SpeakFree

New Blog

2008-10-28T06:03:00.001-07:00

Well my friends, I have finally done it. I have gotten my own domain, PastorNick.com. I am very happy that I have finally gotten it up and running. So, from now on, all my blog posts will be there. So head on over to www.pastornick.com and check it out.

Blessed Are The Meek

2008-10-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." -- Matthew 5:5

What does it mean to be meek?

It's interesting to see in this political campaign how un-meek people have been. It doesn't matter which side you are on, Democrats or Republicans, people have been hateful towards the other party. Look in the news and we see Republicans filled with anger and dare I say it, hate, towards their fellow Americans who happen to have different ideals than them. We also see Democrats filled with the same attitude towards those who choose a different side. When did these "United" States of America become the "Divided" States of America?

What does it mean to be meek? To be hateful, proud, or coarse? To be filled with anger and malice towards our neighbors? It's unfortunate that this is the way it is. I have even seen fellow Christians filled with this un-meekness towards other people. To be meek means to show humility and patience, especially under undue pressure.

When was the last time you saw someone be meek? When was the last time you saw a public figure when attacked be patient and not fight back in some way? When was the last time you decided to be meek, to be patient, when your enemy, your nemesis was doing everything to provoke you?

It's hard to think of the last time I was meek. And then I look at the life of Christ. When did He ever give into provocation? When did He ever fight back. Christ was the epitome of meekness. He was never angry at the priests when they tried to provoke Him, He responded patiently and humbly to their questions.

So can we be meek? Jesus said "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." So it is possible for us to be meek. As Christians we should love our neighbor, which means, being meek. No more anger or hate towards your fellow church member who belongs to a different political party. We are above that. We are Christ's children, our home is heaven, we are on our way to the promised land. Why get bogged down with all this anger and hate?

Why don't we try to become meek as Christ wants us to be. That doesn't mean that we should let people run all over us, but it does mean loving them and treating them as Christ would. I hope that I can live humbly so that Christ can work through me to bring others to Him. I hope you are willing for that as well.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

2008-08-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."--Matthew 5:4

Mourning. How many of us have gone through mourning? Loss of a parent, aunt or uncle, grandparent, even a pet creates a mourning spirit in us. All of us have gone through a period of mourning in our lives, all of us have felt the sting of death or loss.

I recently went through a time of mourning. Compared to other people who have lost family members it seems somewhat silly, but I lost my cat. Now, many psychologists and psychiatrists will tell you that mourning after the loss of a pet is normal, is ok. However, I feel that a pet is not on the same level as a human being.

However, I mourned nonetheless. This cat was with me through a troubling time for me. I got him when I was about ten years old and he was a friend to me when it seemed as if I had none. I'm sure that I am not the only person to feel this way. Pets have a way of creating a friendship with their owners and comforting us in our time of need.

One thing that is great about God is that He is a comfort in our times of need. And believe me, there will be a lot of those times in your life. When you mourn, when you recognize your loss, when you see where you are spiritually and notice that you need help, God will comfort you. When you mourn He will be there for you.

Those who mourn over their spiritual lives and ask for God's help, and mean it, will notice a change in their lives. Those who mourn over the loss of a family member or pet, and ask for God's presence, will notice a comfort either from God, or from someone else who is letting God work through them. So don't worry, when you mourn, you will be comforted.

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit

2008-08-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."--Matthew 5:3

No, I have not died. No, I am not in another country (although it kind of feels like I am), and no, I haven't been banished. I am in Michigan attending Seminary. School is starting again and I have spent the last few months preparing and studying for entrance exams.

One of those exams requires memorizing various verses in the Bible. The ten commandments in Exodus 2o, Psalm 23, the three angels messages in Revelation, and the Beatitudes in Matthew. As I was memorizing the Beatitudes, I realized that there is a lot that could be saved and that has been said on each Beatitude. So I thought that I would give each Beatitude a shot and talk a little bit about each.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Many people may think that this means the poor. While I believe the poor are included in this statement, I don't believe that Jesus is just talking about the poor. So what does the phrase "poor in spirit" mean? How does one become poor in spirit?

I think that the phrase means people who realize their need for God, who realize that they can't do it without God's help. Now the word poor can at first be misleading. When we think of the definition of poor we think of someone who is lacking in something, whether it be money or something else. However, I do not believe that this is not the case. There is a definition of poor we are missing. Poor in spirit could mean humble.

To be humble means to realize that we cannot do it on our own. To be humble is to realize that we are sinful human beings and that the only way good can come of us is through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is what it means to be poor in spirit, we are humble.

I was humbled earlier this week. In one of my exams I did rather poorly. It has been a very humbling experience for me, and a learning experience. I realized that I can not do anything on my own, and that without the help of God, I am pretty much done for. That is humbling.

And what is our reward? The kingdom of heaven is our reward. We receive everlasting life. That is something to look forward to isn't it? I hope that God will continue to work in my life and yours, and teach us each to be humble.

Does God Still Speak?

2008-07-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

I've been included in a number of situations recently where there has been discrepancies between parties about what God's will is. This can be very difficult to discern, particularly in the middle of the hustle and bustle, go-go-go lifestyle virtually everyone leads nowadays.

However, that doesn't mean that God doesn't speak-however, I think we have a misunderstanding about how that works.

First of all, we must look to the Bible and the first and foremost channel for God speaking to his people-look at the hundreds of stories of God speaking with his people-both important people like kings and prophets; and less important people like Hagar, Sarah's servant who Abraham impregnated and gave rise to Ishmael. The Bible is the infallible and eternal Word of God and it is a book of examples, not exceptions. Can you imagine God giving us a book whose message was "this is how I used to relate to my people, but that is not available to you?" No, that's not how God works and it's ridiculous.

Secondly is the actual discernment of God's will-and this is a tough one because we must get past the distractions, the self-talk, and learn to quiet our hearts and minds to hear God's voice. There are many examples of God speaking in different ways in the Bible-the booming affirmation of Jesus immediately following his baptism, visions/dreams, but in my experience, what I've found most often is a "still, small voice," much like Elijah experienced outside his cave. Even more accurate is a movement of my heart, an impression, a thought out of nowhere. And even then, it must be tested-against the Bible. Does it go against God's word? If not, then is it something God would say? If it's demeaning, insulting, or has a negative connotation, then it's not from God-he just doesn't deal like that. Can you imagine God calling you, "stupid," or "idiot?" No, that's not a loving God at all! Next is to "try on the answer." Ask God if what you heard was correct.

An interesting concept to try and wrap your mind around is that God's will must be subject to our own. What I mean by that is simply that God's will cannot be exercised in our lives (generally speaking) unless we submit to it-otherwise, there would be no free will. Now, I know there are stories of God working in people's lives even when they didn't want it and I can't explain that other than God absolutely needed that person to do something in that moment, but those are questions for God when we get to heaven-it is not our place to question his perfect wisdom...but we do anyway, don't we? It's all part of the journey...and what makes the journey worth going on.

Thoughts and comments...?

Strength and Courage

2008-07-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped."--Psalm 28:7

I have been reading up on this 16 year old who is trying to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world solo. You can find his blog here.

Zac Sunderland is trying to become the youngest person to ever sail around the world by himself. He is 16 years old and started out on June 14 and is in the middle of Pacific Ocean as we speak. He has dealt with the loss of alcohol for his stove, numerous technical glitches, dodging hurricanes, and the problem of ships getting into his sensor range.

It takes a lot of strength and courage to do what this young man is doing. Strength to take on the responsibility of keeping boat in good shape, cooking his own meals, keeping busy so he doesn't get bored, and keeping in touch with his family. Courage to overcome the fear of being alone on a boat, in the middle of the ocean.

However, we all need strength and courage. We all have challenges to face. Zac's challenge is the constant daily routine of his boat maintenance. Your challenge is definitely something different. Maybe facing a summer without a job, maybe a family member is sick, maybe you've just lost the will to continue.

Don't forget that God can be your strength and courage. Just ask Him. David said, "The LORD is my strength and my shield." You can too. Just call on His name and ask for the strength and courage that you need. And most times you'll get it.

2008-06-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Note: Sorry for the delay in posting. No, I'm not dead, just been a very busy few weeks.

"'As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,' declares the Lord God."--Ezekiel 34:31

If you were to look this up in the Bible you would see it under the section entitled "Restoration of Israel" or something like that. And even though the context is God talking to His people in the old testament, I believe that we can claim this promise, the promise that we belong to God, and that God is our God.

Sheep, the dumbest animals on the planet. At least that's what some people say. They don't do well without the care of the shepherd. They have no natural defenses. No claws to claw things, no sharp teeth to bite, no venom to secrete, no spikes that puff when something attacks. No, they just have fleece. White, fluffy, woolly, fleece, oh, and I forgot to mention, a shepherd.

God describes people as sheep all the time. So what does that mean? That we're dumb? How can the greatest being on the planet be dumb. Look at what we've done, look at what we've learned, look, we have prospered. We are not dumb, we are intelligent. Compared to God, we're dumb.

Yet, God describes us as sheep. We are His sheep, He is our shepherd. So maybe I should focus on what the shepherd of the sheep does. He is the one who leads the sheep everywhere. The sheep know his voice, his character. They follow him wherever he leads. Hrmm...I start to think of Psalm 23. Look it up.

It's comforting to think of God as our shepherd. He cares about us, wants what is best for us. Isn't that a great thing? That God loves and cares for us. We are men, and women, and He is our God. He leads us, guides us, protects us, and comes after us. All what a shepherd would do for his sheep.

Spring Bliss

2008-06-04T09:46:00.001-07:00

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothes himself like on of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is throw into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!"--Luke 12:27-28

Spring has definitely come. Summer is on it's way. But you couldn't tell that here in Portland. I don't know if it's supposed to be this way, but there has been a lot of rain and cooler weather lately. Today is only supposed to get into the lower 60's, and it's June!

But since it is supposed to be spring, and I do see flowers and green trees around, my thoughts drifted toward this verse. I have a lot to worry about at this moment in time. I'll be heading off to Michigan to continue my education and get my Master's degree. I am worried about some family issues that are going on right now. I'm worried about a lot of things.

But what is worry and why do we worry? I think worry is the natural tendency of humans when they are under stress and don't know what is going to happen next. But why do we worry so much? What point is there in worrying? If an evolutionist were here right now I would ask, "if we are evolving, or have evolved, why is worry not cut out of our human traits? What point does it have? It doesn't do anything!"

What point do we have in worrying? We know that stuff happens in life, we know that good things happen, we know that bad things happen, and we know it might happen to us. So why do we worry? Is it because we aren't sure what happens after we die? Is it because we don't know what will happen to our kids if we make the wrong decision?

Those are both good reasons, but for a follower of Christ, for a Christian, they are terrible reasons! God has always got our back. He is always there for you. He said that grass is clothed, is alive, and is under His care. If the grass is under His care, that green stuff that we walk all over, if that is under His care, don't you think that the crowning of His creation, us humans, are under His care too?

I believe that God, truly wants what's best for our lives. But we can't go around worrying about what will happen in the future. Why borrow time from time that hasn't existed yet? Work on today, look at what you're doing now and see what God wants you to do in this very moment. Live every moment for God and don't worry about the future. The future has enough problems of it's own.

Walking with God-Part 1

2008-05-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

There has been for quite some time a nagging on my heart that I am not living the life God intended for me. Remember, Christ came to give life and life abundantly and I am not living that everyday. I came to realize that my motivation for living life had shifted; I used to enjoy working in the video production industry. It was amazing to see what I could do with God's help and leading and to see where I was going to go next in telling the stories God put in front of me. Now, money and finances are my driving motivations. Obviously, something went wrong somewhere.

During trials and tribulations, it's also important to recognize what you give your heart over to. It's extremely easy to become discouraged in a situation such as the one I'm going through right now, and I have been discouraged, greatly, but the enemy is there immediately, trying to get you to make an agreement. Stuff like, "See? Praying doesn't work, God doesn't care about you." If you make that agreement, you have given a foothold to the enemy to come back to in order to get you to accept other tempting thoughts he dangles in front of you.

Ok, trials. An interesting concept is to not waste your pain. Yeah, we go through rough and tough times in our lives, but instead of focusing on just getting past this time, or just blaming God, find out what's God up to in that situation? What unhealed areas does he want to address? Don't be afraid to ask God what he's up to. I've been doing a lot of that this week and the answers I was getting weren't that helpful or meaningful, to be honest. But there are times you have to walk by faith alone. There are other times where praying for clarity helps, like when you turn out the light in your bedroom before you go to bed-your brain remembers where things are so you know the path to walk, even in darkness. But remember, clarity doesn't equal healing. Those are two separate things and need to be prayed about separately. But back to the point of not wasting your pain-there's something causing the pain and there's a reason for the pain, ask God. Don't let your pain be wasted by not taking advantage of the things God has for you to learn in those times.

So that's where I'm at right now, pursuing the joy in my life, and it will only come by remaining in Jesus so that's what I intend to do, to the best of my ability.

Stuck In The Mud?

2008-05-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

"So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud."--Jeremiah 38:6

Ever felt like you have be stuck in the mud? Lowered into a waterless, mud filled cistern? I guarantee you that Jeremiah feels like you did. The only difference was, he was actually in a cistern that was full of mud.

So why was he there? Some people didn't like that Jeremiah was telling the Israelites that everyone who stays in the city of Jerusalem will be killed when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians came to destroy the city. So they decided to take matters into their own hands and shut the outspoken prophet up.

So they lowered him into a cistern that was full of mud. And there stood Jeremiah, stuck in the mud. Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in the mud. The mud of life. Deadlines, projects, sermons, and activities. Committees, meetings, visitation, and church. Life comes at me and has a way of pulling me down, and before I know it, I'm standing waist deep in the mud of life.

And before I know it, I can't move. My legs hurt, my body is tired of moving and all I want to do is stop and rest, even though all of the things need to get done by yesterday. All I can do is call out to God and ask for help. How did I get myself in this situation?

Are you in the mud of life? Has life gotten you down so much that you are stuck in waist deep mud? How did you get in that situation? You probably got there the same way I did. You let satan and his friends lower you down into the cistern full of mud.

God wants a relationship with us. He is so excited about spending time with us that He gently prods us over and over until we give in, or totally give up. But giving up is for sissy's. Who's every been a basketball team that said, "Alright guys, this is the big game, let's go out and blow it!" I sure haven't been on a team like that. God doesn't want us to give up and so He prods us.

So start that conversation with Him. Just call on His name and start reading the Bible, a devotional book, spend time in prayer. Trust me, once you start spending time with Him, things tend to work out for the better. Sure, there will still be bumps in the road, you'll still walk through some mud, but with God helping you through, it's easier to see the dry land on the other side. So go head, try Him out.

Deceived...I Think Not!

2008-05-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

"O LORD, You have deceived me and I was deceived; You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; Everyone mocks me."--Jeremiah 20:7

Jeremiah has just been prophesying for God. And Pashhur the priest didn't like it. So head had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put into the stocks. When Jeremiah is finally let go, he tells Pashhur what will happen to him and then runs away and cries out to the Lord.

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt that God had deceived you? That God had led you down the path you though you were supposed to go down, and then suddenly, you realize that you're in a lot more trouble than you thought?

To tell you the truth, that has never happened to me...yet. I feel for Jeremiah though. He was doing what God had told him to do, and yet, he was put into the stocks and mocked all day long. Not something that was fun. Yet even though he complains to God, he continues to work for God. He doesn't give up on God.

I believe that Jeremiah knew something about his predicament. I believe that he knew that because he was following God, the true God, that he would be persecuted. Think about what Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 13:9:

"But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them."

Jesus knew that His disciples would be persecuted because of their belief in Him. He knew that they would go through embarrassment, trials, tribulations, and even death, because they were spreading the Good News of Jesus throughout the world.

I think that Jeremiah knew that. Maybe not that he was spreading the Gospel, but that he was working for God, the true God. And even though he may have thought that God had deceived him in that instant, I believe that he probably knew in the back of his head that God knew what He was doing.

So, do you feel deceived? Do you feel left hung out to dry? I know it's tough, but remember that God is with you and He hasn't deceived you. He may be trying to help you grow a bit. A flower must go through a tough growing process before the beauty is revealed. If the flower didn't have the soil to push through, there would be no flower. A child can't learn without struggle, so it is with us.

For us to grow spiritually, God lets things happen that make us think that maybe God has deceived us. That maybe He's left us out on the corner in the rain. But remember, God has promised that He will "never leave you, nor forsake you." He is always there. Deceived...I think not!

Walk Humbly

2008-05-06T10:39:00.001-07:00

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."--Micah 6:8

Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful king in the world. He has conquered many nations, cities, and tribes. And now he sits atop his palace and surveys his city, Babylon. He looks at the beauty, the majesty, the richness of this empire. And then he says "Look at what I have done! Look at what I have done through my power, my might, my hand!"

Then God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar. The Bible says that while the word was still in Nebuchadnezzar's mouth God spoke. Instantly the king realized what had happened. Instantly he is consumed by fear and became like an animal, eating grass, sleeping outside, hair growing long. Seven long years he lives this way until he finally admits that God is the Most High, the ruler of the nations, the true king.

What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. How do we walk through life? Do we see the things we have, the things we have done, and attribute the accomplishments to ourselves? Do we, like Nebuchadnezzar, claim all the accomplishments that we have done as our own, from our own hand?

Humility. To walk humbly with your God. To be able to realize that everything we have is from God, it belongs to God. We're just taking care of it. That house that you live in? Yup, that's God. That nice car you drive? That's God's too. You see, God owns everything. So what claim do we have on anything?

To be humble is to realize that God is in charge and that He has asked us to take care of things. But we aren't just proud of the things we have, we are also proud of the things we have done. Think about great achievements that you have done. Maybe you've won the lottery, maybe you've caught the biggest fish in the world, maybe you've just aced that interview. I don't know what it is, but I know that you are probably proud of that.

And that's ok. It's ok to be proud of what you have done, as long as you realize who it is that helped you get there. God is an ever present friend who is watching out for you. Don't believe me? Take a look at the life of Daniel. If God had not been with Daniel, he and his friends would have died when they refused to eat the kings food in chapter 1. But God was with them.

God is with you, remember that. So when you ace the next test, or get that brand spanking new car, remember to thank God for His blessings. Give Him the glory, because, without Him, we are nothing.

Can You Be Stopped?

2008-04-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

"If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought."--1 Peter 3:13-14

GoFest 2008 is officially over. And for those of you who didn't make it, you missed a very powerful weekend. Our whole theme was "Go!" We wanted youth to realize that they are able to go and serve anyone, anywhere. Service is where you are.

I read this passage for this morning's gathering. Although I have read it before, I had never read it in this version. Usually when I put a Bible text up here I am using the New International Version, however, we were using The Message version for our Bible texts at GoFest.

When I read this text in The Message I was taken aback. I had never actually understood this part. Sure, I had read it, I had seen it, but I never really looked at it in this language. I want you to scroll up and read it again.

If with your heart and soul you are doing good, do you really think you can be stopped? I mean, really, do you think you could be stopped? I don't think you could. I truly believe that if with your heart and soul you are doing good, you can't be stopped. Nothing in the world will be able to keep you from doing that good thing that your heart and soul desired to do.

Take Zach Hunter for example. He wasn't able to make GoFest, however we had someone travel to Nashville, Tennessee to interview him. Zach is an abolitionist, and he is only fifteen years old. For those of you who are saying "Whoa, there's still slavery today," yes, there is still slavery today. Zach says on his myspace page, "Modern-day slavery may be people working in brick kilns, rice mills, fishing villages or brothels." There is still slavery today, and he is doing all that he can to end it.

Zach's heart and soul is in this good thing. Nothing in the world can stop him. He plans to do this until all slavery is abolished. So if with your heart and soul you are doing good, do you think you could be stopped?

Now is the time to act. Whether it be helping your neighbor with yardwork, guiding an elderly woman across the street, heading off to Africa to dig a well, or going to India to free prostitutes, now is the time to act. You can serve, and if with heart and soul you are doing it, you cannot be stopped.

God is with us, He wants us to serve His people. Now is the time. Let's be the people God wants us to be, let's be His hands, His feet. Go!

Caring For The Poor

2008-04-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance. . . For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"--Matthew 25:34-36

When was the last time you helped someone? I mean really helped someone? When was the last time you gave someone food that really needed it; gave someone water that really needed it; invited someone home you didn't know that really needed a place to sleep for the night? When was the last time you gave the shirt off your back to someone who was shirtless; took care of someone who was sick; visited someone in prison?

When was it? Do you remember? GoFest 2008, which is coming up this weekend, got me thinking, "Am I looking out for the people who need my help?" So I ask you the same question, are you looking out for the people who need your help? Are we searching and making an effort to help these people who need our help?

Here in the United States we live in such luxury, fancy cell phones, ipods, expensive cars, huge homes, and designer clothes. While in many parts of the world people are lucky to even get one meal a day. One meal a day! How can we live with ourselves? How can we go on and not think about our fellow humans that are starving everyday?

I wonder if we can even imagine what it is like to live like the majority of the world? If you have never been to a third world country, or you need another wake up call about living in a third world country like myself, this exercise will help.

From the standpoint of material wealth, Americans have difficulty realizing how rich we are. Going through a little mental exercise suggested by Robert Heilbroner can help us to count our blessings, however. Imagine doing the following, and you will see how daily life is for as many as a billion people in the world.
1. Take out all the furniture in your home except for one table and a couple of chairs. Use blanket and pads for beds.

2. Take away all of your clothing except for your oldest dress or suit, shirt or blouse. Leave only one pair of shoes.

3. Empty the pantry and the refrigerator except for a small bag of flour, some sugar and salt, a few potatoes, some onions, and a dish of dried beans.

4. Dismantle the bathroom, shut off the running water, and remove all the electrical wiring in your house.

5. Take away the house itself and move the family into the tool shed.

6. Place your "house' in a shantytown.

7. Cancel all subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, and book clubs. This is no great loss because now none of you can read anyway.

8. Leave only one radio for the whole shantytown.

9. Move the nearest hospital or clinic ten miles away and put a midwife in charge instead of a doctor.

10. Throw away your bankbooks, stock certificates, pension plans, and insurance policies. Leave the family a cash hoard of ten dollars.

11. Give the head of the family a few acres to cultivate on which he can raise a few hundred dollars of cash crops, of which one third will go to the landlord and one tenth to the money lenders.

12. Lop off twenty-five or more years in life expectancy.

By comparison how rich we are! And with our wealth comes responsibility to use it wisely, not to be wasteful, and to help others. Think on these things.

How did that make you feel? It made me feel a little sick. As I sit here in my office, looking at all the stuff that I have acquired, I think, "Why do I have that, I've never used it." Are there things around your house, apartment, or dwelling that you notice that you don't really need?

So how do we change? Jesus is definitely happy with those who helped Him when He was hungry, thirsty, needing a place to sleep, naked, sick, and in prison. The sheep on His right didn't even know that they had done those things. In verse 37 they ask "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?" They didn't even recognize Jesus, yet He was there.

We have an opportunity to help. If you live in the Portland area come to GoFest 2008 and see what others are doing to help and what you can do. If you don't live in the Portland please pray that God will show you a way to help others and that those who attend GoFest will allow God to show them as well.

Go Festival 2008

2008-04-17T23:37:00.001-07:00

Go Festival 2008

What: Spend a weekend learning how to meet the needs of others here, now. The venue will be a gymnasium with no seating. Attire for the weekend is casual/comfortable. Those who attend will not only hear about the needs of others, but feel them as well. It will be a life-changing experience for all!

Who: All Youth in grades 9-12, Youth Leaders, and Young Adults

When: April 25-26,2008

Where: Portland Adventist Academy
1500 SE 96th Ave
Portland, OR 97216

Guest Speakers: Carl Wilkens
Heidi Guttschus
Jon LaCore

More Info: Go to www.oregonconference.org
www.myspace.com/gofest

The Good Heart

2008-04-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

Note -- Today's post is a guest post from a good friend of mine, Tim Adams. He is the founder of Timato Productions which you can look at if you click here. I hope that you enjoy his post "The Good Heart." And without further ado, Tim Adams.

Do you have a good heart? Yes or no? What makes you answer the way you did? Those of us who have accepted Christ have good hearts-really! It's true! Yeah, I know about the verse that says "The heart is deceitful above all else," and I'll address that in a minute.

Think of it this way-can evil exist in the presence of God? Of course not-it must leave, flee, run away, abandon it's former property. Ok, so taking that principle, apply it to your heart. If we've invited God into our hearts, how can evil exist there? And taking it further, if evil doesn't exist in our hearts, what is it about our hearts that make them bad? How can they be bad if God lives there?

Now, one could argue that there is a part of the heart called the Flesh and I can see what they mean. Paul says in Acts 7:15 "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can't help myself, because it is the sin inside me that makes me do these evil things." Paul draws an interesting, and important, distinction between himself and the sin that resides inside him in the form of the Flesh, or our sinful nature. And what do you suppose he meant when he talked about the "part of himself" that wants to do right? I propose he means his heart.

You see, knowing you have a good heart is incredibly important in that it helps to fight off the attacks of the devil, which nearly always come at the level of your identity. If I were to ask you who you are, how would you answer? Would you tell me about yourself, your likes, dislikes, your belief system, what you do for a living? Ask yourself what you associate your identity with. For adults, we often tie who we are to what we do for a living. When people introduce themselves, they are almost always asked, "What do you do?" We use the answer to that question to create an immediate judgement of that person. A plumber isn't nearly as classy as an investment banker, or a pilot. The problem is that people get so wrapped up in what they do for work that when someone makes a negative comment on that industry or line of work, the person takes it personally. Your identity is so much LARGER than just a job, just like calling, but that discussion is for another time.

Here's a few questions for you to ask yourself:
What words would you use to describe yourself?

What words do you think others would use to describe you?

What words do you fear others would use to describe you?

Finally, what words would God use to describe you?

Compare your lists. Were all your words negative? Were your first three lists negative and the fourth list positive? This will tell you a great deal about how your view God...and how that view reflects how you perceive God views you. There really are two main reactions to this little exercise:
1. Your lists were all negative which speaks to a view of God as a mighty entity that is disappointed with me for my inability to "measure up" to his perfect standard. How could God like me since he knows all of the bad things I do that nobody else knows.

2. Your lists included a mix of positive and negative words, but God's list was mostly positive. This speaks to a view of God as a loving father-figure and one that spreads his compassion and mercy over me like a warm blanket and I need not worry about "measuring up" because his blood covers it all.

Did you find yourself in one of those categories? It's an over-simplification, to be sure, but chances are you fit somewhere in there. This is such an incredibly broad subject, that one cannot possibly cover it all in a blog post, but I hope that this has given you some food for thought; made you ask questions you haven't asked yourself before, and ultimately, convinced you that as a son or daughter of God, you were made with certain traits of the Almighty Father and that one of the most important characteristics he has bestowed is a good heart.

Feel free to contact me with comments, suggestions, thoughts, etc. at: timato1@gmail.com

Pastor Nick's Note -- Also, please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions, thoughts, etc... here.

Laughter

2008-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."--Proverbs 17:22

How to install a security system:
1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work boots.
2. Place them on front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.
3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazine.
4. Leave this note on your door:

Hey Bubba,
Big Jim, Duke, Slim, and I went for more ammunition. Back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls -- they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don't think Killer took part in it, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all for of 'em in the house. Better wait outside.

I hope that made you laugh. The first time I read it, I couldn't stop laughing for a long time. Laughter is really good medicine. If you think about it, laughter helps in so many different areas. For example, when you are stressed try finding something to laugh at. Your stress seems to disappear doesn't it.

There are so many benefits to laughter. It reduces stress; exercises the diaphragm, abdominal muscles and the shoulders; it's a good distraction from anger, guilt, and stress; and it connects us with other people. Yes, laughter really is good medicine.

But wait, there's more! Did you know that Jesus laughed? Yes, that's right, Jesus laughed. The Bible doesn't specifically say that Jesus laughed, but, think of any time that you have been with children. How many times have you laughed seeing the kids make funny faces, tease each other, or just try to tell funny jokes. Jesus liked to be with children, I don't think He could stay stone faced for the whole time He was with them.

What about when He was talking with His disciples. Can you really see Jesus with a stone face, telling His disciples that you have took take out the plank in your own eye before you can help your brother with the speck in his eye (Matthew 7:3-5)? No way! Want to see a picture of Jesus laughing? Head over to this website, Jesus Laughing, and check it out. I have one in my wallet that I keep with me all the time.

I believe that we should lives our lives with laughter. I know many Christians who believe that to be a true Christian you must not laugh, you must stay stone faced you cannot show emotion. We are not robots that just go through this life. God wants us to live, to be happy, to laugh! If Jesus showed happiness and laughter, and He is our example. Shouldn't we show happiness and laughter as well?

Go ahead and laugh, I give you permission.

Go And Teach

2008-03-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."--Matthew 28:19-20

We as Christians have a job to do. Christ told us this job. To go to all nations and teach. This is our purpose, to make sure as many people know about Christ as possible so that when He comes He will be able to take as many with Him as possible. And that as many people had the chance to make the choice between Him and satan.

But how do we teach? Does this mean we have to go to all the world and preach to everyone? Must we all become pastors and teachers? What if I am not comfortable up front or unable to speak clearly?

These questions are very good ones. Let's define the word "teach." Teach means:

To impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction in or to.

Does this say that we must go out and preach to people? No! Teaching is so much more than just preaching or becoming a school teacher.

I have heard many people say that we must preach the gospel everywhere. And while that is true, that let's the command of Jesus lay on the shoulders the few of us ministers who preach as a profession. Christ did not say to go and preach, He said to go and teach. Teaching is more than just talk, one can teach by actions.

When going into a country that you don't know the language of, most people will resort to talking through hand motions, trying to get the general idea across. No one is preaching, but you are influencing by your actions. When a group of young people head to a nursing home to write "Life Books" for the residents, they are sharing God's love with each one of those retirees.

You can teach through music. Music is a powerful tool that can be used to bring people to God. Music that praises God and uplifts Him is an excellent way to teach other's about the love of God and what He did for each one of us.

I could go on. Teaching is so broad. It is not as narrow as many others think. So remember that wherever you go, you may be teaching people about God.

Darkness Or Light

2008-02-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all."--1 John 1:5

So is God light, or is He dark?

Many philosophers struggle with the idea of evil. It is hard to figure out how God could be completely good, and yet evil exist in this world. So man of them assume that God is both evil and good. Yet we don't find this in scripture. Look at 1 John 1:5, God is light, no darkness in Him at all. So how did evil come about?

What philosophers fail to remember is that as humans we have free choice. We can choose good or evil. We have the choice of what to do in our lives, what to wear, what to eat, when or where to sleep. This freedom of choice has been a gift from God since the very beginning. Maybe some of you see where I'm going with this.

Darkness did not originate with God, it originated with Lucifer or satan. Look up Revelation 12:7-9. It talks about a war in heaven and satan and the angels that were with him were cast out of heaven. God gave angels free choice as well, and satan was allowed to choose himself over God.

God is light, there is no darkness in Him. I believe that because of our free choice to choose God or not, shows that there is no darkness in Him. It is hard to see darkness in someone who does not force you to make a choice. God truly cares about each and every one of us. I hope that you can see that.

So is God light or is He dark? Definitely light. Just spend some time reading the Bible, looking at the Word, and you will see that there is no darkness in God. Everything He does is for the best for His people. He does not force people to make decisions, He gives them the choice and let's them make it. I thank God everyday for the life He has given me, and that He is full of light.

Unashamed

2008-02-27T22:37:00.000-08:00

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentile."--Romans 1:16

The story is told of an African pastor who had been visiting a village to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and was ordered not to return on pain of death. When he went home he realized that he had to tell the gospel, to share the good news of Jesus Christ. It was a while later that his friends found his body in the street of this village. When his friends went to his office and started going through his things, they found this note:

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me; my banner will be clear!

What more can be said? This is how I want to live my life and and my ministry. I want to be used up by God until I have nothing left. When He comes again, I want Him to see me with my banner raised high saying, "I have done what you asked, given what I could, lead a life employed by You!"

If I can let God use me in that way, I will come to the end of my life rejoicing in the fact that I gave all I could to my Lord and Savior. Are you unashamed of Christ? Do you belong to the fellowship of the unashamed?

Verse For The King

2008-02-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verse for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."--Psalm 45:1

I have been doing a bit of writing lately, and it's been for my music. My heart has been stirred by the noble theme of Christ's love for me and I haven't been able to stop writing these songs yet. Hopefully I will never quit. For one, it's a release for my soul. I can't help but write these songs of praise and adoration for my Lord. Secondly, it's a way for me to calm down from my days of stress.

Which brings me to my point. What has God stirred your heart to do? What verse are you reciting for your King? Now I don't mean poem, or song, or anything written, unless that's what you have been doing. But my question is again, what verse are you reciting for your King?

What is important in your life? That is the first question we have to ask before we find the verse. Do we care about earthly things, or do we care about God? What is most important? You see, what is most important in our life, is the verse we will recite. If we care more about what kind of car we drive, then we recite about the car. But does God really want to hear about the car we drive? I don't think God cares if we drive a Lamborghini. If God is most important, than the verse is about God.

God loves people who praise Him. We praise our King because we love Him. But singing and writing are not the only ways in which to praise Him. Your verse could be your love for others, by helping them. You could be helping in a homeless shelter, or caring for your sick friend or family member. Your verse could be doing the job you have been given to the best of your ability. Your verse could be praying for others.

The verse that you recite to your King is something between you and God. You may have several different verses, or you may have one. But God loves whatever you give Him. As long as it is with a cheerful heart, God knows that the verse you give, is the best in the world.

My verse is word and song, what's yours?

Forgotten By God

2008-02-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"--Isaiah 49:15

Do you feel as if God has forgotten you? Do you feel as if you have been abandoned and all hope is gone? Do you feel alone, scared, worried about what will happen? Are you on your knees, stomach, feet, praying that God will answer you, will just give you one word? Well this is your day, because this is what God says; He will never forget you.

Don't believe me. Let's look at the facts. God is a God of hope and love. He knows the numbers of hairs on your head, He knows when a sparrow falls. Do you think a God of hope and love, who knows these minute details, who cares for a sparrow, will forget you? I don't. However, there have been many times in my life where I have felt that God has forgotten me. Times where I have felt alone. Times where I felt as if God were gone, ignoring me.

There was one time in high school when I felt that way. I prayed and prayed and prayed, but couldn't get through. I felt as if God had just turned His back on me. I pleaded with God, to come close to me, to remember me. But to no avail. Little did I realize that it wasn't God who turned His back on me, it was I who turned his back on God. I realized this fully when I read the verse of today, Isaiah 49:15.

God will never leave us. He will always be there. It is us who need to realize this and realize that we have turned our backs on God. It's like the skit done to the Lifehouse song Everything. To watch, click here. In it God creates humans and shows us everything, but then, distractions come and we turn our back on God. He's calling our name, patiently waiting for us, but we have turned our back. He hasn't forgotten us. When we turn back to Him, He is willing to come and help us out.

It's about time that I share my favorite verse in the Bible. And yes, it's from the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah, speaking to the Israelites for God, telling them this promise, which can be claimed today by each of us. "I will not forget you!" Great words of hope. God is a God of love. God will not forget you. It's a promise that I claim every day and I hope that you will as well.

Angry With God

2008-02-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer."--Psalm 4:1

Have you ever felt as if God was ignoring you, not listening, giving you the silent treatment? Have you ever felt this way especially when you need Him close to you? Well fear not, you're not the only one who has experienced this.

David wrote many Psalms, and this is one. He is calling out to God to answer him, to relief him from his distress, to be merciful to him. Does this sound like someone who doesn't feel as if he is ignored by God? Of course not. David is feeling ignored by God. But notice what he is doing. He is telling God to answer Him, almost to the point of commanding God. Could David be angry with God?

Have you ever been angry with God? I sure have. There have been many times where I have been angry with God. I have heard many people say that we shouldn't be angry with God, that we need to always be happy, or pretend to be happy, even if we are angry with God. You know what I say to that? No way!

Alright, follow my logic here. God wants us to talk with Him all the time, He wants to be in constant communication with us. This is the purpose of prayer. If He wants to be in constant communication with us, couldn't we assume that He wants to hear about everything that is going on in our lives? So if He wants to hear everything, one would assume that He doesn't just want to listen to the happy parts of our lives, He wants to hear about the parts that we are angry with as well.

Make sense? There are stories in the Bible of people arguing with God, and God didn't destroy them, He patiently worked with them. Think of Jonah. He tried to run away from God. And yet God still loved him. Just because we are angry with God, doesn't mean we shouldn't talk with Him. Let Him know you're angry, let Him know why. And be open to a quick hit by a 2 x 4 because sometimes He will do that to let you know that He is God, and you are not.

But, God is love. We know that. He will work with you no matter what. Happy, sad, angry, mad. So if you're mad today, let God know. He wants to talk with you.

Prayer

2008-02-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men...But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."--Matthew 6:5a,6a

Prayer. There are a lot of different ways to pray: standing up, sitting down, kneeling, prostrate, and the list goes on. Each person has their own way of praying and their own way of approaching God.

But is there a right position to be in while praying? Is kneeling the only way to pray, or is standing appropriate? Should we raise our hands, or keep them folded? Should our head be bowed, or raised up to heaven?

Questions, questions, questions.

Why do we think that there has to be one perfect way to pray? What is so wrong with believing that there are different ways of praying? For example: I love to pray while walking. When I'm outside walking in nature I like to just talk with God. Is that wrong? Of course not. I find it freeing to talk with God while enjoying nature. I also find kneeling appropriate when I pray at times, as well as standing and lifting my head to heaven.

I do not prefer one position to another, and here's why. I believe that the position for the prayer depends on the focus of the prayer. When I am praising God, and lifting my voice up to give Him thanks and praise for things He has done for me, I love to stand with my arms lifted. However, when I am repenting, or asking for help in a situation that I need His help in, I find myself kneeling or flat on the ground asking, pleading for His help.

While doing morning devotions I find myself staying seated where I am, quiet, meditative, listening for God's voice to move as I have just finished the texts. I don't want to disturb the peace that is going on by moving from the sitting position to another position.

I don't believe that there is one perfect position to use. A joke comes to mind:

One day three pastors got together and were discussing the positions of prayer. One said "Kneeling is the only way to pray because we are coming before the King of the universe and we should give Him honor." Another said, "Standing is the only way to pray, we are praising God for all that He has done." And yet another said "Sitting is the best way because it's in the middle of the two of those." While the three pastors were arguing the janitor poked his head in the room and said, "I don't know about ya'll, but I found my best prayer to be while I was hanging upside down off a telephone pole."

All prayer honors God, and I believe He is just ecstatic that we are communicating with Him. So let's just remember when praying who we are praying to, and pray in the position that best reflects what we are feeling at the time.

Kenya Crisis Update

2008-02-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

If you want an update as to what is happening in Kenya with the orphanage that I talked about, head on over to this post at The Prodigal Jon. Continue to pray for these people. God can do great things, let's be a part of His working.

Kenya's Children

2008-02-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

While reading a blog that I frequently visit, Bene Diction Blogs on, I read this:

My uncle helped found an orphanage in Kenya on an island in Lake Victoria. There are more than 300 kids, many of which were orphaned by the HIV epidemic. Some of the kids are HIV positive. It is without a doubt the most visceral representation I know of what it means to share God’s love.

And tonight it might be burned down.

With the violent unrest destroying a country that many would say AIDS has already destroyed, the orphanage is in danger. There have been threats. Guards have been posted. The food supply delivered to the island is dwindling.
Read the rest at The Prodigal Jon

After reading this I thought, I think I need to do my part to raise awareness of this fact. As someone who has gone on mission trips, and worked at orphanages, I have a soft spot in my heart for children such as these. It worries me that the devil is working so hard to bring as many people as he can down.

Kenya has been in conflict for awhile now. And here in the western world we have it easy. All we're worried about is when we'll get our next paycheck, or how we should protect the trees here in the United States. We need to be much more concerned about our Global neighbors than we have been. Awareness is the first step. So what are we going to do?

Are You Afraid?

2008-02-01T08:04:00.000-08:00

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."--Deuteronomy 31:6

Are you afraid? Are you scared about a test, asking someone out, learning more about God? Never fear, super-man is here! Well, not quite, God is a bit better than super-man. Alright, ALOT better than super-man.

But back to my question. Are there things you are afraid of? Now I know many of you are saying, "I'm not afraid of anything!" I used to be one of those. But trust me, you're afraid of something, you just haven't met that something just yet.

Whatever you're afraid of, God is there. He says that He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Let me put that in modern words for everyone. God will never leave you, He will never disown you. He will always be with you, no matter what, thick and thin. He will be the best friend you will ever have.

Don't believe me? Well let's take a look at someone. We'll call him Andy. Andy thought he wasn't afraid of anything. Captain of the Basketball team, good grades, great smile, he had everything going for him in high school. He had no fear of anything, or at least that's what he told everyone. Secretly he was afraid of God.

All Andy wanted to do was live his life right, but he wanted to do it without God. So he started to live his life without God. On the outside it seemed as if he was a guy with a great relationship with God, but on the inside his heart was just black. He was afraid of what would happen if he would surrender to God. He would be weak and frail.

But it was one day that he finally realized that his life was on the wrong path. With much more fear and trembling he got on his knees and told God, "Alright, I'm Yours, tell me what to do." God told Andy that it was time to give some things up, that it was time to move on and become the man that He wanted Andy to be.

Andy is me. Although I said I wasn't scared of anything, I was scared of God. When you let God in you can truly be free from fear. Sure, I still get a little scared about visiting people, about stepping out of my comfort zone. But God gives me the strength to do this job that He has called me to do.

Be strong and courageous. God is with you, just ask Him to be. Trust me, it will be the best decision of your life. God will never leave you.

Meaningless...Fear God

2008-01-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

"'Meaningless! Meaningless'" says the Teacher. 'Everything is meaningless!'"--Ecclesiastes 12:8

What do you care about? What are your favorite toys? Your computer? Your car? Your clothes? Do you care about these more than your relationship with God?

The person who wrote this is Solomon, the king of all Israel and Judah. Wisest and richest man to live on the earth. Man with the most wives and concubines ever says these words. He knew about everything, experienced everything. He had anything his heart desired. Not only was he rich in wealth, he was rich in wisdom.

He started out great. God asked Him what he wanted and Solomon said wisdom. That's great, I wish God would ask me what I wanted, I would say wisdom too. That would make my profession easier. Solomon asks for wisdom and He gets not only wisdom, but wealth. He started out great.

But something happened along the way. He changed. He started to take many wives, and worshiping their gods. He started to build altars to other gods. He started to care more about his wealth than anything else. In his time as king the rich got richer and poor got poorer.

We're not concerned about what happened at this time, what we are concerned about is what he said near the end of his life. Traditionally Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes. If you ever have a chance to read it through, do so. It talks about everything that he did, that he accomplished. After he records all of his thoughts and actions he comes to this conclusion. All is meaningless!

What? Everything is meaningless? What does he mean by that? Well we can look at a couple places. Before he says this he is talking about remembering God, the creator in your youth. If he had just remembered God while he was young, when the time for him to choose came he would have chosen God.

We can also look at verse 13, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Fear God and keep his commandments. Solomon realized while he was old that obeying God was better than any riches, women, or altars that he could gain. God was highest.

It's a good lesson for each of us to think about. What do we hold higher than God? Is there anything that we would rather have than God? If so, we should heed Solomon's words, and take them to heart. God should be first. With Him, everything falls into place.

Curse God...And Die!

2008-01-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

"His wife said to him, 'Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!'"--Job 2:9

How many of you have felt like cursing God and just giving up? I have. There have been many times where I've felt as if everything was crashing down on me and I just wanted to give up on everything. I wonder how Job felt at this point in time?

Job had everything. Money, animals, a great wife, many children, servants, everything. He was the wealthiest person in the world. The Bill Gates of his day. But all that changed when Satan walked into heaven and told God that Job would give up on God if God would stop blessing him.

So God allowed Satan to take away everything that Job had. His children, animals, servants, everything. Job was now poor, but still he honored God. So Satan said to God, "He still has his health, you let me plague him, he will give in, he will give up." So God allowed Satan to inflict Job with boils from his head to his feet. And here we find Job sitting on the ground with broken pottery cleaning away the puss coming from his boils, when his wife comes.

Now here comes an interesting twist. There are two ways in which his wife could have said this. First way; she's an angry woman, she's lost her children, her money to buy clothes and shoes with, and her husband is outside with boils. It would make sense that she would say "Curse God and die!" if she were angry right? But there is a second way; she feels sorry for her husband. She is concerned, she feels his pain, and doesn't say it with anger but with sorrow. "Curse God and die." Do you see the difference?

Either way, Job responds, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"--Job 2:10 Job understands that in life God blesses tremendously. But there is a reason when things aren't always going well.

When one becomes a Christian, life should get more difficult. Satan doesn't want people to be true Christians, so he will inflict what he can upon those people. The Christian walk is not an easy walk to start out on. Job knew this, he knew that God had His reasons and Job was determined not to give in or give up on His faith in God.

So if everything is falling around you, and you have nowhere to go and you're ready to give up. Just remember, don't give up on God. There is a reason for this, maybe you're being stretched, maybe it's so you can grow closer to God. I don't know, but don't give up on Him. Job didn't, and he was blessed with double what he started with. Check it out, Job 42:12-16.

Plans For You

2008-01-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

"'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"--Jeremiah 29:11

Wow. God has a plan for your life. Now I know that I've talked about this before, but bear with me. It is so important to realize that God has a plan for your life. And it is something that I continue to try and figure out each and everyday.

Hadassah was a young girl in exile in the citadel of Susa. Her parents had died but her cousin Mordecai was taking care of her. Many of you know where I'm going now, so I'll start using the name we all know her as, Esther. King Xerxes has banished his queen for not obeying him and now was shopping for a new queen. Esther was one that was taken to the palace for her beauty and was being trained so when it was her turn she would have the best chance of becoming the new queen.

Long story short, she becomes the new queen and a guy named Haman convinces Xerxes that the Jews all needed to be killed. Mordecai hears this and sits at the kings gate in sackcloth and ashes all day. Esther finds out and sends a servant to find out what's going on. Mordecai tells the servant that Esther needs to tell the king her nationality. Esther replies back telling Mordecai that she can't go and see the king without his invitation otherwise she could be put to death.

And this is the part I wanted to get to. Mordecai gets Esther's response and then replies back saying, "Do not think that because you are in the kings' house you alone of all the Jews will escape. for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"--Esther 4:12b-14

Was Esther appointed queen to save her people? I think so. God had a plan, and this plan succeeded. God has a plan for your life as well. Don't think so? Esther didn't think God had a plan for her life, but He did and He used her. If God can put a girl in a queen's position to save her people, don't you think God can use you for something? I think so.

God's plan may not be evident right now, but He has one for you and it's going to become evident to you eventually if you let Him work. So I hope that you will listen to Him and let Him work in your life. Because who knows, God's plan may be to make you the next president.

Binding Agreement Part II

2008-01-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."--Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

A comment was made that got my mind thinking, thanks Paul. Here is what the comment was "Hey Pastor Nick what do you think Eccl. 5:5 means in light of this?" So I looked up Ecclesiastes 5:5 this morning and realized I had a good question on my hands and I realized that I would have to write more than a comment for the comment. I feel somewhat like CS Lewis in his Book Mere Christianity in which in the second chapter he has to respond to a young lady who had questions about his first chapter.

I have spent awhile thinking about this question and here goes what I have thought.

I believe that both texts agree. The text in Nehemiah is about the children of Israel and how they made a binding agreement with God that they would obey his commands. And I talked about how we essentially make a binding agreement with God when we decide to become Christians. So in light of this, I believe that Ecclesiastes 5:5 means exactly what it says.

Now follow me here. When we decide to be Christians we are making a vow to God that we will follow Him, wherever He leads, wherever He sends us, whatever He wants us to do. If we weren't willing to give all that up, why be a Christian, why make that vow?

A good example that comes to mind is the example of marriage. I love my wife, I made a vow to her that I would stay with her forever, sickness or health, rich or poor, good times and bad. That was my vow to her. Now, the author of Ecclesiastes says that "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." If I had any plans that I would not follow through with my vow to my wife, that I would marry her and my plan was to leave her the next day, wouldn't it have been better for me to just not make that vow?

Of course it would! Another example would be taking out a loan for a house or a car. When you take out a loan you sign a contract that you will pay the money that you are borrowing, back. You have made a vow with the bank or loaner that you the loanee will pay it all back in a timely manner. If you know that you will not be able to pay back the money, wouldn't it be better to just go without the loan?

Of course it would! The binding agreement that we enter when we decide to fully give our lives to God is a serious vow. We are giving everything we are to the Lord. So I think that by accepting this vow we should intend and do everything possible to keep it. Otherwise it would be better to just not make the vow at all.

Binding Agreement

2008-01-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

"In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it."--Nehemiah 9:24

Let me give you some background. The children of Israel have just returned to Jerusalem from their captivity. They've rebuilt the temple, rebuilt the walls, and have started rebuilding their homes. And now Ezra starts reading the Torah, the laws and the people begin to realize why they were captured. So they confess their sins and then make their confession a binding agreement with God.

Have you ever made a binding agreement with God? I hear many stories of people making binding agreements with God. It usually goes something like this:

"Lord if you do this for me, I'll do this for You."

Sound familiar? It does to me. I've made many of those in the past.

Now there is nothing wrong with making this agreement with God. However, it's easy for us as humans to forget this verbal binding agreement that we have with God. In all other aspects of life a binding agreement is usually through a written contract and so if a person fails to uphold their end, consequences occur. However, with this verbal binding agreement with God, it's easy for us to not to hold up our end.

God only expects us to love and honor Him. He doesn't demand that we do things for Him. But I think that when we make a binding agreement with Him, we should honor it. And I think that everyone who calls themselves a Christian has made that binding agreement. "Whoa, did he actually say that?" Yes, I actually said that.

Think about it, once you accept Christ, you accept His death for your sins. You owe Him everything. He took upon Himself that which we deserved, death. Once you accepted Christ you took on this binding agreement between the two of you that you would believe in Him and do your best to honor Him and make Him happy.

If you've forgotten your agreement with God, I encourage you to recommit yourself to Him today. God is always there, always listening, always concerned. He's ready and waiting to shower you with blessings and love.

Youth Event

2008-01-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

Sunday, 20 January 2008

Sunnyside Youth Group Snow Day

Meet at church parking lot at 8:3oam to head up to Mount Hood for snow tubing.

Cost: $10.00

Dress warmly, bring a lunch, and a smile.

Any questions? Use the comments.

The Race

2008-01-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."--Hebrews 12:1

We live in a rat race. The hustle and bustle of life is constantly going. Wake up, skip breakfast, take the kids to school, head to work, work, work, work, lunch, work, pick kids up from school, head to soccer practice, fix dinner, pick kids up from soccer, eat dinner, help with homework, get kids to bed, finish up work, go to bed.

Whew! I got tired just writing that. Sounds busy, huh? Is that your life? At times, that is mine. Busy, busy, busy. We really do live in a rat race. Everyone has something to do, somewhere to go, someone to see. It would seem that this is the race that has been marked out for us.

But is that really the race that has been marked out for us? Were we created in God's image to do business, to run the rat race of life? I don't think so. So what is this race that Paul is talking about?

The race that Paul is talking about is not the race of life, but the race of the Christian life. This race is not a short 100 yard sprint, it's the marathon, the 100 miler, the long distance running. But who are these cloud of witnesses that we are surrounded by?

Think about the great Christian heroes of the past. Do you gain strength from the stories of Paul, Silas, Peter, and Stephen? They have gone before us in this witnessing for Christ. I gain strength from these stories. I hope that God can use me in the same way He used each other witness for Him in the past.

So, let's run this race together. Let's cast off everything that hinders us. The things the distract us from our purpose, and run this race of witnessing and of our relationship with God.

Starting Out Right

2007-12-31T11:11:00.000-08:00

"When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying...They all joined together constantly in prayer..."--Acts 1:12, 14

It's 31 December 2007, and a new year is upon us. All the wrapping paper from Christmas is either still in the trash can or out on its way to the dump. The presents that once were wrapped are now being used and abused, or put away, never to be used again. People are starting to write those dreaded thank you cards and hoping that they will get theirs out before everyone else.

And now New Year's Eve is here, and that means resolutions. Resolutions of how this next year, 2008 will be better than this last year, 2007. What are your resolutions? Are they to diet more, exercise more, eat less? Are they to spend more time with family, forgive others more, study your Bible more? What is your wish for this new year?

In Acts, the disciples have just seen Jesus head up into the clouds. Their close friend, who they've done almost everything with for the last three years has now left them. But they are suddenly filled with hope as two angels stand by their side and tell them that Jesus will come back. And so we find them heading down the Mount of Olives to this upstairs room.

Here is where we find them in Acts 1:13, all eleven disciples, plus Mary Jesus' mother, and Jesus' brothers, praying. That's what they were doing, praying. One might wonder why they would be found praying. But I don't. This is how they start their ministry, with prayer. They realized that their connection with God was so important, that they should continue it if they were to receive the Spirit of God.

The disciples started out their ministry with prayer. Our own ministries have already been started, God has led you and me to our various ministries. However, one thing should be clear, prayer is important. Prayer is a good way to start out this new year. So instead of going to that all important party, instead of finding someone to kiss at midnight. How about trying some prayer?

Pray that in this new year God can use you to do what needs to be done. That you can be a light to the world for Him. Pray that this new year will be a year dedicated to Him, and see what happens. Who knows, maybe you'll change the world.

Hope In Life

2007-12-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." --Luke 2:10-11

It's the Christmas season and people are hustling a bustling around getting last minute gifts for loved ones. Battle lines have been drawn, long queues have formed in stores, people have become impatient, fights over the last toy have broken out and goodwill has all but disappeared. The season for giving is wrought with selfishness.

Or is it? "A Savior has been born to you..." The words of the angel to the lowly shepherds watching over their sheep. "...he is Christ the Lord." The Savior has come, Christ has come to this earth to save us, to rescue us.

What did this Savior do? What was so special about this baby born in Bethlehem that angels would appear and tell some dirty shepherds out in the hills? Was He to deliver them from the Romans, from their oppressors? Was He to conquer the world so that they could become the nation that they once were?

Christ was born to die. On a mission that required death. Atonement. We focus on the death of Christ and His sacrifice, but we forget the true gift. The hope that Christ gives us. Life! Hope in life! Jesus is alive! He was raised, He conquered death. This is hope in life.

Goodwill has not disappeared. It's in the hearts of those who have accepted the love and the gift that Christ has given. They don't make themselves seen, they aren't outspoken. They just do their work unnoticed, without complaint, because they know of the gift of their Savior. Hope in life!

Hope In Death

2007-12-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."--Isaiah 57:1-2

Death is always hard. There is nothing on this earth like death. Death has a way of bringing people closer together, or further apart. It has a way of driving families to the brink of disaster and causing people to go mad. Death is always hard.

I write this because a person I knew died yesterday. It is somewhat interesting that our speaker for "The Well" two days ago spoke on this same topic. We have been dealing with tough questions this month in "The Well" and our speaker told of his struggle with losing his father, a minister for the Lord, and how this verse from Isaiah given him by a homeless man helped him through.

Why death? Is it God's way of thinning out the human race? Is it Satan's way of trying to depress everyone to the point of giving up on God? The famous pat answers keep running through my head, and everyone seems more hollow now than ever before, except this one. Hope. Read the verse in Isaiah again at the top of this blog. Read it carefully. Did you notice it?

We who believe in a God who is coming again to take us to heaven with Him have hope. Did you notice the hope? We don't understand why these people are taken from us, these people who have walked upright with God, but we do know that they are free from evil now. Peace now covers their body as they are not tempted, not filled with grief, and Satan has lost again.

The best part is that their next waking moment will be God reaching down and saying "Rise up! Well done good and faithful servant, welcome home!"

Hope in death. Even though it is pain for the rest of us, we have hope in Christ's love and saving grace that those who have died will rise again and join us in the clouds with the Savior who will vanquish death and everything evil. Hope in death.

Chosen

2007-12-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last."--John 15:16

Did you know that God chose you? That's right, He chose you. He has searched high and low, east and west, and He has chosen you. You are important, you matter, you are chosen. You are very special in His eyes. He chose you to do something very special, something extraordinary, something big. He chose you to bear fruit.

Now what does God mean when He says "but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit?" What is this bearing fruit that Jesus is talking about? Isn't fruit supposed to grow on trees? Yes, you have a good point. Some types of fruit grow on trees. But when Jesus is talking about fruit He means something than the literal sense of the word. He is using fruit as an analogy of the products of a godly life.

Let's look at this a little further. In Galations 5:22-23 Paul writes that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." So all these things; love, joy, peace, patience, etc... are fruits of the Spirit. I'm sure that we could think of many more things that could qualify as fruits of the Spirit. But the basic thing is that anything that comes from your relationship with Christ that is good is a fruit.

So you are chosen by God to go and bear good fruit. He has a plan for your life. Though you may not see it now, though you may be going through tough times, just remember that God has chosen you for something special. It may just be something small, like being friendly to an outcast, or it may be something big, like becoming a great evangelist like Billy Graham. But just remember, whatever it is, God has chosen you, and no matter how small it may seem to you, to God, the only thing that matters, is that you were chosen, and you came through.

Peace Like A Bird

2007-12-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." --John 14:27

There is a story told of a man who wanted to find the perfect picture of peace. So he searched high and low and all over the earth to find this painting. Unfortunately one could not be found, so he announced a contest for all painters who dared, to paint pictures of peace. The imaginations of all these painters starting to go and each one started to paint. Very soon after paintings started to arrive at the home of the man. And soon the day arrived when all the paintings would be revealed and the man would choose the picture that best represented peace.

As the judges uncovered paintings one by one people were awed at the technique and the care that each painter had put in their own painting, and they clapped and cheered for each painting. But now there were only two paintings left. As the judge pulled the cover off one a hush fell over the crowd. Here was a mirror-smooth lake reflecting lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the side of the lake was a green meadow where sheep were grazing. Surely this was the panting that best portrayed peace.

The last painting was then revealed. As the cover was slowly pulled back the crowd gasped, could this painting really be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice and the crowd could feel the cold penetrating spray. Stormy gray clouds threatened to release its fury and pour down its wrath. On one of the ledges was a spindly tree with a branch reaching out as if to test the tumultuous water that was coming down the rock face.

And on this branch was a bird and her nest. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

Peace. That is the kind of peace that God offers and gives freely to each of us. Peace that transcends this earthly turmoil. Peace that exceeds war, that exceeds hate, that exceeds everything this world has to offer. God is offering it to you. Will you take it?

What Are You Proud Of?

2007-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

"Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Hear the word of the LORD: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.'" --II Kings 20:16-17

What a thing to say to a king that had just been healed by God. Hezekiah had done what was right in God's eyes, God had healed the sickness that was going to kill Hezekiah, and now God is telling Hezekiah that everything that Hezekiah owns will be taken off by the Babylonians. All because Hezekiah showed off his wealth to the Babylonian ambassadors that came to Jerusalem to find out why the sun had gone backwards.

What are you proud of? What do you show off to people that you know? Do you show off your new stereo? Your new car? Do you show off your clothes or your new Jordan's? Or do you show off God?

In our Christian walk we are constantly working on our relationship with Him, the One and only God. Reading the Bible, studying the Bible, prayer, enjoying nature; are all ways to become closer with God. However, we have this thing on this Earth called pride. We are proud of what we have, proud of what we own.

We are proud of the riches we have, or the cars we have, or the big houses that we have. And we are willing to show those off more than anything. We want everyone to know how well off we are. It's human nature. But there is a problem with that.

Showing off our wealth, and all that God has blessed us with, without giving glory to God can get us in a lot of trouble. Ambassadors from Babylon had come to Jerusalem to seek out why the sun had traveled backwards. When they arrived, instead of Hezekiah showing off God, and witnessing to them about how God had healed him and that the reason the sun went back was because he asked for a sign, he shows off the wealth that he had acquired.

All God asks is that we witness for Him, about Him. Is it so hard to say, "God has certainly blessed me" and mean it? Let God be ruler of your life, and your pride.

Impatient?

2007-11-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

"But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!'" --Numbers 21:4b-5

I'm always amazed at the amount of impatience that goes on in the city. I'm spending a couple days here in New York City and I have lost count of the number of car honks I've heard since I've been here. In fact, I'm listening to them right now outside my hotel window. I've also lost count of the number of times pedestrians have started out crossing the street before all the cars have passed by.

What causes impatience? Are we in a hurry? Angry? Late for work? Just plain tired? Impatience is a killer. I know that when I am impatient with my wife it causes a lot of strife, however when I am patient with her, life is good. And the vice versa is true as well.

God is patient with us. We as humans have a funny way of trying to do it our way. We want to make sure we can do it the way we want to do it, and nobody needs to help us. As we grow up we tend to rebel against our parents, against society, against God. However, God will never rebel against us.

Did you get that? I'll say it again. God will never rebel against us. He loves us and is always patient and ready for when we see that our way is actually not as good as His way. That's the beauty of God's love. God's love is unconditional. No matter what we do, no matter what we say, He will always be there to show us His way.

I keep using The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as an example, but there is a good scene that illustrates the patience of God. Aslan has brought Edmond back from the clutches of the "queen" and instead of scolding Edmond, instead of punishing him. Aslan talks with Edmond and takes on the punishment for Edmond. The punishment; death on the Stone Table.

That is God. That is His love. That is His patience. He loved you so much that two-thousand years ago He came down to this Earth and took the punishment for you. He became the sacrifice, He died and took your place so that when you stand in front of God, Jesus says, "I've covered his or her sin. They are here because I died for them and they have lived life my way, not theirs.

So I encourage you to take God up on His patience. Give in to His love, let Him start guiding your life. Trust me, it is definitely worth it.

Who Has Your Heart?

2007-11-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

"Away from me Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only.'" -- Matthew 4:10

There is a battle going on all around us. Do you see it? There are two sides fighting for your heart. God and Satan are both fighting for your heart and are working as hard as they can to claim victory over your heart. So who has your heart?

Why are they battling for your heart? Why is our heart so important to them? In ancient times the heart was considered the seat of the human mind, where our thought processes come from. Sound silly? Think about it for a little bit. What does your heart do when you are afraid, in love, angry, sad? What does it feel like down there when you feel those emotions?

You feel something happen in that part of your body when you experience these emotions. Even though we know today that the heart is just a muscle that pumps blood through our bodies, we still use it as a symbol of emotion, as the center of our being. What your heart desires is what you wish to attain. If you desire love, you will try to attain love. If you desire wealth, you will try to attain wealth.

If you have ever read or watched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, think about the scene where Edmond first meets the witch in his first visit to Narnia. What does his heart (or stomach) desire most in that scene? Turkish Delight. The "queen" bribes him to turn in himself and his siblings to her by saying "I have rooms full of Turkish Delight." When Edmond asks if he could have some more, she responds harshly, showing her true nature.

Whatever we desire is what we will try to attain. Do you desire God? Jesus desires you. He desired you so much that He came down to this Earth to die just for you. He gave up glory, majesty, and kingship to become a human, and to take on the penalty of sin for us. Jesus desires you, and wants you to desire Him. Does He have your heart?