Paul

God’s Open Door

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

 

1554975554024_image.jpgIn the ancient Macedonian city of Philippi, Paul and Silas found themselves at the epicenter of an earthquake that changed not only their own his lives; but the future of Christianity in the West. Previous to their travel there; Paul had a dream of a Macedonian man calling for help and so had obediently left a successful work  of planting churches throughout Asia minor, Cyprus and Syria. But not long after going to Macedonia, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown into prison.

If you are anything like me, you might have started moaning or at best patiently enduring the pain and humiliation of that day. Should I have been in Paul’s place I could have complained saying; “God: You called me here and this is the thanks I get!” But no! …In fact Paul and Silas were singing hymns at midnight when suddenly an earthquake shook the prison so hard that the doors swung open and their chains fell to the ground. Often we pray for an open door and in my mind that is most definitely an open door!

If that had happened to me while chained in a dungeon I am pretty sure that I along with most of you would have been half-way home before slowing down long enough to catch our breath. But the funniest thing about that night is that the open door let the jailer in; not the prisoner out!

So no matter the problem or situation we find ourselves in today may this remind us that God’s doors are more about entrances than exits. God is working not so much to get us out of things as He is bringing others to us so that we can point them to Him and together go out through His open door!

Comfort and Joy

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

In the church my dad attended years ago they loved singing:

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!    Frank Bottome 1890

God is near to comfort. But if we look to friends, activities or work in order to quiet the chorus of grief and loss we feel we will miss out on a living relationship with Him.  Maybe the past is clouding your vision of the path just ahead. Hurt, pain and the empty chair across the table are shouting out, while God whispers in His still small voice. Jesus promised to send us Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit to come and sit by our side. In His presence are quiet waters to drink from that heal and restore our souls. Once we drink from His stream we can go on with a cup of comfort to share with anyone in need along our way. Then we will know with Paul that the greatest joy is found, not by searching for it, but by asking, “Who can I comfort today?”

 

1537442188242_1280x1280.jpg

What Does the Bible say about voting?

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

p1010923

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior 1 Timothy 2:1-3

 

I am truly thankful for the freedom and peace we enjoy in the United States yet I often find myself in cojuly-2012-006nflict over the issues surrounding our current political process. I face struggles to reconcile my faith with the differing political ideas within my own family and church.

First, the Bible gives us no example of democracy anywhere within its 4,000 plus year history. Joseph would be scratching his head if you asked him which  party he thought would give  them the best nominee for Pharaoh. Daniel similarly would have had no advice as to who he was voting for, for the next king of Persia. In New Testament times we find that John the Baptist was more concerned about Herod’s choice of wife than about taxes. The Apostle Paul’s appearance before Caesar in a highly political and grossly unfair trial drew no complaints about the corruption of the government or its forays into wars of conquest. But in spite of the absence of direct advice on voting, we can find a common theme that each of these men gave us in dealing with the ruling authorities of their day. The principles which they each maintained were a personal faith,  an unwavering trust in God as the sovereign authority over every king, and a personal responsibility to pray. Today let’s examine the last – Our personal responsibility to pray

Daniel we are told not only prayed three times daily for his nation but he did it so consistently that it became general public knowledge. Paul tells us we ought to pray without ceasing and John the Baptist was known for having taught his disciples to pray.

Can we take a little test to see how we are doing?

Can we remember the last time you prayed for our president and his family?

Have we ever prayed for the leaders of nations we consider our enemies?

Can we point to prayer time we have devoted to one of the hot button issues of this election?

If Jesus came to live in my neighborhood what would be his most urgent prayer?

I would love to hear what your prayers have been or would be. Please feel welcome to react and tell us what you think!

We can do nothing until we have prayed but when we pray it will be impossible for us do nothing!

cross_crop