Pastor Shada's Emails

Does He care?????

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

A number of people around us are going through a difficult time for one reason or another right now. I know you have some in your sphere of influence who are facing some of life's heaviest struggles. As an example, I just got an e-mail from a good friend whose step father was hit by a vehicle this morning while riding his motor bike to work and is in the hospital with possible broken bones, wow! All of us at one time or another will face something difficult or walk alongside someone we care for who is going through hard times.

I found great encouragement from the Gospel of Mark specifically from chapter 6:47-52 as I think about the thought, "Does Jesus care" what His people are going through? May I encourage you to take some time and read this text for your refreshment, but let me highlight what was good for my heart. Though sometimes Christ seems far away, Being "All Knowing" He sees us when we are in trouble. It does not make any difference what kind of trouble we face, we are never alone, He is right here with us and when allowed will come in His fullness to our innermost being. He comes above the problems and heartaches and meets us right where were at. The text gives us these words our Lord speaks to those in fear, discouragement, doubt or pain, "Don't be afraid," "Take courage!" "I am here!" Our Lord then climbed into the boat with His disciples and though they were still in the deep waters, there was a calmness that came over the storms. Sadly though the disciples were only amazed at what our Lord could do to the storm and missed the significance of what took place for their personal lives.

To often we miss the deeper truths that are available in life's heaviness for us to grasp because our eyes are on the immediate need and not the long term desire that our Lord has for each of us as Christ followers. May I encourage you to grasp the beauty of the truth of this text, when Jesus is given the pre eminent place in our life He will protect us, regardless of how bad the storms of life are that rage around us. His very Presence, Peace, Stability, Hope and Promise of true deliverance with His strength flowing forth in us and through us will never depart from us. Now my friend, that does not mean the storms will always subside around us, but it does mean it does not have to rage deep within us. May we not miss the beauty of this for our life and teach it to those we are around. "We are more than conquerors in and through Christ who is in our boat regardless of the storms around us!" Let's don't be conquered with life's trials, instead keep our focus on our Lord who will deliver us. He truly does care for each of us!!!

Have a great day my friend,

Pastor Doug

Poof.......

Pastor Doug Shada — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Many years ago a friend shared with me a sobering text from scripture. From Psalm 39:4-6 we read, "Lord make me to know my end, and what is the extent of my days, Let me know how transient I am. Behold, Thou hast made my days as hand breadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Thy sight, surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches, and does not know who will gather them."

It is hard to imagine the depth of this text, but so important to grasp. We have only been assured of this moment of living, not one millisecond more. One moment we are here and "POOF" the very next we could be in glory (I trust for all of us reading this that we will be in His presence for eternity).

One of the great tools of the devil and his allies is to try and get us to think that we have more time, to live for God, to do the things that we know we should do but have been putting them off because were too busy. We know we should write that letter sharing the gospel with a close family member or friend that doesn't know the Lord, "but I am so busy," it can wait. We know we need to spend more time building into our loved ones lives biblical principles and truths, but my "to do" list at work is not getting any shorter and besides if I don't do it, who will? We think that someone else will serve at Church in the various ministry areas or give to support the needs of the local ministry we are a part of, my time is precious & "I need what I am making to live on."

Psalm 90:12 says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom."

Friends, we have only been given this "One Life" to live, this moment in time to honor our Lord with who He has created us to be and what He has created us to do. I and I hope you don't want to short change Him. One wisely said, "There are no practice rounds in the game of life." That is so true.

For some of us who have sat at the bed of a loved one that is not long for this world, we recognize how quickly time flies in this life. May each of us live for His glory, seeking to honor Him with our time, talents and treasures because He has paved the way to glory with His shed blood for us as Christ followers. We have that wonderful privilege of spending eternity with Him. May we live in light of that truth each and every day because, "POOF" one moment, soon, it will be over! He is worth honoring with the precious moment I have been entrusted---every one of them!

Your friend,

Pastor Doug

Laughter....

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

I have greatly enjoyed being a grand dad. The fun, the joy that grand kids bring into our lives is so great. We have a three year old granddaughter that has a sharp wit and a stubborn spirit (not sure where she got that from,lol). Her four year old brother scrapped his foot on the refrigerator and proceeded to let the house know he was not happy. She walked over to him and asked if she could see it, which he promptly showed her. She looked at him and said, (remember she is three) "Well buddy, it is hopeless!" I am still laughing.

My wife and I have often commented that we spend a lot of time focused on the seriousness of life's happenings and not enough time smiling, and laughing. Dr.'s tell us, "a good laugh releases a chemical in our bodies that is quite healthy for us." Many years ago a man by the name of "Cousins" wrote a book entitled, "The Anatomy of an Illness," where he focused on the need to spend time laughing a good belly laugh often for the sake of our physical and mental health..

So what is going on with us as believers that we are often so serious, with little laughter in our life? One has called the American church, "the frozen chosen." Could it be that we don't realize the hope, peace and joy that is ours in Christ, that can never be taken away, and that HE will never leave or forsake us? Are we spending so much time focused on all the negative elements that life throws at us and very little, if any time, on the glory set before us for all eternity and that as a Christ follower "we win?"

I smile at the grand kids and they do bring a lot of laughter into our life for which I am grateful. But more important I am learning to find that wonderful joy in being in our Lord's presence daily, which produces that smile in my heart as well as on the outside and yes, even sometimes great laughter.

Have a great day my Christian friend. Remember, smile and even sometimes laugh, then watch the difference it will make in your attitude.

Your "smiling" friend,

Pastor Doug

Greater is He

Pastor Doug Shada — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Doubt, feeling Discouraged, being Disillusioned with the world situation or a difficult family matter, is sadly a regular part of many Christ followers daily life. This really weighs each down like one carrying a back pack filled with boulders. The believer tries to make progress in their daily growth/walk but because of these heavy boulders they are carrying around they just simply can't.

We are not left helpless my friends in getting this back pack empty for the truth of 1 John 4:4 is so essential to not only know, but move from the knowing to daily experiencing it's truth! Note what it says, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." As a Christian, the moment we accept Christ as our Savior, by grace through faith in Him we are children of the "Living, Loving, Life Giving, Life Changing" God. We are "New Creatures" in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) entrusted with the "Resurrection Power of the Holy Spirit" that dwells within us. We have "Everything" necessary for "Life" and "Godliness" dwelling within us (Eph. 1:3, 2 Pet. 1:3).

What Peace, Joy, and Hope these truths bring to us as Christ followers. I have no power in and of myself to remove these heavy boulders so to speak from the back pack of my life, but I do have the One and only King of Glory dwelling within me to do this on my behalf. My responsibility is to daily, moment by moment, fix my eyes on "Jesus Christ" the author and sustainer of my faith. Our freedom & victory from these terrible "D's" is found in none other than "Christ Alone," who dwells within us in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Oh sure, the temptations, and all those "D" words I mentioned above will try to jump right back into the back pack of our life, daily. We deal with this by confessing our inadequacies & lack of strength in and of ourselves to deal with them. Calling, in prayer, on the Holy Spirit of God to "Rule and Reign" in our life then consciously using the written Word of God, "the Sword of the Spirit," to push the boulders away, (James 4:7,8) watch what happens. It is like a feather and not a boulder in the pack. You will experience the "Peace, Joy and Encouragement" that is ours daily to make a kingdom difference for His glory & be more free than you ever thought possible. Truly "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."

Have a great day my friends,

Pastor Doug

Refocus......

Pastor Doug Shada — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Farrol & I just returned from a two week vacation that was quite enjoyable. The first week we spent alone in the Rockies where the temps went from a low of 40 to a high of 72, not bad compared to what we are experiencing now on the plains of NE. The second week we had a great time with grand kids and of course their parents. Pretty special to me as my parents did not get to see their grand kids since mom and dad passed away at such a young age.

While away the first week I meditated on the book of 2 Timothy. There are so many rich things that are there for our daily living but 5 truths spoke to me and I hope to you as we live out our lives for His glory. Remember 2 Timothy is the last book the Apostle Paul wrote before being beheaded in a Roman prison, I think what he has to say to us in the power of the Holy Spirit is pretty significant. It helped me refocus in some areas and stay focused in others.

1. 2 Tim. 4:5, "Fulfill the ministry God has given you." God gives each of us time, talents, treasures, spiritual gifts to use to serve Him. I don't want to finish my life doing or using only half of what He has given me to do.
2. 2 Tim 2:23-25, "Don't get involved with quarrels or wrangling about words, instead live godly." Good challenge to maintain our character, speech and keep a clear conscience before the living God. There is entirely to much arguing, quarreling, and heated discussions about issues that are not truly essential for salvation & discipleship.
3. 2 Tim. 3:12, "Understand persecution will come as we strive towards the finish line living for His glory." Just look at the life of both Christ and Paul's and this really is true. Persecution will come but does not have to side track us in getting done what He has called us to be about.
4. 2 Tim. 1:7, "Understand that we have the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit of the living God within us to guide, teach, convict of sin, empower us and who desires to glorify Christ in and through us!" That is so cool to understand, that I have everything necessary for life and godliness living within me, now I want to allow Him to flow forth through me to accomplish His good purpose.
5. 2 Tim. 2:2, "Build into faithful men & women who will be able to teach others also, what I have received." The next generation of believers that follow us need to be discipled in the faith. May we each faithfully do this!

There are times we each need to get alone and instead of "Sipping" from the Word of God, "Drink" abundantly, by reading and meditating on His truth asking the Spirit of the living God to nourish us, and refocus our lives to bring Christ the greatest glory He deserves through us.

Have a great day my friends,

Pastor Doug

"Freedom"

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Many years ago our family had a wonderful dog that I and the kids (note I left out Farrol here) enjoyed playing with. We had to be gone for a day and when we came home the dog did not come running from his dog house like he normally did to greet us. So after we unpacked the car the kids and I went to the back yard to look in the dog house to see what was going on. What we saw was our dog caught by his collar on a nail and he was just sitting there looking at us like "what has taken you so long to get here and set me free." As soon as we unhooked his collar from the nail, by the way he had chewed the insulation off exposing this nail, he went running all over in sheer happiness to be set free from that nail.

This week we celebrate what is commonly called "Independence Day" in America. Getting together with friends and loved ones to celebrate our freedom in America is not insignificant but a wonderful reflection of being set free from the persecution and tyranny of the British Govt. long ago. With all the faults that we have in our good ole USA, there is no other Country that I would ever want to live in than the United States of America. Truly I am proud to be an American!

I was reading in Galatians today about another Freedom that we have that I am so grateful for and that is the beauty as a Christ follower of being set free from the bonds of sin and death through the atoning work of Christ. Galatians 5:1 states, "That it was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and don't be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

Friends, what a joy it is to live in the USA as a Christ follower, getting to experience the wonderful freedoms we all have. May we never allow the sins of the past that so easily can trip us up to tangle around our feet. Instead may we walk in the beauty of His Freedom, living a "holy" and "Christ honoring" life for the very One that gave His life for us.

Have a great Independence Day friends and while celebrating, pause and thank the Lord for setting us free from the awful destructiveness of our sinful past. What a great honor it is to run free from those sins for His glory.

Your friend,

Pastor Doug

Let's Finish Well.....

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

When I look in the mirror each day (scary in and of itself, that's why I don't watch scary movies by the way) I see I am not getting any younger. I have done enough memorial services recently that the finality of death looms larger and larger on the horizon. A question that arises as we ponder this kind of thinking is "Are we finishing well?" I know I sure want to but what is involved in this if we are to finish well?

I was challenged this morning by a friend who quoted Acts 20:24 with us at a prayer gathering, from the NLT, Paul is speaking: "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful Grace of God."

What a wonderful gauge for us all of how were doing life for His glory are we helping others understand and grow in the wonderfulness of His grace? Last evening I had the privilege of sitting with a couple whose two day old son passed away. They were telling me how a young pregnant mother was in the room right next to them in the hospital and came over to visit with them. They saw her need and shared the love and grace of Christ with this dear expectant, fearful mother. That mom, who had the love and grace of Christ shared with her went home with a normal, healthy child. My friends went to the cemetery to bury their two day old son a few days later. This past Sunday that young mother was in church with my friends and went to their life group because this grieving, hurting young couple shared the love and grace of Christ with her and she wanted to know more about this Christ.

Friends, what a wonderful privilege we have as Christ followers to be recipients of His love and grace. May we be found faithful each and every day that God gives us until He calls us home to be passionate communicators of this hope that the world around us so desperately needs.

Have a "grace filled" day my friends and remember to share that with those He puts us around, thus finishing well!

Your friend,

Doug

Expectations......

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Last week we had VBS at Cornerstone. It was a great week with a wonderful turn out of both children and quality servants to give leadership to the ministry. Farrol & I had the privilege of having three of our five grand children with us for the week and the two oldest were able to attend. That was a fun experience to say the least, but I found myself having to deal with some things personally that are not fun to deal with, you know, things like your own personal short comings.

Let me explain, I am a pretty driven person and expect a lot from myself. Now a six year old and a four year old are not quite there, if you know what I mean. So, we are at an ice cream shop (of course grandpa likes to spoil the kids and also likes ice cream himself), I expected them to, do.....be......act.....respond......a certain way. When they did not, I boiled inside (fortunately not on the outside, nor did I get angry and explode on them). They had not met the expectations I had for them and of course I set out on trying to convince them my way is right. Now the four year old boy is a party looking for a place to happen, kind of boy. He is absolutely so fun to be around, that is until he does not meet my expectations. Often my "expectations" are unreasonable, especially for a four, or six year old to try and measure up to.

I have had to step back and think about my attitude and if Christ has that same kind of feeling about me not meeting His expectations? The answer to that is a resounding "NO." So why should I have those expectations, whatever they might be of others? Could it be because of my "pride?" Sick, I kind of think so........

Friends, it is always humbling being around grand kids as they show our weaknesses, for sure. I don't want to treat them or anyone else any different from the way Christ has treated me. Walk with me for a moment as we reflect on how He treats us; "With grace and mercy, patience and unconditional love, sacrificing His very being so we might have life to the fullest our Lord and Savior serves us." That is so vital to keep in focus.

So, join me, the next time you have unreasonable expectations of someone, take a moment and reflect on how Christ has treated you and then treat them in like manner. Watch the difference it makes with those we are around. I know we had a great week together with Fisher, Micaiah and Madge, once "I dealt with my unreasonable expectations."

Your friend in process,

Pastor Doug

Center "C"

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

A little while back I had the joy of doing a couple's wedding where the bride is an excellent pianist. I wanted to do a sermon that was personal to them so, not knowing much about the piano I asked my wife if there was something early in her piano lessons that was essential to learning the piano? She promptly told me that the first thing a pianist needs to do is find "Center C." Now friends, I am not a rocket scientist by any stretch of the imagination, but I can do a sermon with that as my core thought for a marriage and by the way for all of life.

There are several times is scripture where Christ is seen at the "Center or in the Midst" of life's happenings, follow me please:
-Luke 2:46--Jesus is found at the "Center" of the religious leaders, confounding them as a 12 year old with His knowledge
-Matt. 18:20--Christ is found at the "Center/Midst" when two or three are gathered together in His name
-Luke 24:36--After the resurrection He appeared to His disciples in a locked room, "in their Midst."
-John 20:26--He again appeared in the disciples "Midst/Center" of a locked room.
-Luke 23:33--He was crucified between two thieves, His cross was in the "Center."
-Rev. 5:6, 7:17--He was the "Lamb" in the "Center" of the Throne room of God

What is the significance of all this you ask? We'll friends if Christ does not have the "Preeminent" place in our life and in our marriage we will find ourselves chasing all kinds of things that will not bring satisfaction or fulfillment. We will stumble and stammer through our day seeking to find meaning and purpose in all the wrong places. But when Christ has that "Central" place where all we say, do, and think flows out of our relationship with Him, seeking to bring Him the glory He deserves watch our life and marriages "Grow and Glow."

Take sometime today and evaluate with me;
-Has Christ been given the "Center/preeminent" place in our life where all of, who we are and what we are about, flows from this powerful position or have we allowed something else to take His place?

He is so worthy to take that "Central" part of our life and unless we find that "Center C" that clear fulfillment and satisfaction He has intended for each of us to have will not be there.

Have a great day my friends,

Pastor Doug

A Little Honey please

Pastor Doug Shada — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Recently I heard a report on the high nutritional value that pure honey has for our bodies. I have to admit, I like that sweet taste and the instant up lift that it gives me each day I take a table spoon or two of this. Farrol shared with me in discussing the value of honey that it is one of the few foods that never spoils, I had to admit I did not know that.

I was reading in Proverbs this morning (I try to read a half a chapter of Proverbs each day in my daily bible reading) and came across this text from Proverbs 16:24, "Kind words are like honey--sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." There are a lot of people we will come into contact with today and for that matter each day of the rest of our lives that need a "Little Honey--kind words from us." You know those words that encourage and build up, words of affirmation, and appreciation showing we care for them as individuals, not just for what we can get out of them.

Ken Blanchard in his book, "The One Minute Manager" states that one of the most important things we will do as leaders (for that matter as parents etc.) is to catch our people doing something (no matter how small or large) good and let them know how much we appreciate them or "Thank" them for what they have done.

To often we get so caught up in our own "To do" lists and run, sometimes sprint, through our day without stopping to encourage those we are around. I find myself slipping into the "taking people for granted" syndrome and just blasting my way through the day.

With the kind of negative world, environment that we live in today may we slow down enough to "give a little honey" along the way to those we come in contact with starting with those closest to us. Words of encouragement are both uplifting and often healing to a wounded spirit. Join me in taking some time as we walk down life's path in giving out a little "honey" each day. We will brighten the smiles of a lot of people if we choose to do this.

Have a "sweet" day my friends,

Pastor Doug