Decisions...Decisions...

I'm not going to tell you for whom to vote in this year's presidential election.  But I am going to offer some biblical advice on decision making so that you can be at peace with the decision you make when you vote on November 8.

In the conversations I've had, many are struggling with their decision because there are questions surrounding the integrity of both candidates.  Which brings up a great question: When I don't know what to do, how do I make the best decision?

Here are a few principles of decision making I've learned from God's Word over the years.

Principle #1 - Pray about it.  This is what God says about prayer and decision making, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God..." (James 1:5).  Great advice because God is all-knowing and all-powerful.  If we don't know what to do, God always knows what to do.  So we need to listen to Him when faced with difficult decisions.  At times, He makes clear what He wants us to do as we read the Bible.  If we don't know where to look in the Bible, ask a trusted Christian friend or pastor.  The Psalm-writer put it this way, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105).  At other times, He reveals what He wants us to do through the advice of godly friends.  "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20).  So when we pray, look for God's answers for wisdom and guidance in His Word and through the advice of His people.  Not only that, but when we pray for guidance, let's ask God to keep us focused on His will that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-6).

That brings up another very important point.

Principle #2 - Be informed.  That involves listening.  Often times, when it comes to politics, emotions run high and people don't want to listen to each other.  That's a big mistake.  Again, God offers great advice, "Be quick to listen; slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19).  When faced with a decision regarding candidates, it's wise to be informed and to know where they stand on the important issues.  A good resource to find out where the candidates stand on the issues is this link: http://www.npr.org/2016/10/18/496926243/from-the-economy-to-race-see-where-the-candidates-stand-on-the-big-issues

One of the big issues when it seems that you can't trust the candidates who may become president is to look at who they have as their supporting cast.  What kind of people will they surround themselves with?  This question was addressed well by one of my buddies who is a pastor on the West Coast.  This is what he had to say recently, "As I watch what’s unfolding in the presidential race, I can’t help but think that if I struggle with the morality and speech and lives and lies from both candidates (surprise, surprise, right?!) that I should spend some more time looking at the supporting cast they have chosen, or that they are looking to choose for help and guidance, and to influence our great nation along the way. I think back to the VP debate and saw a major difference between supporting cast members. But one of the most important questions to me in the last debate was the one about appointing a new Supreme Court Justice. I won’t feed you my thoughts directly, just ask you to look back on the answers from both candidates. I believe my Christian friends will receive some help from that question alone in your decision this November.  Practically speaking, “water seeks its own level,” and you can tell a lot about someone by the people they surround themselves with. Examine not just Hillary and Donald, examine their current surroundings and who they are looking at bringing to the national stage (VP, SCOTUS, etc.)"  (Pastor Andy Schwartz).

Principle #3 - Trust the Lord above all.  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  No matter who becomes president, as Christians we are blessed to know that all of us answer to a higher power, God.  He simply asks us to trust Him with this election.  Trust Him with our decisions.  Trust Him with our prayers.  He will bring eternal good for Christians no matter who becomes president.  Remember, the greatest good for all people occurred when Jesus died at the hands of a pagan governor named Pontius Pilate.  Through Jesus' death and resurrection our sins are forgiven and our eternal home in heaven is guaranteed by faith, no matter who is in charge as governor or emperor or even president.  If our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God could pull that off, then He can handle bringing good for His people from this election as well.

Peace to all of you in the name of Jesus,
Pastor Chris

Just ask... Prayer Pointers

I've noticed phrases like these pop up in action flicks pretty regularly. The hero usually tries with all their might 3-4 different strategies and nothing seems to work. Then someone in the group says with a defeated sigh, "There's nothing more we can do. All we can do now is pray." From my perspective this is more than a little up-side-down and backwards.

Why do we have such a hard time coming to God in prayer first? Surveys will tell you these are the reasons:

Don’t have time.                        Doubt if it does any good.

Not important, no great needs.   Satan is opposing it.

Don’t know how to pray.            Trying to avoid God.

I have therapist to talk to.           Don’t care enough for others

Perhaps some of these have prevented you from going to God first with an issue. Instead of dwelling on sins Jesus paid for let's remember the privilege and value that prayer really is. Every Christian has the following promises from Jesus.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. -- John 15:7-8

 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. -- Luke 11: 9, 10

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”  -- Mark 10:27

Prayer is an awesome blessing and powerful because it is talking to an awesome God. I encourage you to pray first and then take action on whatever you're facing today.

And at St. Mark we love to pray for people. If you would like to be on our prayer team or be prayed for please email us at: stmark_prayers@hotmail.com

Police Shootings and Violent Demonstrations... When Will It End?

"Several protesters and a dozen police officers were injured, and about five people were arrested after violent protests erupted after a deadly police shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday.

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Approximately 12 officers injured. One officer hit in face with a rock

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Officers in riot gear deployed tear gas into a crowd of protesters after individuals targeted police cruisers, ABC affiliate WSOC-TV Charlotte reported."  (http://abcnews.go.com/US/violent-protests-erupt-charlotte-deadly-police-shooting/story?id=42238697)

Some people I've talked to say that they don't even turn on the news anymore because they're sick of hearing about the next officer-involved shooting or ISIS scare.  That's their choice of course, but the fact is that we live in a violent and scary world and whether we tune into the news or not isn't going to change that.  

Perhaps the most poignant question I've received from someone recently is this one: when will it end?  Sadly, violence won't end until THE end.  This is what God has to say about the times in which we live, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  That's the reason why we live in a violent and scary world.  

The distrust between police and people isn't because the police aren't doing their job.  It's because sinful people don't always make the right choices.  That was very true of some of the protestors in Charlotte.  Some of them didn't make the right choices when they began to throw rocks at police, destroy police property and loot.  Even though there will be times when those in authority over us don't always make the right choices, they are human after all, that doesn't mean we shouldn't love and respect them for who they are: "For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good" (Romans 13:4).  Police officers and the governing authorities are in our communities for our good.  Thank God for them.  Respect them by obeying the rules.  When you talk to them, thank them and encourage them to keep protecting our communities.  Pray for them, our community and all those who are hurting due to the recent violence in our nation.  

The good news is that even though people with a free will, yet not so free because sin influences their thoughts and choices, are responsible for violence, there will come a day when Jesus will call everyone to account.  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

When will that happen?  I don't know.  Jesus put it this way, "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows" (Mark 13:32).  However, I do know that the violence will end because Jesus says so.  To a man who was crucified next to him, a man who was there because he had been violent and deserved what he had coming to him, Jesus said to that man when he confessed his sin, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."  (Luke 23:43).

That's Jesus' promise to all who believe in Him.  When will violence end?  When Jesus calls us home to heaven or when He returns in judgment, whichever happens first.  Either way Jesus will give us what He has promised, because only He saved us from the penalty of sin by giving His life on the cross and then taking it back again three days later (John 3:16).  Trust Him.  And until that day when we meet Him, keep living for Him by loving others.  "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:9-12).

Your Money. Your Story. Your Life. This Changes Everything.

http://www.stmarkdepere.com/studies

We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God's ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more!

Here is a true story from someone who took the class in our area.

The journey began in February 2014. We enrolled in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University course with over $76,000 in debt. This course taught us to learn to work together as a team. It was challenging but with a plan, discipline and dedication, we have arrived at this day where we feel at peace.

It took 13 months but with student loans, 2 vehicle loans, Invisalign, credit card debt and a wedding loan out the window, we can finally say WE’RE DEBT FREE!

Trust us, this works, it really works! ‪#‎DaveRamsey ‪#‎FinancialPeaceUniversity

Join us this fall for the Dave Ramsey Class at St. Mark! And share it with a friend - you just might help change their life!

Operation Clean Start - Helping the Homeless in Green Bay

Meet Jordan McClellan, a single mother of three.  She’s gone from program to program, never getting far from the brink of homelessness.  “There have been many days where I just wanted to give up,” she says. “I felt nobody heard me, nobody cared.”  It began eight years ago when McClellan had two small children and was pregnant with her third. She lost her telemarketing job and was evicted from her apartment.  As many families do, she went to live with a parent, but that didn’t work out. So she moved into a homeless shelter for a year, then transitional housing where her rent was subsidized. When she got a job as a medical assistant, her subsidy went down.  “And literally, the month that my rent went up, I lost my job,” says McClellan. (http://www.ktoo.org/2015/07/06/for-homeless-families-quick-exit-from-shelters-is-only-a-temporary-fix)

This account is not unique.  There are many who face the challenge of getting back to independent living right here in Green Bay.  That's why we are creating "Operation Clean Start" which will be an ongoing ministry of our Green Bay site.  Operation Clean Start will provide basic household supplies to newly housed persons who will be coming from shelters, half-way houses and returning to independent living.  We will be networking with Freedom House and the Brown County Jail system.  There is potential that we may be helping transition up to a dozen families and individuals per month.

The effort will provide basic cleaning products to assist with reentry to independent and productive living.  St. Mark will also provide a Bible and information for spiritual growth as well as a resource folder with places to go if they are in need beyond what St. Mark can assist.  Our goal is to help these individuals and families not only get a clean start in their new place, but also a clean start with God.  

We do this knowing that our greatest need is a clean heart before God.  "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).  A clean heart is only made possible through the forgiveness that Jesus earned.  It's because of Jesus that our yesterdays are cleaned, our todays can be new and our tomorrows can be steadfast.  That's why we want to share Jesus through Operation Clean Start.

Volunteer opportunities for this project include: 1) Helping coordinate this project; 2) Helping collect donated supplies each month; 3) Helping package the donated supplies into our Operation Clean Start kit; 4) Distributing the kits to those in need each month; 5) Becoming a prayer partner for those seeking God while seeking to regain independent living.

Do you want to learn more about this opportunity to make a difference in someone's life?  Are you sensing the Lord's calling to get involved?  Attend our next Outreach Team meeting at our Green Bay site on Monday, August 29 at 6:30pm.  Our Green Bay site is located two blocks north of Lambeau on Oneida St. (1167 Kenwood, Green Bay).

Got questions?  Contact Pastor Chris at chris.johnson@stmarkdepere.com.

Is it better to view pornography, if it makes you more likely to resist premarital sex? -- Guest Blog from Summer Vicar David Spaude

At a recent small group Bible study I got into a rather timely discussion. The group consisted of young people and so it was really no surprise when this discussion arose. This discussion took the direction of sex, pornography, and lust. The question came up, “Is it better to view pornography, if it makes you more likely to resist premarital sex?”

I had to do some extra research to better grasp the question and form an answer. What we need to remember with these two sins is that both are manifestations of lust of the flesh. Lust of the flesh or desire of the flesh is sinful because it “comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16). However, this doesn’t answer the question. It’s a question of comparison. So which is better? Or more accurate yet, which is worse? Viewing porn or having premarital sex?

When Pilate was deciding Jesus’ judgement before the Jews Jesus told him that the one who handed him over to Pilate committed the greater sin (John 19:11). Scripture doesn’t explicitly tell us to whom Jesus was referring, but it was either to the High Priest Caiaphas, the Jews, or Judas. We know that Caiaphas, the Jews, and Judas played crucial parts in handing Jesus over to Pilate and should have known better. Pilate, on the other hand, didn’t know Jesus was the Son of God, but still sinned in handing Jesus over to crucifixion.  So Jesus calls the sin of Caiaphas, the Jews, or Judas a "greater sin" than Pilate’s sin. 

Scripture speaks of deliberate sins (Luke 12:47-48, Numbers 15:29-30). In doctrinal terms, these are also known as voluntary sins. The danger with voluntary sins is that they can result in a person losing faith in Jesus and falling from grace (Romans 8:12,13), which leads to eternal death in hell. It’s a deliberate sin like the sin of Caiaphas, the Jews, or Judas that can lead to a fall from grace, ultimately hell.

Back to the original question, which is the worse sin? Viewing porn or having premarital sex? If they are done deliberately, they are equally destructive because they can lead to a fall from grace and ultimately hell. 

Sexual temptations are all around today and are especially pressing for young people. It’s a daily struggle to fight these temptations as it is with all temptation (Romans 7:15-25). But it’s in Christ that we find forgiveness, comfort, and strength to fight lust in any form it may take. Paul put it this way in Romans 7, “Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (vv 24b-25).