Good News Brothers and Sisters in Jesus!
Jesus died on the cross for our sins and on the third day He rose again and He gives us His Holy Spirit that we may believe in Jesus as our Savior by the Spirit's power. Through our faith we have the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Jesus. This is truly "GOOD NEWS". This is where we all start. We hear the good news, we realize our sin, we repent by the power of the Holy Spirit Who convicts us, and we put our faith in Jesus as Savior.
But it doesn't end there. It begins there. Now we are to respond out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. "How are we to respond?" one might ask. Well, Jesus doesn't leave that to our best guesses. He tells us to "Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing and teaching them everything I have commanded you." We are to "Seek and save that which is lost." We are to feed the hungry, house the homeless, stand up for the oppressed, clothe the naked, and love the people around us just as Jesus loves us - unconditionally.
This is what being a Biblically healthy congregation is all about - doing the mission Jesus has given us. It is His mission we are only joining in it out of response to our salvation in Jesus. As followers of Jesus, Who is the way, the truth, and the life, we are willing to sacrifice our lives - as Jesus has done - so that many more sinners like us can know Jesus and what He has done for them. Then they too, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can turn to Jesus in repentance and believe in Him as their Savior and join us in the mission of Jesus to save lost people. We will begin our study of the "12 Pillars of a Biblically Healthy Church" beginning the weekend of March 05-06, 2011. Joining a Friends Christ Care Small Group is the only way that we are going to be able to be molded by God to become a Biblically healthy church. Friends Christ Care Small Group sign-up is this weekend and the new groups will begin meeting next week. Join a group this weekend it will transform your life!
It is snowing out today, but last week was God's way of letting us know that Spring is near. All of you who struggle with the changing temperatures are in my prayers and I thank you for your faithful prayers.
In Jesus Mission,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Sisters and Brothers in Jesus!
As we discovered last weekend we are not to "lay up treasures on earth" but we are to "lay up treasures in heaven". The earthly treasures have no lasting value - they are worth something today, but worth nothing tomorrow. Only the heavenly treasures have lasting value - eternal value. Earthly treasures cannot buy us forgiveness and eternal life no matter how much we have. In fact, the price for sin is death - physical and spiritual. We cannot pay this price, only Jesus can and did pay this price with his blood, innocent suffering and death on a cross. Only by faith in Jesus can we "lay up treasures in heaven". The heavenly treasures are laid up only through faith in Jesus, because it is only through his righteousness that he gives to us that anything we do can be called good and considered a heavenly treasure. We (after we believe in Jesus) are encouraged by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:18, "They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." We have to ask ourselves whether we are rich in good works, whether we are generous, and whether we are ready to share.
God has given us many blessings and he gives these blessings to us in order for us to be generous and ready to share with those who are in need. What we are to realize is that everyone is in need of Jesus as Savior. This blessing of faith in Jesus is the greatest blessing that we can share. I pray that we are all generous, rich in good works, and ready to share.
I have had an up and down week when it comes to dealing with my condition. I do thank you for all of your prayers that help me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish each day what God has placed before me to do.
By the Holy Spirit's Power,
Pastor Randy
As we discovered last weekend we are not to "lay up treasures on earth" but we are to "lay up treasures in heaven". The earthly treasures have no lasting value - they are worth something today, but worth nothing tomorrow. Only the heavenly treasures have lasting value - eternal value. Earthly treasures cannot buy us forgiveness and eternal life no matter how much we have. In fact, the price for sin is death - physical and spiritual. We cannot pay this price, only Jesus can and did pay this price with his blood, innocent suffering and death on a cross. Only by faith in Jesus can we "lay up treasures in heaven". The heavenly treasures are laid up only through faith in Jesus, because it is only through his righteousness that he gives to us that anything we do can be called good and considered a heavenly treasure. We (after we believe in Jesus) are encouraged by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:18, "They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." We have to ask ourselves whether we are rich in good works, whether we are generous, and whether we are ready to share.
God has given us many blessings and he gives these blessings to us in order for us to be generous and ready to share with those who are in need. What we are to realize is that everyone is in need of Jesus as Savior. This blessing of faith in Jesus is the greatest blessing that we can share. I pray that we are all generous, rich in good works, and ready to share.
I have had an up and down week when it comes to dealing with my condition. I do thank you for all of your prayers that help me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish each day what God has placed before me to do.
By the Holy Spirit's Power,
Pastor Randy
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
It has been an interesting week. I was privileged to participate in the Dale and Tanya Shannon memorial last Sunday afternoon at Turtle's Tap restaurant. It was an opportune time to let our community know that we cared about Dale and Shannon and that we care about their four girls with a tough life ahead of them. If you would like to help the children out you can make donations at Turtle's Tap any time.
I am so excited to begin this journey toward being a Biblically healthy church. I have been preparing the materials for Sunday messages and Friends Christ Care Small Group studies. Please make plans to join a Friends Christ Care Small Group, so that we are all able to become more Biblically healthy together.
The "Catch the Vision of Christ" task force is being formed and will begin meeting when we begin the "12 Pillars to a Biblically Healthy Church" together. This is the journey of our lifetime and we do not want to miss it.
The frigid air is not my friend and I am struggling with it. I do thank you for all of your prayers and I pray for those of you who suffer in the cold, as well.
Safe In Jesus,
Pastor Randy
It has been an interesting week. I was privileged to participate in the Dale and Tanya Shannon memorial last Sunday afternoon at Turtle's Tap restaurant. It was an opportune time to let our community know that we cared about Dale and Shannon and that we care about their four girls with a tough life ahead of them. If you would like to help the children out you can make donations at Turtle's Tap any time.
I am so excited to begin this journey toward being a Biblically healthy church. I have been preparing the materials for Sunday messages and Friends Christ Care Small Group studies. Please make plans to join a Friends Christ Care Small Group, so that we are all able to become more Biblically healthy together.
The "Catch the Vision of Christ" task force is being formed and will begin meeting when we begin the "12 Pillars to a Biblically Healthy Church" together. This is the journey of our lifetime and we do not want to miss it.
The frigid air is not my friend and I am struggling with it. I do thank you for all of your prayers and I pray for those of you who suffer in the cold, as well.
Safe In Jesus,
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Pastor's Weekly Blog
Hi Brothers and Sisters in Jesus!
A huge storm is coming our way. Everything is being cancelled and closed down. I pray that all of you will be safe and warm. We have been given prior warning of this storm that is coming into our lives. With today's technology we can predict better when a storm is coming our way, so that we can be better prepared for it when it happens.
The storms that come into our lives are not as predictable and are much harder to be prepared to deal with. But, there is hope. Through a Friends Christ Care small group we can be prepared to meet the storms of our lives through Bible Study, prayer, close relationships, and service to others who are experiencing storms in their lives. We will be learning more about Friends Christ Care small groups over the next few weeks. I pray that you will decide to attend a group and begin the greatest journey of your Christian life so far. You will be prepared for the storms in life, especially the storm of death (the door to eternal life).
Stay safe in Jesus,
Pastor Randy
A huge storm is coming our way. Everything is being cancelled and closed down. I pray that all of you will be safe and warm. We have been given prior warning of this storm that is coming into our lives. With today's technology we can predict better when a storm is coming our way, so that we can be better prepared for it when it happens.
The storms that come into our lives are not as predictable and are much harder to be prepared to deal with. But, there is hope. Through a Friends Christ Care small group we can be prepared to meet the storms of our lives through Bible Study, prayer, close relationships, and service to others who are experiencing storms in their lives. We will be learning more about Friends Christ Care small groups over the next few weeks. I pray that you will decide to attend a group and begin the greatest journey of your Christian life so far. You will be prepared for the storms in life, especially the storm of death (the door to eternal life).
Stay safe in Jesus,
Pastor Randy
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