(click here to listen)
What did Jesus mean about the Spirit of God being like the wind? Pastor Jack talks about this and what it means to be born again.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Windy city to windy state!
Today I met with a 32 year old man with a wife and 4 kids. He is currently pastoring by Chicago and was actually in line to replace a longstanding pastor at his current church. This church is healthy stable and having solid ministry yet God gave this pastor a sense of unrest. Through several God-Sized situations, conversations, and open doors this pastor is heading to Gillette Wyoming to plant a church.
For the typical person reading this allow me to fill in the blanks here. This means leaving a stable salary, home life, and ministry to step out into the unknown. This means raising money ugh! This means no church building, people, nothing. Starting from Scratch. Starting a new ministry. I got to thinking on my drive back across the vast WYoming prarie with wind whipping my car and my praise music on high. I thought that there is no way any man can do this task successfully. In fact I would dare say planting a church from a urban and suburban area to a rural booming mining town is border line insane in human terms. Then it hit me.
"GOD IS AT HIS BEST WHEN WE COME TO THE END OF OURSELF."
When I come to the point that "I" am no longer able to do things on my own and the "only" way ministry or life will happen is through God then I am truly trusting in Jesus Christ.
How many times have you come to the end of yourself and had to rely on God for the impossible. This could apply to your marriage, parenting a strong willed child, seeking employment, or dealing with relationships.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Ah now I am begining to see what this verse truly means. Keep this man in your prayers and be willing to allow God to make you step out of your comfort zone so that HE can make a impact on the world!
For the typical person reading this allow me to fill in the blanks here. This means leaving a stable salary, home life, and ministry to step out into the unknown. This means raising money ugh! This means no church building, people, nothing. Starting from Scratch. Starting a new ministry. I got to thinking on my drive back across the vast WYoming prarie with wind whipping my car and my praise music on high. I thought that there is no way any man can do this task successfully. In fact I would dare say planting a church from a urban and suburban area to a rural booming mining town is border line insane in human terms. Then it hit me.
"GOD IS AT HIS BEST WHEN WE COME TO THE END OF OURSELF."
When I come to the point that "I" am no longer able to do things on my own and the "only" way ministry or life will happen is through God then I am truly trusting in Jesus Christ.
How many times have you come to the end of yourself and had to rely on God for the impossible. This could apply to your marriage, parenting a strong willed child, seeking employment, or dealing with relationships.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Ah now I am begining to see what this verse truly means. Keep this man in your prayers and be willing to allow God to make you step out of your comfort zone so that HE can make a impact on the world!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
An Inconvenient Truth
(click here to listen)
Whether it's the debate about abortion, evolution, or any other big issue there is a wrong way and a right way to engage others. This sermon was preceded by a clip from a well-known movie where a frustrated motorist rams her car into someone else's car in a fit of road rage.
Whether it's the debate about abortion, evolution, or any other big issue there is a wrong way and a right way to engage others. This sermon was preceded by a clip from a well-known movie where a frustrated motorist rams her car into someone else's car in a fit of road rage.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
For The Glory
(click here to listen)
Pastor Jack explains the miracle of Jesus turning water to wine in John, Chapter 2.
Pastor Jack explains the miracle of Jesus turning water to wine in John, Chapter 2.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Wyoming Crescent
This past Saturday I was out on my inaugural hunt. Not a wild excursion into the forest but none the less hunting for antelope on the Wyoming plane. After a long morning and lunch a stray buck finally emerged chasing down a female and goading her to show his authority. He was about 300 or so yards away when I settled in to take my first ever shot at a game animal. The wind and rain were just beginning so I removed my sunglasses. In the heat of the moment I leaned into the scope on the 323 wind mag and pulled the trigger. The shot rang out as I called out to my partner "It's bleeding, where is it bleeding" He replied there is no blood you missed low." Turning to see me he flew toward me with a rag. In my excitement I had leaned in so close that the recoil of the telescope nailed my forehead. To make a long story short 4 stitches and a (hopefully) minor head injury later I had a Wyoming Crescent.
The Wyoming Crescent I would soon learn happens to many hunters to varying degrees throughout their lives. Some solace for a novice trying to find his way in Wyoming life. This mark was one of a hunter or attempted one anyway. I began to think that in many ways the Gospel of John helps one to identify the marks of a true disciple of Christ. So many people were attracted to Jesus and his miracles yet he knew their hearts were not committed to him. John 3:16 tells of a key mark for a disciple of Christ. The key word "believe" this is not the same as our word believe in American culture. This word indicates complete confidence and trust. This word indicates actions tied to ones thoughts and words and beliefs.
If Jesus were around today he would have no problem identifying who is in church because they believe in Him and who is just there to socialize, cover their bases, or follow a man in a pulpit.
I ask you do you have the marks of a true believer?
The Wyoming Crescent I would soon learn happens to many hunters to varying degrees throughout their lives. Some solace for a novice trying to find his way in Wyoming life. This mark was one of a hunter or attempted one anyway. I began to think that in many ways the Gospel of John helps one to identify the marks of a true disciple of Christ. So many people were attracted to Jesus and his miracles yet he knew their hearts were not committed to him. John 3:16 tells of a key mark for a disciple of Christ. The key word "believe" this is not the same as our word believe in American culture. This word indicates complete confidence and trust. This word indicates actions tied to ones thoughts and words and beliefs.
If Jesus were around today he would have no problem identifying who is in church because they believe in Him and who is just there to socialize, cover their bases, or follow a man in a pulpit.
I ask you do you have the marks of a true believer?
Thursday, October 4, 2007
If a blogger posts........
Does anyone recall the statement "IF a tree were to fall in the forest and no one was there to hear it would it make any noise?" I ask this if a blogger post and only one person responds is there anyone one else reading it?
Oh well, here I go anyway....
Our most recent sermon deals with Witnessing for Ordinary People. Witnessing in a worldly sense means testifying to what one believes is true, sharing one's own experience, verifying the facts in a legal sense, and even giving ones personal views. In the religious world it is focused on bringing other people into one's system of beliefs. In the Bible it is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection. Sharing the opportunity for eternity in heaven not by works but by Grace.
The motivation for most other religions to witness is to gain entrance into favor with God, or to somehow earn one's way into a better destiny. To me this works the same as the advertisement that has the witness of a millionaire who made her money sitting at home! You too can make your money sitting at home. You mail in the slip sign up and then soon realize despite your best efforts you will never make a million dollars unless you convince others that they too can make a million dollars. It is a never ending circle in which no one really ever gets to that ultimate destination. It is a futile chasing after the wind.
The motivation for the follower of Jesus Christ if taken from the teaching of the Bible should be one of selfless love. No believer should be motivated by numbers because our salvation does not rest on how many people we convince or sign up. The question thus becomes why aren't more believers sharing their beliefs with other lost people?
If Jesus Christ controls the results then we are guaranteed positive responses; therefore we should gladly participate in this joyous activity--yet many dread it!
Where do you stand on witnessing?
Oh well, here I go anyway....
Our most recent sermon deals with Witnessing for Ordinary People. Witnessing in a worldly sense means testifying to what one believes is true, sharing one's own experience, verifying the facts in a legal sense, and even giving ones personal views. In the religious world it is focused on bringing other people into one's system of beliefs. In the Bible it is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection. Sharing the opportunity for eternity in heaven not by works but by Grace.
The motivation for most other religions to witness is to gain entrance into favor with God, or to somehow earn one's way into a better destiny. To me this works the same as the advertisement that has the witness of a millionaire who made her money sitting at home! You too can make your money sitting at home. You mail in the slip sign up and then soon realize despite your best efforts you will never make a million dollars unless you convince others that they too can make a million dollars. It is a never ending circle in which no one really ever gets to that ultimate destination. It is a futile chasing after the wind.
The motivation for the follower of Jesus Christ if taken from the teaching of the Bible should be one of selfless love. No believer should be motivated by numbers because our salvation does not rest on how many people we convince or sign up. The question thus becomes why aren't more believers sharing their beliefs with other lost people?
If Jesus Christ controls the results then we are guaranteed positive responses; therefore we should gladly participate in this joyous activity--yet many dread it!
Where do you stand on witnessing?
Monday, October 1, 2007
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