Matthew 5:17-18 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.

We need to understanding that Christ did not come to destroy the law but that He came to fulfill it by making it possible for us to live the law of love through the power of His Spirit. Jesus prayed, “I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy.” He taught us to obey His teachings so that our joy would be full!

Psalms 119:1    Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD. Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts.

We show respect to God’s law by esteeming it and obeying it. His ways are far above and better than ours.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

My brother with a developmental disability has as much shine as anyone I know. His smile and gentle personality shines the glory of God. He lights up when he worships and causes me to praise my heavenly Father.

Philippians 2:14-16   In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. Hold tightly to the word of life.

Matthew 5:11-12  Jesus said,  “count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Understand that goodness is sometimes appreciated and at other times scorned. You can understand some rejection or persecution as a sign that you are doing the right thing and can therefore rejoice. Sometimes when we are rejected it is because of our sin, foolishness or arrogance. Don’t assume that you are doing right just because you have peoples favor or just because they hate you. But when you suffer for doing good in His name, Rejoice!

Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Remember that we are not just obeying His commands, but walking with the Creator of the universe. He is right in front of us and we are behind Him and coming after. It is a relationship! Stay close! Don’t fall so far behind that you loose sight of Him. Stay in touch. Don’t get out ahead of Him. Let Him lead! Keep you eyes fixed on Him. Don’t be removed from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Him. Let Him make you.  Follow Jesus!

When Appleton throws a party, the downtown is packed with thousands of people.

Hungry people.

Since 1981, Octoberfest has been bringing people to downtown Appleton in the spirit of community pride and celebration, and CTR has been a part of it with a strong presence for the past several years.  Octoberfest is fund raising venue that gives ministries like Crossing (our young adult ministry), and Gardens In The Desert a chance to touch others with a message of hope at this community party.

Amid the loud rock music and polkas, the tasty food and often shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, Octoberfest is fun with a purpose!

Thanks to all of you who volunteered or came out and said hello to those working the booths.

I have always striven for balance. I think that may have been a mistake. Trying to balance ministry and family puts a separation between the two and forces you to weigh one against the other. I heard Jill and Stewart Briscoe say that they tried to blend ministry and family. By doing ministry with family and family with ministry, you bring them together instead of separating them.

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

metanoeoœ, to repent, to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life: attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living.

If you want to enjoy all the benifits of God’s kingdom, you must change your attitude.

Eph. 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

Phil. 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

1Pet. 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

If you want to enjoy the goodness, peace and joy of God’s kingdom, you must change your thoughts.

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery…

Heb. 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Eph. 4:22-24 put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

If you want to partake of God’s kingdom, you must change your behavior.

Col. 1:21-23 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

Repent for the kingdom of God is near!

Matt. 22:39 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Show your love for God by being patient and kind to others. If every one would treat each other the way they wanted to be treated, there would so much righteousness, peace and joy in the world. If every one would just do one thing a day to love others as much as they love themselves, there would be so much love in the world.

Phil. 2:1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Matt. 22:19-21 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.” When they handed him the coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.”

We honor God when we honor the authorities that He has place over us.

Romans 13:1-3 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well.

We are happier when we show gratitude to God and others.

1Th. 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Don’t complain about everything, instead be honest in your dealings with the government and others. Don’t cheat on your taxes! But more importantly, don’t cheat on God. Give Him all He deserves! You are made in His image.

1Cor. 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Luke 14:12-14 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

We need to understand that God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others in His name. We must live as stewards of God’s many gifts and freely give as we have received, not expecting anything in return, but investing in eternal rewards.