Pastors Ponderings: My Christmas Wish
The following devotional was submitted by Pastor Jim on December 19, 2014… Greetings Friends: Below is a poem I actually came across many years ago. I recently found it again and feel led to share it with you. It really sums up what this season and our lives are all about. I pray that all of us will be blessed. PLEASE READ: Matthew 2:9-11 “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the...
read morePastor’s Ponderings: By Being Born, He Let Love Into the World
The following devotional was submitted by Pastor Jim on December 18…Greetings Friends; PLEASE READ: John 1:1-5, 10-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize...
read moreA Blue Christmas (12/14/14)
On Sunday the 14th, Pastor Jim continued his Advent sermon series on the “colors of Christmas”. This week, his theme was “a Blue Christmas.”Start the audio recording below, then scroll down and follow along. The scripture reading was from Matthew’s account of the birth. Matthew gives Joesph’s perspective, while Luke (last week’s passage) speaks from Mary’s perspective. Pastor Jim read from the New King James version. Matthew 1:18-25… Matthew 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ...
read moreMen’s Fellowship Looks at Challenges and Joys (12/13/14)
The Men’s Fellowship group met on Saturday 12/13. It was one of our early morning meetings that gave us the chance to start off a new day by looking into God’s Word. Our guest speaker was Gino Curcuruto, and we looked at Luke 10:1-2, 17-22. Because of our relationship with Christ, we should want to “hang out” with those who don’t know Him We should want to build relationships and allow the love and hope that we have as redeemed people of peace (see Luke 10:6) ooze out and be shared by those who may not have...
read moreA Red Christmas (12/7/14)
Pastor Jim continued his Advent sermon series on the “Colours of Christmas” by looking at things that are red. How can red objects remind us of Christ and help us prepare for Christmas? Click the following “Play” button, then scroll down and follow along… The scripture reading was from Luke 1:26-38. Pastor Jim read from the “Life Application Bible” (which uses the Living Bible translation/paraphrase). Open the drop down box to follow the scripture. Luke 1:26-38 26 The following month...
read moreA Green Christmas (11/30/14)
Today was the first Sunday of Advent, and Pastor Jim began a new sermon series looking at the “Colors of Christmas”- tools we use to Look Up and to keep our focus on Christ during this busy season. Click the “Play” button on the following player to listen to the sermon, then scroll down and follow along. The scripture reading was from portions of Luke 21. Open the drop down box to follow along. Pastor Jim read from the Living Bible (or “Life Application Bible”)… Luke 21 Verses 8-11…...
read moreOur Father’s House to Show that “A Savior Has Been Born” (12/1/14)
In each month of this school year, Our Father’s House (our pre-school) features a verse from the Bible and then puts that verse in action through mission. Here’s what’s happening in Our Father’s House during December…This month’s verse is Luke 2:11… “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” NIV This Month’s Mission Project… This month we will help a needy family celebrate Christmas by taking part in our...
read morePastor’s Ponderings: Keeping Your Spiritual Blades Sharp
The following devotion was submitted by Pastor Jim on November 28, 2014… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Ecclesiastes 10:10 “If the ax is not sharp and he does not make it sharp, then he must use more strength. Wisdom helps one to do well” (NLV). The past couple of days I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic and for some reason I recalled cutting the grass when I was a boy. Back then we did not have a motorized lawn mower. Dad used to have one of those manual lawn mowers which needed to be pushed by hand....
read moreBlue Christmas Service (12/22/14)
Many of us lost loved ones during this year. Some of us lost loved ones years ago, but still feel the emptiness. For any of us, the family traditions of the holidays bring back memories of Christmases past. During this holiday season we are especially aware of those who have walked with us and who are an integral part of those memories; but now they’re gone. On Monday December 22 at 7:00 PM we will pause to reflect on loved ones who have passed to eternity. Even as we celebrate the birth of Christ, we still mourn the loss of loved...
read moreWhat Are You Giving to Jesus?
A new message was posted on our signboard on Thanksgiving Day (11/27/14): WHAT ARE YOU GIVING TO JESUS? This question looks towards “Black Friday” and the crazy pre-Christmas shopping season. We all have a list of people we want to please on Christmas morning, and we’re all busy trying to write possible gifts next to these names and then to brave the malls and Internet to purchase the gifts. But Christmas (“Celebration of Christ”) is a birthday. Jesus Birthday! Shouldn’t we be giving gifts to Jesus...
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