When the Going Gets Tough...Just Quit. Really?

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Here's one that goes against everything we've heard. According to a study published by psychologists Gregory Miller and Carsten Wrosch, when it comes to hard times, we had better just quit or it could affect our health.

In their most recent study, published in the September (2007) issue of Psychological Science, the psychologists followed teenagers for a full year. Over that time, individuals who did not persist obtaining hard to reach goals had much lower levels of a protein called CRP, an indicator of bodily inflammation. Inflammation has recently been linked to several serious diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, suggesting that healthy but overly tenacious teens may already be on the road toward chronic illness later in life. 

So, their answer was to just quit. I do wonder if they quit the first they couldn't get their funding for this study, or was it just handed to them on a silver platter. Maybe the trust fund families do have it right...make everything easy for your kids. Maybe then, they'll live longer. But I have to ask the question, what kind of life is that?

It was Martin Luther King, Jr who said, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." (For more quotes on "struggle"). So, I have to wonder if it is the struggle that makes our life worth living. Life should not simply be breathing. It should be much more. Life is about finding our purpose in life and moving on that purpose in order to become all we were intended to be.

Thank goodness, they found out more than only how to stay alive. They found out that people that didn't quit found out that life is more...so much more from that same study:

While they did not find a direct link between re-engagement and physical health, they did find that people who readily jumped back into life had a greater sense of purpose and mastery and were less likely to ruminate about the past.

As we have been studying, examining, and agreeing to become more generous people, the first discovery we made was that to become who were intended to be, we were going to have to struggle to get our finances in order. Ouch! Yep, that's right, in order to be a generous person who can meet needs when they come up, we've got to get out of debt. Friend, that doesn't happen without a struggle for most of us. That's why we can't just give up. There will come tough times for all of us for all kinds of reasons. We've got to learn to push through in order to be all we were intended to be. To really be able fulfill the purpose we were intended accomplish, there will always be a struggle. It is probably a strong force of being able to live life to the fullest.

The Apostle Paul, of all people understood that when He encouraged Timothy during a tough time in his life:

All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in. 1 Tim 1:18-19 (MSG)

So, as we choose to obey God, there will come a time when you are “tested at the point of your obedience.” It is that moment when you find out what you really believe. It is then that you will have face a struggle. Will I push through and let God use me or will I just quit? For me, that moment happened earlier rather than later in life.

My wife, Kelly, and I had just arrived at seminary in Wake Forest, NC. We were doing what God wanted us to do. We were still in the wide-eyed, head in the clouds moment of our desire to do God's will. We had moved several hundred miles from home and had no way to return. After a week or so, my ministry position had still not come through; no one would hire me; and all our bills were coming due with no available means of money to pay them. It was at that very same moment that I cruelly blurted out to my wife, "We might as well go home. We can't make it financially here. I guess all my doubts were right. This was a dumb thing to do." Her answer? Although I don't remember the exact words, it went something like this, "Trey Rhodes. Did God call us here? If He didn't we should never have come in the first place. If He did, then He will provide." A little humbled I answered, "But honey, there is nothing...we have nothing to pay with. And I'm not just saying that..." I then walked out the door to get some fresh air to try and clear my mind. As I walked, I muttered half to myself and half knowing God could hear me, "Why did we come here anyway? No job...no money...nothing. I guess I just brought my wife and kids up here for...nothing." As I passed the mailbox, which was about 1000 feet from our seminary duplex, I thought I'd see what other bills had come in. I opened the box...still muttering...and spied a letter with a return address from back home. Once again, I complained, "They're probably telling me all the reasons I shouldn't have come up here." Reluctantly, I opened the envelope and discovered not only a letter, but a blue checked piece of paper that looked like some kind of check. Surely, I was seeing things. I bent over and picked it up, brought it close enough to read, and saw an amount that was exactly what we needed to stay the course...at least for now. Within the next week, a ministry position opened up at a local church. Soon I received my first paycheck, and 2 and a half years later, finished seminary. Tested, persevered, and with God's help passed the test.

Here's what I'm saying, many of you committed to the Lord to get your finances in order so that you could be those generous people God is calling us all to be. For that to happen, we must be faithful to God's call in our lives to obey Him...no matter the struggle we face. Never quit and never give up. God wants to do great things through you. Choose to be that funnel of God's blessing and impact this world like you have never imagined!

Never gonna' give up,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

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Who Owns the Castle?

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Castles have been etched in our minds as places where the king and his family live. We watch the movies and read the books and get all caught up in the romance of it all. But, the king doesn't actually live in his castle; he lives in the palace. The steward is actually the keeper of the castle and lives there to take care of the castle until the king returns (For you Lord of the Rings fans, that what The Return of the King is all about).

The Neuschwanstein Castle is one most visited castles in Germany
and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

The saying goes that a man's house is his castle. When you hear that, you might have visions of a burly man walking though his door to his doting wife who fawns over him as he plops in his chair and reaches for the cold ice tea that she places in his hand. Maybe it could be a scene from Leave It to Beaver or Father Knows Best. But, in order to understand fully what that means, we've got to go farther back than the 1950's. 

It actually all began in the time of Cicero about 100 years before Christ. He explained how important it was for a man to have security and privacy in his home; it was understood that the man represented the entire family who should expect the same. His exact quote was:

What more sacred, what more strongly guarded by every holy feeling, than a man's own home?

This was later taken to be a part of  law in western civilization as William Blackstone speaks to English law:

...the law of England has so particular and tender a regard to the immunity of a man's house, that it stiles it his castle, and will never suffer it to be violated with immunity.

Of course it didn't end there, our U.S. constitution gives us the same right in the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...

However, as followers of Christ, we are only the keepers of God's castle. We are not the owner. That is why we have but one right, and that is to yield all we have and all we are to our Lord, Jesus Christ, including our castle. He has the right to not only search us and all we have, but also seize whatever He needs. That's because He owns it all and it is His castle. So, the LORD Jesus should always have access to our stuff. He is the One for whom we are but stewards. He is the Owner, we are the managers. As the Psalmist declared:

The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. Psalms 24:1 (NASB)

As a young believer, I was confused with the purpose of the tithe. Somehow I thought that 10% was God's and 90% was mine. The truth is that the 10% is God's, and so is the 90%. It's all His. Everything I own, everything I am, and everything I ever will be are all His. The LORD not only owns the wealth in every mine, He also own the mine. He not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He owns every hill on every continent on this entire planet. God owns it all.

So, why do I tithe? Because God needs it? No, I think He could take it any time He wanted it if He really wanted to. Because the church needs it? No, that's not even right. The church needs our support in so many ways; our finances are only a part. Our church needs our talents, our gifts, our time, our support, and our help. So, what is the tithe for? It is our way of letting the Lord know that we acknowledge it all belongs to Him. It is not our holy duty; it is our gift of love for Him.

Thank you for demonstrating your love for your Lord.

All for Him,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

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The God Particle and Tim Tebow

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It has been great to be a part of seeing all the excitement surrounding the highly unlikely rise of a quarterback named Tim Tebow. From the day he was drafted into the NFL, it has been spoken of as a poor choice. "He will never make an NFL quarterback" was the chorus from the sports world at large. Yet, here we are near the end of the season, and the quarterback for the Denver Broncos is now 6 for 7 with the team finding themselves in the division lead. Mere coincidence? Maybe, but somehow I doubt it. First, there are no such things as coincidences. God has His hand in all things. Second, no one could be this "lucky". Third, whatever the god particle is when it comes to mass, the God of the Bible is truly the force and mover of this universe. Whether it be a football or a photon, God is the power behind the force and He moves how and when He desires.

Now, back to football (something I do know more about) You see, I had given up on the game this past Sunday. In my mind, it was over. I have sat through too many games waiting for that miracle last second catch that never came. With less than 5 minutes to go in the game against the Bears, the Broncos were losing 10-0, so I changed the channel. Soon, my ESPN iPad app came up with a notification that the Broncos had won 13-10. Was I reading that right? Did they put the wrong names with the wrong score? A cursory look at the running scores told me, nope, they were not wrong. Tebow had pulled out another one with the help of the incredible kicking of Matt Prater. In his usual humble way when asked about "Tebow Time" his reply was it was "Denver Bronco time". Then at the post game press conference, he immediately thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not necessarily for the win, but because Jesus is His Lord and Savior.

Here's my thought, maybe it's not about winning and losing. Maybe God does have bigger things to deal with in the universe rather than who wins the ball game on a Sunday in the NFL. As one journalist states it in his OpEd The God Particle and Tim Tebow concerning God's view of pro football:

He probably has other things to worry about, like deciding on the proper mass of Higgs boson in various universes around the Multiverse.That’s a full-time job.

And God does, but God has a strong affinity to those who seek to give Him the glory in every area of their life, even football or other pursuits. In the words of Tim Tebow, this is what life is all about:

...it’s not about the scoring touchdowns, or being famous, or anything like that. But its about relationships, its about making a difference in people’s lives, and at the end of the day it’s about glorifying God. (CBN.com)

It really is about bringing glory to God. And I must say, what a perfect time of the year to do it. While everyone else is talking about Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow is talking about his "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

It was much the same for those wise men who came to see the Messiah in the small, insignificant village of Bethlehem. When the wise men entered the city, everyone, including King Herod, was looking at them. But they were looking for the One born King of the Jews. (Interestingly enough, Herod, knew that wasn't him, he was appointed king of the Jews by Caesar.) Those people had their eyes on the wrong people. They were looking at the seekers rather than the One whom the wise men were seeking. They came to bring glory to the new born Messiah with their attention, their gifts,and their worship:

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 (HCSB)

Maybe it's time we get our eyes off Tim Tebow and start to look to the One to whom Tim wants to point us to, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When that happens, our attention and our treasures will be given to Him. We will see Jesus for who He really is. We will give him our best, whether it is our resources, finances, time, or maybe even our efforts on the football field.

For the wise men, that meant giving the King of the Jews gold...the metal of royalty and wealth and prestige. For you, it can be asking our Lord to lead you in your:

• Calendar
• Commitments
• Companions
• Capitol

This Christmas., make sure that your eyes are off others and are pointed straight into the eyes of God as you celebrate God putting on human flesh and entering human history. He did this to give His Father glory and to point people to salvation through His every own death and resurrection for all who believe. Don't you think He's worth a look? The wise men did and Tim Tebow does.

Looking to Jesus,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Oceanside Church

Looking forward to the Christmas Candlelight Service and the Christmas Offering on Christmas Day.

More here: OCAnnounce.info

Impossible Miss Universe?

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Miss Universe, Leila Lopes, receives her will deserved crown

The new Miss Universe, Leila Lopes,  is from Angola. Where in the world is Angola? Yeah, admit it. You had to look it up on Google. I didn't (I had the advantage of living in Africa for 2 years, so I knew, but that is the only reason). According to People magazine online edition, "She is the first woman from Angola and only the fourth black woman to be crowned Miss Universe." 

At first I thought it was another ploy to capitulate to the undeveloped countries for political gain. Then I read these words, "'I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty,' she said. 'I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.'" so as People magazine observed, "it's not only the exterior that Lopes wants the world to see," it is what inside. According to the judges, that capped it for them. Even they were looking for inner beauty. This is truly a wonderful story of someone going from rags to riches in the vein of an Horatio Alger story.

At first, when I read the headlines, I thought, "That's impossible. I must be reading it wrong. Of all the girls in the world, a girl from Angola got the crown?" As it turns out, it may be improbable, but not impossible. According to my "big honking" Webster's dictionary, it means that it is something that is "incapable of being done." When something is impossible, that is exactly what it is, not possible. According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, it is when we have no power in and of ourselves to accomplish the act. That's what impossible is. No matter how hard we try, we do not have the power to accomplish the action. It would be similar to asking a weedwacker engine to power a C-130 Hercules. No matter how hard the weedwacker tries and regardless of the sincerity or intention, it does not have the power to lift a C-130 off the tarmac. It would be, you guessed it, impossible.

Here's the bottom line, God not only wants to do the impossible in your life, He promises He can do it as well. He has the power. He is the Lord God omnipotent (all-powerful).

 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

What is the impossible thing that is lurking in the back of your mind? Maybe it is a relationship that is beyond mending, or a friend that has refused to follow Jesus, or a financial situation that it will take a miracle to settle. Remember this...God can!

What do you and I need to do?
Get ready for God to do it. Here's how from Joshua 1:

1. Take God at His Word (vv. 6-9)
Joshua was promised supernatural success if He would mediate on God's supernatural book. Meditation empowers us to see life from God's point of view. God's will and hence His words will never be stopped. Then we can easily trust God because His Word has become a part of us: "I trust in Your Word" Psalm 119:42

2. Watch for God's Activity (vv. 10-11)
God told Joshua to tell the people to get ready. How? They were about to cross the Jordan, so it would make sense that they should building a bridge or constructing a boat or raft. But, that's not where God was at work. He was about to do the impossible by piling up the water of the Jordan during the spring tide. They had to take their eyes off of where they thought God should work and open their eyes to where God was going to work.

Remember what Jesus said, "My Father is still working and I am working also." (John 5:17) If that is true, then we better know what God is about to do around us. Be sure to look at people, not circumstances.

• Are they being drawn to God? 
• Are they seeking Him? 
• Do they feel conviction of their sin? 

3. Look What God Has Already Given You (vv. 12-15)
God has already given you things materially and spiritually. These people had been given property (including house and farms that had already been built for them). They had also been given rest.

First, think of all that God has already given you materially. You have a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes to wear. If you wonder if God cares...look and see that He has already cared for you.

Second, rest is also given to us. Those of us that have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord can now rest in His finished work. We no longer strive to live up to God's standards, Jesus made the impossible possible by dtying on the cross for us. That is why Jesus cried, "It is finished" from the cross. The price had been paid and the work was accomplished.

4. Do God's will (vv. 16-18)
The children of Israel had had enough of low living and rebellious attitudes. They were about to see God do impossible things. They were were up to their necks in sinful attitudes and actions because of the lifestyles of their parents. So, they chose a new and different way. They chose now to follow God and they guaranteed it with the very lives:

Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Joshua 1:18

Would you be willing to so commit to Christ, that if you didn't do His will, you would willingly die? We so often speak of dying for what we believe, but will you live for the One you believe in? His will is worth our lives.

Once we are prepared for God, He stands on the edge of heaven waiting to do the impossible. Be ready.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

• Sun Stand Still - Get in a small group. You don't want to miss what God has for you through this inspiring and life changing study. Begins next week. Watch God do the impossible!

• Oceanside Saturday Night - Begins this Saturday night at 8p.m. Let your friends know. Come ready to have a good time and hear form God as well. We'll be finished by 9:00 p.m. Impossible you say? Come and see.

• Scare Mare - The day are clicking by and you need to be praying about God touching people's hearts and lives. 3 guarantees: 1) We will scare them 2) They will hear the Gospel 3) People will be saved. Get involved now and watch God do the impossible through you

• Parenting by the Book - Do you know how to raise your children in this crazy mixed-up world we live in? John Rosemond helps us avoid the pitfalls and build a home where children can be all they were intended to be. You can be the parent you were meant to be. Sign up today. Email us at contact@myoceansidechurch.com.

Preparing for the impossible,

Pastor Trey Rhodes