Christmas 2010 part four

This will be my last blog concerning the Christmas season for 2010. I had a very good Christmas with family. It was great to see the excitement of the grandkids opening their presents. The thought I have is to remember the thought of giving. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life." The aspect of giving ought not just to be a Christmas thing but a lifestyle thing. God is a giver and His children are to take on His character which means we are to be a giver. For those who are reading this that are already a giver I encourage you to continue to foster that character by doing good works of giving throughout this next year. For those who need to grow in the area of giving I encourage you to look for opportunities to improve your character in the area of giving. The apostle Paul encouraged the Corinth believers in the same way in II Corinthians 8:7 "But just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this grace of giving." I would also encourage you to read II Corinthians 8 & 9, to receive the context in which the apostle Paul wrote this encouragement. May we excel in the grace of giving in 2011.

Pastor John Backes

What is your pursuit?

This morning as I read Proverbs 21:21 the Lord stirred my heart with this question. What is your pursuit? Pro. 21:21 "He who pursues righteousness and love find life, prosperity and honor." As I meditated on this verse it came clear to me how easy it was to get this verse backwards and that at times we are not even hardly aware of what we are doing. There is no question that the vast majority of us desires to have a good life with financial security (prosperity) and we like to be noticed (honor). The problem that arises is when we put these things on the front burner and pursue these things. It is not that these things are not worthy things of a pursuit but for the child of God it is vital to understand that these things are a by-product of what our true pursuit ought to be which is righteousness and love. As a believer in Jesus Christ this righteouness is a gift of God that is present in our pursuit of Jesus Christ. My pursuit of righteousness is accomplished only by the grace of God. The apostle Paul recorded why God told him in II Corinthians 12:9 "..."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." The pursuit of love ought to be an easy one to understand because all the law and prophets are summed up in two commands: Love God and Love people. Being proactive in loving God and others will produce the kind of fruit that most people are looking for but unfortunately we at times fall short. The real problem is when we pursue life, prosperity and honor and then expect righteousness and love. As we approach this holiday season with the New Year just around the corner let us pursue righteousness and love then allow the Lord to lead us in His way in how we will receive life, prosperity and honor. Let us keep our pursuits in the proper order.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Pastor John

Christmas 2010 part three

Christmas time is a great time of building good memories. One of my fondest memories was a reoccuring one on Christmas Eve. It was also a special time with great food that we did not get that often along with family activities. We would hold our own mini Christmas Eve service and then put on a show by rearranging some of the tradional Christmas songs. Then we would go to the church's Christmas Eve service and then come back home for more food and games. What we did would vary a bit but each year it was always fun. We did not open any of our presents until Christmas Day but we did not mind because of all the fun we had. I want to encourage you this Christmas season to do something special on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to build good memories. I also want to encourage you that the special memory always included going to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of our Savior. As a believer in Jesus Christ to leave that out of our Christmas celebrations would be to ignore the reason for any of our celebrations. There is something special when the family of believers gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who is our salvation, hope, peace, provider, healer, defender, wisdom, rock, light, and so many other things on which we are dependent. Let's come and worship the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve. Bethel 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Pastor John

Christmas 2010 part two

My second thought about Christmas 2010 is the Christmas lights. I love all the Christmas lights as long as I am not the one who has to put them up. There are many communities who put up get Christmas lights and displays. Marion has a great display along the river. There are many homeowners who spend lots of time, energy and resources putting up great Christmas displays. I enjoy most of them and enjoy greatly. Let us be reminded that Jesus came into the world as the light of the world. We ought to allow every light remind us of Jesus Christ whether the person who put up the lights intended for people to be reminded of Jesus or not. The thought that I have along is line is that these lights are often on for this season and once the season is over the lights are out. It is up to each of us to remind ourselves that Jesus is the light of the world 365 days of year and not just for a month. I do not think we need Christmas lights all year but we do need Jesus Christ as out light all year. Unfortunately some Christians allow Jesus to shine brightly for a season in their lives and then the lights go out and the influence of Jesus as their light diminishes. As we focus on Jesus Christ as our light this year I encourage you to keep Jesus as your light by reading His words, fellowship with other Christians and speaking about Jesus as your light to others whenever possible. May Jesus, the light of the world, shine brightly upon you this Christmas season.

Pastor John

Christmas 2010 part one

Today I am beginning a series of blogs on the Christmas season this year. They will be random meaning the only connection with each of the blogs will be Christmas. They will be my impressions on a variety of topics that are important to me and I trust will be interesting to You.
There is much discussion by some in the media of the taking the Christ out of Christmas. This is being done in a variety of ways. Removing the Christ out of Christmas and replacing it with a X. I realize a lot of people like to abbreviate when they write but this one is clearly not necessary. If we are a believer in Christ then at least we ought never to implore this tactic. Some people say Happy Holidays rather then Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This one I understand to a point because there are several holidays during this season and I know I have said this as well. Let's not be judgmental on how some express their greetings during this time of the year. I think it is clear as well some do say Happy Holidays as a way not to say Merry Christmas but so what on this one. I will address one more for today and that is the removing of some nativity scenes from public places. I thought we were a nation of freedoms and liberty. I thought we are a nation of religious tolerance. I thought we are a nation that protected freedom of expressions as long as that expression was not harmful to others. There is a going number of people who think we do have this freedom of expression except when that expression is the Christian Faith. I am in that number but why should that even surprise us because Jesus said if they persecuted me they will persecute you as well. Jesus did not come to be popular but to share the truth, to share the message of the kingdom which is the gospel, Jesus alone saves and restores us to right relationship with Jesus Christ. May we take heart during this season in this truth. Though someone can try to take Christ out of Christmas they will fail in the long run. No one will be able to take the Christ out of my Christmas. Do not allow what others are trying to do to rob you of the joy that we have because of Christ. May the Christ of Christmas be at the center of everything you do during this great season when we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world.

Pastor John

Children & Christmas

Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these". There is just something about watching children during the Christmas season. The excitement of receiving a gift and responding, 'this is the best gift ever' or 'this is exactly what I wanted'. Then we have some little children who just love the wrapping paper and tearing it and then set aside the gift and play with the box that the gift came in. Sometimes that is disappointing to the parent but it should not be when you see the joy upon the heart of a child. We must see that a child especially a young child is not impressed with the cost of the gift but is excited in receiving something to play with of which most children can make a tool of their choosing out of just about anything. Children as well just accept the simple things of life as true and good. The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is a great example of this truth. They hear this story and just accept it. While supposedly intelligent people have to try to analysis it and try to figure out all the details and because they cannot understand the mystery of the story they either dismiss it or deny how it could be relevant for them today. No wonder Jesus said to let the little children come to Him, they accept it and just want to be with Him with no pretense. I also love to hear the story through the mouth of children. Do they get the story exactly right or do they communicate it without fault or do they miss a line or do something cute by which everyone in attendance begins to laugh? Who cares, they know and believe Jesus came as a baby. They know that Jesus loves them. They know that Jesus died on the cross for them. They know that Jesus cares for them. Is this not the story of the birth of Jesus. Let us come to Jesus during this Christmas season and just believe Jesus. Do not try to figure it all out, just come and spend some time with Jesus. This Sunday the children of Bethel A/G will be sharing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, I hope you can be there to share this wonderful story with a bunch of little children who are just coming to spend some time with Jesus. By the way in Matthew 19:15 it states that after the little children come to Jesus, He laid His hands on them and blessed them. You will be blessed as well when you come to Jesus and just believe Him.
May the Lord bless all the little children who come to Him this Christmas season. I trust you will be one of those little children who come to Jesus.

Pastor John

Water Baptism

On Sunday December 5 I will have the privilege to baptized three people. It is always a special time in the church family to participate in a baptismal service. We witness together a person making a public confession of faith in Jesus Christ. We also are there to cheer them on to follow the Lord all the days of their lives. This is a celebration of new life and a journey they have started which will not end until they are received in heaven by Jesus Himself. Water Baptism ought to be a family affair which means we ought to do everything we to be there to support them, encourage them, love them and pray for them no only on this day but in the days to come as well. I am so proud of those who after making a commitment to Jesus Christ are now following the Lord in obedience to be baptized. This is a great time for friends and family to witness the faith that is arising in their hearts. This is going to be a great service and hope you can be there.

Pastor John