Greetings from cold MN.
I am getting ready this week to go to Jamaica - Jan 2-11. I am going with a group from the United Methodist Church in Wells, Mn. It should be interesting. We are going to spend 3 days up in the mountains working at a school there. Then we will spend the rest of the time in Montego Bay working at the orphanages there.
This is my 12th trip to Jamaica and each one has been a good spiritual experience as well as a time of service. It is also fun - we are staying at a hotel this year that is right on the beach front.
This has been a good year and I look forward to 2010.
Blessings, Steve.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
October 21, 2009
Today I am 65 years old. For many years I did not think I would ever live to be this old, as my great grandfather, my grandfather, and my father had all died before they were 40 years old. All of my life has been a gift from God, especially the last 25 years.
When I think about this the words from the song by Andre Crouch come to mind: “How can I say thanks for the things he has done for me?” I have so much for which to be thankful. I am thankful for the salvation I have in Jesus Christ, so thankful. I thank him for the purpose and meaning he has given me for my life. I have every reason to live.
I am infinitely thankful for my kids, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I have loved and enjoyed my kids since they came into the world, Hans, Peder and Heidi. There is no way to say how much joy and challenge they have given me in my years. Since they married wonderful people, even more joy has been added. I am proud of all of them. Then they gave me the fantastic joy of having grandchildren, five so far and one more on the way. I am so blessed.
I am thankful for Mary and the love she gives me day after day. She is extremely important to me in so many ways.
I am thankful for all of my friends who walk with me in this life that many times can be difficult. We walk together each supporting the other. Dave and Donna are especially important in so many ways. Thank you.
I enjoy the work God has given me to do in the Austin Church of Christ. I get to preach and teach the Word of God. God has given me the gift of reading and study, so I can share what I have learned. An essential attribute of my life is that I am a pastor and teacher.
Reading is essential to my life. I read about a book a week. I have enough books to last me for about a hundred years that I have not read yet. Each book opens up a new world for me. Many book challenges me to think or act differently. Then I take what I read and share it with others. Studying and writing about prayer are what I am doing at this time.
I enjoy the variety of experiences of my life. I am referee for football during the fall – tonight on my birthday I am working a varsity game at the age of 65. I love to walk – sometimes while lifting weights, while bouncing a ball, or while reading a book. In reading and walking, I combine two of my favorite things to do. I love to watch football and other programs on TV. I enjoy listening to Christian radio. I love mission trips and sharing the money God had given to me for the support of the church and missionaries. I am so blessed by the Lord.
Today I am 65 years old. For many years I did not think I would ever live to be this old, as my great grandfather, my grandfather, and my father had all died before they were 40 years old. All of my life has been a gift from God, especially the last 25 years.
When I think about this the words from the song by Andre Crouch come to mind: “How can I say thanks for the things he has done for me?” I have so much for which to be thankful. I am thankful for the salvation I have in Jesus Christ, so thankful. I thank him for the purpose and meaning he has given me for my life. I have every reason to live.
I am infinitely thankful for my kids, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I have loved and enjoyed my kids since they came into the world, Hans, Peder and Heidi. There is no way to say how much joy and challenge they have given me in my years. Since they married wonderful people, even more joy has been added. I am proud of all of them. Then they gave me the fantastic joy of having grandchildren, five so far and one more on the way. I am so blessed.
I am thankful for Mary and the love she gives me day after day. She is extremely important to me in so many ways.
I am thankful for all of my friends who walk with me in this life that many times can be difficult. We walk together each supporting the other. Dave and Donna are especially important in so many ways. Thank you.
I enjoy the work God has given me to do in the Austin Church of Christ. I get to preach and teach the Word of God. God has given me the gift of reading and study, so I can share what I have learned. An essential attribute of my life is that I am a pastor and teacher.
Reading is essential to my life. I read about a book a week. I have enough books to last me for about a hundred years that I have not read yet. Each book opens up a new world for me. Many book challenges me to think or act differently. Then I take what I read and share it with others. Studying and writing about prayer are what I am doing at this time.
I enjoy the variety of experiences of my life. I am referee for football during the fall – tonight on my birthday I am working a varsity game at the age of 65. I love to walk – sometimes while lifting weights, while bouncing a ball, or while reading a book. In reading and walking, I combine two of my favorite things to do. I love to watch football and other programs on TV. I enjoy listening to Christian radio. I love mission trips and sharing the money God had given to me for the support of the church and missionaries. I am so blessed by the Lord.
Monday, September 7, 2009
It has been a long time since I had an entry. I am going to try to be more regular.
This is my busy time of the year - in addition to my 3 jobs I am refing football for the next two months. I like the group of guys I work with and it is fun again to ref. I have 7 varsity games and 12-15 other games.
At church we are starting to study the book of Revelation in Wed. Bible study, Sunday school, and Dave and I are preaching through the book starting next Sunday. I have been doing a lot of reading to get ready for the study. That has been fun and challenging.
My cat, Missy, is doing fine. She wants attention all the time - even when I am trying to sleep. We get along well most of the time.
My leg is getting better and my blood thinner is working well I guess. I will be on it until the end of October.
I will write more soon.
Steve.
This is my busy time of the year - in addition to my 3 jobs I am refing football for the next two months. I like the group of guys I work with and it is fun again to ref. I have 7 varsity games and 12-15 other games.
At church we are starting to study the book of Revelation in Wed. Bible study, Sunday school, and Dave and I are preaching through the book starting next Sunday. I have been doing a lot of reading to get ready for the study. That has been fun and challenging.
My cat, Missy, is doing fine. She wants attention all the time - even when I am trying to sleep. We get along well most of the time.
My leg is getting better and my blood thinner is working well I guess. I will be on it until the end of October.
I will write more soon.
Steve.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
More storms
We are getting more storms through this evening. So far they are mostly west of Austin. Some were approaching Geneva when I left there. We are in a bad pattern.
The mess done to the area last Wed. is mostly cleaned up. A few businesses out by UBC were hit pretty had and a lot of trees in Todd Park, the Nature Center, and the golf course. Fortunately no people were really hurt.
If has been a nice Father's Day. Thanks.
Steve.
The mess done to the area last Wed. is mostly cleaned up. A few businesses out by UBC were hit pretty had and a lot of trees in Todd Park, the Nature Center, and the golf course. Fortunately no people were really hurt.
If has been a nice Father's Day. Thanks.
Steve.
Father's Day sermon
Father’s Day 2009
1 Thessalonians 2.10 – 12
I like Father’s Day of course. I get cards and calls from my kids and really enjoy that. I also take time to think about my dad – he died 50 years ago this year – that is a long time. I remember a lot of things about him, and the things I remember get better and better every year. He was a good man, but not a perfect man, of course. My dad almost never went to church until the last year or so of his life. I say he went to church on Christmas and Easter unless he could find some way to get out of going then. He liked to go golfing and fishing and for some reason he thought he caught more fish and played golf better on Sunday morning than any other time. He expected my mom to get us to church. Only after he came to Christ did he like to go to church. Unfortunately he had a stroke on the day our family was going to be baptized and was sick much of the time before he died. I believe he loved the Lord and would have served him if he could have.
This is a father’s day sermon aimed at fathers – those who are raising their kids right now and those whose kids are out of the house. We never stop being their dads and we never should.
What is a good and godly father? How do we learn what a father should be like? We turn to the word of God. We are studying the book of 1 Thessalonians for a while. In chapter 2 of this book, verses 10-12 we have one of the most wonderful short passages in the Bible about fathers. Listen for the two fundamental characteristics of a good father. Read verses 10-12.
The context of this passage is Paul’s defense of his ministry to the church – he is actually saying to them this is the way I ministered to you – in vss. 7 and 8 above he says he cared for them as a mother cares for her children and then in these verses he tell how in cared for them as a father. The passage is really for ministers telling us how they should care for the church. It is also for all of us saying that this is the way we should treat one another.
First, he says that they are witnesses and so is God, how holy, righteous and blameless he was as he ministered to them. Fathers, all of us know how our kids follow our example in what we do and say. They imitate us in ways we do not even recognize sometimes. I was with a man and his son last week for a couple of hours. The man said his son got into trouble at school for swearing. He told he had punished his son but he keeps on swearing. I gently pointed out that the man swore way too much, but he did not even recognize what he was saying. Kids model after us, and it seems like they pick up on our negative characteristics more than our good ones.
As Chr men, and as Chrs, we need to be holy, righteous, and blameless as much as we can. Look at your life to see what needs to be changed so that you can be holy and blameless. I look at my life often to see what needs to be changed. I did not say if something needs to be changed. I said I look to see what needs to be changed. The God we worship and serve is holy and blameless and he wants us to be the same. By his power and help, we can be holy and blameless. We are all in a battle with satan – we win only with the power and help of the Lord.
The second part of this verse says we need to deal with our kids as fathers who is encouraging, comforting, and urging them to live lives worthy of God. This is not the image we have of fathers in our culture. In the movies and on TV fathers do not care about their kids serving God or even the fathers serving God. Paul was being a father to the Chrs by encouraging, comforting, and urging them to serve God.
As fathers with kids at home we need to be their finest encouragers. We need to be their constant cheerleaders, standing with them as go to school, participate in sports or drama, in the church, and every aspect of their lives. I was so proud of each of my kids and the things they did when they were growing up. I bragged about them to everyone who would listen and I told them often I was proud of them.
I still try to encourage them even though they live far away. In every phone call I try to say something that will encourage them in their lives today. I love them very much and am genuinely proud of them. Hans and Peder are very good dads, and Heidi is a good mother. They all enjoy their kids and work had at helping the kids grow. (Peder and Aurelia and the clothes thing.) I try to encourage them the work they do – jobs are not easy.
On of the other things I have discovered is that I need to try to encourage their spouses too. There is no question in my mind that the enjoyment and success in the lives of my kids is directly connected to their spouses. I love Hans’ wife Rachel, Peder’s wife Sarah, and Heidi’s husband Chad and I pray for them regularly. I could tell you about each of them and why I am proud of them, but we only have a certain amount of time for this sermon. I am not their father, but they are my kids.
I am committed to comforting my kids too. They have really not had situations where comforting has been needed, at least in big things, but they will come and I will do everything I can to comfort and strengthen them with the love of God.
Finally this passage says we as fathers need to urge our kids to live lives worthy of God, the God who call us and them into his kingdom. I want my kids to live for the Lord because that is the best possible life in all the world. There is no better way to live – the Chr life is a life of challenge, comfort, joy, peace, and growth. There is no more joyful life than the Chr life. I have learned over and over again that God loves me more than I can understand, and more than I will ever know, and of course more than I deserve. I need to show my kids that God loves them more than they can understand, more than they can know, and more than they deserve. But he loves them.
In reality, the best thing we can do for our kids is help them to know my Father, God the Father. He is the Father to the fatherless. God is the perfect Father, disciplining us when that is needed, comforting us when that is needed, and loving us all the time. He is the eternal God so he does not die and leave us. He is with us all of the time to give us the counsel we need. I am so thankful to God that he is my Father and always will be.
Do you need a Father, the perfect Father, come to him.
1 Thessalonians 2.10 – 12
I like Father’s Day of course. I get cards and calls from my kids and really enjoy that. I also take time to think about my dad – he died 50 years ago this year – that is a long time. I remember a lot of things about him, and the things I remember get better and better every year. He was a good man, but not a perfect man, of course. My dad almost never went to church until the last year or so of his life. I say he went to church on Christmas and Easter unless he could find some way to get out of going then. He liked to go golfing and fishing and for some reason he thought he caught more fish and played golf better on Sunday morning than any other time. He expected my mom to get us to church. Only after he came to Christ did he like to go to church. Unfortunately he had a stroke on the day our family was going to be baptized and was sick much of the time before he died. I believe he loved the Lord and would have served him if he could have.
This is a father’s day sermon aimed at fathers – those who are raising their kids right now and those whose kids are out of the house. We never stop being their dads and we never should.
What is a good and godly father? How do we learn what a father should be like? We turn to the word of God. We are studying the book of 1 Thessalonians for a while. In chapter 2 of this book, verses 10-12 we have one of the most wonderful short passages in the Bible about fathers. Listen for the two fundamental characteristics of a good father. Read verses 10-12.
The context of this passage is Paul’s defense of his ministry to the church – he is actually saying to them this is the way I ministered to you – in vss. 7 and 8 above he says he cared for them as a mother cares for her children and then in these verses he tell how in cared for them as a father. The passage is really for ministers telling us how they should care for the church. It is also for all of us saying that this is the way we should treat one another.
First, he says that they are witnesses and so is God, how holy, righteous and blameless he was as he ministered to them. Fathers, all of us know how our kids follow our example in what we do and say. They imitate us in ways we do not even recognize sometimes. I was with a man and his son last week for a couple of hours. The man said his son got into trouble at school for swearing. He told he had punished his son but he keeps on swearing. I gently pointed out that the man swore way too much, but he did not even recognize what he was saying. Kids model after us, and it seems like they pick up on our negative characteristics more than our good ones.
As Chr men, and as Chrs, we need to be holy, righteous, and blameless as much as we can. Look at your life to see what needs to be changed so that you can be holy and blameless. I look at my life often to see what needs to be changed. I did not say if something needs to be changed. I said I look to see what needs to be changed. The God we worship and serve is holy and blameless and he wants us to be the same. By his power and help, we can be holy and blameless. We are all in a battle with satan – we win only with the power and help of the Lord.
The second part of this verse says we need to deal with our kids as fathers who is encouraging, comforting, and urging them to live lives worthy of God. This is not the image we have of fathers in our culture. In the movies and on TV fathers do not care about their kids serving God or even the fathers serving God. Paul was being a father to the Chrs by encouraging, comforting, and urging them to serve God.
As fathers with kids at home we need to be their finest encouragers. We need to be their constant cheerleaders, standing with them as go to school, participate in sports or drama, in the church, and every aspect of their lives. I was so proud of each of my kids and the things they did when they were growing up. I bragged about them to everyone who would listen and I told them often I was proud of them.
I still try to encourage them even though they live far away. In every phone call I try to say something that will encourage them in their lives today. I love them very much and am genuinely proud of them. Hans and Peder are very good dads, and Heidi is a good mother. They all enjoy their kids and work had at helping the kids grow. (Peder and Aurelia and the clothes thing.) I try to encourage them the work they do – jobs are not easy.
On of the other things I have discovered is that I need to try to encourage their spouses too. There is no question in my mind that the enjoyment and success in the lives of my kids is directly connected to their spouses. I love Hans’ wife Rachel, Peder’s wife Sarah, and Heidi’s husband Chad and I pray for them regularly. I could tell you about each of them and why I am proud of them, but we only have a certain amount of time for this sermon. I am not their father, but they are my kids.
I am committed to comforting my kids too. They have really not had situations where comforting has been needed, at least in big things, but they will come and I will do everything I can to comfort and strengthen them with the love of God.
Finally this passage says we as fathers need to urge our kids to live lives worthy of God, the God who call us and them into his kingdom. I want my kids to live for the Lord because that is the best possible life in all the world. There is no better way to live – the Chr life is a life of challenge, comfort, joy, peace, and growth. There is no more joyful life than the Chr life. I have learned over and over again that God loves me more than I can understand, and more than I will ever know, and of course more than I deserve. I need to show my kids that God loves them more than they can understand, more than they can know, and more than they deserve. But he loves them.
In reality, the best thing we can do for our kids is help them to know my Father, God the Father. He is the Father to the fatherless. God is the perfect Father, disciplining us when that is needed, comforting us when that is needed, and loving us all the time. He is the eternal God so he does not die and leave us. He is with us all of the time to give us the counsel we need. I am so thankful to God that he is my Father and always will be.
Do you need a Father, the perfect Father, come to him.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Bad leg and picuture of Mom's stone
Hi Guys,
I went to the hospital last night and learned I have a blood clot in my left leg. I have to have shots for a few days and commidin for 20 days to desolve the clot and thin my blood.
I have to sit around a lot until things start to happen. Hopefully in a couple of days.
It was Mom's birthday on Thursday and they have her stone on her grave. I will try to put on a couple of pictures.
Pray for me.
Steve.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sermon - 3/29
Jesus Watched the Offering Boxes
Mark 12.41-44
I am going to talk about money and giving this morning – that is a warning. We as a church do not talk about it a lot. There is one of the radio preachers, who uses the month of January each year as the time to talk about tithing, giving and offerings – every Sunday for a month. This is just one sermon, but I hope it is one that will help to see the importance that Jesus puts on giving. This teaching came near the end of the ministry and life of Jesus. He has been debating with the teachers of the law all day and this is the last of his teachings for the day.
Read Mark 12.41-44. The scene is the temple in Jerusalem in the court of the women where the offering boxes were set up – they were trumpet shaped boxes – 13 in all according to one source. We pass the offering plate, but they came be the boxes and put in their offering. I can imagine, since I know human nature, some people would just come by and slip in their offering. Others would make a lot of fanfare about their giving letting everyone know that they had given and how much. (Big bag of money or maybe stand there and count out the amount so all could see.
In this scene Jesus is watching all of the people, when a widow lady walked up and quietly put in two small copper coins – the smallest coin as far as value. (This woman is not named – I want to give her the name – Esther.) They were worth less than a penny. Others might have just laughed at what she gave or thought little of it, but Jesus called his disciples to himself and pointed out what she had done so they would notice it and so they would learn from her example. (Does the Lord watch what we put into the offering plate?)
This widow was a poor lady – widows were in those days. They had no Social Security. They had to beg sometimes or depend on their children for money. I think Esther had very little, but she was praised by Jesus because she gave out of her poverty, not out of her wealth. She put in all she had to live on. This is sacrificial giving, the kind of giving few people give. Why would she give like this? It certainly was not out of duty – the law did not require her to give like this. She did not give out of guilt – no one would check on her to see how much she gave.
I am not sure why she gave so much, but here are some possible reasons. 1) The giving was an expression of Esther’s love and trust in God. She would not have given what she did it she did not love God. She obviously loved God more than she loved money. In the verses just before the ones we are looking at is this statement – read Mark 12.38-40. The phrase I see is “they devour widow’s houses.” They thought the money they could get by stealing it from widows was more important than being honest, helping widows, and serving God with their money. These were the best of the Jewish religious men of the day. They probably taught the people that they should tithe and give as much as they could. But they were then stealing all that widows had. I can tell you, they received their reward from doing that, I think in this life and the life to come. Esther loved and trusted God to supply what she needed. Does he supply what we need? Have you seen that? This is the real issue for so many – if I give this amount, I will not have enough in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. God supplies what we need today and he will give us what we need all of our lives.
2) Esther gave because she was also a thankful woman. Being thankful is one of the best reasons to give. God gives so much to us – so much. We show our thankfulness by giving to him and his work. I had printed a page from my prayer booklets – the one that encourages us to: Thank the God who is Generous. These are some of the things I thank God for every time I pray through this section of the booklet. Look at some of them with me.
A) I thank you God for eternal salvation because of the death of Christ. As Chrs we are saved by Christ. Our sins are forgiven completely and eternally. All of us are sinners, but through Jesus Christ, God forgives us of all our sins. B) I thank you God for purpose in life, reasons to live and serve. A few years ago we went though the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. As Chrs we all have a very definite purpose and reason to live for the Lord – a purpose that only we can accomplish. C) I thank you God for my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I could take a 100 sermons to tell you how thankful I am for my kids, their spouses and my 4 grandkids, soon to be 5. What a blessing God has given. D) I thank God for a husband or wife who is loving and faithful. I do not have a wife, but I have my friend Mary, who loves me and I can love. God has truly blessed me with her. E) I thank God for my parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Again, I do not have parents or grandparents any more, but I have relatives who love God and serve him. F) I am thankful God for my Chr friends who walk with me in the Chr life. That is all of you – you encourage me to live for the Lord as I encourage you to live for him. I am not going to go through the whole list but I challenge you to take this list home and slowly pray through it, thanking God for all he has given you.
Since I am thankful for all of these people and things God so generously gives me, I love to give to him and his causes.
3) I believe that we are motivated to give to God and his causes because the needs are so great. You know I am committed to missions of all kinds, especially foreign missions. I give because the need is so great. In our world today there are missions in every country in the world – even ones than tell Chr missionaries they can not come into their countries. There are billions – billions with a B – who still need to hear about our Lord Jesus Christ and the message of salvation that come only through him. There are millions of children who need food and clean water just to live. Missions are working to dig wells and plant crops and give food for them to eat. There are people who need to just the minimal amounts of medical care and do not get it unless we do something about it. There are AIDS victims and orphans of AIDS victims who need help. There are missionaries that need to be sent to replace ones that are retiring – young couples who want to give their lives to preach the gospel of the Lord. I could go on all day with this list too, but just to say, we need to give so the causes of God can be funded.
We have been blessed by God – Chrs and non-Chrs. I am talking about nearly all Americans – maybe blessed too much. With the blessing of God comes the responsibility to help others. We as a nation are extremely generous to others. As Chrs we need to give even sacrificially because of our love and trust in God, out of our thankfulness to God, and because we see the needs in our world that God wants fulfill.
Mark 12.41-44
I am going to talk about money and giving this morning – that is a warning. We as a church do not talk about it a lot. There is one of the radio preachers, who uses the month of January each year as the time to talk about tithing, giving and offerings – every Sunday for a month. This is just one sermon, but I hope it is one that will help to see the importance that Jesus puts on giving. This teaching came near the end of the ministry and life of Jesus. He has been debating with the teachers of the law all day and this is the last of his teachings for the day.
Read Mark 12.41-44. The scene is the temple in Jerusalem in the court of the women where the offering boxes were set up – they were trumpet shaped boxes – 13 in all according to one source. We pass the offering plate, but they came be the boxes and put in their offering. I can imagine, since I know human nature, some people would just come by and slip in their offering. Others would make a lot of fanfare about their giving letting everyone know that they had given and how much. (Big bag of money or maybe stand there and count out the amount so all could see.
In this scene Jesus is watching all of the people, when a widow lady walked up and quietly put in two small copper coins – the smallest coin as far as value. (This woman is not named – I want to give her the name – Esther.) They were worth less than a penny. Others might have just laughed at what she gave or thought little of it, but Jesus called his disciples to himself and pointed out what she had done so they would notice it and so they would learn from her example. (Does the Lord watch what we put into the offering plate?)
This widow was a poor lady – widows were in those days. They had no Social Security. They had to beg sometimes or depend on their children for money. I think Esther had very little, but she was praised by Jesus because she gave out of her poverty, not out of her wealth. She put in all she had to live on. This is sacrificial giving, the kind of giving few people give. Why would she give like this? It certainly was not out of duty – the law did not require her to give like this. She did not give out of guilt – no one would check on her to see how much she gave.
I am not sure why she gave so much, but here are some possible reasons. 1) The giving was an expression of Esther’s love and trust in God. She would not have given what she did it she did not love God. She obviously loved God more than she loved money. In the verses just before the ones we are looking at is this statement – read Mark 12.38-40. The phrase I see is “they devour widow’s houses.” They thought the money they could get by stealing it from widows was more important than being honest, helping widows, and serving God with their money. These were the best of the Jewish religious men of the day. They probably taught the people that they should tithe and give as much as they could. But they were then stealing all that widows had. I can tell you, they received their reward from doing that, I think in this life and the life to come. Esther loved and trusted God to supply what she needed. Does he supply what we need? Have you seen that? This is the real issue for so many – if I give this amount, I will not have enough in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. God supplies what we need today and he will give us what we need all of our lives.
2) Esther gave because she was also a thankful woman. Being thankful is one of the best reasons to give. God gives so much to us – so much. We show our thankfulness by giving to him and his work. I had printed a page from my prayer booklets – the one that encourages us to: Thank the God who is Generous. These are some of the things I thank God for every time I pray through this section of the booklet. Look at some of them with me.
A) I thank you God for eternal salvation because of the death of Christ. As Chrs we are saved by Christ. Our sins are forgiven completely and eternally. All of us are sinners, but through Jesus Christ, God forgives us of all our sins. B) I thank you God for purpose in life, reasons to live and serve. A few years ago we went though the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. As Chrs we all have a very definite purpose and reason to live for the Lord – a purpose that only we can accomplish. C) I thank you God for my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I could take a 100 sermons to tell you how thankful I am for my kids, their spouses and my 4 grandkids, soon to be 5. What a blessing God has given. D) I thank God for a husband or wife who is loving and faithful. I do not have a wife, but I have my friend Mary, who loves me and I can love. God has truly blessed me with her. E) I thank God for my parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Again, I do not have parents or grandparents any more, but I have relatives who love God and serve him. F) I am thankful God for my Chr friends who walk with me in the Chr life. That is all of you – you encourage me to live for the Lord as I encourage you to live for him. I am not going to go through the whole list but I challenge you to take this list home and slowly pray through it, thanking God for all he has given you.
Since I am thankful for all of these people and things God so generously gives me, I love to give to him and his causes.
3) I believe that we are motivated to give to God and his causes because the needs are so great. You know I am committed to missions of all kinds, especially foreign missions. I give because the need is so great. In our world today there are missions in every country in the world – even ones than tell Chr missionaries they can not come into their countries. There are billions – billions with a B – who still need to hear about our Lord Jesus Christ and the message of salvation that come only through him. There are millions of children who need food and clean water just to live. Missions are working to dig wells and plant crops and give food for them to eat. There are people who need to just the minimal amounts of medical care and do not get it unless we do something about it. There are AIDS victims and orphans of AIDS victims who need help. There are missionaries that need to be sent to replace ones that are retiring – young couples who want to give their lives to preach the gospel of the Lord. I could go on all day with this list too, but just to say, we need to give so the causes of God can be funded.
We have been blessed by God – Chrs and non-Chrs. I am talking about nearly all Americans – maybe blessed too much. With the blessing of God comes the responsibility to help others. We as a nation are extremely generous to others. As Chrs we need to give even sacrificially because of our love and trust in God, out of our thankfulness to God, and because we see the needs in our world that God wants fulfill.
Sermon - his eyes were on the Cross
His Eyes were on the cross
Mark 15.21 – 39
The last week of the life of Jesus Christ was a busy, dramatic week. It started with what we call Palm Sunday where Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey and was received with shouts of Hosanna and Praise God. The common people of Jerusalem received him like a king. As the week went on he cleansed the temple again, driving out the money changers. He celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room – what we call the Last Supper. Then he went to the garden of Gethsemane where he prayed all night – struggling with what he would have to go through on the cross. At the end of the struggle, Jesus knew what he needed to do, and his eyes were on the cross. The conclusion of the night was Jesus declaring absolutely – not my will be your will, O God. I will do whatever it takes for your glory. Then Jesus went through the mockery of the Jewish trials and even the Roman trials where he was declared not guilty. He was denied by his close friend, Peter, three times.
After the trials, Jesus was taken and beaten terribly by the Romans. Finally he was lead away to Golgotha to be crucified. On the way he struggled carrying the cross and Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry his cross. Read Mark 15. 21-32. Lets look for a few minutes at what happened on the cross. (At the cross)
The condemned man probably carried the cross piece.
Laid on this cross piece – hands nailed and tied to the wood. Think about the pain of the nails.
The cross piece was attached to the upright piece, his feet nailed to the bottom of the cross and then the whole thing was raised up and put into a hole with a thud.
All of the weight of Jesus was on the nails through his hands and the nails in his feet. In order to breathe he had to push down on his feet which would lift up his body. There was a constant struggle for him to just breathe. (back from the cross)
While he was on the cross the people and the leaders mocked him – you saved others, save yourself. Come down form the cross and we will believe in you.
Even though Jesus was in terrible pain and torture, he spoke seven times according to the various gospels. In Gospel of John he told the Apostle John to take care of Mary his mother. John also recorded that he said, “I am thirsty.” In Luke it is recorded that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Can you imagine forgiving others while they were in the process of killing him?) In that Gospel he told on of the other men being crucified that this day you will be with me in paradise. The Gospel of Matthew records the difficult saying, “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”( I will never understand completely what that means.) Finally he said, “It is finished. Father into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
With this Jesus died on the cross. He gave up his life. He was dead. At that point a number of things happened. Read Mark 15.38-39. In the beautiful temple the heavy clothe which divided the holy of holies from the holy place was torn in two showing that the way to God was open to all.
Jesus died on the cross – that is the message of the morning. There are two questions we need to look at now. The first is what does his death on the cross mean? Why do we remember it all these centuries later? Millions of other men and women had died before Jesus. Hundreds and maybe thousands of Jews had been crucified by the Romans. Even on the day that Jesus was crucified, two others Jesus were crucified and died. What make the death of Jesus so important?
Jesus was and is the sinless Son Of God in human flesh. He came to the earth to teach us how to live for God completely. He also came to earth to die for us, so we can have forgiveness of sins. In Colossians 1.19-23 we read this. The fullness of God was in Jesus Christ the Lord. He was fully God. Jesus died on the cross and through the shedding of the blood of Jesus; God reconciled all things to himself. God is holy and demands payment for sin. On the cross, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of God. When he died, the payment for all the sins ever done in the world, was made. I do not understand what happened. I do not understand why the payment had to be made and why it had to be made in this way, but the price was paid in full and forever.
According to this passage, God reconciled the world to himself by the death of Christ to present all people holy and acceptable to himself, without blemish and free from accusation. Preaching this is the good news, the Gospel, which is to be preached to all people. All of this was made possible because our Lord was obedient to God, was willing to endure the pain and suffering of the cross, and he died for us. Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died for the salvation of all people.
I said there were two questions we needed to ask. The first was what does the death of Christ mean? The second is what does the death of Jesus Christ mean to you and to me? There is no question that Jesus died for all, but every person needs to believe and accept the death of Christ for himself or herself. There is nothing automatic about it. You need to make a decision about Jesus Christ for yourself. I am asking all of you, do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you? Answer me by saying I believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is not just some ancient history. It is the event in the whole world that changed everything in the world forever for all people, at least potentially. By believing in the death of Christ, by accepting him as your Lord and savior, by being baptized into his death and raising to walk in the newness of life, you can have the hope of eternal life. I can have the hope of eternal life.
Isaac Watts – 1707 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree;Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
To Christ, who won for sinners grace By bitter grief and anguish sore,Be praise from all the ransomed race Forever and forevermore.
Mark 15.21 – 39
The last week of the life of Jesus Christ was a busy, dramatic week. It started with what we call Palm Sunday where Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey and was received with shouts of Hosanna and Praise God. The common people of Jerusalem received him like a king. As the week went on he cleansed the temple again, driving out the money changers. He celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room – what we call the Last Supper. Then he went to the garden of Gethsemane where he prayed all night – struggling with what he would have to go through on the cross. At the end of the struggle, Jesus knew what he needed to do, and his eyes were on the cross. The conclusion of the night was Jesus declaring absolutely – not my will be your will, O God. I will do whatever it takes for your glory. Then Jesus went through the mockery of the Jewish trials and even the Roman trials where he was declared not guilty. He was denied by his close friend, Peter, three times.
After the trials, Jesus was taken and beaten terribly by the Romans. Finally he was lead away to Golgotha to be crucified. On the way he struggled carrying the cross and Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry his cross. Read Mark 15. 21-32. Lets look for a few minutes at what happened on the cross. (At the cross)
The condemned man probably carried the cross piece.
Laid on this cross piece – hands nailed and tied to the wood. Think about the pain of the nails.
The cross piece was attached to the upright piece, his feet nailed to the bottom of the cross and then the whole thing was raised up and put into a hole with a thud.
All of the weight of Jesus was on the nails through his hands and the nails in his feet. In order to breathe he had to push down on his feet which would lift up his body. There was a constant struggle for him to just breathe. (back from the cross)
While he was on the cross the people and the leaders mocked him – you saved others, save yourself. Come down form the cross and we will believe in you.
Even though Jesus was in terrible pain and torture, he spoke seven times according to the various gospels. In Gospel of John he told the Apostle John to take care of Mary his mother. John also recorded that he said, “I am thirsty.” In Luke it is recorded that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Can you imagine forgiving others while they were in the process of killing him?) In that Gospel he told on of the other men being crucified that this day you will be with me in paradise. The Gospel of Matthew records the difficult saying, “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”( I will never understand completely what that means.) Finally he said, “It is finished. Father into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
With this Jesus died on the cross. He gave up his life. He was dead. At that point a number of things happened. Read Mark 15.38-39. In the beautiful temple the heavy clothe which divided the holy of holies from the holy place was torn in two showing that the way to God was open to all.
Jesus died on the cross – that is the message of the morning. There are two questions we need to look at now. The first is what does his death on the cross mean? Why do we remember it all these centuries later? Millions of other men and women had died before Jesus. Hundreds and maybe thousands of Jews had been crucified by the Romans. Even on the day that Jesus was crucified, two others Jesus were crucified and died. What make the death of Jesus so important?
Jesus was and is the sinless Son Of God in human flesh. He came to the earth to teach us how to live for God completely. He also came to earth to die for us, so we can have forgiveness of sins. In Colossians 1.19-23 we read this. The fullness of God was in Jesus Christ the Lord. He was fully God. Jesus died on the cross and through the shedding of the blood of Jesus; God reconciled all things to himself. God is holy and demands payment for sin. On the cross, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of God. When he died, the payment for all the sins ever done in the world, was made. I do not understand what happened. I do not understand why the payment had to be made and why it had to be made in this way, but the price was paid in full and forever.
According to this passage, God reconciled the world to himself by the death of Christ to present all people holy and acceptable to himself, without blemish and free from accusation. Preaching this is the good news, the Gospel, which is to be preached to all people. All of this was made possible because our Lord was obedient to God, was willing to endure the pain and suffering of the cross, and he died for us. Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died for the salvation of all people.
I said there were two questions we needed to ask. The first was what does the death of Christ mean? The second is what does the death of Jesus Christ mean to you and to me? There is no question that Jesus died for all, but every person needs to believe and accept the death of Christ for himself or herself. There is nothing automatic about it. You need to make a decision about Jesus Christ for yourself. I am asking all of you, do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you? Answer me by saying I believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is not just some ancient history. It is the event in the whole world that changed everything in the world forever for all people, at least potentially. By believing in the death of Christ, by accepting him as your Lord and savior, by being baptized into his death and raising to walk in the newness of life, you can have the hope of eternal life. I can have the hope of eternal life.
Isaac Watts – 1707 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree;Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
To Christ, who won for sinners grace By bitter grief and anguish sore,Be praise from all the ransomed race Forever and forevermore.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sermon February 8
God loves Children – Jamaica Report 2009
Mark 10.13-16 (page )
We got back from Jamaica on Monday night – I want to thank Lindon and Betty for taking us up to the airport and thank Dave for picking us up. When we left it was about -8 degrees and still cold when we got back. It is always 80 to 90 degrees in Montego Bay.
This was my 11th time going on a mission trip to Jamaica. Many of you have gone with us and hopefully in the future, more of you will go. It is a trip that is in some ways the same every year, but also unique every year. We had a total of 18 people on our trip. A large part of the trip is taking things down with us to give to the orphanages and schools we visit and I want to thank you for what you gave us to take down. We took the school supplies you brought in last summer. You gave us close to $500 to spend. I spent about $350 for medicines at Medicap Pharmacy – Thank John Engelhardt – this included children’s Tylenol, cold medicines, anti-biotic creams, and a new kind of Pedialite for the kids. While we were there we spent the rest of the money on other supplies the orphanages needed, including a new printer for the office at Blossom Gardens Children’s home. I thank you all for what you contributed this year – all of you.
Why do we go to Jamaica each year? There are a lot of answers to that question; including it is warm down there and very cold up here in February. It is fun for me to swim in the ocean every day. But there are other answers to the question.
1. We are showing love to children that God loves. In Mark 10.13-16 Jesus told us very clearly his attitude toward children. Read. Jesus had been in a serious discussion with the Jewish people and his disciples. These were important matters that needed to be settled. But right in the middle of all of that, some of the parents came with there noisy little kids to have Jesus bless them. The disciples of Jesus, Saint Peter, Saint John and all the rest, tried to keep the kids from Jesus. When he saw what they were doing, he got very upset at them – indignant is the word. What are you doing? It would have been normal for kids to be excluded from a teacher or rabbi. They were just a bother – they did not pay attention to what was being said and they may even talk out loud when they should be quiet. But Jesus loved them – all children – very much, so he told his disciples to let them come to him. Listen again to what he said to the disciples – read 14-15. The kingdom of God belongs to them – they are God’s children, and he loves them very much. If we as adults do not receive the kingdom of God like these kids, we will not enter the kingdom of God. Do you see the love Jesus had for these kids? He not only blessed them, but took them in his arms and held them. There is something almost divine about holding a special little child – Jesus experienced that, and so do we.
Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them. This is what we do in Jamaica, for the Lord. We show God’s love to them in very special ways. These kids are taken care of from a physical sense – enough food, clothes, etc. They are taken care of very well we believe. What they need is someone to talk to them, hold them, play with them, and pray for them. That is what we do. Blossom Gardens has a lot of little babies who have been abandoned or taken away from parents. Some were just a few weeks old. They also have toddlers – a total of 50 some kids. (This number is down from 60 to 70 kids in years past.) The workers there take care of them, but there are just not enough laps and arms to hold all of them. We get to hold them and play with them, and they just absorb all of the love we give to them. (Like little sponges)
One of the things we encourage all of the team members to do is pray for them – we composed this HUSH prayer a couple of years back to pray for them as we hold them. Read. We pray this prayer and we just pray for them, telling them I love you and God love you. We have seen God bless them in special ways. It is hard to describe, but it was seen this year that the kids are a lot better off than in the past. They are more able to share, less aggressive, and even more relaxed it seems. Things are better at Blossom than they have been.
We also spent a couple of days at Westhaven Children’s home. This is out in the country a few miles from MoBay. It is for older kids – mentally and physically handicapped – from 8 or 10 years old to in their 20s or more. Some of them were little babies at Blossom when we first started going there. In some ways they are harder to deal with – they will never get better and most will spend their whole lives there.
One difficult thing was the death of Marlin last year. He was a teenager who developed some tumors a couple of years ago. He was supposed to be brought to the US to have them taken care of, but that never happened, and he died last May. He was a joy to talk to there and greatly missed. We are really praying for his twin sister, Marlene, who needs to get out of there. She is developing the same kinds of tumors. She is not mentally handicapped – very normal – probably put in there just as an orphan. Do any of you want to 17 year old to raise?
One of the things I do each year is take a book with me to read. It is hard to decide which book I am going to read down there, but usually they have been pretty good. This year I read the book Desire by James Huston. The main thrust of the book is that we need to develop a deep desire for God and the things of God. The desire for God is unique in that God fulfills that desire as God gives us himself and his peace to us. He fulfills our desire. But also there is a lasting hunger for more of God – more of his love, more of his joy. So we keep on seeking God.
One of the sections of the book referred to a passage of scripture in Romans 8 where the apostle Paul uses the word – ABBA. This is the word in Aramaic for what we would us as Daddy or as my son Peder calls me – Pops. Jesus used this word when he talked to his Father – God. This word was never used to refer to God, but Jesus used it. Then it is used in Romans 8.13-17. Read. Abba, Father. The morning after I read this section of the book I was holding one of the little kids and thought – this is an Abba child – the Father’s child, God’s child. I am getting to hold this little one for a few days to show the love of God. God know the name of this child and loves him or her very much. He is an Abba child. All of the kids around the world are his, no matter what color or language, rich or poor. They are Abba kids.
In the same way, all of us here are Abba children, kids of the Father, children of God, and he loves us very much. I had a Dad and Mom who loved me, but even more than that I have a Daddy, God himself, who loves me with a love that is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than I can even imagine.
God loves you, and offers to all salvation in Jesus Christ.
Mark 10.13-16 (page )
We got back from Jamaica on Monday night – I want to thank Lindon and Betty for taking us up to the airport and thank Dave for picking us up. When we left it was about -8 degrees and still cold when we got back. It is always 80 to 90 degrees in Montego Bay.
This was my 11th time going on a mission trip to Jamaica. Many of you have gone with us and hopefully in the future, more of you will go. It is a trip that is in some ways the same every year, but also unique every year. We had a total of 18 people on our trip. A large part of the trip is taking things down with us to give to the orphanages and schools we visit and I want to thank you for what you gave us to take down. We took the school supplies you brought in last summer. You gave us close to $500 to spend. I spent about $350 for medicines at Medicap Pharmacy – Thank John Engelhardt – this included children’s Tylenol, cold medicines, anti-biotic creams, and a new kind of Pedialite for the kids. While we were there we spent the rest of the money on other supplies the orphanages needed, including a new printer for the office at Blossom Gardens Children’s home. I thank you all for what you contributed this year – all of you.
Why do we go to Jamaica each year? There are a lot of answers to that question; including it is warm down there and very cold up here in February. It is fun for me to swim in the ocean every day. But there are other answers to the question.
1. We are showing love to children that God loves. In Mark 10.13-16 Jesus told us very clearly his attitude toward children. Read. Jesus had been in a serious discussion with the Jewish people and his disciples. These were important matters that needed to be settled. But right in the middle of all of that, some of the parents came with there noisy little kids to have Jesus bless them. The disciples of Jesus, Saint Peter, Saint John and all the rest, tried to keep the kids from Jesus. When he saw what they were doing, he got very upset at them – indignant is the word. What are you doing? It would have been normal for kids to be excluded from a teacher or rabbi. They were just a bother – they did not pay attention to what was being said and they may even talk out loud when they should be quiet. But Jesus loved them – all children – very much, so he told his disciples to let them come to him. Listen again to what he said to the disciples – read 14-15. The kingdom of God belongs to them – they are God’s children, and he loves them very much. If we as adults do not receive the kingdom of God like these kids, we will not enter the kingdom of God. Do you see the love Jesus had for these kids? He not only blessed them, but took them in his arms and held them. There is something almost divine about holding a special little child – Jesus experienced that, and so do we.
Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them. This is what we do in Jamaica, for the Lord. We show God’s love to them in very special ways. These kids are taken care of from a physical sense – enough food, clothes, etc. They are taken care of very well we believe. What they need is someone to talk to them, hold them, play with them, and pray for them. That is what we do. Blossom Gardens has a lot of little babies who have been abandoned or taken away from parents. Some were just a few weeks old. They also have toddlers – a total of 50 some kids. (This number is down from 60 to 70 kids in years past.) The workers there take care of them, but there are just not enough laps and arms to hold all of them. We get to hold them and play with them, and they just absorb all of the love we give to them. (Like little sponges)
One of the things we encourage all of the team members to do is pray for them – we composed this HUSH prayer a couple of years back to pray for them as we hold them. Read. We pray this prayer and we just pray for them, telling them I love you and God love you. We have seen God bless them in special ways. It is hard to describe, but it was seen this year that the kids are a lot better off than in the past. They are more able to share, less aggressive, and even more relaxed it seems. Things are better at Blossom than they have been.
We also spent a couple of days at Westhaven Children’s home. This is out in the country a few miles from MoBay. It is for older kids – mentally and physically handicapped – from 8 or 10 years old to in their 20s or more. Some of them were little babies at Blossom when we first started going there. In some ways they are harder to deal with – they will never get better and most will spend their whole lives there.
One difficult thing was the death of Marlin last year. He was a teenager who developed some tumors a couple of years ago. He was supposed to be brought to the US to have them taken care of, but that never happened, and he died last May. He was a joy to talk to there and greatly missed. We are really praying for his twin sister, Marlene, who needs to get out of there. She is developing the same kinds of tumors. She is not mentally handicapped – very normal – probably put in there just as an orphan. Do any of you want to 17 year old to raise?
One of the things I do each year is take a book with me to read. It is hard to decide which book I am going to read down there, but usually they have been pretty good. This year I read the book Desire by James Huston. The main thrust of the book is that we need to develop a deep desire for God and the things of God. The desire for God is unique in that God fulfills that desire as God gives us himself and his peace to us. He fulfills our desire. But also there is a lasting hunger for more of God – more of his love, more of his joy. So we keep on seeking God.
One of the sections of the book referred to a passage of scripture in Romans 8 where the apostle Paul uses the word – ABBA. This is the word in Aramaic for what we would us as Daddy or as my son Peder calls me – Pops. Jesus used this word when he talked to his Father – God. This word was never used to refer to God, but Jesus used it. Then it is used in Romans 8.13-17. Read. Abba, Father. The morning after I read this section of the book I was holding one of the little kids and thought – this is an Abba child – the Father’s child, God’s child. I am getting to hold this little one for a few days to show the love of God. God know the name of this child and loves him or her very much. He is an Abba child. All of the kids around the world are his, no matter what color or language, rich or poor. They are Abba kids.
In the same way, all of us here are Abba children, kids of the Father, children of God, and he loves us very much. I had a Dad and Mom who loved me, but even more than that I have a Daddy, God himself, who loves me with a love that is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than I can even imagine.
God loves you, and offers to all salvation in Jesus Christ.
Sermon Feb 15th
Faith in Jesus – What does that mean?
Mark 6.1-6
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is easy for some people but very difficult for others. After we believe, we almost take it for granted that all people should believe what Jesus taught and said. But some have a hard time believing in Jesus Christ. Why? That is what we are going to look at today in this message. The passage in Mark 6 tells about Jesus teaching in a Jewish synagogue about himself and then the reaction of the hearers to what he said.
Listen as I read Mark 6.1-6. What made it hard for the listeners to believe what Jesus said? Read. The Jewish synagogue was the equivalent to our churches. The Jews traveled to the temple in Jerusalem once a year or so to worship there. But on a regular basis – every Sabbath or Saturday the Jews gathered in their synagogue to read the OT, hear a message about the scripture, and pray. This was the home synagogue of Jesus where he learned Hebrew and the other teachings of the Jewish religion. It was a custom to invite a teacher to read the OT in Hebrew. The congregation read a portion of their Bible – the OT – on a regular system – on a 3 year rotation or something like that, like some churches do with a lectionary today.
It just so happened that the scripture Jesus read on that day was from Isaiah 61.1-2. Luke 4 is the parallel passage of the gospels and it says Jesus read this. Read Luke 4.18-21. For centuries the Jews in their synagogues read this passage on a certain day. After it was read the speaker of the day would say, someday this scripture will be fulfilled and the Messiah of Israel will come to us. The people in the congregation would shake their heads in agreement with a hope that someday soon the Messiah would come. But this day after it was read, Jesus rolled up the scroll and said to the people, “Today the scripture is fulfilled in me.” In Jesus.
The barrier to belief here is that they knew him too well – he was from their home town.
That is why the people in the congregation were so surprised at what Jesus said. They knew he was claiming to be the very Messiah prophesied in so many passages in the OT. The congregation was being asked to believe that this man, a man who had grown up in this very town and synagogue was the Messiah. It would be like me claiming to the Messiah here today. I am not, but I did grow up here in Austin and this very congregation. Some of you knew me when I was a teenager when my whole family came to this church – not many, but at least some. Would it be hard for you to believe me, if I claimed to be the long awaited Messiah? Of course.
Jesus had given them some evidence already that he was the Messiah. His teachings were extremely unusual. He did preach to the poor. He did give sight to the blind. He did heal many diseases. Jesus gave them evidence of his right to be called the Messiah.
Some times it is hard to believe in Jesus in our world today. There are a lot of honest people who do not believe that Jesus was or is God. There are a number of reasons for lack of belief, or barriers to belief. 1)It is hard to believe in the miraculous things Jesus did when the view of the world is that everything is based on scientific evidence. Science seems to say that only natural things can happen, not supernatural things. If Jesus claims to raise people from the dead or feed thousands of people with just a few fish and a couple of biscuits, it just could not happen to them.
2) What is taught in college and even high schools is a barrier to belief. I think too that many college teachers think their main job in teaching is to get their students to give up any childish faith in God. They want the students to doubt everything they have been taught in church or Sunday school. They want to create atheists it seems or young people without morals, without purpose and direction, for whatever reason. I have looked at the evidence for faith, and I am sure there are good reasons to believe in Jesus Christ. (Intelligent design/millions of pure accidents.)
This week I received an email with a story about and atheist. He was in the Rockies enjoying the beautiful scenery – what beautiful mountains, trees, little animals. Then a bear started chasing him. Tripped and fell. Bear right on top of him. Prayed – God, save me. Behind the bear there was light and a voice which said, “Is that really fair? You have denied me all of your life.” The atheists said, you are right, but one thing. Will you make the bear a Chr? Immediately the face of the bear changed to a serene look. The bear sat up, folded his paws, closed his eyes and prayed, “Dear God, for this meal I am about to eat, make me truly thankful.”
3) Another barrier to belief is the sins of others. I have talked to people who tell me that their dad or grandpa or a priest or minister was a religious person, but did this or that to them. That is too bad and I am sorry. Too many religious or even Chr people sin against children, but the greatest tragedy is that these sins might keep the child from God.
4) Sometimes sin of the person, himself or herself, is a barrier to belief. When we sin we do not want to face God or go to church so we avoid God. I know the devil works hard on this as he tells us we are can not ask forgiveness – we are not worthy to even approach God. But that is the very message of Jesus Christ – he says I love you just as you are. Come to Jesus and ask forgiveness. Let me say too that Jesus loves us so much he will not leave us the way we are – with his power he will change us so we can live a fulfilling life for him.
These are barriers to belief. Are there benefits of belief? 1) Hebrew 11.6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” We must believe in Jesus Christ to have a relationship with God. God rewards us when we diligently seek our loving God.
2) Another benefit of belief is the knowledge of forgiveness of sins – you and I are completely cleansed from sin – all past sins. We do not need to carry the burden of the past around. We can come into the presence of God as clean and pure because of the blood of Christ.
3) We have purpose in life – to live and serve the living God for his glory. We are not just floating through life aimlessly – we know where we are going and what we are doing.
4) Finally, we have the benefit of belief that gives us the hope of eternal life – heaven forever with our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever and ever. Eternal bliss and eternal joy.
Jesus invites you to believe in him today. He is the Messiah – the Savior – the Lord.
Mark 6.1-6
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is easy for some people but very difficult for others. After we believe, we almost take it for granted that all people should believe what Jesus taught and said. But some have a hard time believing in Jesus Christ. Why? That is what we are going to look at today in this message. The passage in Mark 6 tells about Jesus teaching in a Jewish synagogue about himself and then the reaction of the hearers to what he said.
Listen as I read Mark 6.1-6. What made it hard for the listeners to believe what Jesus said? Read. The Jewish synagogue was the equivalent to our churches. The Jews traveled to the temple in Jerusalem once a year or so to worship there. But on a regular basis – every Sabbath or Saturday the Jews gathered in their synagogue to read the OT, hear a message about the scripture, and pray. This was the home synagogue of Jesus where he learned Hebrew and the other teachings of the Jewish religion. It was a custom to invite a teacher to read the OT in Hebrew. The congregation read a portion of their Bible – the OT – on a regular system – on a 3 year rotation or something like that, like some churches do with a lectionary today.
It just so happened that the scripture Jesus read on that day was from Isaiah 61.1-2. Luke 4 is the parallel passage of the gospels and it says Jesus read this. Read Luke 4.18-21. For centuries the Jews in their synagogues read this passage on a certain day. After it was read the speaker of the day would say, someday this scripture will be fulfilled and the Messiah of Israel will come to us. The people in the congregation would shake their heads in agreement with a hope that someday soon the Messiah would come. But this day after it was read, Jesus rolled up the scroll and said to the people, “Today the scripture is fulfilled in me.” In Jesus.
The barrier to belief here is that they knew him too well – he was from their home town.
That is why the people in the congregation were so surprised at what Jesus said. They knew he was claiming to be the very Messiah prophesied in so many passages in the OT. The congregation was being asked to believe that this man, a man who had grown up in this very town and synagogue was the Messiah. It would be like me claiming to the Messiah here today. I am not, but I did grow up here in Austin and this very congregation. Some of you knew me when I was a teenager when my whole family came to this church – not many, but at least some. Would it be hard for you to believe me, if I claimed to be the long awaited Messiah? Of course.
Jesus had given them some evidence already that he was the Messiah. His teachings were extremely unusual. He did preach to the poor. He did give sight to the blind. He did heal many diseases. Jesus gave them evidence of his right to be called the Messiah.
Some times it is hard to believe in Jesus in our world today. There are a lot of honest people who do not believe that Jesus was or is God. There are a number of reasons for lack of belief, or barriers to belief. 1)It is hard to believe in the miraculous things Jesus did when the view of the world is that everything is based on scientific evidence. Science seems to say that only natural things can happen, not supernatural things. If Jesus claims to raise people from the dead or feed thousands of people with just a few fish and a couple of biscuits, it just could not happen to them.
2) What is taught in college and even high schools is a barrier to belief. I think too that many college teachers think their main job in teaching is to get their students to give up any childish faith in God. They want the students to doubt everything they have been taught in church or Sunday school. They want to create atheists it seems or young people without morals, without purpose and direction, for whatever reason. I have looked at the evidence for faith, and I am sure there are good reasons to believe in Jesus Christ. (Intelligent design/millions of pure accidents.)
This week I received an email with a story about and atheist. He was in the Rockies enjoying the beautiful scenery – what beautiful mountains, trees, little animals. Then a bear started chasing him. Tripped and fell. Bear right on top of him. Prayed – God, save me. Behind the bear there was light and a voice which said, “Is that really fair? You have denied me all of your life.” The atheists said, you are right, but one thing. Will you make the bear a Chr? Immediately the face of the bear changed to a serene look. The bear sat up, folded his paws, closed his eyes and prayed, “Dear God, for this meal I am about to eat, make me truly thankful.”
3) Another barrier to belief is the sins of others. I have talked to people who tell me that their dad or grandpa or a priest or minister was a religious person, but did this or that to them. That is too bad and I am sorry. Too many religious or even Chr people sin against children, but the greatest tragedy is that these sins might keep the child from God.
4) Sometimes sin of the person, himself or herself, is a barrier to belief. When we sin we do not want to face God or go to church so we avoid God. I know the devil works hard on this as he tells us we are can not ask forgiveness – we are not worthy to even approach God. But that is the very message of Jesus Christ – he says I love you just as you are. Come to Jesus and ask forgiveness. Let me say too that Jesus loves us so much he will not leave us the way we are – with his power he will change us so we can live a fulfilling life for him.
These are barriers to belief. Are there benefits of belief? 1) Hebrew 11.6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” We must believe in Jesus Christ to have a relationship with God. God rewards us when we diligently seek our loving God.
2) Another benefit of belief is the knowledge of forgiveness of sins – you and I are completely cleansed from sin – all past sins. We do not need to carry the burden of the past around. We can come into the presence of God as clean and pure because of the blood of Christ.
3) We have purpose in life – to live and serve the living God for his glory. We are not just floating through life aimlessly – we know where we are going and what we are doing.
4) Finally, we have the benefit of belief that gives us the hope of eternal life – heaven forever with our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever and ever. Eternal bliss and eternal joy.
Jesus invites you to believe in him today. He is the Messiah – the Savior – the Lord.
It is my Dad’s birthday today – Vernon Arnold DeFor – February 16, 1921 – he would have been 88 years old today. In late October he will have been dead for 50 years – that is a long time.
I am thankful for him. He was a kind and gentle man even though he was a big man. He was fun to be around.
I think of how fortunate I am for a number of things. I have seen my kids grow into adulthood – Dad did not get to see that. I am proud of all of my kids as adults. I have seen them get married and have kids. He would have had so much fun with his grandkids, and he would have been good with them. I know that I have the most handsome and pretty grandchild – they are smart and nice too.
I guess I have thought about him more since Mom is gone. When she married Ray I struggled with some one else replacing my Dad. Ray did not do that – he was very good for Mom, but never my Dad.
I am going to go out to the cemetery this afternoon and put a flower on his grave and talk to him – thanking him for being my Dad. I hope that does not sound too weird. I had him for too short a time.
I am thankful for him. He was a kind and gentle man even though he was a big man. He was fun to be around.
I think of how fortunate I am for a number of things. I have seen my kids grow into adulthood – Dad did not get to see that. I am proud of all of my kids as adults. I have seen them get married and have kids. He would have had so much fun with his grandkids, and he would have been good with them. I know that I have the most handsome and pretty grandchild – they are smart and nice too.
I guess I have thought about him more since Mom is gone. When she married Ray I struggled with some one else replacing my Dad. Ray did not do that – he was very good for Mom, but never my Dad.
I am going to go out to the cemetery this afternoon and put a flower on his grave and talk to him – thanking him for being my Dad. I hope that does not sound too weird. I had him for too short a time.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sermon 1
A Busy Restful Couple of Days
Mark 1.21 -37
What was the daily life of the Lord Jesus Christ like? What did he do? What didn’t he do? All of have our routines that we follow in our days. We usually get up at a certain time. It might change if we go to work or have a day off, but we generally do things in a specific pattern. Did Jesus have any kind of pattern he followed on a typical day? Let us look at a couple of days in the life of Jesus to see some of the things he did, maybe on a typical day.
Read Mark 1.21 – 22. The days we are going to look at start on a Friday afternoon. We know it is a Friday afternoon because that is when the Sabbath starts in the Jewish tradition. We think of going to church on Sunday morning, when the Jews went to the synagogue service it was on Friday evening – after sunset on Friday. Jesus taught in the synagogue on that day. He was traveling through the area and he was invited to teach the Jews on that day. The people were in for a real surprise – this Rabbi – teacher – taught with authority not like everyone else. And they listened. I can imagine the normal Sabbath service – when the speaker stood up, their minds turned off and maybe they went to sleep, like people here. But this preacher really challenged them with what he said.
The passage does not tell us what he talked about, but in his teaching he said, “Do to others as you would have them to do you.” Do you not want people to cheat you in a transaction? Then you better not cheat them. Do you want them not to gossip about you, then don’t gossip about them. Jesus said seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all of this will be other things will be given to you. The people who were listening were good church people but they were as materialistic as the rest of the culture. I will seek the money and job first, and then maybe give a little to God. Jesus said – I must be first in your life – absolutely first. The listeners were awake and listening because this was very different.
Move with me to the next four verses – Read 1.23-28. Then during the service on of the Jews in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit, stood up right there and shouted. It does not often happen that you talk back to me during the service when I am preaching, and I do not think any of you are demon possessed. This man knew who Jesus was even more than the disciple of Jesus knew. Jesus was indeed the “Holy One of God” as this man said. Then right during the service, Jesus did an exorcism – he ordered the evil spirit out of this man. The man was cleansed of this evil spirit.
That was not the end of the day for Jesus. Jesus went to the home of Simon Peter and Andrew. Peter was married and his mother-in-law who lived with Peter and his wife was sick. Jesus healed her – just another miracle. That was the close of that day. Everyone had some supper and when to bed.
Between verse 31 and 32, was most of a day. This was the Sabbath day – the day of rest. We are not told what Jesus and his disciples did on that day, but it could not have been much. They could not do anything but just the minimal amount of work. They pretty much did nothing from the time they got up until sunset that afternoon. We should learn from them – we have to be busy all the time – running here and there – being busy. Not so with our Lord on the Sabbath day.
As soon as they could move around after the Sabbath, the people of the area brought all the sick to Jesus to be healed. Read 1.32-34. This was tremendously exciting for the people. We take our sick to the hospital, but they had extremely primitive medicine if they had any at all. All of a sudden here was Jesus who could heal any disease including demon possession. The people came so Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, those with broken arms or legs – some which had healed wrong. He healed heart conditions, cancers, goiter, and other diseases. He also drove out demons which had invaded men and women. These were people who could no longer control themselves, but were tortured by evil all the time. With the power of God, Jesus spoke and these demons were driven out. This must have been totally exhausting for him. Because of his love for these suffering men and women, he healed them. Maybe hundreds walked home that night relieved of their sicknesses and spiritual torture.
I can imagine the disciples went to sleep that night excited about the day. Their Rabbi was certainly something different – he was a teacher better than anyone could even imagine. Besides that he could heal sicknesses. It must have been hard for them to sleep thinking about the day. But they did go to sleep.
Read 1.35-37. When the disciples got probably at sunrise, Jesus was gone. They looked all around the house and he was not anywhere. Early in the morning or late at night Jesus got up and left house. He went to be by himself to pray. This for him was the most important thing that he did in the last couple of days. People have wondered why God the Son would pray to God the Father – God to God? What would he pray about? For me the answer is very clear. Pray is not just asking for things, but pray at its best is coming into the presence of God – just being there. For eternity, Jesus and the Father had been in constant intimate fellowship. When Jesus was on earth there was a separation that Jesus had never experienced. This time of prayer was a time of filling for him, and he needed that.
What do we learn from this passage? This is what I think – all of this was to build the faith of the disciples. As they watched all of what went on that day, their faith was built up. They must have asked each other – who is this? In the same way we as his modern day disciples have our faith built up as we see what Jesus did. Who is this? The greatest teacher ever. Who is this? The powerful healer from God. Who is this? Jesus Christ the very son of God
Mark 1.21 -37
What was the daily life of the Lord Jesus Christ like? What did he do? What didn’t he do? All of have our routines that we follow in our days. We usually get up at a certain time. It might change if we go to work or have a day off, but we generally do things in a specific pattern. Did Jesus have any kind of pattern he followed on a typical day? Let us look at a couple of days in the life of Jesus to see some of the things he did, maybe on a typical day.
Read Mark 1.21 – 22. The days we are going to look at start on a Friday afternoon. We know it is a Friday afternoon because that is when the Sabbath starts in the Jewish tradition. We think of going to church on Sunday morning, when the Jews went to the synagogue service it was on Friday evening – after sunset on Friday. Jesus taught in the synagogue on that day. He was traveling through the area and he was invited to teach the Jews on that day. The people were in for a real surprise – this Rabbi – teacher – taught with authority not like everyone else. And they listened. I can imagine the normal Sabbath service – when the speaker stood up, their minds turned off and maybe they went to sleep, like people here. But this preacher really challenged them with what he said.
The passage does not tell us what he talked about, but in his teaching he said, “Do to others as you would have them to do you.” Do you not want people to cheat you in a transaction? Then you better not cheat them. Do you want them not to gossip about you, then don’t gossip about them. Jesus said seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all of this will be other things will be given to you. The people who were listening were good church people but they were as materialistic as the rest of the culture. I will seek the money and job first, and then maybe give a little to God. Jesus said – I must be first in your life – absolutely first. The listeners were awake and listening because this was very different.
Move with me to the next four verses – Read 1.23-28. Then during the service on of the Jews in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit, stood up right there and shouted. It does not often happen that you talk back to me during the service when I am preaching, and I do not think any of you are demon possessed. This man knew who Jesus was even more than the disciple of Jesus knew. Jesus was indeed the “Holy One of God” as this man said. Then right during the service, Jesus did an exorcism – he ordered the evil spirit out of this man. The man was cleansed of this evil spirit.
That was not the end of the day for Jesus. Jesus went to the home of Simon Peter and Andrew. Peter was married and his mother-in-law who lived with Peter and his wife was sick. Jesus healed her – just another miracle. That was the close of that day. Everyone had some supper and when to bed.
Between verse 31 and 32, was most of a day. This was the Sabbath day – the day of rest. We are not told what Jesus and his disciples did on that day, but it could not have been much. They could not do anything but just the minimal amount of work. They pretty much did nothing from the time they got up until sunset that afternoon. We should learn from them – we have to be busy all the time – running here and there – being busy. Not so with our Lord on the Sabbath day.
As soon as they could move around after the Sabbath, the people of the area brought all the sick to Jesus to be healed. Read 1.32-34. This was tremendously exciting for the people. We take our sick to the hospital, but they had extremely primitive medicine if they had any at all. All of a sudden here was Jesus who could heal any disease including demon possession. The people came so Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, those with broken arms or legs – some which had healed wrong. He healed heart conditions, cancers, goiter, and other diseases. He also drove out demons which had invaded men and women. These were people who could no longer control themselves, but were tortured by evil all the time. With the power of God, Jesus spoke and these demons were driven out. This must have been totally exhausting for him. Because of his love for these suffering men and women, he healed them. Maybe hundreds walked home that night relieved of their sicknesses and spiritual torture.
I can imagine the disciples went to sleep that night excited about the day. Their Rabbi was certainly something different – he was a teacher better than anyone could even imagine. Besides that he could heal sicknesses. It must have been hard for them to sleep thinking about the day. But they did go to sleep.
Read 1.35-37. When the disciples got probably at sunrise, Jesus was gone. They looked all around the house and he was not anywhere. Early in the morning or late at night Jesus got up and left house. He went to be by himself to pray. This for him was the most important thing that he did in the last couple of days. People have wondered why God the Son would pray to God the Father – God to God? What would he pray about? For me the answer is very clear. Pray is not just asking for things, but pray at its best is coming into the presence of God – just being there. For eternity, Jesus and the Father had been in constant intimate fellowship. When Jesus was on earth there was a separation that Jesus had never experienced. This time of prayer was a time of filling for him, and he needed that.
What do we learn from this passage? This is what I think – all of this was to build the faith of the disciples. As they watched all of what went on that day, their faith was built up. They must have asked each other – who is this? In the same way we as his modern day disciples have our faith built up as we see what Jesus did. Who is this? The greatest teacher ever. Who is this? The powerful healer from God. Who is this? Jesus Christ the very son of God
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Year
One of my New Years resolutions is to do a blog every week in 2009. I will try.
This has been a busy and great couple of months.
The last part of November I flew to Germany and spent time with Hans and his family. We had a great time driving very fast around Germany looking a Dachau and many other places. I got to spend some time with two on my wonderful grandkids there.
In December I flew to Seattle to see Marshall Dean for the first time. They had the worst snow storm in 40 years that weekend so I spent a lot of time holding Marshall. Heidi and I flew back - Marshall was perfect on the flight.
We had a good Christmas topped off with watching the Vikings get beat in the playoff game. I went to Peder and Sarah's and I picked up Heidi and Marshall on the way. How great was that being with two of my kids and two grandkids. I watch Relia interact with Heidi and Marshall - she is so demonstrative in her actions and facial expressions. Wow. The only thing that could have made it better would have been Hans and Rachel and their kids bing there - someday.
Mary and I went to the Strange Case of Benjamin Button - it was an unusual but very good long movie.
Hope you have a good 2009.
Love to all,
Steve/Dad
This has been a busy and great couple of months.
The last part of November I flew to Germany and spent time with Hans and his family. We had a great time driving very fast around Germany looking a Dachau and many other places. I got to spend some time with two on my wonderful grandkids there.
In December I flew to Seattle to see Marshall Dean for the first time. They had the worst snow storm in 40 years that weekend so I spent a lot of time holding Marshall. Heidi and I flew back - Marshall was perfect on the flight.
We had a good Christmas topped off with watching the Vikings get beat in the playoff game. I went to Peder and Sarah's and I picked up Heidi and Marshall on the way. How great was that being with two of my kids and two grandkids. I watch Relia interact with Heidi and Marshall - she is so demonstrative in her actions and facial expressions. Wow. The only thing that could have made it better would have been Hans and Rachel and their kids bing there - someday.
Mary and I went to the Strange Case of Benjamin Button - it was an unusual but very good long movie.
Hope you have a good 2009.
Love to all,
Steve/Dad
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