firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

Well, this has been a very interesting week for me. This past Sunday afternoon, my computer decided that it was time for it to quit computing. After discovering the monitor totally froze, upon trying to re-boot, it just wouldn’t turn on. The power lights would flicker for just a moment, and then as quickly as they lit, they would turn off. It would appear that the motherboard is no longer serviceable at all.

Now, since you are reading firstIMPRESSIONS via email, I assume that you, too, have a computer. As a pastor, my computer is one of the most important tools that I have. I literally have years of materials that I have created on the computer – every thing from sermons, advertisements, policies, graphics, meeting minutes, agendas – all the way to each and every issue of firstIMPRESSIONS – was created on the computer. And now, in one quick second – poof – the computer is no longer able to run.

This could have been a catastrophic event for me. But, it has merely been a relatively minor inconvenience. Why? Because I had nearly everything backed up and accessible to me. I have a small little external hard drive that contains all of my many years of ministry work. So, I have been able to access it this week on a borrowed computer, while I await the arrival of a new computer.

I have had to do things this week in ways I wouldn’t ordinarily need to, and it has been difficult at times. But, because I was prepared, everything will be fine.

Let me ask you – are you prepared? I’m not just talking about doing faithful backups on your computer (you do backup your computer, don’t you?) I am talking about your life. Are you prepared in your life – your eternal life? Be prepared for eternity by accepting Christ as your Savior. As a Christian, prepare for your future here through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Prepare for your future beyond this life by “laying up for yourself treasures in heaven!”

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.06. Live for God, on purpose, prepared for each and every day in Him!

Take a close look at the brands in this picture. Do you recognize them? When you see the brand, do you have an idea of what they represent? Most likely, you do! These brandmarks are found on the products of the companies that created them, and you identify them right away.

If you see a can with a “Coke” band on it, you have specific expectations about what is inside the can! If you see a newspaper with “USA Today” marking its top, then you expect certain things inside that paper simply because of its brand.

Here’s a question for you – when people look at you, what do they expect? Let’s take it a step further – what “brandmark” does your life display to those around you?

In Galatians 6:17, Paul says ”...for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.” The question for each of us is what brandmarks do we show?

Be sure to join us this Sunday morning as I share a life-changing message, titled simply “Branded!” Don’t miss it!

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“Live in ... harmony ... each with the attitude of Christ toward the other.” – Romans 15:5 TLB

Somebody said the difference between courtship and marriage is like the difference between the pictures in a seed catalogue and what actually comes up! But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Author Steve Stephens offers this advice: Start each day with a kiss... always wear your wedding ring [it was placed there to cut off your circulation!)... go on regular “dates” with your spouse... accept your differences... be polite... be gentle... give little gifts... smile often... touch... talk about your dreams... adopt a song as “your song”... give back rubs... laugh together... send cards for no reason... do what your partner wants before they ask... and learn to listen for what isn’t being said... encourage one another... do it his or her way... compliment one another daily... call during the day... slow down.... hold hands... cuddle... ask for your mate’s opinion... be respectful... always welcome your spouse when he or she comes home at the end of the day... make an effort to always look your best... wink at each other... celebrate special events... learn to apologize... forgive quickly... set up regular romantic getaways... ask, “What can I do to make you happier?”... be positive... be kind... be vulnerable... respond quickly to your spouse’s requests... talk about your love... reminisce about favorite times together... treat each other’s friends and relatives with courtesy... send flowers on Valentine’s Day and anniversaries... when you’re wrong, admit it... be sensitive to your spouse’s sexual needs... watch sunsets together... say “I love you” often... never go to sleep angry... end every day with a hug... get professional help when you need it... and above all, pray daily for (and with) each other.’

as seen in “The Word for Today” at www.thewordfortoday.com.au

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by Richard Innes

“But if you fail to do this [commands God gave to the ancient Israelites when he commissioned them to conquer the Promised Land], you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

I read some time ago in A slice of Bread about “some Boeing employees on the field who decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747s. They were successful in getting it out of the plane and home. They forgot about one thing-the raft comes with an emergency locator that is automatically activated when the raft is inflated. So, when they took the raft out for a float on the Stillaguamish River, they were quite surprised by a Coast Guard helicopter homing in on the emergency locator that was activated the moment they inflated the raft.

“They are no longer Boeing employees.”

In a very real way when we sin we too are eventually found out, and it isn’t God who punishes us. Like the Boeing employees we bring the punishment on ourselves. God has given us a moral law for our protection. When we break it, we end up breaking ourselves. God’s moral law is just as universal as is the law of gravity-another law given for our protection. If it weren’t for this law, the universe would not hang together and you and I would be flung out into outer space. If we try to defy this law, it’s not God or gravity that breaks us-we break ourselves by trying to defy it.

It’s the same with God’s moral law. Breaking this law separates us from a holy God. Its ultimate end is spiritual death – which is not the cessation of life but eternal separation from God, the author of all love and life. Whatever hell is, it will be hell! It’s not so much that God sends us there. If we fail to accept his free pardon for our breaking the moral law, in reality, we send ourselves there.

Fortunately, because God loves us so much, he has provided a way of escape. It was through the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the ransom price for our sins. So whatever you do, don’t fail to accept God’s total pardon for all your sins and his gift of eternal life. This is your Passport for Heaven. Don’t leave earth without it!

© Copyright 2007 ACTS International. Visit them online at http://www.actsweb.org

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by David Watson

1. A witness must have a first-hand experience of Christ. Hearsay is not acceptable in a court of law, nor in the court of this world’s opinion. People will listen only to what we have personally seen and heard.

2. A witness must be able to express himself verbally. We may witness effectively through our lives, our work, our relationships, our attitudes, our suffering and even our death, yet we must still be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you. We must do so with gentleness and respect, and with the integrity of our lives demonstrating the truth of our words.

3. A witness will have confidence in the power of God. He relies on the power of the message of Christ and him crucified, and the power of the Holy Spirit. He knows that God can break through any defenses, and change any heart. This confidence will not be brash, but humble and sensitive, marked by much prayer. He knows that without God he can do nothing, but that with God all things are possible.

4. A witness will have compassion for the spiritually lost. He will care for them as individuals who matter deeply to God: made in his image, redeemed by his Son, and to be indwelt by his Spirit.

from “Called and Committed: World-Changing Discipleship” by David Watson, (Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton, IL; 1982), pp. 142-143

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It is well understood that the call to commitment is a call to go beyond “contribution”. Perhaps you’ve heard about the chicken who suggested to the pig that they provide a special breakfast for the farmer’s birthday, eggs from the chicken, bacon from the pig. The pig said, “That’s fine for you to say. For you to provide eggs is only a contribution, for me it’s real commitment!”

To be committed is to infer three ideas. These form the three-legged milk stool of Commitment: Priority, Longevity, and Accountability.

First, commitment is making decisions which limit our freedom to do other things. This is the real issue, it’s commitment vs. freedom. The mood of our society is, “I want to keep my options open.” I want, at any given moment, to have the freedom to do whatever I feel like doing.”

It is our feeling that we need to place commitment to the church at least on a par with other involvements.

Ministry teams should be at least on a par with sports teams. Sunday School should be on a par with public school. Labor for the Lord should be treated with the same level of commitment we make concerning labor for material goods. Giving of our resources and talents should be on a par with providing for luxuries, entertainment, and leisure.

Secondly, commitment is a statement of longevity – you keep on doing it. Please read what I believe is one of the most electric Scriptures in the New Testament – Hebrews 11:32-12:3

A song I first heard about ten years ago has become one of my favorites: “FIND US FAITHFUL”

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

Third, commitment requires accountability.

You see, commitment is an opportunity for deeper relationships to form so that when someone who is committed asks, “How’s it going?", we can answer differently, more truthfully, and more completely. Not only that, but with people who are obviously committed to the church, we are also willing to allow them to ask questions which cause us to evaluate how we are doing in our walk with the Lord.

In fact, we might well say that without the willingness to be accountable, commitments are vain. One of the greatest evils of all is self-deception, which accountability helps cut through.

The passage in Hebrews reminds us that Jesus Himself is the greatest example of faithfulness with regard to His commitment. He made the commitment to the cross, and he kept that commitment. It’s clear in the wilderness temptation that He understood His priority. Fulfilling His commitment was more important than bread, performing a miraculous stunt, or gaining rulership of all the kingdoms of the world. Furthermore, Jesus went the distance so that from the cross He could truthfully say, “It is finished.” And at the end, He demonstrated his accountability when He said, “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”

No wonder His father could say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

As seen in Pastor Charles Kitner’s daily email devotional, Sonforu Thought for Today. To subscribe, send an email to sonforu@verizon.net, placing the word “subscribe” in the body of the e-mail.

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by Mariane Holbrook

#1
With all my heart I love you,
With all my heart I care;
I still have one big question, though,
“Do you still dye your hair?”

#2
You look so lovely in that dress
I even love your hat.
Is it okay to tell the world
You’ve gotten sorta fat?

#3
My valentine, I love you so,
You fill my heart with bliss.
If you’d just put your teeth in
Then I might enjoy a kiss.

#4
Dear Valentine, you are so dear,
I love your tender touch.
Let’s just forget your mother said
You’d not amount to much.

as seen in “The Timothy Report,” www.timothyreport.com, February 5, 2007. Taken from www.marianeholbrook.com

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With a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary at the church’s marriage marathon, the minister asked Brother Ralph to take a few minutes and share some insight into how he managed to live with the same woman all these years.

The husband replied to the audience, “Well, I treated her with respect, spent money on her, but mostly I took her traveling on special occasions.”

The minister inquired trips to where? “For our 25th anniversary, I took her to Beijing, China.”

The minister then said, “What a terrific example you are to all husbands, Ralph. Please tell the audience what you’re going to do for your wife on your 50th anniversary?”

Brother Ralph: “I’m going back to get her.”

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Last year on Valentine’s Day, since Bob was quite upset about his wife’s mood swings, he bought her a mood ring so he would be able to monitor her moods.

He quickly found out that when she was in a good mood, it turned green. When she was in a bad mood, it left a great big red mark on his forehead.

This year he is thinking about buying her a diamond.

We are going to have a gem of a worship service this Sunday, so get in the mood now for gathering together with all the others here at WFA! I am expecting the Lord to do great things as we continue to worship Him in Spirit and in truth!