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