Jesus!!

Remeber the reason for the season! What a gift we have this morning!
The gift of life!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

How's our ride going?

My Uncle, Pastor Bill Bull, posted this to thesheltertree.com ...I think it's worth sharing here also!

“If you’re coasting in your spiritual life…..

you’re going downhill!”

~ Rev. Paul Barber

Theology...

mans attempt to gather truths in our understanding of God.

The Bible...

a living magnificent document to learn from and live by!

The Trinity...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kreSbagj_RM&feature=related

in this short video, Ravi Zacharias best answers the question!

Blessings to all of you! Stay in the word and consult a trusted spiritual advisor if you have questions!

Frustration starts where knowledge ends...never stop reading the Bible and learning what it is that God has planned for us in our walk with him!

You can easily find all the verses of the bible at
 http://www.VirtualHolyBible.com

(thank you jimdaniel for this link)

  

to BE-lieve...or not to BE-lieve...

...that the Bible IS the Holy Word of GOD!

Do you believe that every word in the Bible is God inspired?

Do you believe that the Bible is reliable?

Do you believe in the prophetic accuracy of the Bible?

If you know someone who doesn't believe the Bible, ask them what evidence they have that it is wrong.

Make sure you stay in the word. Study your Bible, surround yourself with good Christian people. If you have questions, seek the advise of a trusted spiritual advisor...

REMEMBER...

There is NO plan "B"

Get it right the first time!!

Pastor Cherry 07.10.11

Thanks to Bob Jorgensen for the wonderful piano playing!!

Praises!! Pastor Cherry and his daughter! Beautiful Music!

Don't give your stamp of approval to the wrong things!

"Obedience to the commands are imperative to our Christian walk!"

Sermon by Pastor Ron Molina 06.05.11

2 John (niv)
¹ The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— ² because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
³ Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Grace we do not deserve!
       Mercy we could not live without!
                  Inner Peace beyond belief!

⁴ It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. ⁵ And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. ⁶

It's most important that we love one another...that we show our love for God and each other every second of every day!!

 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
⁷ I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Watch out that you do not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. ⁹ Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. ¹¹ Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
¹² I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
¹³ The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

Philippians 3:12 (niv)
¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

We need to be that person...to help others...to set the example for others...to set a goal to win the prize!!! 

Sermon by Pastor Ron Molina

Knock Knock...Who's there?

Phyllis...Phyllis who?

Phyllis with your word and spirit, oh Lord!!

Today's sermon...Ron Molina

Walk by Faith...Not by Sight

3 John (NIV)

A good example is Gaius...

What ever we do ...do it Faithfully...everything we do!

    Our Faith

      Our Parenting

        Our Job

Let God's word affect every aspect of our lives...be fellow workers for the Truth!!
¹ The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
² Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. ³ It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
⁵ Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,^[a] even though they are strangers to you. ⁶ They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. ⁷ It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. ⁸ We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

A bad example is Diotrephes...
It is not about us...we are not first!
⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. ¹⁰ So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
¹¹ Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

Make this important in life! Imitate what's right...not what's evil! Does this mean we will not stumble? NO...but keep trying! Imitate what's right!! 

Demetrius was a good example...
Always bearing a good testimony!
 ¹² Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
¹³ I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. ¹⁴ I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

Be kept blameless...

Sunday ~ May 22nd, 2011 ~ Kurt Cherry

 

I Thessalonians 5:14

        And we urge you, brothers and sisters,warn those who are idle and disruptive, 

encourage the disheartened, 

help the weak, be patient with everyone.

  Do not be idle,

                                       like soldiers not keeping the ranks!

Encourage the timid, be patient with everyone.

Do not return evil for evil.

Be joyful always,

Pray continuously.   Give thanks!

Do not quench the Holy Spirit in your life

                                                    or in  the life of the church.

I Thessalonians 5:21

 tells us to test everything and hold onto the good.

Be kept blameless.

I Thessalonians 5:24

                                 says, the one who calls you is faithful

and He will do it.

Seek The Spirit!

A "C" and "E" Christian?

Oooooh...someone who only goes to church on Christmas and Easter...
a "C" and "E" Christian.

Hebrews 10:25(NIV) ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Well, that about says it all...Don't be a "C" and "E" Christian, the Bible says to assemble and I'll bet God intends us to assemble often, not just on those two days!

Today...Pastor Cherry teaches on Romans 1
  Purpose
    Plan
      Promise
       Power
        Purity
It's all in the book Of Romans!!

Romans 1:16  is especially important to note...
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Are you ashamed? Or maybe just to busy? Our faith, our salvation, cannot be real, if, we are a "C" and "E" Christian. Faith is not a McDonald's menu. You can't pick and choose the toppings you want on your  "Faith" sandwich! You can't super size it...or hold the pickle! You can't ask Jesus to be in your life and then only obey parts of the Bible...and disregard the parts that might not taste good on your "Faith" sandwich.

It's all or none...No compromise...

What will your lifestyle choice be?

Choose God! Choose His gift!

Choose the gift of life!

( I am still working on posts with video from Easter Sunday...I am having technical difficulties...thanks for understanding!)

Happy Ressurection Day!!

A celebration of life!

Resurrection Day...The victory for the Christian!

Do we really understand the Gospel?

Jesus paid it all...all to Him I owe.

He took our place in sin

John 19:28-30 (niv)

²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said,

“It is finished.”

With that, he bowed his head

and gave up his spirit.

"Finished"...that is the word of the day, week, month, year, decade, century...OK, you get the point just how big and important that word is..."Finished"...at that point, Jesus had filled His obligation to us...He set us free and gave us eternal life! I'd say that's something to celebrate!!

Today, Pastor Cherry hit a home run with his sermon...very inspirational...in fact, the whole day was incredible! I have video of the sermon, of Pastor Cherry and his daughter singing, And of a baptism Pastor Cherry did for one of our parishioners! Wow, New life!!! Amen!!!

Throughout the week I am planning to post some video clips and share some highlights of Easter Sunday at the "Church in the Wildwood"!!

“It is finished.”

Significant beyond words!!

Easter Sunday!

1 Peter 1:3(niv)    

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us New Birth
 into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

What a beautiful scripture for a beautiful day! 

We would love to see you on Easter Sunday! Pastor Cherry will be baptizing at least one member of the congregation...what a perfect day for such a wonderful event! New Birth, how exciting!! If Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ inspires you and touches you in a way that you would like to be born again...join us, get baptized, welcome a New Birth!!

Service starts at 11:00am, Soup and Salad fellowship at 12:00...We really hope to see you on Easter Sunday!!!

Grace and Blessings to all! 

God would like to have a word with you...It's called the Bible!

How do we deal...with sin?...with prayer?

Today, Pastor Ron Molina teaches more about "True Faith" and the book of James...

We have learned about "True Faith"...seen

in how we deal with trials

in how we treat others

  in what we say

Today we learn how "True Faith" can be seen

in how we deal with sin

and,

           in how we deal with prayer                      

True Faith can be seen in how we deal with sin...
James 4:1-17(niv)
 ¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
 ⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:  “God opposes the proud  but shows favor to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[d] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? ¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

True Faith can be seen in how we pray...
James 5:13-20(niv)
¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  ¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Draw nearer to God...He will draw nearer to you!

Pray!!!
Pray earnestly!

Pray for those that need it!

Your prayer wasn't answered, hmm...

Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?"

Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in
the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I
averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle. "I saw the car, Dad.
Please don't yell at me when I'm driving." My voice was measured and steady,
sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away and
settled back.

At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to
collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain.
The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do
about him? Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon. He had enjoyed
being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of
nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often.
The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his
prowess. The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a
heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone,
straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his
advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.

Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance
sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and
oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was
lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone.
He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of
help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors
thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone. My husband, Dick,
and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air
and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.

Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up
anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our
pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling
appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to
soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent.
Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.

The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics
listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic
voices that answered. In vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the
voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me
go get the article." I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable
study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for
chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they
were given responsibility for a dog. I drove to the animal shelter that
afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to
the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row
of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs,
black dogs, spotted dogs, all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one
but rejected one after the other for various reasons...too big, too small, too
much hair.

As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner
struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a
pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the
breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones
jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my
attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly. I pointed to the dog.
"Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in
puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the
gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him.
That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He
gestured helplessly. As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You
mean you're going to kill him?" "Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We
don't have room for every unclaimed dog." I looked at the pointer again. The
calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said.

I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn
twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front
porch. "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly. Dad looked, then
wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one.
And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it!
I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my
temples."You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!" Dad ignored me.
"Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his
hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood
glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from
my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly,
carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the
uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited
patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal. It was the beginning
of a warm and beautiful friendship.

Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together heand Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dustylanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty
trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a
pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable
throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne
made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold
nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our
bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room.
Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime
during the night.

Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered
Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug
he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I
silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace
of mind.

The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day
looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews
reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne
had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to
both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to
Hebrews 13:2. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.

For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the
sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the
animal shelter. . .his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of
their deaths. Suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all. ~UA~

If we think God hasn't answered our prayers, 

maybe we should take a better look. God knows

best how to answer our prayers and it is

very often different from what we ask for...

but, it is always exactly right!! 

True Faith...

...will be seen in what we say.

Keep our words warm and sweet...

we may have to eat them someday!

Today, Pastor Molina teaches from scriptures regarding the trouble our tongues can get us into.

James 3:5 and 6

⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Proverbs 18:21
 ²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,  and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Psalms141:1-4
¹ I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. ² May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. ³ Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. ⁴ Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

Proverbs10:19
¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

Proverbs18:8
 ⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;  they go down to the inmost parts.

Proverbs16:26-28

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on. ²⁷ A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.  ²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 26:20-25
²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. ²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. ²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. ²³ Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. ²⁴ Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. ²⁵ Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,  for seven abominations fill their hearts.

James 3:8-11

⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Matthew12:30-35
 ³⁰ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad,  for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Do you gossip? Do you listen to gossip? Do you encourage gossip? Are you mean spirited and quick to verbally challenge or abuse other people?  

My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Our tongues really can get us into trouble and cause others great pain.

Today we are reminded to "treat others as God does, with Love, Grace and Mercy." Choose words that can make a positive difference to someone...

Please, Thank You, I'm sorry, I love You

...are a few words that can touch a person's heart. 

The Book of James

Sermon by Pastor Ron Molina 04.03.11 - post by krb

Handle your trials with a Christian heart...

treat each person with essential value...

be responsible and help when you can!

James, Chapter 2 (NIV)
...true Faith...a Faith that works...

Our Faith shows through in how we face trials in life...

and how we treat others

 ¹ My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

2 Tim 2:22 (NIV)
temptations and trials
²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


Matt 6:13 (NIV)
Flee
¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

1 Cor 10 (NIV)
God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear
 ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


Hebrews 12:1-2 and 11 (NIV)
 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

1 Sam 2 and 7 (NIV)
Hanna
⁷ The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.

Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)
how do we treat others
¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
   ²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
   ²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
   ²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
   ²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
   ³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
   ³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Psalms 35:9-10
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. ¹⁰ My whole being will exclaim,
   “Who is like you, LORD?
Psalms 68:4-5
⁴ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds^[b]; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD. ⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,  is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalms 72:12-13
 ¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. ¹³ He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.

Our Character...

Today, Pastor Cherry encourages us to examine our character.

Character...what does our character look like? Do we change our character like we change our clothes...work clothes to church clothes? Do we have daily character and then Christian character?


In scripture we read about David's character...
1 Samuel 30:1-6 (NIV)

¹ David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, ² and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.  ³ When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ⁴ So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. ⁵ David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

...and Saul's character...
1 Samuel 28:3-9 (NIV)

³ Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. ⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. ⁶ He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. ⁷ Saul then said to his attendants,

“Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said. ⁸ So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.” ⁹ But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

When tough times come...Saul goes to a witch...

David goes to GOD! David seeks out the Lord!
David...A man after God's own heart! 

That is David's character...no matter the sin or the trouble he may find himself in, David knows to seek out the Lord ...

David found strength in the LORD his God.

What does our character say about us?

Who do we seek out for strength?

David goes to God...DO WE?

"Where the rubber meets the road"...

In the book of James, we read about a faith that works!

Today, Pastor Molina likened a faith that works to buying a set of tires. Actually, it’s a great analogy!

When acquiring a set of tires, we are to trust the person at the tire store whom which we ask the questions. This person will have extensive knowledge of the products and will be quick to back it up with written information. After all is said and done, with this new found wisdom, we will make a decision on which tires we will have faith in…to serve our needs and protect our family..."where the rubber meets the road"…so to speak!

Knowledge is raw information...Wisdom is knowing how to use that information.

We had the knowledge that we needed tires, but we needed wisdom to choose the right ones! If we will ask a tire professional to inform us at length regarding tires…why don’t we go to God’s word to inform ourselves about faith?!

Anyone seeking wisdom, let him Ask!!

James 1:5 (NIV)

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.

As with the tire specialist, we should trust the wisdom shared with us from the
Bible…without doubt!

Ask!!

God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives….
if it matters to us, it matters to Him!!

James 1:6-8 (NIV)

6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Are you double-minded?  If so,  Ask…Lord, help me with my unbelief!

James 1:19-22 (NIV)

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says.

God knows best!!!

The Season of Lent...

During Lent we follow Jesus from his adult ministry, through his suffering, to his crucifixion and death.  

Lent is a time of stripping down to essentials, as each Christian focuses on thier individual relationship with God. It is a time when Christians remember our baptisms, when Jesus washed away our sins, giving us newness of life to celebrate in the triumph of Palm Sunday and the glory of Easter. A time of letting go of the bondage of sin...wow...what a great time to get baptised if you're not. And a perfect time to strengthen our relationship with God. 

Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter.
_______________________________________

Lenten - relating to Lent: happening in or suitable for Lent, especially in being meager
[ Old English lencten "spring" < Germanic]
　
Lent - period before Easter in Christian calendar: the period of 40 weekdays before Easter observed in some Christian churches as a period of prayer, penance, fasting, and self-denial.
This period, starting on Ash Wednesday in Western churches, commemorates the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness.
　
[Shortening of Lenten ]
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This is a very brief summery (if you can even call it that) of the Season of Lent. Below you will find a few links that can give you a much better insight of Lent. Please, take the time to read, learn and obseve the Season of Lent!
 http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/lent.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent
http://www.sundayschoollessons.com/lent.htm

It's not what you do...It's who you know

Are you are a person of great deeds...dedicated volunteering, donating of items, generous disaster relief contributions, sharing your home with orphans, solid in your tithing… whatever you might do in the name of "philanthropy" make sure you are doing it with the right backing!

The 4 reasons deeds of philanthropy are usually done are…
..Because you HAVE to (ordered to, by your spouse, parents or the law)
..Because it makes you look good to your family, friends and community
..Because you are a genuinely good person and want to help and do the right thing
..Because of Lordship, it pleases Him for us to do good works and to give him the glory

Which of these are your reason for doing good works? Remember, everything in our lives should be about getting into heaven, and getting into heaven is NOT about what we do…BUT who we know!

Do you know God?

If you do…Listen to Him, and obey Him!

If you don’t…then get to know Him!

Find a trusted spiritual leader, read your Bible, learn!!

This weeks sermon was more on Lordship!

Scriptures to read and study...

Luke 6:39

Luke 46

Luke 47

Luke 19:41-44

Matt 7

8.9 Earthquake, 13 foot Tsunami

An earthquake rocked he northeast coast of Japan less than 2 hours ago. I was watching Fox News when the alert hit the air. At first it was said to be a 7.9, then was upgraded to an 8.8, then to an 8.9. That is in the top 7 worst earthquakes on earth...ever!! At least what modern technology knows of. And then, a tremor hit...7.4! This is bad, very bad.

An area flooded by the tsunami in Iwaki, was Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. Japanese technology is such that choppers were deployed almost immediately after an earthquake struck, giving the world the first ever aerial view of the actual tsunami hitting land. It looked more like the special effects in a movie rather than real life. Fukushima Prefecture is devastated.

Those houses, buildings, and cars...probably had a lot of God's people in them. It's a horrible thought. We will no doubt be hearing about the loss of life in the next hours, days, and it may take months to get a total for lives lost.

This devastation will not be in Japan alone. It is expected to hit many other places in the world. Tsunami warnings are out for many different countries as well as parts of the US.

Please take the time to think about the people that have been and will be touched by this event, and say prayers, lots of prayers. God is truly their only hope.

Obey...regardless of cost!

in the Soviet Union many years ago:

The underground church was singing choruses when masked, communist soldiers stormed in with rifles. Complete silence, as the soldiers stared at the believers with wild eyes. "What are you doing here!" they shouted. "Worshipping your imaginary God?" The congregation cowered in the pews, paniced and scared!
"All those who are faithful to their God, move to the right side of the room!" a soldier yelled with great intimidation. "You will be shot for your faith. Everyone else who wishes to keep their life and go home, move to the left. You must decide to live or die right now. Those who are faithful to this imaginary 'God' will die. Those who deny him can live freely."

Just ten minutes earlier, everyone had been singing hymns equally. Now it was a question of life and death. Some moved to the left, looking sadly and apologetically to those on the right. Those on the right, closed their eyes and sat quietly in prayer.

"You on the left are free to go," yelled a sodier. Those people quickly and quietly filed out, many looking back at those who would soon be dead. When only those on the right remained, the soldiers put down their rifles and removed their masks.

"We too are Christians," they said, "but we wish to worship without hypocrites."

Which side of the church would you be on?
The Right or the Left?

Put God 1st in your life, know where in your faith you stand, and then...

Draw your line in the sand...Obey, regardless the cost!

Stay in the word. Scriptures for this week:

*John 13:1-18

*Matthew 7:21-27, 8:2, 22-36, 25:14

*Romans 10:9

*Ephesians 4:11-12, 5:22, 25

*Hebrews 13:17

Sermon on 3/06/11 by Pastor Kurt Cherry

A special "Thank You" to Pastor Ron Molina
       for guest speaking on 02/27/11