Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What a wonderful Christmas journey we had on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We travelled from ancient times to the time of Jesus' birth and all the way to today. The significance of the Son of God being born as a human being from a virgin is overwhelming to me. God loves us that much. He even had Mary and Joseph name him "Jesus" (Yahweh Saves) because he is the Savior of the world. I never get tired of Christmas. I could read the account year-around. But I always remember that Jesus wasn't born just to live among us. He was born to live without sin and then die for our sins. He accomplished that on a cross a few decades after his birth. It still is not the whole story. Jesus rose from the dead three days later. So, not only did he die, paying the price for our sins, he showe his power over death by rising to life - life that never ends. As we enter into the New Year let's keep on hearing the story, studying the story, telling the story to others.
By the end of the Christmas worship I needed a rest. I was exhausted. It was good to relax at home with my family. Your continued prayers are much needed and very much appreciated - thank you. I am excited and refreshed to go into the New Year discovering what God has in store for me and for us at Friends In Christ. I will see you all this weekend. Peace has come to us through Jesus, share that peace with those around you.
In the Baby Jesus,
Pastor Randy
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Merry Christmas to all,
I am sorry that I am a day late, but since it's Christmas I am also a dollar short - haha! I have been enjoying our Journey through the Gospel of Luke on Sunday mornings. It has been great having so many of you growing in your relationships with each other and your relationship with Jesus. I have noticed that the wait staff at the Turtle Tap has been doing things around our tables more and more. I believe they are listening in with great curiosity. Praise God!! The discussions have been very beneficial to my life and those that are there as well. If you have not attended yet I invite you to come to our first class of 2010 on January 3rd. Your life will never be the same.
I have been working through the pain of the cold and I do whatever I feel like doing. My wife and children are my monitors that keep me from doing too much and getting into trouble. You can thank them for that. They are great!! I couldn't have asked for a better woman to be married to or better children to raise they are all soldout believers in Jesus and do their best to live as He desires them to. I love them all very much.
And as we celebrate the birth of Jesus remember that it is the love the Father has for us that caused Him to send His Son as a baby in Bethlehem to live the perfect life we can't, to die for our sins and rise in triumph over death. Share this love with your family and friends this Christmas.
I love you all,
Pastor Randy
I am sorry that I am a day late, but since it's Christmas I am also a dollar short - haha! I have been enjoying our Journey through the Gospel of Luke on Sunday mornings. It has been great having so many of you growing in your relationships with each other and your relationship with Jesus. I have noticed that the wait staff at the Turtle Tap has been doing things around our tables more and more. I believe they are listening in with great curiosity. Praise God!! The discussions have been very beneficial to my life and those that are there as well. If you have not attended yet I invite you to come to our first class of 2010 on January 3rd. Your life will never be the same.
I have been working through the pain of the cold and I do whatever I feel like doing. My wife and children are my monitors that keep me from doing too much and getting into trouble. You can thank them for that. They are great!! I couldn't have asked for a better woman to be married to or better children to raise they are all soldout believers in Jesus and do their best to live as He desires them to. I love them all very much.
And as we celebrate the birth of Jesus remember that it is the love the Father has for us that caused Him to send His Son as a baby in Bethlehem to live the perfect life we can't, to die for our sins and rise in triumph over death. Share this love with your family and friends this Christmas.
I love you all,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Pastor's Weekly Blog
My dear Christian Brothers and Sisters,
Today is a cold one. Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder. I don't know what it is about Wednesdays this Advent, but it seems that the bad weather comes on those days. I have been doing my best to keep warm and most days I have been successful. On the other days I sleep a little more and that seems to help. I keep excercising and stretching and noticing improvement, so praise God for that.
I would not be where I am today if God had not done his miraculous work on me and in me. He kept my fall from being a fatal one. He gave me skilled and dedicated medical people who used their God-given gifts to repair my broken body. He used His Word and prayer to repair me mentally and spiritually. He has me where He wants me to be. He has a plan for me and I want to follow it.
It is this time in the year that we start to be stressed beyond our limits. Where we start to snap at our loved ones. It is the time when we dread the relatives showing up and adding to the mix. The money is low, the patience is low, the understanding is gone. It is this time of the year that I find a spot in the house or gather the family together and open my Bible to Luke chapter 2. I take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and begin reading the Christmas account. Everything begins to slow down. The tension leaves my body and my family. The important things of life become important again. The unimportant things become unimportant again. And I feel BETTER!!
God has a plan for your life and your family's. Take the time, by yourself or with your family, to relax around the greatest story ever told. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 (ESV)
In the Peace of Jesus,
Pastor Randy
Today is a cold one. Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder. I don't know what it is about Wednesdays this Advent, but it seems that the bad weather comes on those days. I have been doing my best to keep warm and most days I have been successful. On the other days I sleep a little more and that seems to help. I keep excercising and stretching and noticing improvement, so praise God for that.
I would not be where I am today if God had not done his miraculous work on me and in me. He kept my fall from being a fatal one. He gave me skilled and dedicated medical people who used their God-given gifts to repair my broken body. He used His Word and prayer to repair me mentally and spiritually. He has me where He wants me to be. He has a plan for me and I want to follow it.
It is this time in the year that we start to be stressed beyond our limits. Where we start to snap at our loved ones. It is the time when we dread the relatives showing up and adding to the mix. The money is low, the patience is low, the understanding is gone. It is this time of the year that I find a spot in the house or gather the family together and open my Bible to Luke chapter 2. I take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and begin reading the Christmas account. Everything begins to slow down. The tension leaves my body and my family. The important things of life become important again. The unimportant things become unimportant again. And I feel BETTER!!
God has a plan for your life and your family's. Take the time, by yourself or with your family, to relax around the greatest story ever told. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 (ESV)
In the Peace of Jesus,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Pastor's Weekly Blog
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful. We've got no place to go. Let it snow.".....screeeeeeeeetch!!!!
How many of us relly have no place to go. We might wish it to be true, but that is not the case for most of us. If you are like me every day and evening is full this time of year. With work parties, children's concerts, worship services, and family gatherings it is hard to catch your breath. For me I find the time to relax and breathe in prayer, worship services, and in the study of God's Word. Just a few minutes each day, with family too, can make a whole lot of difference in harried Christmas season. It can also help us keep our focus on the truth about Christmas - that it is the celebration of the Savior's birth.
I continue to push through the pain and fatigue of my injuries. God has given me the gift of a high pain threshold, so I am able to withstand most of the onslaught. My cold weather gear is working out marvelously. I don't believe I could make it with out it. I feel stronger all the time and enjoy being with all of you in worship, journeying through the Gospel of Luke, and planning the mission and ministry of Friends In Christ congregation.
Being held close by Jesus,
Pastor Randy
"And the angel said to her, 'Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'" Luke 1:30-31 (ESV)
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful. We've got no place to go. Let it snow.".....screeeeeeeeetch!!!!
How many of us relly have no place to go. We might wish it to be true, but that is not the case for most of us. If you are like me every day and evening is full this time of year. With work parties, children's concerts, worship services, and family gatherings it is hard to catch your breath. For me I find the time to relax and breathe in prayer, worship services, and in the study of God's Word. Just a few minutes each day, with family too, can make a whole lot of difference in harried Christmas season. It can also help us keep our focus on the truth about Christmas - that it is the celebration of the Savior's birth.
I continue to push through the pain and fatigue of my injuries. God has given me the gift of a high pain threshold, so I am able to withstand most of the onslaught. My cold weather gear is working out marvelously. I don't believe I could make it with out it. I feel stronger all the time and enjoy being with all of you in worship, journeying through the Gospel of Luke, and planning the mission and ministry of Friends In Christ congregation.
Being held close by Jesus,
Pastor Randy
"And the angel said to her, 'Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'" Luke 1:30-31 (ESV)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Greetings In Jesus Christ,
As we look forward to the second coming of Jesus we celebrate and take comfort in His first coming as a baby boy born in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. I love this time of the year. I remember as a child that when the Christmas decorations went up my excitement was heightened. I looked forward to Christmas Eve service and the opening of Christmas gifts that night.
I still get excited as Advent worship begins every Wednesday (7:00pm)and the Christmas Eve worship services (7:00 & 11:00pm)come near. The announcement of the birth of Jesus as the Savior - all of it - is so wonderful I can't contain it inside. I hope that you can't contain it either. That you will tell those around you what Christmas is about - The Christ.
I am doing better all the time. The cold is affecting me just as I was told. It is quite painful to be in the cold for too long. The ski mask is a great addition to my wardrobe - although I receive some funny looks from people because it's not snowing yet. But I am warm and it helps keep my pain levels down, so that is all that matters. I am still on this earth and Jesus has a plan for me and a plan for each one of you and a plan for all of us together.
I pray that you are excited at this time as I am. That Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and you just can't contain the message "Jesus, the Savior is born" inside. Blessings to all of you as we approach Christmas.
Excited about the baby Jesus celebration,
Pastor Randy
As we look forward to the second coming of Jesus we celebrate and take comfort in His first coming as a baby boy born in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. I love this time of the year. I remember as a child that when the Christmas decorations went up my excitement was heightened. I looked forward to Christmas Eve service and the opening of Christmas gifts that night.
I still get excited as Advent worship begins every Wednesday (7:00pm)and the Christmas Eve worship services (7:00 & 11:00pm)come near. The announcement of the birth of Jesus as the Savior - all of it - is so wonderful I can't contain it inside. I hope that you can't contain it either. That you will tell those around you what Christmas is about - The Christ.
I am doing better all the time. The cold is affecting me just as I was told. It is quite painful to be in the cold for too long. The ski mask is a great addition to my wardrobe - although I receive some funny looks from people because it's not snowing yet. But I am warm and it helps keep my pain levels down, so that is all that matters. I am still on this earth and Jesus has a plan for me and a plan for each one of you and a plan for all of us together.
I pray that you are excited at this time as I am. That Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and you just can't contain the message "Jesus, the Savior is born" inside. Blessings to all of you as we approach Christmas.
Excited about the baby Jesus celebration,
Pastor Randy
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