Having Fun

On Sunday we are having our annual Winter Carnival for the kids of this community. This is a fun event for the kids set in a very comfortable Christian setting here at church. It is a lot of had work for the workers with much planning but it is design to be a lot of fun for everyone involved. I believe God designed us to enjoy life. John 10:10 Jesus said "I have come that you might have life and life abundantly." I am not saying that everything in life is fun but there ought to be season of much fun and especially so when it comes to ministry for kids. Far too much the impression so have of church is that one cannot have fun at church. I trust will can begin to change that impression and let the kids know that God loves them and has their best interest in mind which includes them having lots of fun growing up. Let us pray that this Sunday will be a great day of ministry to kids and that they and their families will have lots of fun. "The joy of the Lord is our strength." Nehemiah 8:10 May the Lord strength you with joy and peace.

Pastor John Backes

Growing Pains

The phrase growing pains is often referred to young people who have a huge growth in a short amount of time and though what is happening to them is natural it still hurts. Their growing actually causes some pain. What is true in the physical realm of life is also true in the spiritual realm of life. The one thing different in the spiritual realm is that one can and will have growing pains at any stage of their life. We know what causes pain in the physical but what causes pain in our spiritual life in growing. First, Hebrews 12:4-11 says that God disciplines us because He loves us and discipline is not pleasant for that moment but it does accomplish a life righteousness when completed. The more I learn to cooperate with the Lord in this area the more I can minimize the pain. Second, in Romans 8:28 the apostle Paul says that all things what out together for the good to them that love God. Now it does not say that all things are pleasant and painless but if we will allow God to work in and throug our circumstances and though there is a fair amount of discomfort we have the assurance that God can bring good out of the junk of life. Third, II Corinthians 1:3-7 communicated that I can comfort others by the comfort that I have received. The reason that I need to receive comfort is due to unpleasant life circumstances. I learn the faithfulness and strength of God during difficult times. The growing pain is that once I have received that comfort I then can be used by the Lord to bring comfort to someone else. That can only happen after a season of growing pains and coming to a place of maturity to help someone who is in a similar situation. Everyone who names Jesus as their Savior ought to want to growth in their faith relationship with Jesus Christ but let us understand that there are growing pains in this process. When I allow God to do His work in my life then I come forth as a instrument in the hands of the Lord Jesus to bring hope and comfort to others. This is the exciting aspect of our spiritual growing pains.

May the God of all comfort and strength be with you this week.

Pastor John Backes

Being a servant

Communion is always a special time for me and yesterday was no exception. The focus was that being a servant. The day before Jesus was going to be crucified He had His last meal with His disciples. The disciples did not know this but Jesus did so everything He did or said was of great importance. After entering the house they would have this last meal Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. This was an act that is normally reserved for a lowly servant to accomplish but in the room there were just the 12 disciples and Jesus. No one took ths task upon themselves and Jesus taking this opportunity to teach and to demonstrate the importance of being a faithful servant. John 13 records that after Jesus did this He instructed them to go and do what He had just done. It was the act of being a servant that Jesus was modeling and He used the washing of the feet to demonstrate that truth. Jesus also said that they would not understand this now but later would understand. The later was after His death and resurrection. The early church was a great example of the disciples being servants, not focusing only on their needs but of the needs of others. May we follow the example of Jesus and live the life of being a servant. When we walk as Jesus did we can have the assurance that the Father will be pleased and when He is pleased He will shower us with His blessings and favor. May the Lord Jesus Christ be with us as we follow Him.

Pastor John Backes

Perseverance needed in tough times

We have had some tough weather conditions these last couple of days. Preparation is one of the keys to handle difficult weather conditions but another is perseverance. There are some days that you just need to endure and wait until some things get better. One of the keys is to do what you can do during these days. There is a lesson for our spiritual lives in that we all face tough seasons of life when things could be a lot better. There are times that there is just not much you can do to change anything and this is when perseverance is needed. This quality of character is vital to keep going and not just enduring but managing those days with grace and dignity. I firmly believe that God is more interested in my character then He is in my comfort. It is easy to have good character when everything is going well but the true test of character is in how we react when there are tough days and seasons of life. I encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize for which God has called you. Be looking ahead and pursue the things that bring pleasure to the heart of God. In doing this it will help you to persevere. Remember what the Psalmist said "I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" Psalm 17:13-14

Pastor John Backes