What is Dedication of Children? 1 Samuel 1:21ff. Message at SIFA International Church Houston

Dedicating a child acknowledges God's sovereignty not only over the child, but also Mom and Dad. Parents present their child before God and His people asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities. Parents also come praying that their child might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin.

Before the actual ceremony, it is crucial that pastors counsel parents about the meaning of dedication. The best passage for discussion is Deuteronomy 6:4-7. First, it commands parents to love God; if they truly wish for their child to one day love and follow God, their lives must be an example. This is a good time to query parents about their own personal relationship with Christ.

Second, Deuteronomy makes clear that the duty of teaching children belongs to parents; Sunday schools can provide weekly instruction, but parents must seize the teachable moments that arise throughout life. Explain the value of prayer (for example, repetitious prayers like "Now I lay me down to sleep . . .") at meal times and before bed. Urge them to read aloud Bible stories for devotions. Give them practical ideas they can implement into their daily family routines.

Sometimes it is custom for parents to choose godparent(s). Often viewed simply as an honorary title, its value however can be greatly enhanced by defining how this role will be carried out. Many godparents assume responsibility to provide cards and gifts of a Christian nature for the child on birthdays and holidays. Some periodically ask the parents how they are doing in training their child (Proverbs 22:6). Still others have arranged that in the event of the parents' unexpected death, the godparents will take the child into their home (This of course requires legal documentation).

Finally let me observe that pastors dont go looking for parents to ask them bring their children for dedication, on the contrary, parents should seek the opportunity of presenting their children to the pastor for dedication.

The doors of the church should be open to let parent bring them to dedication service, talking of opening the doors of the church, now the Alters are open for parents to bring in themselves and their kids...

Ash Wednedsay: "And When You Pray" -Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Jesus taught his disciples, saying: And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:5-6)

Prayer -- just the word elicits a wide variety of responses and feelings.

Everything from the most pious of responses to the most piteous of excuses, the concept and practice of prayer has evoked much writing and discussion in Christian circles down through the ages. Most of us would profess fairly easily that we believe prayer is important. Most of us would have to confess, perhaps not so easily, that we do not pray as we should.

As we begin our Lenten pilgrimage this day, let us begin with prayer. And I mean that both literally and figuratively. Let us begin where Jesus always seemed to begin every venture and effort, with prayer. It is one of the Lenten disciplines espoused by the religious for years. But it is more than just a discipline. So let us take some time, as we begin our Lent, to explore what prayer is, or is not.

Part of the problem, I suspect, about our failure to pray more frequently is our feeling uncomfortable in prayer. We don't seem to know "how to" pray. And because we get all hung up in the "how to" part, feeling inadequate for the task, embarrassed by the act, unable to address God as we feel we should, many of us simply don't. We don't pray.

Divine Conspiracy - A Transformational Path For Christians - Book Commentary -

The authors are Jan Johnson, Keith Matthews and Dallas Willard. Keith teaches a "Spirituality and Ministry" course at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena; CA.Jan Johnson and Keith Matthews have partnered with Dallas Willard in ministry for several years. Keith is a member of the pastoral staff at Cedar Ridge Community Church. Jan is a prolific author of many books, articles, Bible studies and education curricula. She also speaks at over 20 conferences per year.

The Diving Conspiracy mapped out a transformational path for Christians to experience and know God as part of the here and now rather than as only part of the hereafter. The authors expands the discussion, focusing on and clarifying the key issues and encouraging a fuller understanding of Christian discipleship. As the authors argues their case, they want the readers to find overviews and summaries of each chapter, scripture meditations to enhance their understanding of the text, and study questions to facilitate stimulating discussion and reflection.

The authors of Divine Conspiracy are focusing on presenting to the reader the understanding, and to gain a fresh hearing for Jesus, especially for those who believe they already understand him” (introduction, p.xiii). It challenges long-established ways of thinking about Jesus’ ministry, message, and call to discipleship. As the reader takes the time and make the effort to look afresh at Jesus and what he taught, the reader may have a new sense of wonder, excitement, joy—and even regret—for not having heard the Gospel the way he preached it. And by showing the reader how current culture connects to the enduring message of Jesus, The authors of Divine Conspiracy treats their readers to a rare experience of seeing into the heart and life of God.

The authors ask the question; what is the ultimate goal of reading the book? The point the authors asserts in this book as they present their case is that the reader will join God in a divine conspiracy to advance the invisible kingdom of God here on earth. Readers join the conspiracy by choosing to be an apprentice to Jesus, who stands at the center of everything—having died on a cross “to undermine the structures of evil" (The Divine Conspiracy, p.188). God made himself known by approaching human beings and involving himself in our lives, so now every believer can join God in his efforts.

The Divine Conspiracy is not a fast-food, quick read. To understand its breadth and depth, this companion study guide was produced to enhance the readers experience of a powerful and transforming book—so that God’s kingdom may be advanced by an empowered army of renewed disciples of Jesus Christ. This reviewer hope that working through this study guide will enrich the relationship with God and serve as a practical tool that helps the reader become a transformed apprentice of Jesus.

May you experience the reality of his kingdom in new and wondrous dimensions. This has been and is my reading for this year’s - 2010 Easter week. This reviewer recommends this book to all Christians who have hunger for the word of God. The reviewer also recommends the book to Sunday school teachers, bible students, bibe study moderators, pastors of big and small growing congregations, and all students of the word of God.

“The Divine Opportunity" Luke 3:7-18 –

Opportunity comes with so many different faces that we often don't recognize it. That's probably why we sometimes miss its call. A previous generation said that opportunity comes dressed in overalls. And they were largely right, for nothing succeeds like hard work. Our generation thinks that opportunity comes with a college diploma. It may, but there's no guarantee.

The divine opportunity comes in what is, to our human eyes, the most unlikely garb of all. It's no wonder we don't recognize it; or that,recognizing it, we resist it. This Advent season is an especially good time to experience the divine opportunity. Any time is God's season; but because you and I find certain settings and circumstances especially hospitable to religious experience, Advent and Lent are particularly attractive.

The first Advent preacher, John the Baptizer, offered opportunity in a compelling, almost ferocious way. When you read his words, you don't think he's offering opportunity; I expect that if we had heard him in person, we would have been even more doubtful. William Barclay said that John's message "was not good news; it was news of terror" (The Gospel of Luke,Westminster John Knox Press, p. 28). I
understand what Professor Barclay was saying, but I see it differently. It seems to me that good news must sometimes come dressed in rough clothing.

That was surely the nature of John's approach. When we read the brief gospel summaries of his messages, we wonder why people went to so much trouble to hear him. Were they masochists courting abuse, or did they perhaps hope to hear him thunder against the sins of their neighbors? One way or another, the crowds flocked to him. And largely, I think, because they felt, in the integrity of his message, an opportunity which they had sought for a long time. His was a message of judgment; but in the judgmentwas opportunity. And opportunity was wrapped up in the word repent.

WHEN GOOD NEWS IS SO GOOD -Luke 4:14-21

The story is told of a Franciscan monk in Australia assigned to be theguide and "gofer" to Mother Teresa when she visited New South Wales.Thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this greatwoman, he dreamed of how much he would learn from her and what they wouldtalk about. But during her visit, he became frustrated. Although he wasconstantly near her, the friar never had the opportunity to say one wordto Mother Teresa.

There were always other people for her to meet.Finally, her tour was over, and she was due to fly to New Guinea. Indesperation, the Franciscan friar spoke to Mother Teresa: If I pay my ownfare to New Guinea, can I sit next to you on the plane so I can talk toyou and learn from you? Mother Teresa looked at him. “You have enoughmoney to pay airfare to New Guinea?” she asked.Yes, he replied eagerly. “Then give that money to the poor,” she said.“You'll learn more from that than anything I can tell you.” Mother Teresaunderstood that Jesus’ ministry was to the poor and she made it hers aswell. She knew that they more than anyone else needed good news.On a Saturday morning, in Nazareth, the town gathered in the synagogue tolisten to Jesus read and teach. It was no big surprise. He was well knownin the area; it was his hometown. He was raised there. They wanted tolearn from him. So when he read from the Isaiah scroll, “The Spirit of theLord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to thepoor” everyone understood these words to be the words of Isaiah.

It is howthat prophet from long ago defined his ministry.When Jesus finished that reading he handed the scroll to the attendant andsat down. In that day you sat in the Moses Seat to teach to the people.Today preachers stand in a pulpit. So all eyes were on Jesus, waiting forhim to begin his teaching. What would he say about this great prophetIsaiah? Would he emphasis the bad news? Israel had sinned and would betaken into captivity by the Babylonians. Or would he emphasis the goodnews? One day God would restore his people and bring them back fromcaptivity.

It was Israel’s ancient history but it still spoke volumes.Now here’s the wonderful twist, the thing that catches everyone off guardthat Saturday morning in Nazareth. Jesus does neither. He doesn’temphasize the past. He focuses on the present. He doesn’t lift up Isaiahas the great role model; Jesus lifts up himself. This is the pertinentpoint. It’s what upsets everybody at the synagogue. It’s why everybody wasfurious with him and drove him out of town. They were going to kill him.He dared to say that these great words of Isaiah were really abouthimself. “Today,” he said, “this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Study the ministries of Isaiah and Jesus. Why are their ministries so closely tied and why does Jesus describe himself as fulfilling Isaiah’s ministry?

Mountin Top Experince -Luke 9:28-36

Many of us have had them, those times when we felt like we were on top of the world, really happy, confident that we knew all the answers, could solve any problem that came up. Or we felt that we were really close to God, really in tune with God’s plan for us. In those moments we were excited and alive, and everything seemed new.

The moment might have come at some exciting event in your life: graduation, baptism, your first kiss, your first day on your first job, your wedding, the birth of a child, even catching your very first fish. It might have been something really spiritual, like a week at church camp or a church retreat. Or it might have been something of a smaller, quieter nature, like a very intimate conversation with your father or mother when you felt that they honestly understood what you were saying and why you felt the way you did.

We call these "mountaintop experiences," and oh how we hate to come down off that mountain! We want to hang on to that moment for as long as we can. "Let’s just stay right here and let the rest of the world go by for a while." But to freeze that one moment in time shuts off the possibility of the next moment.

In the Gospel reading for today we hear the writer of Matthew give his version of the event which we call "The Transfiguration of Jesus." Mark and Luke also contain an account of this strange occurrence, with some minor variations in the telling. It’s one of those rare moments we were just talking about, one of those mountaintop experiences of life, which somehow defy adequate description and challenge us to stretch our concept of reality to the point that we usually wind up asking the question, "Did this really happen?" Events such as the Transfiguration somehow connect us with the mystery of creation and eternity.

For Jesus it was a time of confirmation and affirmation of his ministry. For Peter, James, and John it was a brief glimpse of the transcendent, a peek at the reality that lies just beyond everyday life.

But notice that Jesus quickly led the disciples back down off that mountaintop – in spite of Peter’s desire to pitch a tent and camp there for a long while. Jesus led them back into the daily routine of teaching and preaching and caring for the broken and hurting people of the world they lived in, back to the reality of life in the valley...