JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A explores the question, “Why is church participation important?”

Participating in our local church allows us to be part of a support system where we can encourage others to grow in their faith, and others will encourage us in our walk with God. We were not made to live in isolation. We were made to be part of a community. The church is a community of believers where we can learn to follow Jesus faithfully as we find out His will for our lives.

Hebrews 10:24 and 25 says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Participating in our local church is an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A segment explores the question, “What does the Bible have to say about gambling?”

While references to gambling are subtle in the Bible, there are warnings in the Bible against the love of money, which is often the desire that prompts people to play the lottery and other games of chance. First Timothy 6:10 says, “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Playing the lottery is a gamble, not just because of the money we lose if we don’t win, but also the temptations we might face of having so much wealth if we would win.

The odds of winning, however, are not in our favor. Oddsmakers say we have a better chance of getting struck by lightning or getting bit by a shark than winning the lottery. The Bible promotes the idea of earning money by our labor, rather than games of chance or get-rich schemes.

Proverbs 28:19 says, “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”

A good focus point for our lives is to pursue after God’s own heart rather than chase after the riches of this world in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the stars in the universe.

David wrote in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they display knowledge.”

The stars in the universe tell us that God is the creator of the universe. Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”

The stars also speak of His vastness. In the Milky Way, the galaxy that contains our solar system, astronomers believe there are at least 100 billions stars. That is just our galaxy. Astronomers believe there are more than 100 billion galaxies in the universe.

The stars also speak of God’s unlimited understanding. Psalm 147:4 says, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

Philippians 2:14-16 shows us how we can shine like the stars in the universe for the glory of God- by holding out the word of life and doing everything without complaining and arguing.

The stars in the universe are reasons to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A explores the question, “Who is Jesus?”

There came a moment in Jesus’ ministry when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

There were various opinions. The disciples replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus wanted to know their thoughts, and asked them, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

If Jesus asked you that question, what would you say? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In saying this, Peter was acknowledging Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jesus blessed Peter for such a reply.

Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus is described as Savior and Lord. He is uniquely qualified to save us from our sins and bring us into a right relationship with God.

Knowing Jesus personally as our Savior and Lord is a blessed place to be in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This is the Year of Exploration at WJTL. We will explore various questions about the Christian faith and examine daily reasons to believe in the Gospel.

Today’s Reason to Believe is Creation.

What we see around us in nature day after day directs our attention to the Master Architect behind it all. God said “Let there be light, and there was light.”

Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Romans 1:20 says, “Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

The Bible reveals the power of God to make something out of nothing. The same God who spoke this world into existence has made you and me, and He is worthy of our praise.

Creation is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This is the Year of Exploration at WJTL. We will explore various questions about the Christian faith and examine daily reasons to believe in the Gospel.

Today’s Q and A explores the question, “What are some noble spiritual goals for the New Year?”

Common New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, eating healthy, spending less money, and saving more money.

Those ambitions may be on your list as you begin 2016. There is merit to these goals. It is good to remember that every goal requires a plan. There is a process on the pathway to success.

There are noble goals for growing in our relationship with God in 2016.

The Apostle Paul said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.”

A good starting place for knowing Jesus is to spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. Then, take those truths that we learn from God’s Word and live them out for the glory of God.

Establishing priorities to know Jesus and honor His name are noble ambitions in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This is the Year of Exploration at WJTL. We will explore various questions about the Christian faith and examine daily reasons to believe in the Gospel.

Today’s Reason to Believe is the Big Picture.

From the beginning to end, the Bible outlines human history in a way that reveals Jesus as our only hope for salvation from sin.

The first two chapters in Genesis reveal Creation, where God made the heavens and the earth.

The third chapter of Genesis reveals the fall of Adam and Eve and the consequences of sin.

Much of the Bible covers God’s plan of redemption through the coming of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament anticipates the arrival of the Christ with the law, feasts, and prophecies. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets.

And the book of Revelation reveals the new heavens and the new earth, where God’s followers are restored to complete fellowship with God.

According to First Peter 3:18, Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

The big picture of history and God’s plan of redemption is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

NIK – For THE Dot-to-DOT GREAT REVEAL, we no longer needed to be told to take up the crayon and physically draw short lines–number to number. At some point in development, there was a change.  Now, we were mentally able to connect the dots that created the picture, especially, if there were context clues. Our very bright mind drew around the picture for us, and reality was–we needed no numbers at all to make something magnificent appear upon the page.

If only faith was that linear (where we know for certain two comes after one and so on or in some cases in life, where is that big INKY dot-to-dot STAR that tells us “Start Here”).  That STAR does represent a beginning or a mark identifying “You Are Here.”  But reality is, a journey proceeds the starred starting point–just as it did that famous first “Christmas” with those familiar Kings we sang about who traveled so far.
I look back in my faith journey thinking If only she “got” the picture.

This younger version of myself, didn’t have the capacity or development that comes from “journey-ing.” Faith is not a simple walk in the park because the one we were made in the image of—Almighty God—is infinitely greater than that default trinity I love so much: “me, myself and I.”

Following the proverbial dot-to-dot could be a sign we’re growing in our faith. Growing doesn’t make us juvenile; rather it’s a working out of personal salvation, redemption, and unfathomable grace.  This is our journey.  In contrast, if we want to remain where we can quickly call out the picture on the page (without first putting in the more meticulous work line by line) it may mean it is time to stoke the fire of our faith journey–find a proverbial camel and get after the starting star.

A MENTAL EXERCISE

It’s in the making.  This year, I’m proposing thoughtful time for a dot-to-dot.

[Twelve months act as dots; for example, January is one, February is two and on to December which is twelve.] Compare you, my camel rider, last year to this one (i.e.where was I after Christmas 2014. Recall things like family, health, habits, relationships, money, personal time in God’s word etc.) and most importantly pray. Prayerfully, ask God to reveal the picture in the making that He sees complete. God has a plan for you this year, as He does for me. I think it’s a valid goal to spend less time putting God in the picture and more time understanding His powerful orchestration and plan. He is the publisher of this dot-to-dot we call history and future and life. He’s overseer of these lines drawn, and builder of our very bright mind created to glorify Him. Let’s begin to draw one line at a time! Journey month by month with awareness.  Let’s read God’s word, pray alone, pray together, be accountable, and, my friends, let’s be His disciples!  We, too, will find Him!

Tonight, I’m reminded that “fear” could be translated as “losing ground,” “losing control,” “losing perspective” or even “losing the plumb line” in our goal and purpose of life. This Christmas season, know He is calling all us weary ones unto Himself. (Even now I hear “Come Let us Adore Him.”)
This Christmas, lets do it!  Let’s adore Him in the biggest way; the way of letting go of “fear” so that we may find Him. I believe we’ll not only find Him, we will find Him faithful.
Blessings over your Christmastime.
Praying in this season you pursue everything in your heart, that leads to a fearless “all-in” to Jesus Christ our celebrated Savior.
Nik

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Isaiah 9:6, which says about Jesus, “He will be called….Prince Of Peace.”

Verse 7 goes on to say, “Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.”

Under His righteous leadership, true and lasting peace will be established. While the world yearns for the peace that Jesus offers, it does not yet experience this reality. That is because we need to acknowledge peace on His terms. Welcoming the influence of Jesus as our Savior and Lord invites peace. But peace is elusive as long as we push Jesus away.

On a personal level, we can experience the gift of God’s peace this Christmas, by embracing the presence of Jesus.

Romans 5:1 says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Receiving Jesus as our Prince of Peace is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com