Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What a list! I am sure we can all make a list of people we know who have experienced the love of God in their lives. Whether it was being able to return home, or some other blessing from God, we all know the good things God does in our lives. It would be helpful to make a list, an actual list of the blessings you have received from God. I encourage you to do that. Sometimes it is easy to lose track of all God has done for us. In making a list of the things God has done for us in our lives we will be more aware of what God is doing, and we will be more thankful for what God is doing. Look over the past week and make a list of the blessings you have received from God and make sure you thank him for each and every one of them. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Praise and Winterfest
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please join us tomorrow (January 31, 2009) for Praise and Winterfest. We will begin the worship service at 6:00 p.m. Music will be led by John McCarty and Dan Lutes. Holy Communion will be celebrated during this time as well. After the worship service we will be sled-riding, and we will also be having hot-chocolate and other treats. Please join us for this very special worship experience. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Please join us tomorrow (January 31, 2009) for Praise and Winterfest. We will begin the worship service at 6:00 p.m. Music will be led by John McCarty and Dan Lutes. Holy Communion will be celebrated during this time as well. After the worship service we will be sled-riding, and we will also be having hot-chocolate and other treats. Please join us for this very special worship experience. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Ezra 7: 11-28; King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ezra does not take credit for a blessing. He knows it is God who changed the hearts of all the kings, so that they would allow Israel to rebuild the Temple. Ezra gives God the praise and glory for the blessings that come in his own life and in the life of Israel. God is in control of all things. The blessings we receive are from God, not our own hands. We do not make our lives better, God does. We are not blessings to ourselves, God is the blessing. We should take a page out of Ezra's book and recognize that God is in control of everything, that God is responsible for every blessing. Sometimes it feels like we can take credit for the blessings in our lives, but those blessings come from God. Let us give credit where credit is due. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Ezra does not take credit for a blessing. He knows it is God who changed the hearts of all the kings, so that they would allow Israel to rebuild the Temple. Ezra gives God the praise and glory for the blessings that come in his own life and in the life of Israel. God is in control of all things. The blessings we receive are from God, not our own hands. We do not make our lives better, God does. We are not blessings to ourselves, God is the blessing. We should take a page out of Ezra's book and recognize that God is in control of everything, that God is responsible for every blessing. Sometimes it feels like we can take credit for the blessings in our lives, but those blessings come from God. Let us give credit where credit is due. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Ezra 7: 1-10; Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." Ezra had a relationship with God because he did what the Lord wanted. He followed God's lead, he studied God's word, he listened for God's voice. There is a lesson in that for us. We all need to do a better job of studying the Word of the Lord, and serving God. In so doing we strengthen our relationship with God. And in doing that our lives are filled with peace and joy. Let us be more faithful in our relationship with God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"The gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." Ezra had a relationship with God because he did what the Lord wanted. He followed God's lead, he studied God's word, he listened for God's voice. There is a lesson in that for us. We all need to do a better job of studying the Word of the Lord, and serving God. In so doing we strengthen our relationship with God. And in doing that our lives are filled with peace and joy. Let us be more faithful in our relationship with God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ezra 6: 19-22; The Passover
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Israelites celebrate for seven days. Their joy in the Lord is so great that they celebrate for a whole week. What kind of joy that must have been. What would our lives look like if we celebrated God for a whole week? What would our lives look like if we worshiped God for seven consecutive days? I believe our hearts would be overflowing with the love and peace of God. Maybe we cannot actually worship for seven days straight. But we can worship stronger in the time we are here in God's house. We can take that hour on Sunday morning and turn it into seven days by praying more fervently, singing louder, listening better. Let us hope that our hearts are filled with the love and peace of God as though we had worshiped for seven days. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Israelites celebrate for seven days. Their joy in the Lord is so great that they celebrate for a whole week. What kind of joy that must have been. What would our lives look like if we celebrated God for a whole week? What would our lives look like if we worshiped God for seven consecutive days? I believe our hearts would be overflowing with the love and peace of God. Maybe we cannot actually worship for seven days straight. But we can worship stronger in the time we are here in God's house. We can take that hour on Sunday morning and turn it into seven days by praying more fervently, singing louder, listening better. Let us hope that our hearts are filled with the love and peace of God as though we had worshiped for seven days. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Praise and Winterfest
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please join us this coming Saturday(January 31, 2009) for Praise and Winterfest. We will begin the worship service at 6:00 p.m. Music will be led by John McCarty and Dan Lutes. Holy Communion will be celebrated during this time as well. After the worship service we will be sled-riding, and we will also be having hot-chocolate and other treats. Please join us for this very special worship experience. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Please join us this coming Saturday(January 31, 2009) for Praise and Winterfest. We will begin the worship service at 6:00 p.m. Music will be led by John McCarty and Dan Lutes. Holy Communion will be celebrated during this time as well. After the worship service we will be sled-riding, and we will also be having hot-chocolate and other treats. Please join us for this very special worship experience. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Ezra 6: 13-18; Completion and Dedication of the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy." The Israelites could have taken this opportunity to praise their own greatness. God gave them the opportunity to rebuild the Temple, but they are the ones who actually got the job done. They could have taken this time to celebrate themselves. But they know God is responsible for this blessing. The Israelites know that all good things come from God, and when good things come it is right to give God thanks and praise. When we receive blessings, and we have all received many blessings, we need to celebrate with joy; we need to praise God for all the blessings he has given to us. Remember the source of our blessings and praise Him for them. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy." The Israelites could have taken this opportunity to praise their own greatness. God gave them the opportunity to rebuild the Temple, but they are the ones who actually got the job done. They could have taken this time to celebrate themselves. But they know God is responsible for this blessing. The Israelites know that all good things come from God, and when good things come it is right to give God thanks and praise. When we receive blessings, and we have all received many blessings, we need to celebrate with joy; we need to praise God for all the blessings he has given to us. Remember the source of our blessings and praise Him for them. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, January 26, 2009
Ezra 6: 1-12; The Decree of Darius
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
God uses people to bring about his will on earth. God uses Cyrus to restore the people to the Promised Land, and he uses Darius to make sure the Temple is rebuilt. Throughout the entire Bible we can find example after example of God using people to bring about his will. Our ears need to be opened for the voice of God. God wants to use us as well. He wants to enlist us in his service that we might work for him and continue the ministry of Jesus. Just as God used Cyrus and Darius, just as God used the prophets he wants to use us as well. We need to pay attention so we can know what God wants to use us for. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
God uses people to bring about his will on earth. God uses Cyrus to restore the people to the Promised Land, and he uses Darius to make sure the Temple is rebuilt. Throughout the entire Bible we can find example after example of God using people to bring about his will. Our ears need to be opened for the voice of God. God wants to use us as well. He wants to enlist us in his service that we might work for him and continue the ministry of Jesus. Just as God used Cyrus and Darius, just as God used the prophets he wants to use us as well. We need to pay attention so we can know what God wants to use us for. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Ezra 5: 1-17; Tattenai's Letter to Darius
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel faces opposition, but they are not alone. They have with them not only the prophets of God, but God himself. God calls Israel to rebuild the Temple, but he does not abandon them after that. God is with the Israelites as they rebuild the Temple and as they face opposition and persecution. God is with us as well. When God calls us to do something he does not make the call and then leave us. God makes the call and then stays with us as we do what he has called us to do. As we face opposition and persecution we have God with us, giving us strength and guidance. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Israel faces opposition, but they are not alone. They have with them not only the prophets of God, but God himself. God calls Israel to rebuild the Temple, but he does not abandon them after that. God is with the Israelites as they rebuild the Temple and as they face opposition and persecution. God is with us as well. When God calls us to do something he does not make the call and then leave us. God makes the call and then stays with us as we do what he has called us to do. As we face opposition and persecution we have God with us, giving us strength and guidance. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Ezra 4: 6-24; Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It sounds like not everyone is very happy about Israel rebuilding the Temple. But that does not stop Israel from actually going through with it. Even though Israel faces opposition, and in some cases persecution, they rebuild the Temple because that is what God is calling them to do. No matter the consequences they are going through with this act of faith. We need to be just as strong in our faith. As Christians we are called to do certain things that the rest of the world may not like, but that should not stop us from doing them. We should do everything God calls us to do no matter what consequences we may face. Be strong in the Lord. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
It sounds like not everyone is very happy about Israel rebuilding the Temple. But that does not stop Israel from actually going through with it. Even though Israel faces opposition, and in some cases persecution, they rebuild the Temple because that is what God is calling them to do. No matter the consequences they are going through with this act of faith. We need to be just as strong in our faith. As Christians we are called to do certain things that the rest of the world may not like, but that should not stop us from doing them. We should do everything God calls us to do no matter what consequences we may face. Be strong in the Lord. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 23, 2009
Ezra 4: 1-5; Opposition to the Rebuilding
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I do not think this falls into the category of loving one's neighbors. Jesus tells us one of the greatest commandments is to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is not always easy. We all come from different walks of life. We all look a little different, sound a little different, believe a little different. But we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. All of us have been saved by the blood of the lamb. This does not mean we will always get along perfectly with people. But it does mean that we are supposed to love one another unconditionally and show that love to one another. God is love, we are supposed to be as well. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I do not think this falls into the category of loving one's neighbors. Jesus tells us one of the greatest commandments is to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is not always easy. We all come from different walks of life. We all look a little different, sound a little different, believe a little different. But we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. All of us have been saved by the blood of the lamb. This does not mean we will always get along perfectly with people. But it does mean that we are supposed to love one another unconditionally and show that love to one another. God is love, we are supposed to be as well. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 25, 2009
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Mark 1: 14-20, in which Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God and calls the first of his disciples. The sermon is titled 'Blue Collar Faith,' and will focus on the scrifices we sometimes must make to follow Jesus. I hope to see you Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Mark 1: 14-20, in which Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God and calls the first of his disciples. The sermon is titled 'Blue Collar Faith,' and will focus on the scrifices we sometimes must make to follow Jesus. I hope to see you Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Ezra 3: 7-13; Rebuilding the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice the amount of work the Israelites put into rebuilding the Temple. They view the Temple as the holy house of God, and as such treat with great reverence and respect. Nothing is more sacred to the Israelites than the Temple. The same is true for us. We are blessed with the opportunity to come into the house of the Lord each week for worship. The church is where we worship God; it is where we are strengthened for our journey of faith. Like the Israelites, this is our holy ground, for in the church, more than anywhere else, we are able to bask in the Lord's presence. What a blessing we have in the Lord's house. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Notice the amount of work the Israelites put into rebuilding the Temple. They view the Temple as the holy house of God, and as such treat with great reverence and respect. Nothing is more sacred to the Israelites than the Temple. The same is true for us. We are blessed with the opportunity to come into the house of the Lord each week for worship. The church is where we worship God; it is where we are strengthened for our journey of faith. Like the Israelites, this is our holy ground, for in the church, more than anywhere else, we are able to bask in the Lord's presence. What a blessing we have in the Lord's house. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Ezra 3: 1-6; Rebuilding the Altar
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first thing Israel does when they get re-settled in the Promised Land is to build and altar to the Lord. They know how important it is to make worshiping God a priority because they know who is responsible for restoring them to the Promised Land. Israel, once they are restored to the Promised Land, make worshiping the Lord their number one priority. We need to do the same. It is not always easy to find time to worship God. We all stay very busy with work and everything else that we sometimes lose track of God. God, and worship of God, needs to be our number one priority. We need to make sure we are putting God first in our lives, no matter what else may be going on. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The first thing Israel does when they get re-settled in the Promised Land is to build and altar to the Lord. They know how important it is to make worshiping God a priority because they know who is responsible for restoring them to the Promised Land. Israel, once they are restored to the Promised Land, make worshiping the Lord their number one priority. We need to do the same. It is not always easy to find time to worship God. We all stay very busy with work and everything else that we sometimes lose track of God. God, and worship of God, needs to be our number one priority. We need to make sure we are putting God first in our lives, no matter what else may be going on. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Ezra 2: 1-70; The List of Exiles Who Returned
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
As you read this list of people who were restored to the Promised Land I want you to imagine the joy in their hearts. These people had been outside of the Promised Land for a long time, and now they were going back home. Their joy and peace must have been simpy overwhelming. Now imagine what our joy will be when God calls us home. When we enter into God's kingdom we are going to be filled with the same joy and peace as the exiles. It is going to be a blessed day when the Lord calls us home to be with him, as was the case when the Israelites were restored to the Promised Land. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
As you read this list of people who were restored to the Promised Land I want you to imagine the joy in their hearts. These people had been outside of the Promised Land for a long time, and now they were going back home. Their joy and peace must have been simpy overwhelming. Now imagine what our joy will be when God calls us home. When we enter into God's kingdom we are going to be filled with the same joy and peace as the exiles. It is going to be a blessed day when the Lord calls us home to be with him, as was the case when the Israelites were restored to the Promised Land. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ezra 1: 1-11; Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is full of grace. The Israelites in no way lived the kind of life God wanted them to live. They did not practice holiness, they were not a light to the Gentiles, they worshiped other gods, etc. They were supposed to be different, special; they were supposed to honor the relationship that existed between them and God. But they did not. However, that did not stop God from showing them grace and love. God restored the Israelites to the Promised Land. He forgave them of their sins and allowed them to return to the land he chose for them. The return from the Exile is grace in action: God's grace and love, forgiving the Israelites for all they had done. God does the same for us. Through Jesus God has shown us grace and love. Through Jesus, we are forgiven of all of our sins. Through Jesus we see God's grace, just as Israel saw God's grace in their return to the Promised Land. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
God is full of grace. The Israelites in no way lived the kind of life God wanted them to live. They did not practice holiness, they were not a light to the Gentiles, they worshiped other gods, etc. They were supposed to be different, special; they were supposed to honor the relationship that existed between them and God. But they did not. However, that did not stop God from showing them grace and love. God restored the Israelites to the Promised Land. He forgave them of their sins and allowed them to return to the land he chose for them. The return from the Exile is grace in action: God's grace and love, forgiving the Israelites for all they had done. God does the same for us. Through Jesus God has shown us grace and love. Through Jesus, we are forgiven of all of our sins. Through Jesus we see God's grace, just as Israel saw God's grace in their return to the Promised Land. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 18, 2009
John 21: 15-25; Jesus Reinstates Peter
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it very fitting that John ends his gospel with Peter being reinstated by Jesus. Peter, who swore he would never deny Jesus; Peter, who actually did deny Jesus, is here reinstated into fellowship with the same Jesus whom he betrayed. This is grace in action, the grace of Jesus being acted out on Peter. We are invited into the presence of the Lord. No matter what we have done, we are all invited to come into the presence of, and fellowship with, Jesus. This is why Jesus was born, this is why he died: that we might be restored to right relationship with him and with God our Father. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I find it very fitting that John ends his gospel with Peter being reinstated by Jesus. Peter, who swore he would never deny Jesus; Peter, who actually did deny Jesus, is here reinstated into fellowship with the same Jesus whom he betrayed. This is grace in action, the grace of Jesus being acted out on Peter. We are invited into the presence of the Lord. No matter what we have done, we are all invited to come into the presence of, and fellowship with, Jesus. This is why Jesus was born, this is why he died: that we might be restored to right relationship with him and with God our Father. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Evening Worship Service 7:00 p.m.
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
As a reminder, we are having an evening worship service tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel. Music will be led by John McCarty, and we will be having Holy Communion, as well as a time of devotion and discussion. I hope to see you there. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
As a reminder, we are having an evening worship service tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel. Music will be led by John McCarty, and we will be having Holy Communion, as well as a time of devotion and discussion. I hope to see you there. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
John 21: 1-14; Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the simple things that make Jesus a great Lord. Yes, Jesus helps us with the big things. He died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. Yes, Jesus gives to us the gift of eternal life that we may never die. But Jesus also does the little things, like sharing a meal with his disciples. Jesus broke bread with his followers. Jesus is with us at all times, in all situations. He is with us as we go through life, even as we eat our meals. Jesus is done so much for us, but he has also done one of the most simple things in never leaving our side. Jesus is always with us, no matter where we go or what we do; we always have our Lord and savior with us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
It is the simple things that make Jesus a great Lord. Yes, Jesus helps us with the big things. He died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. Yes, Jesus gives to us the gift of eternal life that we may never die. But Jesus also does the little things, like sharing a meal with his disciples. Jesus broke bread with his followers. Jesus is with us at all times, in all situations. He is with us as we go through life, even as we eat our meals. Jesus is done so much for us, but he has also done one of the most simple things in never leaving our side. Jesus is always with us, no matter where we go or what we do; we always have our Lord and savior with us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 16, 2009
John 20: 24-31; Jesus Appears to Thomas
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Belief in the risen Lord is essential for our faith. Jesus has been raised from the grave, which means we have eternal life. God, in raising Jesus from death has shown that death has no more power. The resurrection isn't imortant simply because it is a neat trick for God to have done. No, the resurrection is important because through it we have life eternal. We will not die, but will live forever in the kingdom of God with God. Thomas needed to see the risen Lord before he believed. We simply need to believe. We need to believe that Christ has risen, and through that we have eternal life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Belief in the risen Lord is essential for our faith. Jesus has been raised from the grave, which means we have eternal life. God, in raising Jesus from death has shown that death has no more power. The resurrection isn't imortant simply because it is a neat trick for God to have done. No, the resurrection is important because through it we have life eternal. We will not die, but will live forever in the kingdom of God with God. Thomas needed to see the risen Lord before he believed. We simply need to believe. We need to believe that Christ has risen, and through that we have eternal life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Evening Worship Service: Saturday, January 17, 2009
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be having our Evening Worship Service this Saurday, January 17, 2009. We will be worshiping in the Chapel at 7:00 p.m. Music will be led by John McCarty. There will be a time of devotion and discussion, and we will be celebrating Holy Communion. I hope to see you then. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We will be having our Evening Worship Service this Saurday, January 17, 2009. We will be worshiping in the Chapel at 7:00 p.m. Music will be led by John McCarty. There will be a time of devotion and discussion, and we will be celebrating Holy Communion. I hope to see you then. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 18, 2009
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, in which Samuel is called by the Lord to be a prophet. The sermon is titled, 'Where's the Fire,' and will look at the fire that should burn in all of our hearts causing us to listen to the call of God in our lives. I hope to see you Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, in which Samuel is called by the Lord to be a prophet. The sermon is titled, 'Where's the Fire,' and will look at the fire that should burn in all of our hearts causing us to listen to the call of God in our lives. I hope to see you Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
John 20: 19-23; Jesus Appears to His Disciples
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Jesus resurrection did not end his ministry. Jesus tells his disciples here that they are supposed to go out and continue his work. God sent Jesus to help people, and Jesus calls his disciples to continue that work. Jesus death does not stop his ministry, andhis resurrection does not stop his ministry. Jesus has some work for the disciples to do. We are those disciples. Peter, James, John, and all the other disciples are long gone. We are Jesus' disciples, and as Jesus disciples we have been sent to do the work of Christ. As the Father has sent Jesus, Jesus is sending us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Jesus resurrection did not end his ministry. Jesus tells his disciples here that they are supposed to go out and continue his work. God sent Jesus to help people, and Jesus calls his disciples to continue that work. Jesus death does not stop his ministry, andhis resurrection does not stop his ministry. Jesus has some work for the disciples to do. We are those disciples. Peter, James, John, and all the other disciples are long gone. We are Jesus' disciples, and as Jesus disciples we have been sent to do the work of Christ. As the Father has sent Jesus, Jesus is sending us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
John 20: 10-18; Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite things about this passage is the fact that Jesus calls Mary by name. Jesus knows her name. Jesus knows all of our names. We have a personal relationship with Jesus. Yes, there is the general relationship that exists between God and all those of the Christian faith, but there is also a personal relationship with Jesus. He is my friend, and he is your friend. He is my savior, and he is your savior. Jesus knows our name, we have a deep personal relationship with him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
One of my favorite things about this passage is the fact that Jesus calls Mary by name. Jesus knows her name. Jesus knows all of our names. We have a personal relationship with Jesus. Yes, there is the general relationship that exists between God and all those of the Christian faith, but there is also a personal relationship with Jesus. He is my friend, and he is your friend. He is my savior, and he is your savior. Jesus knows our name, we have a deep personal relationship with him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Evening Worship Service Saturday January 17, 2009
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The evening worship service for this week has been moved from Sunday to Saturday, January 17, 2009. We will begin worship at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Music will be led by John McCarty and there will be a time of devotion and discussion for all who are there. We will also be celebrating Holy Communion. I hope you are able to make it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The evening worship service for this week has been moved from Sunday to Saturday, January 17, 2009. We will begin worship at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Music will be led by John McCarty and there will be a time of devotion and discussion for all who are there. We will also be celebrating Holy Communion. I hope you are able to make it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
John 20: 1-9; The Empty Tomb
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Not until the disciples walk into the tomb do they believe in Jesus' resurrection. Mary, upon seeing the empty tomb runs and tells the other disciples that someone has stolen Jesus. The 'other' disciple, we are told, does not believe in the resurrection until he goes into the tomb and sees. We have not seen the risen Jesus, and yet we believe. Our faith is strong, for we believe without seeing. We know in our hearts that Jesus is alive, we know in our hearts that Jesus could not be stopped by the grave. Hold on to that faith, hold on to that belief: belief in the unseen. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Not until the disciples walk into the tomb do they believe in Jesus' resurrection. Mary, upon seeing the empty tomb runs and tells the other disciples that someone has stolen Jesus. The 'other' disciple, we are told, does not believe in the resurrection until he goes into the tomb and sees. We have not seen the risen Jesus, and yet we believe. Our faith is strong, for we believe without seeing. We know in our hearts that Jesus is alive, we know in our hearts that Jesus could not be stopped by the grave. Hold on to that faith, hold on to that belief: belief in the unseen. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, January 12, 2009
John 19: 38-42; The Burial of Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
For all of Joseph's faith, he did not believe Jesus would be brouht back to life. For all of Nicodemus' understanding about being born again he did not understand the resurrection of Jesus. We need to believe in the resurrection. Yes, Jesus dies, but he also is raised again on the third day. Not even the grave could hold the king of kings. Death was not powerful enough to stop God from bringing about his will. The death of Jesus is not the end, it is the beginning: the beginning of our salvation and journey of faith. Remember and believe in the resurrection of Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
For all of Joseph's faith, he did not believe Jesus would be brouht back to life. For all of Nicodemus' understanding about being born again he did not understand the resurrection of Jesus. We need to believe in the resurrection. Yes, Jesus dies, but he also is raised again on the third day. Not even the grave could hold the king of kings. Death was not powerful enough to stop God from bringing about his will. The death of Jesus is not the end, it is the beginning: the beginning of our salvation and journey of faith. Remember and believe in the resurrection of Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 11, 2009
John 19: 28-37; The Death of Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus willingly gives up his life. When he dies, we are told, he bows his head and gives up his spirit. No one forces him to go to the cross. Jesus chooses the cross, and he chooses it for our sake. Jesus could have gotten away, he could have escaped. But instead he chooses the cross, and he goes there for you and for me. Jesus' love for us is so great he does not want to be in heaven without us. Remember that Jesus chooses the pain and shame of the cross because he loves us so much. He is not forced into it, he is not tempted by escape. Instead he chooses the pain and humility of the cross for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus willingly gives up his life. When he dies, we are told, he bows his head and gives up his spirit. No one forces him to go to the cross. Jesus chooses the cross, and he chooses it for our sake. Jesus could have gotten away, he could have escaped. But instead he chooses the cross, and he goes there for you and for me. Jesus' love for us is so great he does not want to be in heaven without us. Remember that Jesus chooses the pain and shame of the cross because he loves us so much. He is not forced into it, he is not tempted by escape. Instead he chooses the pain and humility of the cross for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 10, 2009
John 19: 17-27; The Crucifixion
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' love shines through the cross. His love for us is clearly evident in that he went to the cross in order that we may be forgiven of our sins. But his love for his mother also shines through. One of Jesus' last acts is to make sure his mother is taken care of. How great is Jesus' love for his mother, that as he is dying the most painful death he makes sure she will be looked after. When we look at the cross we see and ugly thing, but we can also see a beautiful thing. We can look at the cross and see Jesus' love shinging through. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus' love shines through the cross. His love for us is clearly evident in that he went to the cross in order that we may be forgiven of our sins. But his love for his mother also shines through. One of Jesus' last acts is to make sure his mother is taken care of. How great is Jesus' love for his mother, that as he is dying the most painful death he makes sure she will be looked after. When we look at the cross we see and ugly thing, but we can also see a beautiful thing. We can look at the cross and see Jesus' love shinging through. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 9, 2009
John 19: 1-16; Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I find comfort in the cross. When reading this passage it becomes even more clear to me that God is in control of the situation. As Jesus is interviewed by Pilate, as he is berated by the crowd, as he is mocked by the soldiers God is in control. All of this is supposed to happen. Yes, it is horrifying. Yes, it is ugly. But it is all according to God's plan for our salvation. No matter how ugly it is, God is control. The comfort comes from the fact that that is still true. As God is in control of Jesus' crucifixion, he is in control now of all the bad things that happen to us. God has a plan, and we can know that his plan will work out for good, just as it did with Christ's death. God is in control, and because God is in control we can know that it will all work for good in the end. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I find comfort in the cross. When reading this passage it becomes even more clear to me that God is in control of the situation. As Jesus is interviewed by Pilate, as he is berated by the crowd, as he is mocked by the soldiers God is in control. All of this is supposed to happen. Yes, it is horrifying. Yes, it is ugly. But it is all according to God's plan for our salvation. No matter how ugly it is, God is control. The comfort comes from the fact that that is still true. As God is in control of Jesus' crucifixion, he is in control now of all the bad things that happen to us. God has a plan, and we can know that his plan will work out for good, just as it did with Christ's death. God is in control, and because God is in control we can know that it will all work for good in the end. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 11, 2009
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Genesis 1: 1-5, in which God begins the creation of the heavens and the earth. The sermon is titled 'Omni God,' and will focus on how God is all-powerful, all-present, and eternal. I hope you are able to make it to worship on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Genesis 1: 1-5, in which God begins the creation of the heavens and the earth. The sermon is titled 'Omni God,' and will focus on how God is all-powerful, all-present, and eternal. I hope you are able to make it to worship on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
John 18: 28-40; Jesus Before Pilate
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"My kingdom is not of this world." We have a kingdom waiting for us, the kingdom Christ has prepared for us through his broken body and shed blood. But the kingdom we have is not a kingdom of land or money, it is a kingdom of peace and joy; a kingdom in which there is no suffering, pain, sin, or anything else that causes us to stumble. In the kingdom of God, which is not of this world, there is only perfection. Jesus has prepard that place for us. More than that he has seen to it that we will be able to enter into that kingdom that he has prepared for us. Jesus' kingdom that he briefly touches on here, is the kingdom of God, the kingdom that is waiting for us, the kingdom in which there will be peace and joy. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"My kingdom is not of this world." We have a kingdom waiting for us, the kingdom Christ has prepared for us through his broken body and shed blood. But the kingdom we have is not a kingdom of land or money, it is a kingdom of peace and joy; a kingdom in which there is no suffering, pain, sin, or anything else that causes us to stumble. In the kingdom of God, which is not of this world, there is only perfection. Jesus has prepard that place for us. More than that he has seen to it that we will be able to enter into that kingdom that he has prepared for us. Jesus' kingdom that he briefly touches on here, is the kingdom of God, the kingdom that is waiting for us, the kingdom in which there will be peace and joy. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
John 18: 25-27; Peter's Second and Third Denials
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In stark contrast to what Jesus is going through, Peter is warming himself by the fire. He has forsaken his Lord, and is now looking after his own interests. I think Peter is cold because he has left the warmth of Jesus' presence. So many times we talk about Jesus as a light, and this is true. But I think Jesus is also what keeps us warm, spiritually speaking. Jesus keeps us safe and gives us everything we need, including warmth for the bitter-cold times we face on our journey of faith. Peter is missing a few things because he has left Jesus. He is missing that warmth, he is missing that security. When we leave Jesus we lose everything, but when we are with Jesus we have everything. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
In stark contrast to what Jesus is going through, Peter is warming himself by the fire. He has forsaken his Lord, and is now looking after his own interests. I think Peter is cold because he has left the warmth of Jesus' presence. So many times we talk about Jesus as a light, and this is true. But I think Jesus is also what keeps us warm, spiritually speaking. Jesus keeps us safe and gives us everything we need, including warmth for the bitter-cold times we face on our journey of faith. Peter is missing a few things because he has left Jesus. He is missing that warmth, he is missing that security. When we leave Jesus we lose everything, but when we are with Jesus we have everything. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
John 18: 19-24; The High Priest Questions Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
At this point Jesus could talk his way out of being crucified. Jesus is a cunning speaker, which is made evident in his sermons and other sayings. As the high priest is questioning Jesus I am sure Jesus could have found some way of getting out of this situation. However, Jesus does not talk his way out of it, he does not try and get out of the situation. Jesus has every chance to escape, to get away from the cross, but he does not. Jesus follows the path God has laid out for him, and he does it for our sake. This shows just how deep Jesus' love for us is: that he has every chance to escape, to get away, but he does not. Jesus loves us too much not to go through with it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
At this point Jesus could talk his way out of being crucified. Jesus is a cunning speaker, which is made evident in his sermons and other sayings. As the high priest is questioning Jesus I am sure Jesus could have found some way of getting out of this situation. However, Jesus does not talk his way out of it, he does not try and get out of the situation. Jesus has every chance to escape, to get away from the cross, but he does not. Jesus follows the path God has laid out for him, and he does it for our sake. This shows just how deep Jesus' love for us is: that he has every chance to escape, to get away, but he does not. Jesus loves us too much not to go through with it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, January 5, 2009
John 18: 15-18; Peter's First Denial
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as Jesus predicted, Peter has denied Jesus. Peter, who throughout the gospel has been so zealous, denies being a disciple of Jesus. He is afraid to follow Jesus because he knows to follow Jesus means to take up Jesus' cross. There is a cost to discipleship, and sometimes the cost is our own suffering. That cost was too much for Peter to handle. Peter should be our lesson. When push came to shove Peter walked away from Jesus. What will we do when we are shoved? Will we walk away, or will we stand for Jesus? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Just as Jesus predicted, Peter has denied Jesus. Peter, who throughout the gospel has been so zealous, denies being a disciple of Jesus. He is afraid to follow Jesus because he knows to follow Jesus means to take up Jesus' cross. There is a cost to discipleship, and sometimes the cost is our own suffering. That cost was too much for Peter to handle. Peter should be our lesson. When push came to shove Peter walked away from Jesus. What will we do when we are shoved? Will we walk away, or will we stand for Jesus? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Evening Worship Service
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be having worship this evening at 7:00 p.m. Please join us for this special time. We will be having a guest preacher with us this evening: Charles Bruner, a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who is seeking ordination. We will also be celebrating Holy Communion. Join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. for worship. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We will be having worship this evening at 7:00 p.m. Please join us for this special time. We will be having a guest preacher with us this evening: Charles Bruner, a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who is seeking ordination. We will also be celebrating Holy Communion. Join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. for worship. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
John 18: 12-14; Jesus Taken to Annas
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Annas is sort of on the right track here. He knows that it is a good idea for one man to die for many, but he did not recognize all that Jesus' death would mean. Jesus does, in fact, die for the good of many. But the reason Jesus' death means so much is because Jesus' death has taken away all of our sin. Jesus died for the greater good, and the greater good is our salvation. Annas knows it is good for one person to die for the benefit of many, and that is exactly what happens to Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Annas is sort of on the right track here. He knows that it is a good idea for one man to die for many, but he did not recognize all that Jesus' death would mean. Jesus does, in fact, die for the good of many. But the reason Jesus' death means so much is because Jesus' death has taken away all of our sin. Jesus died for the greater good, and the greater good is our salvation. Annas knows it is good for one person to die for the benefit of many, and that is exactly what happens to Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 3, 2009
John 18: 1-11; Jesus Arrested
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Put your sword away!" This, I think, falls into the category of turning the other cheek. We will, as Jesus tells us, face persecution. And when we do Jesus would have us turn the other cheek, to bear the cross that has been given us. Remember Jesus, that as he was put on trial he did not open his mouth to defend himself. Jesus could have fought back, he could have talked his way out of being crucified. But he carried his cross, he endured what God put in front of him. And he did all of this without lifting a hand in violence. Let Jesus be your example when you are faced with percecution. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Put your sword away!" This, I think, falls into the category of turning the other cheek. We will, as Jesus tells us, face persecution. And when we do Jesus would have us turn the other cheek, to bear the cross that has been given us. Remember Jesus, that as he was put on trial he did not open his mouth to defend himself. Jesus could have fought back, he could have talked his way out of being crucified. But he carried his cross, he endured what God put in front of him. And he did all of this without lifting a hand in violence. Let Jesus be your example when you are faced with percecution. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 2, 2009
John 17: 20-26; Jesus Prays for All Believers
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus we know who God is. Jesus came here to show us the way to the Father. Throughout the ministry of Jesus he has shown us who God is and what God wants from us. That is one of the greatest blessings of having had Jesus in our world for a time; we know who God end of John's gospel remember the good news that we have received throughout the whole of John's gospel: through Jesus, we know God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Because of Jesus we know who God is. Jesus came here to show us the way to the Father. Throughout the ministry of Jesus he has shown us who God is and what God wants from us. That is one of the greatest blessings of having had Jesus in our world for a time; we know who God end of John's gospel remember the good news that we have received throughout the whole of John's gospel: through Jesus, we know God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 1, 2009
John 17: 6-19; Jesus Prays for his Disciples
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus prayed for his disciples. I find comfort in that. Jesus is getting ready to go through a terrible ordeal. He is about to be handed over and crucified. But in the midst of that he prays for his disciples. With all that he is about to face Jesus prays for those he loves. And one of the nice things about that is the fact that Jesus is still praying for us. As he is sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty Jesus is praying to God for us. That is good news for us. We have the Son of the Living God praying on our behalf. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus prayed for his disciples. I find comfort in that. Jesus is getting ready to go through a terrible ordeal. He is about to be handed over and crucified. But in the midst of that he prays for his disciples. With all that he is about to face Jesus prays for those he loves. And one of the nice things about that is the fact that Jesus is still praying for us. As he is sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty Jesus is praying to God for us. That is good news for us. We have the Son of the Living God praying on our behalf. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
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