Tony French Speaks

Most of us hate conflict. We avoid it at all costs. We want peace. We want everyone to get along. If you are in that category, you are a peace keeper. Avoiding what needs to be done in the name of peace or love is neither peaceful nor loving. There is another way. It is hard. It will be messy. It might go wrong. But it is the only way to true peace (restoring things as they should be). So, with 100% grace and 100% truth, we jump into the battle to restore peace. This is a peace maker. Jesus said, blessed are the peace makers for they will be called the children of God. Are you a peace keeper or a peace maker?

The Son of God became a son of man so that the sons of men could become the sons of God.

Joy to the world. Peace on earth. Goodwill towards men. This is the good news of Christmas. It is good news because Jesus began his rescue attempt as a babe in a manger. Jesus has come to rescue us! Just like the rescue attempt is opposed, all of the good things of Christmas are opposed. You will have to fight for them. Here are some techniques you can use to overcome the enemy and have real joy this Christmas.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, we believe the most loving thing we can do for others is to go to them and invite them to come and see who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for them.

Using our spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, resources, passions and creativity, we believe that it is our role and responsibility to create excellent environments and eliminate any and all obstacles so that people have the best opportunity to encounter (bump into) Jesus so that He can do what only He can do

Value 5 - Gifted Service We are committed to being the kind of people who reflect both the purpose and the personality of Jesus by leveraging the gifts Jesus has given us for the benefit of others, both inside the church and outside the church.

We believe that living life together in a safe “me too” community is the best opportunity for pursuing truth and grace and experiencing the life that God has in mind for us.

We believe that following Jesus involves implementing a strategy to enthrall yourself with God and eliminate any obstacles or responses that stand against God’s good intentions for you.

Every group of people have a set of values. We at The Christian Center also have a set of values. Value 1 - Biblical Authority. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word and has the ability to show us a better way to live, if we are willing to put ourselves under its authority and adjust our lives to what God reveals there as true and best Value 2 - Relational Intimacy No matter what you have done wrong, we believe that by grace through faith in Jesus alone, it is still possible to be reconnected back into intimate relationship with God

God has given us things. The enemy works to take them away from us. God has given us joy. Do you have yours? Are you full of glorious and inexpressible joy? If not, the enemy has taken yours. You want it back. Fight for it!

Sometimes when we take a look at our friends, we see that they are struggling with something. And we don't like to see that. Most of us then began a campaign to change our friend. My attempts at this usually blow up in my face. There is a better way to help a friend. Come and listen, and see if this might be a better approach for you too.

Have you ever seen something that is so valuable that you would be willing to trade everything you have for it? Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like that. We might need to revalue some things. Could it be possible? Is the Kingdom of Heaven really that good? Come and see...

God has considered us, looks to our future, sees our needs and then meets those needs. He has given us everything we need for a godly life. He has made promises to us, promises that he keeps, so that we may participate in the divine nature. Think of it, we can escape the sinful nature and actually live in intimate relationship with God. I want some of that.

No matter what you have done wrong, we believe that by grace through faith in Jesus alone, it is still possible to be reconnected back into intimate relationship with God. Jesus is seeking an intimate relationship with you. Below on the left is who Jesus is. On the right is who I can be. How intimate are you? Creator => created. Savior => saved. Master => servant. Brother => brother Friend => friend Lover => lover No matter where you are on this list, you can always move closer. And that is the invitation from Jesus "move closer".

Where is the Easy Button? We spend lots of time and energy looking for the easy way out. We assume that one choice is between easy and hard. Life is hard. The choices that we make ultimately end in one of two places: life or death. Neither choice is easy. Living with the consequences of sin is hard. Choosing to do the right thing is hard. Choose your hard...

The oldest story in the book shows us what man typically does when he makes bad choices - cover, hide and blame. Adam knew he was naked so he covered it up with fig leaves. Then, when God came for him, he hid in the bushes. When God asked him what he had done, he blamed Eve and even God for his choices. He was first to use this tactic, but surely not the last. There is a better response to our sin...

As a follower of Jesus, what would you say the most important thing He would have you do? Most of us would say to be obedient, or to be good, or some such thing. That was not Jesus answer. He said the most important thing for us to do is to love.

Because of the work of Jesus, we are living in the new kingdom. Jesus has called us to be his hands and feet. Jesus has equipped us for that work. Jesus has given us His glory so that we can glorify him and love well. As a result, we need to love well, not just with words, but in action and truth. The world needs us - the conditions are critical. Now is not the time to sit and wait for Jesus' return - now is the time for action.

Sometimes every thing just works out. Life is great! But then there are the other times. We suffer, we mourn, we hurt. The church as told us to get over it. But that is not from God. The Bible is full of stories of hurting people. Many Psalms contain lament. There is even a book of it - Lamentations. It is ok for you to be hurting. It is not a reflection on your faith. You can call out to God in your pain. You can ask him why he has not showed up. God can take it, and you need to express it.

Do you love Jesus? What a strange question. As we draw close to Jesus it is normal to fall in love with him. Draw close to him. You will like what you see. Being reminded of who Jesus is, and what he does moves us towards love. I am grateful for who Jesus is.