What Do You Look for In a Coffin?

 

What a creepy question! Who wants to leaf through a catalogue of caskets comparing interior and exterior designs? Many of us make general funeral arrangements, but coffin specifics, not many. From a purely logical point of view, however, there might be reason to give this matter another thought. While we spend hours choosing, repairing and maintaining our earthly homes, the truth is, we’re going to spend a whole lot more time in our coffins than we will in our houses. So, what is our problem?

The answer is pretty simple, we have a hard time dealing with the details of death. We can talk about death, philosophize with others concerning the subject, but when it comes down to the brutally relevant question, “What will happen to me when I die?” that’s when we hedge or change the subject.

This weekend we begin the church season of Advent. The word literally means “coming”. Traditionally, Christians spend the weeks before Christmas preparing for the first coming of Christ which happened in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, and also for his second coming which could take place before you finish reading this article. We call it Judgment Day.

Jesus did not hesitate to talk about death, both explicitly and frequently. In fact, he told those who followed him they should be much more concerned about what happens after they die than what happens during their earthly life. The answers to our questions are not vague or hard to understand. Jesus leaves no one wondering what he’s talking about or what he means. Our preparations for Judgment Day are simple and straightforward. Best of all, there is no reason to be afraid of that Day.

If you are a bit frustrated with all the talk about death these days with little or no input on what happens after we die, join us for one of our weekend worship services. Without a doubt, you’re going to hear some good news. Actually, it is the BEST news!

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm, Sunday: 9:00 am & 10:30 am.

Caring in a Cold World

 

It’s an old but timeless story. A young boy runs along the seashore crowded with beached starfish. One by one he gently takes each star fish into his hands, runs as far into the ocean as he can and then with all his might, hurls the starfish back to safety.

Nearby a cynical old man watches, shakes his head and then walks up to the boy saying, “Son, you can’t save them all. There are too many. What you are doing just doesn’t make a difference.”

Holding up a starfish to his face, the boy replies, “It makes a difference for this one.” And then he threw the starfish back to its home.

A person doesn’t have to look far to see the world is drowning in suffering and problems. The sheer amount of collective pain is overwhelming. What can one person do? Everything! The Gospel message of Christianity is that there is a solution for our suffering world and it comes through the life, death and resurrection of one man – the God/Man – Jesus Christ.

As a follower of Jesus Christ you are connected to him in a mysterious yet supernatural way, enabling you to be his representative in this crisis ridden world. You do make a difference! Through Christ, you have every reason to care among people grown cold with suffering.

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm, Sunday: 9:00 am & 10:30 am.

The Freedom Confusion

 

People may claim that freedom is being able to do what one wants, however, history demonstrates that the unrestrained pursuit of satisfying our desires leads to a slavery which often produces a completely destructive lifestyle. True freedom is the ability to say “no” to a strong desire when one recognizes that the satiation of the desire will result badly.

Jesus said once that if we hold to his teachings, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Popular culture scoffs at the idea of Christian freedom by portraying followers of Christ as uptight, repressed hypocrites who run around trying to make sure that no one else is having any fun because they themselves don’t want to miss out.

However, it is difficult to understand what could be repressed about having the ability to love, be joyful, live in peace, show patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and practice self-control on a daily basis. Looking at those qualities makes one want to ask, “Where do I sign up?”

Christian freedom is the exact opposite of self-centered freedom. The first gives us the ability to do what is right from God’s perspective. The second is condemned to choosing what we believe is good for us at the moment, regardless of the long term pain it may cause.

If you’re confused about all the people you know who claim to be free but live addicted to behavior which destroys them, join us for one of our weekend services. Discover the freedom only Jesus Christ can offer!

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm, Sunday: 9:00 am & 10:30 am.

Walt Whitman, the great American poet of the 1800s said that “God is a mean-spirited, pugnacious bully bent on revenge against His children for failing to live up to his impossible standards.” That description is enough to scare away anyone from searching for the truth about God. What led to Whitman’s cruel perception of God might be found in his poetry, but it certainly is not what we see in the Bible.

In one of the greatest stories ever told Jesus Christ described God as a father who welcomed back a son who had mocked and ridiculed him, a son who had lost his fortune. Even with so much reason to forget this ungrateful boy, the father ran out to meet the prodigal when he returned home in total shame.

The reason we can call God “Father” is because of Jesus Christ. His life was about so much more than showing us how to love, it was about obtaining reconciliation. It was about bringing us back to God the Father.

The Bible is a big book which at times can be intimidating. But its bottom-line message is this, your Creator is waiting for you to fall into his open arms just like the wayward son in Jesus’ story fell into the arms of his forgiving father. What could be more beautifully powerful than that?

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm, Sunday: 9:00 am & 10:30 am.