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July 5 Worship

6/29/2015

Do you have any weaknesses? I'm sure you do. Do you want anyone to know about them? Probably not. The appointed reading (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) has us do an about-face. Some of the Corinthians were boasting about themselves where Paul would turn the tables and talk about his weaknesses. Yes, he mentions an ecstatic experience that might put him among the elite in Corinth; yet, he delves into his weaknesses.

Paul would mention that he had a thorn in the flesh; he had prayed three times for it to be taken away, but God did not take it away from him. Paul went on to say the response from the Lord:: "'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me...for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We can think of maybe not be as educated as others or not coming from a prominent family; yet, God can still use us for the kingdom.. We don't have to fit into a certain camp in order for God's work to get one in our world.

I know that you will be aware of your strengths; but what about your weaknesses? Might you feel that they are holding you back from doing the Lord's work? Might they not be an opportunity to witness that God can still use you!

I would encourage you to reflect on these words of Scripture and what they mean for your life. May God's blessing be upon your reflection and worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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June 28 Worship

6/22/2015

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There are few instances in Scripture where the life of Christ in a theological sense becomes used for a practical purpose. In our Second Reading appointed for this Sunday, the apostle Paul will encourage the Christians in Corinth to contribute to help the believers in Jerusalem who are poor. His encouragement comes from the example of Jesus' life. Here is how Paul writes about Christ:

"Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8

It is certainly a passage for us to contemplate. Jesus willingly gave up his rich status in heaven in order to come and lead a humble existence - all so that we might become rich. The question is: Have we considered the wealth we have by virtue of faith in Christ? Yes, we have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. We would also think of what this wealth means for us in this life.

If Jesus has done this for us, Paul's reasoning is that we ought to be motivated to help those who are less fortunate. Have you helped someone lately with your resources?

I would invite you to contemplate this passage from Paul and may God's blessing be upon your meditation and worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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June 21 Worship

6/15/2015

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We know how unpredictable life can be. One never knows what fortune or misfortune might come one's way. It's been said, too, that one's life is not really linear - as if you can have everything planned out for the next 25 years!

Of course, what happens when the negative things come to your life: family problems, sickness, loss of income? Then, it's not just that you are caught up into yourself, but that you are also wondering: where is God?

This concern about the Creator is what bothered Job, who had his share of suffering, which will form the message for this Sunday. Job felt he was a righteous person and did not deserve the suffering that came to him. He demands an audience with God and wants to call God into account. However, God comes right back and questions Job! Here is God's response:

"You darken counsel by words without knowledge.....
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Who determined its measurements - surely you know.
Or who shut the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb or made the cloud its garment..." Job 38

God's response is not a direct answer to Job and asks who was responsible for creation and the way it was made? Job had no say whatsoever in the created order! What is going on here? My message on Sunday will go into greater depth about this conversation between Job and God.

May the contemplation of these verses and your worship on Sunday be a blessing to you.

Pastor Marty

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June 14 Worship

6/8/2015

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We all know that appearances can be deceiving. Just by looking at someone walking down the street, it does not tell you anythging about that person's level of wealth or educational level. In fact, if you made a quick guess, you might be on the wrong side of the spectrum!

My message this Sunday is based on Scripture which gives us a lens in which we can look at other people...and we don't have to worry about making a judgment based on appearances. The apostle Paul wrote: "From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

By looking at others through the lens of Christ, we can see others in a way different from the world. We can have compassion, where the world lacks compassion; we can give attention to the least in our society, where the world would ignore them.

Everything changes through one's faith in Christ. I would ask you to reflect on these words of Scripture for Sunday's worship and contemplate on how Christ changes one's point of view. The entire Scripture passage is 2 Corinthians 5:6-17. May God's blessing be upon your contemplation and worship!

Pastor Marty

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June 7 Worship

6/1/2015

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The aging process is common to all of us. We feel the loss of our senses as we age as well as the decline in lean muscle mass. I realize that as much as I exercise that I cannot do the things I used to when I was in my twenties.

The apostle Paul writes about his own experience in aging and what might also include the hardships (e.g. beatings and weariness of travel) that he endured. He wrote these words.... "Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16

Paul realized that even though his physical nature might be going downhill, he knew there was something being renewed within him. He was strengthened in his faith. I believe for us, it is that despite whatever we might suffer, we can know that our faith can rise above it. It can be strengthen or renewed each day, by the hope that we have with Jesus Christ. The one who suffered and died also rose from the dead. We also can keep rising amid adversity and grow stronger in faith.

I would invite you to contemplate this passage of Scripture and may God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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July 5 Worship

June 28 Worship

June 21 Worship

June 14 Worship

June 7 Worship

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

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