I was thinking about ministry and life today and realized they are one and the same.  I am married all the time not just when I am together with Pam.  I am a father and grandfather all the time, not just when I get to be with my children or grandchildren.  I am a believer, an ambassador of Jesus, a priest and minister of the Gospel all the time.  While meditating on our current series it became clear to me that at times I try to separate my life into sections, and at times that can lead me to neglect one while loving the other, or value one area greater than the other.  The reality is I am always a child of God and because I love Him I want to please Him and do the things He desires I do; it achieves His purposes and makes me more content and peaceful.

I hope the depth and majesty of this season is touching your spirit and your heart.

Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save the lost.” I was one of the lost 34 years ago, I am so thankful that someone shared the good news with me. I shudder to think of the person I would have turned out to be without the loving influence of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified for my bad decisions, the day He took the punishment for my greed, my lust, my anger, my coveting, my lying, my worship of material goods, wealth, and pride. This is personal to me, because others said I was a good man, a good person; if I had died at 15 I would have spent eternity in torment and suffering. That was unacceptable to Jesus and He sacrificed Himself for me. I will forever be grateful of His love and forgiveness, I stand in awe of His great love.

Sunday is coming, with His resurrection He took the keys of death and hell away from the enemy. His resurrection is the power in which my life was transformed and I moved from death to life. By the power of His resurrection I have hope, I have joy, I have peace, I have become more patient, gentle and kind; by His resurrection I am a better human being. I am who I am today, because He is who He is everyday. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.

Please look around you today, who do you know who needs to meet Jesus, who do you know who is lost, discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed in life, who do you know who is lonely… Who do you know that if they died today would be lost forever? Please do what Jesus did, care enough to talk to them, to interact with them, to see their value in the bigger picture. Let’s be about our Savior’s work.

God bless you all, have a wonderful Resurrection weekend!

Pastor Ken

I was reflecting on one of our key scriptures, Matthew 28:19

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Approaching Easter, I cannot come to this time without reflecting on the heart of loving compassion and sacrifice of Jesus.  Jesus lived with us, He understood our need for a “Savior a Redeemer.”  Jesus took action on our behalf, He “cared enough.”

Simply I want to ask you to “care enough” to invite people to services on Easter.  Consider “caring enough” to reach out to others around you, inviting them to visit your group, showing them your heart of compassion, care and concern.  Let them see the love of Jesus reflected in you.

Together we can “Saturate our community with God’s love!”