Hebrews 2:18
" Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."
Look into any other religion of the world, and you will not find a God who has gone as far as ours has. God came to earth as a little baby in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He grew with us, suffered the bodily ailments that come with living. He went hungry and thirsted, and he felt compassion for his children.
The God I serve is one who knows the trials and tests I am going through, because he traveled the same road. As the writer of Hebrew tells us, he is able to help us who are being tested.
We start a new year next week. There will be many tests in the months ahead, but be assured, God is there to go through the tests with you, if you but ask.
Help is right where you are.
Amen
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Stones:
Matthew 3:9 "Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God if able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham' (NRSV)
Many times we look at church as our redemption, or to our parents who go to church as our redemption. It is amazing that when I ask if someone knows Jesus Christ personally and have been saved the answer I get is "Well, I go to church." That isn't what I asked.
Just going to church is not enough to escape the wrath to come, we must have a relationship with Jesus, and the only way to do that is to believe the Jesus is the risen Savior and he will wash away your sins if you ask.
I realize this is a secular blog place but for many of you who may read this in passing, seriously consider where you will spend eternity. God desires your presence at his table, not in the pit. It isn't enough to be good, or go to church, you must believe. In this season of advent, look forward to the kingdom that is coming and believe.
God's love to you all
Pastor Kent
Many times we look at church as our redemption, or to our parents who go to church as our redemption. It is amazing that when I ask if someone knows Jesus Christ personally and have been saved the answer I get is "Well, I go to church." That isn't what I asked.
Just going to church is not enough to escape the wrath to come, we must have a relationship with Jesus, and the only way to do that is to believe the Jesus is the risen Savior and he will wash away your sins if you ask.
I realize this is a secular blog place but for many of you who may read this in passing, seriously consider where you will spend eternity. God desires your presence at his table, not in the pit. It isn't enough to be good, or go to church, you must believe. In this season of advent, look forward to the kingdom that is coming and believe.
God's love to you all
Pastor Kent
Friday, November 30, 2007
Get Ready
Matthew 24:44 "therefore you also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour"
If you read this whole passage, it can put a scare into you, until you realize that Jesus is talking about life. He talks about how two will be working in a field and one will be taken, and the other left, or two women will be grinding and one will be taken and the other left. This is more about everyday life than about the end times.
Humans are finite beings, that means we have a beginning and an end. We don't know when that end will come, so we must always be ready for it. For the Christian, that means prayer, worship, praise, and sharing the Good News. We don't know when we will die, and we don't know when others will die, all we know is that we must spread the Good News.
The sad thing is when a friend you plan on witnessing to dies before you get a chance to share with them. That very thought should be enough to break our hearts. Christ desires for no one to be condemned, He desires for all of his children to feast at the banquet, but there will be those who will choose not to go. We do not choose for them, but we are to give them the chance to say yes or no to Christ.
During this Advent Season, let's give of our selves and share the good news, so that everyone can be prepared.
Amen
Pastor Kent
If you read this whole passage, it can put a scare into you, until you realize that Jesus is talking about life. He talks about how two will be working in a field and one will be taken, and the other left, or two women will be grinding and one will be taken and the other left. This is more about everyday life than about the end times.
Humans are finite beings, that means we have a beginning and an end. We don't know when that end will come, so we must always be ready for it. For the Christian, that means prayer, worship, praise, and sharing the Good News. We don't know when we will die, and we don't know when others will die, all we know is that we must spread the Good News.
The sad thing is when a friend you plan on witnessing to dies before you get a chance to share with them. That very thought should be enough to break our hearts. Christ desires for no one to be condemned, He desires for all of his children to feast at the banquet, but there will be those who will choose not to go. We do not choose for them, but we are to give them the chance to say yes or no to Christ.
During this Advent Season, let's give of our selves and share the good news, so that everyone can be prepared.
Amen
Pastor Kent
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thanks
Psalm 107:1
"Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever"
Thanksgiving, the time of year where we stop to remember what it is we have to be thankful for. In the next couple of days, we will either be traveling, or preparing for travelers. Our families and/or friends will be coming to a feast and turkey and dressing will be abundant.
At least that is the traditional idea. For many, it will be a time of loneliness and hunger. For many it will be a hard time trying to think of something to be thankful for. For those who have lost loved ones, it will be a lonely time, for those who are sick, it will be a painful time How do we share God in times like these?
We do it by sharing of ourselves. Yes, we have family, but is it bad to open our doors to non-family? Yes we have friends, but is it bad to open our doors to new friends? We who believe, know God is good, but what of those who don't know God?
God's love endures forever, but it only shows itself through those who love their neighbor. Go and be that person.
AMEN
"Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever"
Thanksgiving, the time of year where we stop to remember what it is we have to be thankful for. In the next couple of days, we will either be traveling, or preparing for travelers. Our families and/or friends will be coming to a feast and turkey and dressing will be abundant.
At least that is the traditional idea. For many, it will be a time of loneliness and hunger. For many it will be a hard time trying to think of something to be thankful for. For those who have lost loved ones, it will be a lonely time, for those who are sick, it will be a painful time How do we share God in times like these?
We do it by sharing of ourselves. Yes, we have family, but is it bad to open our doors to non-family? Yes we have friends, but is it bad to open our doors to new friends? We who believe, know God is good, but what of those who don't know God?
God's love endures forever, but it only shows itself through those who love their neighbor. Go and be that person.
AMEN
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Don't get tired
2 Thessalonians 3:13
"Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right." (NRSV)
"We were doing that, but it didn't do any good, so we stopped". How many times have we heard this or a similar phrase? How many good programs have stopped because people got tired of not seeing results?
Successful ministry is a difficult thing to measure. Too often, the mainline denominations measure success by the number of people in the pews on Sunday, or the amount of money in the coffers, but is that the true idea of Christian success? I wonder.
Churches are responsible for doing good things, and this does not stop just because the church did not get a pat on the back. We are called by Christ to love our neighbor and therebye are called to do everything we can to share that love. Getting tired and being retired is not an excuse. If we call ourselves Christian, then we are to run the race in full, not just halfway.
A baseball coach tells the players to run hard all the way to the base, because there is no guarantee that the baseman will catch the ball. God calls us to run and work hard all the way, because this world needs to hear the Good News, and there is a lot of work to do.
Don't get tired and keep on going until you hear the master say "Well Done!"
Amen
"Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right." (NRSV)
"We were doing that, but it didn't do any good, so we stopped". How many times have we heard this or a similar phrase? How many good programs have stopped because people got tired of not seeing results?
Successful ministry is a difficult thing to measure. Too often, the mainline denominations measure success by the number of people in the pews on Sunday, or the amount of money in the coffers, but is that the true idea of Christian success? I wonder.
Churches are responsible for doing good things, and this does not stop just because the church did not get a pat on the back. We are called by Christ to love our neighbor and therebye are called to do everything we can to share that love. Getting tired and being retired is not an excuse. If we call ourselves Christian, then we are to run the race in full, not just halfway.
A baseball coach tells the players to run hard all the way to the base, because there is no guarantee that the baseman will catch the ball. God calls us to run and work hard all the way, because this world needs to hear the Good News, and there is a lot of work to do.
Don't get tired and keep on going until you hear the master say "Well Done!"
Amen
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Good Paths
Jeremiah 6:16
"... stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for you lives..."
This is one of my favorite verses, because it encourages us to look to the old ways, or ancient teachings for the good way. I believe God is telling us that the old truths are still the truth, and just as God is never changing, so His word is never changing.
We live in a modern world, and many in this world are willing to say the Bible is an archaic book that teaches nothing relevant to our lives. But, what the world does not realize is that the basic teaching of the Bible is "Love the Lord, and Love your neighbor". The Bible is a love story of a creator for his creation. The act of Jesus coming to earth and dying on a cross is an act of love that has no boundaries.
To me, the Bible is the good path, and thus it brings rest. All that is necessary for salvation is found between the covers of the Bible. This good path is ours by God's grace.
Heavenly Father
Creator of Love
Maker of Earth
And all that's above.
Guide us down
The path that is best
And bring us home
To your Heavenly Rest.
Amen
"... stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for you lives..."
This is one of my favorite verses, because it encourages us to look to the old ways, or ancient teachings for the good way. I believe God is telling us that the old truths are still the truth, and just as God is never changing, so His word is never changing.
We live in a modern world, and many in this world are willing to say the Bible is an archaic book that teaches nothing relevant to our lives. But, what the world does not realize is that the basic teaching of the Bible is "Love the Lord, and Love your neighbor". The Bible is a love story of a creator for his creation. The act of Jesus coming to earth and dying on a cross is an act of love that has no boundaries.
To me, the Bible is the good path, and thus it brings rest. All that is necessary for salvation is found between the covers of the Bible. This good path is ours by God's grace.
Heavenly Father
Creator of Love
Maker of Earth
And all that's above.
Guide us down
The path that is best
And bring us home
To your Heavenly Rest.
Amen
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
A Glimpse
Luke 9:27 "I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God before they die".
Have you seen the kingdom of God, or have you been too busy to notice it? The world would have us put on blinders that keep us from seeing the awesome reality of our God. I have seen glimpses of the Kingdom. Sometimes its a glimpse through a child's smile, or in the prayer of a friend. Sometimes I get a glimpse of the kingdom in watching people come together to help out another, or just in holy conversation.
The point is, the kingdom is here and is coming. God provides us many opportunities to see and be apart of the kingdom. So look around you and notice the kingdom of God.
Amen
Pastor Kent
Have you seen the kingdom of God, or have you been too busy to notice it? The world would have us put on blinders that keep us from seeing the awesome reality of our God. I have seen glimpses of the Kingdom. Sometimes its a glimpse through a child's smile, or in the prayer of a friend. Sometimes I get a glimpse of the kingdom in watching people come together to help out another, or just in holy conversation.
The point is, the kingdom is here and is coming. God provides us many opportunities to see and be apart of the kingdom. So look around you and notice the kingdom of God.
Amen
Pastor Kent
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