Fatal Error
August 2, 2009 by Staff
Filed under Michael Labaz
There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death.
-Inspired by God the Holy Spirit; written by King Solomon
I am prone to err, go astray and fall prey to almost everything. And so are you. There are millions of ways in which we might screw up and the saddest thing is that we can’t foresee it.
There are stories whose beginnings seem to be so beautiful but they have ugly endings. You have a story with an ugly ending as well. It looked attractive in the beginning but now it has become a dark spot in your life. It always ends the same.
The story with an ugly ending lacks the most important thing in the whole world: God as its ultimate. Had God been there with all His wisdom it would not be quite this way. An old song is so precise: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” We’re so hopeless!
Thank God for the true brothers and sisters that are honest enough to get us back on track. No, I don’t take correction well. I detest when someone’s rebuking me. My very first inclination is to punch them on the throat, put ‘em in a headlock and tell ‘em exactly what I think of them at the moment. I can’t do it though because this is them loving me. This is love.
Let us be a people that are open to correct and be corrected. After all, we’re all siblings with God as our father. We’re of the same blood, blood of Jesus.
Godly Desire
August 2, 2009 by Staff
Filed under Michael Labaz
-Paul of Tarsus, letter to Philippians
I like how the Bible starts out: “In the beginning God…” It all starts with God. Everything is by him, through him and for him.
He is the alpha and omega – beginning and end. You just can’t get away from him. David says it this way: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”
This God who is the beginning of all initiates a relationship with us. He starts it. God literally comes in with his Spirit and turns things upside down to attract us and pull us in. Once we are drawn there is no turning back but we’re swept off our feet by the one who chose to pursue us.
It is God who gives us the desire (“to will”) and enables us to make it happen (“to work”)! As Christian you don’t have to pull back from your desires but, on the contrary, you get to do exactly what you want to do the most. All of it is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Believe in it. Glory in it. This is truly good news.
Reflect & Refocus
August 2, 2009 by Staff
Filed under Michael Labaz
It’s been almost half a year since it all changed in our youth ministry. Jesus has truly been good to us because despite all the mistakes we made we’re still a functioning part of the church!
We tried a couple of different approaches as to how things would be done here and finally we’re coming down to the basics. Our youth ministry might not be the fanciest in town judging from the looks and programs but we’re on to follow Christ and Him alone. If we just make Him look good! That’s all that ultimately matters because only He is ultimate.
We’ll focus on becoming a praying people by increasing our prayers at home and coming on Thursday at 7 o’clock to the pre-service prayer. We’ll focus on becoming an ardent Bible people by devoting ourselves to reading of the Holy Scriptures at home and coming to the Bible studies on Fridays at 8 p.m.
We’ll start singing passionately during our worship time because Christ has bestowed His precious love upon us. We’ll be a friendly bunch because Christ has befriended us. We’ll be a welcoming group because Christ has welcomed us. We’ll be a serving people because Christ has served us.
All glory in this age and in the age to come to Jesus Christ the King!
It’s all about Jesus. It’s only about Jesus. It’s always about Jesus.
It Is Well With My Soul
July 12, 2009 by Staff
Filed under Michael Labaz
On November, 1873, Spafford was detained by urgent business, but he sent his wife and four daughters as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Harve, planning to join them soon. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters—Tanetta, Maggie, Annie and Bessie—were among the 226 who drowned. Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved.
Horatio Spafford stood hour after hour on the deck of the ship carrying him to rejoin his sorrowing wife in Cardiff, Wales. When the ship passed the approximate place where his precious daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write, “When sorrows like sea billows roll … It is well with my soul.” What a picture of our hope!
Chorus: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, let this blest assur ance control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and shed His own blood for my soul.
Chorus: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Happiness and Satisfaction, Yours to Claim
May 22, 2009 by Staff
Filed under Michael Labaz
-Jesus of Nazareth
Michael
Hated
May 22, 2009 by Staff
Filed under Michael Labaz
It’s all about who you know and how many of them are there. We are bent on searching for popularity. It’s the second half of the American dream to have a posse that follows you around telling everyone how cool and awesome you are.
You care about what others will say about you and even start blushing when you think you look dumb. You are so used to have people around you think well of you that you can’t even fathom being hated.
The old Eminem song comes to mind: “Have you ever been hated or discriminated against? I have, I’ve been protested and demonstrated against.” Not to say that it’s a song worth listening to but this dude digs what it means to be rejected by others regardless of the context he is in.
Throughout history Christians weren’t really treated all that nice. They were maligned, bad mouthed, ridiculed, beaten, persecuted and even murdered just because they follow Christ.
Don’t be surprised next time your co-workers think you lost your marbles because you’re following a marginalized Galilean peasant. Don’t be surprised when people think it’s their job to point out how ridiculous you look because you believe that a Jewish Rabbi who suffered capital punishment was resurrected.
At the end of the day this Jewish man is God. He reigns. Every fool and every wise person will bow down before him. Every idiot and intelligent person will confess that He is the King.
In Christ,
Michael