PK’s Corner
Luke 21: 34a “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life…”
The geo-political world is in upheaval; our own government seems to get more and more out of touch every day. Our savings are at an all time low and unemployment is on its way to an all time high. The voice of doom and gloom is being broadcast on all channels and in all of our hearts. Despair is being heard loud and clear, and hope seems to have abandoned us.
Or has it?
Jesus gives us this word, “Be on Guard…” be on guard against dissipation (i.e. in over extravagance or in squandering), in drunkenness and in worry. Isn’t it interesting that the three things that can separate us from heaven are an overindulgent lifestyle, drunkenness and worry? Right now the biggest problem we have in our faith walk in Christ is worry.
This worry is showing up in the ministries of the church. People are hoarding their time and talent for fear that there will be an ultimate lost, but Christ assures us that we cannot let this happen. We must live lives that exude generosity and love.
In order to dispel worry, we must first have faith in God. I once read that faith is not stepping out into nothingness, but listening and obeying that voice that says the ledge is there, even if we can’t see it.
Now is the time for faith, not fear. So “Be On GUARD! Amen
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
cost
P.K.’s Corner
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God with you body!”
“Honey, we need to pay for some things at the school.” My wife said to me as I was getting ready to go to the office. It turns out that in order for my kids to participate in the activities of school, certain things must be paid for, T-shirts, bus fare, miscellaneous sales items and clothing to match the team. It seems every time I turn around, there is another cost to having 3 kids in school. Don’t get me started on the other bills, payments and costs that keep going up in this “growing” economy. If you ask me the only thing growing is the cost of living, and soon even air will be sold at a premium.
But, then I try to look at things in perspective, and I ask myself, “What is the true price I would be willing to pay for my children, or for my neighbor?’ I realize that all the money in the world does not compare to the price God paid for my freedom. When I think of Jesus paying the ultimate price so that I could be free of sin and death, then the bills and the dues and the costs seem trivial. For you see, I have been redeemed by blood and I am now a free child of God.
Yeah, times are tough, but were it not for the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, times would get a lot tougher. We have been bought with a price, a price none of us could afford, and yet the redeemed are stamped “Paid in full”
Thank you Jesus.
Amen
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God with you body!”
“Honey, we need to pay for some things at the school.” My wife said to me as I was getting ready to go to the office. It turns out that in order for my kids to participate in the activities of school, certain things must be paid for, T-shirts, bus fare, miscellaneous sales items and clothing to match the team. It seems every time I turn around, there is another cost to having 3 kids in school. Don’t get me started on the other bills, payments and costs that keep going up in this “growing” economy. If you ask me the only thing growing is the cost of living, and soon even air will be sold at a premium.
But, then I try to look at things in perspective, and I ask myself, “What is the true price I would be willing to pay for my children, or for my neighbor?’ I realize that all the money in the world does not compare to the price God paid for my freedom. When I think of Jesus paying the ultimate price so that I could be free of sin and death, then the bills and the dues and the costs seem trivial. For you see, I have been redeemed by blood and I am now a free child of God.
Yeah, times are tough, but were it not for the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, times would get a lot tougher. We have been bought with a price, a price none of us could afford, and yet the redeemed are stamped “Paid in full”
Thank you Jesus.
Amen
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Assuming
P.K.’s Corner
Assuming
Luke 24: 18b. “…Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have take place there in these days?”
On the road to Emmaus, two of Christ’s followers were talking about the events of that first Easter day. On their minds they had the crucifixion and then that very morning, the body of Christ was missing. Their thoughts were focused on these events and the teachings that Jesus gave them.
A stranger comes up and literally asks, “What is going on?” To these men, they assumed everyone knew what happened. They were not ready for someone to not know. Fortunately, it was Jesus who was there and explained all that happened.
As followers of Christ, it is easy to assume that every person in America knows about Jesus. In fact we think missionaries should go to a foreign country rather than minister in our own back yard. The sad fact is people don’t know Jesus. Our cities and towns are full of people who are literally ignorant of even the basics of the Bible. We, the church have for years assumed that people knew what we were talking about, and our neighbors have no clue of what the Gospel even is. We have only our selves to blame.
For us, that is the challenge, to stop assuming that others know Christ and to assume the responsibility of sharing the word of God. Folks, people’s souls are at stake, and God’s kingdom is coming. Share the gospel with everyone you meet, even if you think they know it. If they have heard it before, that’s okay, it’s a message worth repeating.
Amen
Assuming
Luke 24: 18b. “…Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have take place there in these days?”
On the road to Emmaus, two of Christ’s followers were talking about the events of that first Easter day. On their minds they had the crucifixion and then that very morning, the body of Christ was missing. Their thoughts were focused on these events and the teachings that Jesus gave them.
A stranger comes up and literally asks, “What is going on?” To these men, they assumed everyone knew what happened. They were not ready for someone to not know. Fortunately, it was Jesus who was there and explained all that happened.
As followers of Christ, it is easy to assume that every person in America knows about Jesus. In fact we think missionaries should go to a foreign country rather than minister in our own back yard. The sad fact is people don’t know Jesus. Our cities and towns are full of people who are literally ignorant of even the basics of the Bible. We, the church have for years assumed that people knew what we were talking about, and our neighbors have no clue of what the Gospel even is. We have only our selves to blame.
For us, that is the challenge, to stop assuming that others know Christ and to assume the responsibility of sharing the word of God. Folks, people’s souls are at stake, and God’s kingdom is coming. Share the gospel with everyone you meet, even if you think they know it. If they have heard it before, that’s okay, it’s a message worth repeating.
Amen
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Heritage
Heritage
P.K.’s Corner
Joshua 4:6 “so that this will be a sign among you. In the future when the children ask “ What do these stones mean to you?’ you should tell them.
The Israelites had just crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land, but before the priests could come out of the water, one more task had to be done. Stones were gathered and set up in a pile. This pile was to be a memorial for the future generations to remind them of the greatness of God.
Change is a part of life. In fact, without change there is death, so in order to grow we must change. But change is often the hardest and most stressful part of life. When we get into routines, we don’t like to get out of them because that is just too hard.
Our never changing God does not expect us to stagnate, but to be transformed, and God expects churches to change so that the word can be given to all people. But, we are also called to reflect on the pile of stones by the river; Why? Because that pile of stones points to God and to the future God has for us. We don’t build a temple to maintain the stones, we more forward to glorify God.
Heritage allows us to see where we have come from, and that is something we must never forget, because it is in that journey that God has interacted and guided us. But, we cannot dwell in our heritage, because God calls us to God’s kingdom.
We must never forget the greatness of God, so that we can live in the greatness of God. This is Heritage.
Amen
P.K.’s Corner
Joshua 4:6 “so that this will be a sign among you. In the future when the children ask “ What do these stones mean to you?’ you should tell them.
The Israelites had just crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land, but before the priests could come out of the water, one more task had to be done. Stones were gathered and set up in a pile. This pile was to be a memorial for the future generations to remind them of the greatness of God.
Change is a part of life. In fact, without change there is death, so in order to grow we must change. But change is often the hardest and most stressful part of life. When we get into routines, we don’t like to get out of them because that is just too hard.
Our never changing God does not expect us to stagnate, but to be transformed, and God expects churches to change so that the word can be given to all people. But, we are also called to reflect on the pile of stones by the river; Why? Because that pile of stones points to God and to the future God has for us. We don’t build a temple to maintain the stones, we more forward to glorify God.
Heritage allows us to see where we have come from, and that is something we must never forget, because it is in that journey that God has interacted and guided us. But, we cannot dwell in our heritage, because God calls us to God’s kingdom.
We must never forget the greatness of God, so that we can live in the greatness of God. This is Heritage.
Amen
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Our Own Path
John21:22 “Jesus said to him,” If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”
Scenario: God calls you to ministry, but you say, “God, I am no John Wesley, so I can’t be a minister”. Comparing ourselves to another is not the way to follow Christ. Jesus was basically telling Peter to not worry about where John was going, Peter needed to worry about doing what Peter was called to do.
Christ calls each of us to follow him, and each of us will have a different path to follow. The eventual destination will be the Heaven, but until then we give ourselves to Christ and go where he sends us. For some that will be the pulpit, for others it will be the coffee shop. No one persons ministry will be the same, and it is wrong for us to think we are called to be exactly like someone else. The only person we are to emulate is Christ himself.
Don’t let the talents of others keep you from following Christ. Christ has a special job for you, one that no one else can do, and your task is to “Follow him”.
Amen
Scenario: God calls you to ministry, but you say, “God, I am no John Wesley, so I can’t be a minister”. Comparing ourselves to another is not the way to follow Christ. Jesus was basically telling Peter to not worry about where John was going, Peter needed to worry about doing what Peter was called to do.
Christ calls each of us to follow him, and each of us will have a different path to follow. The eventual destination will be the Heaven, but until then we give ourselves to Christ and go where he sends us. For some that will be the pulpit, for others it will be the coffee shop. No one persons ministry will be the same, and it is wrong for us to think we are called to be exactly like someone else. The only person we are to emulate is Christ himself.
Don’t let the talents of others keep you from following Christ. Christ has a special job for you, one that no one else can do, and your task is to “Follow him”.
Amen
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Witness
P.K.’s Corner
John 17:23 “… so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
In the final chapters of Christ before the crucifixion, Jesus prays for the disciples. But in that prayer, Christ points out that he has been a witness for the love of God in the world. In fact, Jesus’ entire ministry was proof of God’s love and Christ was the witness. Soon, it was going to be the disciple’s turn to witness to the world.
Have you ever thought about what it means to be a witness? We think of courts and evidence and CSI, but it is more than just telling the truth. To be a witness for Christ means living for Christ. You see we must be a walking billboard of God’s love of God’s creation. But in order to be a witness, we must first believe in the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The key to being a witness for Christ is having a relationship with Christ. We are called to witness to the world, but unless we believe, our witness is impugned.
I guess the question we must keep asking ourselves is “What kind of witness am I for Christ.
Amen
John 17:23 “… so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
In the final chapters of Christ before the crucifixion, Jesus prays for the disciples. But in that prayer, Christ points out that he has been a witness for the love of God in the world. In fact, Jesus’ entire ministry was proof of God’s love and Christ was the witness. Soon, it was going to be the disciple’s turn to witness to the world.
Have you ever thought about what it means to be a witness? We think of courts and evidence and CSI, but it is more than just telling the truth. To be a witness for Christ means living for Christ. You see we must be a walking billboard of God’s love of God’s creation. But in order to be a witness, we must first believe in the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The key to being a witness for Christ is having a relationship with Christ. We are called to witness to the world, but unless we believe, our witness is impugned.
I guess the question we must keep asking ourselves is “What kind of witness am I for Christ.
Amen
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Here I am
P.K.’s Corner
Isaiah6: 8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said “Here am I, Send me.”
Isaiah had a vision, and in it God was looking for someone to take his words of warning and hope to the people. But, there were no takers, and Isaiah at first felt unworthy. But the key was not Isaiah’s worthiness; it was his willingness and availability.
Have you every been asked to do something and the first thing that comes to your mind is “I can’t do that.” One of the greatest lessons I ever had came from my boss when I was working in her insurance agency. She asked me if I could go out and measure some houses for a quote and then follow up with a letter and phone call. I had never done anything like this before, and I said, “I don’t know how, so I can’t” to which she said, “You mean you don’t know how and are willing to learn”. What a great lesson from a loving boss, and God is the same way. When we say we can’t, God says, “no you can’t yet, but when the time comes you will because I will be with you”. God is willing to invest the time into us so that we can be instruments of His Grace.
This month stop hiding behind excuses and stand up with Isaiah and say, “Here I Am, Send me. Let God know that you are available, that you are here. There are plenty of opportunities, don’t let them pass you by. Amen
Isaiah6: 8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said “Here am I, Send me.”
Isaiah had a vision, and in it God was looking for someone to take his words of warning and hope to the people. But, there were no takers, and Isaiah at first felt unworthy. But the key was not Isaiah’s worthiness; it was his willingness and availability.
Have you every been asked to do something and the first thing that comes to your mind is “I can’t do that.” One of the greatest lessons I ever had came from my boss when I was working in her insurance agency. She asked me if I could go out and measure some houses for a quote and then follow up with a letter and phone call. I had never done anything like this before, and I said, “I don’t know how, so I can’t” to which she said, “You mean you don’t know how and are willing to learn”. What a great lesson from a loving boss, and God is the same way. When we say we can’t, God says, “no you can’t yet, but when the time comes you will because I will be with you”. God is willing to invest the time into us so that we can be instruments of His Grace.
This month stop hiding behind excuses and stand up with Isaiah and say, “Here I Am, Send me. Let God know that you are available, that you are here. There are plenty of opportunities, don’t let them pass you by. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
