Dear Easter People,

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

This is the Easter acclimation! Easter isn’t just a single day. It is a mindset that lasts all year long to eternity. When the eggs are gone, the bunnies consumed, the baskets put away, and the beautiful family photos have been printed and framed – remember – “CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!” 

It’s tempting to forget the critical fact that “CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!” Don’t! It’s what makes Easter so vital to our lives! IT CELEBRATES THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY!

Jesus Christ claimed to be “the Son of God.” He taught from the Holy Scriptures. He performed miracles. He raised people from the dead. But many had made similar claims and performed similar deeds. Rabbis taught from the Holy Scriptures. Prophets performed miracles. Jesus’ disciples raised people from the dead (Acts 9:40-41). However, none of these were God. 

To prove His claim, Jesus died on the Cross. He was dead! He was buried in a sealed tomb for three days. Jesus was in fact truly dead. Yet on that first Easter morning…Jesus appeared to His disciples…alive. 

Jesus’ resurrection proves He is who He says He is – He is God. As God, His word and promise are true for all mankind. He says He forgives our sins – they are forgiven. He says He will raise us to eternal life – we will be raised to eternal life. As Easter people, we “confess with (our) mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in (our) heart that God raised Him from the dead and (are) saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Because Jesus rose to new life, we too will be raised to new life! Eternal life with Him in His kingdom. All who have died in the faith are also there…alive in God’s kingdom today. And one day, you and I who also believe in Jesus and His promises will be there…alive for eternity! Why? Because CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Let’s celebrate the Easter Fact every day! Amen!

                                                                                        In the Love of our Risen Savior,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ,

Growing up, my favorite people were my teachers. From elementary school through high school, teachers quenched my thirst for knowledge helping me to learn things – what they were, how they worked – so I could figure other things out. And…it’s largely proven helpful in my life!

Isaiah had a similar appreciation for teachers…the ultimate teacher, God the Father. Isaiah 50 is a continuation of what’s known as the “Song of the Suffering Servant” – passages foretelling of Jesus’ suffering and death to fulfill His Father’s plan of salvation.

Like many of us, it would appear Jesus also learned from His Father, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4). We often forget Jesus was accompanied throughout His ministry by His Father and the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:9-13) Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit and His Father to sustain the weary, strengthened to withstand the abuse He endured throughout His life on earth. (Isaiah 50:6-7)

Jesus’ teacher helped Him to perfectly understand that despite the world’s cruelty toward Him, He was never alone. “He who vindicates me” (Isaiah 50:8) stood with Him every step He took to the cross. Though the world’s powers called Him a liar – guilty of blasphemy – Jesus knew the truth and that His Father would prove His righteousness. Not to make Him feel good, but to save us and all who believe from the eternal effects of sin and death. 

Today God teaches us how much and what He did to love us – to save us from our sins so we can be His means to sustain those around us who are wearied by the world and the sin that wears them down. Let’s know God stands with us. Let’s not fear the wrath of the world which tries to disgrace and shame us. Let’s awaken each day to learn from God’s Word and then follow Him into the world to serve Him by teaching others.

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Dear Children of God,

There’re good days and bad days. However, with everything hitting us today, many of us might be having “when is it going to get better” days. With wars and rumors of wars, craziness in DC, and the price of gas and everything else on the rise…hopefully you’re not thinking, “My bones are dried up, and my hope is lost.” Please know, hope is not lost!

The people of Israel were crying out, “Our bones are dried up; and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off,” (Ezekiel 37:11) They had lost everything and seen their king’s sons put to death, his eyes put out, and dragged off in chains with them into exile in Babylon while the temple in Jerusalem was looted and burned to the ground. (2 Kings 25) The people God had formed from Abram, rescued from Egypt, led into the Promised Land were now dried up…scattered…far from God. Why? Because they departed from God, calling instead on the gods of the world to guide them. They truly were dead. Separated from God.

They left God, but God never left them. As dried out and dead as they felt, God kept seeking after them. To reassure them of His love and care. Calling them to return to Him. Through His prophet Ezekiel, God said, “Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” (Ezekiel 37:5) And by His Word, God restored Israel’s bones, enabling them to survive. He brought them back to the land of Israel. 

God offers the same to us today. When we feel that sin – ours and other’s – has left us dried out, dead, and too far gone for God to restore us, He comes to us in His Word. Breathing new life into us. Forgiving us. Strengthening us to endure. All to bring us out of exile and put us back on the path to the true Promised Land. Hope is never lost! Turn to God and let Him fill you again with the breath of His life through His Word. 

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

CREDIT: easy-peasy.ai

Dear Children of God,

It’s that time of the year again – Daylight Savings Time, start of Spring, and planting season. It all begins with light and more of it. Days get longer, weather warms up, and plants start growing. And the key to it all is more light. Light definitely brings growth.

Light is vital! After all, what was God’s first creation – LIGHT! It shouldn’t surprise us that God’s Word has lots of light in it. God encourages us to stay in the light – the light of His presence so we can live and grow. “Walk as children of light … and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8,10) Walking in the light means exposing ourselves to God and His Word to enable a couple things. First, grow in faith by learning what God’s promises for us are and how He continually fulfills them as we walk in the light. Second, light exposes the “unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11) – the sin in our lives that stymies growth, not unlike my tomatoes that produce little fruit if they don’t get enough light. Third, light reveals the things God created us to do – the fruit of the light … the good, right, and true things we do with our gifts. (Ephesians 5:9) Finally, when we live in the light of Christ, we become truly alive in a way only Christ can make us. (Ephesians 5:14)

This Spring, as you let the sunshine in – enjoying the sun’s warmth after a long, cold winter … planting your gardens in anticipation of the delicious harvest to come – remember to also immerse yourself in the light of Christ. We have several great ways to do that this Lenten season and it’s never too late! There’s Sunday morning worship – as always. There’s also Sunday morning’s For Us Bible Study and Wednesday night’s For Us worship. And Fourth Friday Feast and Film and Lunch Bunch Bible Study. Click here to go to our website for these and many more ways you can increase your exposure to the light!

                                                                                                In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                Pastor Jim

CREDIT: Nano Banana 2 AI

Dear Doers of the Word, 

When we’re under duress, what do we need? We need a “doer” in our lives. We need someone like the guy who helped Shauna and me and our two children when our car broke down in the middle of the night on a barren highway. This guy pulled up and did something – driving us 60 miles through the night to our home. That’s somebody who’s a “doer”!

God is also a “doer” – the ultimate doer! As we get a little deeper into the season of Lent, God’s Word is all about what He’s done to redeem us from the fall into sin we suffer from due to Adam and Eve’s poor choices in the Garden. God set in motion His plan of redemption (Genesis 3:15) with more than simple words; He did it with actions!

After setting the stage in Genesis 1-11, God started doing things … FOR US! First on the To-Do List, start a new nation. God called a guy named Abram – a pagan unbeliever from Ur. Abram did nothing to earn God’s blessing to be the “father of a great nation”. Nevertheless, God selected him. And 75-year-old, childless Abram and his wife Sarai “went, as the Lord had told him” (Genesis 12:4) to a place he’d never heard of. In faith, Abram believed God’s promise and God “the doer,” called Abraham “righteous”. (Romans 4:3) 

Ultimately, through Abram’s faith, God “the doer” brought His great nation into fruition. And from it, His Son was made incarnate. God “the doer” “gave His only Son … in order that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17) Our salvation comes only through God’s doing by His gift of grace. Like Abram, we’ve done nothing to deserve this gift. Yet God “the doer” still did everything we need to be saved from sin, death, and the devil. 

So, in response to God’s love, let’s all be doers of His Word, bringing His love to others whom “God so loves” that He might do to them as He’s done to us.

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Dear Saints and Sinners,

We prepare to be ready for something we hope never happens. We prepare for hurricanes by stocking up on food, water, and, like me, propane to make hot coffee. We prepare for serious health problems by exercising, eating right, and getting insurance to pay expensive bills. Preparing is necessary because of the curse of sin Adam and Eve brought upon all mankind (Genesis 3:17b-19a) … because they weren’t prepared to face evil. Have you ever thought of how you’d fare facing evil face-to-face?

God tells us the best way to prepare is to “put on the whole armor of God … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:11,17).”  Jesus demonstrates for us when He encounters the “face of evil” up close and personal. After 40 days and nights fasting, Jesus was hungry and, I’d imagine tired and thirsty. Satan tempts Jesus to turn rocks to bread. Jesus, counters Satan with Deuteronomy 8:3, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then Satan tempts Jesus to prove His Father’s love with the Psalms. Jesus reminds Satan, there’s more to God’s Word than cherry-picking verses with Deuteronomy 6:16, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Finally, Satan – attempting to trick Jesus – offers the ultimate temptation, God’s creation. All He has to do is worship him. Jesus fights back with Deuteronomy 6:13, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’” In the face of the sword of God’s Word, Satan flees!

Evil still looks for targets to turn against God. Our best defense when attacked is still the strong offense of God’s Word. Satan cannot stand against it. But it takes constant preparation to be able to fend off Satan’s vicious attacks. 

This Lent, let’s engage in good preparation - regular study of God’s Word and prayer in groups and on your own. In this way, we’ll stand firm against Satan’s attacks too. 

                                                                                        Your Fellow Saint and Sinner,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

CREDIT: Houghton Modern on FLICKR

Dear Friends and Family,

For centuries many have espoused the value of a university education; encouraging the best and brightest to attain the wisdom the world values. However, I’d argue this isn’t the place to go to develop wisdom – knowledge perhaps, but not wisdom. If it were, why would one of the world’s “so-called” preeminent universities change its motto from Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae (Truth for Christ and the Church) to simply Veritas (Truth)?

Paul warns against placing too much faith in the world’s wisdom. Doing so causes us weak and foolish humans to boast of our wisdom and abilities – forgetting these all come from God (1 Corinthians 1:28-31), His gifts to us. 

An example of God’s perfect wisdom flying in the face of the world’s foolishness – Jesus’ Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:1-12) Jesus calls all who recognize their poverty in spirit, grieve the sin in the world, seek to meekly serve others, desire nothing above understanding God’s will, show unbridled mercy to everyone, seek to make peace with all, and willingly suffer for Him … “blessed.”

In contrast, the world – both sides of the aisle, as headlines painfully show – without regard for God, too often lauds and praises those exerting unbridled power over the weak and defenseless. It frequently strives to get possession of things they hope will ensure their security. It regularly and willfully subjects “the other” to pain and suffering until they capitulate to the “seat-of-power’s” will.

Jesus taught a much different way to His followers, His disciples. As God’s divine Son, He most certainly could’ve destroyed His enemies in an unrelenting hail of literal fire and brimstone. However, He chose differently, defeating His enemies by suffering and dying on His “foolish” cross – that God’s power might show itself in His love, His mercy, His grace. He calls us to return to Him – rejecting the world’s wisdom as He freely forgives us our reliance on it – then grants us strength to live in His truth, in His Body – His church … humbly, obediently serving Him while bearing our “foolish” crosses, awaiting His glorious return. 

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim