Psa. 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Psa. 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Psa. 46:3 Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
Psa. 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
Psa. 46:5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
Psa. 46:6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
Psa. 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Psa. 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
Psa. 46:9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
Psa. 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psa. 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sermon Text: Psalm 42
Psa. 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
Psa. 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psa. 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psa. 42:4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Psa. 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
Psa. 42:6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Psa. 42:7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
Psa. 42:8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.
Psa. 42:9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
Psa. 42:10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psa. 42:11 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
So my soul pants for You, O God.
Psa. 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psa. 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psa. 42:4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Psa. 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
Psa. 42:6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Psa. 42:7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
Psa. 42:8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.
Psa. 42:9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
Psa. 42:10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psa. 42:11 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Getting excited about the Historical Tour
To get those who are going on our historical tour this Saturday excited, here is an article on George Whitefield that gives you a preview of where we are going.
I think this will be a wonderful time exploring New England Church History! I am such a nerd.
I think this will be a wonderful time exploring New England Church History! I am such a nerd.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Guest Preacher - Matt Harmon
For the next 3 Sundays Christ Presbyterian Church will have a guest preacher. Matt Harmon is from the Metro New York Presbytery and is in the process of ordination. He and his family are in NH for the summer.
We are looking forward to having Matt and his family with us in July! Please plan to join us.
We are looking forward to having Matt and his family with us in July! Please plan to join us.
Monday, June 29, 2009
PCA Church in Brooklyn
I heard this minister speak at General Assembly in Orlando this year. Great testimony and very encouraging to hear what God is doing in NYC.
Click here to read the CT Article.
Click here to read the CT Article.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sermon Text: John 21
John 21:1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.
John 21:2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
John 21:3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
John 21:5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”
John 21:6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
John 21:8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
John 21:9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.
John 21:10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
John 21:12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
John 21:15 ¶ So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.”
John 21:16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
John 21:17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.
John 21:18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
John 21:19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”
John 21:20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
John 21:21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”
John 21:22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
John 21:23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written.
John 21:2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
John 21:3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
John 21:5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”
John 21:6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
John 21:8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
John 21:9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.
John 21:10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
John 21:12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
John 21:15 ¶ So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.”
John 21:16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
John 21:17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.
John 21:18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
John 21:19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”
John 21:20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
John 21:21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”
John 21:22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
John 21:23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sermon Text: John 13:1-38
John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 13:2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,
John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,
John 13:4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
John 13:5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.”
John 13:8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
John 13:9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
John 13:10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
John 13:11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
John 13:13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
John 13:14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
John 13:16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
John 13:17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
John 13:18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’
John 13:19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.
John 13:20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
John 13:21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
John 13:22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.
John 13:23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John 13:24 So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”
John 13:25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
John 13:26 Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
John 13:27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
John 13:28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.
John 13:29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.
John 13:30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
John 13:31 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus *said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;
John 13:32 if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.
John 13:33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:36 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”
John 13:37 Peter *said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”
John 13:38 Jesus *answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
John 13:2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,
John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,
John 13:4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
John 13:5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.”
John 13:8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
John 13:9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
John 13:10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
John 13:11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
John 13:13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
John 13:14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
John 13:16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
John 13:17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
John 13:18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’
John 13:19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.
John 13:20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
John 13:21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
John 13:22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.
John 13:23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John 13:24 So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”
John 13:25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
John 13:26 Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
John 13:27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
John 13:28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.
John 13:29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.
John 13:30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
John 13:31 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus *said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;
John 13:32 if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.
John 13:33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:36 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”
John 13:37 Peter *said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”
John 13:38 Jesus *answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
What I am watching
Not that anyone is that interested, but I thought I would make the list for my own amusement....
Ice Road Truckers
Wrecked
Speed Channel => F1 Racing, Le Mans, NASCAR, Rolex, etc.... I am into Auto Racing
Retro TV
All Time Favorite Show, the Default when nothing is on..
Ice Road Truckers
Wrecked
Speed Channel => F1 Racing, Le Mans, NASCAR, Rolex, etc.... I am into Auto Racing
Retro TV
All Time Favorite Show, the Default when nothing is on..
Saturday, June 13, 2009
5 years and counting
This is my annual address to the congregation about the state of the church. This sermon will reference Acts 5:12-42, which has something significant for us to remember. Please join us, but kow it is going to be a little different than typical Sunday Mornings.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Retro TV
I recently discovered this on our TV programing.
RTV - Retro Television Network
I find it comforting to watch shows from the past. My son is enjoying some of those old shows as well, like the A-Team & Magnum PI.
Still love that Ferrari 308!
RTV - Retro Television Network
I find it comforting to watch shows from the past. My son is enjoying some of those old shows as well, like the A-Team & Magnum PI.
Still love that Ferrari 308!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Have you heard of this?
This really surprised me, a minister has a bible study and needs a permit. Wow! Here is the article
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sermon Text: John 15:18-27
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also.
John 15:24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
John 15:25 “But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’
John 15:26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
John 15:27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also.
John 15:24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
John 15:25 “But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’
John 15:26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
John 15:27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Dr. Ralph D. Winter
When I was in College, I took a course on Global Missions. My prof, not an expert in the field by any means used a course from the U.S. Center for Global Missions. It was written by it's leader, Dr. Ralph D. Winter, and it was very formative in my Christian Walk.
After graduating, I studied for several weeks in Pasadena, CA at the HQ for the U.S. Center for Global Missions. I was there to prepare for teaching English in China. Ralph Winter was of course there and I had a chance to meet him. It was a honor for me, and I was thankful to meet the person who influenced me in my thoughts on Global Ministry.
Ralph Winter went to go home with the Lord on Wednesday. I think we lost a very valuable resource when it comes to global missions. A very influential man, I am sad to hear of his passing.
After graduating, I studied for several weeks in Pasadena, CA at the HQ for the U.S. Center for Global Missions. I was there to prepare for teaching English in China. Ralph Winter was of course there and I had a chance to meet him. It was a honor for me, and I was thankful to meet the person who influenced me in my thoughts on Global Ministry.
Ralph Winter went to go home with the Lord on Wednesday. I think we lost a very valuable resource when it comes to global missions. A very influential man, I am sad to hear of his passing.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Honesty is Dead
Not sure how many folks heard about this story. It is from New Zealand, some folks got some $$$ deposited into their account that was an error, a multimillion dollar error.
Instead of pointing it out and returning it. They fled the country. Nice.
Instead of pointing it out and returning it. They fled the country. Nice.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Sermon Text: John 15:1-17
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
John 15:17 “This I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
John 15:17 “This I command you, that you love one another.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sermon Text: John 14:1-31
John 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
John 14:5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
John 14:8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
John 14:9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
John 14:11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
John 14:20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
John 14:24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
John 14:29 “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
John 14:30 “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;
John 14:31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
John 14:5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
John 14:8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
John 14:9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
John 14:11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
John 14:20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
John 14:24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
John 14:29 “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
John 14:30 “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;
John 14:31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Sermon text: John 11:1-44
John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
John 11:2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
John 11:4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
John 11:6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
John 11:7 Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
John 11:8 The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
John 11:9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
John 11:10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
John 11:11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
John 11:12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
John 11:13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
John 11:14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
John 11:15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
John 11:16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
John 11:17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.
John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;
John 11:19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
John 11:20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.
John 11:21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:22 “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
John 11:23 Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
John 11:24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
John 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
John 11:28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
John 11:29 And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him.
John 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.
John 11:31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
John 11:32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,
John 11:34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
John 11:36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
John 11:37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
John 11:38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.
John 11:39 Jesus *said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
John 11:40 Jesus *said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 11:41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
John 11:42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
John 11:43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
John 11:44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 11:2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
John 11:4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
John 11:6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
John 11:7 Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
John 11:8 The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
John 11:9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
John 11:10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
John 11:11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
John 11:12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
John 11:13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
John 11:14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
John 11:15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
John 11:16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
John 11:17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.
John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;
John 11:19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
John 11:20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.
John 11:21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:22 “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
John 11:23 Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
John 11:24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
John 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
John 11:28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
John 11:29 And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him.
John 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.
John 11:31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
John 11:32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,
John 11:34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
John 11:36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
John 11:37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
John 11:38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.
John 11:39 Jesus *said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
John 11:40 Jesus *said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 11:41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
John 11:42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
John 11:43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
John 11:44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Means of Grace helpful....who would have thought!
On an inspirational note, I read this article on the CBC website.
Don't know the hymn, but glad it was helpful.
I often encourage Christians to pray and come to worship, because it is spiritually nurturing. I think that is what we are seeing in this man's testimony. Glad he is okay.
Don't know the hymn, but glad it was helpful.
I often encourage Christians to pray and come to worship, because it is spiritually nurturing. I think that is what we are seeing in this man's testimony. Glad he is okay.
A new addition to the PCA?
Came across this article today on Christianity today. I have never heard of Tullian Tchividjian until this article, but I found him interesting and may pick up his latest book.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Getting caught up
Not everyone would know this, but since the Conference in Chicago, it has been a torrential down pour of business that is coming to and end, I think.
After getting back from the Windy City, which was only 2 weeks ago, we travel to the West Coast for Spring Break, only to return a few days later as a church member became ill and later died.
The death was not unexpected, but was very sad for the church, and the uncertainty of the situation was difficult. Her funeral was yesterday.
There are seasons that are challenging, and they can be gospel opportunities. I think this has been one of them.
After getting back from the Windy City, which was only 2 weeks ago, we travel to the West Coast for Spring Break, only to return a few days later as a church member became ill and later died.
The death was not unexpected, but was very sad for the church, and the uncertainty of the situation was difficult. Her funeral was yesterday.
There are seasons that are challenging, and they can be gospel opportunities. I think this has been one of them.
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