May 21st, 2024
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Get Together
Seen in a Peanuts cartoon:
Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"What channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
The greatest hurdle the church of Jesus Christ faces in reaching the lost world is lack of unity. Jesus prayed in the 17th chapter of John for the unity of his followers. He proclaimed the unity of God the Father and God the Son in oneness. His passion was that all of those who claimed to be his followers to stand in this same unity with he and his Father.
Why such an emphasis, knowing that the tendency of mankind is to go separate ways, to argue, to fight and to divide? “Then,” Jesus said, “the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23b)
Satan’s goal from the beginning of the church has been to divide her. In the 6th chapter of Acts we learn that a feud flared up in the church concerning the distribution of food to the widows. It was a racial conflict. The widows of Greek (Hellenistic) heritage were unhappy because it appeared to them that the widows of Jewish heritage were getting plenty of food, while the ones of Greek background were often left out. The church had been growing at such a rapid rate; such distribution of food had become a chaotic process. Now an argument had broken out. Following serious prayer, the Apostles set their pride aside and asked the church to choose 7 spiritual men to take over the distribution so they could keep the priority of prayer and teaching the Word of God. Seven men were picked, all with Greek sounding names. The problem was diffused by a unifying decision.
Paul frequently wrote about the danger of false teachers and division. He wanted the church to be unified by clinging to the Gospel of Jesus Christ simple and pure. Over the centuries divisions of doctrine and opinion have cropped up within the church. As a result we have more denominations than we can count. We have friction between churches and sometimes even within churches. Such friction is often created by strong and varied personalities. People want things the way they like them. Our goal should be to do things the way Jesus likes them.
Jesus wants us to pull together like Lucy’s fist so we can become the force Christ called us to be in the world. If we truly get together we will make a real difference in the lives of people and for the growth of Christ’s church.
One with Christ and you,
Jon
Get Together
Seen in a Peanuts cartoon:
Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"What channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
The greatest hurdle the church of Jesus Christ faces in reaching the lost world is lack of unity. Jesus prayed in the 17th chapter of John for the unity of his followers. He proclaimed the unity of God the Father and God the Son in oneness. His passion was that all of those who claimed to be his followers to stand in this same unity with he and his Father.
Why such an emphasis, knowing that the tendency of mankind is to go separate ways, to argue, to fight and to divide? “Then,” Jesus said, “the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23b)
Satan’s goal from the beginning of the church has been to divide her. In the 6th chapter of Acts we learn that a feud flared up in the church concerning the distribution of food to the widows. It was a racial conflict. The widows of Greek (Hellenistic) heritage were unhappy because it appeared to them that the widows of Jewish heritage were getting plenty of food, while the ones of Greek background were often left out. The church had been growing at such a rapid rate; such distribution of food had become a chaotic process. Now an argument had broken out. Following serious prayer, the Apostles set their pride aside and asked the church to choose 7 spiritual men to take over the distribution so they could keep the priority of prayer and teaching the Word of God. Seven men were picked, all with Greek sounding names. The problem was diffused by a unifying decision.
Paul frequently wrote about the danger of false teachers and division. He wanted the church to be unified by clinging to the Gospel of Jesus Christ simple and pure. Over the centuries divisions of doctrine and opinion have cropped up within the church. As a result we have more denominations than we can count. We have friction between churches and sometimes even within churches. Such friction is often created by strong and varied personalities. People want things the way they like them. Our goal should be to do things the way Jesus likes them.
Jesus wants us to pull together like Lucy’s fist so we can become the force Christ called us to be in the world. If we truly get together we will make a real difference in the lives of people and for the growth of Christ’s church.
One with Christ and you,
Jon
Recent
BETRAYALThe Upward Look, by Jon Forrest Betrayal There is not a more bitter feeling on earth than the one that comes when the closest of friends or a family member emotionally stabs you in the back. When the one person who should have your wellbeing foremost in his/her mind turns on you and throws you to the wolves, the pain travels to the innermost part of your psyche. Such betrayal has led to lifelong vendettas that resulted in debris fields of wounded and wrecked lives. Lifelong wars have been fought by the closest of friends and relatives. Often, the ones who are targeted for injury by revenge are not the only ones who receive the devastation. Everyone around them is torn asunder as collateral damage. You’ve seen it; two siblings who refuse to speak for the rest of their lives over the division of their parent’s estate, or once best friends who now take every opportunity to tear down the reputation of each other. Such wounds spawn physical and emotional violence for a lifetime. They cause words that pour forth from the cesspool of nastiness that takes over the mind of the betrayed. There has never been a more bitter response to such betrayal as when the perception has been that one was betrayed, stabbed in the back, thrown under the bus or left holding the bag by our loving heavenly Father. Yes, there have been times when people have felt as if God turned his back on them. Where was God when my spouse got sick and died? Where was God when my mother’s boyfriend was molesting me or my siblings? Where was God when my child was struck by a car and killed? Where was God when I lost my job, my house, my car, my reputation and more? JUST WHERE WAS GOD in the most difficult times of my life? Does God betray his people when life goes sour? Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the evil religious people for crucifixion by one of his closest friends, Judas, and felt betrayed by his heavenly Father when he cried out from the cross, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” One of God’s greatest apostles, Paul, prayed three times that God would remove his (unspecified) thorn in the flesh, but God did not speak until the third time, only to announce, “My grace is sufficient for you!” However, neither Jesus nor Paul turned in bitterness to God. Jesus embraced his cross because he knew that God’s plan was to save the world by turning his back on his only sinless Son in order to make a way of escape from eternal punishment for their sins. Paul accepted God’s refusal to heal him for the sake of his own betterment to keep him from the danger of arrogance after taking part in so many supernatural visions from God. Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob experienced betrayal from his jealous brothers who sold him into slavery and pretended that his father’s favorite son had been slaughtered by a wild beast. When he continued to trust God and it seemed God was about to rescue him from his slavery, his hopes were continually dashed by set back after set back. He could have easily rejected God as unjust and a God who betrayed his faithfulness over and over. But, he didn’t let his faith waiver. He kept obeying God and serving with tremendous integrity and faith year after year, setback after setback, betrayal after seeming betrayal. But, when all was said and done, he learned that God actually had a plan to use him to save his people and to honor him in ways he never thought possible. If you think God is not there. If you think He has betrayed you. If you think God will never allow you to “catch a break,” just wait! He has plans for you that you do not know. He is watching you and protecting your eternal life! The day will come when the entirety of his plan will be revealed and you will know that God has had your back all along! This Sunday, Josh McVey will bring a message about the life of Joseph from Genesis 37 – 46 and Psalm 23 titled Rising from the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Plan to come and find comfort and encouragement from this message from God’s Word. Faithful with you, Jon
October 20th, 2025
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October 8th, 2025
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE SKY IS FALLING
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IS IT NECESSARY?
September 24th, 2025
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WHAT TO DO WHEN THE SKY IS FALLINGREACHING OUT TO THE UNREACHABLEBRING THEM TO JESUSBETRAYALThe Upward Look, by Jon Forrest Betrayal There is not a more bitter feeling on earth than the one that comes when the closest of friends or a family member emotionally stabs you in the back. When the one person who should have your wellbeing foremost in his/her mind turns on you and throws you to the wolves, the pain travels to the innermost part of your psyche. Such betrayal has led to lifelong vendettas that resulted in debris fields of wounded and wrecked lives. Lifelong wars have been fought by the closest of friends and relatives. Often, the ones who are targeted for injury by revenge are not the only ones who receive the devastation. Everyone around them is torn asunder as collateral damage. You’ve seen it; two siblings who refuse to speak for the rest of their lives over the division of their parent’s estate, or once best friends who now take every opportunity to tear down the reputation of each other. Such wounds spawn physical and emotional violence for a lifetime. They cause words that pour forth from the cesspool of nastiness that takes over the mind of the betrayed. There has never been a more bitter response to such betrayal as when the perception has been that one was betrayed, stabbed in the back, thrown under the bus or left holding the bag by our loving heavenly Father. Yes, there have been times when people have felt as if God turned his back on them. Where was God when my spouse got sick and died? Where was God when my mother’s boyfriend was molesting me or my siblings? Where was God when my child was struck by a car and killed? Where was God when I lost my job, my house, my car, my reputation and more? JUST WHERE WAS GOD in the most difficult times of my life? Does God betray his people when life goes sour? Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the evil religious people for crucifixion by one of his closest friends, Judas, and felt betrayed by his heavenly Father when he cried out from the cross, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” One of God’s greatest apostles, Paul, prayed three times that God would remove his (unspecified) thorn in the flesh, but God did not speak until the third time, only to announce, “My grace is sufficient for you!” However, neither Jesus nor Paul turned in bitterness to God. Jesus embraced his cross because he knew that God’s plan was to save the world by turning his back on his only sinless Son in order to make a way of escape from eternal punishment for their sins. Paul accepted God’s refusal to heal him for the sake of his own betterment to keep him from the danger of arrogance after taking part in so many supernatural visions from God. Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob experienced betrayal from his jealous brothers who sold him into slavery and pretended that his father’s favorite son had been slaughtered by a wild beast. When he continued to trust God and it seemed God was about to rescue him from his slavery, his hopes were continually dashed by set back after set back. He could have easily rejected God as unjust and a God who betrayed his faithfulness over and over. But, he didn’t let his faith waiver. He kept obeying God and serving with tremendous integrity and faith year after year, setback after setback, betrayal after seeming betrayal. But, when all was said and done, he learned that God actually had a plan to use him to save his people and to honor him in ways he never thought possible. If you think God is not there. If you think He has betrayed you. If you think God will never allow you to “catch a break,” just wait! He has plans for you that you do not know. He is watching you and protecting your eternal life! The day will come when the entirety of his plan will be revealed and you will know that God has had your back all along! This Sunday, Josh McVey will bring a message about the life of Joseph from Genesis 37 – 46 and Psalm 23 titled Rising from the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Plan to come and find comfort and encouragement from this message from God’s Word. Faithful with you, Jon
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