Maybe you would be different – since you are just a regular person. Could be, yet consider this: in Christ’s day, inns were not the stopping places of the rich or noble. The rich stayed with their friends. Inns were the stopping places of the common folks, who had nowhere else to go, and it was precisely the inn that had no place for Jesus.

We sometimes try to convince ourselves that common people are more charitable or sympathetic than the rich or the powerful. We speculate ‘everyday people’ are more responsive to the claims of religion and the needs of people. But that is not so.

Rather, the Bible teaches all of us, even common folk… in Isaiah 53:6:  “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

Let’s be fair. It is easy to understand why the common folk who filled the inn that first Christmas did not receive Christ.

For one thing, others had simply come first. The inn was full, and why should one [who had possessed the wisdom to arrive early], make way for those who came late, regardless of how pressing the need was?

For another thing, there was no obvious difference. True, the woman was with child. But so were thousands of other women.

Perhaps if they had possessed money, they might have been welcomed. But they did not. They were poor. So there was literally no incentive to show concern or attention, so Christ was ‘crowded’ out.

But could this be a description of your life? If you are honest, you will admit that every chamber of your soul is so filled with human interests, there is little room for Christ. And at times, have you discovered that there is little vital interest in Him?

There is little time for Him. And this is true simply because our time is demanded by a thousand other things.

Our interest is drawn off in a thousand other directions, and our life is full with possessions, pleasures and people… events, entertainment, movies, sports, parties…until…

until…strange, though it seems, there is no room for the Savior in our lives either – except in a very small stable in our soul.

I wonder if Christ is relegated to a stall of your heart or sitting on the throne of your heart. Is Christ centered on Sunday only or central every day, in everything?

A little tougher, are you thankful for your circumstances, trials, health, age, appearance, general well-being, difficulties, and crisis?

If you are filled with the Spirit, you WILL express thanks OFTEN. According to Ephesians 5:20, thankfulness is one of the FRUITS of being filled with the Spirit:  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

What is thanks? One writer says thankfulness is the grateful acknowledgement of benefits received, and once you understand that, you quickly discern WHY there are so few thankful people. WHY?

To give thanks means…

One – you do not take CREDIT. You have to admit that the blessings you enjoy were GIVEN to you. You didn’t pick that spouse, raise those kids, buy that home, attend this church, get that job…YOU DIDN’T PICK IT, God gave it to you.

You say, I work hard to get my pay – yes, but WHO gave you the ability to work hard, the health, stamina and desire – GOD DID!

True thankfulness acknowledges that God has given you ALL you’ve received, therefore you don’t take credit.

Want to grow in gratitude? Every day recognize just how dependent you are for everything; don’t take credit but give credit to your creator, sustainer and redeemer.

Two – Being thankful means you believe your life is BETTER than you deserve. You’re totally unworthy of the blessings you’ve received.

True believers know because of their sin, they deserve punishment now, and God would be right to toss them into Hell forever. And every single day they recognize that Christ delivered them from that horrible fate; therefore, believers are THANKFUL.

Only those who recognize we don’t deserve all the blessings we’ve been given; only those who remember that any day we are not in Hell is a pretty good day – are those who are thankful.

Three – Thankfulness is also the result of recognizing that you have been given MORE than you deserve.

Thankful people are those who see God’s blessing in many different ways. Beyond their marriage, or family or material possessions, they are thankful for peace, love and joy. They are thankful for purpose and a passion to pursue. They are thankful for intimacy with God, for trials that change us, for pains that make us dependent, for hurts that make us tender. They see a loving heavenly father blessing them with a thousand small things every single day.

Four – Thankfulness grows with the INCREASE of awareness. Thankfulness intensifies as you realize the depth of your sinfulness.

Self-righteous people are not loving, nor thankful. People who see the increasing depth of their sinfulness are the most thankful for God’s forgiveness

Luke 7:47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

The most loving and thankful people are those who realize just how sinful, how needy, how desperate they were and still are for God’s grace
HOW THANKFUL ARE YOU?

The main passion of FBC is to see God glorified by people coming to Christ in salvation and becoming more like Christ in sanctification.

This process orbits around God’s Word and dependence upon God’s Spirit. People can’t turn to Christ to be saved without hearing God’s Word, and people can’t grow to be more like Christ without submitting to God’s Word, empowered by God’s Spirit.  Another way of stating the passionate drive of FBC is that we want to be USED OF GOD TO MAKE AS MANY PEOPLE LIKE JESUS CHRIST, IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE.

This is why we have begun an evening service, so people in another region of our valley (and our people who can’t come on Sunday) can hear God’s Word the way God wrote it through His apostles, in order to come under the authority of the Word in every area of their lives, to become more like Christ in every way. We are praying people turn to Christ and grow to be more like Christ.

This is why we have begun seven RMG’s, so that the great commission of GOING, BAPTIZING and TEACHING people to obey all that Christ has commanded us, [aka, MAKING DISCIPLES] is being passionately PURSUED by our family.

This is why we are funding an effort to get on five high school campuses in our area, so that lost students can hear God’s Word and hopefully respond to the gospel, then grow to be more like Christ in the context of a local church family, pursuing Christ together.

And this is why we are paying off some property near Clinton Keith and I-15, so we can later build a base of unrestricted operations in order to pursue this goal of having our God be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth in this valley, in our state, in our country and throughout the world for His glory.

It is so great to be a part of a family that is passionate about the same things!
May He receive all the glory!!

• Modeling Modesty by Mary Mohler (wife of Al Mohler, FREE)
• Modesty Heart Check by Carolyn Mahaney & her daughters (FREE)
• The Soul of Modesty MP3 by CJ Mahaney (husband of Carolyn)
• The Look: Does God Really Care What I Wear? by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (available on Amazon)
• God, My Heart and Clothes by CJ Mahaney (collection of blog posts)

Answer:

Chris

and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
[Will he be a religious leader to be worshipped?]

Daniel 9:26 says,

and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
[Will he be a Roman/Italian?]

And Daniel 11:36-37 says,

Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37 “And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.
[Will he be homosexual OR celibate?]

The biblical descriptions above definitely COULD point to the Antichrist being a Roman Catholic Pope in the future.

Chris

After some discussion, everyone went to sleep and woke up a little bit more tired. Early boat sign ups, breakfast, staff meeting, MAD meeting, and kids fellowship time, then off to the lake for all day boating, beaching, swimming, wake boarding, inner tubing, and TONS of staff student discussions.

I had one new family come to camp, helping out with the MAD CREW who said, I GET IT, I GET CAMP. I FINALLY GET IT. A time away from the routine of life, saturation with the Word of God, life on life discussions from staff, adults, leaders, pastors about the Lord and all the things that matter to HIM. They kept saying to me, I get it, I get it now – how great is this, this is incredible, this is great.

The band this year is COMPLETELY INCREDIBLE, totally focused on worship – great musicians whose music is secondary to lifting up the Lord in praise and focusing on the WORDS of what we are singing – incredible!

I had one staff person and an adult volunteer have an extended time with a student [who had a similar background as the adult volunteer – abuse, wild lifestyle of sneaking out and sneaking boys in her room] have some very serious discussions about forgiveness, obedience, following Christ and more. We had a TON of students who know about CHURCH, but have never really gone to one, who told me today, they want to come to ours – yet they are not yet saved. And this is after teaching them HARD TRUTHS on Lordship, the fruit of salvation, losing your first love and more.

At the beach today, discussion after discussion about spiritual issues took place, finding out where the kids hearts are at. We are praying to water, sow and see fruit but regardless we are rejoicing that we have the privilege of proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating the person of Christ to these students. WHAT AN HONOR TO BE HERE!

Again and again, I am so thankful not only for our adult volunteers – the MAD CREW [Mothers And Dads] but for our high school and junior high staff of committed disciplers. Filled with the Spirit, armed with the Word of God, they are having a dramatic impact on students from horrible homes and students from great homes. They are living out what many of their parents are trying to model, but doing so as a young person – and the impact of that witness is POWERFUL. Sometimes affirming what is being modeled in the home, but sometimes saying and doing what their parents have always said, but finally GETTING IT through a younger example, and sometimes undoing a poor witness in the home and often providing the only healthy parental model the kids have ever seen. I am so thankful for our staff leaders.

It is such a joy to see staff person after staff person meeting one on one with each student all throughout the day, adult servants taking care of boats, fixing lunch on the beach, setting up the sound system, walking around handing out food and water and helping kids put on sun screen.

Pray for us tonight as we open God’s Word on complacency – which is where the majority of our Christian kids are at – pray that God would do a great work and change hearts.

We are thankful for you who are praying too.
A fellow slave, Chris

PS – Last night at 11:30 pm I learned that a friend of mine just lost his 18 year old son Hunter to a tragic jet ski accident in Washington state. I called my friend Mark and cried with him and I continue to struggle with a great sadness in my heart in the midst of great hope. Please pray for the Graham family as I fly up and do the funeral this Friday. They all know the Lord and Hunter is with the Lord even now – the family is praying for God to be glorified in Hunter’s death but please pray for them too as they rightly work through their grief at losing a son for now.

Chris

Saturday evening was a strong message from the book of James on genuine faith versus phony faith and led right into a LONG ‘TENT’ time with students and staff discussing what has been taught now in the first three sessions.  We are trusting God to do a great work, so thank you again for your prayers.

The MAD crew continues to excel with great attitudes and hearts of love for the Lord and His people. Boat drivers are arriving and gearing up, set up construction guys continue to fix and design whatever is needed with happy hearts, security team continues to watch over the camp, the kids and helps others in many ways.

Sunday morning, everything [including cooking] shut down, so EVERYONE could come to the time of worship and time in the Word. We are thinking about you all gathering as FBC in Murrieta and I know you are all thinking about us as FBC gathering next to Lake San Antonio. Today’s message was on Revelation 2:1-7 on losing your first love and gaining your first love back. We continue to pray that God would work in the lives of the kids in a great way and are beginning to see some fruit.

For the rest of today, we go to OUR BEACH, an amazing cut off the lake that was a wonderful beach, a place to land boats, hang out, eat and gather to worship Sunday night. On the beach, we will have an ‘almost’ acoustic worship in praise time then a short look at Revelation 3:14-17 are you HOT, COLD or LUKEWARM and what that really means.

We love you all very much and are so thankful for your prayers

Chris

Chris

Wake up to Jon and Josh, then breakfast, tons of helpers have made the beginning of camp run seamlessly. Rod spoke to all staff and MAD crew [Mothers and Dads] about why we are here, loving God first. The Saturday morning meeting was split – junior high then high school met separately concerning true faith verses religion from John 3. Then we had a great fun game at another fantastic lunch. We just finished some great camp games – I will try to send some pics, though the internet service here is difficult.

Now is free time where staff are meeting with many students. The impact of our junior high and high school staff’s upon these students is amazing – pleading for their souls, modeling the faith, service and sacrifice, walking them through the Word on the issues they battle with and so much more. Even though many students come from GODLY homes, the effectiveness of their Spirit filled, dedicated ministry to these students is a HUGE blessing and having a great impact for God’s glory.

Keep praying
We love and miss the rest of you
Chris

This week has been an eventful week for the Mueller family…

Monday morning, e mails, phone calls, planning details and a great lunch appointment. As lunch was wrapping up, I received a phone call at 1:20 Monday afternoon, telling me that our oldest son Matthew was involved in a very serious auto accident on the 91 freeway just west of the 215.  Matthew walked away from the car a little stiff, but he is fine.  He had borrowed Jean’s car, ‘bubbles’, because his car was in the shop and while finishing up his work for the day, he hit a patch of water on the freeway in the right lane during the rain and the car hydroplaned out of control – he was in the slow lane going slow – the car spun and smashed up against the cement barrier, spun some more and ended up blocking two lanes of the freeway and another lane from debris.  The CHP arrived, after checking to make sure Matt was not injured, the officer pushed the car off the freeway and stuck around until a tow truck could come and I arrived to pick Matt up. The car looked really bad [see photo] and I believe it will be totaled – the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be HIS name – but MATT is going to be fine and for this we are rejoicing.

I was gone from 1:20pm Monday till 5pm and was home in time to teach the training center at our house on the doctrine of Christ for 3 hours of instruction and discipleship – and what a refreshing time it was to teach about and hear how our CREATOR humbled Himself to take on humanity and become the God man, an obedient man, a man obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross FOR US – if He would do that, then there is nothing I would not do for Him. We are thankful for His mercy and grace in Salvation and with His daily hand of guidance and protection. We are thankful to the Sovereign Lord for protecting our first born son.

Tuesday, we looked at some potential rental property for mid week usage and are moving ahead so that Kaleo can meet, the worship band can practice, the youth band can practice, mid size adult gatherings, d groups, possibly student ministry will meet later and on rainy days, consolidate our storage and others can meet through-out the week. After negotiations conclude, we will tell you all about it.  The rest of the day was filled with helping others work through some very heavy counseling over some very serious sin in the lives of people we love, strategizing for the future, more e mails, intense phone calls and a three hour appointment with a pastor friend from San Diego area who is going through some interesting times.

Wednesday was focused study in the Word for a marriage conference, the book of Daniel and a conference I am doing this summer. It is also the anniversary of my installation service with John MacArthur, just 2 years ago.  I am still very thankful for all of you and am so blessed by just how special our church family really is. Also Wednesday night, we will be able to see my sister Wendy and her husband as they are down in San Diego for vacation. Also in the morning, some wonderful blessings occurred in our children’s ministry [see below] and I was blessed to invest some time getting things set up for all that to work.

Thursday the phone will be off the hook so INTENSE study can occur for Daniel and more…

Friday, please be praying for me as I will preaching at a marriage conference for one of the larger fellowship groups from Grace Community Church. Jean and I will be ministering to about 80 couples, many of whom were literally my old GCC Junior Highers and Collegians from long ago. My old Junior Highers actually have their Junior Highers  and High Schoolers already OUCH!

This Sunday at FBC the Word of God will be exposited on a topic that almost every single Christian struggles with and is one of the most needed topics of our day – it will be a great help to you and to those you love. King David battled with it, Martin Luther struggled with it, even Charles H Spurgeon had bouts of it. But God’s Word is going to show us how to beat it and how you can help your friends and family who are battling with it too.

I love you so much,

Chris

Ed with puppets

This may involve a whole variety of things – shepherding people, discipleship, training our teachers, working with teachers through the curriculum in advance, ministering to parents of children that need some help, building a camaraderie among all the children workers, sharing resources, developing ways for crafts to be done for classrooms teachers, organizing the ministry, organizing the classrooms, caring for people, and loving our children – we are excited to see how the Lord uses the unique giftedness and passions of both the Vega’s and the Dietrich’s and blessed by how God will use each couple uniquely to accomplish His purposes.

Also, along with Heather administratively, and Scott who helps with set up and take down of the children’s classes, Jorge and Linda Ramirez are going to be assisting David Hubbs organizing and overseeing the 0-K both hours.  This is FANTASTIC news. As a church we are committed to the next generation and because children cannot shepherd one another like adults, we are thankful for the super quality adults God has given us to be a resource to our parents, shepherd our children’s leaders and our children, many of whom do not come from solid homes. Please rejoice with us and encourage these new leaders in their very special roles.