Pastor’s Corner

^{James 3:13}Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.    ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness

I love that discription of wisdom in verse 17 and 18.  Wisdom comes from God and walking in His Spirit.  If we don’t walk in His Spirit we are not walking and living in Godly wisdom.  And inevitably we will not produce a harvest of rightousness which should be all of our goal.

I am thinking about how it is cold outside, but what a blessing it is that it is warm inside.   It is amazing to think how blessed we are to be able to have warm houses, warm cars, warm food while at the same time it is 20 degrees F.  out side.    We are so blessed. However even more we are blessed to have the Warmness of God in our life.  The warmness that comes from knowing we are forgiven. The warmness inside that comes from understanding His love.  The warmness inside that exist because of the mutual love relationship and fellowship we have with God on a daily basis.  I can’t help but feel warm in the midst of the winter!!!  Love In Christ!

Had a great service tonight, studied Mark 6.   I was amazed at how Jesus sent his disciples out and told them to take nothing except a staff.  No food, extra clothing, no money, basically nothing.  It inspired me to realize that in life regardless if we have a job or do not have a job, we need to have that same reliance on the Lord as the 12 disciples.  Realizing that He is our source of hope and Provision.   All in all we need to keep looking up and find our hope,  purpose and satisfaction in Jesus.
Love you, Pastor “J”

Here is the Vision statement and Mission of our church that we have been working on.  It also includes some of our 2010 goals that we are contemplating. Let me know your thoughts? Pastor “J”

 

Vision:

Honoring God, Transforming lives.

 

Luke 1:37 “nothing is impossible with God”

Mission:

Reaching around in love and fellowship, showing those around us the compassion and love of Christ.   Ephesians 4:29

 

*Men’s ministry

*Women’s ministry

*picnics and parties

 

Reaching up in worship and prayer,  bringing forth heartfelt praise and worship that touches the Lord.  Psalms 22:3

 

*prayer meets

*dynamic cooperate worship

*Tithe

 

Reaching out in Evangelism and outreach, to all people groups, expecting God to radically change lives.   Colossians 4:5,6

 

*Missions

*Feeding the Homeless (feed my sheep)

*special outreaches

 

Reaching in through discipleship.  Training men, women and children in the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:11-13

 

*Sunday School

*Jr. Bible quiz

*Home groups

*preaching

*youth and children’s ministries

Goal for 2010—Prayer, Prayer, Prayer plus: Continue current ministries with greater communication and encouragement. 

Develop Reaching in (Discipleship)  home classes that we will call summit groups.  Establish 2-3 summits of discipleship that will manifest several different home groups through out the year.

 

Maybe—One major local out reach in October called “Hell House”/”Judgment House”

“Unstoppable, God’s plan and purpose is unstoppable.” That is a powerful statement but what does that statement mean?

I believe it means different things to different people but over all it is a statement of faith and assurance that God has everything in control!!!  It is a statement that reminds us that He works all things out for good for those that love Him and are call according to His purpose.  It means that He is God! And as children of God we can know that everything is going to be ok.  So be of good cheer and keep moving forward in the “unstoppable” plan and purpose of God.           Love in Christ,    Pastor “J”

So what will heaven be like?
Revelation:

• It will be a holy place (Revelation 21:27) - NO Sin, no temptation!
• It will be a place where everything is new (Revelation 21:5). Everyone likes new stuff but the difference is there won’t be any repairs from decay!
• It will be a place where the curse and all it’s consequences will be gone (Revelation 22:3)
• It will be a place where there is no pain, death, darkness, sorrow or tears (Revelation 21:4)
• It is a place where we will know everyone (I Corinthians 13:12)
• It is a place of great rejoicing (Revelation 4)
• It’s a place where we will be able to spend eternity

Heaven is a place that we should look forward to with great anticipation. Some people have a misconception of what Heaven will be like. They think we will be sitting around all day in white robes, floating on clouds, and playing harps. That’s kind of boring, but that’s not what Heaven is like!!  Heaven is beyond Paradise!!! So Everyone stay Faithful…. Love ya, Pastor “J”

“open your eyes-the answer is here”

In a world of discontentment, hopelessness, anxiety, I pray this changes your life.

“When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, ‘I cannot watch the boy die.’ And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob.” Genesis 21:15 (NIV)

    When Hagar ran out of water, anxiety took hold of her entire being. She ran out of what only she could provide in her small skin of water, but she lost sight of the fact that God never runs out of provisions for us. Hagar did what a lot of people do; she simply gave up, turned away, and became so focused on her hopelessness that she could not see the answer to her problem. She seemingly had no place to turn to for help, yet God had other plans.

    I find it interesting that God heard Ishmael’s prayers. It makes me wonder if Hagar was so caught up in her misery, and was so overcome, that she could not even pray to God for help. God is faithful. God had promised Hagar in the past that Ishmael would grow up to be the father of a great nation. God seems so far away, though, when we are so bogged down in anxiety and worry. God never leaves us. We turn from Him. He is there, waiting like a patient father.

    Notice the solution to Hagar’s problem is within sight of her? Notice that God’s answer was right there in front of her, in the form of a well? When Hagar stopped and listened to God, Hagar was given the answer. When Hagar was depending on Hagar, there was no hope. With God there is hope, and through Christ there is hope for all of us.

There are many ongoing ministries that you could be a part of.  Praise God, He is growing our church!

Discipleship opportunities:
The Discipleship Walk is a three-day weekend designed to give believers an opportunity to take a break from regular routines and experience the love of God in a new and fresh way. It is heavily patterned after the Walk to Emmaus and other similar weekends across denominational lines.

ALPHA - Home discipleship at Pastor J’s - Discipleship walks for men and women.  Contact Pastor J for dates.

Marriage Retreat and renewals are always available.  Contact Pastor J for all the details.

Building Fund
Pray about what the Lord would have you give towards our building fund.  We will be purchasing carpet, paint and many other items.

Monday Day off
Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday By Appointment