May 1, 2016

The Book of Acts is incredible!  The more I read it, the more I see how God is in charge of the spread of the Gospel.  Over and over God’s people seem to hit barriers.  Over and over God’s Spirit overcomes them.  The Book of Acts shows how God overcomes barriers of culture, economics, politics, and religion to bring healing and hope.

In Acts Chapter 1 God uses the faith of Jesus followers and prayer to prepare a people to spread the Good News.  Ordinary men and women, people we might even think are “beneath us” are used to form a community of life change (Acts 2) and healing (Acts 3).  These ordinary people proclaim the good news to leaders (Acts 4), care for the underprivileged (Acts 6), and share how the God of creation works through history, even to the risen Christ and outpouring of God’s Spirit (Acts 7).  We see how God makes enemies friends (Acts 9) and breaks cultural boundaries (Acts 11) and leads us out into new territory (Acts 13).  And this is just the first half of Acts!

As you consider what God would have you do with your life and what mission God leads Eastminster to embrace, take a minute to read Acts and reflect on the great things that God does through prayerful, faithful people open to the Holy Spirit.  As we humble ourselves before God in prayer and worship, God will lift us up and guide us.  God will strengthen us send us out in service.  God will use ordinary acts done in Jesus’ name to heal, to encourage and to change lives.

The early believers faced barriers like we do.  They suffer like we do.  They endure hardships like we do.  Yet as they are faithful God, is glorified.  As they are faithful, that is intended for evil is used for good.

Sounds real to me.  Looks like Good News.  And it begins in prayer.

We have several occasions to join in prayer together this month.  Today as we take communion pray that God makes us one in the Spirit.  This Thursday pray for our country at one of the National Day of Prayer sights.  After church sign up to be part of the Prayer Vigil here May 12-15.

God does extraordinary things through ordinary people … who gather in faith and … prayer!

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

April 17, 2016

Today we continue the series “Breaking Barriers through the Power of the Holy Spirit.”  This series is based on the book of Acts.  Acts is the book of the New Testament that immediately follows the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  It is written in excellent Greek by the Gospel writer, Luke.  Acts is the history of the early church and shows how the Holy Spirit gave life and direction to the Christian Church and how it expanded from a small group of believers to about 2 billion believers today.

One of the most important verses of the bible is Acts 2:42.  It reads:  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. “  We will look at this verse in depth on May 22.  Until then, I recommend that you read the book of Acts and prayerfully ask that same Spirit to enliven our lives and lead us forward.  We can do amazing things through the power of God’s Spirit!

There are many ways to devote ourselves “to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. “  The announcements today list many such opportunities.  There are new Bible studies going on many days of the week, habitat Builds where we reach out in fellowship and concrete assistance of others, choir practices where scripture is sung and the teachings of the church ring true, fellowship meals such as the Pot Luck this Wednesday at 5:30 to gather in fellowship, and soon there will be a three day prayer vigil (May 12-15) which leads to Pentecost, the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.  I hope each of us engages in at least two activities of choice outside of worship for personal enrichment.  As we grow, the life of our church body will be much richer as well.

Today, we will receive new members at the conclusion of our services of worship.  I look forward to getting to know those God sends to Eastminster!  This is a very exciting place to be as God calls others to worship, grow and serve here.  Welcome!

Next week the children will present their musical, “Legends of Camp Garner Creek.”  They are having excellent practices under the direction of Mrs. June Leech and have a real message to share.  Pray for them as they add “life to our body” as well.

One of the roles of a pastor is to pray for and counsel members.  Know that I am up for a visit and a cup of coffee as any have desire.  May God work with and through us to “Break Barriers by the Power of the Holy Spirit.”

 Blessings,

Tim

 

April 10, 2016

Names are powerful.  In Biblical times it was widely believed that if you knew a person’s name, you had some control over that person or power.

Names also identify.  Many times in the Bible God is identified as “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”  The quality, conduct and histories of these men and their families said a lot about the God they worshipped and served.

In the account of Moses being told by God to liberate the Israelites from Egypt, Moses says to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ And they ask me what is his name?  Then what do I tell them?”  God replies to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”  In this God is expressing that God is the Name above all Names, the ultimate Power.  Importantly, God makes a promise then and through all the generations, even now, In Exodus 3:12 God says, “I will be with you.” 

“I will be with you.”  This is the very character of God and promise to us now.  God is and will be with us.  We can bank on that.  We can draw comfort and support and strength from that.  God is with us!

Jesus fleshed out the nature of “I AM” through seven statements in the Gospel of John.  He says I AM:  The Bread of Life (John 6), The Light of the World (John 8), The Gate (John 10), The Good Shepherd (John 10), The Resurrection and the Life (John 11), The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14), and The Vine (John 15).  Jesus is present for us now.  He says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

The way I read this is that when we prayerfully request that which is accordance to who Jesus is and when we align our wills with God’s, powerful things happen.  In our scripture for this morning in Acts 3 Peter and John heal a crippled beggar.  Peter says, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  We will see the result in this passage in worship.

The takeaway for us today is that God’s name, God’s being, is powerful and present.  As we journey forward together, the best we can do is to seek to align our wills with the will of God revealed in Christ, asking boldly in prayer and proclamation.  As we do that, Amazing things are possible!

Blessings,

Tim