| Pastor's Corner: January 2012 |
::: January 29, 2012 :::
St. Pachomius wrote, “What is greater than such a vision: to see the invisible God in a visible human being, His temple.” The Apostle Paul would agree with St. Pachomius. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). But someone may ask, “How do we keep the temple clean?” Proverbs 23:7a says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (KJV translation).” It is descriptive of a greedy person. So, what we think about is very important in maintaining clean temple which is our body. The Apostle Paul recommends the following on how to keep the thoughts of the temple clean. He writes to the Philippians, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).” Thinking like this, we will keep the temple clean through the presence of the Holy Spirit. This will be challenging in a society whose media is filled with the opposite of what Paul teaches Christians in any century. May your life and thoughts be filled with the joy of the Lord.::: January 22, 2012 :::
The weather of January 2012 has been up and down. First, it seems like early spring, and then it decides it is winter. For now it has decided it is winter. Sometimes following Christ is like the ups and downs in weather that we have been experiencing these past weeks. One of the keys to handling the ups and downs of Christian discipleship is being prepared. Preparation is so important in following Christ. One of the ways that we prepare ourselves for daily discipleship is talking and listening to Jesus. Another important part of preparation is feeding our soul with Jesus' daily bread, that we know as the Bible. To keep ourselves nourished, we need to feed on the living Word of God. One other part of preparation is worship in our personal devotion time as well as in our worship at church. And, finally, doing acts of service in the name of Christ also helps us to be prepared for the shifting winds of change in the weather of life.When John Wesley left the colony of Georgia to return to England, he was discouraged by what he described as an unsuccessful missionary trip to the New World. On his way back, the ship that he was on encountered a terrific storm at sea. Many were terrified, but John noticed a group of Moravian Brethren calmly worshipping God during the storm. The Moravian's witness had an impact on John Wesley. “His friendship with the Moravian, Peter Bohler, who convinced him that he lacked 'that faith whereby alone we are saved,' and a visit (1738) to the Moravian colony at Herrnhut, had a profound effect on his religious life. Wesley had the experience of conversion on May 24, 1738, at the reading of Martin Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans at a meeting in Aldersgate Street. Henceforth his professed object was 'to promote as far as I am able vital practical religion and by the grace of God to beget, preserve, and increase the life of God in the souls of men', and the rest of his life was spent in evangelistic work.”
Who knew that the Moravian Brethren at worship on a ship in the midst of storm, would bring about changes in one man's life, who in turn through Christ at work in him brought about great changes in others as well. May you and I “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).” Our witness of attending worship may influence someone to be converted to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
::: January 15, 2012 :::
The middle of January is here, and we have finally had snow. H20 reveals itself in three wondrous ways: snow, water, and gas. Each are different and beautiful and powerful. Snow on a mountainside can give skiers power to travel at great speeds. Water and gas have been used to give power for humankinds industrial needs. Yet, all three in different forms have H20 in common. In theological terms, H20 and its three manifestations makes one think of the Christian teaching on the Trinity. Christianity teaches that God has been revealed in Scripture as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God in three persons and yet all three are God is what Christianity teaches. It is a great mystery revealed to us in Jesus' baptism. Jesus, God the Son, was baptized in the Jordan River. He heard God, the Father's voice say, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” And God the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesis to annoint him. This is why Christians baptize in the name of the Holy Triune God.::: January 8, 2012 :::
Many of us during the holidays travel to see family and friends. Travel is a common theme in the Christ's birth narratives. Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the tax office of the Roman government. Shepherds leave their fields to go visit the new born Lamb of God. Magi from the East travel to see Jesus to worship him, and after doing so they travel back home. Travel is part of the Christian's discipleship literally and figuratively. Jesus had a walking ministry throughout Palestine. The Apostle Paul and his companions traveled much throughout the eastern part of the Roman Empire, and there is evidence that Paul had an interest in going to Spain to spread the Gospel of Christ. In fact, it was the Roman roads that helped Christianity to spread throughout the Roman world and beyond. Our computers today have opened a whole new way for the Gospel of Christ to spread around the known world and beyond. May we use this tool to spread the Gospel of Christ to the whole world for its redemption and salvation. Amen.::: January 1, 2012 :::
The year 2011 is gone and 2012 is before us. It is a new year. There is somethign about the word “new.” Advertisers try very hard to somehow work the word “new” into their advertisements to sell their products. The biblical writers are also aware of the power of the word “new.” Psalm 33:3 says, “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “...there is nothing new under the sun,” yet Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing!” God is doing a new thing. Ezekiel 11:19-20 tells us of God's activity, when it says, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” On Sunday, January 1, 2012, during the morning service, we will use Wesley's Covenant Service to dedicate our hearts to the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We will give our hearts anew to God, our Covenant Friend. Come, and make 2012 the year that you give your heart to the Lord anew.