Looking to Jesus

I needed to read this and I thank you for your wor...

2012-05-15T11:17:27.979-07:00

I needed to read this and I thank you for your words of wisdom Pastor Mike!

Take Care,
Joanna R

Psalm 73:25-26

i just got news today about a friend getting divor...

2012-04-26T21:39:23.103-07:00

i just got news today about a friend getting divorce. it broke my heart... but it seems to be a situation where there's nothing to be done except mourn and pray that somehow God will heal

I am not surprised that there has not been a singl...

2012-02-08T22:24:06.153-08:00

I am not surprised that there has not been a single comment of this article. The glory of God, His nature, His attributes, the true meaning of worship is not preached much in our society. The presence of a Holy God in the midst of an unholy people is not a popular sermon topic, it will not win friends and influence people. We have reduced the glory of God and the true worship due his name to a song and a dance and a three point dissertation.

Thanks, Mike, for once again refocusing our eyes o...

2012-01-14T11:09:33.039-08:00

Thanks, Mike, for once again refocusing our eyes on Jesus, the Sovereign Captain of our entire being! So glad to have HIM at the helm of my earthly vessel!

I don't think we have specific instruction, bu...

2011-12-15T08:58:46.846-08:00

I don't think we have specific instruction, but I wouldn't say that precludes us from doing it. God is big on us remembering and commemorating important moments, which we see happening as far back as Genesis. Paul, of course, wrote much on the Incarnation. He remembers in particular Christ's birth in Gal. 4:4. I believe our current celebration of Christmas comes from the early Church's move to replace a pagan Roman holiday (on Dec. 25) with a celebration of the birth of our Lord. It worked, so now the attention of the world is turned to him during this time (though he was probably actually born sometime in the spring).

Clearly one event we are to regularly remember is the death of Christ. We do this in community as the body of Christ as we celebrate the Lord's Supper together. Through baptism, though a one-time act, we acknowledge the resurrection of Christ - that we have died and been buried with him, but raised to new life.

Do note that one can have fun, be amused, and (esp...

2011-06-10T20:18:10.752-07:00

Do note that one can have fun, be amused, and (especially!) rejoice while being aligned with the Gospel. For example, I have so much fun working with small groups of teachers in Guatemala with International School Project (Campus Crusade for Christ), introducing a curriculum "Foundations of CHristian Morals and Ethics" that they take back to their schools and teach to their students. And I amuse myself in my retired spare time by talking to and getting to know the former drug addicted/alcoholic homeless who now man tables in front of various grocery stores to raise money for the ministry that is lifting them up. And I rejoice as I ride my bike for hours and thank God for all the wondrous things there are to enjoy where I live. I especially thank Him that He let me flounder under my own power for nearly 50 years before calling me to Him, so that I have no illusions about what I "did" to "earn" my salvation. To Him be the Glory!!

Sobering and so accurate. Thank you!

2011-06-10T09:31:16.112-07:00

Sobering and so accurate. Thank you!

It seems that it is when we are living in our &quo...

2009-12-01T19:04:16.620-08:00

It seems that it is when we are living in our "old self" that we lean toward filling our lives and hearts with empty things, rather than allowing God's Spirit to fill us instead. Colossians 3:9-15 tells us that the "new self" is being renewed in knowledge, "after the image of its Creator", and is filled with the Fruit of His Spirit, especially love and peace. And so, if we would only set aside the empty things and allow God to work in us, we would find ourselves filled with those things we truly desire most of all.

Thanks for speaking on this Mike, I think our chur...

2009-11-09T15:45:51.628-08:00

Thanks for speaking on this Mike, I think our church needs to hear this message, especially me. I never thought of judging others as impersonating God. It makes more sense why the offense is so great.

Worry?? Worry’s real name is FEAR—we just don’t wa...

2009-10-19T22:40:50.108-07:00

Worry?? Worry’s real name is FEAR—we just don’t want to admit it. We feel cowardly when we say we are afraid---worry sounds so much better—easier to digest, not so demeaning as being afraid. I mean, everyone worries, for heaven’s sakes!

There are levels of worry—things to fear in this human existence. The ultimate one is to worry about---or FEAR—to realize our own mortality, especially for the first time.

Sure, we can worry about whether we will have food on the table, a healthy family, money in the bank----employment!! That’s a huge one! Everyone of these worries are covered by having a trusting faith that will prove God’s promises are true. We can search scriptures and find that He has promised His provision---- His counsel thru the Holy Spirit---He does promise that He can intercede for us in prayer—thru groans, when we don’t even know how to pray. He tells us that He knows our thoughts, so we can trust that He can carry every burden we can think of or produce. He promises us that He is with us in every circumstance that we go thru in this life—what a better friend to have with us at every moment than Jesus.

Our biggest problem is staying focused---on HIM---the devil has a heyday with our minds---he is the creator of our fears and worries---he works hard every moment searching and seeking someone to devour----he even has worker demons that push in against us, everytime we let our guard down---which is most of the time~!

Jesus told us that He came so that we could have salvation thru Him, if we believe---eternal life with Him---FOREVER!! And we worry????? Fear?????

I say “what is the worst thing that can happen to any one of us?? That we will die?? “ Isn’t that what we live all of the Christian life for???? To go home to be with Christ?

Now doesn’t worry seem incredibly small???

Yes! He is coming and we need to draw strongly tog...

2009-09-03T06:49:27.890-07:00

Yes! He is coming and we need to draw strongly together to support and spur each other on. As you clearly said we need to not let worthless arguments seperate us but show each other grace while staying close to the truth of God's word!
Elise

Yes, I agree--we do need to be 'big enough'...

2009-08-30T21:34:26.836-07:00

Yes, I agree--we do need to be 'big enough', i.e. 'man enough' to handle the Age Integration within the body of believers. First we must take the step up to the plate --in passing the baton of faith towards the next generation. We must be serious, with a sense of urgency towards the effort.

In Age Integrating, we would hope the adults would take their role and their own faith-walk most seriously, so that they are modeling and exemplifyling their own faith. How can or will the youth find a seriousness in serving God/Jesus, if Mom, Dad, Gma, Gpa are not modeling, as the Jews were reminded in Deuteronomy 4:9 "Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

Just as a family should sup around the table together--sharing, praying, fellowshipping---whereas the younger are being trained towards manners, love, and forming intergrity into their lives. This is done in order that the baton of the ONE true faith be passed on from one generation to the next, as prescribed and commanded, also in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These comandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your homes and on your gates".

Yes sir, Pastor Mike--I stand in agreement with you.

Interesting that not only is His name Holy, but Hi...

2009-07-30T17:13:40.269-07:00

Interesting that not only is His name Holy, but His identity is Holy. His essence His nature is Holy. He could have easily told Moses to tell the people that "Holy" sent him to lead God's people from Egypt. As His name is, so He is!

Bryan

I am glad to see someone else believes that doctri...

2009-07-16T23:05:29.126-07:00

I am glad to see someone else believes that doctrine matters. What we say we believe is important because words are important. Words are important because Jesus is "The Word".

Bryan

Wow! A bold concept. You are getting pretty radica...

2009-07-16T23:02:19.015-07:00

Wow! A bold concept. You are getting pretty radical don't you think? As long as we are on the subject, why do we split adult education classes into age segregation? Why new married, young families, growing families, and "empty nesters", etc.? Perhaps we have drifted even further than we have realized.

Bryan

I am enjoying your commentaries. I finding it dif...

2009-07-11T22:53:31.591-07:00

I am enjoying your commentaries. I finding it difficult to to take issue with anything you have said. Keep up the fine work of preaching, both from the pulpit as well as from the blog.

Bryan

Dear pastor, brother and friend - Your first blog ...

2009-07-02T14:13:59.832-07:00

Dear pastor, brother and friend - Your first blog entries are so useful, touching and meaningful. I can hear your voice and I can recognize your spirit in each. In short, they are uniquely 'Mike.' I look forward to reading many, many more of your reflections. Gary Rutherford

Thank you for sharing this insight with us Pastor ...

2009-07-01T21:35:51.422-07:00

Thank you for sharing this insight with us Pastor Mike. We look forward to hearing all you have to say on this blog :)
~The Bush Family