Weekend Sermon -- "A Reflection On Life"

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. I hope that everyone is enjoying the week. I want to once again thank the Lord for the opportunity to post the message. 

     Today, we are going to take a break from the series we are in engaged in the the Gospel of Mark because I want to focus on some of the things that have been going on in my life and how maybe that might be an encouragement to you. 

     If you have read the blog over the course of these last 15 plus years, you know that I have had to overcome a lot of struggles. I have dealt with grief, financial troubles and health issues. Through it all, as I have always told you, Jesus has been with me to help me to make it through both the good times and the bad. I don't know how people make it without Him. 

     At one point in my life, I was down to only eight dollars to my name. I wondered if I was even going to make it. But, the Lord was with me, and I am still here today. 

     Recently, I decided to move on with my life so to speak. I have been living in the house I lived in with my parents over the years. They both passed on to be with the Lord 17 years ago. The old house had begun to be an albatross around my neck filled with black mold and an absolute disaster. I decided to sell it, and move on. Thankfully, the Lord has helped me through this. 

    Over the course of the last few days, I have been thinking about the verse in the book of Joel that tells about God restoring what the locusts have eaten. I feel like that in my life. I was at rock bottom, but I feel more encouraged now. I feel like the Lord is helping me to come back from being so down, and maybe there is a fresh start with better things out there. 

     I said all that to say this. I want you to know that no matter what difficulty you are going through, the Lord Jesus is with you. He will help you to make it through. I don't know that everything you lost at some point in your life will be restored in this life, but I know it will be ultimately. Jesus said that those who follow Him will receive a reward. All will be well for those who are in Christ. 

    Keep trusting in the Lord. We don't always understand why we are going through what we are going through, but the Lord is going before us. He knows the way and the path. Ultimately, that way is to and through Him. Let us all keep pressing on and keep looking to Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying that I will get everything done with the move done successfully. I need to get a different car soon, so pray with me about that. 

     Pray for those in Tibet and Nepal who are dealing with the flood. Pray that aid and help will get to those who need it. 

    Let us continue to pray for an end to the Ebola and cyclospora outbreaks. Pray that those who are sick will recover. 

     Continue to pray for peace. Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan all need our prayers. From what I understand, there is still a lot of violence occurring in Haiti. 

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

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 19:1 -- "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

I Corinthians 10:31 -- "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 7:24-30"

     Thank you for taking the time to read the message. I hope all of you are doing well. I am not feeling all that well, and I would ask for your prayers. I have sold the house and have an apartment lined up, and I think all the stress of moving is weighing on me. Please pray that everything will keep going the way it needs to go according to the will and purposes of the Lord. 

     As I am sure most of you are aware, we have been going through the Gospel of Mark, and today we are going to look at what can be seen as a troubling or difficult passage. Today we deal with Jesus' encounter with the Syrophoenician woman. 

    In this text, we see that Jesus has gone to the region of Phoenicia. He is trying to get away from things for a little bit, but a woman from that area learns that He is there and comes to Him for healing for her daughter who is possessed by a demon. 

    Remarkably, Jesus tells her that it is not right to give the children's bread to the dogs. She replies that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. Amazed at the depth of her faith, Jesus heals and delivers the woman's daughter. 

     What are we to make from this troubling passage? Why would Jesus call this woman a dog which was a derisive name for a Gentile? Why is He acting this way? Let me tell you what I think is the best way to look at this passage.

    In order to fully understand this passage, we have to look at the parallel passage found in Matthew 15:21-28. This passage sets things up a little differently. In this passage the woman is continually calling to Jesus, and He is not answering. She keeps it up, and the disciples are tired of it. They ask Jesus to send the woman away. Finally, Jesus stops and says that He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel. The woman asks for help and when she responds to Jesus as she does in Mark, Jesus amazed at her faith heals her daughter. 

    In this passage, if we combine the two to make a whole, here is what I believe is happening. Jesus came to save the world. John makes it clear that God loved the whole world that is why He sent His only begotten Son. Many in Jesus' day thought that the message of the Lord was only for one group of people. The disciples were like that, and Jesus was expressing their opinion. He waited to help the woman to see if the disciples would be moved with compassion and ask Him to help her. When they didn't, Jesus jumped in.

    Jesus tested the woman's faith in order to demonstrate to the disciples that people of all types can have faith in Him. The woman demonstrated a strong and powerful faith. 

    What does this have to teach us? First of all, this passage shows that we as the people of God are to reach out with His love to all people. Not just one group of people are to be the recipients of the love and goodness of the Lord. His love is to all people, all groups everyone and everywhere. And, we have the responsibility to share the love of the Lord with all. 

    The other thing that I want to really reiterate from this passage is the great compassion and love of the Lord Jesus. Jesus loves you and He cares about you no matter who you are or where you come from. His love is great and available to all who will come to Him. Whoever comes to Him, He will not cast them out. May His name be praised. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray about my moving and transitioning in housing process. This is harder than I thought. 

     Keep praying for an end to the Ebola a Cyclospora outbreaks. 

    Pray for and end to war in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and around the world. 

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

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week and An Update

    First the update. An answer to prayer. I found a new home. Thank you. 

I Peter 5:7 -- Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." 

Matthew 6:11 -- "Give us this day our daily bread."

Update and prayer request

     I am not posting the verses or sermon this week. They will resume in September. I am busy with selling the house and moving.  Please pray I will get the apartment I have applied for. Thank you. 

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 7:1-23"

    Thank you for joining me for the message again this week. It is always a privilege and a pleasure to post these messages. I hope that everyone is doing OK. 

     We finally made it through Mark 6 last week, so that means we start chapter 7 this week. Our passage today is long, but it contains two core messages. 

     The religious leaders of Jesus' day were always trying to trap Him or get Him in trouble so as to discredit Him in the eyes of the people. On this occasion, they observed that Jesus' disciples did not do the ritual hand washing before they ate. They saw this as a grave violation, and they brought it to Jesus' attention. 

     Jesus used their criticism to launch a message about what was really important. He started by telling them about the importance of really following the way of the Lord verses simply following a tradition. Jesus used the example of the religious leaders saying that if something had been pledged to God they couldn't even use it to help their father or mother. Jesus said that this was a clear violation of the commandment to honor father and mother in the Ten Commandments. 

     Jesus made it clear that what goes into a person from the outside is not what spiritually defiles a person. On the contrary, what defiles a person are the actions that are manifested from a spirit that is not aligned with the Spirit of the Lord.  Jesus then finished His discourse by saying what the behaviors were that demonstrated the true defilement that comes from within. These include greed, slander and arrogance. 

     The first thing I want to point out in Jesus teaching is what He said about people following traditions instead of the clear teachings of the word. There is a lot of that that goes on today. People condemn others and make rules and regulations that don't have any basis in the Scriptures. 

     In the churches I grew up in as a boy, the tradition that was taught and enforced is that is was wrong for a man to have longer hair or a beard. There is nothing in the Bible about this. It is man made rules. Also, many churches I knew back then had a rule or tradition that the pastor had to be married. This is actually in contradiction to the teachings of Jesus and Paul. 

     What we need to do in our lives is to concentrate on putting into practice the things actually taught by the Lord. We could all do well to live according to the Golden Rule and the Great Commandment and the second commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself. If we would focus on those, the other things would all fall into place. 

     I also want to point out what Jesus was saying about what defiles a person. There aren't many places in the Gospels where Jesus outlines things that are sinful. This is one passage. Jesus says clearly, that adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly are sins. We would all do well to heed the words of Jesus and make sure that these behaviors are not a part of our lives. When Jesus speaks about things like this, we need to pay very close attention. 

     If we focus on following the exact and clear teachings of the Lord Jesus, we will not go or be led astray. Let us all follow Him and His Way until we see Him face to face. 

Prayer Requests

     I have sold my house, and things are progressing. However, I am having an issue finding a new place to stay. I get the money for the sale on Monday. Then, I am going full bore into finding a place. Please pray I will find one quickly. 

     Keep praying for an end to Ebola and Cyclospora outbreaks. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Remember to keep praying for peace. The Middle East and Ukraine and Sudan all need our prayers. 

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

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday, and for the message we will continue in Mark. May God bless you all.  

Verses For The Week

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 --"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

Galatians 6:9 -- "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 6:45-56"

     Thank you again for reading the sermon this week. I really do enjoy posting these messages, and I hope that you get something from reading them. I am particularly enjoying going through Mark as this is the first time on the blog I have gone through a Gospel chapter by chapter and verse by verse. 

     As I am sure you are aware, we are studying through Mark. Today, we are going to be finishing up chapter 6. We have been in chapter six for quite some time. 

     In our passage for today, we see the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. Jesus had just performed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. The crowd had dispersed. The disciples got into some boats to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. However, Jesus did not join them. Instead, He went out into a lonely place in order to spend time in prayer. 

     During the course of their trip, the disciples ran into a big wind and they had to row against it in order to make progress on their journey. While they were rowing, Jesus was walking along the water. He was going to go right by them, but He heard the disciples cry out in fear because they thought that He was a ghost. 

     Jesus told them it was Him, and that they did not need to be afraid. He came over and got into the boat, and immediately the winds and the waves died down. The disciples were amazed. They still didn't understand who Jesus really was. 

     When they all came to the other side, the people were wanting to see Jesus. Whoever even touched His garment were healed and delivered. 

     The first lesson I believe that we have from this story is that Jesus is able to overcome the problems and storms of our lives. In this story, Jesus walked right on the stormy waters. He was able to calm the raging seas. 

     There are a lot of bad things that we go through in this life. We can face sickness, depression, loneliness and financial devastation. Jesus has the power to help us to make it through all of the things that life can throw at us. He delivers us through the storms of this life. 

     One way or another. Now, or in eternity, we will be delivered by the power of the Lord if we are in Him. Nothing can separate us from Him. Things may look bleak and dark, but He has the power to make sure that we will ultimately be with Him for all eternity. 

     While we are here on this earth, Jesus tells us to not be afraid. He is looking out for our best interests. He is helping us, leading us and showing us the way. He is guiding us in the way that is right for us until we see Him face to face in that place that He has gone to prepare for those who love Him. 

     We are in His hands. We need not fear. Jesus has the power, and His love and presence will get us through. 

     The final thing I want to point out today is that Jesus cared about everyone. The people came from all over and He ministered unto them. He loved everyone, and He loves you. He understands what you are dealing with. He is Savior, Lord and King. What is so amazing is that He wants to be with us and help us. He cares. Amen. 

    Prayer Requests. 

     Please keep praying about the house sale. Pray that everything will go right. Thank you. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine is where I want us to focus our prayers this week. 

     Remember to keep praying for an end to the Ebola and cyclospora outbreaks. 

     Pray for those dealing with natural disasters. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that the need. 

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

     Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses for the week on  Tuesday. May God bless you all.  

Verses For The Week

      Hebrews 9:24 -- "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one, He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 

     Philippians 3:20 -- "But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 6:30-44"

      Thank you once again for reading the message for the week. I hope you have all had a good week of serving the Lord and enjoying the good things in this life. 

     If you have been with the blog for a little while, you know that we are currently in a series of messages on the Gospel of Mark. We are right now in chapter 6. 

     Today, our focus is going to be on an event that is recorded in all four of the Gospels which is the feeding of the five thousand. It has a lot to teach us on a multitude of different levels. 

     Our text for the day tells us that Jesus was preaching to a great crowd of people. They had been listening to Him all day. They needed to get something to eat, and the disciples wanted them to disperse and get some food. However, Jesus told them to give the people something to eat. Of course, they didn't have enough, but Jesus performed a miracle whereby even a small amount of food was enough to feed 5,000 people. It was a truly profound miracle. 

     The first thing I want to point out about this parable is why it is included in all of the Gospels. It is the only miracle in all four. Why is it so important to warrant this? It is because what it is demonstrating about the person and work of Jesus. 

     In His Sermon on the Mount when Jesus reinterprets the law, He is showing that He is greater than Moses the lawgiver. In this miracle, He is doing that again but in a different way. While Moses was leading the people in the wilderness, manna came from Heaven and fed the people. But Moses is not the one who gave the bread to the people. 

    In this miracle, by His power as God come in the flesh, Jesus is the one who gives the people bread in the desert. He is greater than Moses, as He is the source of sustenance. 

    There is also something very spiritual going on with this miracle. It shows that Jesus is the Bread of Life and the one that can provide what is necessary to sustain a person's soul. He Himself is the Bread that has come down from Heaven. He is the one who gives His life, His love and His forgiveness as true spiritual food. He truly is the Way, the Truth and Life. Only Jesus can provide what is necessary for abundant life now and in the world to come. 

    Now, there are a couple of other things I would like to point out in regard to this passage. Jesus tells the disciples that they are to give people something to eat. This works on both the physical and the spiritual level. 

    As followers of Jesus, we have the obligation to help to meet the physical needs of the poor and the hurting who are in this world. We have to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We have to help people to have what they need to have the kind of life Jesus would want all people everywhere to have. That is one of our primary duties and one of the primary duties of the church working in this world. 

    We as Jesus' followers also have the duty to share His message and tell others that Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the one who can forgive them and save them from their sins. He is the one who is able to deliver us from death, hell and the grave. We are to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and teach people about who Jesus is and what He has done. 

    Let each of us receive the blessings of the Lord. Let us share with others the goodness of the Lord. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying that all will go well with the house sale and with me finding a new place. Thank you for your prayers. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar and Sudan all need our prayers. 

     Pray for those suffering as a result of natural disasters. Pray that they will receive the aid and help they need. People in Venezuela, Japan, Spain, Canada and France all need our prayers. 

     Remember to pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak and the Cyclospora outbreak in US. 

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

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Luke 9:23 -- "Then He said to them all, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me."

Ephesians 5:15 -- "be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 6:14-29"

      I want to start the blog today with some good news. I have sold the house. I am thankful to the Lord for this. I am ready for a fresh start. It is time for me to do something else with my life. Thank you for taking the time to read the blog today.

     In our passage for today, a couple of different things are happening. We know from last week that Jesus and His disciples were preaching and teaching and bringing a ministry of healing and deliverance to the people. This caught the attention of Herod. 

     This was not the Herod of the birth narratives of Jesus. It was one of his sons. He was aligned with the Romans. He heard the message of Jesus just as the other people in the region. Many of them felt that Jesus was a great prophet or teacher. However, Herod was convinced that it was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod was responsible for his death. 

     Earlier, John had been preaching and telling Herod that it was not right for him to be married to his brother's ex wife. This made Herod's wife angry, and John was thrown into the prison. 

     One night, Herod had a great party. Herodias' daughter came and danced before Herod and his guests. Herod was so pleased that he offered to give her up to half his kingdom. The young woman consulted with her mother who despised John the Baptist. She asked for his head to be brought to her on a platter. John was executed, and his body was taken away by his disciples. 

    So, what are we to get out of this for our lives today? First of all, the reaction of the people to the message of Jesus. They viewed Him as a prophet like one from long ago, or more specifically, Elijah. They were not yet willing, or they did not yet comprehend, that Jesus was the Messiah. He was the one promised by the prophets. He had come to save His people from their sins. They were impressed with His message, but they didn't understand everything about Him. 

    There are still many people like that in our world today. They know about Jesus, and they are impressed by Him, but they will not acknowledge that He is God come in the flesh. They will not acknowledge that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that no one can come to the Father except through Him. One day, everyone will know, and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

     Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist. He was having deep guilt over what he had done, and rightly so. John was a bold preacher of righteousness. He called out the sin of the leader without fear. We need people like John today. Being a bold preacher of good and right cost John his life, but he now has a far better existence with the Lord. 

     Herod is a great example of what a person should not be like. He had no backbone. He was lustful, rash and brash. When caught in an error, he was not able to correct his error because he had to big of an opinion of himself. When he was asked for John's head, he should have refused. It was an over the top request, and he knew it. However, he didn't have the courage to end up doing the right thing. 

    Let us not be those who speak and promise rashly. Let us definitely be those who are willing when we realize that we have made a mistake that we are willing to correct it. Also, let each of us acknowledge the truth about Jesus. He is God and man. He is the Messiah. He is Savior. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please pray that the house deal goes good. Pray that I will know God's will in every step from this point on. Thank you. 

     Let us keep praying for peace. We need peace throughout the Middle East. We need peace in Sudan and Ukraine.  Pray for peace and calm in Haiti. 

    Keep praying for aid and help for the people of Venezuela. 

    Pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak and the cyclospora outbreak in the US. 

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

    Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday. We will continue in our current series in Mark. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

      Ecclesiastes 3:1 -- "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

     Philippians 4:13 -- "For I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 6:7-13"

      This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for reading the message this week. I hope that everyone is doing well. 

     Last week, we saw that Jesus went to His hometown of Nazareth. The people there did not want to listen to Him. A few people did have faith, but not many. Most rejected Him as the carpenter who is just someone who grew up here. 

    Jesus, rejected by His hometown, went out to the other surrounding villages and began to preach and to teach and heal those who came or where brought to Him. He had many who did want to hear His message of love and forgiveness. Many came to be healed in body, mind, soul and spirit. 

     One of Jesus' missions while on this earth was to train up those who would carry on His message when He returned to the Father. He had disciples that He decided to send out two by two into the villages to preach and teach. Jesus told them to go without money and with just the clothes they had on. They should stay in the home of the one who offered and not travel from house to house. He said that if the people didn't want to listen to shake the dust off your feet and go to the next place. 

    The disciples went out and preached a message of repentance. Many were healed of their sicknesses, and demons and evil spirits were cast out. 

     What can we learn from Mark today? First of all, we have all been sent by Jesus to spread His message. Jesus sent out His messengers then, and He is sending us out into the world today. Our job is to tell others of the love, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus. We also have the mission of helping to deliver people from those things that are hindering them spiritually and physically. We can help feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We can be the ones that share the love of the Lord in a multitude of ways in a world that is truly in need of His life-changing message. 

    I remember when I was doing a lot of evangelism work that we often went out two by two just as Jesus did. We can go out that way today and tell others about Jesus. In our day and age, I believe that we will be most effective in sharing the message of the Lord by telling those in our circle of influence about what faith in Jesus has meant in our lives. We have a mission field so to speak with our own family, friends and circle of influence. 

     What I would like each of us to do is to find some way to tell others about the Lord Jesus. It might be through writing like I do here on the blog. It might be through music or the arts. It might be through conversations that you have that will allow you to bring up the words of the Lord about a given situation. We all need to find some way to get the message out to others. 

    I am convinced that one of the best ways to share the love of Jesus is by being a consistent testimony of the values of Jesus. When we are people of love and goodness in this harsh world, people will see that Jesus and His love and life are in us. People will see that we are acting like Jesus, and they will want to know more about the one who has influenced the course of our life and actions. 

     I also believe that by working to make this world a better place, we are helping to spread the message of Jesus. Jesus cared for everyone. He said that He had come to preach good news to the poor. He wants us to be the ones in His stead who help others and work to change things for the better in His name. When we seek to make a difference in the name of Jesus, we are giving them the message of the power of Jesus for good and right. 

    This week, let each of us tell others about who Jesus is and what He has done. Let us strive in all things to bring glory to His name so that others might know Him and the power of His resurrection. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

    I am about ready to sign the contract to sell my house. Please pray that I will have wisdom in all this. It is hard. Also, please pray for me regarding my deep depression that I am in. I am having a very hard time. Please pray for me. 

     Let us pray for an end to the parasite Cyclospora infection in many parts of the US right now. 

     Pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak. 

     Keep praying for aid and help to reach the people in Venezuela. 

     Pray for peace throughout the Middle East, in Ukraine and in Sudan. 

     For our prayer focus countries, this week we will pray for those in China and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. I am currently working on my new commentary on I John. Hopefully, I can post that in a few week. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Isaiah 43:18-19 -- "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See! I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and springs in the wasteland."

James 1:5 -- "If any of you lacks wisdom. you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 6:1-4"

     Thank you for taking time this week to read the message. I am not feeling at all well, so please pray for me. I am also trying to sell my house and I need wisdom on all this. I hope all of you are doing well. Today, the message will not be that long. 

    As we have been going through the Gospel of Mark, we have now made our way to chapter 6. In our verses this week, we learn that Jesus decided to go back to His hometown of Nazareth to teach and to perform miracles. 

    After Jesus' teaching, the people in the town were upset. They said things like He is the carpenter and we know His family right here. They wondered how Jesus came up with His teachings, and they were offended by Him. 

    This all shocked Jesus. He said that a prophet had honor everyone except in his own hometown and amongst his own people including his family. Jesus was not able to perform many miracles in Nazareth, but He did lay hands on a few sick people and heal them. Jesus then went on to the next place where the people were more receptive to what He had to say. 

    I have a personal connection to what Jesus is saying in this passage. When I became a minister, people that I was closely associated with didn't want to listen to me. They tried to discount anything that I might say about theology and the wrongs in the world from a Biblical perspective. I do not really know why this phenomenon exists, but I experienced it and I am well aware of others who have experienced it as well.

    In my case, the biggest pushback always came whenever I tried to provide a Biblical perspective on war, poverty, or nationalism. What do you know about it would be the general retort. Sometimes, like my folks, they just didn't want to listen and kept on doing their thing in their way. I felt in the early days of my ministry, my only real ally was my friend Toby. However, I knew and know what God has called me to do no matter what others think. Because of this, I have persevered.  

    Jesus couldn't believe that people would not want to listen to Him or His message. However, He did not let it get Him down. Not everyone in the town rejected Him. He found some people who did have faith and came to Him in order to be delivered from their infirmities. If a person keeps on spreading the message of love and goodness and the message of the Lord, there will be some who will listen. 

     I want to encourage you today to always do what God has called you to do know matter what your friends or family or people in your hometown say about it. Keep serving the Lord. Don't let their negativity destroy the positive and good things that God wants to do in and through you. 

    Because I did not let others get me down and ruin my ministry, I have been able to preach, teach, write, evangelize and speak up for God and the things of God. Others didn't think I could do it. I received only discouragement. However, I knew and know what Jesus wanted and wants me to do. That is all I can do is follow Him to the best of my ability. That is what you need to do too. Do not be discouraged. 

    When you go full out for the Lord, He will go with you. He will not leave you. Amen. 

Prayer Request

     Please keep praying that I will get to feeling better. As I write this message, I am not doing well at all. I do thank you for your prayers. 

    Keep praying that Venezuela will get the aid and the help that they need to recover from the devastation of the earthquake. 

    Remember to keep praying for the end of the Ebola outbreak. 

    Pray for peace. Things aren't looking great in the Middle East, and Ukraine and Sudan still need our prayers. 

    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 I Corinthians 2:9 -- "But, as it is written, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Revelation 21:4 -- "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall their be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for all the former things have passed away."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 5:25-34"

      I thank the Lord for giving me this chance to post the message once again. I hope that all of you are having a really good week. I am doing pretty good. 

     Last week, we looked into the account in Mark of the healing of Jairus' daughter. Today, we want to look at the healing encounter Jesus had right in the middle of that story. 

     As Jesus was traveling to the house of Jairus to heal his daughter, there was a great crowd around Him, and they were following Him pressing in on Him from all sides. In that crowd was a woman who had a bleeding disorder for twelve years. She had spent all she could spend on the doctors of her day, and all they had accomplished was to make her condition worse. 

    This woman was determined to get to Jesus. She made her way through and touched Jesus' garment. Jesus perceived that healing power had gone from Him, and He wanted to know who touched Him. He located the woman who I am sure was fearful that Jesus might be mad. Of course, He wasn't. He told her to go in peace as her faith had made her whole. 

    What can we learn from this incident in the life of the Lord Jesus?  The first thing I want us to consider is that the Lord is the helper of the helpless and the hope of the hopeless. This woman had exhausted all she knew to do. She was out of money, and she was getting worse and worse. She needed help and hope, so she went to Jesus. In this, she is an example to us. 

    All of us, no matter who we are, need help from time to time. We get to the end of our rope and we don't know what to do. We have done all that we know to do. We need to go to Jesus. He is the one who will help us in our darkest hour. Even when we have given up hope, He is our hope. 

    Jesus is the ultimate help and hope. He helps us by forgiving our sins and giving us abundant life now and in the place that He has gone to prepare for us. He gives us hope letting us know that through the power of His resurrection, death is not the end. All who have died in Christ will be with Him and with those who have placed their faith and trust in Him. 

    The second thing I learn from this is that this woman did not let anything keep her from getting to Jesus. She was going to at least find a way to touch the hem of His garment. She was determined in her faith. That is how we should be. 

    We should not let the cares of this world and the sins that so easily beset us keep us away from the Lord. We need to be with Him, and we need to stay close to Him. We don't want anything to hinder our communion with our Savior and Lord. 

    Finally, I want to point out that Jesus is the one who sees and cares about even those who others have forgotten. Jesus wanted to know who touched Him because He wanted her to know that He cared about her. The disciples were ready to move on. But Jesus wanted the woman to know that she was seen and loved. 

    Jesus cares about you know matter who you are or were you come from. He loves you no matter your race, ethnicity or socio-economic status. He wants you to know that you are special to Him, and that you are dearly loved. 

    This miracle encounter shows us a compassionate Lord. He cares about us and He loves us. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

    I am trying to sell my house. Please pray that all will go according to the Lord's will. 

    Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak. 

    Pray that those affected by the earthquake in Venezuela will get the aid and the help that they need. 

    Let us pray for safety at the World Cup. 

    Continue to pray for peace. Pray for the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine. 

    For our prayer focus countries, this week we will pray for those in Oman and Suriname. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

    Next week, I will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Romans 14:8 -- "If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

II Corinthians 5:15 -- "And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 5:21-43"

      Thank you for reading the message this week. I have been under the weather this week, so please pray for me. I hope that you are all doing well. 

     Today, we are going to be studying in the book of Mark once again. In our passage for the day, there are actually two different healing accounts. There is the account of the healing of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the woman with the bleeding condition. Today, we are going to focus on the first one, and next week we will focus on the second. 

     Jairus was an official with the synagogue who came to Jesus when his daughter was sick and on death's door. He asked Jesus to come to his house and heal her. Jesus agreed to come, but as they were delayed with the other healing, word came to Jairus that his daughter had died. Jesus told him to keep believing and they continued to the house. 

     When they arrived, the mourners were wailing over the loss of the little girl. Jesus told them that she was just sleeping, and they laughed at Him. Jesus went into the little girls room with Peter, James and John. He told the girl to rise, and she did. He then told them to give her something to eat. 

     For our message today, I want us to focus on the fact that they laughed at Jesus. Why did they do it, and why do people do it today? 

    When Jesus said the little girl was asleep, they laughed at Him. They thought He was crazy, but they were not thinking in the spiritual. Jesus knew that death is not the end. Death for those who believe in Him is like going to sleep and then waking up in His presence forever. There is nothing to fear in death for those who are in Christ. Jesus knew that this little girl was just asleep awaiting her transformation to glory, or in this instance, her resurrection at the word of the Lord. 

    Just as the people laughed at Jesus then, there are people that are doing the same thing today. People laugh at the teaching of Jesus. They think that it is foolish to love your neighbor as yourself. They find it unrealistic to not worry about tomorrow but to trust all things to the Lord. They find in laughable that one should turn the other check and love one's enemies as oneself. The teachings of Jesus are laughed at by many and discounted. 

    Many laugh at and disparage Jesus for claiming to be the only way to the God the Father. Jesus said the He was the way, the truth and life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. People find this offensive, and they laugh at Jesus for thinking and teaching this. They think that there are many ways not just His way. 

    I have met people that find it laughable that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin. In fact, I encountered one such person today. He laughed when I told him that those who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus will be with Him when they pass away. He found that laughable that anyone should believe such a thing in this day and age. 

    These are just a few of the things that cause people to laugh at Jesus or ridicule Him. In spite of that, Jesus still loves them. He loves the whole world and invites any and all to come to Him so that they might experience the abundant life that only He can give. 

    I hope that you will not reject, laugh at or ridicule Jesus. He is the one who has the words of life. He is the one who has come to seek and save that which is lost. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

    As I mentioned, I am not feeling well and need your prayers. Also, they are calling for flooding in my area. Pray that this does not happen. 

    Keep praying for an end to the Ebola outbreak. 

    Pray for peace. Keep Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, the Middle East and all areas encountering violence in your prayers. 

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

    Next week, we will continue in Mark 5. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 95:3 -- "For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."

Luke 1:50 -- "And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 5:1-20"

     It is once again time for the Weekend Sermon. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I hope that you are all well. 

     We are in Mark once again this week. We are starting a new chapter, and I have to say, this is a story that has some difficulties in it. I will tell you what I think. Some may not agree. That is OK. 

     As we saw last time, Jesus and His disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake. They had now come to the area of the Gerasenes which was a Gentile area. When Jesus and those with him got out of the boat, they were met by a man who was violently demon possessed. He spent his time among the tombs and could not be contained even when chained up. He/the demons asked not to be tormented. 

    Jesus asked the demon his name, and they said Legion because there were many of them. Jesus commanded them to leave the man. The demons asked to be allowed to go into a herd of pigs grazing nearby. Jesus gave them permission, and when the pigs realized they were possessed they ran themselves off the cliff into the lake. 

    The man was free, but the people of the area didn't care. They asked Jesus to basically get out of town. 

    The man who was freed asked Jesus to let Him follow Him. However, Jesus said no. He told the man to go and tell others what God had done for Him. And that is what the man did. 

    So, what are we to make of all this? What is the lesson for us today? First of all, did this man actually have thousands of demons in him? The Bible is clear that he did, so I will go with that. However, this story is using symbolism to make a much broader point. 

    When Jesus asked the demon its name it said Legion. This is a direct reference to Rome. Rome was introducing the worship of idols into the entire area. That area where Jesus was was a hotbed for idolatrous religious practice which used pigs as a sacrificial animal. 

    By casting out a demon or demons named Legion, the story is letting us know that Jesus and His message is more powerful than the evil forces of the Roman Empire as well as more powerful than even a legion of thousands of demons. No power of evil can withstand the power of the Lord. 

     Now to the pigs. Did Jesus directly send the demons into the pigs? He did not. Also, the demons did not drive the pigs into the sea. The pigs did it themselves to prevent the demons from possessing them. Some will disagree with this interpretation. 

    The pigs are in this story to demonstrate the power of the Lord over the power of the gods worshipped by the Romans and other pagan peoples. They were left with nothing to sacrifice. 

    The reaction of the townspeople is also highly symbolic. Their reaction shows us the attitude of so many who care about profit over people. They were more worried about the bottom line of their loss of profit now that their pigs were gone than the fact that a man was freed from torment. They were also afraid of Jesus, and they wanted Him gone. 

    People today who care more about profit over people have the same attitude. They do not want to be confronted by the Jesus who calls us to care for the least of these. 

    Now, what about the man wanting to follow Jesus? Jesus said no. Why? Jesus wanted him to be His witness to his own people. And who could have been better? He was a walking and talking testimony to the transforming power of God's grace. 

    This account has a lot to teach us. Jesus has more power than any power of darkness. When we are in Christ Jesus, we are safe in Him. No power of hell can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus will be the ultimate victor over every force of evil and darkness. It cannot and will not stand. 

    Our job as believers in Jesus is to care about people and to love others. We are to tell others about the wonderful things that the Lord has done for us so that their lives might be transformed by His forgiveness, love and grace. Amen

Prayer Requests

    Unless something changes, I am about ready to sell my house. Please pray for me. 

    Please pray for my sister-in-law as she is recovering from an operation. 

    Continue to pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak as well as hantavirus. 

    Keep praying for peace. Pray that peace comes in the Middle East situation and that the peace holds. We need to keep praying for peace in Ukraine and in Sudan. 

    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Uzbekistan and Cambodia. Pray that many will come to know the love of the Lord. 

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

     

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 33:18 -- "But the eyes of the Lord are on all who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. "

Jeremiah 17:7 -- "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 4:35-41"

     Today is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for reading the message. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post it. 

     We are back in the Gospel of Mark this week. We are going chapter by chapter and verse by verse through this book to see what the Lord would have us to learn. 

     For our message today, we are going to focus on the account of Jesus calming the storm. After the Lord had had an extended period of ministry, He told His disciples that He wanted to go over to the other side of the lake. This was the sea of Galilee, so it would have been about a seven mile trip give or take. 

     Jesus was in one boat, and there were other boats going over to the other side as well. Jesus went over and went to sleep. He was exhausted from ministering to all the people, and He was sleeping very soundly. 

    As they were making there way over to the other side, a huge storm came up. The waves were large and water was coming into the boats so much so that they feared they might drown. All the while, Jesus was still asleep. 

     Deeply troubled, the disciples woke Jesus up and asked if He even cared about the fact that they were drowning. Jesus got up and said, "Peace! Be still!". The winds and the waves quieted down right away. Jesus asked them why they didn't have any faith. 

    This astonished the disciples who wondered who Jesus was. Even the wind and the waves obeyed His commands. 

    So, what does this all mean for us living today? The first thing I want to focus on is the disciples wondering if Jesus even cared during the midst of the storm. Many of us wonder about this when we are facing the trials and difficulties that we encounter in our lives. We are really hurting, and we wonder if Jesus even cares what happens to us. 

    Jesus does care. In this account, Jesus wondered where was the disciples' faith. He was not going to let something happen to them. They needed to trust in Him that with Him in their midst, all was going to go just as it should go. He had it all under control. 

    When we are facing hard times and difficulties, we need to rest in the knowledge that Jesus does know and care. The Bible tells us that we can cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. We have not been left alone. Jesus said that He would never leave us, and He will not forsake us. When we are anxious, we can turn to Him and ask Him to help us make it through and to make a way where there is no way. 

     Jesus is the one who has the power to stop the storms in our lives. He told the waves to be at peace and be still. When we are facing hard times, Jesus is the one who speaks peace into our hearts. He gives us the awareness of His presence. We can rest in His promises. No matter what befalls, He is watching over us and doing all things in accordance with His will. We don't have to have anxiety with the peace of the Lord that passes all understanding within our hearts. 

    When facing hardships, Jesus is the one who can provide the fix and the answer. He is the one who has all power in Heaven and on earth. We don't need to go to others to get the answer to the problem, Jesus is the answer. He has the power. Look to Him and Him only. 

     The disciples wondered who this man was. Jesus was and is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. The Eternal Son of the Father. The God man. All things were created by Him, through Him and for Him. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is on our side. He is our peace. He is our Rock. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am getting ready to sell my house. I need wisdom from the Lord on this. Please pray for me. 

    Pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Pray that those who are sick will make a full recovery. 

     Keep praying for peace. Pray for peace between US and Iran. Pray for peace in Lebanon and Gaza. Pray for peace in Sudan and Ukraine. Wherever there is war, let there be peace. 

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

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Isaiah 46:9 -- "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like me."

Psalm 143:5 -- "I remember the days of old, I meditate on all that you have done, I ponder the works of your hand."

The Weekend Sermon -- Mark 4:26-34

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. This has been a very busy week for me. I have a lot going on, and I will ask for your prayers on some matters latter. I do hope and pray that all of you are doing well. 

     We are back in Mark this week studying what the Lord has to teach us through this Gospel. In our passage for today, we have Jesus comparing the Kingdom of God to sowers and seeds and to mustard seeds. 

     In the first illustration, Jesus says that the Kingdom is like a man sowing seeds. He does not know how the seed grows, but it does and produces fruit. In the second illustration, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is a tiny seed, but from that tiny seed a large plant grows. 

     What does this have as far as a meaning for us today? Let's look at the first illustration. I believe that Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God is built on this earth by those of us who follow the Lord. What do I mean? We are the ones who have to be out planting the seeds. What are the seeds? First and foremost I believe that the seed being planted is the word of the Lord being sown into peoples' hearts. The seed is sown and planted when we tell others about the fact that they can have a life-changing relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

    Seed is also sown when we do good in this world. When we feed the hungry and clothe the naked and help those who are in distress we are sowing seeds that help to build the Kingdom of God. 

     Now, we have to be careful. We are the ones who are sowing the seed. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that gives the increase. He is the one who changes people's hearts and lives. Not by might. Not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. We can do nothing in our own strength nor through our own effort. It is the Spirit working in and through us. 

     The second illustration I think is a little different. I believe what Jesus is saying here is that the Kingdom of God begins like a tiny seed such as a mustard seed. That tiny seed is planted and then sprouts and becomes a huge bush. Who would have believed it!

     That is what the Kingdom of God is like. It has a small beginning. First of all it had the small beginning in the Upper Room, and now the Gospel has gone around the world. Also, when we spread the message and sow the seeds, it may seem like a small thing. But God, in His power uses that small thing and makes something great. 

    So, what is the take away from all this? We have to be out sowing the seed and doing the work of the Kingdom all the time. What we are doing may not seem like a lot in the scheme of things. However, the Holy Spirit by His power takes what we do and does great and mighty things by His power. It is our job to do what we can, and we rely on the Spirit's power the whole way. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I am probably going to sign a contract to sell my house next week. Please pray for me in this matter. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I need your prayers. I need to find out just what I am supposed to do in the next portion of my life. Pray that I will know the Lord's will in all things. 

     Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Keep praying for those affected by natural disasters. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

     Pray for peace. Ukraine, Sudan, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza all need to be at peace.

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

     Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Remembering -- To You Old Friend

      This week marks for me a terrible anniversary. This week it will be thirty years since my best friend Toby passed away. I can hardly believe it, and I can hardly stand it. I am having a really hard time with the whole thing I have to admit. I miss him more each day. 

     On this anniversary I want to say a couple of things. First of all, Thank you Lord for bringing the two of us together. Neither one of us would have made it if you hadn't made it all happen. 

     Toby. Thank you for all the years of joy and fun. I love you and miss you. 

     I know that he is in heaven with my mom and dad. I don't have any doubt about that. I know we will be together again someday. It is just hard right now. If was still alive, my life would be so different and so much better now. 

     Jesus and a corgi dog named Toby made my life all that it is today. Without the Lord I am nothing. Without Toby I would not be here today. I hope we can be together soon. 

Verses For The Week

 I Peter 4:8 -- "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

I Corinthians 16:14 -- "Let all that you do be done in love."

The Weekend Sermon -- Mark 4:24-25

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. I am trying to get back on track. There have been so many storms and other difficulties. A lot has been going on. Hopefully, we can stay on track with our study of Mark. I hope and pray that you are all doing well. 

     Our verses for today present us with more difficulty than one might think. Depending on which version of the New Testament you are reading, you get a different reading in many of them. After reading many different ones in preparation for this message, I think the text of the New Living Translation gets at what Jesus is saying. It reads, "Then He added, Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given -- and you will receive even more. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

     What Jesus is saying hear the way I understand it is that our growth spiritually is dependent on hearing and doing what He has said. When we do listen to Him and follow Him, we will grow and learn and we will receive more understanding and grow in the Lord. On the other hand, if we do not listen and practice the teachings and the commandments of Jesus, we will not grow spiritually. In fact, those who do not listen to the Lord will face condemnation. 

     We can see this in a way with a none spiritual example or two. When I was in college, we were presented with the facts of a course. What you got out of the course would pretty much be in line with the effort you put in. If you used the course information as a springboard to learn more about the subject, you would get more out of the experience than those who just wanted to get through it and get the grade. After the course was over, they more or less forgot about it. 

     Human relationships are like this. If we put in the effort of knowing and understanding another person, we will have a better and a deeper relationship. If we don't, at best we will just have a very superficial friendship. 

     So, what does this all mean? The way I see it is that we need to be those who are committed to hearing and implementing the teachings of Jesus. When we hear His words and do what they tell us to do, we grow closer to the Lord Jesus. We then learn more about Him and we keep becoming more and more like Him for His honor and glory. 

     James tells us about this. He admonishes his readers to be doers of the word and not forgetful hearers only. 

     We have to be committed to reading and studying the Word of the Lord. We need to be passionate about obeying the Lord and following His teachings and commandments. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I need your prayers on two important things. I am seriously considering selling my house. Pray that things will go well in this manner. Also, pray about my job. It isn't great there right now. 

     Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, Sudan and the entire Middle East area need our prayers. I am so tired of all the war and fighting. 

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

     Next week, I we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 105:2 -- "Sing to Him, sing praise to Him, tell of all His wonderful acts."

Psalm 101:1 -- "I will sing of Your love and justice, Lord I will sing praise."

Weekend Sermon -- A Message From Several Years Back

      This has been a really hard week. We have had bad storms again. I am just going to post a message from the past this week. Please pray that things will get better. Thank you. Also, keep praying for peace.

  Today, I want to talk about the compassion of Jesus.  While He was ministering on this earth, Jesus showed His compassion for people in a number of different ways.  Let's look today at the places where the Scriptures say that Jesus demonstrated compassion.
     The first instance in Scripture that reveals the compassion of Jesus is found in Mark Chapter 1 verse 41.  Jesus is approached by a man who is covered with leprosy.  The leper says to Jesus, "Lord if you are willing, make me clean."  The Bible says that Jesus was moved with compassion, touched the man and healed him.
     This isn't the only instance in Scripture that reveals Jesus' compassion for the sick.  Mark 9:14-29 records Jesus having compassion on a boy who was possessed.
     Matthew 14:44 says that Jesus felt compassion for the people and healed the sick.  And Matthew 20:34 records that Jesus had compassion on two blind men by the side of the road.  Jesus gave them back their sight.
     Jesus had great compassion on the sick and afflicted.  He was deeply moved by the suffering of humanity.  Jesus healed the sick and freed them from their pain.  People who suffered for a lifetime were delivered by the touch of the Savior.
     These instances of Jesus' compassion for the sick mean a lot to me.  I've struggled with illness my entire life.  Sometimes, you feel isolated and that no one cares about your suffering.  When I was a young boy in Christian schools, the kids and teachers often made fun of me because I was sick so much.  I learned that Jesus cared about me.  He loved me and had compassion for me.  He gave me an awareness of His presence letting me know that I was never alone and that He understood what I was going through.
     Unlike the people in the Bible, I was not healed of every affliction.  However, Jesus did heal me of vitiligo.  I know that Jesus will restore me to perfect health when I come into His presence face to face one day.
     Because of much of the emotional suffering that I had to go through at school, I believe that is why Jesus sent Toby to me.  Toby did not leave me when I was sick.  We helped each other.
     Just as Jesus showed His great compassion for those who were sick, we as His followers should do the same.  We should try to help people that don't feel well with their daily needs if at all possible.  If someone can't afford medical care, we as the church should help them out.  We should reach out to the sick and hurting in our circle of influence and around the world.
     One of the great stories of Jesus' compassion is found in Luke 7.  Jesus was traveling around the country when He approached the city of Nain.  As Jesus approached, He encountered a funeral procession for a young man who was the only son of his mother who was a widow.  Jesus saw the boy's mother weeping, and He was moved with compassion.  He told the mother not to cry and then raised her son to live again.  Jesus was moved with compassion at the sight of a grieving mother.
     Many people in our world today are hurting.  They grieve over the loss of a loved one.  It's been three years now since my mom and dad died, and it still hurts me deeply.  Many people is our society suffer from depression and anxiety.  As followers of Jesus, we can be a force of compassion by speaking words of comfort.  We can meet the needs of others by being the best friend that we can be.
     Jesus also demonstrated compassion for the hungry.  Matthew 15:32 says that Jesus had compassion on the multitudes because they had followed Him and now they had nothing to eat.  Jesus took five loaves and two fish and feed 5,000.  Jesus cared that people were hungry.
     Thank God for the compassionate people who work to combat hunger in this country and around the world.  Many churches operate food banks, and I think that every church should do this.  As followers of Jesus, we can donate food, time and resources to help alleviate hunger and food insecurity in this nation.  There are also many excellent groups to support who help feed people across the globe.
     Finally, Jesus showed His compassion on those who needed a Savior and a shepherd for their souls.  Matthew 9:36 says, "And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd."
     Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He came to seek and save the lost.  Jesus will forgive and save from sin anyone who repents and accepts Him into his life as Savior and Lord.
     As His compassionate followers, Jesus calls us to share the message of the Gospel with others.  Jesus calls us to show compassion on the sick, the hurting and the hungry.

Verses For The Week

 Amos 5:15 -- "Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gates."

Romans 12:9 -- "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Jesus Is The Same"

      Welcome to the sermon for this week. I hope that you are all doing well. I have pretty much recovered from the storms. I thank the Lord for His help this week and for giving me the opportunity to post this message. 

     We have been going through the Gospel of Mark. However, I was thinking a lot this week about one of the verses in the Bible that is very meaningful to me, and I want to bring the message based on that verse this week. Lord willing, we will return to our study in Mark next week. 

     A verse that has meant a lot to me over the years is found in Hebrews 13:8. It reads, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Jesus is the same. What does this mean for our lives?

     First, let's look at the context of what this means for the person of Jesus. It means that Jesus is now what He was in the past and He will be that in the future. In other words, Jesus was the divine Second Person of the Holy Trinity the Eternal Son of the Father in eternity past. He was still divine when He was on earth, and He will remain so into eternity future. Jesus is not going to change. He is and was and will be the divine man. God who became man and dwelled among us. 

    This verse also tells me that what Jesus accomplished is going to endure. Jesus completed the work of redemption. His sacrifice is sufficient now, and it will remain sufficient in the future. We can stake our eternity on the finished work of Christ on the cross and in His glorious resurrection.

     Now, this verse also speaks to me on another level. It speaks to me on the level of trust in what Jesus promised. When Jesus was on this earth, He was completely trustworthy. What He said He did. Jesus told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us that where He is we can be there too. Since Jesus was trustworthy then, He is now, and He will be in the future. That means that we can take it to the bank that those who put their faith and trust in Jesus will be with Him in the place that He has prepared for all eternity. 

    My parents and friends who have preceded me in death believed in the Lord and in His promises such as all who come to me I will not cast out. They are with the Lord now. I believe in that because I believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He kept His word, He keeps His word and He always will. We can trust His promises to the max. 

     Jesus also told us that He would never leave us and that He would never forsake us. Our verse today tells me I can count on this forever because of who Jesus is. When I face hard times, Jesus will not abandon me. He will be with me in the good times and in the bad times. He will never leave me by myself. 

     One other thing I want to add. This verse lets me know that Jesus is the same in the way that He cares for people. Jesus demonstrated great compassion while He was on this earth. He cared about even those that others didn't care about and looked down on. Jesus is still the one who is filled with great compassion and caring for all. He will not change. He cares about you and your needs now and He will still care into the future. 

     Jesus is everything to me. He will always be who He said He was. We can trust His promises and His word. And we know that He will always desire and do what is best for those who love Him. Amen. 

Prayer Request

     Right now, I am trying to get out of my house and find somewhere else to live. Please pray that this will work out and that the Lord will help me. 

     Please keep praying for peace. We need peace in the Middle East. We need peace in Lebanon. Pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan. 

     Keep praying for those affected by storms. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

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

     Next week, we will back in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Matthew 5:48 -- "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect."

I Corinthians 15:34 -- "Awake to righteousness and do not sin."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 4:21-23"

     Thank you for reading the message this week. After all of the bad storms and upsets over the last few days, I am trying to get things back on course. I am glad to be able to post the message after all that has happened. Thank you for your prayers on my behalf. 

     We have been studying the Gospel of Mark for some time now, and I want us to pick back up with that today. In our text for today, we have two different ideas going on, and we will focus on both of them. 

     Jesus begins by telling us that the purpose of a lamp or a light is not to be brought out in order to be covered up and hidden. Its purpose is to illuminate the darkness and shine its light into the dark places of a home or building so that people can see. 

     Spiritually, Jesus is telling us as His followers that we are to be the ones who are shining the light of His love and grace and transforming power into this world. We don't want to cover up our light. We don't want to go through our days in this world without people knowing that we are followers of the Lord Jesus. 

     Being people who shine the light I think involves at least two things. First of all, shining the light means sharing the truth of the Gospel with others in this world. It means that we tell others about who Jesus is and what He has done. We tell others about the life changing power of Jesus and how they can know Him and the power of His resurrection. Shining the light means fulfilling the Great Commission. 

     To my way of thinking, shining the light also means that we shine the message of Jesus into the problems and difficulties that this world is facing. For instance, there is much injustice and hurt and oppression in this world. The Lord Jesus had much to say about living in peace and practicing non-violence while at the same time helping others and making the world a better place. Shining the light means telling this world what Jesus would have us do in regard to the issues of the day. We shine the light in this way when we stand against oppression and when we advocate for the poor and the marginalized within this world. 

     Now, there is something else going on in our verses for this week. J.B Phillips was a Bible scholar who did a paraphrase of the Bible several years back. I like how he puts a portion of our text, "There is nothing hidden that is not meant to be made perfectly plain one day, and there are no secrets which are not meant one day to be common knowledge."

     What does this mean? It is in the context of shining the light. One day, all the thoughts and intents of the heart of people will be made clear when Jesus returns as judge and ruler of the universe. The truth about evil, sin and wickedness will be revealed. All will come to light. People are not getting away with anything so to speak. 

     There is also a positive aspect of this statement by Jesus. One day, everyone will know the truth about who He is and what He has done. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

     Let each of us shine the light of the love of the Lord out into the world. Let us make a difference for time and for eternity. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I continue to ask for your prayers. I am having a hard time right now. Please keep praying for me. Thank you. 

     Please continue to pray for peace. Pray that the conflict with Iran will end and pray for peace throughout the Middle East and in Lebanon. Pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan and Myanmar. 

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

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday and we will continue in Mark. May God bless you all. 

My Old Friend

     Today is the birthday of my friend Toby. I miss him now more than ever. I hope that we can be together again soon. I thank the Lord for bringing us together and giving us a lot of good years. 

Verses For The Week And An Update

      Just wanted to give an update on some things that are happening. We have had terrible weather in my area as of late. Last week, a tornado came very near my town and caused some damage. I was not badly damaged, and I thank the Lord for that. Some of my neighbors had quite a bit of damage. Please pray for all who have been affected by storms in my area. I hope to get back on track with the blog this week. Please pray that there will be a lull in the stormy weather. 

Verses

Isaiah 40:29 -- "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Philippians 4:13 -- "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

Weekend Sermon

  I am not doing well this week. I am facing a very hard time and hope you will pray for me. I am going to repost a past message this week. Thank you. 

Welcome to the Weekend Sermon. Thank you for reading the sermon this week, and I thank the Lord for this opportunity.

Over the course of the last few messages, we've been examining some of the characteristics that should be part of the growing Christian's life.

Today, we look at good works. Before we get too deep into the message, I want to clearly state that no one is offered salvation and forgiveness by the Lord based on the performance of good deeds. Ephesians chapter 2 makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. This same chapter also tells us that we are saved unto good works.

James tells us something similar in his epistle. He tells us that, "faith without works is dead." What James is trying to tell us is that a person who has a true possession of faith and not an empty profession of faith will be living a life filled with doing good in the world for the honor and glory of the Lord. 

We always need to look at what Jesus has to say on a subject. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus says, "Let your light shine before men so that they see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." In other words, Jesus is telling us that when we do good deeds in the world, they help point others toward the God who we worship. 

This is exactly what Jesus did while He was ministering here on Earth. Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus went around doing good and freeing those who were opressed by the devil. 

So, what kind of good works should we be doing? Jesus tells us this in Matthew 25. He tells us to do good to those who are the least among us. That means feeding the hungry, providing clothing, visiting sick people and those who are in prison. 

There are many ways that we can do good in this world. There are many hurting people who need us to care about them. This planet and its creatures need someone to care and help. The world needs the help of Christians who will seek the path of peace with justice. 

Another way that we can do good in the world is to tell others about the love of Jesus. This will make a radical difference in the lives of those who turn their lives over to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

This week, let each of us find some way to do what is right and good in this world in the name of Jesus and for His glory. Amen

Verses For The Week

 Proverbs 3:27 -- "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act."

Galatians 6:9-10 -- "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 4:1-20"

     Welcome to this edition of the sermon. These last few days since the last time I posted the sermon have been wild near where I live. A tornado smashed up a little town not far from where I live. A tornado touched down briefly on the road behind the big field in back of my house. Giant hail caused extensive damage to the two biggest cities in my county. There were also numerous tornadoes and storms in other areas not too far away. I thank God that I had no damage. Thank you all for your prayers. I hope that all of you are doing well. 

     This week, we are once again in Mark, and we are starting on chapter four. In our text for the day, Jesus gives us the parable of the Sower and Seeds. 

     Jesus said that a man went out and sowed some seeds in his field. Some of the seed when it fell on the ground was immediately eaten by the birds. Some of the seed started to grow, but it didn't do much. It didn't take root, and the hot weather dried it up fast. There were some other seeds that took root and grew well, but the weeds came up and choked it out so that no crop was produced. Now, there were seeds that sprung up and produced a great crop. 

     The disciples didn't understand the parable, so Jesus explained it to them. Let's look into that. Jesus says first of all that the seed is the word. When the word of the Lord is spoken or given out it is the broadcasting of the message of the Lord to those who would hear. 

     Sometimes, when the word of the Lord and His message of love and forgiveness is preached, people don't want to hear it. They reject the word, or objections are given to make them doubt the word of the Lord. They doubt the love of Jesus, or they deny the truth about who Jesus was and what He did. 

     Then there are those who do receive the message of the Lord Jesus, and they begin to grow. They are like people who start to come to church for awhile, but after a few Sundays, you never see them again. They listened, and they started to understand. However, they were not willing to make a commitment. They wanted to do what they wanted to do. In the end, they rejected the word of the Lord. They decided to not give their heart and soul to the Lord, and they withered away spiritually. 

     The third group spoken of by Jesus in this parable is interesting. They did receive the word. I believe they represent those who do come to know the Lord as Savior. They are growing in the faith and they are making progresses. However, problems start to arise in their lives. They become disillusioned. They backslide and fall into sin. They never produce any fruit. They never accomplish anything for the Lord.  I have seen many people like this who will eventually make the decision not to follow Jesus anymore, and they walk away from the faith. Often this happens when they face a tragic situation in their lives. 

     Thanks be to God, some of the seed produces fruit. There are those who follow the Lord who do great things for the Lord. Their lives produce the fruit of the Spirit. They do unto others as they would have done unto themselves. They love God and their neighbor. They tell others about the life changing power of Jesus Christ. They make a difference for time and for eternity. 

     We want to be two of kinds of people in this parable. We want to be like the one sowing the seed. We need to spread the message of Jesus all over. And we want to be the ones producing fruit. We want to do all that we can to bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Prayer Request

     Please pray for all of those in my area who had so much storm damage. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. Also, more storms are forecast this week, so please pray that they will not be bad. 

     Keep praying for peace. As I write this message, things are still unsettled in the Iran situation and in Lebanon and in the Middle East. I am very distressed about the situation in Lebanon. Please continue to pray for peace in Sudan. That situation is really catastrophic. 

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

     Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 I John 4:16 -- "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."

I Corinthians 16:14 -- "Do everything in love."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 3:22-30"

      Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon for this week. It has been a wild week where I live. A tornado hit the town just south of where I live and did a lot of damage. There was also a tornado just a little to the southwest of where I live. There was no damage in my town. Please pray that those harmed by this storm will be able to get the aid and the help that they need. 

     Last week, we paused our series going through the Gospel of Mark so that we could concentrate on Easter and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Today, we are once again back in Mark. If you remember, I skipped a section and said I would go back to it, and that is what our focus will be on today. 

     Jesus had been healing people and preaching His message of love and forgiveness and the coming of the Kingdom of God. His own family thought something was wrong with Him. The religious authorities did not like Him and wanted to do away with Him. 

     In our text today, the religious authorities go so far as to say that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of the devil. Jesus rebuked them and said to them that a kingdom divided against itself could not stand. He also said that by saying that the devil was at work when it was the power of the Holy Spirit was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and it was the unpardonable sin. 

     For our message today, I want to focus on two things. First, I want to talk about a kingdom divided against itself. In the direct context of our passage, Jesus is speaking about how foolish it would be for the forces of evil to be using Him to defeat them. They would be working at cross purposes. Jesus by defeating the power of evil could not be evil Himself. A power divided against itself will collapse. 

    Now, let us take this and apply it in a different context. Paul in I Corinthians speaks about the church being like one body with many members. Each one has its own role and function in the life of the church. One member cannot go their own way or not function properly otherwise the body will not function properly as a whole. 

    When we are divided and bickering and being hateful to one another in the church, that is not allowing us to get the message of Jesus out into the world. Division causes the message to not reach those who need to be reached and helped. That is why we need to be one in Jesus doing His will and preaching His message. We do this when each of us exercises the gifts of the Spirit given to us by the Lord. 

     Now, let us look into this matter of the unpardonable sin. What is it? I think that from what Jesus said it is claiming that what He was doing in the power of the Spirit was actually a power from the evil one. Why is it unpardonable? If Jesus was not who He said He was, then we have no redemption. There is no pardon for anyone. Plus, to make this claim about the power of the Spirit is to insult the entire Holy Trinity as the Spirit was in the Son and the Spirit came from the Father and the Son. 

     Can a person commit this sin today? I am not sure on this. I think though that Jesus was speaking about this specific occurrence. He was there in the flesh, and yet the religious leaders still accused Him of being in league with the devil. There was really no hope for them. 

     The only way that we can do anything for the Lord is through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Him we live and move, and have our being. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying that I will be able to feel better. I am doing some better. 

     Pray for peace. We need peace in this world. We need an end to wars in Lebanon and Iran and throughout the Middle East. We need peace in Sudan and many other places in Africa. Myanmar needs peace and so does Haiti. 

     Pray for those affected by natural disasters that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

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

     Next week, we will continue in our current series. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week and Prayer Request

      First of all, please pray for the folks in the little town south of where I live. They got hit by a tornado last night, and there is quite a bit of damage. Also, storms are forecast for my area all week. Please pray that they will not be that bad. 

Hebrews 10:36 -- "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

Proverbs 18:10 -- "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower, the righteous run to it and are safe."

The Weekend Sermon -- Mark 3:20-21 and 31-35

      Welcome to the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone had a great Easter. I know that I had a wonderful day. 

     Now that Holy Week and Easter are at an end for this year, we will be getting back on course with our continuing series of going through the Gospel of Mark. In our message for today, we are back in chapter three. We are skipping over a few verses, but we will go back to them next week. The verses for today are all about the same incident. 

     As we have seen, Jesus was out preaching and teaching and healing people. Crowds were coming from all over the region and beyond to see the one who taught with authority and cared about the people. 

     News reached the family of Jesus about what He was doing and what was happening. The Bible says that they went to get Him because they thought that He was out of His mind. 

     While Jesus was teaching, someone told Him that His mother and brothers were outside and wanted to speak with Him. Jesus said, "Who are My Mother and brothers?" He went on to say that whoever did God's will was His brother, sister and mother."

     This reaction had to come as a shock to Jesus' family when they heard about it. There is no place in the Bible where it mentions that He went out and had a conversation with them. In fact, the Bible says that His brothers didn't even believe in Him until after the resurrection. 

     What does this incident in the life of Jesus have to teach us today? What can we learn from it?

     When we try to do something for the Lord, or even try to follow a dream, there will be those who are close to us who will not understand and who will try to hinder us. Jesus' family could not get their minds around the fact that Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah. They thought Him mad and wanted to take Him away. 

     In your life, there will come times when those who are your family and friends will try to hinder you from doing what God has called you to do. I know this because it has happened to me. I felt called to the ministry for most of my life. I have felt a strong desire to preach and teach the message of Jesus. However, there have been those who have tried to place obstacles in my path all along the way. Those who should have been my biggest supporters often turned out to be the ones who provided the greatest measure of discouragement. 

     When you try to take a stand for Jesus and His message, there will be those who think that you are crazy. They will want to know why you want to rock the boat or go against the grain so to speak. I don't say this to be negative, but people in this world that you are the closest too will often abandon you, make fun of you and try to keep you from fulfilling God's will in your life or the dreams that God has given you for your life. 

     As I said, I state this from experience. Unfortunately, everyone that I have ever known except my friend Toby has tried to keep me from doing what God has called me to do in one way or another. I have had some very bad experiences.

    So, what does this have to do with our text for today? Jesus didn't let it discourage Him. He just kept right on going with what He knew the Father wanted Him to do. That should be our example. If you know that the Lord has called you to do a work for Him, keep going. If you have a dream to accomplish something great and good for this world, don't let the doubters get you down. 

    Jesus knew that the Father was always with Him. We have Jesus with us in our hearts if we know Him. He will never leave us and He will never let us down. In the Bible, God said that even if everyone forsakes you, He will not forsake you. 

     Keep going and doing God's will for your life. Believe in Him and trust in Him. I kept on, and I have had a ministry for the Lord for many years now. I went to Bible college and seminary like I wanted to. I became a writer like I wanted to. Jesus was always with me. Praise be to the Lord. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying in regard to my health. I am pleased to report that one problem that I was experiencing has completed healed. Thank you for your prayers. 

     Keep praying for peace. Pray for the peacemakers and for those promoting peace. Do not get pulled into the warmongering that is going on in some Christian circles. Pray for peace in the Middle East and for the people of Lebanon. Pray for peace in Ukraine. Pray for peace in Sudan. Wherever you know there is war, pray for peace. 

     Please keep praying for the people in Hawaii who are recovering from the flooding. 

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

     Next week, we will continue with our current series in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all.