The Light Has Come

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

                                    (Isa 9:2, 6 KJV)

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 

                                                                       (Matt 4:15-20 KJV)

Straightway the fishermen left their nets and followed the light who is Jesus the Christ! Sadly, many are comfortable in the dark forever complaining about the valley of the shadow of death.  That's all they know so they choose the darkness of what they know over the unknown albeit brilliant light that had come into the world. The fishermen were ready and they were willing to live in the light of Christ. They followed the light. They dropped their nets and followed Jesus.

The world can be a very dark and gloomy place. But, it doesn't have to be. The light has come born as a sweet baby in Bethlehem so many years ago. The light has come. Step out of the darkness to follow Jesus and live life in the light of Christ.

God's Peace and Merry Christmas!  Pr. J.

Do Good! Do What Is Right!

Do good! Do what is right!

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

                                                                                    (1 Peter 4:2-5 KJV)

No, you won't be too popular if you leave behind those things; but, you will be much more at peace with yourself as you begin to live in Christ.

As a former substance abuse counselor, one of the toughest things to deal with is that when someone finally decides to trust their higher power (God) for their recovery they lose most, if not all, of their old friends. It can be a lonely time. It takes a bit of work to realize that the only reason they hung with you was because your substance abuse justified theirs. Once that is gone, they are out of there. "They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you." (1 Peter 4:4 NIV) 

But, new friends will come with time. Friends that will share in the joy of living as a member of the Body of Christ with you. In Christ you are a new creation. "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Peter 4:19 NIV)

May the peace of the Lord be with you always! Live in his peace and ignore the drama this world would throw at you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Humbly Serve

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10 KJV)

When men and women think too highly of themselves they are bound to be exposed and with exposure they will find themselves naked, out in the cold. There is no sin that will not be uncovered. 

If you are to serve God and God's creation, then humble yourself and remember that you are a servant. You are not God. You are not better than the people that you serve. You are also not better than the people that you serve with.

As a retired pastor, a former substance abuse counselor, a former juvenile corrections counselor, and a former bartender; I've heard enough fake stories and confessions to know that those who lift themselves up over those who they are supposed to be serving or serving with; those who belittle and attack the character of others in order to win the favor of others do so only in order to justify their own sins. 

Know this: the only justification that is to be found for sin is the blood of Jesus. We are all sinners. It would be much wiser to humble yourself and follow in his footsteps rather than the ego which rules your life and attempts to control the lives of others. You think that you are free because you can attack others. No, you are not. You are a slave to sin and you will not succeed at lifting yourself up. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up." 

There is only one God and none of us are Him. Only He can lift you up out of the muck and mire you've gotten yourself engulfed in.

God bless each of us with tongues that do not falsely accuse others. May He bless each of us with tongues that will inspire peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Merry Christmas!

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6 NRSV)

Presents will be given and received this morning as people around the world celebrate Christmas. People will be celebrating the birth of Christ into the world for us. Prayerfully, they will be celebrating the Holy Day and not merely the holiday that has become very secular. For unto us the greatest gift has been given; Jesus Christ, that baby born in a manger, Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Have a very blessed Christmas!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen To Instruction

Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
   but those who heed admonition gain understanding.

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
   and humility goes before honor..

                                              Prov 15:32-33 NRSV

There is no better instruction than to respect the Lord. Do not place yourself and anything else before Him. Listen closely to His Word so that you might gain understanding from the one who knows all and is all. Not listening to those who would share this wisdom will only bring us trouble.

No good will come from lifting ourselves up before Him. We must remember that He is the creator and we are the created. We are not greater than the creator. We are not greater than the redeemer.  

It is right to fear the Lord and to give Him all honor and glory. To love the Lord with all your heart is  wisdom worth listening to. There is nothing better; more pleasing than to be in a loving relationship with our creator; our redeemer; our counselor.

Humble yourself and listen to the Word. Listen to those who would help you on the Way. Do not despise them; but, listen. Listen and believe that you might gain understanding; that you might live life most fully in the presence of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Losing Friends For Living With Christ

Do good! Do what is right! 

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.                                                                                                                        1 Peter 4:1-4 NIV                

No, you won't be too popular if you leave behind those things that the pagans choose to do; but, you will be much more at peace with yourself as you begin to live in Christ.

As a former substance abuse counselor, one of the toughest things to deal with is that when someone finally decides to trust God for their recovery they lose most, if not all, of their old friends. It can be a lonely time. It takes a bit of work to realize that the only reason they hung out with you was because your substance abuse justified theirs. Once that is gone, they are out of there. "They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you." (vs 4)

But, new friends will come with time. Friends that will share in the joy of living as a member of the Body of Christ with you. In Christ you are a new creation. "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Peter 4:19)

May the peace of the Lord be with you always! Live in his peace and ignore the drama this world would throw at you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Losing Friends For Living In Christ

Do good! Do what is right!

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. (1 Peter 4:3-4 NIV)

No, you will not be too popular if you choose to quit participating in the lifestyle of a pagan; but, you will be much more at peace with yourself as you begin to live in Christ.

As a former substance abuse counselor, one of the toughest things to deal with is that when someone finally decides to trust their higher power; when they turn to God, for their recovery they lose most, if not all, of their old friends. It can be a lonely time. It takes a bit of work to realize that the only reason they hung with you in the first place was because your carousing and substance abuse justified theirs. Once that is gone, they are out of there. "They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you."

But, new friends will come with time. Friends that will share in the joy of living as a member of the Body of Christ with you. In Christ you are a new creation. "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1  Peter 4:19)

May the peace of the Lord be with you always! Live in his peace and ignore the drama this world would throw at you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rejoice! The Promise Is Fulfilled

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordon -

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation

    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle

    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

                                Isaiah 9:1-7 NIV

This promise to the Israelites has been fulfilled. This promise to all who would believe has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Lord. As we celebrate the coming of God into the world as a baby born in a barn; let us remember that what it is we celebrate is that Jesus Christ is born and he is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Let us rejoice this Christmas Eve and tomorrow and every day for Jesus the Christ has been born for you and for me.

May God bless all of your Christmas celebrations!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Merry Christmas!

Christ Lutheran Choir

photo by: Al Blanks

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Today, we celebrate God incarnate! Today, we celebrate that the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Peace has come to us, born into this world as a baby in a barn.

As you celebrate the birth of our Savior, remember that he is the only reason for the celebration. All that we are and all that we have are only thanks to the God who loves us so much that He would humble himself enough to walk with us, live with us, and not just for those years that he lived on earth as true man; but, eternally as our one and only true God.

Today we celebrate the Lord our God as we should every day!

Merry Christmas and may the peace of the Lord be with you always!

Pr. J

Mary's Song; Our Song

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. Luke 1:46-47, 49 NIV 

Mary's song ought to be our song. He hears our prayers and He answers. But, He has done and continues to do so much more than we can even imagine or ask for.

Mary was indeed blessed to be chosen to be the mother of God. What a fearsome and awesome gift that must have been. Yet, we are also greatly blessed in that God is with us always. That gift to Mary is also a gift to us.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this."
                                    (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Let us rejoice and be glad for our Savior has come and his Kingdom shall never end. May all of our souls glorify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior and King!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Sunday of Hope

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

Long before Jesus was born as a mere baby in a barn, the people of Israel trusted that he would come. They believed God's promises long before anyone saw it come to fruition with their own eyes. The people of Israel had hope.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. It is the Sunday of hope. The celebration of Messiah's birthday is but a few weeks away. We look for the celebration of his birth even as we wait in hope for him to come again. If the Israelites could wait for generations with confidence in God's promise that he would come to reign over them, we who have been made aware that he has come, ought to be able to live our lives in the confidence; in the hope that he has come, he is here, he will come again.

May God grant us all hope that God is even know accomplishing all things for the good of those who love Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.