Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!
As I have been reading through the book of Acts in the N.T. I have noticed something life-changing: The early Christians didn't just have a one-day resurrection celebration of Jesus - EASTER. The early Christians lived lives of resurrection every day. They celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and proclaimed it every day of their lives.
It is the resurrection that sets Christianity apart from all other religions on earth. That is why I say that Christianity isn't a religion it is living in and by the TRUTH! I asked myself, "Am I living a resurrection life 24/7/365?" I want to believe that I am, but I have discovered that I fall short. It is hard to live the resurrection life. But by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me and you through the study of God's Word, prayer, and service to our fellow human beings in love we can make great strides in living the resurrection life. Christ is risen, INDEED!! Alleluia!!
Last week I went to Seattle to see my mother in the hospital - it was touch-n-go for a few days and her kidneys were shutting down, but I held my mother and prayed for her healing and God granted that request. She perked-up very quickly and is now rehabbing in a nursing home, Praise to our resurrected Lord Jesus who heals us all.
I am praying for miracle relief of my pain and I know that if and when God wants to heal me He will. The doctors just started another treatment regimine yesterday - I am praying that it works. I thank all of you so much for your prayers and cards. I couldn't keep going without them. I don't know how people without Jesus endure their pain in life.
In Awe of the Resurrected Christ,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Hi Sisters and Brothers in Jesus,
This week my home therapy has added excercises where it takes me 1 hour to complete each cycle and I do this five times per day. This is very tiring and affects my pain level. I have a pedometer now and have been given walking goals to reach each day. I am to progress each day until I am up to a healthy level. Yesterday the doctor manipulated my pallet. This is a VERY PAINFUL!!! procedure. I am feeling the aftermath today. Thursday I will have even more manipulation with my pallet. I do need and seek your prayers - prayer is so powerful and effective. My conversations with Jesus are getting me through my treatments. Thank you.
I pray that all of you are continuing in the "12 Pillars of a Biblically Healthy Church." I pray that you would consider being in a Friends Christ Care Small Group if you are not already. There are WAU Bible studies that can help you become Biblically healthy, as well. May the Lord and Savior of your life and mine, Jesus, guide, bless and protect you each and every day.
Under Jesus Blessings,
Pastor Randy
This week my home therapy has added excercises where it takes me 1 hour to complete each cycle and I do this five times per day. This is very tiring and affects my pain level. I have a pedometer now and have been given walking goals to reach each day. I am to progress each day until I am up to a healthy level. Yesterday the doctor manipulated my pallet. This is a VERY PAINFUL!!! procedure. I am feeling the aftermath today. Thursday I will have even more manipulation with my pallet. I do need and seek your prayers - prayer is so powerful and effective. My conversations with Jesus are getting me through my treatments. Thank you.
I pray that all of you are continuing in the "12 Pillars of a Biblically Healthy Church." I pray that you would consider being in a Friends Christ Care Small Group if you are not already. There are WAU Bible studies that can help you become Biblically healthy, as well. May the Lord and Savior of your life and mine, Jesus, guide, bless and protect you each and every day.
Under Jesus Blessings,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Hello My Fellow Christian Friends,
Well, it's been 3 weeks since I started at this new pain clinic. They have been so thorough I am greatly impressed. I have a request for all of you that you would pray for my mother, Mona, who has had a heart attack and has some clogged cardiac arteries. Her health is so fragile that they cannot do surgery to bypass those arteries so she is on a drug therapy to dissolve some of the blockages. Thank you for your prayers for her she is a sweet Christian woman.
Back to my situation. My first round of drug therapy has failed. My pain was not affected at all by the combination of medications that were tried. I had increased flashbacks and anxiety without any pain relief. So this week I am coming down off of the medications and I will start a different drug therapy next week. If you did not know or if you have forgotten I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is such a sensitive disorder that it is difficult for the doctors to work with. The physical therapists (I have three) have begun manipulating my face and it is extremely painful. They have had to slow the pace of my treatment because of the intense pain. I spend most of my day doing the home therapy exercises and sleeping, a far cry from my work-aholic personality. I struggle with it. Please pray that I am able to sleep better and that the doctors are able to find a drug therapy that will give me some relief from my pain.
I hope that your personal journey this Lenten season of reflection on the cross of Jesus Christ for your sins and your eternal life is a positive step in your growing loving relationship with Jesus.
I thank all of you for your love in Jesus,
Pastor Randy
Well, it's been 3 weeks since I started at this new pain clinic. They have been so thorough I am greatly impressed. I have a request for all of you that you would pray for my mother, Mona, who has had a heart attack and has some clogged cardiac arteries. Her health is so fragile that they cannot do surgery to bypass those arteries so she is on a drug therapy to dissolve some of the blockages. Thank you for your prayers for her she is a sweet Christian woman.
Back to my situation. My first round of drug therapy has failed. My pain was not affected at all by the combination of medications that were tried. I had increased flashbacks and anxiety without any pain relief. So this week I am coming down off of the medications and I will start a different drug therapy next week. If you did not know or if you have forgotten I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is such a sensitive disorder that it is difficult for the doctors to work with. The physical therapists (I have three) have begun manipulating my face and it is extremely painful. They have had to slow the pace of my treatment because of the intense pain. I spend most of my day doing the home therapy exercises and sleeping, a far cry from my work-aholic personality. I struggle with it. Please pray that I am able to sleep better and that the doctors are able to find a drug therapy that will give me some relief from my pain.
I hope that your personal journey this Lenten season of reflection on the cross of Jesus Christ for your sins and your eternal life is a positive step in your growing loving relationship with Jesus.
I thank all of you for your love in Jesus,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Hello my Brothers and Sisters in Jesus!!
Many of you have probably heard that I have to go on Medical Disability Leave for at least 3 months. The new pain management clinic that I am being treated by said that I am so run-down that I was not responding to their treatment program. I am completely exhausted and need to rest in-between my treatments. I am receiving physical therapy as well as drug therapy. Some of these drugs are going to make it impossible for me to drive.
They started to manupulate my facial and skull bones yesterday - it is a VERY PAINFUL!! process - and I am suffering greatly today. As a congregation we still have a process of our own that we need to continue to travel down even though I am not able to lead at this time. Do not give up or put anything on hold, because I know that you are all capable of moving down this road. I am praying for all of you that the Holy Spirit would give you the strength and the desire to become a Biblically Healthy congregation.
Please join a Friends Christ Care Small Group for it is a must in traveling down this road to being a Biblically Healthy Church. Contact Bonnie Clark, Alice Hunt, or Bonnie Nelson and they will connect you to a small group. I do thank you for all of your prayers I do need them very much. I will continue to send out my blog as I am able.
In the Strength of the Holy Spirit,
Pastor Randy
Many of you have probably heard that I have to go on Medical Disability Leave for at least 3 months. The new pain management clinic that I am being treated by said that I am so run-down that I was not responding to their treatment program. I am completely exhausted and need to rest in-between my treatments. I am receiving physical therapy as well as drug therapy. Some of these drugs are going to make it impossible for me to drive.
They started to manupulate my facial and skull bones yesterday - it is a VERY PAINFUL!! process - and I am suffering greatly today. As a congregation we still have a process of our own that we need to continue to travel down even though I am not able to lead at this time. Do not give up or put anything on hold, because I know that you are all capable of moving down this road. I am praying for all of you that the Holy Spirit would give you the strength and the desire to become a Biblically Healthy congregation.
Please join a Friends Christ Care Small Group for it is a must in traveling down this road to being a Biblically Healthy Church. Contact Bonnie Clark, Alice Hunt, or Bonnie Nelson and they will connect you to a small group. I do thank you for all of your prayers I do need them very much. I will continue to send out my blog as I am able.
In the Strength of the Holy Spirit,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Blessings to you my Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,
This past weekend we spoke about using our spiritual gifts given by God to be a Biblically Healthy congregation (Pillar 2). We are promised by God that the Holy Spirit has given us at least one spiritual gift to use in His mission. If you are unsure or don't know what your spiritual gift(s) is(are) I can help you discover it(them). As we desire to serve according to our giftedness, if any of you have the gift of teaching and would like to serve children let me know and we can arrange for you to use your gift on Sunday mornings teaching the children.
As was announced in February SCRIP will be available in November and December as the cost of shipping the cards was more than the amount of money we received from the orders after the Christmas season. So keep in mind that you can order gift cards for you family and friends for Christmas.
I went to another pain management clinic yesterday and will be undergoing an extensive evaluation tomorrow. Pray for me as the long winter (that continues) has been very hard on me physically and has drained much of my energy. I pray that all of you are doing well and are looking forward to exploring the Passion of Christ in Matthew each Wednesday evening throughout Lent.
One for which Christ died,
Pastor Randy
This past weekend we spoke about using our spiritual gifts given by God to be a Biblically Healthy congregation (Pillar 2). We are promised by God that the Holy Spirit has given us at least one spiritual gift to use in His mission. If you are unsure or don't know what your spiritual gift(s) is(are) I can help you discover it(them). As we desire to serve according to our giftedness, if any of you have the gift of teaching and would like to serve children let me know and we can arrange for you to use your gift on Sunday mornings teaching the children.
As was announced in February SCRIP will be available in November and December as the cost of shipping the cards was more than the amount of money we received from the orders after the Christmas season. So keep in mind that you can order gift cards for you family and friends for Christmas.
I went to another pain management clinic yesterday and will be undergoing an extensive evaluation tomorrow. Pray for me as the long winter (that continues) has been very hard on me physically and has drained much of my energy. I pray that all of you are doing well and are looking forward to exploring the Passion of Christ in Matthew each Wednesday evening throughout Lent.
One for which Christ died,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Greetings in Christ!!
As we begin to move into the Lenten observances we are reminded of our broken humanity. We are reminded of our rebellous nature against God and His loving ways. In our basist human nature we are so self-centered that we believe that our ideas, our desires, our viewpoint is right and everyone else's is wrong - even in the church. This is dangerous, since our nature clouds our hearts and minds from what God really wants and is all about. This is why Jesus had to come and die in our place for our rebellous nature and the sins that are a result of this nature.
This is why we want to become a Biblically healthy church. We want to be who and what God has called us to be and to do what God has called us to do. Being and doing are not mutually exclusive. When we are who and what God has called us to be then we will do what God has called us to do. This is not a game or a competition. The mission of Jesus is about relationships and not about programs and money. We are to be in a deep relationship with Jesus, our Savior and we are to witness about our relationship, so that others can come into relationship with Jesus also. This is why we are to develop relationships with others, so that we can love them into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
We are called to be disciples (followers) of Jesus by being baptized and being taught the Scriptures. Many of us have the baptized part done, but we are not being taught the Scriptures because we turn away from Bible study and Friends Christ Care Small Groups. How can we make disciples if we are not being disciples?
This year is all about being disciples of Jesus that is why we are calling this year our "Year of Spiritual Renewal." Become renewed and transformed as a disciple (follower) of Jesus, our Savior. Pray for each other and our fulfilling of Jesus' commission to be and make disciples of all people.
A Disciple,
Pastor Randy
As we begin to move into the Lenten observances we are reminded of our broken humanity. We are reminded of our rebellous nature against God and His loving ways. In our basist human nature we are so self-centered that we believe that our ideas, our desires, our viewpoint is right and everyone else's is wrong - even in the church. This is dangerous, since our nature clouds our hearts and minds from what God really wants and is all about. This is why Jesus had to come and die in our place for our rebellous nature and the sins that are a result of this nature.
This is why we want to become a Biblically healthy church. We want to be who and what God has called us to be and to do what God has called us to do. Being and doing are not mutually exclusive. When we are who and what God has called us to be then we will do what God has called us to do. This is not a game or a competition. The mission of Jesus is about relationships and not about programs and money. We are to be in a deep relationship with Jesus, our Savior and we are to witness about our relationship, so that others can come into relationship with Jesus also. This is why we are to develop relationships with others, so that we can love them into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
We are called to be disciples (followers) of Jesus by being baptized and being taught the Scriptures. Many of us have the baptized part done, but we are not being taught the Scriptures because we turn away from Bible study and Friends Christ Care Small Groups. How can we make disciples if we are not being disciples?
This year is all about being disciples of Jesus that is why we are calling this year our "Year of Spiritual Renewal." Become renewed and transformed as a disciple (follower) of Jesus, our Savior. Pray for each other and our fulfilling of Jesus' commission to be and make disciples of all people.
A Disciple,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Greetings Sisters and Brothers in Jesus!
As the words of the song go, "...it's been a long, cold, lonely winter." It has been a long and cold winter. Whether it's been lonely for you or not I do not know. I am thankful for my wife and children, as well as, all of you for making this winter far from a lonely one. But there are some of you that may not feel that way. You may be feeling like you are all alone, even if there are people in your life. This is not a trivial thing. You need some closeness.
In the early Christian church they found closeness in meeting together in each other's homes - studying the Word of God, praying for each other, supporting one another, and doing the mission of Jesus together. This is what Friends Christ Care Small Groups are all about. In a Friends Christ Care Small Group you will meet in each other's homes - studying the Word of God, praying for each other, supporting one another, and doing the mission of Jesus together. This is how we combat loneliness, by living our lives out together in Jesus. So I pray that you would join a Friends Christ Care Small Group as we move toward a Biblically healthy congregation.
As far as the cold winter, it has taken its toll on me to this point. I do need lots of prayers and understanding. I have always strived to do more than I am able and it is catching up with me. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement, it has been and continues to be of great help to me.
In Jesus Care,
Pastor Randy
As the words of the song go, "...it's been a long, cold, lonely winter." It has been a long and cold winter. Whether it's been lonely for you or not I do not know. I am thankful for my wife and children, as well as, all of you for making this winter far from a lonely one. But there are some of you that may not feel that way. You may be feeling like you are all alone, even if there are people in your life. This is not a trivial thing. You need some closeness.
In the early Christian church they found closeness in meeting together in each other's homes - studying the Word of God, praying for each other, supporting one another, and doing the mission of Jesus together. This is what Friends Christ Care Small Groups are all about. In a Friends Christ Care Small Group you will meet in each other's homes - studying the Word of God, praying for each other, supporting one another, and doing the mission of Jesus together. This is how we combat loneliness, by living our lives out together in Jesus. So I pray that you would join a Friends Christ Care Small Group as we move toward a Biblically healthy congregation.
As far as the cold winter, it has taken its toll on me to this point. I do need lots of prayers and understanding. I have always strived to do more than I am able and it is catching up with me. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement, it has been and continues to be of great help to me.
In Jesus Care,
Pastor Randy
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