The Urgency of NOW!

2 Cor 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

It's the day after Christmas. And the world sure emphasizes the word "after". It's time to turn the carols off that everyone is sick of since they have been playing since October. Its time for the after Christmas sales. Its time to start thinking of New Years. What ever happened to the 12 days of Christmas?

Someone had shared with me that they wondered why they hadn't received a card from me yet. This was still 3 days before Christmas! It was as if I was late in their minds. The urgency of now really matters when it comes to Christmas. Get the shopping done! Get the cards done! Get the baking done! And get it all done now! Try this experiment- say Merry Christmas to someone in the next couple of days and see how they react. Yes, the world is ready to pack it all up and go on to the next thing. We've waited for the Savior to be born and now that He has arrived we're exhausted. Can't we enjoy His birth for a couple of days? Maybe I'll still send a card this week or even blog a Christmas message for Project 52!

The Scripture tells us that the only urgency in life is the urgency of knowing Jesus as your personal Savior. You have no idea if you will be around to celebrate the New Year. You also do not know if this coming year will be the year that your life ends. Are you ready? Now is the day of salvation!

Just think what it would be like if the same urgency to be ready for Christmas was placed on being ready to die? Again, are you ready? Don't let another day go by. Seek Him out like the wise men. Go to Bethlehem like the shepherds. Receive the One who has already been looking for you and who loves you enough to come and die on a cross for you so that you could be forgiven and ready for heaven.

I'm not worrying about what I did or didn't get done this Christmas. Or even what I have or don't have this Christmas because I have the Savior, therefore I have everything! Its time to share that Gift with others because NOW is the day of salvation!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Maybe It's the Seventh Day!?

Joshua 6:3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.

For those familiar with some of the basic stories of the Bible, the story of Joshua has to rank near the top. AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN! This was the best part of the story. Kids love it and adults are still amazed how Joshua with the power of God conquered the city of Jericho. He did not do it with normal military strategy. He did it by following the command of God. The command is in the above verse- march around the city once and do this for six days.

I wonder what the city thought? I wonder what Joshua's army was thinking? March? Did they feel silly? Were they made fun of? In the VeggieTale's version of this story the "Peas" are throwing slushies at the army as they make fun of their daily march. But the people keep marching. I wonder if they grew weary on the third day? I wonder if on the fifth day they were thinking, "this is crazy." I wonder if on the sixth day they felt like idiots wondering how a city can be taken by marching around it.

On the Seventh day God gave different orders: march around the city 7 times with the priest blowing trumpets. And they did and with a shout the walls came tumbling down! The city had been taken. The people had obeyed.

At Project 52 we like to talk about how God has a plan for each of us. You might not know it but the plan includes a great victory for those who know and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Personally when I think about God's plan for my life I sometimes grow impatient as I wait. When I see nothing happening (like walls still up) I wonder if I can continue to march. What I often forget is that it might only be the third or fifth day of God's plan.

Or get this, it might even be the seventh day but I have only marched around the city for the fifth time! Only 2 to go! I would like to encourage you today in your walk with the Lord. DON'T GIVE UP! Whatever it is that you are waiting for, whatever tragedy that you are trying to work through remember that it might be the seventh day- in other words, victory is just around the corner. Soon we will look upon all our enemies, whether people or things, and we will rejoice that the walls have come down! The key is to wait upon the Lord and to obey.

The gift this season is victory, soon, very soon, walls will come tumbling down!!!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Look At What I Got!

2 Peter 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Remember how as kids we would say to our friends, "look at what I got"? We couldn't wait to show them something that was given to us. What if we had the same excitement over having the Word in our lives!

How are you coming on being in the Word? Remember, you will do well! In the verse I've chosen for this blog God is telling us that the Word shines like a light in a dark place. And we know the world can seem dark and hopeless at times. Sometimes our own personal worlds could use a little "light on the situation" And what does God give us? His Word of promise and peace. The Word that tells us we are forgiven, that death has no power over us, that we are never alone!

I've been itching to buy a new Bible lately. I love books but I haven’t bought a Bible recently. Some of mine are getting old and kind of worn. Isn't it great to know that what’s inside will never fade or grow old? I looked through some of those old Bibles, a couple from friends, one from an uncle. And then one from my parents at Christmas back in 1972. I would have been 11. What they wrote I share with with you.

This book Johnny will teach you all you ever need to know about life. May Jesus bless you and show us all the way to heaven.

Thanks mom and dad and thank you Lord, for a gift that still gives after all these years! I will do well to pay attention, so will you!

Look at what I got, look at what YOU got!!!

In Christ,
Pastor John

God Moments

Sometimes we like to talk about luck or coincidences. The better word would be God Moments. He's always working in our lives and therefore the things that happen are God ordained things. If our lives are in His hands then it is not a coincidence that normally one would have been in the Twin Towers but on 9/11 wasn't. God has a plan for our lives and there is great comfort in that.

We've been talking about God Moments at Project 52 alot lately. Things like how Bill, Dustin and I met. How the spelling of our last names determined our seat order on a plane and that's how our relationship started! Things like a delay in one of our tree plantings for a couple who lost a baby and then we end up planting the tree on National Infant Loss Day! It's neat to see God working in our lives and in the world.

Martin Luther once said that God gives us the promise of resurrection not only in the Bible but in every leaf that appears in spring. How's that for a God moment in nature? As the leaves fall I see buds just waiting for next spring. It will happen not by luck but because God made it that way! Because of Christ's victory over the grave I see tombs just waiting to give up those loved ones we cherish. That too will happen because God said so!

What a day that will be!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Like A tree

Psalm 1- Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Project 52 and our Trees to Remember Ministry. There is so much to draw from Scripture, especially when you read this Psalm and also Psalm 52.

I have been helping a friend farm this week bringing in the harvest. And there is alot to draw from there as well. I see crops well watered and those not. I see trees standing tall and strong and some not. I watch the chaff blow away but see the crop safely stored.

For those in Christ, that is those who believe in and call on His Name and claim Him as their only Savior- you are the crop and the tree standing tall. The wicked things we have done have been forgiven and that gift of grace works in us to live a life pleasing to God.

One day the harvest will come and all the garbage of this world will blow away and God will safely gather His own. What a comforting thought! As His "trees" continue to stand strong by being watered with His Word.

Its the only way to stand during drought- just like a tree!

Psalm 52 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

So, What Ya Thinkin?

The mind is powerful. And the Bible tells us that stinkin thinkin has more power than you might know. But so does good thinking! Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

So often we let others influence how we think. We like to think they don't. Why is it that we learned as kids- sticks and stones may break my bones but names never hurt me. Oh trust me, names hurt. A parent says you are lazy or no good so you grow up believing you are lazy and no good. A girlfriend says you are too skinny so you spend your whole life working out trying to prove her wrong. The list of examples goes on and on.

May I suggest we start thinking about ourselves the way God thinks of us? When are minds are filled with the love He has for us in spite of our sin it is overwhelming. The Bible says Jesus died for us while we were sinners. He calls you sons and daughters! He bottles your tears when you cry! Think about these things not what people have told you about you. Maybe there is some truth to, "names never hurt me" They may hurt but they don't have to have a negative effect on us our entire lives.

The Bible also tells us that we can take captive every thought. The power to do this comes from God working in our lives. Ask Him for His help. So, what are you thinking about yourself? If its negative (I'm a loser, I'm such a sinner God could never love me, etc) then take it captive.

As a man thinks so he is. I love it! I am a child of the King. I don't have to feel it, maybe today you don't even believe it. But say it, think it and remember, so it is!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Nothing to Prove

An eccentric philosophy professor gave a one question final exam after a semester dealing with a broad array of topics. The class was already seated and ready to go when the professor picked up his chair, plopped it on top of his desk and wrote on the board: "Using everything we have learned this semester, prove that this chair does not exist." Fingers flew, erasers erased, textbooks were filled in furious fashion. Some students wrote over 30 pages in one hour attempting to refute the existence of the chair. One member of the class however, was up and finished in less than a minute. A week later when the grades were posted, the rest of the group wondered how he could have gotten an "A" when he had barely written anything at all. His answer consisted of two words: "What chair?"


Just by saying something does not exists doesn't make it so. The Bible says to not be taken captive by this world's philosophies. Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Some say, based on reason, "what God?" But God says in Proverbs 14:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

The only fool I want to be is a fool for Christ! (1 Cor 4:10) He is real and He exists. I can't prove it to anyone but I can share Him and let the power of His name take it from there! That's awesome and may it encourage you in your witness of Jesus. Don't worry about proving Him, just share Him! Tell of all the great things God has done for you!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Keep It Simple

Simple doesn't mean ignorant or unimportant. It means uncluttered and easy to understand. I like understanding things. When I don't, I ask about them or research it.

I remember ministering once to a man dying of cancer. As is so often the case, we are often served in our attempt to serve. He served me in a very special way one day when I asked him what his favorite Bible verse was. It was John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I asked him why that was his favorite verse. He told me, "because its so simple Pastor, God loved us and came to save us." Wow!

In a world of confusion I love that simple message. Recently I have had some tough conversations with people regarding being saved, and what it means to believe in Jesus. Some people make it so complicated and after awhile my head spins. Here is an example of not keeping it simple. In one of those conversations someone said to me, "well what does the Bible mean by 'world'?" Did Jesus really die for everyone?

You're kidding right? What does it mean by world? The last time I checked the word world means world, that is all the people that have lived, are living and that will live. No one is going to tell me that God didn't love the entire world and send His Son to die for it on the cross.

As I write this I am thankful for a faithful servant (who is now with the Lord )for teaching me that in the midst of deep theological discussions we have a simple message to go back to. If God loves the world then He surely must love me.

Call it simple but don't call it ignorant.

In Christ,
Pastor John

Use Me Lord, But Not in That Way!

Ever thought that way? I have and did recently in Peru on the mission trip. We were speaking at a Pastor's Conference. They were seeking some of our wisdom as North American Pastors. Sounds cool, huh? Maybe I will speak of Christ's second return or on Baptism. Maybe I will speak on how to do outreach. Use Me Lord! So what do I end up talking about? How a Pastor carries on ministry in the middle of a divorce. I was mad. My fellow missionaries looked at me when the question was raised. Of the 5 pastors on this trip I was the only one who had gone through a divorce. They wanted me to speak from the heart and tell my story. I didn't want to because I didn't want to be divorced at that moment. I'm remarried and can't I just forget about the past. But God wanted me to talk. He wanted me to help the young pastor who came up to me afterwards seeking more "wisdom" from my experience. He wanted to know if and how he would make it through his wife leaving him.

Maybe you are in a place in life where you don't want to be. I mean, who signs up to be an expert on the tough subjects of divorce or illness or death. But if we truly want God to use us then we have to be willing to share our story in order to help another person make it. Joseph shared the ugly details of his brothers rejection with them only to remind them that God had a plan in all of it.

If my pain can help someone else get closer to Jesus isn't it worth it? Someone once said that if we learn from our pain then it is not wasted.

I learned another definition of grace on this trip. Grace is God using someone even when they don't want to be used in that way. I could have talked about Baptism that day but God had other plans. (I'd rather He be in control, how about you?) God softened my heart that day.

May God use you, me, Project 52 in the way that He wants not in the way we want.

In Christ,
Pastor John

Mighty? But I'm Scared!

Wow, if this were a homework assignment I would have failed! (I did not get it in on time.) No blogs forever, sorry! And now I find myself on the eve of our trip to Peru. A ten day mission of teaching and encouraging pastors, helping at the orphanage, street evangelism and who knows what else! We are also teaching a lesson to the children based on the story of Gideon.

I love that story. Gideon is hiding from his enemies and the Lord approaches him and says, "hail mighty warrior" Wow, God sees people for who He knows they can be not what they are when He comes to them! Mighty warrior? What do you mean? Gideon is scared! But God knows what He will do with Gideon and through him.

So, were leaving for Peru. Scared? A little. But God sees us for what He knows we can be. With Him working in us the mission will accomplish exactly what it is supposed to. How about you? Are you hiding from something? God comes to you! That's what grace is all about. He sees you for what He knows He can do through you. No matter how scared you are just tell Him, use me Lord. That is my prayer as we get ready to leave- just use us to bring another soul to heaven.

And it will be my prayer as I come back and get ready to leave Cleveland so I can work full time with Project 52. I can't wait!

Onward and Forward Mighty Warriors!
In Christ,
John

Father's Day

Sometimes it can be a tough one. How is Father's Day celebrated when you have lost a dad? or son? Or how about if you don't have a relationship with your dad? or child?

One of my favorite old time TV Westerns is The Rifleman. I was watching a couple of them the other day. Some might call them corny but I look at things that maybe others just don't try to see. I see the beautiful land of New Mexico. I see a simpler way of life. I see values not seen in many modern day shows. But most of all I see the relationship of Lucas with his son Mark.

I'd give up many things in my life to have what they had. There are many episodes that end with me wiping a tear from my eyes.

So what do you do with Father's Day? You read the Word that says, "Have we not all one Father ? Did not one God create us?" (Malachi 2:10) God, the creator of heaven and earth also created you. And like a loving Father, He bottles all your tears. (Psalm 56)

Its His gift to you, who may struggle this weekend!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Remembering

Memorial Weekend- a chance to remember and reflect. I think we don't remember and reflect enough because its too painful. So we keep ourselves busy and fill each waking moment with something to keep us from remembering. I think about the times when I am alone at the house or driving in my truck by myself. All of a sudden I find myself thinking, remembering and reflecting on different aspects of my life. When it gets overwhelming I turn the radio on because I don't want to think anymore.

But its good to remember. The Bible talks about God remembering His people and that is a good thing. To be remembered by God is a grace thing. The thief on the cross said, "Lord remember me in your kingdom." And here's the grace part- Jesus answered, "today you will be with Me in paradise." In other words, Yes I will remember you!

The Book of Zechariah means, "God Remembers" Zechariah helped Israel to rebuild their lives after their time in captivity. His message was this- God is remembering you even in your time of exile and now He is bringing you out to rebuild! Could the same words be spoken to you?

If you believe that everything works out for the good to those who love God (Romans 8) then the same words are being spoken to you. Maybe it hurts to remember too much because it is a reminder that you are still in exile or a period of waiting. Maybe you are ready to build again and move on. Or maybe you are moving on but every once in awhile you remember something from the past and it makes you sad. Either way you have a Father who loves you and knows your pain. And He longs to see you smile again and you will! He remembers you!

This weekend let us take time to remember those who have given their lives for us. Let us also remember Jesus who gave His life on the cross so that we could know that our time of exile will turn to a time of everlasting joy. We will then experience what it means to be remembered by God for all eternity.

In Christ,
Pastor John

Vision and Hope

So, on to the great Wayne Gretzky- of the many things that made him one of the best hockey players ever was this one- he went to where the puck was going to be! Its called vision and hope.

If you are just constantly going to where the puck is, it might be gone before you get there. You find yourself chasing rather than waiting for it to be where you are so you can get the shot off and hopefully score!

I wonder what our lives would be like if we actually anticipated the dream, went where others were not going, and were there when it arrived rather than aimlessly chasing after our dreams. How many times do we hear of people, "nothing ever came of his dreams"

Proverbs 29:18 says ,Where there is no vision, the people perish: Without vision there is no hope. Gretzky could see where the puck was going to be and he waited its arrival. God has a plan for you! Do you trust that? You really have two choices. Either lie down and die or get up each day knowing that you are part of God's great plan and that eventually all things work out for the good!!!

At Project 52 we love this verse and again share it with you from Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Eventually the main goal (eternal life) is achieved through the Great One- Jesus Christ- if I were Lord Stanley I'd give Him the Cup!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Lesson from a Peacock Feather

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...

Wow! I can sure learn a lot from you guys. I like what you said BJK...keep your eyes on Jesus. Reminds me of an exercise we had to do during a pastoral leadership conference.

We were all given a peacock feather. We were told to place the feather on our fingertip and to balance it so it would stand straight up and not fall. The vivid bright colors are amazing. But to look at the feather would mean it would probably fall over. If you looked up at the sky however you could balance it and even walk around without it tipping. I was amazed! I even tried this in vacation Bible school once. And it worked with a little kid and she was amazed as well. The point- keep your eyes on Jesus. Look up to the hills it says in Psalm 121, that's where your help comes from!

It's easy for us to look at all the razzle dazzle of the world. The bright colors of fame and fortune will leave us imbalanced and we will eventually fall over. Keeping our eyes on Jesus through the Spirit's power will keep us focused on the eternal rather than on that which is passing away.

Thanks for sharing with me, and yes hockey is an awesome sport. It totally fits my personality and in fact I would like to share another lesson from the great Wayne Gretzky. That will be my blog next week.

Until then, keep on skating- God has chosen you to be on His winning team!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Look Ahead!

Phil 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Not sure if saying I love hockey really captures how I feel about the sport and especially The Buffalo Sabres. I mean I LOVE HOCKEY!!! I followed the Sabres in the 70’s during the French Connection years and I probably love them as much now. To see them trailing in their best of 7 against Boston is killing me. One thing that I have picked up on in reading articles about their upcoming game tonight is this- their desire and effort to forget the past games and press on to the prize- one game at a time- The Stanley Cup!

Wow- a great an anology of the Christian life. Paul even said it in the above text. Forget what lies behind, press on to what is forward! What lies behind me are many shortcomings and failures and disappointments. At times I find myself trailing in the series of life. But the cross has spoken mercy and the grave has declared grace and victory! Through the resurrection the “prize” the Stanley Cup is ours and has been won by our beautiful Savior Jesus Christ. There is no other religion that proclaims such Good News!

Paul says that he trains to take hold of perfection in this life, knows he can’t, but rejoices that Jesus has taken hold of him! One day all will be made perfect. In the meanwhile, there are days we trail, days we make great checks, minutes in the penalty box and moments of “he scoressssssssssssssss!!!” Don’t let the past drag you down- look ahead!

I wish all the world knew the joy we have as believers in Jesus Christ.

I wish all were Sabres fans too but… I wont push that!

In Christ- The Prize Winner!
Pastor John

Wake Up!

Sometimes I wonder if people in the church get why they are here. The Bible says true religion is to look after widows and orphans. Far too often we are looking out only for what is good for us and our traditions. I hope you enjoy this video that I used in my service this past weekend. We have much to live for because of the resurrection and it is time for us to wake up and share the message of hope. In light of all the tree plantings coming up I wanted to encourage you with the Good News that our God is not dead but alive!

Let us live for others, let us live for God!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn2a73B0uB0

Enjoy!
In Christ,
Pastor John

Easter or Easier?

Yesterday during our prayer request time it was amazing to me how many requests were offered regarding health issues. Tumors, cancer, strokes, chronic pain, and on and on. I was thinking, can't life just be easier?

The difference between the word Easter and Easier grammatically is the "t" vs the "i" It's tempting to ask God for an easier life but He might have other plans as He works through the results of sin in this world. It's not so easy to ask Him for an Easter life but its one for sure that He gives. The Christian journey is about the cross (the "t") not me (the "I") The things that He is doing in your life are for a reason and a purpose. Who knows where an easier life may lead to? (If Jesus would have taken the easier way we would all be going to hell!)

But I know where an Easter life leads to. It leads to victory and truimph! An Easter life means that no matter what happens it will all work out in the end. After every Good Friday there is an Easter! There is nothing we can't rise above. Why? Because its about the cross and not me, its about the Easter journey not an Easier journey.

And if the journey for you is hard that's what Project 52 is here for. Let us help you discover the Easter life!

In Christ,
Pastor John

From My Journal from the Dominican Mission Trip

I'm waiting for church. It's neat to walk around the camp and see people in devotion and prayer. I wonder why everyday can't be like this, prayer, fellowship, there's community here. There's community as well among the team. Back in the States we go to work and then back to our houses. It feels like hiding at times. The next day we do it again so we can earn money to live in the houses we are hiding in. Where does our spiritual growth come from, our fellowship with others? What if we were like the church in Acts and shared in everything? What does that look like for 2010? What if we were truly the army of Christ (bunking together if you will) moving out into the community with the Gospel like it was the most important thing for that day? I know, I'm dreaming, it happens alot on mission trips.

Maybe we can restore some of that sense of community as we continue to pray for Dustin and his family. Please pray also for Bill and Dustin and myself as we continue to see what God would have in store for Project 52 for the days are short and we want to make a difference. We have all learned the hard way that life is too short. Let us remember why we are here and the impact we can leave through the Spirit's work in us of making everyday count.

I still can see the community and I miss it, but I know I saw and experienced it for a reason. Maybe its not a dream.

In Christ,
Pastor John

The Book

I want to share a story with you titled, Search for the Book from Heaven. It's about four Indian chiefs who traveled more than 3,000 miles from their home in the Oregon Country because a white man had told their tribe about a Book from Heaven that told of the one true God. The tribe held a council fire and chose these four men to go East and find the Book. The Indians met with William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He told them what he knew of the Bible and tried to then impress them with a tour of St. Louis. But the Indians only wanted the Book and a preacher to explain it. When it was time for the return home a great banquet was given where one of the Indians stood and said the following:

My people sent me to get the white man's Book from Heaven. You took me where you allow your women to dance, as we do not ours, and the Book was not there. You took me where they worship the Great Spirit with candles, and the Book was not there. I am going back the long sad trail to my people of the dark land. You make my feet heavy with gifts, but the Book is not among them. When I tell my poor, blind people that I do not bring the Book, no word will be spoken. One by one they will rise up and go out in silence. My people will die in darkness, and they will go on the long path to other hunting grounds. No white man will go with them and no white man's Book, to make the way plain. I have no more words.

Sort of reminds me of the movie- The Book of Eli. I recommend that you see it. It's about our world without the Word and one man's drive (Denzel Washington) to make sure that the Word would be brought back to people in darkness. That's all I'm going to say about the movie.

We at Project 52 want to bring the Word to people who are hurting and struggling with the pain of this world. We want them to know that after this life there is a beautiful life in store for those who have loved and cherished the Word of God. May we make it our life mission to bring that Word to a world in desperate need.

Nothing else will quite satisfy you as this will-just ask Eli ,if you could, and thousands of others just like him.

In Christ,
Pastor John

Grandma's Letters

After being in our new home now for over 3 months I finally found my stack of letters from my dearly departed grandma. She wrote them while I was in college. I cherish those letters! She of all my relatives seemed the most excited about me going into the ministry. Her letters would brighten my day. I am so glad that I have hung onto them. Grandma went to be with the Lord in 1981-I was 20.

Now at 48 I go back and read again what I already read but it means something different to me now. That is how the Word of the Lord works. You can read and read and read it some more but it will always minister to you right where you need it and when you need it. I'm doing a mini series on having a devotional life. It simply means taking some time to be in the Word. The Word is God's love letter to you. He delights when He sees you open it because He has so much to say to you. He wants you to know His love for you and how He is with you through the good times and bad times of life.

The Word of God- even better than reading grandma's letters!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Victor or Victim?

In Romans 8 it says we are more than conquerors through Christ! Often in life its easy to see ourselves as victims. We look at our situations, maybe how someone hurt us by their actions and we dwell on being the victim. I had a good friend who told me once that instead of being the victim we can become the victor. It may take awhile but by the grace of God we can live our days more as victors than victims.

A victim is stuck in what happened. A victor presses on and says God will use it for His glory and to somehow grow me. A victim blames other people constantly. A victor forgives them for they know not what they do. I've been both a victim and a victor and I'll tell you one thing, it is so much better living as a victor.

Christ is the Victor over death. He lives in the believer and with His strength you and me can live more and more of our days as victors! How do I know this? Because the Word just said, we are more than conquerors....so go conquer in the power of Jesus!

In Christ,
Pastor John

Children of Royalty

William Shakespeare once said, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.

A whole new year lies before us. There are things we look forward to and things we anticipate. Yet not one of us knows for sure what the coming days of 2010 will bring. Life can turn suddenly and you can find yourself going down a road you never thought you would travel. We know not what we may be. We have our goals. We also hope that we have the strength and courage to face the trials that will come.

What is our hope? We know what we are. We are God's children through faith in Jesus Christ. And since God is King of kings that makes us children of royalty. What an awesome thought on days when you don't feel so good about yourself. What an awesome thought when you find yourself worried about what the future holds.

If God truly loves me and I am His by grace I know who I am and do not have to worry about what or who I may be! For everything works out for the good to those who love Him and forgiveness is always mine through the precious cross, the cross that towers over all time!

In Christ,
Pastor John