September, 2008

I don’t understand electricity, but I’m no fool. I’m not going to sit around in the dark until I do. I don’t understand the thermodynamics of internal combustion and the hydraulics of an automatic transmission either, but I’m no fool. I’m not going to stay in one place until I do. The truth is that I don’t understand a great deal of things that are part of my everyday life, but I make them a part of my life anyway.

The same is true of Salvation. No one will fully understand how God could become a man, how He could die, how His death could be the basis for our forgiveness, how He could give you and me new life, and all of the other aspects of salvation. But it seems to me that only a fool would ignore such a great opportunity, just because he/she didn’t understand it!

Something to think about…

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Randy

P.S. Don’t forget about Wonderful Wednesdays for K-5th grade, starting September 3rd from 6-7:30 PM.

August, 2008

The ever flowing river of life has brought us through another summer. With the end of summer upon us, we stand at the gate of another school year. Teachers are preparing, students are gathering supplies, parents are smiling. Yes, another season is about to begin!

We have no way of knowing what the future holds for us in details. We are sure to have our share of troubles and cares: However, we know that the Lord is with His people and where the presence of the Lord is we have no cause to worry. So it seems we have a choice regarding the things ahead of us. We can let dread and fear fill our being or we can choose to trust Jesus and reach for the better things of life. Either way we choose, there are a couple of things we can be sure of: First, the untrodden pathway is before us. As God told Joshua, “You have never passed this way before.” None of us have walked the path that lies ahead of us. It is a new venture; a venture that has wins and losses. But importantly, The Unchangeable God is with us. “I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6)

Yes, thank God, as we look into a path that we have never walked before and the uncertainties of the times. We do not have to do so in fear or dismay or more importantly, alone. Yes, my friends, the world is constantly changing about us—sometimes for good, and sometimes for bad, but our Savior is “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

Thanks be to God for His unchangeable Love!!!

Pastor Randy

July, 2008

Throwing new swimmers into the deep end, and yelling at them to tread water and avoid breathing while submerged, is one way to teach someone to swim, but success is only measured by those who didn’t drown.  However, that’s often how the “Church Universal” cares for newcomers and new believers! They become thrown into a new environment or new faith with no real plan to help them grow and mature; then we wonder why most sink to the bottom never to be heard from again.

All of us would agree that life has become a fast paced sometimes chaotic journey. So the thought of reaching out and bringing more people, relationships, even stories into our personal space is sometimes, well let’s just say, a HASSLE! However, that’s exactly what God is asking us to do! For you see people, all people are important to God. So much so that He sent His Son to die for all people and our eternal souls.  Where would we be if someone had not reached out to us? Where would we be if someone had not offered us the gift of friendship, conversation, or relationship?

I want to challenge you as a congregation, to just be yourself! To reach out to colleagues, friends, neighbors, new folk at worship, even family, and patiently, gently walk alongside them, share a conversation, cup of coffee, a laugh! And very soon, you will notice how natural it will be to share your faith and possibly, quite possibly, introduce them to your closest and best friend, Jesus. When you do, you will be teaching them to “swim” for eternity and they will be FOREVER grateful that they can quit “treading water” and stop sinking!

Blessings to you…

Pastor Randy

June, 2008

Earthquakes, cyclones, global warming, gas at $4 per gallon, war and more war: Where are we going? How many times have you heard that question lately? It seems wherever we go, this topic of conversation is on the minds and lips of everyone! I have been doing a lot of thinking about this lately, although I haven’t completely solved all the issues (yet). I do believe these “problems” can have a positive side! The scripture teaches us that “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28). It never said that all things are good, or that all things work.  However, the power is witnessed when we realize how God can take all things, mold them together, and work them for good in our lives.

When you stop and look hard at the above named turmoil, you can quickly see that these horrible occurrences are not the “acts of God” (even though God gets the blame most of the time). These monsters are the realities of life. As horrible as they are, that’s what they are! However, God can take people, circumstances, opportunities and bring about healing, compassion, even hope to what seems a hopeless and devastated world.

Ours is not to have all the answers. Ours is to hold fast to the One who does. To know that the God of ALL doesn’t turn a back to this world. Rather, God turns the world and longs for us to “turn back” to Him.

Think about it…

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Randy

May, 2008

It is obvious by looking around that Spring is in the air! Everywhere her signs are popping up, blooming and coloring our world.  What a glorious time as we watch God’s handiwork unfold! New life is truly a powerful experience. One of my favorite hymns is the old standby, “To God Be the Glory.” The lyrics declare: “To God be the glory, great things He has done! So loved He the world that He gave us His son!”

As we celebrate a new season and all the flavor it brings to our lives, we don’t have to look far to see the countless “great things” God has done all around. Brightly painted tulips, rich deep green grass, and all the trees proudly modeling their new spring wardrobe, and one of my favorites (ahem) dandelions!  Yes, new life is a powerful, miraculous masterpiece we get to see first hand. All because God loves doing those “Great Things.”

My hope and prayer for each of you as you encounter this Spring and all her fragrance, splendor, and majesty, is that you will celebrate the joy of life itself and as you do, cherish the blessing of getting to be a “firsthand witness” to the birth and unfolding of new life around and with you—

All made possible by the gift of his Son!!!

To God Be the Glory….

Pastor Randy

April, 2008

I don’t know about you, but I was truly blessed by the Palm Sunday/Confirmation service this year. As I was able to look each of the confirmands in the eye and ask them the powerful question, possibly the most important question they will ever answer, I was without a doubt humbled. What question am I talking about? The one that went like this: “Do you accept for yourself Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?”

As each confirmand gave themselves to Christ, I began thinking how beautiful it is to give one’s self and to yield to the Lordship of Jesus. I was reminded that this is not something that we do once and forget.  Rather it is something that we get to do everyday of our lives. To daily yield to Christ and accept His redeeming power is a privilege and gift we should never want to miss. To have the opportunity and ability to relate to the eternal risen Savior, to follow, emulate, and serve is beyond words.

My hope and prayer is that each of us as we continue to grow together, worship together, and celebrate our spiritual journeys together, will begin each day in the example of our confirmands and say YES to Jesus, pledging to yield our lives to Him and for the Glory of God….

Because He Lives...

Pastor Randy

March, 2008

From my desk in the pastor’s study, I can see two Poinsettias sitting atop a bookcase in Margaret’s office. My eyes become fixed on them as I begin thinking of this article which would articulate my thoughts of our first Easter together. How could those Poinsettias look so fresh? Why, Christmas was two months ago! The it hit me like a ton of chocolate rabbits. Without the birth, there would have been no life. Without a life, there would have been no death. Without a death there would have been no resurrection.  And without a resurrection there would have been no Easter.

So often, we grumble about how quickly Easter comes in the year. I’ve said many times, “It just seems like we got the tree down and here we are at Easter!” However; when you stop and think about what a blessing it is to be able to celebrate the “Whole Story” so close together. It’s almost as if God is saying to us, “Why stop celebrating at all?” Maybe those poinsettias know something I don’t. Maybe they’re hanging around just to keep the celebration going! What an example! What a message to us all! What do you say, let’s keep the celebration going, and let the world hear the greatest story ever told…

The story of Jesus, and His undying love!!!

Because He Lives!!!

Pastor Randy