May 19, 2013 - We Can All Seak The Same Language

This week’s scriptures are: Genesis 11:1-9, Psalms 104:24-35, Act 2:1-21, John 14:8-17 (25-27)

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like, if we were all alike.  I don't mean that we all look alike, but that everyone, everywhere on earth, spoke the same language and believed in the same God.

We could travel the entire world and understand what everyone was saying!  We could read all of the signs and know that they said.  WOW!  Can you imagine?

Back in the days of Genesis Chapter 11, that's the way it was.  Everyone spoke the same language and they believed in God.  But they decided to build a tower to reach the heavens.  I guess they wanted to be able to climb for days and days to see God.

So God saw their plan and He changed they way everyone spoke.  I'm guessing it was fear of what everyone else was saying or planning, that caused everyone to scatter throughout the earth. 

I'm sure they all went away in groups of people who were now speaking the same language, but how many friends and family members did they leave behind?

Can you imagine the noise from the babbling?  To get an idea of what it must have been like, just go to the 1 year old class of any day care and listen.

Now fast forward to Acts Chapter 2.  There we read about the Holy Spirit coming down in tongues of fire and resting on each of the Apostles.  They were so filled with the Holy Spirit, that they began to speak in different tongues.

By this time, people from all over the world had moved to Jerusalem.  They had learned to speak a common language, but each of them were hearing the Apostles speak in their own native tongues.

I cannot explain it, but there were people from at least twelve different nations living there.  Yet everyone heard everything ALL TWELVE Apostles were saying in their own native tongue.  God IS good!

The funny thing is these learned men thought the Apostles were drunk!  Excuse me!  If the Apostles were drunk, why were they speaking in such a way that EVERYONE heard them in his/her native tongue?  Wouldn't everyone ELSE have to be drunk to ASSUME the Apostles were speaking in his/her native tongue?

Personally, I think I would have been amazed at this.  Everyone understanding everything being said by these men. 

Imagine if one of our world leaders could stand up in front of a podium and give a speech that was broadcast world wide and NO INTERPRETER was need for everyone to understand what was being said.  I don't mean that just the learned upper crust could understand.  I'm talking about even the poorest of the poor in the farthest reaches of the earth, could stumble across the broadcast somehow and understand every word. 

WOW!

At one point in time, everyone spoke the same language.........

Today, God speaks ALL languages.  He sends His Holy Spirit to be with us and fill us.  So that even if we encounter someone who does not speak the same language we do, they can know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit........a common thread.........a common love for God.

So go out into that world today and the rest of the week and speak the language of God!  People will understand you, even if they don't speak the same "earthly language".  By letting God speak through us, We Can All Speak The Same Language.

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

May 12, 2013 - Do you hate evil?

This week’s scriptures are: Acts 16:16-34, Psalms 97, Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21, John 17:20-26

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Today, I have just one question for you: Do you hate evil?

If you listen to the world around you, God does NOT exist.  More and more, the news media and the liberals blame the problems of this world on Christians. 

For a long time in THIS country, the Bible was taught in school.  It was a reliable text book.  I'm not talking about in a private school.  Back then, there were no private schools, just schools.

Schools used to start their day with (GASP) a prayer.  And the walls didn't tremble and the roof didn't cave in. 

And what do you know, sex out of wedlock was scorned and you didn't hear of unwanted pregnancies or unwanted children.  MARRIAGE was for life!

Crime rates were lower also.

Today we have babies having babies or getting abortions.  People walking around angry all the time and they don't even know why they're angry, so full of hate.  People killing others just because they can.  More people just live together instead of getting married.  Marriages are "until I get tired of you".

Oh, and the crime rates around the world keep going up and up.

How is this good?  How is leaving God out of our daily lives a good thing?  That's what the liberals and the news media want us to do. 

The news media glorifies tragedies with the 24/7 coverage.  What would happen if the news media stopped providing the coverage of some whacko going on a killing spree?  Do you think that MAYBE some other mentally deranged individual who wants their five minutes of fame, would go out and try to out do the last mass murderer? 

How would they get their fame if no one heard about it?

In today's lessons, we read that God loves those who hate evil.  Are you engrossed in the daily news?  Are you watching the 24/7 coverage of some individual going on a rampage?  What movies and tv shows are you watching?  Are they filled with evil?

How about the books you read?  Are you reading Godly books or are you reading books about evil?  Are you listening to music about killing and having random sex or are you listening to music about God and Godly things?

Recently here in Texas, a school track team was disqualified when one of their runners (a Christian) pointed to heaven as he crossed the finish line WAY ahead of his closest competitor. 

We've had children expelled from school for having a Bible on their desk!  It wasn't even opened.  How far have we allowed the liberals and the devil to go?  What was once a reliable text book is now banned.

We have people right now trying to make it a crime for Chaplains in the military to preach the word of God!  They are doing everything they can to stop people from speaking of a God who LOVES.  A God who loves those who hate EVIL.

Evil, is anything or anyone who goes against God.  Of course, God will love those who hate evil.  If we hate evil, then we MUST love God.  If we love God, we MUST hate evil.  It cannot be any other way.

GOD is good.  Let me say that again.  God IS good.  One more time.  God is GOOD.

If we love God (good), then we MUST hate evil (anything that goes against God).  Simple.

So today, I have just one question for you: Do you hate evil?

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

May 5, 2013 - May God Be Gracious To Us

This week’s scriptures are: Acts 16:9-15, Psalms 67, Revelation 21:10,22 - 22:5, John 5:1-9

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us".  What GLORIOUS words these are to me.  You see they remind me of simpler times.  Of times when I was a child and young adult.  They remind me of a great Norwegian man that was a part of my life for many years.

Art was a huge fan of "Hagar The Horrible".  He often quoted Hagar.  In fact it was fun to wake up on Sundays and see how would Hagar be used this week.

You see, "Art", was Pastor Arthur Solem.  He was first my Chaplain at the Chapel on Fort Bliss, where he confirmed me in the Lutheran faith when I was thirteen.  He married my wife and I, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (in El Paso), when I was twenty.  He was there for the renewal of our vows, when I was forty-five.  Easter Sunday, 2013, was his funeral service (I'm forty-nine).  Yes, he was a part of my life for a long time. 

Pastor Solem always ended his services with the benediction.  Those very familiar words:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'

I realize that the Benediction words that Pastor Solem used were from Numbers, but the words from Psalms 67 remind me of them.  And how GREAT is it to think about God being GRACIOUS to us?

How many times have our children done something wrong and we dished out the punishment we thought was right?  How many times were we GRACIOUS to them?  Is God not our Heavenly Father?  Are we not supposed to emulate Him?  Then why are we not GRACIOUS  to our children?

I've been guilty of this more times than I care to admit.  You see, I have a temper that can flare at the slightest provocation.  And yet, I TRY to be like God.  I'm not saying that I'm abusive, although there are some, I'm sure, who would say that.  I just know that I'm not GRACIOUS.

Think about Judas.  I believe that even JUDAS would have experienced God's grace, had he given God the chance.  And who among us has betrayed God to His enemies?

There have been many men and women who have committed horrible crimes, done terrible things.  And yet, God has shown them Grace.  God has reached down to them in their lowest moment and lifted them up.  Bringing them into His loving arms and delivering them from sin.  How AWESOME is that?

By being gracious, God blesses us.  By withholding the things we deserve, we are blessed.  Remember, the cost of sin is death?  God's kept us from death by sending Jesus to die on a cross, so that our sins could be forgiven, if we just believe. 

THAT is grace.

THAT is blessing.

So believe and receive that blessing!  Receive eternal life, with God.  Allow God to be gracious to you.  Allow Him to bless you.

Until we meet again, may God be GRACIOUS to us!

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."

Amen.

April 28, 2013 - It's God's Plan

This week’s scriptures are: Acts 11:1-18, Psalms 148, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.
Some people are blind to the things right in front of them.  Some people need to have things spelled out for them, before they'll believe what they are seeing.
I have a plan.  My plan is to finish out my working days, at my current job, with as few problems and conflicts as possible.  Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?  But what if GOD has other plans?  What if God has plans for me to be in a place of conflicts?  Maybe He wants me to change jobs?

Maybe my writing these sermons is just the beginning of what God has in mind for me?  Maybe He wants me to start being more active in sharing His word with others.  Whatever that means.  Where ever that leads.

Well, then, who am I to stand in the way of God's will?

Years ago I had opportunities that I turned down.  I had a chance to take jobs and to go places, but I didn't do those things.  It did not matter to me what that "little voice in my head" was saying to me at the time.  I was NOT going to do it.

What would my life be like today, had I listened?  Whose life would have turned out differently, had I listened?

How would you like to be the man (or woman) who had a chance to do something to help someone and didn't do it.  And then later found out what difference you would have made.

Let me tell you a story I heard a long time ago.  It changed the way I respond to that "little voice", that I believe is God talking to me.  The story goes like this:

One night a man was driving home.  It's dark and raining.  Not a light drizzle, but a hard, driving rain.  He sees a man walking down the street.  He doesn't have an umbrella, so he's hunched against the driving rain.

The man driving hears a voice tell him to stop and offer the other man a ride.  Being an arrogant man, he argues with that voice.  He tells it that he doesn't want to stop and get wet and he doesn't want some wet stranger messing up his car. 

The voice tells him again to stop and offer a ride.  Again, the same arguments and he keeps on driving.

A third time the voice tells him to stop.  One last time the man argues that he doesn't want to mess up his car and he doesn't want to get wet. 

So he drove past the man and goes home.

After the man gets home, he goes and changes his clothes, gets comfortable and starts watching the evening news.  There's a breaking news report about a pedestrian who was hit and killed as he walked to the store.

The first man starts to pay attention a little more closely, when he realizes that was the man he was told to stop and offer a ride to.

EVEN IF that man had not accepted the ride, he would not have gotten to the corner at the same time and he might have not been killed that night.  Had the man driving the car only stopped to offer a ride, what difference might he have made in the other man's life?

In today's lesson we read about Peter going to the Gentiles and preaching to them.  What a difference in their eternal life he made!  Imagine if he had ignored that voice and gone another way?  Would those Gentiles ever have heard the word of God?  Would they ever have been saved from eternal damnation?

God's plan is a good plan.  Who are we to stand in the way of God's plan?  Who are we to say "no"?

I had no intention of writing these sermons, but God did.  It was God's plan for me to do this.  Are you hearing that little voice tell you to do something?  Then DO IT!  Don't stand in the way.  It's God's plan.

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen

April 21, 2013 - What Will It Take For You

This week’s scriptures are: Acts 9:36-43, Psalms 23, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.
Some people are blind to the things right in front of them.  Some people need to have things spelled out for them, before they'll believe what they are seeing.

In today's lessons, we see a couple of examples of this.  In Acts we read about Tabitha and Peter.  Tabitha passed away and after her body was attended to it was put in a room upstairs.  The people of that town sent for Peter to come to her.  After he had prayed and told her to stand, she stood up.
People of that town needed to see a miracle before they believed in God, in Jesus.   

In the book of John, we read how the people asked Christ to stop keeping them in suspense.  They asked if He was the Messiah.  Now Christ had been there for a while.  He'd done miracles and He'd been teaching and preaching.  Yet they asked Him if He was their Messiah.

How blind are those who refuse to see?  How deaf are those who refuse to hear?  Christ is RIGHT THERE!  He's doing things that had never been done before.  He's doing everything EXCEPT verbalizing that HE is the son of God.  And so they asked.

Jesus told them that He and the Father are one.  But did thy believe?  I mean did they TRULY believe?  Even the devil knows that God exists, but that does not mean he believes in God or trusts in God.

Jesus tells us that He knows His sheep and that they know Him.  A shepherd knows his sheep by name.  He can callout to them and they will follow him.  Others can call out to the same sheep and they will not respond.  Christs sheep will follow His voice.  The KNOW Him.  They KNOW He will keep them safe.

The Shepherd will meet all of our needs.  There'll be no need to want for anything.  The Shepherd will take us to the greenest pastures and allow us to rest and revive our spirit.

Even when we're going through dark times and dark places, we can be sure that the Shepherd will be with us.  The Shepherd will keep us safe.  So there's no need to fear.  The Shepherd will protect us and comfort us.

When we are hungry, the Shepherd will feed us.  Even in the presence of our enemies, He will prepare a place for us to eat.  He will provide so much for us to eat and drink that everything will be overflowing.  The Shepherd will anoint us so that we will be His.

The Shepherd will have goodness and mercy following us for our entire lives with Him.  He will allow us to experience good things and He will have mercy on us when we stumble.  We can spend the rest of our days dwelling in the Shepherd house.  Protected, provided for and prospering in Him.

But just because the Shepherd is there for us, does not mean that we are with Him.   The Shepherd is still gathering His flock.  He has provided us with His word and His teachings in the form of The Bible.  He has provided us with an Owner's Manual and a Perfect Guide To Life.........it's called the Holy Bible.

It took many people in Joppa (or Jaffa depending on the translation you're reading) had to see Tabitha raised fromt eh dead before they would believe.

For many people it took Christ telling them point blank that He and the Father are one, before they'd believe.

All of these generations later we are here.  As you read this, I have just one question: What will it take for YOU?

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen

April 14, 2013 - Will You Answer The True Call?

This week’s scriptures are: Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Psalms 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

When the telephone rings, we usually answer it.  Sometimes we have to check caller ID, to see who it is.  What do we do when God calls?  How do we respond when the Devil calls?

Satan has spent centuries calling us and our ancestors.  He's gotten good at making humans believe the lies he's telling us.  Sometimes he calls us down roads of death and destruction.

In today's readings, Satan was calling Saul and leading him down such a road.  He had Saul convinced that he was doing good.  That's why Saul went to the High Pries to get the authorization to have Jesus' disciples arrested.

Yet on his way to Damascus, Jesus called him.  He had to ask who it was, because he didn't recognize the voice.  They weren't friends.  In fact, Saul had been doing everything he could to go against Christ and to deny Him.

Yet when He called, Saul answered.  And just like Christ spent three days in the grave, Saul ended up spending three days without sight.  He had to be lead around in darkness.  Saul had to be shown the way.

Christ called to Ananias and he answered.  Ananias knew of Saul and all that trouble he'd caused those who followed Christ.  Yet he did what Christ told him to do.  He answered the call.

So Ananias came to Saul and spoke the words that Jesus told him to speak and Saul saw the light.  He even proclaimed Christ as Lord in the town.  He answered the call.

Many times our callings are to do things that seem natural for us.  Some are called to sing, some to preach.  Some are called to evangelize, while others are simply called to be helpers.  None are more important callings than others.  You see, we're all called to do something that's for the betterment of mankind. 

No matter what we're called to do, we ARE called to love Christ and to follow in His footsteps.  Everyone of us are called to love one another.  We're called to spread the word of God.  We're called to love God with our WHOLE heart and our whole BEING.

By answering the call, everything else will fall into place.  We'll find that we are not called to do anything that is difficult.  For you see, the hardest thing we have to do is answer.  God will do the rest.

God changed the heart of Saul.  He changed the direction Saul was going in life.  All Saul had to do was answer the call.

What is it you're being called to do?  Is it to reach out to that homeless person on the corner?  Or are you being called to write that next best selling novel or song?  Maybe you're being called to mentor a child that has a bad home life.

What ever you are being called to do, answer that call!  Differentiate between God's calling and Satan's calling.  God will lead you to happiness and eternal life.  Satan will lead you to heartache and eternal damnation.

Two phones are ringing.  Two voices are calling your name.  Satan, the liar - the false call.  God the loving father - the true call.  Both want you to do something.

Who will you answer?  Will you answer the true call?

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen

My Appologies

My Apologies to those of you who have been here in the last couple of weeks, hoping to see something new.  I got away from writing partly out of frustration.  You see, I didn't see too many people viewing this site and I became frustrated by that.

I forgot that sometimes the one who needs these messages the most, is me.  I forgot that it only takes ONE life to be reached, to matter.

So, now that I am here and I've been reminded of this, I will pick up with the current week's lessons and write a sermon.  I will TRY to stay focused and to write each week.

If you came here the last couple of weeks looking for something new, please forgive me for my shortfalls.

Thank.

March 17, 2013 - What Is Your Goal In Life?

This week’s scriptures are: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalms 119:9-16, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 11:1-8

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

What is your goal in life?  I don't mean things like: a better job, earn 'x' amount of money per year or even to see your children or grandchildren get married.  I guess what I mean is, what is your goal WITH your life?

Have you even thought about it?  I think about it often.  My goal is to survive this life in such a way that is pleasing to God.  My goal is live the life that God wants me to live, so that even though I am not worthy, God may let me into heaven.  That's my goal.

In today's scripture readings, we find a short verse in Isaiah that, to me, says so much.  Especially when we add it to the reading from Philippians.  Isaiah 43:18 (from the New Jerusalem Bible) reads, "No need to remember past events, no need to think about what was done before."

Isn't that just right?  I mean, if you believe in Christ and all that He did for us, why are you dwelling on your past sins?  Did you ask God to forgive you?  Then forgive yourself and move on!

If we dwell on our past sins, even after we've asked for forgiveness, then why did Jesus suffer the pain and humiliation of death on the cross?  Why did God send Jesus to die for us?  There is NO SIN, that Jesus cannot forgive.  However, we need to forgive ourselves and go forward.  We need to not repeat our sins and move on in Jesus' love.

At the same time, it says, "...no need to think about what was done before."  So even if what we did was good in God's eyes, there's "no need to think about what was done before."  Seriously, just because we've done good things all of our lives, does not give us reason to boast.  We could very easily rely on our past good deeds, but yet mess up.

In Philippians, Paul tells us that no matter what claims to righteousness anyone has, his claims are better.  He was circumcised on the eight days after being born (as was called for in The Law).  He was not JUST a Jew, he was born into the tribe of Benjamin, and BOTH of his parents we Hebrews.  He was a Pharisee.  He was a persecutor of the Church - the followers of Christ.  He followed The Law strictly and did not waiver. 

These were all of THINGS he was counting on to get into heaven.  Then, he found Christ.  That's when all of those things became for naught.  "...no need to think about what was done before."  What good are THINGS, if we don't KNOW Christ?  What good is our lineage, if we are not following God's will?  Just because we follow The Law, does not mean that we KNOW God.

How many times in our lives have you met someone or watched someone on television that we think, "They are religious"?  Maybe you thought they were "holier than thou".  You might even have thought, "I want to have their relationship with God".

Only to find out later that all the things you've seen through them or the things you THOUGHT you knew about them were wrong.  Reality was not what they were showing you.

Or maybe what you saw WAS real.........at the time.  And then something happened to them and they changed.  Maybe they were leading the good, Godly life, only to stumble and then fall.

If they stumbled and fell, that does not mean that all is lost.  It just means they're at a crossroad in life.  Depending on how they respond, will be what matters.  If they brush themselves off, repent and move forward in God, all is well.  If they don't do that, then all of the good things they did in the past is for naught.

God has a short memory when it comes to our sins, if we honestly and wholeheartedly repent.  At the same time, God has a short memory when it comes to our good deeds.

We can live a Godly life from birth to fifty, and then lead a sin filled life from fifty to death.  God will only remember our sins when it comes time to determine where we will spend eternity.  "...no need to think about what was done before."

Paul continued in Philippians, "...striving towards the goal of resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have secured it already, nor yet reached my goal...I am racing towards the finish-point to win the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus."

That's my goal.  I want to reach that finish line and have God call me into heaven.  I want to be one of those that God looks down on and says, "well done my good and faithful servant".  I want God to stretch out His arms and welcome me into heaven.

THAT, is my goal in life.  That's my goal WITH my life.  What is your goal in life?

 

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

March 10, 2013 - REJOICE!

This week’s scriptures are: Joshua 5: 9-12, Psalms 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

REJOICE!  ALL who believe in Christ, REJOICE!  For today you are children of God and all that He has to offer is YOURS!  REJOICE!  Rejoice and be glad in Him, who sent His son to die for your sin.

All of today's scripture readings address forgiveness.  In 2 Corinthians, we are encouraged to return to God and be forgiven.  In Joshua God says He has taken away the shame of Egypt (where the Israelites were slaves because of their offenses against God).  In Luke, we are reminded that even though we have strayed, God is longing to celebrate our return to Him.  In Psalms we read about how blessed are those whose offence is forgiven,whose sin is blotted out.   

Let's take them in that order.......

Everyone of us is a sinner.  We have sinned in one way or another.  It's our nature, but it's not the way that God wants us to be.  God wants us to lead the life that He has taught us in the Bible.  To be holy and obedient to Him.  Anything else, is sinful.

Throughout history, God has set examples of what He expects from us.  What it is He wants for us and from us.  Love God, first and foremost.  Follow His words and obey Him.  By doing those things, everything else will fall into place. 

By loving God, we will love others.  By obeying God we will not fall into sin.  Simple.  The problem is there's a devil out there that does not want us to listen to God.  That devil tempts us with things that may SEEM good, but actually are harmful.

When people talk about breaking one of the "Big Ten", they usually talk about adultery.  So, let's not follow along with everyone else.  Instead, let's look at honor your mother and your father.

How often do we not honor our mother or our father?  How often do we do things that THEY disapprove of?  Now, if our mother and father are not believers, doing what they say may lead us away from God. 

However, by following God's word, we can still honor our parents by leading a Godly life.  This will set an example for our parents and pray for their souls.  Hopefully, they will come to God and be forgiven.

On the other hand, if our parents ARE believers and we disobey them, we can end up in jail, with diseases or any other problems that could have been prevented.  By honoring our parents, we honor God. 

So no matter what type of sin we continue in, we need to return to God.  We need to honestly repent and we need to move forward in a Godly life.  We need to follow the example of Christ and love God and love our fellow man.  Everything else will fall into place.

Now once we return to God, He will remove our shame (Joshua 5:9).  He'll take away the shame of being a slave to the devil. 

The Israelites kept disobeying God and the only thing that seemed to get their attention, was to allow them to become slaves.  So, that's exactly what God did.  He allowed them to be slaves.

Once they repented, God took them up out of Egypt.  He lead them to the "Promised Land".  However, it was a long journey, because there were some who still continued to moan and complain and sin.

Even in their sin, God continued to meet their needs.  He provided for them, when no one else could.  As they wandered in the desert, God fed them.  They had manna every day as they wandered.  No one went hungry.  Only God could do that.

When they were obedient to God, and in God's time, He took them into the Promised Land and fed them the produce of that land.  THEN, God took away the shame of having been slaves.

So it is with us.  Once we repent and return to God, we may go through our time of "wandering the desert" (following God all the way), but when it is God's time, we will be free of the shame we feel for our sins.  We will be released into the joyfulness of God's love.

Once we have repented and returned to God, it is a time to celebrate!  God loves us so much, that He sent Christ to die for our sins.  Now Christ has returned to heaven and is to be celebrated. 

When we are in sin, we are dead to God.  Once we return from sin, we return to God as Christ did after His resurrection.  That's a great thing!  The old has passed away and a new US is living WITH God.  We then live IN God.  And God celebrates our return from sin.

So in the end, we are forgiven and our sins are blotted out!  We are blessed by God by His forgiveness. We are blessed by God with His love.  Our guilt and our sins are taken away.

What is better than God's love for us?  What is better than being ABLE to return to God?  What is better than to be able to celebrate our return to God?  What is better than to be able to BLESSED by God?  Nothing.

So today, I encourage you to return to God.  I encourage you to allow God to take away the shame of sin.  I encourage you to allow God to celebrate your return to Him.  I encourage you to be BLESSED, because your sins are forgiven by God.  Today I say REJOICE!

Return to God.  Lose the shame.  Celebrate your return.  Be blessed.  REJOICE!  ALL who believe in Christ, REJOICE!

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

March 3, 2013 - Do You Need the Instructions?

This week’s scriptures are: Isaiah 55: 1-9, Psalms 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Have you ever noticed how simple things can look, only to find out that's not the case?  You get the box home, take out all of the pieces  and think, "I can DO this!  I don't need those instructions to put this together." 

You get started and everything is going GREAT!  And then you find one piece that doesn't seem to have a home.  Or it's SEEMS finished only it looks...........funny.  NOT exactly what the box promised.  You go ahead and set it in place, only to have it fall apart or worse, break so bad it's beyond repair.

If only you'd taken time to pay attention to those instructions.  Of course, the instructions are there for a reason.  The manufacturer wants you to USE the instructions and avoid problems.

Centuries ago the children of Israel wondered the desert and the wilderness.  All of their needs were provided to them by God.  Were they satisfied?  Were they content?  NO!

They had everything they NEEDED, but not everything they WANTED.  They complained to God.  They engaged in sexual immorality.  They tried to test God. 

Earlier they were told what was pleasing in God's eyes.  They knew what was not.  They knew right from wrong. 

They had examples of what happens when you go against God.  They knew about Sodom and Gomorrah, but they still insisted in engaging in sexual perversions. 

God did not tolerate this.  A written record was created to instruct future generations that God will provide for your NEEDS.  The record is there to instruct future generations on what happens when you test God.  To instruct on what happens when you complain about God.

If you want to do ANYTHING, you can find instructions on how to complete that task.  I was trying to find out how to contact a retired baseball player.  All I had to do, was go to the internet and search.  BOOM!  There's instructions on how to write to him.

If you want to know how to build something, use something, go some place, or just do anything.  It's simple to look it up on the internet.

The problem is do we follow the instructions that are right there?  Or do we decide it's too simple and we don't need the instructions provided for us?

If you are a young man, do you want to know how to be a good father?  Look in the Bible.  It's the best instructional manual you'll ever find.

If you're a young woman, do you want to know how to be a good wife?  Read your Bible.  It's the best instructional manual you'll find.

Do you want to know how to treat your spouse?  Read your Bible, it's in there.  How to treat your children, your parents, the stranger on the street?  It's in your Bible.

The problem is we have instructions and yet we ignore them.  How simple would our lives be if we just studied our Bibles and HONESTLY tried to live by the instructions provided for us?  If we learned our lessons not from PERSONAL experience, but from the failings of those who went ahead of us, would our lives be better?

The Bible is full of examples for us to follow or to learn from.  People who have failed and people who have lived successfully.  The Bible instructs us to avoid certain things, behaviors, that are bad in God's eyes.

Still we go blindly into situations and then cry out and complain that God allowed us to do that.  We're not robots.  We have free will to do things and to live as we see fit.  

God provided us with an instruction manual to help us live a successful life according to His ways.  It's up to us to follow the instructions and have everything fit, look and be right.  Or we can go about our way without following the instructions provided and HOPE that things work out.

I'm not sure about you, but I NEED instructions in my life.  Sometimes I need to following the instructions more closely.  However, in everything I do, I need instructions from God.

What about you?  Do you need the instructions God provided for us? 

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

February 24, 2013 - Who do you imitate?

This week’s scriptures are: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18, Psalms 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35 Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

I am only human and yet, I am tired of seeing people who claim to be Christian act like everybody else.  I am tired of seeing people who speak words that make them sound "holier than thou" and then I watch them turn around and their ACTIONS look like the rest of the world's.

Years ago Jim and Tammy Baker had a popular tv show.  The raised MILLIONS of dollars "for God".  Of course, a lot of it ended up in their bank account. 

During their reign on tv they condemned a lot of actions and people.  They talked about God and His glorious ways.  They told people to imitate them (Jim and Tammy), because they were such "God fearing people" and they lived such "Holy lives".

Unfortunately many people believed them.  Many people sent money they couldn't afford to send.  Only to find out that Jim and Tammy were not who they said they were.  Jim was having an affair and they both were spending money that was supposed to be going to do "God's work".

Let's bring this a little closer to today.  You have pastor's in pulpits encouraging people to do bodily harm to others.  Their justification is the fact that those who they wish harm upon have a different skin color than theirs.  Sadly, we have people in this country who sit in the pew week after week, and listen to this hatred. 

We have people who were elected to political office because of their "religious beliefs".  They claimed to be Christians, yet once they get to Washington the evil comes out.  For that matter, some of them never get to Washington.  Some of these people were elected to office here, in El Paso, Texas.  Now, they face prison time because they were imitating Satan and not Christ.

In today's reading from Philippians, we are told to follow the example set for us.  To stand firm in the Lord.  It is my belief, that if we read and study the word of God we will walk in the way of the Lord.  It is my belief that we are not to imitating the people around us, but imitating Christ.

The Bible tells us what is right and what is wrong.  Does the Bible tell us that what was right in Christ's time is now wrong?  How can something that WAS right, now be wrong?  Has God changed?  Has right and wrong switched places?  I don't think so.

Humans keep finding ways to give in to the Devil.  To encourage others to follow along.  Look back ten to fifteen years ago.  How many people were living a homosexual life style back then?  Let's go back even further.  How about going back to the 1960's?  How many people were pushing "Pro Choice"?

Is it RIGHT to live a homosexual life style?  Is it RIGHT to kill an unborn baby?  Is it RIGHT to steal?  Is it RIGHT to cheat?  Is it RIGHT to have sex outside of marriage?  Is it RIGHT to do something, just because "everyone else is"?

When it's our turn to stand before the throne of God and explain how we lived, will God except your answer of, "I was just doing what everyone else was doing"?  I don't think so.  Will God accept your answer that is was only wrong centuries ago, but in today's "enlightened world", it's ok?  I don't think so.  Will God accept your answer that "you're not hurting anyone but yourself"?  I don't think so.  What about your answer of, "it's nobody's business what goes on behind closed doors, between two consenting people"?  Believe it or not, God's behind that closed door, too.

Me, I want to imitate Christ.  I'm not saying I'm perfect.  I'm not saying I CAN be like Christ.  I'm just saying that is my goal in life, to be LIKE Christ.  That when others see me, they SEE Christ.

Who do YOU want others to see when they see you?  Do you want them to see the world and what has become the accepted things?  Or do you want the world to see Christ and what GOD has accepted?

I'm trying to imitate Christ.  Who do you imitate?

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

February 17, 2013 - Don't Tempt Me

This week’s scriptures are: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalms 91:1-2, 9-16, Romans 10:8-13, Luke 4:1-13

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Have you ever been tempted?  I mean REALLY tempted?  I’m not talking about seeing a piece of chocolate that looked good to you at the time you’re on a diet.  I’m talking about maybe being deep in debt and someone offers you a large sum of money to do something you wouldn’t normally do because you know it’s wrong, type of temptation.

In today’s reading Jesus was being tempted by Satan.  We’ve all read this scripture before.  We know the “Man shall not eat bread alone” and “Don’t tempt the Lord your God”.  But do we REALLY know what it’s like to be tempted?

Can we put ourselves in Jesus’ shoes and say that we would have done the right thing?  Would we have turned that stone into some type of food?  Or maybe we’d have jumped off of the temple, just to shut that Devil up.

I remember being an assistant manager at a video store.  I had hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in cash that I would have to count.  To me, it was just paper.  It didn’t matter.  But to another person, it was something that they wanted to have for themselves.

You hear all the time about people accepting bribes.  Why, because they were tempted and gave in to that temptation.

There are little temptations everywhere.  In our everyday lives we are often tempted.  The question becomes how do we handle those temptations.

When you’re driving down that long, lonely road and the speed limit is posted at 55, do you do 60?  65?  You don’t see any cars for miles and miles and you just want to “get there”.  What do you do?

When you walk out of the store behind someone and you see them drop a quarter or some other amount of money, what do you do?  I’m not talking about just finding money on the ground with no one around.  I’m talking about you SAW IT FALL.  What do you do?  Do you stop them and give them their money?  Do you just quietly put that in your pocket?  That’s temptation.

I think a lot of our responses to temptation has to do with our relationship with God.  I think the closer we are to God, the better we handle that temptation. 

Think about the person who robs the bank.  Do you think that person is down on their knees praying about their financial issues or anything else for that matter?  What would have happened had they prayed about their lot in life?  Would things have improved?  Maybe.  Would things have seemed so bleak?  Maybe not.

What about the stripper?  Do you think he or she is doing that because they like to be naked in front of people?  Or are they doing it because they see that as their only means to make some quick money?  Was that their childhood dream?  To grow up and get naked in front of strangers?  Or did they find themselves in a situation and someone came along and took advantage of that.  Satan used someone to TEMPT that person with “easy money”.  A way out of whatever situation they’re in.

The problem is once you give in to temptation that first time, then it becomes easier and easier to give in the next time.  A few miles over the speed limit this time can lead to a few more miles over the speed limit next time.  The next thing you know, you’re driving as if you were trying to win the Daytona 500. 

We see no harm in giving in, as long as “no one gets hurt” or “I didn’t get caught”.  But did you REALLY get away with it?  God is everywhere.  He sees everything and knows everything.  God has a way of reminding us about what we’ve done wrong.

The person who agrees to smuggle money or drugs across an international border and no one stops them, did someone get hurt?  Not directly.  All they did was take a walk.  But those drugs or that drug money could lead to the death of someone.

Christ had an opportunity to create food from a rock!  This after going 40 days without food.  Sorry, I think I would have made an entire meal out of that rock.  But not Christ.

Jesus was perfect.  He was close to God, because He WAS God.  The closer our relationship with God, the easier it is to avoid temptation.  Take that temptation away from me.  I am but a human.  All I can do about temptations is to pray and walk away.  So don’t tempt me, I may be weak.

Spending more and more time with God will not remove all temptation from our lives.  However, it MIGHT just make it easier to turn and run the other direction when temptation shows it’s ugly head.

Pray every day.  Spend a little time alone with God.  Spend time in His word.  Get to KNOW God.  He all ready knows you, He’s just waiting for you to know Him.

Try this the next time you are tempted to do something (that is not legally or morally right), stop everything.  Without hesitation, pray about it.  Say, “God, I’m in a situation where I want to do something that I know I should not do.  Please take this temptation away from me and use this situation to bring me closer to you, Lord.  Amen.”

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.

February 13, 2013 - Create In Me Reconcilliation

This week’s scriptures are: Joel 2:1-18, Psalms 51:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10, Matthew 6:1-6,18-21

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Today is Ash Wednesday.  I know this message is being posted late in the day, but please bear with me.  You see, I was at work today when I remembered the importance of today.  I gave thoughts to just skipping this message, but I read the scriptures and knew that I must write.

Two portions of today's scriptures stand out to me.  The first one is 2 Corinthians 5:20.  From the New Jerusalem Bible: "So we are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were urging you through us, and in the name of Christ we appeal to you to be reconciled to God."

"In the name of Christ we urge you to be reconciled to God." 

The other one that stands out to me is Psalm 51:10-12.  From the New Revised Standard Version: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit."

In the name of Christ we urge you to be reconciled to God......Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit...........

As we travel through life, there are times of darkness.  We're in a dark mood.  No matter what we do, we just cannot shake the dark.  Sometimes we blame it on others.  We may blame it on the situations we find ourselves in.

Maybe we should look closely at our relationship with God during those times.  Maybe, just maybe, we've pulled away from God.  Maybe we've strayed and don't realize it.

Maybe we just need to be reconciled to God.

Have you ever noticed that when we are right with God it doesn't matter what bad things happen?  We could lose our homes or a close family member and we can still praise God.  Life may be sad, but it's not DARK.

But then go through even the slightest troubles when we're not right with God and it seems as if all of the light in the world couldn't lighten our day.  We may be going through something as simple as not getting a payment in the mail in the morning.  It still got mailed that same day, just not when we wanted it.  The bills not late, the power is still going to be on tomorrow. 

And yet, there is darkness in our heart.  No light in sight.  Reconcile to God......

For years one of my favorite tunes during church service was when we sang, "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me...."  It was a simple melody, but the words were powerful.

Today when I read Psalm 51 and read these words, I knew that I had to write. 

How can we be reconciled, if we don't have a clean heart?  How we be reconciled without a right spirit?  How can we be reconciled without a willing spirit?

If our heart is not clean, we will continue in our ways of sin.  If we don't have a right spirit, we will continue in our ways of darkness.  If we don't have a willing spirit, we will continue to struggle with our relationship with God.

Restore to me the JOY OF YOUR SALVATION.  WOW!  Remember the first time you realized that you do not need to fear Hell?  You knew that God was your father and He was going to keep you safe?  What joy!

You almost felt like you could take on the world and Satan himself!  Of course, God was behind that excitement.  God's salvation brought that joy to us.

If we're excited about our salvation, how can we possibly go through dark time?  How can we struggle with earthly things?

We need to reconcile with God.  Be excited about our salvation.  Have a clean heart and a right and willing spirit.

So create in us clean hearts, O God, and put a new and right spirit within us.  Do not cast us away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from us.  Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and sustain in us a willing spirit.  Lord bring us reconciliation with you.  Help us to walk with you the rest of our days.

Amen, Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen, Amen.

February 10, 2013 - Oh, To Have Faith

This week’s scriptures are: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalms 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-43

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Oh, to have faith.  I don't mean "lip service" faith.  I mean FAITH!  The kind of faith that can move mountains.  That can heal the sick.  Make the blind see and the cripple walk.

But faith like that brings responsibility.  I mean if I had the faith that could move a mountain, I'd probably play tricks on people.  As some poor hiker is about to start on his long journey up, ready to take that first step.......WHAM!  Mountain, MOVE!  Oops.  Sorry.  (As he or she goes sprawling to the ground).

As the news crew tries to report on the mountain moving from place to place all day..........I'd stop.  Have a quick laugh and wait for them to leave.  Then start all over again.  It's over here!  No wait, it's over there!  OOPS!  Here comes the news people again, time to stop.

In today's reading, a father is distraught.  He brings his son to Jesus and asks him to heal his son.  He says he asked the disciples, but they couldn't do it.  For this, they are rebuked by Jesus.  How little faith they had.  Jesus calls them "faithless".

I don't want to be "faithless".  I want to be "faithful"

You see, if we are faithful, we CAN do great things.......through Christ.  If we are faithful, we will live the life that we were meant to live.

I'm not saying our lives will be easy, just better.  Think about it.  A person who we think is faithless may seem to have everything in life we want.  They may have more money, a nicer house or car.  Maybe even a job that we'd like to have.  But are they TRULY better off?

How many times have we read in the paper or seen on the news how someone who seemed to "have it all", did something stupid.  They get caught doing drugs or drinking and driving or they kill someone (or even themselves.  Why?  Because their lack of faith left them empty. 

If they had only had the faith of a child, how wonderful would their lives have been?  How happy would they have been.

How many times have you seen an unhappy child?  I'm not talking about a child who's upset because they got caught doing something they shouldn't done.  I'm talking about a child who NEVER seems to be happy.  A child who never smiles.  Never laughs.  A TRULY unhappy child.

I've seen children living in squalor, laughing.  Why, because they have FAITH that things will be ok.  They have FAITH that maybe not today, but tomorrow, they will have everything they need.  NOT what they want, but what they NEED.

The faith of child is a pure faith.  The faith of a child will heal scars that run deeper than the eye can see.

If everyone of us had the faith of a child, there WOULD be peace on earth.  There WOULD be no more wars.  There WOULD be enough for everyone to eat.  There WOULD be no more disasters.

Imagine having the faith to be able to stop a storm in its tracks.  NO more hurricanes.  No more tornadoes. 

Imagine having the faith to heal the lame.  Hospitals would be empty.  Doctors would be out of business. 

If only I had the faith that Jesus wants us to have............I'd stop the crime.  I'd heal the sick.  I'd help the lonely.  I'd never be done, but I'd be doing the work of Jesus, so it wouldn't matter.

Oh, to have FAITH.  I could have healed that child had I been there and had the faith. 

I KNOW that God so loved the world, that He sent Jesus.  I KNOW that Christ died on the cross to pay the debt He dis not owe.  I KNOW that Jesus rose from the dead.  BUT it's my lack of FAITH, the prevents me from doing the things that I ought to do.  Oh, to have FAITH.

This week, let's all work on our faith.  Let's try to go from faith to FAITH.  The big faith that let's us move mountains, even if they're only the mountains of some one's loneliness.  Have the FAITH to be a friend to someone who needs a friend.  Have the FAITH to live the life that God wants.  That alone could be a mountain being moved.

Oh, to have faith.........

Amen, Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen, Amen.

February 3, 2013 - Turn to God

This week’s scriptures are: Jeremiah 1:4-19, Psalms 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Last night as I was drifting off to sleep I kept thinking of George.  He was a wonderful man.  A holy man.  I don't mean a "religious man" or a minister or anything like that.  He was a HOLY man.

This man, during my lifetime, was a holy man.  He was WHOLLY committed to God.  He was WHOLLY committed to his wife, Lillian.  He was WHOLLY committed to being an example of what a HOLY man looked like.  How a HOLY man acted.  How a HOLY man lived.  Not just on Sundays, but EVERY day.

You see, when I was in the second grade, I had the privilege of living next door to George and Lillian.  I went to school in the school district where George was the Head Custodian.  So I saw him when he was at home and at work.  I saw him when he didn't know I was watching him.  I have fond memories of watching him read the Word of God.

He kept a Bible in the stand, next to his chair.  Some times he'd be watching TV and suddenly just reach in the drawer and pull out his Bible and start reading.  Sometimes it seemed that maybe he "planned" to read.  Often, it was just a spur of the moment type of thing.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I remembered George tell me more than once, "turn to God."  That phrase, "Turn to God", kept playing over and over in my head.  I thought I knew why the phrase was playing over and over, but I wasn't sure.

This one simple phrase, "Turn to God", was the basis for the life that George lived.  So how was this going to matter to me today?  Why am I bringing this up this morning?  As I was preparing to write this sermon, I wasn't sure.  Then I read the scriptures for today.

When I read the selection from Jeremiah, I thought, WOW, before I was even conceived in the womb, God knew me.  How comforting is that!!  I mean, if we're down, lonely, going through troubles or just having a GREAT day, how comforting is it that GOD knew us from before we were in the womb?  He knew where we'd be and what we'd be doing RIGHT NOW!!!  Amazing.

And then I read from Psalms.  "In you, O Lord, I take refuge...".  How comforting.  God knew us before we were in the womb.  Where ELSE should we take refuge?  Where ELSE can we find comfort in times of trouble?  Where ELSE can we find hope or trust?  Where else can we turn?

In Luke we read that Christ was not accepted in His "hometown".  Where ever He travelled, He did wonderful things and everyone was amazed.  Yet in Nazareth, where "He was brought up", they just turned on Him.

How could Joseph's son be able to do anything?  He's just a carpenter's son.  He's not a priest or a priest's son.  Yet He's supposed to be able to do all of these miraculous things?  How silly.

And God knew this would happen, before any of them were in the womb.  And Christ was able to take refuge in His father.  And so can we.

You see, no matter how tough things get or how great things are, we can always Turn to God.  Take refuge in Him.  Let Him be our rock.

Today, more than most days, I miss George and Lillian Penley, my grandparents.  But God knew this before I was in the womb.  God is my refuge in my times of sorrow and despair.  He is my rock and anchor in good times and bad.

Today, like every day, is a good day to Turn to God.  No matter the situation, Turn to God.  He knew us and our situation before time.

So this week, and every week, Turn to God.  You see, God knew us before we were in the womb and even knowing the bad things we'd do or go through, He still loves us.  So Turn to God.  It just might be what you're looking for.

See, Poppa, I WAS paying attention all those years ago. 

Amen, Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen, Amen.

January 27, 2013 - A Part of the Body of Christ

This week’s scriptures are: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6,8-10, Psalms 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Luke 4:14-21

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

There is a joke that I am sure most of you have heard.  The joke tells of the different body parts talking about which one is in charge.  We know how that went……………….sometimes in life, it really seems that the biggest pains in the butts are the ones “in charge”.  Reality is that person is only “in-charge” by the grace of God.

Sometimes we go to our Churches and the members who are rude, difficult to get along with or just so “sugary sweet" that it makes you want to vomit, are the same ones appointed to leadership positions.  How can this be?

In today’s readings, I found something about each one that made me want to write about it.  However, what sticks out most to me are the readings from 1 Corinthians and Nehemiah.

You see, I’ve gone to Church most of my life.  I’ve read these same scripture verses many times.  However, I don’t remember reading them on the same day.

When read back to back like this, it spoke to me.  You see, with a father in the military, we moved around.  In my childhood, we lived in Texas, New York, back to Texas, two places in Michigan, in Illinois while my Dad went to Korea, on to California and then back to Texas.  All of this was by Christmas break my third grade year.

Even while living in El Paso (the last time), we ended up at different Churches.  A Lutheran Church, a Presbyterian Church, a military Chapel………………………well, you get the hint.  Add to that I’d often go to Church with my Baptist and Catholic friends and family.  I was exposed to a lot of different ways to worship.

When I would read these scriptures before, I always thought of “body” being the Congregation at that one Church.  The parts of that body being the members of the Congregation.  Each member is important to get the work of the “body” done.

You know, I KNEW that each believer was a part of the body of Christ.  However, it wasn’t until today that I realized that each CHURCH CONGREGATION is a part of the body of Christ.

Think about it this way.  If we only had one body part, which one would it be?  Would it be the head?  Just one giant head floating around?  Or maybe it’d be the foot.  One giant foot, just………….there! 

How would that body part get anything done?  Would it be “worth” anything?

God is GREAT!  God is ALL knowing!  That is why He created us and not the other way around.  He did such a good job, that no two of us are EXACTLY alike.  Oh, we all have things in common.  We have our similarities.

Each of us has a head.  Each of us has a brain.  We each have a heart.  We all have eyes, ears, mouths and on and on.  And yet we’re all different in some way.

So it is with the body of Christ.  Each denomination is unique.  There’s similarities between the denominations, but they’re not the same.  They all believe in and worship God.  They all believe in and worship Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  But each one worships a little different.  Each one believes a little different.  Still one God the Father.  Still one Christ.  Still “Christians”.  Just different.

Break it down further.  Each congregation within a denomination has similarities, but each one is different.  They may all believe the same things about God, but not worship EXACTLY alike.  They may not have the same congregational structure.  Still one denomination.

Have you ever noticed that some denominations are very quiet and reverent during services?  Some are loud and joyous during services.  Some raise their hands in praise?  Some sit stoic throughout their service.  Some congregations do little more than sing throughout their services, while others don’t sing a single hymn.

Nehemiah 8:6 says: “Then Ezra Blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting their hands.”

 What’s so foreign to some of us, has been happening in worship services for thousands of years. 

At today’s conservative congregations, this practice would be frowned upon.  However, that congregation, that worship style, is meeting the needs of individuals within the body of Christ.

Go to a Baptist Church, a Pentecostal Church, a lot of “Non-Denominational” Churches and try to sit quietly.  You quickly feel uncomfortable just sitting there.  By the end of the service you’ll probably have one or more people ask if everything is ok or can they pray for you.

So, today I realized that not just each of us within a congregation are members of the body of Christ, I realized that each congregation, each denomination is a part of the body of Christ with a very specific purpose/job.

Each denomination has its own purpose, meeting the spiritual needs of different congregations.  Each congregation within a denomination has its own purpose, meeting the needs of different people within the individual congregations.  Each individual has their own purpose, meeting God and fulfilling His will.

Thank God that we ARE all different.  What a boring world this would be otherwise.

So this week, and every week, stand when you hear the word of God.  Say “Amen, Amen” at the end of the reading of the word.  Lift your hands when you praise Him.  Or not.  Either way, praise God for WHO you are, for WHERE you are, for what YOU can do for the body of Christ and for loving each of us enough that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for us.  Praise God for the sunshine.  Praise Him for the rain.  Praise Him for everything.  For without God, the world would be a void that none of us would be able to imagine or survive.

I praise God for each of you reading this.  I praise God for the life I’ve lived and am still living.  I praise God for the bumps in the road.  I praise Him for the good people and the good times.

Standing if we’re able, hands held high or down at our sides, may we all praise Him throughout this week.  May we all remember that through all of our differences in the way we believe and worship, we are ALL a part of the body of Christ and may we rejoice in that knowledge.

Amen, Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen, Amen.