How are WE doing?

FAITH:
1 Timothy 3:1-16
Paul laid down certain qualifications for selecting leaders in the church. These qualifications would help the church weed out undeserving candidates, develop Christian maturity, and bring glory and honor to God.

Leaders must know God's Word and have a mature Christian lifestyle. Every Christian ought to pursue these characteristics. Leaders must already have them.

How do we tear down the pedestals? How do we vigorously assert the biblical mind-set of servant leadership, so radically at odds with the celebrity-crazed culture in which we live? Like everything else, it begins with each of us coming under the conviction of God's truth. All of us--pastors and lay leaders and parishioners--need to take a hard look at ourselves.

First, we must reassess our objectives.....

The church, as a witness to the kingdom of God, is to be a community that worships God and equips men and women to be disciples, growing in holiness and service. How can the church fulfill these functions if it is not a servant church--from pulpit to pew? And this being the case, the principal job of the pastor is to equip others to serve....

Our second task is to consciously strive to avoid the snares. This is not easy. Temptations surround us every day---both our natural inclinations and the world's style of authoritarian leadership. But there are ways to protect ourselves....

William Booth, founder and first general of the Salvation Army, sent a command to all of his missionaries in India: "Go to the Indian as a brother, which indeed you are, and show the love which none can doubt you feel...eat and drink and dress and live by his side. Speak his language share his sorrow....

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it: "The church is herself only when she exists for humanity....She must take her part in the social life of the world, not lording it over men, but helping and serving them. She must tell men, whatever their calling, what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others."

If the church can only be the church when it exists for others, then the Christian can only be truly Christian when he or she is willing to be emptied out for others. There are no harder words in all of Scripture that Jesus' commandment that we love one another as He loved us--which means love that lays down it life for another. by Charles Colson

Applying it: Make a list of all the qualifications Paul gave Timothy for Christian leadership. Rate your self on each item. What three need your attention most? What steps can you take toward maturity? Pray that your family and friends would notice a difference in the next weeks as you sharpen your character.
Exploring it: Leadership--Exodus 15:13; Numbers 27:15-17; Deuteronomy 1:9-18; Luke 22:24-27; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17-19


FRIENDS:

Father, we invite your assistance and guidance and powerful indwelling, because we do not have the strength to be transformed into your likeness and not be conformed to this world. Teach us to be honest with ourselves about who we really are, then, God, please begin to remold our hearts into total surrender. In Jesus' name, Amen

BIBLE CHALLENGE
January 24
Matthew 9:27-38; Acts 14; Psalms 22:12-31; Genesis 49
January 25
Matthew 10:1-20; Acts 15:1-21; Psalms 23; Genesis 50
That is it for the month of January. Use the time left in this month to catch up or re-read something that caught you interest.

LIFE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD:
How am I doing?
Be at peace with each other~Mark 9:50
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love~Romans 12:10
Honor one another above yourselves~Romans 12:10
Live in harmony with one another~Romans 12:16
Stop passing judgment on one another~Romans 14:13
Accept one another, then, just as christ accepted you~Romans 15:7
Instruct one another~Romans 15:14
Have equal concern for each other~1 Corinthinans 12:25
Love one another~John 13:34; John 13:35; Romans 13:8; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11; 1 John 4:12; 2 John 5

FOOD:

The Most Dangerous Cake in the World

1 Large Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix
thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000
watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be
alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at
any time of the day or night!

FUN:

1. Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect
landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo
bounces us to the terminal."

2. After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the Flight Attendant came
on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash
and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate.
And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open
the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."

3. Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like
to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you
get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized
metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways."