Text Box: Volume 6, Issue 18 JULY 2010

Text Box: Sparks Nazarene Church Text Box: 2200 El Rancho Dr.  Sparks NV  89431  (775) 358-4066  Email:  info@sparksnaz.org

Text Box: CELEBRATE GOD'S GOOD GIFTS!

Text Box: In his book, Pure Pleasure – Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About Feeling Good, Gary Thomas says: “When we unashamedly preach true, holy, and God honoring pleasure, then the sordidness of sin, the foolishness of spiritual rebellion, and the agony of addictions become shockingly apparent.”  Let us be wary of a faith that denies these blessings as “worldly” and unfit, as though Satan rather than God designed them.  Let us refuse to fall into the enemy’s trap of denying ourselves God’s good pleasures so that we end up deeply vulnerable to illicit pleasure.”   God created a world for us to enjoy and to experience.  When we become so foul-tempered that we refuse to accept His gift of a beautiful sunset, the gorgeous Tahoe Basin, a great meal or the intimacy God ordained sexual pleasure within marriage then we are telling God that He doesn’t know best, what we need or how to help us experience His best.   According to Thomas, the best defense against sinful temptations is the offence of experiencing God’s best.  Adventure, excitement, joy, pleasure… these are all God’s gift to help us know His character.   What would happen in our spiritual journey if when we laughed, smiled, even giggled – we recognized these emotions as acts of praise?  What would we know more deeply of God’s love if, when we bit into a rich chocolate cake or a good cut of prime rib, we saw that as a gift of God’s generosity, rather than an indulgence?   I know, we often try to take things too far and we overdo it; we eat too much, spend too much time on the lake, don’t wait for God’s timing for sexual pleasure (within marriage).  What if life’s pleasures can lead us to God, instead of competing with God?   As you dangle your toes in the Truckee River, bite into an amazing strawberry or enjoy the cool breeze of a Sierra night, remember God made these things just for you – because He loves you He desires that you know His goodness.  It is in the consumption of His good gifts that we satisfy the longings that, if left empty, can lead us to addictions, rebellion and sin.   So love your spouse, play with the kids, have dessert and know the goodness of God! Pastor Brad

Text Box: July 4th ONE SERVICE SUNDAY @ 10:30am followed by an ALL-AMERICAN OLD-FASHIONED PICNIC on the grounds