Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul knows firsthand how difficult faith can me. Paul was arrested and tortured on numerous occasions. In the end Paul lost his life for believing in, and preaching, the good news of Jesus. So when Paul writes to Timothy '...holding onto faith and a good conscience...' Paul knows how hard that is. It is hard for us, too. Many things are easier in the 21st century with all the advances in technology, medicine, travel, etc. But faith is still sometimes a very difficult thing to maintain. We all may find ourselves in a place, spiritually speaking, when we ask ourselves if we are doing the right thing, by keeping the faith. The answer to that question, if it ever comes, is a resounding 'yes!' Even though it may be hard we must, as Paul tells us here, to maintain our faith, to not let the things of this world get us off track. We need to keep believing in Jesus as Messiah and the work he has done on our behalf. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
1 Timothy 1: 12-17; The Lord's Grace to Paul
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ came to save sinners, but not only to save us, but to change us. I love what Paul makes clear in the first part of this passage, that he used to be a sinner, but was brought to a new way of life through God's grace. That is what grace is all about. The first part of grace is that we are saved, but the second part is that through grace we are called to a life of discipleship. So we no longer are who we were before. We become someone new: someone who does not live in sin, but rather lives in God's grace. Just as Paul was brought to a new life, so are we, and that call is renewed regularly. God continues to call us out of the world and into a new life with him. We need to heed those words and renew our commitment to God and his grace. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Christ came to save sinners, but not only to save us, but to change us. I love what Paul makes clear in the first part of this passage, that he used to be a sinner, but was brought to a new way of life through God's grace. That is what grace is all about. The first part of grace is that we are saved, but the second part is that through grace we are called to a life of discipleship. So we no longer are who we were before. We become someone new: someone who does not live in sin, but rather lives in God's grace. Just as Paul was brought to a new life, so are we, and that call is renewed regularly. God continues to call us out of the world and into a new life with him. We need to heed those words and renew our commitment to God and his grace. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, February 27, 2012
1 Timothy 1: 1-11; Timothy Charged to Oppose False Leaders
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
With so many voices speaking these days it is sometimes hard to figure out which is the 'real Jesus.' The best way to be Christ-centered, to be able to determine which is the real voice of Jesus, is to go right to the source. We have been blessed with not just one, but four gospels that tell us the story of Jesus. All of them together give us a complete picture of who Jesus was, what he said, what he did, why, etc. If we read, and re-read those gospels our hearts and spirits will be filled with Jesus. And being filled with Jesus is one of the first steps to being centered on him. The best way to oppose, or ward off, false teachers, is to stay centered on the only true teacher: Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
With so many voices speaking these days it is sometimes hard to figure out which is the 'real Jesus.' The best way to be Christ-centered, to be able to determine which is the real voice of Jesus, is to go right to the source. We have been blessed with not just one, but four gospels that tell us the story of Jesus. All of them together give us a complete picture of who Jesus was, what he said, what he did, why, etc. If we read, and re-read those gospels our hearts and spirits will be filled with Jesus. And being filled with Jesus is one of the first steps to being centered on him. The best way to oppose, or ward off, false teachers, is to stay centered on the only true teacher: Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Proverbs 31: 10-31; The Wife of Noble Character
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are a lot of points to this passage, and if I may be so bold I will sum them all up by saying: a noble takes care of her husband. Now, before anyone gets upset with the onesidedness of that statement let me also say this passage can, and should, apply to husbands as well, and I will sum it up in the same way: a noble husband takes care of his wife. The idea is this, that in a marriage people are to take care of each other. Now, here is another addition: this does not just apply to husbands and wives, but to all of us: a noble Christian will take care of his/her brother/sister. We are all to care for each other, at all times, bestowing the same longkindness on those around us as Jesus did, and continues to do. Take care of each other. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
There are a lot of points to this passage, and if I may be so bold I will sum them all up by saying: a noble takes care of her husband. Now, before anyone gets upset with the onesidedness of that statement let me also say this passage can, and should, apply to husbands as well, and I will sum it up in the same way: a noble husband takes care of his wife. The idea is this, that in a marriage people are to take care of each other. Now, here is another addition: this does not just apply to husbands and wives, but to all of us: a noble Christian will take care of his/her brother/sister. We are all to care for each other, at all times, bestowing the same longkindness on those around us as Jesus did, and continues to do. Take care of each other. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, February 25, 2012
Proverbs 31: 1-9; The Sayings of King Lemuel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." We have voice, all of us. It is a gift of God to use for his purpose. One of those purposes: to speak for those who don't have a voice: the poor, the widows, the orphans, and all others who suffer. They don't have the ability to speak and make their suffering known, so we need to speak for them. Not only speak, but also work on their behalf. God has given many of us the means to take care of ourselves. Many others do not have those means, which means it is up to us to provide for those who have not. We have things we can use, our voice, our resources, etc. to use to help others. Let's not be shy about using them. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." We have voice, all of us. It is a gift of God to use for his purpose. One of those purposes: to speak for those who don't have a voice: the poor, the widows, the orphans, and all others who suffer. They don't have the ability to speak and make their suffering known, so we need to speak for them. Not only speak, but also work on their behalf. God has given many of us the means to take care of ourselves. Many others do not have those means, which means it is up to us to provide for those who have not. We have things we can use, our voice, our resources, etc. to use to help others. Let's not be shy about using them. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, February 24, 2012
Proverbs 30: 1-33; Sayings of Agur
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
“I am weary, God, but I can prevail." How many times have we uttered these words, or something very similar? At times we find ourselves so overwhelmed with the stresses of life that we feel like we just can't go anymore. Can we prevail in such times? Absolutely, beyond the shadow of any doubt. Jesus is with us at all time, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And with is continual presence in our lives we have the strength to do it all: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." These are not idle words. They have meaning and power. We can do all things with Jesus at our side. Can we prevail in times of hardship? Yes. Through Christ, yes. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
“I am weary, God, but I can prevail." How many times have we uttered these words, or something very similar? At times we find ourselves so overwhelmed with the stresses of life that we feel like we just can't go anymore. Can we prevail in such times? Absolutely, beyond the shadow of any doubt. Jesus is with us at all time, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And with is continual presence in our lives we have the strength to do it all: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." These are not idle words. They have meaning and power. We can do all things with Jesus at our side. Can we prevail in times of hardship? Yes. Through Christ, yes. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 26, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from 1 Peter 3: 13-22, which talks about the suffering we will endure as Christians. The sermon is titled 'Victory in Suffering,' and will focus what we are to do in the face of suffering, and the hope we have in Jesus. I hope to see you all on Sunday morning. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from 1 Peter 3: 13-22, which talks about the suffering we will endure as Christians. The sermon is titled 'Victory in Suffering,' and will focus what we are to do in the face of suffering, and the hope we have in Jesus. I hope to see you all on Sunday morning. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 29: 1-27
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." Correction is often a hard thing to hear and heed. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and part of that relationship involves us holding each other accountable. At times, God himself will come and try to steer us back to the right path. In both cases we hear something we don't like: that we messed up. At that point we have two choices: one, to heed the correction and find the right path again, and so be restored to where we want to be; two, to ignore and stay on the path of sinfulness and isolation. Only one leads to God. While correction is hard, it is sometimes necessary, for we all, at times, wander (even if it's just a little) from God's path. Correction keeps us from wandering too far, and we need to heed it when it comes. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." Correction is often a hard thing to hear and heed. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and part of that relationship involves us holding each other accountable. At times, God himself will come and try to steer us back to the right path. In both cases we hear something we don't like: that we messed up. At that point we have two choices: one, to heed the correction and find the right path again, and so be restored to where we want to be; two, to ignore and stay on the path of sinfulness and isolation. Only one leads to God. While correction is hard, it is sometimes necessary, for we all, at times, wander (even if it's just a little) from God's path. Correction keeps us from wandering too far, and we need to heed it when it comes. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday Service
Grace and peace to you from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please join us for our Ash Wednesday service tonight at 7:00 p.m. This service will officially begin the season of Lent. We will be joined in worship by Jack Sullivan, Regional Minister and President for Pennsylvania. I hope to see you all there. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Please join us for our Ash Wednesday service tonight at 7:00 p.m. This service will officially begin the season of Lent. We will be joined in worship by Jack Sullivan, Regional Minister and President for Pennsylvania. I hope to see you all there. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 28: 1-28
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse." We do not need riches. To be sure we need resources to take ourselves and our families. But we do not need anymore than what we truly need. Jesus would have us live a life which revolves around holy living, justice, mercy, and above all, love. If we are poor, so what? God will reward our faithfulness beyond anything we could ever imagine. It is better to be poor and be who God wants us to be than to be rich and ignore our creator and his will for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse." We do not need riches. To be sure we need resources to take ourselves and our families. But we do not need anymore than what we truly need. Jesus would have us live a life which revolves around holy living, justice, mercy, and above all, love. If we are poor, so what? God will reward our faithfulness beyond anything we could ever imagine. It is better to be poor and be who God wants us to be than to be rich and ignore our creator and his will for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Proverbs 27: 1-27
Grace and peace to you from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." How we live matters. First and foremost it matters to God how we live our lives. God calls us to a higher standard and we should be obedient to him. With every thought, word, and deed we should honor and glorify God. But there is also the fact that people around us watch us to see how we live. We can bring others to Christ if we live a holy life. People around us will see our relationship with God, our joy, our peace, and all the other blessings we receive. If we live out our faith, if our life reflects the love we have for Christ in our heart, then we just might bring others to a life of faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." How we live matters. First and foremost it matters to God how we live our lives. God calls us to a higher standard and we should be obedient to him. With every thought, word, and deed we should honor and glorify God. But there is also the fact that people around us watch us to see how we live. We can bring others to Christ if we live a holy life. People around us will see our relationship with God, our joy, our peace, and all the other blessings we receive. If we live out our faith, if our life reflects the love we have for Christ in our heart, then we just might bring others to a life of faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, February 20, 2012
Proverbs 26: 1-28
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” At first glance this proverb does not seem to make much sense. However, when we read it over again it clearly points to the bad habits of a lazy person. The sluggard will look for any excuse not to do something. He will not go anywhere because he imagines something will be there to block his way. 'Why bother going anywhere when there may be a lion waiting to devour me,' he says. At times we need to kick ourselves into gear. God wants us to be active, he wants us to do things. The sedentary life is not the life for a child of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” At first glance this proverb does not seem to make much sense. However, when we read it over again it clearly points to the bad habits of a lazy person. The sluggard will look for any excuse not to do something. He will not go anywhere because he imagines something will be there to block his way. 'Why bother going anywhere when there may be a lion waiting to devour me,' he says. At times we need to kick ourselves into gear. God wants us to be active, he wants us to do things. The sedentary life is not the life for a child of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, February 19, 2012
Proverbs 25: 1-28; More Proverbs of Solomon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.' Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit Paul mentions in his letter to the Galatians. The idea being, we need to control ourselves when it comes to temptation. This can be challenging at times because the human instinct is very strong. However, in calling on the name of the Lord we receive the strength we need to practice self-control. If we fail to practice self-control evil will enter us and leave us in ruins. Self-control, then, acts as a defense against evil. In relying on Jesus we can keep those temptations away so that we can continue to live in the Spirit and in the presence of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
'A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.' Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit Paul mentions in his letter to the Galatians. The idea being, we need to control ourselves when it comes to temptation. This can be challenging at times because the human instinct is very strong. However, in calling on the name of the Lord we receive the strength we need to practice self-control. If we fail to practice self-control evil will enter us and leave us in ruins. Self-control, then, acts as a defense against evil. In relying on Jesus we can keep those temptations away so that we can continue to live in the Spirit and in the presence of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, February 18, 2012
Proverbs 24: 22-34; More Sayings of the Wise
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Do not say, 'I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.'" We have all been sinned against, and it is never a pleasant experience. When that happens we feel a desire to exact revenge, to pay back the person who hurt us. This is a human instinct, and while it is a natural instinct it is not one we should follow. Rather, we should follow the way of God, which is to forgive. Does this proverb sound a little familiar? Jesus said a very similar thing: 'Love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Jesus says this in the context of preaching against 'an eye for an eye.' So, we get it in both Testaments, which underscores the importance of forgiving others. 'As I have forgiven you, so forgive one another.' Jesus said that, too. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Do not say, 'I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.'" We have all been sinned against, and it is never a pleasant experience. When that happens we feel a desire to exact revenge, to pay back the person who hurt us. This is a human instinct, and while it is a natural instinct it is not one we should follow. Rather, we should follow the way of God, which is to forgive. Does this proverb sound a little familiar? Jesus said a very similar thing: 'Love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Jesus says this in the context of preaching against 'an eye for an eye.' So, we get it in both Testaments, which underscores the importance of forgiving others. 'As I have forgiven you, so forgive one another.' Jesus said that, too. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, February 17, 2012
Proverbs 24: 1-22; Sayings of the Wise
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'A wise man is full of strength,' this passage says. In that is much truth, for the way to wisdom is Jesus. Jesus is the only truth, he is the only wisdom. In following Jesus we show wisdom, and in following Jesus we gain strength. Strength to continue in faith; strength to do the work Christ has given us. The only true act of wisdom is to accept Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. That is, beyond the shadow of any doubt, the smartest decision anyone could make. With that decision come strength. If strength is what you need, come to Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
'A wise man is full of strength,' this passage says. In that is much truth, for the way to wisdom is Jesus. Jesus is the only truth, he is the only wisdom. In following Jesus we show wisdom, and in following Jesus we gain strength. Strength to continue in faith; strength to do the work Christ has given us. The only true act of wisdom is to accept Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. That is, beyond the shadow of any doubt, the smartest decision anyone could make. With that decision come strength. If strength is what you need, come to Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 19, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday comes from Mark 9: 2-10, in which Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. The sermon is titled 'Mountaintops' and will focus on the blessings of the mountaintops we find in the lives of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday comes from Mark 9: 2-10, in which Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. The sermon is titled 'Mountaintops' and will focus on the blessings of the mountaintops we find in the lives of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 23: 33-35; Saying 23
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage warns against the dangers of leaving God's path. If or when that happens side effects occur, side effects which will leave the person in bad shape. This is a simple message, with a simple point: If you stay on God's path everything will work our just fine; if you leave God's path things will not be fine. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This passage warns against the dangers of leaving God's path. If or when that happens side effects occur, side effects which will leave the person in bad shape. This is a simple message, with a simple point: If you stay on God's path everything will work our just fine; if you leave God's path things will not be fine. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Proverbs 23: 30-32; Saying 22
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
When I read this proverb I hear, more than anything else, a warning to be careful what we put into our bodies. This is not necessarily a diatribe against drugs and alcohol. There are things we put into our bodies, or allow to be there, that can do a lot of harm: anger (unholy anger), fear, hatred, jealousy, and the list goes on and on. The point is that those things which we allow to be in us can ruin us. These emotions, and the actions based on these emotions, can cause a great chasm between us and God. These things can, and will, prevent us from being who God wants us to be. They will prevent us from doing what God wants us to do. With that in mind, be careful. Allow only holy things to come into your body, into your heart. In so doing to safeguard yourself against the things that will turn you away from God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
When I read this proverb I hear, more than anything else, a warning to be careful what we put into our bodies. This is not necessarily a diatribe against drugs and alcohol. There are things we put into our bodies, or allow to be there, that can do a lot of harm: anger (unholy anger), fear, hatred, jealousy, and the list goes on and on. The point is that those things which we allow to be in us can ruin us. These emotions, and the actions based on these emotions, can cause a great chasm between us and God. These things can, and will, prevent us from being who God wants us to be. They will prevent us from doing what God wants us to do. With that in mind, be careful. Allow only holy things to come into your body, into your heart. In so doing to safeguard yourself against the things that will turn you away from God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Proverbs 23: 29; Saying 21
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We all suffer. There is no doubt about that. We all have something in life that weighs us down. When we find ourselves in those times it is difficult to imagine anything, or anyone, being able to help us. But in that sorrow there is hope. We have God. When the woes of the world come crashing down upon us we have God to help us, to give us strength, to guide us, to carry us. In the darkest times, in the loneliest times, in the most sorrowful times we could ever imagine we have God with us. If we but lean on him and allow him to help he will. God will deliver us from the woes we face in this life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We all suffer. There is no doubt about that. We all have something in life that weighs us down. When we find ourselves in those times it is difficult to imagine anything, or anyone, being able to help us. But in that sorrow there is hope. We have God. When the woes of the world come crashing down upon us we have God to help us, to give us strength, to guide us, to carry us. In the darkest times, in the loneliest times, in the most sorrowful times we could ever imagine we have God with us. If we but lean on him and allow him to help he will. God will deliver us from the woes we face in this life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, February 13, 2012
Proverbs 23: 26-28; Saying 20
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith is hard. In some ways it is the easiest thing in the world, but in many other ways it is the most difficult. What makes it difficult is that Christians continue to face all the things other people face in life. Temptation is the most troublesome of these. We are faced with temptation on a daily basis. For some it is food, for others sexual temptation, for others still money and material possessions. Whatever it is there is no doubt that temptation plagues us all. With that in mind we need to be watchful. We need to open our eyes and look to Jesus who managed to conquer temptation. Since Jesus was able to do that, we are as well. By the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to resist temptation when it comes into our lives. Be watchful, look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Faith is hard. In some ways it is the easiest thing in the world, but in many other ways it is the most difficult. What makes it difficult is that Christians continue to face all the things other people face in life. Temptation is the most troublesome of these. We are faced with temptation on a daily basis. For some it is food, for others sexual temptation, for others still money and material possessions. Whatever it is there is no doubt that temptation plagues us all. With that in mind we need to be watchful. We need to open our eyes and look to Jesus who managed to conquer temptation. Since Jesus was able to do that, we are as well. By the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to resist temptation when it comes into our lives. Be watchful, look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Proverbs 23: 24-25; Saying 20
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
As much as we should avoid the habit of trying to guilt people there is no denying the power of saying 'your mother and I are disappointed in you.' Everyone should live their life with God in mind. In other words what we say, do, etc. should all be done with the motivation to honor and glorify God. The same is true in our relationship with our parents. We are called to obey them and love them, so when we do, say, etc. something we should do so with a mindset of pleasing them, making them proud. The world would be a much better place if people lived as though their parents were always watching. It might make us all behave a little better. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
As much as we should avoid the habit of trying to guilt people there is no denying the power of saying 'your mother and I are disappointed in you.' Everyone should live their life with God in mind. In other words what we say, do, etc. should all be done with the motivation to honor and glorify God. The same is true in our relationship with our parents. We are called to obey them and love them, so when we do, say, etc. something we should do so with a mindset of pleasing them, making them proud. The world would be a much better place if people lived as though their parents were always watching. It might make us all behave a little better. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Proverbs 23: 23; Saying 19
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We never reach the end. We never reach a point in our faith when we have learned it all. There is always something more to learn, another detail to hear about God, faith, Jesus, service, etc. With that in mind we buy wisdom; we buy it so we have it and continue to grow and learn more; and we learn more so we might have a deeper relationship with God, which will enable us to serve him better. Keep learning. Keep your mind open and allow God to fill it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We never reach the end. We never reach a point in our faith when we have learned it all. There is always something more to learn, another detail to hear about God, faith, Jesus, service, etc. With that in mind we buy wisdom; we buy it so we have it and continue to grow and learn more; and we learn more so we might have a deeper relationship with God, which will enable us to serve him better. Keep learning. Keep your mind open and allow God to fill it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, February 10, 2012
Proverbs 23: 22; Saying 18
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Kids, listen to your parents. Adults, listen to your parents. At times we are often reluctant to receive advice from someone. We are grown up, we can handle it all by ourselves thank you very much. Not to diminish anyone's strength, but there is great wisdom, and advice, to be had from those who have gone before us. Our elders have been through life; they have faced very similar situations. With that in mind we need to seek them out and ask them for guidance. Their words just might be able to help us in some way. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Kids, listen to your parents. Adults, listen to your parents. At times we are often reluctant to receive advice from someone. We are grown up, we can handle it all by ourselves thank you very much. Not to diminish anyone's strength, but there is great wisdom, and advice, to be had from those who have gone before us. Our elders have been through life; they have faced very similar situations. With that in mind we need to seek them out and ask them for guidance. Their words just might be able to help us in some way. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 12, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Mark 1: 40-45, in which Jesus heals a leper. The sermon is titled 'Anger' and will focus on why Jesus is angry in this passage and what that anger moves him to do.
After worship we will all travel to Panera Bread in South Park Shops. We have a room reserved for our time of fellowship, which will include lunch with games and other activities to follow after.
I hope to see all of you at Sunday's festivities. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Mark 1: 40-45, in which Jesus heals a leper. The sermon is titled 'Anger' and will focus on why Jesus is angry in this passage and what that anger moves him to do.
After worship we will all travel to Panera Bread in South Park Shops. We have a room reserved for our time of fellowship, which will include lunch with games and other activities to follow after.
I hope to see all of you at Sunday's festivities. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 23: 20-21; Saying 17
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is incredibly easy to be led astray, especially when we surround ourselves with those who are not on the path of faith. Human weakness creeps in and temptation is not very far behind. Both of those things combine to make it hard for us to remain faithful. But, there is something we can do: stay away from those people who would hinder us. Proverbs says it right here, 'do not be around...' the idea being that one thing we can do to avoid temptation and sin is to keep away from those who are mired in those things. Is this easy? No. This may cost us friendships, and even, sadly, family members. But in the end we are called to a higher purpose. Not to mention the fact that we get something that supersedes all others: a personal relationship with Jesus. We may lose something, but we gain so much more in the end. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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It is incredibly easy to be led astray, especially when we surround ourselves with those who are not on the path of faith. Human weakness creeps in and temptation is not very far behind. Both of those things combine to make it hard for us to remain faithful. But, there is something we can do: stay away from those people who would hinder us. Proverbs says it right here, 'do not be around...' the idea being that one thing we can do to avoid temptation and sin is to keep away from those who are mired in those things. Is this easy? No. This may cost us friendships, and even, sadly, family members. But in the end we are called to a higher purpose. Not to mention the fact that we get something that supersedes all others: a personal relationship with Jesus. We may lose something, but we gain so much more in the end. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Proverbs 23: 19; Saying 16
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I love the first word of this saying: Hear. Hearing is hard, mainly because we have so many other things going on, specifically, we have so many other 'voices' in our heads. We hear so many other things that it is sometimes difficult to hear God's voice in all of that. As hard as it may be we need to quiet the words of the world and listen for God's voice. We do this through prayer. Prayer is a time for us to talk to God, but it is also a time when God talks to us. If we take time in prayer to be silent and listen we will hear that still, small voice in side of us. That voice is worth hearing. That voice, actually the source behind it, will lead us down right paths. We just have to quiet all the other voices to hear it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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I love the first word of this saying: Hear. Hearing is hard, mainly because we have so many other things going on, specifically, we have so many other 'voices' in our heads. We hear so many other things that it is sometimes difficult to hear God's voice in all of that. As hard as it may be we need to quiet the words of the world and listen for God's voice. We do this through prayer. Prayer is a time for us to talk to God, but it is also a time when God talks to us. If we take time in prayer to be silent and listen we will hear that still, small voice in side of us. That voice is worth hearing. That voice, actually the source behind it, will lead us down right paths. We just have to quiet all the other voices to hear it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Proverbs 23: 17-18; Saying 15
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is always hope, even though it is sometimes hard to see. Our hope is in the Lord. Just as Jesus, in his ministry, delivered countless people from their suffering, so he will deliver us from our times of suffering. When? Sadly, that is not for me to say or decide. But our hope rests in the unfailing love of Jesus. In his love he will help us. In his love he will return to us. And it is in that act where we will find our true deliverance. Someday we will be blessed with a world, a life, with no suffering. We wait and hope for that day when we are called to God's kingdom. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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There is always hope, even though it is sometimes hard to see. Our hope is in the Lord. Just as Jesus, in his ministry, delivered countless people from their suffering, so he will deliver us from our times of suffering. When? Sadly, that is not for me to say or decide. But our hope rests in the unfailing love of Jesus. In his love he will help us. In his love he will return to us. And it is in that act where we will find our true deliverance. Someday we will be blessed with a world, a life, with no suffering. We wait and hope for that day when we are called to God's kingdom. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, February 6, 2012
Proverbs 23: 15-16; Saying 14
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What a joy it is to lead someone to a life of faith. In this saying we get the sense that a father has led his son to wisdom, which serves as a reminder to us how blessed we are to be able to bring someone to faith in Jesus. We 'get' to lead people to Christ, we don't 'have' to. Our hearts should be glad when someone finds faith. They will come to know the same joy and peace we know. Their lives will be saved. If that isn't the proper motivation for evangelism then I don't know what is. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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What a joy it is to lead someone to a life of faith. In this saying we get the sense that a father has led his son to wisdom, which serves as a reminder to us how blessed we are to be able to bring someone to faith in Jesus. We 'get' to lead people to Christ, we don't 'have' to. Our hearts should be glad when someone finds faith. They will come to know the same joy and peace we know. Their lives will be saved. If that isn't the proper motivation for evangelism then I don't know what is. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, February 5, 2012
Proverbs 23: 13-14; Saying 13
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is one proverb with which I do not agree. I do, however, believe it is up to the parents to teach children the way of life and, at times, discipline them, so I will focus on that. Children are born completely helpless. They do not know how to do much of anything. The parents are responsible for teaching the child how to live life, how to do certain things. With that in mind it is sometimes also up to the parent to correct behavior of the children. If we want the next generation to be a faithful generation then we need to take an active hand in that. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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This is one proverb with which I do not agree. I do, however, believe it is up to the parents to teach children the way of life and, at times, discipline them, so I will focus on that. Children are born completely helpless. They do not know how to do much of anything. The parents are responsible for teaching the child how to live life, how to do certain things. With that in mind it is sometimes also up to the parent to correct behavior of the children. If we want the next generation to be a faithful generation then we need to take an active hand in that. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, February 4, 2012
Proverbs 23: 12; Saying 12
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What better source of knowledge for us is there than Scripture. We are encouraged in this proverb to seek knowledge, to make ourselves smarter. I think we should take this passage and run with it. We are to grow in our knowledge of God. We ought to read the Bible more often. In so doing we learn more about God: who he is, what he has done in the past, what he is doing now, what he will do in the future, and what he has called us to do. Faith is a journey, and we need to keep moving forward. As we move forward we need to learn more that we might be more faithful children of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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What better source of knowledge for us is there than Scripture. We are encouraged in this proverb to seek knowledge, to make ourselves smarter. I think we should take this passage and run with it. We are to grow in our knowledge of God. We ought to read the Bible more often. In so doing we learn more about God: who he is, what he has done in the past, what he is doing now, what he will do in the future, and what he has called us to do. Faith is a journey, and we need to keep moving forward. As we move forward we need to learn more that we might be more faithful children of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, February 3, 2012
Proverbs 23: 10-11; Saying 11
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"...or encroach on the fields of the fatherless." The fatherless, or orphans as they were also called in Biblical times, were one of the groups of people for whom the Israelites were supposed to care. They were 'set aside' if you will, as people needing special attention. This idea is highlighted in this proverb, and we can take from this that we are still called to care for those in need. There are people in need all around us. We need to see the need and make sure we are doing all we can to fill that need, including not taking (encroaching) what belongs to someone who may be in need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"...or encroach on the fields of the fatherless." The fatherless, or orphans as they were also called in Biblical times, were one of the groups of people for whom the Israelites were supposed to care. They were 'set aside' if you will, as people needing special attention. This idea is highlighted in this proverb, and we can take from this that we are still called to care for those in need. There are people in need all around us. We need to see the need and make sure we are doing all we can to fill that need, including not taking (encroaching) what belongs to someone who may be in need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 5, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be joined in worship this Sunday by Jack Sullivan, who is the new Regional Minister for Pennsylvania. Jack will be bringing the message for us this Sunday, and I encourage you all to attend. Following worship we will have a time of fellowship and treats so that everyone has ample time to get to know Jack. I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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We will be joined in worship this Sunday by Jack Sullivan, who is the new Regional Minister for Pennsylvania. Jack will be bringing the message for us this Sunday, and I encourage you all to attend. Following worship we will have a time of fellowship and treats so that everyone has ample time to get to know Jack. I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Proverbs 23: 9; Saying 10
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'Fool' here can be defined as someone who does not believe in God and who would like to bring others to that way of thinking. This definition is one that keeps this verse contextual for us. In other words, we all know people who fit this description. I would like to change this verse a little though to say that while we perhaps should not listen to them we should talk to them. We should talk to them, share with them the good news of Jesus, and try our very best to bring them to a life of faith. We must be careful to not be led astray, but that should not keep us from leading others to the way of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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'Fool' here can be defined as someone who does not believe in God and who would like to bring others to that way of thinking. This definition is one that keeps this verse contextual for us. In other words, we all know people who fit this description. I would like to change this verse a little though to say that while we perhaps should not listen to them we should talk to them. We should talk to them, share with them the good news of Jesus, and try our very best to bring them to a life of faith. We must be careful to not be led astray, but that should not keep us from leading others to the way of God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Proverbs 23: 6-8; Saying 9
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our words and our thoughts are, at times, two very different things. The person described in this proverb is the type of person whose words do not reflect what is in his mind, or heart. We need to work hard to make sure our mind and voice are on the right page so that when we say, 'I will help you,' we actually will, lovingly, help the person; so that when we say 'I love you,' to our brother and sister in Christ we will actually mean it. Words are not enough, there needs to be love and kindness behind them, as well as honest to follow through with what has been said. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Our words and our thoughts are, at times, two very different things. The person described in this proverb is the type of person whose words do not reflect what is in his mind, or heart. We need to work hard to make sure our mind and voice are on the right page so that when we say, 'I will help you,' we actually will, lovingly, help the person; so that when we say 'I love you,' to our brother and sister in Christ we will actually mean it. Words are not enough, there needs to be love and kindness behind them, as well as honest to follow through with what has been said. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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