August 31, 2010

Number 35

VIEWPOINT

In seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Polamalu has won two Super Bowls and played in five Pro Bowls.

With his success, Troy strives to maintain a spiritual character.  In an interview with CBN, he said, “Pride is tough. You go to high school, and it’s pride and courage.  It’s all these types of words that we use to motivate us.  I don’t think there’s anywhere in the Scriptures . . . where pride was ever a positive characteristic of anybody.  That kind of egotism is a really tough struggle — espe-cially in this business. . . .  It’s a big struggle of mine.”

Polamalu goes on to say that it’s not the obvious things that are the hardest to deal with in his life.

“The big things are the easiest to turn away from.  It’s the accumulation of small things that are hard. People know adultery’s bad and murder’s bad.  I’m not going to go out and sleep with the first girl I see.  But when your eyes start wandering, and you become a little more jealous and envious, and these passions start rising up inside of you — that’s when it really becomes dangerous.  Because the Devil doesn’t work that way.  His strategy is always to be very subtle and continue to build on top of that evil seed that he planted.”

Sounds like he’s on to something.  The Scripture does say, “My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Ps. 131:1-2).

At least some of the negative effects of pride would be:

·                    Pride keeps us from growing.  To grow in any area of life, change is necessary.  Pride will keep us from admitting that we need to change

·                    Pride keeps us from seeking advice.  Pride makes us think we have all the answers.

·                    Pride gives us an inflated view of ourselves.  How did the world get along before I arrived?

·                    Pride leads to selfishness.  Pride makes “self” the only thing that matters.

·                    Pride will keep us from forgiving others.  When I am overly consumed with me, I have a tendency to take things personally and I have a very fragile ego.

Pride is a silent killer for the child of God.  What keeps us rooted in humility?  Prayer is our best safeguard. Polamalu says, “As your prayer life becomes more and more fine tuned, and your conscience becomes more and more fine tuned, you’re able to start plucking away at these things.”

I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile, and a positive word!                                                             RA

Remember Who You Are

Most of us remember our parents telling us when we left home to remember who we are.  God, in His word, reminds us constantly who we are.

Let us remember:

1.     We are “new creatures” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 17).

2.     We are “children of God” (Galatians 3:26, 27).

3.     We have been “transformed” (Romans 12:1, 2).

4.     We have “put off’ the old man and “put on” the new man” (Colossians 3:9, 10).

5.     We have “passed from death to life” (1 John 3:14).

6.     We are “dead to sin” and “alive unto God” (Romans 6:10-12).

7.     We are “priests” offering up “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5, 9).

8.     We are “workers” in the vineyard of the Lord (Matthew 21:28-32).

9.     We are “members” of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:20).

10. We are “babes” growing into spiritual maturity (1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:18).

11. We are soldiers fighting a great spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-18).

More than Survivors

2010 Wednesday Summer Series

Those who are more than survivors . . .

Walk by Faith not By Sight (Like Abraham)

June 9                   Alan Henderson

 Don’t Let Sin Get the Best of Us (Like David)

June 9                      Alfred Donald

 Risk Everything for God and His People

(Like Ruth)

June 16                     Scott Franks

 Serve God with Passion (Like Joshua)

June 23                      Patrick Gray

 Rebuild Spiritual Protection (Like Nehemiah)

June 30                                 Mike Sparks

 Always Does Good (Like Tabitha)

 July   7                    Ron Bradshaw

 Make Spiritual Choices (Like Moses)

    July 14                      Taylor Hammett

 Serve God with Passion (Like Joshua)

    July 24                      Dan Thompson

 Engage Spiritual Battles with Courage

(Like Elijah)

July 28                     Bob Staples

See Possibilities Not Just Problems (Like Caleb)

August 4                    Ben Slocumb

Hold on to Their Dreams (Like Jacob)

August 11              Barry Blackburn

Share God's Love with Those Around Us

(Like Paul)

August 18                   Chris King

Look at Life through God's Perspective

(Like Joseph)

August 25                 Ron Edwards

Watch Out for Compromises (Like Daniel)

September 8               Mitch Grubb