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The Holy Spirit, Pentecost, and the Old Testament

183:738565918 (John Batts) — Tue, 29 May 2018 10:00:31 GMT

Copy of an older post from 2009...

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) -- "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Following Jesus' ascension, the disciples did just as Jesus had commanded them -- they remained together in Jerusalem and waited on the giving of the Holy Spirit before they continued with what is known as the Great Commission. (Jesus said, as recorded in Acts 1:8 -- "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." NKJV) As we read in Acts 2:1-4 (shown above), the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost, empowering the disciples to speak in other languages, resulting in the message of the Gospel being shared simultaneously with thousands of people!

But why did this happen on the Day of Pentecost? Certainly, there were a lot of people in Jerusalem -- this was a celebration day that would be accompanied by a lot of activity. So, from a strategic sense, there was good reason for this to happen on this day. However, could there be more? I think so...in fact, from my initial study of Scripture, it appears to be linked to the Old Testament in a way that completely glorifies God!

First, it's important to understand the significance of the Day of Pentecost. The word "Pentecost" refers to "fifty days". In the Old Testament, the Day of Pentecost is directly linked to the Jewish festival "Shavuot", in the Bible known as the Festival (or Feast) of Weeks. It is a celebration that commemorates when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai -- an event that occurred fifty days after the Passover, when the Jewish people were freed from bondage and enslavement to the Egyptians. (From Wikipedia -- "On Passover, the Jewish people were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God.")

Interestingly, the Festival of Weeks is also referred to in Scripture as Day of First Fruits, a celebration of the harvest that God gave His people, and is linked to the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16 ) as well. God's people would celebrate how God had taken care of them and would offer back to God the first-fruits of their harvest as a way of honoring God.

Here's where it gets so incredible -- look at the similarities and the significance of the two events, from the Old Testament and the New Testament:

1) In the Old Testament, the Passover celebrated when the Jews were freed from enslavement and Pentecost celebrated when they became a nation committed to God. In the New Testament, the crucifixion of Christ during Passover week is something we look back to as a time when humanity was provided freedom from being enslaved to sin...and at Pentecost, through the giving of the Holy Spirit, it's a celebration of entering a new relationship with God.

2) In the Old Testament, as you read the accounts, you find that -- when God gave the law (the Torah) to Moses on Mount Sinai, He wrote the 10 Commandments Himself on the tablets of stone. (see Deuteronomy 9:10 ) God Himself carved the 10 Commandments into the stone to signify the covenant relationship He had with His people. In the New Testament, the image of the Holy Spirit being given to the disciples mimics the finger of God -- in this case, it was as tongues of fire, signifying the beginning of a new covenant relationship God was initiating with all of humanity, to all those who would trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. In both cases, God "sealed the deal" symbolically through a direct intervention.

3) Of course, with Pentecost being directly tied to the Feast of Harvest, there is a direct correlation to the harvest the disciples experienced following the giving of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:41 tells us the following: "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." (NKJV) And, just as the Jewish people would make a sacrifice of first-fruits on this day, we see the early church members also making a sacrifice of their own -- Acts 2:44-45 says, "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."

These are just some parallels that I felt God impressing upon my heart as I was preparing for a Bible study in 2009. While not meant to be exhaustive in any way, for me it just serves as a reminder of how intentional God is about everything He does... He is truly amazing!

Five Minute Devotional — 02/28/2012

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:06:00 GMT

Maybe you’ve experienced this yourself: You are talking with someone, and the conversation gets a little tense…the topic, a little bit “touchy”. One of you says something, and the other – in the tension of the moment – thinks that … Continue reading →

Maybe you’ve experienced this yourself:

You are talking with someone, and the conversation gets a little tense…the topic, a little bit “touchy”. One of you says something, and the other – in the tension of the moment – thinks that whatever was said was offensive (in tone or in words), and suddenly a fairly innocent conversation becomes an all-out verbal brawl.

Sound familiar?

Maybe your experience is different. It could be that something was communicated and assumptions made about what was said, only to find out that there wasn’t really a clear understanding of what the expectations were. Perhaps it was a “gossip train” that impacted your life, where you were either on the participation end or the receiving end of a group of people talking about something that involved others who weren’t part of the conversation, which led to speculation, assumptions, hurt feelings, etc.

Regardless of the experience you have endured or been part of, the straightforward principle is this: Communication matters …not just what we say, but how we say it, and the intent by which we say something. And it’s easy to get wrong .

Consider what Scripture says in James 3:7-8 …

“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (NKJV)

It’s easy to say the wrong thing…or the right thing in the wrong way…or the right thing with wrong motives, leading to embarrassment (in a “best-case” scenario) or even severely strained relationships (in a “worst-case” scenario).

As an expression of God’s grace, He gives us some guidance through the pages of Scripture regarding “best practices” for communication that honors Him. Let’s look at some of those:

Proverbs 15:28 says this: “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” (NKJV)

One of the most common paths to communication break-down is when someone makes an immediate and emotional response to something someone else says or does. Often, when that happens, the response is based more upon assumptions than reality. We assume we know what the other person meant…we assume we know the unspoken thoughts or motives of the other person…we assume that what was done or said was done with the intent to hurt. In those instances, our feelings get hurt, and we either go on the offense or we get defensive, as if we must win and the other person must lose.

Communication isn’t supposed to be a battle. The origin of the word harks back to a word that means “sharing between parties” – in other words, communication is meant to bring parties together, to find common ground between parties, and to enhance relationships, not tear them down. If you want to honor God with your communication, it’s much better to think about what you want to say and the best way to say it – to “consider your words” – before simply responding.

Proverbs 12:18 says this: “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.” (NKJV)

Ephesians 4:29 says: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (NKJV)

When we communicate with others, our goal should be to ensure that what we communicate is of benefit to those who hear it. That doesn’t mean that all communication has to be “flowery” or “fake”. Sometimes what needs to be said is simply hard. But our focus should be to communicate in such a way that the hearer is benefited. In other words, we should not be destructive with our communication.

Speaking of which, one of the most destructive ways to communicate is gossip . Gossip – talking negatively about someone behind their back – is “pseudo-communication”. It’s malicious and hurtful, and it sows seeds of mistrust in a relationship immediately. It’s one of the worst kinds of communication, because the goal of the one gossiping is to tear down the absent party.

Leviticus 19:16 says it this way: “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.” (NKJV)

The Bible calls people who gossip “talebearers” – the kind of people who like to tell juicy stories about other people…stories that are often not completely true. In almost all cases, they are told in a way that puts the person who is the focus of the “tale” in a negative light in the minds of those who are listening .

As Christians, because this kind of talk can never benefit the person who is the subject of the gossip, it’s important that we take a firm stance against that kind of idle talk – not only avoiding being a gossiper, but also avoiding participating in discussions where someone else is gossiping.

As the best example of communication that benefits the “hearer”, think about what the Bible says as recorded in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 …

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NKJV)

God’s Word – the written communication directly inspired by God Himself – is described as a tool to explain foundational truths of Christianity (doctrine); to show someone that what they are doing is not consistent with God’s standard (reproof); to help “alter the course” of someone’s life (correction); and to teach someone about the things Jesus taught (instruction in righteousness). There are times when you read something in the Bible, and it leaves you feeling refreshed; but there may be other times when you read something, and you are immediately challenged, knowing that God doesn’t approve of something you have been doing. Either way, as the passage in 2 Timothy says, the result is “profitable”. By listening and applying what God says in His Word, you either experience strengthened relationships with other people or you grow deeper in your relationship with God.

In short, honoring God with our communication means that those who are involved – directly or indirectly – should be benefited by it.

Proverbs 18:13 offers up this advice: “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” (NKJV)

James 1:19 reminds us: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” (NKJV)

There are probably times when you’ve been in a conversation with someone and, while the other person is still talking, instead of listening to what is being said, you are thinking about what you are going to say next.

In reality, most people struggle with being self-centered when it comes to communication. We focus more on what we want to say and ensuring that we are being heard rather than on making sure that we hear what others are saying to us…and because listening doesn’t happen naturally, that means that it’s a learned skill that we need to practice.

The old adage that says, “You have two ears and one mouth – you should listen twice as much as you speak,” is a good “rule of thumb” to follow.

But listening skills don’t just apply to our immediate conversations with others. It’s also important to listen to the advice and wisdom of others that you trust and respect.

Proverbs 19:20 says this: “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” (NKJV)

All too often, we say something or do something without seeking input and counsel from others, only to find out the hard way that we could have avoided some painful moments if we had simply sought out the advice of others. According to the Bible, seeking advice is sound wisdom and is part of God’s plan – and something that could help us communicate more effectively with others and in a way that honors God.

Regardless of whether it’s listening to the other party in our communication or listening to the advice and wisdom from people we trust and respect, listening is an art that we need to practice.

In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 , the Bible says this: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” (NKJV)

Whenever God spoke, He was always clear in His communication. People sometimes argued with Him about it or questioned Him about what He said, but it wasn’t because God wasn’t clear . We would do good to follow His example.

If we communicate something and what we say isn’t clear, then it leaves room for interpretation. By default, then, that means that it’s possible that our expectations won’t be met, because what we said was misinterpreted .

Being clear in what we say is helpful to all parties involved. It sets expectations. It leaves no room for misunderstandings. It’s like a “map” that offers a clear starting point and a certain destination that needs no deciphering…and we’re more apt to honor God through our communication when we are clear in our communication.

There is much more that can be said of the art of God-honoring communication. But in the end, the over-arching principle is to make sure that, whatever you do, you do out of love for God and love for the other person. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” (NKJV) Without love, no matter what we do or say – no matter how “good” we think our communication is – it won’t amount to anything that honors God. But when our communication is motivated by our unconditional love for God and others, the foundation is laid for stronger relationships with others and for a stronger walk with Christ!

Have a blessed day today,

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 12/16/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:12:00 GMT

This morning, I read a news story about some good Samaritans who are helping others anonymously. All around the country, with the focus on Kmart stores, there are nameless people who are making payments towards other people’s layaway accounts — in many cases, paying them off completely. (See the story here: http://fxn.ws/vOEeic ) The people on the receiving end of the gift have all had similar reactions: often with tears rolling down their faces, they simply can’t believe that someone would do something like that. Unbelievably, someone paid a debt they couldn’t pay, and each of the recipients did nothing to earn or deserve the gift.

It’s ironic how, in life, people often approach things with God in the same way. Deep down, we long for a relationship with God, but we have this notion that we have to earn that relationship. So, we put God on “layaway”, and we spend our lives making “payments”, hoping that one day we’ll make enough “payments” (through the good things we do) to get “God”. But as we get older, reality sets in. We realize that we can never really be good enough, that the debt we owe is too big for us to ever pay, so we resign ourselves to the empty hope that maybe God will consider us “good enough” to let us into Heaven when we die.

This is where God’s amazing grace comes in!

Grace is one of the “cornerstone” differentiators between Christianity and the rest of the world religions. Every other major world religion teaches that your relationship with the supreme being they worship – or at least the next stage you experience in your life cycle – is based completely upon what you do. In other words, what you get is what you earn. While that might “feel” right in our society – where we’re taught to work hard for what you get and that nothing is handed to you on a silver platter, etc. – when it comes to our relationship with God and our eternal future, nothing could be further from the truth!

Consider what the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9 –

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (NASB)

…and in Romans 11:6 –

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” (NASB)

…and in Titus 3:4-7 –

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (NKJV)

In God’s Word, what we find is that we are NOT saved by what we do. It’s not me who gets me into Heaven…it’s God . God extends His grace – His “unmerited favor” – towards us as we trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, by faith. According to Christian doctrine, it’s impossible for me to earn anything from God. In fact, as the Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 , what I have earned because of the sin in my life is “death” – eternal separation from God. That means that, without divine intervention, all of mankind – including you and me – would have no hope of ever going to Heaven.

But God did intervene – not because we deserved it, but because He has chosen to love us regardless of our actions and “merit”:

“…for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ( 1 John 4:8b-10 , NKJV)

God doesn’t wait for us to love Him before He chooses to love us in return – He took the first step. He expressed His love to us through Jesus Christ, allowing Him to suffer and die on the cross of Calvary for our sins…and in doing so, He opens the door for mankind to turn to Him by faith, receive forgiveness from our sins freely, be adopted into His family permanently, and look forward to living with Him in Heaven eternally!

In other words, God stepped in and paid our debt…the debt we couldn’t pay ourselves. THAT’S what we celebrate at Christmas – the birth of the Savior, Immanuel, “God With Us”, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We give gifts to one another in remembrance of the best and most wonderful gift we could ever have been given – the gift of Jesus Christ, whom God sent out of His love and grace to save us from our sins and from an eternity apart from Him in Hell.

So today and throughout this Christmas season, be amazed by God’s incredible grace! Allow tears to flow from your eyes in wonder as you consider all that God has done for you through His Son, Jesus Christ…and share that joy and hope with others!

Have a blessed day today,
— Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 10/13/2011

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:36:00 GMT

Several weeks ago, we adopted a couple of kittens that had been rescued by our veterinarian’s office staff. One of the kittens was a small, mostly black little girl that we named “Shadow”. The other kitten was a mostly gray little boy that my son and one of his friends affectionately named “Thor”. It’s been so fun watching them grow up while still being “baby kittens” at heart, tumbling and tussling and keeping each other company. They have been a source of joy and laughter in our house ever since they got there!

Yesterday, though, my family had a little bit of a surprise.

My wife had to take the kittens into the vet’s office for some shots. After administering the shots and giving the kittens a close medical inspection, that’s when they broke the news to my wife: our little “boy” kitten was really a little girl!

You can imagine my shock and disbelief that something so “obvious” could have been missed by the vet’s office when we went to adopt the kittens. However, it apparently takes a little while for the kittens’ bodies to develop enough to really make sure some of the time. So, of course, now we are trying to think of a good “girl name” for our kitten, because the name “Thor” just doesn’t seem very lady-like!

From a Christian perspective, the Bible warns us about a more serious “mistaken identity” issue.

Consider what Jesus said as recorded in Matthew 7:15 …

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (NKJV)

As Christians, it’s so vitally important that we are mindful of ways our enemy will attack us. Too often, Christians get stuck into thinking that we’ll see our enemy in front of us in a red suit with horns, a tail and a pitchfork. But the only place he looks like that is on the “silver screen”. Recall what the Bible says about the way Satan presents himself:

“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness…” ( 2 Corinthians 11:14-15a , NKJV)

Satan (along with all those who are under his control) is an expert at being a “master of disguise”. Why? Because he wants to confuse God’s people, infiltrate the family of God, and cause destruction from within.

This raises an important question, then – If our enemy is in disguise, how can we recognize him?

Providentially, God talks about this very thing in His Word:

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” ( Colossians 2:8 , NKJV)

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” ( Galatians 1:6-9 , NKJV)

One way that we can tell if someone is coming to us as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” is by what he or she teaches. Is the Bible at the core of what is being taught? Does the person rely on Scripture as the infallible and inerrant Word of God? Is there more focus on “worldly wisdom” and not a focus on Christ? Is there an emphasis on earning your place with God through works or being granted your place with God by His grace? It’s vitally important that, as Christians, we take the time to evaluate the things that are taught by others through the lens of Christ. If the central message is anything besides “salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ”, it’s inconsistent with the whole of Scripture…and that helps us see through the disguise.

Consider these passages as well – both a continuation of the first two passages listed above:

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit….Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.” ( Matthew 7:16-18, 20 , NKJV)

“…whose end will be their works.” ( 2 Corinthians 11:15b , NKJV)

In the end, one of the most sure ways that we can see our enemy – and those who follow him – for who they really are is by their “fruit”. In other words, their lives will show them for who they really are and help us not be confused by their “costumes”.

Galatians 5:19-23 highlights a stark comparison between those who live for themselves and those who live under the constant influence of the Holy Spirit:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (NKJV)

Scripture is clear – when people are living for themselves, which is always under the power and influence of our enemy, the focus is “me, me, me”. If it feels good, do it. If it makes me look better at someone else’s expense, fine. If I get angry, then it’s OK to shout at someone and make them feel horrible, as long as it makes me feel better. When we come across people who have this fruit consistently in their lives, that’s God’s “warning sign” to us – that person might be the enemy in disguise.

The “fruit” that is from God is always outwardly-focused – things like unconditional love… abiding joy regardless of circumstances… peace in the midst of the journey… patience with others no matter what they do or how they let you down… being kind even if others aren’t reciprocating… doing good things because they are the right thing to do, even if it might cost you personally… being faithful even when it isn’t convenient… responding with gentleness and not harshly… exercising self-control so that you don’t respond “off the cuff” and hurt someone in the process. These are all evidences – to others and to ourselves – that we are abiding in Christ.

In John 15:5 , Jesus says this:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (NKJV)

When someone is abiding in Jesus – and Jesus is abiding in them – the fruit that results from that relationship is obvious. But the opposite is true as well – when someone is doing life apart from Jesus, the fruit that results is obvious as well…and the fruit in someone’s life serves as a sign to us whether or not that person is a real Christian or a “pretender”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My family and I are still adjusting to “Thor” being a little girl. Fortunately, it was a fairly harmless case of mistaken identity. But when it comes to our faith, it’s important that we be vigilant about the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” – because there’s a lot more at stake…for us individually, for our families, for our churches, and for our communities.

Have a blessed day today and a wonderful weekend!
–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 10/10/2011

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:14:00 GMT

Now that we are more than a decade into the 21st Century, it’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about all the technological advances that have come our way: There are cars that can parallel park for themselves. There … Continue reading →

Now that we are more than a decade into the 21st Century, it’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about all the technological advances that have come our way:

Honestly, the list could go on and on. However, I was recently reminded that, as important as technology is, it can’t replace everything.

Today I received a message from the Puget Sound Blood Center with an urgent call for blood donors, as the region’s blood supply is at critical levels. It seems that, for all the things that we are able to do, one of the things that we cannot do is produce artificial blood. Every drop of blood that is used for transfusion or for research has come by a voluntary donation from a human being.

And by giving your own blood, you provide an opportunity to save another person’s life. (In fact, up to THREE lives, according to the message I received!)

As I thought about that, it brought to mind the life-changing impact of the blood of Jesus:

Through Christ’s blood, your SINS are FORGIVEN…

Consider what the Bible says in these passages –

“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” ( Matthew 26:28 , NKJV)

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” ( Ephesians 1:7 , NKJV)

“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” ( Hebrews 9:22 , NKJV)

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” ( 1 John 1:7 , NKJV)

As Christians, we know that, without the shed blood of Christ, our sins could never be forgiven. As the Bible says, “the wages of sin is death.” ( Romans 6:23a , NKJV). Our sin required death as the payment…a debt we could never truly pay. But according to the Bible, we know that Jesus gave His life as a “ransom for many” ( Mark 10:45 , NKJV), and through His death He took away the “sin of the world” ( John 1:29 , NKJV).

There’s an older praise song that captures this wonderful truth of Christianity:

            He paid a debt He did not owe
            I owed I debt I could not pay
            I needed Someone to wash my sins away
            And now I sing a brand-new song
            Amazing Grace…all day long
            Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay!

Because of the shed blood of Jesus, you can know that your sins are forgiven when you trust in Him by faith.

Through Christ’s blood, you are made HOLY and BLAMELESS…

Consider this passage of Scripture –

“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” ( Hebrews 13:12 , NKJV)

The Greek word (“hagiazo”) that is translated as “sanctify” has a literal meaning of “to make holy”. The root (“hagios”) of that word means “moral blamelessness”. In other words, even though our righteousness is “like filthy rags” ( Isaiah 64:6 , NKJV) and even though we could never make ourselves perfect, because of Jesus’ blood, He makes us holy and blameless.

In the Bible, we have this foundational truth spelled out for us –

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 , NKJV)

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…” ( Colossians 1:21-22 , NKJV)

Through His death on the cross and the blood that He shed, Jesus offers to trade places with you. He accepted your sin upon Himself and then grants you His holiness and His righteousness in exchange when you trust in Him by faith!

Through Christ’s blood, you are made RIGHT with GOD…

Think about what the Bible says as recorded in these verses –

“Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.” ( Romans 5:9 , HCSB)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” ( Ephesians 2:13 , NKJV)

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” ( Colossians 1:19-20 , NKJV)

Because of the blood of Christ, your sins can be forgiven and you can be made holy and blameless…but it doesn’t stop there! Because of His blood, your relationship with God can be restored. With your sin removed, the righteous requirement God put in place as the penalty for sin has been fulfilled…providing you with the freedom to enjoy an unobstructed relationship with God!

Thinking about this brings deeper meaning to passages like these:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…” ( Galatians 5:1a , NIV)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
( Romans 8:14-17 , NKJV)

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
( John 6:56 , NKJV)

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” ( 1 John 4:13 , NKJV)

Through Christ’s blood, you are set free – free to have a real, abiding relationship with the One who created you…free to be adopted into God’s family…free to have an eternal fellowship with God! Because of the shed blood of Jesus, you can know that you are made right with God when you trust in Him by faith!

The amazing story behind all of these promises is that Jesus voluntarily shed His blood for us. It was His choice to die in our place. It was His act of love – “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” ( John 15:13 , NKJV) Jesus willingly “gave blood” – and in so doing, He has opened the door for everyone who trusts in Him by faith to have their sins forgiven…to be made holy and blameless before God…and ultimately to be made right with God and be adopted into His family and to live eternally!

So, if you ever have the opportunity to donate blood, use the time to remember the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for you…and realize that He did it because He loves you!

Have a blessed week,
–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 09/09/2011

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:59:00 GMT

Where were you? Lots of people are asking that question as we get closer to the 10th Anniversary of 9-11. I remember talking with my co-worker, Jackie, while I was driving into work that morning. I had been listening to … Continue reading →

Where were you?

Lots of people are asking that question as we get closer to the 10 ^th Anniversary of 9-11.

I remember talking with my co-worker, Jackie, while I was driving into work that morning. I had been listening to music, not the news, and Jackie asked me if I had heard about what was going on. One plane had already hit the Twin Towers – it would soon become two… while another would focus on the Pentagon and a fourth would target our nation’s capitol. Walking into the office that morning, it was honestly hard for anyone to do their normal jobs. What was happening was too shocking, too hard to understand. How could this be happening here, on our shores, in this country? In a place known as “the land of the free and the home of the brave”, how could anyone act so cowardly?

Stunned, we listened to the radio accounts of what was happening. We were on the internet as much as possible, trying desperately to keep up with the breaking news. With horror, we listened and watched as what had been known as the World Trade Center collapsed. Thousands were dead. Countless numbers of people ran, tears flowing from their eyes, covered in dust and in utter dismay, while others stood in disbelief, watching helplessly at the destruction happening before their eyes.

The impact of those events at “Ground Zero” rippled across our country.

Here at the office, shortly after arriving, I was approached by several of my co-workers who simply asked if I would be willing to lead the group in a prayer…and everyone joined in. And it wasn’t limited to our facility – all around our country, the churches bulged with people…people who were seeking to understand, people who had their foundations shaken, people who recognized that, especially in times of crisis, we needed to lean on God for the strength to carry on and for the comfort to help us deal with the loss and confusion and pain so many were enduring. Prayer vigils were held in communities across the nation. And millions of people throughout the land dropped to their knees. We became a nation of prayer unlike any other time in recent history.

Businesses took down advertisements for their products and replaced them with things like “We Will Never Forget” and “Pray For Our Nation”.

We dropped partisan politics and petty bickering and embraced one another. In spite of our differences, we were Americans, and we were resolved that, while our enemies might knock us down, they would never defeat us. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, we came alongside one another, encouraged one another, and worked together to ensure that this “great experiment” continued and to ensure that the United States of America would always serve as a beacon to “the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.

For the first time in a long time, we truly became the United States – we were a country united in support of one another and in support of doing whatever was necessary to prevent this kind of attack from ever happening on our shores again.

On that day, we heard those courageous stories of the first responders in New York City who bravely went back into the Twin Towers to rescue people trapped…and who ultimately gave their lives to save others. We heard about the passengers on United Flight 93 who attempted to take control of the hijacked plane, eventually leading to the crash of the plane in Pennsylvania, short of its Washington, D.C., target. We heard about the 9-1-1 operators who had to bravely talk with people trapped in the World Trade Center, but all-too-often had to deal with the reality that those with whom they spoke would not make it out alive. So many people became “heroes” that day – people who had to deal with the grief of knowing what was happening and the urgency of the situation, yet kept their composure and continued their jobs on what would arguably be the hardest day of their lives.

While people filled with hatred attempted to fill us with darkness and despair, instead everything that was great about our country and its citizens shone brightly that day.

Unfortunately, not much of the positive impact of September 11, 2001, has remained.

As we pause to remember what occurred that day, it’s important that we also reflect on what has happened in our nation since that day. Thousands of troops have given their lives as we’ve waged a war for years in the Middle East, working to stop those who would use terror tactics to advance their warped agendas. Our economy has suffered. Unemployment has touched nearly every extended family in some way. Politically, brokenness and divisiveness have defined the system more than cooperation and compromise. While we came together as a nation in the days and weeks following September 11, 2001, we’ve since drifted apart. In many ways it seems that we have lost our way as a people and as a country.

In large part, I believe that it’s because we’ve drifted away from God again and back to the mistaken idea that somehow mankind can fix its own problems, that somehow we can legislate and regulate our country back to health. Rather than put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our only Savior, we’ve adopted the notion that we can put our faith and trust in our government and our politicians to make things right…to somehow “save” us.

It’s time for us to get our priorities straight. It’s time that we realize once again that we are a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles, and – just like our National Motto states – realize that it is “In God We Trust”.

Psalm 33:12 says this:

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. (NKJV)

And 1 Peter 2:9 says this:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… (NKJV)

From the inception of our country, we have moved forward as a nation with the understanding that we do so under God’s guidance and by His principles. Consider these words nestled in the fabric of the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

We need to remember that our rights do not come from the government – they come from God. Our freedom does not come from those from either political party – they come from the One who created us.

John 1:3 reminds us of this:

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (NKJV)

Everything that exists is here because God willed it to be here. You and I are not here by accident – we were created with a purpose. The same goes for our country – it is not here by accident. We’re not perfect, but the truth is that there is no other nation like ours on the face of the planet. Our country has been the recipient of God’s incredible blessings, His outstanding mercy, and His amazing grace – I believe, because we have been a nation that has been unashamed to make the LORD our God. There are people, within our borders and beyond our borders, who would do anything they can to silence our message and force us into conformance. They tried blatantly on September 11, 2001, and they found that a “full frontal” attack won’t work against our great nation. Yet, they continue, attempting to erode away our very foundation from within, exchanging absolute truth with relative truth…reducing morality to what can be legislated…and numbing us to just how dark evil can be.

God shares some important wisdom, though, in Proverbs 12:3 –

A person cannot stand firm on a foundation of wickedness, and the roots of righteous people cannot be moved. (GW)

…and Proverbs 10:25 –

When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. (NKJV)

…and Proverbs 24:3 –

It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation. (Message)

As we pause this weekend to reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, let’s take that time to remember the great foundation upon which our nation has been built…and then get on our knees in prayer, seeking God’s face, turning from our wicked ways, and trusting that God will hear us, forgive us, and heal our land. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ) May this weekend be a call to action for God’s people throughout our country to take our relationship with Him seriously and to commit to protecting the foundation of our nation, realizing that it is in God we trust.

Have a blessed day and a weekend full of remembrance,

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 04/08/2011

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:37:00 GMT

Over the years, you have probably heard of some of the frivolous lawsuits that have been brought against companies in this country. For instance, there have been lawsuits by prisoners against the state because of things like their mashed potatoes being cold. Or, the lawsuit brought by a burglar against a homeowner who shot him when he entered the home unlawfully. Or there was the person who spilled coffee on her lap and burned herself and sued McDonald’s because the coffee was hot.

These are silly types of lawsuits; however, they serve as an example of the mentality of many in our country – that is, a lot of people live with a “victim” mentality. Rather than taking responsibility for their actions, they want to push the blame off on circumstances or other people for the difficulties or struggles that they face.

As Christians, it’s easy for us to take a superficial look at the Gospel story and begin to think that Jesus was a victim. Sure, it’s true that He did absolutely nothing wrong. So we think about that, and we think about the way Jesus was mistreated, and we want to blame the Pharisees… or Judas… or the Roman soldiers… or Pontius Pilate. And while each of those parties had something to do with the crucifixion and brutal murder of our Savior, it would be a complete mistake to think of Jesus as a victim .

The word “victim” comes from the Latin word “victima”, which referred to a “living creature killed and offered as a sacrifice to a deity or supernatural power”. At first glance, it might seem that applies to Jesus as well. But there’s an important distinction – when a living animal would be sacrified, that animal didn’t have a choice . Jesus, on the other hand, as “the Lamb of God” did have a choice…and yet He chose to suffer the humiliating death of the cross anyway.

Consider what Scripture says in these passages, with emphasis added:

Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found
in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross , despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly
in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God
and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us , that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV)

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and
a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

It’s important that we, as Christians, allow this truth to sink into our hearts – Jesus knew full-well what He was doing. With a clear mind and a heart full of love, grace and mercy, He made the choice to die in our place on the cross. He knew He would suffer. He knew He was taking on the weight of the world’s sin upon His shoulders while hanging upon the cross. Of course, He didn’t deserve what happened to Him. What He endured was horrible. But it wasn’t because of man’s will that Jesus died…it was because of Jesus’ choice, out of obedience to His Father and as an act of love, that He died.

That’s why it’s important that we not ever make the mistake of thinking that Jesus was a victim. Instead, we should think of Jesus in the terms that Scripture uses for Him – Savior ( Philippians 3:20 )…Redeemer ( Galatians 4:5 )…Intercessor ( Romans 8:34 )…Friend ( John 15:13-14 ). We need to be thankful for what Jesus chose to do on our behalf…we need to remember the sacrifice that He chose to make…and humbly accept the gift of love that He offers us.

This morning, there was a news story out of Florida. The story reported about a seven-year-old boy who was playing in his yard with his four-year-old brother and his brother’s four-year-old friend. At about seven o’clock last night, there was a dog that broke loose from a nearby business and came rushing into the yard where the boys were playing. In an amazing and selfless act, the older brother pushed his younger brother and his brother’s friend under the car parked in the driveway to protect them from the dog…and proceeded to get mauled himself as he was viciously attacked. The boy’s father eventually heard the noise and screaming outside and rescued his son…but not until after the boy sustained severe injuries all over his body.

In that brief instant – when the dog threatened the three boys – the older brother made a choice. He chose to put himself in harm’s way and do everything that he could to protect his younger brother and his brother’s friend. His actions likely saved his brother’s life.

Likewise, Jesus acted selflessly, willingly choosing to accept the punishment of death that we deserved because of our sin, and because of His actions, we have received the gift of eternal life ( Romans 6:23 ). He’s not a victim, He’s our Savior. Praise Him today for all He’s done and for His incredible love.

Have a blessed day today,

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 04/06/2011

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:12:00 GMT

Here in our area of the Pacific Northwest, it’s pretty unusual to see the sunshine without it being obscured by a layer of clouds – at least at this time of year. So when the sun does peek out from … Continue reading →

In fact, it was the shadows that God drew my attention to this morning as I was on my way to work, as each of the cars on the road was casting its shadow on the pavement as it sped along. Shadows, interestingly enough, can remind us of some important spiritual truths as Christians:

1) If you face the light, you can’t see your shadow. – If you want to see your own shadow, the only way to do that is to look away from the light. If you are facing the light and keep looking at it, there’s no way that you can see the shadow you’re casting, because it will always be behind you. We can’t look at true darkness and true light at the same time. It just doesn’t work that way. The same thing holds true for us as Christians.

Consider what the Bible says —

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

You can sense God’s intended pattern in this verse – when we are willing to admit that we’re headed in the wrong direction (i.e., towards the darkness due to our sin), when we turn from living life that way, and when we turn towards God in prayer, seeking His face, His promise to us is three-fold: He will hear us…He will forgive us…and He will heal us!

We need to recognize darkness for what it is – the absence of light. And while we may be attracted to “dark” things in our “flesh”, we need to remember what it means to be a Christian:

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

As long as we remain here on earth, there will be an internal struggle within each of us regarding certain sinful activities. But, when we die to ourselves and live through Christ, then the strength that comes from Jesus gives us the ability to choose to avoid those things that are sinful. The ultimate key is keeping our eyes on Jesus, “the Light of the world” ( John 8:12 )!

2) Shadows are cast by objects that block the light. – It’s a rare occurrence, but from time to time – depending on where you live – you get to experience the phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. The last total eclipse viewable from the continental US was in 1979, and the next one won’t be until 2017. What makes these so special is that the moon completely blocks the sun, casting a complete shadow in a thin band along the moon’s orbit pathway. The funny thing is the size difference between the moon and the sun – the sun is 400 times bigger than the moon! What allows the moon – which is so much smaller than the sun – to completely block the sun’s light is the closeness of the moon to us compared with the closeness of the sun. In other words, the moon is a lot closer to us than the sun, so it’s easier for it to block out the sun’s light.

Carrying this over to our walk with Christ, there are things that we may encounter or experience in life that can interfere with our relationship with God through Jesus. We may go through some tough times (illness, death of a loved one, loss of a job, etc.)…or guilt over bad choices we’ve made…or just busy lifestyles. The problem is that the farther away we get from God, the easier it is for these things to overwhelm us, to stress us out, to frustrate us, etc. While God doesn’t change ( Malachi 3:6 – “For I am the LORD, I do not change…” , NKJV), sometimes we change in relationship to Him. So He may seem smaller, even though He isn’t…and when He seems smaller, it allows our problems to seem bigger.

The best solution is to move away from our problems and draw near to God!

Psalm 73:25-28 (NKJV)
Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

3) Shadows follow us wherever we go. – I think that almost every child, at some point, tries to outrun his or her shadow. There’s a certain fascination behind the way a shadow does exactly what we do – we wave, and it waves back…we dance, and it dances with us. Yet, while that’s a lot of fun with a physical shadow, it’s not nearly as much fun with a spiritual “shadow” over our lives. Sometimes we allow feelings of guilt and shame to shackle us down – it seems like no matter what we do or where we go, we’re haunted by some memory of a past mistake we’ve made. Those memories follow us around like a shadow…just with a lot more weight.

In times like that, it’s important that we remember the source of the baggage – Satan himself. The Bible describes him as the one who accuses us of wrongdoing day and night before God ( Revelation 12:10 ). He’s the one who is trying to trip us up with memories of things we’ve done wrong and past sins in our lives. But consider things from God’s perspective:

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:11-13 (NKJV)
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.

From God’s perspective, when we confess our sins to Him, by His grace He forgives us…He cleans us up…and He removes all evidence of our sins from us. God gives us the gift of His righteousness ( Philippians 3:9 ). As far as God is concerned, the ugly stain of sin in our lives has been removed, and He has washed us as “white as snow” ( Isaiah 1:18 ). Keeping this in mind allows us to maintain the right perspective on the sin we’ve confessed to God…it’s memory may follow us around, but – just like our shadow – it doesn’t have any power over us!

Of course, there are many more analogies that can be made. Yet, in the end, our focus needs to be on Jesus at all times, doing like it says in 1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” (NKJV)

As the days get longer and we start seeing the sun more and more, let the sunshine remind us to not only spend time in the sun, but also to forget about those spiritual shadows that like to follow us around and invest our time with the Son!

Have a blessed day today!

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 03/15/2011

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:35:00 GMT

It’s hard to go a day without hearing about the terrible tragedy that continues to unfold in Japan. After being hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake…and an over 20-foot tsunami…and scores of aftershocks, many of which have been over 6.0 … Continue reading →

It’s hard to go a day without hearing about the terrible tragedy that continues to unfold in Japan.

After being hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake…and an over 20-foot tsunami…and scores of aftershocks, many of which have been over 6.0 magnitude…and now a near-certain partial nuclear meltdown… and with the loss of life extending to the thousands…the country with the world’s third-largest economy is reeling. Many people have been without food, water, electricity for days – in near-freezing temperatures. Hospitals are jammed. Emergency shelters are filled to over-capacity. Many people who have survived have lost everything, escaping with only the clothes on their backs. Loved ones are missing and rescue operations are hampered.

It’s a bleak situation in Japan – a country that has spent untold amounts of money and time in preparation and readiness for just such a catastrophe.

The events that are occurring serve as a stark reminder that sometimes things happen in our lives that overwhelm us, no matter how “prepared” we attempt to be or may think we are.

What do we do when facing a future that looks bleak and dark, with no apparent end in sight?

When I have endured those seasons in my life, there have been many times when God has brought me to the book of Lamentations.

In Lamentations, God’s people are mostly doing what would be implied by the name of the book – they’re lamenting. At that time in their history, they had sinned against God grievously, and God had allowed Jerusalem to be invaded and torn apart. God’s people felt alone, crushed, broken, and full of despair. Consider verses like these –

Lamentations 1:2 –

“She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks…” (ESV)

…and Lamentations 1:11 –

“All her people groan as they search for bread…” (ESV)

…and Lamentations 2:11 –

           “My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns;
            my bile is poured out to the ground because of the destruction
            of the daughter of my people, because infants and babies
            faint in the streets of the city.” (ESV)

These verses give us a glimpse into the emotional state of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the times of desperation that they were enduring. No matter why it was happening, the end result was that God’s people were hurting – physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually.

Yet, right in the middle of their lamenting comes an incredibly powerful passage:

            Lamentations 3:21-25 – “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
           The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come
           to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
           ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’
           The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.’”
           (ESV)

Right in the midst of one of the most difficult times of their lives – right when things seemed at their worst – God’s people found HOPE . They found hope in God’s steadfast love…in His mercy…in His faithfulness…in His goodness…in His promises. God’s people were able to look beyond their circumstances and see that their true source of hope and strength didn’t come from what was happening in their lives at the time. Rather, their hope and strength came from God and Him alone.

As Christians, we have access to this same hope:

            Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have
           peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also
           obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice
           in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings,
           knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces
           character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to
           shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the
           Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV)

Our hope doesn’t come from our personal resolve. It doesn’t come from anything that we can accomplish. It doesn’t come from how “ready” we are for the next disaster that may come upon us. Rather, our hope comes because of what JESUS did. It’s through Jesus we have peace with God…it’s through Jesus we have received God’s grace…it’s through Jesus that we can have confident hope in our relationship with God.

When we cling to what Jesus did, we are able to supernaturally endure the suffering we go through. As we do, God supernaturally molds our character, producing within us a supernatural hope…a hope that is sustained by God’s Holy Spirit living within us.

With all that the residents of Japan are facing, it will be easy for them to lose hope and fall into despair. Many are already at that point. In times like this, it is crucial that we as Christians – as well as all of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world – rise up to share with the Japanese that there is a source of hope that goes beyond their circumstances…something they can personally experience when they trust in Jesus Christ by faith.

Have a blessed, “hope-filled” day…
–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 03/03/2011

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:05:00 GMT

I read this news story today, as posted on www.foxnews.com: Baby Brought Back to Life After Being Frozen 3 Days A stillborn baby was brought back from the “dead” after doctors froze her body for three days, British media reported … Continue reading →

I read this news story today, as posted on www.foxnews.com :

Baby Brought Back to Life After Being Frozen 3 Days

A stillborn baby was brought back from the “dead”
after doctors froze her body for three days, British
media reported Thursday.

The drama began when medical staff at the Peterborough
District Hospital in east England realized that Rachel
Claxton’s placenta had ruptured during labor last year.

This had restricted baby Ella’s oxygen and blood supply,
with doctors working for 25 minutes to revive her before
they detected a heartbeat, Metro newspaper reported.

With fears her brain would be damaged, Ella was taken to
Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where her body
temperature was lowered to below the level at which
hypothermia occurs.

Her father, Jason Anderson, 33, said: “I laid my hand on
her head and she was ice-cold to the touch.”

The pioneering procedure protects against brain damage
by forcing the organ to repair itself, according to The Sun.

After three days, Ella’s temperature was gradually returned
to normal and the miracle tot was allowed home only eight
days later.

Although she still needs physiotherapy her brain function
is normal.

The amazing story has emerged now because Rachel Claxton,
32, is campaigning for the technology used on her daughter
to be more widely available on the National Health Service.

“She’s [Ella] our little miracle and every day she gives us new
hope,” she said.

To be able to basically put the baby’s body into a deep freeze, and three DAYS later bring the baby back, with healing and restoration taking place! What an incredible miracle!

You know what’s an even greater miracle? That God’s own Son, Jesus, would willingly come to earth and voluntarily bear the weight of our sin — the sin of the entire world — on HIS shoulders!…that He would be put to death — not gently and humanely, with the goal of bringing Him back to life — but brutally and horrifically on a cross, to silence Him forever…that three days later He would be brought back to life — not by a team of physicians, but by the miraculous work of our Heavenly Father, in victory over sin and death!…and that everyone who trusts in Jesus, repenting of their sin, is forgiven of their sin and adopted into God’s family!

Look at what the Bible says in Acts 10:34-43 …

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ— He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (NKJV)

As Christians, we know first-hand what it means to receive God’s grace and mercy. We know what it means to have an eternal relationship with the One who created us. We know personally the hope that comes from knowing Jesus and having a place in Heaven reserved for us.

There are many people who don’t know those things, though. They are likely your friends, your co-workers, your neighbors, your family. They are people with no hope, with no peace, and in need of a Savior. As God provides opportunity, share the Good News of Jesus — the One who rose on the third day in victory over sin! It’s the greatest miracle in the world, and certainly worthy of sharing!

Have a blessed day today!

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 03/02/2011

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:32:00 GMT

I have driven literally hundreds of thousands of miles all around the United States. In all my travels, I’ve noticed two important things: 1) Every single state has incredible natural beauty. 2) When it comes to being on the road, … Continue reading →

I have driven literally hundreds of thousands of miles all around the United States. In all my travels, I’ve noticed two important things:

1) Every single state has incredible natural beauty.

2) When it comes to being on the road, there are only two driving seasons – winter and construction.

It’s funny that, no matter what the state, the signs used in construction zones are very similar. It’s common to see things like “Prepare to Stop” and “Lane Closed Ahead — Merge Right” and “Fines Doubled in Construction Zone”.

Added to that are flashing lights and arrows and those incessant lines of orange barrels lining the road by the hundreds! (Oh, to have been in on the invention of those!)

Of course, there’s always the people who want to ignore the signs and keep driving, pretending the construction isn’t happening — and then move over at the last minute, invariably cutting someone off and causing a traffic “snarl” and making other drivers frustrated.

But once the aggravation is over and people have moved into the actual construction zone, there are some key observations:

As Christians, we go through “construction zones”, too. In James 1:2-4 , the Bible says this…

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (NKJV)

…And in Romans 5:3-4 …

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (NKJV)

The fact is, as Christians, it’s construction season A LOT. God is always in the process of molding us and shaping us to be the sons and daughters He created us to be. Often, He’ll use tough times to shape us, which builds in us the “stick-to-it” attitude we need to get through life, strengthens our character and our resolve, and ultimately teaches us to hope in Him.

Sometimes He will use “signs” to let us know that “construction is coming” — other times, we’re not expecting it at all. Either way, when we enter the “construction zones” of life…

Ultimately, we need to just be aware that God will always be “at work” in our lives in some capacity. We will regularly go through “construction zones” in life – things that God allows to happen to shape our character and teach us to trust in Him more. When He does, “Give Him a Brake” – slow down and allow Him to do what He wants to do in your life. Don’t get aggravated or irritated. While it might not seem to fit into your schedule well, it fits into God’s schedule well…and He ALWAYS has perfect timing!

Have a blessed day!

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 03/01/2011

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:20:00 GMT

When I was a kid, I used to like to read the “Choose Your Own Adventure™” books. They let you play the role of an investigator who would try to solve some mystery or some murder. At different points in … Continue reading →

Of course, the bad decisions would have funny outcomes — like getting eaten by an alligator or falling into a volcano. But it didn’t matter, because you could always go back and make a different choice. That way, no matter how many times you messed up, the story would always work out in the end…and you would be the hero!

Life doesn’t work out that way, does it? We all make mistakes, choices that are the wrong choices to make and choices which sometimes have pretty negative outcomes. When that happens, we desperately want to go back and make a different choice… but usually we can’t. Instead, we’re stuck with our failure.

In times like that, it hurts deep inside. It’s easy to allow ourselves to be defined by our failures. And as we continue to dwell on our failures, the pain and humiliation and regret associated with those failures can eventually consume us.

Yesterday on my way home from work and today on my way back to the office, I was listening to a song on a CD that a friend gave me for Christmas. The lyrics really “hit home” for me, reminding me of a very important truth when it comes to our failures and our relationship with Christ:

Well the past is playing with my head

Failure knocks me down again

I’m reminded of the wrong that I have said and done

That devil just won’t let me forget

In this life

I know what I’ve been

But here in Your arms

I know what I am

I’m forgiven

And I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been

Cause I’m forgiven

My mistakes are running through my mind

And I relive my days in the middle of the night

And I struggle with my pain

Wrestle with my pride

Sometimes I feel alone and I cry

In this life

I know what I’ve been

But here in Your arms

I know what I am

I’m forgiven

And I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been

Cause I’m forgiven

When I don’t fit in

And I don’t feel like I belong anywhere

When I don’t measure up to much in this life

I am a treasure in the arms of Christ

I’m forgiven

And I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been

Cause I’m forgiven

(“Forgiven” – Sanctus Real)

As Christians, it’s important to remember that we’re not perfect – you and I will make mistakes every day. We will sin every day. And we can be sure that our enemy, the devil, is standing as the “accuser” before our Heavenly Father, pointing out our mistakes and failures. But there are promises in Scripture we can cling to:

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJV)

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (NKJV)

John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (NKJV)

This is a key point – as Christians, who we are and everything about us is defined by Jesus Christ…NOT by our failures. That alone should help shield our minds and our hearts from the burden of our failures and past mistakes…but it doesn’t always. So, in those times when we’re weary and heavy-hearted and struggling with wrong choices we’ve made, Jesus reminds us that we can run to Him then, too:

Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NKJV)

Maybe you are dealing with your past mistakes and failures haunting you. Maybe you struggle with pain and with pride…and maybe there are times when you feel alone and just want to cry. No matter what the struggle, no matter what the pain, no matter what the past mistake, remember – you don’t have to carry the weight of who you’ve been, because through Christ you are forgiven.

Have a blessed day,

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 02/28/2011

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:24:00 GMT

I’d like to invite you to do a science experiment with me. Look at a wall near you and find where the wall and ceiling meet. Now, without moving your head, see if your eyes can follow that seam from … Continue reading →

I’d like to invite you to do a science experiment with me.

Look at a wall near you and find where the wall and ceiling meet. Now, without moving your head, see if your eyes can follow that seam from left to right smoothly. If you’re like almost every other human being on this planet, then you likely noticed that you couldn’t do it. No matter how hard you try, your eyes still jerk a little bit as you move across the seam.

Now, let’s try something a little different. Hold your finger up in front of you. This time, move your finger from side to side and see if your eyes can smoothly follow the movement of your finger — again, without moving your head.

You probably noticed a difference, didn’t you? While you weren’t likely able to follow the seam between the wall and ceiling very smoothly, you probably noticed that you could follow the movement of your finger very smoothly.

One more quick experiment — this time, fix your gaze upon some feature in your room. It could be a coffee cup, your favorite pen, a Bible you have with you… anything you can find and simply keep your eyes locked upon it. Now, while looking only at that object, turn your head back and forth — even up and down! You’ll notice that your eyes stay looking at the object, no matter what you do with your head!

For most of us, we participate in something like that and don’t likely give it a second thought. But in all actuality, the amount of motor control over the fine muscles that are attached to the eye – muscles that all must be used together to make your eye move smoothly – is incredible! You can’t voluntarily make those muscles move smoothly; however, your brain can when you’re engaged in certain activities. When you try to follow a moving object, there’s a small, bean-shaped part of your brain called the “pons” – located near the brain stem – that takes over to help keep your eyes on the moving object. Likewise, the pons kicks in when you are targeting a fixed destination but have to move around to get there.

This has direct application to our lives as Christians.

With so many things pulling at our attention these days, it’s easy to lose focus on what is most important. And to make matters more difficult, many of the activities and things that serve to draw our attention away from what is most important are actually good activities that need to be done.

The apostles faced this issue early in the life of the New Testament church as recorded in the book of Acts. The apostles were serving as pastors of the Christian church in Jerusalem. Many people had come to believe and trust in Christ, and the New Testament church was “busting at the seams!” It was an exciting time in the life of the church. But there was a complaint that arose – there were needs in the church that weren’t being taken care of…some widows were being neglected and not receiving the care that they needed…

Acts 6:1-7 (NKJV)
¹ Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
² Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
³ Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
⁴ but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
⁶ whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
⁷ Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Taking care of the widows was a legitimate task to be handled. It was a good task. But it wasn’t the task that the apostles needed to focus on. Notice their response (paraphrased) – “God has given us a job to do – teach the Word of God – and we shouldn’t stop doing that to focus on anything else. Choose other men who can focus on taking care of this important need, and we will focus on praying and teaching God’s Word.”

In other words, they stayed focused on what God had called them to do. In the process, they encouraged others in the church to be involved in meeting that important need, thus sharing the burden of ministry and allowing both tasks – the teaching of God’s Word and the meeting of the widows’ needs – to be handled effectively.

That’s what happens when people are spiritually focused. When each person in a church family does what God has equipped them to do, then every person is involved in the life of the church…ministry is being done effectively…needs are being met…and the church grows – both in strength and in numbers! It’s the pattern God used to grow the church – and it’s a process that still works today.

The key is each person remaining focused on Jesus, following His example and leadership in every area of our lives…

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Keeping our gaze fixed upon Christ ensures that we are able to follow Him wherever He leads. We won’t easily be side-tracked by good things that would otherwise prevent us from doing the best things. And we won’t go off-course, no matter how many twists and turns life brings our way – instead, we keep focused on running the race that God has set before us, not stopping until we cross the finish line in Heaven!

Today, I pray that God will give you a renewed desire to remain focused on Him – and, as you fix your gaze upon Him, that He will bring clarity to your life in the process!

Have a blessed day today,

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 02/25/2011

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:21:00 GMT

Growing up in the Midwest, we had our fair share of winter weather. I remember one winter when I was in elementary school, and the temperature was so cold outside that, with the windchill, it felt like it was 60° … Continue reading →

During that cold spell, we still had school. Normally I would have walked up to the bus stop that was nearly a quarter of a mile away. But my mom didn’t want me to sit at the bus stop waiting for the bus when it was that cold outside. So she would drive me up to the bus stop and then sit and wait with me until the bus came.

We lived in an apartment complex, and there were speed bumps in different places, so we had to go slow on our journey to the entrance where the bus would pick us up. On one of those cold mornings, as we went over one of the speed bumps, there was a soft * pop * that we heard from behind us. We both started looking around for the source…and that’s when we saw it — the back windshield had shattered into a million little pieces, because the glass was so cold and the little bit of movement that occurred when we went over the speed bump was all it took to crumble.

I get chills just thinking about that winter!

But probably one of the worst things about winter where I grew up was the ice. The only thing neat about the ice were the icicles that formed on the roof line of our house or the coating of ice on the tree branches when we would get freezing rain. Other than those, there wasn’t much about the ice to appreciate:

Interestingly, ice reminds us of some important characteristics of the way the devil works:

As we go through life each day, we need to realize that Satan will attack us. He doesn’t present himself dressed in red tights and carrying a pitchfork – like ice, he can be deceptively attractive. The Bible even reminds us that “…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” ( 2 Corinthians 11:14 , NKJV ) That means that what he says and does will be tricky, which is why we need to do as Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant…” We need to remember that the struggles we face are not of this world – as Christians, the struggles we endure are at a spiritual level. And as we remain constantly aware of the attacks that may come, we need to be prepared to take “every thought captive to obey Christ.” ( 2 Corinthians 10:5b , HCSB )

So, during winter time, when you see ice on the ground and all around, let it serve as a reminder to your heart to be prepared for the attacks Satan will bring our way…and a reminder that our Lord and Savior is greater than our enemy and has defeated him once and for all through His death and resurrection! Keep your eyes on Christ this weekend!

Have a blessed evening,

–Pastor John

Five Minute Devotional — 02/24/2011

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:18:00 GMT

The Pacific Northwest is known for its odd weather. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was wearing a short-sleeve shirt and driving back to the office from my lunch break with my window down. (Of course, my heater was … Continue reading →

The Pacific Northwest is known for its odd weather.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was wearing a short-sleeve shirt and driving back to the office from my lunch break with my window down. (Of course, my heater was on, too, but it was a “B-E-A-utiful day,” as Jim Carrey would say…)

Yesterday, we got pounded. In some areas, two feet (or more!) of snow fell on the ground! I took some time last night to shovel off my above-ground deck, to take the weight off the surface – and by the time I was done shoveling it off, another 2-3” of snow had fallen, covering the area I had just cleared! (Through it all, I was reminded of muscles I had forgotten I had, as shoveling took a lot longer than expected!)

At the same time, I was reminded about some wonderful parallels between snow and key Christian truths from Scripture:

So, take time to enjoy the snow while it’s here – and let it serve as a reminder from our Father about how much He loves you, about how special you are, and about how He has made you beautiful in His sight.

Have a blessed evening!

–Pastor John

Morning Minute — 02/23/2011

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:30:00 GMT

DVR’s are pretty neat, aren’t they? I mean, I don’t have one, but I have friends who do, and they all talk about how cool it is. Have a favorite show that you would normally miss because of work or … Continue reading →

DVR’s are pretty neat, aren’t they? I mean, I don’t have one, but I have friends who do, and they all talk about how cool it is.

Have a favorite show that you would normally miss because of work or a meeting? No problem – just DVR it.

Hate to watch commercials? That’s OK – just skip them. Simply fast-forward through them and watch your hour-long program in 42 minutes.

Uh-oh – need to take a break for a phone call or to go to the bathroom? That’s OK…just hit the * PAUSE * button.

Like a VCR on steroids, DVR’s have become an almost essential piece of technology for our busy lifestyles.

In fact, when you stop and think about it, for most of us, our lives are “crazy busy”. From the random chaos that often describes the morning “getting ready” time, to the phone calls and e-mails and knocks on the office door during the day, to taxiing our children to their sporting events and other meetings in the evenings, we are never at a loss for things to do. It’s no wonder that people are just exhausted.

We are not just burning the candle at both ends, we’re burning the candle in the middle, too.

Wouldn’t it be nice if life operated like a DVR? I mean, wouldn’t it be great if we just had a big * PAUSE * button that we could hit when our lives were getting out of control?

Of course, we don’t…and unfortunately, our busyness ends up impacting every area of our lives, especially our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It’s easy to lose sight of who God is – of His majesty, His strength, His beauty. He is awe-inspiring, incredible, powerful, wonderful…but with our busy schedules, we rarely stop to even think about God.

Listen to what the Bible says in Psalm 46:10-11 –

            Be still, and know that I am God;
            I will be exalted among the nations,
            I will be exalted in the earth!
            The LORD of hosts is with us;
            The God of Jacob is our refuge. (NKJV)

Notice also what the passage says at the beginning of verse 10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.” No matter how busy we get, no matter how many distractions we encounter every day, we must take time to simply “be still”. We may not have a * PAUSE * button in life, but we still need to invest the time to simply be still before God…to pause and think about – and appreciate – who our God is…and this passage reminds us of two of the many reasons we have to appreciate God:

The LORD of hosts and the God of Jacob…two names to remind us that God is powerful, He is faithful – and He loves us more than we could ever imagine.

Today, no matter what you have scheduled, pause and “be still” before God. Take the time to remember that He is God and you are not…that His ways are not your ways…that He will guide you and lead you, whether it’s beside still waters or through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Your circumstances don’t matter, because God will always be there with you, ever faithful to the covenant relationship that is yours through Jesus Christ, protecting us and providing for you as only He can.

Be still, and know that He is God. It will help keep life – and all its distractions, busyness, frustrations, whatever – in perspective.

Have a blessed day today!

–Pastor John

Morning Minute — 02/22/2011

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:07:00 GMT

On my way to work this morning, I passed by a housing development that had the name of “Bay Meadows” on the entrance. I had to laugh a little bit, because I was pretty sure that the housing development was not next to a bay and most likely had no meadows in it! In fact, I would say it’s likely that the developers felt that the name they chose was more attractive than the name of “Grassy Patch Out In The Middle of Nowhere”.

It’s funny how we can use words to paint a picture that isn’t really reality.

For instance, if someone asks you, “How are you?” you may have a standard response of, “Fine.” In fact, you might really be fine…but there is a strong chance that you aren’t really “fine” – that you are dealing with some significant things, but you either don’t want to face them or you just don’t want to talk about it. So, we will often use that single-word response to just simply cover up a mountain of hurt that we might be enduring.

Sometimes we play the “cover-up” game without even saying a word. Our heart might be broken or we may be going through some deep level of sorrow, but we will put on a big smile and pretend everything is okay on the outside.

The truth is, though, that in life we often go through a roller coaster of emotional states. We are complex, and life is frequently difficult. It’s normal to go through a myriad of emotions and feelings, even in the same day. And no matter how hard we try to “mask” the true state of our heart, it doesn’t change how we are feeling.

I was reminded of one of my favorite hymns this morning — “It Is Well With My Soul”. The words of the full hymn, and a summary of the story behind it, are as follows:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

— Horatio Spafford

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Horatio Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871 at the age of four, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre , but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

(See Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul )

Sometimes, we need to take the time to be honest with ourselves…honest with others…and honest with God about how we are feeling. The answer of “Fine,” doesn’t often cut it. It’s OK to admit that we’re struggling, that we’re experiencing a difficult time, that we’re going through what feels like a tumultuous storm in our lives. But, because of God’s incredible mercy and grace, He reminds us that – as Christians – our “finish line” isn’t the grave. As Mr. Spafford penned, “The sky, not the grave, is our goal.” Maintaining that perspective is often critical to making it through each day.

The Bible records Jesus as saying this:

Matthew 6:33-34 (HCSB)
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
³⁴ Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It’s so easy to worry about things, to get caught up in an emotional “firestorm” that can consume our days. But remembering “That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul” and that He will take care of our needs will serve as a source of strength and comfort in the midst of the darkest times of our lives.

So, while the name “Bay Meadows” may rarely describe your life, through Christ it can be well with your soul.

Have a blessed day today,

–Pastor John

Morning Minute — 02/18/2011

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:23:00 GMT

Romans 15:2 says this – “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (NKJV) Often, in our relationships with other people, it’s easy to want to focus on only discussing things that are “pleasing … Continue reading →

Romans 15:2 says this –

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (NKJV)

Often, in our relationships with other people, it’s easy to want to focus on only discussing things that are “pleasing to the ears” – you know, those things that are either light-hearted, casual, complimentary, etc. Those are things that are easy to talk about. They don’t require much thought. There’s usually laughter and smiles associated with the topics. And most of all, there’s little risk of offending anyone or hurting someone’s feelings.

It’s funny what we’ll do to avoid a possible confrontation. We’ll bottle things up inside…even break off a relationship with someone…all in the name of avoiding conflict.

Sometimes it’s because of the way it makes us feel. We get nervous, and we genuinely don’t want to hurt someone else by anything we say. Sometimes it’s out of caution – we know what Jesus said in Luke 6:41-42 –

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?
Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you
yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own
eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” (NKJV)

Most of us realize we have our own faults, and the much more important focus should often be on getting our own issues worked out with God before we try to tackle someone else’s issues.

But either way, it’s easy to let issues remain unresolved. They don’t get worked out, and relationships – and even families – can suffer as a result.

Like it or not, sometimes we need to take the time – we need to care about someone enough – to share our concerns with them. Looking at Romans 15:2 above, there are some key things in that verse that can be easily missed or misinterpreted:

So, as you look at this verse, what God is reminding us is that, as Christians, we have the responsibility – as we look out for each other and love one another through Christ – to share those things that will ultimately strengthen one another. Sometimes that may be recognizing a job well done…or extending thanks for some hard work put forth…or affirming a positive quality that you see in someone. However, there are other times when it might mean letting someone know where you see something going wrong – like bad choices being made or highlighting when they have said or done something that hurt you. In fact, if something has happened to us that has caused us anger, we should recognize that there is a time and a place to discuss everything; however, there is also an urgency, too, for God’s Word reminds us in Ephesians 4:26-27 – “ Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” (NKJV)

No matter what it is that you are feeling burdened to share with someone, remember the goals of being pleasant and remaining focused on ultimately strengthening that person. This will bring about the edification that they need and help each of us as Christians to grow strong in our faith!

Have a blessed day today and a wonderful weekend!

–Pastor John