Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
So here we are, the week of Thanksgiving. I just got back from South Dakota for a speaking engagement with Project 52, time with family and a deer hunt with a great friend of mine. I think God has a great sense of humor. I was trying to think of what I ought to blog on and contentment popped into my head. (like I'm really the guy to write on this)
But Paul is the guy. In Philippians he says he has learned to be content whatever the circumstance! Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself and maybe you shouldn't either. He says "he has learned" That means he probably wasn't always. But he trained in learning that secret. And the writer of Hebrews reiterates it: Be content with what you have! Wow!
I was working out this morning and the song by Casting Crowns was playing, Somewhere in the Middle. I guess they are training in this secret of being content. One of their lines is- somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more, and then they go on to say, somewhere in the middle that's where you'll find me.
So that's where you'll find me this Thanksgiving week 2009, somewhere in the middle of being content and somewhere of wanting more. Grace is this-God loves me anyway and He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. And His Spirit is with us now through the Word and that's why we can rejoice at the words, never will I leave you or forsake you! You have Jesus, that means you have everything that counts! I hope that helps you when you find yourself sad over things you once had but no longer have this Thanksgiving season.
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Out of the Mouth of Babes
One Easter I talked about the movement of God. Guess what folks? When God moves nothing stops Him. Ever try and stop a tornado? A huge wave? As Gamaliel said in Acts when the Jews were trying to get the disciples to be quiet about Jesus...
Acts 5:34ff- But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
Project 52 is of God otherwise it would be failing. We were told at Tyler's tree planting we could not pray or say anything "religious" because we were on public land, a school. God took care of it. The children were allowed to say what Tyler meant to them. There sure was alot of mentioning of God and heaven! Out of the mouths of babes! (That's all I need to say)
The movement of God cannot be stopped- He'll even use rocks to declare His praise. That day He used children. Ever try and stop a tornado?
In Christ,
Pastor John
Acts 5:34ff- But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
Project 52 is of God otherwise it would be failing. We were told at Tyler's tree planting we could not pray or say anything "religious" because we were on public land, a school. God took care of it. The children were allowed to say what Tyler meant to them. There sure was alot of mentioning of God and heaven! Out of the mouths of babes! (That's all I need to say)
The movement of God cannot be stopped- He'll even use rocks to declare His praise. That day He used children. Ever try and stop a tornado?
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Jesus and Life
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
We've talked about Jesus being the Way, and Jesus being the Truth. He is also Life! Life man! Isn't that what we all really want? I know people who have lost loved ones and its sad because that person was once living and now they are not. But for the believer in Jesus Christ we know we have eternal life! We will see that loved one again and we will be living and breathing and celebrating for all eternity! What a message we have to share with the world!
Life- it begins and it runs its course. I love in BraveHeart where Mel Gibson says, "every man dies, not every man really lives." If you want to really live then live in Jesus Christ who is Life itself. He has come to give us life to the full! Some days life doesn't feel very full. Some days we wish we could just close our eyes and go home. Sometimes pain keeps us from feeling alive. Someone once told me to find resurrection in the "death" around us. I wrote about that once in my journal. I had experience an agonizing loss in my life. This helped me and maybe it will help you too. I wrote it 5 years ago at 4 in the morning when it was raining out and could not sleep.
As I think of the leaves falling I’m reminded of how they return to the earth to nurture it. They make the sacrifice and die and decompose so that the soil may be enriched. And in this soil are buried the roots of trees that in the spring will say, here is resurrection as new leaves sprout. As I think of them sprouting it’s as if I hear them singing in the spring rain and warm sunshine. Their song is this: here is resurrection for though I looked dead I am alive... Where is resurrection in all this pain and misery? I don’t have the answers exactly but I’m starting to see them. I see them in new relationships that have come into my life. I see them in my ability to relate to people and their pain. I see resurrection power when I am able to be there for someone who is also looking for resurrection in his or her life. And if I can somehow help them or bring them hope then I can say this pain is not wasted. And if pain is not wasted, to me, that is the start of a celebration of resurrection. Outside the landscape is forever changing. Inside I am always me, child of God, husband, father, brother, son, nephew, cousin, friend….to somebody. And these people that love me remind me that there truly is resurrection. If I hang on to that I think I can bear to watch another leaf fall. It’s still dark out but I can see the landscape as clear as day.
Jesus is risen! It's a message that rings out each time Project 52 plants a tree. It's a message that says Jesus is Life!
In Christ,
Pastor John
We've talked about Jesus being the Way, and Jesus being the Truth. He is also Life! Life man! Isn't that what we all really want? I know people who have lost loved ones and its sad because that person was once living and now they are not. But for the believer in Jesus Christ we know we have eternal life! We will see that loved one again and we will be living and breathing and celebrating for all eternity! What a message we have to share with the world!
Life- it begins and it runs its course. I love in BraveHeart where Mel Gibson says, "every man dies, not every man really lives." If you want to really live then live in Jesus Christ who is Life itself. He has come to give us life to the full! Some days life doesn't feel very full. Some days we wish we could just close our eyes and go home. Sometimes pain keeps us from feeling alive. Someone once told me to find resurrection in the "death" around us. I wrote about that once in my journal. I had experience an agonizing loss in my life. This helped me and maybe it will help you too. I wrote it 5 years ago at 4 in the morning when it was raining out and could not sleep.
As I think of the leaves falling I’m reminded of how they return to the earth to nurture it. They make the sacrifice and die and decompose so that the soil may be enriched. And in this soil are buried the roots of trees that in the spring will say, here is resurrection as new leaves sprout. As I think of them sprouting it’s as if I hear them singing in the spring rain and warm sunshine. Their song is this: here is resurrection for though I looked dead I am alive... Where is resurrection in all this pain and misery? I don’t have the answers exactly but I’m starting to see them. I see them in new relationships that have come into my life. I see them in my ability to relate to people and their pain. I see resurrection power when I am able to be there for someone who is also looking for resurrection in his or her life. And if I can somehow help them or bring them hope then I can say this pain is not wasted. And if pain is not wasted, to me, that is the start of a celebration of resurrection. Outside the landscape is forever changing. Inside I am always me, child of God, husband, father, brother, son, nephew, cousin, friend….to somebody. And these people that love me remind me that there truly is resurrection. If I hang on to that I think I can bear to watch another leaf fall. It’s still dark out but I can see the landscape as clear as day.
Jesus is risen! It's a message that rings out each time Project 52 plants a tree. It's a message that says Jesus is Life!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jesus and Truth
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Last time I talked about Jesus showing us the way to heaven. He indeed is the only way to God the Father as the above verse states. One either believes it as truth or they don't. And it is truth. In fact, Jesus says He is truth. What a declaration in light of the fact that people are searching for truth on a daily basis. In John 18 Pilate even asked Jesus what truth is. Pilate was the Roman governor looking for truth because in his mind he had the power to free Jesus or let Him go. Can you imagine what Pilate went through, "what is truth, the cries of the mob yelling for Jesus' crucifixion or Jesus saying that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him." Real people, tough situations!
I've asked what truth is. In the middle of my own dark "Good Fridays" I've come face to face with satan the father of lies. I've heard him say that I am worthless, that there is no way out of the situation I am in, that I am hopeless, fatherless and that my sins will condemn me for eternity. So what do you do? EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH LISTENS TO ME.
In a world that believes one thing today and then tomorrow doesn't, in a world where people believe there is no absolute truth I thank God that through the power of His Holy Spirit I know truth. I know Truth! Do you? Jesus is Truth and He tells me of Easter and that an Easter always follows a Good Friday. His resurrection gives me peace, hope and joy! His rising from the dead declares me His son and I know that I can rise above anything that comes my way.
I don't know how people make it through life without this Absolute Truth. It's hard enough making it even when you know it. Our job at Project 52 and even beyond this ministry is to let people know truth and the difference it makes in their lives. The world has been deceived by many lies but in the Word of God is the Truth that can help us sort through all the madness.
In Christ,
Pastor John
Last time I talked about Jesus showing us the way to heaven. He indeed is the only way to God the Father as the above verse states. One either believes it as truth or they don't. And it is truth. In fact, Jesus says He is truth. What a declaration in light of the fact that people are searching for truth on a daily basis. In John 18 Pilate even asked Jesus what truth is. Pilate was the Roman governor looking for truth because in his mind he had the power to free Jesus or let Him go. Can you imagine what Pilate went through, "what is truth, the cries of the mob yelling for Jesus' crucifixion or Jesus saying that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him." Real people, tough situations!
I've asked what truth is. In the middle of my own dark "Good Fridays" I've come face to face with satan the father of lies. I've heard him say that I am worthless, that there is no way out of the situation I am in, that I am hopeless, fatherless and that my sins will condemn me for eternity. So what do you do? EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH LISTENS TO ME.
In a world that believes one thing today and then tomorrow doesn't, in a world where people believe there is no absolute truth I thank God that through the power of His Holy Spirit I know truth. I know Truth! Do you? Jesus is Truth and He tells me of Easter and that an Easter always follows a Good Friday. His resurrection gives me peace, hope and joy! His rising from the dead declares me His son and I know that I can rise above anything that comes my way.
I don't know how people make it through life without this Absolute Truth. It's hard enough making it even when you know it. Our job at Project 52 and even beyond this ministry is to let people know truth and the difference it makes in their lives. The world has been deceived by many lies but in the Word of God is the Truth that can help us sort through all the madness.
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Another Cleveland Night
Tuesday night/feed the homeless/prayer/a miserable drizzling cool night/keep the food dry/listen to men whose hearts are crying/somebody new from the Plant joined us tonight-his eyes are opened and he is humbled/my friend Bill still looking for a job and running out of time or he gets kicked out...
It's another Cleveland night and it seems lately after I do this ministry I am inspired to write another blog for Project 52. We're about serving and there is great joy in doing it. The above paragraph is all the stuff running through my head as I try to close the evening out.
And I continue to think of Jesus and His Word in John where He said I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the way when there seems to be no way in your life. Maybe you feel like you have come to a dead end, or you are at the end of the line or its the last straw. Jesus is telling you that He is the way. We all need someone or something to show us the way to heaven. Because this life will end and its either heaven or hell. That Someone is Jesus and He is not only showing us the way He is the way!
He paved the path to heaven with His blood that spilled from the cross. And the empty tomb means there is hope for you and for all the Bill's out there! I prayed with Bill tonight and I'm not sure if we will see each other again in this life. But I know that we will see each other again one day because he knows that Jesus is the way to heaven.
As if being shown the way to heaven isn't enough joy for me, I had the joy of sharing that way with another man whose way in this life is unknown. But he has Jesus and God loves him more than I ever could.
That helps me as I wrestle with another Tuesday night in Cleveland.
Next blog-Jesus and Truth!
In Christ,
Pastor John
It's another Cleveland night and it seems lately after I do this ministry I am inspired to write another blog for Project 52. We're about serving and there is great joy in doing it. The above paragraph is all the stuff running through my head as I try to close the evening out.
And I continue to think of Jesus and His Word in John where He said I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the way when there seems to be no way in your life. Maybe you feel like you have come to a dead end, or you are at the end of the line or its the last straw. Jesus is telling you that He is the way. We all need someone or something to show us the way to heaven. Because this life will end and its either heaven or hell. That Someone is Jesus and He is not only showing us the way He is the way!
He paved the path to heaven with His blood that spilled from the cross. And the empty tomb means there is hope for you and for all the Bill's out there! I prayed with Bill tonight and I'm not sure if we will see each other again in this life. But I know that we will see each other again one day because he knows that Jesus is the way to heaven.
As if being shown the way to heaven isn't enough joy for me, I had the joy of sharing that way with another man whose way in this life is unknown. But he has Jesus and God loves him more than I ever could.
That helps me as I wrestle with another Tuesday night in Cleveland.
Next blog-Jesus and Truth!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
You Have Value
I started what I call my war series at The Plant. It is a sermon series based on 2 Timothy, the last letter Paul wrote before he died for his Savior. In it he talks about being a soldier for Christ. I showed a clip from the movie Gettysburg. In it Jeff Daniels as Colonel Chamberlain gives a moving speech on the call to be a soldier. He talks about how every man has value and that we are fighting to set men free.
If the church, or any Christian as far as that goes, could truly grasp this concept what a difference it would make in answering the question, why are we here? We are here by God's grace and His Spirit has given us the knowledge of Jesus as our Savior. And now our Commander has issued the order to go and bring others into His army and save them from hell. We truly are in a war to set people free from an eternity without Him.
Tonight I was in downtown Cleveland feeding the homeless and those living in temporary housing while trying to get their lives back on track again. I was asked to say a few words and then pray. I had no idea I would be asked. What do you say to a bunch of guys standing there wondering where their lives are going? What do you say to the guy you know has been looking for a job and can't find one? What do you say to the guy who has been recently divorced and left with nothing and trying to find his way again? Picture it. Their faces looking hungrier than their stomachs.
In a nutshell, I told them that they have value. That I too was once lost and that God loved us so much that Jesus died on a cross for all of us. I told them what a privilege it was to come and serve them and that we do it because Jesus served us with His life.
ALL MEN HAVE VALUE, WE ARE FIGHTING TO SET MEN FREE! A couple of guys talked to me afterward. A relationship is forming. Will you pray to God about these and so many others like them? Will you pray to God to have Him use you?
Tonight the streets were my pulpit and there's nothing like looking in the face of another human being and telling them that they have value.
If you ever personally need to hear it, e-mail me, its part of what Project 52 does because we are in a war to set people free from the junk this world throws at them.
In Christ,
Pastor John
If the church, or any Christian as far as that goes, could truly grasp this concept what a difference it would make in answering the question, why are we here? We are here by God's grace and His Spirit has given us the knowledge of Jesus as our Savior. And now our Commander has issued the order to go and bring others into His army and save them from hell. We truly are in a war to set people free from an eternity without Him.
Tonight I was in downtown Cleveland feeding the homeless and those living in temporary housing while trying to get their lives back on track again. I was asked to say a few words and then pray. I had no idea I would be asked. What do you say to a bunch of guys standing there wondering where their lives are going? What do you say to the guy you know has been looking for a job and can't find one? What do you say to the guy who has been recently divorced and left with nothing and trying to find his way again? Picture it. Their faces looking hungrier than their stomachs.
In a nutshell, I told them that they have value. That I too was once lost and that God loved us so much that Jesus died on a cross for all of us. I told them what a privilege it was to come and serve them and that we do it because Jesus served us with His life.
ALL MEN HAVE VALUE, WE ARE FIGHTING TO SET MEN FREE! A couple of guys talked to me afterward. A relationship is forming. Will you pray to God about these and so many others like them? Will you pray to God to have Him use you?
Tonight the streets were my pulpit and there's nothing like looking in the face of another human being and telling them that they have value.
If you ever personally need to hear it, e-mail me, its part of what Project 52 does because we are in a war to set people free from the junk this world throws at them.
In Christ,
Pastor John
Monday, August 31, 2009
More on Prayer
Get on His Lap for He is your Father..... this was the second part of my prayer series preached last Sunday August 23. I stressed to my people that your view of God will affect how you approach Him. If you look at Him like Dorothy and her friends looked at the Wizard of Oz we will approach His throne with fear and trembling if at all. God wants us to approach with with boldness and confidence. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Get on His lap I said to God's people, see Him as your Father. We worry so much about things like, am I praying for the right things, does God think I'm silly, oh no, I fell asleep while I was praying- hey, what better way to fall asleep? I remember my kids falling alseep in my lap and then carrying them to bed, tucking them in and the love that wells up inside just thinking of it! If I, a sinful man can feel this what must God feel as He tucks us in!
So climb up on His lap. Talk to Him, and when satan distracts I just say, God satan is distracting me, my mind is wandering, he's creating doubts, and God in His Word reminds me of His love for me and that my prayer life does not have to be perfect. In fact, when I don't even know what to pray it says in the Word that the Spirit prays for me!
Wow! That's a loving God, see Him as the Dad whose lap you can jump up on when the storms of life come your way.
More later,
In Christ,
Pastor John
Get on His lap I said to God's people, see Him as your Father. We worry so much about things like, am I praying for the right things, does God think I'm silly, oh no, I fell asleep while I was praying- hey, what better way to fall asleep? I remember my kids falling alseep in my lap and then carrying them to bed, tucking them in and the love that wells up inside just thinking of it! If I, a sinful man can feel this what must God feel as He tucks us in!
So climb up on His lap. Talk to Him, and when satan distracts I just say, God satan is distracting me, my mind is wandering, he's creating doubts, and God in His Word reminds me of His love for me and that my prayer life does not have to be perfect. In fact, when I don't even know what to pray it says in the Word that the Spirit prays for me!
Wow! That's a loving God, see Him as the Dad whose lap you can jump up on when the storms of life come your way.
More later,
In Christ,
Pastor John
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