Saturday, September 3, 2016
Christ and Glory
For a sermon I preached on living in the light of Christ check out: New Life DBQ - Living in the Light of Christ.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Joyfulness In Trials
The enemy is a relentless force. He will resort to any means possible to get in the way of our hearts and our service. Car repairs almost had the opportunity to halter the signing of our house, but it was repaired the day before it became necessary and our house sold. Now, as we look to buy a home in the Dubuque or immediate surrounding area my car got nailed by a deer! Talk about frustration!
Well, as time went on and still goes on with even more automotive problems it can be so easy to forget that our Lord is always with us and doubt or toil even the slightest. Two passages that I like to reflect upon at times like these is Psalm 42:1-11 and James 1:2-18.
James teaches that the man who endures all of life's trials in steadfast love will receive the crown of life! Now, enduring for a reward would be wrong interpretation and practice because it is an action done for ourselves, not the Lord. This passage is talking about that even though our faith is tested, we can rest peacefully in our troubles because this life is temporal; the next is eternal! So this passage shows us that our eternal reward is not our motivation, but our encouragement.
The psalmist here is teaching of a different context and different motivation, but what can still be taken away from here is its advice! Psalm 42:11 questions the pain-struck and troubled soul, but responds with intention of hope and thankfulness. Words can be very powerful! Don't let your words compound your negative situations in life. Speak encouragement and hope in your life thanking and praising Him, and He can work through your readied heart. Hope in God, and God bless.
Well, as time went on and still goes on with even more automotive problems it can be so easy to forget that our Lord is always with us and doubt or toil even the slightest. Two passages that I like to reflect upon at times like these is Psalm 42:1-11 and James 1:2-18.
James teaches that the man who endures all of life's trials in steadfast love will receive the crown of life! Now, enduring for a reward would be wrong interpretation and practice because it is an action done for ourselves, not the Lord. This passage is talking about that even though our faith is tested, we can rest peacefully in our troubles because this life is temporal; the next is eternal! So this passage shows us that our eternal reward is not our motivation, but our encouragement.
The psalmist here is teaching of a different context and different motivation, but what can still be taken away from here is its advice! Psalm 42:11 questions the pain-struck and troubled soul, but responds with intention of hope and thankfulness. Words can be very powerful! Don't let your words compound your negative situations in life. Speak encouragement and hope in your life thanking and praising Him, and He can work through your readied heart. Hope in God, and God bless.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
A Family Baptism
This is a reflection on baptism as a believer, a father and a husband. It is a moment bringing profound appreciation when one you love so strongly comes to believe in Jesus Christ as God and their savior. So far my oldest daughter has made a decision to follow Christ with her life and be baptized, and now my wife already in faith made the decision to follow through with Jesus' command to be baptized by water because the opportunity for her husband to perform it was a reality.
It also just happens that this was my first performed baptism. Our lead pastor and elder Josh Dryer did the teaching on baptism that day, but I performed confession / profession and act itself at my wife's request. It was a wonderful day where I was surprisingly less emotional than expected. I also have to say that I am so very blessed to have a woman who desires with all her heart to be sanctified in Christ. Having a godly woman at his side is God's greatest earthly gift to man that transcends earthly measure. To be in a continuous and daily relationship where each person helps the other become more Christ-like is an AMAZING institute of God! I know it would be much harder to do what I am doing and will continue to do without her.
As a man called to be a pastor I reflected on four passages of Scripture the night before. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) gives me my instruction to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For my wife Trista, she is commanded to follow Christ's example and be baptized (Matthew 3:13-17). Paul teaches us in Romans 6:1-15 that we are to be buried with Jesus in death so that we may also be raised with him in new life - following his example and command; atoned by his sacrifice. Both the passages in Romans and in John 3:1-15 show us some more detail about the nature of what it means to be baptized and the symbolism behind it. We are to be buried and this by itself implies that we are to go underneath (the Greek baptizo confirms this directly meaning, "to immerse"). Going under the water allows us to show in our hearts that we desire be raised to new life and washed clean of our old earthly ways. This is also what it means to be "born again," - born out of water in physical life and reborn out of water for our new spiritual life. A new life that may glorify Christ.
Photo by Sean MacDonald.
It also just happens that this was my first performed baptism. Our lead pastor and elder Josh Dryer did the teaching on baptism that day, but I performed confession / profession and act itself at my wife's request. It was a wonderful day where I was surprisingly less emotional than expected. I also have to say that I am so very blessed to have a woman who desires with all her heart to be sanctified in Christ. Having a godly woman at his side is God's greatest earthly gift to man that transcends earthly measure. To be in a continuous and daily relationship where each person helps the other become more Christ-like is an AMAZING institute of God! I know it would be much harder to do what I am doing and will continue to do without her.
Photo by Sean MacDonald.
As a man called to be a pastor I reflected on four passages of Scripture the night before. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) gives me my instruction to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For my wife Trista, she is commanded to follow Christ's example and be baptized (Matthew 3:13-17). Paul teaches us in Romans 6:1-15 that we are to be buried with Jesus in death so that we may also be raised with him in new life - following his example and command; atoned by his sacrifice. Both the passages in Romans and in John 3:1-15 show us some more detail about the nature of what it means to be baptized and the symbolism behind it. We are to be buried and this by itself implies that we are to go underneath (the Greek baptizo confirms this directly meaning, "to immerse"). Going under the water allows us to show in our hearts that we desire be raised to new life and washed clean of our old earthly ways. This is also what it means to be "born again," - born out of water in physical life and reborn out of water for our new spiritual life. A new life that may glorify Christ.
Photo by Sean MacDonald.
Photo by Sean MacDonald.
Photo by Sean MacDonald.
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