Advertising

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"Matthew:5:14-16

Some years ago , before I was in the ministry "full time",  I worked in the field of  Adverting .

I had the opportunity to handle many different types of accounts, some were large, some small. 

Some of our clients understood the value of having a well thought out ad  program, others had a less than structured program or clear understanding of how advertising works. Businesses  which advertised  ,in general  did, and do,  more business.

I helped  clients develop   a lot of newspaper advertising schedules over the years that were effective in getting their message out to the public and as a result their markets and revenues increased. In short adverting really does work.

 Ad Mistakes

I would get calls from clients who wanted to place ads in the paper, they would want a rather large ad often with color,  which they hoped would attract attention to their goods or services they would want to place it in the paper one time.  They would have their ad placed it would appear one time only and sadly, yet predictably, the results would be minimal.

Others however would want to insert  small ads crammed full of too much information, it would be displayed a few times then stopped, again with minimal results. Too much, too small.

 Some new clients would place a mid size ad and have it in the paper only a few times "to see what happens" . They would then discontinue the ads only after a short time.

Other business would  place an ad only when they had a special event or sale.

These advertisers would hope that their ads would be noticed and bring results , yet they ended up almost always disappointed, and concluded that advertising was ineffective. Others would declare that the cost was too much, the price too high.

Some times the text or copy was not well thought out, other times it was not carefully reviewed , one such ad was for a day care center for children. The ad copy was meant to read "bring us your children and we'll nurture them"  , instead it read "bring us your children and we'll neuter them" . Needless to say these "typos" do not help a business to be profitable.

What Goes Wrong?

Why did the advertisers ads fail them? What went wrong? In adverting there are principles that bring results. An ad, regardless of it's size and even if it is full color will soon be forgotten by the public it is is displayed only once, no matter how well the ad is desigen.

A small ad with too much information will be ignored by the public, simply due to the public's' limited attention span. or they just do not have time to read it therefore they will not read it to find out how the advertisers can benefit them. This type of adv becomes printed background noise and is ignored.

An ad displayed for a one time event then  drops from view is soon forgotten when the event ends . 

Those who are just trying "to see what will happens"  by placing a few ads then discontinue will find little results because the public has no time to become familiar with them, who they are where they are and what they do and will not know what they have to offer. This occurs when business owners loses patience.

T.O.M.A

What these advertisers failed to do, was to develop  Top of Mind Awareness, or T.O.M.A,  which means that when the public becomes so familiar with a business' name after being exposed repeatedly  and constantly to their adverting , they begin to have name recognition. That is,  when a person has a need they think of the a particular business for goods and or services.  Simply,  when they have a need they think of  the ads they have seen.

TOMA is developed when a advertisers displays their ads with a balanced size and frequency . When this is done both the advertiser and the public profit. They discover  what they gain far out weighs the cost.

A Lesson for Christians

Like advertises , Christians  can make some of the same mistakes concerning the Christian life and our relationship with the world around us. Part of our calling of being Christians is to present a message to the world around us of what a relationship with Jesus Christ  is about , the benefits  which they can have in this relationship  in such away that they too would want to be Christians.

 Ads

Often Christians or even churches will do one big thing hoping that this will bring the results of others coming to believe in Jesus. There maybe some initial interest, but without reinforcement on a frequent basis , this interest  fades and is soon forgotten.

Some Christians are too full of information and are very willing to share it with others often at the most inopportune moments that become more of a distraction and in the end a nuisance, they become just so much "background noise"  and tuned out. They are ignored and over looked. A few might take a moment to investigate their claims but most will not.

Some Christians will attempt to advertise  their faith "to see what  happens" When the results are not what they hoped for they discontinue and give up.Some may fall back into old patterns and life styles

Some will  have a one time event in their lives, some unique occurrence they will tell others about Jesus, but often they run out of reasons for sharing their faith fore it was based on a one time event.

Spiritual TOMA

What will work, what should a Christian's ad program look like if we are to develop TOMA in the minds of those around us? How can we advertise our relationship with Jesus so that when people think of Christianity they think of us? When they become aware of their need for Jesus will they know that we can help them? In others words is there  is Spiritual TOMA,  Top of Mind Awareness,  that we are Christians?

We are to be living advertisements of and for Jesus Christ, ads that are noticed with the right placement , size and frequency .

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"Matthew:5:14-16

Jesus tells us here that we should be in plain view that others might see.

 I might add the right copy, with no typos so others will see in us the benefits (blessings) of being in a relationship with Jesus Christ for all to see.We are to have an accurate  and informed message that attracts others to Jesus.

 " Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" .2Timothy:2:15

 Jesus  tells us that the fruit of this relationship with Him should be seen as well.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."John:15:5-8

This fruit is seen by those around us and will lead them to glorify God.

The Apostle Peter writing to Christians tells us that others should see our lives properly displaying all that is available in a relationship with Jesus , and that this is a large part of our calling , but to do so in a balance way that is genuine without pretense, and this is to have ongoing frequency , which means it is our life.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1Peter:2:9, 12

We are to be able to answer the inquiries from those who address us regarding our faith in Christ.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"1Peter:3:15

The Best Ad Program

 The best advertisement we can have, is that others see the unselfish love that we have for and toward one another. This above all things will reflect not just our love for each others but God's love for all, this has the greatest power to attract others and is the best advertisement there can be , it will point others to our Lord Jesus Who has and is everything that any and all could ever need or want.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”John:13:34-35

This Love,  when it is  seen in our lives , will best the best ad program to develop that TOMA  in the minds of others,  so that when they think of Christians they will will think of us....Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Refusing Rescue

There is a Television  program that is on here in America, where a man,  who is an experts in the food service industry is invited to come to failing business  establishments. He then  reviews how they conduct, or rather don't conduct business  and then proceeds to help them,  that is , to  rescue and salvage their failing business.

What is astounding is the conflict that arises when this expert, who has either owned or lunched multiple highly successful businesses in the food service industry , encounters resistance from the very people he is there to freely help.

The various business owners at times are combative uncooperative, stubborn and at timers belligerent. The owners of failing business just do not want to let go of the ways they are conducting their businesses which have proven completely unsuccessful and placed them in a position of being on the verge  closing .

Often the business owners have invested large sums of money into the failing business, to the point of bankruptcy, yet   nothing is working.  It is when they after reaching this point of need they call for this expert who comes and freely offers to help, yet they almost always resist his freely given advice.
At time he seems more interested in their success than they do. He will at ,times offer some blunt  evaluations of  business owners personal practices and conduct which have caused for much of their quandary  that are finding them selves in. Often they will recoil and be defensive and even self justifying .

What is unfortunate ,is ,  that  this expert knows what he is talking about and understands their problems better than they do. They need to heed his input. He is there to rescue them out of their bad situation.

Often after much conflict and resistance , and a time when the owner is finally  placed in a personal conversation with this expert  that the business owners will  come to see that this expert has their best interest at heart and is there to help and rescue them  and to salvage their business and succeed;  if they will just receive his free help.

When they set aside their pride,  stubbornness and self justification and accept what is freely offered them and heed the input of this expert and allow him to make the needed changes, which often requires a complete change in the appearance and practices and most of the time even the name of the business,    they find that,  in the end ,  even after some stress in placed upon them and their staffs that , that this expert was right all along.

Generally  at then end of each program,  there is short update on the businesses and owners , each time that the business owners followed  the input of this expert they have founded them selves positioned for success and  now succeeding  they have been rescued. They have been shown a better way of  conducting their business.They have a whole new life to their business and it works.

No Market

 On one episode  there was a business owner who had their establishment dressed in an illogical theme  that had no appeal to the market where their establishment was located.  The owner  and the  business were only a short time from closing down and being out of business. In the location which  they  were located in  had the environment to succeed , but the establishment with it's theme simply would not be sustained, there was no market for them as they were.

This owner, in desperation called to the expert who came and  reviewed her , the staff and the whole establishment in general. He concluded that the whole theme of the business, and the poorly trained staff  including this woman's' self willed husband , were the  leading demises of the business.  When the expert  shared his conclusions with the owner and staff there was conflict, they argued and resisted,  justified themselves and let him know that in spite of his expertise in the industry  , they thought him to be wrong.

Guest were invited in to see how the staff preformed under pressure. In a short amount of time it became evident that they had a dismal failure on their hand. They were ill prepared  for the test, ill trained, ill equipped and no leadership, as the guest went away disappointed. How they conducted business did not work . 

After the evening was concluded the expert reviewed how they did. The owner still justified them her self. Many of the staff could see that a change was need and hoped that she would agree to the changes.

 Changes But Not Changed 

After some tenses discussion with the expert she agrees to allow the changes. The expert oversee the transformation of the  moves forward in the end he has freely offered and provided for  her a renovataion and better positioned the business to capitalize on the market.

The staff was enthusiastic and liked the changes and they could see the opportunity that was before them, there was chance to rescue this business.The expert's changes were implemented, there was a complete change undertaken. A new name, new everything  it was "born again" as a business.

Guests were then, again invited in,  the place was  filled with genuinely pleased customers who asserted positively that they  will return.  It looks as if   all would be well. The  potential is great , there is now nothing to stop them from succeeding.

But,  rather than embracing the all new life of her business;. the owner  was  unhappy and clings to the her past ideas as to how it should be, she liked her old theme , which was apparent to everyone  obviously  not working. But she  and wanted to hold on to it, even though it  produced little profit. She becomes negative.

At the end of the episode it is reported that she walked away form what was freely given,  it was her's  there was nothing to stop her from having it , but,  her  own unwillingness to receive it,  and is now back to facing a bleak future.
There was change but she was not changed. She refused to be rescued. All the remodeling and name changes was merely cosmetic. There was no transformation of  herself . She and her business has walked away from being rescued. At the end of the episode the update said that she returned to her old theme and things were not going well.

A Lesson For All of Us.

 

What can we learn from this?  The ideas which govern the business of our lives often lead us to be on the brink of failure and closure.  Humanity needs the help of an expert,  One Who knows the industry of living  and how things best operate  for success in life.   That expert who knows the industry of living is Jesus Christ.

Jesus however is more than just a expert on "moral and ethical" living . Jesus is more than  just a self help teacher ( and the Bible  which speaks of Jesus, is more than a self help book, though some treat is as one) ,  or One Who teaches strategies for living or positive thinking  or practical philosophy.

Jesus is life itself and the Creator of all things.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life; and the life was the light of men."John:1:14

This One Who designed and brought into being all things came to us , to rescue us and transform us, and the businesses of our lives.

"and the Word became flesh"(14)

He has come to us and and offers to rescues us , if we will but freely receive it. This life that Jesus offers us is a life which we could never accomplish on our own. It is His life in us. He is our life as Paul wrote.

"When Christ, who is your life, ." Colssians:3:4

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."Galatians:2:20


Jesus is our very life and if we will but freely  receive it from Him He will  do more than just give us a new look or upgrade to our existence , Jesus ,like the a fore mentioned expert will give us an all new life, we can experience being  " born again".   Even to the point of giving us a new name. We share in His son ship. This can be ours freely if we will just freely receive it. A new name as children of God. These changes however only reflect what God has made true for us in Jesus, they more than cosmetic.

 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" 1John:3:2

"To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it." Revelation:2:17

This tells us that we are being more than renovated we are all new, "born again" . Now we are now positioned to share in all that is our Lord's except His deity.

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" Romans:8:17

Jesus has given us  all  a new life that is made to take us into eternity.

 Won't Let Go

Unfortunately ,we can  find that at times , we are  like the owner who did not want to let go of old theme  which produce little or no results, we want to keep the old theme of our lives as she did.  We can't put new wine into old skins. It will not work.

"No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."Mark:2:22

Our old ways need to be let go of, left behind us we need to receive from Jesus all that He offers us, it is freely given if we will but freely receive it. Jesus offers us a whole new theme for our lives this new theme will bring us success, he knows for He lived it, and is it.   Jesus has positioned us for the best possible outcome that of  eternity with Him.

We need to embrace all that is offered us and  not to be stubborn as the owner whose theme was leading to failure. Jesus is the expert that truly knows the industry of life. Jesus has come and provided rescue for humanity.  Jesus understands all our problems better than we do, we need to heed Jesus' input. Some sadly will refused to hear and accept  what is given ,  and walk away from the cross of our Lord instant on their ways....this leads only to heart ache and failure.... Please do not refuse to be rescued ..Amen 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Following Comments and Prayer were given by Rev. Todd Crouch  at a Community Thanksgiving Service on 11/26/2013 in Bentleyville Pennsylvania.

 We as a nation have been blessed with power, prominence, and strength; we have been “the head and not the tail” …

 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,.” James: 1:17-

 All that America has, has been bestowed upon us by the Great God.  For all that is ours’ we should offer thanks.

The Palmist wrote ,  "He who offerings, the  scarifies of Thanksgiving honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."  Psalm: 50; 23

The Scripture here tells us, that it honors God when we offer thanks to Him. That is, when we as people, or as Christians, bow our heads and give thanks to the Lord God He is honored, and when we thank Him, the way is prepared for us to see His salvation. If we thank Him we may see His salvation in the challenges that face our nation.

 Alexis de Tocqueville the French noblemen and sociologist came to America and wanted to understand why this nation, so young a nation had risen to a position of power and prominence so quickly and was so blessed and so great.

He traveled across this land and studied American society; He spoke with the people in the streets , in the fields , in small towns and cities.  He spoke with people in the class room, the court house and even in the board rooms.

His findings were published in his two volume work Democracy in America, published in 1835 & 1840.

  

de Tocqueville noted  that there was  among Americans a common  faith.

Speaking of America’s relationship with and toward the God of the Bible and the blessings which flowed out of that relationship.

“Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secrets of her (America’s) genius and power”

“America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great”

“Christianity is the companion of liberty in all its conflicts-the cradle of its infancy, and the source of its claims”
    

 That is, de Tocqueville was seeing that the blessings of freedom which produces a great nation is produced, guided and sustained by Biblical Christianity, which is a relationship with God not a religion.

Please join me in prayer:

Thanks Giving Prayer

Father, we here now, together as a community both municipally and as part of the community of the Christian Church, thank You for the nation that we have been blessed to live and walk in.

Thank You for the freedoms and the blessings of Liberty. May they never cease or be taken from us, nor squandered by us.

Thank You for the nation whose history is like no other's.  For the heritage of great men and woman who built this land under Your province and leading them to established tenants of government, that have given us a general climate  of justness and fairness to live under. 

For the enforcement of just laws that give us a tranquil nation that we can live and walk without fear.

Thank You for the resources that are found upon and within this continent , for the land to sow and reap.  For the surplus of the field and the harvest, and the rain in due season. 

For the economic affluence and general prosperity that, we as a people have been blessed with.

Thank You, for the defense of this nation, and the arms by which we have been blessed with victory in times of strife.  Please keep us safe, be watchful over us, as the Psalmist wrote “unless the Lord keeps the city the guards maintain a useless watch”

You Lord , have made us the head and not the tail. Let us uses this prominence for the good of others and the defense of liberty. 

Let us recall what the Scripture says “ to whom much is given much is required”.

Let the peace never be shattered.  Give us the peace that comes only from You.  A peace that defies, and rises above, and is within us in spite of circumstances.

Thank You Lord, that we here, are still able to meet together without intrusion, regulation or interference. Please maintain this freedom,  that the word of God may ever go forth from the pulpits of the Churches. 

Thank You Lord for the great heritage of the Churches in this land.  May there be revival and unity break forth in and among them all. Let The Holy Spirit, Father, make You  known ever among us,  for as Apostle Paul wrote:

‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom”

Above all Lord, we thank You  for Your Son Jesus, and all the innumerable and uncountable blessings that are ours in Him, for all that He has,  and,  yet will ever do for us, and for Who He is..

 Let His name alone be exulted, for in Him are the answers to all needs both material and immaterial. For without Him, all these blessings can never be obtained or sustained.

Thank You Lord for all that has, is and will be ours.  Let us see Your salvation in the great challenges that lay before us all.  Heal our land O Lord, let us be the people, individually and collectively, that You have called us to be.

Let us be a united people under God.

And let it be, that Your Son be given the glory. In Him and in Him alone are found the answers to our nation’s challenges.  Let Jesus’ name alone be exulted in this land and beyond, for in Him are the answers to the great challenges that we face.

Thank You Lord for all that is ours’, all the Blessings that You have given. 

In Jesus' Name we thank You , and ask this.  Amen.
 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Manger:Where We Meet Our God

"Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel." Amos:4:12

Christmas , the celebration which notes the entrance of Jesus into the stream of human history. It has been celebrated over the centuries in  numerous ways . To some, Christmas  has become largely a commercial event, a time to generate revenues and profits.

It is noted by films that highlight "family values" and "togetherness" and "goodwill" a "time of sharing" and "serving" .    Those are good things , but they really are not good enough. Christmas should be about our Lord Jesus. If Christmas is not focused upon Jesus , then it is simply a social custom.  It is alright to do those things afor mentioned, but let them be done in light of Who Jesus is and His coming to us. Let them note that something miraculous has occurred for us all there in that far away, and unlikely  place in that far off time.  Something that  changed all things forever.

The Promised Seed

From the very beginning there has been the promise that God would provided the means whereby humanity would be saved out of  their estrangement from God, even as our first parents, under the deceptive sway of satan,  set the course of human civilization. 

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel"Genesis:3:15

This verse is called by some Theologians the "Proto Evangaliuem",   which means the First Preaching of the Gospel.  This is the message that has been consistent, that God will save His people. That He will be with them. In Jesus, Who The Apostle Paul identifies as "the Seed" , God has accomplished this and more for each of us. In Jesus,  God has come to us as one of us and He meets us all  in a very unlikely place.

To See The Glory

Moses during a time of prayerful dislodge with the Great God.  Moses asked to see what all humanity truly has sought  , even if they are unaware of it.

"And Moses said, I beseech you, show me your glory." Exodus:33:18

 And God responded by giving Moses just a glimpse of His glory.

  "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. And he said, You can not see my face: for there will no man see me, and live": (19-20)

The Lord tells Moses that His face can not be seen, this means far more than we may first understand , what is being told to Moses and all of us , is that God was not yet incarnate, that is in the flesh in Jesus.
Apart from the incarnation we can not see the full glory of God, that is  "His face", we can only see a glimpse of it, "His back". 
 

 "And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen".(21-23)

Jesus is the face of God wherein we can truly see His glory at its greatest , as we are the recipients of His mercy and grace through Jesus, as the Lord God said to Moses:

"and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy"(19c)

Jesus Reveals God

At the conception  and birth of Jesus God has come to us, in the person of His Son. In Jesus we meet our God even  as we peer into  the manger of the  Nativity.  He is there come to us as one of us.  We are beholding the face of God even in the infant Jesus.

 In the Nativity there in the manger long ago, as we count years,  yet ever present for any who will but come forward to look and gaze upon the child Jesus, Who, was and is,  wrapped in swaddling clothes of  old linen strips used mostly to bury  the dead .
 If we will but look even here in the manger , we will see the glory of God;  we will meet our God there, even  in this the humblest of places. 

The shepherds who heard the angelic choir that night, long ago, and made their way to Bethlehem and look ed upon the face of Jesus saw the very glory that Moses asked to see. 

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told"  Luke:2:8-18

All the history of Israel was to prepare them and all humanity to encounter the great God, to meet God face to face in Jesus. 
  
 "Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel" Amos:4:12

 Jesus came to reveal to  us the Creator,  to give us what Moses asked  to see God;  to know God.

 "show me your glory" Exodus:33:18


In Jesus we come to know God. He has made this possible by becoming one of us.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John:1:1-3

"and the Word became flesh"(14)

Jesus has come to show us the Glory of God its clearest most powerful way.


"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you know him, and have seen him.

Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffises us. Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father? Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Truly, truly, I say to you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. " John:14:6-13

From His very birth Jesus has been showing each of us the Glory of God in His very Self. Jesus , even in His High Priestly Prayer affirms this.

"I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was."John:17:4-5

The Fullness  of God

In Jesus the fullness of God dwell in Him. we can encounter the fullness of God in the person of His Son. 

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form",Colossians:2:9

  Meets Us Still

There in the manger, all of this was present made possible by the workings of the power of the great God. That Child, in this place suited more for livestock which stunk of the dung and animals. This is where we meet our God. Where we see His glory. Then and now.

 He is still meeting us in the places of our lives that have the offensive  smell of the dung of our broken humanity . He is there to assure us that God is near and He has come to us. He has come in the least threatening way possible to us. A baby. He does not want us to fear, rather,  He wants us to know that He loves us and has come to us even where we may not think to have found Him.

He loves us so much to have descend into the the humblest of places, the feeding trough of animals. He awaits each of us, ever still, there calling us to come and look upon Him and know that our God loves us.

Here ,in the Nativity manger,  is where we all see His glory and  first meet our God. Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Advent:Pregnant with Purpose

Advent, which means coming, is a traditional observance among more liturgical Christian bodies. It is spread over several weeks leading up to Christmas; each Sunday of Advent offers us a look into the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent actually begins a segment of the liturgical calendar which extends into January with the Epiphany . Advent may be  described as a "progressive retrogression", that is it begins in the future and moves into the past.

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the First Installment(s) in the  Advent Series

Advent: Fourth Sunday 12/22/2013  :His Purpose In Us

The angel Gabriel  came to young Mary there in Nazareth and gave to her the message that she would be the one who would bare the long anticipated Messiah. 

That promise that resound down through the ages; for the confines of Eden ,that the, awaited One was now come. 

This anticipation would culminate  in an unlikely  time and place.


Anticipation that God would save His people.They had sought it and longed for it now it was come. God would come Himself to each and all. 
 
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS"  Luke:1:26-30

Mary, with the conception of Jesus,  now became , what is called by some theologians, the "Theotokos",  which means the God-bearer.  Mary would be in many ways what we all should be. All of us should bear the life of our Lord within us,  to the world around us, to be pregnant with the purpose of God. 

 The Magnificat

Mary yeilded her life to will of God seeing the magnitude of God's purposes revealed to her through Gabriel.   Mary yieldness brought honor to our Lord.

  "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word."(38)

 

When a woman is pregnant it is almost  always obvious to those around her, there is a radiance which shows from within. The life with in, has an outward impact ; but the life within Mary was that of the very Son of God. 

 Jesus was impacting those around Him even before He came forth out of the womb. We can see this very truth as Mary visits her older kinswoman Elizabeth in the Hill Country of Judea. Jesus in the life of Mary was bring joy to Elizabeth and even the unborn John.

  "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And what is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, see, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."(39-44)
 
Jesus, in the life of Mary,  was bringing  joy to Elizabeth and her own unborn son John. This tell us that when we are pregnant with the purpose of our Lord in our own lives, His life with in us  can have impact, not just to those immediately around us but to future generations yet unborn.

 Mary then sings the Hymn , the Magnificat,  that has echoed through the ages acknowledging the Glory and Great Mercy that the Lord was showing to Israel and all peoples. It was  spontaneous yet inspired Hymn  similar in fashion to those found in the Old Testament such as the Song of Victory sung by the woman of Israel after the crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus , and Hannah's song of praise in 1 Samuel. This hymn is some times called Mary's Song or Canticle of Mary. It is best known as the  

Mangnificat:

 "And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord,

 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from now on all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." (47-55)

Trusting God's Purpose

These words reflect the assurance that God's  will would be accomplished in Mary's life and the life of the people to whom the Messiah was coming, that is to all of us.

  The fulfillment would not be without suffering.  The delivering of Jesus in an out of the way place, in less than ideal conditions,  may have seemed to be a contradiction of the promised glory of the Messiah. There is no indication that Mary's labor was any different from others babies birth, there was tiring pain and blood. 

At Jesus' entrance  into human history there was little attention paid by the masses and the full impact of what had occurred, and what was begun at His  conception by the Holy Spirit ,  in the town of Nazareth,   would not  seen for years to come and beyond.  
That the true measure of which was seen at the cross, and then the empty tomb of Resurrection into the glory of the Messiah that came forth in that  lowly state there in Bethlehem.

God has visited His people He has assumed, and now shares our humanity so we might share his eternity .

" and the Word became flesh" John:1:14

Even there at birth we see the death of the cross which  awaited Him, symbolized in the wrapping of the child in  strips of swaddling clothes. This is sign to us that when we look into the manger of Bethlehem we will see the cross of Calvary,  Jesus being wrapped in the manger as He would be in the Tomb.

"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."  Luke:2:7

"And this shall be a sign to you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."(12)

  " Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,   and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away."   Matthew:27:59-60

Again,  this is a  sign to us that when we look into the manger of Bethlehem we will see the cross of Calvary.We can not separate the two they are forever joined in Jesus.

Uses Us

Our Lord used the life of one of us, that is Mary, to become  one of us. And even now Jesus is still one of us, yet , His Deity is undiminished. It is now,  that at the Resurrection that He is glorified. 

  "when he comes into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared me:" Hebrews:10:5

 It is this  human body that stands glorified, even now in the heights of Heaven, this glorified humanity is what we ourselves will share with Him. That His birth and death has made possible  the way for us to have eternal life and to stand with Him in eternity.

 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1John:3:2

Jesus became like us in birth and death so that we might become like Him in resurrection and life.

 An Ordinary Person

Mary was no different than we, she was  an ordinary girl , who yield herself and  was used by the Great God to bring forth Salvation to all who will be freely receive it. We ,like Mary,  if we but yield ourselves  to call of God upon our lives,  can be used by God to effect the lives of those around us for generations to come and beyond into eternity.  

This what the Lord can do in each of lives,  all for His glory and the Salvation of many around us.  this is but one of the many meanings to the Advent Season when we are pregnant with the purpose of God .Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com