Category: First Steps

In the 16th Century, an unknown French theologian wrote:

Some of the most brilliant minds of my century teach that the sun, not the earth, is the center of our world. They say the sun is essentially motionless and that the earth revolves around the sun. This is hard for many to understand. It seems contrary to everything our senses tell us, for we see the sun in continual movement around the earth all day long.

When it is understood, it can be applied very usefully to the science of salvation. Jesus is the sun. In his greatness he remains motionless, but moves all things. Seated at the right hand of God, he is immovable but puts all else in motion. Because he is the true center of the world, the world needs to be in continual motion toward him.

Jesus is the sun of our souls. We receive light from him. He influences us. The earth of our hearts should always be moving toward him.

I like the notion that Jesus is the sun of our souls.  This week, focus on the unmovable One who brings light and life to our souls.

This week’s reading:
Monday – Luke 16
Tuesday – Luke 17
Wednesday – Luke 18
Thursday – Luke 19
Friday – Luke 20
Please Pray for:Our Nation and Our Leaders
Those unwillingly absent from worship
The Confirmation Class of 2018, as they become full members of the church this Sunday, March 25, their parents, and their mentors
Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)

James Finley, one of the great Methodist revival preachers from the 19th Century said, “Much may be said about camp meetings, but take them all in all for practical exhibition of religion, for unbounded hospitality to strangers, for unfeigned and fervent spirituality; give me a country camp meeting against the world.”

Camp meeting revivals were popular in the frontier regions where no permanent congregations existed; therefore, people traveled long distances to sing, worship, hear a preacher, and share in communion. Normally it was held outside and lasted for a week or two.  Frontier life was both difficult and ripe for revival due to the spiritual vacuum that existed due to ramped alcoholism, greed, and sexual promiscuity.

The Cane Ridge revival of 1801 is considered by some to be the most important religious event in American history.  It gathered thousands of people from all over the frontier who were overcome by repentance, forgiveness, and assurance of faith.

Whenever I think of Cane Ridge or any camp meeting, I am reminded of the human need of forgiveness. People create vacuums and voids only to attempt to fill them unsuccessfully.  Some voids can only be filled by the Incarnate One—the one who became human and walked among us.

This week’s reading:

Monday – Luke 11
Tuesday – Luke 12
Wednesday – Luke 13
Thursday – Luke 14
Friday – Luke 15
 

Please Pray for:

Our Nation and Our Leaders
Those unwillingly absent from worship
The Confirmation Class of 2018, their parents, and their mentors
Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)

St. Patrick was the son of a high-ranking Roman colonist who lived in Britain during the 5th Century. As an early teen, he was kidnapped by Celtic raiders and forced to work as a shepherd. A few years later, he escaped. However, he had a vision of Irish people crying out for him to return with the gospel. So he did.

For the rest of his life he traveled from village to village, sharing the gospel. Regardless of circumstance, Patrick remained humble and kind. Even in the face of Druid religious priests who opposed him, Patrick was faithful. He would live among the people and share the burden of their hard living conditions. After he was accepted by the village as “one of them,” he would share the gospel. Even today, this model of evangelism (Relational—Indigenous Evangelism) is still admired and practiced among missionaries.

The rise in popularity of St. Patrick’s Day in North America is largely due to Irish American immigrants’ strength in the face of economic hardship and withstanding prejudice against their Catholic faith.

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Luke 6
• Tuesday – Luke 7
• Wednesday – Luke 8
• Thursday – Luke 9
• Friday – Luke 10

Please Pray for:

• Our Nation and Our Leaders
• Phase 2 (Renovation of Current Facilities)
• Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)

Recently, my daughter turned 16 years old.  Yep, that means she can drive now. As her parent, there is a new level of freedom and anxiety. Freedom in the sense that she can drive herself and less time is required in running her taxi-service. More anxiety for us because she is driving and we don’t have the same level of control over her safety.

As she was preparing to drive, she would watch me as I drove. Naturally, she pointed out all the things that I did wrong.

“Dad, you didn’t use your blinker.”
“Dad, you are speeding.”
“Dad, you are not supposed to balance the steering wheel with your knee.”

I wanted to respond with all types of justifications.  Yet, I knew she was right.

How often do we want to justify our actions with the Holy Spirit? The Finger of God touches an area of our life and we instantly want to give reasons why it is out of sorts. Resist that temptation. Acknowledge that it is there and needs to change. Invite God into the change process surely he will lead you.

 

This week’s reading:
Monday – Luke 1
Tuesday – Luke 2
Wednesday – Luke 3
Thursday – Luke 4
Friday – Luke 5
Please Pray for:
Our Nation and Our Leaders
Phase 2 (Renovation of Current Facilities)
Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)
Traveling mercies for St. Paul members on trips and retreats, locally and abroad



Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who he is and what he has done. It is expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.

How we live either affirms or contradicts what we profess about God. Our daily life, not what we do on Sunday mornings, is the gospel message other people receive. For the next two weeks, begin each day with this thought in mind. What you do and say does make a difference.

 

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Revelation 1-4
• Tuesday – Revelation 5-9
• Wednesday – Revelation 10-14
• Thursday – Revelation 15-18
• Friday – Revelation 19-22

Please Pray for:

• Our Nation and Our Leaders
• Phase 2 (Renovation of Current Facilities)
• Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)
• For all those still affected by the flu epidemic
• For all those suffering in silence

The Winter Olympics have just begun. I love the Olympics, winter or summer makes no difference—I’m a fan. I marvel at each country’s athletes who train their entire life for the hope and chance of a gold medal.  I always watch the Olympic games full of anxiety for all who compete.

Often, just before and during each Olympics, past medal winners are interviewed. We are all reminded of their journeys, struggles, and accomplishments.  This past week, I listened to Michelle Kwan’s interview. She is the most decorated U.S. skater with two Winter Olympic medals, five-time World Champion medals, and nine-time U.S. Champion medals. I remember watching her compete. She was the epitome of grace.

What I didn’t know was that in 1993 she competed in her first U.S. completion finishing sixth. She fell four times! For a skater, that is the worst. Interestingly enough, she could have quit, stopped, given up to pursue something else. However, she stayed the course; perfected her technique through discipline and hard work. As I listened to her interview, I thought of the value of spiritual disciplines. For the Christ-Follower, spiritual disciplines are the countless hours of faith practice yielding the nature of Christ inside the nature of the believer.

Don’t discount the countless times you practice your faith, even if you can’t see the effects of it. Like an Olympic athlete, practice makes perfect. Moment by moment, God is perfecting your nature so that it looks like the nature of Christ.

 

This week’s reading:
Monday – John 12-14
Tuesday – John 15-18
Wednesday – John 19-21
Thursday – 1 John 1-5
Friday – 2 John, 3 John
 

Please Pray for:
Our Nation and Our Leaders
Phase 2 (Renovation of Current Facilities)
Phase 3 (Construction of New Youth Building)
For all those affected by the flu epidemic