Friday, May 17, 2013

Some Thoughts on John 1:1-2


"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."

                                                                                              John 1:1-2

In these first two verses we have the introduction of the gospel of John. Wow, what powerful verses we have here as well. On these thoughts hang the truth of Christianity. John is normally a rather flowery guy when it comes to written language, but here he is blatantly clear. John usually is very poetical, expressing things in a very educated Greek. Here though he does not want you to miss his point because the rest of gospel he is going to be demonstrating what he is saying in these first two verses over and over again. John's gospel is very different from the others, because like the others he chooses stories and words of Christ that demonstrate that Christ is who He says He is, the Son of God. This verse is so clear that you might as well rip it out if you do not agree with it. Because John has no intention of letting you miss the point of what he is saying. 



I am currently preparing to preach through the gospel of John and I am excited about this passage because it is the perfect introduction for the book. Other gospels start out with Christ's human genealogies but John starts out with showing that Christ is not a created being. He is God and He was with God in the beginning. While there are those that flatly deny the deity of Christ, of which I sincerely doubt I will change their minds, there are many of us who would confess the deity of Jesus but not live like we do. Some times in our day and times we over emphasize the humanness of Christ. We want to make Him some sort of genie/buddy that should always deliver happiness to us in whatever form we desire. I like C.S. Lewis' example of the fact that He is not a tame lion. While Christ does love us and want to give us what is best for us He does not fit into the bottle of personal desires. So often we what to shrink the God Jesus down to a more manageable size. Christ is bigger than our logic and our thoughts and that is why He says:

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

                                                                                            Is 55:9

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Some Thoughts on Preparing for a Mother's Day Sermon

On thing for sure is that you are not going to get a how to from me as I am doing this for the first time. I am always excited about my sermon for Sunday and the preparation for it but I have to admit that I am pretty green at this thing. While there are a lot of nice things to say about mothers both past and present one thing for sure is that God loves the heart of a mother. He created and instilled in a woman that deep desire and instinct to mother. In this instinct He has left images of his character. As a mother holds her baby for the first time there is absolute love in her eyes. She has spent the last nine month giving of her body to grow this little life. She has also, though the little bumps and taps in her womb, began to develop a relationship with this budding human being. As she loves the little child she loves him without any expectancy of return on investment. There is nothing that this little baby can do for her. He cannot give her money or things he can hardly express his feelings, but none the less she is eager and willing to pour our her life for the being she holds in her arms. Such it is with the heart of Christ. We are barely able to respond in our relationship with Him. Our love is purely a response to the love he pours out on us. We are only able to reciprocate His feelings toward us, and certainly He has no need for us. Yet he says things like this about us.

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

                                                                                                                  Jer 31:3



The reality is that the love of a mother is truly overwhelming. Yet at the same time the love of our Lord is that much more overwhelming. This Sunday take some time to thank some mothers for their example and love. Especially yours because after all you would not be here if it was not for her. From me to all your mothers out there, God bless you. May you keep doing what you do best. Thank you so much for teaching us a little bit about what it means to lay down your life for another.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Political Views

Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for your support and interest lately and I am aware that there are probably some of you that are just starting to follow my blog now that I am now the pastor of  Stonyford Community Church. You may have noticed that I have been rather liberal in expressing my conservative views on this blog. I hope that you do not find any of this offensive as I have thought long and hard about my views and do not take them lightly. Although I do understand that there are those of you out there that hold differing opinions that you hold just as dear. Let me say here and now that it is perfectly fine with me (although I might hope that you might change over to my viewpoint :) ). I am always happy to discuss with any one concerned about what I have posted on these pages and I am fully aware of the fact that I may have easily missed something that could clarify my views. I would also be happy if you express that to me through the internet or in person. What I hope to do here is have a form of my learning. A place to express tough ideas and concepts that I believe no one on earth has the complete answer to. You may notice that I come across strong in my presentation but my intention is not to offend but simply to dialog. I firmly believe that we cannot strengthen our beliefs until we can discuss them with friends and sometimes enemies to round out the finer points. All of us have something to learn and I put my name at the top of that list but learning is not possible until we get out there and study and discuss the questions of life. The stagnant society is the one that does not allow discussion, prohibits books and learning and bans the congregation of people. In the words of Heinrich Hein a German Jewish poet "Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings." Evil is not interested in hearing the viewpoint of the opposing side, and truth does not fear scrutiny.



Thursday, May 2, 2013

First Days as a Pastor at Stonyford Community Church


Wow what an exciting time unloading the trailers unpacking the office and especially the books. We have had a very warm welcome here in Stonyford as the people here have poured out the love of Christ on us. We have been so blessed meeting all the new people that go to our church and some that do not go to our church but are vital parts of this community. I have to say a hearty thank you to you all that live here in Stonyford for your gracious welcome.

Stonyford is a beautiful community here about two and half hours drive northwest of Sacramento California. While driving back out here the words to that old song kept going through my head.

California here I come 
Right back where I started from

God has certainly blessed and we are so excited about serving here in Stonyford and seeing the amazing things that God is going to do. We are so glad for the faithful that have been serving here for so long helping to put us in a starting place we could have never dreamed of. While there are many here in Stonyford that are faithful servants of the Lord there is much work to be done and we covet your prayers as for us and those that we are serving beside in the Lord's work.



We had a great men's Bible study last night as we are studying through Matt chapter five. There was a some great discussion and some wonderful thoughts on such a key passage of scripture. My first sermon is Mother's day on the 12th so you can be praying for me as I prepare for that. God bless you all.