Been thinking about...   by Pastor Merrill                                                       Home Page
                           I would encourage you (to encourage me) to respond to any of the articles written below by
                                                          emailing me at pastormerrill@sbcglobal.net.

8-16-11
Been Thinking About... financial disaster.
The stock market crashed in 1929 and people were jumping out of the windows of tall buildings to end their lives.
They didn't want to continue living... financially ruined. They didn't want to try to do the work to rebuild their finances.
They were mentally overcome with the realization that what they had, through the various ways in which it was acquired, was now lost.
They didn't want to continue living in a world where their security had been taken away. They had lost their riches,
and realized that even if they worked and gained them all back in time, they could just as easily be lost again.
Even the experts say that the stock market is a gamble. It can be played wisely, skillfully, and be profitable at times,
and though predictable at times, is still unpredictable at other times. Those in abject poverty, and many that don't have all that much money,
don't worry about the stock market, because they don't have any money in it. Recently in August of 2011, the stock market has had heavy losses.
With these thought provoking events, people are talking about the possibility of worldwide economic disaster coming
if events continue to head this direction. If things were to just be mildly bad, it could be very uncomfortable & disappointing to those
that have their hopes of prosperity or comfortable retirement, or even just keeping the status quo. But if things were to get extremely bad,
say the U.S. economy were to collapse, and this were to cause big changes in our government, and even bigger changes in the world's economy,
plunging the world into even greater financial difficulties, what should the knowledgeable Christian be thinking and feeling?
Say the world leaders got together and started working out a plan to save the panicking people of the world. Say they decided to work as one,
to have one world society run by one group of world leaders. Say one individual were to arise with such wisdom, power and charisma,
as to appear to have the answers to solve the world's problems as their world leader. What the knowledgeable Christians should be thinking
is that Biblical prophecy is coming true right before their eyes. Instead of just feeling all the negative feelings that are associated with the lost of most,
if not all their finances, they should be feeling a sense of joyful expectancy. It might be similar to those that prepare to have plastic surgery done to their face.
Sure there is going to be some discomfort for a short time, but they are going to be thrilled when they see the wrinkles and scars removed,
& look so much younger and better.

8-16-11
Been thinking about... the wording of 1Co 13, "The Great Love Chapter" which all speaks of sign gifts, things in part, things that will pass away
when that which is "perfect" is come. That choice of the word "perfect" for the original Greek <teleios> has left many confused or misinformed.

Strong's Concordance says this about <teleios> "from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.);
neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.

"Complete" or "mature" would have been better English translations than the old English word "perfect." Some think 'that which is perfect'
is speaking of Jesus, or when Jesus returns, or when we are in heaven with Jesus. "Reformed" churches believe this. I have been taught
(and still believe) that it is referring to the completion of the Scriptures (the Bible), which took place about 100 A.D.

Chapters 12-14 are all talking about various gifts of the Holy Spirit given to Christians. In chapter 13:8 mentions prophecies, tongues,
and knowledge: all spiritual gifts that were given to men in the early days of the church before the New Testament was fully written.
With those gifts, v. 9 says "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." because the N.T wasn't written to give them the "complete" revelation
God would have us have. V. 10 says "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." In other words when
the Bible was finally ("completely") written, the need and existence of people having the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and the gift of knowledge
would pass away. If people claimed to have them, they would be mistaken, self deceived, or deceived by others, or be having a counterfeit possibly
created by Satan.

In 1Co 13:11 Paul continues and uses an illustration of the natural man. He says when he was a child (immature) he spoke as a child, understood as a child,
and thought as a child (immature): but when he became a man (mature), he put away childish things. We should learn from this that when the early church
was in it's immature stage at the beginning it spoke as a child, with prophecies, tongues, & the gift of knowledge, but when the church had in it's possession the "complete" word of God, the church became mature, and God put away the use of these gifts of prophesies, tongues, and knowledge. God would still use
other gifts like teaching, giving, mercy, etc. which would still be required for ministry.

In 1Co 13:12 Paul says "For now" Paul lived in the age and died about thirty years before the Bible was completed, in the age when all the gifts were
still being used. During that age, he continues to say in v. 12 "we see through a glass, darkly; meaning they didn't understand a lot of spiritual things very
clearly (because the Bible hadn't been finished to clarify these things for them. He then says "But then face to face" meaning that when the Bible was finished
and one could read about these things, it would be as clear as if looking at a person face to face instead of seeing them behind you in the reflection of a mirror.
Their mirrors were not clear like our mirrors, but just shining pieces of dull rough metal, that gave an "unclear" reflection. Paul then says in v. 12 "now I know
in part, but then shall I know even as also I am know." Before the Bible was completed he could only know part of what God was going to reveal to us in the
Bible, but when the Bible was completed (some 30 yrs after Paul died) then it would be as clear to people that studied it diligently as the face of one that they
knew that was standing right in front of them.

7-7-11  
      In a recent "Our Daily Bread" it asked what if we were to keep hearing God ask us through the day "Whatcha doing?" just like some
  children ask at a very young age.   If we were to think about this through the day and honestly answered, we might be saying "Just wasting
  the time you gave me"  "Ignoring You"  "Paying too much time to the things of this world that won't amount to anything"  "Foolishly
  committing 'petty' sins," and the like.   Instead of just responding like that, why not change our behavior so that we might say things like
   "Thinking of how good You are"  "Observing the beauty in nature that You have created"  "Making sure the spiritual armor that You provide
    is in place for the rest of the day"  "Mentally going over a verse of the Bible to better be in contact with You."    If this sounds "far fetched,"
    how sad, for this is more like what our life should be like than the former negative things.   Why don't we try working on this.

6-8-11
   ...Acts 17:11, "they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
    I announced from the pulpit last Sunday that the "Power for Living" had a mistake in it when it used the word "Rock" instead of "God"
  in Isa 44:8.  All this week I haven't heard any comment on that, but I have since written what you will find below, and hope to mention
  it next Sunday.
        The “Power for Living” wrote on page four of its June 5, 2011 issue “Is there a God besides me?  There is no Rock; I know not any.”  
   I had checked two Bibles, and they both used the word “God” rather than “Rock,” so I thought the “Power for Living” had made a mistake. 
  After stating from the pulpit that the “Power for Living” had the wrong word  (“Rock” instead of “God”) in Isa 44:8, I came across a reference
   in a KJV Bible that the word for God in the original does mean “Rock.”   When I read it in the NKJV it says “Is there a God besides Me? 
   Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.”   Checking the Jamison Fausett Brown commentary, it said: “no God”--Hebrew, tsur, "rock"
   (De 32:4); that is, a stronghold to take refuge in, & a solid foundation to build on.”   Well that definitely describes our God, and uses the word
   “Rock” to describe Him.   Back in May I had read that Harold Camping had said that he had never heard of a preacher that had admitted that
   he had taught something wrong, though he admitted there might be some that had.   I thought “I am one of them”  though it has been rare. 
   Well, this is another rare occasion for me to admit that I was wrong about Power for Living’s use of the word “Rock” in Isa 44:8.      

5-5-11
   ...  This is an example of a form in our church (by the organ) we are currently using. 
                                                                                       Our pianist would like to play with a drummer and bass player, and wants the congregation to pray for this.

5-5-11

          ...   Mother's Day.  Jenny got this card from a friend of our daughters, and sooooo appreciated it.

5-4-11
   ... memorizing scripture.    Since February 2010 I have been daily (except usually on Sundays) working on memorizing an
ever-growing collection of verses.  I have just over a thousand verses I have collected to be memorized and probably have
about 750 that I am currently working on.  Just on Mondays alone, I usually go over all the verses I have selected from the
four gospels.   I divide the rest of the New Testament verses I have over the next five days.  This morning I was going over
some verses and was surprised that I didn't know some that well.  At certain times my memory is sharper than at others. 
   As I was reviewing, again the thought came that I need to always review, review, review.   As I thought of how some of you
might get discouraged when you put a lot of time in trying to memorize scripture (and then still can't remember it when you
come back to it the next time), I thought of three things we should all keep in mind.  First, we are not memorizing just for the
sake of memorizing (though that may even be a help in fighting off Alzheimer's).   Second, to help remember, and to make it
even more valuable, we should meditate (think on) the words we are memorizing (what they mean, how to apply them, etc.).
Third, while we are meditating, we should also be talking to God about what the words say, and what we are thinking about them.
This is a very important reason to be having a continual practice of memorizing scripture, to be also spending time with God
talking to Him about what His Word says.   If we were able to memorize all our many memory verses perfectly, we would
likely not go back and review them.  Therefore we wouldn't be thinking about them, or talking to God about them.  So instead
of being discouraged that we tend to forget parts of a verse, or how it begins, we can appreciate that this reality should keep
driving us back to review, meditate, and spend time fellowshipping with our wonderful God while we do this!!!

4-26-11
    Been thinking about... getting to heaven.    After reading the "Our Daily Bread" and being reminded of how few Christians really
think about going to heaven, I thought I would take this opportunity to try to stimulate your thinking a little more in this area.
Many people will take the time to think about and prepare for their arrival at a vacation destination, so why not do the same for heaven.
The Bible speaks of it being far better than anything we can imagine.  We think about what we like to do here on Earth.
What is the greatest pleasure or the most fun you have ever experienced on Earth?   If money, health, and time were no object,
and there were no other limitation to what you could do on Earth, you still would not be able to even imagine how much better heaven is going to be.
To some degree what you think about here on Earth will affect the level of pleasure you will reach in heaven.  
Let us think the thoughts, and live the life here and now that will add to our greater pleasure, as well as to the Lord's,
who will also be taking pleasure in our pleasure.

4-22-11
                       Is There Any Significance to Jesus being Crucified on a Friday, and Resurrected on a Sunday?

   Sunday is both the first day of the week, and the “new beginning” of next week.  Because we want to put Christ first in our life,
giving Him the preeminence, and because Christ gives us a “new beginning” (having made us a “new creation” 2Co 5:17),
it is fitting that He would rise from the dead on a Sunday.  Because of His resurrection (which is associated with our “new life”)
the church began to assemble for worship (go to church) on Sundays.

   Regarding being crucified on Friday, Jesus came to Earth to be the sacrificial Lamb of God.  On the 14^th day of the month,
beginning as the sun set, was Passover, and lambs were slain.  Jesus was slain at the same time other lambs were being slain. 

Friday is the sixth day of the week.  In Biblical numerology the number six represents mankind.   All mankind is guilty of sin.
The penalty for sin is death, and so Jesus dying on the sixth day of the week for all mankind is significant.
Even the constellation of Aries (the Ram, a sacrificial animal) was straight up in the sky over Jerusalem at this time. 
This was on “Friday” that year, though Scripture doesn’t use the names we use for the days of the week.
The Jewish day began at sunset and went to sunset of “our” next day.
The only day in Scripture with a “proper” Biblical name is (our Saturday) called “the Sabbath,” which means “to cease or rest.” 
Even the months were not always referred to by names, but often just by numbers.

   Some believe the “modern” names of the days of the week came from the names of the ancient 7 “planets” (Actually 5 planets and the Sun and Moon). 
Saturn was said to be a planet of “bad omens,” and so no work was to be done on that day.   Saturn is associated with Saturday, the Sabbath,
upon which Jews are not to work.  (Many people today have Saturdays off of work, along with Sunday as well.)    The next day was associated
with the Sun, then the next with the Moon.   Mars was associated with Tuesday, Mercury with Wednesday, Jupiter (Thor), Thursday, Venus Friday,
and again Saturn.   Though many people today consider Monday as the first day of the (work) week, in the Bible God calls what we refer to as
“Sunday” the first day of the week.  The week should begin with rest from our secular activities, to honor God. We could think of “Sunday” as “Son” day.

Different ancient peoples worshipped some of the same gods, but with different names.
English (Saxon or Norse) names of gods used for four of our days are Tiw (Tuesday), Woden (Wednesday), Thor (Thursday), and Freya (Friday).
I would think God communicated to Adam about what the calendar, days, & months should be called, before ungodly men ever came up with astrology,
or naming days after their own gods, & heavenly bodies.   God had Moses write down in Genesis some of the terms God gave man to use.

In Gen 1:5 it is God who gives the terms “Day” & “Night.”  In v. 14 God said the “lights” were for signs, seasons, days, years.
The days of the week were numbered rather than named, the “first day”, the “second day”, etc.
The gospels don’t say that Jesus rose from the dead on “Sunday,” but  “the first day of the week.”

I trust that this has been helpful in answering the question concerning the significance of Friday and Sunday at this Easter time.

4-16-11 
(Also see article above dated 5-5-11that starts with "...another plan of defense."
    Been thinking about...  one of many specific ways to fight temptation.  
    Remember the childhood game "Red light -green light" where you and other lined up on a line across from a leader.
    When the leader said green light you could start moving forward, until they said red light.
    The "Temptation Game" is just called "Red light."  
    As soon as any thought comes into your head that you know will lead you eventually to being tempted, just say "Red light,"
        either silently or out loud.   Then will yourself to start thinking about something else.
   If the wrong thought persists, persist in saying "Red light" and striving to think of something else.
   2Co 10:5 says "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
                                   and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ:"
   This has worked for me.  I hope it works for you.    It may take some practice and effort at first,
        but depending on how bad you want to control your thoughts, you will see your own level of success.

2-2-11
Been thinking about... Being on time for Church.
   As a pastor I come in contact with other pastors on occasions, as well as other Christians from other churches. There always seems
to be an interest in what size of a church I pastor, or they belong to. Sometimes I hear people say something like "Oh, I go to a small
church of only about two hundred." That is over four times the size of our church.       As a pastor of a very small church, when I walk
into the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. (after teaching Sunday School), I usually only see about three people there: the Music Director, the pianist,
and one person that comes early to hear them practice. After this, our forty or so people begin trickling in. (The day after Christmas we
only had 22 people in the Sanctuary. Some churches have more than that in one Sunday School class.) When it gets to be five minutes to
eleven (right before we are supposed to start) and I still see only about twenty-five people in the sanctuary, I sometimes feel a little sick,
a little deflated, a little depressed, a little disappointed. At eleven o'clock - five - ten after, there are usually as many as a dozen people that
might come in. It is a relief to see that a few more people have arrived.  Whether there were fifty, five hundred, or five thousand people in
the service, it would still take me the same amount of time to prepare my sermon, so the obvious desire would be to want to have a larger number. 
(With larger numbers would come more work in various kinds of visitations, committee meetings, counseling, weddings, funerals, etc.,
so I do see that a larger church would mean more demands and responsibilities.)   There are many more smaller churches than larger churches,
and God needs someone to lead those smaller churches. I usually feel privileged to lead any church at all, but still I wonder if my preaching
of God's Word might be better utilized if more people could hear it. It is not about my making more money, for if my needs were met at the
same salary as they are now, but more people were hearing God's Word, I would be more content. But it is not to be about me and my contentment,
for I am to learn to "be content in whatsoever state I am" that the Lord approves of, no matter how many people are hearing God's Word from me.

   But what is my point in writing this article? To some degree it is cathartic (or therapeutic) to just express some things in writing to someone.
Practically, I would like people to start taking the steps to get to church on time, though I realize that is somewhat idealistic and some people
will never change. To an even greater extent of idealism, I fantasize that some would even want to intentionally get to church early to be able to
be used of the Lord in praying, encouraging someone that may need it, or be available for whatever the Lord might show them needs attention.
What a change it would be if people went from just showing up, to proactively setting their mind to seeing that they are going to church to meet
with God, to work with God, and serve and worship Him, not just to attend a service, possibly do some socializing, and salve their feeling of
religious responsibility (which is more than those people that don't show up, even though they could).

   I have always felt that it is better to come late to church than not to come at all, but it is also better to come on time, or maybe even a little earlier,
than to come late.  No matter what time, early or late, one should come with a mind already in tune with God.  Not being in tune with God is no excuse
for not coming to church.  If one is not in tune with God, they shouldn't decide not to come to church, they should decide to get in tune with God!
They need to hear the word of God more than one who is already in tune with God.   Do some people intentionally come late because they don't want to
socialize before the service starts, they don't want to hear the welcome and prayer, they don't want to hear the announcements, and they don't want to
worship God in Song"  Do they just want to hear a sermon, and then leave as soon as possible.  Imagine if God didn't even consider that as attending
church; or suppose He prorated your blessings.  For example, if you are at church for the "whole" service, you get a "whole" blessing.  If you miss
half the service you get a "half" blessing.  If you come early, stay after, you get "extra credit" blessings.  You get out of it what you put into it,
both in physical attendance, and in your amount of mental and spiritual engagement with what is taking place during the service.  So let me encourage
you to come to church on time, to come early, to come to Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. before church, to put more into your church attendance so that not
only you get more out of it, but that others get more out of you being there, including God Himself. 

                                                                               Ownership 
   In regards to ideas, sometimes we speak of “ownership.”   We may hear or come across a certain idea, concept, or belief, and it comes across so strong to our liking, that we “adopt” it as our own.   We say that we have taken “ownership” of that idea, not that it actually originated with us, but that we agree with it so strongly that we are as loyal to it as if it actually had originated with us.   Though it may have originated with someone else, we now mentally claim it as our own in practical purposes, not that we would tell anybody that it was our original idea, but that we are in total agreement with it, and would act upon it.

   What sparked my latest interest in this concept of “ownership” was the latest meeting of our church’s Missions Committee.   I shared with the committee that most of our people may not really be interested in our current missionaries because they don’t know them, they had nothing to do with their choosing, and they are rarely brought before their attention.   Because of this, even when they had missions letters posted on a bulletin board in the Sanctuary (then letters put into a book; and pictures, information, and comments from our missionaries put on the church website), they still showed no interest in reading these letters.   That is because they didn’t “own” these missionaries.   We care about what we own, not what our neighbor owns.   Would you care about your house and family?  Of course you would.   But would you care that much about your neighbor’s house and family?   No, because they don’t belong to you.  

   It has already taken place in some of our people, but what I would like to see in more of our people is that they take ownership of the church.  I am not talking about that negative concept where people might say “So and so acts like they ‘own’ the church,” because they speak or act so strongly about what should or should not take place in our particular church.

    Let me give you a small example of this mentality of “owning the church.”   A person that “owns” the church drives in on Sunday morning.   They see a big weed growing right in plain sight.  This is “their” church.  They want it to look good.   They know other people are coming, and will see that weed.   They don’t just say “I wonder why someone hasn’t pulled that weed out?”  No, they go and pull it out themselves, for the glory of God, 1Co 10:31.

It is called “Getting involved,” or “taking the initiative.”   They do it because they care about the church and not just about themselves.   People that have a right sense of value are  responsible, not lazy, and care about what they own.  If they have the ability, they are going to take care of what they own.

   Let me give you another example.   Say a man owns a small business that operates from a shop on the boulevard Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   Would you think that every Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. he stops to consider whether he is actually going to go in to work or not?   Of course he doesn’t.   He owns the business, and doesn’t have the employees to do all that is necessary to keep the business running without him.   He wants that business to continue to be profitable, so he goes in to do the work that is required. When people “own” their church their heart has a commitment to be there to do their part in

contributing to it successful operation.   Imagine the business keeper saying “The business is just going to have to get along without me.”   How long would that business stay in business?  It wouldn’t stay in business very long, or at least not operate as well as it could.   If some of the players on the football team decided they would just show up when they felt like it, either they wouldn’t be on that team very long, or that team would not win very many games.

   A particular thing that I would like to see people start doing (once they have taken ownership in the church) is to take ownership in either all, or at least some, or just one of our missionaries.  What this will entail is having a true interest in them.   This means wanting to read the occasional letters that they send to the church to see how and what their ministry is doing.   It might mean sending them an email occasionally just to encourage them that somebody cares. It might just mean really praying for them occasionally.  What I would like to see happen, is that the Missions Committee would be able to present the missionaries to you in such a way that you would take “ownership” in them yourselves.  If we currently don’t have any missionaries that would ever spark your interest, I would like the church to consider finding some that do.   We only have so much money that is designated to missions, but with that money we should be using it to support missionaries that our hearts are really behind.

   As I bring this article to a close, let me just say that taking ownership in the church can manifest itself in many more ways than what I have mentioned here.  Allow yourself to claim ownership in whatever area it may be that you see needs attention.  Remember,  scripture tells us to be vigilant, so be on the lookout for things that you can get involved in that would be to the benefit of the church, so that it can serve you and others better, and to the glory of God.

                            As an introduction to this web page (Jan 7th, 2011) I have borrowed the title from Mart DeHann of "Our Daily Bread,"
                         who uses it for his own articles.  On occasions there are time when I would like to address the congregation in writing.
                         I have email and the Church bulletin at my disposal, but neither are meant to be long lasting documents.  The venue of our
                        website is more enduring, and so I will take advantage of it in this way.  My only current regret is that not all of us have
                        access to, or use the Internet to be able to read it.  What currently is on my mind is the desire to try to offer some enjoyable
                        ways that will cause more of our people to want to get more involved with the church, if not by serving, at least by
                        communicating or through fellowship.  Below you will see an article that I have written on the subject of "ownership,"
                        not ownership of that which is material, but ownership of values, ideas, and aspects of the church which are non-material.
                        I hope that you will keep this website in mind as a way to be more informed about our church, to God's glory,
                       and to your own benefit.