Good Thing God Doesn’t Take Vacations!
In May of 2015 the signboard said: GOOD THING GOD DOESN’T TAKE VACATIONS! We’re at the time of the season when school is about to close, the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer… and people are thinking about getting away. When you’re on vacation, you’re away from the normal routine. You can put some distance between yourself and the concerns of life. You can even put some space between yourself and those who love and depend on you. When...
Read MoreAlways Remember (5/24/15)
Sunday May 24 2015 was a busy Sunday. Not only was it memorial day weekend, it was also Pentecost Sunday! Pastor Jim felt led to to speak about Memorial Day; What is the value of Remembering? How is the Holy Spirit leading us to use the witnesses of those who have come before us in order to teach those who come after us? Click the following “Play” Button to start the recording, then scroll down to follow along… The Scripture was Jude verse 5, and then Joshua 4:1-7. ...
Read MoreThe After People (Stephen Ministers)
The following was taken from a flyer in the church narthex… People often ask, “What exactly is a Stephen Minster?” One way to to put it is that Stephen Ministers are the After People. Stephen Minsters are there: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 After the phone call you hoped you’d never get… After the divorce papers are served and the bottom falls out of your life… After the funeral, when everyone has left and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing...
Read MoreGod or Giants? (5/17/15)
Our guest speaker on Sunday May 17 was Scott Rambo. Scott, his wife Meg, and their family have become part of our family as they have joined in our Tuesday night Bible Studies, Small Groups, and Men’s group gatherings during their “furlough” from the mission field. The Rambos will soon return to Africa after an extended stay in the States. They will initially return to Uganda, but will then move to Beni, Congo to teach pastors and health workers. To learn more about the...
Read MoreThings Moms Teach Us (5/10/15)
Pastor Jim’s Mother’s Day Sermon helped us to think about God’s characteristics of love and provision that we see modeled in the example of our mothers. The sermon opened with a video about Anna Jarvis who helped instute Mothers Day. To view the video and learn other interesting facts about Mother’s Day, read This Post. The scripture was from 2 Timothy 1 and Isaiah 66. Open the below Drop Down box to read the passage… Scripture Reading 2 Timothy 1:3-73 I thank...
Read MoreStairway to Heaven (5/3/15)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on the account of “Jacob’s Ladder” as told in Genesis 28 led us to consider that the “Ladder” that Jacob saw in his dream was really a two-way escalator. God is with us! Click the following Play button to start the recording, then scroll down to follow along (the following recording was from the 9:30 AM service). The scripture was from Genesis 28:10-19. Open the “drop down” box to see the text. The version...
Read MoreWorld H_nger Can’t be Solved Without You! (5/2/15)
The signboard message said: WORLD H_UNGER CAN’T BE SOLVED WITHOUT YOU Really? it’s up to ME to solve a big problem like world hunger? No- it’s not up to YOU alone, but you are needed. It’s as if each of us has a piece of the jigsaw puzzle and the problem can’t be solved unless each of us contributes what we’ve been entrusted with. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much...
Read MoreTake a Ride on a Roller Coaster! (4/26/15)
Can you imagine a roller coaster ride that’s not filled with excitement and expectation? Can you imagine a relationship with God that’s not filled with joy and expectation? Pastor Jim’s sermon on April 26 challenged us to learn from children; to take on the same wide-eyed faith that allows us to go where Jesus takes us… Click the following “Play” button to listen to a recording of the sermon (from the 11 AM service), then scroll down to follow...
Read MoreWhy Are You Here? (4/19/15)
Jesus asks us, “Why Are You Here?” Do we drift along thinking we’re doing the right thing, that we’re on the right path? But Jesus comes along and confronts our complacency. “Why are we here?” “Why do we go to church?” “What do we want in our relationship with God?” To find out more, click the following “Play” button to start the sermon and then scroll down to follow along…. The text was from Matthew...
Read MoreResurrection Peace (4/12/15)
What are you afraid of? There’s good fear and bad fear, and Jesus came to remove the “bad fear.” On this first Sunday after Easter, Pastor Jim preached on this topic. His text was from John 20:19-23, where Jesus suddenly appears in the midst of the disciples who were hiding behind locked doors. To find out more, click the following “Play” button to start the sermon (from the 9:30 service) and then scroll down to follow along…. Click the ...
Read Morefwd: Email From God (4/5/15)
Ever get one of those emails that had been forwarded to a gazillion people? It might be yet another message with jokes or another advertisement. When these messages come, we usually hit the delete key without even considering to open them. If the message starts with the letters “fwd:”, the word “ignore” tends to pop into most of our minds. But have we experienced so many Easters that the amazing message of the Resurrection has simply dissolved into a familiar, worn...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: The Cross
Pastor Jim submitted the following devotional on March 27, 2015… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” Our journey through Lent is bringing us ever closer to the cross of Jesus. A question I have been pondering...
Read MoreWord 5: How’s Your Thirst Quenched? (3/22/15)
On this last Sunday before Palm Sunday and the Passion Week that it ushers in, Pastor Jim spoke on Jesus’ 5th “Word” from the cross: “I Thirst.” This continues the seven part series which will end on Good Friday. Click the below “Play” button to begin listening to the recording (from the 11:00 service), then scroll down and follow along… The scripture was from Matthew 5:6 and John 19:28-30. Open the below Drop Down box to read...
Read MoreWord 4: God, Where Are You?!? (3/15/15)
Pastor Jim continued his Lenten series on the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross by looking at the statement: “My God, my God! Why have You forsaken me?” Click the “play” button below to start the recording, then scroll down and follow along… The scripture was from Isaiah 41:10 and Matthew 27:45-49. Open the following drop down box to follow along… Scripture Isaiah 41:10 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your...
Read MoreWord 3: Behold Your Son, Behold Your Mother (3/8/15)
On Sunday March 8 2015, Pastor Jim continued his lenten series on the seven final Words of Christ from the cross. His message this morning was from John 19:26…. Woman, behold your son. Click on the below “Play” button to start the recording. Scroll down and follow along. The scripture was from John 19:25-27. Open the drop down box to read… John 19:25-27 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: A Stormy Month
Pastor Jim sent the following devotional on 2/28/15… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Mark 4:35-41 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke him and...
Read MoreWord 2: Jesus Remembers (3/1/15)
Pastor Jim continued his Lenten series on the Seven last words of Jesus by looking at Jesus’ statement to the thief: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Click the following “Play”button to start the recording, then scroll down and follow along. The scripture reading was from Luke 23: verse 32, then verses 39-43. Open the drop down box to read the passage. Luke 23 32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death....
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Lent is Calling
The following devotional was sent by Pastor Jim on 2/26/15… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God” (NKJV). PLEASE READ: Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (NKJV). Can we agree that regular Bible reading, regular times of prayer, being faithful in worship, to name a few...
Read MoreWord 1: Father Forgive Them (2/22/15)
Pastor Jim began his 7 part series on the “Seven Last Words of Christ” by looking at the first “word” (or prayer): “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Click on the “play” button and follow along… “You can’t experience the full joy of Easter, without going through Good Friday first.” Luke 23:33-38 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals,...
Read MoreSound the Trumpet (2/18/15)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on Ash Wednesday challenged us to pay special attention to our relationship with God during this season of Lent. What do we need to walk away from in order to walk closer to God? The passage was from Joel 2. Click the below “Play” button and follow along… Joel 2:1-18 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at...
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