One Person at a Time...

Good Friday at Northway...

Since New Life didn't have a Good Friday service yesterday, Nancy, Emmy and I decided to go to Northway's Good Friday Service.  It was powerful!  They celebrated baptisms and the Lord's Supper during the service.  At first, I thought having baptisms was a little strange -- on Good Friday, but as Pastor Kent reminded us when we are baptized we are "buried" with Jesus, what better what to remember His death AND to remember that the moment Jesus died one of the miracles that took place is that many people who were dead CAME BACK TO LIFE!  Jesus death has been producing new life from the very moment it took place!  What an awesome and powerful reality!

"Good" Friday...

Every year as Good Friday approaches, I'm reminded of how strange it sounds to call the day "Good" Friday. From outward appearances, it was the worst day in human history!  Jesus, the one and only Son of the Living God, who had lived a PERFECT life here on earth was beaten and crucified.  God came into the world, and the world executed Him.  How is that "good"?  We know the answer.  Jesus' death on the cross, His innocent blood poured out, paid the penalty for our sin, and opened the door to eternal life.  Jesus' resurrection on Easter morning provided the proof that Jesus was (and IS!) who He claimed to be--the Messiah, the Son of God!  Good Friday makes Romans 8:28 real.  When the Apostle Paul wrote:  In all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, we need only turn to Jesus on the cross--ostensibly the WORST thing that ever happened, and see that profound truth of the statement.  If Jesus had not died on the cross, the way to heaven would be closed to us.  Since He died on the cross and rose from the dead, the door to eternal life stands wide open!  That is incredibly good news!  Yes, it is GOOD Friday, because through the amazing love and sacrifice of Jesus, each of us has the hope and promise of eternal life.  I pray that we will take time today to reflect on the day and THANK Jesus for His incredible sacrifice that we may have the life that is truly life each day!

Men--Join us at the Good Friday Breakfast--6:00 a.m. tomorrow!

MEN, if you haven't heard, there's a community Men's Good Friday breakfast tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. at the Saxonburg Memorial Church at the end of Main Street in Saxonburg.  Why not get up a little early (for most) or reschedule your day and give the Lord the best part of the day tomorrow by joining in fellowship and worship with men from around the community.  The breakfast costs $6.00 and you may pay at the door!  I'll be there and I hope to see you, too!

This Sunday at New Life!

This Sunday is EASTER DAY!  Join us at one of our two worship services (8:45 a.m and 10:15 a.m.) at the South Butler Primary School.  The theme of the day is CELEBRATION, and the message is titled "The Great Cover Up!"  What a great time to invite your family, friends, co-workers and classmates to join us at New Life!  I have a favor to ask those of you who don't have young children, and who participate regularly at New Life--would you join us at the 8:45 a.m. service?  That way those who have small children, and guests (who are more likely to come at the later hour) will find a place to sit when they arrive.  Our worship attendance has be growing each Sunday since we've moved back to the Primary School, and we praise God that so many of our guests have been returning and becoming part of the regular "crowd" at New Life.  My prayer is that God will bring dozens of guests to worship with us on Sunday, and that many will trust Jesus as Savior and Lord for the first time.  Please join me in that prayer---and bring your unchurched friends!

A Night Like No Other...

If you're planning to joinus for this evening's Maundy Thursday worship--"A Night Like No Other!" at 7:00 p.m., you need to know something important:  We are worshiping at the Plantation Clubhouse in Saxonburg instead of at 127 Knoch Road.  The wintry weather and wind made it impossible to put up the tents for worship and the ground is soft and muddy, so instead of worshiping outdoors, we'll be at the Plantation.  The service is a simple re-enactment of the last few hours before Jesus' arrest including portions of the Last Supper, and His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We'll celebrate the Lord's Supper together, and remember God's great love for us shown in Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.  I hope you'll be there!

Holy Week!

Tomorrow marks the start of" Holy Week."  Christians call it that, because it marks the last week of Jesus' life and takes us from Palm Sunday to Easter!  Along the way, we also celebrate the Last Supper through "Maundy" Thursday, and then we remember Jesus crucifixion on Good Friday.  At New Life, we'll be celebrating and remembering these holy days in various ways.  I've already mentioned Palm Sunday, and I hope you'll be there for worship at the South Butler Primary School at 10:00 a.m. 

Then on Maundy Thursday we'll be at 127 Knoch Road to celebrate the Last Supper together as we participate in "A Night Like No Other!"  The celebration will offer a re-enactment of the Last Supper as well as Jesus' time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We'll all take part in the Lord's Supper, too.  The evening starts at 7:00 p.m.  I hope you'll be there!

On Good Friday, we're encouraging everyone to participate in our community's morning services and breakfasts.  The Men's Breakfast will be at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church at 6:00 a.m.  The Women and Children's Breakfast is at Thorncreek United Methodist Church at 9:00 a.m. and the Youth Good Friday Breakfast will be held at Summit U.P. Church at 11:00 a.m., with New Life's worship team providing the music! 

On Easter Day, we will celebrate Jesus' resurrection at 8:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.!  This will be a great time to invite everyone you know to join us for worship!  As the Apostle Paul reminded us over and over in his letters to the early churches--Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the pivotal reality in human history.  If Jesus has not been raised, then our faith is in vain, but Jesus HAS been raised, and that resurrection power lives in us today by the presence of the Holy Spirit!  Be there as we sing praises to our risen Lord, and celebrate His victory over sin and death--which is OUR victory over sin and death as we trust in Him!

Breaking the Fast...

This evening I will eat with my family for the first time since last Saturday evening.  I intended to make this week of fasting a "modified" fast in that I would eat some fruit for breakfast and some fruit and vegetables for dinner each night, but God had something else in mind.  Instead, I drank only water and a little juice each day.  Yesterday and today, I did add some almonds to give me a little energy, and I ate a banana yesterday, but I sensed that God wanted me relying on Him for strength, and while the week has had its ups and downs (as does every week!) from a standpoint of the events that took place, this was one of the most powerful weeks of my life from in the sense of God's strength being with me in my weakness.  I thought many times this week, particularly in the last several days as my physical strength became less, of how my strength truly is in the Lord.  A number of situations came up through the week that took me out of my "plan" for the week, and I didn't get several important things accomplished that I planned to do, but God used me in the unexpected events that took their place in powerful ways.  I don't mean to seem so nebulous, but sometimes pastors must be discreet, because ministry takes us into situations that are not for sharing with everyone.  God empowered me to offer counsel this week in several cases that I had not planned to be involved.  The challenge is to know when God is calling us to set aside our plans, which we have made in an effort to serve Him, and to participate in His greater plan.  It's a challenge because sometimes the "diversions" from our plans are just that--diversions.  At other times they are God's plan.  Discernment is necessary, and thankfully during times of fasting discernment typically grows, because we are more focused on God and His purposes in our lives.  I look forward to the meal with Nancy, Emmy and Emmy's friend, Rachel, this evening, but I have enjoyed feasting on God's strength in my time of fasting and weakness these past seven days.  I pray that for all of you who also fasted during this past week that God has worked in you in powerful ways as well!

Tomorrow at New Life!

I hope you're planning to join us tomorrow as we celebrate the conclusion of our 40 Days of Commitment with Jesus FIRST--Then and Now!  We'll reflect on the first "Palm Sunday" and how the people of Jerusalem finally recognized Jesus for who He is:  The King of kings and Lord of lords!  The key question for us is this: IS Jesus FIRST in our lives today, and will he be tomorrow?  The citizens of Jerusalem in Jesus' day shouted, "Hosanna!" when he entered the city on Palm Sunday, but "Crucify Him!" on Friday.  What about us?  Will our hosannas last through the week?  Will we keep our commitment to Jesus NO MATTER WHAT?  Join us tomorrow and celebrate Jesus kingship in our lives!

Fasting--Day Seven!

Are you closer to Jesus?  Did you live the week more like Him?  Is anyone in your sphere of influence closer to Jesus, or does someone KNOW Jesus who didn't at the beginning of this week?  Remember, fasting is never about us--it's about advancing the Kingdom of God.  As you invest this last day in fasting, give it completely over to Jesus.  Let Him set the agenda, and when you break bread this evening, invite Him to be part of it! Then make sure that as a new week comes--Holy Week, that you live it to glorify and honor Him!  Make your Hosannas last through the week!

Fasting--Day Six

One more day!  (Actually it's two, because the fast won't end until tomorrow evening!)  How's it going?  If you've made it this far, I know one thing, you have fasted longer than most people ever will, and God is most likely speaking more "clearly" than you have experienced.  What is it about giving up food (or something else) in our lives that cleans the spiritual "wax" out of our ears?  I believe it is the giving up of control to God that makes the difference.  We are not eating for a purpose.  It isn't to show that we have control over our stomachs.  It is to show that God is more important to us than anything!  That's why this is not a week of dieting.  It isn't about self-control.  It's about letting God have control of ourselves.  As we do that more and more, we can give control of EVERY area of our lives to Him knowing that He knows best.  At the end of my week of fasting in January, I had lost more than ten pounds, was feeling so much better, and thought that I had learned a lot about myself--and my attitudes toward food, which had a lot of unhealthiness in them.  Actually, I didn't learn as much as I thought, because I went back to some of the old habits, but not ALL of them.  Just as my month of committing to 100 hours of prayer, means that I'll never go back to months of only 30 hours of prayer, so a week of fasting, will give us the ability to see what needs to be changed in our eating habits so that the food area of our lives honors God.  We may not change everything as a result, but if we change ANYTHING, and give God the glory that is a win.  The goal is NOT that we will be more pious or religious than everyone else--the goal is that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit will be more in control of our lives than EVER!  The result of a week of fasting is hopefully a closer relationship with Jesus than we've ever had, or at least a closer relationship than we had at the beginning of the week.  That way when we go back to "normal" next week, "normal" will actually be a littler more like Jesus!