I think I might be a nearsighted Christian… I don’t want to be. A nearsighted Christian is a Christian who cares about the things that are near to them and has become oblivious to the things that are far away. Would you say that:

• I can see my wants clearly, but i don’t notice those in need all around me.
• I can see my child, but I don’t notice the millions around me who don’t have a father or mother.
• I can see the challenges in the world that disrupt my life, but the greater problems which cause suffering around the world look blurry to me.

How’s your heart? Let me know in the comments.

What do you think? Comment Here! >> God, Please Help Us Not To Be Nearsighted. Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

“To whom be glory for ever. Amen” 

— Romans 11:36

“To whom be glory for ever.” This should be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be subservient and tributary to this one. The Christian may wish for prosperity in his business, but only so far as it may help him to promote this—“To him be glory for ever.” He may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but it should only be that “To him may be glory for ever.” You are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than a single eye to your Lord’s glory. As a Christian, you are “of God, and through God,” then live “to God.” Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to him. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining motive whenever your zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend upon it, where self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme delight and only object,

“To me ’tis equal whether love ordain

My life or death—appoint me ease or pain.”

Let your desire for God’s glory be a growing desire. You blessed him in your youth, do not be content with such praises as you gave him then. Has God prospered you in business? Give him more as he has given you more. Has God given you experience? Praise him by stronger faith than you exercised at first. Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly. Do you enjoy happier times than you once had? Have you been restored from sickness, and has your sorrow been turned into peace and joy? Then give him more music; put more coals and more sweet frankincense into the censer of your praise. Practically in your life give him honour, putting the “Amen” to this doxology to your great and gracious Lord, by your own individual service and increasing holiness.

Taken from “Morning and Evenings” a devotional by Charles Spurgeon

Morning, November 17

What distracts you from keeping your focus on bringing glory to God?

What do you think? Comment Here! >> A Christ Followers One Desire – Spurgeon Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

What do you think? Comment Here! >> VIDEO – Serve Thurston Highlight from Living Water Weekend Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

Since we had the privilege of hosting the President of the Foursquare Church in the house this weekend, I though I’d share a look back at the history of Living Water this week. I love history. We are destined to repeat the mistakes of our fathers if we do not understand and learn from their story. The Church of Living Water (originally known as the First Foursquare Church of Olympia) has an incredible history. Here is a video our amazing video crew created for the 75th Anniversary Celebration.

What do you think? Comment Here! >> Church of Living Water… “A look back” Part 2 Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

Since we had the privilege of hosting the President of the Foursquare Church in the house this weekend, I though I’d share a look back at the history of Living Water this week. I love history. We are destined to repeat the mistakes of our fathers if we do not understand and learn from their story. The Church of Living Water (originally known as the First Foursquare Church of Olympia) has an incredible history. Here is a video our amazing video crew created for the 75th Anniversary Celebration.

What do you think? Comment Here! >> Church of Living Water… “A look back” Part 1 Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

What do you think? Comment Here! >> Video – One Minute Monday Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

***Update – Video Links: When the Church is silent the world suffers >> The church in action >> A life of influence >> MY FAVORITE! Jesus never gave up on anyone ***

1. Challenge the status quo. Be an innovator.

The church would be better off if there were more people who got angry when the church looses its focus on the mission.

2. Never give up on anyone! Be compassionate.

Be so compelling with your compassion that the world will want to tell your story. (By the way, here is the Jason McElwain video Glenn mentioned – it’s a MUST see!)

3. Refuse to live with offenses. Be forgiving.

Learn how to “cover people” with out “covering up” the truth.

4. Leave people better than you found them. Be a solutionist.

What will people say about you when you’re gone?

5. Make certain that your actions match your words. Have integrity.

In the story of the Good Samaritain, Jesus made no distiction from the offenders and those who stood by with indiference.

I was deeply challenged and ENCOURAGED by the message. We MUST ask the questionn, “If our church left the city tomorrow, would anyone care?”. If the answer is “no”, STOP, pack your bags, lets go – we’re wasting our time. I do believe that we are making a difference, but there is much to be done. MAKE SURE thhat you’re in church the next two weeks because you’re going to hear some of the INCREDIBLE opportunities that are in front of us to LET OUR LIGHT SHINE so the world will SEE IT — What challenged you?

What do you think? Comment Here! >> A Message for a City Changing Church! *Updated with Video Links* Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

What do you think? Comment Here! >> Kingdom Come: Week 3 (Good Ground) (Video) LAST ONE! Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

What do you think? Comment Here! >> Your Kingdom Come… continued! New Content! Thorny Ground! (Video) Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!

BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON,

…I shall briefly treat of the third class, and may the Spirit of God assist me to deal faithfully with you. “And some fell among THORNS; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.” Now, this was good soil. The two first characters were bad: the wayside was not the proper place, the rock was not a congenial situation for the growth of any plant; but this is good soil, for it grows thorns. Wherever a thistle will spring up and flourish, there would wheat flourish too. This was fat, fertile soil; it was no marvel therefore that the husbandman dealt largely there, and threw handful after handful upon that corner of the field. See how happy he is when in a month or two he visits the spot. The seed has sprung up. True, there’s a suspicious little plant down there of about the same size as the wheat. “Oh!” he thinks, “that’s not much, the corn will out-grow that. When it is stronger it will choke these few thistles that have unfortunately mixed with it.” Ay, Mr. Husbandman, you do not understand the force of evil, or you would not thus dream! He comes again, and the seed has grown, there is even the corn in the ear; but the thistles, the thorns, and the briars have become intertwisted with one another, and the poor wheat can hardly get a ray of sunshine. It is so choked with thorns every way, that it looks quite yellow: the plant is starved. Still it perseveres in growing, and it does seem as if it would bring forth a little fruit. Alas, it never comes to anything. With it the reaper never fills his arm. We have this class very largely among us. These hear the word and understand what they hear. They take the truth home; they think it over; they even go the length of making a profession of religion. The wheat seems to spring and ear; it will soon come to perfection. Be in no hurry, these men and women have a great deal to see after; they have the cares of a large concern; their establishment employs so many hundred hands; do not be deceived as to their godliness — they have no time for it. They will tell you that they must live; that they cannot neglect this world; that they must anyhow look out for the present, and as for the future, they will render it all due attention by-and-by. They continue to attend gospel-preaching, and the poor little stunted blade of religion keeps on growing after a fashion. Meanwhile they have grown rich, they come to the place of worship in a carriage, they have all that heart can wish. Ah! Now the seed will grow, will it not? No, no. They have no cares now; the shop is given up, they live in the country; they have not to ask, “Where shall the money come from to meet the next bill?” or “how shall they be able to provide for an increasing family.” Now they have too much instead of too little, for they have riches, and they are too wealthy to be gracious. “But,” says one, “they might spend their riches for God.” Certainly they might, but they do not, for riches are deceitful. They have to entertain much company, and chime in with the world, and so Christ and his church are left in the lurch. Yes, but they begin to spend their riches, and they have surely got over that difficulty, for they give largely to the cause of Christ, and they are munificent in charity; the little blade will grow, will it not? No, for now behold the thorns of pleasure. Their liberality to others involves liberality to themselves; their pleasures, amusements, and vanities choke the wheat of true religion: the good grains of gospel truth cannot grow because they have to attend that musical party, that ball, and that soiree, and so they cannot think of the things of God. I know several specimens of this class. I knew one, high in court circles, who has confessed to me that he wished he were poor, for then he might enter the kingdom of heaven. He has said to me, “Ah! Sir, these politics, these politics, I wish I were rid of them, they are eating the life out of my heart; I cannot serve God as I would.” I know of another, overloaded with riches, who has said to me, “Ah! Sir, it is an awful thing to be rich; one cannot keep close to the Savior with all this earth about him.” Ah! My dear readers, I will not ask for you that God may lay you on a bed of sickness, that he may strip you of all your wealth, and bring you to beggary; but, oh, if he were to do it, and you were to save your souls, it would be the best bargain you could ever make. If those mighty ones who now complain that the thorns choke the seed could give up all their riches and pleasures, if they that fare sumptuously every day could take the place of Lazarus at the gate, it were a happy change for them if their souls might be saved. A man may be honorable and rich, and yet go to heaven; but it will be hard work, for “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” God does make some rich men enter the kingdom of heaven, but hard is their struggle. Steady, young man, steady! Hurry not to climb to wealth! It is a place where many heads are turned. Do not ask God to make you popular; they that have popularity are wearied by it. Cry with Agur — “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” God give me to tread the golden mean, and may I ever have in my heart that good seed, which shall bring forth fruit a hundredfold to his own glory…

What do you think? Comment Here! >> Don’t Choke! – Wisdom From Spurgeon Looking for a great church in Olympia or Lacey? Here it is!