Born from above

PK’s Corner                                                   

 June 2012      

John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above”.

This verse and the verses that follow run counter to the culture we live in today.  The world tells us that we are okay in our sin, and yet tries to sell us something that makes us better.  We are told not to judge the lifestyles of others, and yet we see lives cut short through drugs, alcohol, physical and sexual abuse.  I think one of the great travesties in life is when we are convinced that God accepts us the way we are and we don’t need to be changed

What we overlook is that while God created us good, we ruined that goodness with sin.  This is not a popular notion in the world, or in many of our churches.  We are a marred image of God and thus we are not okay.  But what must we do?

We must be willing to be changed.  Notice I did not say be willing to change, but be willing to be changed, for you see, we cannot change on our own.  Only the creator can change us.  We must be born again, only this time from above. 

Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, a man who thought he was in good standing with God and this passage took the wind out of his sails.  It should be doing the same thing to us. 

In our sin state, we are not able to see the kingdom.  It is only after we have looked upon Christ with the desire to be changed that we can know what God’s love is all about.

The reality of the Christian religion is this, unless we are willing to be changed through Christ, we can have nothing to do with God.

Amen

Know It

PK's Corner   May 2012                             

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.

“A little knowledge can do a lot of damage”, I heard this statement once from a doctor who had just finished treating an infected wound.  The patient felt he knew enough to heal the wound, but he was incomplete in the cleaning, and the wound became infected.

Our spiritual journey runs the risk of being an infected wound.  If we are not continuing our learning and growing in Christ, then we run the risk of being “destroyed for lack of knowledge”.

In the world today, there is much incomplete knowledge of the bible and its teachings.  Many times we quote the bible only to find out our quote wasn’t even in the bible to begin with.  Pride also steps up and even in us ministers; we will neglect our studies because we feel we “know it all”.

We can never know it all and that is why Christians must be constant in study.  God is worthy of knowing, and learning about.  We cannot rely on our own abilities to share the Good News of Christ; we must study constantly so we can share the word, for all things necessary for salvation are in the bible.  There is no secret knowledge, it is all available to us, but we must be willing to study and grow in Christ.

Lack of knowledge will destroy a church and a soul.  If we act without knowledge of Christ, we run the risk of sharing a limited savior to a world that needs all of Christ.  

If you proclaim to know Christ, then get to know him.  Prayer, study, worship, service, praise, are just a few of the hallmarks of a true Christian life.  Don’t neglect your studies, because the world needs to know the truth.

Amen

Peace

PK’s Corner :                                                         March 2012




Mark 4:39 “He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.”

The world is not a peaceful. Political, social and economic events are over riding the spiritual peace in our lives. Watching friends and family hurt because of the storms in life brings the storm into our own lives.

All too often we go to Jesus in prayer and scream at the top of our lungs, “don’t you care that we are about to drown and die”. Our lives are so busy and we try to make ends meet and things are not working out.

Jesus’ response to us, “Peace, be still”, these are not words to take lightly, for what storm will swallow the savior, and what bad can overcome the blessing of Christ. Christ can bring peace, but we need to listen to that still peaceful voice.

Later Jesus would say ‘Peace, be with you” and he gives us peace, but we have to be open to it. The storms of life are nothing compared to the peace of Christ. The world cannot give us peace nor does it want to, for the world has kicked up the storm. Only Christ can give true peace and calm the storms in our life.

Let you heart be open, be not afraid, let Christ give you peace. If you give him your all; your fears, your concerns, your regrets, your hopes, your dreams, and yes your life, then you will truly feel the peace of Christ.



Amen

Fear not.

PK’s Corner February 2012



Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I AM with you…for I am your God. I will strengthen you…”



As we continue in our journey through this New Year, there is still an element of fear. We fear the unknown. We fear the power of others. For many of us, there is an innate fear of the political process.

But that doesn’t need to be. Isaiah, sharing Gods word to Judah, reassures them of God’s presence in their lives. There was much to fear then, nations sought to conquer and destroy the people of God and yet God says, “I AM with you.”

God is with us, always, there is no need to fear. Jesus even assured us before going into heaven that he would be with us “even to the end of the age.” We are never alone, and we need not fear what tomorrow will bring, for God is with us and God will strengthen us.
Are you living in fear, is the night too dark, or the road too harsh, turn to God, for God is our strength and redeemer. With God there is no need to fear, there is only wonder, awe and absolute love.

Do not fear, for God is near.

Amen

Begin again

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created…”



What better place to start the year than with the start of the bible? “In the beginning God created...”, these powerful words start the book that is the foundation of religion for most of the people around the world. It is within the covers of this book that we can see a chance for a new beginning.



God is the god of new beginnings. God created and then nurtured this world and creation. God cleaned up the mess we made many times and still shows love towards us. We read about Noah, and God saving humanity, and about Joseph and God saving Israel. We read on and see how kingdoms were given beginnings, and people over and over given new beginnings. Then we see the ultimate in new creations, Jesus Christ, God’s son, the word made flesh, sent to earth to save the world.



God is not done creating, and that is the assurance we have in Christ. This New Year can be a new opportunity to be a new creation in Christ. The question you have to ask yourself is, “am I truly happy this way?” If you aren’t then it is time to be created in the image of Christ.



Beginning is what it’s all about. Can you be a new creation in Christ? Do you want to be? God is ready to begin again, and all you have to do is ask.



Amen

Gifting

2nd Timothy 1:6a “For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you…”



The holidays are upon us. We run around in a frenzy worrying about what gift to give who, how we are going to pay for it and what will we do if Aunt Martha gives us another of her “special” fruitcakes. In essence, the time of celebration becomes a time of worry and concern.



But we need to stop the frenzy and remember the gifts that God has given us. We live in a time of Gospel Illiteracy and Spiritual Malnutrition. For those of us who grew up in an earlier tradition, we may not remember not knowing about Jesus or the Nativity, but there are whole generations who only know Christmas as a time to shop and get gifts.



We have been given a gift that needs to be shared. As the church ages it, we need to be aware that the new people coming in may not know about Christ, and it is up to us to teach.



When people come into the church, they first need fed and nourished, not put to work. We as a church need to be willing to teach and help the younger generations to grow in Christ. We have been given the gift of experience and knowledge and wisdom.



To all of us who have some age on us, this is a reminder that our job is just getting started, our call has been given, and Paul is reminding us that we have a gift that needs to be shared.



If you are worried about the gift you can give to those around you, give of the knowledge and love you have for the church. Help the younger generations grow and know Christ, so that when they are where you are, they can lead the next generation.



We have all been called to be the gift, it’s time to answer that call.



Amen

Heartbreak

Pk’s Corner November 2011


2 Corinthians 2:4 “For out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart I wrote you with many tears…”.




This past week I was challenged, and I bring that challenge to you. The question is; What breaks your heart? My answer came as not a surprise but a confirmation as to why I am a minister.



As I look out over the congregation on Sunday mornings, I see empty seats. As I drive home after the service I see children playing, restaurants full, and the stadiums filled to over flowing with sports fans waiting for the kickoff. My heart is broken.



You see, the empty pews are not about numbers on our rolls, nor are they about the amount of money the church has received in the collection. What grieves me is that an empty pew represents a person that may die in their sin.



As a church we are called to go and make Disciples of Christ, but our churches are getting emptier and emptier over the years. The older folks are dying off and the younger folks seem to be attracted to worldly pursuits. Our economic times dictate working on the Sabbath just to keep food on the table.

People are dying, not knowing about a loving caring Christ that can give them eternal life. The empty pew grieves me, and troubles my heart, for there is a person out there that has not heard of Christ. The empty pew means a lost person is still lost. Someone out there will spend eternity in hell because that pew is empty.



The Holy Spirit saves, let’s get that straight, but the church provides a safe loving place so people can develop and grow that relationship with Christ. But if they are not there, how can they know.

And how can they come unless we bring them, invite them, love them enough to open our hearts and doors to them.



So the question I have for you, is your heart broken enough to point a soul to Christ? Who is truly responsible for those who die in their sin, simply because they haven’t heard? Why haven’t they heard? Why haven’t you told them?



As Christians we are all responsible for our brothers and sisters eternity. Will you let God call the lost through you, or are you satisfied with the extra space in the pew?



Amen