Aug 22

What Language Do We Use to Address Jesus

          If we go to a shopping man in North America, we speak English to get what we want.  If we go to a restaurant in France, we speak French.  If we travel to Greece, we speak Greek to find our way to the Acropolis.  And when we become personally involved with Jesus, we pray.  We pray because it is the only language we have for speaking to the God revealed in Jesus.  It is also the only language we have for listening to the commands and blessing and guidance that God provides in Jesus.  God is nothing if not personal.  Both God and we humans are most personal, most characteristically our unique selves, in our us of language.  The language between God and us is called prayer.  (Eugene Peterson, Praying the Message of Jesus)

God’s Promises in Prayer

I want to invite you to a journey with me and the rest of the congregation.  It is a journey into this wonderful language and privilege of prayer.  Prayer to the God of Creation revealed to us in Jesus Christ.  For the next two months, we will be emphasizing this most fundamental organic part of our lives in Christ, prayer. 

Prayer is not something added on to the Christian life.  Prayer is a way of living.  It is not a subject to be studied.  It is not a technique to be learned.  It is a life lived in response to God. 

There will be a prayer notebook for each person to journal our life of prayer.  Weekly there will be a guide for Scripture reading building toward the message of the weekend and an experiment with prayer for us to strengthen our lives of prayer.  I hope this will be a rewarding time of growing in one of the most vital aspects of our relationship with God.

Pastor Greg

Aug 15

Three Wishes Solomon’s Prayers

When we think of the biblical character King Solomon we think of his wisdom, the books of Proverbs or Ecclesiastes or Song of Solomon, even the visit from the Queen of Sheba.  The next two Sundays we will consider Solomon’s prayers.  Each prayer gives insight on the nature of God.  The history in Samuel and Kings show the development of the understanding of God as present only in the Ark of the Covenant, to the God that cannot be contained and the earth is God’s footstool.

This week is our church annual picnic.  Our worship time will be considering Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 3 and using it as the base for a mini-prayer retreat.  Join us for this time of getting away for a time of personal prayer and fellowship.

The next Sunday, August 25, will conclude the series, “Triumph and Tragedy:  The Three Kings of Israel.”  1 Kings 8 and the question “Where does God live?’ will be the sermon.

See you at the barn on Sunday!
Pastor Greg

Aug 01

The Settled-for-Life

So much of life is just consumed with living.  Getting the bills paid, getting to work, getting the kids, getting groceries, getting the dog to the vet, getting the yard done; you know, just living.  Some look at this and ask, “Is this all there is?”  Most just accept it and live what I call, “the settled-for-life.” 

Those few moments that we can squeeze time for the Scriptures, we are confused by the way life should be for those with faith.  We read that those with faith in God, “through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  Women received back their dead back to life (Heb 11:33-35).”

I guess when we read this picture, we assume it is just some fantasy, a grand illusion of something far beyond any of us.  Yet, this is not an abnormal picture of the life of faith, it is just the life that cannot be lived by accepting just the settled-for-life.  We are challenged by Scripture to “lift up our eyes.”  God told Abraham to lift up his eyes and see the land promised to him and his descendants.  Jesus tells his disciples to lift up their eyes and see the fields that are ready for harvest. 

There is a quest for us to lift up our eyes and see what we could do by faith.  This week’s sermon is about David and a spiritual quest he undertook for God.  It has valuable lessons for us as we attempt great things for God.

Read 2 Samuel 7:1-14

Pastor Greg

Jul 25

Character in Daily Values

Character in Daily Values
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body,
whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Our “spiritual life” is most strongly expressed in our outward character.  Here is some thoughts I found helpful by Lee McGlone.

Character.
One of the most frightening of the ancient heresies that rises in each age is that of Gnosticism. It suggests a blatant distinction between things spiritual and physical so that all that matters is spiritual. The physical has no lasting meaning or value. This philosophy characterized itself in two ways. First, as a call to asceticism: total self-denial, complete abstinence of any earthly thing. Hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil. Second, it led to indulgence in things physical and carnal. Because the physical world doesn’t matter, and all that matters is spiritual, what one does with one’s physical life is of no regard. Such a view legitimizes every kind of abhorrent behavior. Modern-day stories abound. Without naming names, we must admit that ministers are not immune from such abuses. Behavior does matter. Character is all that matters.

Pastor Greg