"18 Inches From Your Head To Your Heart"

A beautiful Sunday morning here on this Memorial Day weekend. Pastor Brad welcomed us, then spoke at length about the theme he would be exploring this summer, the life of David. When Samuel anointed David, he found a man after God's own heart, a man who loved God with wild abandon.

Announcements included a reminder that VBS is just around the corner, June 14-17 at Twig Town Hall from 9:30-noon. There will also be a family night on Friday from 5:30-6:30. Full details at https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/NewLifeTwig

Brad also mentioned that some interesting discussions have been taking place in our church leadership. Our mission here at New Life Covenant is to help connect disconnected people to Jesus Christ, nurture them and help them grow, and for the church to become a community that reflects Christ's priorities in the world.

After the introit and the reading of Psalm 121, we worshipped in song and in giving. Leonard then read from Romans 5:1-11 and Brad began his message.

"18 inches from your head to your heart"

David, Brad observed, was a true Renaissance man. Think of all this attributes. He was a skilled musician who was summoned to play for the king to alleviate his depression, a form of musical Prozac. He was a legendary as a warrior, subjugating Israel's enemies. As a poet, the Psalms he wrote expressing his longing for God are so illuminating and comforting that they have been the most used and moving piece of devotional literature ever written in history. As a statesman/politician his wisdom and skills brought Israel a level of economic and political stability never again achieved in its history. His reign would be forever remembered as the Golden era of Israel. He was also a physically attractive person, wise men and women were drawn to him in a magnetic way.

So here you have it: the poetic soul of a Shakespeare, the competitive heart of a Brett Favre, the musicianship of Pavarotti, the statesmanship of Abraham Lincoln, the physical attractiveness of a Brad Pitt... all wrapped up in one guy.

David was, in many ways, the central character of the Old Testament. Abraham's life is covered in 14 chapters and the great prophet Elijah is featured in 10. But David is featured in 66 chapters of the OT and mentioned hundreds of times more. He is even the last character mentioned in the Bible where in Rev 22:16 Jesus says, "I am the offspring of David, the bright morning star."

It's clear that this man is a worthy object of deeper study. David's most important feature was not the outward achievements or his looks, but his heart.

Brad sent us to I Samuel 16 to read the story of David's anointing by Samuel. Samuel was a great prophet in Israel. He was now an old man, having served a full lifetime for God. In this story, Samuel was told to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king because Saul had gone bad and was failing his people.

Bethlehem was a very small town and the arrival of such a great man as Samuel was noteworthy. When he arrived at Jesse's house there, it would have immediately turned Jesse into a "somebody" not unlike a Big Man On Campus.

It was actually a very dangerous task for Samuel, because Saul was quite alive and this kind of activity would not be favorably looked upon by a reigning king, to anoint a substitute. Nevertheless, Jesse was proud to offer his son and was undoubtedly proud to be so chosen that one of his boys would be selected.

Samuel told Jesse to fetch his sons, and the firstborn looked perfect. Eliab would be like a star quarterback today. Tall, handsome, capable, cool under pressure. Everyone, including Samuel, thinks, "This is The Man." But God has a different idea, and indicates as such.

Not to worry, Jesse has seven sons in line for the anointing, but Samuel dismisses each and when they are finished with niceties, Samuel asks, "Do you have another son?" There is indeed an eighth son, herding sheep on the hillside outside town. Off they go to fetch the boy, and when David is brought back, Samuel recognizes (by God's spirit) that he is the one.

Brad pointed out how birth order is not always God's order in things. Historically, the progenitor, the favored son, is the first born. But God has a way of turning those things on their head, as with Ishmael and Isaac, or Jacob and Esau.

The human race tends to obsess over external appearances and accomplishments. But God's ways are not our ways. "In My kingdom everyone has something to offer."

Brad noted that talents and gifts are not irrelevant, but that in an ultimate sense, there is something more important. God looks on the heart.

Brad made a distinction between religion and a relationship with Jesus. "Religion happens in the head, a relationship with Jesus happens in the heart," he said.

He talked about the energy and wild abandon of children, how they sometimes are so bursting with life that they get enjoyment simply from jumping up and down. "When was the last time you jumped up and down?" he asked.

Brad noted several examples from the life of David that revealed his heart for God. "David had a heart that was passionately abandoned to God." He wasn't calculating and cautious. He was generous and free with his love for the Lord and expression of it.

This summer, as we study the life of David, Brad's prayer is that he will be able to impart this quality to us. "I just think it would be a great thing. Hearts characterized by a wild abandon to God."

What's It All About?

During Pastor Brad's warm greeting we were reminded of the challenge of sharing our faith with unbelieving friends and relatives. This theme was underlined in the message today which was delivered by Leonard, who served as Guest Speaker.

Today is Pentecost Sunday, a significant day marking the birth of the church. If you are a Christ follower, you have His presence and power with you, Brad affirmed.

Announcements included a reminder from Brooke of our upcoming Vacation Bible School, June 14-18 at Twig Town Hall. And guess what! This year you can register online.

Gail made several announcements as well. (1) We're collecting Bibles to give away. If you have unused Bibles please bring them to the church next week. (2) We have enough people for the Blood Drive to come to our church. Please do let us know if you would like to be added to the list. (3) We still need helpers for the rummage sale. Please see Gail or Paula.

The Quartet graced us with their wonderful music today. Chuck began by reading from Psalm 24, which served as an excellent lead in for "Your First Day In Heaven." We were all invited to participate in "Worthy of Worship." This was followed by the offering and "Heaven On My Mind" which never fails to raise our spirits.

Pastor Brad read for us from that most powerful passage Acts 2:1-21, which was followed by a time of prayer. Leonard then took the podium and presented today's message with his inimitable style.

What's It All About?

Leonard began by telling a story about Castro giving a speech for seven hours, and that everyone paid attention because there were dire consequences for falling asleep during a Castro speech. Leonard used the anecdote to imply that it would be nice to have several hours to make the many points he wished to make, but there would be no dire consequences for us if we failed to stay in the game. For certain, the message today was simultaneously entertaining and substantive.

This introduction was followed by a brief commentary on Neil Young's career. Young famously quit the rock group he was part of called Buffalo Springfield just before they appeared on the Johnny Carson Show. Evidently this became a pattern, as he was joined Crosby, Stills and Nash, then later left to do his solo material and assembled yet other groups. When asked about that first bailout with Buffalo Springfield, "Hey Neil, what was that all about?"... he replied, "It's about the music."

For Christians, the question is appropriate: What's it all about? Only the answer is different, and today's sermon took us there.

Leonard began by reading from John 16:5-16 where Jesus talks about the coming of the Spirit. The events which followed included the crucifixion, his death and resurrection, a period of forty days and then His ascension. A short time after came Pentecost.

We were then escorted into the Old Testament to gain some important insights from the Book of Job pertaining to today's theme. Leonard first read Job 32:1-22.

In order to properly discuss the passage here cited, Leonard provided an overview for us of Job's story. Job was the wealthiest man of his time and godly. Satan approached God and said that Job was only good because his circumstances were good. God, therefore, allowed Satan to bring damage to Job's fortunes. His children were all killed in an accident while partying. His livestock was decimated in various ways. Still, Job did not falter in his faith.

At this point, Satan made an appeal to go further still, bringing personal suffering to Job's body itself. God permitted this and Job ended up covered with sores and sitting in ashes.

It came about that Job's friends came to Job to help if they could. Leonard noted that they must be Scandinavians because they came over to where he was but didn't say anything for seven days. Finally, one by one three of the men spoke. Instead of bringing comfort, they condemned Job. He must have been bad or this wouldn't have happened, they concluded. Job's reactions were self-righteous on the other hand.

Finally, in chapter 32 the young man Elihu spoke. He was young and brash, but he was right. Job's friends were certainly earnest, and the things they say here even sounded fine... but were not.

The challenge is this: How do we know what to say, and when?

The Book of Job is very much like a trial. The friends accuse, Job defends himself. Back and forth it goes. We've all given these windy windbag speeches at one time or another (like those here in Job.) Who of us has not said cruel or mean or unkind things... or simply been wrong.

Finally Elihu, who had expected wisdom from his elders, has to speak because the Spirit is burning in his heart. And here, Leonard affirmed, is what it's all about:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

The role of the Holy Spirit is to help us know this and understand this truth. It's the only thing we really, really need to know.