensity aerobicexercise, or 75 minutes of high intensityaerobic exercise; also, strengtheningexercises 2 times per week incorporating

all of the major muscles of the body; and,flexibility exercises three times per week.This may seem overwhelming, but thereare simple ways we can begin to increaseactivity.

One idea is to begin embracing domesticchores as a way to exercise. Chooseactivities that require constant movementof large muscles. If there are tasks that

dont require large muscle movement,such as folding laundry, walk in placewhile doing them. Just stay moving for aminimum of 10 minutes. If you can onlymove constantly for 10 minutes this week,its okay. Next week increase it to 15minutes.

You can increase flexibility by stretchingafter activity, and increase strength byutilizing push-ups and squats whichincorporate most of the major muscles ofthe body. You can get directions on howto do these at:

www.acefitness.org/exerciselibrary

Begin recording how much time you spendexercising and set some goals to getmoving. I write my activity minutes on my

calendar and try to increase them weekly.Since Gods original plan was for man towork in the Garden, I believe God caresabout our physical activity. Lets prayabout ways to get moving and allow Godto be a part of this area of our lives.

Tonia Hayes is anACE certified Personal Trainer


8/16

Tom Caruthers ~ Sky Blue. I would like tobe someone who is cool, calm and

collected...these are things that I am stillstriving to achieve...

Jessica Kasparek ~My favorite color isGreen, any shade will do. I think its one ofGods favorite colors as well. He did covera good portion of the earth with it.

Neal Hayes ~ I would want to be a deep

Evergreen color, because that colormakes me think of a tall mature evergreentree that provides shade for the parchedtraveler, and protection for the animals ofthe forest. .

Rebekah Thornell ~ I would definitely beYellow! As a child I picked yellow firstevery time. Yellow is bright and sun-shinny. When I drew pictures the sun was

one of my favorite things to draw as well. Iwould make it so big it would take up ahuge part of the page. No matter how Iwas feeling, or what it looked like outsidethe sun in my picture made my worldbright.Today I think of yellow as being a colorthat can blend well with others; red tomake orange and blue to makegreen...and that's how I would like to bereceived.

Amber Leslie-Wilnau ~ I'd be the colorAmber because it's the color of myenergy.

Brenda Sims ~ Seafoam Green. Not surewhy, Ive just always been drawn to thatcolor.

Sandy Lindsay ~Gold! Genesis 2:12Gold is good!

Sonia Shearer ~Well, I would be Red ofcourse! Because I'm so intense!

Elias James ~I would be one of thoseduel color crayons. Black and Blue. Whyyou ask? Black represents stealth and myninja like abilities. And blue is my favecolor and the color of my truck. The fact

I'm two colors makes me unique. Anyonewho knows me knows I'm not Mr. Normal.

Abra Coulson ~ I would be teal becauseit's bright & lively.

Brenda Petersen ~ I would be green, itsmy fave color, it represents freshness, go,and wellness.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why??


9/16

by Brenda Petersen

hen one realizes to what depth

our Lord's love runs, it can bealmost overwhelming, although

because we know what and who our Godis, we know we can expect nothing lessfrom him. But when we experience a loveso deep from a body of people so diverse,so faithful and so loving, and so unified, itjust boggles the human mind.

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So often we are let down by our biologicalfamilies, even our close friends, althoughmost often unintentional, none the less

painful and cutting. We also let our lovedones down with our actions or non actions,and sometimes we react out of pain or hurtfrom our past. What still amazes meabout our Warehouse church body is thatalthough they have seen us in all our gloryor even in all our worldly sins, their heartsallow them to look beyond what they SEEto lift us up to our heavenly Father whohas much mercy and showers us ingrace. Non judgmental, loving, accepting& inviting, that is what I believe our Fatherexpects us to strive to be.

For some who come for the first time wecan be a hospital where they can nurse abroken heart, some, we can help afinancial burden, yet others, we can be ateacher of the Word. We may never get to

see the outcome or the manifestation ofour works or efforts, but we can know thatGod sees and knows all. It is not for us torevel in the glory of a job well done, yet weare to move on to the next person whohas needs or pain.

I believe God expects us to do His will sothat others can come to know Him in adeep and meaningful way, thus disciplingthem to go on when our jobs have come toclose. May we always be what God wantsus to be, may we always have a heart tosearch out His will , may we be pleasingunto Him. Most importantly, may we makeour Father proud.

Our new building is really not for US, thecurrent church body, rather I believe, Godis going to allow us to use it to do His

bidding. It's not about a comfortable chair,a speaker system, lovely decor, its notabout how nice the bathrooms are, howgreat the acoustics are or even how manywe can fit into the LIVING ROOM. It isabout bringing our God to a hurting,searching and wandering people. Let'salways remember, we will be watched.The world wants us to fail, they want tofind fault. I am sure we will experience all

kinds of shifting, all types of people andsituations. Always strive to be the bestthat we can be, to always bring honor tothe One we serve.

Most importantly, without meaning tosound haughty or self elevating, thinkabout this...we may be the closest thing toGod the next person we run into, will ever

know or ever has known. Lets make themwant to know Him more.

I LOVE my church family, thank you forbeing who you are.


10/16

Dialogue

n Matthew 4:1-11 is the story of the

temptation of Jesus. We have allread the story about how after

Jesus fasted for 40 days then the devil

came and tried to tempt him. Have youever asked yourself why the devil waitedto come after the 40 days? It is obviousthat Jesus would be hungrier after noteating for 40 days, but I think there isanother dynamic involved. Wasnt it reallyabout the devil realizing that Jesus wasreally going to go through with what Godhad sent him to do and decided that hehad better make a move to stop it? Hewas trying to get Jesus off track and gethim to bow down because he knew if hecould get him to sin and get him off focusthat the end result would be totallydifferent.

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How many times do we allow theenemy to dialogue with us, we listen, thenthe result we wanted isnt accomplished orit takes twice as long to accomplish it. If

we could only realize that the dialoggingdoesnt begin until we get ready to invadehis territory. As long as we are mindingour own business and not Gods businessthe enemy keeps pretty still. But when wetake a stand for what is right, try toaccomplish something, or walk out whatwe are called to do, the dialogue starts.Mine starts something like this Why doyou think you could write a book? Whatmakes you think you are capable ofhelping others? Look at all of the thingsyou have done in the past, you will just dothat again because you cant stop. If youhad just done this, then that wouldnt havehappened. Im sure most of us havesome type of dialogue in our minds.

by Sonia Shearer

In the past I have allowed the enemy todialogue with me to the point of makingme double minded and questioning who Iam in Christ. I have now figured out, that

if he starts talking, Im getting ready toaccomplish something that he obviouslydoesnt want me to accomplish. Imgetting ready to invade his territory so hestarts running his mouth. Jesus simplyanswered him with scripture, and then leftit alone.

What dialogue is going on in yourhead? If you havent had much dialoguefrom the enemy lately, your turn is mostlikely on the horizon. If you have had,most likely you are getting ready to invadea territory that the devil doesnt want youto have, so keep up the good work andcontinue to move forward.


11/16

Every Sunday ~

averagejoes CafFree continental breakfast served from10:00am to 10:20amContact: Renee Stoffel @ 253-2465

THEWAREHOUSEBAND

Contacts: Aaron Symonds @ 330-1928Mela Striker @ 365-1006

WAREHOUSENURSERY & PRESCHOOLWe believe in ministering to the needs ofeven our littlest members. Our qualifiedteachers create a positive experience thatintroduces nursery and preschool childrento the love of Jesus early on.Contact: Jill Porvaznik @ 793-1326

WAREHOUSE KIDSWarehouse Kids is for all boys and girls inKindergarten through 6th grade. We providea combination of games, interactivecharacters, and fun filled songs capturekids attention while showing them thatliving for God is the best way to live!Contact: Ron Sellers @ 787-0385

Sunday, Apr 10 @ 10:30am ~

Annual Spring Picnic in lieu of ourregular schedule meeting. Same time andsame place.Its a brunch!The church will besupplying the beverage, ham, biscuits &gravy. We need you to bring a side dish.See the info table for more details.

2nd & 4th Sunday ~

S T A T U R E Youth Group @ 1:00pmCommunity Center West RoomContact: Neal Hayes 365-1496Next Meeting: No meeting this monthdue to the church picnic & EasterSunday.

1st Friday ~

READERSBook Group@ 6:30pmNew this year in Readers Group!We will be picking a book from the Bibleeach month to read. Hope you can join usfor the discussion!Brenda Sims Home600 Bidwell St, Fruitland ParkBook to read:The Book of HoseaContact: Brenda Sims (352) 787-5266Next Meeting: April 1


12/16

2nd & 4th Friday ~Harp & Bowl- Worship & IntercessionCochran Home3233 Indian Trail, Eustis, 32726Snacks at 6:30; Harp & Bowl at 7:00Contact: Cliff Cochran @ 483-3140Next Meeting: April 8 & 22

4th Friday ~OlderGents@ 11:30amOlder Gents is an opportunity for men over50 to meet for lunch and enjoy greatconversation over a variety of topics thataffect all of us.

Golden Corral, North LeesburgContact: Leo Lenschow 429-2563Next Meeting: April 22

Saturday, 4/16 ~

Love& Marriage andWAREHOUSE Kids ChurchAre teaming together for a barbecuewith games and prizes for both thechildren and adults.So if you are a young couple married 15years or less or if you have children in ourchildrens church, we hope that you willjoin us with your children for an afternoonof fun.Meat and drinks will be provided.Everyone is asked to please sign up at the

info table and indicate whether they willbring a salad, or another side dish.

Jeff & Sue Myers home at 4:00pm til dark41737 Kendra Lane, WeirsdaleContact: Sue @ 504-6506

elevationYoung Adults of 18 to 29 years old gatherfor fellowship and different activities.Ultimately, Elevation's vision is to giveyoung adults a platform to fellowship, toserve, to do life together.Contact: Vance Harbaugh (941) 720-3912

CREATIVEARTSDrama! Dance! Pantomime! Signlanguage! Flags! Children's ballet! Theseare just a few venues that have beenincorporated into the Creative Arts Ministryat the Warehouse Church. The messageof salvation through Jesus Christ and the

ministry of worship are key factors in thefoundation of our Creative Arts Ministry.Many people are blessed through thevisual arts and this is why this ministryexists. Look for future opportunities thatwill allow community oriented theater anddance.Contact: Barbara Smith @ 315-1400

Check out the web page atwww.vcfleesburg.comfor everything on thecalendar this month.

DONT FORGET!!1st Sunday of the month we will collect the"Change Cups". For those of you whoneed to pick up one of our "red" cups wewill have some on Sunday. Your spare"change" helps those in need in ourchurch and our community.
http://www.vcfleesburg.com/http://www.vcfleesburg.com/


13/16

think it was the wind gusting that

woke me or it might have beenindigestion. Nevertheless, I was

completely awake rather than just wakeful.So I prayed a bit and waited and while Iwas waiting, I turned on the radio. As itturned out, a program was just beginning -it really got me thinking.

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On a dangerous seacoast whereshipwrecks often occur, there was once acrude little lifesaving station. The buildingwas just a hut and there was only one boatbut the few devoted members kept aconstant watch over the sea and with nothought for their safety went out day andnight, tirelessly rescuing the lost. Manylives were saved by this wonderful littlelifesaving station. So it became famous.

Some of those who were saved andvarious others in the surrounding areawanted to become associated with thestation and give of their time and moneyand effort for the support of its work. Newboats were bought and crews were trainedand the little life station grew.

Some of the members of the lifesavingstation were unhappy that the building wasso crude and poorly equipped. They felt a

more comfortable place should beprovided, as the first refuge of those savedfrom the sea. So they replaced theemergency cots and beds and put betterfurniture in the large building.

Now the lifesaving station became apopular gathering place for its membersand they decorated it beautifully andfurnished it exquisitely because they used

it as sort of a club. Fewer members werenow interested in going to sea onlifesaving missions so they hired lifeboatcrews to do the work.

The lifesaving motif still prevailed inthe club's decorations and there was aliturgical lifeboat in the room where clubinitiations were held. And about this time alarge ship was wrecked off the coast andthe hired crews brought in loads of cold,

by John & Julie Macrae

wet, half-drowned people. They were dirtyand sick. The beautiful new club wasconsiderably messed up. So, the propertycommittee immediately had a showerhouse built outside the club where thevictims of shipwrecks could be cleaned upbefore coming inside.

At the next meeting there was a splitin the club membership and most of the

members wanted to stop the lifesavingactivity because they were a hindranceand unpleasant to the normal social life ofthe club. Some members insisted onlifesaving as their primary purpose andpointed out they were still a lifesavingstation after all. They were finally voteddown and told if they wanted to save thelives of various kinds of people

shipwrecked in those waters, they couldbegin their own lifesaving station down thecoast...which they did.

As the years went by, the new stationexperienced the same changes thatoccurred in the old. It evolved into a cluband another lifesaving station wasfounded. History continued to repeat itselfand if you visit that coast today, you'll finda number of exclusive clubs along the

shore, shipwrecks are still frequent butmost of the people drown.

I'm looking forward to the time whenthe refurbishment of the Warehouse iscompleted but the moment I'm reallywaiting for is when we gather together tocelebrate yet another life saved, andanother, and another...

There are hundreds out there bobbingup and down in the stormy waters justwaiting for a helping hand to reach out tothem will it be yours?

Stay updated with our friendsJohn & Julie Macrae as they travel

And spread the news of Jesus Christ!www.blog.mailasail.com/amazinggrace


14/16

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

ould it be true that God determineswho will go to heaven, but leavesus with the impression that the

choice is ours?C

Some students of the Bible areconvinced that the doctrines of totaldepravity, foreknowledge, election,predestination, and sovereign grace areessential to an understanding of the graceof God. They believe that the alternativeto these doctrines give too much credit tohuman choice, human intelligence, andhuman character. Others say that free willand choice are foundational to the heartfeltresponse God wants from us that

without freedom of choice we end upbeing puppets rather than persons. Sowho is right? Lets see if some definitionsare helpful.

Total depravity is the teaching thatevery part of our being has been damagedby sin. In our natural state, none of us willlook for the kind of God who has made usfor Himself, "As it is written: 'There is noone righteous, not even one; there is no

one who understands, no one who seeksGod. All have turned away, they havetogether become worthless; there is noone who does good not evenone.'"(Romans 3:10-12, NIV). So unlessGod intervenes, we will continuewandering from Him in spiritual darkness.Foreknowledge and election mean thateven before creation God foreknew and

chose those who would be saved, Forthose God foreknew he also predestinedto be conformed to the likeness of hisSon, that he might be the firstborn amongmany brothers. And those hepredestined, he also called; those hecalled, he also justified; those he justified,he also glorified. What, then, shall we sayin response to this?

If God is for us, who can be against us?(Romans 8:29-31, NIV). Someunderstand this to mean that in Hisforeknowledge God chose those He knewwould choose Him. Others are convincedthat people like those described inRomans 3:10-12 will not choose Godunless He first chooses them and enablesthem to believe.

Predestination means that God haspredetermined that those who believe inHis Son will eventually be conformed tothe likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29-31).Some think this is a kind of action thatoverrides human will and choice. Others

see it as the action that works with our willto assure that the salvation we desire willbe fully realized.

Sovereign grace is a term used toemphasize that salvation begins and endswith God alone, and that become of ourinclination to wander away from Him thisrescue is an expression of Godsundeserved kindness to us.

Now back to our questions. Have

we been so damaged by sin that we willonly choose God when He intervenes inour behalf? Do we move toward God onlywhen He moves us? Just about the time Iam thinking freedom to choose is only anillusion. I remember the Old Testamentstory of Job. In a conversation that tookplace in heaven. God asked Satan toconsider one man who stood out from all

of the rest of mankind. Satans responsewas that Job was better than other menbecause God was giving Job protectionand wealth in exchange for Jobsfaithfulness. Satans argument wassignificant. It focused on Jobs choicesand motives, not on the accusation thatGod had sovereignty caused Job to bebetter than others.


15/16

Check out Leos blogon the Warehouse

website atwww.vcfleesburg.com

Satan acknowledged that Job chose toserve God, but said that he did so fromself-serving motives. Satans commentscombine with the Lords to show that Jobwas merely a puppet-servant who did whatGod programmed him to do.

Where does this leave us? I think it

leaves us once again with a sense of themystery and wonder of God. It also leavesus with an opportunity to find our bearingsby orienting ourselves to what we know,rather than to what we dont know. Bygoing back to truths weve alreadyaccepted, we can conclude:

1. A right view of foreknowledge andelection will deepen our appreciationfor the goodness of God. If our thoughts

about election and predestination causeus to doubt that God is inexpressiblywonderful, we can safely conclude it is ourunderstanding of what we dont know thatis flawed, Taste and see that the Lord isgood; blessed is the man who takesrefuge in him. (Psalm 34:8, NIV).

2. A right understanding of Godssovereignty will ignite a passion to

reach the lost. The men and women ofthe New Testament set a pace for us.They risked their lives to give others achance to hear and believe what Christhas done for us. They believed what Godwants us to believe, and they acted in away God wants us to act. If ourunderstanding of free will and sovereigntykills our concern for others, then it is ourthoughts that are flawed.

3. A right view of Gods sovereigngrace will promote humility rather thanpride. Any truth rightly understood leadsus to a God who in turn causes us to seeourselves and one another in His shadow,The secret things belong to the Lord ourGod, but the things revealed belong to usand to our children forever, that we mayfollow all the words of this law. (Deut.29:29, NIV).

4. A right view of election andpredestination will prompt Christlikelove for fellow believers. Together thesetruths show how much God has done forHis family. The example of His eternallove is a strong reason for us to care forone another as He has cared for us.

5. A right view of free will giveshonor to God. Nothing is more basicthan that God deserves honor for beingwhat we could never be, and for doing forus what we could never do for ourselves.Our salvation in time and eternity beginsand ends with Him. We are the ones who

have messed up. He is the one who hascome to our rescue. His choices are whatwe need to honor. Again, I dont knowhow to sort all of this out. But Imconfident of this: The Bible wants us totake our own choices seriously, even ifonly to keep saying, Yes, Lord, I do inviteYou to live Your life through me. Pleasedo for me what I cannot do for myself. I dowant to be under the influence and control

of Your Spirit.

This article was written by Radio BibleClass Ministries President Mart De Haanwhich is currently based in Grand Rapids,Michigan. The Warehouse Church givesout each month a free devotional, theDaily Bread which is provide for us byRBC.

May I leave you with this precious promisefound in John 10:27-30, My sheep listento my voice; I know them, and they followme. I give them eternal life, and they shallnever perish; no one can snatch them outof my hand. My Father, who has giventhem to me, is greater than all, no one cansnatch them out of my Fathers hand. Iand the Father are one.


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Color theCross

HappyEaster!

newsletter apr.11

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