Hope is on The Way

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Today is the first Sunday of Advent. 

Advent is the season when Christians anticipate and prepare for Christmas. It is a time for counting down, remembering the reason for the season, and getting ready for the celebrations that are to come. It's also a time to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts and minds for the spiritual meaning of Christmas, rather than focusing on the commercial focus the season has become. Advent is celebrated during the four Sundays prior to Christmas itself, each Sunday highlighting one of the themes of the Christmas story; the themes being

• HOPE of His coming
• JOY in the message of His coming
• PEACE that comes as a result of His coming
• LOVE expressed in the reason of His coming

The term "Advent" comes from the Latin word 'adventus' meaning "coming." 

The earliest references to a season of preparation similar to Advent date to the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul. At this time, Advent was a 40-day penitential season of fasting, prayer, and reflection in preparation for the baptism of new Christians on the feast of Epiphany in January. It was a time of preparing for the second coming of Christ and was not initially connected to Christmas, which was celebrated on a different date. In the 6th century Roman Christians began to tie Advent to the coming of Christ at Christmas. The Roman Catholic Church fixed Advent as the four-week period leading up to Christmas in the 9th century. Historically, Advent originally had a dual focus: the first half of the season looked forward to Christ's second coming, and the second half focused on his birth. The practice of observing the four Sundays of Advent spread throughout the Christian church by the 6th century and has continued to the present day in a number of church denominations.

Today's Advent theme is HOPE. 

To the Old Testament people, HOPE expressed their anticipation of the coming Messiah. To us, HOPE expresses the anticipation of the return of our Lord and Savior. Our world today is not that different from the world into which Jesus was born. Jesus came in one of darkest hours of mankind, much like today. Yet, there is HOPE! Jesus is coming again! As we anticipate another celebration of Jesus' birth, we are reminded again that He came for us. He died for us. He is coming again for us. Knowing this, we can rest in the arms of our Good Shepherd, confident that He loves and cares for us. As we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas let us consider again, the message of Advent - 

"For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life."

When All You See Is Exile: Hope for the Crushed in Spirit

Beware The Dogmas of Division

 Picture this: a family gathering turns tense, not over politics or football teams, but over whether the angels sing or shout at Christmas. Voices rise, fences are built—over something not central to the message that first called us all together.

In the church, too, I've seen friends—brothers and sisters—depart, not because the cross lost its power, but because secondary questions stole the stage. 

What happens when we turn small streams into mighty rivers that keep us apart?

Church history is riddled with tales of division…Luther’s break over justification by faith, yes, but too often also over whether to sprinkle or dunk…Calvinists and Arminians debating the sovereignty of God while a hurting neighbor passes by the window. Disagreements are as old as the disciples… Peter, Paul, and the gentle rebuke, “If you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out….” (Galatians 5:15)

Let’s anchor ourselves in Romans 14. 

Paul writes to believers fighting not about the resurrection or the incarnation, but about eating meat, keeping holy days, and whose custom should rule the room. He pleads, “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother?” (Romans 14:10). Scholars and pastors remind us…. there are matters we can disagree on, but there’s a weight that belongs to the cross and the tomb alone. The early church wrestled with this…circumcision…food sacrificed to idols… days of worship… The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 drew the line.. Gentiles didn’t need to become Jewish to belong, but were simply to keep themselves from idols… immorality… and blood… not to burden them beyond essential faith….Even the creeds … Apostles’, Nicene… were formed on truths considered of first importance.

When secondary doctrines like end-times timelines, spiritual gifts, worship styles become tests of fellowship. We drift from the unity Jesus prayed for (John 17). As a pastor-in-training, I'm learning the difference between “dogma” (the fundamental pillars) and “doctrine” (the teachings that flow from them), and then “opinion” (the many branches).

Confusing those, and treating all as gospel ground… this is where division strikes.

In philosophy, this echoes the error of “category mistakes,” treating two things of different kinds as though they're of the same essence. Or think of ethical frameworks: deontology hammers the rules, but even Kant spoke of a hierarchy some duties weigh more than others. 

C.S. Lewis warned of “Christianity and”... whenever we add to the main thing, we risk making the faith unrecognizable. Churches today divide over the millennium instead of marveling at Christ’s resurrection, over which musical instruments are “most biblical,” missing that the true worship God seeks is in spirit and truth. 

In life, unity is not uniformity, my wife and I disagree about how we fold our shirts but that’s no threat to our love. 

Let’s get real. 

When our kids fight over seats at the table, we correct them not because chairs matter, but because family does. When churches fracture over “secondary” things, the world sees us, scratches its head, and misses the Shepherd calling stray sheep home. The ethical call is to “major on the majors, and minor on the minors.” To give grace where God has given room.

Our motto in The Evangelical Free Church of America is, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Not compromise, but clarity—keeping the main thing the main thing.

So, here’s where it all comes together: The good news is not found in a specific style, a secondary interpretation, or an extra-biblical stance. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day—this is of first importance (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If we trade that in for lesser battles, we subtract from the cross what we could never add with argument. Today, the invitation isn’t to win every debate, but to be found in Christ… sin forgiven, peace given, family found… not by our perfect doctrine, but by our Perfect Savior. 

If you’re listening, and you’ve been wounded by division, hear this: Jesus died for the whole church. He breaks every dividing wall. To be in Christ is to belong… not because you’ve checked every box, but because He finished the work for those who could not. Believe, repent, and trust Him…He brings you near, and makes you family.

So let’s contend for what matters, and hold looser to what doesn’t. May our churches be places of both truth and tender mercy, where the gospel is clear and grace abounds.

FIVE KERNELS OF CORN

 A popular theme of both the Old Testament and the New Testament is THANKSGIVING. 

In Psalm 103 David gives us a list of some of the things he was thankful for. That list is quite extensive; we should read it occasionally. What might you be thankful for?  Have you ever considered making a list of the things you are thankful for as did David? How long would that list be?  My Bible tells me that an “attitude of gratitude” is something I should express each day of the year and not limit it to Thanksgiving Day. Sadly, our society is moving away from gratefulness and slipping into an attitude of entitlement. That’s the trouble with receiving something on a regular basis; we eventually come to expect it, even feeling that we deserve it.  We have been blessed to live in a land of plenty and as a result, we have become complacent and often are completely unwilling to give thanks to anyone for anything. The Bible tells us; “Giving thanks always for all things unto God our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)  Another verse tells us; “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” (Psalm 92:1) When God’s Word says something is ‘good,’ it IS a good thing to do!

 
In November of 1620 the Mayflower arrived off the coast of New England with 102 Pilgrims who had left England in search of religious freedom. During the first long hard winter, half of these godly people who had risked the arduous trip across the wild Atlantic Ocean died. At one point during that winter when they were clinging to life itself, Governor William Bradford wrote in his journal; “William Brewster, rising from a scanty Plymouth dinner that consisted of a plate of clams and a glass of cold water, offered thanks to God for the abundance of the sea and the treasures hid in the sand.” His reference was to the tide that had washed ashore hundred of clams, which were hurriedly collected and prepared for the meal. The Pilgrims did not have much, but they possessed a great gratitude to God. It was also noted that at one point during that first hard winter, their daily ration of food included five kernels of corn per day per person. One year later, in the fall of 1621 after an abundant harvest; not wanting to forget how God had delivered them from their want, the Pilgrims developed a tradition that was carried on for many years, and in some parts of our country is still observed. Five kernels of corn were placed beside each plate to remind them of the dire straits they had experienced during the previous winter. As we celebrate Thanksgiving 2020, we are challenged with a pandemic. But even facing this, we will have much more to eat than clams and cold water. Perhaps it would be good to place five kernels of corn beside each plate; reminding us again of the real story of Thanksgiving. 

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Living With Eternal Perspective | 1 Corinthians

The Greatest Enemy of God

Most people would probably think that Satan is God's greatest enemy. But let's remember that Satan was not always the devil. Ezekiel 28:14 says that he was the "anointed cherub."

His name was Lucifer. Verse 15 says that God spoke of him saying, "I appointed you to be the anointed guardian cherub. You had access to the holy mountain of God. You were perfect in all you did from the day you were created until that time when wrong was found in you. Therefore, I cast you out of the mountain of God like a common sinner. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor". So, you see, the original 'sin' actually occurred in heaven with the corruption of this 'anointed cherub!"

Earth was once a paradise placed under the dominion of Adam, whom God created in His own image. In order to "be like the most high" Lucifer sought to become god on earth. In the form of the serpent, he enticed Eve to disobey God by eating from a certain tree which God had forbidden them to eat. Eve gave the fruit of the tree to Adam, and he ate it. This was the moment that sin and death entered God's 'perfect' creation. Through their disobedient act, sin and death were passed on to all humanity. So, sin itself is the greatest enemy of God! Think about it-you and I were born with this inborn enemy!!!

God has never and will never forgive sin! 

Let me clarify that. He has never and will never forgive His worst enemy the willful act of sin! But He will forgive sinners those who commit sin because of their inherited sin nature. Paul wrote in Romans 5:19, "For by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Can you say Hallelujah?

Let us also remember where sin comes from it comes from Satan himself! 1 John 3:8 says, "He that commits sin is of the devil." The very next verse tells us, "Whoever is born of God does not commit sin."

Let's remember, God's Spirit dwelling in us will never cause us to sin. God is incapable of sin He is sinless! When He gives us His Spirit at the time we invite Him into our lives, that Spirit within us cannot sin! Oh, the sin nature still hangs around, and Satan's deceit and temptation battles our God-given nature, but we are assured by the Word of God that the Holy Spirit will keep us from temptation and sin. But the question must then be asked. who or what will we yield to? Reading Romans 7 will give us some incite as to how Paul handled this predicament! Yes, the great Apostle Paul battled with his sin nature! But he gave us an "antidote" to this sin problem. He wrote in Romans 7: 24-25, 

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (sin) I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Here's another good time to shout Hallelujah! We are blessed!

- Pastor Bruce

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The Thankful Heart

The month of November brings to our minds the thought of Thanksgiving. We are reminded continually in God's Word that thanksgiving is to be a continual attitude each day of our lives. Hopefully, you are practicing this. It certainly is not difficult to say thank you' to God for His many blessings! Here are some thoughts on being thankful.

"Thankfulness is a healer, a multiplier of the good and a dissolver of the negative. Thankfulness is an attracting power for blessings, a lightener of any load or burden, an ingredient that produces miracles in the life of anyone, in any situation. Let the words thank you, God' become a habit. Let them start your day and fill your nights. Thank God in the good times and in the bad. Thank Him when you feel like it and when you do not. Thank God for your many blessings, for the healing of the body and the growing of the soul. Thank Him when you laugh and when you cry, when you feel filled with faith, and especially when you do not! Listen to yourself say this "Thank You, God, thank You, God", and then thank Him again! Begin to develop this in your life so that blessings and miracles can flow into your life. As the bible says "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." (Psalm 92:1)

When Joshua went forward to conquer Jericho, his instructions were to encircle the walls of the city for seven days. On the seventh day, the people were to give a shout of praise. (Joshua 6) It was with this shout of praise that the walls of the city fell. Victory was assured! The central truth here is that spiritual victories are not won by conventional means, but by putting our trust in God. Praise and thankfulness are what God responds to, as they are expressions of our faith which allow God to work on our behalf to bring the needed answers in our lives. When Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, His words were, "Father, I thank you. They were uttered before the healing was evident; before Lazarus walked from the tomb. Jesus said that He spoke those words aloud on account of those who stood by. We should never be afraid to speak audible words of praise and thanksgiving to our wonderful Lord, especially before we face the challenges of life. As praise and thanksgiving surrounds life's situations, we will experience victory inside and out!

THE THANKFUL HEART

The thankful heart is a happy heart - God believing 

The thankful heart is a bountiful heart - God receiving 

The thankful heart is a generous heart - It knows the joy of giving 

The thankful heart is a healthy heart - It is the key to living!

Pray Without Ceasing - Pastor's Pen

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 is a very short verse.

It simply says, "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING." Paul gives instruction to this in addition to other things that the church ought to be doing. What is he trying to tell us? Well, looking at a few other translations and paraphrases we come up with these descriptions

• "Always keep praying" - Living Bible.
• "Pray continually" - New International Version
• "Pray without ceasing" - Life Application Bible
• "Never give up praying" - Goodspeed Translations
• "Be unceasing in prayer" - Amplified Bible
• "Be praying unceasingly" - Greek New Testament
• "Never stop praying" - Phillips Translation

Praying without ceasing? How do we do that? We can't spend all our

time on our knees praying! That's true, but it is possible to develop a prayerful attitude. This kind of attitude is built upon acknowledging that God's presence is within us and that we can 'communicate' with Him at any time, anywhere. It doesn't have to be a 'formal' prayer, but just simple conversation with God, just like you would talk with me. The child of God should be able to acknowledge God's presence in his life even though he may not 'feel it." Our communication is not dependent upon our feeling, but upon a confidence in knowing He is with us because He said so! Having that kind of confidence will make it natural to converse with God, any time. any place. We develop our 'conversation skill' with God by practicing it!

I think it is pretty clear that God wants to hear from us. Our memory verse from last month confirms this, "CALL upon me and I will ANSWER you and I will SHOW you great and mighty things that you do not know." Can you remember my three points on this verse? There is a PROMPT -There is a PROMISE and then there is a PROVISON. Consider-

• Prayer helps us to trust God
• Prayer helps us worship God
• Prayer draws us closer to God
• Prayer warms the soul to spiritual things
• Prayer is answered by the One we are praying to.

If we are not praying, then we are not communicating with God and we are missing the above points and.... we are missing the blessings of heaven Oswald Cambers has written - "We cannot live spiritually without prayer. Prayer is the refreshing, life giving water for the soul."

Rejoice Beyond Your Circumstances

 

Tonight I'm all in with this study of Philippians… I'm  not getting super far but I did manage to get through 1:12-18 before Tiff came upstairs and RyGuy decided to use my back as a bouncy horse. The circumstances for study are rarely ideal… My mind is rarely clear of distractions but it's encouraging to hear Paul's take on circumstances and how God uses them.

Phillipians 1:12-18 (Legacy Standard Bible)

Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,so that my chains in Christ have become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord because of my chains, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me affliction in my chains. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice

Paul could have easily focused on his chains, his discomfort, or his likely upcoming death.  Instead, he saw something wonderful… his imprisonment was actually advancing the gospel! The imperial guard was hearing about Christ, and other believers were becoming bolder in sharing their faith by seeing Paul's witness. 

What's fascinating here is Paul's response to those preaching Christ. Some did it out of love, while others preached from envy and rivalry. As someone that once aspired to be a pastor, I can't help but think about how this applies to ministry even today. We compare ourselves to other peoples Ministries,  we do mental headcounts and try to quantify our efficacy by baptisms and altar call respondents. We can sometimes let our pride get in the way and warp our motives… But here's what really gets me … Paul wasn't bitter or frustrated… he didn't jump online and start calling out people…His singular focus was that Christ was being proclaimed… Whether through people with pure motives or those with selfish ambitions.. PAUL REJOICED BECAUSE THE GOSPEL WAS ADVANCING.

Tonight my bride made dinner, did laundry and a load of dishes… after a full work day and all while literally growing a human… and if He's anything like his siblings he's probably climbing around everywhere in there… and in spite of all the noise she's showing the grace and love of Christ and it reminds me that our circumstances don't determine God's ability to work. 

Sometimes what looks like a setback is actually God's setup for something greater at least it is here for Paul.

The question isn't whether our situation is comfortable or ideal. The real question is this… Can we see beyond our circumstances to rejoice in how God might be using them for His glory? Paul's chains became a pulpit.. and his prison became a mission field.

Remember, the gospel isn't limited by our circumstances, it advances through them. And in that, we can truly rejoice.

Our Exodus from Sin

Exodus 12:41 tells us "At the end of 430 years the children of Israel left the land of Egypt." While they had their freedom, 430 years had dulled their understanding of who they were. Egypt had not only controlled their labor - it had shaped their identity. The people had been born into bondage, raised in oppression, and conditioned to believe they were nothing more than slaves. For generations they had belonged to Pharoah. So, while they physically walked out of Egypt, their hearts were still in Egypt.

The Exodus of God's people, while a divine intervention, was not so much a physical deliverance, as it was the beginning of a new identity. They would not be totally free until their hearts and minds belonged to God. The wilderness journey was not just about reaching a new land it was about removing Egypt from the people and instilling in them dependance and obedience to God. The 40 years in the wilderness would do that!

We have recently learned from Romans chapter 7, that the old nature of sin still plagues us. Even the Apostle Paul battled the flesh, as do we. We are reminded in God's Word that the battle between the flesh and the new man in us, is an ongoing battle. But the Word of God also tells is us that there is a power within us that is a greater power than the world, the flesh and the devil. The concept of "the world, the flesh, and the devil" refers to three opposing forces to God's will, as found in the Bible, with verses like Ephesians 2:2-3, 1 John 2:16, and 1 Peter 5:8. The world represents systems and societies that oppose God, The flesh refers to our fallen human nature and its desires. The devil is Satan and his forces of evil. These terms represent the spiritual adversaries believers face.

When we decided to follow Jesus, it was the beginning of a journey. Our intent was to follow the Lord and serve Him, but the world, flesh and the devil often impeded our progress. The patterns of our old life don't change overnight. It is the progress of the journey under God's direction that changes us. God has not only delivered us from the life of sin, but He also began the process of restoring us to be the person He intended us to bel Yes, Egypt (the old life) still influences us, but our submission to the Holy Spirit's work will cause the old nature to slowly die, being replaced with the "new man." This new man refers to a redeemed individual who has undergone a transformation through faith in Jesus Christ, being created anew In God's image and righteousness. This transformation involves putting off the old sinful nature, and putting on the new identity found in Christ. This new nature is characterized by a renewed mind, a holy nature, and the ability to live in accordance with God's will. Our decision to follow Christ begins an exciting spiritual journey that aligns our lives with divine principles, resulting in a life blessed and used by the Holy Spirit. I remind you that His fruit is not manufactured by man's ability, but by His supernatural power working in our lives. Have a blessed week!

He is Coming Quickly

From the very earliest days of the Church, the return of Jesus was expected to happen imminently and suddenly. Jesus said, "Behold I am coming quickly", the Greek word for 'quickly" is tacheos. We get our word "tachometer" from this word. It means more than just speed, but also means "suddenly, without delay. There are over 22 verses in the New Testament that clearly speak of the immanency of Jesus' return. When his disciples asked about His return, Jesus said, "But of that dey or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Be alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. (Mark 13:32-33) "You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." (Luke 12:40) We are instructed repeatedly throughout the New Testament to be watchful and ready for Jesus's return, not knowing the exact time. We are to be aware of the signs of the times, remaining ready for Jesus' return, when it does happen.

Most Evangelical churches believe in the 'imminence' of Jesus' return. "Imminence" refers to the concept that the return of Jesus (the Rapture) could happen at any moment, without any specific sign or event needing to occur first. Why is the imminence of Jesus' return important? It is important because it's timing aligns with the Pretribulation Rapture, the three concepts being "Pre-tribulation Rapture" "Mid-Tribulation Rapture and "Post-Tribulation" Rapture. All views, other than "Pretribulation Rapture" require a number of prophetic occurrences to take place before the Rapture can be declared imminent.

If the return of Jesus for His Church is Imminent, then obviously it must take place before the coming Tribulation the seven years when God's wrath is poured out on an unbelieving and unrepentant (Revelation 9: 2021) If the Church were world. required to go through the seven-year tribulation, you would expect the New Testament writers to have warmed us to be prepared for trying times. But they repeatedly tell the Church to be comforted by the "coming of the Lord" (1 Thes 4:18). The word "comfort" alone strongly implies the rapture will take place before the tribulation. The early church used the word "Maranatha" frequently. Maranatha consists of three Aramaic words: "Mar" ("Lord), "ana" ("our"), and "tha" ("come"). "Our Lord Come: The Interesting thing about Maranatha is that it comes in the form of a petition. When a Christian in the early Church would make this statement, he was actually petitioning the Lord to come. Someone has observed that Revelation 22:9 is the last prayer of the Bible, (Even so come, Lord Jesus.) Someone else has pointed out that Revelation 19:20 also includes the last "promise" of the Bible "Surely, I come quickly." What the Church must remember in that not only is the coming of Jesus imminent, but it is also certain!

The Fragrance of Christ

Some years ago, a Philadelphia newspaper published an article with the following caption: "Couple Sells Candles That Pastor Smell Like Jesus." "Now there's a candle that lets you experience the scent of Jesus, and they have been selling out by the case. Light up a candle called "His Essence" and its makers say you will experience the fragrance of Jesus. The formula for the candle is spelled out in Psalm 45:8. It's a Messianic Psalm referring to the return of Jesus and that His garments will have the scent of myrrh, aloe and cassia." This is the aroma that the candle gives off.

The concept of the "fragrance of Christ" is found in 2 Corinthians.

2:14-15 conveying the idea of the spiritual influence that Jesus and His followers have in the world. The true fragrance of Christ is not emitted from a candle, but from the presence of Jesus in the life of the believer. This is what Paul is referring to in these verses. He is saying that a believer's life will give off a pleasing aroma as a result of the presence of Jesus in his/her life. While Paul uses the term 'fragrance' and 'aroma' metaphorically, it is clear that he is referring to the influence you and I have as we intermingle with spiritually dead people. Yes, a life filled with the 'beauty of Christ does affect others! I referred to a chorus of a bygone era in last Sunday's message. Here it is again in the context of 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. It is certainly a sentiment that we should include in our praying.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me All His wonderful passion and purity Oh, thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

A sculptor was working with his hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. A young boy who was watching him saw nothing more than pieces of stone being chipped away left and right. But when the boy returned to the studio a few weeks later, he saw to his great surprise a large, powerful lion sitting in the place where the block of marble had stood. With great excitement the boy said to the sculptor, "Sir, how did you know there was a lion in that block of marble?" Like the sculptor, God is at work in our lives creating something beautiful; something that is often beyond our expectations. He is working with who we are.....but. He is transforming us into people who will be 'conformed to the image of His Son." (Romans 8:29) Do you ever wonder what He is creating in you? Ephesians 2:10 gives us a hint, "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God has ordained that we should walk in them." While God chips away our old nature, there is nothing more exciting than to be a part of what God is creating in us! 

Let's submit to His work! 

- Pastor Bruce

The Mendiola Family Journey

 Reflecting on the incredible journey God has brought Tiffany and I on together. When we first got married 19 years ago, we had no idea the plans He had in store for us. We knew we wanted to start a family, but struggled with infertility for several years. It wasn't easy, we both struggled with feelings of longing, emptiness, and grief.. and the Lord knows I didn't make it easy for my wife as I battled depression and self-harm. But by God's grace, Tiff and I clung to each other and to our faith in Jesus. We knew that every life, from the moment of conception, has inherent dignity and worth. So even when our chances were slim, we kept praying and believing for a miracle.

God is Good all the time

 

And God answered in ways beyond what we could ask or imagine! After 10 years of trying, we were overjoyed to adopt our precious daughter Kairi. Tiff even got to be in the room the moment she came into the world!  What a gift from above she has been to us. Then, amazingly, the Lord blessed us again 4 years later with our son Rylan. Two beautiful, healthy children - clear evidence of God's faithfulness when we felt all hope was lost. In March of 2025 We welcomed Micah James into the family.

Now, in this season, we are filled with gratitude that Tiffany is carrying our fourth little one, who we affectionately call "Gabey." The journey has not been easy and we definitely weren't expecting to be raising two toddlers well into our 40s... But we know the Author of Life is knitting this baby together in her womb and we trust fully in His perfect plan.

Through the valleys and the mountaintops, Tiffany has been my rock. Her unwavering faith, her sacrificial love for our family, and her inner strength inspire me daily. I couldn't imagine walking this road with anyone else by my side. Together, we are committed to raising our kids to know Jesus, to affirm the sanctity of every human life, and to love and serve others the way Christ loved us. 

We don't know what the future holds, but we know the One who holds the future. As Joshua 24:15 says, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." That is the anthem and the aim of our family. We are so grateful for the story He is writing in us and through us!

Surviving the Enemy's Flaming Arrows

Since the encounter with Satan in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been in the midst of a constant battle between the forces of good and evil. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us - "For our fight is not against any physical enemy; it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen powers that controls this dark world; spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil." (Phillips paraphrase)

Satan uses lies and untruth to try and convince people that God ordained truths are archaic and do not apply to our modern times. But God does not change His mandates are for all generations from creation throughout eternity Satan is a formidable adversary, and he uses cunning lies to blind the eyes and twist the minds of those he is trying to take with him to Hell. We can clearly see this in his twisting of the many social issues of our time. Abortion is not the taking of innocent life, but rather a women's health issue. Homosexuality is not a sin, but a lifestyle choice. Transgenderism is becoming your true self and correcting the 'mistake God made when He created you. There are countless examples of how Satan twists and rationalizes the Truth to cause our minds to question what God says.

We might wonder what chance we have against Satan and his evil forces. Ephesians 6:11 gives us the answer, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (tricks of the devil." We must be careful that we do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because we are believers, we are safe from the attacks of the enemy. We, who profess Christ as our Savior, are his prime targets! Regular reading of God's Word and prayer are our main defensive weapons! These provide the protection we need to counter the enemy's onslaught.

We must not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of Satan's lies and trickery, but rather, claim the promises of Scripture. God has good plans for us and wants us to repent and follow Him. Some would say that believers are being intolerant and judgmental if they speak against sin. In truth, it is God who judges each of us and will not allow sin to be tolerated. It is true that everyone has sinned and that each of us must recognize our sinfulness, repent of it, and receive the forgiveness that comes only through the shed blood of Christ. The most loving thing we can do is point others toward the redemption purchased on the cross of Calvary!"

The above article was included in the August-September issue of the Revival Tidings, authored by Gary Stenberg. He is the Administrative Director for the Helping Hands Ministry, a position that Pastor Van Someren once held. Our own Jim Hanson is a board member of this ministry. May God continue to bless this ministry 

-Pastor Bruce.

The Importance of Hearing

 I found the following article interesting. I think you will eye, the Lord has made them (Proverbs 20:12) These remarkable organs allow us to participate in the world around Master Designer.

 Besides the intricate mechanism of the inner ear, the outer us. But they also are reminders that they are designed by the ear is remarkable in its design as well. Not only is it a receiver, it also is constructed to protect the entryway. The outer ear, known as the 'pinna' tunnels sound into your inner ear canal. The pinna can tell you where sounds arm coming from, the ridges and grooves of the ear shape sound waves differently depending on where the sound originates. As a result, the brain learns to associate certain amplification patterns with certain directions. 

So, if you lost your ears, you might be able to hear, but you would not be able to tell where the sound was coming from. Scientists have pointed out "Our ears act like satellite dishes, capturing and focusing sound waves centrally down the ear canal. Although the ears cannot move like some animals ears, Our heads will automatically turn to improve the reception."

"And then there is the ear canal. This canal has a special coating-earwax, which protects the inner ear from insects and small debris. Most people think earwax is regarded as a minor nuisance, something that has to be cleaned out with a swab. But scientists have discovered that earwax is crucial to the health of our inner ears and is essential to good hearing. Known as 'cerumen earwax is an oily substance produced by specialized glands in the ear canal which acts like a powerful yet gentle push broom, sweeping out harmful elements that enter our ear canal. Due to its oily nature, it repels water from getting further inside the ear canal and damaging it, yet it allows air and sound to enter. Ear wax mixes with inner ear hair follicles to provide a natural filter that traps dust and other harmful particles. Ear wax also lubricates the ear canal as the wax moves towards the outer ear, made possible by the movement of the jaw, allowing it to exit with all its debris."

While evolutionists insist that earwax is just another accidental and unplanned feature that evolved over a period of time, Christians are assured that God planned His creation well. 

The Scripture that comes to mind is found in Psalm 139:14, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are thy works." Even in an increasingly unbelieving world we live in, even the details of the inner ear testify to God's careful design of our bodies. Psalm 94:9-12 reminds us, "He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eyes, will He not see?" Most assuredly God sees and hears us. 

May the Holy Spirit grant us the ability to 'see' the truth of God's written Word, and may He assist us in 'hearing' what God has to say to us. Be alert this coming week; alert to 'see' God's plan unfolding in your life. Be alert to 'hear' what He is saying to you to you through His Word, and through the promptings of the Holy Spirit's voice. Have a blessed week!

The Importance of Good Soil

Jesus' ministry was short, but His preaching/teaching was powerful. We only have a few recorded words of Jesus preserved for us. Our historical knowledge of Jesus is limited, but we have been given all we need to know. The last verse in the Book of John tells us,

"Jesus did many other things as well, if every one of them were written down I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."

Nearly one third of the words of Jesus are parables. The parable is a unique teaching method because it reveals more meaning than appears on the surface. Someone has made the statement that "a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly (or spiritual) meaning." Jesus used everyday life to teach spiritual truths to His listeners. He knew that by telling stories He could hold the attention of His audience. Early in His ministry He used few parables, but as hostility grew He began using more parables to lessen the opposition to His ministry. For those whose hearts were prepared, the parables had meaning. For the sceptics, the parables were just stories.

Let's consider the parable of the sower found in Luke 8:4-15. Actually, it is the parable of the soil, as it describes the receptivity of the Word of God. The seed that is sown is the Word of God. (v11) The soil is the condition of the heart of man into which the seed is sown. Jesus said there were four different types of soil to which the seed is sown.

WAYSIDE v12 

Seed that fell on the edges of the plowed field which would never penetrate the soil and grow. This would refer to the hard-hearted Jewish leaders who would never receive the Word of God. It also describes people of today who, because of a hardened heart, reject the message of truth.

STONY GROUND v13 

This describes those who hear the Word of God but have no root and soon fall away. It describes those who make a superficial commitment to salvation; they remain interested only until there is a sacrificial price to pay and then abandon God.

THORNY GROUND v14 

This describes those who receive the seed (hear the Word) but the cares of life choke out the seed. choke out the commitment to the Word of God.

GOOD GROUND v15 

This describes fertile ground that receives the seed and produces a crop / fruit. It also describes people who hear the Word of God-understand it keep it (obedience) and, as a result, bring forth fruit. (a visible expression of power working inwardly) Fruit in the life of a believer, not only blesses that person, but also blesses the lives of others as they are able to give way the 'fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in their lives. 

Let us share some of that fruit with others...today!