Someone recently told me that "Jeep" means "Just Empty Every Pocket." Thinking of all the projects I've done on my jeep, I began to think it was true until they told me that the jeep is the most accessorized vehicle on the planet. A few weeks ago I replaced the front leaf springs on my jeep. I had never replaced springs before, so I took out the repair manual and followed the 5 easy steps. The first side went great. The old parts came off easily and the new went on quickly. The manual said to do one side at a time, so I tightened the new side and started work on the other. That's where the difficulty started. I had to grind off the old parts and finally was able to install the new. But I had a problem. In the middle of the spring is an alignment pin that protrudes both top and bottom of the spring. I could not get the top aligned with the bottom, no matter what I tried. I asked my friends what they thought. Rick said I should buy a new car. David works in a body shop and I thought he would know what to do. He said, "I know your problem. Did you tighten up the other side?" "Yes" I replied. "Loosen it and you will be able to move the axle and get everything aligned." After loosening 4 bolts everything snapped into place. I realized the Lord was teaching me an important lesson. How many times do we struggle with things of life when we need to loosen something else in order for it to click into place? By now you have heard that I'm on a sabbatical. The sabbatical is like loosening the 4 bolts so that the other areas of my life might begin to click into place. There are many commands in the Bible which we know we ought to do, yet struggle with doing it because we are too busy. Jesus said to "love your neighbor" and "to make disciples." We hold up such commands as mandates, yet how often do we strike up conversations with our neighbors or take the time to share our faith? We might claim we are too busy so the command gets set aside for another day, perhaps forever. What could we loosen up in our lives that we might give us more opportunities to do what we believe? Could you go through your day allowing God to set your agenda as you go about doing your errands? What conversations might start and friendships develop or someone hurting gets an encouraging verse to help them along their way? What if we went through our day not in a hurry but actually welcomed the interruptions? What are we missing out because schedules are so tight that these other things simply don't click? I'd love to hear from you what you loosened up on and what happened as a result. Blessings, Pastor Pete

God Is With Us

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is the very cornerstone that our faith rests upon. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then our faith crumbles. But if the Scriptures are true, then the resurrection of Jesus proves that nothing is impossible with God. Zephaniah 3.17 says "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. he will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Did you notice the first phrase of this verse? "Your God is with you." The God who raised Jesus from the dead is with you. How awesome is that? Since God is with us and raised Jesus from the dead, He is more than able to save us from whatever mire we find ourselves in. God also takes delight in us. We may delight in many things, but God delights in us- for who we are now, not who we will become. We are His child. As He holds us He delights in us and quiets us with His love. Imagine a mom or dad holding a fussy baby and whispering nice things to calm their baby down. That is what God does with us. But He doesn't stop there. God expresses His delight and love in a soothing song that calms our fears. I used to sing the "Cares Chorus" to my children. "I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet. And anytime I don't know what to do. I will cast all my cares upon You." What a privilege it is for us know that God cares for us, and loves us, takes delight in us and sings over us. Not sure what song it is that God sings, but I am sure that it is exactly what we need for the present moment. Rejoice! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Have a wonderful Easter. Pastor Pete

The view of our Christian faith is enriched by figures of speech. The Apostle Paul mastered metaphor and similes. In Colossians 2.6-7 he wrote, "...just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him..." and again in Ephesians 3.17 when Paul prayed for believers (including us) that we would be "rooted and established in love." Being rooted and established in our faith is a beautiful picture, for a tree, when rooted and established, is strong, healthy and able to withstand the storm driven winds. A tree with deep roots is near nutrients and water. The Christian whose roots of faith are deep has found the secret of growing strong, healthy and able to withstand the storms of life. Each of us have the option where to sink our roots. But Psalm 1 reminds us that God wants us to sink our roots near the stream of God. The more we mediate on His Word and put it into practice, the deeper our roots will grow and the more stable we'll be as we encounter difficult times. The time to grow roots is before the storms come. If we're shallow in our faith, we'll get blown over when the storms come. But if we have taken time to daily nurture our relationship with God, then even when the storms come, we will remain strong, for our roots run deep and near dependence upon God is sure. Are you firmly rooted and established in the faith? Are you near the streams of God? If so, you will remain strong in the Lord and able to stand even when storms come. Isaiah 7.9 says, "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." May you grow deep roots of faith, trusting in God's promises and standing in His grace. Blessings, Pastor Pete

I watched with fascination the two climbers making their way up Half Dome. What was unique to their climb is that they did not use any tools to enable them to climb. They did it freestyle, placing fingers and toes on ledges no wider than a dime. They wisely used a safety rope which was tested multiple times as they fell. If not for the rope, they would have fallen to a certain death. God has a way of directing each of us in our life stories. Most of us will never attempt to climb Half Dome, but sometimes God leads us over mountains. When God does, He also promises to help us over it. 2 Samuel 22.34 says, “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.” Sometimes God leads us to go around the mountain, and at other times, God removes the mountain altogether. In each instance, we are to go where He leads and listen for His tender voice, knowing that He will keep us safe regardless of the route. Our tendency will be to fear. But God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41.10) When we face any challenge of life, whatever the degree or height, God is our safety rope. He only needs one hand to uphold us. The way we know that God will uphold us is when we fall. We may fall a little and even get shaken up. But when we are dangling in the arms of Jesus rather than laying on the rocks below, then we know without a doubt that Jesus is our safety rope and He will keep us safe. Notice the number of times that God uses the word “I” in Isaiah 41.10. “I am with you…I am your God…I will strengthen you and help you…I will uphold you…” Whatever you may be facing today, no matter how impossible it may seem to you, God invites us to put our trust in Him and allow Him to hold us up. God does this for us as we make our way up and over the circumstance of life. We climb by faith, believing that God has us in His sight with steady hands ready to keep us safe. Lord, thank you for being our safety rope, for taking care of us by upholding us, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Since we know that You can hold us up, we entrust our very lives to You, knowing that You will do whatever it takes to accomplish Your perfect will in each of us. Amen.

Light is a wonderful thing. Without it we would stumble and fall. Recently I went back into a darkened room to retrieve something I had forgotten. I didn't bother to turn on the light. I knew where the object was. I realized I had forgotten about something that lay on the floor as I began to trip and scramble to stay on my feet. Light is useful, but only if we use it. We need light. Have you ever driven down a dark road and turned off the car headlights? Fun and dangerous come to mind. Fun quickly fades if we drive into a tree or off the road. Without light we would be in peril. Light enables us to go about our lives in darkness. If you have ever gone on a night hike with a flashlight, you know it is best to walk within the light. If you shine the light in a different direction than you are walking, you might stumble. How good it is to have the light guiding you along the path, making you aware of the obstacles and curves. As Christians, we are given a marvelous light. Psalm 119.105 states, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." God has given us His Word to light our path, to guide and protect us along the path of life. As long as we stay within the light, we are good. For it is God's will that we walk in his light. I have found that the paths of life take us to many different destinations. I've lived in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Hayward, Castro Valley, San Jose, La Mirada, Tustin, San Bernardino, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. I've also had a variety of jobs: Jack in the Box as a high school kid, Mervyn's warehouse, UPS, Gene's Office Supply, Mt. Gilead, Security Guard, Evangelical Free Church of Orange, Harris and Frank Men's Apparel, Calvary Baptist Church, Occidental Community Church and Buchanan Food Service. I'm realizing that I have quite a resume of experiences. In addition to these, there are more important things, such as where I met my wife and when we were married and our children. Each of our stories continue as does our journey. I have found that the one constant throughout my life is the Lord Jesus who is the Living Word and Emmanuel. As long as I stay in the Word I am staying in the light. When I disobey the Lord and go my own way, I step out of the light and I find myself in danger. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8.12 Where have your feet taken you? Where are your feet taking you now? Are you walking within the light of God's Word or have you veered down a rabbit trail? The challenge is to follow Jesus and keep within His light. In 2015 we'll explore the challenge of staying in the light while the world around us is in darkness. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the true light and for guiding me along my way. Shine your light for my feet and for my path, that I may walk confidently with you. Take my hand Lord, stay with me and help me to stay within your light. Blessings, Pastor Pete

A Life Well Lived

Each of us has a story. The story is our life. In a sense, each of us has been given a life sentence. From the moment we are born to the day that we die has already been determined and ordained by God. People do all sorts of things in order to live longer and look better, from eating healthy to exercise, from going to bed early and taking daily vitamins. Even modern medicine and technology is enhancing our lives and extending them way beyond that of previous generations. Yet, no matter how hard we try, we cannot exceed the limits that God has imposed nor can we put off the inevitable, that one day we shall die. At a funeral service I heard someone read a poem. I think it was entitled, “The Dash.” The birthday and death day are recorded, but it is the dash that is in between the two dates that counts. The dash, short and small in font size, yet it represents the whole of a life once lived. A life that was either lived well or not so well. What we do with our lives matters. The Bible says that if we strive to keep our lives intact according to the way that we wish, that we will lose it. However, if we are willing to give it up for God that we will find it. Each choice impacts us greatly. One leads to despair and the other to a discovery of an abundant life worth living. God knows the needs we have. He has reached out to us in love, providing us acceptance, joy and peace, in order to make our dash…our life…our story meaningful. Some become mistaken thinking that in yielding our lives to God that somehow God will protect us and keep us from all harm or evil. However, Jesus promised that we would have tribulation, not the absence of it. Instead, Jesus said to keep our focus on Him, for He has overcome the world. Too often we focus on what we think we need, whether it is circumstances going our way or longing for the feeling of comfort and security. This leads us to mourn our losses rather than rejoicing in the gain that is ours in Christ Jesus. Instead of counting losses, try counting your blessings, for blessings certainly outnumber our losses. In gratitude, we accept the victory that is ours through faith in the Lord Jesus. By faith we look forward to the day when God will make all things right, our hope will be realized and our faith will be sight. Until that day, live the dash for His glory and it will be a life well lived. Blessings, Pastor Pete

From the moment we are born to the day that we die, we are on an adventure called life. In the movie "Forest Gump", Tom Hanks portrayed Forest who said, "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Maybe that is what makes life an adventure. There are lots of surprises, from being in the right place at the right time or being rewarded for hard work or finding new friends or falling in love or discovering a new hobby. I suppose each of us has expectations of what life should bring. We want each piece to be our favorite flavor. However, life isn’t like that. Sometimes life dishes out pieces that go well beyond our expectations and at other times falls far short. Sometimes we work hard at making a living in order to ensure each piece in our box of life is just how we want it. Work takes precedence, often overshadowing family, friends and God. Somewhere along the way the least important becomes the most important, and with priorities upside down we struggle for meaning while striving to make a living. If this is true, we must ask ourselves, "What do we want? To make a living or make a life?" Jesus offers us something better. He said in John 10.10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This isn’t offering a sequel that should never have been made nor is it a "make over"- same you but with an improved image. Instead, God is offering something new and refreshing. The Bible says, “If we are in Christ we are a new creation. All things are new” (2 Corinthians 5.17). By faith we grab hold of God who is able to truly make our life new with new meaning and purpose. Consider Ephesians 2.10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Discovering the purpose filled life that Jesus offers fulfills the unmet longing of each of our hearts. By accepting God’s life and purpose for our own, we discover a satisfying fullness that nothing else can come close to, and in the process points others to the One who is the Life. If you want to be miserable, try living the new life in your own effort or embrace Jesus yet continue to live in your own way. It doesn’t work and you’ll never be happy until you settle the issue once and for all. Either we are His by faith and yield to His purpose for us, or we go it alone and try to fill our life with good things but not the best things. In the end, our way will never lead to the fullness of life that Jesus spoke of and we’ll be disappointed with each piece of chocolate…I mean life. If we exhale all of the things we thought so dear and breathe in the life God, we allow God to fill us with His life, a life full of satisfaction and meaning that we never dreamed possible. We may never know what the box of life will bring, but we do know that God is a God of surprises and whatever may come, we know that He will be with us. Prayer: Lord, breathe Your life into mine and make my life into what You want it to be- full and abundant, fulfilling Your holy purpose in me that others may see and glorify You.

The Great Divide

Last summer while traveling with my son Matt, we crossed over the continental divide. The watershed on the east flows into the great Mississippi. The watershed on the west flows to the Pacific. It is a dividing line. Our society has many dividing lines. Politically, our country is divided. Economically there are those who have plenty and those who are in need. It seems the divide is getting harder to cross. We see division in social realms, moral values and spiritual issues. There seems to be no end to that which divides us. Division often finds its way into the church. In Paul's time, some said that they were of Apollos, others Peter and still others Paul. Somehow, through association they became spiritually better than others. A childhood friend attends a church in Santa Rosa which teaches that it is the right church and all the others, including our church, are in error. Another friend attends a church that only uses the King James Bible because it is the only authorized version. Division exists, yet God has provided a way for us to be as one. The world has its idea of oneness. John Lennon wrote the song "Imagine" which captures the essense of it. He wrote, "Imagine no heaven...no hell...no country...and we'll all be one." It sounds like Utopia on earth, but in reality it is a thought that leads to hell. Jesus is the only one who can tear down the great divide. The Bible states that sin separates us from God, but through Jesus, the separation is removed and we have peace with God. Jesus destroyed the distinctions of His day by hanging around with sinners (tax collectors and a known prostitute) and told stories like the Good Samaritan which caused people to ponder who really was the true neighbor. In Ephesians 2.14 we see that Jesus has torn down the dividing walls between the greatest division in the Jewish mindset-the division between Jew and Gentile. God's purpose was to create one new man out of the two. Think of the distinctions we have today: differences in gender, wealth, ethnic back ground and social status. Jesus has torn down these divisions and have made us truly one. Galatians 3.28 states that there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, slave or free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. What we see then is that sin divides, but Jesus unites. Is there a great divide between you and God? Then come to Jesus have have peace with God. Is there a great divide in your relationships? Commit them to Jesus and trust Him to do the impossible, for truly He can bring healing and wholeness to anyone who comes to Him in faith. Don't let sin keep you on the wrong side of the dividing line. We must cross over and put our trust in Jesus and in Him alone. Which side are you on? Blessings, Pastor Pete

What Is It That Guides You?

Perhaps you let your conscience guide you. If it feel's right or if others are doing it. I suppose each of us has a sense of what is right or wrong. But how do we know if what we think is right is really right? The Bible book of Hebrews tells us in 6.17-18 "...God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear... it is impossible for God to lie..." When it says that God doesn't change, the Bible isn't refering to the changing of His mind, but the unchanging essence of His nature. God's nature does not change..."like shifting shadows.." as James 1.17 puts it. God cannot lie because His very nature is truth (Titus 1.2). God has given us His promises and revealed His heart for us in His Word. It is signed, sealed and delivered through the Holy Spirit. God keeps His promises. How do I know that? Because it is contrary to the very nature of God to lie. Since God cannot lie, nor change His purpose or Word, then who can change it? The rhetorical answer is no one can alter what God says. Yet there is one who tries to change it through deception. Of course I am speaking the devil. Jesus said in John 8.44 that he "was a murderer from the very beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." The Apostle Paul described him as the "ruler of the kingdom of the air, who is at work iin those who are disobedient." (Ephesians 2.2) Satan is working in those who do not hold to the truths of God. Its not that they are bad people, because all of us are bad due to sin. But they are being deceived so that the truths of God are considered false or at best out-dated and irrelevant. So we see our present day world, deceived by the Father of all Lies, holding onto things that sound so good and sophisticated, yet contradict our Creator's design and plan. As a believer in Jesus, hold onto the truths of God. If science contradicts the Bible, wait and see, for time after time science has changed, yet the Word of God is eternal and unchanging. Do the cultural norms and values we live with in this world contradict the truths of God? Hold onto the Word of God, for it will guide you through each step of your life. Keep your eyes on Jesus and on the promises of God, for God will certainly keep His Word and will deliver us in due time. For all those that hold on to God and obey His Word, it is to them that God has promised eternal life. My friends, hold on for we are in the middle of a time of deception which has not seen its equal in some time. But if we hold on to God's Word, it becomes our guide, a light for our path, giving us direction and helping us not to misstep along the way. We have His promise that if we trust Him with all of our heart He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3.5-6). I'm holding on, are you? Blessings, Pastor Pete Blessings, Pastor Pete

No Mountain Too High

I have to admit that there are some books of the Bible that I'll often read while skipping over others. Some of the Old Testament books like Leviticus are skipped for more exciting books like the gospels. I recently read the book of Habakkuk and was amazed at the faith of Habakkuk. God had brought hard times upon Israel as judgment for sin and to draw them back into right relationship. Habakkuk begins with a prayer, "Lord, how long must I pray and you do not listen?" Have you ever felt like you hit a brick wall that you cannot go through? Perhaps circumstances of mountainous portions that you cannot go through? If so, you can identify with Habakkuk. While the whole book is worthy of reading and meditating on, I want to draw your attention to the last few verses of Habakkuk. Judgment came on Israel in the form of another nation's rampage. Habakkuk found himself waiting for the day judgment would be over and God would make all things right. Habakkuk had patience (3.16). He waited for God to do what only God can do. Patience. So often we speak and act too soon. If only we could be patient and wait on God, for He will speak and act in His timing, and when He does, it will be bring life and hope. Due to the invading nation, Israel was devastated. Crops failed, flocks and herds gone. Homes destroyed. Businesses gone. Notice what Habakkuk says in 3.17-18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior." What is the root of your joy? If it is in anything of the world- food on the table and pantry full, homes to sleep in and clothes in your closet, cars in the garage and gas in the tanks, jobs to go to and money in the bank, kids all accounted for and dog in the pen. Yet all of these things can be taken away, and someday will be. If our joy comes from our possessions, we'll be devastated when they disappear. Habakkuk saw it all disappear, yet he wasn't in despair nor did he lose his joy, for his joy was in the Lord God. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. We can rejoice in who God is or we can complain about what we have or do not have in life. Joy is a choice, and when everything is taken away, we can still choose to rejoice in our God. Verse 19 "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." We can pray for God to move mountains but sometimes God doesn't remove the mountains. In those times when God leaves the mountains, He gives us His strength and He enables us to go over the mountains instead. Sometimes the things we learn about God and faith are learned best when we have to go up and over the mountains of life. God is faithful and He is our help, our strength and He will see us through to the peaceful valley on the other side. Keep praying and waiting, rejoicing and climbing, for we belong to the Lord God who helps us and will one day make all things right. Blessings, Pastor Pete

Our Words...for better or worse?

Have you ever said something and then wished you could take it back? Whether its something you said or an email or text you send, there are times that we wish we could just take it all back and start over. If only we could. The late Peter Marshall once said, "the solemn things about words is that before you speak them, you are their master. After you speak then they are your master." If only we could learn to control our mouths. The Bible speaks of words that are like diamonds set in jewelry; beautiful and fitting. Words build others up or they tear them down. How beautiful it is when our words lift others up. In the Bible book of James, we are told that with our words we bless God yet curse our fellow man. We may not use any four letter adjectives but if our words tear down, put down or destroy someone else, it might as well be a four letter word. The next time you are tempted to speak your mind, try to think about how your words will be interpreted and received. Perhaps just thinking about this might temper what you say and how you say it. The good Lord gave us two ears and one mouth. If only we could learn to listen first before we speak, perhaps there would be a lot less stress in this world, and certainly in our own lives. The Clippers basketball team owner is in hot water for saying some racial remarks in private, yet recorded for the world to hear. One thing we can learn from this is not to be two faced, but to be in private what we are in public. If we wouldn't say something publicly, perhaps we shouldn't say it in private either. If the damage is done, you cannot take back your words. But you can offer apologies and strive, with God's help to not repeat it again. And that is the key, asking God to help you and then use you for His glory. May your words be as diamonds, set in place, beautiful and fitting for every circumstance you find yourself in. Blessings, Pastor Pete

God of Truth

What is reality? A few years ago we had a discipline problem at our school and I called a meeting with the parents. I explained what happened and how we were going to correct the behavior. The mother's response was priceless: "that is your reality, its not my reality." Her response made me realize that we sometimes pick and choose the stuff we want to hold on to, and ignore the rest. Does ignoring the facts change the truth of the matter? A blind person cannot enjoy the beauty of a sunset. Does their not seeing change the fact that the sunset exists? A color blind person may see the sunset in black and white tones, but does their inability to see the vibrant orange and red colors change the reality of a sunset's true colors? Reality is something that is real, genuine, and reliable. It is the truth. We can count on it. In math, an addition equation of 4 + 4 is always 8. It is never 7 or 9. That is a real number and it is always reliable. Scientists observe something over and over. They repeat experiments until they know that the outcome is real and reliable. Their conclusions are based upon that which is observable and measurable. When something is always true, scientists call it Scientific Law. Reality is that which is true or real. The actual state or truthfulness of the matter. Truth recognizes the indisputable facts. We can either conform to the truth of the matter of we can try to ignore them. But our response, either way, does not change the nature of reality or for that matter, that which is true and authentic. Many yearn for something that is real and authentic. There is a desire for truthfulness, not a shadow. A desire for honesty, not deceit. A desire for genuineness, not imitation. There is something about truth that we desire. Not a fabrication, or imitation, but the real deal. Our yearning for that which is true and real comes from the ultimate reality behind all that is true, it’s an echo or reflection of something that was lost to the human race long ago. Made in the image of God, the human race began with enjoying God and each other. Then came the fall into sin which distorted the present reality by introducing sin into the picture, causing both Adam and Eve to feel shame and defensive, blaming each other for the new reality. God is in the business of restoring that which was lost in people. Through faith we experience a new birth into a living hope. Our hope is that God will restore His image in us. It isn't the echo we desire, but the first shout. It's not the reflection we want, it is that which is real behind the reflection. If God is who the Bible claims He is, then He is completely true and all that He is, does and says affects the reality in which we live. The Bible tell us several things about God: (A Broad Overview of What the Bible says about God) GOD IS THE CREATOR As Creator, He brought everything into existence and maintains everything in its place. Creation is also the cosmological argument for the existence of God. Creation is beautiful, orderly and has the appearance of a design. He is the First Cause which caused all things to be in existence. Like cause and effect. The theory of evolution says that it all happened by chance and over a great deal of time. If we found a watch on a beach, would we assume it was a chance of nature created over a great deal of time? (if it was a rolex- maybe, as we put it on) The answer is No. What about your cell phone. Convenient having the means to communicate at your side, along with internet access, games and calendar to schedule your life. Was your cell phone an accident of nature or was it designed? You know the answer. It seems almost foolish. But the universe is much more complicated than any cell phone or watch. Our bodies also are incredible. Are they designed or here by accident? The Bible assumes the existence of God in the first book of the Bible. Genesis 1.1 "In the beginning God.....created the heavens and the earth." Through His spoken Word God has brought everything into existence and has wonderfully revealed Himself to us. He is the Cause of all that exists. Therefore God is the foundation upon which we can build our lives. Our very lives depend upon His faithfulness. God doesn't change, as a shifting shadow based upon the sun rising and setting (James 1.17) God will always be God. He will not become something more or something less than who He is. He is the reason for our existence and the basis for truth and reality that our hearts desire. Bible tells us that God is true- completely true as revealed in His nature, IOW His essence and character. as revealed in His Word only God is completely true. For something to be true, then all of its characteristics must agree with its nature. For a person to be true or genuine, his or her characteristics as well as all that they say and do must be in harmony. They must be perfect in everyway. No human being, except Jesus Christ has been perfect. (PICTURE OF A SOVEREIGN KING) The Bible presents God as Sovereign, in other words He is the King, the Ruler over all. The picture is of a monarch or earthly king who has complete rule over his kingdom. As the King or Ruler, God has set the rules of His kingdom. He has given us Laws to live by. Like rulers of old, He goes throughout His kingdom to see his people in order to encourage, give speeches and hold accountable. Let's Look At What the Bible Says about The Nature of God A SLICE The Bible describes God's nature in a variety of ways, from His nature to His various names. Looking at the character trait of truth is like taking an MRI picture. It is a picture of a slice- a small part, not the whole. Or think of it as a loaf of sliced bread. If we stand back, we have the whole view of God. Today we're going to take a slice out of the middle and look at one aspect of God- that God is the God of truth. TRINITY The Bible says that God is a triune God revealed in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. What is true of one is true of the other. For instance, God is eternal. Bible describes Jesus as living in eternity past, the same yesterday, today and forever. The Bible also says that the Holy Spirit is the eternal Spirit. let's look at What the Bible says God the Father: Titus 1.1-2 "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness- a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior." Paul reminded Titus, and us today, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth which rests upon the existence of God, who DOES NOT LIE. He keeps His promises. He does what He says. Therefore, we can take God at His word. We can act upon them. Psalm 15.2 Who can stand in the presence of God? He whose walk is blames and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue..." Truthfulness is important to God because He is True, he does not lie nor does He want His servants, ie believers or followers of Christ to be liars, instead we are to speak the truth in love. The Apostle John had numerous visions of heaven. In Rev 15 he saw thousands upon thousands of believers who died for their faith. They were before the throne of God,singing a song. They sang- Rev 15.3 “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways , King of the ages." These are the martyrs singing in heaven before God. There are no complaints, only praise. There is no pointing to any injustice done, only recognizing that God is true and just in all He does. God the Father is the God of truth. Let's look at What the Bible says about Jesus, the Son of God: John 14.6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 18.37 Jesus before Pilate: "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "I was born" reminds us of humanity-human nature and body like us. "for this came into the world" reminds us of His divinity. He existed prior to his physical birth. Jn 1.14 The word became flesh. God Incarnate. God in flesh. His purpose: to testify to the truth- he had come from a different realm. Even his kingdom was not of this world. It was a kingdom of Truth based upon the coming of Messiah, who is the TRUTH. 1 John 5.20 "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true- even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." "him who is true" = God. That is who he is by nature, and in his word. "and we are in him who is true"= either we are in God or we are not in Him. true is used in 2 ways. First, in reference to God's character. 2nd, in reference to there being no other God. He is the true God. All other god's are false gods. Let's look at What the Bible says about the Holy Spirit: John 14.16-17 "…Spirit of Truth…" The Holy Spirit has the same character trait as God the Father. The Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. 1 John 4.6 "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood." (What we find out about God: ) From the Bible we see that God's nature is true.. But for God to be reliable and trustworthy, His character must match His Word. Let's Examine What God says: Ps 119.160 "All Your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." God's Word is an extension of God's truthful character. His Word is true. His Word is eternal. IOW His Word will always be true. Pro 30.5 "Every Word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." The word "flawless" was used elsewhere of purify in metal. It has the idea that it is trustworthy. Nothing impure or deceitful in it. It is the truth John 17.17 Jesus prayed for all his disciples, including us today. He prayed, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." Sanctify means to make holy or to set apart for a holy use. God makes us holy through His Holy Spirit inspired Word. When we do His Word rather than our own ideas, we are further set aside for God's use. Your word is truth. All that God says is truth. All of God's written word is truth because it comes to us from God. 2 Tim 3.16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is inspired- God-breathed. In OT times, there were lots of gods to choose from. How did the people of Israel know that their God was the true God above all gods? God revealed himself through telling them what would happen before it happened. Isaiah 41.21-23 "bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us the what the former things were so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or delcare to us teh things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods..." Isaiah 42.8-9 "I am the Lord, that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." Isaiah 44.28 "Who says to Cyrus, "He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "let it be rebuilt." and of the temple, :Let its foundations be laid." Read Isaiah 45 and you will discover that even though Cyrus doesn't know God or acknowledge God, yet God will use him to rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. Here's the great part of this passage. It was written 250 years before Cyrus came to power. And what did Cyrus do? he ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. Want to know more? Through out God's Word God proclaims what will happen before any of it does. Daniel- when Messiah would come and be cut off and end times so accurate that non believers think it was written after the fact Genesis- the promise of a deliverer and ruler to come Moses.- the promise of a prophet like Moses David- a promise of a descendent sitting on his throne forever Isaiah- telling us about Cyrus, then the suffering servant who would die for our sins, be buried with the rich, and yet live to see his inheritance and the future glory of Messiah 1 &2 Thess- the coming of Jesus and end times Through prophecy, God reveals the fact that He alone is God, and is Sovereign and that what He says goes. The Word of God is true because it comes to us from the Spirit of Truth, and confirmed by the Son of God who is the Truth, and authorized by God the Father who is the God of Truth. Challenge: What should our response be to God's truthfulness: We would be in error to tell God, "That's your reality, not mine!" That would lead to a huge disappointment. But if we choose to accept God's reality, then we are to be like Him. Paul challenges us to imitate God. PILLARS 1 Tim 3.15 "If I am delayed, you will know how people out to conduct themseves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." Architectually, pillars upheld all that lay on top of it. The church isn't the truth, but like pillars we uphold the truths of God. We uphold it through teaching it, proclaiming it, living it by allowing it guide us, purify us, and to encourage one another. We entrust our lives to the One who said "I am the way, the truth, the life." For us there is no one else- no other truth, no other god, no other way to go. We are called by God to be holy, true, to live by the Spirit and not to grieve the Spirit by living according to our flesh or the ways of the world. We are called to be light in the the darkness. If we let go of the Word of God we let go of the only revelation that tells us how to be saved from sin and gives light to our path. If we set aside the Word of God, we set aside the Truth of God and the God of Truth. Proverbs 3.5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." trusting God and His Word as the basis for our lives- Gives us purpose Gives us direction Gives us hope Gives us a firm foundation for this life and for eternity. Gives us great joy. When difficulties come, and they come to all of us, we can rest in the truths of God, and in particular, the fact that God is the God of Truth. He will not lie to us. His Word gives us answers to the trying times we may face. His Word gives us hope, not despair. His Word is something we can rely upon because God IS the God of Truth. The God of Truth then is the foundation on which we are to build our lives. Heb 10.23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

We often say that our church is "the little country church with a big heart." Since the church is comprised of many people coming together, then the heart of the church reflects the heart of the people who call our church home. I suppose a "big heart" means that we are a church overflowing with the love of God. We seek to love God with all our heart and then to love one another too. Love is certainly expressed to those with needs through prayer and gifts. The generosity of our church never ceases to amaze me. We truly have a big heart that often reaches deep into our pockets to help those in need. The "heart" means more than love, for it has become symbolic of who we really are, deep down. It is our character. It is what drives us. It is our DNA that determines what we do and why we do it. An athlete who is full of heart is full of determination and drive. He works hard to reach his goal and win the prize. If he falls down, he gets back up and into the game. How does our "big heart" define us? What is the DNA of our church? Is it that we have a heart for God? How would we know? Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commands." Can we say we have a heart for God if we do not do what He says? Do we have a heart for others? Jesus said, "A new command I give you, love one another." Is our first inclination to run when seeing a need or is it to jump in and do what we can with what we have? We may not be able to help everyone, but we can help someone and if we make a difference in just one person, that is huge in the kingdom of God. A kindness given can go a long way in touching another person's heart. If you were on an ocean liner which came across another ship sinking, would you not want to save as many as possible? We live in a world where many are drowning in the sorrows of life without Jesus. Do we have a heart to reach as many as possible? My hope is that our "big heart" isn't big because we're full of ourselves, but it is big because we have a heart for God and people. A heart that obeys God, prays for others, gives to needs and is not afraid to roll up the sleeves to help or lovingly share the good news to those who are spiritually perishing. That kind of "heart" is by its very nature, a "Big Heart." This is our DNA as a church. Is it yours? Blessings, Pastor Pete

He Leads Us

God leads us. What an incredible thought. Psalm 23 describes it this way: "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters..." Did you notice the personal nature of each thought? "The Lord is MY shepherd....He makes ME....he leads ME..." Have you made the Lord your Lord? There is a tremendous joy in knowing Jesus as "my shepherd." One advantage to the Lord shepherding us is that he leads us. One of the pictures described in Psalm 23 is that of a shepherd. Sheep know the voice of their shepherd. They trust the shepherd completely and will follow wherever he leads. Even when the shepherd leads, hardships and obstacles must still be crossed. The shepherd ensures that each one makes it through. Does it really matter where he leads as long as we are with him? There is tremendous joy in being in his fold. We may not know what is around the next corner, but that's ok, for we are with the shepherd. Just being in the presence of the shepherd gives us courage and peace, even in the face of danger. For when danger or times of uncertainty come, our Shepherd stands in front of us to protect with the promise to never leave us. He advances and we gain the victory. A song we sing from time to time in church is entitled "Shepherd of My Soul." The lyrics go like this: "Shepherd of my soul, I give you full control. Wherever You may lead I will follow. I have made the choice to listen to Your voice. Wherever You may lead I will go. Be it in a quiet pasture, or by a gentle stream, the Shepherd of my soul is by my side. Should I face a mighty mountain, or a valley dark and deep, the Shepherd of my soul will be my guide." Is the Lord your Shepherd? Are you listening to His voice? Are you following His lead? If so, then you can say, along with the Apostle Paul "If God is for me, who can be against me?" For Paul realized that nothing in this life could ever separate us from the love that God has for us. A love that would lead the Shepherd of our souls to lay his life down for us that we might live forever. If God would do that, then He is worthy of our following Him.

The Journey

Sometimes our lives can feel more like pressure cookers than a journey. When the pressures of life increase, where do you go? We could turn to numerous Old or New Testament people or look through the generations of the saints where we find individuals like Frances Havergal- who wrote some of the hymns we still sing today. She had what they called then a "delicate health" and experienced great pain most of her life. Or another Frances- Fanny Crosby, who was blind. She wrote over 8,000 hymns. When I consider Daniel and his friends. Captured in the conquest and destruction of Israel, they were taken to Babylon where God blessed them because they were faithful. Their faithfulness to God resulted in a fiery furnace and a lion's den. Due to their faithfulness, we have their stories of how God met them along the way and estabished a Jewish line of descendents who stayed in Babylon and continued in way of Daniel's wisdom. The Magi were waiting for Messiah to come by looking for a star. Many journeys of faith are recorded for us in the Bible. Journeys that created untold pressure upon those who were faithful to God. One in particular stands out- Abraham. God told Abraham to go to Mt. Moriah to offer a sacrifice. Oh yeah, the sacrifice would be his son Issac. Can you imagine how heavy Abraham's heart became when every step brought him closer to his destination and the death of his son? Yet Abraham continued in the journey. Hebrews 12 fills in the gaps we have from the Old Testament story. The Bible book of Hebrews tells us that Abraham reasoned that if all the promises given to him were to come through Isaac, and if God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, then God must be able to raise the dead. Do you sense the pressure of the journey and the reasoning of his faith? Abraham became righteous because he had a tremendous faith in God. He met God in a whole new way, for he discovered that God is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. When the pressures of our lives seem overwhelming, we can do what the Saints of old did before. We can turn to the Lord for help. Proverbs 18.10 "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." It doesn't matter where our journeys take us, for each of us has the opportunity along the way of calling on the name of the Lord. It is in the name of the Lord that we find help and hope, safety and refuge in the time of storms. May you discover the place of safety and rest in the name of the Lord. Have a Happy New Year. Blessings, Pastor Pete

True Oneness

Hatred. Hostility. Prejudice and racism. These things still raise their ugly head, even in modern man. San Jose State is in the news this week due to these things. Last week it was somewhere else. They reside almost everywhere, including in us. We like to understand why and so we look for a reason why. Yet too often, there isn't a reasonable explanation. However, the root for each of these is sin. All mankind is plagued by sin. The world desires peace and love, justice and equality. Somehow we think we can legislate it. So we make laws to end injustice and inequality, yet often our laws only make the injustice and inequality more pronounced. Sure, we've come a long way. I'm thankful that we have the civil rights movement and the achievements that the laws that have been made. Yet these things still exist and elude being laid to rest. We think that we can throw money at the problem. We give education, healthcare and groceries to those who do not have, somehow leveling the field with those who can afford these. It feels good to help meet genuine need, putting resources where most needed. The American people are a giving people. Yet with all the giving, these four cousins: hatred, hostility, prejudice and racism still exist. They exist because the problems are within our hearts and are a result of a spiritual problem. Our hope for peace, both within and with each other, between one country and another country,is the Prince of Peace. The Bible states that He came almost 2000 years ago. He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead in order to give us new life and show us a better way. The Bible says in Ephesians 2.15-16 "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace." When people come to faith in Christ, the distinctions that divide us are set aside so that believers are one in Christ. Galatians 3.28 says that "there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ." Therefore, the church today should reflect this oneness that comes from being in Christ. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, male or female, or which color your skin is. For we are truly one in Christ Jesus.and one day soon, people from every nation will be singing songs of praise together around God's throne in heaven. How can you put "oneness in Christ" into practice now? What attitudes need to change? May you reflect in your word and deed, the fact that you belong to the Prince of Peace who has made all believers one. Blessings, Pastor Pete

Praise The Lord

Do you want joy and peace in your life? Start praising the Lord. When we praise the Lord, we shift our focus from ourselves and onto the greatness of God. We may be in despair, or struggling with sin, or mired so deep into something that there seems no way out. But when we praise the Lord, praise restores our joy and faith. Joy is a natural by-product of a heart that is full of gratitude to God which is expressed in praise. In November, instead of counting your sorrows, try counting your blessings. How has God met a need in your life? How has God surprised you each day? Lamentations 3.22-23 states, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness." Why not look for God's tender compassion in your life. His hand is certainly upon you. God desires to show you His mercy. When you see it, praise Him for it. The Psalmist declared "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." If you look for it, you will find plenty of things to praise God for all day long. As you praise God with all your heart you will begin to notice something. His joy and peace radiating in your heart and confidence in your mind towards what God can do in your life each day. So, let's praise the Lord. Why not keep a daily log. Write down what you see God do and praise Him for it each day. At the end of the month you will be surprised at how active God is in your life. If you decide to keep a log, let me know. Blessings, Pastor Pete

The Journey

What would it mean for you to "finish well?" When you accepted Christ you began a journey of faith. It's a rather long journey that can be arduous at times. It can also bring great moments of joy along the way too. A lot happens over a lifetime of following Jesus. Think of a road trip in your dream car. It's fun to be inside, hearing the engine rev and feeling the torque while cornering. A car can travel a few hundred miles before it needs to be refueled, along with the oil checked and windshield washed. The short stops at gas stations are a necessity for the drive. For it you drive far enough with out refueling, eventually the car will stop and coast over to the side of the road. If you drive long enough, you will see people who need assistance. More than once I've offered help and have been helped when stranded. Following Jesus is a lot like the road trip. Reading the Word and praying are necessary to keep us going, as is attending a worship service with others who are on the same road trip. Being willing to serve and help others is important too. If one neglects reading the Word and praying, yes they can drive for some distance, but eventually they will break down and be stranded on the side of the road. If one neglects times of worship with fellow travelers, they too will eventually be on the side of the road too. If one keeps to himself and doesn't help people along the way, they will miss out on making new friends as well as having the satisfaction of getting someone started again on their journey. Fortunately, our Lord is a Master Mechanic and if we call upon Him, He is more than willing to get us up and running again. But He also gently reminds us that we need regular check ups and fuel if we are to go the distance. He's given us all we need: a Manufacturers Instruction Manual complete with troubleshooting and preventative maintenance chapters. He's given us help lines to call. He's placed people around us who have had the same kinds of trouble and who are more than willing to come to our aid. There is a support group that meets weekly too. All so that we can finish the journey that we began when we accepted Jesus into our hearts. My hope is to keep driving, enjoying the Master and helping others to either continue the journey or to begin one. At the end of life, when the journey is over, and I stand in my Savior's presence, I hope to hear, "Well done, My good and faithful servant." What is it that you hope to do along the way and hear at your journey's end? Have a great trip. Pastor Pete

Jealous for God

Jealousy is never perceived as a positive character trait. Most of the time we think of it as resenting another person due to their success or opportunities. Some confuse jealousy with envy. They are not the same thing. Envy means to intensely desire something that another has, while jealousy resents that the other person has it. There is another meaning for jealousy though. It also means to have an intense desire to keep something you already have. Whether its a job that you work hard to keep or the freedoms we enjoy as American citizens, both require a jealous mindset that drives our behavior to keep that which we have. In other words, we work hard to keep it because we do not want to lose it. The Bible tells us in Duet. 4.24 "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." God doesn't resent our successes. In fact the opposite is true. He is our biggest encourager and fan. God wants us to succeed. God is jealous for us, in that, He made us for relationship and for a divine purpose. He desires that we enjoy these gifts and not lose them. God's heart breaks when we go our own way and rebel against Him, for He knows the path that leads to life as well as the path that leads to destruction. He wants us to enjoy life, experience success, fulfill His purpose for us, and to know the freedom from sin's consequence that comes through faith in Jesus. Are we jealous for God? Do we desire Him above all things? Or do we put people and things above God? When we desire the world more than God, we create a distance between us and God that only confession and repentance can restore. The Psalmist said in Psalm 73.25 "And earth has nothing I desire besides you." Our greatest desire ought to be for the Living God, not earthly treasures. Nothing should take precedence in our hearts over God. This is quite difficult to do since we allow our children and families, jobs and treasures, pleasures and selfish desires to take the place God deserves. God told the church in Revelation 2.4 "You have forsaken the love you had at first." God desires you to love Him with all your heart. How do we regain the passion we once had for God? Do you remember the excitement when you first found God? Do you still have the passion or has it become centered on something else? God shouts out "repent" and "come back to me." My prayer is that we would be jealous for God, not allowing anything to interfere with our relationship with Him. Are you jealous for God? Do you protect your time of worship so nothing else takes precedence? Do you spend time in His Word and in prayer? If not, these are signs that you have forsaken your first love. Is it time for you to become jealous for God again? Blessings, Pastor Pete

In The Shadow

Matt and I took a rode trip this summer traveling to Portland to visit the Mackey's, Couer D' Alene to camp out and visit an old friend, Glacier National Park for a family get-together, Little Big Horn, Deadwood, SD, and Mount Rushmore. We made our way to the northwestern part of the state of Indiana, which is considered a subperb of Chicago. I left Matt there in the good hands of his grandparents and headed for home alone. I expected the weather to be hot and humid. The first half of the trip was mostly hot. With the top off of the jeep, wet bandana's around our necks and plenty of cold drinks along the way, we somehow managed. The second half of the trip was mostly rain. When it should have been hot, the clouds covered the sun, casting giant shadows on the landscape below. While in the direct sun was hot, being in the shadow was what I wanted, for the clouds protected us from the sun. When the Israelites were in the wilderness, God made His presence known to them in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Sometimes I wish that God's presence was that vivid and His direction so clear, for if you stepped out of the shadow of the cloud, you knew you were going the wrong way. The sun is almost always out in the Sinai desert. Winter months the temperature ranges from 46 to 68 degrees. Summer months the temperature is a warm 100 degrees. Year round, the nights get chilly. God made His presence known to Israel in a way that met their physical need. God appeared as a pillar of fire at night. When the nights were chilly, God kept them warm. When the days were hot and without shade, God provided them the comfort and protection of His shadow. Even in the desert times of life, God makes Himself known in ways that take care of our needs. When tempted to go on in our own strength and wisdom, God is still there, inviting us to come and find rest and comfort, peace and grace. The Psalmist used a different metaphor, but with the same idea. He said, "hide me in the shadow of your wings," and "I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings." Is there any other place that is more attractive and desirable? To be in the shadow means to be in His presence and under His care and protection. May you come in from the weather and find refuge in the shadow of the Almighty God. May you always want to be in His shadow. Blessings, Pastor Pete