The Stuff of Life

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

Stuff your rucksack with just any old thing before you set off, and you will run into trouble. The same is true with life.

Like with a rucksack, there is just so much space in our life. There are only so many hours in a day, and only a certain amount of opportunity and energy available to us. How we will use them is determined by our intention.

If we intend to head off on a fishing trip, there are certain items we will want with us. If we are going on a vacation with our family to the mountains, we will select other items. Deployment will require a different selection of items.

If our mission in life is to make as much money as possible, we will make sure that our life contains a large amount of what is needed to make that happen. If we decide that we want to simply have as much fun as possible, we will put a lot of fun-enabling things into our life.

A Christian has a different focus, a different mission in life. There is an array of responsibilities the average Christian must tend to. Multitasking is a part of life. But, there is always a primary task. Something is always more important than anything else in life. For the Christian, serving the Savior is Job #1.

Sad is the person who believes that he is equipped for a task, only to discover he is not.
In WWII some American troops had prepared to deploy to the South Pacific, only to be sent to Germany during one of the coldest Decembers on record. They went into the Battle of the Bulge with summer clothing. They paid the price.

Service to the Savior requires having the right equipment—and knowing how to use it. The person who thinks that this assignment will be a cakewalk or a side job will discover that he is not prepared for the successful outcome to his mission. In fact, he will be in grave danger. He may lose his life—his eternal life.

The apostle Paul reminds us: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Then he names some things that should be part of our life, and adds: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith…Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:12,16,17)

Paul’s life was all about Christ. But, human life is short. What would he have when his breath failed him, and he became one of the fallen? He knew the answer.

He writes, “And to die is gain.”

It makes us give thought to what stuff is packed into our own lives. It makes us wonder if there is any room left for what is absolutely vital to eternal success and survival. Just how much space did we leave for Christ and his Word, and his work?

And, shouldn’t we get rid of some of the other stuff?

Saturday night worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am

What Is God Like?

Ask a dozen people the question, “What is God like,” and you will probably get a dozen different answers. Ironically, peoples’ concept of God is often very similar to the way they see themselves. We human beings have the tendency to dumb God down so that he fits into our way of thinking.

This weekend we are going to look at what the Bible says about God. In a sense, we’re going to let God speak for himself in regard to what he is like. What we’ll find can be scary, frustrating and comforting all at the same time. One thing for certain, no human being can put God into the box of human understanding.

Someone once said, “Let God be God.” When we look at the cross of Christ and see how committed God is to us, that sounds like a pretty good idea!

Saturday night worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am

If God Is Love, Why Do So Many Bad Things Happen?

PAIN

Pain – it hurts just to look at the word. If you are suffering at this moment you know that it doesn’t matter whether the pain is physical, emotional, or psychological, you want relief and you want it now.

If you happen to be in a pain free time of your life, you know that it is temporary. Sooner or later, pain will come knocking at your door.

Not only is pain personal, we look around us and see so much hurt. And we wonder why? Why doesn’t God, who loves us so much, do more to ease the massive and ever present pain in our world?

The question, “If God is love, why do so many bad things happen,” is one every human being asks at some time or other. It comes from a desire to make sense out of something which appears so senseless. And, it can be a question which is an expression of our frustration. But above all, it is a question for which we need a biblical answer. We invite you to one of our services this weekend to study with us God’s reply to our question, “Why do you let so many bad things happen?”

This Sunday we will also celebrate with Kenneth and Timothy Thiessen as they confess their faith before our congregation at the Sunday morning service and are confirmed as communing members.

Saturday night worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am

The Questions We Ask

“Why am I here on earth?”
“If God is loving, why do so many bad things happen?”
“Is Jesus the only way to heaven?
“Is the Bible the Word of God?”
“Does a person have to go to church to be a Christian?”

Questions, we all have lots of them. And it is very important for us to get satisfying answers. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes questions linger, or we’re half-convinced of the answers we have. Also, if we’re honest, we often don’t put out all that much effort in finding good answers to life’s tough questions. So we live with doubts, uncertainties. When things are going well, those doubts and uncertainties don’t bother us too much. We’re just so busy working and having fun.

But then a bump, a big bump comes along on the road of life and our busy, fun lives get turned upside down. Suddenly, it matters – it matters a whole lot that we have solid, tested answers to our questions.

Join us this weekend as we begin with the most basic of all questions:
“Why am I here on earth?”

Saturday night worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am