Happy Easter!
 
Luke 19:38-40 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Jesus encourages the joyful acclamations of everyone’s worship!  Jesus knew the natural response would be to celebrate the coming of the Lord.  This was still incomprehensible to the Pharisees. 
Oh, that we could have ways to express the joy because of Easter Sunday.
Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
May your heart celebrate this weekend because of the resurrection!  Praise God inside and out, from your heart and through your voice!  In whispers and in singing, Praise the Lord!
Pastor Tom
 
Easter Joy
(a poem by Joanna Fuchs)
Jesus came to earth, to show us how to live, how to put others first, how to love, and how to give.
Then He set about His work, that God sent Him to do; He took our punishment on Himself; He made us clean and new.
He could have saved Himself, calling angels from above, but He chose to pay our price for sin; He paid it out of love.
Our Lord died on Good Friday, but the cross did not destroy His resurrection on Easter morn that fills our hearts with joy.
Now we know our earthly death, like His, is just a rest.  We'll be forever with Him in Heaven, where life is best.
So, we live our lives for Jesus, think of Him in all we do. Thank you, Savior; Thank you Lord. Help us love like you!

King Jesus
For centuries Israel had awaited the coming of their King. But this King did not look as they would have expected.
Kings feasted on special foods prepared for them.

• This King multiplied fish and loaves to feed others.

Kings were adorned in royal apparel.

• This King wore the clothes of a humble servant.

Kings were accompanied by an army of fighting men.

• This King rode in alone, followed only by a few friends.

Kings rode on majestic horses.

• This King rode on a donkey.

Kings ruled over the people.

• This King ministered to the people.

Kings had many servants.

• This King served many.

Kings made loud proclamations and the people were silent.

• This King was stood silent when the people yelled, “Crucify Him.”

Kings wore crowns of gold and precious gems.

• This King soon wore a crown of thorns.

Kings were protected at all costs.

• This King soon gave His life paying the cost of all sin.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that 1st Palm Sunday afternoon, He began His ultimate journey to the cross. The date was Nisan 10 on the Jewish calendar. It was the day in which the lambs were selected for the annual Passover sacrifice. On Nisan 14, Jesus Himself became that sacrifice. Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world.
Jesus willingly surrendered His life.  God does not call us to surrender our life to death, but to be living sacrifices.
 
Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

This King Jesus has promised to return, even if it is not within our lifetime, all will see Him.  He will reward those who have repented of their sin, accepted his offer of forgiveness and made Him King of their life.  If you have never surrendered to King Jesus, now is the time!
Pastor Tom
 

EASTER IS COMING!  
Easter is almost here! Children have thoughts of countless plastic Easter eggs on the lawn filled with pleasant treats inside each of them. Some think about the school spring break that often happens the week before Easter. I remember thinking about the great sale on candy that happens right after Easter!
How do you think Jesus felt a few weeks before Easter?

Luke 9:51 (AMP) Now when the time was approaching for Him to be taken up [to heaven], He was determined to go to Jerusalem [to fulfill His purpose].
Matthew 20:17-19 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.”

Only love could persevere through the days that lay ahead. A steadfast commitment to remaining true and loyal no matter what. He knew that going through the pain will produce joy words can’t adequately express.

Hebrews 12:2 “For the joy set before him he endured the cross,”

Here is one way that we can be a little more like Jesus. Have even more endurance to go through whatever you are facing. Amidst having a friend about to betray Him, Jesus loved extravagantly, consistently, and eternally. 
Whoever is a challenge in your life, let us choose to love extravagantly, consistently, and eternally.  One day, joy more than can be expressed will be your reward!
Pastor Tom
 

Changing Times!
Once again we all must remind ourselves of the phrase “spring ahead, fall back!”  Twice a year we change our clocks and either loose or gain an hour of sleep.  Either way, it throws off our body’s internal clock.  In spring, when we lose an hour of sleep, heart attacks, strokes and fatal car accidents all increase 24%.  Thankfully, in the fall when we turn back the clocks, these same statistics drop 21%.  Statistics like this have caused some states to drop out of this clock changing ritual.
Ephesians 5:15-17  “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
How will you spend your extra hour?  Nobody wants to get to the end of their time and regret how they spent their life and perhaps no two people will have the same “time spending” priorities.  We will however all give an accountability for our choice and use of time.  Odds are many of us will simply try to get some extra sleep!
I remember one day when I put off buying gas for the car and then the next day the prices for a gallon of gas jumped .10!  I thought to myself, why didn’t I stop for gas earlier?  I had no idea it would change.  There have also been times when I felt God was nudging me to do something, when I put it off, I found I missed an opportunity that I couldn’t get back.
Perhaps the end of Ephesians 5:17 gives the best advice: “understand what the Lord wants you to do.”  If we take away the excuse of just not having enough time, we would be smart to start thanking God for what He has done and then try to understand what God would want us to do with our remaining time.  We may all need that extra hour of sleep, but then what? 
In 1 Kings 19, there is the account of when Elijah needed some rest.  After he slept, he felt better, then God led him to find Elisha to teach him.  Maybe God has someone you already know that could use your help.  People of all age’s need a little bit of your time to learn about Jesus.   The more we understand what the Lord wants us to do, the better this world will be!
Pastor Tom

LIFE IS A JOURNEY!
 
The following was a note posted on Facebook the other day, it captures the reality and reassurance for many families:

I heard someone say a few days ago, “See, that just goes to show you that you can raise your kids in church all you want to, but…”    It shattered my heart. All because that kid had made a mistake.  All because that kid’s sin was brought to light.  Let me just tell you…We don’t raise our kids in church so they can grow up perfect. We don’t raise our kids in church because it magically makes them unable to sin or holier-than-thou.

We do however raise our kids in church so that WHEN they mess up and WHEN they fall short, they know just WHO to run to.
So they know that their Lord and Savior will NEVER leave nor forsake them no matter how big or small their mess up might be.
So they know their Heavenly Father will always leave the 99 if they are that ONE that needs saving.
So they will know what grace is like and give it out freely.
So they will know the unconditional love of their Father and love those around them just the same regardless of anything else.
So they know that there is absolutely NOTHING in this world they could do that our Savior’s blood hasn’t already covered.
I will never apologize for raising my children in church.
I will never apologize for making sure our family makes church a priority.

Because it’s more than just a song and a sermon. It’s more than just a memorized Bible verse in Sunday School. It’s for when this cruel world we live in comes knocking on their door, they personally know the solid rock on which they stand. It’s so they know there is nothing too dirty, that He can’t make worthy.
 
Pastor Tom

LESSONS LEARNED FROM CHILDREN
Children can say the funniest things! One mom said to her daughter “Honey, some day you are going to have feelings for boys.”  Her daughter answered back “What do you mean, I already do… I don’t like them!”
Sometimes they say things that reveal that they just don’t understand: “I’m not cheating, I’m only helping myself win!”
Children can be very honest, quick forgivers and don’t worry about being politically correct.  Don’t you wish “grow ups” were more like children?
In Matthew 18:1-4 we find that the disciples were arguing over who is the greatest.
“About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?’  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.’”
If you have ever seen the crowd of preschoolers that are cared for during each Sunday service, you see a busy room filled with happy children. (Lord, bless the adult workers in that room!)  These humble children are not fighting for bragging rights on who moved up from sippy cups, they don’t notice new trendy fashions and don’t talk behind each other’s backs.  All that prideful comparing of positions and property comes later when we think we’ve “grown up”. 
It also seems that little children become even more humble when a big grown up comes near.  With that in mind, I wonder how I might be different if I always kept in mind that God is with me, that He knows more than I do and that He is bigger that any problem I face.   Jesus made it clear that He wants us to become like little children, humble and reassured of His love for each of us.  Let’s become as humble as a child!
One last thing:
Even Children in school come up with the funniest ideas – While children were lined up in the cafeteria for lunch, there was a note that was posted by the apple tray: “Take only ONE. God is watching.”  At the end of the line was a tray of cookies.  One child had an idea and wrote a note that said “Take all the cookies you want, God is busy watching the apples!”   Oh, if he only knew!
Pastor Tom

Anyone Can Do It!
Have you heard the story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody?
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.
In some ways it’s more of a sad then a funny story.  It seems that everyone missed out in some way. Each person has been gifted by God to bring something into our world which would be a blessing to others. 
1 Peter 4:10-11 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Let’s all strive to be a role model for someone.  It may sound prideful at first, but to aspire to be doing your very best is one way to magnify what the lord is doing in your life.  Someone may not have any idea what is the next step they need to take in life’s journey.  We easily assume others are not willing to take responsibility in some area, but it may be that they are just looking for an example to follow. Let others catch your vision of how things can and maybe should be done.  Concentrate on solutions to a problem and keep going at it until you can see meaningful consequences that bless others.  We are all to be serving our Lord, and one day we want to hear Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant!”  Anybody can do it!
Pastor Tom

Slowly Growing Up!
I recently read this:  “According to BizVibe, there are over 200,000 fast-food restaurants in the United States and it is estimated that 50 million Americans eat at one of them every day. The top three revenue-producing restaurants are Starbucks, Mcdonalds, and Subway. As an American culture, we move at a fast pace. We supersize our fries, drive through our favorite restaurants, download our music and podcasts, and join our church’s live-stream service from anywhere in the world. From motorized bicycles to supercomputers, we seem to thrive on speed.

And yet, there is no formula or button to push, no computer program or drive-through restaurant to make a disciple of Jesus. We cannot supersize, motorize or computerize a disciple. Disciple-making is a long slow process that at times, includes false starts, U-turns, broken promises, and failures, none of which are popular in a society focused on speed.”

We want to help the whole world to come to know  Jesus as their savior.  Each person needs to have a personal conversion moment, where they are born again into a new life.  Then, the rest of their life becomes intertwined with others and the disciple-making process begins as they grow to become more like Christ.

As a parent, I’ve had to remind my children that sometimes they feel “growing” pains.  There are times when kids seem to suddenly have a growth spurt and get taller overnight!  Growing is the natural step.  The same is true in our Christian life.
 
2 Corinthians 4:7-10  “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

Having the fellowship of God’s family can be the light that shines on us to help us see God’s Spirit growing us in ways that at times may feel uncomfortable while transforming us from the inside out. It is the day-by-day slow work of His Spirit.  When I was young, there was a button available some people would wear. It had the letters PBPGINFWMY.  When someone would ask what the letters meant, it provided the opportunity to tell them “Please Be Patient, God Is Not Finished With Me Yet!”

In a society that demands speed in almost everything, let us remember that the work of God in our lives may at times be slow and steady.  We grow a little bit every day!  May this message help you grow today.  If you know Jesus as your Savior, take a moment to thank Him for slowly helping you grow to be more like Him!

Pastor Tom

A Love Letter
Years ago, or maybe last year, you may have been the fortunate recipient of a love letter.  Every Valentine's day we are reminded of the sentimental poems that lavishly pour out deep feelings toward a lucky recipient.  Sometimes these love letters are somewhat predictable. “Roses are red, Violets are blue, Sugar is sweet, And so are you” (first published in 1784!).
I am not saying those mussy letters are in any way “not true” but have you ever written a love letter to someone that’s chief goal was to be all about yourself?  Probably not.  It’s counterintuitive. Yet when we think about the Bible as God’s “love letter” to us, it’s not really about us!  It’s more about God’s revelation about Himself to us.
The Bible reveals God’s creative works, His character, and His plan for everything and everyone. It’s about God, by God, and for God.  Because God loves us so much, He revealed Himself to us so that we can KNOW Him, GROW closer to Him, and Show His love to others who are yet to discover Him.
Jesus explained that all of Scripture revealed Himself.
Luke 24:27 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
1 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”
It’s when we discover the greatness of God, His loving nature revealed to us in the pages of scripture that we begin to see true love in His letter we call the Bible.
This February 14th, if you write a “Valentine” letter to someone, make it all mussy and all about them.  If you read the Bible, remember it’s primarily a love letter not so much about you, but instead,  it’s all about God!  Try reading the Bible more as a loving letter by God and about God.  
Romans 11:36 “For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory.”
Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God’s greatest pleasure.
Pastor Tom

Welcome to February! It means we are closer to spring and then finally summer. If you live in the Midwest, you probably appreciate the ever-changing seasons. I try to look at each season as a gift from God.
Psalm 74:17 “It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.”
February reminds me to appreciate having a warm coat. It makes the hot cup of coffee taste even better. The early setting sun causes more evenings at home with my family. While it’s true we dash from our warm car to get inside somewhere else warm, we are blessed to have such creature comforts everywhere we go!
This season can also make some people impatient, and complain about the cold. It can make some people scared, afraid of not having enough money to pay the heating bills. It can make some people mad that it seems nobody cares about them.
Let’s use February as a special time of year to encourage others.  We can comfort others, and care for the needy. It’s an opportunity to use the gift of winter to be a blessing to others.
May God’s great love flow through us and warm cold hearts that need to find Him too!
Pastor Tom

Jonah was this dude with a really bad attitude.
He didn't do what he was told by God to do.
He tried to hide and ran away from God,
But he was found, yet God still gave him the job.
To go and warn a city full of people who did not even know.
Jonah disobeyed and got on a boat.
But because of a storm, the ship could not float.
The storm was so bad it was whipping the sails.
There was lightning and thunder and even hail.
Then Jonah was thrown into a watery jail.
Which turned out to be a big fish we call a whale!
For three days as he passed the time
And all he could think about was his past crime.
So Jonah repented and said he'll go to that land
Soon after that, the fish spit him onto the sand.
So Jonah cleaned up and went on his way
This time to Nineveh for he knew what to say,
"Repent today or you too will pay!" and all the townspeople said OK
It took a while for Jonah to see,
God is in control of everything on the land and seas!
What would Jonah say today to you and me? Choose carefully who you will please.
If you choose God today, then you won’t end up like me!

REPAIRED
I recently read an article about the art of “Kintsugi.”  Imagine taking a beautiful ceramic bowl out of a kitchen cabinet and suddenly bumping into someone, causing the bowl to fall out of your hands and breaking into pieces when it hits the floor.  In our culture we would likely throw it all away and use some alternative bowl.  In Japanese culture, they would take some rice flower, mixed with gold lacquer to form a paste that would repair it for future use.  The gold streaks would make the ceramic bowl become even more beautiful than before.  
God does something like that in each of our lives. Every one of us has some sort of brokenness in our past.  It could be a broken heart, broken relationship, something that could have made us think of just “throwing it all away.”
Jonah reached a point in his life where he was telling others to throw him overboard! He was broken, but God still had plans for him.  God didn’t throw him away, instead he took his shattered life and set him on the path to find his purpose again.
Isaiah 64:8 “O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, and you are the potter.  We all are formed by your hand.”
If we could only see the art of Kintsugi that God had done in our lives, we would give God more praise for the healing of our past.  We would see that God repeatedly put our brokenness back together and are still a useful vessel for His noble purposes. 
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Lord, use me again!
Pastor Tom

“The Word of the Lord came to Jonah” Jonah 1:1
God’s Word and God’s will are inseparable!  By God’s grace, He has given each person a conscience to help guide them.  John 16:9 tells us that the Holy Spirit convicts everyone who does not believe in Jesus in hopes that they will turn to Him and find Him as Savior.  If they choose not to believe, God can use their conscience to hold back evil in this world.  What a blessing we as believers have, even more than our conscience, we also have the Holy Spirit to help us.
The apostle Paul wrote about this in Romans 9:1 “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit”
There is, however, the risk of our conscience becoming dull to the truth of God’s Word.  When we meditate on the truth of Scripture, our conscience can confirm the direction that God may be leading us. 
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”
Joshua 1:8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
The life of Jonah is a clear example of the dangers of ignoring God’s directions.  While Jonah thought he could ignore God, his life spiraled downward.  Those around him were in danger and soon Jonah’s life was sinking! 
In God’s great mercy, He gave Jonah another chance to turn from his own thinking and provided another opportunity to follow the “Word of the Lord.”
Aren’t you glad that we haven’t needed to be thrown overboard before we change our thinking and choose to follow God’s Word?  Imagine a world where everyone would first hear what God says about the issues they are facing.  Imagine a world where there would be no one attempting to hide from God and the passing storms had no deeper meaning.  Until then, the more we hear God’s Word and choose to obey, the better we will be all along our way. 
For those of us that know Jesus, let's keep growing as we study God's Word.  It can keep us from sinking to unexpected depths with a dreaded guilty conscience!  I think Jonah would agree!
Pastor Tom

Celebrate the Beauty of a New Year!
It is estimated that about 1 billion people watch on TV the Waterford crystal Time Square New Year's Eve ball drop. Ever since 1904, there has been a fireworks show celebrating the new year.
The new year gives many an optimistic outlook. We as Christians know that God gives us reason to always have hope and joy.  Imagine before sin entered the world, all creation radiated God’s faithfulness and love and beauty in all things. 
During January, many are taking trips where the beauty of smooth sand on a beach and the warm breeze awaken their senses.  What are we to do when January brings cloudy days and long cold nights?
We look closer at the complex patterns of frost etched on our window panes and the fresh snow that may blanket our yards as we wait for the first blades of grass or the first blooming flower!
Whether we look up at the stars on a bone-chilling night or a hot summer evening, the glory of God is always around us.  These last few days have displayed the mystery of foggy conditions!  It makes us wonder how everything happens “not in our own power” but at the will of God.
Psalm 19:1   The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
May you see throughout this new year the beauty, majesty, and glory of God wherever you look!
Pastor Tom

It’s time for 2023
Romans 12:2  “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Your heavenly Father’s goal for you is to grow to be more like Christ.  Sadly, there is the temptation after you have come to know Jesus as Savior, to stop growing.  Healthy things grow.  Challenges in our life may be there to help us grow!  Sadly, some Christians grow older but never grow more Christ-like. 
When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation.  They had come to know Jesus, and over time they started to grow into being His disciples.  Are you ready for the challenges and blessings of choosing to grow as a disciple of Christ?
Once we decide to get serious about becoming more like Christ, we will begin to act in new ways.  We may need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, and intentionally change the way we think. Learning God's will never happen without learning God's Word and learning God's Word will change the way we think!
Now is the best time to develop new habits that will intentionally change you.  If you don't have an easy-to-read Bible,  I encourage you to choose one!  You can make this year an exciting, life-changing experience that will fulfill God's goal for you.   When that happens, you will be showing the world who Jesus is to you.  Knowing Jesus, growing more like Him, and showing the world the difference Jesus makes will make 2023 a great year!  
Pastor Tom

Gift Wrapping
“Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights”
James 1:17
 
This is the time of year when we think back to when the Three Wise Men went to see the baby Jesus, and, according to the Book of Matthew, “presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” These are simple words, but if we analyze them carefully, we discover an important, yet often-overlooked, theological fact: In this account: There is no mention of wrapping paper!

This may be because the people giving those gifts had two important characteristics: 1. They were wise and 2. they were men.   In general, most men don’t prioritize gift wrapping! Some don’t understand the point of putting paper on a gift just so somebody else can tear it off.

Remember that the important thing is not what you give, or even how you wrap it. The important thing, during this very special time of year, is that you save the receipt!

Men may not know much about wrapping, but we all know God is the greatest giver!  God has given salvation to all who believe! He gives good gifts and loves to watch the joy we express while enjoying His many gifts.  That sounds a lot like Christmas with the family all around.  As the children open gifts, there is great joy in watching them tear off the wrapping paper and find something just for them.  It’s almost more fun when they don’t know who a gift is from, yet their joy is evident. 
I wonder if perhaps God gives us so many good gifts that He joyously watches us as we enjoy them! As parents enjoy watching young with their toys, God is still enjoying watching you and me enjoy all He has given us! For God, every day may be like Christmas for His family!

Pastor Tom

A Gift That Fits
 
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him!” Romans 15:13

I’m reminded me of the woman who once stuck her Christmas wish list to the fridge for her husband to read.  She kept it brilliantly simple, asking only for “something that will make me look slim and beautiful.”
When Christmas arrived, she looked forward to opening a package with something silky inside. Instead, she discovered an exercise bike!

Santa might bring us what we deserve; God, however, delivers something we don’t deserve.
Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
No one needs to wait until Christmas Day to open God’s gift, but we must each receive it personally!  Believing that Jesus took my punishment, I accept His offer of forgiveness and am given eternal life as a free gift!
Have you placed your trust in Jesus? If you have, then join with others who say “ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15
If you haven’t received the gift, come talk with me – everyone should have a very Merry Christmas with God's gift!
Pastor Tom

You are Precious!
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,  and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”   1 Peter 2:6

Many have heard the joke about the Uhaul following a Hurst, but we know how we are not able to take possessions to Heaven.  It’s not hard to accumulate more than a Uhaul truck could fill and we often think about how precious our possessions are to us.  Christmas time can turn into a continuous hunt for even more items and the Uhaul trucks get larger and larger!  Sometimes those items can be very important to us, but rarely should they be described as being precious. “Precious” carries a much deeper meaning.
Jesus is precious! Scripture says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:6  
Possessions never fulfill what precious loved ones give us. To love and be loved by those around us brings fulfillment to our life.  Where would we be without prioritizing those who are precious over all our possessions?  Jesus is our most precious gift.  His loving presence will outlast everything else we acquire in our lifetime!  All that glitters is not gold, but the love shared by each other is always precious.
Pastor Tom

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason for everything that exists, including you and me. God made it all for His glory.
The glory of God "is the essence of His nature, the weight of His importance, the radiance of His splendor, the demonstration of His power, and the atmosphere of His presence.  God’s glory is best seen in Jesus Christ. He, the Light of the world, illuminates God’s nature. Because of Jesus, we are no longer in the dark about what God is really like."
Right now, God is inviting you to live for His glory by fulfilling the purposes He made you for. Real life begins by committing yourself completely to Jesus Christ. It is the "Christmas present" God wants from you.
We bring glory to God by seeking to know Him more each day, grow  closer to Him and others as we conform our character to be more like His, and by transforming the world as we show God's love to others.  
Now is the time for you to choose to live for the "Glory to God in the highest" - or as it was translated from a very early Christian song, then translated into Latin "Gloria in Excelsis Deo!"  We sing it every Christmas, let's live it every day!
Pastor Tom

The Greatest Gift of All!
Matthew 25:40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
In eastern Ukraine, one church received over 400 refugees from towns under attack. Among them were some refugees from Afghanistan who had previously fled to Ukraine to escape the fighting in their homeland.  The local church gave shoeboxes with the Gospel message.  Pray that these seeds of the Gospel will bear the fruit of salvation in Christ!
In the African nation of Namibia, the Himba tribe was unreached by the Gospel until nearby churches brought shoebox gifts.  As the children and their parents heard about Christ, many received Him as their Lord and Savior, and the villagers soon began meeting under a tree for worship.  Samaritan’s Purse helped this new congregation construct a sanctuary, where they invited their neighbors to join them in worship!
This ministry could not be possible without churches like ours, who generously pack shoeboxes each year.  When asked what is the most important thing to put into a shoebox, Franklin Grahm would say it is the prayers for the child who will open it.  I encourage you to take a moment now to say a pray that the children who are blessed with a box of toys and needed supplies, find the greatest gift of salvation offered by Christ alone.
Some people are blessed to fill shoeboxes, some are blessed to hand out the shoeboxes, all of us can have a part by praying for them.
Psalm 35:10  My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
It’s a blessing that God can use us all to care for the “least” of these among us.  Sharing Jesus is the greatest gift of all!
Pastor Tom

Catching An Attitude
A study by psychologist Robert Emmons divided volunteers into three groups that each made weekly entries in journals. One group wrote five things they were grateful for. One described five daily hassles. And a control group listed five events that had impacted them in a small way. The results of the study revealed that those in the gratitude group felt better about their lives overall, were more optimistic about the future, and reported fewer health problems.
Giving thanks has a way of changing the way we look at life. Thanksgiving can even make us happier.
Philippians 4:6-7   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
November is a busy month, almost as busy as December!  November brings elections, the Thanksgiving holiday,  “black Friday” shopping, “small business Saturday,” and now, Cyber Monday shopping too!  Finding peace amid all this chaos is possible as long as we follow God’s plan.  Isn’t it interesting how our attitudes change when our prayers include “Thanksgiving” alongside our request?  Thanksgiving to God takes our mind off of ourselves and more onto the nature of God.  An attitude of gratitude is said to be contagious.  If you’re not in a group where you hear this, maybe start spreading your gratitude around and see who else catches it near you.   Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”

Pastor Tom

Thankful  it's November
Isn’t it interesting how divided our country has become?  Next week there will be political elections, and half the nation may be upset.  Many people are having economic difficulties, and the war in Ukraine goes on and on.  Even during these difficult days, we would do well to have a thankful heart with praise to God.
 Psalm 34:1 “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
In the seventeenth century, Martin Rinkart served for more than thirty years as a pastor in Saxony, Germany,  There were many years of plagues and wars.  One year he conducted more than 4,000 funerals, including his wife’s, and at times food was so scarce that his family went hungry. Although he could have despaired, his faith in God remained strong and he gave thanks continually.  In fact, he wrote a hymn that is in our hymnal today.  You can find it on page #85 “Now Thank We All Our God.”
Here is a part from his song: “Oh, may this bounteous God, through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us, and keep us safe in grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next.”
Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
November may be remembered for many changing things, but Christ can be the constant comfort that produces praise in all things.
Pastor Tom

Nine Billion Kernels Of Candy Corn!
Last year, over 15 billion bushels of corn were harvested.  I recently drove to Arthur Mennonite Church and watched countless combines harvesting cornfields. Illinois is the second leading producer of corn!  Corn is an amazingly versatile product used in countless ways.  Some of that corn will go to make the much loved “candy corn”  and now is the time of year when a fresh crop of “candy corn” pops up in the stores.
Amazingly, someone figured out that over nine billion pieces of candy corn are produced each year!  If nine billion pieces are being consumed, somebody out there must really love this candy!
Imagine what each color of the candy corn can represent.
White – The tip of the candy corn is pure white and stands for the purity of God the Father.  He alone is perfect and holy.  
Orange – The color orange reminds us of the flames of the Holy Spirit who appeared on Pentecost.  Since that day, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in each of us who trust in Jesus.  It is the Holy Spirit who takes the seed of God’s Word and grows more faith in our hearts.  
Yellow – Yellow represents the light of Jesus Christ, the Word in flesh. He calls us to be His witnesses. When we scatter the seed of God’s Word, we spread His light and the message of salvation to the world.
The next time you see a bag of candy corn, let it remind you of the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:8-15).  We are called to generously scatter His seed so that all might have the chance to hear about our holy God who lives in our hearts through His Spirit for all to trust in the light of the world, His son Jesus.  
Finally, the candy corn can also be a symbol of prayer.  As it points upward it can remind us to pray.  “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2)  Pray that we can help harvest the field He has before us!
May the sweetness of a piece of candy corn bring a heart of thanks for all that God is bringing to us during this season in life.  Hope you enjoy at least one of those nine billion pieces of candy corn!
Pastor Tom

Let Your Light Shine!
Halloween is a strange holiday, but It can be an easy segway into spiritual conversations with others.  Here are a few analogies that can be talked about,  especially since Morton, IL is the pumpkin capital of the world!
Somewhere along the way, before that pumpkin had reached the store someone picked it. 
Jesus said in John 15:16” “I choose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit.”
The pumpkin you pick out didn’t start as clean as you see it.  Somewhere along the way, it was washed and the old dirt was gone.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone.  The new is here!”
Over the years I’ve been able to help kids clean out many pumpkins, once they are cleaned out, we would give the pumpkin a new and unique smile.  When our insides are changed by God, we find the joy that brings a smile to our face.  Psalm 71:23 “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you!”
Finally, we put a candle inside to shine through and light the darkness.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
In the days ahead, many will celebrate the darkness and all the scary things associated with Halloween, lets be the smiling light that changes their world!  Jesus said in John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Pastor Tom

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS
When I was young, I watched a comedy show that had a part called “Daily Affirmations by Stuart Smalley.”  It would show a young man looking into a mirror saying “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and people like me.”  It was meant to be a comedy, and often it was very funny.  Part of what made it humorous was that almost all of us would never be so prideful to praise ourselves as this comedian did.
Maybe for some of us, we have swung the self-talk pendulum too far the other way and at times berate ourselves.  We think we are ordinary and inferior.  Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father who thinks differently – and has told us we are each extraordinary and very influential!
Here are ten things we can affirm about ourselves always:

1.    I am strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. – Ephesians 6:10
2.    I am a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, holy and special. – 2 Peter 2:9

 3.    In times of mourning, the Lord shall give me comfort. – Matthew 5:4
 4.    As I seek the Lord, he hears me and delivers me from all my fears. – Psalms 34:4
 5.    My heart will not be troubled or afraid. God has given me peace. – John 14:27
 6.    I will praise God because of His loving kindness. – psalms 63:3
 7.    My life is in the Lord’s hands like clay in the hands of a potter. – Jeremiah 18:6
 8.    My mourning will be turned into dancing. – Psalms 30:11
 9.    My sorrows will be turned into joy. – John 16:20
 10.   I will trust God with all my heart. I’m not going to rely on my own knowledge. – Proverbs 3:5-6
The next time some nonfiction character wants you to think it’s all about you, speak out the affirmation that life is about Jesus living in you!  It makes all the difference.  It’s because of Jesus that you are good enough, smart enough, and yes, people like you!
Pastor Tom