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Change

Posted on Jun 10, 2018 in Uncategorized |

Change… Merriam-Webster defines change as – A: to make different in some particular B: to make radically differentC: to give a different position, course, or direction to…

One of the few things that never changes is the fact that change is constant and inevitable. From poodle skirts and malt-shop music to bell-bottoms and disco. From top hats to ball caps. Fashion, music, hair styles, etc. change and will continue to change for the rest of time as we know it. Many changes have been for the good of humanity. I’m sure you’re happy the way we do laundry has changed. I’m sure you’re thankful for the changes in how we view medicine, treat sickness, and other medical advancements. What about transportation? I’m sure glad we don’t have to rely on a horse to get from place to place. Some changes, like how society views family values, marriage, and an ultra-liberal education system are not good at all. Some good, some bad, we must know that change is always on the horizon. If we refuse to change, we’re in danger of being time-warped and left in the dust.

So, knowing that changing is unchangeable, why do we dislike so much? Because it’s scary! We don’t know what that change will hold for us on the other side. We as humans are creatures of habit and we like our stability and comfort. Change can sometimes put those things we hold on
to in jeopardy.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. As I type these words, our church is changing. We recently got a new Pastor to spearhead these changes. We recently voted on changing our church name that has been the same for 60 years! We’re CHANGING our sign, we’re CHANGING our logo, we’re CHANGING security protocol, we’ve CHANGED the appearance of our lobby… the list goes on and on. As leadership, we believe these changes will
help our church to remain relevant in today’s culture, and ultimately reach more people for Christ and to make more disciples! With all of these changes going on, as a Pastor of this church, I can make a promise to you… The Message of the Good News of Jesus will never change.

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our METHODS must adapt to reach an ever-changing culture, but the Word of God never changes. We will always be a church built on three principle building blocks – Love God, Love others, and make Disciples. When we do those three things well, the Message will reach our community and the world! In this time of change, don’t be afraid. Embrace this exciting time! Let’s be trail blazers that charge straight ahead and watch an all-powerful God do what He
promises He will do! Be with us Lord Jesus as we do your will. We want to make you proud of us! Amen!

Matt

Don’t Take A Seat, Take Action!

Posted on Mar 14, 2018 in Uncategorized |

Mar '18

We have lost our blessing or happiness, because we don’t do much with God’s Word. Jesus said in John 13:17, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” For most, God’s Word is too much for them to read on a regular basis, or they are just too busy, Kevin Deyoung says “Crazy Busy” in his book with the same title. But if we were to adhere to what God says we need first to listen to His word and if we intently listened we would be doing something for His glory.

Be a Doer

James tells us in James 1:22-25, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” We cheat ourselves out of a blessing when we think just listening to His word is enough. When, in fact, listening is just the beginning. It is funny how James gives the illustration of a man looking into a mirror, if he found a flaw he probably wouldn’t do anything about it. Yet a woman would do whatever was necessary to cover up the flaw, thus taking action. Don’t just listen to God’s Word, look at it intently and get up and do something about what you have read.

Take Action

In the book of Exodus we find Israel at the Red Sea and Moses tells them to sit tight and watch what God does. But between verse 14 and 15 nothing happens, and God tells them to quit talking about what to do and get up and do something. Exodus 14:13-15, “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” They were expecting God to do it all, but God said you have your part to play as well. Its like this, people just expect God to give them a house, but thats not how God works, God grows the tree that the 2×4’s can be made out of and gives us talents so we can use them to do the work ourselves. Just like the raising of Lazarus, Jesus said, “remove the stone.” Jesus could have removed that stone just by speaking to it but He chose to have men do it. The idea was we should work and do what God has empowered us to do, and let God do what only He can do.

If you say you have a relationship with Jesus but do not keep His commandments, you don’t do anything that the Bible says we are to do, then my question is, “What does that make you?”

1 John 2:3-4, Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

God Bless

Dan Z.

BE STRONG IN YOUR DEFENSE

Posted on Feb 13, 2018 in Uncategorized |

Feb '18

When we think about “defending”, the first thing that comes to mind is maybe, big muscular men, such as: Hercules, Samson, etc. We think about defending our keep like they did in the “Lord of the Rings”, but what is the first thing to come to mind when you think of having a ready defense for your faith? Not many think of defending their faith, nor do they realize the importance of it. For most, I would imagine, just don’t have the knowledge to defend themselves. God told Hosea in Hosea 4;6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge.” It’s not because we don’t have enough information, we have a plethora of information at our disposal. We just haven’t equipped ourselves with a ready defense of the truth. Peter screamed this in his epistle, 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” We are to be ready to give an account of the hope we have in Jesus. For some can’t defend against evolution, evil, miracles, etc. But if we took God at His word, we would realize that we need to trouble ourselves to build up our muscle so we can defend our hope. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” That word “diligent” is from the Greek word, “spoudaz?” which means to make haste, or to trouble. that there becomes the issue we don’t trouble ourselves to study as we should. The idea is that we do only the things that are important to us. If it was important enough for God to die for us, to take our penalty and what we deserve, we should then take the trouble to get to Him and His word so we are strong enough to defend our faith with boldness. Take some time this week and trouble yourself and see what a mighty God we serve.

God bless,

Dan Z.