“We Pray Out Of Obedience To God”
First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
I have some good news and some bad news for you. First the good news: In six more days the election will be over. Now the bad news: In six more days the election will be over.
When the election is over, we won’t be subjected to political campaigns with all the negativity and the lies. And yet when the election is over, half of the people in our country will be disappointed.
In just a few days, we will have new leaders. And we will need to pray for these new leaders, whether we voted for them or not. We’re called to pray for whoever wins the election.
We pray out of obedience to God. We also pray because it’s for our own good, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. And we pray because God wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Especially our leaders.
In addition to praying for our leaders, please pray that God will heal the political divisions that not only affect our nation, but our church and our families as well.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Living Together in Unity”
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! Psalm 133:1
This weekend, Cathy and I are traveling to Oregon for the wedding of our niece. I’m looking forward to seeing my family. Well, most of them.
Some members of my family don’t get along with each other, and so they won’t be at the wedding. It’s painful to see people I love not loving each other.
I think this is how God feels when He sees the children He loves not loving each other. Especially at family gatherings in His house of prayer. For God’s sake, we can work at living together in unity.
One day, we will be living together in unity. Forever. The people who make life difficult for us will finally be like Jesus. And so will we. This is our destiny in life. Romans 8:29 tells us that God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son.
In Heaven, we will finally be able to have the relationships with each other that seem too difficult for us to have on earth. Spouses, parents and children, brothers and sisters, coworkers, neighbors, even Presbyterians will have amazing, blessed, and eternal relationships with each other
Heaven is described for us in many ways. One of them is a wedding banquet to celebrate the union between the groom, Jesus, and His bride, the church. One day, I will be with all of my family members at a wedding. But it won’t be in Oregon.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Understand”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
There are a lot of things in life that are hard to understand. For example, why are round pizzas packaged in square boxes for people to eat in triangles? And where do thoughts go when they are forgotten?
There are so many things in life that we will never understand. But that’s OK. The Lord understands everything. What’s even better, He will get us through the confusion in life.
Whenever we don’t understand something, we can ask the Lord for help. Whenever we don’t know what to do, we can ask the Lord to guide us. Whenever we don’t understand ourselves, we can ask the Lord to take control of our lives.
Asking the Lord to rescue us during times of confusion is one of those prayers that He will always answer with, “Yes.” We have not been left alone in a world that is hard to understand.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Taize”
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
From October 2-15 I will be away on my annual study leave. Cathy will be coming with me. We will first fly to Geneva, Switzerland to see the locations of famous events of the Reformation, such as the church where John Calvin preached and the church where John Knox preached. Then we will travel to Taize, France for a retreat at the monastery where the Taize Christian Community lives.
Taize is famous for its meditative singing. This type of worship enables people to meditate on God’s Word by singing verses of Scripture. There are three worship services every day and we are looking forward to participating in them during our weeklong stay. Those who participated in the Ash Wednesday service at GMPC this year will remember that we sang some of the songs from Taize.
The Taizé Christian 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
I’m looking forward to sharing our experiences with you when we return.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“God Bless the Thrift Cottage”
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’…” Matthew 25:34-40
Recently a homeless man came to the Thrift Cottage. He was not the typical visitor who comes through the door. He was penniless, unkempt, and he was wearing soiled, worn-out clothing. Instead of ignoring him or asking him to leave, the volunteers saw him as someone who is created in the image of God. And so, they treated him as one of the “least of these” that Jesus talks about in Matthew 25.
The volunteers engaged this person in conversation, and they helped him to find clean clothing that he could wear. Then they gave him the clothing for free.
Jesus tells us that when we respond to the needy in this way, we will be considered “blessed by my Father”.
Of all the countless ministry projects that the Thrift Cottage has generously and graciously supported, this is the one that I am the proudest of as your pastor. God bless the Thrift Cottage.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Worry”
Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' Or "What shall we drink?' Or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need then. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Everyday has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:27,31-34
Do you ever worry that you don't worry enough? A lot of people think that they need to worry in order to get what they need in life. They even think that the more they worry, the more they'll get.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is saying that our Heavenly Father will provide us with all that we need in life, even when we're not worrying. So, if we don't need to spend time and energy on worrying, what else will we do with our time and energy?
We have been freed from the burden of worrying so that we can pursue God's kingdom and His righteousness. This involves living the lives that God has called us to live-lives that are filled with His peace and joy and love.
Worrying is one of my favorite hobbies. I'm actually really good at it. But it's really just a waste of time and energy. Especially when there are so many better things to do. Like, living as a follower of Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Righteousness”
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20
Have you ever noticed that there are a lot of angry people on the internet? People are angry on news sites. People are angry on social media. People are angry in emails. People are even angry in blogs. It all makes me so mad!
James writes about the problem with anger in his letter to the followers of Jesus. I've always thought that he was just writing about how to get along with others and have healthy relationships. But I've discovered that he is also talking about our relationship with God.
Righteousness means living in a right relationship with God. Righteousness involves doing the things that God expects of us in our relationship with Him. And being angry at others or ourselves or God will not help us to live in a right relationship with God.
I don't know about you, but I don't have enough time in my schedule to be angry. I also don't have enough energy to be angry. I barely have enough time and energy to worry about things. But that's for next week's Word on Wednesday.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“The Presence of God”
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46
Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I was getting ready for work and my sister called me up and told me to turn on the TV. She was worried about our cousins who work on Wall Street in New York. By the grace of God, they were away from their offices when the Twin Towers were struck by airplanes flown by terrorists.
Nearly 3,000 innocent civilians were murdered. Nearly 6,000 innocent civilians were injured.
Ever since that horrific day, we have experienced the presence of God in amazing and loving ways. Those who are still grieving the loss of their loved ones are being comforted by the Lord. Those who are still struggling with their injuries are being cared for by God. And the Lord is still watching over those who are protecting our country at home and abroad.
We must never forget what happened on September 11, 2001. We must never forget those who continue to struggle with how their lives were changed. We must never forget those who are standing the watch so that we will be safe. Above all, we must never forget that:
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Respond Like Jesus”
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32
When I was in third grade, my teacher wrote on my report card: “David’s mouth is getting him in a lot of trouble.” For me, the trouble was fights on the playground. I had a real hard time ignoring insults, so I would respond in kind, and this would end up in a fight.
I didn’t mind the fights. My brother and I were constantly fighting and wrestling at home. However, the yard duty teacher, my classroom teacher, and the principal saw things differently. To be honest, this was confusing to me. I thought everyone shouted back, pushed back, and hit back when attacked. Then I met Jesus.
In high school, I started turning the other cheek as an experiment in following Christ. I soon discovered that all the people I beat up in grammar school and junior high school were now taking advantage of the opportunity to hit me without reprisal. I didn’t like how the experiment was turning out; but I decided that since Jesus was serious about it, I should keep turning the other cheek.
All of us are finding lots of opportunities to treat others as we have been treated. However, as followers of Jesus, we are called to treat others as Jesus has treated us. This is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Being a follower of Jesus means that we are going to take some hits. When this happens, we can respond like Jesus. We can respond with kindness and compassion and forgiveness.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Jesus Is The Truth”
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15
Have you ever noticed that there are a lot of blowhards in the media right now? Maybe this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote about being “blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
The blowhards are deceitful schemers. Some will try to drive us in one direction, while others are trying to drive us in a different direction. After a while, we’re left confused and disoriented.
Instead of listening to the arguments of the blowhards, Paul calls us to focus our attention on becoming spiritually mature followers of Christ. Part of this involves being people who “speak the truth in love.” In other words, don’t become another blowhard.
As the November 5 election draws near, the blowhards will be blowing harder. Hold fast to the Lord. Jesus is the Truth. Speak about Him in loving ways to others. In time, the storm will pass, and we will discover that we have become a bit more spiritually mature because we held on to Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“His Children”
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15
The children are coming! The children are coming!
You have probably noticed that there are more and more children on our church campus this summer. And there will be even more after Labor Day. The Lord is bringing His children to GMPC to be blessed through us.
We provide two adults in each classroom where there are children. Which means that we need your help. Please prayerfully consider being a teacher’s aide. All you have to do is sit in the classroom and watch the teacher go crazy. This really is the most fun ministry at GMPC.
If you want to go above and beyond all expectations for a teacher’s aide, that’s OK too. Maybe you’ll want to tell some kids that Jesus loves them. Or perhaps you’ll help some kids to not glue their fingers together during craft time. That’s entirely up to you.
The children are coming! But don’t worry. We will be hiding some doughnut holes for the adults during the coffee connection. And we’ll make sure you won’t get run over by an out-of-control tricycle. Instead, you will be able to focus your energy on loving the Lord’s kids.
Please call the church office at 619-435-6860 for more information about ministry opportunities with children.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“To The Gentile Believers”
Have you ever wondered why it’s OK for Gentile Christians to wear Hawaiian shirts and eat bacon cheeseburgers? In chapter 15 of the Book of Acts, a church council was held in Jerusalem. The Jewish Christians considered what it means for Gentiles to join the Christian community. They prayed about whether all the requirements that pertain to Jews in the Old Testament also apply to Gentiles who embrace the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. At the end of the council, the following letter was sent to the Gentile Christians in the First Century, and to us:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So, we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
So, the next time you decide to take off your hat in public, you can thank the Council of Jerusalem.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“May There Be Peace”
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
Psalm 122:6-7
Three thousand years ago, King David of Israel was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Psalm 122. In this psalm, God’s people are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
The name Jerusalem literally means “city of peace” in Hebrew. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Eric H. Cline's tally in Jerusalem Besieged, the City of Peace has been:
..destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 times in its history.
As we watch the news this week, we’re being told that there are new plans for more violence and suffering. This is heartbreaking for those who love the people of the Holy Land and long for the devastation and evil to end.
God’s people need to continue to pray for peace, just as we’ve done for the past three thousand years. So many are depending on us.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“A Restful Experience”
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11: 28-30
Summer is half over. Do you feel rested?
Being a resident Coronado during the summer is not a restful experience. All of the tourists who come to the island are so busy trying to relax that it makes life stressful for the locals. The traffic, the noise, and the crowds are a real challenge for patient people like us. Folks have even asked me: “If it is tourist season, why can’t we shoot them?”
The best way to get some rest is to spend time with Jesus. The Lord will give rest to our weary souls. He will renew us spiritually as well as physically. He will calm our anxieties and fill us with His peace.
Before you shoot a tourist, ask the Lord for help. Not for your aim, but for your attitude. Jesus will give us the rest we so desperately need.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“Counter-Culture Lifestyle”
Have you ever wanted to get rid of your enemies and stop those who are persecuting you? Jesus tells us how in His famous sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
These were radical ideas 2000 years ago. They’re even more radical today.
Jesus has not called us to adopt the values of our corrupt and fallen culture. Being a follower of Jesus involves living a counter-culture lifestyle. As we live like followers of Jesus others will see that we are different.
With the Lord’s help we can work to transform our culture of hate and revenge into a culture of love and forgiveness. With the Lord’s help we can love our enemies and pray for them. With the Lord’s help our enemies will embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior and follow Him.
When this happens, our former enemies will become our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is how God stops the persecution of His people: by transforming the persecutors into His followers.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“The Giver And Renewer Of Life”
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:24
In John chapter 4, Jesus is having a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well that the Patriarch Jacob dug in Samaria between 1750-1745 BC. In verse 24, Jesus gives one of the four descriptions of God in the New Testament. The others are: “God is light” (1 John 1:5), “God is love” (1 John 4: 8, 16), and “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).
Jesus is helping this woman to understand that God is not confined to a particular place. Neither can God be thought of as a material being made of stone or wood. God is Spirit and so God can be worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem, the temple in Samaria, and even at Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church in Coronado.
Whenever we begin one of our worship services, we pray that the Holy Spirit will enable us to worship God in Spirit and in truth. We are praying that the Holy Spirit will guide us and empower us and inspire us as we worship God. The PCUSA Book of Order describes the worship of God in Spirit and in truth this way:
The Holy Spirit is “the giver and renewer of life”, who instills our faith and enables us to follow Jesus Christ. The Scriptures describe how the Spirit moved at the dawn of creation, anointed Christ in baptism, raised Jesus from the dead, and was poured out on the Church at Pentecost. The same Spirit is still at work in the life of the Church and the life of the world. The Holy Spirit manifests God’s gracious action and empowers our grateful response. The Spirit gathers us for worship, enlightens and equips us through the Word, claims and nourishes us through the Sacraments, and sends us out for service. To each member of Christ’s body, the Spirit gives gifts for ministry in the Church and mission in the world. W-1.0105.
Wherever and whenever you worship God, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to worship in Spirit and in truth. Jesus has helped us to understand that this is what God expects of His worshipers. This is not just for God’s sake; it is for our sake as well.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“His Flock”
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Again, his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:22-33
Have you ever noticed that some people just don’t like Jesus? Some don’t like His teachings, such as: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Others don’t think He is God in the flesh. Many don’t think He is the Messiah that God promised to send.
There is a reason why we can believe what Jesus said and what He has done. It is because we are His sheep, and He is our Shepherd. We recognize His voice, and we follow Him. God the Father has given us to Jesus, and no one will ever be able to snatch us out of the hand of God.
The Good News is that there is always room for more sheep in the Lord’s flock. We are living proof of this miracle. We were added to the Lord’s flock at one time.
When I encounter someone who doesn’t like Jesus, I think to myself, “This person is not one of His sheep. Yet.” It’s important to include the “yet”, because the Lord is always adding new sheep to His flock. There is always hope for those who do not yet know the Shepherd.
In the Book of Acts, we find out what happened to those who wanted to stone Jesus. Many of them ended up becoming His sheep. Acts chapter 2 tells that three thousand of these people were added to the Lord’s flock in just one day.
We can’t give up hope on those who don’t like Jesus. God hasn’t given up on them. Otherwise, we never would have become one of the Lord’s sheep.
In Christ,
Pastor David
“The True Hope Of Our Nation”
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen for His own inheritance.
The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of mankind;
From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not rescued by great strength.
A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it rescue anyone by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who wait for His faithfulness,
To rescue their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 33:12-19
The Fourth of July is a fun holiday. Especially in Coronado. I love the flags, decorations, parades, military uniforms, fireworks, everything. This Fourth of July we will have a student from the Basque region of Spain staying with named Laida Imaz and I can’t wait for her to see how we celebrate.
As we celebrate the Fourth of July, let us remember that the true hope of our nation is the Lord. It’s important to support and encourage those who serve in the military, but our military can’t save our nation. It’s vital to vote in elections and pray for wisdom as we go into the polling booth, but politicians can’t save our nation. It’s crucial to be faithful stewards of God’s creation, but recycling and driving electric vehicles won’t save our nation. Only the Lord can save our nation.
Praying for our nation is probably the most patriotic thing we can ever do. Whether folks in our country realize it or not, our nation is dependent on God for our salvation. And even if others won’t ask God to save us, we can.
May God bless the U.S.A.!
In Christ,
Pastor David
“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