The Weekend Sermon -- "Christmas"

      I hope that everyone is having a happy holiday season so far. I finally am starting to feel like I am in the Christmas spirit. Thank you for taking the time to read this week's message.

     This is going to be the last Weekend Sermon before Christmas Day is upon us. With that in mind, I wanted to sum up our series of Advent messages with focusing on what the Incarnation of Jesus is really all about. Why did Jesus come? What does His coming mean to us and for us?

     First of all, Jesus came because God loved the world and He wanted to redeem us from our sins. Jesus made this abundantly clear in John 3:16 when He said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but shall have everlasting life." 

     Jesus came into this world in order to save us. He was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. He lived a holy and blameless life. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet He never committed a single sin. Because of this, Jesus was able to bear our sins on the cross. He took the punishment that we deserved in order that we might be redeemed by placing our faith and trust in His finished work on the cross of Calvary. 

     On the cross, Jesus took away our sins. Through His glorious resurrection, Jesus conquered over the consequences of sin. He defeated death, hell and the grave. 

     What else does Jesus' coming mean for us? Jesus name is Immanuel. God is with us. Jesus has come, and He told us that He would not leave us and He would not forsake us. As we go through life, we can have the assurance of the presence of Jesus in our hearts. Whenever we are facing a difficult moment, we can look to Jesus and feel that He is with us in a special way. 

     Jesus has come, and all things have been made new. The world can never be the same again because Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesus through His life and teachings has revolutionized the world. He has given us a message of love, peace and non-violence that can change the world we live in if people would put into practice what the Lord has taught us. He has show us a new and living way that those of us who call Him Lord are to take to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

     Because Jesus came to this earth, the light has come into the world, and the darkness has not and cannot overcome it. The power of good will overcome the power of evil. The way of the cross will overcome the way of the world. Jesus will come again, and all will be restored by the power of His great love. 

     At this Christmas season, you can know Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He invites you to receive the gift of love, forgiveness and salvation that He offers to all people everywhere. Whosoever will may come. And that includes you. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray that my health will improve. Thank you. 

     Let us pray for peace during this holiday season. Please keep praying for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and Myanmar. Pray that there is not a war in Venezuela. 

     Please pray for those who are recovering from the attacks in Australia and Rhode Island. Pray that violence like this will come to an end. 

     Keep praying for those recovering from natural disasters. Pray for those in Alaska, Washington and in the Caribbean. Keep praying for those recovering from the floods in Wales.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kyrgyzstan and Bhutan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post a message for the new year. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and I will have a Christmas Eve post. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 16

 Chapter 16

     After I graduated from college, Toby and I began what for us would be an event filled eighteen months.  The summer after I graduated, Toby and I went out to Saint Louis for vacation.  It wasn't a very long trip, but we had a lot of fun.  We visited the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri on our way home. We got to walk around sections of the old Berlin Wall that are on display outside the museum. That summer was a time of just relaxing and enjoying the days.  Dad and I did quite a bit of fishing, and sometimes Toby came along with us.  Once when we were out together, we saw a huge flock of wild turkeys.
     That fall, I decided to go to graduate school and get my master's degree is history. It was over an hours drive to get to the college, and I didn't like the professors at all.  I was doing fine, and it was just about the end of the semester.  I knew that I wasn't going to go back after Christmas.  However, I had to quit before the end of the semester because I was injured in a car accident.  An almost 90 year old woman hit my car and another car.  She totaled the other driver's Mercedes Benz.  She was not hurt in the accident.
     I recovered pretty quickly.  While I was still going to graduate school, I'd been spending my free time working on writing.  I'd written a few poems and sent them in for publication.  I was quite surprised when a few of these initial efforts were actually published in some small journals.  I decided that I was going to give writing a try for at least a little while.
     Being at home and working on my writing during the day was just like being back in home school again.  It was great.  Toby never left my side when I was working on my writing.  When I was at my desk working on the computer, he would lay at the foot of the bed.  We had fun setting up that computer together.  As I was trying to get everything out of the box, Toby kept pushing boxes and bags around the room with his nose.
    In order to improve as a writer, I enrolled in an off campus writing program with the University of Wisconsin.  With writing, investing and studying I stayed very busy.  But I was never too busy for my old friend.  Toby was getting old.  That year when I started writing, he turned twelve.  Our walks became shorter.  I  really had to make sure that he stayed cool, because Toby never could stand much heat, and that became more pronounced as he got older.  We still played hide and seek.  Toby actually would chase the ball a little as he got older, but he never was much of a ball dog.
    Our favorite activity was sitting out on the patio and having dinner together.  I used to like to cook steaks out on the grill.  It was always nice having a family meal together.  We'd sit out on the patio just about every night until the mosquitoes started in.
    About two days after Toby's twelfth birthday, our time of joy came to an abrupt end.  Toby became extremely sick.  For the past year, he had been in what for Toby was good health.  But, one afternoon he just started vomiting uncontrollably.  I called our regular veterinarian, but he was out of town, and he didn't have anyone handling emergencies.  I called my back up vet, and he was out of town as well.  I decided to call the vet in a town north of us, and they had an appointment available right away.  She examined Toby, but she really didn't know what was wrong with him.  She gave him some medicine to see if he would improve.  Toby did improve a little, but he still wasn't right.
    I got Toby an appointment with our regular vet as soon as he was back.  He discovered Toby's problem right away.  Toby had a large tumor in his abdomen.
    My vet got Toby an appointment that same day with a cancer specialist.  I feared the worst.  The cancer specialist ran some scans, and he seemed optimistic.  He felt that Toby's tumor was operable, and we scheduled the surgery for the next morning.
    I really started to pray that night.  I was so nervous.  I was just about a basket case.  I don't think I slept a wink which just kept Toby up, and he needed his rest.  I took him into the surgeons that morning.  The way that Toby looked at me when I handed his leash to the surgeon is a look I will never forget.  His eyes looked at me like I was abandoning him and he couldn't understand why.  It was horrible.  I felt horrible.  I prayed all morning and into the afternoon.  Finally, I got a call from the surgeon.  The tumor was malignant, but he thought that he got it all out.
    Toby was supposed to stay at the hospital for three days after the surgery, but they called me the next afternoon and wanted me to take him home.  They said that he was sad and depressed and they didn't think that he could stand being without me anymore.  He was also trying to bite everyone who was trying to help him.  He wanted his friend and was tired of everyone else.
    When I came to pick him up Toby was so relieved.  He let out a great big sigh of happiness.
    The next day I received the bad news.  Toby's cancer was so malignant that it had metastasized.  They only gave Toby 6 weeks to live even with chemotherapy.
    I decided to pray and ask Jesus to help Toby.  I would not have any chemo for him.  What would be would be.
    Six weeks came, and Toby was acting like he was in the prime of life.  He was jumping around and acting like a young pup again.  I kept writing and getting things published.  Every day Toby and I would play and just try to enjoy being together because each day that we could be together was a gift from Jesus.
    Each month I took Toby into the vet's for a check, and he got a clean bill of health.  His stomach improved and he wasn't really having many health problems.  He just kept on going.
    We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The two of us ate so much at Thanksgiving we had to lay down the rest of the day for fear that we might explode.  Christmas at the house was always a fun time.  Toby liked to push the branches over to me while I put the tree up.  His favorite part of Christmas was playing in the wrapping paper.
     We celebrated Toby's 13th birthday.  He was still going strong.  I was still giving the glory to God.  But nothing lasts forever.  Toward the beginning of June, Toby went down hill fast.  His lungs started filling up with fluid and all of his blood tests were terrible.  This time I knew it was the end.
     Toby died on June 5.  He lived 13 and a half months after his surgery.
     Toby was the best friend that I have ever had.  He came to me at one of the lowest points in my life, and he made me fell like someone loved me for who I was and not for what they wanted me to be.  Toby has been gone for several years and I still miss him every single day.  I know that he is in Heaven with my Mom and Dad.  I look forward to a family reunion some day. I am thankful to Jesus that I found Toby on that cold day in January all those years ago. I love you Toby.

Verses For The Week, Prayer Requests and Something I Want To Say

 Romans 12:15 -- "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn."

Matthew 5:4 -- "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Prayer

     It has been a sad week. We have experienced the attack in Australia and at Brown in Rhode Island. Along with that Rob Reiner was killed. Please pray for those who are injured in the attacks that they will speedily recover. Pray for those who mourn in each of these situations. Let us also pray that the Brown Univ. attacker will be quickly apprehended. 

Something I want to say

     I am appalled at the response of the President of the United States to the death of Rob Reiner and his wife. I never in my lifetime thought that a President of my country would act in such a way. 

Weekend Sermon -- Advent -- "Jesus Brings Joy"

      Thank you for taking time to read the message this week. I hope that you are all well and having a good week. I am glad to have the opportunity to bring this message to you this week. 

      Well, we are in the heart of the Advent season. Christmas is just around the corner, and I have to admit that this year I am really behind. I usually have my cards sent out and some Christmas shopping done already. But, not this year. Hopefully, I can get in gear with the holiday spirit pretty soon. 

      For the past couple of weeks now, we've been looking at some of what Jesus has accomplished through His incarnation. By coming into this world, Jesus brought hope for today and for the future. He is the Prince of Peace who provides peace in our hearts, and ultimately, He will bring peace to this troubled world. 

     Today, I want us to focus on the fact that the coming of Jesus brings joy. Joy is something that the Christmas season is all about. I can remember some really joyous Christmas times with my family when we were all together. We always had a lot of fun at Christmas. We always had Christmas Eve with my Dad's children from his first marriage. On Christmas Day, my Mom, Dad and I-- Toby too -- would open our presents and have a really nice Christmas feast. I have a lot of joyful and wonderful memories of Christmas. 

     This joy that we have at the Christmas season is due to the fact that Jesus has come into the world. His birth was a joyous occasion as we know that the shepherds who heard of His birth were filled with joy and immediately went to find the baby that the angels had told them about. 

     One of the verses in the Bible that really speaks to joy is I Peter 1:8 that tells us, "Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." There is a song with that title, "Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory" that we used to sing in church when I was a boy. Jesus is the one who brings such great joy.

     Why is it that we can have so much joy in Jesus? Jesus has come and we no longer have to live in sin and be separated from God the Father. Jesus has redeemed us, and we can have forgiveness and newness of life in and through Him. That is something to feel joy about. 

     We can be filled with joy knowing that Jesus is always with us. He will never leave us and He will never forsake us. On top of that, we can be filled with joy knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for us in Heaven. When those who are in Christ pass from this world, they immediately go to be with Jesus, and they will be with Him forever and forever in a place with no heartache and no sorrow. That brings great joy to me, and I hope that it brings great joy to you. 

     Jesus has come. We can have joy in Him. Let the joy of knowing and loving Jesus fill your hearts this Advent season. Amen.

Prayer Requests 

     I went to the doctor this week. I hope that with some new medicine and treatments I will get to feeling better. Thank you for your prayers. Also, please pray that I can find a different job. The one I have now I believe is contributing to my overall lack of health.

     Please keep praying for peace in the world. Let us really focus on Ukraine this week. Also pray for peace in Sudan and keep praying for Israel and Gaza. I would also like us to pray that the situation in Venezuela does not end violently.

     Continue to pray for those recovering from natural disasters. I saw some pictures from Jamaica, and they really need our prayers right now.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday and the book chapter on Wednesday. I will have another Advent message next week. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 15

 Chapter 15

       Toby didn't really like anyone but me.  He wasn't unfriendly, and he wasn't mean.  My uncle always referred to Toby as a tranquil beast.  Toby just didn't care what anyone did as long as I was there, and he wanted to keep me safe.  That was his number one priority.  He never displayed any aggression toward anyone who didn't deserve it.  Except for one group of people.  He didn't like 99.9 percent of preachers.
     The first time that I noticed this was when the minister from our family's church came out for one of his regular visits.  The minute he came into the house, Toby never took his eyes off of him.  Toby actually growled at him, and Toby never did that when people came over even if he didn't like them.  Something was up.
     I didn't think too much about all of this until the pastor was over at the house a few weeks later.  Toby growled at him again.  All of the hair on his back was standing up, and he was getting angry.  I went with Toby outside so the old boy could cool off.
     Later, I figured out why Toby didn't like the man.  This man would in the next few weeks lie about me and get me fired from a job so that his wife could get the job.  Toby had this character figured out way ahead of time.
     My family stopped going to that church after many years, and began attending another of the very legalistic churches that my parents seemed drawn to.  This new minister came over, and Toby was once again extremely agitated.  What really set Toby off was when the new minister asked me if I could remember the exact time in my life that I accepted Jesus as my Savior.  I do not know why, but Toby started barking and barking and barking at this man after he said that.  I had to take him out in the kitchen.
     It wasn't too long before I realized that Toby had this man figured out too.  In a sermon, this minister said that he had a dog once that he didn't like so he shot and killed it.  Toby had the dog hater spotted.
     Finally, Toby met the pastor that he disliked most of all.  He disliked this man so much and became so mad that he almost had a stroke.  This happened when I was gone, so this is what my parents told me.  As I mentioned before, I was born with an inherited immune system problem.  Since my health was bad, I was still living at home.  This pastor had the nerve to tell my folks that they should kick me out of the house because I shouldn't be living there anymore.  He had no idea about my health, and my Dad proceeded to inform him about it, and that where I lived was none of his business.  My Mom said that when the pastor said this that Toby got so angry that my Dad told the pastor and the elder that was with him to leave.  This whole incident just made my Dad fed up.  He left that denomination my family had been in since I was born and he never went back again.
     This reminds me of what happened with my Grandpa and my uncle.  My uncle was a Methodist minister.  My Grandpa had had a heart attack and was in the hospital.  My Grandpa and Grandma went to the same kind of church that my parents did.  Their minister was visiting my Grandpa in the hospital when my uncle the minister came for a visit.  My Grandparents pastor laid into my uncle when he found out that my uncle was a Methodist pastor.  He said that Methodists where all liberals and were going to hell for preaching a social gospel.  This made my Grandpa very upset.  He told the pastor to leave his hospital room and never come back.  My Grandparents had been members of that church for years, and after that they never went back.
     About that time, I'd had enough of organized religion.  The folks started going to a little church up the road from our house.  I just stayed at home with Toby on Sundays and the two of us just had fun together.
     About one year later, my Dad had to have surgery on his foot and was laid up for about one month.  During that time, the pastor of the little church came to the house twice a week to visit my Dad and try to help him any way that he could.
     When this pastor first came over to the house, I thought that Toby wouldn't like him since all of the other pastors he couldn't stand.  But Toby liked this man.  Since this pastor was so nice, I decided to go back to church, and I really enjoyed it.  I began to learn about the real Jesus and about how much He loves me.
     I knew that Toby didn't really have anything against religion.  All this time, I was studying in Bible College and he certainly didn't hate me.  He picked up on the fact that either they didn't like me or that they didn't like dogs.  Its terrible when people who are Christians don't like animals.  How can you love the creator and despise His creation?

Verses For The Week

 Philippians 4:4 -- "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice."

Nehemiah 8:10 -- "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

The Weekend Sermon -- Advent -- "Jesus Brings Peace"

    Welcome again to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that if you are one of my US readers that you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I went to a buffet for dinner, and I had a really good meal and a wonderful time. I hope that all of the rest of you are doing very well. 

     Last week, we started our sermons for the Advent season by looking at the hope and help that Jesus brought to the world through his Incarnation. We also looked into the fact that just as people waited in anticipation for the first Advent, we as believers today are looking for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.

     Today, we will focus our attention on the fact that the coming of Jesus into this world has brought about peace. Now let me get something out in the open right away. There are a lot of people and nations in this world who have since the time of Jesus' coming claimed to follow Him. Many of them have been among the most warlike people and nations in the history of the world. These are so called followers of Jesus. In my opinion, these are like what James talked about. They have a profession of faith, but they do not have a true possession of faith. If they did, they would not have been so warlike and harmed so many often bringing the name of Jesus into the whole mess. All of this doesn't have anything to do with Jesus or what He taught. It is all on His followers not doing what they are supposed to be doing, or using religion for their own ends. 

     When the birth of Jesus was announced two thousand years ago, the angels announced the message of peace on earth to the shepherds who were abiding in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. The Incarnation of Jesus into this world brought peace in two different ways. 

     First of all, Jesus coming into this world introduced to the one who Isaiah called the Prince of Peace. The teachings of Jesus if they were followed in the way that He intended would bring about peace on this earth. Jesus came to teach people that they needed to love their neighbor, and He went so far as to say that we are to love our enemies. Jesus taught that we are to treat others in the same way that we want to be treated. He taught us the way of nonviolent resistance to those who would exploit others. He also taught us that people and nations should concentrate their efforts on doing good to the least among us as if we were doing it unto Him. 

     Jesus coming into this world also brought about peace in a different way. His coming allowed us to have peace with God. By coming to this world and being the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world, Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. He dealt with sin. Through His resurrection, He dealt with the consequences of sin. When a person places his faith and trust in the finished and complete work of Jesus Christ, that person is made right with God. Their sins are taken away and they receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. When God looks at those who are in Christ, He does not see a sinner, He sees a person clothed in the righteousness of His dearly beloved Son. 

     Jesus and His forgiveness gives us life and gives us peace within our hearts that can only come from having a personal relationship with Him. Jesus left us His peace. We have peace knowing that He is always with us, and we have peace knowing that He has prepared a place for us so that we can be with Him forever. 

     Now, Jesus coming into this world also brings an ultimate and forever peace to the universe. This will come to a consummation when Jesus returns. When He comes again, He will rule and reign over all the earth. There will be no more war. Nation will no longer rise against nation. People will turn their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Each man will sit under his own vine as the Scripture says, and no one shall make him afraid. 

     Jesus brings peace. He can bring peace to your heart now and in the future. It all begins by trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let Jesus bring peace to your heart. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Next week, I have to go to the doctor to see why I am still having so much trouble. Please pray for me in this regard. Thank you. 

     Please keep praying for peace. Ukraine and Sudan are at the forefront of my mind. We need to keep praying for peace in Israel, Gaza and the entire Middle East. Pray that there is not a war in Venezuela.

     Remember to pray for those who are recovering from natural disasters. Pray for those in the Caribbean and those in Asia who are still suffering. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Gambia and Qatar. Pray that many will come to know Jesus and His peace. 

     Next week, we will continue with our Advent messages. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and I will post the next chapter of the book on Wednesday. May God bless you all.