CrossLife Church

“If we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it” is a quote that we all have heard before. But its original form reads, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This quote is from George Santayana, an early 20th century philosopher famous for his aphorisms (a pithy observation that contains a general truth).

So according to Santayana, history has a tendency to repeat itself. As memory fades, events from the past can become events of the present. Many argue that this is due to the cyclical nature of history where history repeats itself and flows based upon generations. According to them it takes 4 generations to cycle through before similar events begin to occur.

In the movie Ground Hog Day, weatherman Phil Connors finds himself inexplicably living the same day over and over again waiting for “Punxsutawney Phil”, the famous groundhog to see his shadow. He is rebellious at first but he eventually begins to use his past failures to be more faithful to himself and those around him. It would seem to be a modern day take on Santayana’s philosophical aphorism. But it reveals a much deeper message of the importance of remembering and learning from our past history to be better prepared for what’s next.

As we continue in our series in “Preparing for What’s Next!” in Deuteronomy Chapter 9, we find Moses continuing what seems to be an exhaustive attempt to give multiple exhortations on the life as covenant people. Moses is providing them with a history lesson. Matter of fact, Chapter 9 is one of the longest speeches as he warns the people about the possibility of unfaithfulness based upon their past failures. He is challenging them to learn from their past so they will not be condemned to repeat it.

The Prince of Peace

A recent study by the Gallup organization revealed some concerning Mental Health trends. “Americans' latest assessment of their mental health is worse than it has been at any point in the last two decades,” Gallup reports.1

The primary contributing factor to the decline in mental health points to social isolation resulting from COVID-19 concerns and lockdowns. “A wave of new research suggests social separation is bad for us. Individuals with less social connection have disrupted sleep patterns, altered immune systems, more inflammation and higher levels of stress hormones. One recent study found that isolation increases the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and stroke by 32 percent.”2

This decline in mental health is consistent across the population with the exception of one notable group. “Forty-six percent of Americans who regularly attend religious services said their mental health is ‘excellent,' an increase from last year's 42%.”3

What does this study reveal? Christians that are still involved in fellowship are one of the only groups that have had an increase in mental health. The lockdowns, restrictions, and the uncertainties of the future have caused many Christians to reprioritize their faith and fellowship.

I cannot think of a season during my lifetime when the world had a greater need for peace. With so many declining in mental health, the absence of personal peace has never been more obvious.

This Sunday, we will celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace. The coming of Jesus has changed everything!

In a world void of peace, “to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6

1- https://fee.org/articles/gallup-poll-americans-mental-health-hits-20-year-low-ahead-of-renewed-lockdowns/
2- Ibid.
3- https://disrn.com/news/gallup-frequent-church-goers-only-us-group-that-avoided-2020-mental-health-decline

Everlasting Father

One of the greatest crises of our time is fatherlessness and the devaluing of fatherhood. There are too few people with a positive view, much less a clear understanding of fatherhood.

When God is described as a Heavenly Father it is difficult for most people to have a healthy understanding of what that means. At the same time, most people would consider themselves--and all humans--as being children of God; but, what does that mean and is it even true?

With a general confusion surrounding fatherhood and the assumption of a universal Heavenly Father, the thought of an Everlasting Father seems hard to grasp.

...Do we all have the Everlasting Father as a father?

The Universalist would say we all do.
The Postmodernist would say it’s all relative- if it’s “true” for you, then yes!
The Evolutionist would say the “cosmos” is our father.

But what does the Bible have to say about this?

The Bible highlights three representative fathers: Adam (the father of the human race), Jesus (the Everlasting Father), and Satan (the “prince of the power of the air” and the father of liars and “the sons of disobedience”).

By Adam we fall, by Satan we are destroyed, and by Christ, we are redeemed and will one day rise with Him.

We’re living in a crisis of spiritual-fatherlessness and here, in the midst of it, we read in Isaiah 9:6 of an “Everlasting Father.”

Is He YOUR father?

Join us this Sunday as we examine and mine the depths of meaning behind the name, “Everlasting Father” and ask such questions as, “What does it mean to be a child of the Everlasting Father” and “How do I know that I’m one?”

Almighty God

Much of the message of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah can be seen in terms of stark contrast. On the one hand, he presents the darkness of a graphic account of the sins of God’s people and the consequences, ultimately, God’s judgment on them. On the other hand, Isaiah reveals the light of God’s mercy and grace through His promises of blessing for those who are truly His people.

It is in the context of the latter we find the promise in Isaiah 9 of a child, a son, given “to us” who bears the four-fold name of “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This Sunday, we take a closer look at the second of those names, as we consider the meaning and the implications of “Almighty God," trusting that in so doing, we will grow in wonder for and delight in our glorious Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wonderful Counselor

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'"
(Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Who do you think the shepherds were seeing there lying in the manger? Did they see a future healer or miracle worker? Did they think he would become a great teacher? Often times when we read passages in scripture, we presuppose things. We do not take the time to think about what this announcement meant to the shepherds. Who was this Savior who is Christ the Lord they were running to see?

This Sunday we will be looking into one of the passages these shepherds would have been familiar with. Let’s gain some perspective as we get ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We will be looking at one of the names given to the coming Messiah by Isaiah. What does the title “Wonderful Counselor” mean, and what does it mean for us?

On October 31, 2011, the FBI released documents, pictures, and videos of information in regards to a decades-long case—known as Operation Ghost Stories—against the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) operatives.

Operation Ghost Stories was the FBI investigating Russian “Sleeper Cells,” called “illegals,” who were deep cover operatives establishing themselves in American society with the intent to develop sources of information in U.S. policymaking circles.

These sleeper cell operatives would lead seemingly normal lives—getting married, buying homes, raising children, and assimilating into American society. They were willing to wait decades to obtain their objectives, waiting and working in the shadows, their true identity, and mission unknown to the common person.

Through Operation Ghost Stories, the FBI arrested 10 Russian sleeper cell operatives on June 27, 2010. These Russian sleeper cells were not successful, but if they would have been, the damage that they could have inflicted would have been catastrophic.

In Deuteronomy 7, God is commanding the Israelites to destroy spiritual “sleeper cells”—both physically and spiritually. He knows the destruction they have already caused to one another in the land of Canaan. If left undealt with, their influence would have a corrosive effect on the lives of His chosen people—His treasured possession.

In much the same way, there are “sleeper cells” within us that the Lord wants to eradicate from our lives because He knows the potential for destruction, they will cause. The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 13:14, “…make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” God desires to expose these spiritual “sleeper cells” in our lives and destroy them before they destroy us.

Raising Kids (Who Thrive) in a Hostile World

As you look at the chaos surrounding our nation, it is easy to be overwhelmed. We are facing a Pandemic, the disorder of a contested election, racial strife, economic uncertainty, and spiritual disillusionment. When you look at your kids it is difficult to know how to equip them for the battles ahead.

How can we raise the next generation to thrive in a world hostile to their faith? The times we are living in are increasingly hostile, especially towards people who hold the values and faith of Biblical Christianity. Barna published the results of a survey back in 2005 that found... "Only 9% of all born-again adults have a biblical worldview--meaning that less than one our of every ten Christians age eighteen or older believes that absolute moral truth exists, believes that such truth is contained in the Bible, and possesses a handful of core beliefs that reflect such truth."

A more recent 2020 American Worldview study, released last month found, "Evangelical churches, long known for their emphasis on the importance of being born-again—that is, salvation through grace along—appear to have lost momentum on that point. Currently, more than one-quarter of those who attend evangelical churches (28%) are not born-again."

In a recent article, Why Gen Z Doesn't Know Christianity is True, Dale Hudson raises some important questions you may want to consider:

Why did 78 percent of nones (those who claim no religion) grow up in church?
Why do 13 percent of Gen Z kids say they are atheists?
Why do 37 percent of Gen Z kids say you can’t know for sure if God is real?
Why do 58 percent of Gen Z kids say there is more than one way to God?
Why do so many kids get to college and walk away from the faith?

All of this points to one burning question that they church must face.
Why does the next generation not know that Christianity is true?
Which leads to the answer that the church must face.
"The next generation doesn’t know Christianity is true because we haven’t been showing them that Christianity is true" (Dale Hudson).

Love is a word we throw around in our culture quite flippantly. With God, love has never been a throw-away word. God loves us unconditionally and has demonstrated that love towards us (Romans 5:8). God is not impressed or convinced with our compartmentalized versions of love. God always looks at the heart never at superficial appearances.

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The words given by God through Moses in Deuteronomy 6 are the most important words that have ever been written! This is no exaggeration. When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, "What is the greatest of God's commands?" His answer was from Deuteronomy 6. Every faithful Jewish person recites these verses every day and they are the first verses a Jewish child puts to memory.

The nation of Israel is about to enter into a multi-cultural land with many differing ideas about worshipping gods. The beliefs of the people they will soon be exposed to were all about wickedness and sexual liberty. If the Israelites were uncertain about their own beliefs, they would not last long as God's people.

It is shocking to consider the beliefs of people who still identify as Christians today. The majority of people who call themselves Christian by name hold beliefs that do not line up with what the Bible teaches.

Do you love God with all of your heart, soul, might? Do you love God with your money, family, time, thought-life, work, and even your vote?

Join us this Sunday, as we learn about Words for Life.

Words for Life

Imagine you are at the airport sending off your college-aged child to live in a far off land for several years. You have one last moment to impart some words of wisdom. What would you say? What final thoughts would you want them to remember as they launched out from your care and coaching? What is the most important truth you would want them to live by?

In Deuteronomy 6, Moses is beginning the second of his final three speeches to the nation of Israel. Moses knows that he is almost at the end of his journey but Israel's journey is just beginning.

The words given by God through Moses in Deuteronomy 6 are the most important words that have ever been written! This is no exaggeration. When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, "What is the greatest of God's commands?" His answer was from Deuteronomy 6. Every faithful Jewish person recites these verses every day and they are the first verses a Jewish child puts to memory.

The nation of Israel is about to enter into a multi-cultural land with many differing ideas about worshipping gods. The beliefs of the people they will soon be exposed to were all about wickedness and sexual liberty. The Israelites would not last long as God's people if they were uncertain about their own beliefs.

It is shocking to consider the beliefs of people who still identify as Christians today. The majority of people who call themselves Christian by name hold beliefs that do not line up with what the Bible teaches.

"In today's pluralistic, multi-cultural world, no one can survive long on secondhand ideas" (Pearcey, Nancy, Finding Truth).