Sermons

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
May 19, 2019
Pastor Tom Shanor
Preface to Sermon:
At this time there are an estimated 4,200 religions in the world. What this tells us (in my opinion) is that belief in God, in a spiritual belief system, that one can look too beyond one's self in times of need, and in times of blessing, is deeply embedded in the human spirit and psyche. This need speaks of a deep desire to worship, and a deep desire to make sense of simply being alive. Being finite beings, death frightens us because we are cognizant of it's impending end to life as we understand it. So, I believe God placed within us that need to reach out and up.
Of course up is different when one is closer to the South Pole or the North Pole!
Christianity has had the greatest impact on the world overall in every area of human lives. For the good....and when in the hands of leaders who use it for their own desires, greed, ego and power, bad to horrific.
The six largest religions in the world are:
1. Protestant Christianity
2. Catholicism
3. Islam, which is actually an offshoot of Judaism, mixed with both Gnosticism and pagan beliefs.
4. Hinduism, with multiple gods or spirits/demons
5. Judaism
6. Buddhism
Within Christianity there are over 30,000 sects and denominations, all different in some of their beliefs, but with most adhering to the main tenants of the faith. There are also religious off-shoots which are not adhering to the main tenants of Christianity and some of those are:
1. Gnosticism
2. Arianism
3. Jehovah Witness
4. Christadelphianism
5. Mormonism....to mention a few.
The belief systems that exist that differ just in these few is mind-boggling, having added to and subtracted from layers and layers of differing beliefs.
As I stated early on...….belief is deeply personal, as is unbelief. So much depends first of all on where we are raised and the religions and influences that are immediately around us. Whether they were positive or negative. Whether those adherents professed their faith publicly, but lived a different life privately.
Belief can be complex or simple.
Galatians 5:14 tell us the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is this. "for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Sermon: BELIEF, BELIEVER, BELIEVED
John 20:29, International Version reads, Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me ('Doubting Thomas'/after the resurrection) you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Here is a man not unlike many other men, and women, who because they have not with their own eyes seen Jesus, or put their finger in his wounds, cannot they themselves believe.
Belief is a fickle thing. Two people can be presented with identical information, and one believes and one doesn't, whatever that information is.
Since the first century AD, there have been 2,435,500,000 men and women who have believed in, and adhered to Jesus Christ, and his claims as to him being the Son of God. Of those 2,435,500,000, 70,000,000 it is estimated, to have been killed for their beliefs, and that average today according to Massimo Introvigne, a human rights representative for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, has told an OSCE meeting in Bodollo, Hungary, that 105,000 people are killed every year because of their belief in the Christian faith.
According to Wikipedia, belief is the attitude we have whenever we take something or someone to be factual, and regard it as truth.
In epistemology, philosophers use the term “belief” to refer to personal attitudes associated with both true or false ideas and concepts. However, “belief” does not require in depth introspection, research or circumspection. For example, we never ponder whether or not the sun will show up, or when because of clouds and dense atmospheric conditions, we cannot see it hidden behind those conditions, for we know it is there. According to Eric Schwitzgebel in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy asks: “how can a physical organism (US) have beliefs?
According to philosophers belief has two aspects, just as we see a scale that weigh’s something to see how heavy it is to something equal perhaps in size, not weight. On one side of the justice scale is a word from ancient Greek thought, the word is pistis and the other doxa.
In pista, are trust and confidence.
In doxa, are opinion and acceptance.
The English word for doxa is “orthodoxy”
Belief in someone or something(s) is a deeply personal decision. Belief in my humble opinion brings along with it siblings, therefore they might be called sisters. First comes belief, however a person arrives at believing, second comes faith that what we believe is true (acceptance) and the third is hope.
We believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and then as what we believe about him grows, and we grow deeper in our faith, and everyday life gives us a dose of hard reality, where we may begin to waver, our hope in Him acts as the binding agent that sustains us and our beliefs, perhaps even strengthening them even more.
Belief, faith and hope are often vital in the everyday life of a human being. Some people do not seem to need religious beliefs, but instead seem content to believe that once life is over it’s over. Others may have nominal beliefs that add just enough comfort during their day, to keep them from falling into despair. Hence, we have atheists, agnostics and all in between.
When we look at religious beliefs, they often involve an open attitude toward supernatural or spiritual aspects of religion. Religious belief is sometimes distinct from religious practice and from religious behaviors, with some in the same religion, overwhelming (in the Christian religion) practicing and being somewhat obsessed with spiritual gifts in validating the depth of their faith, and others content to practice more orthodox methods of worship. To me this is one of the aspects of our belief and faith, that contrary to thinking it causes division, these differences should enrich and enhance our faith.
Religion or faith (Christian and others) involve characteristics and worship of a deity, and in some situations (Hindu as an example) deities, which include the deity or deities intervening in not only our individual lives, but in the Universe as a whole. Some of us need a more experiential worship than others, and gravitate towards those who think and act out their methodology similar or identical to that which we desire to experience.
I personally have been on a lifetime journey, experiencing many different worship practices both within and without my Christian faith, having come to believe completely in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and all that he has said about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Some of my journey has been my two year involvement in Transcendental Meditation, a follower of Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, some years spent in a Charismatic Church structure which I, for the most part thoroughly loved as both a parishioner and pastor, also involved in the Methodist Church both as a parishioner and pastor, for years involved in a non-denominational church structure, and in my very young subjective years, in such things a numerology and the New Age movement, oh, and I almost forgot I came one day away from becoming a member of the LDS church.
And….here I am today, grateful and solid in my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who never let me out of His sight, and to use a term from an English writer and Christian, the Hound of Heaven just would not leave me alone. I have had many subjective experiences which I have objectively looked at and thought deeply about. I have studied the Word of God, preach on it every Sunday and in-between, and with my numerous experiences believe with all my heart, mind and spirit…..that only the love of God through Jesus Christ is the only reason I am alive today, and firmly sitting in His court.
I believe…I believe.
What do you believe?
How deeply do you believe?
If it came down to denying your faith to simply stay alive, what would your choice be?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister during the time of the Nazi reign of horror in Germany chose to die for his faith in Jesus Christ. There is a book published on his life and experiences in prison during those years. He spoke of an instance when his captors gave priests and ministers the choice of denying their faith and living. All they had to do was defecate on a cross that was placed on the floor of the prison. Many did, and a Dietrich wrote, some cried and wept, but still did as instructed.
I was listening I believe, to Shawn Hannity the other day while driving to Idaho Falls, and he was talking about a book recently published by David Horowitz. David is a Jew and was for 25 years a devotee of the far left liberal wing of the progressive political movement. He is an avid writer and speaker now, on the dangers being presented to us by the progressive political movement. Let me say now, that I read a lot and have read some religious progressive writings, and there as is their core beliefs, some things we could and should learn from what is being written. Listening as I said recently, is something we often do with ingrained bias, throwing out the baby with the bath water. I also read from Catholic writings, Baptist writings and others Christian writings, so as to know what changes are happening that I simply need to understand.
Anyway….David Horowitz has written a book called “Dark Agenda”. David is an intellectual, and does some diverse and deep research. Still a Jew, he has written this book on the far left’s plan to destroy Christian America. Sometimes prophets come from out of nowhere to bring warnings. That has been part of the history of the church. It is rare that I read something of this nature, but my interest was piqued because of the research and I am going to order the book to see if indeed there is something that I need to pay attention to. You might consider doing the same.
Times, they are a changing, and I desire to not be caught off-guard, thinking that if I just keep my head low and my words neutral all we be ok. Life just does not work that way, as much as we would like that, and I, I do not want to be unaware.
Anyway…..belief as I have already stated, is personal and always a choice. There are some choices that are great, some good, some neutral, some bad and some very bad. I believe, I believe…..that with 2000 years now of the mixed history of the actions of some believers, and the church overall, and irregardless of the sometimes horrible deeds done in the name of Christ, and the church, there is no better choice or way to live than that of a deep and true believer. To be simply a disciple of Jesus Christ!
Our beliefs and our faith….and the hope that encircles these, because of the love of Jesus Christ for us, and for all humanity is the very best place to live out our brief lives on planet earth.
Thank you for listening and for being here today…..Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
"THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE ~ WISDOM” NOT CRITICISM”
Proverbs 15, Excerpt’s
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
For the first part of today’s message, I am going to speak on 'gossip,' as it is usually founded in either justified or unjustified criticism. Beneath gossip is often found jealousy of some kind brought about by disliking someone or some event, or some anything, or the way something is done or not done, etc., etc.
     To be wise, or to have wisdom, one need to recognize what is criticism? What it is to be a critic. When it is appropriate, to "talk" about a person or event, in a way that is truthful, factual and godly. Motivation is important in "talking." We have to stop and think....pray and ponder, examine why if at all, we "have to" talk. Motivation can only be discerned by seeking wisdom. If indeed, upon self-examination we find our motives are just, then it may be appropriate to "talk." Even then, we would behoove us to give it another round of self-examination to check our motivation.
     My topic today is "The Right Way to Live” ~ “Wisdom." Vs’s Criticism
     But for now, back to gossip. A church bulletin listed the sermon topic as "Gossip." Immediately following the sermon, was the hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story." While that hymn concerns telling the story of the Gospel, all too often some of God's people love to tell the story also, of someone else's story, and usually the gossipers’ version of their story. Along with pride, tied into ego, gossip is the most widely tolerated and most destructing and hard to either prevent or stop...in the church.
     We often tolerate gossip because for one, we've all been guilty of it irregardless, of what our motivation was. Another reason, unless spoken about openly and directly from the pulpit, it takes on a life of its own. READ James 3:2-12.

     We've heard and perhaps said the excuses, "I just wanted you to know so that you could pray, " which often then is what that person says to someone else, and someone else, and then somewhere along the line the content changes and finally resembles little of the original telling.
     One of the tricky aspects of this subject is defining the term. Sometimes we fall into the sin of gossip because we are fuzzy about what it is. Sometimes it involves a judgment call and we can cross the line inadvertently. But if we would just deal with what we're clear about, it would go a long way toward healing brokenness, relationships, and preventing further damage in the church. ALL gossip is damaging and damming.
     Webster defines it as either "a person who habitually reveals personal, demeaning facts," or as "a rumor or report of a sometimes-intimate nature. Another word definition is "busybody." for there are those, for whatever reason, love being the source and center of attention, whether in doing so called "good" or "bad." Their egos demand it, so weak is their own self-esteem.
     I am going to boil all these nuances down by defining gossip as, "sharing information which damages another person's reputation with those who have no need to know." It may be completely factual, but more often, teh one sharing it has not even bothered to check out the facts and perhaps the other side of the so-called facts. To gossip is to slander, and 'slander' means to give an evil report about someone. The Greek word means to speak against someone. James says that if we do that, "we make ourselves the judge of both our brother/sister and God's law, usurping God's rightful place."
     Quoting, James 4:11-12. "Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But YOUR job is to obey the law. It is serious business to overtly criticize and a sin to gossip. Period!
     It is important to KNOW the word of God, and if one is able, to memorized the Word, because it can be used to bring life in a difficult place, time and event.... or as we know, the Word can and is used...to condemn and judge. Memorization is not as important as understanding and applying and using Scripture, to lift up someone, not tear them down.
     A story of Charles Spurgeon and how to take criticism in stride. He applied a bit of humor eventually in his response, as had gained wisdom through all the criticism of him over many years.... not anger, reproach or isolation, but seeing things for what they were...stating facts without flaunting an ego. Many of us take ourselves and our opinions to seriously. Let our lives speak for who we are.... even through our own imperfections.... God loves us, every one....and we are called to love, not tear down each other.
     I am going to now read to you some verses from Proverbs 15.
* A gentle answer deflects anger, but unkind words make tempers flare!
* Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
* The lips of the wise give good advice; the heart of a fool has none to give.
* A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
* A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on gossip.
* For a despondent, every day brings trouble, for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
* Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, then to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
* A hot-tempered person starts an argument; a cool-tempered person stops them.
* Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
* Everyone enjoy a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time.
* The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking, the mouth of the wicked overflows with words.
* A cheerful look bring joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.
* If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.
THESE ARE WORDS OF WISDOM....AND HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES TO PLEASE THE LORD...................................................................................
Criticism....constructive not destructive criticism has always been good for my own personal growth. By this I don't mean I have to embrace every criticism that comes my way. If like in proverbs where we just heard, the criticism comes from the heart of a godly person whom I know speaks carefully...and with the right motivation and heart, I will gladly listen. If the criticism comes from someone who I have recognized has a critical spirit...not a discerning one as they may think they have, I will still listen, and examine what they say....but....I can almost guarantee their motivation has not been to help me...but to make them feel they know what I need and have all or most of the answers. It's tragic that often they cannot grasp their own motivation and the fact that they may possibly bring down on their own heads condemnation
As I was writing this, I said, self, you just may be criticized today for not have a nice, sweet Mother's Day sermon. All I can say is, this is what I believe the Lord God brought to my mind and heart to share with you, all of you...and myself.
     Here is some Wisdom and just plain good advice on criticism. A minister names Bob Cook once came to Harry Ironside, asking the famous Bible teacher how he should respond to criticisms leveled against him. Ironsides advice: "Bob, if the criticism about you is true, mend your ways. If it isn't, forget about it.
     The same point was put this way by another man: "Never fear criticism when you're right; never ignore criticism when you're wrong."
      Put one more way: "Don't mind criticism. If it's untrue, disregard it; if it's unfair, keep from being irritated and don't respond; if it's ignorant, smile, if it's justified, learn from it.
          THE WISDOM HERE, IS KNOWING THE DIFFERENCES!
Now...here is one of Aesop's fables on both criticism, judgement and a variety of people's opinions on all seeing the same thing.... coming up with a variety of responses...none of them good.
     This allegory is the man, his son and their donkey....................READ
Here is something to remember.... actually, that it would be good to remember.     "When you throw mud at someone, you're the one who is losing ground."
ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE....MOTIVATION, MOTIVATION, MOTIVATION.......
Why not come from a point of a half-glass full of water, life giving water, instead of a glass half-empty. I spoke of JOY last week.... we, you and I have so very much to be grateful for. So much....
Count our blessings name them one by one.... count our many blessings and see what God has done. We can change.... we can change our attitude to one of being a yea-sayer, instead of a nay-sayer. Our attitude can affect everyone around us....and we should be more cognizant of both attitude and motivation....IN THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE....using the Wisdom God gives us through His Word and His example through Jesus Christ.
What say you?

  The little Church in the pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
"Joy comes in the morning"
Pastor Tom Shanor
   May 5, 2019
Sing "JOYFUL - JOYFUL"!
Ok....that is probably a little more than either you expected or would ask for, but I wanted to get across to you the importance and effects of JOY in our lives, both in our every-day lives and in our spiritual lives. Music is for me one of the vehicles we can ride to experience JOY, and though I may disagree vehemently with Whoopie Goldberg on most everything she says and stands for, she did a bang-up job in Sisters Act with the young choir singing JOYFUL, JOYFUL. Hers and theirs is my absolute favorite rendition of that Hymn.
     Wiktionary has this to say about the meaning of JOY. "JOY is a FEELING of GREAT HAPPINESS and PLEASURE. An example in a sentence is "The Lord will be the source of strength and JOY in your life," for JOY is something that CAUSES an outward expression of JOY. An example; "seeing and holding your newborn child is perhaps the greatest JOY a parent can experience in the natural."
     Associated with the word JOY is REJOICE, which is a verb, for IF you REJOICE, you express your feelings by acting in a way that shows that you are very, very happy about something, and you therefore have a reason to REJOICE and CELEBRATE!"
     I now am going to quote myself from the article I wrote for the Island Park News this last week, under REFLECTIONS, on the spiritual side of life.
     Religion....is serious business! There has been a saying out there that has been around for years, and with it an element of truth. "He (or she) is too religious to be of any earthly good." On the positive side of that, there are those I believe, who are called by God to a deep walk, and who spend their lives in prayer and solitude for that very purpose, praying for the state of the world, the church and us.
     Then there are those who are 'religious' in the negative sense of the word. These are those who need to feel superior to others, and have little, authentic self-esteem, or true understanding of faith and its true value. These dear folks live in a black and white world of rules and requirements, focusing most often on the negative, being critical and not knowing the value and meaning of grace.
     You see.....there is in faith a place for humor, merriment, joy, happiness and yes, laughter. As you know having been here long enough, like this morning prior to our tithes and offerings, I offer up, or at least try to, a little humor. The potential for humor doesn't stop just because the bell rings and we all take a seat, putting on our stern religious hats that impress no one, especially the Lord Himself.
    Last summer I had someone text me, telling me that I was not a stand-up comic and basically needed to stop my little jokes and stories. I texted back that I was not going to stop, and that it took me too many years to allow myself to both know and live out who I am, and was going to simply continue to be my-self. It didn't go over very well, but then I already knew it wouldn't. Also, deciding years ago to not get upset by words and even actions that tried to put me in their place, not mine, but theirs.
     Having just come out of Lenten Season, and culminating in the death and resurrection of our Lord, with all its sorrow, tragedy and darkness, we now are to embrace the radiant life of the Lord through His resurrection from the dead. The Lord is Risen! Hallelujah! JOY comes in the morning, having both risen and shown Himself alive. That morning reminds me of the Morning of Creation in Genesis 1:3, "Then God said, "let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." And evening passed....and morning came, marking the first day.
     I find JOY every morning as the darkness turns to light with all its revelation of the heretofore unseen. At times it feels like I am seeing all His Creation for the first time. In the hymn Morning Has Broken always brings me hope and reminds me of that first morning, and the morning of Jesus' resurrection. This song mirrors that morning.
     Morning has broken, like the first morning.
     Blackbird has spoken like the first bird,
     Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
     God's re-creation.......of the new day!
     Sweet the rain's new fall, Sunlit from Heaven
     Like the first dew-fall, on the first grass,
     Praise for the sweetness, of the wet garden,
     Sprung in completeness.....Where His feet pass.
     Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning,
     Born of the one light, Eden saw play!
     Praise with elation, Praise every morning,
     God's re-creation......of the New Day!
     As a Christian, I am aware that JOY is supposed to be one of the nine components of what is called the Fruit of the Spirit. In other words, all believers are to exhibit JOY the more we walk with the Lord.
     I started out with this message, not realizing how often the Spirit would bring to my mind songs and Hymns that express the JOY I am attempting to explain to you. So...here is another, this one expressing walking with Him.
      When we walk with the Lord, In the light of His Word,
      What glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will,
      He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
      Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus,
      But to trust and obey,
      Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
      But His SMILE quickly drives it away; not a doubt or a fear,
      Not a sigh or a tear can remain....when we trust and obey.
     His anger when He has reason for anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but JOY comes with the morning.
     Also, as Christians, we have heard countless times that JOY is not to be contingent on our present circumstances, whatever they are, but a certain knowledge that everything will work out for good in the end. Though I do believe this.....I also know that I am fully human, and that there will be times when overwhelmed by either circumstances, events and people, pets dear to us, that sorrow and tears will be a part of my life. In those times I can have a certain deep JOY in knowing the truth of those words, which all things work out for good in the end, but I also know God gave me the ability to feel other emotions, and it is right to express those also. Tears can be healing....a sense of loss can in time be filled by new people, new events, etc., but I also know there will always in this lifetime be, a special place in my heart, mind, spirit and soul, for the memory of my loss, and I cherish that ability, that gift.
     We can pick up even more on JOY by reading, knowing that in the International version of the Bible, JOY is used 245 times. RE-JOYCE is used 154 times, telling us over and over, and therefore, it is a vital component of one of the themes in God's Word.
     In the Old Testament, worship expressing JOY, REJOICING, HAPPINESS & CELEBRATION was a vital part of the way the people showed God their love and respect for Him. David danced before the Lord without shame or fear of what others thought of him.
     I can remember once....and some of you, had you been there might have been embarrassed for or because of me, but I did what I felt I was supposed to do and was blessed because of it. We had recently started the Lander Valley Foursquare Church in Wyoming. (why do I tell you these things?) Anyway.....we were meeting in a Funeral Home Chapel. It was during the worship....and it was so powerful, that I too danced before the Lord...and the people in the congregation. Alone. I couldn't not do it, so strong was the impression by the Spirit to do so. Because of my 'obedience' there was no negative feedback....only positive, because the congregation felt it was of the Lord. I was blessed and as I head back, so were they. Ok...
      The words I am now going to share with you comes in part from a sermon by Vance Havner.
The Church suffers today from a saddening lack of simple-hearted, overflowing, Christian JOY. We have plenty of knowledge, plenty of enthusiasm and denominational zeal, but Christians and churches that started out in revival fires are living in the smoke.
Although the New Testament centers on the Cross....its note from beginning to end is one of triumphant JOY. It begins with an angel chorus and ends with rejoicing around the throne.
The same church members who yell with great enthusiasm in a sports arena or in their own home....often sit like a stone statue in an outdoor garden in the service on Sunday.
Charles Spurgeon said...."There is a marvelous medicinal power in JOY. Most medicines are distasteful; but his, which is the best of all medicines, is sweet to the taste, and comforting to the heart.
     I was talking to a Presbyterian the other day who described himself and most (now this was him saying this, not me) as the Frozen Chosen. All I could do was chuckle....
     Listen please....I am not up here telling you to be any way in particular. I am telling you, that in this congregation and any other, never make a spectacle of yourself, but you should feel free, if in your genuineness you want to raise your hands, or express in another way that again is genuine....your JOY in the Lord as your strength and happiness.
     This summer, we will have people from all over, perhaps the world, each coming from a spiritual background both different, and some the same as ours. In our times of worship, they should feel welcome and comfortable, being themselves, and expressing in worship what they bring with them from their own worship practices. There have been on occasion, (in other churches I have pastored) where I have had to stop people from their particular expression, and a few I even had to have removed from the service. Why? Because in the Spirit, I could discern what they were doing was not of God, but of drawing attention to them-selves.
          Here are a few verses I want to close with.
Ecclesiastes 9:7, "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a Joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do."
Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
1 Peter 1:8-9, "Though you have not seen Him, but you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Psalm 47:1 "Clap your hands all you people; shout unto God with cries of JOY!
    I will close with this, titled "This is the day"
     James Guthrie of Scotland went to the scaffold because of his faith in Christ. In telling his story, Jock Purves, writes, "James Guthrie, through his full and busy life, kept his own personal relationship with Christ in the fresh bloom of when he turned his life over to Christ.
     Waking about 4 a.m. on the day he was to be executed, Guthrie spent time in personal worship and prayer, and was asked by his friend James Cowie how he felt. "Very well," replied Guthrie. "This is the day that the Lord has made; I will REJOICE and be glad in it!'"
                                                                                                              AMEN

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
" The Covenant of Christ & our Role"
April 28, 2019
by; Pastor Tom Shanor

     When you hear the word 'teacher' what is your first reaction? Some of that depends on the type of student you were, and maybe still are, or aren't. How many of you were or are teachers? If so, what would you students say about you? Most of us have teachers we remember well for multiple reasons. Some good, some not so good depending on the quality and methodology of the teacher. Some made us want to learn, and some made us want the class over before it even began. Some made the subject we were learning very interesting, and some were so boring we consistently lost interest and had to work to learn mostly on our own.
     Mr. Colella made business math very interesting and I seemed to pick it up easily, but when it came to higher math, Algebra, etc., my mind could not calculate and keep track of how to. Mrs. Ramsden made English awesome. Patient, interesting and without her, I could not be putting together sermons and articles such as I do today.
     So...today I am taking on the role of a teacher, and to the degree that you find my teaching interesting and done in such a way as to assist you in learning.....I will succeed or fail on both my merits and your interest.
     So...again, today you are my students. The first thing a teacher did in small rural schools was ring the bell. All the kids were to stop immediately what they were doing and come into the schoolhouse quietly, and ready to learn.   RING THE BELL.
     The word teacher does not appear once in the entire Old Testament, and only seven times in the New. But what it says is vitally important and is listed as one of the offices of the New Covenant Church.
    The Apostle Paul introduces five distinct offices as Christ's gifts by quoting from Ephesians 4, "When He ascended on high, He led captives in His wake and gave gifts. The gifts given are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11). James 3:1, in the Amplified Bible reads, "Not many (of you) should become teachers (serving) in an official teaching capacity), my brothers and sisters, for you know that we (who are teachers) will be judged by a higher standard (because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly).
     Those are sobering words especially to myself and I think of them as I prepare my message for Sunday's and my study on Friday's. I know I am not perfect by any means, but I do attempt to do as I am instructed as best as is possible.
     Today, we are also going to learn the meaning and depth of covenants. In the history of the Jewish people there are a total of five covenants God made with this people group, and they are called the "Five Great Bible Covenants" So, today you are both to be students of history, and coming away with a deeper understanding of the importance of covenants, and the real life-application of taking upon yourself covenants of any kind, but more importantly spiritually, the fifth covenant which we will come to after the fourth.
     In form, a covenant is an agreement between two or more people, and involves specific guidelines that are to be kept on the part of each person(s) to the other. The concept of a covenant between God and His people is one of the central themes of the Bible. In the Biblical sense, a covenant implies much more than a contract or a simple agreement.
     The word for "covenant" in the Old Testament also provides additional insight into its meaning. It comes from a Hebrew root word that means "to cut" referring to the ancient custom of animals sacrificed to seal the covenant. A very serious matter.....keeping this in mind as in time, we come to the fifth covenant.
     A ceremony of some kind always accompanied a spiritual covenant, sometimes those entering into a covenant in those days, shared something as simple as a meal, usually from the slain animal.
     I remember as a kid a friend and I each cut our thumbs, holding them together as a seal or covenant (though we did not use that word) that we were and always would be the best of friends.
    1. The first actual covenant God made with man was with Noah, and it is called the Noahic Covenant. This covenant between God and Noah came with it the assurance that God would never again bring a flood of such magnitude upon the earth. The Lord singled out Noah from among all his contemporaries and chose him (because he was "the only one who walked with God") as was true of his great-grandfather Enoch. Further saying, "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations" Gen. 6:9
     Another part of the covenant involved "the sanctity of life", i.e., that "whoever sheds another person blood, by mankind their blood shall be shed, meaning capital punishment was to be a law to be followed, if indeed the loss of life was deliberate and with malice.
     2. The Second Covenant was with Abraham. In making a covenant with Abraham, God promised to bless his descendants and make them His own special people.....and in return, Abraham was to remain faithful to God and to serve as a channel through which in time, God's blessings would flow to the rest of the world. (Genesis 12:1-3) Though Abraham's response is put up as the model of faith, Abraham failed in his original covenant by following the advice of Sara his wife and having a son through Hagar their maid, named Ishmael. And because of his disobedience the descendants of Ishmael, was born the Arab nations, who to this day prove to be a thorn in the side of the Jews. God kept His promise, and through Isaac the Jewish nation was born.
     3. The Third Covenant came through Moses, known as the Mosaic Covenant. The story begins with the favorite son of Jacob, also known as Israel. Jealousy of the other eleven sons, they conspired to sell Joseph into slavery. Because of this and over time the resultant Jewish people were captive for over 400 years, made slaves of and cried out to God to save them. He did by many miracles and under the leadership of Moses.
Three months after Pharaoh let the people go, God met with Moses in the burning bush that would not be consumed, on Mount Sinai in the desert. There a covenant was made with Moses, who represented all the Jewish people, giving them the Ten Commandments, which are the foundation of the covenant, but they are not the entirety of it.
     Moses then wrote the conditions of the covenant down, offered sacrifices to God, and then sprinkled both the book and the people with blood to seal the covenant. Exo. 24:8 this covenant between God and the people of Israel was temporary.....for God promised a day would come when He would make a New Covenant, not only with Israel but also with all mankind. "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant, not only with Israel but also with all mankind, for I will put My law in the their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jer.31:31-34) This promise became the Fifth Covenant.
     4, The Fourth Covenant was the “Davidic Covenant”.
     This one was with of course King David, in which David and his descendants were established as the royal heirs to the throne of the nation of Israel. (2 Sam. 7:12-13). This covenant agreement reached its fulfillment when Jesus, a descendant of the line of David, was born in Bethlehem. The Gospel of Matthew starts off by reading “Christ was “the Son of David” (Matthew 1:1) and because of this He had the right to rule not only God’s people, but those who would be adopted into God’s family….the entire populations and peoples of the world.
     5. Now we come to the fifth and final covenant, the Covenant of Christ.
The New Covenant or Testament as it is called today makes a clear distinction between the covenant of the Mosaic Law and the Covenant of the Promise. The Apostle Paul spoke of the “two covenants,” one originating from “Mount Sinai”, the other from as he called it, “The Jerusalem above” (Gal.4:24-26) Paul also stated that the covenant established at Mount Sinai was a “ministry of death” and condemnation.” (2nd Corinthians 3:7 & 9) Its purpose was to show that following laws and laws alone, as myriad as they were, it would be impossible based on people’s ability to do so. In not being able to, therefore condemnation for not doing so brought judgement. In Christ….instead of Laws that potentially bring redemption, it is Grace and Grace alone whereby we are accepted into the Kingdome of God.
     The New Covenant accomplished what the old could not, i.e., the removal of sin and cleansing of our conscience (Hebrews 10:2, 22) Therefore, the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross thus makes the Old Covenant “obsolete” (Heb. 8:13 and fulfills the promise of the prophet Jeremiah.
In having (those of us who believe) in Jesus Christ, all and who He says He is….are included in that covenant. Unlike the Mosaic Covenant, this New Covenant is intended for all who by personal choice….regardless of race, color of skin, position of power, intellect or wealth, for we are all members of the human race…all.
     In the Great Commission Jesus sent His apostles into the far reaches of the earth, to tell the story of redemption through the power of Grace. Our role as is spoken of in the second part of my sermon title, is the call to discipleship. The word “disciple” occurs 269 times in the New Testament. “Christian” is found three times, and was first introduced to refer precisely to the disciples.
     The word discipline makes up, except for replacing ‘ine’ with an ‘e’ the word disciple. With every disciple as in the case of Jesus with the twelve is a teacher or a mentor. That is also the role of a pastor in the larger sense, while in a more narrow degree, sometimes one on one. Behind Augustine, there was Monica, his mother. Augustine later called Monica his mother both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Behind Martin Luther was Johann Von Staupitz, professor of Bible at the university in Wittenberg.
Behind John Calvin was William Farel.
Behind me, in my own spiritual walk, the initial beginning and for years, was my Grandmother Stella., but in saying this I certainly do not count myself on the same level as any of these. I am a simple man, called to start four churches, and now pastor here…..to me, that the Lord choose me to do these things are miracles. I have said before, we simply choose to be willing, not perfect….otherwise we would all be eliminated.
I personally, as a minister have received letters and notes from former students/disciples who now are pastors themselves, and some, missionaries in various parts of the world. I am blessed…and count these blessings as gifts from the Lord. We don’t always know the influence we have on others, and hopefully….in and by our everyday walk as disciples, we are pleasing our Lord and God.
Not many are called as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but all are called as disciples. All are called to learn from the greatest teacher the world has ever known, Jesus Christ. All are called in our lives, to live out those teachings, and be examples of what it is to know, love and serve Him.
All….that…..out of that position as every-day disciples, we are called.

The Little Church in the Pines
MACKS INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
Easter Sunday
April 21, 2019
"I AM The RESURRECTION and The life"
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
John 11:25 "I AM the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die." Do you believe this, Martha he asks her? I will tell you how she replies later.
_____My attempt this morning in bringing this message is singular in motive, but multiple in coercion. You see, we, you and I have a tendency to gloss over words, sentences and paragraphs, perhaps even whole books because we have become familiar with them. They just go phhht, without giving them serious thought, let alone contemplation. We say to ourselves, “Oh, I’ve heard that before, many times.” “I got it!” Well….you may have some of it, but there is always, and I mean always something to learn in rereading and hearing more than once, twice or more. Fresh revelations are like that…they come be hearing, really hearing.
_____I will be breaking this sermon up a bit by speaking so called intellectually, not that I am an intellectual) but with knowledge and reasoning. I will also be speaking spiritually and experiential.....and with some practical application.
_____So, let's start out with the first two words of this declaration. They are “I AM!” Now, the first place we hear these two words is when Moses is speaking with God, asking Him His name. God’s answer is both singular and multiple in meaning and intent. It is one of the most famous verses in both the Torah and the Christian Bible. It is both literally present tense, and future tense. Concerning today and tomorrow. Putting the two together God’s answer reads clearly, "I Am Who I Am" and in the King James Bible, "I Am that I Am!" and therefore, there is nothing more (according to God) that needs to be said as to who He is. He is!
_____In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, it is written, “I AM that exists, and will exist.”
_____There are several other instances where Jesus uses the same introduction of Himself, in regards as to not so subtly stating who He is, for He too is the I AM. He said, “When you see me, you are seeing the Father.” THEY are the Great I AM. This divine name is mysterious just as God in all His greatness is a mystery. It is at once a name revealed and at the same time, something like the refusal of stating His name, and hence it expresses God as what he is....(infinitely above everything that we can understand or say): he is in some sense, the "hidden God, who, now, not so subtlety reveals Himself in Jesus!
_____This is a revelation of God, that the Hebrews have not seen before Jesus, at least to this degree, and this is why they rejected Him. They did not want a suffering, loving, miracle working, healing, grace-filled God. This God was too human, and therefore could not be God at all. They wanted a conquering political warrior who would come in majesty and might!
So...He, Jesus, in the first part of this declarative statement is declaring Himself to be God! No doubt about it! No, not at all!
_____Having established that, let’s move on. I AM, (in the second part of this verse, he says, “The Resurrection and the Life.” This He establishes before His crucifixion, as to what will occur after His death. He will be raised up! Coming back to life, and this is the central core of Christianity, for without the Resurrection, he is just an ordinary man. A good one no doubt, if he was just a man, but HE WASN'T an ordinary man, He was and is the Great I Am.
_____Was Jesus the first man to be resurrected? No! In fact He had brought back from the dead the young man at whose funeral he had intervened in, and of course Lazarus, who had been dead four days and being in desert country we are told he stunk, so long was he dead! We...who subscribe to the Nicene Creed (which the majority of Christianity does) firmly and with JOY believes in and adheres to as fact….His Resurrection.
_____Paul said, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people. But if Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, and called the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, we are blessed and rejoice in the Lord of our Salvation, who is also our brother and our friend. I like that!
_____During the ministry of Jesus on earth, before His death, commissioned his Twelve Apostles to, among other things, raise the dead. Whether they did or not, we do not know for sure, but they did come back rejoicing the power of what the Holy Spirit had done through them. In doing this, he most certainly equipped them to do so, as I said, by the power of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.
_____If you....do not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, I would ask you to consider these words today. Believing is faith, then comes proof by what the Lord trough His Spirit does in us, by changing us from the inside out. For once you ask, or simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, resurrected as the Son of God, you are immediately a member of the family of God. Simply said....a "Believer."
_____Do I offer you proof? All I can offer you are His own words, and the testimony of millions, and now in the billions of those who believed and believe by experiencing a change, through His life, His teachings, His miracles, His ministry, His crucifixion, His death.....and His resurrection, and the testimony of my own words as to the reality of my faith, trust and love for Him, as he continues to walk with me, talk with me, along this pathway of life. The rest, your belief and your faith are your choice and yours alone.
_____And now....we move on to the third part of, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” "The Life." What exactly is “The Life” of which He is speaking? There is a movie a couple of years old now, named "Rotten Tomatoes." In this movie a son who has a monster for a father, (his words) who comes to accept Christ as His Savior and Redeemer. I think it is Dennis Quaid that plays the father. The movie is about the redemption and dramatic change in his father.....and because of this, and the changes God made in this man, based on a true story, many who see it are deeply moved and come to believe in Jesus, because of the testimony of the father and the son. The son writes a song that is the theme for this movie called "I Can Only Imagine'.
READ (SING)
_____There are countless men, women and children from all walks of life, all educational levels, all races, from the very rich and extremely poor, whose lives have been changed, some drastically, some subtly, but never not at all. The degree to which one changes is equal to the degree that you choose to get to know just who this "I Am, the Resurrection and The Life" is. To what depth you want to know Him is the depth to which you will know Him. If you put as much time into taking the time apart, to read, meditate, pray, be in fellowship with others who know Him, as we do, in let's say, watching TV, or any other myriad of activities, we will come to know Him, well…..quite intimately.
_____I finish this simple message with His words that complete today's Scriptural foundation for this teaching. "Anyone, anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying, where there is no second death. Everyone, who lives in Me, and believes in Me, will never die that second death. Do you believe this Martha?" He asks? She replied, “”Yes, Lord, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Do you believe? That….is my question to you.
_____For we all die, but like Him, and in Him, we will....have life after this life.

THAT IS THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION WE CELEBRATE TODAY!!
                                                                   Amen
What does the resurrection mean to and for you?
You need more in your life than you have now….you need direction and help, well….He said, “I am the way the truth, and the life! So ask Him? It’s just that simple.

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
  "Palm Sunday ~ the 'Prelude' to Easter"
April 14, 2019
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
    What you just heard was a prelude to my message this Palm Sunday morning. The technical meaning for the word prelude, is "an action, be it a musical arrangement, an event or a person, serving as an introduction to something more important to come. Whether person, event or musical arrangement, or all three, usually is an indication of what yet is to occur. “Palm Sunday” is the event and Jesus Christ the person that occurred on what has become known by, the so-called Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that fateful day. The main event was yet to come, which would follow a week later in Jesus' death on the cross....culminating on the third day in His resurrection from the dead.
    We first hear of this singular event 400 years before its occurrence in Zechariah 9:9, in one long verse titled, The Coming King. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."
     A donkey.....what supposed king would ride through a crowd of people on donkey? You would think instead of having His disciples choose a donkey, the colt or foal of a donkey, He would have had them find a muscular, prancing, proud horse, but no, not this king. Instead He sent His disciples into Bethpage, about a mile from where they were staying. Bethpage was a mile from Jerusalem, sitting at the foot of the Mount of Olives. This particular colt we are told was unbroken, never ridden by a person.
    This is Jesus as we have come to know Him. Humble, not ever seeking deliberately the limelight. His miracles and good works always focused on a need, a human need, a touch from His hand, from His heart. Ever working to teach, open the eyes and ears of those He encountered every day, everywhere He went, with a new, both personal and powerful revelation of God His Father, and theirs. We find in just a short amount of time, that even though He did many remarkable events, and taught as no man had every taught before Him, that many of those very people, men, women and children, who shouted Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, the following week would be condemning Him, spitting at Him, throwing dust instead of Palm branches in the air. Instead of throwing their clothing across His pathway, would rent them, shout and screaming condemnation. Such is the behavior of those whose expectations are not met, especially when caught up in the high-running emotions of a crowd.
    These fickle people really did not want a new revelation of God, as they did not desire to be changed in their hearts, but as their religious leaders had taught for centuries, they wanted and craved a conquering Messiah, not a humble, caring and loving Messiah. The freedom they sought was not freedom from sin, but freedom from the heel of the Roman Empire. Many of them were undoubtedly touched by His teachings, miracles and persona, but with their expectations came disappointment when not fulfilled. Disappointment because frustration, and frustration brought with it anger, and their anger brought with it rage, and rage brings with it ramifications that often brings harm and even death.
    You may wonder why the crowd was so large that day and so seemingly receptive, super charged and overt in their praise. A large part of it was due to shortly before this event; Jesus had raised a dead man to life after 4 days of being in the tomb. This event, because there were witnesses, reliable ones, swept like wildfire through Jerusalem. Therefore they came not only because of Him, but because they might also see Lazarus.
     The chief priest and religious leaders were furious, and from that point on planned to kill not only Jesus, but Lazarus, not believing but seeing it as a ruse. Had it not been for the spectacular raising of Lazarus, Jesus might have received a very different reaction that day.
     Messianic hopes were almost at a fever pitch, the news continuing to spread, especially as this was the time to celebrate the Passover, which was the event during their captivity in Egypt that was a prelude to gaining their freedom from slavery. At this time there were approximately 30,000 inhabitants of Jerusalem, but during Passover the population multiplied significantly, estimating that approximately 180,000 Jews and non-Jews were filling the city. Four to six times the population, and with that you can imagine how quickly the voices carried the miracle of a man coming back from the dead, and that the teacher Jesus was responsible.
     I think this event of that Friday during Passover, because of its brevity, and eventually seen as what it was, which was more of an Un-Triumphal event, for it turned very quickly. The Lord Himself knew what was coming, knowing it was short-lived, and was preparing Himself in His heart and mind, and eventually His disciples for what was to comes, in as much as they could grasp. These were Jesus' words just a little further on found in Matthew's account of this event. Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."
     These words of Jesus should strike at our own hearts, when we, like those who killed the prophets, and Jesus Himself being one of those prophets, at times turn on those individuals who do not meet our expectations. All the Jews had to do was read their own prophets, who spoke of this humble Messiah, as well as the conquering Messiah, who being the same person, would one day return again, and fulfill each and every one of the conquering Messianic prophecies as He did the Suffering Messiah. Every single one!
     This lesson can mean a changed life, application, and one all of us should pay close attention to. We are unable to read the past of people's lives that made them and us, into who they and we are today. There are some things I could share with you about myself and how I grew up, and events that happened to me that I am sure would make you more sympathetic to my weaknesses and sometimes failures. We, like Jesus should be more understanding and sympathetic than what we often are. Then, there are those of us, who because they and we, were successful in overcoming their and own difficult backgrounds, judge others far too harshly when it seems those who seem unable to do so, don't.
      We Christians....are to be the most understanding, and loving and accepting people on the face of this planet. Jesus touched the outcast, the untouchables, the rejected, the everyday person and even the rich. He, yes, He knew everything there was to know about each individual, and why they were who they were, and because of that, there was not one person who was persona-non-grata. No...not one. We do not need to know everything about someone; we just simply need to be people of faith and therefore people of grace.
     If someone disappoints us, we should then think of the times we disappointed someone else, not giving and sharing grace, but instead unkind and ungodly thoughts and sometimes words, hurting the recipient of our un-grace even more than they already are. If, we claim to be His followers, we are called to be and do no less than He Himself would say and do. Doing so.....we then can expect a triumphal walk in the Kingdom of Heaven, pleasing our Lord all along the way. They will know we are Christians, yes, by our love, by our love, yes, they know we are Christians by our love.
   Jesus is remembered by His wisdom, His teachings and His reaching out to all peoples, and to all nations and to all who accept and know who He is. How do people remember us, when they do? What things do they say about us? I am not talking about after we are gone, but today, while yet alive? Does it matter to you? What kind of person do you think you are thought of as?
   Are we triumphant in overcoming those things in us that need to be overcome? It may take a lifetime, and our success is not determined by it being gone, but by and through the help of the Lord being able to not succumb.
     That Palm Sunday...as people were waving Palm branches and shouting Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!!! and though it was short-lived, my hope and prayer is that in the midst of those many who were there, there were some who fell so in love with the Savior, that their lives were changed forever. That on that Good Friday to follow, when their hearts were broken, and tears flowed as they watched this godly, God/man literally being broken for them, they, from that day forward followed Him, attempting to be like Him, loving Him as they never loved anyone before, bringing JOY to Him because of their devotion.
   Today.....this day, we can look back and more fully understand the importance in fulfilling prophecy, and the importance of the event itself being a prelude to what was to come next. Retrospection is a gift in being able to grasp historic events and people and their significance.   This is one that we celebrate every year to keep it significant, alive and vibrant. By this and what is yet to come, our spiritual lives, which include faith, hope and love can undergird and strengthen our personal and collective daily lives both in the Spirit and in the natural. If....we will let it. If we will let Him! The question is, will we?

The Little "log" Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
April 14, 2019
SERMON: SUBMISSION ~ OBEDIENCE ~ RESISTANCE
By; Pastor Tom Shanor
     Submission, a word full of meaning, and deeply intentional in that meaning. It is also a word that rankles many without realizing in spiritual matter, in secular and in particular government, it is vital to both a healthy spiritual life and an orderly and healthy society. If mankind is given free reign, to express his or her feelings and ways of handling issues that affect us all, we are doomed. History tells us this if we would take the time to study it. Today....boundaries are being torn down, laws are not being followed, even by those who are in the position to dispense and critically enforce them.
     The church is reeling and societies all over the world are reeling, trying to administer order, when at the same time doing away with the very boundaries that prevented chaos. It seems we humans are hell-bent on ignoring history and repeating it. Absolutes are no longer recognized as such, and therefore societies and individuals are confused, and do not want anyone to control their actions/behavior, given free reign as they say their rights are being trampled on.
   So, what does it mean in the spiritual realm to submit to God? The biblical concept of submission is to place oneself under the authority of another. When we submit to God, we give our lives (every aspect) to His authority and control, using the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ to be our absolutes and guide.
     The very first way to submit to God is through believing in Jesus as God's Son, who lived, died and rose from the dead to give us eternal life. Romans 10:9 states, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
     The second way to submit to God is through another word that we often find difficult to fulfill. Anyone guess what that word is? Ok, I will tell you. Obedience, which then what follows is the second step having believed in the Christ, comes baptism. It is the outward act that speaks to the world around us of the inward acceptance of our choice to follow him. Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all thngs that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with always, even to the end of the age." Amen
     In addition to baptism, the Bible clearly teaches other ways to obey God. Just as a child seeks to obey his or her parent to show love and respect, we are called to submit to God through loving obedience to His commands.
     The third way to submit to God is to learn more about Him. Psalm 1:1-6 offers the example of a godly person whose life is submitted to God. READ.
     Those who love God submit to Him through a life that seeks to better know Him each day...each and every day.
     A fourth way to submit to God is how we treat one another. For example, Ephesians 5:21 speaks of "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Not because we will to, but because we are told to do so. Our goal should be "to treat others as we desire to be treated." To show His love, grace and mercy at all times. Not to spread gossip and division. Romans 16:17 states clearly, "My friends, I beg you to watch out for those who cause trouble and divides the church by refusing to do what all of you were taught. Stay away from them!
     Matthew 18:15-17. "If your brother (or sister) sins against you go and tell him or their fault, between you and them alone. If you are listened to, you have gained he or she, or both back. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of witnesses. If refused, tell it to the church. And if again refusing to even listen to the church let him or her be to you as a Gentile or tax collector.
     This tells us very clearly that harmony and unity are vitally important in the Church of Jesus Christ.
     A fifth way to submit to God is how we share Him with others. For example, when the woman at the well was changed by her encounter with Jesus, she immediately left her water jar, ran to the village, and told others. "Come; see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" Her submission to the Lord included sharing Him and what he did with others. It does not have to be some momentous event, but it can be the taking away of resentment, anger, bitterness, leaving you a changed man or woman on the inside...becoming manifested in your outlook and behavior.
     ALL areas of our lives are to be submitted to the Lord and placed under his authority, manifested by the new man or woman we are becoming every day. Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
     1st Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you."
     Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with JOY and not with GROANING, for that would be of no advantage to you."
    OBEDIENCE...................in obedience is safety. In obedience is love. In obedience is understanding. In obedience is devotion. With submission comes obedience, for, Obedience is, the very best thing.
    “The Obedience of Samson” This is a rather long illustration but one that speaks to the core of the true meaning of obedience.
    THE PROBLEM WITH SAMSON. read....
     The real test of our Christianity isn't seen in our work or activity, or even in our theological purity. It's found in this: when we have an opportunity to wander away, to disobey, to leave his presence, do we choose instead to stay inside the safety of our spiritual dwelling or open the door to what beckons us outside?
    The fifth commandment instructs us to honor our earthly father and mother Exodus 20:12, and that command is repeated in Ephesians 6:1, with the added instruction to "obey." God is our Heavenly Father, and we should honor and obey Him, as we should as children our earthly father. Obedience to God proves our relationship with Him is as it should be, and we demonstrate our love and faithfulness though obedience, also.
      John 15:10, Jesus said, "if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Obedience is a command, and it is linked securely to love and joy.
     If....our faith in God is genuine, we will live a lifestyle characterized by holiness, modeling the example set for us by Jesus Christ Himself. Think of the myriad of ways that he did so!
            1. How was his behavior towards those who ridiculed him, spoke evil of him, tried to entrap him, beat him, spat on him, eventually killing him?   * He never raised his voice, was angry overtly only once, and that was not because of what was being done to him, but how the house or temple of God was being abused, and secularized.
             2. He gave and gave and gave of Himself often to the point of exhaustion.
             3. He had no resentment toward anyone, except for those religious leaders who held themselves, to be better than those they were supposed to serve and shepherd.
             4. He never professed to be emotionally hurt, His feelings never taking authority over his thoughts and truths he professed. Being hurt is a superficial reaction that can (if held on to) can cause resentment, bitterness and even hatred. These emotions when nurtured and fed are NOT of God.
      If our faith in God is genuine....we will be models in both word and deed of the examples he set for us.
     RESIST.....ok, I go to the gym, a rather nice one, though being nice does not make going and working out any easier. I am not one of those who LOVE working out. In fact at times I can barely get through my specific workout on the treadmill, then on about a dozen machines that seem to exist to resist my every forward action. And resist they do, very well. I also have to admit to some days (because I can) lessen the degree of their resistance. Those days are not quite so painful.
     The mayor of South Bend Indiana last week spoke on resisting. Saying that his goal is to do away with resistance, for all it does is stop progress and cause pain. How in the world he ever arrived at as that as one of his goals, stupefied me. It is in resistance that we grow. It is in resistance that we develop muscle, maintain flexibility. It is in resistance that we push through and learn not only what we should not do, but a better way to push on. Resistance is sometimes equal to failure. Instead of giving up, and giving in, we push forward to maintain and create.
     Think of (and this always amazes me) when I am walking down a blacktop road. I see little bumps, knowing that under that thick asphalt is a tiny little plant sending a shoot, pushing its way through that hard surface until it finally breaks forth with a tiny stem and leaf into the sun.
      Think also of a butterfly, who only but pushing against the resistance of its cocoon can it develop the wings that will one day lift it into the sky, able in the strength it will develop enable it fly hundreds of miles, perhaps thousands against wind, rain and all other resistance that tries to stop it
     In regards to our everyday lives, and our spiritual well-being we go back to where we started in James 4:7, "Submit your selves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." We are as Christians, members of the 'resistance' against evil and wrong doing. It began in the beginning and will continue unto the end of the age of man, and the beginning of the true reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.
     What we cannot do on our own in the resistance, we can do all things in Christ who gives us strength to overcome the call of evil. Over and over, the Bible tells us that God blesses and rewards obedience through resistance.
     James 1:22-25 says it perfectly: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror for he looks at himself and goes way and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, will be blessed in their doing."
     Obedience by resistance enables us to live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope. "
     There is the Good News and with this, the Good, Good News, in that God is gracious or grace dispensing as it says in Hebrews 10:16-17, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,' then He adds, 'I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.'"
     Submission, then Obedience through resistance.........God is good, all the time.                                                           Amen

The Little 'log' Church in the Pines
"GOD'S GENEROUS HEART"
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and Romans 10:8-13
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
March 17, 2019
...In Luke 10, verses 30-37 Jesus narrates the story of a man who is stripped, wounded and robbed. In this story it speaks of the self-righteous religious leader and a high-minded Levite who walk by the poor man paying him no attention. Then comes along a Samaritan, a member of a much hated people group by the Jews. This man stops, binds and soothes the man’s wounds as best he can. He then, our of his kind generosity and compassion sets the man on his own animal, takes him to an Inn and takes care of him. Not only did he take care of him, he paid the Innkeeper, because he had to leave, saying you take care of him and on my next trip through, if I did not give you enough money I will pay you that as well.
...This Jesus said to those listening to him, "go and do likewise."
...He spoke these words to all of us, from the poorest to those who are rich, if we are indeed followers of His. He tells us this because that is what He would do and did. He has a heart for the wounded, the outcast, the deprived, the good, the bad and the ugly. And He in doing this, and compelling us to do the same, He is simply reflecting the heart of God, for He says in John 14:10 while questioning Philip's motivation, these words, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?" "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who lives in Me does the works." Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me." They are One in their love of mankind and One in their generosity.
...Our God in Christ is a generous God, and His greatest act of generosity, was in sending His Son our Lord, to sacrifice His life for us. He is a generous God, and a patient God, and a God of Mercy and Forgiveness. These are but four of the virtues that we as Christians, are also to exhibit, and live out. There are three theological virtues that best under-gird us as Believers, and those are the virtues, of faith hope and love.
...A virtue is "a habitual and firm disposition to do the good."
...Moral virtues are attitudes, dispositions, and good habits that govern one's actions, passions, and conduct, according to reason, and are acquired by several means. One straight from God as a gift, and or acquired by the desired effort of our choices, both moral and spiritual.
...Generosity (also called largess) is the 'virtue' of being unattached to material possessions, often symbolized by the giving of material good, time and goodwill, and which is often celebrated in cultural and religious ceremonies.
...Our coming to the Table of the Lord in Communion celebrates the greatest gift our Lord gave us ”the gift of eternal life” in Him and through Him.
...Science as science does, attempts to find the answers of life has taken on the study of virtues, investigating generosity by examining the effect of a number of scenarios and games on individuals' generosity, and potential links with neuro-chemicals such as oxytocin, and relationships with similar feelings, such as that of empathy. Have they arrived at a conclusion? No, not yet!
...Generosity....why are some generous and others the complete opposite. Stingy and Scrooge-like? To be generous, one has to be thankful, thankful for what one does have and thankful and being given or looking for an opportunity to share out of one's blessed bounty.
...I am just finishing a book titled the Tattooist of Auschwitz. It is about a Slovakian Jew, a young man who was assigned to tattoo all the prisoners shipped to the camp. It is an absolutely revealing and amazing story. He conceived of a way to procure food from workers hired to build the crematorium ovens....and by having those who went through the clothing and meagre luggage of those brought into the camp. They would take jewelry, give it to him and through these construction workers receive food to help as many as he could, to stave off their starvation diets of a watery gruel and bits of bread. His generosity eventually got him into a dire situation of being beaten almost to death, only against all odds to once again, sent back to Auschwitz as the tattooist, and to once again help save the lives of many. His compassion and outlook, demeanor and attitude in-the-midst-of-death, was truly remarkable.
...Scripture speaks of the generosity of God when His people cried out to Him during their captivity and enslavement under the Egyptians, in Deuteronomy 26. 'The Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us.'
...Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and looked upon our affliction and our labor and our oppression. 'so the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to a land flowing milk and honey." These saw and felt the generosity of their God, and were grateful, thankful and full of faith.
...When I read this, it reminded me of the start of our own nation. There was afflictions, persecution and oppression on our early ancestors. They too cried out to the Lord, strongly feeling led to cross the Atlantic, to a land flowing with milk and honey, and so they came, not without loss and hardship, but they came and God blessed them. Were they perfect, no! Did they make mistakes, yes, but they believed they were led forth to start a new movement of God, to prosper and do what was right in their eyes with His leading.
...There is an 'old’ contemporary song that reads: our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above, with wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God. And so He is.....and In His generosity He is a patient God as exhibited in the narration of the Prodigal Son. And because it seems He is slow to act at times and we question Him, as to His timing forgetting 'Father Knows Best'.
...We ask questions like, "How could God allow this to happen?' Why doesn't God intervene in this situation? Why would God allow them to die, they were such a good person? Why, Why, Why?
...Incredulous questions by a world limited in understanding, questioning the nature of God. Applying human limits of patience to God, they find it impossible to reconcile God's justice with His patience. The patience of God should not be confused with..........
   a. Ignorance. God is fully aware of every injustice and difficulty in our lives.
    b. Weakness. In reality, God's power is reflected in the restraint He shows towards mankind. The prophet Nahum captures this best when he writes, "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished."
    c. Apathy. It would be easy to conclude that God simply does not care about evil. In fact, God's justice and wrath is simply being delayed and stored until the final judgement...until all who can be saved are saved.
    d. Absence. God is not a distant observed when His people are mistreated, when all people are mistreated. He is present. When He confronted Paul on the road to Damascus, he said, "Why do you persecute Me."
...The word patience is derived from the Greek word 'makrothumia' and is often translated literally as long-suffering. When Adam sinned, God did not charge into the garden with a drawn sword. Rather, he walked in and called out for Adam. Similarly, God's patience enables Him to come after us. Jesus said, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost." That's us.......
...His desire is that we be fast learners, but He will be patient to bring us back to the same point time and time again. And He never tires of doing so, until finally and hopefully we get it. His purpose is to produce the finished product. US!
...Psalm 145:8 "The Lord is gracious and compassion, slow to anger and rich in love."
...Romans 2:4 - "Do not despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.
...Colossians 3:12 choose patience, as it says in this verse. "Therefore, God's chosen ones hold and loved, put on...patience.
To summarize all this into one word, I choose the word Mercy, but I can't use the word Mercy without trying to it the word Grace.
Our God, Jehovah God is known to bet the God of mercy and grace. Understanding Mercy is often difficult for people as the word we live in tends to be a world of "I'll get him or her for that" and "I hope they get what they deserve."
God keep us from getting what we deserve at times...YIKES!
He is generous of heart!
He is merciful to even the vilest of sinners and law-breakers. This means that even though He knows all of our guilt, He does not always issue the punishment we may deserve. Romans 3:23-24 says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
The generous hearted God of Mercy call for the following in us found in Micah 6:8."He has shown you, O mankind, what is good. And what does the Lord require of YOU? To act justly and to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Love it.....love it.....love it!
Without His Grace, Mercy, Patience, Kindness, Forgiveness, Goodness, Rich in Love......and His overall generous heart, where would we be?
As He is patient...let us also be patient, not only with others but also with ourselves. If so....we can become all that He has given us the ability and desire to be.
...Before James Garfield became President of the United States, he was principal of Hiram College in Ohio. A father once asked him if a particular course of study couldn't be simplified so that his son could go through it in a shorter time and by a shorter route.
..."Certainly," replied Garfield. "But it all depends upon what you want to make out of your boy. When God wants to make an Oak Tree, he takes a hundred years. When He wants to make a squash, He requires only two summers."
I finish with this question. What do you want Him to make of you? The choice is yours..................

The little church in the pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
"THE LENTEN JOURNEY CONTINUES"
Pastor Tom Shanor
March 10, 2019
~ The Lenten Journey began last Sunday with a message on the Transfiguration of Christ, Scripture being read in both Luke, then the Book of Revelation. Scripture brought to us Jesus, revealing Him on a supernatural plane unlike anything any of us have seen or experienced, as especially revealed in Revelation. The picture that was word painted, was replete with symbolism and distinctly referred back to words Jesus had spoken, and also in part, the vision of Him as seen by Peter, James and John, when visited by Moses and Elijah on what is now called 'the Mount of Transfiguration.'
~ Next came Shrove Tuesday with an evening of indulgence by those of us who were able to make it here, eating pancakes with a variety of non-fattening topics, (sure) sausage and eggs.
~ Wednesday, the official beginning of the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, was ASH Wednesday. Again, for those of you who were able to make it here to the church, each was called to affirm your belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a call to repentance and ending with a cross, made with ashes marked on your foreheads. Signifying the place of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in your lives.
~ Today, we continue this journey to the cross, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, signifying its' solemnity, holiness and necessity in being reconciled through Christ to God the Father, ultimately revealing to us the very heart of God towards those who love Him and are called according to His desire and purpose. He looked down through eternity before this journey ever began and saw who would see, and who would believe, and who would desire to live a life embracing His ways, His Son and His Spirit.
~ We hear of this call to all in Joel, as I am about to read. (READ)
~ Blow a trumpet!!.....I wish I had one, for I would stand on the porch outside and blow it loud and long, as a clarion call to all within its hearing...come, come to the house of the Lord, to His Son Jesus Christ, and come.....into the family of God where no one is rejected, no one cast out, no one overlooked, no one despised, accepted in the Beloved.
~ The people of God as celebrated every year at this time, once again cross a threshold on Ash Wednesday, and if not on Wednesday, today. As a preacher, I am to help His people mark this as another New Beginning. We walk in to this day and time, speaking to those that are broken, perhaps torn by events, people and things that have ripped at your hearts, minds and spirits this last year. Things like the loss of loved ones, opportunities to become bitter, angry, spiteful, overly critical, unkind, vindictive, a victim of gossip, hurtful words, broken or torn, etc.....for in times such as this, we can and often do, widen the gap between Jesus and us, mostly individually, but also can be collectively. Once that gap opens it does not matter whether it is a sliver or a mile across, the result is the same. Separation, when though the next 40 days, as we walk deeper into Him, we find ourselves becoming once again vulnerable, so that reconciliation, healing and restoration can become a new and deeper part of our journey.
~ If we embrace this Lenten season, we slow our pace during these forty days as we walk through the landscape, through the wilderness of our own hearts and souls.
We must because we can...walk carefully.
We must because we can...think deeply.
We must, because it is good for us, to open our hearts to love & truth, to lay bare all that we have worked so hard to bury, to hide and repress. For if we do this....giving all of it over to the One who said he wants to carry our burdens, share our griefs, sorrows and even joys, to lift us out of the miry clay onto a solid and steady place on which to stand, we will once again be able to breathe deeply, take joy in our everyday lives and give to others by the way we live and speak....hope.
~ This is a journey we can take only by choice, as it is not imposed on us in anyway. It may seem to be scary, unnerving and unsettling, but the very opposite is true.
~ It begins with ashes and ends in a garden teeming with new life, color and imagination.
~ Joel and 2 Corinthians texts testify to the reorganization of the world as we know it in the flesh to what it would be under the guidance of God if only we would give in to Him.
~ As it says in Genesis...a sober reminder to all of us, "remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." This ceremony is perhaps the most sobering of all that we take part in as believers, as it serves as a reminder that we are mortal and each and every moment we possess is precious, and if precious, our time should be spent in gratefulness, not fault-finding, not looking for the negative, not focusing on the thorn instead of the rose. Our words as it says in the bulletin today, speak loud and clear. "Our words are the windows to our heart" Matthew 12:34b. "For out of the abundance of the mouth, the heart speaks."
~ If we but take serious this journey we are embarking on this Lenten Season, I guarantee that by the end of it, on Easter Sunday, you and I will experience a new revelation, a new way of thinking and acting, a happiness and a joy in being once again, given an opportunity to experience new life....life in the Spirit of truth....joy. Laying down differences, prejudices, division and strife....and oh so much more, if indeed this is what you desire. To be like Him. In many ways by choice, you are maser of your own fate, your own ship, your own way of thinking and perceiving, and by saying yes to the Lord on the journey each step of the way, you will slowly be renewed inside and out. Changed.
~ Look at the titles of all our hymns today sung by us,
                        * Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
                        * Children of the Heavenly Father
                        * Take Time to Be Holy
                        * Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
~ These each speak of our relationship with God through His Son. In each we are given an opportunity to look up instead of down, to be positive instead of negative, to be in partnership with each other and with the very God of Creation. Our outlooks can be permanently changed, no, transformed!
~ Being, fully human as we all know, is at times unspeakably difficult. Is it any wonder then, that we guard our hearts and minds by avoidance and non-participation, looking for ways of entertainment and escapes from the everyday hardships that confront us, I have news for all....no matter where we go, what we do to avoid reality....it has a way of catching up no matter what we do. That is life on planet earth.
~ I have two questions for you. What is it you want from God, or have you considered instead, what it is God wants from you? Considering the second question first, just might be a better place to begin. You see, God created us for a relationship with Him, for both our benefits. A partnership, a give and receive journey. He gives, we receive, we give, He receives....there is no tug of war. There is just a circle of interaction. Think about that.....really. It might answer some of your deepest questions. It just might.
~A relationship, that is illustrated in the story of the Prodigal Son....God love us, each and everyone one of us, and if we go our own way, He does not stop us, but instead waits, and waits and waits for us to return home. We also have to remember, that if we do not do as the younger son, but walk with Him always, He loves us not less, but equal to the one who journeyed off on his own.
~ The Prophet Joel calls out across the millennia, "Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. "Rend your hearts! Break them open" those walls that you have built around your hearts to keep them safe and comfortable shut Him out! Those walls block everything that makes YOU so delightfully and uniquely human! Remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made!
~ The Byrds, a band many of us know of, put to words and music one of my favorite Scriptures found in Ecclesiastes singing of seasons...this Lenten Season can be a time of turning...to God.
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven.
This friends, as you have been told time after time, today is the season for turning.....to God.
Next week, I will be speaking on God’s Generous Heart…..and remember that next week as part of the service, young Wilder Lee Taylor DeTinne will be baptized.

The Little Church in the Pines
MACKS INN, ISLAND PARK, ID
March 3, 2019
"His and OurTransfiguration"
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
...To understand a word and its meaning more fully, one needs to look at the word deeper. The word today of course stated in our bulletin is "transfiguration."
...Let's begin with the meaning. "A complete change (which is an action) of form or appearance. A beautiful example would be that of a larvae to a butterfly. A worm bound to the usually leaf of a tree or etc., that then through an astounding metamorphosis over time, no longer bound (as in the cocoon stage) but breaking out of that which confines it, into its new existence, now often colorful, even resplendent. Not only vibrant in color, but wings that take it from the earth to the sky.......a marvel of God's Creation.
...Perhaps, as you have come to understand, I love words (hopefully knowing when to stop speaking them) but I find language fascinating with all its inter-connectedness. Prefixes, conjunctions, etc., etc. So, having said that let's look at........
...Trans...Figured. Look at some of the other words with 'trans; such as transit, transcend, transportation, transverse, transfix and many more. Trans is known as a prefix, and prefix means across....underneath and is secondary but essential to complete the full meaning or intention to understand what is being conveyed in a particular word. Trans bring the action...change.
...So...Jesus has just spent some extended and real time teaching the crowds, and having a measure of some success, he, now exhausted, sensing a need for some time apart, yet knowing he is hearing the Spirit calling him to a special encounter he calls to the three, well, let’s read from Mark 9:2-8. READ
..."as the three watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed, and his clothing became 'dazzling white,' far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them, and it also says in Luke 9:29, as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed." Now...let's take a brief foray into the book of Revelation 1, to get a more vivid transformation or transfiguration that definitely ties into this transfiguration. Verses' 12-17. This is the disciple John speaking. "When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lamp stands. And standing in the middle of the lamp stands was someone like the son of God." (In other words, John recognized Jesus having been with him three long years, but it was him and then it wasn't the Jesus he knew well....he was the same yet different, for in verse 17 he states; "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead."
...He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like might ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance."
...Bound as we are to this earth and living our everyday lives in perishable flesh and blood, these transfigurations come across in description sounding more like someone's vivid imagination or someone hallucinating on some sort of drug. So little do we comprehend by our limited 5 senses, unless....we too, as have I, experienced on several occasions, not on drugs somewhat similar visions.
...Peter though, like James and John knew what he saw, wrote it down and was able to use his own experience later to back up who Jesus was and states so in 2nd Peter 1:16-21. READ
One cannot convincingly argue with a person who has personally experienced such an encounter to change his or her mind. God...so little do we know and understand our God. With all the prophets had seen and spoke, and with all the disciples saw and experienced, how dare we, 2000 years later tell them they were nuts or on drugs or simply had hallucinations. To the person, with the exception of John, each gave up their lives to the point of martyrdom, for him who they believed in and whom they loved, and these did not die easy deaths, nor did they die with him when he was crucified, but some sooner and some later, long after he left them.
...This transfiguration speaks to us the mystery, the majesty and yet, the availability of a personal transfiguration for each of us. The Apostle Peter in writing what he did to all then current and future believers saying, if he Peter could so be transformed from the bumbling, mistake ridden, Jesus denying man that he was, into the impressive sounding man in this letter, where he is filled with authority and confidence, anyone can be transformed.
...He is the one who was called by Jesus "a man of little faith" and whom Jesus once commanded. "Get behind me Satan for you are a stumbling block to me."
...As Scripture also described him as being terrified and baffled on the Mount, and whose life was not changed that day, and is the man who screwed-up his life, misunderstood Jesus, denied his faith and who ran away as a coward, a failure, a spiritual wimp, now the man who speaks so boldly and witnesses so courageously as to the reality of his Lord? The answer, of course is Yes. This is the one and the same man, and through his own transformation become a new man.
...Julia Ward Howe's great hymn "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" has a line in it that enlightens what is going on. Referring to Christ, the third line goes: "With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me," meaning to transform us into someone we could never be on our own. Something beautiful...something good.
...This Sunday is knows as Transfiguration Sunday and it is the Sunday that we hold up and highlight this transfiguration of our Lord and Savior, the beginning of what is known as Lent, where we can walk a deeper walk, a time of spiritual growth and knowledge in the coming weeks. A truly holy time.
...This topic has been a hard one to preach on as how to make it relevant and applicable to our everyday lives. It seems so far beyond our lives, except in this area of each of us being both desirous and able to change, transform at least a portion of ourselves into the men and women God has created us to be.
...This man Peter is an example to us, who once hid in the shadows of night had the morning star rise in his heart, filling his mind and soul, experiencing the dawn of a new day, a new life.
...The great Danish theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, wrote: "That is a great miracle that God is able to create something out of nothing, but there is a greater miracle, and that is that God fashions saints out of sinners."
...Saint Peter is the patron saint of everyone who recognizes and is in need of change.
...He is also, the patron saint of those of us who need another, and then another chance.
...Peter is the patron said of all who have failed in life, perhaps often, but through Christ can get up again, and again to start over, each time wiser and stronger.
Christ's Transfiguration is an example of God's act of Grace toward us. But it is not enough to simply be changed. What we then must do is work out what he has already done in us, by living out that change.
...Our change will take on the effects of acts of goodness, kindness, generosity, self-control, courage, love and compassion. Our words should witness to the One who made us into what we could not make ourselves into. Our relationship with Jesus can be revived and deepened through intimate prayer, reading, participating and living as we should.
...On this Transfiguration Sunday, as we come to the Table of the Lord, let us each individually, ask Him to come into our lives in a new and fresh way to invigorate, transform and lift us out of the pit of neutrality, perhaps despair or depression, or anger, or bitterness, or fear. Whatever it is that has worked its way into your life.
…Many are also transformed by major events in a person’s life, be they awesomely wonderful or terrible. Why wait for such an event when it can happen just by saying yes, Lord…transform me by the love, grace and power of your life in me.
...Let is go...simply let it go and be ye transformed into the image of Christ. Amen

little church in the pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
February 24, 2019
"BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT" A HISTORY LESSON
By; Pastor Tom Shanor
2 Timothy 3:16 " All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong and right in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Meaning in simpler terms….it cuts into our conscience, pointing out sometimes painfully our failures or sins.
There is a word I want to introduce you to if you have not heard it before, and is applicable to the word(s) of God. It is 'Rhema'....."the literal utterances of God spoken out loud for people to hear." It also means God's words are revealed.
A Scripture to back this up is found in Romans 10:17-18, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the spoken word of God. Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
God's words are spoken in both the Old and New Testaments for the purpose of us becoming a moral and upright people, who in our position as Believers, will honor and worship God and His Son Jesus Christ willingly and lovingly.
What is the New Testament and how did it come to be?
As I was sitting at my desk, having finished my research and ready to start putting it on paper, it came to me that some people really don't like and are not interested in history, and so if you are one of those, I thought how can I make it interesting enough to keep your attention.
Well, I didn't get an answer that I thought would work, so I am just going to say what I think and hope you might be interested in.
Also, this (today) is a preface to the upcoming Lenten Season, leading up to Easter. This year, my third one here at the Little Church, I am going to follow what is called the Christian calendar through the lectionary.
I have typed up a schedule of what I will be following and in some cases what my topic for sermons will be. It will be posted on the back-bulletin board, but first I am going to read it to you now. (READ)
Now…comes the answer to the two questions I posed in the beginning……
The New Testament....is a volume of early Christian writings that tells the story of the New Covenant, which is simply the fulfillment of the original covenant that God made with the Jewish people, fulfilled in Christ, when through Him we (Gentiles) were adopted into the people of God....the Church. Matthew 16:13-18. (READ)
These verses clarify that the church was to be built on Peter's statement, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God." not on the man Peter, though vibrantly used, but in the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies.
The church did, and for the most part most still does, center on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, and his sacrificial death, then resurrection. For Christians, Jesus fulfilled the expectations expressed in Jewish Scriptures that the 'Messiah' (meaning 'the anointed One') would come to deliver on his promises. This was fulfilled when in John 19:30, as he uttered these words, "it is finished." Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
The New Testament as we know it, begins with the 'Gospel' (meaning 'good news') of Jesus' ministry, execution and rising from the dead. This Gospel has four versions attributed to the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Scholars believe that each Gospel was based on events and traditions associated with the Churches in several of cities where the Churches grew. Perhaps, they say, Matthew with Antioch, Mark with Rome, Luke with Caesarea and John with Ephesus.
I do want to say, that the Gospels are not biographies written by the authors, but are much more like a written sermon or a call to faith. One thing in common, is that each say little about the upbringing or young life of Jesus. Nowhere is there a physical description of the boy, or man Jesus. Nowhere. What each does have in common is a full account of the Passion of Jesus.
After the Gospel account comes the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus has resurrected and left earth, and the Gospel is now in the hands of the disciples. The Book of Acts tells of the early Church and how it spread beyond the Jews to the Gentiles, largely through Paul's missionary journeys and his letters to the churches. Paul of course of converted on the road to Damascus...in a rather dramatic way, though the Acts too were filled with drama of a kind never seen before and were instrumental in the rapid growth of Christianity.
There then follows 21 letters. Thirteen traditionally attributed to Paul, seven to the names of other well-known figures, James, Timothy, etc. Not all scholars believe that all these letters were penned or dictated by Paul, Peter or the others. Few, though, do not doubt that a solid block of letters written by Paul himself did survive.
Lastly, there is the strange visionary book known as Revelation or Apocalypse, which starts with a sometimes-scathing account of several of the Seven Churches in Asia and goes on to a series of visions full of strange creatures, allegories and even some metaphors. Many visions full of conflicts of different kinds, including battles. A vision of a different and somewhat frightening Christ is described as well. If you care to enter a world full of imagery and puzzlement.... read Revelation. There are many who have different versions of the meaning and intent of Revelation, but for me.... I either am not intellectual enough or spiritual enough to make good sense of it all, so I stick to the teachings of Jesus and the letters, to find my way through this life to Christ in the New Testament.
There is a debate that goes on to today, that many feels all the New Testament was written by AD 70, others disagree. There were other Christian writings not in the New Testament, many actually. (did you know that?) Some have been lost and some determined not to be in conjunction with the theme of those we have come to know. Paul most certainly is perceived to have written other letters, that are still in the archives and library of the Vatican or lost, or both. There were written other Gospels as well, but they conflicted in some ways with the accepted and officially recognized Gospels, and therefore were not included. By the end of the second century, the main canon or (authorative and accepted books) was fixed, but even then, there were still disagreements among those putting the New Testament together.
I don’t know if this will interest you, but it did me in that Jesus spoke Aramaic, because he lived in the area known as Galilee’, also he would have also known some Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek and translated into Latin in the second century. As a side note, anytime anything is translated into a different language, some of the nuances and even specific detailed information is lost in the translation.
The original documents would have been written on what is known as papyrus, which is thin and fragile, much like pastry paper today. It was written on this type of paper because its thinness was lighter to carry, and took up less space, but did not last long, so was treated very carefully.
Because of this, there are just a few papyrus documents that have survived from the second century, though none of them contain complete passages.
Not until the fourth century were, they written on vellum, which is a durable sheepskin surface.
From then on, especially in the Middle-Ages, literally thousands of manuscripts survive, some exquisitely illustrated, but some also showing carelessness in copying.
The very first printed New Testament in Greek was published in 1516.
There also are what are known as the Lost Gospels…..and each has a name.
There are the Jewish-Christian Gospels
There are the Gnostic Gospels…and others, some predating some of the known and accepted four Gospels……
There is also a book called the Apocrypha, which is recognized not only by the Catholic Church…but Lutherans, some Methodists, Moravians, Anglican and others, even making it into their lectionaries.
How many of you have heard of it?
These books are considered equal by some to the four Gospels, of which there are seven. They were included in Martin Luther’s Bible…. which are a collection of ancient books, usually located in between the Old and New Testaments. They are perceived as being written by godly men and are to be read for the advancement and furtherance of the knowledge of history and for the instruction of godly behavior. So, out of curiosity and since they are determined not be to be in contradiction to the four Gospels, you might want to read them?
What we do have, those who put the New Testament together as we know it, was put together by much debate, much comparing over 20,000 documents as to their cohesiveness, and stringent study to avoid contradictions. The New Testament and the Bible itself are the most read, most studied and most published books ever written in the world.
The New Testament and the written and spoken Word has changed more lives, affected more countries, touched more people, than any other words written. The only times (in my opinion) that people and countries were adversely affected (and many have been) was and is when men and women twist it, don’t understand it’s truths, but use it to accomplish their own evil desires for personal, political, and spiritual control and gains.
They have lost the conscience that God has placed in all people.
We sometimes use the phrase, “the still, small voice in referring to it.
Rolf Zetterseten wrote, “A good friend in North Carolina bought a new car with a voice warning system…. At first Ewin was amused to hear the soft female voice gently remind him that his seat belt was not fastened….He affectionately call this voice the ‘little woman.’
He soon discovered his ‘little woman’ was programmed to warn him about his gasoline. ‘Your fuel level is low,’ she said one time in her sweet, sultry voice. Edwin nodded his head and thanked her, but he figured he still had enough gas to go another 50 miles, so he kept on driving. But a few minutes later, her voice interrupted again with the same warning. And so, it went over and over. Although he knew it was the same recording, Edwin thought her voice sounded harsher each time.
“Finally, he stopped his car and looked under the dashboard. After a quick search, he found the appropriate wires and gave them a good yank. So much for the ‘little woman.’
He was still smiling to himself a few miles later when his care began sputtering and coughing. He ran out of gas! Somewhere inside the dashboard, Edwin was sure he could hear the ‘little woman laughing.”
People like Edwin learn before long that the little voice inside us, although often ignored or even yanked out, has been and is telling us what we need to know.
That…is what in reading the spoken word…the New Testament will do for us. Heighten to a very audible level, the still small voice in us, telling us when we are about to do something we should not do.
Here is a short quote. “If it is doubtful, it’s dirty.” The advice of a wife to her husband who was trying to determine whether his shirt could be worn one more time before laundering.; ) You can carry that over into anything questionable.
John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” They are thieves who steal the Lord’s words, to use for their own enrichment and control.
Please…read God’s word(s), for with much effort, care and prayer over centuries, we have been given a great gift through diligent preservation, with the loss of lives in having done so. …. The New Testament!
Amen

THE LITTLE CHURCH IN THE PINES
MACKS' INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
SERMON ~ LISTENING
JAMES 1:19 "Everyone should be quick to listen; slow to speak."
by; Pastor Tom A. Shanor
Listening....is one of the greatest disciplines that a person can learn and also is one of the most difficult to accomplish, because most of us have so much we want to say......on most any and everything.
I have a short secular story to relate to you in the Art and Discipline of Listening.
A couple of redneck hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground.
He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are rolled back in his head.
The other redneck starts to panic, then whips out his cell phone, calling 911.
He frantically blurts out to the operator, "My friend Jackson is dead! What can I do?"
The operator, trying to calm him down says, "Take it easy. I can help. Just listen to me and follow my instructions sir, make sure he is dead."
There is a short pause, and then the operator is puzzled when she hears a loud gunshot!
The redneck comes back on the line and says, "OK, now what?"
Sometimes, it's easy to hear the words without hearing the real message.
We think that we know what is being said, but we don't clarify the situation (such as listening to the end of what is being said) before jumping to unnecessary, unhelpful and sometimes dangerous conclusions.
We have been given two ears and one mouth for a reason. Two ears so we can hear better and one mouth, so we speak less than we hear. Let our goal be to strive to become better listeners, especially if we are going to repeat what we are hearing to others....and most often, repeat we will.
Another example many of us have taken part is a game called the circle whisper. Gathered in a circle the first-person whisper to the next person perhaps a short but colorful story, and the next and the next. By the time the story gets around to the last person.... what is the result? It barely resembles the original one.
James 3:5-6 reads, "How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell."
Then there is Matthew 13:12-13, "to those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But...for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have, will be taken away. Jesus goes on to say, "That is why I use these parables, for they look but they don't really see. They hear, but they are not really listening, therefore they not able to understand."
This is important to hear, so please listen closely. "Who we are is reflected in both, what we say and what we do, if concerned at all about our personal reputation.” That being in part, title of today's sermon. We can also add to that, "by our words we in time will reap what we sow." Why are we not more careful in regard to this truth?
The words we speak puts accountability in our own laps, and no one else’s. Human ears hear many sounds, but there is a deeper kind of listening, that results in spiritual understanding. When speaking parables, Jesus was not cloaking or hiding truth from sincere seekers, but those who were receptive to spiritual truths, understood his illustrations. To others they were just stories with little meaning. We hear.... really hear, only when we really listen.
Therefore....it is our responsibility and attitude at that moment, to pay attention to what is being spoken by the speaker to be able discern truth or untruths, unless of course they are a boring speaker and have really nothing to say that is relevant. The best thing would be to get up and leave….and, I hope none of you leave now.
You come here on Sunday mornings to hear truth being spoken, hopefully, and if indeed truth is being spoken, to learn and grow spiritually in a way that you can apply to your everyday life. It is not about entertainment, though at times that may be part of the deliverance methodology. ;)
Now onto one of my favorite books, the book of James which may well be the earliest of the New Testament letters, written in the year A.D.48, 1971 years ago. This letter was written by the half-brother of Jesus, who became one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Church. James addressed this letter to Believers everywhere. He wrote it to teach the followers of Jesus how to live out their everyday lives. He emphasizes that if we have genuine faith, we will show it by speaking and acting as instructed by the Lord, and to follow, other such as Paul, James himself, the Gospel writers those to follow. James gave us practical advice on things like anger and quarreling, showing favoritism, controlling the tongue, boasting, patience and prayer.... and...listening! All practical directives that if followed…there would be unity and peace in the body of Christ.
Steven Covey says, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Only by listening can this come about.
He also said this, "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply."
HERE ARE 5 TIPS FOR BECOMING A MORE EFFECTIVE LISTENER........
1. Be aware of your body language. The effective use of body language is often discussed when teaching how to deliver a message, but not so much when receiving one. This means...don't fall asleep when the speaker is speaking, I once had a woman, a teacher in my congregation in Kentucky, (who was angry with me) bring in her students’ papers and correct them during my preaching. That was a bit amusing in looking back, though not at the time. I will say it was the most audacious way of publicly telling me and everyone else her displeasure with me.
2. Do not be afraid of silence. Sometimes, we are so used to noise that we start to feel uncomfortable when there are pauses during a conversation. One of the important lessons to learn is to allow for moments of silence while listening to others. By giving the speaker some thinking time, you may enable them the chance to articulate their thoughts more effectively.
3. Restrain yourself. Many times, we can fall into the trap of thinking we have a funnier anecdote, more fascinating statistics or sadder story that the person speaking just has to hear, and we don't even listen to the end of their story. Others will think more highly of us if we help them to feel better about themselves by listening.
Remember this please. There are also times when not speaking, but touching someone’s shoulder, or not rushing in with a comment, and just looking with the appropriate look will speak more than our words.
4. A good way to start a conversation is ask questions. Asking follow-up questions can be an excellent way of showing that you were listening and want to know more if appropriate.
5. Get rid of distractions. Put your phone on silent when talking with someone. If a serious conversation, physically go to a quieter area if the topic being discussed is one not to be overheard by anyone else. Give them your undivided attention if possible.
Here are a few Scriptures about the discipline of listening.
Proverbs 10:8 "The wise of heart will receive what is spoken, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
Mark 4:24, And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear; and with the measure you apply what you receive, it will be measured back to you and still more will be added to that.
Proverbs 20:12, The hearing ear and the seeing eyes, the Lord has made them both. (Use them well)
Proverbs 18:5, An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise...seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 2:21-22, the last one. My son or daughter, if you receive my words and treasure my commandments, making your ear attentive to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
As a side note……Did you know that we think four times faster than we can talk.
One last illustration on listening.
Franklin Roosevelt often endured long receiving lines at the White House at political and social events. He complained to his wife and staff, that no one really paid any attention to what was said by him in the line. One day, during a reception, he decided to try and experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous!" "Keep up the good work," "We are proud of you Mr. President." God bless you, sir." It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Non-pulsed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered. "I'm sure she had it coming."
Remember...."Who we are is reflected in what we say and do"
Our reputations are established by both....................................................
Lord...give us wisdom and help us to both speak when we should and keep our mouths shut when we should.
Amen

Little Church in the Pines......
macks inn, island park, Idaho
February 9, 2019
SERMON: AMAZING GRACE
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
Amazing Grace....how sweet the sound ~ that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Twas "grace" that taught my heart to fear, and "grace" my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear.... the hour I first believed!
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures:
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
His grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise...than when we'd first begun.
Yes...I have spoken pointedly on GRACE before, but it has been almost three years ago....and because I am in need of grace myself at this time, and weighs so deeply in my mind and heart, I feel compelled by the Spirit to speak on it again....but not just because of my own need but for the benefit of all of us.
Look at the first stanza...."twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and it was that grace.... that took away those fears.....
I believe what he is saying here is that without grace, without the grace given freely to all people through Jesus Christ and specifically here in reference to himself....that the weight of his own acknowledge sins....the weight of not having that grace...would cause him to be swallowed up by the sin that weighed him down, and that the result without this free grace ultimately...is death without Christ. John Newton came deeply into the understanding of just what grace meant to him, which was freedom from fear, darkness and death.
He goes on to say...how precious, how valuable, how light-filled is grace when both received and then given to others.
John Newton following a difficult upbringing, following choices he made that almost killed him as a young adult, choices that led eventually to his deep conversion.... caused him to recognize the immediate and eternal value of Grace.
Freely, freely you have received.... freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe...others will know that I live.
Philip Yancy in his book, What's So Amazing About Grace, writes this in his introduction. "Little did I know what I was getting into when I began writing a book on the word grace. He goes on to say, I chose the topic out of my concern that some of us in the U.S. church have lost our way and that we stand in danger of losing our most important contribution to the world, (along with the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.) because we fail...we fail...to understand and live the grace given to us freely."
Philip also says, "I came to see that grace underlies the Gospel. Far from being abstract, the theological doctrine, grace affects us in a very practical as well as spiritual way, in resolving differences of any and every kind. Specifically,.because we are Christians.
I truly believe, he said, "that the future of the church depends on how we master the 'gift' of giving grace.
What makes Christianity different from all the other religions in the world? Years ago, that very question was being discussed at a Christian leadership conference. Some of the participants argued that Christianity's unique teaching God became man was what set it apart. But someone objected, saying that other religions teach similar doctrines. What about the resurrection, one asked? No, it was argued, other faiths also believe that the dead raise again.
The discussion grew heated.
C.S.Lewis who was attending the conference, a strong defender of Christianity, came in late, sat down and asked, "what is the ruckus about?" When he learned that it was a debate about the uniqueness of Christianity, he immediately commented, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
How right he was! The very heart of the Gospel is the supreme truth that God accepts us with no conditions whatsoever when we accept his Son through repentance, receiving forgiveness, trusting in Him for our very lives and soul. "It is by His infinite 'grace' that we are saved, not by moral character, works of doing right things, commandment keeping or church-attendance. When we do nothing else but accept God's total pardon, we receive the guarantee of eternal life, under His hand and care. (Ephesians 2:8-9.)
The literal meaning of grace is, "the free and undeserved favor of God...'given' to us through the willing and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
What we have freely been given.... we are to freely give! That church is what it's all about. If we do not believe and adhere to and given this grace.... we are not in the will of God. Still saved...still a child of God, but not living life as he has called and commanded us to live it.
Is there accountability even under grace that we have with one another, of course...but when it comes to reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration, GRACE is the first best word that should come to our mind.
When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his guilt but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court.
Standing before the judge, he was asked, "guilty or not guilty?" When Graham pled guilty, the judge replied, "That'll be ten dollars...a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."
Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. "You have violated the law," he said. The fine must be paid, but I am going to pay it for you." He took out a ten-dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, "is how God treats repentant sinners!"
That...is an example of grace!
Why do we find it sometimes so hard to extend to others that grace who have offended us? Why?
A sense of self-importance
A sense of an offense or hurt that seems unforgivable?
Illustrate with a little stuffed animal…feed & grow.
A sense that the offender doesn't deserve it, so wrong, are they?
These among many others.... became chains around our mind, heart and spirit that can blind and bind us to the need to let go. No longer walking in grace, it become almost impossible to live without our self-righteousness indignation, hurt, anger and reconciliation is not even in our vocabulary anymore. Grace becomes nothing more than a word, a word without intent or meaning.
THEY...THE WORLD WILL KNOW, WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE!
OH, WHAT NONSENSE......OUR LOVE, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!
LOVE?
It is NOT our business to go around pointing fingers at others as a way of life...we've all done it, haven't we? It is so easy to start doing and keep on doing. NO TRAINING NECESSARY. Experience comes quickly and feeds the ravaging beast.... because once on a roll, we find so much to point our fingers and wag our tongues at! Call it what you will...blaming, accusing, gossiping, condemning...puts us in control, and the center of attention.
I went through my Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations and Quotes, called the Ultimate Resource for Speakers by Robert J. Morgan, and I could NOT find one illustration on grace. I was floored, my mouth agape as I sat in my office alone preparing this for today. NOT ONE!
But I have one anyway...........................................................................
One April 4th, 1968, American Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we know was assassinated, leaving millions angry and disillusioned. In Indianapolis, a largely African-American crowd had gathered to hear Robert F. Kennedy speak. Many there had not yet heard of Dr. Kings death, so Kennedy chose to share the tragic news. He appealed for calm by acknowledging not only the loss, but their pain, and the abiding grief he carried within him over the murder of his brother, President Kennedy.
Kennedy then quoted a variation of an ancient poem.
Even in our sleep,
Pain which we cannot forget,
Falls...drop by drop upon our heart,
Until, in our own despair, against our will,
Comes wisdom.... through the awful grace of God.
"Wisdom through the 'awful grace of God' is a remarkable statement. It means this.... that God's grace should fill us with awe, and gives us the opportunity to grow in wisdom and grace itself, during life's most difficult times, will when receiving and giving, change our lives, and us, into men and women of gratitude and grace, not judgement.
God help us.... each and every one of us....to live such lives that in turn will bring us health, peace and joy, where no matter what assails us, we can say and sing....it is well, it is well, with my soul. Amen

the Little Church in the Pines
MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK IDAHO
January 27, 2019
SERMON ~ G-U-I-L-T “Y”
Matthew 23:32
Matthew 23:31-33 "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets". 32. "Fill-up, then, the measure of your fathers’' guilt". 33, "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell"?
Two things here. One, this is the only verse in the entire New Testament where the word "guilt" is spoken. Two, Jesus is using this word against the religious leaders, who are posing as righteous men, lifting themselves up as better than others in their own minds. High above the rabble (so to speak) that Jesus is ministering words of grace to, and helping them (the ordinary people) become men and women of God, forgiven and not forsaken. Accepted in the Beloved!
In modern translations and in the King James Bible in the Old Testament, the word guilt is found only twice, and the word guilty is also only found twice. In the New Testament guilty is found two times, and guilt once.
In passing this information on I am by no way diminishing their necessity, power and impact. But what I hope to do is come to a better understanding of both their value and their ability to harm and even destroy needlessly when used as a method of control.
So... let’s come to a fuller knowledge of what guilt and guilty are, starting with guilt.
Guilt...is defined as an emotion which is cognitive, and an experience that occurs when a person believes or realizes - accurately or not - that they have compromised their own standards of conduct, or have violated a universal accepted moral standard, and bear the significant responsibility for that violation. Guilt is also closely related to the concept of remorse when felt.
Yesterday, I had just finished the previous paragraph, when I received a text from Connie that Adam Jacobson, whom I had spent some time talking with and getting to know fairly well, and who had been coming to church several times here was found dead. Since that moment I began feeling dread, remorse and guilt. You see, Adam reached out to me recently about getting together sometime in the future, and, my thinking by the way he wrote, was that he was still in Minnesota, when in fact he was here. I did not respond because I thought he would touch base with me when he got back. I am broken hearted and asking myself over and over, why did I not just send him a note affirming we would meet, instead of waiting to hear from him again? I, with God's help have to be able to rely on God’s grace and mercy in coming to terms with this.
Adam and his former wife Nikki have three beautiful children who now have no father. Adams’ dad is a minister in Minnesota and by all accounts from Adam, they had a wonderful relationship. My prayers, our prayers, which are now all I and we can give, go towards the children, their mother and Adams family.
This is one of those events that often changes, even those of us not directly involved, because he and they are a part of our community.
There will be speculation because of some of Adams choices and lifestyle, but I hope and pray that whatever caused this to happen with him, that we who are praying for the family will not enter into petty gossip, speculation and judgement. Please...let us....do what is right and simply pray and help in whatever way God may give us to do.
Guilt, especially those of us who have or have had inward struggles that have beset us most of our lives, and guilt caused by sometimes wrong choices we have made. We can carry around in us feelings, that feel like the chains draping Bob Cratchets' spirit in the first movie of Dickens Scrooge. These are not ours to legitimately carry.
Adam…. because he knew Jesus, and my hope and prayer is that he is free of all that beset him, and is now dancing in the presence of the Lord
Many people, including some of us, suffer all their lives from the oppressive feeling of guilt....and I am not alluding to Adam in this case at all, please note that, but I have had my own chains that throughout my life I have carried. For me, I often have to think & pray these words of the Lords. "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. When I do, turning over to him, even what I spoke of above, the Lord does what he says he will do, and I then begin to 'feel', yes, feel lighter, happier and even blessed. Many people in feeling this oppressive guilt, having in some cases felt they have not lived up to other’s expectations of them, especially their parents, which had its roots in early childhood, and sometimes all through their childhood until leaving home. This type of oppression is not easily discarded and has led some to the point of suicide.
What is produced by guilt, especially unwarranted guilt is anxiety, sometimes to the extent it can cause both mental and even physical manifestations that can become quite serious, also leading to death.
There is also what Les Parrott has called "the disease of false guilt." for at the root of false guilt is the idea that what you feel, having been put on you by someone else deliberately or even inadvertently, or by your own self must be true.
Churches especially, have often been guilty, often very guilty of controlling by guilt. Establishing black and white rules that if transgressed (and which often are) are meant to cause guilt.
This is true also in the case in cults and certain sects who "rule by guilt." They do not want people set free from sin through repentance and forgiveness, really free, but conditioning them to expect to fail, and fail and fail again, by constantly causing people to believe they are sinners and will never be anything but. But we know, When Christ sets us free…. we are free indeed x2.
Jesus says these words to us, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-9
A personal example, I was 25, experimenting in life, living without much restraint, including taking LSD, (Timothy Leary) era, Smoking Marijuana, Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, Transcendental Meditation, Astrology, Numerology, reading Freud, Carlos Castaneda, Carl Jung, Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, etc., etc. but all I found was confusion adding to my already mind numbing feelings of guilt. I remember so clearly being so deeply disturbed in myself and afraid of what I might do next, that I ran out of the house I was staying in at the time.... down into an overgrown field, continuing to run....crying, screaming at God to please take my life before I made even worse and deeper mistakes. During all those days, months and several years I still always carried a New Testament in my back pocket or back pack. I knew down deep inside that through the prayers of my grandmother, that the Lord would never leave me or forsake me, but I also feared his anger....so before failing again, would he please take me home to be with him.
The benefit of appropriate guilt that is tied to real, and not imagined sin....is you can call it that, appropriate, is that He, Jesus Christ is always ready, when we are ready to give it up, and turn to him, to open His arms, just like the father of the prodigal son, waiting on the porch for any sign of his return....open his arms, feeling them close around us...and says to us. Welcome home son, welcome home daughter. I knew you would one day come and so, I waited for that day, and here it is.
As He is the Lord of Grace....we too are to be His people of Grace.
W.H. Auden said, "I know nothing, except what everyone knows, if there when Grace dances, I should too dance."
PEOPLE OF GRACE....doesn't that sound beautiful! Musical, lyrical and liveable.
The many uses of the word Grace in English should convince us, that grace is in fact...AMAZING....truly our last best word. It contains the essence of the Gospel as a drop of water can contain the image of the sun. The world thirsts for grace in ways it does not even recognize; little wonder the hymn "Amazing Grace" is universally accepted and sung by all races and peoples...even those who do not believe in God. For societies that seem adrift, without moorings, there is no better place to drop our anchor of faith...than in Grace.
Philip Yancey who wrote (What’s So Amazing About Grace) and many other books, says this. "Many years ago I was driven to the conclusion that the two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive, and live out God's unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace to other people....We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace. But that is all too often not the way we really live. The Good News of the Gospel of grace has not deeply enough penetrated the level of our mind, heart and emotions that it need to."
Guilt, healthy guilt, God given guilt recognized by the work of the Holy Spirit in us is healthy and always with a good outcome, IF we listen to either the still small voice of the Spirit or the every growing loud voice of our own conscious.
The answer is this for us: When a believer sins, something happens that has to be dealt with. Our relationship with God cannot be broken, because we are His Children by our new birth in Him, but our fellowship with Him is damaged. Have you noticed that when you feel guilty because you’ve knowingly or unknowingly done something you know is wrong, you may avoid praying or reading your Bible. You don’t feel like going to the Sunday church service, and you may not even enjoy being with your fellow Christians/congregation. These are just some of the feelings that are evidence that your fellowship with God is broken.
The enemy of God and us, whose main goal and purpose is to keep us from worshiping and serving the Lord. In Scripture he is called the accuser of the believers. If you continue to feel guilty for already forgiven sins, you are hearing the voice of the enemy, not the Holy Spirit. He is a liar. Reject by the power of God and the truth spoken in His Word these accusations….and settle into the arms of the Lord, KNOWING you have been genuinely forgiven, and within yourself or even literally, “dance the dance of Grace” because the music will be playing for just you at that moment in time.

The Little Church in the Pines
January 19, 2019,
"I can do all things in Christ!
“Philippians 4:13"
by; Pastor Tom Shanor

.... About a year and a half ago I spoke of "Anchors in Times of Change", and in that message, I said that one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult part of change is the loss of someone we love, be they family or friends. Those with whom we have had an emotional and spiritual relationship. This applies not only to death but also to a difficult and sometimes hurtful development in a relationship, that appears on the surface to be not mendable.
.... There are many stages in change of this magnitude...and how we (any of us) get through it depends on several things. As Christians, our number 1, and the most relevant, is (our own personal relationship with Christ). The better and deeper that relationship is, the more assurance and comfort and direction we are able to acquire, knowing that in His time, and if death occurs, we have the promise of once again be able to be with them....see them as they will see us, in a whole new and incredible way. If in a relationship, there is or should be always, the hope of reconciliation with the result of restoration, and we should be willing to at least work towards that goal
.... I also said that "change comes easier with attitude adjustments made by our choice, which begins with the ascent in our minds....and flows out from there. I asked then and ask now.... are we willing." I also stated...."our lives can change in an instant, yes, in an instant!" and therefore our attitude in relationship with Christ needs to be in a good place...before that unexpected or even expected instant arrives. If so....the adjustments needed will come, oh so much easier and quicker. Most likely not without stress, sorrow, tears or regret, for in time peace will come but without the loss of hope......
Psalm 30 reads....”I will exalt you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up and have not let my circumstances rejoice and or have power over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have restored me. O Lord, you have brought me out of the pit of despair....and restored my joy.” For Joy comes in the morning!
.....it also says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him (Jesus Christ) who strengthens and empowers me (to fulfill His purposes) for( I am self-sufficient in Christ's efficiency) I am ready for anything and equal to anything, because it is He who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace." and hope.
.....Faith...hope....love....these are the gifts that He gives to us that override and swallow up any and all pain....if...we are in relationship with Him, even when our heart is overwhelmed...He leads us to the Rock, that his higher than we....a rock of strength and refuge in the time of trouble....in a time of mourning, for He is our ever-present Lord.
.....We are made to mourn, as a release and healing process that is necessary, as it was created in us by God in Creation, giving us the Spirit of Life. That is why we have tears....as they freely flow....they help in that process of healing a broken heart and even a broken spirit. God is with us....as we are with and in Christ, our hope and our healer. Ecc.3..."There is a time for everything under heaven, a time to live, a time to die, a time to mourn and a time for joy."
.....We often can’t choose the times....they come to us, mostly unannounced, and it is up to us whether we will be ready or not. The Scripture verse which is the main one for today....I am going to reread in a fuller way from Philippians 4:13...READ
.....I, or "YOU" can accomplish "anything that life brings us" and these next words are critical in understanding the context of this statement, (which he has called us to do) in other words, what Christ Himself is asking and leading us to do. For it is He who then give us the 'strength' or 'empowerment' to fulfill His purpose for having us do the right thing(s). we are being called or asked to do.
…..This verse talks about assignments in our daily, ordinary lives which come straight from Him. What might those be...is between us and He. You and I will be empowered by Him through the power of His spoken and written words...and power in our inner person through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.....a part of that empowerment in the presence of the Spirit... which can be peace....if we will release the circumstances to Him....and so focused will we be in doing so, and so full of trust and faith, that though whatever it is may be difficult, or seemingly impossible...we will get where we need to go...for "all" things are possible in Christ.
...."I can do all things.... through Him who strengthens me, and empowers me”...for I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him."
To me...the central truth of the words in this verse are this. The main "anything" we are called to do and be...is to “be like Christ!!” That should be our most coveted goal in our Christian walk. Our assignment, straight from the Lord God who made us and gave us breath and life.
....I have failed far too many times to count, but when I fail...Jesus who by His Spirit has been walking with me....at those times...says first one word to get my attention. "Tom"
.... It’s ok. You can do this. You can even correct this. Here... let me help you up. Look at Me...in my eyes...and what do you see? What I see, is love, acceptance and forgiveness and a chance to perhaps is possible, do over.
.... I sigh...and say, I'm sorry Lord...and I ask Him. Why do you put up with all my failures...my sin...my rebellion...and He says, "for those tears I died." and because I told you, "I would never leave you or forsake you!" didn't I. I sigh....and begin to smile and simply say...Thank you, thank you Lord.
.... I do desire with all my heart to be like Him...and sometimes I succeed and, in those times,it just feels right and good. I do not live under condemnation, though I feel perhaps I should for some kind of twisted penance, but I live in and under GRACE. Therefore, my attitude is critical to my walk with Christ, even in my failures.
.....It has everything to do with my attitude of choice....my outlook, my faith, my optimism and even my resilience. All four of these can be found in a true story of one Mr. Thomas Edison, titled "Thank God We Can Start Anew"
.....In December 1914, a great, sweeping fire destroyed Thomas Edison's laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey, wiping out two million dollars, worth of equipment, and the record of much of his life's work.
     Edison's son Charles ran about frantically trying to find his father. Finally, he came upon him, standing near the fire, his face ruddy in the glow, his white hair blown by the winter winds. "my heart ached for him," Charles Edison said. "he was no longer young, and everything (there is that word again) everything was being destroyed. He spotted me. 'Where is your mother? he shouted. 'Find her. Bring her here. She'll never see anything like this again as long as she lives!! WOW
     The next morning, walking about the charred embers of so many of his hopes and dreams, the sixty-seven-year-old Edison said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. THANK GOD WE CAN START ANEW!"
                    Lord, I say...help me remember this illustration..................
......We can say with Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:22-24. "The LORD'S lovingkindness indeed never ceases. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; GREAT is your faithfulness." The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I have hope in Him."
......Proverbs 15:30 says: A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives life to the bones."
….I have but one more true account, a severe and dark one in a dark and deadly place, but one that even in that darkness….far darker than any that most likely will ever experience…..the Light of Christ shone…and that these women, could say, “I can (by God’s Grace and strength) do ALL things through Christ who enables me not only to endure….but radiate His love…with their hope as an example.
…. Corrie Ten Boom, the daughter of a watchmaker in Holland, was in the Nazi death camp as a prisoner, Ravens-brook, where roll call came at 4:30 every morning. Corrie and her sister Betsy were in Ravens-brook, because they had hidden Jewish people in their attic in Holland in World War l1, and were caught, and then sent to the death camp.
…. Most mornings she said were cold, very cold, and sometimes the women would be forced to stand without moving for hours in the bone-chilling-pre-dawn darkness. Nearby were the punishment barracks where all day and far into the night would come the sounds of cruelty: blows landing in regular rhythm and screams keeping pace.
…. But Corrie and her sister Betsie, (who in time, died in the camp) had a Bible, and at every opportunity they would gather the women together like orphans around a blazing fire, although there was no fire, and read Romans 8: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?......for in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.”
…. Corrie would later say: I would look about us as Betsie read, watching the light leap from face to face. More than conquerors….it was NOT a wish. IT WAS A FACT. We knew it, we experienced it minute by minute in every widening circle of hope. Life at Ravensbruk took place on two separate levels. One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible. The other, the life we lived with God…grew daily deeper and better, truth upon truth, glory upon glory.
……we could do all things…. even this horrible situation, Christ strengthened us.
….I tell these stories because they are true and living parables of those who have gone before us….telling us the depth of their lives in Christ….and how if both real and deep…..we too can, if we choose, be overcomers….in Him.
…. I leave you with these questions….hypothetically….if in similar situations, sitting in darkness and pain…and hunger….would your faith sustain you?
In your now everyday life…. with hardships, and losses, confusion sometimes and in pain….is your faith in Christ sustaining you? Is it real….is it true….is it deep? Is it religion, formality and ritual…. or is it personal and vital? You first have to assent with your mind, the truth of what I am saying, and then absorb into your spirit and heart….and live it, depending completely on the one who gave you and I the very breath of life. Intellectual ascent is vital, but the spiritual realization and its depth is critical.
Only you…. can answer that question truthfully……………………………………
I\WE CAN DO ALL THINGS…. THROUGH CHRIST…. WHO STRENGTHENS AND ENABLES us….that is THE answer to the sermon title of today’s message.

The Little Church in the Pines
  January 12, 2019
SERMON ~ JUSTLY - KINDNESS - HUMILITY
(Micah 6:8)
by; Tom Shanor, Pastor
MICAH 6:8 ~ "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you,
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God.
     READ 6-8.................................
     These verses are Israel's reply to God's lawsuit in a sense He has confronted them with in the ways they have walked away from Him,little by little, which Israel claims ignorance of, posing questions to the Lord about what is really acceptable to Him. The implied answer is that nothing is acceptable unless one is in a proper relationship with both God and his neighbor. (v.8)
       Give that some thought. When we come to the Lord, what is the condition of our heart, mind and spirit? Have we been pursuing God in our relationship with Him all along, or do we come to Him at chosen times, such as when we are in difficulty of some kind?
        Nothing is acceptable...unless we are in (at least at that moment) a proper relationship with Him....and with our neighbor? Not only Him, but our neighbor. Who is our neighbor? Everyone. This is quite a high goal to aim for and maintain. It simply means what it implies. We are to be at peace and in fellowship with God and with those around us, even those with whom we find difficulty to be with. Without anger, resentment or judgement. This is impossible we say, at least on the 'everyone around us part.' Practically speaking it takes mercy and humility, which I will get to in awhile. It also takes will and conscious, deliberate choices.
     Easy to do....by no means, but possible (at least in as far as we are able) we can do all things through Christ. who gives us the strength and wisdom to to do so. Our motivation is critical, which is behind every choice or decision we make, we are make through and out of our relationship with Him.
     There are people we just do not like sometimes, and people we don't even want to like. They simply annoy us....get on our nerves so to speak. They may have a barking dog, kids on four wheelers all around us, when all we want is quiet. Snowmobiler's crossing our property without permission. Etc. Etc...and the list goes on. This doesn't mean we can't confront, but how we confront, being men and women of God. It doesn't mean we can't get upset, but it means asking God to give us the right attitude and temperament when we do confront. It does not also mean, in some situations where we are ignored, that we can't go to the law or even court. It does mean we do it all in the right way, to achieve justice justly.
     What exactly does justly means, which comes from the word just and of course with these two, justice.
      It's really quite simple and concise. "To do what is right to those around us with mercy, kindness and fairness. We can do those only if within this time and situation, we are humble....as we walk 'humbly' with our God, acknowledging our complete dependence on Him. How do we do this? By spending time getting to know Him better a priority.
     Almost every Biblical truth is life-applicable. That is one of the many things the Bible is and represents. A guide to a full life with God through Christ, for we Christians can read the guide and apply what we learn to the journey God chooses to walk with us through to the end, with its myriad of ups, downs and round-abouts.
     Justly as an adjective has these six inclusive meanings.
                 1. Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions: a just ruler
                 2. Consistent with what is morally right, righteous: a just cause
                 3. Properly due or merited: just deserts
                  4. Law valid within the law, lawful: just claims, not all law is just
                  5. Suitable or proper in nature; fitting: a just touch of solemnity
                 6. Based on fact or sound reason; well-founded: a just appraisal
Something the Jews had and have, at least those that are orthodox today, is one of the reason why I believe God chose them, and that is that they had and have a passion for acknowledging and getting to know God. The early Christian church (mostly being Jews) carried that same passion into their worship, and getting to know God through Christ. For them it was not a matter of the black and white of the law, but of how Jesus changed their lives and brought them intellectually and emotionally through their faith into a closer relationship with the Him through His Son. It is when living faith becomes religion, that often the passion is lost in tradition and sometimes rigid doctrine. Not that I am saying religion is bad, but that within established religion, without passion, it can become dogma, ritual and even lifeless.
     As an example, the creation of the United States of America represented a unique event in world history. Unlike other countries where democracy evolved over a period of hundreds of years, the United States was the first country to be created from its inception as a democracy. And the Bible...and Jewish values...played a major role in this process.
     Many of the earliest "pilgrims" who settled the "New England" were passionate in their desire to worship and know God, which was their sole reason for leaving everything they knew behind, as they were escaping the religion of Christianity that was persecuting them, even to death.
     Over the next century, American continued to be not only the land of opportunity for many people seeking a better life, but also the land of religious freedom and tolerance. By the middle of the 1700's, the east coast of American was settled by a virtual "Who's Who" of Christian splinter sects from all over Europe. Among them were:
> the Puritans of course.
> the Quakers, an extremist Puritan sect who did not believe in ministers and for whom a "Society of Friends" meeting together was good enough to bring down the Holy Spirit.
   > Calvinists, who early on had challenged the Catholic Church belief that the bread and wine became the literal body and blood of Christ, in the celebration of mass.
   > the Huguenots, of whom my direct ancestor Matthias Shanor was one, came over in 1772, settling in Western Pennsylvania. They were German Protestants
   > the Moravians, of whom I also had a relative, was The Iroquois Keeper of the Peace, for the 7 nation Delaware Confederacy, of whom, his father, a great, great, great, great, great grandfather of mine, was named by the English, King Newcomer, and his sister, Netawates, also known as Princess Newcomer, converted to Christianity through the Moravians, and the son, Killbuck became a missionary to Alaska.
    > the Mennonites, a Swiss sect of Anabaptists who rejected the doctrine of infant baptism
    > the Amish, the most stringent of the Mennonites
These were just some of the numerous groups passionate about their faith, to the extent of coming here to this land of freedom, to be able to worship God and Christ free of persecution and harassment.
They came seeking justice...and to live justly by faith in God through their love of and in Jesus.
    Now to finish this section of my three-part message. Passion, when subject to thought, reason, facts and discipline, is a powerful tool.... but when passion alone leads, what often ensues is self-righteousness, self-importance in one way, that says we and we alone have the true way, which then leads to disputes, arguments, separation, and even physical violence which can escalate into persecution and even war.
As I have stressed the importance of the Hebrew Bible to these early settlers seeking freedom, is important to note that the New Testament was revered as well. However, the Hebrew Bible and not the New Testament was seen as the original source by them, of Christian values, and also as a legalistic guide, something which the New Testament was not.
What eventually happened was that the Massachusetts Puritans attempted to have the Jewish laws of the Old Testament, established to take the place of civil law. Recently even here in the United States, some Muslims (in their own communities) have attempted to establish their "Sharia Law" over and above the civil law of both that town or city, and the United States itself.
The very thing that the Puritans left England to escape, they in time attempted by laws of their own making, in alignment with the Old Testament to persecute those who did not go along with the Puritan way of believing and thinking. Fortunately, it did not happen, but was rejected by the majority.
The Act of Kindness…. seems like such a simple thing, but I believe with all my being that it is one of the highest, personal, interactive virtues that we can give to other. In kindness is ‘grace’ and in kindness is ‘humility’ because we are giving of ourselves in being kind.
The smallest thing such as a smile, a wave, a glass of water given to a thirsty person in His name is a delight to him. Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Please remember the beginning of Micah 6:8b. “And what does the lord require of you. Strong’s Concordance describes it this way. “kindness” is goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, affability.” The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience (as an example). If allowed to have His way within you, the Holy Spirit can remove abrasive qualities from both us and them.
     It once again…comes down to motivation and personal choice.
                                   Selah…. “pause, and think about it”
                                                   Meditate on it……………….
HUMILITY is the direct opposite of an inflated self-ego. I was told recently to “please get off my pedestal.” I did give that directive some serious thought…at least for a while. Unless I am fooling myself, I try not to think of myself higher or better than anyone else. If any of you can tell me how I have put myself on one…. please, seriously let me know if I have, I need to know how, and where. Because of this I am examining both my attitude and words, and pray if so, where?
    Anyway….1 Peter 5:5b, says, “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” V.6., Therefore be humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
   So…what is the meaning of humility? It is a total absence of arrogance, conceit, and haughtiness. It is unselfish concern for the welfare of others. The word is a combination of tapeinos, “humble,” and “phren, “mind.” The word was unknown in classical non-biblical Greek. Only by abstaining from self-aggrandizement, can members the Christian community maintain unity and harmony among ourselves.
   Here is a short illustration of humility.
There is a story of Venerable Bede, the “Father of Church History”, in which Augustine, a missionary to England under Pope Gregory I, was trying to convert the English to Christianity. Despite much success, Augustine had trouble converting the Celtics to Christ. The Celtic leaders asked a wise man whether they should submit to Augustine’s teachings.
“Yes, the old man said, “if he is a man of God.”
“How can we tell?
“If he is gentle and humble of heart.”
“How can we discern that about him?”
“Arrange it so that Augustine and his men arrive first at your meeting house,” replied the wise man. “if he stands up when you arrive. It will prove that he is a servant of Christ. In that case, do as he bids you.”
Unfortunately, Augustine failed to rise as he greeted the Celts, and they therefore refused his message.
Humility is healthy when understood and practiced. It does not mean we are to become doormats and allow everyone to do or say anything unkind or harmful to ourselves or anyone, at any time. Quite the opposite because we can refute, we can deny, we can even stand up for ourselves, but…. not full of self-importance or self-righteousness, but in the strength of Christ, quiet, strong and forthright, honestly and without anger.
     2nd Timothy 2:23-25 says, “Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord (of which we all are) must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.”
Justly ~ kindly and in humility…. I hope that each of us will examine our motives, our actions, our words, and even our thoughts in regard to these three godly virtues. If we desire to grow in both our faith and in the quality of our personal every-day lives, these are very important. Very…….
                       Selah….” pause and think about it” Amen

Little Church in the Pines
mack's inn. idaho
December 30, 2018
TAKE TIME TO REFLECT AND MEDITATE (Psalm 19:14)
Tom Shanor, Pastor
.....Humanity, because of being self-aware, thinks about things. Sometimes using logic, reason and deduction, and often emotion. One of the things we really like to do, is measure and one of the things that we measure is time.
.....A mesolithic arrangement of twelve pits and an arc found in Warren Fire, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, date to roughly 10,000 years ago, and has been described by archeologists as the world's oldest known calendar." The capacity to measure time is among the most important of human achievements and the issue to measure time was 'created' by humankind and is critical in understanding how society has developed.
.....The Bible says without using the word time, that there was a beginning and ending. Eternity as we understand it is measured by this "beginning" and "ending." Genesis 1, verse 1. "In the beginning (of the measurement of time) God created the heavens and the earth."
.....Numbers of course which are crucial to time measurement, developed along with language were essential in the development of our calendars as to another way we measure time. As a bit of trivia in this part of the sermon. I would like each of you, without looking at each other's addition do a little exercise for me. Take a piece of paper unless you can do so in your head and add two sets of numbers. Add together how old you and the year you were born. When you are done doing so, I will ask you a question. Remember, don't look at anyone else's conclusion.
                                       Then call on random people....
.....The mystery and almost magical quality of numbers and their place in human history, science, theory and etc. is simply amazing, amazing.
.....This phenomena, happens as I have read, once every thousand years. The math needed to just figure that one out is, well, again amazing.
.....Most of us here in this building, have arrived in those sunset years. We can look back...and when at one time the years we are now at looked a long-time away. And yet, here we are, wondering where time went so very quickly it seems.
.....Al Stewert wrote and sang a song called Time Passages which most of you can remember. It goes like this.
It was late in December, the sky turned to snow
all round the day was going slow
Night like a river beginning to flow
I felt the beat of my mind go
Drifting into time passages
Years go falling in the fading light
Time passages
Buy me a ticked on the last train home tonight
Well I'm not the kind to live in the past
The years run too short and days too fast
The things you lean on are the things that don't last
Well it's just now and then my line gets cast into these
Time passages...................
The choices we make too often are based on the "things that don't last."
I am not in the process of this going to condemn myself or anyone for what choices we do make in the limited time we have here, but I believe it is vital to our spiritual, physical and mental/emotional well-being that we set 'time' aside to REFLECT and MEDITATE. Reflect on the past as it has been the foundation we have built our present on. Then meditate on the present and the future we might have.
.... If we are unhappy, bored, angry, happy, kind, compassionate, it is not due to anyone else, no matter what they have done, but how we have taken what we have experienced in life....and built our life as we know ourselves and are known by others. Our opinions and others opinions may be quite divergent.
....I was raised by a man who was liked by many, but feared and sometime hated in his own home by both his wife and his children. Some of us have the ability to be, as was a popular saying several years ago, a poser. What you see...may not be who and what we really are. Sometimes I actually 'feel' that is me, and that is when something has happened that shows me how much I need the Lord in my life, because my personal failure or failures disappointed me so deeply.
.... Psalm 19:12. "How can I handle all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin."
.... Psalm 19:14. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you......O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
.... We need to establish honestly and deeply knowingly within ourselves who we really are. Jesus said, in order to love God and others, we must first love ourselves.
Mark 12:31..."The second is equally important: "Love your neighbor; 'as yourself'' no other commandment is greater than these."
....: Loving oneself.
.... Time passages.... brings us to today, the next to the last day of the year 2018. Most people I believe, do not make resolutions and most who do, do not follow through in keeping them. I admire those who do and laud those who at least attempt to bring changes into their lives they deem important.
....I do think it is important to reflect, and this time of year when we have more time, because of less activities is a good time. The origin of the word reflect in English is from Old French reflecter "(to bend back, turn back"), from Latin reflecto "I reflect"), from re ("again") ("I bend, I curve").
.... I like the ‘I curve’ illustration.... and I am reminded of many of my train travels. On some of the sharper curves, looking back through the widow being able to see both the front and back of the train.
.... It would be good and is something I am going to do....to write down categories of my life this past year and even back further, to see how I have changed, how my circumstances have change, how my mind and heart have changed. What my main focus has been and where I could have made better decisions. Not being too critical because what is past in time is past.
....Once I do this...then I am going to meditate on the results....and upon meditation, pray...and ask the Lord about the coming year as to what my focus should be, my goals and how to change my desires if I need to.
     There are some Christians who think that meditation is sitting in a lotus position, hands resting on their knees, repeating Ommmmmm, and by doing so are letting themselves be open to demonic influence. It's true. Meditation is many minds is associated with Easter Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and others, where as I read just a short time ago, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you."
So... what is meditation? It is a practice when an individual uses perhaps a technique of focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally understanding and perhaps direction that until that time had been causing a state of confusion or unrest.
.... Anxiety steals one's ability to make sound decisions and conclusions. I am reading a book given to me by Lem Miller, called 2 chairs. In it is a technique that the author's mother passed down to him, and according to both she and himself, it has worked always.
....In the morning before starting his day outside his home, he has two chairs set in place where he sits down, and then expects the Lord to sit in the other. He may have a cup of coffee during this time or not. But he sits, tells the Lord what is on his mind and then listens. He says also that the Lord has never failed to show up. They actually have a two-way mental/spiritual and practical conversation. His mother, when telling him about this said, "if there was only 1% of a chance that the Lord would show up, would he do this." She then said, "there is not one percent, but 99% that he would." This time set apart is a form of mediation and a form of reflection combined.
Have you spent any time yet....reflecting and meditating? I again, suggest that you do and see what good things the Lord has done and will do."
Romans 12:2. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person....by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
In regard to judging or thinking of others if that is something you need to do. Matthew 7:4 speaks directly to this in your reflections. "Or how can you say to your brother, 'let me remove the speck from your eyes.' and look...a plank is in your own.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 READ!
There are so many wonderful Scriptures to also meditate on, from which we can make decisions, adjustments and find help in our ordinary everyday lives.
As long as we have time.... let us use it in a way that benefits ourselves and others. Prayer, doing good, thinking and meditating deeply, showing kindness, sowing love, learning to be humble.
Luke 14:28 bring us a practical aspect of meditation too. "But don't begin until you count the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it." This speaks not only of projects and money...but of almost all that we are attempting to accomplish.
Something bothering you.... something you need to come to some conclusion about? Listen to this story on Mull, Mill and Meal.
......................That's all folks, now the rest is up to you!
                                                                                                       Amen

Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
December 16, 2018
"CHOOSING AND EXPRESSING JOY!"
Pastor Tom Shanor
Jack and Julie (read)
     Joy...1st, the definition, then an example. The word JOY, means a feeling of great pleasure and happiness, most often expressed outwardly, in some by only an expression on their face (a deep smile perhaps due to their personality type, or someone who is shy. Also, a person who is self-consciousness would never allow themselves to be seen in an overt expression of most any kind. Then there are those who can't contain themselves, overflowing in JOY. Another example would be David, as he danced in JOY before both the Lord and all those who accompanied him on their journey to bring back the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple.
.....Psalm 100 speaks clearly and beautifully on the expression of JOY!
Shout with JOY to the Lord, all the earth!
    Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before Him, singing with JOY
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
     He made us, and we are His.*
    We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
     Go into His courts with praise.
     Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
     His unfailing love continues forever,
     His faithfulness continues to each generation.
......When we hear or think of the word JOY, it is often perceived, (especially if you are a man) as more feminine in expression than masculine, at least in the mind of men in regards to religious expression. and yet give them a football game, a basketball game, a soccer game, a baseball game, or a competitive game of any kind of which they are a part, or a fan of, and you will see many of them jumping and shouting for JOY when they or their team have won.
.....It is cultural thing, ever changing with new and slowly accepted expression in religion of JOY, as expressed in both the Old and New Testament was taught and expected as a good thing, for in the understanding of both men and women, God desired and desires JOY and its expression to be a part of worship. In the Old Testament JOY is spoken of 55 times and in the New, 41 times.
.....Somehow over the years, mostly due to those who are what I call The Letterists, (like the Pharisees Jesus spoke against so often) where sin became the most preached about and discussed topic of Christianity, because the harsh letter of the law brought with it black and white living in everyday life. JOY and any expressing thereof was shunned and actually abhorred by many. Christianity became rigid and spirit killing (in my opinion) allowing little expression of heart-felt worship during any service and even in their homes.
.....The outward observations in regards to strictness in the letter of the Law became more important than that which lay within us. Clap our hands...you've got to be kidding. Where is holiness in that expression, shouting for JOY, dancing before the Lord, lifting our hands up to Him as an act of worship, a congregation of smilers, spontaneous laughter, like last week when Kari pointed out so timely and accurately that I was responsible for the prolonged sharing and talking.
.....Holiness is here, in our hearts and minds and yes, in our actions most definitely, but that does not exclude JOY. In fact, the feelings of JOY and happiness should be expected during our times together.
.....C.S. Lewis saw clear distinction between JOY pleasure and happiness. He said, "I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for JOY, and call it JOY, which here he says, is a technical term and must be sharply distinguished from both Happiness and Please. JOY, he says, as I have come to understand it, has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with Happiness and Pleasure." "The fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again.....I doubt," he says, "whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power to exchange it for all the pleasures in the world. But then, JOY as I speak of is seldom within ‘our’ power to create, though Pleasure often is."
....In my interpretation of the last part of what Lewis said, I believe means, that internal JOY and expressed JOY come from a feeling or emotional relationship in fullness, with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We most definitely should have both. An intellectual and an emotional relationship, hence, one with feelings associated with it, just as we have emotions, both internal and expressed with those we love.
.....I am not saying we HAVE to clap our hands, or raise our arms toward heaven, or even SHOUT for JOY, but if we do....it will be a genuine heart felt relational connection with God, expressed as the Holy Spirit tells us too, and we will know the difference. Some are outwardly expressive simply to gain attention to them as being (spiritual) when in fact it is nothing more than a show, but when it is genuine we best not condemn it. There is a gift called discernment that is also given by the Spirit that tells us when expressions are real and when they are not.
.....The causes of JOY have been ascribed to various sources. "When the mind is pure, JOY follows like a shadow that never leaves. (Buddha)
.....Find a place inside where there is JOY, and the JOY will burn out the pain." Joseph Campbell
.....Happiness is an emotion, and JOY is an attitude. Emotions come and go, but attitudes come and grow. Anonymous
.....If you have no JOY in your religion, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere." Billy Holiday (there is earthly JOY and spiritual JOY, and sometimes they come together as one.
….. Composer Franz Joseph Haydn, recalling his struggles while working on a certain sacred work, wrote, “I prayed to God…not like a miserable sinner in despair…but calmly, slowly. In this I felt, that an infinite God would surely have mercy on His finite creature, me, pardoning dust for being dust. These thoughts cheered me up. I experienced a sure JOY so confident that as I wished to express the words of my prayer, I could not but express my JOY, but gave vent to my happy spirit and wrote the Miserere, ‘Allegro.”
…..His music was so ebullient in temperament that it was criticized by the sterner members of the church. His reply: “Since God has given me a cheerful heart, He will forgive me for serving Him cheerfully.”
…..When Haydn pondered the reality of a God who really cared for him, he said his heart “leapt for JOY.” He could not prevent his music from expressing the same exuberance…even when the music was conveying Christianity’s more somber themes.
……Haydn CHOSE to listen and live the relationship of JOY he shared with God, instead of giving into the sterner members of his church community.
……I spoke a couple of weeks ago in regards to being a Scrooge in attitude toward Christmas as an option some choose, for any myriad of reasons. Today, as we approach the celebration of the birth of the Savior, we remember these words in Luke and in Matthew.
…..The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go to Bethlehem! Let us see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about through His angels.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a manger. After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel told them about this Child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Following this, the Wise Men or Magi following the star they had seen in the East, guiding them as it went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was born. When they saw the star they were filled with JOY!
…..This season may each of us individually and together share in the astonishment of those who heard the story from the shepherds, and also with them, glorify and praise God as they did.
…..May we also be filled with the same JOY as the Wise Men….opening our heart anew to the WONDER of it all.

Little Church in the Pines
Advent Season
"Choosing Peace"
   December 9, 2018
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
~ Peace in the natural world we live in means different things to different people. We will shortly come to the root Greek word for peace and the Biblical meaning as is found in particular in the New Testament. But first lets’ see what peace means through a very simple and real illustration, with a stay at home mother with three children ages 5, 3 and 1. The five year old is in Kindergarten but the other two, both boys are home and of course are energetic, smart and mmmmmmm, noisy, plus rambunctious and curious. It's been one of those days, almost over, the final cleanup is done. Dinner is over, and dad clears the table and puts everything in the dishwasher, even cleaning the pots and pans. Both of them, having worked all day, then spent time reading with the kids who are now quietly (really) trucked in bed and asleep, guaranteed. Mom and dad look at each other, collapse on the couch, and say "PEACE, QUIET PEACE"
~ Peace is often something as simple as quiet.
~ Another example, living in a city, on occasion getting away to a spa, a cabin in the woods, a high-end hotel with a masseuse available, or just sitting in their car, windows up and relaxing music coming out of the Bose speaker system, again, simple peace. Fishing in the Henry's Fork River, no one around you. Peace! Sitting on your deck with the scent of pine coming on the gentle breeze. Peace.
~ We all seek peace and we all need peace. Christ illustrated that by going off by himself on occasion, time alone, spent quietly talking with His Father. Peace.
~ To have peace in the midst of our home, our work, our recreation, our church service, our life. Possible? mmmmmmmm, Yes. Possible.
~ In the New Testament, the word "peace" has a different meaning from the way we typically use it in our everyday language. When we use the word "peace" we are usually referring to the "absence" of something. The absence of struggle, strife, conflict and noise. In the New Testament the word "peace" (ereine) in the Greek) refers primarily to the presence of something. "Peace" is the presence of a right relationship not only with God, but with people in our lives. In the second chapter of Ephesians Paul explains. "But now you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace: for in His flesh (by His birth, death and resurrection) He has made both groups, (Jew and Gentile) into one, and has broken down the dividing wall, that is the hostility between us. (2:14)
~ It is not hard to imagine such division, as it exists to this day! Not only the Jew and Gentile, but the Christian and the Muslim. Between a husband and wife as they struggle to overcome dividing issues in their relationship. A natural brother and sister, or a brother and sister in Christ. A parent and their children. The chasms we choose to divide us are most often emotionally based, for even behind our differences, including religious differences, and whatever divisions there are, lies emotions which are fuel to the fire of hate, ill health and even death.
~ Since Christ is our "peace" if we indeed believe and adhere to this truth, there is in that reality, no division that should stand, as He broke down (we are told) the dividing walls of strife and hatred, enabling us "if we so choose" to tear down those walls. We are not to wait until "we feel like it" but choose to do so out of obedience to the commandment of Jesus. If we wait until we feel like it, we will be held captive to our emotions and wear the chains of bondage, not only we, but those with whom we do not forgive, if indeed that is a factor.
~ John 14:27, Jesus says, "I am leaving you with a gift...peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."
~ This peace, different from a natural peace is supernatural. It is the confident assurance in any circumstance, division or strife, or pain and sorrow, that with this gift of peace through the power of the Spirit of God, that He will be with us and in us, and in the situation to its completion. Jesus says we can choose to have this peace, or reject it. That choice is our to make and ours alone.
~ Psalm 61………….O God, listen to my cry!
                    Hear my prayer
                    From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help.
                    When my heart is overwhelmed,
                    lead me to the Rock that is higher, that is higher than I.
                    For You are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies
                    cannot reach me.
                    Let me live forever in Your Presence,
                    Safe.....beneath the shelter of Your wings. IN PEACE
~ In this room and at this time, I want each of us to think about what Jesus says to us. Peace....like a river, running pure and fresh is ours by choice. We do not have to take any gift that he gives to us. We can ardently stamp our emotional, unforgiving foot and say NO. I can't, which actually means, NO, I won't!
~ In this room and at this time, you may think you have the right to hold onto dis-peace because of some actual or imagined wrong done to you. You have no right....your right to do so was on the shoulders and heart of Christ as He died for you. You have no right....because as He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not have any idea what they are doing." He is also speaking directly to us as well, We are to do as he did in any situation that arises in our lives.
~ Sometimes I look out over all of you from up here and know some of the things you have endured...some that have caused you pain, real pain. I know that not one of us is perfect, and to expect one another with greater expectations than we ourselves can come up to, i is wrong.
~ In the natural we have a great deal of diversity in our midst, here in our church community. We have political differences, different stances on social issues, different upbringings, great differences in education and finances. We are less diverse in our ages here and we come from all over the country, and even our theological views can vary to a great degree. Some of you like the preacher (me or whoever he or she is) and perhaps some of you don't. betrayed.
~ But...in this mix and in all the churches I have started and pastored, I found and find great joy in seeing what I see this one day a week, the diversity that I am blessed to be a part of. Only because of our Lord Jesus, are we gathered here. It is truly mind boggling as to us gathering together every week in all our diversity of who we are, with hopefully the same desire in our hearts and minds, and that is to honor our Lord and God by being one in the Spirit of Peace…and one in the Lord, laying aside at least for this one hour those natural and acquired differences, becoming one in heart and mind in Christ, and in particular when we come to the Table of the Lord.
~ Paul shares with, along with Isaiah and other authors in the New Testament, these words...................
     KAY AND CHIP....please come up. ( time to read & light the Advent candle.
~ The choice we each have of choosing peace, and all that it means, is totally up to you. We can choose to harbor ill will, unkind words, anger, self-righteousness, or any negative thought and feeling you choose....but if you do so, it is only yourself you are harming the most. Peace, Peace, Peace...like a river, is for all of us, not just some. The choice is ours, and ours alone.
~ Will we choose PEACE at any cost? Will you…and will I? We are known by both our words and our choices of action……what this day, will each of us choose?
             Amazing Peace…..a Christmas Poem……………..

Little Church in the Pines
  December 02, 2018
ADVENT REFLECTIONS & HOPE
by ; Tom Shanor, Pastor
....I believe you have heard me say often, that discovering our spiritual roots, what we believe and why we believe that which we do is important for building, sustaining and living the life we are called to live. Now, some of this journey takes more belief, and more faith, and more study.
....I would say the root system which holds a tree, a building (being pillars and foundations) is signified by some very basic, but very important truths. Those as I spoke of last week, pertaining to and involving prophecy. As an example the birth of Christ, and its importance to all that follows during his lifetime and beyond. Some of these essentials are part of the root system of our faith, and are the foundation on which we have built our churches.
    1. That He was with the Father before His earthly birth and is part of what we call the Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
    2. That He was born through a natural birth just like you and I, only He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and given birth by a very young virgin girl.
    3. That He lived and died as a natural man, but instead of staying in the grave, He was resurrected to life again.
    4. He came as our Savior and Lord, saving us from the eternal death.
    5. That as Scripture says, He will return some day.
...That is what I would call a thumbnail version, as you well know.
...Over the years since His leaving earth, there have been many 'traditions' arise because mankind seems to find comfort, solace and even stimulation in traditions, and Advent being one of those. So, in that we, along with many other Christians follow many of the same traditions, it would be good to understand when, where and under what circumstances some of those originated.
…Last evening I talked to a friend who is a Christian, but knew little about what Advent, its meaning and purpose. I found this to be true with many Evangelical Christians, myself being an Evangelical pastor for 20 years, never understood or celebrated it as I should have. Some traditions are rich and an opportunity for teaching, as this message will show.
...I'm going to title this and the next five Sundays, the Journey to Bethlehem. Bethlehem is the place where we are introduced to Emmanuel, Jesus, which means "God is with us, or in our midst."
...This journey will involve spirit, body, and mind as individuals and as a community of faith. It is the season where God invites us to "choose" hope, peace, joy, and love. All of these, which I have spoken to you often the past three years and also included, will be the gifts we experience through our walk with Jesus.....especially this time of year, as the world clamors for our attention and even devotion.
...How can we prepare ourselves to experience the real reason for this season as we are pulled in so many different directions, gatherings, activities, most of which we thoroughly enjoy. How can we keep Him at the center of it all. There is one simple way....and that way is to simply have Him the very center of our everyday lives, and doing that will keep Jesus our Gyroscope, in assisting us to keep our balance.
...A Gyroscope for those of you who do not know, is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. I personally find them fascinating and beautiful in how they work. It balances itself at the center of gravity. There is a spin axis, an output axis and an input axis, finding by design, the point of perfect balance.
...I say to the Lord....be my Gyroscope please, not only during the Holiday season, but in all my life. Amen
...Now on to Advent. The Catholic Church originally called Advent, the Feast of the Birth of Jesus. The name for this season is taken from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming", and in the early Church the word was used mainly for Christmas itself. Christmas....coming of course from the celebration of a MASS said in honor of Christs’ birth. The Christ-Mass.
...This mass grew in proportion, in depth and in length because as I said earlier, mankind loves celebrations and rituals. In the Middle Ages this meaning was extended, and His coming was seen in three different ways:
1. His birth in Bethlehem in the past.
2. His second and future coming at the end of time as we know it.
3. His present coming through grace into the hearts and souls of individuals.
...And so, in Advent we prepare to celebrate the past; we prepare to receive Christ into our lives in our present; and we prepare in our minds and spirits, as if His Second Coming might happen during our lifetime, His reappearance.
...I don't know about you, but I am a curious person, actually more so today than I have ever been. If I am capable (depending on the subject or object) I like to know why and how thing came into being and even work. I am not as curious as I have recently discovered as my new (to me) cat Churchill is. Every cupboard opened, many things that I do...there he is, talking to me and asking questions. Then looking at me and still deciding if he wants to stay with me. He is a fairly independent cat, but sure lets me know when he is hungry.
...My curiosity led me to research the Advent wreath. The traditional symbolism of the Advent wreath reminds us of Old Testament times when humanity was "sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death" Luke 1:79; when the prophets, illumined by God, foretold a Redeemer; and when the hearts of men and women yearned for a Messiah who would reestablish Israel and would also be the Savior of the world.
...The wreath and candles which are the center of the ongoing celebration as we see is round, a circle and is a symbol of the eternity of God, who like a circle, has not beginning nor an end. The candles symbolize the most important aspect...and that is that Christ is the Light of the World. The progressive lighting of candles symbolizes the coming of the one true Spiritual light.
...Each candle on the wreath stands for a Sunday (and its following week) of the season. Candles 1, 2 and 4 are purple. Candle 3 is rose. In the ancient world purple dye was very expensive and could only be afforded by kings or very wealthy people. The purple candles also tell us that the one whose birth we are preparing for is our one true King. The rose candle, the 3rd one, tells us that Advent is half over and Christmas is coming closer and closer.
...Facts of the makeup of the wreath in addition to being a circle, being made of evergreens of a variety, which green as a color is symbolic of life itself and, since they last through the winter, point to Gods’ gift of life.
...These are those which traditionally if done correctly are made of.
   *Holly....with its prickly leaves are symbolic of the use of the Crown of Thorns, and its red berries symbolic of the Blood Christ.
   *Ivy...has into the far past been frequently used as decoration, has been a symbol of joy and festivity.
   *Laurel... (Bay) which was used to crown those who won in athletic games, signifies victory.
    *Cedar...because it is long lasting and aromatic, is symbolic of strength and healing.
    *Juniper, holly and rosemary. By legend these plants provided shelter and help for the Holy Family when they fled from Bethlehem to Egypt. The fragrance of rosemary, it has been said, began when the Virgin Mary laid out the Infant Jesus' swaddling clothes to dry on this plant.
…The four candles as most of us know represent Hope, Peace, Joy and last Love, in that order as we go through the four weeks prior.
…Now…would Paul and Carolyn please come up and tell us a little about HOPE, and light the candle representing HOPE.
…At this point I want to talk with you about’ choosing’ these four virtues, so that not only do we perhaps understand them more, but out of desire and sincerity, make them a part of our everyday lives.
…We are born with many gifts from God, and one of those is self-awareness. With self-awareness comes the ability to, with forethought and rational thinking, and free will, make choices. Choosing is a big responsibility to carry. Not only do our choices affect us directly, they also affect those immediately around us, and also many who we will never know.
…A simple thing such as saying hello with a smile to a stranger, can affect their mood, bringing it up, perhaps having so far been experiencing a bad day. Their spirit was touched…and they walk a bit lighter, therefore having been lifted up, they in turn lift up someone else by doing the same thing….ad-infinitum. Perhaps our smile and its affect went around the world.
…We in that small way instilled a small measure of hope in them, that perhaps things were going to get better. They smiled again.
…an encouraging word.
…a kind word
…a loving word
…a helping hand
…Matthew 25:40…whatever you do to the least of these, my brothers and sister, you have done to me.
…Luke 6:31…treat others as you would have them treat you.”
…This Christmas Season you can be like Scrooge, bah-humbugging everything about Christmas, because it has become (and has for a very long time) so commercial and non-spiritual. By carrying around that attitude, you are the one with the attitude.
…the wrong one.
…WE…you and I, are to be people of hope, people of peace, people of joy and people of love. It’s better if we are silent….if we can’t overcome our negativity, than to carry it around like a shroud.
…CHOOSING HOPE…the idiom “the proof is in the pudding,” means that the end result of our choices is the mark of success or failure of our efforts, and sometimes it simply takes effort. Getting over one’s self!
…With the candle of hope now burning….and with great expectation of the coming Messiah. The day of salvation is here and now. The world that we live in can be unkind and unloving. Sometimes life seems to go all wrong. Today, let us not allow the world to bring us down, but rather “choose hope” a hope in the Savior who has and will continue to bring light and life to a broken world…..surprisingly, through US! That is His choice, to be seen and speak through us this life and this world.   He chose us, as we choose hope, today.
                                                     Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
  PROPHECIES OF THE Christ Child
November 25th, 2018 by; Tom Shanor, Pastor
Prophecy.....the Bible is full of prophecy. Without prophecy it would be only a history book, a thread of prophecy runs through it from beginning to end.   Prophecy lies at the root of all that is said and recorded. Before I illustrate what prophecy encompasses and more fully what a prophet is, there is one item we have to understand, and for some, that one thing is often very difficult to grasp. Prophets, Prophetesses and prophecy all move in the supernatural realm.
~ Being a Christian in the accepted and classical sense, one has to believe in the supernatural. Preceding the birth, Then the birth, the life, death and resurrection, plus prophecies pertaining to Christ's reentry into the lives of humanity, in what is termed His second coming, prophecy is certainly at the heart of it all.
~ I personally have experienced in my ordinary everyday life, the action of the supernatural from God, thank God, but this is not the place or time to expound on that. I say this only because I can personally verify by my own experiences several supernatural occurrences, and therefore its reality.
~ Today’s emphasis, as the title of the sermon says, is Prophecies pertaining to the birth of the Christ Child. Next week we begin the Season of Advent, the weeks leading up to our celebration of the birth of Jesus, known as Christmas, and celebrated in a multitude of way by a multitude of people, both Believers and non-believers.
~ To both fully appreciate and understand this event in order to celebrate it, one has to be on board with understanding it correctly. It in itself is a beautiful love story ending in what it seems is tragedy, only to have it turn into ultimate Triumph.
~ A prophet is” “one who utters divinely inspired revelations; one regarded by a group of followers or religions as the final authoritative revelation of Gods will; one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight; one who foretells future events, and expounds correctly the interpretation of Holy Scripture. In Deuteronomy 18:18 (NIV) we find the first reference to a prophet, though himself was not the first prophet.   “I will raise up for them a prophet….I will put MY words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.” Therefore, the relationship between God and the chosen man or woman who speaks for Him is deeply intimate. There are times in Scripture that a prophet really did not want to speak the words that God gave Him for fear of reaction from the people, for not all prophecies are of the nature of the one’s our focus is on today. In fact, quite the opposite.
~ The main reasons for prophecy in the Bible was ‘to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the very character of God himself, and which lie at the foundation of His government.” In the simplest of terms, you could say a prophet is a truth teller.
~ Do they still exist? In Acts 2:17-18 we read, “In the last days, God said, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Since we are living in the time of Christ, which even today is called the ‘last days’ this gift is anything but gone. It will become as stated overtly manifested, when the days and times arrives for it to be so. There are today and will be false prophets who “will arise and lead man astray.” 1 John 4, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God.
~ These are just a few of the signs or tests of a true prophet or prophetess.

1 Corinthians 12:28-29 & Ephesians 4:11. Both say this office comes from the Holy Spirit.
What they speak will never contradict Scripture or what the Lord has already spoken. One such incident is where Paul says in Galatians 1:8, “if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
If what they speak is truly from the Lord, it will come true 100% to the letter. Jeremiah 28:9, reads “Only when his predictions come true can it be known that he is really from the Lord.”
Their lives will be lived in godliness.
They will speak truth in the spirit of humility. Many of the prophets spoke with boldness, but under that was the foundation of their relationship in humility, having been chosen by God to speak for Him.

There are quite a few more qualities that a prophet must own before he or she is chosen by God to speak for Him. Perhaps some time we can delve deeper in a study on this subject.
Today, I wanted only to lay a foundation of what and who prophets were and are, on which to build this part of my message. I believe that in order to ‘believe’ we must know what those beliefs are built on and what they encompass, and where they come from.
So....with all that being said, let’s move on.
~ Leading into the first use of the fulfillment of Luke 2:20, in regards to the birth of Jesus Christ. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying God and Praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Is found in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” The number of years between Isaiah’s prophecy and the birth of Jesus is between 640 to 760 years, as Isaiah lived 80 years.
~ Matthew 1:23 speaks of where the fulfillment of this prophecy is written, upon which the shepherds spoke of on their way back to their flocks. “Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, “which is translated, “God is with us.”
~ Another can be found pertaining to the arrival of the Magi or Wise men, arriving in Jerusalem following the birth. They had stopped by Herod’s residence on the way. Herod, being a weak leader felt threatened by the reason of their arrival, giving much credence to what they told him. He asked them to stop by on their way back, to tell him where specifically the child was born, so as he said, “he could worship the child.” They in turn were instructed by God not to go back to Herod.
~ Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”
~ Herod, being furious at the Magi, and knowing the general area in which the Christ would be born, then fulfilled this prophecy. “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Jeremiah 31:15, fulfilled in Matthew 2:18. These mothers whose boy children 2 years old and under were slaughtered by Herod’s troops….as Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin lamented for her children, who in her day were going into exile, expressing as a prototype, her grief over the slaughter of innocent children. Ramah was a town close to Jerusalem where the slaughter took place.
~ The second fulfilled prophecy resulting from Herod’s paranoiac rage took place after Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt, after Joseph was visited by an angel and told to flee with them to Egypt for the child’s safety, where upon their return, God’s words to Hosea (also a prophet) were fulfilled in Hosea 11:1, “out of Egypt I called my Son.”
~ This prophecy was originally made as a statement of history_ God had called (and brought) Israel out of Egypt. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Matthew used these words to refer to the Messiah.
~ The final prophecy discussed by Matthew pertaining to events in the early years of Jesus had to do with his boyhood home. God warned Joseph in a dream not to go back to Judea, so instead he took Mary and Jesus to Nazareth in Galilee, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23)
~ Nazareth, as we know was looked upon with scorn by the Jews, where even Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” relating to Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Daniel 9 and Zechariah 12, where each spoke of the Messiah “being despised and rejected.”
I have here, 9 pages, 365 prophecies and facts pertaining to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, all of which have been fulfilled pertaining to His first coming, his life and his death and resurrection. The only ones yet to be fulfilled are those that pertain to His Second Coming and have yet to be fulfilled.
Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling just the major prophecies concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes, representing some 600 college students.
The students carefully weighed all the factors, discussed each prophecy at length, and examined the various circumstance which might indicate that the students conspired together to fulfill a particular prophecy. They made their estimates conservative enough so that there was finally a unanimous agreement even among the most skeptical.
However….then Professor Stoner took their estimates and made them even more conservative. He also encouraged other skeptics or scientists t make their own estimate to see if his conclusions were more than fair. Finally, he submitted his figures for review to a Committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. Upon examination, they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented.
One example was this. Concerning Micah 5:2, where it states the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, Stoner and his students determined the average population of Bethlehem from the time of Micah to the present; then they divided it by the average population of the earth during the same period. They concluded that the chance of this one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000.
After examining only eight different prophecies, they conservatively estimated that the chance of this one man fulfilling all eight prophecies one in in a number containing 17 zeros.
Bear with me here. If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded person to draw one, their chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten.
Then suppose we take that number with the 17 zeros, represented by silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of those silver dollars and stir the whole mass of them across the state. Blindfold the same person and tell them that they can travel as far as they wish, but must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would they have of getting the right one? Just the same that the prophets would have had of writing just these eight prophecies, and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time.
~ My summation. The magnitude of all the prophecies being fulfilled pertaining to the Christ….being fulfilled is literally beyond measure, let alone just the eight spoken of here.
Many of the other prophecies listed here as I said have been already fulfilled, which extends the zeros almost infinitely. These listed were not lucky guesses made by fraudulent prognosticators; they were precise predictions made by the all-knowing God of the bible who repeatedly demonstrates He has perfect knowledge of all past, present, and future events.
CONCLUSION
About 2000 years ago, Jesus the then Christ Child came to earth in this humble manner. The Savior of the world, and God of all creation put on humanity to die for us, and conquer death, giving the hope of salvation to all who turn from their sin and believe in Him.
That day began one still, quiet night, in a small rough-hewn building, filled with straw and animals nearby softly breathing, soft oil lights glowing, a young mother in natural labor as every other mother who gives birth, an anxious step-father chosen by God, to take care of not only the young mother, but the Son to come. As God brought them all this far, to this place and time, He would watch over and take care of them from this momentous night forward. Shepherds, angels, Magi, kings and all of humanity, unbeknownst to them at that moment, would reap the benefits and rewards of this birth and this baby.
Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and goodwill toward all of mankind.
Amen

the little church in the pines
   Mack's Inn, Island Park, Idaho
November 25th, 2018
  "Remember, We are Blessed"
  ~Thanksgiving ~
by, Pastor Tom Shanor

...I am going to make an assumption this morning, in that most, if not all of us are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving this coming Thursday, and most likely for multiple reasons. For some it is strictly a family celebration, for others, family, friends and even strangers. Some of us in church basements, cooking meals for the needy, others cooking food for family. This day is a time of catching up, just being together with those we love and yet, for some there are at times disagreements & fights, (usually over politics or sports) and the list goes on. One thing we know for sure…..two things are truly the center of whatever else comes about that day. 1. Food, and 2. Giving Thanks, and in that order for most.
…We should remember that the first Thanksgiving, now 398 years ago in 1620 was set aside as a time of Giving Thanks to God for their new lives in the then New World. The freedom they fought so hard for, enduring both loss of life and comfort….ALL for the hope and goal of being able to worship God as they desired with all their hearts. The so called feast was not near as plentiful and diverse, nor in such comfortable surrounding as we have today. Rough-hewn tables and benches, most likely set up in an open sided building in case of rain or storm, everything cooked both over an open fire and in the ovens of what few they had, bringing them over from England.
…It is difficult for us to imagine the hardships they endured, both in England from religious persecution and then in America, forging out of a true wilderness a home site, farms, homes, shops, etc. with very limited means of doing so. From what I have read, that without the help of the Native Americans, called the Wampanaogs, or Eastern Peoples, they could not have made it through that first winter, and many did not.
A little about their journey……………..
…These people were willing to die for their faith, and many did. Their chosen expression of that faith was heart-felt, somewhat basic and different from the existing churches in England at that time, where the Anglican Church was the only true church. As the Anglicans (whom you would think would be more tolerant) because of the persecution they suffered from the Catholic Church, would understand and let the Puritans worship as they saw fit, but they did not.
…Together, their leaders decided their only option, was to become colonists of a new settlement on the American continent. There they could govern themselves, and worship as their hearts dictated. So as we know, they hired a ship called the Mayflower, and also one named the Speedwell, to sail from the Netherlands to Southampton then on to Plymouth, England. The two ships would then sail together, leaving on the incoming tide, July 22nd.
…300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell had been taking on water, having repaired it several times, they gave up and both ships returned to Plymouth, England where those who did not abandon the journey, crowded onto the Mayflower….so deeply was their hope and desire to have the freedom to worship God as they saw fit.
…The depth of their faith in risking not only their adult lives, but the lives of their children is truly heart moving. Their belief in God was all that would see them through the rough months that were to follow.
…There were 102 passengers and 30 crew members now all aboard one ship. Five died aboard ship and 44 more died before actually reaching Plymouth.
…How many of you have ever been to see Plymouth Rock? How big is it? Historic renderings I have seen in the Puritans landing on this expansive granite rocky outcropping…..somewhat romanticized. It was simply the stone marker on which was carve the date of their arrival.
…I considered what Scriptures they possibly relied upon, to read, reread that would have given them faith and courage to go on. Scriptures they could read aloud and pray, and then what songs they sang together, and when alone with God.
…What came to my mind in part was Jeremiah 29:11-14. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “ I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.”
…This passage is literally speaking of the Jews return to Israel….yet I see it as a very similar rendition of a promise that could be adapted to His people here, seeking religious freedom of expression, just as we often adapt specific scripture to our own personal needs.
…Finally….on September 6th, the Mayflower departed England much later than they had planned. The voyage itself across the Atlantic took 66 long days and nights, encountering a number of Fall storms that in particular made the voyage often treacherous. At times their journals say, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them, as it was not safe to use the ship’s sail, which in fact the main mast snapped and had to be reinforced.
…Their original destination was the Hudson River, but because of yet another severe storm, they had to head north, resting briefly at what is now Provincetown Harbor, eventually arriving on November 19th at what became Plymouth, Massachusetts, exhausted, freezing yet joyful….and then began immediately began to build their town.
…God had them right where He wanted them…s they gathered to pray, sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs in this new land where they could do so without fear of arrest or other persecution….they stood with full hearts, worshiping God freely. They were finally FREE!!
…Today, we remain free, often at a great cost also, losing many of our young and vital citizens who through war and strength guard and fight to keep us so , but as in the case of any prosperous country, the people in time often take for granted the good and comfortable lives they have. All we here in America need to do is go back several generations to the Great Depression, (just one instance) to rediscover just how desperate our families for the most part were during those days.
…Sometimes the cost of following the Lord Jesus Christ….still brings persecution and death, counting into the millions, where living in countries they are persecuted, hunted like animals, rounded up, sold into slavery and often killed. Others….suffering persecution by not being permitted to work, to gather together to worship for fear of torture or death.
…We have in many ways forgotten the costs, rising up as we have this morning in heated homes, hot and cold running water, showering, dressing in clean clothing, putting on the coffee or tea, making a simple breakfast where our food rests in cold refrigerators, cupboards and even full pantries, cooked on stoves on which we just turn a knob or push a button. Then getting into pre-warmed cars with seats that heat our backsides and backs, pulling out of our garages and starting toward our Sanctuaries, to pay homage to the same God of the Puritans.
…We are extremely comfortable and at ease. How important is God to each of us? I have recently read the book of Nehemiah. This books speaks of how in desperate times of need, the Jewish people turn to God for help, promising to obey, live lives as He desires they live, honoring Him with the hearts, minds and souls, and with the fruit of their hard work and incomes. Yet, what happened and happens repeatedly in this narration, is that once that comfortable stage is once again reached….the people forget the promises they made. They no longer NEED God’s blessings, nor need to follow through in their worship, and sincerity of their beliefs, for they in their faith have become complacent and comfortable. They have arrived!!
…True faith it seems often thrives and goes deep in difficult times, simply because the need is greater than, or ability to meet it, and that is when we once again call upon the Lord to help us. In the midst of our comfortableness, I believe we can still have great faith. To give God thanks daily for the blessings we have been permitted to have and to share those blessings with those who do not have what we have. Sure, much of what we have comes from hard work and sacrifices, but it should be the same in our faith. A grateful heart, a true sense of the blessings we have, and voicing our thankfulness to God for them, I believe puts us in His good standing. Sincerity…..an attitude of recognition of God as being the source for all good things in our lives is necessary, both for our well being and for God’s grace.
….Thanksgiving, both a religious and national holiday, to be celebrated as it is meant to be, we, need to know and remember its roots, not to forget its true significance, and remember those who laid the foundation for what we have today, and for the trials, pains, sorrows and losses, along with the JOY that they lived and by choice experienced, when the stepped ashore that first time, falling to their knees in worship, weeping, praying and singing unto the Lord, their God.
…Psalm 100 is a song of praise for the Lord’s faithfulness to His People, and we too…are His people, just as they were. I am sure the Psalm was sung and read by those who in the windy, cold Fall day, exhausted and some ill….sang together to the Lord their God and our God.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands,
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with Thanksgiving
Know that the Lord , He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are the people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
For the Lord is good;
His Mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Some of us are perhaps going through trials and sorrows of your own. Please know, that the Lord our God is with you. Know that He knows you deeply and loves you to the ends of the earth, with a depth that cannot be matched anywhere by anybody…ever. Be thankful!
…Remember this if nothing else from this message today. As you gather with those you love….look around, listen, see what good things the Lord has done…has given you, and then share your giving-thanks with those whom you are with. Everything and everyone has a time limit…but in that time limit….let us be THANKFUL.
On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.
For sun to light and warm our days,
For Stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And lovely clouds of white.
We are grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound
The list of all we’re grateful for,
Would fill a good sized book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look….
Keep it simple, but keep it honest and true……remembering that God, loves you!
And be thank-full!
                           Amen

THE HOUND OF HEAVEN ~ could also be named THE PURSUIT...........................................................................................
November 11, 2018
by, Pastor Tom Shanor
the little church in the pines
   "The Hound of Heaven" is literally a 182-line poem written by English poet Francis Thompson, living from 1859-1907. The poem became famous and was the source of much of Thompson's posthumous reputation following its publication, written in 1893. It had an impact on most of the Christian world at that time, highly regarded and influencing none other than J.R. R. Tolkien, who himself presented a paper on Thompson in 1914.
This Christian poem is described as follows:
    "The name is strange in reference to God, so much so that it startles one at first. But...when one reads the poem (understanding the English language of that day) this strangeness disappears. The meaning is understood, for as the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its following, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with un-hurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine Grace. And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, but Divine Grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever-after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to to Him alone, in that never-ending pursuit while life still present."
   The heart of this poem was also the inspiration for a series of 23 painting by the American painter R.H. Ives Gammell, which took him 15 years...and was known as his magnum opus. The crown jewel of all his work.
      I AM GOING TO READ BUT 20 LINES OF THE POEM, NOT ALL 182.
                                 (READ)
My reason for this sermon is to clarify the scope of Gods pursuit of us, through His Son. The depth of His love is shown by that very act of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Having given so much by both, he pursues us to the ends of the earth.
I sought Scripture to parallel this poem, seeking to find and isolate a few verse to share with you. I came across Psalm 139, of which I will read it all.
                                  (READ)
Every time I read those words….I am moved by the wonder of God, the awe and majesty of His creation…not only the universe, the galaxy, our earth and sky, but you and I. When I look at myself, even in these latter years of my life, and the design as to how, even now….it all works together to give me life, I am once again, in awe. From the Mite to the Mighty…the inner workings and outer balance of the inner-workings is simply majestic. Take time, give it some thought….”how marvelous are thy works O God”
Hebrews 13:5b reads, “For He Himself has said, “I will NEVER leave you, or ABANDON you.” As He pursues us so relentlessly, He will most certainly not abandon us, unless we refuse His pursuit of us to the point of dying, never turning around, opening our soul to His living presence, accepting Him through His Son. That God created place that each human being is given. That which drives us, in our quest to understand life. The most fundamental question ever asked by mankind…..is there more beyond here? The answer is found in God.
During these Scripture readings, what you hear is a ‘love story.’ The love and pursuit of God for all people….as ALL people are His people. Jesus Christ brought to us the miracle of inclusion into the family of God, as we read in Galatians 3:28, “For you are ALL children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothing. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female……………for you are ALL One in Christ Jesus.”
The details that God tracks us with are as I already read…the details in the happenings of our everyday lives. Going over some of them once more.

You know me when I sit down and when I rise up.
You know what I am thinking.

“Now that is one I often which anyone knows, especially God”

You see me which I’m traveling….and resting.
You KNOW everything I do…everything.
You know what I am going to say before I say it.

Where can we go to hide from God….nowhere.
Sometimes, we don’t let others know us well. Why, because we are afraid of rejection and afraid that if we say or do the wrong thing, they will no longer want to be with us. Hurt or even fear of hurt, does that, especially if we have been burned by loving or trusting someone and they turned on us.
God knows all we are told…and yet He, does not reject us. The parable of the Prodigal son tells us that so clearly, as to how patient God is and to the extent of His welcoming us home.
He wants us to be fully who He created us to be, who we are in Him, and also who we are in the process of becoming, with all our mistakes, sin and wrong turns.
WE…the entire human race, as we know, has free will. Choices to be made at every turn, and our actions and interactions (acknowledging the reality of evil) sometimes washes up on our shore. Tragedy in its many forms touches us all…yet in the midst of the storms, we can take refuge in Him, where in the eye of the hurricane, the center of the storm there is calm and peace.
Again in verse 5, “You go before me…and, as (the Hound of Heaven,) follow after me. All of these things are too wonderful for me…to great for me to understand” and as He further says, “I can never escape from Your Spirit or Your Presence,” though we certainly do try sometimes, and even fool ourselves into thinking we can do so.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU………………………………………………………
How far are you, yes you, willing for God to pursue you before getting your attention? If God had to choose between your eternal life and your earthly comfort, which do you want Him to choose, no matter the ramifications? Is your comfort now more important than eternity?
The entire Bible, in all its drama, stories, and even the parables of Jesus, are about Gods pursuit of a relationship, that is give and take with we mere human beings. All of it.
In this pursuit, the Bible has a simple story as told from Moses to Moab, to John on the Isle of Patmos. God is as creative as He is relentless. The same hand that sent manna to Israel to feed them in the desert is the same one that set them free from Egypt, but also to captivity in Babylon. He does what needs to be done, and often, we do not like ti or even Him at times.
Both kind an stern, tender and tough, faithfully firm, patiently urgent, eagerly tolerant, softly shouting, gently thundering. “I WANT YOU” which we find a rendition of in a good ole UNCLE SAM poster, pointing one finger out at all of us. We can and often do say NO! Why do some people to their dying day say NO? Well, that’s a sermon for another day.
Jesus said…”I AM” the bread of life that gives life. “I AM” the Light of the world. “I AM” the resurrection and THE LIFE. “I AM” the door. “I AM” the Way, the truth and THE LIFE.”
Jesus proclaiming every offering but never forcing. Standing over the crippled man He asks,” do you want to be healed? Then eye to eye with the blind man, now who can see, he says, “Do you now believe in the Son of Man.? John 9:35
Honest questions….thundering claims…..gentle touches. Never going where not invited, but once invited, never leaving, always pursuing, and never stopping His work in us, until the day of completion. The Hound of Heaven.
God will whisper and He will shout. He will take away our burdens, and even take away our blessings. If there is a thousand steps between us and God, He will take 999, but leave the last one for us to take, for that final step is ours, and that one is THE ONE where, we turn around toward Him, and step into His arms.
There is an “old contemporary” song form the 70’s I think, that I want to share a bit of it with you. It is simple as most of them are from those days.
God will make a way…where there seems to be no way
   He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side
    With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way….He will make a way
    By a roadway in the wilderness You lead me
River in the desert I will see
Heaven and earth will fade….but His Word will still remain
     And He will do something new today.   For you!
What do you want out of your faith…out of your relationship with God?
What?
I leave you….with that question to answer.
                                    SELAH…pause and think about it.

The LITTLE CHURCH in the PINES
   Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
November 4, 2018
"You are Blessed & Me Too"
This message this morning is about opposites. Those two opposites are blessing and nits. You will understand once you read it. These two opposites cause division and strife. To illustrate what the result is of division and nits can be summed up in these words of Jesus found in Matthew 12:25. “Every nation divided by civil war is doomed. A town, family (church, etc.,) splintered by feuding will fall apart.”
   National discourse in politics has reach deeply into our everyday lives, to where division, strife, nit picking & all too often ugliness prevails in our discussions and actions. Today’s Sermon/Message is important to maintaining civility and unity in our homes, churches, workplaces and beyond, touching every area of our lives.
   The words bless, blessed and blessing are often used by we Christians in our everyday spiritual language, but do we know the meaning, scope, depth and impact these words can have when understood, and when sincerely, and wonderfully used by us?
   There is a prevalent attitude in our mind and hearts when we use the word blessing, which is most often associated with good things, good people, good intentions and just simply good.
   There is in our world, an opposing or opposite word that causes great harm in attitude and deed. That word is curse, cursed and cursing. Attitude, as I have said in the past from up here is almost everything in life.
    Do we see and experience blessings every day, do we have an attitude of looking toward the good side, of not looking for reasons to get upset, or manufacture those reasons just because all is not as we think they ought to be? Everywhere our Lord went, he was beset by Naysayers instead of Yea-sayers. He fought hard to get through to them in a variety of ways. As an example, listen to this parable or illustration from Matthew 11:17, where Jesus said, "We played the pipe for you and you would not dance."
   Why? Because of the preconceived attitude of the ways those people lived and thought the Messiah would come and be....not with a song of love, but a song of power and majesty, a conqueror, not a lowly servant who NEVER complained as to how He Himself was received or treated! Never.
   So Church....let's go back to "blessing". What is a blessing? A blessing is a TYPE of spiritual pronouncement, and pronouncement is a "formal authoritative announcement or declaration," and declaration is a formal or explicit statement. A blessing is a declaration, statement or pronouncement like a circle that brings positive feelings, uplifting, life-giving in heart, mind, spirit, and even in the physical realm.
   There are two blessings we sometimes overlook: spiritual and simple blessings. One man who came to appreciate the simple was a man named Viktor Frankl, a renowned psychiatrist who endured himself years of unspeakable horror in the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz.
   He wrote of the dreams often experienced by his fellow inmates in both Auschwitz and Dachau....I had a friend, one of my elders in our church in Star Valley, an Air Force pilot who was shot down and captured, spending years in Dachau. Unspeakable horrors and nightmares, but amidst those nightmares were dreams of comfort, of what everyday things and events that were then taken for granted, but now in captivity brought comfort and hope of what one day still might be. These dreams were the simple blessings taken for granted, such as times with family, warm bread, a warm bed, cake, ice cream, cigarettes....and most of all a warm bath. The lack of these simple, everyday things and people that were no longer theirs, they sought in dreams to bring them comfort.
  When health seems to be failing, when someone has been unkind, when life is turned upside down by any number of people and events, we can through choosing.....by readjusting our attitude.... count our blessings, naming them one by one.
   Those in third-world countries, and those who have recently experienced devastating hurricanes, floods, fires, loss of family, homes, friends and more....whom some are at this moment, still living in motels, hotels, almost to the person when interviewed (those who did not lose someone) reiterated how blessed they were because they did not lose someone they loved.
   Our lives....could start out every morning with words of thanksgiving that we are waking up in safety and comfort, with central heat, food in the refrigerator, a car to run our errands, visit friends, come to this church service. We, in the United States, with less than 5% of the world's population, use a quarter of the world's resources...just to maintain our every day, what we consider ordinary, normal lifestyle.
   How grateful we could and should be in recognizing in the area alone, how blessed we are.
   Personally, I am blessed in that I get to stand up here every Sunday, looking and talking with all of you who are blessed, believing with all my heart and mind, that this, right now, is where God wants me and opened up the doors for me to be at this time and stage in my life.
   I am blessed with a family that loves me, really does, and that cares what happens to me, and would be there for me if indeed (and the day may come) when I literally, physically, I need them. Our kids actually discussed among themselves which of them would take each of us, if our lives came down to that....and they argued over it. What a hoot!
Up to this time in this message....I have touched lightly upon the spiritual aspect of blessings, so let's take a turn here do some thinking and reflecting.   We Christians are to be spiritually focused. There are several approaches in this. There is, as already stated, that of being thankful, and we are to challenge ourselves and each other, in spiritual pursuits, spiritual growth by living our lives as Christ would have us live them, with judgement and condemnation of others. Without prejudice.
   Let us not be nit pickers. What is a nit? Well, I am about to tell you. A nit is an egg or young form of a louse, or other parasitic insects. Especially the egg of a head louse, that attaches itself to a human, sometimes animal hair, such as a monkey. You have seen videos of monkeys sitting together picking louse out of each other's hair, and eating them. I don't want to be either a nit...or a nit-picker. So, let us focus on both knowing and living out God's word as we apply it in our lives and culture today, by looking on the good side.
   One of those ways is to study, not just lightly read, (though that is good also) Scripture. This is why there is a Bible Study on Fridays. I believe I can say that everyone who attends would state that those times together, are at times challenging and times of growth. Discussion and as we do, coming from different places in our thoughts and lives, have sometimes very different understandings and experiences. Our lives expand spiritually by these times if see them as times for spiritual and practical growth….and apply what we learn.
   2nd Timothy 2:15-17, "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, being able to understand the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like a cancer." How can we know Scriptural truth unless we "know" in the fullest sense what Scripture is telling us?
   We are given guidelines in Scripture, and the ability to recognize sin, evil, and any behavior that is out of line. In this recognition in our goals as Christians, is to love God, love our neighbor and our enemies. This does not mean we just lie still and take it, but our way to handle such situations is not out of vengeance or retaliation....but out of our relationship with God through Christ. It means we go to every situation that is negative, by walking into it with the Lord and His word as our sword and shield. Asking Him how He would have us respond (if we haven't already responded from the hip), giving us the words and actions that are the right ones to defuse and bring peace if at all possible.
   Ephesians 1:3-7 reads, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...who has 'blessed' us with every 'spiritual blessing' in the heavenly realms (because we are one with Christ). And, God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead (spiritually) because of our sins, He gave us life, when He raised Christ from the dead. For Christ has brought peace to us." Peace, we are to be people of peace.
"This peace is not as the world gives, but his "blessed peace' is the peace that passes all understanding," even when our circumstances, our losses, our griefs, our not being able to understand that which is happening to us, all these we can bring to him, put them in His hands as in a sense, an offering...reaching up our arms, sometimes literally asking him in his love and blessedness to take them.....for they are too heavy for us to bear...and we will be blessed by doing so.
   Count your blessings...name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God has done.
   We fail all too often, to recognize, that deep within our souls there is a place where God resides...in Christ, and we fail time after time, to dig deep, missing the good that will come out of our relationship with Him. And the reason....we are content to stay on the surface of that faith, missing the really good stuff...like the delicious rich raspberry cordial in the center of a multi-layered, chocolate, mouth-watering delightful piece of candy. The deeper we go, the more wonderful the sensation.
   Take just a few moments right now to ponder what blessings are yours as you sit here in these pews, both simple and spiritual? Of these, have you given God thanks for them recently, or have you even thought of them as blessings or just standard to the way you live your life.
All could change in a moment with a heart attack, Yellowstone Volcano, suddenly exploding, a fire, a wreck. A multitude of things, events and people could suddenly turn anyone of our lives inside out and upside down. Such is life on this little blue, time-limited planet.
   While we have what time we do have, why would we not choose to understand and recognize just how very blessed we are, and to speak of those blessings to one another and to thank God for them. Sometime, what may have seemed to be a curse turns around in retrospect to be a blessing. But now....just to think of the ones we have and live in, we should give Him thanks for. Would you agree? Let’s not be pickers of nits but let’s be God’s loving representative of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in the truest and fullest sense.
   As we enter into our Celebration of coming to the Table of the Lord, carry those blessings with you in your heart and mind, and worship the Lord your God in Christ as you do so with sincere, and heart-felt thanksgiving. Turn to one another and say, "you are blessed, and me too""
                                                  Amen

The LITTLE CHURCH in the PINES
MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
SERMON ~ "YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH"
"Eternity in Their Hearts"
(John 8:31 & 32 - John 14:6a - Ecclesiastes 3:11a
The FOUR main verses that make up the core of today's message are John 8:31 & 32, John 14:6a and Ecclesiastes 3:11.
John 8:31-32. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. And you will 'know the truth' and 'the truth' will 'set you free." John 14:6a. Jesus told him, "I AM,' 'THE WAY,' 'THE TRUTH' and 'THE LIFE.'" Ecclesiastes 3:11, "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."
   I have been thinking and taking notes on these Scriptures for about the past two weeks while on vacation. My desire today and my attempt to achieve what has been running through my mind will be segmented into parts, with the eventual purpose of bringing together in unity.
   The parts are this. You will know the truth.
                                 What will the truth set us free from?
                                 What is truth and does is change?
                                 Jesus said, I AM ~ which firmly establishes his equality with God – this “I AM” is equal and parallels “I AM THAT I AM”
                                             THE WAY
                                             THE TRUTH
                                             THE LIFE
  Through all of these statements runs the thread of ETERNITY, and so therefore we should have somewhat of an understanding of what eternity is, its root, its depth and breadth.
   Jesus again said He is the Great "I AM, who was and is and ever shall be. (eternally)
   He said, I AM THE WAY to the TRUTH of who, what and where God is.
   He said, 'THE' 'TRUTH' and all other truths come from the source of who He is.
   He said, "I AM, THE LIFE" and therefore the source of all life as we understand, hear and see.
   Jesus said, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.” (not some but all) I want us to remember this statement as we go further in to this message. IF indeed He is 'THE TRUTH" he precedes all other truths. In the age of science, research and ever changing and expanding knowledge, some truths change while some truths are eternal. In science, in our faith, in our own personal quests, the truth of who Jesus Christ is, under-girds all that we come to know and learn.
   We in this life need anchors of truth, the greatest of these being one founded and grounded in faith. Now that may sound contradictory to truth, but for those who live in faith, the anchor and depth of this truth, is the one on which to discern and build.
   Not on religion, but on the Person of Jesus Christ. Religion often becomes more of a cage than a guide, holding us back rather than summoning us onward, a buffer to constructive change rather than a catalyst forward. Jesus Christ in his days on earth was and continues to be THE CATALYST OF CHANGE, which we know got Him into, well, continual trouble, and could possibly do the same for us as His disciples….if again, we believe His truths.
    You may not know this, but this saying of Jesus is often stated in academic circles, that want to promote academic freedom and the power and quest for learning. Many universities have this statement emblazoned on a sign near the entrance of varied buildings of learning, each in its own quest in a particular field. "the truth will set you free."
  This man/God Jesus was deeply profound, attempting to show we mere men and women truths for everyday living, and truths that exist forever. True belief is more than intellectual assent; for those who are "really" followers of Christ will "hold to" his teachings as though their very existence depends on doing so. And it does.
   Truth is most often described to mean, being in accord with proven facts, or reality as we perceive it, or even fidelity to a standard. Truth is also defined in modern contexts as something authentic and provable. It is the opposite to that which is false, but some philosophers view the concept of truth as to be basic, and unable in some cases to be proven. Surrounding facts point in that direction.
   Evolutionary truth, especially in the field of science....comes through research......by pushing through known knowledge to get to the core of such truths...into deeper truths....all in an attempt to grasp understanding its origin. The interesting thing is in looking for simple truth, the deeper they go, the more expansive it becomes. That is also true in our understanding, and relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. The deeper we go....the more expansive and incredible, and credible He becomes to us.
We can float on the surface of our faith....and manage to do ok, but to go deeper is like mining a rich lode of gold that gets richer and richer the deeper one goes.
As we go deeper into truths....there is a deep belief in science, philosophy, religion, mathematics, and even natural science called the Absolute. These encompass all physical existence known as reality, and with many, even transcending the concept of known reality, hence the philosophy of the supernatural, such as the miracles Jesus performed and those also found in not only the entire Bible, but other religions and non-religious traditions.
   The ABSOLUTE is another term for ETERNAL.
   Listen to this again, from Ecclesiastes 3:11. "He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."
   You and I live in 'time.' Time is measured numerically by nanoseconds (which is a unit of time equal to one billionth of a second) then seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, years, decades, centuries, etc. to eternity.
  When I try to imagine 'eternity' I have a difficult time, because it is outside my realm of experience. Time in eternity exists and yet doesn't. It exists because while living in time, we also exist in eternity.
   We think of God as timeless, yet existing in time, as He interacts with us. God existed before time began as I will read in Genesis. ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ Therefore He preceded creation, creating time for the purpose and fulfillment of, we as human beings who then would interact with God.
   In explaining his own understanding of the Universe, Einstein said, "A knowledge of the existence of somethings we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and in this alone, I am a deeply religious man."
"We cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3,........not only can we not see, we can't even truly begin to conceive of such a thing. We have desires, quests and vision.....limited but still necessary to our well being. God gave and gives us His truths that we can build on and create, and love. Remembering though.....................................................................that,
A day is as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. In eternity time is irrelevant...a non-factor. "When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we'd first begun. Because eternity just is....without beginning for end. No days, no hours, no years. We will simply.....be.
   With eternity in mind....under-girding our faith...in THE eternal TRUTH, who is Jesus Christ, we are now coming back to where we started in this journey, THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE....FREE, because Jesus being the TRUTH gives us the freedom from both sin and the second death, in and through faith, repentance and forgiveness. And because of this, with eternity in our hearts, we are told in Philippians 4:8...."Finally brothers and sisters,, whatever is TRUE, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things."
   Our lives are short in duration, even as we measure and marvel at someone who has lived well into their hundreds. Sometimes, depending on what we are going through, one moment may seem incredibly long. It is not. Even now, looking back seventy-three years, much seems as if it were just yesterday. How much time do each of us have.....as much as is allotted us.
   I mentioned earlier about a lode of gold....in our desire to getting to know Jesus Christ and as a result, God himself. It's quite a quest, but one that would be more fulfilling than any other we might choose. How is 'your' quest...'your' understanding and relationship with God, through Christ?' How is it really?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, they who believe in me will not perish, but have eternal or everlasting life."
In Matthew 19:16, the rich young man asks Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed can I do to have eternal life?” It’s not so much about doing, as it is about ‘being’ a disciple of the Lord, for then, the doing will flow out of the two of us, He and I, and You and He, being one in unity and purpose, with eternity in our hearts.       We know the truth….that has set us free…………………………..
                                                                 Amen
   I have been speaking to you as disciples of Christ, not as new believers. It is as you know, one of my goals to grow personally while challenging you to grow also. To grow in our understanding of God, as you come every Sunday to sit in these pews listening to me speak. With the privilege and calling in speaking to you, comes the responsibility of speaking truth as I understand it. I am held accountable to the words I both write and speak. I choose them carefully.

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
September 29, 2018
sermon, "in Jesus name"
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
.....John 16:24b. "Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy." There are a half dozen Scriptures stating mostly the same thing with little variation. The Name of Jesus the Christ is the most powerful name in the world. His name to this day carries great import and great power. Many love Him and His name, and many hate it and Him, just as it was in the days He walked in the flesh on this planet.
.....So...what is in a name? I'm going to spend a bit of time explaining from several different viewpoints and cultures, coming then back to the Name of Jesus and the value and importance attributed to His name.
.....A personal name as we all know is an identifying word or words by which an individual is known or designated. We, most of us have both a first and last name, and often a middle name. It has been tradition for a long time also that women when they marry, use their original family name as their middle name. This continues to identify them as to their roots. Names are always evolving and today, many women are choosing to carry their original family name instead of taking their husbands family name.
.....There are also along with first, last, middle and maiden names, individuals who have nicknames and are often identified by those most always. Along with those there are also titles designating their role in a profession or even institution. i.e., pastor, minister, priest, elder, doctor, professor, etc. There is also Mr. Mrs. and Ms.
.....In the ancient world, particularly in the ancient near-east, (Israel, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia) names are thought to be extremely powerful and act, in some ways, as a separate manifestation of a person or deity. This viewpoint is responsible both for the reluctance to use the proper name of God in Hebrew writing or speech. Yahweh in Hebrew is that word. In Luke 9:49, in which the disciples claim to have seen a man driving out demons using the name of Jesus, even though he was not a disciples....and....according to Scripture, it worked.
.....In Catholic exorcism it is believed that in order for a demon to be cast out of a person, it can only happen when the exorcist has forced it to give up its name, as Jesus Himself forced the demon called Legion to be cast out of the man in the cemetery.
.....In both the Old Testament and New Testament we find a person's name being changed. Example Abram and his wife Sari were renamed "Abraham" and "Sarah" at the institution of the Abrahamic covenant. (Genesis17:4,17:15. Simon was renamed Peter by Jesus when he was given the Keys to Heaven, and also when Saul's name was changed to Paul after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
.....Throughout the Bible, characters are given names at birth that signifies or describes the course of their lives. For example: Solomon meant peace, and the king with that name was the first whose reign was completely without war. Likewise Joseph who had been sold into slavery by his brothers, names his firstborn son Manasseh (Hebrew: "causing to forget") Genesis 41:51); when Joseph also said, "God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father's family."
.....Native American's would name their children, of which often took a great deal of time after a significant event, a physical malady, or even an animal. From then on that was their singular identification.
There is great deal of significance as you have just heard in a name. Jesus was named by God Himself as spoken through the words of the angel who visited Mary, when being told she would bear a child of the Most High and to name Him Jesus, which is pronounced just as it sounds, 'JEE-zus,' also' hay-SOOS.' It is of course Hebrew in origin, and its meaning is "the Lord of Salvation." It is a short form of Joshua; from the Hebrew name Jehoshua, which is also derived from Jehovah or Yeshua. All having to do with salvation.
.....There are many Title names given to Jesus, and in fact I am going to tell you what many of them are.
Almighty One..."who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty Rev. 1:8
Alpha and Omega - "I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13
Advocate - "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin, But, if anybody does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One." 1 John 2:1
Bread of Life - "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the Bread of Life. Whoever come to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
Beloved Son of God - "And behold a voice from heaven said, "This is My Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3:17
Bridegroom - "And Jesus said to them "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from then, and then they will fast." Matt.9:15
Chief Cornerstone - "The stone which the builders have rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone." Ps. 118:22
Deliverer - "And to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." 1 Thess.1:10
Lamb of God - "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward Him and said, "Look, the Lam of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Jn.1:29
Light of the World - "I am the Light of the World, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have Light of Life." John 8:12
Savior - "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
     That is but eleven of the over 50 names ascribed to Jesus in regards to the Titles bestowed on Him.
Here are some others, but I will not in telling you them give the Scripture references, but I do have them all.
Faithful and True
Great High Priest
Head of the Church
Holy Servant
I Am
Immanuel
Indescribable Gift
Judge
King of Kings
Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Lord of All
Mediator
Messiah
Might One
One Who Sets Free
Our Hope
Peace
Prophet
Redeemer
Risen Lord
Rock
Sacrifice for Our Sins
Son of Man
Son of the Most High
Supreme Creator Over All
Resurrection and the Life
The Door
The Way
The Word
True Vine
Truth
Victorious One
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
                   And last….Jesus
Do you close your prayers with something like, “In Jesus’ Name, Amen?”
…..You may word it a little differently. But many of us will use some formula to indicate that our prayer is in the name of Jesus. Where do we get this? Is it biblical? What does it mean to pray in Jesus name?
    First, it is Scriptural.
            John 14:13 “And whatsoever you will ask in My name, that I will do, in order that the Father will be glorified in the Son.”
            John 16:24 “Up to this point in time, you have asked nothing in My name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
…..There are other verses as I said in the beginning that repeats these words in a variety of ways, but in identical intention.
…..In these two and other verses, that in all of them Jesus tells His disciples to pray to the Father in His name. But is this just a formula or is there something more to it? In order to get to the bottom of praying in the name of Jesus, we have already considered these three things. :

The biblical concept of a name
The importance of God’s name, and
What it means to act in someone else’s name, the name of the Lord

…..In Scripture we have come to understand there is a much deeper significance given in a name that what we attribute a name to. For a name often represents the very essence of the person. A person’s personality, character, reputation and authority are all wrapped up in his or her name.
Given the events of the last weeks with Supreme Court candidate Judge Kavanaugh, and the charges brought against him, he spoke during his hearing of His name being slandered for life by these accusations. I am not here to debate this horrible situation or pass judgement, but I and you certainly understand the gravity and depth of what is happening and should be praying for all involved.
Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver or gold.”
The importance of God’s name and the name of our Lord is of extraordinary value. That is why it is so often exalted above all other names, for it is a declaration of the greatness of His person.
     Psalm 8:1 – as one example: “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who has set Your glory above the heavens.
     Psalm 148:13, “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.”
….There is a lot to this, and unfortunately I can’t take as much time as I would like to with this subject.
…..Jesus told us that we are to use His name when we approach God in prayer. So applying Jesus name to praying to God it first means that when we come to the Father, we come because Jesus sent us and told us how to do so. It is not simply our idea….it came from the Lord Himself.
…..Another is that the Father is obligated to treat us as He would His own Son because we come in His stead. We represent the Son when we come to the Father.
         Ephesians 1:5-6 reads, “Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace….wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. We are now….children, literally of God.
….In our times of serious prayer about a particular request, spell this out. Acknowledge that we are unworthy on our own to approach Him, but through Christ we can come without hesitation to make our requests known, for He already knows them…but desires that we communicate with Him about them. This establishes our relationship with our Father through His only begotten Son. It also affirms that we come only in the name of the Lord.
     Romans 8:32, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not through Him also freely give us that which we are coming to Him for.”
     Coming to God “in the name of Jesus” as my sermon is titled today assures us that we will be heard. The outcome….only He knows, but He will give us what is needed to come through victoriously in the way that is best, and sometimes that best is beyond our own understanding.
      Come in humility, but also in faith and in strength.
      It is not about formula….it is about the condition of our heart and mind when we come. Our attitude is important. In Jesus name…..we come to Him.
                               Amen

the Little Church in the Pines
MACKS INN ~ ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
SERMON ~ Savior
Tom Shanor, Pastor
   1st. Timothy 4:9-10, "This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work so hard and continue to struggle for our 'hope' is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly all believers."
   Titus 2:12b -13, "We should live in this evil world, with both wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with 'hope' to the wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
   Put on your classroom brain today, for this is not so much preaching as it is a teaching time, meaning I am going to want you to think as hopefully, you follow along. I will be focusing primarily on three aspects of my topic. The first of course being Savior, another salvation, and the third soul, and not necessarily in that order on the second two.
   The meaning of Savior is the simplest of the three to grasp, and hopefully you have already understood and grasped the vital importance of both the need and acceptance of The Savior.
   Savior in its simplest meaning is a person who saves, rescues or delivers from harm or death....and in the case of Christianity....from hell and eternal death of the soul. A redeemer...is one who redeems us by standing in our stead from the consequences of sin.... hence, He saves our souls, and gives us a future with Him and eternally in heaven.
   Being a Savior of any kind is risky, sometimes frightening, brave, dangerous and even a lonely calling.... fraught with enemies. In the case of Jesus, the Savior, who for a period of time Himself, felt abandoned by God the Father, and even those who followed Him during the discipleship years, who while on that cross, as we remember cried out to His Father in Matthew 27:46, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" That period for Him was of more agony in Spirit, than the physical torture and pain He suffered from His first beating up unto that time.
   In order for there to be a Savior there has to be a need of one. What brought todays' topic to my mind, as I explain it to you sounds a bit superfluous but bear with me.
    I was watching the latest Superman movie late the other night. Superman had just returned from Krypton or what was left of it, having been gone five years, and was visiting Lois on the top of a high building. At one point (having felt abandoned by him), in their discussion which was not good, she told him, she and the world did not need a Savior, and if it did it would not be him. He was taken aback by her tone as much as her words.
   He asked her if he could take her somewhere to see something, and at first she said no, then after more discussion agreed. She stepped on his feet.... wrapped her arms around him and they then rose very slowly above the city. Higher and higher...to where no sounds could be heard. They both looked down, and he asked her what do you hear? She listened and then said I can't hear a noise of any kind. Superman then said, I hear everything, everything.... the cries for help, the cries of those in pain, the cries of those lost and abandoned, I hear them all. He said I am not your Savior, and I can't save them all or answer them all, but I will do all that I can to help those who need help.
   Think of Jesus our Savior who is The Savior, who hears all the individual voices crying out in the wilderness of their souls. Those abandoned, those in pain, those lonely ones, those who have lost hope of any kind. Us. All of humanity....and the question is in hearing all these voices he at times intercedes and then at other times he asks us to intercede for Him. He said to the disciples...go forth, teaching all nations and peoples about me, heal the sick and raise the dead. Minister to those in need and in despair.
    The day is coming that all things will once again be set right in the world, but that day and hour we do not know....and meanwhile, He asks us to participate with Him in reaching within and without to those around us and around the world. Can you imagine hearing all those cries and feeling all that pain. The Savior lives within us and can be our own Comforter, our own wisdom dispenser.... our own personal Savior.
   A Savior is needed because, we also have a soul which is temporarily housed by this ageing body. We need a Savior because of our mortality and because of sin and its effect on body, soul, and society.
    Follow me on this next subject of the soul as it gets a bit deep. Most Christians understand the soul as an 'ontological' reality distinct from, yet integrally connected with the body. (ontological is an adjective and relates to the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of 'being' of knowing, of substance, of cause, of identity, time and space).
    The characteristics of the soul are described in moral, spiritual, and philosophical terms. Souls have sensations and thoughts, desires and beliefs, and perform intentional actions. Souls are essential part of being human, and according to Christian eschatology, when people die, their souls will be in the presence of God. As Jesus said to the one thief crucified alongside of him..."today, you will be with me in Paradise."
   Augustine, one of western Christianity's most influential early Christian thinkers, described the soul as "a special substance, endowed with reason, adapted to rule the body". According to Creationism in Christianity, each individual soul is created directly by God, either at the moment of conception or some later time.
   It is the essence or engine that runs the machine....us. The soul and its resultant actions are what we see in each other manifested by our behavior, including our words, whether in private or public. What we see is what we are, yet in Christ....as our Savior, not only does He redeem our soul, he replaces the engine over time, within us.... with Himself. We are given a fresh start in Him....and for some of us (such as myself) it is an ongoing process that I know will last my entire life.
   In 1901 Duncan MacDougall conducted an experiment in which he made weight measurements of patients as they died. He claimed that there was weight loss of varying amounts at the time of each death; which he concluded the average weight of the soul as 21 grams, and there are 28.35 grams in one ounce, therefore the soul weighs just less than one ounce. I would say Mr. MacDougall had a rather sensitive scale for the year 1901. For a thing of capable of such magnitude it weighs remarkable little.
   The soul is mentioned for the first time in the Bible in Deuteronomy 6:5, where it says, "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all your strength. "
   Over half the verses that speak of the soul also mention the heart.
   Mark 8:36 & 37, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
   Mark 12:30 repeats by Jesus, "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all your strength."
   In John 12:27, Jesus says, "Now my soul is deeply troubled."
   Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between the soul and spirit."
The spirit.... often overlaps in description with the soul. Spirit like the soul is supernatural and can take on a physical manifestation unlike the soul which cannot.... but can be housed in a spirit.
This bring us to Salvation.
   This one in explanation is much easier than the soul. In Christianity, salvation is saving the soul from sin and its consequences. It may also be called "deliverance: or "redemption" from sin and its effects. Sin is not only mentioned in Judaism and Christianity but other religions as well, as it always has a moral source. Right and wrong and good and bad.
   Salvation historically, is considered to be caused either by grace of a deity (i.e. unmerited and earned); by the independent choices of a free will and personal effort (i.e. earned and/or merited; or by some combination of the two. Christianity emphasizes the necessity of both personal effort...for example repentance and asceticism.... sourced with divine action...again (grace). Love that word.... perhaps my favorite!!!
   At the heart of our Christian faith is the reality and hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Christian faith is faith in the God of salvation revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. The Christian tradition has always equated this salvation with the transcendent, eschatological fulfillment of human existence, in a life freed from sin, finitude, and mortality and united with the triune God. This is the non-negotiable item of our Christian faith.
   What has changed and been a matter of debate is what is sin and what is not. If you read historically.... that has changed from culture to culture relating to our acceptance and denial of the importance of those changes, including our activities in the world.
   On a simple note....at one time and probably still is in some religious cultures, card playing was sin, gambling of any kind was sin, smoking was sin, dancing was sin, not going to church was sin, even going to movies and reading comic books was sin....these of this ilk are simply stupid....and to find sin, look at the 10 commandments...and even there as an example observing the seventh day and keeping it holy, was changed with Christianity, which decreed Sunday, the first day of the week as the day of worship observances.
...So, we have the Savior Jesus the Christ, we have the existence of the soul and what it is, and last, Salvation and what it is and means to us.
....Feel like you've been to class today? I hope so.....
Do think of how important these three are to our faith, your faith and if indeed you both believe in and adhere to these core beliefs.
Savior, Soul and Salvation

A PSLAM OF LIFE by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tell me not in mournful numbers,
   “Life is but an empty dream!”
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
    And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
   And the grave is not its goal;
“Dust thou art, to dust returnest,”
   Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
   Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
   Finds us further than to-day!       Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
  MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
SERMON ~ "THE DISCIPLINE OF LISTENING"
by Pastor Tom Shanor
September 16, 2018

Proverbs 18:13 "Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
Luke 10:39-40 "Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught.
We know what happened next....in that Martha complained to Jesus that Mary should be helping her in the food preparations, but Jesus surprised her by saying that Mary was doing the right thing at that time, and the under current was that Martha should do the same.
We often get caught up in the 'moment' or so caught up in our own projects, or simply in our own thoughts, as to not grasp the more important things that are happening at that time.
This morning....I am sure you are fresh, alert and both eager and ready to listen to me and this message I have prepared for you....which undoubtedly has the potential to change your life!! It is my one half hour a week to delight, enhance, and teach you all that you need to know. Have a little fun, some seriousness, and challenge you...and myself into a deeper spiritual understanding of Scripture, worship and truth.
Now...please understand the delight and enhance part of that statement was 'tongue in cheek', a little bit of that humor I just spoke of. This is a serious topic and one I think we all really need to think about and as is often the case...one of my main goals here is to cause you to think! In order to challenge yourself to do so....you first have to listen to what is being said....hopefully not distracted to the point of distraction because of your next trip, or fishing expedition, or hunting....or ATV ride, or, or, or!
Jesus said in John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life."
He also said in Matthew 13:12, "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are NOT listening , even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."
My title for this message this morning includes the word "discipline", which of course is included in the word "disciple", which tell us that the two go hand in hand in intent and meaning. To be a disciple of Christ is to be a man or woman of discipline.
So..lets look at the word "discipline". I am going to spend a little bit of time on this word.
Discipline is action or inaction that is regulated to be in accordance (or to achieve accord) with a system of governance. It is commonly applied to regulating both human and animal behavior.
So are we have action, inaction, regulated, accord & governance, with more to come.
Discipline is also applied to each activity-branch in ALL branches of organized human activity, knowledge, and almost all other fields of study and even observation. Discipline can be a set of expectations that re required by any governing activity including religion, churches, self, groups, classes, fields, industries, societies...etc.
Discipline brings order, prevents chaos and with it focus, which enhances life, study and the pursuit of happiness.
Discipline in listening....is critical to personal growth and relationships from the most intimate to the most remote. I get (if you so choose) 1/336th of your week to speak to you about spiritual matters. 1/336th. So, in my preparation it is part of my goal to number 1, stick to the point on which I am speaking, and number 2. have it count. I try to make it interesting, factual and applicable. I do not always succeed, but I do try.
I attend the "Old Men's Breakfast" every Thursday, except when I can't for some reason. With over 30 guys there at one table it can be a bit noisy, and being 73, my hearing (or lack of) inhibits a certain measure of my communication abilities. Well, anyway, all of us seem to have many stories and illustrations to tell on any number of topics....hence there is not the hum of voices, but often, except when eating, a cacophony of voices as we all sit at one loooong table.
My main point is....listening is difficult, but included in that difficulty I noticed that I myself, and then noticed that others were doing the same. That is....at some point in most of the stories or topics being discussed that I too had something to say....and that when that came to my mind, I had stopped listening to "the rest of their story" but now being ready to tell my own, I was putting it together in my mind. So instead of focused listening to completion....all I heard was blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Listening is a learned discipline. We often miss important parts of conversations or even in reading a book or article, because a trigger of some kind came along and off we went. It could be prejudice based, experiential based, emotional based, intellectually based, etc., based. We should have the courtesy and discipline to listen to someone to the end....unless of course they are someone who loves to hear themselves pontificate on a given subject. Then...in recognition of that, they can and should be shut down.
James 1:19, he says, "Everyone should be quick to listen; show to speak".
...Remember Matthew 121:12-13, "to those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But..for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have, will be taken from them.
...In order to understand some of Jesus's teaching, as he spoke in parables, you really had to listen, for those who did, because they were receptive to what he was saying, eager to hear what he was saying and had the attitude of listening....they were able to understand and grasp what he was telling them.
...It is our responsibility and attitude when listening, towards both the speaker and the content of what is being spoken, for only then can we hear, really hear and learn...IF we want to.
..Listening closely is also is a safeguard if someone is teaching, speaking or professing lies instead of truths, especially in spiritual matters. Two years ago I had that happen to me at a leadership conference. One person who was speaking on church life and growth...actually said that we no longer "had to believe certain truths in order to be Christians". My spiritual hearing from that point on...really went into high frequency, and all along the way, there were both subtle and overt things said that if allowed to, would change the face of Christianity within the Methodist Church....and I was disturbed.
...The book of James may well we the earliest of the New Testament letters, written in the year A.D. 48. This letter was written by the Lord's half-brother James, who became one of the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem. James addressed this letter to Christians then and now. He wrote it to teach Christians the 'practice of Christianity'. he emphasizes that IF we have a genuine faith, we will show it by acting like Christians. James gives practical advice on things like anger and quarreling, showing favoritism, controlling the tongue, boasting, patience and prayer...and last of all, listening.
...God made us to be relational people. We have within us (most of us) a longing to be in relationship...some with a few, some with many...as we are all different....and, rare is the man or woman who chooses to live in complete isolation and those who do are often damaged people, who in the long run would benefit highly from human interaction.
...Next to a good relationship with God, that which can give us the most happiness or even contentment is not wealth, not travel, not a Sony Plasma, high definition, 50" curved screen, smart TV...rather, it is a good relationship with another person....and foremost with the Lord our God.
...The reverse is also true, in that which can give us the most heartache and anxiety, is not that Sony, or finances, or health issues, but a relationship that is very strained or even gone bad. A good and healthy relationship with God through Jesus Christ is a treasure to be treasured....but it takes work, discipline, communication, listening, willing to compromise, willing to care...willing to give of ourselves....and also willing to receive.
...Yours and my friendships, our marriages, our relationships, all of these are built up and through the "discipline of listening". To listen is to love and to strengthen the connection.
...I am now going to break all this down to two focuses, which maybe I should have done from the beginning and saved you all this time, all that of the 1/336th time period I have with you in teaching.
     #1. Listening is a form of love. By listening, we put aside our agenda and we take a break from what we are doing or thinking. and give our attention to the other person. Listening requires selflessness and humility. It is again a manifestation of love, and love is the very foundation support of all relationships.
     #2. Listening shows we care. Listening shows we want to understand what the other person, including myself, having prepared a sermon/message for you...in listening to what I have to share as I feel it is from the Lord to me to you.
            It is an affirmation of a person's self-worth, including mine. We need to know what each other is feeling and thinking. Needing to take those into account. Not condemning, but listening even closer, taking in what is being said. NOT listening sends the message....that we really don't care.
...Years ago...me in a hurry to meet with the men in the church, one of my daughters wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She hurriedly began, "Dad, I want to tell yo something...and I will tell you really fast!" As I realized her own desire to talk to me and her frustration knowing I was in a hurry....I stopped, looked at her and said, "Megs, you can tell me...and you don't have to tell me really fast. Talk to me.....I love you.
...Sunday mornings are sometimes like that for me, and I hope and pray that I have not brushed any of you off in your desire to speak with me. Forgive me if I have.....you are very important to me, all of you, and I am trying to use of the art of discipline in listening to learn to slow down and make myself available.
                                    God bless you all...everyone one! Amen

The Little Church in the PINES
MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, ID.
September 9, 2018
Sermon ~ YOU, YES YOU!
By;, Pastor Tom Shanor
John 15:12-16 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ‘You are my friends’…(if) …you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you!” It is both comforting and reassuring to be called friends by the Lord of the Universe. Because however it was done in the creation of humanity…He is our Creator. Where He states “You didn’t choose me, I chose you,” He is referring to specifically His disciples in this instance, but He also chose us, all of us, everywhere, because He died for all of humanity, and that we who in turn choose Him as Lord and Savior, have not only eternal life with Him….but life here on this planet, abundantly. A full life…..enriched and enhanced through both difficult and good times, that we are (those of us who respond to Him)….blessed over and above those who reject Him. I am going to assume (hopefully correctly) that we all have friends or at least one. We also know that we use the word somewhat in the same manner that we do love….in that there are different focuses and different measures of both love and friendship. Each also has different levels of emotion attached. Friendship, for those of you who are curious as to the formal description of friendship know that it is always relational and it take at least two to form a friendship. It is something that is felt as well as described, in that there is always mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than just an association. Friendship has been studied (of course) in academic fields such as communication, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and philosophy, but not in regards to being a friend of God. In that God by science has not yet been proven or disproven to exist, how therefore (according to them) can it be logically studied? Here are some of the characteristics of a good and deep friendship.
1. Affection or love
2. Kindness
3. Virtue
4. Sympathy when needed
5. Honesty and Loyalty
6. Mutual understanding
7. Trust and the ability to be oneself without judgement
8. To be able to share our deepest thoughts and feelings
Friends are important and a wonderful part of life. In seminary, Dr. Howard Hendricks is quoted as saying, “Two things will most influence where you will be in ten years out of seminary: the books you read and the friends you make.” He added, “choose them both very carefully!” Now of course, Facebook has changed the whole meaning of friending and unfriending, but I think I will stick to the original intent and meaning. For those of us who call Jesus our Friend above all friends, it is a reciprocal relationship, and the more time we spend cultivating that relationship the closer we ‘feel’ to Him. The closer we feel and the more we communicate, the more clearly we can both hear and feel His Presence. His Spirit, the Holy Spirit is a part of that relationship because He communicates through the Spirit to us often. At times we just ‘know’ clearly that it is He who is speaking to us when often decisions are to be made. He also communicates with us and we with Him through prayer, meditation, reading His teachings and by other means such as Bible studies and discussions. As I previously read in John 15:12-15, these words are written. “This is my COMMANDMENT, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love ha no one that this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This I COMMAND you, that you love one another.” In the church we started in Lander, Wyoming now 23 years ago, I had several people who had been coming several months said to me. “When are you going to stop preaching on love, as it is in almost everything you speak on”? My answer…”when you understand, get and apply it, then I will stop.” You see, repetition is the key to learning, especially learning something that is not always easy to learn, and one can learn to love. It takes more than one hammer blow to sink a nail all the way to the head. It takes more than saying it once, twice or a hundred times, or sometimes more, for us to learn to love one another, for some of us are sometimes, somewhat unlovable. He hammered on this commandment often and hard because He wanted them and us to remember this one thing……because in this commandment….it is NOT an option, as commandments go….none of them are an option. A COMMANDMENT is something that must be obeyed! With obedience in this arena come benefits. Many! His love dispels and disperses anger, resentment, depression, jealousy, rage, vindictiveness, retaliation and more, and because love is primarily a commitment and a feeling, it can be commanded. The bible does command certain feelings, for example, “Rejoice always.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Or, “be anxious for nothing” Philippians 4:6. And love should not and cannot be devoid of feelings. It is a caring commitment; for people should feel our genuine feelings for them. Even when we don’t “feel” especially loving, we need to obey His commandment by sacrificing our own feelings for them, and for Him since He has shown us what to do and how to do it. What does the Lord require of us….Micah 6:8. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good; and this is and what He requires of you: to do what is right, to LOVE mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Every once in a while we will read a story about someone who literally sacrificed his or her life to save someone else, maybe on the battlefield or to rescue a drowning person, or to save someone inside a burning building. Then there are those who even for a complete stranger donate blood, or even a kidney, and sometimes the heart of a loved one who died quickly, and often tragically to another person in need. The kind of Love Christ showed us and the world on that cross so long ago, is the kind of love he desires that we example by doing the same. Forgiveness without being asked to forgive. A song…………….. Amazing love, how can it be….that you my king would die for me Amazing love, I know it’s true, and it’s my joy to honor you, in all I do, I honor But sadly, the church has often failed on this matter. Years ago, a man named Leslie Flynn wrote a book with an intriguing title, “Great Church Fights”. I’m pretty sure that he had to choose his material selectively, because there are and continue to be both small and great fights, often over stupid things….one being this, “that is the way we’ve always done it and we are not going to change it.” In saying this and other things like it….we just threw in the first shovel full of resistance into the death of the church. That does not mean every time someone desire change we do it….it means we consider prayerfully and thoughtfully about what we can change to revitalize the church. Jesus was and is the greatest advocate and force for change in the world. Especially when it comes to changing a person. …..Back to John 15:14 “You are my friends IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND YOU! That my friends, does not mean just love….but a myriad of other things such as mentioned before…it would behoove us to spend some time in reading a red letter edition of the New Testament to thoughtfully think and meditate on simply the teaching of Jesus Himself. They…His teaching will change your life, and no doubt for the better…by far. Our greatest and deepest calling is to be LIKE HIM in every way. For us, as Believers, there are two main areas for showing Christ’s love though us. One is in the church and the other is in the world. If we can’t do it here….among fellow Christians how will we ever succeed outside these walls. We are not perfect….by any measuring rod, and we will never be while in this world, but we can be like Him if we truly want to be. It will mean sacrificing some of our desires and wants….it will mean often putting others first. It will mean giving when it is sometimes a sacrifice to give. It will mean giving a blessing instead of grumbling, it will mean lifting someone up instead of tearing them down. It will mean looking for the good instead of the faults. It will mean putting an arm around someone in the natural you are not drawn to, and asking what, if anything you can do for them. It will mean not thinking more highly of yourself than you should, never thinking and acting as though you are better than anyone. It will mean…being a friend. We could all say by experience say, “you don’t know…you don’t know how difficult that person is to be around, let alone love, and I will respond, Oh yes I do! You may be right…I don’t know, but I know the One who does know, because He experienced it deeply and He said love your enemies and do good to those who hate you….and I will add, or simply annoy you! Don’t expect perfection out of anyone….unless you have managed to achieve it yourself. I know…I know…you have heard me say this often and I have to admit I at times fail to do what I preach…but fortunately I am forgiven when I do fail, lifted up and try again…by discipline and by choice to do the right thing, and you….you should do the same. He calls us all to bear good fruit, not be one. We Christians are supposed to be known by our love, not our rhetoric and condemnation of others. We don’t know enough to be in that position especially given the condition of the world we live in today. Some of us even have the gall to think that if everyone thought like we did, and came to the same conclusions and decisions as us, all would be right in the world. NOT! So friends, I leave you with this. Would Jesus call you His Friend? He would if you are loving others, especially those in your home and church. He would if you are seeking to obey His commandments. He would if you are growing to understand the truths revealed by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures you are to live by. And He would if you knew and acted on the truth that He chose you to bear fruit that remains, and you’re seeking to bear that fruit through both prayer and actions. YOU….YES YOU! Now, after having said this previous paragraph, I am going to say that there is really no If in regards to Christ’s love for you. If is simply not in the equation. His love is like grace, in that like love it is freely given, and all the good we do is because we love Him, not to earn our way to Him. We do good because we desire to be like Him and because of our love for Him. He love you and me because He is love….it’s just that simple. YOU….YES YOU are the reason and object of His love……Selah

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
September 2nd, 2018
"The Power and Greatness of God"
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
   The Bible reveals a God so great that we cannot compare anything or any god to Him. Still....we can learn a great deal by meditating on what we read of the portrait painted of Him in His Holy Scriptures some of which I will read.
   We...in and through Scripture, reading in both the Old and the New Testaments combined, see a revelation of Him that at times seems at odds. What we must remember is that the two combined Testaments reveal a more complete picture, as we move from the Old to the New. Though in the Old Testament He comes across often in a Warrior, King like manner, and where in the New Testament the revelation is more personal, more grace-filled, with the essence of the Message of Jesus, God.....that of Love, forgiveness, mercy, restoration and kindness, equally as powerful as revealed in Christ.
   What does God say about Himself in Isaiah 40:15-17. "Behold, the nations are as a drop in the bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn., not it's beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. Please remember here that God is speaking to the Jewish nation that thinks more highly of itself being a “chosen” people than it should. He is attempting to put them in their place, as well as having them fully understand His position.
   This is one of those times I spoke of that is at odds when given the revelation of who He presents Himself to be through Christ, yet that is not the case. The essence of what He is saying here is that they exist only because of Him, and because of Him and His greatness He can do as He chooses.....but His deep desire is to do as Jesus spoke on His way to the Cross, as He looked over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 "How often I have wanted to gather your children together as hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you would not let me" That is a greatness greater than that of the Warrior/King ....for Jesus said if we want to be great ourselves, this is the way, "for the (greatest) among YOU must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves shall be exalted." Matthew 23:11-12.
...He is great and greatly to be praised....but we, mere men and women find our greatness we are told, in serving, just as our Lord Jesus Christ by example showed us how to be....like Him.
...In Isaiah 55:9 we read, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thought than your thoughts."
...Psalm 47:2, "For the Lord Most High is to be feared. A great King over all the earth."
...Nehemiah 1:5, I said, "I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the Great and awesome God!
...I believe we have lost much of the understanding of what this fear in regards to God means, and is, and why would God want us to fear Him. Well, when we grasp its meaning we will understand, and here it is.
...The fear of God is living in respect, awe, and submission to God.
             1. Respect ~ a positive feeling and sometimes action shown towards someone or even something considered important or great. They or it, is held in high esteem, conveying a sense of admiration and deference by honoring them in a variety of ways.
          2. Awe ~ again, a feeling of reverential respect, mixed with both fear and wonder of the great power God possesses.
          3. Submission ~ to willingly put ourselves under the authority or power of someone else, or deity, and is usually deemed mandatory or obligatory. The failure to do so puts one outside not only a place to serve, but outside the protection offered.
Again, I truly believe.....we have a much shallower understanding of the Greatness of God, and a lack of the reverential awe, respect and submission that comes with knowing and understanding Him. We, in our own spiritual culture have in a sense brought God down more to our level, making Him more like us, than fully understanding who He is, and that is wrong. There is written in both the Old and New Testaments revelation to invalidate that kind of thinking....if we take those Scriptures seriously.
Why in the first place would we want or worship or defer to a God that looks and sounds like us! To revere and worship a God, I choose for God to be far beyond me in every way. This gives me hope, light and life, in that when I need God and call out to God....I know He is there and hears my every prayer, because I know my weaknesses and foibles.
                                        THINK ABOUT IT.................
...Another way to understand more about God's greatness is to study the incredible characteristics of this world we live in. The Apostle Paul said God's glory and power are shown in the physical creation. "For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20), not understanding the magnificence of our World, Galaxy and Universe.
...Einstein, though not a believer in a personal God, was a deist. He believed in a Supreme intelligence of design behind the Universe and on a question of sub-atomic physics, he once responded that God, "does not play dice with the Universe."
These are some of the scientists who no longer alive believed in the Biblical God.
1. Nicholas Copernicus
2. Sir. Francis Bacon
3. Galileo Galilei
4. Rene Descartes
5. Blaise Pascal
6. Isaac Newton
7. Gregor Mendel
8. Robert Boyle
9. Michael Faraday
10. William Thomson Kelvin
These are the Fathers of today’s scientists.
I then researched scientists who today....high up in their fields of science believe in both God and Christ...the list included hundreds for highly respected Scientists. Hundreds.
I have chosen two to mention.
Robert T. Baker – paleontologist who was a leading figure in the Dinosaur Renaissance and known for the theory that some dinosaurs were warm blooded. He is also a Pentecostal Preacher who advocates the "deist evolution". also having written much on religion, especially Christianity.
The second is Lindov Eaves, British Behavioral geneticist who has published on topics as diverse as heiratibility of religion and psychopathology. In 1966 he and Kenneth Kendles founded Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at Virginia University, where he is currently professor emeritus.
There were lists of Scientists who believe in God in this list of categories and as I said, there are hundreds.
1. Physics of Astronomy
2. Earth Sciences
3. Engineering
4. Biological and Bio Medical Science
5. And many more...........................
And consider our sun. It is an amazingly powerful source of energy. With the sun, earth would be a frozen rock, desolate. According to NASA, "During a single second, the sun converts 4 million tons of matter into pure energy." That's "about equal to 90 billion megatons every second. The entire power generating capacity of the earth equals about 60,000 megatons a year, so in one second....one second, the Sun produces over a million years' worth of energy for the earth.
...In Romans 11:33 Paul extols God's greatness: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out!" We are in discovery mode, while He is in dispensing mode.
The more scientists look into life, the more complexity they find. The number of stars in the Universe is really unknown, since every time we look into deep space, we find still more stars. It is estimated that with a rough estimate, there are 10 trillion galaxies in the Universe. Multiplying that by the Milky Way's estimated 100 billion stars, results in a stupefying number that again, by rough estimate exist. 100 octillion stars, or (a "1" with 29 zeros following it.
...No wonder God says, "To whom then will you liken God?" (Isaiah 40:18)
...Did you know that there are 6.5 million species of anamals.
...2.2 million know species of aquatics
...100,000 species of trees
...391,000 species of plants
...10,000 species of birds not counting sub-species
...8.7 million at last count of insects
From the mite to the Mighty...the largest mammal, the sperm whale, the Lord God by...evolutionary design, or by any other means is Mighty, is Himself Great and Mighty is our God!
As I meditate on God, and on Jesus Christ, and on this planet under my feet. As I ponder the great enormity of it all.....how in God's name, could I ever be arrogant, puffed up, think too highly of myself. I am not the center of the universe as I am a very tiny speck on the face of this world we live in. I am continually humbled by what I see every day, what I hear, what I feel, sense and comprehend.
...a very simple song says these words. Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift me up. Things go wrong every day, and things go right every day....and If I consider myself the center of my world, I am making a tragic mistake. "For it is in God, that I live and move and have my being." I can therefore no longer be offended, no longer be arrogant in the limited knowledge I have....I, like you, must submit myself to the Lord our God. Religion is for the religious....faith is for the individual who has a healthy perspective of who he or she is, and then we will have lived a life worth living.
                           THNK ABOUT THIS...............................
...God Himself saved the best for last for you and I...and that best is both belief and faith, in both His greatness as Warrior/King and His humility as shown in Jesus Christ, who sets the example as to how we are to live. It in all its mystery and majesty is really simple....if we but believe in Him and live as He calls us to live.
...I leave you with these two questions. Who are you to God, and who is God to you? This is for you to come to terms with, and there is a lot of direction and information given to us to help us with our last best decision.
                                                                          Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
mack's inn, island park, idaho
August 26, 2018
sermon ~ "assurance" (Hebrews 11:1)
by Tom Shanor, Pastor
   When “I” find it difficult to live by my faith in 'assurance' of that faith, I then have to live my beliefs by adherence to the truth’s I know! Adherence as such, perhaps illustrated as an example, aquatic muscles adhering to the bottom of a boat, where even at great speeds they cannot be dislodged by the water pushing against them. But....I much prefer to live my faith by assurance.
   Let's first understand (though we peripherally know what assurance is) that in its spiritual meaning, carries with it a deeper understanding that is good for us to know and put into practice.
   It truly is a term exceptionally rich when it comes to our faith and spiritual application. It signifies the joyous, unwavering confidence of an intelligent faith as applied in trust by our adherence to in our daily lives.
The original words have to do with the heart of a vital religion. One which supports and lifts us up. Jesus repeatedly used the word "amen" to express the trustworthiness and truthfulness of His sayings & teachings, in full assurance that they were truths to live by and trust in, and in doing so, we are assured we are on the right pathway to life, both temporal and eternal.
   Amen, by the way means, “so be it”.
   Selah, which I use on occasion means, “pause and think about it, by meditating, pondering and thinking deeply.
   Back to assurance……..Genuine assurance by its nature, leads those who believe fully in His truths and teachings, to an internal place of peace, joy, love, thankfulness and much more, no matter the circumstances, as difficult as they may be, or become. We are told to "count it all joy when we are going through difficult times," for it is in those times that we not only learn who we are, but who we can become by making the right choices and adhering to the Lord through them.
   Our assurance may in various ways be shaken, diminished and even sometimes fail us, because we are human, but the principle or foundation on which it is built by us in our beliefs and faith, cannot be taken away.
   Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the 'assurance' of what we 'hope' for, the conviction of things we cannot see." That is
   Getting ready in the morning to come here at the church, with assurance and without thinking, I assume my car will start and I will arrive without a problem, but we all know….as an example, one of the squirrels living above my car in the carport roof, just may decide to chew on a few wires and it won’t start. Or packrat will construct a nest in the engine, which actually did happen to me. My assurance will have been misplaced. In Christ my assurance is never misplaced, though circumstances may attempt to tell me it is. My now long experience in life, having faith….I believe it is not, and I say that with assurance.
   Assurance, hope and conviction, are three words here in tandem, that we hold and adhere to, that make our faith work for us. Where would we be in our faith without conviction and hope? They are deeply a part of our assurance, that Christ is the Son of God, and that Christ, God and the Holy Spirit work together in making our lives both a blessing to ourselves and to others, whom we encounter every day, be they family, friends or strangers.
   Taking a strong hold of our faith and living it out as we are given instructions as how to do so is vital. Why be a peripheral Christian when we can be a manifest destiny Christian? Why live a ho-hum spiritual life when we can live a full and rich one, but a life that has purpose, meaning, vibrancy and much more. Even here in Island Park, Idaho...in this ancient caldera that in itself speaks of the vibrant roots of creation......every place we look and smell and touch speaks of power and might.
   I was awaken at around 4 in the morning Saturday before getting up to help prepare for the Pancake Breakfast, thinking about today's sermon and the word "insurance" came to me, then I thought "insurance" (what?) Then I asked myself, are there similarities not only in sound, but in meaning? And by George there are. Assurance is like insurance, for insurance is a vehicle and document that protects a person from incurring future losses, as from damage, theft, illness or even death. It is a contract that transfers the risk of a specified loss to self or another party, in exchange for the payment of a premium.
   Jesus Christ is our insurance policy, that when damage, theft, illness or even death come, we are assured by Him by belief in Him, that "all things work together for good, to those who love Him and are called through Him to a new and better life. He paid the premium, we reap the benefits of His policy, written in our name as the beneficiaries. Pretty cool.....though it cost Him a lot! Only His life.........................................
   Knowing and believing in God's written word, Holy Scripture is vital to establish the inner workings of this policy. Along with Scripture comes prayer...for the most praying people are the most assured people, because prayer is direct communication with God. It is through communication in any relationship, be it natural or spiritual, that we come to know one another intimately. That intimacy comes through discipline and work. For anything to have value it came about through knowing something deeply and through work, sometimes hard work.
   We can only speak for ourselves though.....as to how our journey develops and how our assurance is deepened. Not only can we not read the minds of others, we cannot read the Bible and understand and adhere to its truths for others, but only to and for ourselves, and by doing so take God at His word.
   Suppose someone says to you, "there was a person in our church who died last week, and left five million dollars to his housekeeper. "Well," I say in return, "I have heard of such a thing happening before, she was exceptional," and then I forget about it because it had nothing to do with me. But...suppose he says instead to me, "he left the money to you." Then I will definitely pay close attention; I say "to me?" Yes, he left it to you!" I certainly now want to know everything. So it is in regards to salvation. Scripture also says Jesus died for everyone, but no one in particular. But...the truth is He did die for everyone, including you and me in particular. In knowing a believing that, suddenly He becomes very personal and very real to us. That....is the Good News.
  HYMN.....Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine......we almost all know and love that hymn. Let's sing it Acapella!
   In the midst of a world more and more it seems, losing its foundation of assurance, as it is filled today with uneasiness, insecurity, its moral compass and more....assurance of a man or woman's security in God can be the strength that keep us from losing hope and even direction. We can and should lead authentic Christian lives, based not only on human resources, abilities (though these are good things) including ingenuity, but for us, included in those who are Believers, confidence in the caring power of God.
   Divine direction sought in the lives of we as individuals, or our community of faith is not to be likened to some superficial good luck antecdote, or magical talisman, that supposedly protects a person or place against the traumas and tragedies of human existence. "Instead, assurance in God provides our anchor of confidence and hope". (Hebrews 6:18) "In the midst of pain and sometimes sorrow, because we believers have learned the secret of casting all worries and cares on God, who in genuinely concerned for us. (1 Peter 5:7).
   St. Augustine said, "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of assured faith is to see what you believe."

                                              SELAH…..which means?

The Little Church in the pines
MACK'S INN, Island Park, Idaho
August 19, 2018
"Worry, Me Worry?"
(Matthew 5:34 ~ Philippians 4:6 & 7)
  by, Tom Shanor, Pastor
   Good Morning Church! Again! Though I have hopefully an instructive, and informative, fairly serious topic this morning, I want to start out with a bit of humor in the form of a, well, a funny little song, written and sung by one Bobby McFerrin somewhere around or in 1988. I also, as you have most likely seen within your bulletin, an insert with the words to the song, so that you (if like me, are somewhat hard of hearing) you will either be able to follow along, or if you care to, sing along.   Also, since we are somewhat limited in our technology, I will be holding my I-Phone up to the mike, which is another reason for the insert. START
   I do find myself singing it spontaneously during the day on occasion, and it does make me smile. If things get more serious then I pray……………………
   You might just keep that insert in your wallet or pocket, so you can pull it out and sing it, especially when you are alone in your car, or perhaps you might even want to sing a duet with your spouse, or even a friend driving down the highway! I also have a handout for you at the end of the service, that you also could keep with you, reminding you to pray instead of worry.
   Here we go, starting off with Matthew 5:34, with Jesus speaking these words to us, "can any of you add one hour to your span of life, therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worry . Today's trouble is enough for today." WOW, if that isn’t true.
                                     I say....amen to that wisdom!

Now from Philippians 4:6 & 7, these being Paul's words, "Don't worry about anything: instead pray about everything. Then....you will experience God's Peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His Peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus!
   The definition for worry, in its more than several manifestations, and then we will come back to not only the Scripture just spoken, but others as well.
   Worry refers to the thoughts, images and emotions that are negative, or non-productive in nature, and are often repetitive, such as uncontrollable racing thinking, and that by thinking, and thinking and re-thinking, some magic solution is suddenly going to come to us as. Worrying about a problem is far different than setting about to solve it with reason, logic, and last but not least, prayer.
   Now Ralph (you don't know Ralph) but was head over heels in trouble, and doing little to help himself in his difficult situation, worrying and worrying as could be seen in his face and body language....A friend offered him some advice, "Ralph, you've got two hands, why don't you do something." "I am" Ralph replied, "I'm wringing both of them."
                             Perhaps someone in here can relate?
   Compulsive, chronic worry becomes very problematic when it becomes obsessive.....and NEVER, EVER has a positive outcome. In fact not only does it mess with your mind, it messes with your body, causing anxiety which then leads to a breakdown of your health in many manifestations.
With this comes a partial list of the physical ramifications of obsessive worry that becomes if permitted anxiety. We may say we can’t help it….but in Christ we can. He says we can, and what He says, He means a makes a way.

We have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
2. OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Attacks
Central Nervous Syndrome
Cardio Vascular Diseases
Digestive Disorder Syndrome
Respiratory System Syndrome
Depression on a wide ranging scale of light to deep to potential suicide
Hypochondria

ON a lesser scale, headaches, muscle aches, insomnia, social isolation.
Some of you are familiar with some of them personally, secondarily and just by knowledge. It does not take long in chronic worry/anxiety to bringing them about, depending on how you face difficulties and your physiological makeup.
Knowing these things as much as we do, why do we insist on chronic worrying, that leads to anxiety, that expresses itself in such a wide and deeply impacting manner? Let it go….give it to God in Christ! Let it go! We are like a dog chewing a bone….pulverizing, gnashing of teeth…etc.
Worry also, can be both imagined or real, and to be able to tell the difference requires cognitive, thoughtful, non-anxious, prayerful thinking. Most of us live with short periods of worry without incident; indeed, a small amount of worry may be healthy in that it prompts us to take precautions (e.g., fastening a seat belt, buying insurance) or the good sense to avoid risky behaviors like the man several weeks ago who taunted a bison in Yellowstone...who as it turned out was also drunk.
   Worry and anxiety cloud our ability to think clearly or to sense that God in our circumstances, may simply be trying to tell us something, or is because of our circumstances helping us to learn a life lesson. We NEED to take the time to listen, quit wringing our hand literally or mentally and bring it in, and give it over to the One who can give us Peace amidst the most trying circumstances.
   "For God has not given a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind!!!!!" I LOVE this verse and it has helped me more than once to re-establish my foundation of faith and reason.
   The biblical word used in Hebrew for worry is (daag) and regards worry as a combined form of both fear and sorrow, which affects (nephesh,) the totality of our being. The Bible takes a fortitude-strengthening approach regarding worrying e.g. Psalm 94, "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul."
   Similarly James 12:2-4 motivate us to face trials of any kind with JOY, because if done so, they produce endurance (strength and courage). Further Peter reveals his understanding of healthy living in Second Peter, "We have sure hope...this a a cause of great joy for us."
   Often in worrying, we create or build walls, sometimes very strong, almost insurmountable ones.
One day John Wesley was walking with a trouble man who expressed his doubt as to the goodness of God. He said, "I do not know what I will do with all this worry and trouble." At the same moment Wesley saw a cow looking over a stone wall. Do you know, "asked Wesley, " why that cow is looking over the wall?" “No I don’t” said the man. Wesley said, "The cow is looking over the wall because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble...look over it at the One who wants to walk with you through all your anxiety and worry. He will give you insight and even clarity into your situation and what you can learn in and from it.”
   So…what do you think? Consider the people both Jesus and Paul were talking and writing to. Some of those actually many, of those faced daily persecution and some death by persecution for their beliefs. This topic, to both men was serious business, and for different reasons and in a different spiritual climate (for the time being) than we have today.
   How many of you get a kick out of worry and anxiety? How many of you really like the feelings associated with these? How many of you know how to if not rid yourself of them, at least can diminish the clamoring voices in your head? Christ, Paul, Peter and even contemporary voices call to us to take these words seriously. We have received instruction, so why are we not following them.
   A recently licensed pilot was flying his private plane on a cloudy day that had the potential for getting worse. He was not very experienced in instrument landing. When the control tower was to bring him in, he began to get panicky. Then a stern voice come over the radio, “You just obey the instructions, we’ll take care of the obstructions.”
Jesus, Paul and others say the same to us, for if it could not be done, they would not have taken the time to not only tell us it can, but they exampled doing so in their own lives. We either believe them and put it into practice, or we call them liars and walk away…continuing to worry ourselves into an early grave, or worse. A life of unfaith….or a life full of faith….and results. Is it easy….it may take some dedicated work and discipline, but in time can become a real and vital part of who we are in Him. The gift is Peace in the midst of chaos, in the midst of a storm….in the midst of changes in our lives…in the midst of illness, in the midst of sorrow and pain, loss, destruction and more, but hopefully not a loss of our love for our Redeemer and Lord, whose name is Jesus.
   Philippians 4:6 & 7…(Don’t worry….be happy) about anything: instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then…you will experience God’s Peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Him.!
The choice is mine and the choice is yours, it is just that simple.
Selah

Sermon ~ the 23rd psalm
by: Tom Shanor, Pastor
August 12, 2018
______________________________________________<>____________________________________________
   The 23rd Psalm has come to bring comfort to many, and is often used (as I did this last Thursday) in a memorial service as a part of a tribute to the wife, mother and matriarch of the family whose husband, asked me to officiate at her service. It was held in a small meadow in a grove of towering Pines. They are not a religious family, but still desired a service with a spiritual tone. I happily obliged as it gave me an opportunity to witness of God in Christ in such a setting as it was.
   The original writing of this Psalm by King David was an expression of his deep love and intimacy of his relationship with God. This love and intimacy was definately not one sided but shared by both, and expressed by both.
   It is both a love Psalm and a segment of the history of David’s and God’s relationship. It has been used as a prototype for a relationship that we are all capable of having with God, through His Son Jesus Christ.
   This relationship began after God gave the people King Saul, whom they wanted and asked for him to become their king. God gave into their request and the result was less than satisfactory, and in fact was not good. Saul, like Solomon later on became men after their own heart and desires.
~ READ PSALM 23 ~
   What exactly by definition is intimacy? Intimacy in general refers to the ‘feeling’ or the ‘emotion’ of being in a close personal association and belonging together. It is a familiar and very close affective connection with another as a result of a bond that is formed through knowledge and experience of the other.
   Genuine intimacy in human relationships required dialogue, transparency, vulnerability and is reciprocal. An intimate relationship varies according to what each individual chooses to put into that relationship and to sustain intimacy for any length of time, requires well-developed emotional and interpersonal awareness. Obviously there was not an actual physical aspect to the relationship between David and God, but it went to a deeper level sustained by both…even in David’s times of failure and sin, which I will come back to.
Before I go further….I am asking you, yes you this question. How intimate and personal is your own relationship with God, and the second question is do you have a desire to go deeper? The choice is yours and yours alone, as it was between God and David. Another question only you can answer. In honesty to first yourself…..are you capable of an intimate relationship with another human being? In asking this I am not speaking of a sexual/emotional relationship, but a deep and loving one that where you both share in all honesty your hearts, thoughts and spiritual quests, dreams, fears, joys.
   Those of us who have had difficulty forming those, perhaps because of the way we were parented, or where abuse of one form or another was experienced by us, can thwart and hold us back from being able to do so. The answer there is that there are no such things that would inhibit us from going to a deeper lever with God Himself if we go to Him in sincere prayer, ready to hear His answer and forgive if needed. You can ask Him to show you the way, and by His Spirit He will reveal to you those blocks, and then will help you walk through them, both of you together.
   Here is a part of the chronology of David’s life……………………………………

The Lord chose David to be king. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (that is definitely what I call being chosen.) Remember this…that God, knowing the beginning from the end knew of David’s deeds to come, of his failures and successes. You may wonder why knowing all that He did, why he did so. The reason simply is found in 1 Samuel 13:14, “the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart.” That was David.
David kills Goliath
Saul becomes jealous of David and sets events in place to kill him.
David marries Michal
David meets and marries Abigail
David becomes king of Judah
David becomes king of Israel
David captures Jerusalem
David brings the sacred chest to Jerusalem
David sees and meets Bathsheba….sin
David plots the death of Bathsheba’s husband….sin
Solomon is born
Absalom rebels against his father David…much pain for David
Absalom dies and David mourns
David takes a census….sin against God’s will
David gives instructions to his son Solomon then dies, a lesser king.

Now….let’s look at the text, focusing on them by each verse.

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD!” A shepherd is one who cares for sheep, who in and of themselves are not too bright. They have a tendency to follow the herd…often into danger. Sounds like people. Jesus called Himself a shepherd, and as we know David was shepherding sheep when Samuel called for him. This is an expression of dependence, for a sheep is prey and passive when it comes to taking care of itself.

This is not really a part of the dialogue here, but I found it both humorous and fascinating given the nature of sheep, so I am going to share it with you. READ.

“I SHALL NOT WANT” I will not lack what I need with a Shepherd such as God. He will provide for me. God HIMSELF is my provision, for as long as I am under His care He will watch over me. Especially in difficult times, when it appears He does not care….He cares deeply and is taking us individually on our own personal journey of growth, learning the vital lessons we need to learn, though many of them may be very difficult.
“HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES” All creatures need rest and strength. Sometimes He makes us lie down, or in other words, stop what we are doing so that we can gain both rest and nourishment. Sheep do not lie down if they are afraid or stressed. Sometimes we are the same and God wants us to trust Him and believe that in the end, for all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called by Him, though the event that is occurring is telling us otherwise. Trust and obey….for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
“HE LEADS ME BESIDE STILL WATERS” First, in gaining both rest and nourishment, it is now time to get up and start moving. And notice this verse says LEAD ME, NOT DRIVE ME. How does He lead? By walking ahead of us as he continues to shepherd, looking out for those who would prey on us and lead us into a totally different direction. The wrong one. The Judean Wilderness is comprised of mostly sand, rock and shrub brush, nettles, snakes and scorpions. It is rugged country, and yet there are in the midst of such a harsh landscape….those areas known as an oasis, where water and vegetation abounds for times of refreshing and rest. This He does for all those who call upon the name of the Lord, His Son. Often in our walk with Him as He leads us…these places of rest are internal….and if we internally at peace and trusting Him…the harshest of people and situations, and environment are to be filled with His Presence. That is where we find TRUE PEACE…WITHIN.
“HE RESTORES MY SOUL” The Hebrew word “shoob,” yes, “shoob” means to “return to the starting point,” to recover, refresh, restore, to reverse. At times and perhaps many times, we need a fresh start, a serious ‘start over.’ God will give us as many as we need, so great is His love and grace. As long as we keep trying, then perhaps failing, He will comes along and help us get back up, putting one arm around our waist and one of our arms over His shoulder….and He will literally carry us if it comes down to that. He has a heart after us…..as we need to have a heart after Him.

New beginnings, new dreams, new hopes. When we spend quiet time with God our Father and Shepherd, like David He restores our soul as it melds into His when we pray as David did in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your Presence O Lord, take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Amen

David finishes the Psalm with these delightful words of faith….. “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies, preventing (those who would stop us by all means) from staying under His protection, surrounded by His love. You honor me by anointing my head with oil (a symbol of being chosen) and therefore my cup (life) overflows with blessings, and surely then, Your goodness and mercy (or unfailing love) will “pursue” me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord, (not for a short while) but forever, and ever. Amen……

“YES THOUGH I WALK THROUGH ‘THE VALLEY OF SHADOW OF DEATH’ I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.” The picture we get from this verse is that the sheep are not frightened as they pass through the valley. Notice that it also says “I walk” not run. What happens can be a major health issue, a house burned down, an accident, something to do with someone we love. It can be where we know we need an attitude adjustment, a lifestyle change. It can also be our final walk of life to death. No matter what it is……I will not fear (if indeed our faith as David’s faith was strong in the Lord) He is with us. At times we may skirt a valley…but this speaks of when we are actually in the valley and going through it.
His Presence and protection is with us….all the time and all the way. His ROD is to beat back the enemy who would take us down…those being both His Presence and His written and spoken word. His STAFF has a hook to it…and that staff is (when we are wandering away) to place around our neck and pull us back into His Presence. Knowing this should when the correction is over bring us comfort. It is God’s desire and determination to get us to “safe pastures” or safely on the other side, no matter the means by which we get there.

Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for god, for the living God.”
God does not expect us to be perfect….but He desires we will love Him as He love us. He desires to have a two way relationship with us. Not that He expects us to be perfect, for we are but human, but and this is a good but….He simply desires us to be one with Him through His Son.
The story of David and God…together speaks of an intimacy that was profound….deep and wide. Eternal.
As a boy growing up, my father and I never really communicated on much of any level. He was there part of the time, as a figurehead who had all authority, and my predominant feeling toward him was fear. He was either gone out with his friends or at work. When home he either slept or ate. He died when I was 36, he 57. As I stood by his open casket looking down at him I profoundly mourned for what could have been and was not…it was too late. He was gone.
Since an epiphany at age 37, God became my true father….and He and I communicate, and can bring anything to Him…anything. He, by His word and Spirit speaks to me, as I to Him. I am eternally grateful. With my own children, I was determined to communicate with them about as much as I could…and I did…and to this day we do. Love is the key, as was David’s love for God and God’s love for David, even in times of discipline and protection both.
You…being male or female, can have the same relationship as David and God. It’s all up to you. All of it!
Amen

Preface to ~ To Stay Offended is Offensive ~
August 5, 2018
Today's sermon came through an experience I had on Friday, later in the day. It was a small one on a scale of 1-10, but big enough to learn a lesson from. I was looking out a window in my office, and a large pickup pulled into the parking lot. In it sat a tiny woman probably in her late 70's, early 80's eating an ice cream cone.
I continued to stand there, and when she had almost finished she took a napkin wiped her chin and threw the napkin out the window onto the parking lot.....well, suddenly my ire was up, and from within me came (crazy as it seems) almost outrage. Without thinking, but adrenaline pumping I opened the door, and walked very quickly toward her.
She saw me coming, started the engine, ready to pull out fast but I beat her to it. Her window was down, and I think by the sheer look on my face I scared the spit out of her. I picked up the napkin and said to her...."I can't believe what you just did, deliberately throwing your napkin out your window onto the parking lot...
In this loud enough to hear, but little voice...saying I'm sorry, I'm sorry...I'm sorry...and pulled out.
Shortly I felt the tap of the Spirit on my head...saying "well done Tom"...and then I felt like a stupid jerk.....being so outsized offended at such a small incident. I then wished she would come back, so I could apologize sincerely and in humility.
I couldn't...but I could choose to learn a lesson. Again. You see, I had thought I had learned that one well, and was incapable of such a reaction...because on bigger issues I am usually pretty good at not overreacting and not taking offense.
So...seeing that I had further to go than I thought, I thought why not share this with everyone one Sunday morning...and take all of us on a journey into the dire consequences of offense and being offended...and perhaps we can all learn what an awful thing it is....and the consequences can last a lifetime.
So...are you ready...I will now ask you to put on your hat of humility and truth...and go with me. Ok?

Sermon, "to Stay Offended is Offensive"
Pastor Tom Shanor
   There’s a relatively contemporary Christian song that’s been around awhile that is a good introduction or preface to today’s sermon. It has a simple chorus that goes like this. Lord,
Lord, I want to be more like you, like you, I want to be a vessel you work through, I……. want to be more like you!
   As a Christian, it seems that this should be the bottom line of our faith. I am not going to ask you to raise your hand, but I am posing this question to you this morning. Do you, do I…. want to be more like Him? To be like Him, will mean changes in our acceptance of our self, and changes in how we interact with those around us, be they family, co-workers, friends and those with whom are in our faith family. Our church.
   To change or even want to change first comes with recognition that change is indeed necessary, and that once we recognize the need, then are willing to do the work necessary to bring it about. That goes for every aspect of our lives, and the one that will bring the most personal results, is the one in becoming more like Jesus.
   For those of you who have struggled with alcohol or drug addiction knows deeply what I am saying and the truth of these words. I will say it again, recognition of the NEED to change comes first, and that friends, is the biggest step on any journey.
I have preached on this topic one time in each of the churches I have started and pastored. It is never aimed at any one person or any one situation, but to my way of thinking it is both a very serious topic, and one that all of us who desire to be like our Lord, need to deeply think and take to heart and see what Jesus & Paul and a few disciples have to say about it. It is one of those behaviors that causes along with gossip, the potential for deep division and strife in the Church, the body of Christ.
James 3:6 “But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”
   This topic on offense, offending, offended, offensive and offend starts with the three-letter word ‘off’ something is off, something is wrong. Off-ended. The multiple words here all describe the essence of wrongness. It is an adjective, which is described in several words. Resentful, annoyed or even outraged, typically as a result of a perceived insult that can be deliberate or accidental. It can be personal or aimed at someone else.
   James 4:17 reads, “Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” This simply says that “sin” is also not doing the right thing, when the choice is there for us to make.
   How do we show Him how much we love Him. He tells us in John 14:23, “All who love me will do what I say.”
   Perceived, deliberate or unintended offense is to be handled in this way. In humility not in outrage. Matthew 23: 12 “But those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves…. will be exalted.”
   This is one of my favorites and encompasses every aspect of our lives. Matthew 5:43-44 and can only be achieved when we are most like him. “You have heard it said to hate your enemies, but I say to you, Love your enemies and do good to those that persecute you. In that way you will be acting as true children of your father who is in heaven.” Lord, I want to be more like you, like you!
   This next one is the essence of it all and the summation of what it truly would be like to be like the Lord. Matthew 7:12, straight from the mouth of the Savior Himself. “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you, for this is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
The essence of something is its substance….it is what it is and you cannot change it. Truth. The words of the Lord.
At best, being offended is one of the most pointless and devastating emotional indulgences possible. At its worst, it is the very seed of potential violence, persecution, and separation. To be “offended” is an expression which should never be welcome in the Christian vernacular. There is not one virtue in being indignant, and we have as Christians no “right” to take offense, but if we do…we definitely have no “right” to hold on to it. None whatsoever. The lord himself was never personally offended, even though abuse was hurled at him incessantly. He was never offended for Himself, though He was once offended for God, and only once where His outrage was expressed…and that was in the temple courtyard where we find in Luke 19:46, “Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, “The Scriptures declares, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer; but you, you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
   There has been some progress the Church, and humanity as a whole could make us better people in understanding each other…if…. we stopped indulging in our petty knee-jerk and whiney reactions. We can do it and should.
To Take Offense Toward a Person Means There is No Grace
   When we act offended to a person, we are creating a boundary of separation without any space for reconciliation or understanding. It is a graceless position. It is also acting like a bully. To be and hold on to an offense at someone means they have no recourse but to stay away from you or grovel in some kind of submissive plea for mercy. That is NOT Christ-like. It shows you want power over them and will do whatever it takes to do have it. It’s means.
   Only those who want control and power (because they think they are right, and only they) exert that type of offended-ness. Another reason for being offended or disgusted is to revel in self-righteous indignation.
   Being offended can be addictive. It is like the expression, “everyone loves to hate a villain.” We Love righteous indignation, it is one of our favorite feelings; to be completely justified in hating or showing anger to another human being. However, righteousness-indignation is much like offense…they are both absolutely useless in achieving anything good. What kind of fruit does being offended bear…. rotten fruit! Certainly not the fruit of the Spirit.
   We Christians are to be agents of reconciliation, peacemaking, understanding, tolerance, justice, mercy, kindness and finally restoration. These are anathema to indignation and offense.
   God…how we would change the world if we just quite being self-righteousness, speaking of all the wrongs instead of simply being the right.
   If…we are to truly be useful to Christ, we must learn to be “shock proof.” How can we go out into the world and serve “the least of these” if we insist the world first meet OUR expectations and criteria. It is bad out there, you all know that. Even when confronting true lawlessness and corruption, our hearts must be ready (just as the early Christians were, ready to be an example of our Lord who only condemned the self-righteous.
   In talking to my son who is a policeman and swat team member in Idaho Falls, as is Tom and Nancy’s son in Montana…. they see often, the darkest faces of humanity. David said he attempts to treat these people in the same way as he would anyone, first….….and that is with dignity and understanding….at first. Then if they don’t respond, he has to move on into a defensive stance….and do what needs to be done, but he never fails to see their humanity….no matter what they are doing or have done. To keep his soul healthy, he never gives into condemnation, because some very bad things have brought them to where they are at that moment.
   If there is conflict, make sure we are not the once who accelerate it, but are instrumental as much as is possible to bring it to a peaceful resolution and restoration.
Offense and Indignation Leaves us Open to Being Exploited
   Please…I beg you and myself to listen to these words. No one can push our buttons if we don’t have any, and a humble person has no buttons. When we are potentially offend-able, then other people can and will control our behavior. They can “rile us up” by getting a knee-jerk, emotional reaction…and many will. Only by ridding ourselves of reactionary habits can we be in control of our words and our actions to others.
   Do you know that news outlets and PR agencies rely on Christians to generate press? We are so predictably indignant and reactionary that they feel they can use us to sell not only their stories but their own agendas. That’s sobering.
   So…does all this mean nothing should bother us, convict us to action, or require confrontation? Of course not, but there is a huge difference between acting and reacting in a godly way instead of a purely emotional self-righteous knee-jerk way. Our goal in any situation…be it at home, at work, at play, in our Church, amongst ourselves, should be to find avenues of reconciliation. To bring peace, healing and compassion within and without. Whenever we enter a confrontation, let us be certain we are not the accelerant, but the fire-extinguisher as James wrote…. quoted earlier, “but a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire,” or destroy an individual, a Church or a world. Is our ego that important to us…our stance, our being right, our perspective…is it. If so, we will trouble wherever we go and in whatever we do.
   Our goal should be…to be like Jesus, who knew no offense because he knew what was in mankind.
    We should as I spoke of weeks ago, strive to be in harmony…allowing for as I spoke of last week, for mistakes to be just that, and forgiven. Always imagine Jesus who when He hung on that cross, dying, He looked out over those gathered there, asking His Father to forgive them, for they really did not know what they were doing. If He, in that deadly and dire situation could do what He did…. can we not do the same under far less dire situations?
1 Peter 3:11 says to us,” Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.”
Selah…. (pause and think about it). Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
July 29, 2018
MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
SERMON ~ "BREATH OF THE SPIRIT"
(Genesis 2:7 "He breathed the breath of life")
by; Pastor Tom Shanor

Today’s sermon is a continuation of last weeks, in which I spoke of “Religion and Faith,” and how they can be compatible. I am going to add into this mix, the element of the Person of the Holy Spirit…..the living breath of God.
To start out, so you know where I stand theologically or doctrinally, as I move into today’s sermon, I am going to read to you my own personal beliefs which you can read along with me, because they can be found in the Apostle’s Creed.
The reason for this is I may be extending for some of you, your own boundaries, and to know that I cannot be accused to be heretic. _______________________________________
   Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” The breath of life is the breath of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit!
   Our Christian faith, we could say, was born on a weekend, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Those three days are the birthplace of our faith, and later one day, a day to yet come, on what is known as the Day of Pentecost, the church was born.
   First on what we call Good Friday, there was a painful death, a letting go. For us then and today, this represents the collapse of what we call the death, of
living by and for the Law. Religion often at its worst, while being born anew that day became a living by faith, not the letter of the Law, but the Spirit of the Law in Love. Faith as I said last week, is confidence or trust in a particular person, deity, and in our case as Christians, that is Jesus Christ, and in that he taught as to how to live…by faith.
   Today, our faith for many of us, and the church specifically, needs a rebirth. A breath fresh of the living breath of the Holy Spirit, who gives life, to experience a faith that is bigger, deeper and richer . Young people are not buying into our faith as it exists. We most often offer them a boxed in religion, that has little usable air left in our box….we are content….they are not interested. Our world has become to most of them spiritually irrelevant in an age of dynamic change.
A world that most of us have trouble understanding, let alone keep up with. We could be like the Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites, withdrawing from the modern world, but then we would lose and opportunity calling to do what we in part are called to do, and that is multi-fold, as we are to a light to the world, and to be known by our yes, our love.
   The latest statistics are as such: 85% in 1900 were Christians in America
                                     81.6%...in 2001
                                     78%..... in 2012,
                                     75%..... in 2017
   Of the 75% today, 62% say that are affiliated with an organized church.
In 28 years, Christianity has fallen by 10%, and with all the schisms and issues the church is embroiled in today, the rate is increasing dramatically of those who drop out, not only of churches, but their faith entirely. How many unbelievers would want to be a part of a faith/religion that is involved in so much in-fighting. Our “faith” is to be in Christ, in Christ alone. Structure is important for worshiping together, ministering together, being that light and life, together, together as we are told not to forsake gathering together.
They, being us, the church, and non-Believers need what we all need, and that is (though some of us grow weary of hearing it) the way of love. The problem is we have not yet grasped how many of us just do not get it. Not just for some, but for everyone. Culture is constantly changing sometimes quickly, other times over time, and more time. As we grow older, the less change we feel is better. At the same time that we are growing older, the galaxy we live in and the universe that holds over 100 billion galaxies, continues to age….and expand. That is an example for us…we too are to grow and expand. It is a natural law.
   We cannot as many fundamentalists have, put aside Science, and the continual discoveries about the world, galaxy and universe we are but a speck in its vastness. We cannot bury our head in the sand and pretend these discoveries are not applicable. We cannot run with our religious tails between our legs because we don’t want to think about these things. Running scared is not who and what we are to be. All Science does is tell us what an absolutely remarkable world we live in, with a vast number of discoveries yet to be made. The wonder of it all is too big for me to comprehend, let alone understand. I bow to God in all his wisdom and creation. “do not be afraid, for I am with you, says the Lord”
   Jesus Christ…..came, to fulfill the law, and in fulfilling the Law, broke the existing law of the jot and tittle mentality and observances, minute laws that imprisoned the spirit and killed the soul. In doing so, he brought into the world, a new law, the Law of Love, with the promise of new life and new potential for a whole new world within, working its way out, as he hoped, to fill the world, unfortunately we haven’t done all that well.
   What have we done with this law of Spirit, grace, mercy, forgiveness? We have imprisoned it so that in many ways it looks and acts and sounds like the Old law. Do this, do that, think this way, for this is the only way, don’t go there, go here, don’t listen to them as they are deceivers and liars, believe this, don’t believe that.
   In the South Christian Ministers from the pulpit for generations, preached that black people were not fully human and we had the right to enslave them. We needed desperately a fresh breath of the Spirit….but instead we opted for war, killing one another instead of accepting and loving our black brothers and sisters. This can also be said of the Native Americans…whose culture was raped and destroyed, to name a few, not that they were innocent of atrocities themselves, but we often took their children from them, trying to turn them into us.
   Instead of the love of Jesus Christ we instead gave them prejudice, animosity, even hatred that continues to a degree into today. In taking away the culture of a people, we destroy their foundation that has existed for as long as they existed. Death….ran rampant across our land, their land, God’s land, but unbeknownst to anyone…the breath of life not obviously seen or heard was quietly stirring.
   Now we come to the second day of the three days, which represents a silence, a contemplative pause following Friday’s loss. His disciples, and many others in confusion, and in shock and in mourning, wondering what comes next, if anything? Since Friday represented a letting go, Saturday represents sinking to the depths, a descent into a deeper vantage point. The recognition of a new reality in that death is real and what comes following death of death? Today culture is demanding changes….can we, and if we can, will we. Or like other generations before us, just moan, groan and find fault and resisting necessary change. Truly if Christianity is potentially not going to survive after we are all gone….it will be our fault. Young adults are calling us out for our lack of living up to what and who we say we are. They are also calling out for love and acceptance of all people, all races and all cultures. The minimalized, the outcasts, the very ones that Jesus himself said he came for.
   Sobering, isn’t it. IF…this is to happen, needed change, we will face some tough issues, tough truths to work through. Attitude is critical in the salvation of our faith. Is that even important to us, or is it more important that at least we make it and too bad for those behind us. Friday, as I was writing this I thought to myself…what are you doing? Is this me…or is this the Spirit’s inspiration, who wants us to experience a fresh breath of renewal, speaking to and through me? In this little log church? Why don’t I just preach a nice little comforting sermon, so that I can make everybody feel good. I need to talk with other ministers to see if they too are sensing what I am.
   I don’t fully understand myself, but all I can say is, I feel a deep compulsion to push a bit here. I have told you, my congregation for months, that if I can get us all to think, reason, question, discuss and shift, and think and question our faith, so that not only can we full embrace it, but fully live it.
(TEXT I RECEIVED FROM SOMEONE READING MY SERMONS IN ARIZONA)
________________________________READ___________________________________
   We all need a fresh breath of the Holy Spirit, the living Spirit, the very life giving Spirit of God Himself, and in doing so, may he give us the ability to see, hear and do IF indeed this is of him. We need a basic understanding of God…a theological migration…to unleash Christianity’s potential for healing and transforming the world, by first transforming us.
   Now comes the 3rd day. Sunday and having let go of so much on Friday, allowed ourselves to go to the depths of sorrow and questions on Saturday. We can now begin to rise up with a deeper understanding, a clearer vision with both spiritual and practical incentive, direction and goals, but how do we do this?
   As the Jewish people migrated, we too are to be in migration in a practical, ecclesial or missional migration. We need to develop a fresh understanding of the Law of Love and its application to grasp that organized religion, for people of faith can be a wonderful tool instead of a manipulative dead air box. We need to actively become more involved in our local communities, organizations, institutions….not to manipulate, but to show by our wisdom and love what it means to be a follower of Christ. Not demanding that everyone has to do and be what we demand, but that by walking side by side with those who don’t believe as we do, are worthy and all are the children of God. All. Let him through us draw others to him, not by words of conversion, but by words of acceptance and grace, and mercy and yes, again, Love.
   You may tell me I have gone too far, go back! Others have said, “you have already gone too far,” and others will say “go farther.”
   It is my firm belief that the Holy Spirit of God is moving, not only across this land but across this world, and that He desires that we listen to Him closely, and respond to the voice of the Lord.
   Is it possible (just think about it) that you and I today, and they, are being orchestrated in a genuine movement by and of the Spirit, with a fresh breath of spiritual, practical, missional air, and that together we are being led and called into a better way of being Christian without vitriolic (cruel and bitter) words of judgement or condemnation, but words of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no LAW against these things. Galatians 5:22-23
   What do you think about that? All I ask…is that you do think about it, knowing that the word think itself means to ponder, reflect, deliberate, consider, meditate, contemplate, muse, ruminate, using logic, reason, facts, and faith.
                 We have been given the gift of reconciliation in 2nd Corinthians 5:16-20a. (read)
                             PRAYER………………………Amen

The Little Church in the Pines....
MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
July 22, 2018
"religion and faith" (Their differences)
by; Tom Shanor, Pastor
Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, it's good enough for me..........................................
   Hmmmm, well to me, that depends on when in time, given the expression of religion at that time, and the methodology used to maintain that "old time religion" in that time.... for "religion" can be wonderful or it can be horrendous, ugly and devastating. That hymn, or song is not in our hymnal, for which I am ok about. The intent in it is I suppose, ok, but again, as to how in particular any religion is expressed is critical.
What exactly is "religion?" And by the way the word "religion" is mentioned only 5 times in the New Testament and -0- times in the Old Testament. Religion...may be defined as a cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, worldviews, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations that relates humanity to the supernatural or spiritual elements. With all that said, there is not a singular scholarly consensus as to what precisely constitutes a "religion."
    Religions may or may not contain elements ranging from divinity, sacred things, or even faith...or even a supernatural entity or entities and may or may not be transcendent. Religion often contains within its sphere rituals, sermons, veneration of deity, sacrifices, festivals, feasts trances, initiations, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service which all together can give a deeper meaning to life....which all humanity desires to have, for life to have not meaning can be extremely debilitation and scary.
    There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide. 84% of the world's population is affiliated with one of the five major religions, namely Christianity the largest, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and then forms of local 'folk religions,' and each of these believe they are the one true religion, which is often why there is strife, division and even wars, for religion for most of humanity is vital to our lives. Religion offers various explanations for the origin of humanity, thereby giving those of us who are religious, once again, deeper meaning to our lives that we would otherwise have.
   As I said above, "religion" can be wonderful, fulfilling, give meaning and comfort, but also can be horrendous, devastating, frightening and bring death, depending on who is doing what in the name of their religion for the sake of being the one true religion.
    You may have heard it said that religion (usually said by atheists) is the main cause of wars and human destruction, but let me tell you, (though there are wars and death caused by religion) it is not the most prolific or main cause. In the course of human history, there have been 1,763 actual wars, of which 123, or 7% were principally religiously motivated. Is that still too many? yes. One is too many in my way of thinking.
    The Huffington Post (believe it or not) published this. They wrote "objectively, (love that word, especially today) an objective look at history, reveals that those killed in the name of religion have, in fact, been but a tiny fraction in the bloody history of human wars."
    Unfortunately, the cause for the majority of Christian deaths have come from within Christianity itself, and in the Crusades. In each of these, they were brought about by wars between the Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation with a combination of Church Power and politics. Both Kings and Queens, fostering laws backed by the Church, to prevent Protestantism from spreading and taking away the authority of The Church.
   1. The Eighty Years War in which the King of Spain implemented different religious rules that the entire Spanish dynasty, to prevent once again the spread of Protestantism.
   2. The Thirty Years War that was fought between 1618 and 1648 which left more than 800,000 deaths including soldiers and civilians This was between the Holy Roman Empire, again against the spread of Protestantism.
3. The French Wars of Religion between 1562 and 1598. These wars were fought between the French Catholics and again the Protestants, which also overflowed into England and beyond with deaths not only by wars by assassinations, quartering, burning people alive and torture. There is no account of the number of death during this time, but it was many.
4. There was also the German Peasant's War which for the same reasons as the others in which 200,000 poor farmers, civilians, and untrained soldiers, and of course the Crusades, which were called the Holy Wars in which over half a million were killed from 1095-1303.
   Why am I speaking of these? One is because we should all know our church history as a reality check. Specifically, from history, we can clearly see that the marriage of political power and religion only brings with it destruction, because of the corruption of men through power, and self-righteousness in that there is only one religion through whom salvation is assured....and by God men who believe as such can go to any means and through any measure assure it.
   Our Founding Fathers in giving us the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, knew what "religion" was capable of, when married to politics, thereby calling for the separation of religion from government. But, including in the Bill of Right, the right to freely express and embrace our religion. It is a fine line and one that I can embrace by remembering in our Religion as Christians....we are saved by Grace and by Faith.
   “Religion” does give us doctrine, truths to live by, parameters of behavior, and a system of beliefs that also give us comfort and assurance, plus many more virtues. But again....it is not our doctrine that saves us, it is our Savior and Lord, whose name is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of The One True God. With so many Christian denominations since the Reformation....you tell me of the 34,000 that exist today, which one is the one true doctrine? I...will cast my vote and life at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving Grace before any one doctrine, relying on that singular belief in faith that I will be in His Presence on the day I pass on. That, my church family and friends is enough to make me secure and enough to make me smile in assurance of His unfathomable love.
   With the combination of Religion lived right, and Faith understood as the means to salvation, and an assurance we can all stand and rejoice in the joy of our Salvation.
   FAITH is confidence or trust in a particular Person, and all that He taught us as to how to live, and that Person is our Lord. Hebrews 11:1 say clearly that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
    The word Faith is mentioned only 2 times in the Old Testament, and 104 times in the New. Both Jesus and the writers of the Gospels and the Letters emphasized over and over the power of "faith" in our Christian lives and walk.
    A few examples...........................................................................................
1. One of two mentions of the word faith in the O.T. Isaiah 7:9 "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."
2. Matthew 17:20 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, if you had the faith of even a small mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."
3. Luke 7:50, "woman, your faith has saved you, go in peace."
4. Romans 3:27-28, "Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."
5. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you, if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Passing the test of faith, is by acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that there is no other as the begotten Son of God, and that He is among us. It is that simple....and beautiful.
Someone once said...."Faith is like a muscle which grows stronger with use, rather than like rubber, which weakens over time with us as it is stretched."
My singular purpose in this topic today, was not to point out the past failures of The Church....but to show that history has proven time and again that a religion, any religion that joins itself together with politics, creates over time a very potentially dangerous environment often with a deadly outcome. Power as we know can corrupt, even the best of people with the best of intentions over time. Power brings with it the desire for more power, and with that power are perks that entice and corrupt.
We can and should take our faith with us everywhere we go, even in politics, but as a foundation on which to live our own lives as an example of the Lord, and as an example of what it means to be a man or woman of integrity in that walk. Incorruptible.
Religion and faith can be a beautiful combination.....and an asset to any government, when as individuals we live our faith to the fullest, while extending to men and women of other faiths, the right to the free exercise of their own faith, which means as much to them as much as ours to us. By doing so, they may see and hear from us, the beauty and strength of our faith, and desire to know why we are who we are. We are to be a light to the world.... not a ranting, finger pointing, self-righteous, arrogant, sin finding people...but as Scripture says, "they will know we are Christians by our Love." by our Love.
That Church and friends is who we are called to be, God Bless you all!
                                                        Amen

"SOMETHING WE CAN ALL DO"
by, Pastor Tom Shanor
July 22, 2018
This is not a profound message on the surface….but is deeply profound if you spend enough time thinking about it, and even more profound in results if applied. It is ‘something “ we can all do” and in the course of doing, can help make the world a better place.
.....When I began preparing for this sermon/message, I tried to come up with a novel way to introduce it but could not think of anything unique, so I chose this by way of introduction. Sing ~
Thy loving-kindness is better than life
Thy loving-kindness is better than life
My lips shall praise thee, thus will I bless thee,
I will lift up my voice in thy name....
.....ok so that wasn't so unique, but it was the best I could come up with.
.....Titus 3:4-7 reads, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He save us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, So that, having been justified by His grace. We might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
.....My thought here, is that Christ having given us kindness, love, mercy, rebirth, renewal, generously being justified by grace, we in turn having been given so much freely, ought to give several of these that we are capable of giving, to others, also freely!
.....And which are we capable of giving freely? Certainly not rebirth or renewal, justification or hope of eternal life, so that leaves KINDNESS, LOVE MERCY AND GRACE. Of these, the one that I am going to focus on that we can all do....is be KIND.
.....The concept of kindness can be personal, can be the focus of a group such as a church, actually and organization of any kind, a government, a nation and even the entire world. It is a phenomenon that can be seen and felt in philosophy, religion and literature. Kindness is often regarded as the highest virtue, and with good reason.
.....It can be the compassion one feels for the troubled, the love one has for mankind in general, the concern one shows for those in need and the sympathy one extends for those in hard times. It is safe to say that Kindness is also a form of worship in that it is a major part of world religions as well. For some it is not just an attribute that on occasion is given, but a way of life in spreading joy among others, even those they do not know.
.....Kindness is a KIND of happiness that knows no boundaries, as in Christ's kindness toward us....and in His case as limitless as the universe itself. It can be in the form of small acts of our everyday lives. The kindness that makes anyone and everyone feel human and feel as though they are a part of all of humanity.
Mark Twain put it this way. "Kindness is the language spoken by the those who cannot speak, heard by the deaf and seen by the blind. It can be a smile in passing, a gentle disposition, charitable behavior, tenderness in times of need, pleasantness or concern, and compassion on all levels and to all people for others."
One small act of kindness can make our day much better, and so small as to be almost insignificant, such as another driver making space for us to get into a stream of moving traffic.
A smile can change our world. I don't know why and have never been able to get it....but I can be simply walking on a sidewalk, or in the mall and people smile at me, and of course I smile back. I have looked at my face closely in a mirror (well, not so close these days as I used to) and try and see what it is in my face that they see and do this, and quite frankly I don't see it.
.....Think of all the kind things that Jesus did. Fed thousand, as Scriptures say in the Gospels that he looked out upon the people and had compassion on them, had them sit down in groups of 50, and fed them all with just a few loaves of bread and fish.
.....He healed a man with Leprosy
.....He healed a Roman officer's servant...from a distance
.....He healed Peter's mother-in-law
.....He healed a man who was paralyzed
.....He gave life back to a young man who was the only child of a widow
.....He healed a blind and mute man
.....In the parable of the Good Samaritan, he illustrated so well that all of mankind is capable of extending kindness, even to strangers.
Those are just several of the miracles he did out of kindness and love.
Out of love and kindness he told John from the cross, to take care of Mary his mother.
He brought out of kindness and love, salvation to the woman at the well and those who followed her back to the well from the town.
Rhetoric, Book II by Aristotle declares kindness to be an emotion that drives mankind to extend help to those in need without expecting anything in return. Such an act is born out of God, who planted in the nature of mankind to those in need without expecting anything in return. Such acts of kindness are never extended for the benefit of self, and are focused only for the good of others.
Take for example how many nations and individuals aligned themselves to rescue 12 boys and one man, from deep in a cave system, not giving up but working co-operatively, saving all. Not forgetting the one who died in the process....if only....if only we as humanity could so co-operatively work together, to bring about peace in a world gone amuk. So much kindness and good to offset the bad and ugly.
Frederick Nietzsche also made a point that love and kindness are two of the most curative herbs, which also play an uncanny role in inducing human interaction. Kindness is indeed one of the godly virtues.
..According to the Bible, Kindness is considered one of the seven virtues or more specifically, it is the opposite of Envy ~ one of the Seven Deadly Sins and is, therefore known as a Contrary Virtue. The Talmud, a sacred Jewish Scripture also lays immense significance on kindness by claiming that kind deeds are equal to all the commandments in weight. (Though the Jewish leaders of Jesus day, failed to adhere to that edict)
.....A study was conducted which included more than 37 cultures of the world and around 16,000 subjects were asked to mention the most desirable trait that they wish to see in a mate. Regardless of gender, the first trait was kindness, and second preference was intelligence.
                        How about that....are you kind by nature of who you are at the core....of who you are? Is that a virtue that others would say and recognize in you...in me?
The kindness we show does not have to be a big thing that all the neighbors and perhaps town and beyond will see. It is doing by acts of kindness what we see close at hand, seeing and responding to the needs that we can respond to.
READ (AT ABOUT 50) next page……
Right now....ask the Lord to open your eyes, to go beyond yourself, and see how Jesus might visit you....by giving you an opportunity to be kind, and respond as He Himself would respond in Grace, Mercy, Kindness and Love. Believe me....He will give you opportunity, so that each of us can give a hand to our brethren and strangers, thereby doing it to and for Him, for in doing so we will have seen and been visited by the Lord Himself, for as my sermon title says, “THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL DO.”
                                                                                       Amen
AT ABOUT 50…………
…..At about age fifty, Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy developed a profound interest in spiritual things and began studying the Gospels in earnest. Unfortunately, he rejected more than he accepted, repudiated belief in miracles, the deity of Christ, the personality of God, and the plan of salvation. Tolstoy reduced Christianity to little more than charity and good works.
     He nonetheless wrote about it beautifully, and nothing sums up his philosophy better that this story which Tolstoy based on one of his favorite passages, Matthew 25:31-40
     One night Martin Avdeitch, a humble shoemaker, dozing over his open bible, suddenly seemed to hear a voice saying, “Martin! Look thou into the street tomorrow, for I am coming to visit thee.” Convinced the Lord Jesus was going to visit him, Martin awoke the next morning with nervous excitement. But no one showed up that day except a succession of penniless and pitiful souls: an aged veteran, a shivering mother and newborn, an old peddler woman and frightened boy who had stolen one of her apples.
     With a KIND heart, Martin cared for each person, but as evening fell, he was disappointed that Jesus had not visited hat day. Putting on his spectacles, he took up his Bible with a sigh, and opened to Matthew 25. Martin read: “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.”
     “Lord, when did we do these things?”
      Looking on down the page, Martin read: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
      Then Avdeitch understood that he vision had come true, and that his Savior had in very truth visited him that day, and that he had received Him.
                                         May we see you in everyone Lord!

"COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS"
July 8, 2018
by,; PASTOR TOM SHANOR
.....Courage in both small matters and large matters takes a measure of fortitude, and calls for being sometimes brave in the face of difficulty, be it physical, mental, emotional, verbal....in thought, word or deed. It is the ability to act rightly in the face of perhaps popular opposition, and could manifest itself politically, religiously or in any other realm. It also could involve an aspect of patience and perseverance, in the ability to stay calm while listening if in conversation, or physical restraint when necessary, without interruption or shutting it down completely, either by simply to stop listening or telling someone to shut up or planting your feet firmly to keep you where you are.
.....In Western tradition, notable thoughts on courage have come from philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, and Kierkregard as examples.
.....In the realm of Western Christianity, we have such contemporary notables as Billy Graham, C.S. Lewis, Philip Yancey, Pope Francis, J.I. Packer, Joel Osteen and many more. Few have had the impact or position as Billy Graham or Pope Francis yet each in their own way and in their own words, have been influential to a greater or lesser degree. Each also, have displayed courage at times by differing in both thought and word, from the then current main stream of Christian thought.
.....I have had Christian friends drop our friendship, because I chose to differ with them on some aspect of our common faith. Sometimes on what I considered a small matter. In the process of the conversation, we both lost out because the conversation if it had been allowed to proceed, could have either broadened or deepened, or perhaps even changed our position, or at least changed our attitude as to how we viewed and or treated others outside our personal mainstream, if we had allowed each other the privilege of letting our thoughts be fully known....by a healthy, on-going and even deep discussion. It takes courage just to listen at times. In listening we show the person we are having a discussion with, the value of not only their thoughts but their lives.
.....In here today, gathered together in the name of and Person of Jesus Christ, we come from a collection of different doctrinal backgrounds, but the same faith. Christianity. Our closing hymn today is "They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love." They being, non-Christians, and we, not necessarily being known as Methodists, Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Independent, Anglican, etc., etc., etc....but by what.... our Love. Oh Lord, if only that were always so.
..... I am going to take you to a brief exchange between the disciples and Jesus.
.....But...before I do that, for those of you who are visiting with us today, I want you to understand how I see my role as a minister.
1. To love and serve the Lord, and to love the people He has given me.
2. To preach the Word.
3. To represent by word and deed, as much as an imperfect man can (that's me) Jesus Christ.
4. To help both my congregation and you, think and grow, and to challenge you to open the lid of your doctrinal box....and let in some fresh air.
5. To be accountable to both the Lord and the people He has given me to lead.
It is not our doctrine that saves us.... (if I could only get that across to people of faith) though it may give us both comfort and direction, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who saves us. We too often worship our doctrine above Him. It is Him we find our security in.
.....So...now on to the conversation which though brief, is found in Luke 9:49-50. (49) John says to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group." (50) But Jesus said, "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you."
.....By using these words, He is saying we are to embrace an open-arms attitude toward Christians outside our own group. Back then there was of course, not a church and definitely not thousands of different denominations. We are to rejoice with one another when good fruit is produced by any Christian group, denomination or individual. "For we will know them by two things, their love, and the good that is produced by them…...called good fruit......and by us. .....In Idaho Falls, several times a year’s people of different denominations and even faiths, gather together to discuss their commonalities and difference. It has brought together a large number of people who desire to be healers and not dividers. Some hundreds have come, and it is a blessing. It is not about watering down what we believe, it is about having courageous conversations in a godly and peaceful manner, in order to learn about each other, love each other and accept each other, even in our differences.
.....There is another conversation in the New Testament that I want to share with you. It is between two friends. Philip and Nathanael. Philip had just been called out by the Lord and chosen by Him to become one of the soon to be twelve. (This is found in John 1:40-50) Philip immediately thought of his good friend Nathanael, went to find him, and upon doing so said, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth.” Nazareth” ….exclaimed Nathanael, “can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
…..As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is genuine son of Israel…a man of complete integrity.”
…..Nathanael had to rise above his predisposed prejudices to even go to meet this Jesus Philip was speaking of. Sometimes it literally takes courage to do so, because of what we perceive we might hear, or whom we might encounter, especially if we have a bit of knowledge about their background. Most of us are content to be comfortable where we are, and do not like to be challenged in any area of our lives. Why? We often think we are right……and only we. That my friends, is an area of pride or backed by even fear that we might be wrong. We can miss valuable lessons, valuable conversations, valuable people who can help us in our own life’s growth and journey.
…..Had Nathanael’s skepticism remained too high and had he not at least been open to Philip’s advice to “come and see.” Nathanael would have missed it. He would have missed Jesus, the very One who would not only shape his future, but the One who….for we Christians….stands at the center of history, as we learned last week on my topic of the “Impact of Jesus,” on both the secular and spiritual world we live in.
…..While it might be easier to see ourselves as Peter, who, on the one hand displays great faith, and then a lack of it moments later, I contend that we also need to see ourselves as a Nathanael. Skepticism and, in some cases even cynicism is ingrained in our American personality, as reflected in Missouri’s state motto, SHOW ME! These two, cynicism and skepticism are safeguards, but are not to be walls. In order to learn about each other and about our religious doctrines, we need (if only to understand better) have dialogue, conversations where we can share our differences without fear of backlash, reprisal or judgement.
…..If we do not dialogue, we label and ultimately dismiss the perspectives of those we worship alongside, and fail in our attempt to engage our collective mission, of bringing Christ to the world without division and strife, which truly negate our attempt to show them the Christ of Love, Peace, Salvation and unity, being of one heart and mind.
…..We need to emulate Nathanael who was willing to move from skepticism to curiosity and then openness to encounter God’s Grace. Courageous Conversation is a toolbox that individuals, local churches and denominations can use to inspire and encourage, the church and individuals to participate in what at first might be difficult. We often view these as pointless since “we won’t convince anyone to change their opinions. If we go into it with this thought, nothing will be accomplished. The purpose has to be remembered….to foster unity in the Body of Christ.
…..The purpose….so that together, we an encounter the Grace of God who is among us, just as He is this morning in all our diversity and unity.
Now…briefly, I am going to turn this conversation to a place that is practical, personal and potentially courageous. The needle is now going to point to you….and me, in our personal, interactive, everyday relationships with one another, in regards to family, friends, neighbors and even political adversaries.
…..We are told to love ourselves….”you must love yourself before you can love others.” I am not speaking of inflation of our egos, or thinking too highly of ourselves, but a health knowledge of who we are in Christ.
…..We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves….and we can learn to love ourselves by loving our neighbors.
…..We are told to love our enemies, even doing good to those who would harm us.
…..We are told to bless those who spitefully use us.
…..We are told to basically do the impossible in some of these cases, but impossible only if we attempt to do them on our own. For we can do what is impossible through Christ who enables us.
…..I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me….me!! The thing is we have to be willing to want to. Without that go ahead Lord and do them impossible in and through me….He will not and cannot without our ok.
…..To have unity in the Church and amongst one another, we must have unity within ourselves. THAT IS PERHAPS THE MOST DIFFICULT.
…..I am going to make a few recommendations here. Get out a pen and paper, as you set some time apart to reflect, asking the Lord to sit with you at your desk or table. Even pull up a chair and make an invitation, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you….not for guilt or punishment….but for revelation of both your weaknesses and strengths. Two side by side lists.
…..The strengths you have….thank Him for them, and ask Him to enable you to use them for yourself and for others, that you may bless Him by blessing them. The strengths will outweigh the weaknesses.
…..I can guarantee He will assist you. You see, He wants you whole, He wants you healed of events like past abuse of all kinds. Give to Him those events and people if they indeed they still are available to reach. Each one…asking Him by His Spirit to heal, so that you can forgive and let go. Have a COURAGEOUS CONVERSTATION of open and honest dialogue with Jesus. Hold nothing back. Nothing.
…..If you have sinned against anyone that He brings to your mind, ask Him to show you how to first repent of that sin, and then how to ask forgiveness from that person if they are still around. Be it letter, phone call, email, whatever. As you do this….you too will receive healing and a new freedom to more deeply be the new person He has given you the opportunity to become.
…..If you are in trouble in your marriage……have a Courageous Conversation with your spouse. If difficulty with your children, do the same by being real and being honest. With your co-worker, your boss, your neighbor....your political adversary, do the same.
God continually gives us the opportunity to be healthy, happy, whole people whom He loves without prejudice or judgement, all through His dear Son, our Lord.
…..If our request for forgiveness is rejected by those we ask, we accept that and give that also to Him…to work out, but we will have done what we are asked to do and therefore can be free. For “when Christ sets us free…..we are free indeed!”
John 10:10. “The thief’s purpose (the thief being the enemy of our life and soul) is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life.” Says Jesus.
Life is certainly not easy….being human is not easy all too often, but yet we have great moments of joy, happiness, satisfaction, love, side by side sometimes, like the two lists of our good qualities and not so good. Our perspective and resultant attitude along with God in our lives will make all the difference in every aspect of who we are. Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
July 1, 2018
~ The IMPACT Of Jesus Christ ~
by; Pastor Tom Shanor

…..As I began to prepare for this message this morning, I started laughing to myself. Why….because I believe if the agnostics and atheists among us,really knew just how much Jesus Christ has influenced their daily lives and the world in which we all live it would drive them nuts. But then I thought, maybe they do know, and that is what drives them nuts.
…..This man Jesus from the tiny nation of Israel, not formally educated in the sense that we know of formal education, of average means, the son (though not literally) of a carpenter, whose childhood was the childhood of all the other children of His day with some exceptions, would have a deep and eternal IMPACT not only where he was raised, but throughout the entire world and for all of eternity.
…..This impact would deeply influence the Value of Human Life.
…..Compassion and Mercy
…..Marriage and the Family
…..Education
…..Government of the People throughout the entire world
…..Science
…..Art, Music and Literature
…..Freedom on many levels
…..The daily changed lives of millions

…..To my way of thinking, though all these are amazing in and of themselves, and I will cover some, maybe all of them to a degree, the last one, “the daily changed lives of millions” is the most important of all, because that one in itself is why and how all the other changes came to be.
…..Throughout human history, the impact Jesus had on the lives of people has never been surpassed. No other person has inspired so many positive changes in the lives of his followers. People who encounter the risen Christ are transformed…..from within. To the degree of that transformation is to the degree of their following the example of “being like Him” in every way possible. Not on their own power, but by the choice of submitting to Him, His teachings, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is just that simple, but involves a dedicated willingness to be transformed in both an intellectual and spiritual transformation.
…..The power of Christ knows no boundary of time or space. In our age and in ages past, many skeptics have been convinced that Christ was not the Christ, or a Christ, and set out to prove it. For example, Lew Wallace, a famous general and literary genius, was a known atheist. For two years, Wallace studied in the leading libraries of both Europe and America, seeking information that would forever destroy Christianity. While writing the second chapter of the book outlining his arguments, he suddenly found himself on his knees crying out to Jesus, “May Lord and my God.”
…..When confronted by solid indisputable evidence, he could no longer deny, but only accept that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God.
…..Similarly, the late C.S. Lewis, professor at Oxford University in England, was an agnostic who denied the deity of Christ for years. But he, too, in intellectual honesty, submitted to Jesus Christ as his God and Savior while studying the “evidence” he had hoped would confirm his own pre-Savior beliefs.
…..Both of these men went on to write books such as Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, Ben Hur, and many more, all with a Christian foundation and theme.
…..The IMPACT of Jesus Christ, the Son of God continues to this day, influencing and changing the lives of those who in all honesty, are seeking truth…I believe at some time there will once again (because of what is coming) be great numbers come to Him, because of the events unfolding in our nation and world.
…..Christianity is responsible for the way our society is organized and for the way we currently live out our daily lives. So extensive is the Christian contribution to our laws, or economics, arts, calendar as an example, the AD. which means “the year of the Lord” meaning, the reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus, and AD counting the years from the start of this epoch, and BC denoting years before the start of this era. There is no zero in this schematic, so the year AD 1, immediately follows the year 1 BC. This is what he majority of the world runs on….the Judean/Christian Calendar.

…..COMPASSION AND MERCY
Kennedy and Newcombe in a book the two authors collaborated on, writing details the rise of charity in the name of Jesus over the centuries, still going on deeply and profusely without much recognition. This is in stark contrast to history before Jesus. Historians record that prior to Him, the ancient world left little trace of any compassionate and merciful organized charitable effort.
For example, Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) is a classic illustration that is still a part of our language today in pointing out this example of doing good…for even our enemies. We are all neighbors, He tells us.
There is the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, religious hospitals such as ST. Luke’s in Boise, church supported food kitchens, one of which in Idaho Falls operates lunch for the needy 7 days a week, year round. There are also thrift shops which help not only with goods, but providing jobs, and also orphanages all over the world. Idaho’s own Hope House, Home for Children of whom the couple who started this ministry was here in our service several weeks ago, the Zarybnisky’s. There are literally thousands of such ministries around the world that have changed millions of lives through Jesus Christ, giving them Hope, Compassion, Love and even Joy.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
…..Christianity exalts monogamous love, which provides the basis for a lasting and exclusive relationship between spouses, and oriented toward the rearing of children. We take the family so much for granted, yet it remains perhaps the most powerful ideal in our society. There are cultures today that still permit multiple wives, but NO multiple husbands…..even in those cultures women always come out on the short end of the bargain, so to speak.

EDUCATION
…..From the beginning of Judaism, from which Christianity is derived, there was an emphasis on the written word, hence having the Essenes Sect, who copied all Hebrew Scriptures meticulously. The phenomenon of education for the masses has its roots in the Protestant Reformation. In order to promote Biblical literacy, Christians have been leaders in education. This was accelerated with the advent of the printing press at about the same time as the Protestant Reformation. Many of the world’s languages were first set to writing by Christian missionaries in order for people to read the Bible. I have a nephew by marriage whom both he and his wife are involved in this very ministry in Indonesia. The very first work printed on the Gutenberg ( a German) printing press was the Bible, of which I have one page of one of the very first published. On this page are smudges that are said to perhaps be blood, because the Catholic Church did not want the public to have access to Holy Scriptures, for only the priests were allowed to teach and interpret. The punishment in time for anyone but priests reading Scriptures was imprisonment, beatings, torture and in some cases death by fire or on the rack. I am reading a book called “A Column of Fire” written by Ken Follett which is based on the history of this time period. Stunning, what is done in the name of religion.
…..I want you to know, I am NOT in any way attacking Catholicism or the Catholic Church today, but am simply stating historic facts for the purpose of relaying both positive and negative impacts of Christianity in both the, then and now world we live in.

…..The last one today I will speak on, because of Independence Day, is Christ’s IMPACT on Government. This impact is remarkable in its depth.

America’s first constitution was called the Fundamental Order of Connecticut. The Puritan framers of this document required that each aspect of it be grounded in Scripture.
At least 50 of the 55 signers of the U.S. Constitution were orthodox Christians, one Catholic.
The concept of the checks and balances system is a direct result of the biblical doctrine of the sinfulness of mankind. All of our founders understood the importance of this doctrine to the constructed social order. Wrong and right, bad and good, etc.
4. America’s foundational ides of the Rule of Law rather than the authority of man traces back to the Old Testament, beginning with the 10 Commandments.
Even the idea that all men are created equal as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence is a biblical doctrine.

This alone is why many, even in government today who believe the Constitution is outdated and needs to be done away with or changed dramatically….because of the evolution of our culture.

The existence of what are called Moral Absolutes (a biblical concept) is an important idea in our Declaration of Independence…specifically, self-evident truths and unalienable rights from the Creator.
Also, for example, the judicial, legislative and executive branches trace to Isaiah 33:32. Fair trials with witnesses have numerous Old Testament support.
Regarding civil liberties, founding father John Adams (and others) emphasized 2 Corinthians 3:17 as the basis for American civil liberty. The slogan on the Liberty Bell is “Proclaim Liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” is from Leviticus 15:10. Kennedy and Newcombe argue that Jesus Himself was the greatest civil libertarian of all time.

We….should be on our knees daily, thanking God for our nation, our forefathers, their faith, their wisdom, their willingness and eagerness to pray to God for divine guidance as they constructed what we so freely walk in today…..freedom.
We also need to continue to pray, seek God and ask with our whole being that what has been given us will continue to be the foundation on which our government stands. Can you agree and say amen?
…..I did not have the time, once I started on this to include Christianity’s influence through Christ on Science, Free Enterprise and Art, Music, Literature, Medicine.
…..An overreaching theme given to the world by Christianity is the equality of human beings, and the preciousness and worth of human life.
…..At times, especially in our hideous era of slavery, we failed miserably, also during the time of Civil Rights in the sixties, and before that in our refusal to give women the right to vote. There have been grave errors in judgment as there are still today, division and strife run rampant across our nation….yet as in the past we have moved forward, usually after much in-fighting, in both the general population and in government. My hope, and my prayers are that we can, with divine help and intervention do so again today….the continuation of our Nation Under God is in peril.
…..Whatever we can do in prayer, in our own personal, every-day lives, we must do. The end of Christianity also would mean the systematic erosion of values like equal dignity and equal rights that both religious and secular people cherish. If…secularism continues to gain, so will come with it the loss of much of what we take for granted…and we will as a nation spiral downward to what depth I do not care to imagine.
…..The spirit of Christ in us, enables us to embody the wonderful qualities as given to us in the “Fruit of the Spirt, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23.)
……We are at risk as a nation…God helps us to be peacemakers and give us wisdom along a path of involvement and action, for it is not a time to become vitriolic, angry, lashing out….but a time to pray and hope and do what we can to halt the slide in a way Christ would have us do.
…...I hope this morning I have not taken too much of your time, but I felt it was important to know the IMPACT more deeply that Christ has on the world and on us, each one of us individually and collectively. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Let us have Him lead us.
Amen

  The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Idaho
JUNE 24, 2018
The Body of Christ in "HARMONY"
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
THE BODY OF CHRIST.......in Christian theology, the term Body of Christ has two main but separate meanings. It may refer to Jesus' words as he spoke over the bread at the Last Supper, saying, "This is my body" in Luke 22:19-20.
Also, it may refer to the usage of the term “the Body of Christ” by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4, describing the meaning to the Christian Church. A third reference is in regards to Christ's post-resurrection body in Heaven.
There are significant differences in how Christians understand the term as used by Christ at the Last Supper, and it evolved in the Christian theology of the Eucharist, which we often refer to as Communion. For some (protestants) it may be purely symbolic, for others, (Catholic, Greek Orthodox as an example) it becomes a more literal or mystical in understanding. The term used in the Catholic Church in regards to participation in the Eucharist, interprets both the bread and juice as becoming during the taking thereof, literally the body and blood of Christ. This is called "transubstantiation."
This subject historically led to a major rift between Luther and a theologian named Zwingli....and eventually even in "Protestantism". Lutherans come the closest to the Catholic Church, but reject the Catholic stand.
My subject this morning will be focusing on Paul's words found in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4. In these two books are some of the best words I have ever read on supportive, interactive, upbeat and the best of human behavior.
READ ROMANS 12 (stop) then......(me) read up to "HARMONY" Louise and Lorrie, would you come up please....I would like you to do me a favor as an illustration, by singing a song in "HARMONY" so that we can have a better understanding of the meaning of the word. Can you think of one?
                                                SING
Thank you, well done! Harmony, as we have just heard in music, uses the process in and with the composition of individual sounds, simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches, tones, notes, or chords connected by the principles that govern them. Actually, there is much more to harmony, both in music and human interaction that what I just tried to clarify. Fortunately the song sung by Louise and Lorrie most likely did the job better than my words.
Moving along into 1st Corinthians 12, but I will be coming back to Romans 12.
WE....Believers in and adherents to the Lord Jesus Christ are representing Jesus by all that we do and say. Not only with one another, but also in our communities, in our nation and to the world.
My questions are....are we in harmony, are we in unity, doing a good job at representing Him? 1 Corinthians 1:12-27a, is subtitled, “One Body with Many Parts.” READ verses 12 - 27a.
I look out at those of you I know, and are a part of this body in The Little Church in the Pines, and who and what do I see? Some of you are hands, some of you are heads, some of you are eyes, some ears, some of you other hidden parts....some of you are outgoing, some shy, some somewhere in the middle. You....are all important, all. No matter your role that may be obvious, or your role that is seldom seen, but always present. Some of you more quiet ones may be holding us all together by your prayers, some of you by your hands, all of you by your hearts and spirits, for we are one in the Spirit and we are one in the Lord, by the fact that we are Believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You are all essential to what the Lord wants to do here, and how he wants to be seen.
We care for one another. Though we have different personalities, and in the natural we are drawn often to those with whom we seems simply drawn to, and here as in all churches there are sub-gatherings, who for reasons of personality become close and do things together. There is nothing wrong in that, but there is if we with purpose and learning to our natural inclinations exclude others. None of us are perfect....no, not one, for in Romans 12 we heard these words. Paul says, "I give you this warning.
"Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves by faith God has given us." Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. "US" WE are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."
We have to be better than how the world in its often judgmental approach resolves differences....but unfortunately or fortunately we can sometimes learn from them. We have no right to lean to our natural inclinations in the Body of Christ. No right. All are equal in His eyes.
He goes on to say as I read, "don't just pretend to love others. Really love them!!! If you don't naturally, work on it. Find out something that is lovable about them...and tell them. It will make both of you feel good.
This I have seen time and time again. "When God's people are in need, be ready to help them." That is often when we let go of our prejudices and ill thoughts....because compassion and sympathy rises to the top, leaving underneath all the negativity up to that time we harbored. Why wait until pain, loss, tragedy come along. Why? Do now what God would have us do daily.
Paul's words next spoken take us on and up to the next step, which is vital in our Christian walk.
1. "Bless those that persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them."   Can we do that....? We are told, "We can do all things through Christ that enables us." If...we make the choice to do so and if we do this we are truly being Christ's body in this church, in this community.   Will....we?
2. Don’t be full of pride, but enjoy the company of ordinary people," and (I put this in capital letter here) DON'T THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL, AND I WILL ADD...DON'T THINK YOUR WAY IS THE ONLY WAY! That is PRIDE!
Be people of grace, people of compassion, people of light, people of life, people of happiness, people of acceptance....of joy, of laughter...of wisdom and knowledge.
3. NEVER (another capitalized word) NEVER pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable, but not to gain recognition for yourself, but because it is what the Lord would have you do and be as a part of the Body of Christ. If you want recognition or thanks or accolades....you are doing what you are doing for all the wrong reasons.
Dear friends....NEVER take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
PAM...... (Discordant playing on the piano)
If you do with the wrong motives....or are overtly prideful....or think you know it all....and think your way is the only way......no one is truly blessed, and how it affects the Body of Christ has just been exampled by Pam. Discord....lack of harmony, lack of peace, joy, laughter, grace, mercy, goodness....come from real and true humility.
If...people say thank you....or acknowledge a good deed, or even give you an award or recognition...there is nothing wrong with that, and as it is good to recognize these things, but NEEDING AND WORKING TOWARD THEM IS NOT WHO WE ARE TO BE....BECAUSE IT IS NOT WHO CHRIST EXAMPLED IN HIS LIFE FOR US TO BE.
Paul goes on to say...."Instead, if you enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink."
We are called to always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults....because of your love! That is awesome, awesome, awesome....."Making allowances for each other's faults."
A man reportedly came to the British pastor Charles H. Spurgeon looking for the perfect church. The famous preacher told him he had many good people in his congregation, but a Judas could also be among them. After all, even Jesus had a traitor in the company of His apostles. He went on to say that some most likely were walking in disobedience, as had been the case among the believers at Rome, Corinth, Galatia and Sardis.
"My church is not the one you're looking for," said Spurgeon. "But, if you should happen to find such a church, I beg you not to join it, for you would spoil the whole thing.
You see...it's not perfection in the body of Christ that makes a healthy body. It is love. The love of Christ. It is not status, occupation, race, education, rich or poor, handsome or homely, tall or short, skinny or heavy set. It is being one in the Spirit and one in the Lord, and this often takes the reeducation of our minds through these truths, that help bring about our change of heart.
HARMONY.....can only be achieved by the above and by both our outlook and our attitude. These are reflected in our words and deeds. Can we say to ourselves....Lord, I want to be more like you, can truly say this with every fiber of our being. Lord, I want to be more like you.
                           Let that be our prayer.............and if achieved, we truly will be as the Body of Christ in Island Park....in HARMONY.
                                                    Amen..........................

The Little Church in the Pines
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
June 3, 2018
This is the Day!!
By; Pastor Tom Shanor

PSALM 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made....let us rejoice and be glad in it." I'm going to read it again...........
As I shared last week, too often we live in the future for the next new thing, new place, new, event, new person, ad infinitum, forgetting that this is the day that we have.... and to live and to live as fully as we can in this day.
This particular verse for the more stoic of us, might pose a potential problem, because for many of us, order, quiet, low key and being comfortably safe, are key elements in our lives that we sometimes desperately need to exercise control of....no matter the cost. It is who we are and it's how we choose to live. Nothing wrong with that, except at times.
BUT.....we also relegate God to our confining box, unable to see that God has many dimensions and many facets of His personality different from ours, and yes, God has a personality as both reflected in the Old Testament, and in Christ in the New Testament. Jesus said, "when you see me, you see the Father." He is the NEW manifestation of God to all of mankind.
I ask you this morning a question in regards to an aspect of God and His personality that many of us are unfamiliar with, and which just might make us that uncomfortable I was speaking of. In our new study, "Meeting God" the first chapter starts out with this. "Some people think of God as the impersonal soul of the universe, or the sum total of everything that is. Others like to believe he is kindly grandfather in the sky out there, but always available to grant our requests. Still others see God as an absentee landlord who created the world and then went off to a celestial Acapulco for an extended vacation. There is not a universally agreed on definition of 'God,' and ideas about him vary from person to person, denominations to denomination and religion to religion.
Well...here, backed up by Scripture is that other portrait of God that we have difficulty at times grasping. That would be the God of JOY, HAPPINESS, CELEBRATION, DANCE, SONG, and this upbeat list goes on with these descriptions and their derivatives.
SO....this morning, I am as stated, going to use Scripture and some personal insights and illustrations to back up this, or these aspects of God's personality. Jesus also had a few things to say in regards to this subject. All of these words involve something that could again, make us rather uncomfortable, especially in our church gatherings apart from pre and post service times we spend together.
Now...we have no problem with singing, unless it is too expressive as in this example. Psalm 100 starts out with the word SHOUT. “Shout with joy to the Lord all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him singing with Joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and go into his courts with praise.
SHOUT….JOY EXPRESSED, GLADNESS, SINGING WITH JOY AND PRAISE.
SHOUT with JOY all the earth! Express to him the love that we have for him.
Here is another one from Psalm 47. For some of you, this one might curl your hair….but remember, its God’s word…HOLY Scripture.
I’m quoting here. COME, EVERYONE! CLAP YOUR HANDS!
SHOUT TO GOD WITH JOYFUL PRAISE!
Clapping in the church….God forbid, totally irreverent….wrong! There is a time and a reason to offer up to God shouts, expressed in the emotion of our love and gratefulness to him and to clap our hands in enthusiasm and joy.
Here is the somewhat contemporary version of those verses put to song.
Yes, you have to listen to me sing it.
Clap your hands, all you people, shout unto God with a voice of triumph.
Clap your hands, all you people, shout unto God with a voice of praise.
Hosanna, Hosanna, shout unto God with a voice of triumph, praise him, praise him, shout unto God with a voice of praise.
Colossians 3:16b. “Sing Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord with thankful hearts.”
Thankfulness is backed up by both rational and emotional responses, to a great variety of events, people and situations.
So….as you know, we can’t fall-in-love without emotion and we definitely can’t express love without emotion. Well, I suppose we can as I think about it, by the performing an act of some kind that is obviously or subtly loving, but behind that action is emotion. It is a vital, healthy God-given gift to us. Is there a place of balance in emotion expressed…of course…but, we don’t have to check our feelings at the door of our church before walking in. Do some people get carried away? Yes…I’ve seen, and in a few of my past services (not here) where I have had to stop the service, to stop the person from expressing themselves as they were, as they were not honoring the Lord, but simply and overtly drawing attention to themselves. Emotion it is nothing to fear…but it is to be discerned as appropriate or inappropriate by the minister or leader of that gathering.
Billy Sunday said, “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.”
Charles Spurgeon, a famous minister/writer said, “There is a marvelous medicinal power in Joy. Most medicines are distasteful; but this which is the best of all medicines, is sweet to the taste, and comforting to the heart. “A merry heart does good like a medicine, a merry heart is the joy of the Lord.”
In 2nd Samuel 6, King David is returning the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel, because the Philistines had captured it and taken it. David made a few serious mistakes in the way it was being carried back, but through those acts decided to carry it the correct way and was so joyous and happy that it was going home, that he danced before the Lord. In verse 14, “David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.” He was criticized by his first wife Michael, which had some serious consequences for her. In his retort he said in verse 21. “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family!
God of SONG, of JOY, of even DANCE. In a Methodist Church I filled in for, and pastored one summer in Florence, Oregon….we had two little girls who were sisters, ages 3 and 5, who when the music began, would get up from their seats and twirl, and dance up the center aisle. To me…it was a pure expression of their JOY as young as they were…to express what they were feeling. It was charming and it was Joyful to watch, though one ‘old’ curmudgeon complained every week, and that I had to stop them. I didn’t and wouldn’t. He never came to like me and was glad when I left. So be it!
Also….and what I am about to share was a rare even for me. One, that happened only two times in all my years of ministry. It was in Lander, Wyoming, where we had started our second church, the first being in Star Valley, Wyoming. It was during our singing that morning during the service that I felt, truly felt the Lord wanted ‘me’ to dance before him and the congregation. It was so strong, that I could not say no. Yes, I did so, obediently and in confidence that it was of the Lord. No one else joined me. After the service that morning I had people thank me for being obedient to the Lord, and that they were blessed….and then my wife during lunch told me this. “Do you know who was dancing with you? I said….no one! She said, Tom, I ‘saw’ Jesus dancing with you. I was moved deeply…..as I am to this day when I think about it…..rarely ever talking about it. What a gift I was given that day by my willingness and obedience.
In my Bible I looked up the meaning of dance…..and the meaning and description is written as this. “To move up and down in a quick or lively manner.” Now, I don’t want you to worry that suddenly I am going to break into dance….or even break-dance, but….what I have to be, is be open to the Holy Spirit and obey him above myself, or what you might think of me if he calls me to do something that might make myself or yourself uncomfortable. But really…I hope not, as probably you do too! Smile.
We should want to please the Lord….in as many ways and places as possible. Being people of Joy…laughter, worship, of the word, examples by our actions of what it means to be Christian, should be important to us individually and as the ‘body of Christ’ in the Little Church in the Pines. We have nothing to prove….we are to simply ‘be’ who and what he has called us to be.
Reflections of him, obedient to him….and true to him and to one another.
To be willing to move out of the box of religion we often create, and into the Spirit of Truth and Life, and that abundantly! One of joy, peace, sometimes sorrow, sometimes laughter and so much more. As Solomon said…there is a season and a time for everything under heaven.
I’m going to finish with Isaiah 55, verses 6 through 12.
PRAYER……

the Little Church in the Pines
May 26, 2018
Macks Inn, Island Park, Idaho
SERMON ~ "THEY THAT WAIT"
by; Tom Shanor, Pastor
Isaiah 40:31 "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strenth, they will rise up with wings of eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint." Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.
~ To wait...and to have patience, most of the time are one in the same. Waiting for a fish to bite, standing in line at the grocery store, airport, waiting for results from lab work, MRI, waiting for the beginning of our vacation, the birth of a child, grandchild......and any other literally millions of things, events and people that take place in the future often cause us to be impatient, anxious, restless, even angry.
~ In living this way...for what is in the future, be it 10 minutes off or 10 years off, we lose the time we have at hand. Time to live in the now! Our lives go by without having fully lived in the present, which is all that we know, really know that we have. An unexpected turn of someone's car into our own, a man sitting on his porch this last week in Hawaii, when suddenly a volcanic lava bomb crashes through his porch roof, shattering his right leg. Why does this moment, or why should this moment, even right now, sitting here in this little church mean more than we think it does. Simply because we are right here, right now.
~ Some of you may be thinking about where you are going on your four-wheeler after the service, or your old friend, your fishing pole is sitting in the corner just waiting for you to pick it up, or your outdoor chaise lounge on your porch is calling your name....Bill, come to me, come to me and I will give you rest.
~ So much in life is about waiting. We twiddle our thumbs, shuffle our feet, stifle our yawns, sigh long and loud, fretting inwardly in frustration. When is he ever going to be finished up there?
~ God might be saying...listen, and hear what I am speaking to you and you that need to hear.
~ Waiting is one of life's best teachers for in it we learn the virtue of.....well, waiting, waiting patiently while God unseen and seen works in us and for us. It is his desire and for our good, that we develop patience and endurance...along with those, the ability to trust even when it seems we have waited long enough for whatever it is we are waiting for.
~Sometimes This trial of waiting...and learning patience I'm afraid for most of us is a tough one to learn. In the spiritual side of our lives, not so hard because we do not often take that side of our lives as seriously as we take the physical, emotional, mental side of our lives. We often relegate our spiritual lives to simply coming together on Sunday morning in attending our worship service. It's kind of ironic how long an hour seems Sunday morning, worshiping God, and how short that hour seems when we spend it fishing, playing golf, bridge...or spending that time in our chaise lounge on the porch.
~ I have to admit that I work with the goals in mind, because you do come, to attempt to do several things. One...use Scripture always (not the news of the day) as my foundation for what I speak on, second to challenge you with it, and third, to make you think, fourth, to cause you to grow, fifth, reveal to you the Person and Presence of our Friend an Savior, Jesus Christ. Sixth....I try to do all this in such a way as to keep your interest during your time here. Seventh, to build deeper relationships amongst us who consider this our spiritual home, and eighth, to welcome and encourage every person who comes through our doors, stranger or friend.
~ Here is an excellent illustration of patience, besides spending 20-25 minutes listen to me.
~ We all know that there are Chinese bamboo trees of which the Pandas live primarily off of consuming 20-30 pounds a day.
~ Well, the Chinese plant a bamboo seed; they water and fertilize it, and the first year nothing happens. The second, third and fourth year, watering and fertilizing....nothing happens, not even a shoot. Then the fifth year, once again watering and fertilizing it, it beings to grow, and in a period of six weeks that fifth season, grows roughly ninety feet. The question is, did it grown ninety feet in six weeks, or did it grown ninety feet in five years. The obvious answer is that it grew ninety feet in five years, because for the first four it was growing a root system that would support that ninety feet of growth in six short weeks.
~ The obvious fact it....what really counts in our lives, is both what and how we grow inside our minds, hearts and spirits by the work we do in all of these areas, by what we feed ourselves with. When difficulty comes, and come it will, because that is just the way life is, will we be able to stand when they happen...or fall because we have not taken the time or energy to build a root system or foundation under us that goes deep, able to support us when the winds and earthquakes of life assail us?
~ It is never too late to begin.....the time is always right now...and now IS the time. One of John F. Kennedy's favorite stories concerned French General Louis Lyautey. After World War I, the general asked his gardener to plant an oak tree in a particular area of his estate. The gardener noted to the general, that the tree that he had chosen was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for nearly a century, and did the general really want such a slow growing Oak, for there were some that would grow much faster. The General's response was, "In that case, there is no time to lose. Plant it this afternoon."
~ In regards to our spiritual lives.....there is not a better time to start, than today. For today is what we know we have.
~ Now back to my foundational Scripture in Isaiah 40:31. "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall rise up with wings of eagles, they will walk and not be weary, they shall run and not faint, teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait."
~ It is proven time and time and time again, that those who spend time cultivating their life in God through Christ are those who when difficulties assail them....come through the storms not untouched, but with an inward strength and the ability to cope far above those who do not have the spiritual walk and strength they have through their knowledge and relationship with him. Being a Believer is no protection from the hard times in life....it is simply that we have the Creator at our side through it all. Through it all....and we also have each other of the same faith and relationship...as we are family.
~ We shall rise up with wings as eagles....have you ever watched an eagle rise, and how little they flap their wings...for they simply catch an up draft effortlessly...and go from one to the next when it comes along, eventually rising to sometimes over 10,000 feet, soaring elegantly, effortlessly and beautifully. This is how we too....with God as our wings, staying in his updrafts....take us to great heights, even when through events and illness and circumstances that seem to weigh us down, he desires to carry us up, if we will let him....by getting to first walk with him, and talk with him, along life's narrow way.
Three things I want to finish with………
1. Let God be your hope. (2 Chronicles 20:12) "Our eyes are set upon you." "My eyes are ever on the Lord."
2. Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) Wait quietly on the Lord, patiently getting to know him.
3. Give ourselves to him. Submitting our wills to his, for he works through and in all things, for our own good.
~As we go through difficulty, trials and temptations, he will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us because he wants to renew our strength at the end of whatever it is we go through. In these times if we allow him, he builds us into men and women after his own image.
~I am finishing with number 3 above, Romans 8:28 from the Message, "We can be sure that every detail of our lives of love for God, are worked into something good."
Using Jesus as an example of waiting and patience....in a biography written by Missionary JO. Fraser, he wrote, "nothing is more noticeable than the quiet, even poise of His life. Never flustered whatever happened, never taken off His guard, however assailed by men or demons in the midst of fickle people, hostile rulers faithless disciples….always calm always collected. Christ the hard worker indeed....but doing no more, and no less, than God has appointed Him to do, with no restlessness, no hurry, no worry. Was ever such a peaceful life lived, under conditions so unsettling.
"He who waits on God loses no time, but gain love, grace, mercy, maturity and of course salvation.   To God be the glory…………………
                                              Amen

The little church in the pines
MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
The Birth of the Church ~ PENTECOST
May 20, 2018
by Pastor Tom Shanor
~ What exactly is this event called Pentecost? Is it as some Biblical scholars write, merely a narrative, overblown by the writers of the events that happened on that evening so very long ago? Why were the disciples gathered together when supposedly the Holy Spirit “fell” on them? Also, what does that event, even if it was exactly as described, mean to us today?
~ We have to take a brief journey back into the Old Testament, where we can read that this was a long standing promise of God that would one day be fulfilled as written. During the time of Joel God’s Spirit seemed to be available only to kings, prophets and judges, but Joel saw a time to come when the Spirit would be available to every believer. This chapter in Joel revolves around the theme of “The Lord’s Promise of Restoration, followed by The Lord’s Promise of His Spirit to All People.”
Joel 2:28-29 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike.”
~ If….we are going to call ourselves Christian, it behooves us to know the fullness of our history, which includes the history of the Church. We can choose to embrace or discard portions that bother us, but even if we do individually, we cannot negate their importance in the birth of Christiandom and the Church. Things are what they are, because of what they were.
~ In Jesus discourse with Peter found in Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asks Peter and the others whom do you say that I am? Peter says in response, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then answered him, you are Peter, and upon this rock, (the rock of your statement) I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.”
~ The church in it’s original meaning comes from the world ek-klay-see-ah, spelled ‘ekklesia.’ A gathering of believers…not a building. A living breathing, Spirit let people of one accord…in unity in their belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God. So…the history I am speaking of is not just that of our organized religion, but of individuals both part of and not a part of an organized structure. That is why we should always see ourselves and all of Christiandom as brothers and sisters under the covering, and in fellowship with Christ.
~ Now back to Pentecost…..the narrative of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is found in all four Gospels starting in Matthew 3:11, as John speaks to those coming to be baptized in the Jordan River for the repentance of their sins.
He says, “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God, But someone is coming soon (Jesus) who is greater than I am…so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
~In baptism, the earliest form was complete immersion, representing the total and complete washing away sin….and the total and complete immersion into a new way of life….that being our new life in Christ. This which is about to happen in regards to the Holy Spirit is more than a token baptism, but the complete immersion into the life in the Spirit, followed by, as Christ said, “with ‘power’ from heaven.” More on this later.
~ Down the road in time….following the death and resurrection of Jesus, he appears to two of his disciples on the road (not revealing who he is) and he discourses with them about the events involving himself, and then disappears. Suddenly he again appears in their midst, saying “peace be with you,” (scaring them out of their wits) showing them the holes in his hands and feet, startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! He then actually eats some fish. Still they stood there in unbelief filled with both joy and wonder.
Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled, as he opened their minds to now understand the Scriptures concerning him. He further talks with them, leaving them with these words. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised.” And now comes a directive. “But stay in the city, until the Holy Spirit comes….and fills you….with power from heaven.”
~Having given his last directions to them…he led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them…and was taken up to heaven, they then returned to Jerusalem as he said, with great joy…and they spent most of their time in the Temple, praising God.
Not knowing what was about to happen to them.
~We now come to this critical and vital time in the history of the church and the world. These men and women praying their hearts out.
Let’s take a breath for a moment………………………………………………………
~ Ok, onward. The city of Jerusalem was filled to overflowing, due to the fact that this was one of three major annual festivals, a festival of thanksgiving for the harvested crops. Jews of many nations had gathered in Jerusalem. Therefore what was about to happen, was rather fortuitous and the timing perfect. Peter’s sermon following the even to unfold, was given to an international audience, resulting in a then world-wide harvest of converts to Christ….the first of millions in time, to come to Christianity.
READ THE NARRATION FROM ACTS 2.1-21
Another sign of this wonder of wonders is, we hear Peter, a man proven impetuous, speaking out of turn, often letting his bravado be his downfall, even denying that he know Jesus just a short time before, now a new Peter, humble but bold. His confidence and power now comes from the Holy Spirit, who made him in that moment and beyond, a powerful and dynamic speaker, concise, factual and focused.
So…we have three very powerful and out of the norm, manifestations that knocked the socks of everyone within hearing, ( I don’t think actually that they worse socks with sandals though) now, even the disciples themselves, as they were “filled” to overflowing with a power heretofore unknown to them.

A sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house (the sound that is) as there was no actual wind, but that sound must have made them all unsettled and frightened, even without being physically impacted.
Now this one….very visual. “Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire, appeared and actually settled on them, and apparently not burning them. Therefore were not actually what they appeared to be.

And everyone present was filled, or as described in baptism, immersed with the Holy Spirit…and then,

They began to speak in other tongues or languages, the languages as it turned out of the many nations represented by those who were in Jerusalem for the festival.

Of these three manifestations, plus Peter’s example of Jesus admonition to not worry about what to say when in a difficult situation, or need, the Spirit would give us words to speak as needed.
I personally have experienced three. Peter’s, and one and two. It would be cool to experience tongues of flames, but only if there were an actual reason.
Did I seek them? Not directly. Of one and two, like those gathered in the upper room it was during times of prayer. As in regards to power to speak, when I chose to not prepare a sermon message, but instead just held my Bible and spoke as I felt led. A big step for me….but I felt the presence of the Spirit and relaxed and let it flow, and was cohesive, informative and can I say powerful…probably not, but no one left.
~ Speaking in tongues I have told you before, I can do at will and at any time I choose. It’s benefit? I feel a close connection to the Lord. It is an amazing thing to hear with my own ears what I am speaking, but like the disciples, cannot literally understand what I am saying. You might say logically, then what is the purpose? As I said, it seems to be a way for me to both pray and draw closer to him.
~ The mighty rushing wind also came during a collective prayer meeting in a house we were gathered in. I can’t even remember specifically what we were praying for, but in our earnest time of prayer….yes, the sound of a mighty rushing wind came, startling us all. No fear…just a powerful sense of the presence of God
Is this baptism essential to salvation as many Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians say it is. Absolutely not. Can he, the Spirit be sought for such an experience, I suppose so, but that would not be the reason to do so. To pray for signs and wonders is not a good goal. To pray for the infilling of the Spirit…sure, and then if there is a manifestation, or manifestations, the same or different from Pentecost….that is great, but if there is none, that is great too.
1 Corinthians 12:11 reads, “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift or gifts each person should have.”
~ So..you can pray for this baptism yourself….or not. As I said earlier, it is not essential for your salvation, but can be a tool for living a deeper Christian life
~Some say, that since the Bible, the so-called “perfect” has come into being, these signs were done away with. Well, first of all, the Bible itself is not perfect. Don’t get up in arms, let me finish. I am not saying anything disparaging, but since man has put it together, it could not be perfect. In fact, I was just reading the other day, some verses and sentences that have over the course of many years, been taken out of the Bible since it was first published. Scholars (men) through historic records, decided there was not enough substantiation to include some of them…and therefore they were deleted. You don’t do that if something is perfect.
Perfect is without error or flaw.
In Chapter 13:8-10, we read, “prophecy and speaking in unknown languages, and special knowledge will become useless. But Love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even, the gift of prophecy. But when the perfect comes, these things will become useless.
What times are being spoken of here?
I’ll tell you. The perfect is Christ himself. When we see him face to face! God gives us believers spiritual gifts for own lives on earth, in order to build up, serve and strengthen one another. In the presence of the Lord, we need nothing but him, and that will take place once this life is over.
~Pentecost’s primary function that day of Pentecost, so many hundreds of years ago was two-fold. One….to show the people the unique and powerful work of God through His Spirit, and second to give a major kick start to the Church of Jesus Christ, that he said would be built on the statement of Peter, that he, Jesus, is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God, founded on his life, his words, his Spirit and his truths….that last on through eternity.
~ I am going to finish with 1 Corinthians 13:11-13………READ

The Little Church in the Pines
Mack's Inn, Island Park, Idaho
May 13, 2018
SERMON ~ "BEING HUMAN"
(Genesis 1:26a, "Let (us) make human beings in (our) Image, to be like us."
by; Pastor Tom Shanor
~ This is not a sermon on the origin of human beings specifically, though I will be discussing the finding of science in regards as to who we are, either created as we exist today or having evolved. My goal is to see God as our source of life, breath and spirit, and the responsibility and beauty of being a human being, or what it means to be human.
~ Here are some verses I have chosen out of the Bible in regards to being a 'human being' from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
~ Starting with Genesis 1:26-27, (26) Then God said, "let (us) make 'human beings' in our image, to be like us. They will reign over fish in the sea, the birds in the sir, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry across the ground. (27) Then God blessed them and said. "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. We are doing the filling very well, with now over 7 Billion human beings on our small planet. The second....well, not so well. More on that some other time.
~ To touch on the "let us make human beings in our image." First of all, there is disagreement among Biblical Scholars as to the meaning of us and our, but are agreement in one aspect. That being, without question, this statement does not mean that God created humans to resemble him physically (John 4:24). Rather, this seems to support the idea that God endowed humans with a certain kind of awareness, one which animals and birds and fish were not given. In other words, humans possess the capacity to reason and to live a moral life by choice using language, personality and purpose.
~ Specifically in regards to the us and our used here, is what and who we have come to understand as the Trinity, or Oneness and Wholeness of God in three persons or personalities. A beautiful mystery of mysteries, beyond our finite ability to full comprehend.
My opinion I am voicing here in regards to the animals, and how they are spoken of, do possess personality, though not to the degree of self-awareness that we have. They also possess language, and in my opinion, can reason or think in making decisions concerning their survival and the survival of their offspring. A much simpler reasoning ability. Morality and purpose solely apart from survival is distinctly human, and within that reasoning comes a God place created by God, within us, that drives us to seek God, in giving us meaning beyond just living, and also as to what purpose and end we exist at all. We also possess the capacity to experience and understand love, truth and beauty, pondering them and recreating them in heart, song and art. Again, my opinion is that animals also can experience emotion similar to us, yet without the whys of that love. Ever watch and animal play, or hear a nurturing mother cry at the loss of her little ones?
~ The fact is that we are unique among all of creation.
Genesis 1:28. "Then God created (human beings) in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Now that's curious. "In the image of God....he created them male and female." This again tells us that God does not have a physical body that is either male or female. He is not a gender in his manifestation(s).
~ When we refer to God as is stated in this verse, the word 'his'. We also refer to him as Father, yet in 'his image' he created them male and female. I did a bit of a study on the word father. Father can refer to a metaphorical being who is considered the founder or Creator. Unlike the Mormon God Elohim or "Father God" who begets spirit children with his spiritual wives by the droves. Almighty God, Jehovah God does not. Almighty God existed before time and eternity. He was not a man who achieved Godhood by his good works and deeds, with a planet and wives as his reward.......he, Jehovah God is not a sexual God, but still a paternal God....as he is the Father, or founder of all of creation, including we 'human beings.'
Moving in a new direction briefly, I want to address a bit of science and scientists, most of who believe we have evolved, and our closest living relatives are Chimpanzees. I am not here to clarify or argue with science, because I do not have either the knowledge, education or wisdom to do so. But, I do have, as I spoke on not so long ago, quoting a Biblical version of thinking, using reason, facts and both Scripture and scientific facts.
~ To do this, I had to set aside my own dogma/beliefs, and even my fear of discovering science might be right. I have come to my own personal opinion that it does not matter in the least to me, either one, for I believe that God in his power and creativity could be deeply involved in both.
~ According to science, Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, and yet they were unknown to most of the world until Charles Darwin wrote about he popularized them in 1859. Much about them has only been discovered recently, and misconceptions abound due to the exaggerations of a small group of scientists, and artistic license used in works of fiction. Nevertheless, our similarities and differences are not what many people think. By learning about them we can science says, understand more about ourselves.
~ Chimpanzees are often incorrectly called monkeys, but they are actually in the great ape family, and according to science, so are we. The other great apes are the gorillas. There is only one species of human being alive at present...homo-sapiens. In the past, many scientists tried to argue that there were several species of humans, and would often hasten to add that they themselves (egos) belonged to the 'superior species'. Sounds like human beings, doesn't it? However, all humans can produce fertile children which therefore as they say, puts us all in the same species. .
~ This will give you some things to think about. It is often said that humans and chimpanzees share 99% of the same DNA. Genetic comparison is not simple due to the nature of gene repetition and mutations, but a better estimate is somewhere between 85% and 95%. That in itself at least shows a common environmental and creation factor. This figure may sound impressive, but most DNA is used for basic cellular functions which ALL living being share.
~ Now this is interesting as an example. We have about half the same DNA as a banana, and yet people do not use this to emphasize how similar bananas are to us! ; ) So 95% does not say as much as it first appears. Chimpanzees have 48 chromosomes, two more than humans. it is thought that this is because in a human ancestor, two pairs of chromosomes fused into a single pair.
~ This is an interesting fact, and from here I will be moving into more specifically what it means to be human beings. Humans have some of the least genetic variation of all species, which is why inbreeding can cause genetic problems. Listen to this.....even two completely unrelated humans across races even, are usually genetically more similar than two sibling chimpanzees.
~ We cannot, as thinking human beings, shove scientific evidence under the rug because don’t like what science tells us. God gave us our minds to use them, to think, using reason, logic and proven facts to move ahead in our world or discovery. We accept discoveries that help us in healing, help us in our every- day lives and help us in a myriad of other ways, rejecting that which makes us uncomfortable or goes against our way of perceiving truth.
~ Again....it is in my heart and mind....not to confuse our contradict your beliefs, but to compel you to think more deeply on why and who you are in your faith. That by challenging you....you will more fully own what you believe, therefore able to state why you believe what you believe with reason and facts and yes, faith.
Now for additional Scripture,
Psalm 9:20....The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.
Psalm 8:5...What is human being, that you take thought of them, for you have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. (so much does he, the Lord esteem us)
Psalm 89:47a...Remember how short their lives are.
John 2:24....Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to ell him what mankind is capable of.
1 Corinthians 2:13a....When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom.
Being human as human beings, we carry within us the capacity for both great good and great evil. A wonderful capacity for great creativity that includes art, on canvas, in buildings, sculpture, etc., etc. and then technology, reaching to both the stars and the depths of the oceans. For great love and deep hate. For going to great lengths in saving life and yet killing the lives of infants yet unborn. Without morality.....without reason, where would we be?
~ What truly sets us apart this morning from all other living beings, is our God-given gift to seek and connect with our God through Jesus Christ....and the wisdom and strength to learn and abide in what it means to be the friends of God. The ability to also come together to accomplish collectively what we could not accomplish alone in every area of living.
Beyond all creation...we are blessed as Scripture says, being made a little lower than the angels....crowing us with glory and honor. IF...
Being a human means many things, and we certainly cover the earth, though we are not yet near as good as we should be at taking care of God's creative jewel, this planet we are blessed to live on. The industrial revolution unchecked caused deep harm to the planet, but was one of the stepping stones to advance our cultures, and we are slowly learning.
I enjoy looking up statistics. I entered on my computer one day, asking this question. What are the percentages of chances of earth simply existing as it does in all its complexity? Would you venture to guess the percentage of 'one in how many' chances there are?
" 1 in 700 quadrillion! That church is beyond my mind’s comprehension to digest. A single quadrillion is 1,000,000,000,000,000. Times that number by 700! This world and we are designed by our God and are privileged as such.
We try to understand our world by education, science, philosophy, religion, faith and even myth. Wanting to understand has helped us discover all that we know to this day. MOVING ON………………
MORALITY......is that which is a major factor that sets us apart and above all of the other living species, and morality is the fruit of the Spirit of God. We will substitute the word VIRTUE for morality.
VIRTUE...........is a quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle for both social and religious stability, on which the foundation of our cultures and faith are built.
I am not going to go into the modern (sins) as they are called other than to read them. My focus will following that, be on what are called Heavenly Virtues, on which our Christian foundation, through the teachings of both the 10 commandment and of Jesus Christ established.
~ The seven modern sins are.
1. Lust, or excessive desire
2. Gluttony, or over-indulgence.
3. Greed, or covetousness.
4. Laziness, both physical and Spiritual.
5. Wrath, or rage.
6. Envy, or insatiable desire.
7. Pride, the original and most serious of all with the most deadly and serious number of consequences.
NOW....THE 7 HEAVENLY VIRTUES that we are to learn and incorporate into our ordinary every-day lives.
1. Chastity...only humans are capable of this. Abstaining from sexual immorality, embracing of instead moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of through-through education and spiritual instruction.
2. Temperance....restraint, justice. Awareness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control and moderation in behaviors.
3. Charity....or generosity, self-sacrifice; for in Christian theology, charity is love. The greatest of virtues.
4. Diligence, which is of a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Steadfastness in belief, and the capability of not giving up.
5. Patience, means endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts in a peaceful and reasonable way. Accepting the grace to forgive, and to show mercy to others.
6. Kindness, one of my favorites. Love, compassion and friendship. Empathy and trust without prejudice or resentment. Unselfish love and voluntary kindness to all.
7. The last of the seven is Humility. Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. It also includes the spirit of self-examination, correctly assessing who you are under your own scrutiny by being honest with yourself. Showing courage of the heart to put others often before yourself, accepting that there may be sacrifices in choosing to do the right things. Giving credit where credit is due, not boasting of your so called good deeds. Following through as best you can in that which you have agreed to do. Confront fear and uncertainty with God at your side.
Being human can be summed up in these verses.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
In doing these, you are fully, the human being created by God for his good works, and for the betterment of yourself, and those whom you encounter every day of your lives.
It is just that simple.......................................and pure.
God bless you.....Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
May 6, 2018
Sermon ~ "Substance"
by, Tom Shanor, Pastor
Hebrews 11:1 "Now 'faith' is the 'substance' of things 'hoped' for,
the 'conviction' of things NOT seen."
.....There are four words that I am concentrating on this morning in this passage.
They are. . . ‘faith’, 'substance', 'hoped, 'conviction'
.....Starting with the word substance. Substance may refer to 'matter', therfore anything that has mass and takes up space. Also, in reference to an issue, even a subject it means something of importance or depth. As a chemical, substance is defined as a material, with a definite chemical composition.
.....My podium has substance, looking out at all of you, you all have substance. Water even in it's natural fluid state or as ice, has substance, but is not considered a pure substance, because it is made of more than one element, but it still is tangible, definable, can be seen, touched and handled. So...a pure substance is more definitively defined as being made up of only one type of atom or chemical.
.....In religious terms and in the Greek word as it is translated, substance is defined as such, literally meaning "a standing under" and was used in the technical sense of a "title deed." The root idea is that of standing under the claim to the property to support its validity. Therefore, faith is THE SUBSTANCE or TITLE DEED of all our hopes in the Person of Jesus Christ, and ALL HE IS, TAUGHT AND STANDS FOR.
.....Over two-thousand years now, with all the religious power plays, of corruption and schism, religious wars and rumors of wars, division and strife, the rise and fall of nations, the advancement of technology, from horse drawn carts to walking on the moon, forays into deep space, from wind and oar powered boats, to exploring the depths of the oceans, Jesus Christ of substance, still stands, still speaks, is quoted more than any other personage on the face of the earth, who proves time and time again that his substance is from everlasting to everlasting.
Can you say Amen........
.....Substance in our daily lives is all too easily crowded out today by our drive for entertainment, technology, massive amounts of information. So few know what it means to reflect, to ponder, to think about something to a conclusion. In fact, we often deliberately avoid doing so. Taking time apart for the quiet, and taking time apart to spend time in prayer, and in helping us to realize our hopes and desires beyond the material.
.....Even in our religious culture today, little time is taken by many churches during their services, to fully reflect and understand the importance of coming to the Table of the Lord. Communion is based on communication, or communing, in thanksgiving and true worship of the One in whose name and life we are coming together under as a title deed.
.....In saying what I am about to say, I ask that you take it with the spirit with which I am delivering it. Which is...in the spirit of assessment and love. Emotion....and feeling good has often replaced depth, a sense of holiness, a connection with the very Spirit of God. Music in much of today's religious culture has replaced ceremony, ritual and depth all too often, and the people are starving for substance and don't even know it. There is a top 10 chart for Christian music, based on which song is selling the most recordings. It's not always the depth and insight of the song that is selling, but how it catches on and becomes temporarily popular.
.....I listen to K-Love sometimes, and at times 'feel emotion' in what I am hearing, and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact it's good to feel, but it is not good to use those 'feelings' as a measuring rod for our spiritual depth and maturity. God help us if we do that, because those emotions can be misleading and even harmful if unchecked. Some of the songs I have heard are at times scripturally incorrect just to make the song work. We must examine everything by the light of the Word of God
.....So do I think that our services need to be somber and 'religious' in the negative sense, ABSOLUTELYL NOT! Do I think that we have to only sing old time-proven hymns, ABSOLUTELY NOT! Do I think we can't have humor, laughter and even fun in our services, ABSOLUTELY NOT!. You know that from me. Scripture says, Make A Joyful Noise unto the Lord, and sing to the Lord a New Song. I am saying though....that it is my hope and desire that we, together, are during our services and beyond, building a faith of substance and of eternal duration.
FAITH..........
.....Our Christian 'faith' should be the substance on which we build up from its foundation, the rest of our lives....not as an attachment to, fitting our gathering together as the sole purpose for coming here, but to grow that faith in depth as stated above. Our Christian faith means believing God's promises in Christ, trusting in His 'faithfulness' in both the good times and the sometimes very hard times. It also means relying on God's character and His own faithfulness to do as in Christ He says He will, even when it seems He isn't.
"The substance or assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen." It includes a belief in the existence of God, in the reality of a transcendent domain from which God administers as His Kingdom and in the benevolence of the will of God and His plan for all of humankind.
.....In our 'faith' we differ from other Abrahamic religions in that our focus is on the teachings of Jesus, and His place as the prophesied Christ/Messiah....his life, death and resurrection.
....I don't know if you are aware of a meeting among various denominations and sects that took place in 1999, for the purpose of unifying Christians even with our diversity in denominations and sects. It is called the "Doctrine of Justification." Despite the differences among the gathered group, came this vital declaration. That "'faith' in the written historical Jesus, and who He was and is, lies at the core of all our traditions, and that such faith is required in order to be a Christian."
.....In our gathering here this morning, I would venture to say, that there are more than a half dozen historical denominational and non-denominational backgrounds in our midst. Does it matter...it does not, for our focus is simply on what I just said, unity in Christ, who He is, and our worship services are a blend of several of these backgrounds. As long as in 'faith' we have unity in Him, even our liturgical or non-liturgical backgrounds come together, as we worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness and His self-sacrificing love shown to us, for us.
CONVICTION.....
Hebrews 11:1 “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things NOT seen.
.....Conviction means "the act or process of convincing." This can come about by a convinced person who convinces us, or just by our own reading, praying, pondering and thinking, which when convinced, becomes 'a fixed or strong belief." Thus, by biblical conviction we mean convictions or beliefs derived from and based on commitment to Scripture, the Bible, as God's Holy Word. For Christians, as we revere the Old Testament, most of our spiritual and moral authority comes from the New Testament, in particular the teachings and examples of Jesus. There are three primary things that characterize the ideal Christian, be they leader or simply a person of maturity.
     1. A commitment to our understanding of Scripture as our authority.
     2. The construction of specific beliefs and convictions based on that authority.
     3. The courage to live and act on those convictions in 'faith.'
HOPE
Things hoped for.
What is it we hoped and hope for? A long healthy life? Riches, enough food on the table and in the refrigerator, a new car or a car that really meets our needs. Kids and grandkids and even great grandkids?
A deep vibrant walk with the Lord. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by speaking in tongues or more? A deeper understanding of Grace, forgivenss and freedom from fear.
What is it we hoped and hope for today?
What is hope....this elusive but ever present desire, for hope is another word for desire, cloaked in religious terms.
Hope, hoped and hoping, are spoken 75 times in the New International Bible. Therefore it is a very important part of our 'faith.'
Here are some quotes written by people whom we will recognize.
C.S. Lewis..."A continual looking forward to the eternal world."
Dale Carnegie..."Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seem to be no hope at all.
John Bunyon who wrote 'Pilgrim's Progress.' "Hope is never ill when faith is well."
Emily Dickinson..."Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul/And sings the tunes without words/And never stops...at all."
Cicero...."While there is life, there's hope."
What I hope to do, is offer hope through my messages, through our services, through our unity in the Spirit, raise our hopes that in Christ, and in tandem with each other....we can grow spiritually in understanding....and in love, and in turn both show and give a measure of hope to those outside these walls, both to the community in which we live and to the visitors that will coming in here from all over the world.
I hope that we, by faith, in the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.....walk as He walked in strength, humility, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control,. Against all of these there is no law.
We can do all things....through Christ who gives us the strength and ability to accomplish these.
                                              Amen

                                             A REASON TO SING…..a song to the lord
                                                       April 8, 2018
                          Sing to the Lord a ‘new song,’ for he has done marvelous things!
A song…..what is a song? In broad terms, it is a single (and often standalone) work of music, that is most often intended to be ‘sung’ by the human voice with distinct and fixed pitches and patterns using both sound and silence, along at times with a variety of forms, words and at times instruments. The words (if there are words) are meant to convey a theme of often great variety, but most often of love. One seldom hears a song written because they ‘like’ or ‘hate’, but again, most often of love, in the words and notes written by the composer. At times they are simple and clear….other times complex and intricate.
Of the songs and words written, at times with similarities, but most other times (given the limited number of notes available) different as night is from day. Some songs succeed, and others end up forgotten. The key of a song writer, is to touch a resonant note within the heart and mind of the listener or listeners.
But….the bottom line is to express in words and notes, or music, what lies within the heart and mind of the composer.
Yesterday, when I sat at my computer to write this message, which had been floating around in my mind for several days…..I first put on a CD of instrumental hymns, low, to serve as the background as I wrote. Inspiration I guess, while listening as I composed, I ‘felt’ the timbre, the tone, the instrumental music reaching out to me, and at time moving me emotionally and also mentally, in a positive and delightful way. Whether it shows up today…….now, we will hear.

I now come back to my key verse this morning, upon which this sermon is written.
SING TO THE LORD….A ‘NEW SONG,’ FOR HE HAS DONE MARVELOUS THINGS. Ps. 98:1
SING TO THE LORD, SING TO THE LORD, SING TO THE LORD! And so I did, as I thought of the marvelous things and people, whom he has brought into my life over the course of these past and present 72 years of life-giving breath. I thought of how as a young man, he told me through his written word, “that he would never leave me, or never forsake me” and he has kept his word.
And for that I am both presently and eternally grateful, even though I still to this day lack full understanding of what the word ‘eternal’ means in its deepest level.
……In writing this I know by experience that not everyone is blessed with the innate ability to sing well. I learned this the hard way, as in my first church as a staff member, I was given the position (amongst other positions) that as the worship leader. In that I could not read music or compose a song of any kind, I found I did have a good ear, and knew when a song was off, or sung too slow, or when it came across just right. BUT…in that position I also (in leading worship) had positionally close to me while on the platform, the senior pastor who sang consistently both loud and off key. Too many times that I could count, there were times that I lost my way in leading, because of his strong voice. His name was Harold, and at Christmas I called him my (Hark the Harold angel who could not sing.) Yet…one of many reasons I loved Harold and even his singing, was because he loved to sing of his love for the Lord. He knew he was most often off key…..but as he said, “I just have to sing” to the Lord I love, because of all the marvelous things he has done for me.
…..I read of a young person who went to a school that required students to take four exploratory courses, including home economics, art and choir. On their first day in choir, the instructor called each student to the piano individually, to hear their voices and place them in the room according to their vocal range. During Toms turn at the piano, he sand the notes the teacher played multiple times, but afterwards, wasn’t directed to a section along with the other students, but instead was sent to the counseling office to find a different class altogether to take. From that moment on he felt he should never sing at all, that his voice should never be heard in song. It was a stark reality and a difficult one, but he learned his limitations, and that he could move on and do other things better suited to him.

….In singing to the Lord, it is never about quality of a voice, but about the state of our heart, the motivation of our gratefulness and love to and for him….”for he has done marvelous things.”
…..In pondering marvelous things, having last Sunday ended six weeks of the observation of the resurrection of the Lord, in Celebration I recalled the singing that was such a deep and vital part of our services, once we observed his death and burial, though prior to our Tenebrae Service, Pam played a prelude of music that was deep, and beautifully fitting for that moment for where we were going….thank you Pam.
…..The first marvelous thing that came to mind was Jesus willingness to walk steadily and resolutely toward the cross, the instrument of his death, and toward all that would lead up to that final event.
…..The second marvelous thing that came to mind were his words as he hung there, having been tortured, spit upon, jeered, and wearing a flesh-piercing crown of thorns, as he looked out over the crowd mostly full of hate and disappointment, but also, there were present those who had followed him the past three years…..as he proclaimed words, that to me encapsulated the absolute essence and heart of who he was and is, as he declared, ‘“Father’ he said….forgive them, for they do not know what they have done.”
…..”Father forgive them”….and I say back to myself, if he, can forgive so readily and so deeply what heinous things were done to him, how can I not do the same, no matter what is done to me?
…..SINCE indeed, he who showed me how much he loved me, and readily, without hesitation, forgives me my sins of rebellion, neglect, meanness and more, there is nothing that cannot be forgiven others by me, who have at times hurt me with both words and actions.
…..The next marvelous thing is, that when I do forgive, I too am forgiven for the time I held on to unforgiveness, and suddenly I find myself no longer a captive to unforgiveness, but find myself instead basking in freedom from anger, perhaps bitterness, resentment and vengeance.
….For when Christ set us free (because we choose to accept this marvelous gift)…..we were and are free indeed! Our goal therefore, should be to live out the truths that he teaches us from the Word….the Rhema Word, or as it is called the spoken, life giving word.

The song…..that each of us is capable of singing to Lord, that I am talking about, is much deeper than any song we can sing, because it is the song of our hearts….that is in itself a living song….as it creates and moves deeply within us, in our personal relationship to Jesus. This song does not need harmonious notes….or even words. Though what I am about to read to you is a song in itself….it goes much deeper within….and touches upon who we are to be.
In THE HEART OF WORSHIP
Here are the lyrics…
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it,
When it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All l have is yours
Every single breath
I’ll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the things I’ve made it
For it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus

…..My message this morning in essence, is all about The Song that does or does not resonate in your or my heart and life, but our desire and our goal in believing and loving him, is that ‘we’ resonate together as one, with him, Jesus, our Lord.
…..The message is simple and pure, and each of us has born within us, a place where God in Christ, desires to sing our song of belonging, our song of deliverance, our song of blessing, our song of contentment, joy and love, as we make our way in our own journey, to that final place of unity with him.
…..To end this message this morning I am going to read Psalm 98 in it’s entirety, including the first verse from which the foundation of today’s sermon is built on. It is a song of joy and victory. Because God is victorious over all things that are not of him, all those of us who follow him are therefore victorious in and with him.    Amen
Psalm 98 (READ)
I leave you with this question this morning.
What are the desires of your life and heart? No matter our ages, our health, our positions, our responsibilities……do we seek Him with all our hearts, mind and strength. Do we truly desire to know how rich and full our life can be in him.
That choice is ours, but know this; that no matter how seriously and deeply we know or do not know him, he knows us….and as he said to me so many years ago, he says to you.
I will never leave you….or walk away from you. Ever.
And understand this……”Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things, and yes, we all have A REASON TO SING, so let us sing.

                                                    The Little Church in the Pines
                                                    MACK'S INN, ISLAND PARK, IDAHO
                                                         Easter Sunday
                                                               April 1, 2018
                                     Sermon ~ "I AM The RESURRECTION and The life"
                                                         by; Pastor Tom Shanor

John 11:25 "I AM the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, ever after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die." Do you believe this, Martha?"
_____My attempt this morning in bringing this message is singular in motive, but multiple in coercion. You see, we, you and I have a tendency to gloss over words, sentences and paragraphs, perhaps even whole books because we have become familiar with them. They just go phhht, without giving them serious thought, let alone contemplation.
_____I will be breaking this up a bit by speaking intellectually, as well as spiritually and experientially.....and hopefully with some practical application.
_____Let's start out with the first two words of this declaration. They are I AM. Now, the first place we hear those words is when Moses is speaking with God, asking His name. Gods answer is both singular and multiple in meaning and intent. It is one of the most famous verses in both the Torah and the Christian Bible. It is both literal present tense and future tense. Putting the two together His answer reads clearly, "I Am Who I Am" and in the King James Bible, "I Am that I Am!" and therefore, there is nothing more that needs to be said.
_____In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Amharic Bible, it is written as (I Am that exists and will exits).
_____There are several other instances where Jesus uses the same introduction in regards as to not so subtly stating who He is, for He too is the I Am. For he said, when you see me, you are seeing the Father. THEY are the Great I AM. This divine name is mysterious just as God is a mystery. It is at once a name revealed and at the same time, something likes the refusal of a name, and hence it expresses God as what he is.... (Infinitely above everything that we can understand or say): he is the "hidden God, who not so subtly reveals Himself in Jesus, His only begotten Son
_____This is a revelation of God that the Hebrews have not seen before Jeus, at least to this degree, and this is why they rejected Him. They did not want a suffering, loving, miracle working, healing, grace-filled God. This God was too much like themselves and therefore could not be God at all. They wanted a conquering political warrior.
So...He, Jesus in the first part of this declarative statement is declaring Himself to be God!
_____Having established that, let’s move on. I AM, he says, The Resurrection and the Life. This establishes before His crucifixion as to what will occur after His death. He will be raised up. Coming back to life, and this is the, the, the central core of Christianity, for without the Resurrection, he is just an ordinary man. A good one no doubt, if he was just a man, but HE WASN'T an ordinary man, He was and is the Great I Am.
_____Was He the first man to be resurrected, no. In fact He had brought back from the dead the young man at whose funeral he had intervened in, and of course Lazarus, who had been dead four days and being in desert country we are told smelled. We...who subscribe to the Nicene Creed (which the majority of Christians do) firmly and with JOY believe in and adhere to His Resurrection.
_____Paul said, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people. But if Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." We are blessed and rejoice in the Lord of our Salvation. Our brother and our friend.
_____During the ministry of Jesus on earth, before His death, commissioned his Twelve Apostles too, among other things, raise the dead. Whether they did or not, we do not know. In doing this, he most certainly equipped them to do so, by the power of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.
_____If you....do not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, I would ask you to consider these words today. For once you ask, or simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, resurrected as the Son of God, you are immediately a member of the household of God. Simply said....a "Believer."
_____Do I offer you proof? All I can offer you are His own words, and the testimony of those who saw and experienced His life, His teachings, His miracles, His ministry, His crucifixion, His death.....and His resurrection, and the testimony of my own words as to the reality of my faith, trust and love for Him, as he continues to walk with me, talk with me, along this pathway of life. The rest, your belief and your faith are your choice, and yours alone.
_____And now....we move on to "The Life." What exactly is The Life He is speaking of. There is a new movie out, named "Rotten Tomatoes." In this movie a son who has a monster for a father, (his words) who comes to accept Christ as His Savior and Redeemer. The movie is about the redemption and dramatic change in his father.....and because of this, many are deeply moved and come to believe in Jesus, because of the testimony of the father and this son. The son writes a song that is the theme for this movie called "I Can Only Imagine'.
                     READ (SING)
_____There are countless men, women and children from all walks of life, all educational levels, all races, from the very rich and extremely poor, whose lives have been changed. Some drastically, some subtly, but never not at all. The degree to which one changes is equal to the degree that you choose to get to know just who this "I Am, the Resurrection and The Life" is. To what depth you want to know Him, is the depth to which you will know Him. If you put as much time into taking the time apart, to read, meditate, pray, be in fellowship with others who know Him, as we do, in let's say, watching TV, or any other myriad of activities, we will come to know Him, well, quite intimately.
_____I finish this simple message with His words that complete today's Scriptural foundation for this teaching. "Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this Martha?"
                                     Do you believe this....all who are here today?
_____For we all die, but like Him and in Him, we....have life after this life.
THAT IS THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION WE CELBRATE TODAY!!
                                                                   Amen

                                                     The Little Church in the Pines
                                                           March 18, 2018
                                                          The Seaosn of Lent
                                                topic of sermon ~ The Anatomy of Pain
                                               Good, Bad or Both & Why it is Necessary
                                                         by Tom Shanor, Pastor

As you all know, we are in the Season of Lent....covering topically the events, and many of the circumstances, feelings and passions that encapsulate this season in the church, and in each of us individually.
This season in particular is not one the church or we, take lightly, and until the coming resurrection of the Lord from death to life, it is often a dark and troubling journey. One aspect, of which we will be covering today.
In the Old Testament, let's start with Isaiah 52:14, which correlates to my topic. “Many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man." In Mel Gibson's movie The Christ, if you saw it, you will remember that the Lord was so disfigured, beaten, cut and whipped so deeply that indeed he was unrecognizable and that yes, he barely seemed human.
Isaiah 53:2-5 continues, "There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised and we did not care. Yet it was our weakness he carried, and we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins. BUT, he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins and he was beaten so we could be whole."

The NEW TESTAMENT....brings us to Hebrews 2:17-18, "Therefore it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. (experiencing the same pain, the same sorrows, the same emotions and feelings that we do) Then, (experiencing life in the flesh) he could offer the sacrifice of himself that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we...are being tested.
Now…...on to John 12: 23-27, Jesus replied; "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels...a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

Here is a list of the descriptive words used in these few scriptures, telling us what he endured.
He Suffered, suffering, was disfigured, rejected, despised, a man of sorrows, pierced, crushed, beaten and acquainted with the deepest of grief.
THESE WORDS....speak clearly of a wide variety and depth of pain he endured to the end, for one reason only, to be able to present us to God, through Himself. His motivation was twofold. To satisfy God’s requirement of sacrifice for sin….and his love for God, his Father and for us.

So now...let's take a brief look into the "Anatomy of Pain" my choice of words for today's message.
The first thing is the need to understand the word 'anatomy.' Anatomy is characterized by an on-going or progressive "understanding" of the functions or an organism...evaluating its structure, function(s) and purpose(s) if multiple. Though pain is not an organism in itself, it affects four areas of our lives with multiple purposes.
Pain itself is described as a distressing "feeling" caused by intense or even damaging stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain's widely used definition, defines pain as an "unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage, however, due to it being a complex, subjective phenomenon, defining pain has been a challenge (they say). (duh)
Pains main function is to motivate the individual to withdraw from damaging situations, to protect a damaged body part perhaps, while it heals, and to avoid similar experiences in the future. I had to chuckle a bit here, thinking.....oh, if only....it were that simple and that easy!

WE know....all of us by experience, that 'pain' manifests itself not only physiologically, but also (these are the four areas I spoke of) emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and at times seem to know no boundaries or limitations in its intensity.
Who can say with complete understanding, which of these four areas are or can be, the most painful or the most damaging, for all can be long term or temporary. Once pain is gone, we have no tangible way to re-experience it...unless the sources comes back, or the illness. Nor should we want to. But we do have 'memory' of it, and that alone is enough in most cases, to not want to experience it again, and we will (with all legitimacy) go to great lengths to avoid doing so..

Pain is part of creation....and without it and our reaction to avoid and alleviate it, we could not exist. I understand that, and yet I would ask God why not also create with it a limitation on its intensity and duration?
Think of a leper. Dr. Paul Brand, a deeply committed medical missionary, worked with lepers and saw the suffering that they went through. One of the problems with leprosy is that they cannot feel pain in the affected part of their body, and Dr. Brand talked about what a tragedy that is. He said, "If I had the power to eliminate human pain, I would not exercise that right." "Pain's value is too great."
There is a protective purpose of pain. Dr. Brand said that when a healthy person has an injured leg as an example, he or she develops a limp that cause him or her not to put weight down on it. A leper will sometimes wear away quickly an affected member of his or her body because they feel no pain.
We learn from our encounters or battles with it, in all of the four areas I spoke of in the above, therefore it is a gift in our design from God. Pain unifies the body. Dr. Brand says, "I can tell the health of a human body by its reaction to pain. If the body does not react, I know something is dreadfully wrong.
Have you ever hit yourself on the finger with a hammer or some other tool/object? The first thing we do is grab it, then put it under cold water or even pop it in our mouth. Next we might do a little dance which helps in distracting its pain.
Pain itself is one of the greatest and most powerful tools for learning, which I will come back to.

There is also a corrective purpose of pain. It tells us something is wrong. If we did not feel pain, we would not know we were sick, and we wouldn't seek an answer to find healing.   We often though, make the mistake of not addressing the pain in a timely manner, thinking, given enough time it will simply go away....or attribute it to something else....or just flat ignore it....until we can't. And in some cases and times it has gone beyond the stage to be truly helped, when healing could have been available...but now, no longer exists and the consequences are too often damming. God made us smarter than that, and we need to address our fears in this area by seeking help in all of the four arenas we experience pain in, be they physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

Jesus now, walked boldly and with pre-ordained purpose into his pain. For us. Why God required his self-sacrifice through his Son from the beginning, I can only surmise. It seems there could be a better way.....but by his specific ordaining, and then creation of us....in dealing with the darker side of our nature (sin) this is the way he chose.
We, you and I live in a world of opposites...sometimes opposing forces. Duality is the nature of our world. Light and dark, earth and water, rain and drought, desert and jungle, mountains and plains, rich and poor, strength and weakness, health and illness, good and evil, war and peace, pain and comfort....and many more.
There is much we can learn in and from pain, not only for and in ourselves, but for others......we can learn compassion, tenderness, gratefulness, we can learn mercy, justice, we can learn to appreciate each day that we are gifted with. Looking at the bigger picture when we allow ourselves due to circumstances and people, to become upset, petty, vindictive, mean, angry, hateful.

There is so much pain in the world, that we must remember these few verses to sustain and help us overcome those things within us that would kill the spirit and soul. Through all of this, especially in this season, we come back to where I started in Hebrews 2:17.
"Knowing what lay ahead....the pain he would go through, it was necessary for him to be made in every way like us, his brothers and sisters, (in deepening his understanding by experience) so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God." Talking to God for us....the High Priest, One in the middle, between the created and the Creator.
If we have anguish and pain emotionally, we can also go to the Lord who experienced emotional pain on the deepest level, when from the cross, he felt totally abandoned and alone, albeit temporarily.....in this emotion and anguish, he cried out, in Matthew 27:46, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” In doing go feeling deeply as he did, he was still quoting Scripture from the Old Testament in Psalm 22…a deep expression of the anguish he felt when he took the sins of the world upon himself, which caused him a temporary separation from the Father….and then in Luke 24:46, Jesus shouted “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Jesus….knows by experience our pain. He understands, yet does not always alleviate it. Sometimes he does, and why at times he does, and others he does not, I can only trust that there is a reason, and whatever that reason is, only he knows. At times like this, I put myself without condition or question, into the hands of the man who stilled the water, in the hands of the man who calmed the sea…who raised the dead…sets the captives free. This is faith.
I am going to sum this up…..with this paragraph, asking a question that has been asked by millions.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow suffering and evil? These are two questions central to the Christian faith, and questions that even here, I have tried to explore and offer an opinion of, and which to this day these two questions continue to be asked.
Job, Augustine, C.S. Lewis and others have contributed to the ongoing dialogue surrounding these issues. For some, stories of personal suffering, persecution, and martyrdom provide a rallying point and reminder of the pain Christ faced on the cross and the price of our sin. Others suggest suffering is a character-building endeavor. I have tried to cover these to the best of my ability, hoping and praying for a measure of success. One thing is sure though, and that is, suffering is an important element of the Faith. As the apostle Paul wrote. “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” (Philippians 3:8.)
So now….we look forward to Palm Sunday, our Good Friday Tenebrae Service, Easter Sunrise Service….and the Celebration of the miracle of Easter Sunday’s Resurrection from the dead….of Jesus Christ the Lord.
                                   Amen

                                                         Little Church in the Pines
                                                   Mack’s Inn, Island Park, Idaho
                                   Sermon Title ~ RITUAL VERSES SPONTANEITY
                                              “Hand in Hand – brings Harmony”
                                                      EPHESIANS 5:18-20

BEFORE TODAY’S MESSAGE….once again, I am going to delve into a ‘church’ history lesson. Some of you will know all of this and others perhaps little to none, all depending on your church background and religious training.
This last Wednesday was and is called ASH Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, is the beginning of what is called the Lenten Season which lasts for a period of six weeks, ending with Good Friday. So…let’s first let’s start with ASH WEDNESDAY.
ASH Wednesday begins with a call to repentance. A time of preparation for us, as we follow the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The service, and the ASH used to form a cross on the forehead of those who participate, is based on one very sobering Scripture; Genesis 3:19. “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. (told you it was sobering, but also is the next six weeks of what is called Lent. Very symbolic, and depending on you as to how important this preparation is.
LENT, and its purpose is to prepare the individual and collective believers for Easter, through prayer, doing penance, (meaning doing good to offset our sin) and part of that is denying the flesh, (meaning perhaps giving up something that we enjoy doing) and giving to charity beyond what we normally give.
LENT’S purpose is also heightened in the annual commemoration and observances, for the last week of Lent, which is called Holy Week, marking the death, burial and resurrection, which stresses the events of the New Testament, beginning on Palm Sunday, reaching its’ climax on Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, and ultimately culminates in the JOYFUL CELEBRATION on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection.
MANY Believers who are deeply serious in observing and taking these services during Holy Week, will participate in all or as many of these rituals as they can, most of which are observed in our main-line churches, such as Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and surprisingly even a branch of the Baptist Denomination.
MYSELF, being raised semi-Pentecostal and peripherally another denomination, knew next to nothing about such rituals and services. In our way of thinking as I was told, and I am serious, that most of the denominations I mentioned above were not really Christian, but had fallen so far from who and what we were, and that we were to have little to do with them.
SO much for the ‘church’ history lesson, and now onto THE SERMON for today which is a mixture of topics and thoughts, that have been troubling me for a long time, based on the chasm (or so it seems) that divides not only our nation, but families, friends and strangers. So many strong opinions and strong emotions, that we dwell on our differences more than our similarities. And with Christians in particular, we as Christians must be real, and get over it. In saying that, I am going to quote a group of Believers who were harassed and persecuted, sometimes to death for their belief system being out of the norm.
THE Moravians…who were a godly people made up of a cross section of society and nations came to the U.S. in the 1700’s and often sent missionaries to the Native American tribes….in fact many whole tribes converted to Christianity and built towns and villages, becoming farmers and tradesmen and women, only to be hunted down and killed by early pioneers who continued to see them as heathens, resenting them. If interested, do a little research.
Here is the quote attributed to them, and they fully believed lived their motto. “In Essentials Unity, in Non-essentials, Liberty, in all Things Love” and as their foundational living standard, never retaliated or defended themselves.
St. Augustine is the one who originally is quoted as stating this phrase, and from whom the Moravians adopted it.

                                                         The Little Church in the Pines
                                                                  Mack's Inn
                                                              Island Park, Idaho
                                                               February 11, 2018
                                                             "pride and prejudice"
                                                            PROVERBS 16:18-19/21
                                                           By: Pastor Tom Shanor

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
Those who trust in the Lord, will be joyful!
The wise....
are known for their understanding, and pleaseant words are persuasive.

This is not about Jane Austin's novel by this name, (PRIDE AND PREJUDICE) but.....her story charts the emotional development of the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, who learns the error of making hasty judments and comes to appreciate the diference between the superficial and the essential.
WOULD THAT WE ALL DO THE SAME!
A protagonist (if you do not know) is the main character among all the leading characters in a play, drama, movie, etc....in your life, you...are the protagonist, and what you and I, as a protagonist, learn along the way, not only learn, but apply to our lives can affect not only us, but all the other protagonists in their lives....so in some ways, by our words and by out actions, we literally affect the entire human population....much like a pebble being thrown into the center of a calm pond....”our” ripples move forth from that center larger in our immediate area...but gradually washing up on shore. Smaller, perhaps almost insignificant..and unseen, but having reached the shore nonetheless.
2.
~ We all know, or think we know the full meaning of the word “PRIDE,” but let’s assume we do not.
~ Pride is an inwardly directed ‘emotion’ that carries two ‘antithetical’ meanings. Antithetical means (they are not compatible), they do not belong together and never will. With the negative connotation pride refers to a “foolishly and irrationally corrupt sense of one’s personal value, status or accomplishments, used synonymously with hubris, or excessive pride or excessive self-confidence.
Maybe today I should have a chalkboard up here! : )
~ Now, with a positive (yes there is a positive pride) connotation, pride refers to a humble and content sense of attachment towards one’s own, or another’s choices and actions, even towards a whole group of people, and is a product of praise, independent self-reflection, and fulfilled feelings of accomplishment, but never (emotion here) “feeling” above or better than someone else. Thereby never become prideful…or egotistical. Narcissistic…a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.
~ In a book titled “Similrilian….we find Satan as the protagonist. He…created by God, the most beautiful of the Angels…and with a voice like no other, would lead the Angelic Choir….but, because of his beauty, as he was called “Morning Star” and his voice, he began to think of himself as equal to God. He then began in his mind a rebellion….thinking he could outsmart God. He quietly began to convince other angels that indeed he was equal and perhaps even greater than….but of course God knew what was happening because…He was God, but he let it happen. Up until this time, there was never a discordant note in the singing of the choir of angels. Then…suddenly and without warning, because of his pride and prejudice, a discordant note was heard in the heavenly choir. God…stopped the singing…saying, what is this I hear, and who is this, that destroys the harmony and beauty of My choir of Angels. Upon revelation and then confrontation…the once beautiful Morning Star, and all who followed him were cast out of heaven, and once so beautiful, now Morning Star became hideous and evil, and those who followed him suffered the same consequences….becoming Satan and his demons.
…..This is an allegory, or a story of happenings that have symbolic meaning, deep and profound. Though not a word for word story of Satan’s fall, it is full of symbolic meaning for those who have negative pride….and always with negative, and even sometimes deadly results. Our Scripture verse parallels this story very well. Pride comes before destruction……………………………………
~ Prideful people….are insecure, needing to inflate the egos< and as a result need to have themselves built up by others….and if not by others, through power and force (if in the positon to wield that power) through fear and manipulation of reprisal of many kinds, and who demand, control and obedience
~ Paul, once proud in his positon of a righteous Jew among Jews….used that pride to manipulate Jewish leaders in to giving him judgmental power to maim and kill Believers…UNTIL…he encountered a greater power than himself on the road to Damascus. Jesus….Paul overnight became a humble follower of the Savior….though it did not make him weak….but strong in a new way, under the directions and power of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.
Today….the last several months many prideful men, who once in the world wielded power, a great deal of power in human terms in their own spheres, have been brought low….removed, and some to be jailed, because of the power via fear, of those within their reach, in taking advantage of women, some just girls in a despicable way, thinking that because of their inflated egos and high standing in their own minds could not be touched. Well…there is a saying that goes like this. “You reap what you sow.” In time all that is done in darkness will be brought to, not light, but The Light.” All will be revealed.

Oswald Chambers says, “Pride” “is a sin of whose presence its victim is least conscious. There are he also says, three tests by means of which it can soon be discovered.

The test of precedence. How do we react when another is selected for the assignment or position we had worked towards and perhaps even expected? When another is promoted and we are overlooked? When anther outshines us in gifts and accomplishments. How DO we react?
The test of sincerity. In our moments of honest self-criticism, needing to talk to someone, we will say private struggles an things about ourselves, and really mean them to trusted friends. But how do we feel that someone tells others, especially our rivals, and they in turn, repeat these same things about us to others, that we had shared in honesty and privately with them.
The test of criticism. Does criticism arouse hostility and resentment in our minds and hearts, and cause us to fly into immediate self-justification, in turn criticizing the criticizer, or is there something we can learn, even in unjust criticism.

Fatal words. ( humorous allergory)
~ Two ducks and a rather egotistical frog developed a friendship in their small pond. When their pond dried up due to a drought, the ducks knew they could easily fly to another location, but what of their friend the frog? Finally they decided to fly with a stick between their two bills, and with the frog hanging onto the stick by his mouth. All went well until a man looked up and saw them pass close to him overhead. “What a clever idea,” said the man. “I wonder who thought of that.”

The frog (being rather egotistical) opened his mouth, to say, “I did.” and splattered onto the sidewalk.

There is nothing wrong in healthy pride…pride that has a humble foundation of gratefulness undergirding it. I take pride and pleasure in finishing a painting that I end up being pleased with, and that others enjoy while looking at it. Underlying that pride is gratefulness and pleasure….that I was born with the ability to do what I do, grateful to God for giving it to me.
~ If…I happen to be able to put together a sermon or talk that comes across well, and people comment on it, saying so. I simply say “thank you.” and am glad, and I also in my mind and heart give the Lord the thanks and praise….and after a while doing so just becomes part of us.
Please understand, I am not saying I am the perfect example of a man without pride….but through life in Christ, I have at least learned to temper somewhat that of which I am capable of being. Praise God!
~ There is pride in our hearts and gratefulness when our kids and grandkids do well. Even then we should tell them so…but also remember to tell them, that they should give thanks to the Lord for their achievement. To do so…keeps them focusing on being thankful and grateful, and to not judge others for not doing as well as they, because we are all different in our levels of giftings and abilities.
We can become prejudicial against all sorts of people, places and things which in turn make us into judgmental, unkind, mean-spirited people. Religion against religion…racial differences that cause division….white pride, black pride, yellow pride, red pride, one above another, all pride of this kind is simply and deeply divisive.
Christ came to set, not an example, but THE EXAMPLE of what it means to walk in and through life with the right heart and the right attitudes. Here are some examples.
I will end with this…..look around this room, this church building and what do you see? You see fellow believers. Friends, maybe strangers, but we are all part of the same creation, made by the same God…..we are all equal in His sight and heart, and though we all come from different backgrounds, educations, financial histories…but, our similarities are greater than our differences…..because the source of our beings are one and the same. We are all under Grace…and we are all saved by that same grace…no matter of the above things I spoke of. We are ONE in Christ, and therefore there is no room for negative pride or prejudice in the life of a Christian, or even a church.
Amen

                                                   The Little Church in the Pines,
                                                                   Prayer
                                                              February 5, 2018

In its most basic form is simply communication.
…..communication is life!
…..communication is expressed in a multitude of means, and is self-aware and self-realized. Without it we are dead, whether we are alive physically or physically dead.
Prayer is an invocation (invocation being the act of invoking or seeking someone of higher authority and power) God as an example, for the purpose of activating a rapport or connection so to speak, through deliberate communication. Prayer can be a form of religious “practice” and may be either individual or communal, taking place in private or in a public setting. It may involve the use of words understood, or in feelings. When language is used, prayer may take the form of a hymn, a psalm, incantation, formal doctrinal or creedal statement, such as in the case of, as Christians, the Nicene or Apostle’s Creed, or it can be totally spontaneous.
Scriptural references of prayer……………..include these four words.

Prayers
So, an obstacle of effective prayers lies in unforgiveness, resentment, anger, hatred and oh so many other negative behaviors that we humans can come up with, and all of these are in truth designated as sin.
Doing what we do prior to actually taking part in Communion, is exactly what this is all about…..cleansing our minds, hearts and spirits before God and each other….praying along with David when he says to God…. “create in me a clean heart O God, take not your Holy Spirt from me, cast me not away from thy Presence O Lord, renew a right spirit, mind, heart and attitude within me.” Psalm 51:10-12

My actual desire in talking on Prayer today is that we see it as a real and practical reality in our every day lives. Is it spiritual in essence, yes, but it is also practical in outcome, and vital to our lives and the lives of those whom we pray for….including ourselves.
My real hope is that I can with the help of the Spirit, and Scripture accomplish this.
So….how many of you have a cell phone?
When you desire to communicate with a friend, a family member, a business, etc., etc. It is one of the best means of immediate communication (unless of course the line is busy or disconnected) for whatever it is you wish to communicate. But…until you pick the phone up, making sure it is charged and powered up….it is just a dormant communication device lying there, wherever, doing nothing. But pick it up, turn it on and punch in the number…you are in touch…you are ready to communicate…ready to get down to business!
And, so it is the same with God. He’s there, just waiting for you to pick up the phone, power it up and talk to him. That is prayer….talking to him. Now whatever you wish to talk about, implore, intercede, ask, cry out…..take a deep breath, knowing you are talking to a friend, (so you can be completely honest) and talk. You can laugh, you can cry, you can yell, you can ask questions, make your request known….so, just be yourself. No contrived religious talk, full of platitudes and sometimes high sounding religious stuff….no contrived King James language….just simple, straight-forward communication is best.
You see…God is on the line all the time, fully charged and, actually looking forward to spending some time with you. Cool, huh!
He is like a fully powered atomic generator….ready to light up the world, our world….but until we turn the on switch on….it just sits there and quietly hums….he saying to himself, somebody plug in, come on, somebody hit the on switch!
When we come together on Sundays, one of our group participatory actions is to both share our blessings….and the other to pray for those whom we know or don’t know, and who we do know, needs support through prayer. So…you speak, I pray, out loud, (and I’ve never been eloquent at it) but pray none-the-less, praying also that God will see my motivation and desire more than my lack of eloquence. Remember, I said he simply wants us to be honest and real. So…then, as I pray, you join with me in spirit, which makes it then a conference call/prayer….for we are all on the line together. It’s kind of amazing and a good thing.
We have seen positive results, and some not so…..we are glad when we hear of progress and then in turn, thank God for intervening through our prayers, but disappointed when it doesn’t happen, as we had hoped and prayed, but, the thing is, not to grow weary and stop when things do not turn out as we had hoped. We….are not God, but are his people, and because we are, just as in the case of our parents when things did not go as we had hoped, though we may not understand, we accept and go on. Papa God.
Do I like it that some prayers are not answered? No.,but then what I need to do is some self-examination, referring back to my earlier paragraph….that obstacles of unforgiveness, anger, hatred, etc. and sin, stand at times in the way, but it does not change my mind about prayer and the power to bring about change….and speaking of change…can I change God’s mind or pre-disposed actions. Yes….God is not a puppet attached to our strings and we control him….nor are we puppets, where he does this movement with his hand and we move this way or that way. No….he give us freedom and the ability to make choices, and that is in regards to prayer as well. But…we can move him by prayer.
An example can be found in the story of Lot and his family in Sodom. There is verse after verse of Abraham interceding on behalf of the righteous who were living among them…that God would not destroy everyone including Lot and his family. Abraham started with 50 righteous people…then continued to coax God by intercession, getting the number down to 10, and ultimately four.
Abraham’s prayer for Lot and his family…is a revelation of the faith of one man in the face of great odds. Abraham is an example to us that as he stood alone before God, he wielded a significant spiritual/practical influence over God’s actions. Lot and his family were saved. FYI, Sarah was a close blood relative of Lot, hence because of being family, Abraham interceded on their behalf.
There is one more element that is a bit more difficult (for me) to grasp, in regards to unanswered prayer. That being that God desires to at times (test our faith) and as an extreme example, and, to understand this example, we have to read the progressive story of Job. Job was caught in between basically a bet between God and Satan. The crux of the illustration being that most ALL of Job’s blessings were to be taken away, including all his children, his riches, his health and more….his unkind and unsupportive friends. If, Job stood strong in his faith, and endured to the end of the test….not only would Job win, but God would win too! This bet! And, God won…..his faith in Job was verified.
So…hopefully, we are out of Job’s league, and the time of testing for our faith does not encompass those extremes.
A few verses on prayer and I will be close to finishing up, for today! Close!

Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
James 5:13-16, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick?You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well.And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
17b, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” To earnestly pray….takes discipline and effort of the will, but once involved it will flow from you to God…because like the phone illustration, you will be connected.

Conversational prayer can happen throughout your day, everyday and like it was with Brother Lawrence, simply become a part of your relationship with God in Christ.
Intercessory Prayer….is a step deeper than earnest prayer…and an illustration is praying in the Holy Spirit…meaning you sometimes may move out of your understanding into a place in the Spirit, where you sense you are one with God, and perhaps even praying in utterances that you do not understand.
PRAYER NEED NOT BE A MYSTERY…..BUT A FACT, AN ACTION OFTEN BEARING VISIBLE RESULTS.
Life is not without uncertainties, whether they come in the form of a major life transition, family issues, health scares and or financial trouble. What we should continue to learn is that God cares, about even the smaller issues in our lives, he asks us, and even invites us to let go of our fears on all levels, by giving them to him. When we do truly let go……he, who knows all things, promises that his peace, “which is transcends all understanding, will guard our heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

                                               The Little Church in the Pines
                                                 MACK’S INN, IDAHO
                                                          January 28, 2018
                                                                “HOPE”
                                                      “a vital part of our lives”
                                                           Romans 15:13
        “I pray that God, the source of ‘hope,’ will fill you completely with joy and peace, because you trust in                       him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
                                                        By; Tom Shanor, Pastor

Hope….depending on a given state of mind and faith, can be hard to grasp, ethereal or substantive and encouraging.
So….what is the actual meaning of this both ethereal and substantive word anyway. Well, I will tell you.
Hope…is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes, with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life, or the world at large. As a verb (action) it’s definitions include: “expect with confidence” and “to cherish a desire with anticipation with a desired outcome”.
Among it’s opposites are dejection, hopelessness and even despair.
This morning, did you arrive here with a measure of ‘hope?’ Hope of something or someone? We humans are as I said last week, with the ability to reason, think and weight the benefits or consequences that lie in front of us, are unique in all the living beings on this blue planet. The fact that we can even entertain ‘hope,’ is distinctly human.
In the New International Bible, the word HOPE is used 180 times. In it’s every day usage, it’s depth is measured by the emotions that lie beneath it.
There are many different kinds of hope…such as              1. Desired Hope
                                                                               2. Expressly Christian Hope
                                                                               3. False Hope
                                                                               4. Fulfilled Hope
                                                                               5. Others
Hope is a forever word……and in doing a little research found that without being redundant, in speaking it’s many manifestations more than once, citizens have named their towns, points of interest and fishing lodges, etc., using the word hope, and here are some examples.
Hope, Hopewell, Fairhope, Mount Hope, Hopeville, Hope Valley, New Hope, Point Hope, Good Hope, East Hope, Hopeful Heights, Pleasant Hope and Spring Hope….of which there are an additional 90 more…oh yeah, Fishope Lodge. Can you believe that?
We are still in the month of January, the New Year is still fresh on our minds, especially if we still write a check once in awhile….as it takes time to make that singular adjustment. Did you…come into this new year with hope. Are they intimate to you, unspoken hopes but hope none the less. Perhaps broader, bigger in scope, such as the proverbial hoped for world peace? Better health, Hope for our children and grandchildren….or a new car. The spectrum is huge, and what lies at the root of each one is peculiar to you and you alone.
I would suggest you put some additional tools in your hope box…and that would be prayer, not just a ho hum prayer….but an authentic, deep intercessory prayer….and add to that some practical (if applicable and possible) effort in the natural. If we desire and hope for something deep enough, but doing just these two things….will make a difference.
On the down side….I have had hopes that have not come about, some due to my own doing, and others due to other’s doings. Those unfulfilled hopes are the hardest to deal with….to make peace with….and to replace the regret, sometimes pain that accompanied them. I have been there…experienced just like you, those times. But….even in those times, I never completely lost the Presence of the Lord…in fact, the opposite. For it was in those times that I needed him the most….and called on him the most, because I might not have made it through had it not been so.
Living, breathing, illness, accidents, death, loss, disappointments….are all a part of life on this spinning world we live on. A natural part of simply being here. To comfort and encourage one another in those times of loss, disappointments, are the times when we can (if we have the will and courage to choose) draw closer to our Lord and one another. His love….and our love for one another….through whom we stand together in the Spirit with…..and continue to hope….to lift up one another. This is vital to living. Vital to our well-being and even our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.
The Lord is always with us because He is within us. Take a deep breath, reign in your thoughts and in that moment audibly say to him, I give you all that I cannot understand, hoping you will comfort me, wrap your arms around me, hold me. In those times, it behooves us not to ask why, but to simply give him the burden of your soul. I guarantee…..he will be with and embrace you.
Physically…it helps also to simply change your location. Going to someplace where there is peace and solitude and even beauty, for in that solitude, we can say to him as Solomon said in Psalm 40 verse 3, “Put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to my God.”
A song of worship, of praise, to take the place of loss. Not to dispel it, but to lift it up on the wings of a song, a song of hope, as it rises as a note of praise, a s sacrifice literally of praise. For then it can turn into worship, for as we worship, we will find our selves being lifted out of our selves and into his Presence.
A song I sing….that give me hope is one that you know that I love. Morning Has Broken…(sing) Page 5.
I have HOPE, hope for us here in TLCP…that God is and will accomplish here, in us and in this chapel….and will grow us, deepen us, brighten our light here in this community….and in each of us individually….transforming us into a special people of God….not better in our own eyes, but humbly and taking on the form of servants to serve one another and this place in which we live, who just by being here and reflecting him….will bring honor to his name.
Will you say AMEN to this?
C.L Lewis who wrote so m any wonderful books, including the Narnia Chronicles, Screwtape Letters and many more said about hope: “Hope is a continual looking forward to the eternal world to come.”
Dale Carnegie said: “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying, when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
John Bunyan, author of the Pilgrim’s Progress said, “Hope is never ill when faith is well.”
Emily Dickenson wrote: “Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches on the soul, and sings the tunes without the words, and NEVER stops at all.”
Cicero wrote: “While there is life, there is hope.”
G.F. Watt has a famous painting entitled “Hope.” It pictures a woman going through deep and difficult times. Her eyes are bandaged so that she cannot see ahead. In her hands lies a harp, but all the strings are broken but one. Those broken strings represent to her, her shattered hopes, her bitter disappointments. She named the last unbroken string, her last hope. She strokes the string and instead of a singular sound, comes a glorious melody that floats out over her world, filling her dark skies with stars, taking away the darkness and filling her heart and life with joy. Her outward circumstances had not yet changed…but her heart now sang instead of with despair….with new born hope.
Psalm 42:11 “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disillusioned within me? HOPE IN GOD, (for the midst of my despair) I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM…the help of my countenance and my God.”
Psalm 31:24, “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all of you who ‘hope’ in the Lord.”
We all…at times need New Beginnings undergirded with hope. To do so, we need to keep our faith alive, real and growing. That my friends…..takes at times an act of our wills, based on our love and hope in God. An act of our will in that we actively pursue our relationship with God in Christ.
The first person to invent the wheel and put it to practical use, only discovered what God had already designed, for the Lord created creation in circles and spheres. The stars and planets are round, they move in an orbital circuit, and life, as a result, moves in cycles. Every one hundred years, we have a new century; every three hundred and sixty five days a new year; every 24 hours a new day; every sixty minutes a new hour, and every sixty seconds a new minute.
God created the potential for New Beginnings into the very design of our universe, and for good reason. Every person needs a chance, more than a chance, sometimes multiple New Beginnings and New Chances. Some of those folks we have read about.
Adam and Eve….after their failure
Moses after he killed the Egyptian
David after his adulterous relationship
Peter, after his denial of Christ three times
And maybe….just maybe you and I….oh, actually, not maybe!
Here is a humorous tale that I may have shared once before, awhile ago, but will do so again….and it is about attitude in times of perceived failure, laced with hope.
A man was out for a walk one afternoon, saw a baseball game going on and stopped to watch the young boys play. He asked one of the boys in the dugout what the score was? The boy responded, “eighteen to nothing…we’re behind.”
The man said to the little guy, “I’ll bet you are very discouraged, aren’t you?”
The boy responded, “why would I be discouraged?” We haven’t even been up to bat yet!”
Let’s pick up our bat and join with the attitude of that little guy….in hope and anticipation of what the Lord has for us…each and every one of us.!
That is My hope, backed with prayer….and “this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.: Halleluiah, amen.

                                                   The Little Church in the Pines
                                                     mack's inn, island park, id.
                                                                   "Sermon"
                                                          by; Tom Shanor, Pastor
                                                      "To Question and to Think?"
                                                                     equals
                                                                  "wisdom?"
                                                              January 14, 2018
~ This morning’s message begins with a challenge. Are you up for one? In accepting a challenge, one has to know that there will be obstacles and possibly prejudices to overcome, especially in regards to what we often hold to as truth. The first challenge is making a decision to do just that. Especially when it comes to the way we think about truths....or alleged truths. There are some truths that stand on their own, and there are others truths that we have accepted as truths, but because of man, and man's ability to manipulate, due to desire, circumstances and goals, can change truths with a word, a period or a whole new paragraph, or a whole new book such as the Book of Mormon
~ I wish I could say that this has not been done, especially in regards to our faith, but time, culture, motivation, evidence, and the will and hand of man, has, and will continue to change and attempt to change accepted truths.
~ In regards to this, we can challenge ourselves to think....or build walls. Building walls is much easier than challenging truths, because it means we will have to think. Not on a superficial level, but on a deeper level such as is described next, in what the meaning of thinking is, which I found the meaning of in my Bible. This is not Scripture of course, but a short paragraph on what the word think means.
It means....to ponder, reflect, remember, all subject to the process of logical thought; to have an opinion based on logic, evidence, and sometimes faith. To also conceive or reason,
and lastly, to mediate on.
Arriving at a place in our minds....that what is said or written or thought and spoken...is true.
This goes for my messages as well, and what I share with you! As often as Ido, I try to let you know when something is my opinion, but even then, in thinking about what I am about to share....if it is something that bothers you....do research...think...and also pray. Now, that's a novel idea!
~ We, most all have been told and heard, that we only use a tenth or so of our brains and what they are capable of, yet no one has yet to discover how to access the other 90%.
Wow....wouldn't that be something to find the way to do so? Actually, considering what we do with what we already have, have 90% more is a bit scary.
~ Also, with each of us comes a way of thinking that is unique to each individual...some of us use mostly logic, others emotion, others a blend. Some of us have the ability to think down the road...and others cannot seem to think beyond the moment. Overall....we are uniquely complex and diverse.
~ My personal prayer every Sunday that as I stand up here and talk with you, that I do not transgress the responsibility that has been given to me. I do not take this position lightly or even without a measure of fear. I do not consider myself a wise person….for that would be arrogant, and I am not anyway, a wise person that is, but I do rely on the wisdom of God through four means.
1. The Scriptures     3. Logic
2. The Holy Spirit    4. Evidence
~ There were things I was taught as a child, but I will get into that a bit later, as much as I am about to share is personal in regards to my beliefs and how they have changed, especially in the last ten years. Prior to that I pretty much taught others, and came from a place in me that had a lot of fear behind my beliefs and teaching.
~ I believed basically everything I was taught, and God forbid I would ever leave the foundation that my faith was founded on, taught to me, coming from roughly 30 years as an Evangelical, and most of those were in some form of leadership.
~ God also forbid if I voiced questions that differed from those Evangelical teachings. I knew the accepted doctrine, and I knew it well. I knew what the correct Evangelical worldview was and always (that is a relative term) had been
~ I also always knew how to back it up with the Bible..(or tried to) and when I could not, how to fall back on saying (God is in control and by His Spirit would not allow one word to be mistranslated or changed to suit man.) That was naïve.
~ That is…until I didn’t, and admitted to myself I couldn’t go on being a puppet, with strings attached to the hierarchy above me. I had to challenge what I believed and taught so that I could not only own it, but understand it’s roots and foundation, thereby being able to truly teach it, back it up and rest on it.
~ Some of these beliefs could not stand the test of scrutiny of time, or evidence.   I came to the revelation that we as Evangelicals failed greatly in one major area, in that we came off being (in our own estimation), and acting superior….we were not humble followers of Jesus, but selfrighteous judges, looking down (and not nicely) on those who did not believe as we did. I also saw that we failed to look at human beings who thought and believed differently than we, as human beings just like us. You see, we labeled people, and as soon as we labeled them, that is really all we saw. We failed to see their humanity, their vulnerability, their capacity for love, for pain, for grief, for joy…….in that, they are just like us.
~ Until I didn’t…………….
~ It didn’t and doesn’t need to be this way. I could have been given (gratefully so) a much broader snapshot of Christianity, a much deeper and wider picture of church history, of doctrine, of philosophy, etc. I could have been told that though there were difference in our doctrines and philosophies, we could still be brothers and sisters in the faith.
~ Here are some points I want to talk about……………………………………….
~ Little is truly said, or understood in regards to heaven and hell. But the little that is said….has been built into monuments…starting with Dante’s painting of hell that dramatically changed not only Christianity, but the entire then culture, from one of tolerance and grace…to one of damnation and fear.
~ The doctrine of hell was that which was most responsible for driving me from the Evangelical cage. I couldn’t and still can’t see a loving God who created all the beauty and astoundingly intricate world we live in…..condemning individuals, already in pain, to literal flames for even a moment, let alone for all eternity. And I couldn’t fathom spending an eternity in heaven while those I loved were tortured forever in such a place as Dante pictured. That is not the God that I know, that the Bible speaks of….and fills me with grace and mercy and goodness.
~ The kicker though, is that Christian thinkers in the early church couldn’t fathom such things either. There were and are a whole host of theologians who believed that hell wasn’t everlasting, and that those who found themselves consigned there, are there for their own good. In other words, hell had and has a purpose, which is not for the sake of burning people, but to burn away all the wood, hay and stubble that prevents them from “going to heaven” to put it in Evangelical terms.
~ My own dad…and what Jesus revealed to me….proved this dramatically. (tell as an illustration of God’s love and Grace)
Another issue of doctrine……………………………………………………………………..
2….that the Rapture is not even a 200-year-old-doctrine, and to this day is not believed by the great majority of Christianity, irregardless of the fictional series of books written (Left Behind)… that took the Evangelical world by storm and became in much of the Evangelical world….doctrine.
~ If hell in its’ taught model drove me away…this one, as I think back to my childhood was right up there with it, and that being the Rapture. I can recall, well into my adulthood, but oh so much in my childhood, that this supposed truth scared me to death. Out of nowhere I would wonder if I couldn’t find someone, that the rapture had happened and I was “left behind” as the book series is called. If that happened, what was the antichrist going to do me.
~ Here is where it became literal doctrine…that Christians did not start believing this until 1830’s (around the same time Mormonism arose. If such an important tenet of the faith (as we were taught) were true, then shouldn’t Christians have been privy to it much earlier on?
~ And maybe, just maybe, they could have mentioned it in the Nicene Creed? Or the Apostles Creed, or somewhere in the tenets of the faith, being taught consistently and deeply, as it is taught today. Think about it! Living as a small, vulnerable child would have been, even for me, a more delightful time without being frightened of such.
Remember, that my purpose today is not to get you mad at me, or confused, but to drive you further and deeper into what you believe, or change what you believe, but to back it up with history, and fact, and faith…not just because someone(s) taught you these things.
~ I sat in on months of teaching in an evening class, over 20 years ago, about the things that were going to happen soon, starting with the year 2000 and Y2K…..listening to a teacher I respected…(at the time) of not only the rapture but all that prefaced the event that was to happen shortly.
1. Concentration camps being built for Christians in various places in the US…upstate New York, other locations!
2. Guillotines that were sitting in a warehouse in Alaska, ready to behead we Christians, who missed the Rapture, but came to faith because of being left behind. Death was a way to redemption.
3. And oh so much more…..we were excited, and blessed to be ahead of the game…and
what was to come. God forgive me.
There is one more I want to cover….though I have others as well, and this last one for today is…..that it is ok to question things, including doctrine, and that it is also ok to be wrong, in that you are not automatically consigned to the Evangelical accepted hell and damnation, for being supposedly wrong.
~ I can never remember my leadership giving me the ok to question accepted beliefs and doctrines. You just didn’t do that.
~ For when done, if the courage to do so….any deviation brought with it correction and admonishment. You see, as a leader and teacher….the responsibility was too great, in that the ‘flock’ might be led astray. The responsibility and accountability is much harsher (and in a sense I agree with that) for the leader than for the sheep. You. Yet…we should always have the freedom to think and to question.
We are told today as well, that the ticket to heaven is having the correct beliefs about who Jesus is, what he accomplished, and so on. (FEAR based) So, why would we question accepted doctrine. Why take the chance we may be wrong?
~ The truth is much simpler….and can be summed up in one sentence….found in Romans 10:13, and Acts 2:21.
“Whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.”
~It’s a beautiful thing……the simplicity of accepting and believing, and the benefits are rather amazing….in faith, grace, mercy, justice, joy and simply life in and with the Lord, and each other…and with all of humanity.
Here is a closing thought about God; “His center is everywhere, His circumference is nowhere.” Henry Law
Please, do not be afraid to either think or question….God gave us the ability to do so, and respects that we are honest with him in doing so……..he can handle any question or inquiry…..and answers us in patience, grace….leading to wisdom……………….                                                  Amen

The modern English word hell is derived from Old English, hel, helle, (about 725 AD to refer to a nether world or the world of the dead) Subsequently, the word was used to transfer a (pagan concept) to Christian theology and it’s vocabulary…..the Jewish and Christian word’s origin is found in the Hebrew word, Gehenna, which in reality was a public dump in Israel, that was continually smoldering and sometimes burning.
The accepted doctrine of an Evangelical hell….which encompasses that of many denominations is this…..which includes the overall, though perhaps not in detail of Dante’s painting, the Divine Comedy….and is,
…..one of perpetual torture of a great variety, of sinners who do not believe in Christ, which includes all non-Christians, who have not repented of their sins, including ‘fallen or unrepentant ‘former believers.’ This also could include those who had not accepted the sovereignty of Christ, even if and because of the way that Christ was delivered to them….perhaps by force, threat of death, or just a poor example of how the Gospel was presented….and how that individual lived their life. Basically…it’s about punishment without grace, mercy or goodness, though the person may have lived an exemplary life.
…..Catholicism, which if you remember had resolved this for over 1500 years before Luther, has a different version of Hell, which also include purgatory, or a place of purging….or cleansing before heaven.
…..Judaism has a far different doctrinal stance, as does the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox…..
…..Once again….I am talking about this to compel you to do your own research, unless….you are comfortable with the doctrine you hold on to and believe…and like the title of my sermon, it is important to “Question and to Think” for several reasons…1. That you know what you believe and equally, 2. why you do, 3. so you can explain to others why, and 4. to strengthen your faith, and 5. So you be tolerant and accepting of others who believe differently than you.
….BACK TO THE KICKER….

PRE-MILLENIAL RAPTURE
Definition….of Millenialism first, which is the belief that Jesus will return to earth literally, to set up an earthly kingdom, and reign for a thousand years.
PRE-MILLENIAL RAPTURE is, the belief that Christians who are worthy, will prior to His coming, be lifted up or taken up to Heaven, therefore not having to live during the 3-1/2 year period, of the rule of the anti-Christ (a man who will be the antithesis of Christ) and will demand that he be worshiped by all of mankind…who’s goal during that time, will be to root out and kill those who during his reign come to Christ.

NEW DOCTRINE………
Rapture doctrine was invented, written and presented to Christian America by one John Nelson Darby…at this time. All attempts to find legitimate evidence of this doctrine before this time have failed.
Darby’s doctrinal treatise has had a profound impact on Evangelical Christianity to this day. Since Darby’s “secret rapture” false doctrine has infected most conservative, evangelical churches. While the official creeds and statement of faith of again, the Catholic Church, and most older denominations do not hold to this vein of doctrine.
The churches who do believe this, use Israel’s modern state-hood status, of 1948 to be a beginning of the countdown to the end. But, by one of their own Scripture’s used to validate their belief, has already passed and not fulfilled……that, “this generation,” the generation being the one alive at the time of Israel being established as a nation,) (a generation being 40 years) will not pass away until all this comes to pass.” It has now been 70 years.
Since this doctrine has been adopted…..there are Date Setters, and Date Teasers….the Seventh Day Adventists, and the Jehovah Witnesses…among others, have set dates in the past and most likely will in the future…days and times for the great day of the coming of the Lord….only to be proven time and again, wrong. For no one knows the day and time of His coming.
There are more than several ‘so called prophets’ today who time and again do the same….only to embarrass and give Christians and Christianity a bad name….by getting behind these guys. It takes just a few….to taint the whole pot. Most of these are TV preachers and authors….who promote rapture and/or “date setters” all wrongly believe they are prophets of God with special illumination.
Back to “if such”.

                                                        The Little Church in the Pines
                                                                January 7, 2018
                                                                   macks inn
                                                               Island Park, Idaho
                                                              "DO I WANT TO?"
                                                                      John 21:19b
                                                                      1 Cor. 4:17b
                                                                           by
                                                                 Tom Shanor, Pastor

~ "Then Jesus told him, "Follow Me." John 21:19b
~ "Timothy will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in      all the churches wherever I go" 1st Cor. 4:17b
~ "But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to and follow him" Matthew 17:5....and I save the last part of that Scripture for thought, so think about it...all of it, including that of the disciples who heard the voice, and their reaction. The disciples were terrified...and fell face down on the ground.
~ There are some key words here I want to point out before giving you my composite illustration of those words. They are; follow, Son, great joy and terrified.
3 words so very different in their meaning yet bound together in intent.
How many of you have planted a Sun flower, or several sunflowers? There are several characteristics of sunflowers that make them stand out.
1. When in bloom, it is usually a large bloom, that literally stands as a symbol for the sun in its beauty, and form and color.
         2. It has a strong stem that can withhold most wind, and the heavy weight of the bloom itself.
         3. It also follows the path of the sun....all day long. It greets the morning sun, and as the sun traverse across the sky, it looks up ever so slightly....and the bloom follows that traversing, ending up at the end of the day still facing the sun.
~ In conjunction with the sun and the flower, it should be our spiritual goal to emulate this flower in relation to THE Son.....of God, Jesus the Christ.....Savior of all mankind.
~ This brings us back to the title of today's message; "DO I WANT TO" ? "DO I WANT TO" ? To follow the Son of God?
We just came through weeks of preparation and celebration of the birth of this Jesus, this Son of God....who throughout human history these past 2000 years....has brought both GREAT JOY....and at the hands of corrupt men in leadership, TERROR.
~ The freedom to choose is ours every day that we have on this planet.
~ With this, freedom in following, at times brings with it all manner of thoughts and emotions....from the mundane or ordinary, to deep connection and exquisite creativity. From sin and death to goodness and life, we live in a world of opposites. Day and night, desert and tropical, cold and heat, wind and calm, good and evil....and the list goes on and on.
~ Yet in the center of all this, like the sunflower following the sun, are we, who are to do the same......through all manner of changes and opposites.....to follow the Son.
~ We are but days into another "new year," sometimes full of resolutions and thoughts of change....a time of introspection and hope, and fear, and joy and laughter, and tears and sorrow, of gain and of loss.
Solomon said it so well, as he wrote....."For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time quite searching. At time to keep and time to throw away. At time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and at time to speak.
A TIME TO LOVE AND A TIME TO HATE....A TIME FOR WAR AND A TIME FOR PEACE......
A new day, a new year, the same life, changed as time advanced.....one minute at a time. Have you ended this past year knowing in all the changes that came your way....some as quoted above....where both joy and sorrow came hand in hand....where laughter and tears flowed from the same eyes....where pain and peace seemed just a heartbeat apart. Such is life on planet earth.
In all this...as in years past and in years to come....there can be One constant in our lives....and that constant is the presence in us and around us, of the one we follow....the Son of God.
My question to each of you and myself this morning is.....in following this Son of God, "Do I WANT TO ?
Do I want to, what....in following Him? Do I want to know Him better, deeper...because as the years wind down and we all come closer and closer to that day....that day of reckoning. What should be our highest and deepest priority? Entertainment, more trips, more material goods, a bigger garage, a bigger house....more grandkids, more kids, more money. None of these are bad.....all are good.....and yet, we leave the highest and best too often as our lowest priority.
Walking hand in hand with the one who gave us the life we live. If often or at times this walk of faith seems shallow and mythical...and not quite real...it is never because he has walked away from us....it is because we have left him behind in our pursuit of other thing, events and people.
My challenge to each of us this New Year....is to take our personal one on one relationship and knowledge of Him to a new and deeper level. It is not my desire this morning to motivate by guilt....or by coersion, but by love....love for Him and love for one another, and love of ourselves.
To be deeply contented in our hearts and spirits at no matter what age....or what physical condition, or even mental emotional state of being....so our lives can be better, deeper, richer, livelier, happier, more contented. IF...we but set apart some small amount of time (determined by us) to spend with Him and Him alone. It can simply be sitting in our favorite spot, reading Our Daily Bread, taking time in that quiet time to think about and pray simply, not long dragged out eloquent prayers....but prayers from our heart for our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, the world and ourselves.
And allow God through His Scriptures.....perhaps reading just 10 verses at a time every day......then pondering on them, to speak to us through them.
And this also....to spend some of that brief time, simply being grateful and saying so to Him...for what we do have in all the areas I spoke of.
A grateful heart is like good medicine....like putting lotion on dry skin, or putting on our glasses so we can see better and clearer, because a broken spirit makes our lives dry and brittle.
Here's how the little song goes.
A merry heart, does good like a medicine, like a medicine is a merry heart, but broken spirit drieth up the bones.....a merry heart, is the Joy of the Lrod.   Whoa..........
Some of us fail a lot in this life....and we fail because we try. If we did not try we would not fail. Failure can do two things....it can beat us up and at the same time tear us down.....OR.....we can learn from our failures, and try again and again until we get it. Attitude in failure is everything, everything....and in success....for having the self agranddizing ego that laps up success...will if gone unchecked lead us back to failure, for we lose our balanced and spiritual perspective.
In our spiritual lives....as in our everyday get through our daily lives....we can become complacent, listless and bored. Attitude is everything..........and a healthy person realizes, that by the grace and love, and help of the Lord....gets up and goes on....sometimes failing sometimes succeeding. Give thanks to God, not for failure but in the failure, and ask him to take you by the hand....help you up and then to walk forward...and I tell you, He will.
The famous missionary C.T. Studd once traveled to China on a ship whose captain was an embittered opponent of Christianity and who often studied the Bible for the reason of arguing with the missionaries who frequently sailed on his ship. When he learned that Studd was aboard his ship, the captain lit into him. But instead of arguing with him, Studd put his arm around the captain and said, "But, my friend, I have a peace that passes all understanding and a joy that nothing can take away"
The captain replied, "Your’re a lucky dog," and walked away. Before the end of that voyage, and the response of Studd....the capatain became a rejoicing believer in the Son of God.
DO I WANT TO.....KNOW HIM MORE DEEPLY.........AND IF SO, WE TOO WILL SEE WITHIN OURSELVES....OUR VERY ATTITUDE CHANGING TO THE BETTER.
In the play Godspell.....is a song that includes these verses...............
O, dear Lord three things I pray...................................................
              1. See thee more clearly
              2. Love thee more dearly
              3. Follow thee more nearly...day by day, by day, by day
As we come to the Table of the Lord this morning.....ask yourself to do these same three things....this coming year, and ask Him how best YOU and do this....for your way will not be my way, or my way your way. He will tailor it just to fit you.....that's who He is.
You are precious in His sight....and in His heart......You are valuable, and you are uniquely and wonderfully made....in His image.
Be a sunflower in God's garden.....and follow Him.    Amen

The Little Church in the Pines
December 17, 2017
mack's inn, island park, id
"Joseph"
by
Pastor Tom Shanor
~ Two years ago this Sunday I spoke in the Little Church for the first time. On that Sunday, I told the tale of Mary, the woman, the wife, the mother of Jesus. For one so young to be so strong, so gracious, so demure and accepting, she proved herself over and over that indeed she was up for the calling, the position, and the long and difficult road that lay before her.
~ Like any mother, she loved her son, attempted to understand his call and position. The things she carried in her heart and mind, no mother should have to do. She pondered....and I am sure that she and Joseph spoke often and deeply of the enormity and depth of the calling to be both the mother of God and the husband, and step-father to this long promised, amazing child/God.
~ I am sure their hearts, Mary's and Josephs were knitted together over and over again....a binding that both thrived and endured. Forever.
_ Now on to Joseph. The Scriptures that carry his name are few, very few considering his role in this drama. He like Mary, had been specifically chosen to wear his role in the prophetic arrival of this babe, born in a manger, among the scents, smells and lowing of common farm animals, and exotic far traveled Magi, ordinary Shepherds and Angels from on high. A story such as this could only be put so intricately together by God Himself, in conjunction with His Son, Jesus the Christ. That every jot and title....spoken of prophetically since the first we hear of it, 700 years earlier, would be fulfilled. Only God............................
~Joseph the "carpenter" (Matthew 13:55) was "just a man" Matthew 1:19, who belonged to Nazareth (Luke 2:4). He was of Davidic descent (Matthew 1:20) and (Luke 2:4), the son of Heli (Luke 3:23) or Jacob (Matthew 1:16), the husband of Mary (Matthew 1:16), and the legal, but not natural father of Jesus (Matthew 13:55: Luke 3:23; 4:22, John 1:45; & 6:42).
~ Like Mary...a man of impeccable status, though "just a man", as Mary was just a young girl...living ordinary lives of their day in Israel. He was exactly what and who was needed to guide and love this bewildering man, through his upbringing, into manhood.
~ How many of you have heard of or perhaps read from the Apocrapha? This denotes the collection of ancient books, found in some editions of the Bible, in a separate section between the Old and the New Testaments or as an appendix after the New Testament. It is recognized by the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church and others. It was in Luther's Bible in 1534. It's writings are also in included what is called the Revised Common Lectionary recognized by Methodists, Moravians and many other Christian denominations.
~ Well, in the Apocrypha we are told that Joseph was a widower, who had six children, two daughters and four sons. Because of this, the reference in Luke to Mary and the Lord's brothers and sisters showing up, asking for him seem to verify this. For there is no word in any Scripture of Mary and Joseph having children beyond Mary birthing Jesus. This is also why many scholars say and agree that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life, and that Joseph established himself more of a guardian of both Mary and Jesus.
~ As I said earlier....God chose Joseph to be the earthly step-father of Jesus. We are told he was a righteous man, which is born out in his actions toward Mary, his fiance’, revealed just that, and that he was a kind and sensitive man. When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, he had every right to feel disgraced. He knew the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a grave social stigma. Joseph not only had the right to divorce the contract with Mary, but under Jewish law she could also be put to death by stoning.
~ Although, Joseph's initial reaction was to break the engagement, the appropriate thing for a righteous man to do, he treated Mary with extreme kindness. He did not want to cause her shame, so he decided to act quietly in putting her away, but God....sent an angel to Joseph to verify Mary's story, and reassured him that his marriage to her was God's will. Joseph...now willingly obeyed God, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. It is truly this quality among others, that God made him the man of choice for the Messiah's legal father.
~ Although the Bible does not reveal much detail abouit his role, but we know from Matthew, chapter one, that he was an excellent earthly example of integrity and righteousness. Joseph is last mentioned in Scriputure when Jesus was 12 years old. We also know in Scripture that Jesus continued on to wear the vocation of a carpenter Himself...and having been raised by Mary and Joseph deeply into the Jewish traditions and spiritual observances.
I am going to digress here to cover an event shortly after Jesus birth, once again to verify the quality of this man.
Matthew 2:13. After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'GET UP" Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him."
~ During this time Herod does initiate the Massacre of the Innocents (the cry of mothers could be heard across the land, the cry of Rachel weeping in the wilderness) where all male babies under two were slaughtered. Peace on earth and good will to man?....was not yet to be, and will not be until the babe, now the King of Kings, and Lord of Lord, comes back to cleanse, by destroying the evil that runs rampant across the world.
~ Egypt was a logical place to find refuge, as it was outside the dominions of King Herod, but both Egypt and Israel were part of the Roman Empire, linked by a coastal road known as "the way of the sea", making travel between them relatively easy (unless of course you have just had a child) and have to ride on the back of a donkey. But it was a safe route, guarded by the Roman soldiers.
~ We can, I believe safely assume that while there, Joseph was able to ply his trade to meet their everyday needs. It is also possible that either of them had relatives they could live with during that time. As the time came to return from Egypt.....because Herod died in 4 BC, which meant they were there approximately 4 years and Jesus still a young lad.
~ This was also the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy found in Hosea 11:1, where it states' "When Israel was a child, then I loved Him, and called my Son out of Egypt." The fulfillment is spoken of in Matthew 2:15, saying, "Out of Egypt I have called My Son."
~ So where did they go from there....they went to Judah, the only place in the entire New Testament where Judah acts as a geographic description of the whole of Judah and Galilee. "They shall call Him a Galilean...but also a Nazarene, for Nazareth is a city in Galilee.

These are Joseph's accomplishments.
He was the earthly father of Jesus, the man entrusted to raise the Son of God.
Joseph, also as we read, a carpenter and skilled craftsman, He obeyed God in the face of severe humiliation. He did the right thing before God, in the right manner.
His Strengths.
He was a man of strong conviction who lived out his beliefs in his actions. He was described in the New Testament as a righteous man.
Even when personally wronged, he had the quality of being sensitive to someone else's supposed shame. He responded to God in obedience and he practiced self-control.
He was a simple, hard-working, uneducated God-fearing man.
His life from his engagement to Mary on....was one of self-sacrifice, allowing himself to be a tool in the hand of God, without and sense of being used....he willingly followed all that he was asked to do and be.
Joseph love his wife deeply and dearly..............

Following the search and finding Jesus in the Temple at the age of 12, we never hear of Joseph again.
Tradition says that being an older man, he died a natural death before the crucifixion, and most likely far before that, as he is never mentioned in the few times Mary, and in one case his family shows up looking for him.

In my opinion.....I would today call him, one of those rare "salt of the earth men" who do what is right, and do so with a right heart. Simply a good man in every way, whose desire was simply to be the best that he was created to be.
I am going to finish with this....a poem, written by Madeleine Engle, as it is a poem written in honor of Joseph...

                                                              The Little Church in the Pines
                                                                     November 26, 2017
                                                                 Macks Inn ~ Island Park
                                                CHRIST ~ THE SERVANT KING   (Revelation 19:18)
                                                                    By; Pastor Tom Shanor
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~ First, a little bit of Church history, leading into the heart of the message today. I LOVE history, but not everyone does. So, for those of you who do not, bear with me....you still can learn something. I wouldn't say it will change your life, but it will enhance your understanding of some of the whys the church is what it is today.........................
~ Several weeks ago, I spent a little time explaining what the Church Liturgical Calendar is and why it is used, not by all, but by millions, including most of the High Churches, including Catholic, Episcopalean, Methodist, Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox, Anglican....and others.
~ The "New" Church year begins next week with what is called Advent, the Coming of the Christ Child....and each week will have a corresponding reading, a single candle being lit....until four candles, one each week, with the final candle being the Christ Candle, this year which will take place on Christmas Eve Day, which also this year is a Sunday.
~ This day...today, is the last Sunday of the Church year....also called the Season of Pentecost.....this day completes the Christian journey through the Life of Jesus Christ on earth in a calendar year.
~ This Sunday ties into the Book of Revelation, the end times and the coming of the reign of Christ the King...hence this Sunday is called Christ the King Sunday.
~ In our culture...."king" starting with the Pilgrims, then up and through the Revolution....comes with a very negative connotation or meaning. Kings.....are really not cared for very much. We...are an independent people....staunch in our democratic thinking....voting....choosing....living. Yes...rules, laws and etc, exist for our well-being....but "king?" What would we do with a king?
~ What is a king? A King is an absolute ruler : they attain power by raising and leading armies into war against other countries. They 'impose' taxes, laws and rules at their whim....and can change those laws and rules with their next whim. Once you become an enemy of a king, you can be thrown into prison, beaten, starved or be-headed..though of course in our modern world...a very rare things indeed....but the absolute power...is there.
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~ We are told in Revelation....that even when Christ returns as King, He will rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shives....just as I have received authority from My Father. Revelation 26-27. Who is them?....it is those who, even in His presence refuse to acknowledge Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That there will be a final rebellion....against His Kingship...and then peace will reign across the planet.
~ To us....all this may sound like a made up story. This clashing, and gnashing....wars, armies...Kingdoms, and King....one last great battle. One who comes to subdue and conquer Satan in that final battle. Kingdom without end...amen.
~ Jesus spoke of the Kingdom more than of Himself as King....so listen to these...His words.
Matt 3:2
Matt. 4:23
Matt. 5:10
Matt. 5:19
Matt. 6:10
Matt. 7:21
Matt. 13:11
Matt. 18:4
Matt. 19:12
Matt. 19:23
Matt: 20:1
Mark 4:11
Luke 10:11
Luke 12:31
Luke 23:42
John 3:3
Eph. 5:5

~ In my reading….there are two kingdoms…..the first one is within us as we read in Luke 17:21….”The Kingdom of God cannot be detected by visible signs. You will not be able to say, “here it is! Or It’s over there!’ For the kingdom of God is within you….is within you”
~ You see…..The living Christ in you….the Spirit of God within you, brings with them the totality of all that God gives us in Christ accessible to us….to live a godly and Christian life. Whether we take the opportunity to do so or not, is up to us, choosing to live in the kingdom within….or not. It’s just that simple.
~ The Kingdom is within and the coming Kingdom is yet to arrive…but will, when Christ the King returns to earth. No longer will it seem like a fantasy, for its’ reality…will be the most real event you will ever experience.
~ This is certainly a Scripture input day……Jesus spent a lot of words speaking of the two kingdoms…..but, as Christ the returning King…………………………he speaks clearly, yet
Matthew 24:3-14. 30-31, 36

There are many verses I left out……some even more disquieting and more descriptive……yet they are not to be discounted or try and explained away….they stand as Holy Scripture…and all Scripture is to be read, considered, pondered on….asking the Spirit of God to enlighten…and enhance to our understanding.

Here is a description that fits into Christ the King Sunday…..
Revelation 4…The voice said, “come up here, and I will show you………..
And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was a brilliant as gemstones…like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circles his throne like a rainbow. Twenty four thrones surrounded him, and twenty four elders sat on them They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder…and in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames.
CHRIST THE KING…..MAJESTY…..KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS….MAJESTY…………………..
A KING….RIDING IN TO JERUSALEMN ON THE BACK OF A COLT….A DONKEY…..THE God who chose to serve…wash the feet of His disciples…..had compassion on a widow whose only son had died….and then was brought back to life….who said to the grieving mother….”don’t cry’…..a king of willingly left his kingdom in heaven…to hang on a cross….who stood and stands as a living sacrifice, so that you and I can be part of the ‘kingdom.’ That is within us and is to come…..
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I am going to almost end with Ephesians 1:15-23 READ.

HONESTLY……I do not know….how successful I have been today in bringing you what I had hoped would be a representation of Christ the King…….Revelation in itself stands as a book of great depth and great mystery….and those who study it deeply…and spend their entire lives doing so…..can’t always agree with one another as they try to establish its full meaning……
Me…as simple as I am….and with as simple an approach as I try….there is a bottom line in all of it and that too is a simple and plain one….easy to understand
I will sum it up….as I summed up my sermon last week….and if I, and we do this one thing….this one thing…..we do not have to even try to comprehend or figure out what Revelation, and the kingdom is all about in its two fold…application.
And Me….I love the simple answer, the one that helps me through every single day of my life as a Believer and follower of Christ the Servant King…..and here it is.
Matthew 7:12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets….X2.
Amen