Jesus told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 New Living Translation

"Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"
Matthew 10:7-8 New Living Translation

Over the last week, these two passages have impacted my life more than they have in the past, or so it seems. I have felt like there is more to be done. More than just what we already do as a church in our community. When we look at all we do as a church and as a congregation, it never ceases to amaze me just how much we do. We live out all that Jesus has commanded us to do.

The Hymn "Freely, freely," found on page 389 in our hymnals, has its roots in these two scriptures. We sing, "He said: 'Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give; Go in My name, and because you believe Others will know that I live.'" But have we let it impact our lives the way Jesus has meant it to? Have we freely accepted the gift he has given to us? Or have we just said we believe and act as if we genuinely care about those we are interacting with as a church body? I can only speak about what I know and what I have seen. This church changes lives; it has helped many in our community in different ways. We have fed the hungry, helped with clothes, and found shelter for those in need. We have helped in many ways, and we hold faithful to the teachings of Jesus.

Let God's love flow through you to this world. Be the light God has made you to be. Never give up hope for a better day. Remember that God has called the broken and the lost people to hope and forgiveness—many blessings.

​Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let's talk about grace in our lives.
 
Depending on who you ask, grace will have a different meaning. Grace, at least to me, is a journey of brokenness, forgiveness, growth, and understanding that God saw fit that we would be his people. For us believers and followers of Christ Jesus, our holiness begins from Christ's actions on the cross. Our lives are meant to be different from the rest of the negative actions of the world. We are called to have no other God but Yahweh. We should love God and each other just as he has loved us. Jesus showed us what it means to uphold these two great commandments through his actions and teachings. Our relationship with God will be reflected in our actions in this world. 

With Jesus's death on the cross, we know God's prevenient grace for the world. This grace carries us through life until we hear salvation's good news through Jesus. Then, we are met by justifying grace at the foot of the cross. This grace helps us accept God's pardon and gift for us. As we grow in both knowledge and faith, we encounter sanctifying grace. This grace leads us to holiness until we hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 
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Our entire lives as believers are a walk of faith. We will stumble, but with the help of God and others, we will get back up again. God created us in his image and is the Holy One, so we are also holy as we accept Christ as our Savior.

​Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As many of you may know, I use technology a lot in my day-to-day life. I use many different apps (both on my phone and my tablet). Let me encourage you to use one of the apps I use. It is the "You Version" Bible app. On this app, I have been working through a four-day plan called "Marked by Joy." I want to share one of the daily devotionals with you.

                First, you will need to read Matthew 21:33-46

Jesus' best sermons were stories. A story in Matthew 21 was one of his most influential. We know that because of what happened at the end. Some people who heard him tell the story tried to arrest him. Perceiving that Jesus was speaking about them, they got the story's point as it dealt them a painful jab.

They saw themselves as the rebellious tenants—stewards who had tried for a thousand years to be owners. For generations, they used every means to silence the voice of the servants God sent to them. And they were going to do the same thing to Jesus. That's when they tried to arrest him.

Jesus' story has amazingly relevant undertones for our day when our standard of living is so high, our ability to possess is so well-developed, and our claims to ownership are so conspicuous—and yet, all the while, we're burdened with anxiety, guilt, emptiness, and boredom.God hasn't left us alone despite our role as wicked tenants in the vineyard. Despite our sins, God is still here in love and forgiveness, exercising his gracious rule over our lives.
                Suppose you refuse to acknowledge the ownership of God and your position as a steward of life. In that case, anything you do will have no meaning, beauty, or fullness. Even the marvelous wonders of material things—material created by God—won't give you happiness. You'll descend into a downward spiral of neurotic anxiety and unhappy pleasure seeking, for your constant denial of God's central place won't get rid of him.
God wants us to enjoy all that he has given us. But we can only do it if we appreciate him at the center. Every joy radiates from that central joy.
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Spend a few moments reflecting on the goodness of God. Where have you seen God's forgiveness and mercy in your life?

                Please think about this question at the end of your day, every day. If you like to journal about your thoughts as you study your Bible, as I do, take time to put your thoughts into writing. Remember that you are loved, and we can and should all strive for joy in our relationships with God and each other. Many Blessings.

I would like to discuss something that some people are struggling with. With everything that is happening in the world today. One question I have been asked is, how does life go from something good to something that does not reflect the light of God in our lives?

                It's remarkable how a single moment, a seemingly trivial shift, can set off a chain reaction that alters everything. Consider the instance when a person loses their temper with their coach, leading to expulsion from the team, abandonment of their sport, and a descent into a life of crime. It may sound extreme, but it underscores the potential impact of seemingly insignificant actions. 

                So, how does the average life change in a negative manner? What makes a person go from a bright and hopeful future to a dark and depressing place they never thought possible? The specifics are different for each person, but underneath it all is a life lived for ourselves. It's selfishness…self-centeredness…doing what we want when we want without regard for whether it's the right thing to do or what God might think of it. Of course, we cannot forget that personal trauma brought on by the actions of others, our own decisions and actions, and life circumstances play a role in our decision-making abilities. I'm not saying that someone who tries to follow God never experiences problems. Still, the life-altering messed up stuff we're talking about here always comes from someone's selfish decisions (even if someone else made a decision that affected your life in tremendous ways…it was still ultimately your decision). 

                "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."  Psalms 1:1-6 NLT

                If you think you are standing firm, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT
 
                Are there areas in your life where you've withheld control from God? Are there aspects where you're aware of living contrary to God's will but haven't been ready to return to Him? If the answer is 'yes,' then it's time to surrender to God. Commit to turning back and following His path. Because even the smallest change can lead to a significant transformation in your life.

How many of you love worship music? Do you prefer traditional hymns or more contemporary worship music? What is your favorite hymn or contemporary worship song to sing in worship? If you could listen to one song every morning to start your day, what is its name and why do you pick it?

Now, I know this seems like a lot for a pastor to ask the congregation. I mean, I fully understand if you’re reading this right now it seems like a lot to go through. There is a good reason I am asking all this. No, it’s not because there’s a worship service I’m trying to plan. I’m truly just wanting to get to know all of you more. 

I have a few favorite hymns l love and have a deep memory with them. I even have some new contemporary worship songs that are the same way. I would love to share with you the story behind one of my favorite hymns.

One day in March 1912, Austin Miles, the writer of many hymns we sing today, and my favorite hymn was developing film for his hobby of photography. Waiting for the process to complete, he picked up his Bible. It was open to John, Chapter 20. He found in that chapter the story of Mary’s coming to the garden to visit the tomb of Jesus. As she looked into the tomb, her heart sank because Jesus’s body wasn’t there. Jesus, standing nearby, spoke to her, and she recognized Him. Scripture says her heart leaped for joy!

Austin Miles imagined that he was there with Jesus and Mary in the garden on that glorious occasion, witnessing the wonderful event. When his thoughts returned to what was happening in the darkroom, he was holding his Bible tightly. His muscles, according to his own recollection, were tense and vibrating. Reverently he thought, “this is not an experience limited to a happening almost 2,000 years ago. It is the daily companionship with the Lord that makes up the Christian’s life.”
In the inspiration of those moments, he wrote a poem. He later said the words and phrases came quickly. That same evening, he composed a musical setting, and in doing so, gave to the world a song that has now become extremely well-known, “In the Garden.”

I want shared with you the story of why this is one of my favorite hymns. I have even done a sermon over it many years ago. I’ll give you the short version. As a child growing up in the 1980’s and 90’s I remember my grandmother Durant singing it on Sunday mornings as she drank her coffee and played solitaire sitting in the kitchen. Music is a powerful thing. It can and does, change lives. It brings joy in sorrow, comfort and peace in the chaos of this world, and gives us hope for a new day.

During his later years, Miles often remarked that he would make it through another year if he could get through the month of March. He confessed that he did not like the winds, which March often brings. Oddly enough, he passed away on March 10, 1946, in Pitman, New Jersey.