Dear Easter People,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

There’s great wisdom in a piece entitled All I Really Need to Know … I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. The top of the list – “Share Everything.” Pretty simple advice, but when you think about, most of the conflict we see in the world today starts with – not sharing. Seriously! Think about it! The wars raging in the world today are primarily because one side refuses to share with the other side and the other side is fighting back because the one side also isn’t willing to share. Both sides want everything and neither is willing to give in until they have it. How different would it be if we learned to share?!

The Book of Acts, Chapter 2:42-47, shows a group of people who came together over the idea of “share everything” as they worshipped Jesus Christ – who shared everything by dying on the cross to enable forgiveness of sins and give eternal life. “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47a) In sharing what they had with each other, giving to others what they lacked; they were a witness to the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the change His resurrection brought to their lives. People who saw this transformation were in awe of them and the wonders and signs they did through their grace-filled, sharing with not only each other, but with those they encountered. The result? “The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47b)

God has blessed us with an incredible set of gifts to be shared with others – the gift of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s share that gospel with others in words and acts that show we too have been transformed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That the Lord will add to our number those who are being saved.

                                                                                                He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

                                                                                                Pastor Jim

Dear Easter People,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

I’ve never met anybody who willingly undergoes “the knife.” But sometimes “the knife” is necessary. So, in order to correct a serious condition, people have surgery. And when it’s over many say, “Why didn’t I do that sooner?” The surgery might leave a scar. It might leave some residual pain. But it also brings healing and relief from pain – correcting whatever condition might have existed.

While surgery can bring about healing, eventually, due to the nature of life in a sin-filled world, our bodies will fail … leading to death and a more painful condition … eternal separation from God our Father – eternal death.

Peter stood before the house of Israel one day to bring the healing knife of God’s Word to Israel’s ears saying, “‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made (Jesus) both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified!’ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter … ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:36-37)

God’s Word, spoken in sharp truth, cut through their sinful hearts like a razor-sharp scalpel, revealing to them their dire condition. It caused them to see they were helpless, on their own, to do anything about it. But Peter followed the sharp word of the law with the comforting, healing goodness of the gospel … “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. (Acts 2:38)” And that day, over 3000 people were saved from the eternal effects of sin and death.

We too hear God’s Word. We hear the cutting news of the law. It convicts us of our sins. We see our need for the healing word of God’s gospel. Then, as we confess our sins, our God and Father, on account of His Son, Jesus Christ, cuts them away with His forgiveness. As we say, “Why didn’t I do that sooner?” He restores us to full health and eternal life.

                                                                                        He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Dear Easter People,

ALLELUIA!  CHRIST IS RISEN!

There’s an old saying you may have heard, “Seeing is believing” or it’s cousin, “You’ve got to see it to believe it!”  But there is one place where the opposite is true. One of my favorite bands, U2, sings a song called Walk On that goes, “We’re packing a suitcase for a place that has to be believed to be seen.” It’s a song about where one will spend eternal life. A place that has to be believed to be seen.

Throughout the first Easter, the disciples heard stories that Jesus had risen, but they didn’t believe them. It didn’t make any sense to them. Until Jesus showed up in the flesh so they could see and believe.  But Thomas wasn’t there that night.  He still didn’t believe. And said he wouldn’t “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25) So, Jesus showed up the following week … so Thomas could see … and believe.  Then Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

We believe today, not because we’ve “seen it to believe it” but because our Father has given us faith through the Holy Spirit in our baptisms.  We accept on faith the word of the many witnesses recorded in God’s word.  As the scriptures say … as U2 and many other songs remind us … we believe … and so we see. And seeing through faith, Jesus tells us to go into the world and help others to see Him through our words and deeds of love in response to His love for us. 

Let us live our lives as disciples of Christ all year long that we and others believe. Then when Jesus returns, we’ll also be blessed by God to see … the kingdom of God, Jesus, and all the saints.

HE IS RISEN INDEED!  ALLELUIA!

                                                                                        In the Love of our Risen Savior,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

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