Palm Sunday - clash between 

old and new thinking.

Old self-effort religion can be exchanged for the new way of thinking and living in oneness with God and one another - this is God’s love and the fellowship of Holy Spirit and grace of Jesus Christ.

Today present yourselves to God (heart and mind); don’t be conformed to world but to Christ. Open the mind gate for the King to come in. (Psalm 24, Rom 12)

(with permission I drew this from Tim McCoy’s journal)
Our mind is a tool at our disposal. It is possible to decondition. How we use it today is only the result of a habit that can be exchanged for a new one, as long as the change is desired or it is accepted that change is possible.  Take a moment of silence in my mind and think about this idea: "My mind is a tool I can use as I see fit" " Assertion: "Even though I'm afraid, I can act. I can change course at any time. I can trust God, even if I do not know in advance the results of my choice."

God lives in us and this Holy Spirit is an incredible strength and intelligence. He knows and loves us and comes alongside our struggles.  You can access this strength through conscious choice and strengthen your ability to change.  This “examen” is the process of becoming conscious and empowering change. Cease, now, to think according to our old schemas. 

When they float to the surface, I say to my mind:  "I now choose to think it has become easier for me to make changes."

The old thoughts of fatalism or despondence are good for nothing, they are part of the past and all I have to do is to do away with such and no longer apply as relevant the old experiences/ thoughts or accept their power. After all, they brought me to the sin I wish now to escape.

I can just imagine a small child on whom I've never imposed a time to retire to sleep. One day I decided that from now on bedtime will be every night at eight o'clock. What happens on the first night? My child will revolt against this new rule, protest, cry and try to stay up as late as possible. If I give in that first time, he will have won and always seek to have the upper hand. However, if I keep my mind firmly, gradually the will and freedom of roving thoughts will decrease the revolt and I establish a new routine for the child.

The process is comparable to my mind. Obviously our mind will rebel at first. But if I stay focused and determined, it will take some time for a new mental structure to be established but it will change.  I must not give in the first time.  This is the discipline.  Believe and act today. 

Assertion: "My reactions or rebellious ways are normal, I accept and let go and let God's way reign."

Application to abide together in His truth and love:
1. I present and open my heart and mind to God like a great gate, saying, “Come in King of Glory.”
2. I ask, “What habit of old thinking is your Holy Spirit helping me examine now, and with some new word and way?
3. I choose: “I exchange old dead “agreements” with what You want me to be and what You are saying and doing, In me; In my marriage and relationships; In our church. 
4. I ask not only for a new mind (repentance) but joy and peace. 

God present, pruning and producing.

On Resting
By Richard Lineberry

Come to me and I will give you rest.
Jesus, Matthew 11:28

In these stressful days, rest is often on people’s mind, but not so much part of their experience.  The Bible, however, has a lot to say about it.  First, a Sabbath Day was required from ancient times to cease from work and rest.  It had a physical side whereas the body wasn’t made to never slow down.  The spiritual side concerned letting God have a chance to bless and increase the work that people had done without our help or involvement.

The writer of Hebrews uses the idea of REST to describe how salvation is a total work of God rather than the results of our laboring to be good people.  Our job is to believe and open our hearts’ doors for Christ to do His work.  “For the one who has entered into His rest has himself also rested from his works as God did from His.  Let us therefore be diligent to enter into that rest,”  (Heb. 4:10-11a)

Even believers who have known Christ for years can struggle with trying to get closer to God by trusting in their own good behavior.  But the resting place for Christians is in our knowing that God has already achieved our right standing with Himself for us.  It is so easy to condemn ourselves that we are not DOING enough to earn God’s favor.  It has already been purchased for us by Jesus on the cross.  We must, however, believe it and make up our minds to trust what He has done for us rather than what we can do to impress Him.

This morning, as we worship and allow His Spirit to move in us, we can enter deeper into this rest.  Let it be a time of remembering and recalling what Jesus has done.  When we abide in Him, we are abiding in the REST that God has provided that brings peace of mind and heart.  When our trust is completely in what His power can do, we can REST from self improvement attempts.  The Prince of Peace loves to demonstrate His power, love and wisdom.  We need to love receiving it.

Jesus was once asked, “What must we do to work the works of God?”  This was a valid question but the answer given was probably not what the man expected to hear.  “This is the work of God…” Jesus began,  “that you believe in Him whom He has sent,”  (John 6:28-29)

The Parable of the 

Fisherless Fisherman
By Richard Lineberry

There was a group called the Fisherman’s Fellowship.  They had access to streams and lakes full of hungry fish.  Meeting regularly, they talked about how they needed a philosophy of fishing with carefully designed strategies and tactics.

Then they realized they were approaching the subject backwards.  They were viewing fishing from the standpoint of the fisherman rather than that of the fish.  So they began research studies on how fish view fishing and attended technical seminars.  They had committees that commissioned experts to determine the latest policies.  They held seminars and posted helpful hints in magazines.  But suddenly, they realized that no one was actually doing any fishing.  A survey was launched to find out why.  The answer was that with all of the meetings and studying, no one had enough time to literally go fishing.

Now Joe was a newcomer to the Fisherman’s Fellowship.  After his first meeting, he went fishing and caught a choice fish and told everyone the story.  He was honored for his catch and scheduled to be the next seminar speaker to tell how he did it.  He did such a good job that seminars featuring Joe were set up all across the country.  Now Joe had no more time to go fishing either.  But soon he began to feel restless and empty and longed to feel the tugging on the line once again.  So he cut out the speaking, resigned from the board and said to a friend, “Let’s go fishing.”  So they did and they caught a whole bunch of fish. 

Yes, the Fisherman’s Fellowship members were many and very knowledgeable.   The fish were plentiful but the fishers were few.   

Our world is not short on souls that need to hear the Gospel of Christ and the truth of God’s Word.  As fishers of men, have you been fishing lately?

An Example of Family

Greeting from Pastor Dennis and Sheila Cole family (and from conference KMI pastors and many friends from other covenant churches)

Example of family
Dennis (my pastor who also pastors in Newport KY, Lifegate Church) often sends you his greetings. While we talked last weekend he  encouraged me to thank you for your prayers for their family. Please receive his and Sheila’s love for you. Though we only see him a few times a year we have a real sense of koinonia (fellowship, community  and covenant relationship).

They still need to sell their old house (in which currently lives their youngest daughter and husband, and their son Elijah), while his father and Sheila’s mother share living space in their new home. In addition their oldest son and another daughter and their families live within a few hundred yards of them.

Family is hard work but has great reward. The Coles are a good example as they work hard to build spiritual community with their family and in the Church to demonstrate to the world the love and unity of the trinity. Whether we are first generation, or crying out to God for prodigals, let your faith be encouraged to keep on praying and building koinonia.

Building Spiritual Family and when possible in the natural
Dennis’ family usually has four generations in worship together. They have many years of shared multi-generational ministry. Desmond Cole transitioned the church to Dennis’ leadership 25 years ago, similar to how Richard McAfee did here with me (nearly 16 years ago). Dennis’s son Jeremiah (who has ministered here several times) is now one of the elders there and he actually led the Gatekeepers conference which is completely hosted by the next generation.

This conference reinforces our values of covenant relationship, seeking God’s kingdom, practicing discipleship and joining the generations (both spiritual and natural). Jeremiah and others thanked us for making the 14 hour trip. Our CLC group and MC graduates filled three rows and are a model of the vision of building by uniting people of many different ages, in kingdom of God, covenant and discipleship.

By the way, Jordan Marlowe announced his engagement at the conference. He proposed to his fiancee while there, sharing that joy with MC friends. Hannah, Sarah, Melissa, Levi, and Ryan all sent their love to you as well.

Loving Family Reforms Culture spiritually and naturally

The more the nuclear family bears the image of Holy Three in One God, it becomes a source of reformation not only in the church but to the congregation and the community at large.

The Family of God confronts and overcomes demonic evil

We also must resist the demonic warfare and cultural negativity against building as spiritual and natural family (lies like don’t have too many children; marriage isn’t important; go find your own way and life instead of first inheriting the heart and learning the ways of your natural parents if possible, as well as that of your spiritual leaders; mom and dad be independent; kids be peer oriented, etc...)

The warfare makes it even harder yet more worthwhile and critical that we reform the earth in God’s image by building in koinonia. This will attract those who want to be saved. It is God’s will that all be saved and those who feel solitary know his joining in his family.

May God bless Pastor Dennis and Sheila and their example and may we be encouraged in the pattern of the love and unity of the Holy Trinity, in both our natural and spiritual family.

Eph 2:18-19  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are...members of the household of God,

3:20-21   Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.

-PD