KNOW WHERE YOU ARE HEADED

The story is told about Albert Einstein, the brilliant physicist of Princeton University in the early 20th century. Einstein was traveling from Princeton on a train, and when the conductor came down the aisle to punch the passengers' tickets, Einstein couldn't find his. He looked in his vest pocket, he looked in his pants pocket, he looked in his briefcase, but there was no ticket. The conductor was gracious; "Not to worry, Dr. Einstein, I know who you are, we all know who you are, and I'm sure you bought a ticket."

As the conductor moved down the aisle, he looked back and noticed Einstein on his hands and knees, searching under the seat for his ticket. The conductor returned to Einstein; "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry. I know who you are. You don't need a ticket, I'm sure you bought one." Einstein arose and said "Young man, I too know who I am; what I don't know is where I am going."

And that is the good news of TODAY; that we know where we are going. We have been told by the Savior that his life and death has promised us life eternal.

• Low moments of life don't change that promise.
  
• Unemployment doesn't change that promise.
  
• Neither does divorce, or bankruptcy, or cancer, or depression, or felony, or failure.

Through elation and deflation and every emotion in between, this truth remains; we know whose we are and we know where we are going, because the Son of God has promised. And this, my friends, is faith. I hope this encourages you today.

Your Freedom Fighter,
Tony

EVERYTHING GOES BACK IN THE BOX

Pastor John Ortberg published a book entitled, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box.

When he was a kid he always lost to his grandmother at Monopoly. She was ruthless and John says that every game ended with his giving his last dollar and piece of property to grandma, leaving him with only disappointment and sadness. The goal of the game is money, and grandma knew how to get all of it.

One summer, however, John met a kid who taught him some of the subtleties of Monopoly. Near the end of the summer he challenged his grandmother—and won! It was his moment of great glory. “Then,” Ortberg says, “I learned the final lesson—when the game is over, it all goes back in the box. All the houses, all the hotels, Boardwalk and Park Place, all that money—everything goes back in the box.”

As we remember Palm Sunday tomorrow, remember that when all is said and done the only thing that matters is all he did for us. Money, temporary. Fame, temporary. His death, temporary. The live that followed for you and for me, THAT is eternal.

WHAT IS YOUR GOD?

Good question. In this day we live in it's a real question.

Whatever you love most, serve most, seek out most, give to the most, worship the most, and care about the most is your god.

Your “god” can be your career, your bank account, the way you look, a particular position or degree, influence, power, or physical pleasure. It can even be something that is considered intrinsically good, yet you allow it to dominate your life more than God – such as your marriage or your family. Your “god” is whatever you allow to control you, to be the ultimate guide to decision making, the place of your supreme loyalty, and the source of your self-worth.

Guard your heart. Where you spend your money and your minutes is your master.

Tony Cruz

TRUE REPENTANCE

It seems that some people have a skewed view of what it means to genuinely ask for forgiveness. For some, its punishing and denying themselves until they feel like they have re-pleased God. For others, it's burning of candles and a sense of penance. Yet others feel like unless they cry it's not acceptable. Well, there are some views that are off, some half right views and others that are completely off.

I read an article that I wanted to share that I feel lays out a clear view of what true repentance looks like. Below is a great piece from an article by Mark Driscoll that i wanted to highlight to you today:

True repentance is a combination of three things:

1. Repentance includes confession. In confession, you agree with God that you have sinned. Confession includes both your mind and mouth.

2. Repentance includes contrition. In contrition, you feel what God feels about your sin. Confession includes both your emotions and expressions. Your heart is affected, not just your words.

3. Repentance includes change. In change, you stop sinning and start worshipping. Change includes your will and works.

The next time you come to a place where you are approaching God about an area of your life that requires repentance, remember that you are a whole being with many intricate parts and each of us respond differently. However, one thing must be present. You must be genuine.

THE MEASURE OF THE CHURCH

Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity:

1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs)
2. A giving church (supporting the church and efforts financially)
3. A growing church (new people coming and staying)
4. A soul-winning church (leading unbelievers to faith and baptism)
5. A smooth-running church (efficient and orderly)
6. A missionary-minded church (supports missionaries around the world)
7. A Spirit-filled church (enthusiastic, emotional)
8. A big church (large attendance, with many programs)

God used Paul to give us a different measure for maturity of the church. Paul says that the church is mature when it functions like one body, where Jesus Christ is the Head.

As my little girl Hannah learns of her surroundings, I could see her eyes wanting to reach for a toy, but her hands and arms were not yet able to cooperate. As she becomes more mature and aware, her body parts will begin to do what her "head" wanted her to do. Likewise, when we mature as the church, we individually obey what our "head," Jesus Christ, wants us to do.

The Church is not obedient to a set of rules. We are obedient to the Person of Jesus Christ through a trusting relationship and to the truths He has spoken. And our obedience is not just in our head, but in the way we live and serve one another.

Love one another,
Tony Cruz

FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING

Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value:

Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, “I love you.”

Give something away—anonymously.

Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.

Turn away wrath with a soft answer.

Visit someone in a nursing home.

Apologize if you were wrong.

Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.

Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement or reservation.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

THE QUIET HOUR

Amid the Christmas rush and noise

Of Christmas trees and childrens toys

Of gift and bow and mistletoe

And presents laid out in a row

We need to take a quiet hour

To contemplate all Heaven’s power

Which sent to earth our Heavenly King

When angels in the realm did sing

And in a quiet manger lay

A baby boy upon the hay

There, in that silent place, we find

The focus of all space and time.