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