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
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
All Things New
If you saw the Passion of the Christ you might remember the scene where Jesus, under the weight of the cross, says to His mother, "I make all things new" Wow!!! Bloodied and beaten, barely recognizable, stands our Savior telling us that through the cross He is making a way where there seems to be no way.
Another new year is around the corner. New things are pretty cool, new car, new house, etc. In fact we comment on the smell of new things.
How about a new life, a new day, a new beginning? These are the things being in Christ brings us. Indeed the old has passed away and in Christ we have a new fresh start, not just on New Years Day but each and every day.
What will the New Year hold for Project 52? What will it hold for you? We don't know the answers but we know Jesus. He's your Savior and when you feel all beaten up by life remember that He is making something new out of all of it. Just look at His resurrection! He has the power to change everything and give you hope.
Trust Him as 2010 rolls in. And by the way, a blessed New Year to all!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Another new year is around the corner. New things are pretty cool, new car, new house, etc. In fact we comment on the smell of new things.
How about a new life, a new day, a new beginning? These are the things being in Christ brings us. Indeed the old has passed away and in Christ we have a new fresh start, not just on New Years Day but each and every day.
What will the New Year hold for Project 52? What will it hold for you? We don't know the answers but we know Jesus. He's your Savior and when you feel all beaten up by life remember that He is making something new out of all of it. Just look at His resurrection! He has the power to change everything and give you hope.
Trust Him as 2010 rolls in. And by the way, a blessed New Year to all!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A Different Beat
Blessed are the poor in spirit- Matt 5:3
Carols beginning in October, it drives me nuts. And now its days before Christmas and I think what do I really want to listen to? One of my favorites: The Little Drummer Boy. I love the song because the little boy breaks my heart. He is full of anger because his parents were killed and he hates the people who came into his home and shattered his life.
Only when he learns about the Christ Child and travels to see him does his life change. Only then do his drums play to a different beat. I love the line, Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too, I have no gift to bring.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, that is those who know they bring nothing to Christ for eternal life. Eternal life is the gift of God who also played to a different beat. He went against all that the world was expecting for a Savior. He made Himself poor and was born in a dirty old manger to begin the journey of saving us from our sins. A King lying on hay! God wearing a diaper!
You might not understand it all, the carols may drive you nuts, but the fact remains, He comes this Christmas to deal with angry hurt people and their shattered dreams. And He comes with the promise that all shall be made new one day.
That is the Christmas I'm waiting for! In the meanwhile? Let's play our best for Him!
Merry Christmas,
Pastor John
Carols beginning in October, it drives me nuts. And now its days before Christmas and I think what do I really want to listen to? One of my favorites: The Little Drummer Boy. I love the song because the little boy breaks my heart. He is full of anger because his parents were killed and he hates the people who came into his home and shattered his life.
Only when he learns about the Christ Child and travels to see him does his life change. Only then do his drums play to a different beat. I love the line, Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too, I have no gift to bring.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, that is those who know they bring nothing to Christ for eternal life. Eternal life is the gift of God who also played to a different beat. He went against all that the world was expecting for a Savior. He made Himself poor and was born in a dirty old manger to begin the journey of saving us from our sins. A King lying on hay! God wearing a diaper!
You might not understand it all, the carols may drive you nuts, but the fact remains, He comes this Christmas to deal with angry hurt people and their shattered dreams. And He comes with the promise that all shall be made new one day.
That is the Christmas I'm waiting for! In the meanwhile? Let's play our best for Him!
Merry Christmas,
Pastor John
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Advent?
Advent is a time in the church year where we prepare for the celebration of Christmas. This coming Sunday will already be the 4th Sunday in Advent. Christmas is around the corner. Are you ready?
People get asked that alot. Are you ready? Shopping done? Presents bought? Cookies baked? I'll respond like Charlie Brown-Good Grief! Yesterday I was talking with someone who said, "what gets done gets done what doesn't doesn't" A-Men! But there's something more to Advent. Advent means coming. And Christ is coming again! Are you ready for that?
If you're not the implications are more than just, "oh well, I guess that didn't get done" To be ready for Christ coming is to know Him as your Savior. The Christ Child of Bethlehem came to walk the road of life with you, to go to a cross and die for your sin, and then to rise again so you might know there is nothing you cannot rise above. He came to save you from eternal death!
If you are afraid of death or His coming again please write to me. As the year winds down we at Project 52 want you to be sure of everlasting life. You never know when life will end. Just ask the many people who have experienced loss in their life.
As the world hurries to get ready for Christmas, may I remind you of Advent and the importance of being ready for His second coming. Christmas 2009 will come and go....eternity is forever!
In Christ,
Pastor John
People get asked that alot. Are you ready? Shopping done? Presents bought? Cookies baked? I'll respond like Charlie Brown-Good Grief! Yesterday I was talking with someone who said, "what gets done gets done what doesn't doesn't" A-Men! But there's something more to Advent. Advent means coming. And Christ is coming again! Are you ready for that?
If you're not the implications are more than just, "oh well, I guess that didn't get done" To be ready for Christ coming is to know Him as your Savior. The Christ Child of Bethlehem came to walk the road of life with you, to go to a cross and die for your sin, and then to rise again so you might know there is nothing you cannot rise above. He came to save you from eternal death!
If you are afraid of death or His coming again please write to me. As the year winds down we at Project 52 want you to be sure of everlasting life. You never know when life will end. Just ask the many people who have experienced loss in their life.
As the world hurries to get ready for Christmas, may I remind you of Advent and the importance of being ready for His second coming. Christmas 2009 will come and go....eternity is forever!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Contentment
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
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
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
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