Springfield Christian Church

Abandoned

jesse — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:18 +0000

A friend of mine recently lost his job. Imagine that in today’s economy, right. As we have been communicating, I have noticed an increasing negative, almost depressed tone in his comments. Most recently he asked the question, “Why do people abandon one another when they are needed most?” Several people gave him advice, Some quoted Scripture, some spoke of the hurts people have. No one really answered the question though. Here’s what I think. I believe we have all been hurt or felt hurt at one time or another. As a result, we often times see ourselves in the pain others are feeling and it scares us. We do try, most often, to help but our own fear stops us. We fear that hurt others are feeling and feel helpless. We reach out, but are sometimes pushed away. Other times we react in frustration because answers are clear to us as we stand on the outside of the fence, but our hurting friends wont respond the way we think they should. We ultimately abandon the hurt individual, because that is what we have been taught to do, either by ourselves, our parents, family or our friends. Fear prevents us from continuing on with our hurt friend because we dont want to be pulled down into their depression and we pull away. That’s not the way it should be, but it does seem that that is the way it is. What do you think?

Outcasts

jesse — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:01:26 +0000

I have always been one of those people who felt apart from others. I think if we are honest with ourselves we all feel somewhat separated from everyone else. Funny side note, I was watching an episode of “House” the other day and House was saying that everyone lies, even to those they love the most. There is truth to that and at its core I think I found the reason we are separated the way we are. Like Adam and Eve there are things we have all done that cause us shame. Sin, if you will, that sits in our lives hidden; covered because we know in our hearts that whatever it is that we have hidden was wrong. I hear all the time about how we are separated from God because of sin. Then I look in Scripture and see that Jesus’ actions revealed the sins of men and taught them to turn away from those things. In doing this, Jesus bound people together and bridged the gap between man and God. Even his sacrifice, his death on a cross, revealed the sins of men and brought them together with each other and with God. So, here we sit, covering our sins because of our own fear, our own shame and our own guilt and what? What is it that we expect to happen? Nothing changes for us. Sure, we go to church, we have asked God to forgive us, we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have gotten baptized and in the end, we still separate ourselves from God and each other because we have not allowed our sin to truly be revealed, freeing us from its bondage. People who have let go of their sin and allowed it to be revealed are those rare people you meet and just know they are totally and completely in God’s plan. Jesus said, Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{Mt 7:20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ^{Mt 7:21} “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{Mt 7:22} Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’^{Mt 7:23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Many will prophesy (tell others about God in the name of Jesus), many will drive out demons using Jesus’ name and many will perform miracles and yet Jesus says that he never knew these people. By their fruit you will know them. A person, even a professed Christian can do great things for God and still not know Jesus. How? By covering themselves, by covering their sin and shame and guilt. Everyone feels like their an outcast because everyone (most everyone) is. They are outcast from God. Now obviously there must be more. I know you are looking for the everready, every Christian proclamation which calls for you to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior. I cant do that to you because I dont know you or your heart. Instead, reveal your sin, be free from its hold on you. Repentence is turning away from, I say face it and throw it out the door so that it can no longer keep you from God, then walk away from it. It will be then that your fruit becomes obvious. By the way, you can only do this with Jesus, but you will learn what a true outcast is, at least in the eyes of men. OH, one more thing. It would be easy for a Christian minster to sit at his desk and write great and wonderful messages like this one calling on people to turn away from their sins if he had been a Christian his whole life and never really had any struggles. Who am I to talk right…I am a a recovering alcoholic, recovering drug addict. I have had struggles with pornography, anger issues and have a weight problem. I have been homeless by choice and not by choice. I spent the first 20+ of my 36 years not ever having heard the name of Jesus. I refuse to allow my sins to keep me from my God. I will reveal them, turn from them, and call out to Jesus for my salvation. How about you?

Pain in the Pew

jesse — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:49:49 +0000

It is amazing that Christians behave the way they do and don’t understand why the world thinks badly of Christianity. I have had numerous experiences in which a person who didn’t even believe in God treated me or others with more respect, caring and love than people whom I know profess Christ as their Lord and Savior. Why?

I could be critical and say that maybe those professing Christ aren’t really Christian, but rather pretenders; who am I to judge, I can be as bad to others as anyone else. I could say that they are just like the world and though in many ways that may be true, in many other ways, it is not. I heard a minister the other night say that it is easier to lead a person who has had a hard and troubled life, he actually said ”wicked”; it is easier to lead a person like that to Christ than it is someone who is a good person. Jesus’ words hit me. He said, in Matthew 9:12 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Christians are sick people who have realized they are sick and decided to do something about it. Just as getting treatment for cancer doesnt immediately rid a person of cancer, accepting Jesus doesnt mean a person won’t still struggle with their struggles. It just means they have begun the process of being healed from the damage that has been done and are fighting to make sure there will be no more damage. It means they know they will survive and be loved and be happy again… one day.

I think though, many Christians fall into a trap. They know they are sick. They know they have been forgiven. They know they should change how they live, but cant find the strength to do so. How hard would it be for any person to know they are dying and to try everything to stem the tide of pain that comes? To know that day in and day out you will and must fight for your life and still feel the frustration of the battle itself? Paul describes this in Romans 7,

^{Ro 7:22}For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;^{Ro 7:23} but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. ^{Ro 7:24} What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

^{Ro 7:25} Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Christians struggle just as any other person struggles but they also struggle against themselves knowing that they should be more, because they accepted Christ. We are not alone. Our struggles do not make us separate from each other, we separate ourselves. We are not alone. We dont need to lash out at anyone. We need to need each other. We need to rely on each other much in the way a recovery group helps addicts. We are addicts of a sort, we are addicted to the world, to sin. Find someone to share your pain with. Find someone to share your sickness with and ask them to help you fight rather than hiding yourself from…yourself.

End Times?

jesse — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:33:01 +0000

Ok, I am going to do something many ministers would either not do or baulk at me for doing. I am going to say this in just plain English. We are not going to know the day or the hour of “The End”. Here’s the thing though, the Bible does imply some things about the end we should be aware of. If your minister is taking a newpaper and laying over the Bible to try and show you how America or world events exactly line up with the events fortold in Scripture, be careful. People were doing the same thing during both World Wars. To be clear, I am not saying the end isn’t near. I believe the end times began when Christ ascended to His throne in heaven. The birth pains of the end have been gradually increasing as the hour approaches. We could be in that final hour. Now, that being said, we should be ready. When celebrating the Passover Meal, which was created to remind the nation of Israel of when God freed Israel from slavery under the Egypt; the Jewish people were directed to have their tunics tucked into their belts, their staffs in hand, and their shoes on. Christians can’t have it in their heads that they can make changes to their lives tomorrow or later. Tomorrow or later may not come. Besides, what does that show about your love for God and your priorities in life.

When Christ returns, when the end comes, we should be fully prepared. You can’t take your physical possessions with you so put the staff down and don’t worry about your shoes, but how is your heart, your spirit. Are you prepared to stand before the Creator of all? The answer is no…not without Christ. How is your relationship with Him? I can’t give you every answer. No one truly can. If they claim they can, well then you have just seen your first false prophet. I am hear to get you thinking, open your eyes and your heart. The end is something to be very afraid of, if you are not ready. We are in the End Times.

Do you dare to dream?

jesse — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:18:29 +0000

Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke out about a dream that he had. It was a dream that he wanted to share with others. He dared men and women of a generation to step up, step out and stand up for Christ in order to unite a nation. Amazing things happen when men and women dare to dream dreams. Close your eyes with me for a moment and dare to dream.
Imagine if you will, students filing in the doors of SCC. Every child has a class room and every room has a teacher. Youth of all ages and sizes show up at the doors of SCC and find what they have been looking for. Children are not only excited to come to church but drag their families through the doors because they are unable to contain their excitement. Everyday, new faces enter and instantly become familiar faces of brothers and sisters in Christ. I have a dream…do you dare to dream with me…

First time blogger

jesse — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:38:27 +0000

I suppose I should begin by introducing myself…I am Jesse Burns, the new minister. I suppose that is one of those obvious statements. I moved here with my family from Florida. I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into a small town, but I can honestly say I am glad God has brought me here. My wife, Bobbi, and I have been married for 15 years this November. We have 6, yes SIX, kids.
Since April when we arrived I have learned a great deal about the people of SCC. I have never met a group of people more willing to reach out and love others as this group. There is a sign in our parking lot that has been here for some time. It reads, “Where people God loves become people who love God.” I can think of no better way to describe this congregation. This is absolutely more than a place to worship.