“Be A Blessing”
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah 29:7
Next Sunday we will be celebrating the Fourth of July during the worship services. You are all invited to wear your uniforms, medals, and anything else you would like to celebrate the founding of our nation. We will be giving thanks to God and praying for our country.
God has placed us here to be a blessing to our nation. God has called each of us to pray and work for the good of our country.
As we help others to know the Prince of Peace, our nation will be known as a place of peace. As we help others to experience God’s grace and mercy, this land will be known as a place of grace and mercy. As we help others to experience the forgiveness that comes through knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this land will be known as a place of forgiveness.
It all starts with prayer. I invite you to pray that the Holy Spirit will start a revival in Coronado that will spread across our nation. May God enable us to be a blessing to the USA.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Live At Peace With Everyone”
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:9-21
As the election draws near, I’ve noticed that there is a lot of talk in the media about taking revenge against political enemies. I’ve also noticed that there is a lot of talk in the media about taking revenge against military enemies. There is even talk in the media about taking revenge against sports enemies.
All of these messages in the media about enemies and revenge are contrary to the Scriptures. There is a consistent message in the Scriptures about loving enemies and leaving revenge to God. From the Old Testament to the Gospels to the Epistles, the message is the same: God’s people are people of love, not revenge.
I have conducted thousands of funerals as a pastor over the years. Thankfully, I have never had to stand before a grieving family and say, “Your loved one lived their life like a Washington politician.” Instead, I have been blessed to say, “Your loved one was a faithful follower of Jesus.”
We are not called by God to live like the celebrities in the media. We are called to live like Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Spirit of the Lord”
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:14-21
So, who is going to jail this summer? There is Good News in this passage of Scripture: Jesus has been sent to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus isn’t just speaking of physical prisons. He’s also referring to spiritual prisons. Such as prisons of lust, greed, bitterness, criticism, and so on.
Some are planning to spend their summer vacations in spiritual prisons. Especially since this is the off-season in Las Vegas and there are lots of deals on hotel rooms. Others are already living in spiritual prisons, and they have been longing to be set free.
John Bunyan wrote an allegory of the Christian life in his famous work, Pilgrim’s Promise. Two of the characters in the book are named Christian and Hope and they are taken prisoner by a giant named Despair. They are locked in the dungeon of the giant’s Doubting Castle. After four days of beatings and bullying, Christian realizes that he has a key called Promise. When he puts the key in the lock of the prison door, it opens with ease. Christian and Hope discover that the key opens all the doors of Doubting Castle, and they are set free.
Jesus has promised to set us free. When you find yourself in a spiritual prison, ask the Lord for help. The door to your prison will fly open and you will walk into the freedom of His forgiveness and grace.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Rest and Pray”
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:12-16
Summer has officially arrived. This is a season when many decide to take a break from the hectic schedules we’ve followed during the rest of the year. Even Jesus took a break now and then from His busy schedule.
The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to tell us that Jesus “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus is setting an example for us by doing this. Being a faithful follower of Jesus involves taking time to withdraw, rest, and pray. But this isn’t always easy for me.
As an extrovert, I am energized by being around people. For someone like me, withdrawing from people is work. For others, it’s a dream come true.
As an extrovert, I prefer to pray in a group. Spending time alone in prayer is also work for me. For others, this is only natural.
Sometimes it’s hard to be a follower of Jesus. And yet, when I don’t follow the Lord’s example to withdraw, rest, and pray, I end up exhausted and even burned out.
So, how will you be getting some rest this summer?
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Jesus Is Alive”
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
After Jesus spent 40 days showing Himself alive to various groups of people in a variety of circumstances, He ascended into Heaven. Just before He left His disciples, Jesus told them that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of His resurrection. Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all of God’s people.
We received the Holy Spirit when we asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. We have received the same power that the Holy Spirit gave to God’s people in the Bible. We too can be witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus.
It may seem like Jesus has given us an impossible mission to accomplish. Be we have not been left alone to tell others that He is alive. The Holy Spirit who is God Almighty is living within us.
The Holy Spirit will give us the words we need and the courage we need and the strength we need and the confidence we need to tell others that Jesus is alive. The Holy Spirit will also give us the love and grace we need in order to be effective witnesses of the Resurrection. The Apostle Paul reminded a young pastor named Timothy of this in a letter he wrote to him:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7.
Jesus is alive. This is the best news that we can share with others.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Do You Love Me?”
Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep." John 21:15-17
In this passage of Scripture, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is meeting with seven of His disciples after His Resurrection. This encounter took place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where He had first met them and called them to be His followers, three years earlier. This is one of the many Resurrection appearances Jesus made before He ascended into heaven, forty days after Easter Sunday.
During the evening before He was crucified, Simon, who was also called Peter, had denied knowing Jesus three times. Peter was full of remorse for what he had done, the Scriptures tell us Matthew 26:75. Peter had met Jesus twice following the Resurrection, we’re told in John chapter 20. Yet, in neither of these encounters did they talk about Peter’s denial.
At the Sea of Galilee, Jesus fed His disciples a breakfast of fish and bread. And then it was time for a life-changing conversation. Jesus had some work to do in Peter’s life, in front of the other disciples who had seen Peter deny Jesus 3 times.
Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Three questions. One for each of the three denials. Three opportunities for Peter to examine His feelings and his commitment to following Jesus. Jesus is also doing this three times for emphasis. And every time that Peter says, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You”, Jesus tells Peter to care for His sheep. Jesus wants us to know that we are called to express our love for Him by loving the flock that He so dearly loves.
Jesus has sheep in the Sunday School and the youth groups. Jesus has sheep who are shut-ins and
cannot join us in worship. Jesus has sheep in the military community of Coronado. Jesus has sheep on the mission field. Jesus has sheep in your family. Jesus is giving us the opportunity to show our love to Him by showing love to His sheep.
Do you love Jesus? Then take care of your soul by following Him. After all, you are one of His beloved sheep as well.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Gift Of The Holy Spirit”
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Sunday, May 19, is the Day of Pentecost. This marks the beginning of the season of Pentecost. During this time of year, followers of Jesus celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given by God to all His people.
Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was only given to a select few: prophets, priests, and kings. They were given the Holy Spirit so that they would have the ability to serve God and lead His people. Now, God has given His Holy Spirit to each of His people.
We were given the Holy Spirit when we first became followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives in a variety of ways. For example, the Holy Spirit has given each of us a gift to use in serving God. Some of these gifts are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
All of us are called to use the gifts God has given us for His glory. To do this, we first need to discover what our spiritual gift is. There are a variety of tools we can use to help us with this, such as books and online spiritual gift inventories. We can also discover our gifts by asking others to help us through a time of discernment. Then there’s good old trial and error. This is how I discovered in college that God did not give me the spiritual gift of leading a middle school church choir. I would be glad to help you discover your spiritual gift and put it to use.
To help us understand the many ways in which the Holy Spirit is working within us, I will be preaching a series of sermons about this. I am looking forward to celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit with you.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Mother’s Day”
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:3-5
In this passage of Scripture, the Apostle Paul is writing to a young pastor named Timothy. Paul was close friends with Timothy’s family, and he considered Timothy his spiritual son. Timothy’s biological father was not a follower of Jesus. However, Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were. These two women had a profound impact on Timothy’s life as they nurtured his faith in the Lord.
This Mother’s Day we have much to celebrate as we remember the important role that women have played in helping us to become mature adults and followers of Jesus. Women who have been a grandmother to us like Lois was to Timothy. Women who have been a mother to us like Eunice was to Timothy.
My mother went to be with the Lord in 1998. Since then, God has brought women into my life who have been a mother to me. The first person was a cousin who was more like an aunt to me growing up because of our age difference. Her name is Meli, and she is from our family home in Spain. She is a godly woman who loves the Lord who has always been with me during the major events in my life, especially when my mother died.
More recently, a woman named Rhoda became a mother figure to me. She recently went to be with the Lord, and I was honored to take part in her memorial service last month. I had known Rhoda for over 40 years, and she was the mother of a close friend of Cathy and mine. I always looked up to Rhoda as a faithful woman who also loved the Lord. During these past two years, we became prayer partners, and I grew in my faith as I spent time with her.
We all need a mother in our lives. I encourage you to ask God to bring someone like this into your life if you do not already have one. I also encourage you to become someone like this for a person who is looking for a mother.
This congregation is blessed by God with many faithful, godly women who can be a mother figure. Not all of us have grandmothers like Lois or mothers like Eunice. But God has placed us in the life of a child. Spend time with them, listen to them, play with them, tell them about how much Jesus loves them. Regardless of how old they are.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“National Day of Prayer”
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Tomorrow is the Annual National Day of Prayer. GMPC will join with other churches at Calvary Chapel Living Waters Fellowship at 7:00 pm to pray. The church is located at: 1224 10th Street (Corner of 10th & B).
I think we can all agree that our nation and our community need prayer. We all see the pain, division, suffering, brokenness, confusion, and hopelessness that only God can heal. And God is calling us to pray for the healing of our land. But before we pray, there are a few things we must do first.
We need to humble ourselves. We need to seek God’s face. We need to turn from our wicked ways. And then we can pray for God to heal our land.
Before we join with other believers tomorrow night, let us spend time with the Lord in preparation. Then we will see that the “prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.” James 5:16.
I invite you to join with me tomorrow night as God’s people in Coronado come together in prayer.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“A Living Witnesses To The Resurrection”
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
When I was serving as the pastor in my first church in Fontana in 1984, I was asked by the local school district to review the new curriculum that was going to be used to teach about religion in the middle school. When I came to the section where the Resurrection was mentioned, the textbook said: “Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead because some women went to His tomb on Easter Sunday and did not find His body.”
I remember my jaw dropping to the floor. I told the assistant superintendent who oversaw curriculum development that this was only partially true. She told me that she understood my concerns since she was a Christian and married to a Presbyterian pastor who was the Stated Clerk of the Riverside Presbytery. However, there was nothing she could do about the situation. I suggested that the school district not buy the curriculum. She told me that it had already been bought.
Since then, I have made it a point to tell the people in my congregation that Jesus showed Himself alive for forty days after His Resurrection to various people in a variety of situations. Some of these appearances are mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth. The empty tomb of Jesus is not the only reason we believe that Jesus is alive. We believe that Jesus is alive because of the eye-witness testimony of people who actually saw Him alive. We also believe Jesus alive because we have had our own encounter with the Risen Lord. As the hymn “I Serve A Risen Savior” proclaims:
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
Middle school students are longing to know the truth about the Resurrection. They won’t hear the truth in the public schools, but they can hear it from us. Please pray for our ministry with middle school and high school students. I also encourage you to speak with Megan Smith about how you can support her ministry at GMPC. You are living witnesses to the Resurrection who can help others to know that Jesus really is alive.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“The Presence of Jesus”
On the first Easter Sunday, two of the followers of Jesus were walking together along the road from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus, a seven-mile journey. Jesus walked up to them, but they were kept form recognizing Him. Jesus asked them what they were talking about. So, they told Him they were discussing their time with Jesus and their hope that He was the Messiah. They also discussed His crucifixion. And, they told Him about how some of the women followers were saying that Jesus was alive. After this, Luke tells us in his gospel account of this appearance of Jesus on the road to Emmaus:
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:28-32)
When I was serving as a pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollister, I worked with the local ministerial association to build a shelter for battered women and children. When it came time to name the facility, the Roman Catholic priest, Father Gary Byrne, said, “Wouldn’t it be great if the clients recognized they were in the presence of Jesus while they were here? Let’s call this place, ‘Emmaus House.’” That was over twenty years ago, and Emmaus House is still open and helping families who are struggling with domestic violence.
Wouldn’t it be great if GMPC was also known as an “Emmaus House”? When people come here, they are in the presence of Jesus. Jesus is with us during the worship services, the small groups, the youth groups, the Sunday School classes, Awana, the preschool, the choir rehearsals, and the many meetings.
I encourage you to help others to see Jesus in our midst through your loving acts of hospitality. When anyone leaves our facilities, it is my prayer that they will marvel at how their hearts were burning within them because they had just spent time with Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“It Is OK To Have Doubts”
But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So, the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:24-29
It is OK to have doubts. I have had doubts in my life, and I would not be surprised if you have had doubts as well. In fact, Jesus loves doubters. Just look at how He treated Thomas when he had doubts.
Jesus made a special Resurrection appearance to Thomas when he was a doubter. Jesus loved Thomas and He wanted Thomas to have all the information he needed to be one of His apostles. Thomas then told Jesus that He was his Lord and his God.
After this, Thomas went out into the world proclaiming that Jesus really is alive and that Jesus is Lord and God. Thomas traveled further than any of the apostles in fact-all the way to India. There he died as a martyr when he was killed with a spear.
Doubts are painful and they cause a lot of guilt and shame. There are basically two kinds of doubts: emotional and intellectual. Emotional doubts take the form of questions such as: “Does God really love me?” “Does God care about my suffering?” “Does even notice me?”
Intellectual doubts deal with the need for more information about God, such as: “How can I know that the Bible is historically accurate and can be trusted?” “Did Jesus really exist?” “Did people tell the truth about Jesus?”
There are answers to all these questions. Which means, there are answers to all our doubts. The field of study that has the information for these questions is called, “Apologetics”. Just look up “Apologetics” on the internet and you will find a lot of answers at your fingertips.
I am available to speak with you about any of the questions you’ve been struggling with. I understand what you are going through because I’ve been there myself.
Jesus doesn’t want you to feel guilty or ashamed because you have doubts. On the contrary, He will help you to find the answers to your questions because He loves you more than you can imagine.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“When You First Met Jesus”
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:19-23
The first person to meet Jesus on Easter Sunday was Mary Magdeline. She was at the tomb and Jesus told her to go to His disciples and tell them that He had risen from the dead. That evening, Jesus came to the disciples. After He showed them His hands and side, they were convinced that He wasn’t a ghost and that He really had risen from the dead, body and all. And they were overjoyed.
Do you remember what it was like when you first met Jesus? When you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you were probably overjoyed as well. I know I was. I was 13 years old at the time and I couldn’t wait to tell my friends that Jesus is alive and that I was one of His followers.
In time, our joy tends to cool off a bit. We get used to having Jesus around and the excitement wears off. We even start to take Him for granted.
In the book of Revelation, Jesus has a message for the church in Sardis that applies to all of His followers:
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelation 2:4-5
Jesus knows our hearts. He knows when we are no longer overjoyed to be with Him. He knows when we have forsaken the love we had for Him at first.
Whenever this happens, we need to ask for forgiveness. Then we need to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with love for the Lord again. This is how we repent and come back to Jesus.
For the next few weeks, I’ll be preaching a series of sermons on the appearances that Jesus made during the forty days before He ascended into heaven. It is my prayer that our joy and love for Him will be rekindled as we reflect on His Resurrection.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Holy Week”
They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, carrying His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Now Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written:
“JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:17-19
We have completed our journey through Lent, and we are now in Holy Week. This is a somber time of prayerful reflection as consider what Jesus has done for us on the Cross.
During Holy Week, we have prepared opportunities to help you draw near to Jesus. We are praying that you will experience His grace and mercy as you face the Cross where Jesus died to free us from the penalty and guilt and shame of our sin.
Throughout this week, there is an interactive Stations of the Cross in the Parish Hall. Please spend time there as your schedule allows.
On Maundy Thursday, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Communion in the Sanctuary at 7:00 pm. This will be a Tenebrae Service. “Tenebrae” is the Latin word meaning “Shadows.” The sanctuary is progressively darkened as candles are extinguished. At the end, only one candle remains burning. This light is, for a short time, symbolizing Christ’s three days in the tomb.
On Good Friday, we will join eight other churches in Coronado for a Walk the Cross event. We will start at 3:30 pm at Coronado First Southern Baptist Church which is located at 111 Orange Ave. We will have a devotional and prayer in the sanctuary and then a cross will be carried to the next church. We will end the walk in the sanctuary at GMPC.
May the Lord bless your Holy Week with His peace. I am looking forward to spending this time with you.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Hosanna!”
On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Do not fear, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him. John 12:12-16
This Sunday, we will be celebrating Palm Sunday. This commemorates the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt. Jesus came into Jerusalem with His disciples to celebrate the Passover feast, as was required of all Jewish males.
When Jesus arrived, He was welcomed as the conquering Messiah who would overthrow the oppressive Roman forces that had been occupying Israel. People were waiving palm branches and shouting:
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!”
But just a few days later, on Friday, the hands that held palm branches were now clenched fists. And the people who shouted, “Hosanna” were now shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him”. What happened?
Jesus disappointed the people. He didn’t fulfill the Messiah job description that they had written for Him. He didn’t come to save them from the Romans. Jesus came to save them from far deadlier and more horrible enemies: sin and death.
Have you ever felt disappointed in Jesus? Maybe He didn’t answer a prayer as you expected. Perhaps He asked to live a different sort of life. It could have happened because of a loss you experienced. Whatever the reason, all of us have felt disappointed in Jesus. This tends to happen when we have false expectations about someone.
Jesus isn’t the kind of Messiah we might have expected. But He is the kind of Messiah we desperately need. All of us need to be saved from sin and death. This is why Jesus came into Jerusalem and this is why He came into our lives.
We’ll explore this in more detail on Sunday. I hope you will join us.
In Christ,
Pastor David
Pastor Nominating Committee
Now that our Mission Study has been received and accepted by our Presbytery the GMPC Nominating Committee will nominate church members to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). Given the time which has lapsed while we conducted our Church’s Mission Study, the Nominating Committee is providing an opportunity for those who may desire consideration and willing to make the necessary commitment to serve on our PNC. The duration of required commitment could be as long as several years as we seek to determine God’s desires for the future spiritual leader of GMPC.
The window to make a new application will be between now (10 March) and Thursday, March 28. We continue to be thankful for those who have previously submitted applications volunteering their time and talents for PNC service in response to the initial solicitation. There is no need to resubmit applications from those who have previously submitted. Following a period of prayerful review and consideration our committee will prepare and present a final slate of PNC candidates for voting by the congregation planned for next month.
Anyone interested in serving on the PNC is asked to fill out a 2-page form with their background information. The requested information includes such questions as church activities and leadership positions, professional and educational background, and why you think God might be calling you to serve. Forms are available by contacting Rachael Tisdale in the Church office and should be completed and returned attention “Nominating Committee Chair” again not later than close of business on Thursday, March 28.
Those who are interested in serving on the PNC are encouraged to prayerfully consider accepting this sizeable responsibility. In addition to the considerable time commitment, a spiritual commitment to invite God to be present as part of the discussion and to discern the path He has laid out for us is required.
Chipp Wilfong, Chair
GMPC Nominating Committee
“I AM”
During the Season of Lent, we are involved in a series of sermons on the “I AM” statements of Jesus. In John chapter 8, Jesus is teaching in the outer courts of the Temple of Jerusalem. There Jesus is confronted by some of the religious leaders who really don’t understand the significance of their encounter with Him. They actually asked Jesus:
“Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” John 8:48
Instead of casting them into hell as they deserve, Jesus gives them an answer that’s designed to keep them out of hell:
“I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” John 8:49-51
Rather than counting themselves fortunate, the religious leaders decide to press their luck:
“Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” John 8:52-53
Again, Jesus gives an answer that’s meant to save His accusers:
“If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” John 8:54-56
Then these religious leaders decide to mock Jesus saying:
“You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” John 8:57
And so, Jesus spells things out for them:
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. John 8:48-59
Here Jesus identifies Himself with God Almighty who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, proclaiming:
"I AM who I AM." Exodus 3:14
The religious leaders finally understood what Jesus was saying. This is why they wanted to stone Him. They understood that Jesus was claiming to be God Himself. In their minds, Jesus was committing blasphemy by claiming to be God. And yet, these religious leaders were standing on the same Holy Ground where Moses stood. Jesus is the God who spoke from the burning bush-the God who came to save us from slavery to sin and death.
Whenever we come into the presence of Jesus, we are standing on Holy Ground. We are standing in the presence of the God who has come to save us, not cast us into hell. During this season of Lent, as we spend time with Jesus, may we come to appreciate the true significance of our time with Him.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Abide in Me”
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples.” John 15:4-8
In this Scripture passage, Jesus uses the metaphor of a grape vine to teach us about our relationship with Him. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. In order to live and bear fruit, we must abide in Him.
Abiding involves the realization that we are united to Jesus. We are completely dependent on Him for life. Jesus is constantly present with us in the depths of our souls. It is our union with Jesus that enables us to live and flourish as His disciples.
During the month of March, I will be preaching a series of sermons on the “I Am” statements of Jesus. Here’s what the sermon series will look like:
March 3: “I Am The Vine” John 15:1-17
March 10: “Before Abraham Was, I AM” John 8:48-59
March 17: “I Am The Resurrection And The Life” John 11:17-46
On March 24 we will celebrate Palm Sunday and on March 31 we will celebrate Easter Sunday.
Please join us in worship as we discover more about our Lord and our relationship with Him.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“He Values Our Souls”
Jesus summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:34-37
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus asks a question to help us understand the value of our souls. The question is:
“For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”
Our souls are the most important possession we have. They are the essence of who we are, and God created them to live forever with Him in Heaven. Our souls are far more valuable than wealth, power, popularity, careers, and even family. Nothing is more valuable than our souls.
Jesus took up His cross to save our souls from hell, sin, and death. Jesus took up His cross so that our souls would live and not die. That’s how valuable our souls are to Jesus.
Our souls are eternally valuable to Jesus. And Jesus asked His question so that we would value our souls as highly as He values our souls.
There was a time in King David’s life when he was discouraged and depressed. The cares of life had worn him down and he had been neglecting to care for his soul. He writes about this in Psalm 42:1-2:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Caring for our souls should be a priority in our daily lives. We care for our souls by keeping them in contact with God. Whenever we spend time with God in prayer or worship or reading the Scriptures, we enable our souls to have a life-giving connection with God.
May we value our souls as highly as Jesus does.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Word on… Tuesday”
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 PM
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8
What do you do when you’re not celebrating Valentine’s Day? Tomorrow, you can join us in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm, for our Ash Wednesday Service.
During the service, we will worship together using meditative singing. This type of worship enables people to meditate on God’s Word by singing verses of Scripture.
The Taizé Christian Community in the Burgundy region of France made this type of worship popular. This community was founded by Roger Schutz, who was known as Brother Roger. He was a Presbyterian from Switzerland who journeyed to France in 1940 at the start of WW2. He rode a bicycle from Geneva to the small town of Taizé which is still surrounded by rolling green hills and dairy farms. Since the town was located in unoccupied France, he bought an empty house and hid Christian and Jewish refugees there.
On November 11, 1942, the Gestapo occupied Brother Roger's house while he was in Switzerland collecting funds to aid in his refuge ministry. He was not able to return to his home in Taizé until 1944, when France was liberated.
Brother Roger then started a quasi-monastic community of Protestants and Roman Catholics who committed themselves to serving Christ and living their lives together. Thousands of young pilgrims come to Taizé every year from all over the world to worship together, meditating on God’s word through meditative singing.
The Taizé Christian Community describes how meditative singing helps us to worship God: “When people come together to pray, meditative singing can help everyone to participate and to stay together in waiting on God. Using just a few words, they express a fundamental reality that can quickly be grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality can gradually sink into one’s whole being.”
Here's a link to a YouTube video from Taizé that describes what a retreat is like there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngA8BFbjrE0
Since the songs we will be singing may be unfamiliar, I have also included links to the songs on YouTube. I am looking forward to spending time with you in worship tomorrow night.
In Christ,
Pastor David
Song - Come and fill our hearts with your peace. You alone, O Lord are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace. Alleluia
Song - Sing praise and bless the Lord. Sing praise and bless the Lord. Peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
Song – Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. Those who seek God shall never go wanting. Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. God alone fills us.
Song - Oh Lord hear my prayer. O Lord hear my prayer. When I call answer me. Oh Lord hear my prayer. O Lord hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
Song - Stay with me, remain here with me, Watch and pray. Watch and pray.
Song - In our darkness there is no darkness. With you, O Lord, the deepest night is clear as day.
Song - Ubi Caritas et amor, ubi caritas Deus ibi est. (Where there is charity, selfless love, where there is charity, God is truly there.)
Song - Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life.
Song - Let your servant now go in peace, oh Lord. Now go in peace according to your word.
“Intimate Season with God”
Join Us: ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE FEBRUARY 14, 2024, 7:00 pm
“Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise, you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”
“So, when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
“Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
As I was preparing to start my ministry at GMPC on March 1, 2023, I realized that I was coming during the Season of Lent. So, I asked if GMPC celebrated Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. And the response was, “What’s Ash Wednesday?” Right then, I knew that this was going to be on a journey of discovery with you.
On February 14, we will discover what Ash Wednesday is all about. We will celebrate by having a worship service in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm. During this service, people will be given the opportunity to have ashes placed on their foreheads as a sign that they are repenting of their sins.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. This is a 40-day season of preparation for the greatest holiday of all, Easter. For the next 40 days, we will have the opportunity to reflect on our need for God’s forgiveness which He pours out to us from the cross of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We will also have the opportunity to reflect on the new life that God gives us through the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
During Lent, some Christians practice spiritual disciplines of such as giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. The purpose of these disciplines is to focus our attention on God, rather than on ourselves.
It’s not unusual to be tempted to focus our attention back on ourselves when we engage in spiritual disciplines like these. This is why one of the passages of Scripture that is traditionally read on Ash Wednesday is Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus helps us to understand how we can focus our attention on God as we practice the spiritual disciplines of giving, prayer, and fasting during Lent.
Let us uphold one another in prayer during this intimate season with God. May our Lenten journeys of discovery be filled with God’s peace and joy.*
In Christ,
Pastor David