from Pastor Wayne
Why did Jesus use the phrase, "Fishers of Men"?
Perhaps it was because there are so many people,
"fish in the sea" that need Christ, or perhaps it was
because there are so many different types of
fishermen? Or maybe it was a way to describe the
environment the disciples would be subjected to. How
do you fish? Are you patient and waiting to set the
hook, or do you give up and move on sometimes to
soon? Just as there are many fish, there are many
types of anglers as well. Hear Pastor Wayne's take
on this subject by clicking the fishing picture.
Perhaps it was because there are so many people,
"fish in the sea" that need Christ, or perhaps it was
because there are so many different types of
fishermen? Or maybe it was a way to describe the
environment the disciples would be subjected to. How
do you fish? Are you patient and waiting to set the
hook, or do you give up and move on sometimes to
soon? Just as there are many fish, there are many
types of anglers as well. Hear Pastor Wayne's take
on this subject by clicking the fishing picture.
So many of us have been labeled in society and sadly
by the church (general). We may be labeled a felon,
an adulterer, a cheat and so on, but the one label that
we all carry is "sinner". Romans 3:23 tells us we have
all sinned so therefore we all carry that label and
regardless of what other label we may have "sinner"
trumps them all. BUT...thanks to the blood of Jesus
we have the opportunity to remove the
label...because the Heaven I'm Heading to,,will surely
have those who carried many societal given labels...
by the church (general). We may be labeled a felon,
an adulterer, a cheat and so on, but the one label that
we all carry is "sinner". Romans 3:23 tells us we have
all sinned so therefore we all carry that label and
regardless of what other label we may have "sinner"
trumps them all. BUT...thanks to the blood of Jesus
we have the opportunity to remove the
label...because the Heaven I'm Heading to,,will surely
have those who carried many societal given labels...
What do you see in the picture to the left? I
remember when I was young wondering how people
could be so excited with their faith in Jesus. I didn't
understand how they could be so devoted to it.
Then as I grew in my own relationship I understood
better about the "secrets of Heaven" and being
able to SEE the Kingdom around me. Hear how
Jesus reveals one's only way to gain this
understanding as we know it today.
remember when I was young wondering how people
could be so excited with their faith in Jesus. I didn't
understand how they could be so devoted to it.
Then as I grew in my own relationship I understood
better about the "secrets of Heaven" and being
able to SEE the Kingdom around me. Hear how
Jesus reveals one's only way to gain this
understanding as we know it today.
Sponge-Bob really doesn't have such huge
muscles and is exposed for his misleading
representation in a humiliating way. Sometimes in
our spiritual life we tend to follow the trends of this
episode as we are unable to walk the talk. This gap
in credibility is damaging to ourselves and
sometimes to Christianity as a whole. How can we
walk the walk according to the talk. Stay connected
to the Vine! Sponge-Bob's muscles aren't
connected to him at all as is later revealed. If we
aren't truly connected to the faith we profess, we
too will be exposed one day.
muscles and is exposed for his misleading
representation in a humiliating way. Sometimes in
our spiritual life we tend to follow the trends of this
episode as we are unable to walk the talk. This gap
in credibility is damaging to ourselves and
sometimes to Christianity as a whole. How can we
walk the walk according to the talk. Stay connected
to the Vine! Sponge-Bob's muscles aren't
connected to him at all as is later revealed. If we
aren't truly connected to the faith we profess, we
too will be exposed one day.
Click the associated picture to go to download message
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Inaugural Sunday of the Upward Ministry brings
many challenges, but many blessings as well.
Jesus has risen and is walking along the shores of
the Sea of Galilee when His disciples meet up with
Him once again. Jesus asks the key question "Do
you love me?" Of course they respond with a yes
and Jesus tells them to "Feed my sheep". What a
challenge! Jesus challenges them with looking
beyond the inner circle and going out with the
message. Looking out through the windows and
seeing the people in need. If we can't see through
the windows with this Good News then perhaps we
are looking in mirrors instead. Windows or Mirrors?
many challenges, but many blessings as well.
Jesus has risen and is walking along the shores of
the Sea of Galilee when His disciples meet up with
Him once again. Jesus asks the key question "Do
you love me?" Of course they respond with a yes
and Jesus tells them to "Feed my sheep". What a
challenge! Jesus challenges them with looking
beyond the inner circle and going out with the
message. Looking out through the windows and
seeing the people in need. If we can't see through
the windows with this Good News then perhaps we
are looking in mirrors instead. Windows or Mirrors?
Many times in our missional work we seem to
making strides for the good and then all of a
sudden the bottom falls out. We see the fruits
of our labors and people growing spiritually, but
yet it seems things around us directly are
caving in. It seems perhaps that we are
imprisoned in a moment of despair. In Acts 16
Paul and Silas had one of those moments, and
listen or read the text to see how they handled it
and how they broke the chains that bind.
making strides for the good and then all of a
sudden the bottom falls out. We see the fruits
of our labors and people growing spiritually, but
yet it seems things around us directly are
caving in. It seems perhaps that we are
imprisoned in a moment of despair. In Acts 16
Paul and Silas had one of those moments, and
listen or read the text to see how they handled it
and how they broke the chains that bind.
| Breakin' Free 1-31-10 |
| Windows or Mirrors 1-24-10 |
| The Peace Giver 2-7-10 |
My favorite thing is to watch my children sleep.
In doing so we see the second greatest gift
given us from Jesus..first the life, then the
peace...That same Peace was how Jesus was
introduced to the world as well as was His
greeting after the resurrection. It would seem
then that Jesus truly wishes for us to know
Peace! Sometimes we can give Him our sins,
but can we give Him the one thing that will give
us true Peace?
In doing so we see the second greatest gift
given us from Jesus..first the life, then the
peace...That same Peace was how Jesus was
introduced to the world as well as was His
greeting after the resurrection. It would seem
then that Jesus truly wishes for us to know
Peace! Sometimes we can give Him our sins,
but can we give Him the one thing that will give
us true Peace?
The love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 gives all
of the characteristics of love, but did you know
in a well known story of Jesus we sometimes
look right past this. Would you, could you,
love someone enough to wash their feet?
Better yet, could you wash their feet knowing
they were going to wrong you in a severe way?
In the story of the foot washing Jesus portrays
all of 1 Corinthians 13 to the fullest as well as
one of the biggest elements of love.
Sometimes......Love is Sacrifice...
of the characteristics of love, but did you know
in a well known story of Jesus we sometimes
look right past this. Would you, could you,
love someone enough to wash their feet?
Better yet, could you wash their feet knowing
they were going to wrong you in a severe way?
In the story of the foot washing Jesus portrays
all of 1 Corinthians 13 to the fullest as well as
one of the biggest elements of love.
Sometimes......Love is Sacrifice...
| Love is... 2-14-10 |
| The Rest Stop 2-21-10 |
Four friends get together to bring their lame
friend to see Jesus. They reach the place Jesus
is at and the crowd is overwhelming yet they
don't let that detour them from their mission.
They know Jesus is the one who can give their
friend rest. Do you know someone who is
paralyzed spiritually and needs to see Jesus?
Their burdens are heavy and they have become
weary to the point they need a friend like you
who will lift them up to Jesus. Maybe that person
is you. But how many times when we get to the
place Jesus is and we see the crowd of needy
people before us do we just turn and walk away?
These four friends knew Jesus could give rest so
they didn't let the crowd stop them..Listen and
find out for yourself.....
friend to see Jesus. They reach the place Jesus
is at and the crowd is overwhelming yet they
don't let that detour them from their mission.
They know Jesus is the one who can give their
friend rest. Do you know someone who is
paralyzed spiritually and needs to see Jesus?
Their burdens are heavy and they have become
weary to the point they need a friend like you
who will lift them up to Jesus. Maybe that person
is you. But how many times when we get to the
place Jesus is and we see the crowd of needy
people before us do we just turn and walk away?
These four friends knew Jesus could give rest so
they didn't let the crowd stop them..Listen and
find out for yourself.....
| Part II |
Yes Jesus will give us rest but for many that rest
seems unobtainable. There is a reason for that
as we look to understand that God simply wants
us to hold onto our faith and continue the fight so
we can reach our final rest area. Listen at how
so many times we reach the hard spots of life
and in our humanity we seem to lose sight of the
rest God has in store for us.
seems unobtainable. There is a reason for that
as we look to understand that God simply wants
us to hold onto our faith and continue the fight so
we can reach our final rest area. Listen at how
so many times we reach the hard spots of life
and in our humanity we seem to lose sight of the
rest God has in store for us.
| Rest Part Deux 2-28-10 The Final Rest |