Freedom

This next weekend we (Americans) celebrate our freedom. The 4th of July is alway a day when warm weather brings out the picnics and barbacues and an opportunity to watch the fireworks. It is a good time to remember the price that has been paid by our fore fathers that made the freedom we have is possible. Unfortunately far too many people take their freedom for granted or misunderstand the cost of freedom. The thing that we must understand is that if we do not remember or understand our true freedom we can begin to lose that which we have taken for granted. I believe we are facing one of those times in our history right now that many of the freedoms that we take for granted could be lost if we continue to head in the direction that we are presently headed as a country. The concern that I have in this area is minor to the concern that I have for believers in Christ who are either taking their freedom in Christ for granted or misunderstand the freedom that we do possess as a disciple of Jesus Christ. When we do not remember the great price that was paid to achieve our freedom, when we misunderstand the freedom we do have and use it as a license to do as we please or when we take that freedom for granted and allow tradition or liturgy to become the focal point of being a believers we can easily lose that freedom and become a slave to that which we came we have been set free from.
Let us remember how our freedom has been secured and truly celebrated what it means to be free.

Our Father in Heaven

Yesterday we celebrated Father's Day. I trust that all fathers had a blessed day. I was blessed when all my children called and wished me a happy Father's Day. God has blessed me in many ways and I am so thankful for all the good things that He has done. There is one Father that will never disappoint and that is our Heavenly Father. I do not say that some people have not been disappointed by God the Father but that is often when God did not do what they wanted Him to do but if I understand God at all it is clear that God has our best interest in mind. Jeremiah 32:39 "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them." Our Father in heaven has our best interest in mind and this is true everyday of the year whether we realize it or not. May we worship and praise our Father in heaven who has a good plan for our lives and may we learn to cooperate with Him knowing that He is working everything out for our good as we trust in Him as our Lord and Savior.

Finishing the Race

This week at church we are hosting Mega Sports Camp. This is an opportunity to teach children concerning a sport of their interest and about Jesus Christ. There are a lot of parallels in sports and the Christian walk. In both you must have the fundamentals mastered in order to do well. In both there are goals and rewards when you do well. In both it takes a lot of work and discipline in order to accomplish the goals that are set before you. In both how well you live up to your potential is completely of to you. In both there will be distractions and hindrances to overcome which will lead to a desire to give but once your persevere you will be much stronger and capable to handle the next challenge.
Let us run the race that is before us with the goal to finish and to finish well.

Love covers

I have been in a series of messages from Colossians 3:12-17 talking about the church being the expression of God to the community. In verse 14 it talks about putting on love which is to bind all the virtues just mentioned together. The thought that love covers a multitude of sin is true but it is also true that love covers all the necessary virtues of being a Christian. Without love none of these virtues really make sense. Without love all these virtues will ring hollow to others because it will no longer be personal but will seem to be distant and cold. The one thing that we all must understand as a follower of Jesus Christ that love is the key to everything in life. We are called to love one another and without love Jesus said that the world will not know that we are His disciples. To put emphasis on being compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, bearing one another and forgiving without love is like filling up a cart full of good things with no way of moving it to where you need to go. Love is the key, Love is central to everything concerning the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Trying to live the believers life without love is like trying to breathe without oxygen.

May the God of love overshadow your life.

Pastor John

Being filled with the Spirit

Pentecost Sunday was yesterday. Ephesians 5:17 encourages us to be filled with the Spirit. The apostle Paul stated in Romans 8:14 "...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem (specifically in the upper room) until they received the promise of God the Father, Acts 1:4-5. It is very clear within scriptures that God never intended us to try to live out our faith as a disciple of Christ in our own strength and wisdom but that we were to rely upon, depend upon and be cooperative with the Holy Spirit so that we can live a life pleasing to God. This is the only way to receive the full benefits of being a children of God. This is the only way a disciple of Christ will be able to keep life in its proper perspective. There are many temptations and distractions in our world and without the proper focus it becomes very easy to place our energies in areas that do not encourage a life of faith and trust in God. Being filled with Spirit is to be an ongoing daily walk of whole hearted devotion of love and service to the only one who can forgive us and who has made us whole. May you walk in the fullness of the Spirit as you desire to follow Him.