"ANYONE ANONYMOUS" is a 6 part audio series that applies the Twelve Steps of AA to all sorts of your problems. We all get stuck from time to time and must find a way to go from stuck to starting over! Click each one to listen to this practical game plan for starting over!
Step #1-FESS UP!
Step #2-LOOK UP!
Step #3-CLEAN UP!
Step #4-GIVE UP!
Step #5-STRAIGHTEN UP!
Step #6-KEEP IT UP!
"SEARCH FOR INTIMACY" is a 12 part audio series by Tim Timmons. The first 6 messages are all about you! Until you are able to be intimate with yourself there is little hope of enjoying intimacy with another person. Check out the entire series by clicking on the title you want to hear.
1. Back To Eden
2. Be The One
3. Love: Casting Off Fear
4. Joy: Channeling Anger
5. Peace: Cleaning Up The Guilt
6. Grace: Canceling Out The Shame
7. Trivial Pursuit: Games People Play
8. Independently Dependent
9. Invisible Intimacy: Heart To Heart
10. Visible Intimacy: Skin To Skin
11. First Things First
12. The Great Sell-Out!
FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE. Don't worry about your life, because there is more to life than food and clothes. First, Jesus says, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Then Jesus moves from birds to flowers: "Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you-you of little faith!" Don't you see, it's so empty and foolish to be concerned or worried about these things, because you are so much more valuable than birds and wild flowers. "And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it." Jesus here gives us an insight as to how worrying is set in motion. It is when you set your heart on something that you want or think you need. There are two reasons Jesus gives for such worry. First-"For the pagan world runs after all such things." Worry and seeking stuff is what the pagans do. Why? Because they are not walking under the King and His kingdom. Second-"and your Father knows that you need them." God already is aware of what you need. He is the most faithful one you can count on in your relationship. He knows what you need and is not shocked with the situation you find yourself in, so trust Him with it. Probably one of the most common hazards you and I face is greed. The only way to escape the peril of greed is to pursue God's Kingdom. NOTE how Jesus puts it: "But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." All of the "stuff" we need will be taken care of, if we seek His kingdom and learn to trust Him with every part of our existence. Jesus gives another insight into eliminating your worry and seeking His kingdom. He says, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor." Jesus is saying the same thing He mentioned in the previous paragraph. He wants us to serve as channels of blessings for others. And as long as we operate in His kingdom, He will bless us as the channels of His blessings. Then Jesus says something that is curious: "Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." If you're neglecting to give to the poor and needy, then you will have an earthly purse that will wear out. However if you are a giver, you will have a heavenly purse that will never wear out. So, if you worry about things that you cannot control and don't practice trusting God, then you will not be rich toward God and you will not be thriving-only surviving at best. Jesus gives the formula for practicing being rich toward God. 1. Don't worry about things that don't matter. 2. God is more than capable of providing for your needs and continually demonstrates it through how He feeds the birds and clothes the wild flowers. 3. You are the most valuable of God's creation. 4. Seek after His Kingdom. 5. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Then Jesus ends this section with the following: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If your focus is on the kingdom, your heart will be the heart of God and you will know the fullness of a satisfied heart. If your focus is smothered with worries about how you're going to eat and clothe yourself, your heart will be worn out by struggling to hang on to a lesser treasure. You choose. Keep on seeking His Kingdom or drown yourself in your worries. It is ultimately your choice.
FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE. Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;" NOW THAT'S RELEVANT FOR TODAY. JESUS GOES ON TO SAY: "life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." The word for "life" Jesus uses is the word that speaks of quality of life. So, He is saying that your quality of life doesn't consist in all of your stuff. And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' NOTE in those days everyone was in relationship to one another-family lived together and villages worked together in times of abundance and in times of loss. Yet this man "thinks to himself". You see, he consulted no one on his decision-no one, not even God. "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.' Instead of sharing it with those in his family and village who are in need, he makes the decision to "store" his surplus in bigger barns. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." The purpose for his decision is so that he can take life easy, eat, drink and be merry. This is called retirement in most cases. However, Jesus has us all on a mission. It's our real purpose for being here. We are only satisfied if we fulfill our God-given purpose and that purpose is not hoarding stuff for ourselves, but to be self-giving. This has nothing to do with making money and increasing your possessions. There is nothing wrong with that. It has everything to do with how you use what you have. Since all you have belongs to God Who enabled and empowered you to gather it, He wants you to use it compassionately. NOTE what happens to this man: "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' That very night of his boasting and his self-centered decision God "demanded" not only his stuff, but his life! The word used here means to "take it back" or "repossess" all you have and all that you are-your very life. Jesus ends His story with a strong summary application: "This is how it will be with those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God." RICH TOWARD GOD. It seems by Jesus' words that a person who is rich toward God does not live for himself-gathering and holding on to more and more stuff for himself. Rather one who is rich toward God takes thought of how to share his stuff and use it for the kingdom. Well, where are you in this story? Think it over.
FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE. 1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed. 11At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 14There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. 17After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18"And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. 19"But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20"For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel." 21They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22"But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere." As always, Paul has a habit of connecting with brothers in Jesus everywhere he goes. NOTE that Paul begins by inviting a group of leading men of the Jews. They had not heard of Paul's problems throughout the world, so they were interested to hear why he was a prisoner "for the sake of the hope of Israel." They had heard about this new Messianic movement. 23When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. After quoting a passage from the prophet Isaiah, Paul said, 28"Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen." 29[When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.] 30And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. NOTE the themes of Paul's message-the kingdom of God and the person of Jesus. I think this is most incredible and instructive for us today. After being educated beyond my intelligence with 4 years of graduate seminary, 7 years of Greek to study the New Testament and 3 ½ years of Hebrew to study the Old Testament, I have come to realize the powerful message of the 21st Century Jesus movement is very simple. In fact, it's the same as in the 2nd Century. Two subjects that must be shared: FIRST-THE KINGDOM OF GOD SECOND-THE PERSON OF JESUS. When I stick to this simplicity, then I find people drawn to Jesus and His way of living life. When I add-on to this simplicity and make it more complicated, I find people drawing lines in the sand, poised for a debate. Here it is again: RELIGION AND ITS TEACHINGS DIVIDE-JESUS UNITES!
