Alamogordo's Open Door Baptist Church

The Birth of a Church

Written by Pastor Shakal
April 24th, 2013

birthofchurch

How does a church come into existence? The Bible describes a local church as a living organism. Paul said, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corithians 12:27) Everything living has a birth. So we are talking about the birth of a church. How is a church born?

I remember hearing many times in college that “churches start churches.” It makes sense that something living would give birth to something just like itself. Dogs have more dogs, bunnies have a lot more bunnies, and so churches give birth to more churches. When I was faced with starting Open Door Baptist Church, the situation did not open to having a church send us out or parent the new church.

Though sometimes I may have my doubts about starting without an active sending church, God still began Open Door Baptist Church of Alamogordo, NM. There was no way I could bring together all the miracles that it took to start this wonderful church. I think about the starting of Open Door Baptist Church, and a thought crosses my mind. If sometimes children are born that were not planned or intended, what if the actions or circumstances of one church gave birth unintentionally to a new local church? We did not work to split a church. Only the Lord knows how much we worked to ensure we did not steal anyone away any other churches. But the Lord had made it clear to us that Open Door Baptist Church would start. An unintentional birth came to pass, and a new living church was started.

I cannot dwell in the past or on what I could have done in the beginning. Nor would I want to undo the souls who have been saved and the decisions that have been made over the past 2 years. Yet, over the past several months I have considered the teaching about churches starting churches. I have come to some conclusions.

1.  A church started from a church is God’s perfect plan
While sometimes churches are started without the direct oversight and investment of a sending church, I am beginning to see where God blesses when the parent gets involved in the birth and development of the new local church. Both in the ministry and teachings of Paul, you find a desire on his part to see new churches to have that tie to other churches. Paul told Titus, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:” (Titus 1:5)

2.  A new church must be able to submit
How can a church lead their community to Christ until it first learns to follow? The baby church learns submission in the process of working under the counsel and investment of the parent church.

3.  A new church needs accountability
The truth is every church and every pastor could use someone that will help keep them accountable. While ultimately we are accountable to Jesus Christ, there is a great blessing to be had when we allow ourselves to be accountable to someone we trust. James said, “James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another…”

4.  A new church could use the extra teamwork
Collaboration brings glory to God as Christians give effort to His service together. No church is an empire to be built, but rather a picture to be painted. What better art than 2 pictures side by side that point to Christ together.

5.  A new church could use the partnership in prayer
The new church will quickly need God’s protection and provision as Satan tries to attack and defeat the baby. Every church could use a little more prayer for God to work in them. A new church needs those who will partner with their ministry in asking God to bless.

All of this being said, I cannot undo the past or change how Open Door Baptist Church was started. However we are still a baby church in need of some growing, just as this pastor has a lot of growing to do. When a baby enters this world without the presence of parents, oftentimes new parents can be sought out. For Open Door Baptist Church, we are coming under the umbrella of another church – an adoption, if you will. Open Door Baptist Church did not start with the direct sending of a parent church. However, I believe we still need to come under God’s plan. Our church still needs submission. I know we could benefit from the added accountability. I also look forward to the collaboration and prayers that come from a parent church. We want to set the right example of God’s plan for those who come after us. When the door opens for us to start a church, we want the right plan to be seen. We are not establishing an hierarchy. Rather we are seeking to have a multitude of counselors. Therefore on April 24, 2013, Open Door Baptist Church will have a Commissioning Service where we will come under the adopting church of Mountain View Baptist Church of Las Cruces, NM pastored by Robb Redlin. Already having been a tremendous blessing, we look forward to working with him and the church to help more people come to Christ. It may not be our birth as a church, but it can be a God-blessed adoption.

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Do You Love God?

Written by Pastor Shakal
February 25th, 2013

Praying
What does it mean to love God? How does a person know they love God? How do we know others love God? How does God know we love him? Complicated answers have been given over and over. Intricate terms and philosophical debates have covered the many answer people attempt to give in answer to this simple question. Do you love God?
The truth is Jesus already answered the question long ago. His words state very clearly, “if ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
It’s quite simple to answer. If we love God we will do what He told us to do. Yet, so often that is exactly what we don’t want the answer to be because we know we are not doing what He wants. If we love God we will be in church every time there is a church service. When we aren’t there, we simply show our lack of love for God. If we love God, we will read our Bibles personally. When we refuse, we show how little we love God. If our love for God is real, then we will find ourselves actively sharing the gospel with those who have never heard, or working extra hard to give our tithes and offerings faithfully. Our love for God is shown when we spend time praying to see God work. Our family will receive our attention as we minister to them to the glory of God.
We don’t intentionally refuse to love God. We just get so caught up in pleasing ourselves and making ourselves comfortable that it becomes easy to neglect loving God. We focus on relaxing instead of attending or vacationing instead of serving. The only sure way to show ourselves and our Creator that we love Him is to obey what He clearly told us to do. So, let me ask you: Is self really more important in the long run than loving Almighty God?

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What Did You Hear?

Written by Pastor Shakal
January 28th, 2013

Hearing

In recent weeks, I have been reminded once again that our minds are bombarded with so many noises battling for our attention and our compliance. It is not enough just to be heard by many of these thoughts. The battle is to gain a place in our consideration. The accuracy and potency with which our minds are attack can be terrifying. Oftentimes we are unaware of the origins of the ideas being pushed forth on us. The greatest battle any person will ever face takes place in the mind. In a way our greatest enemy is ourself because often the thoughts and ideas are quickly passed off as our own to gain a longer time of consideration.

1.  The World
I find the world fights for our attention for so many reasons. Sometimes it is just a desire for you to spend more money. Other times they clearly want you thinking only things with which they agree. Mainstream media is one of the most powerful sources of brainwashing without consistent fact or truth there is in this world. They go after our time and our thoughts and often succeed in crowding out God-given leading towards faith and obedience.
2.  The Flesh
How many times has my consideration been clouded by a concentration on what will feel best? When we are not the ones doing the feeling, it is easy to recognize that feelings are so fickle. They bend and change almost as fast as stock prices can fluctuate in a single day.
3.  The Devil
Satan attacks our minds with doubts and distractions to keep us confused or even depressed. Made to sound just like our own thoughts, the fiery darts of the wicked bombard our thinking and keep our minds in chaos. With small pieces of truth and astounding logic, the Devil works to divide our own thoughts to keep us at a stand-still. Though the thoughts are intellectual, they often lead us to run, to give up, to lean on our flesh instead of having faith in God. These darts convince us we are alone. They show us a greener pasture for tomorrow if we give up on today. They quickly take our eyes off of what God has done in our lives only to see what we think should have happened. Satan will keep us in the world of “what if.” “What if I moved here?” “What if they really think that about me?” “What if that were to happen right now?” “What if this goes wrong?” “What if” only causes us to live in a fantasy world instead of accepting and blooming in reality.
4.  The Holy Spirit
God tries to speak to us, but He never shouts. God will use the Word of God to clarify. He will use the preaching of God’s church to encourage and direct. He then uses God’s people to counsel, uplift, and challenge.
Our job is to learn to filter the noise and focus on the truth. What do you hear most? What captures your attention and remains in your thoughts? What noise fills your head? What do you need to filter out and what needs more of your focus?
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With Christ All the Way

Written by Pastor Shakal
January 17th, 2013

Praying

As we are encouraged to walk in the example and steps of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, it can be often overwhelming at quick glance. Here is the life of the One True God walking on this earth in complete perfection, and we are expected to live according to that standard. I wonder how many people think it too much to accomplish and give up. I wonder how many try it for a day or two and fail only to become discouraged, disenchanted, and even a little angry with the standards setup.

How can we take heart in the face of such impossibility? We know our weakness. We know we are prone to follow paths and decisions that are in opposition to God’s commands. How can we find the strength were we even to try? How can we react to hurt the way Jesus responded? How can we treat other people the way Jesus would treat them? How can we hope to live right in a world so filled with wrong? I find that though in me “dwelleth no good thing,” there are 3 comforting truths in scripture to lift me up to walk the path I was purposed to follow.

1.  Jesus Christ is with me
This cannot be said of everybody. Contrary to popular opinion, we are not all God’s children. Now, it is not a matter of race or position in society. It is not discrimination or prejudice. It is simply what the Bible says about becoming a child of God. A person is not simply born into this world a child of God. It is not a matter of His religion or family name that makes him a child of God.
The Bible teaches that “as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” [emphasis mine] (John 1:12). It is not a matter of works or heritage that makes someone a child of God. Truthfully it is by adoption that we become part of God’s family, and that adoption process is carried out through salvation. Sin or any wrong-doing on our part is not what takes us out of the family of God. It is simply a symbol that we were not born a part of the family of God. It shows who we are when we were born on this earth, a baby born to a long line of sinners separated from God. However, God would make a way for that to change. Jesus Christ was not just simply a good historical figure. He left heaven to come and die in our place because of our sin. The Bible teaches that the wages or penalty for sin is death, and so Jesus died to take our penalty on Himself. Then He was buried in a tomb, and 3 days later He conquered death coming back to life. This process allowed Him to offer a free gift of saving. He had already paid the price needed to save us. Now He offered it to everyone in the world. He said, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Anyone that would understand that Jesus died, was buried, and came back to life, they could then believe that Jesus had the right and power to save us from sin and the penalty of sin. This would then result in that same individual asking Jesus to save them from their own sin. At the moment we believe on Jesus to save us, He then dwells with us or in us.
With Jesus Christ in me and with me, I now have access to the one who already lived perfect to show me how it is done. He now can walk me through it. I not only follow His example, but I also have Him walk me through the process. I can take heart that even though the process seems impossible, I have the perfect example to walk with me each step of the way.

2.  God’s Grace and Mercy are with me
Perfection may be what I work towards, but if I am honest I do not always continue in perfection. This body I was born with still tends to do things according to how it was born, in sin. Though I am learning to steer my life and living a different direction, it does not always happen. I am no perfect man. I blow it often enough. However, I can take heart in the fact that God also gives me mercy and grace. mercy is when God does not give me the punishment my own foolishness deserves. Grace is God giving me a second chance (or in my case a third chance, a fourth chance,a fifth chance, and more). God desires change in my life, but He also waits patiently as I am often slow to learn. He does not shove me along the learning process forcefully. He leads me gently and carefully to those truths he has given me enough understanding to learn. It is His grace and mercy that encourages me to continue doing right. It is Gods mercy and grace that ought to help us take heart and renew our desire and efforts to do right and follow God’s standard.

3.  God’s Word is with me
I have at my fingertips exactly the words God wants me to know. He has delivered exactly what I can understand and follow. He has the perfect amount of encouragement mixed with direction and counsel to walk me through a right life. I get to know exactly what God wants of me and how to experience the wonderful, amazing blessings and gifts of living right. My heart can be lifted in know that God gives to me precisely what I need at the exact time that I need as long as I stay close to the Bible and stay hearing the Bible regularly.

I may not be perfect The process of right living may be overwhelming. However, I can take heart in knowing that Christ is with me, God’s grace and mercy protect me, and God’s word will perfectly guide me.
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Is Your Life Hard?

Written by Pastor Shakal
January 14th, 2013

storm

 

This past week God really drew my attention to an eye-opening truth in Proverbs 13:15 that says “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.” As a pastor, I often wonder what people are like in their homes when they are away from my peering eyes. Who someone is and how they are truly doing does not always show up on Facebook or Twitter. Then I also wonder about how life can seem so hard to one family and yet seem great to another. Often it is not the troubles they face, but rather the heart of the people facing those troubles that makes the difference. The Bible tells me that the way of transgressors is hard. We often take it for granted that life is just the sum of circumstances and there is nothing we can do to change those circumstances. Fate is often used as an explanation for the status of life. The thought is: things happen and there is nothing we can do about it. Life is hard and there is nothing that can change it.

I notice however that life is not simply the sum of events. You see the Bible tells me that life is hard not based on the situations that come at us, but rather based on our relationship with God. Life becomes hard when we in some way pull ourselves away from God’s will for our lives. The word “transgressors” speaks of those who break a law or violate a command. Situations and events are often outside of our control and arrive unbidden. However to be a transgressor takes a conscious choice to ignore or violate one of God’s commands. It is not the difficulties but rather the decision to refuse the authority of God in your life that makes life hard.
You see, I don’t have to enter a home or spy on someone’s personal life to know that if they are fighting what God wants them to be doing then life for them will be hard. We know that many of us have become good at hiding the state of our lives. We are good at coping. There are so many ingredients we throw at life just to help us cope and maintain a picture of happiness, but when we are alone there is a huge void and emptiness. We know something is not right. We realize something is missing. Yet, we continue keeping up appearances. For some it means accepting that life will just always be hard.

Still, is that what was really said here? Is life just hard and we can do nothing but learn to deal with it? Is there really no hope? The verse did not say that life in general is hard. It only said “the way of transgressors is hard.” Notice it is only describing one “way” and not an entire journey or all of life. If there is a way ascribed to the transgressors, then there is also another way of living that is not “hard.” If the violation of what God reveals to be right brings a life of hardship, then a life that begins to obey the simple truths God reveals as right will know peace. Isn’t it interesting that this is exactly what Jesus called people to know when they came to know Him. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

A life close to God is not without it’s difficulties. Situations and events outside our control still arise, but the heart of the person going through the storm decides the heaviness of the raging. A life that is hard is a life that is fighting to resist something God is trying to accomplish in the heart of a person. There is beauty even in the storm for the one that walks close to the Master of all creation. Though it may be hard to imagine now, the life that is surrendered to the leading and commands of God Almighty will also know the rest and peace that comes with a relationship with Him. Life is no longer hard when the load is carried by the All-powerful God. It only takes a life that will obey those commands that God teaches us in the Bible. The circumstances are not the determining factor. The status of the heart that enters the storm determines the hardships of life.

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Church For You

Written by Pastor Shakal
January 8th, 2013

Why does someone go to church? This seems to be a source of great misunderstanding among those who don’t go to church and those who do attend a church. Church is a good thing in the eyes of many, but more often than not something else can easily become more important. Even among those that go to church regularly, there is often no sense off why they go except for knowing that it is a good thing for them. It is no wonder that when schedules fill up the first thing to go is the church attendance.

What is church supposed to be? What does God intend to accomplish in the life of those who attend church? If people understood the purposes God wanted to accomplish in their lives through the local church, they would never want to take attending church out of their schedules.

The Church is a Hospital
One of the greatest tasks a local church undertakes is becoming a spiritual hospital. Life hurts. Even our churches are filled with people with scars and injured hearts. It surprises me how many people simply live with the pain assuming there is nothing that can be done or should be done. We are quick to go to the hospital when we think there is something wrong with our bodies. Yet, we live with pain and never seek a change. I am amazed how many just accept the injuries as a part of life and never seek a change.

With so much heartache, there ought to be a place we can turn to uplift in the face of hurts and heal in the face of injuries. That place always ought to be the local church. A church that seeks to be empowered by Jesus Christ will bring Godly healing. Jesus was described as the Great Physician. He said, “I am come that ye might have life.” Jesus cries, “come ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The spirit of a church ought to lead towards healing hurts. It scares me when a church is known more for attacking or belittling people in need of help. The spirit of a pastor ought to encourage his people to know encouragement. The spirit of the people ought to inspire others to find a hospital from within the church they attend. Does the spirit of your church tend towards hurts being healed?

The teaching of a church ought to show the way to healing. The word of God ought to be a medicine in hearts of those who listen. It is not enough simply to march against sin. You ought to look for a way of hope from the correction of preaching. We need preaching to be the medicine that makes our lives whole again. The average life will experience hurt multiple times. Instead of finding ways to survive, we need to find the Great Physician’s medical plan found in a good local church. It won’t be found in a single showing, but rather in the consistent surrounding that God will make a difference in our hearts. Are you hurting? Find your healing in the house of God. Do you not see any healing in your church? Seek to find the church that God is using to bring healing to others.

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Five Things To Include This New Year

Written by Pastor Shakal
January 1st, 2013

Each year i spend some time thinking about what should be different in the next year. Clay that ceases to mold becomes useless to the potter. So a willingness to change is accompanied by consideration for God’s plan for my life.
Let me give you 5 things every Christian ought to include in their new year.
Growing in knowing your Bible
Everyone should have a plan to know more about the Word of God this time next year than they do right now. It is not always about knowing more verses to prove the Mormons wrong or defend the doctrines of the Bible. Oftentimes God has promises for our daily circumstances that we can claim. Yet, if we fail to spend time in God’s word that day, we may miss the promise or verse to give direction in the situation we will face that day.
This may mean setting a goal to enable you to read and understand the Bible more. Maybe you just need a new tool to help you stay faithful or glean more from you reading. I have found Bible study computer programs helpful in looking deeper into passages. I have also learned that a tool to allow you to listen to the Bible can help you retain more of what you are reading.

Faithfulness to a Great Church
What is church to you? Is it just another classroom that just happens to include the Bible? Is it another social gathering where people look forward to bumping into 1 or 2 friends every week? One blog post could not adequately express all the many ways a great church can fill the many voids that exist in the hearts of today’s average person. In a church that God is working in, the preaching is more than an explanation or lesson on a few verses. Preaching should become an eye-opening time when the Holy Spirit of God takes the word of God and brings amazing encouragement, definite daily direction, strength to do right, and above all else a sweet and Christ-like spirit. While the word of God ought to be the center of focus, Church brings more to our lives than just the preaching. Church is a gathering together of believers to live side-by-side and help encourage along a God-given journey. Fellowship is a key ingredient to any great local church. It may be a planned event on the calendar to gather around food or testimonies or it may be an impromptu meal at someone’s house. Living life together in the company and inspiration of others God has worked in becomes an absolute necessary part of our year. Is your church more than just a classroom that includes some Bible verses? Is God using the preaching in the lives of those who attend to transform them? Is there wonderful fellowship between the people who are going? Determine this year that you will be faithful to a great church.

Personal Health Goals
While oftentimes we feel it is unspiritual to talk about setting goals for our bodies, God teaches that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we belong to God. We were entrusted with our life and our body and therefore ought to care for the health of this body for His sake. This year we should determine not to be foolish with our health and rather take care of what God has entrusted to us.

Regular Family Time
One of our most important relationships we have is with our family. Have you ever set some goals as to how much time you will spend totally focused on your family? Make this year a time to mend relationships and invest time into growing relationships with our family. What can you do each week to show your family is important to you?

Give my needs to prayer
No man is greater than is prayer life. When we struggle in life it usually indicates that we struggle even more in prayer. It is not the life that suffers that struggles in prayer, but in the suffering prayer can still give us strength. It is the life that is struggling in the heart or struggling regardless of the circumstances that struggles with prayer. Do you accomplish anything through prayer? We all need to. Don’t wait another year to begin seeing God work in response to prayer. Set aside time and needs for God to meet as you ask for them.

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How Could This Happen?

Written by Pastor Shakal
December 17th, 2012

The news of Friday’s tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School leaves many with questions. “How could God allow something like this?” rings in the ears of many in the face of such devastation. Many other questions involving whys and what ifs will riddle hearts for days or weeks to come. For those who put their faith in God, how do we sort through these questions and the accompanying emotions?

To begin we must know that we will not understand all the answers about these circumstances. Hindsight is only 20/20 when we are able to see all the details. In a terrible story like this, many details will never be uncovered. However, there are some conclusions we can see. To get the big picture, we must consider some truths that surround the coming of this awful deed.
1.  What We Took Out
Many years ago a movement began that sought to take God out of schools and even the government. We have placed God into a corner and expected Him to stay there until we call for Him. In most cases, God has become nothing more than a household appliance or a decoration. We bring Him out when there is an obstacle that His skill-set fits better than ours, or we set Him on a shelf like a Christmas decoration as a token.
We refuse Him admittance at our schools. We do not allow prayers to Him or in His name. We have stopped Bibles from being read by the students. Since absolute values of right and wrong are associated with an Almighty God, we have watered down our morales and diluted a since of right and wrong.
More and more God is even disappearing from homes. Even with those who attend a church, there is still an absence of God outside of the weekly church services. We no longer consider God as a necessary part of our everyday lives. We turn to the government for protection and even provision now. Instead of being tools in God’s hand, new security systems and a greater police force have completely replaced seeking God to keep us safe. The internet has become our source of information for making decisions instead of seeking wisdom from God. we give to charities and school fund-raisers, but neglect any tithes and offerings to the church.
God does not force His way into our lives. God is a gentleman. He stands ready for an invitation. However, since God in not in our lives, we also have lost His protection, His blessing, His direction, and even His provision. We took God out of everywhere but the corner where we store Him for a later date.
2.  What We Let In
There is a growing trend of interest in things today that allow something terrible into our homes. Instead of God we now have filled our homes with happy witches and seductive vampires. Even religious homes have allowed series of books and movies like Harry Potter or Twilight to open their homes. Satan uses what seems like harmless fun to give Him a legal right to influence our homes, our schools, and our government.
When we choose that which Satan originates over that which God orchestrates, we give the controlling influence away to someone who seeks to destroy us. The Bible says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” John 10:10. Satan is a master at making evil look harmless and fun, but in the background it is just the choice that allows him to enter our homes, our schools, our government, and even our churches.
This is why the Bible says, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31) “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” (Levitcus 20:6) God goes on to say in Ephesians 5:12, “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
So where do we go from here? We need to examine our homes first. We need to find out any area that we allowed into our homes that Satan is using to expose us. Once they are found we need to remove them from our homes and families. Then we need to confess as wrong those things we allowed even unknowingly into our homes. Then we need to ask God to remove any legal ground Satan gained or any snares Satan trapped used to trap us. It is time to allow God back into our homes. Our families deserve to be exposed to Godly music that praises Him, Bible reading to teach us, and open times of prayer. As parents, you should not be ashamed to be seen reading your Bible. You should not be ashamed for your family to know that you are praying. We need God back inside our homes before we can seek a change in our schools or our government.
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Created for a Purpose

Written by Pastor Shakal
December 13th, 2012

created for a purpose

Colossians 1:16-22  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  (19)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;  (20)  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  (21)  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  (22)  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Millions of dollars are spent every year to unlock the secrets of life and the universe. People will buy books and watch documentaries on the secrets to eternal youth, the keys to understanding time, and the hidden truths to happiness. We are surrounded everyday with so many questions. People all around us are looking for so many answers. We have theories. We have philosophies. We have many opinions. Yet, we often still lack real answers. As a result, so many lives go on pointless and frustrated. They live without hope.

Life can only be unlocked by answering the 3 great questions about life.
  • Who am I?
  • Where did I come from?
  • Why am I here?
People everyday turn to so many sources for the answer to these 3 questions. Again, they gain a lot of theories and limited opinions, but most people searching realize they still don’t have the answers. Some people even settle for the half-truths and theories they already found. They convince themselves that they can never really know the answers. So, they settle for another person’s guesses.
Until a truthful answer is reached to these questions, nothing else we learn in life will matter or even make sense. We can dance around the proverbial bush all we want. We can distract ourselves with all kinds of alternate realities or escape fantasies, but we will still be faced with these three unanswered questions that will plague our life.
Life is about purpose. The answer to our questions stirs the topic of having purpose in life. It has been often said, “he who aims at nothing will hit it every time.” On several occasions I have played LazerTag with the teens of the church. We have two kinds of units we use. As we begin to hand out the equipment, the first decision is who gets to use our rifles. We have two rifles that have automatic shooting much like a machine gun, and they also come mounted with a rocket launcher. Everybody knows that in certain circumstances the rifles can cause a great amount of damage. We also have several pistols. Though smaller, the pistols allow for easier maneuvers and quicker movements. Regardless of which unit is chosen, the key to victory and ability is learning how to aim. To swing the pistol or the rifle through the air and pull the trigger will simply leave you out of ammo and vulnerable to attacks.
To understand our purpose or to answer these 3 questions, you must go back to the beginning. An understanding of our own lives will come from an understanding of the beginning of life. Many theories exist about the beginning. Some teach that our great, great, great grandfather was a rock. They try to tell us that the rock turned into life which in turn became me. Was your great, great, great grandfather a boulder? We need to take a look at the creation account given to us in Genesis. The beginning of the Bible is the beginning of faith and purpose.
The creation account is our foundation. If we tear apart what God says happened in the beginning, then we will lose the answers that only God can give about life and purpose today. The Psalmist said in Psalm 11:3, “if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” We can answer these important questions when we will believe God’s Word as truth starting from the very beginning of the Bible.
In the next several chapters we will study and see 4 integrated pieces to the beginning.
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Introduction to Five Minutes for New Living

Written by Pastor Shakal
December 7th, 2012
the 5 minutes ministry
Whether you are a new believer or have been a Christian for many years, we all could use reminders of the truths that God sets forth to guide us in living for Him. So in this study we will look at what the Bible teaches about who we are, what we can do, and what to believe about God. Each piece will be quick and easy to follow. The goal is to teach in 5 minutes another truth that will impact a lifetime. So join us for every chapter of 5 minutes for New Living.
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