Pastor Pasta's Specialty Dish

The Light of the World...Is Jesus!

2011-12-03T17:27:00.000-08:00

I knew this would be true...and this year I wasn't disappointed. What you ask? Well, for a long time the holiday season had lost its sense of wonder and excitement. I know I am not old. But still, when you've gone through 30 of these things they tend to begin to run together. We get a tree - just like last year. We hang the decorations - just like last year. We listen to Christmas music - new CD, but pretty much sounds just like last year's. We put lights up on the house - just like last year. I set up my Lego train - yes I said a Lego train. Come on, you know you are jealous. Still I've done it the exact same way for YEARS!

Then, something changed! Little Callie Sue was born into our family. Now I knew that she would bring the excitement back...but my expectations were too high last year. She was 9 months old. She could sit up, make funny noises and that is about it. She liked the tree. She like the lights so much they got her to crawl for the first time! But, she really had no clue what was going on. She thought torn up wrapping paper was amazing while the awesome Mr. Potato Head puppy and kitty we got her were boring. Not a great year.

Fast forward to this year. She is now 2o months (going on 21). She is running EVERYWHERE!!! She is talking up a storm and we can understand a ton of her words! I know she is aware of what is going on because if we pull in to our driveway without stopping to show her the lighted star in our upstairs window she cries! She can say "Chriti-ights" with the best of them! Every morning we get up and she says good morning to our tree and counts to 3 to have the lights turn on. She has to turn on Daddy's Lego train all by herself (yes it is still Daddy's...don't judge). Since she always cranks the throttle as far as it goes, the train flies off the track every morning! We read the story for the advent calendar and she points to where the cool handcrafted ornament goes on the flannel tree (made just for us by my awesome mother-in-law).

This year we purchased the Matthew West Christmas album. On it there is a song with the lyric "the Light of the World is still here." Amy was singing the song one day and got to "Jesus." Callie then chimes in with "'ight of the wold!" Oh yeah! that is my daughter. Now anytime we say Jesus she answers with, "'ight of the wold!"

Let us not forget the amazing truth that is found in something that my daughter reminded me of.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This Christmas, are you walking in darkness or are you allowing the Light of the World to shine though your life to those around you? Are you in awe of the Light of the World or are you allowing something to outshine the only One who truly shines in this dark world?

This year, forget all the lights that shine around us and focus on the Light that shines in and through us!

Community: Important to God and Important to Us

2011-09-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

The English word community comes from the Latin root from which we get another English word, common. Community is based around that which is held in common. We have communities based around common locations, video games, music, TV shows, dress, lifestyles, sports, economic status, bloodlines and much much more.

Why do we naturally search out others to be in community with? Because we were designed and created for the purpose of community. When we look at the life of Jesus we see evidence of this. What was he doing while on earth? He was establishing community. He had community with twelve mismatched guys. Beyond the twelve He had community with 120 disciples of men and women. When Jesus left, He sent the Holy Spirit into the 120, thus remaining in community with them. He sent this community on a mission to grow and prosper the community. The disciples (followers) were called to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:18-20). Disciples (followers) making disciples (followers). That is, the community of disciples (followers) were to further the community by reproducing disciples (followers). They were called to do more than share the gospel, they were called to integrate those who responded to the gospel into the greater community of disciples (followers).

Friends, we were never called to make believers. We cannot control whether or not someone believes the gospel and responds to it. However, we were called to tell them the gospel, and then to turn believers into disciples (followers). How do we do that? How can we become the community Jesus called us to be? It is all in the verses I already mentioned. It is in the call that Jesus gave to His followers just prior to ascending into heaven. Listen to the words of Jesus:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What is the significance of baptism? It not only is a public testimony of the difference that Jesus made in a person’s life, it is a public testimony of being connected with a new community, the community of Christ-followers. After baptizing believers we are to what? Being in the community of Christ-followers means that you…follow Christ! How do we follow Christ? That is where the “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded” comes in!

As believers, we should not only value people coming together and having something in common, we should value people holding a lifestyle of following Jesus in common. We are all at different places in our spiritual journey. However, we need to do our best to allow people to learn how to better follow Jesus and deepen their community with Him and with each other. I therefore pray that our lives and our churches resemble what we see in Acts 2:41-47. The early church was made up of all kids of different people who did not have anything in common. Yet, they were able to form a world changing community by holding in common lives that were lived like Jesus! May we do the same!

Only God is God...and you are not Him!

2011-07-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Only God is God...and you are not Him!
Do you ever wonder something to the effect of "What is God thinking?"

In speaking to many different people I have to say that almost everyone, if not everyone, has thought that at some point in their lives. It may not be profound to you to realize that guess what...you are not God!

You don't think like God. You don't have all the information God has. You don't love like God. You don't have the power God has. Maybe, just maybe God has something on you...you catch my sarcasm right?

One of the most amazing passages I have read is found in Isaiah 55. In that passage God say,

¹ “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
² Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
³ Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”

⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

Are you comfortable serving a God who is bigger than you. For some reason many are not. For me, if God were not bigger, smarter, stronger, more powerful, than I am, why would I be worshiping Him? The trick is taking what we know about God to not doubt Him but trust Him more!

Blogging Through the Bible - Final Entry Part #2

2011-06-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Epistle to the Philippians:

What an amazing book. I have to say that for me, while I love the entire book, Phil. 2:5-11 is one of the most amazing passages in the NT. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

There are few passages that sum up the life of Christ so perfectly and succinctly. It is a literary masterpiece!

The First Epistle to To Timothy:

1 Tim. 3:1-13 lays out an detailed list for those who provide leadership within the church. There are two classifications: elders and deacons. Elders are the highest human authority in the church. Of course, we know that ultimately, Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 5). However, leadership in the church is to be provided by men who fit the qualifications laid out here an in Titus chapter 1. Deacons are to be servants. There is some disagreement as to whether or not women can serve in the office of deacons. I personally believe the answer is yes. In Romans 16:1 we are introduced to a female deacon. Likewise, the word translated "wives" in verse 11 by the NIV can also be translated "women." Thus, a possible translation of that passage is: "In the same way, the women are to be women worthy of respect..." One reason for this interpretation is that it makes no sense for Paul to have qualifications for deacon's wives (a lesser office) and not for elder's wives (the highest office in the church). If Paul is talking to just women, what women is he talking about? Why would he take a verse in the middle of qualifications of deacons to talk to the women of the church? The way the passage can be read then is that verses 1-7 are qualifications for elders. Verses 8-10 are qualifications for male and female deacons. Verse 11 gives specific instructions to female deacons while verses 12-13 gives specific instructions to male deacons. This reading of the passage accounts for the most evidence with the least amount of problems.

While all that is interesting, the important part is to see how set apart and special the offices of church leadership are to Christ. Many churches today struggle because they do not have biblical leadership. There is a reason that these passages are given.

The Epistle of James:

What a fantastic book. If you want to know practically how to live the Christian life, read James. It is not deep theological stuff. However, try to live your life in line with James. It may be simple in theory but complex in actuality.

The First Epistle of John:

1 John 4:1-3 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."

What a fantastic warning. I believe this is a great place to end our journey through the Bible. We need to make sure that we test everything against Scripture. There is absolute truth and authority. It is given to us by God through His words. As 2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Blogging Through the Bible - Final Entry Part #1

2011-05-28T15:07:00.001-07:00

The B-90 is finally done. I made it. I was successful in reading the entire Bible in just 90 days. I needed every last day to do it. But, I did it! What I was less successful in doing was to be consistent in blogging about my journey through the Word. I mean, I suppose I could have just spewed out a few thoughts here and there. But, I usually have to give it a little more thought than that. So, since I missed almost the entire New Testament, here are some of my highlights from these amazing books:

The Book of Acts:
It really is amazing to see the difference that the Holy Spirit makes in the lives of the apostles. They were running from opposition at the end of the Gospels and now are risking life and limb to spread the message. Jesus isn't present. And yet, they are filled with an incredible boldness. Where did this boldness come from? Where did the influence they wielded come from? Acts 2 gives us the answer. The Holy Spirit came on these men and changed them from the inside out. The amazing thing is this: WE HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT INSIDE OF US!!! The challenge to each of us is to live like it!

The Epistle to the Romans:
Rom. 8:31-39, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Wow - need I say more?

The First Epistle to the Corinthians:
1 Cor. 1:10-15, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name."

I hear so often of who people like or don't like in the realm of Christian books and videos. "I like John MacArthur," or "I like John Piper" or "I like Timothy Keller," or "I like Francis Chan," or "I like Andy Stanley," or "I like Mark Driscoll," etc. What is funny is there are an equal amount of people who say the exact opposite. I don't like...you get the picture. Are we in our own way falling into the trap of the Corinthian church? Are we just listening to the person we agree with or like? Look, we all need to be looking out for heresy. But, just because you don't like a guy, or just because he doesn't hold to as many points of Calvinism as you do, doesn't mean he is a heretic. Neither does it mean that you can't learn from him. I have even heard preferences within our own church about our own pastors. Can we have preferences? Absolutely! However, let us not divide ourselves over it or cut ourselves off from sound Bible teaching just because they are not our preference. Maybe, God wants to use something or someone who is out of our comfort zone or preferences to speak into our lives. As long as they are sound Biblically on the main things, we should be positive about their ministry and see what we can learn from them. I guarantee, whether you like them or not, they probably know a heck of a lot more about the Bible than we give them credit for when we are critical.

Vitamix Blender!

2011-05-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing giveaway for a great smoothie maker! http://www.thethriftymama.com/2011/05/vitamix-giveaway.html#comment-71401

Blogging through the Bible...from Old to New

2011-05-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

An Apology:
Well, here we are, day 74 of the Bible in 90 Days. We are almost done folks! I know I haven't done the best job keeping up with my posts. I am sorry about that. But today, my goal is to catch up! Since the last time I posted, we have read all the Prophets and most of the Synoptic Gospels. What amazing stories and theology are found in these book. Let's be honest here. how much time do we really spend reading in the minor prophets? Not very much. At least I didn't before now. If you have, more power to you! In this blog, my goal is to give you my highlights from this section of Scripture.

Isaiah 6:
Holy, holy, holy. Clearly a passage that proclaims how holy our God is. Holy: "set apart one." Set apart from what though? The most common answer is set apart from sin. While it is true that God cannot sin, does God have to be completely set apart from sin? Isaiah 6 is an amazing story of the holy God coming to a sinful man, cleansing his sin and calling him to be on mission for Him! Has God come to you, cleansed you of sin and called you to be on mission for Him? What was your response? Were you excited about being with God and experiencing forgiveness? Most are stoked about these aspects of salvation. However, were you exctied to be on mission for Him? Many are initially excited, but does it last? For most Christians the answer is a resounding no! We must make a point of restoring the excitement of our mission. We weren't just saved from sin we were saved for a mission!

Ezekiel 4:
What would you do if you were told you must lay on your side for over a year, lay on your other side for over a month, and cook your food with dung. The point of this ridiculous exercise? To show the people how they will suffer at the hands of their enemies. The kicker? The people will not listen to you! All of this, and the people will not listen. I think it is hard to serve God when you can see a tangible result. Ezekiel not only did not have a promise of success but it was a promise of failure! Serving God can be an amazing calling, it can also hurt like heck and leave you burned out and broken. And yet, God will ultimately be glorified! We do win in the end...we just may not see it in our lifetime!

Amos 5:
21 “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

I wonder sometimes what God would think of our worship services today. We in the Americanized Evangelical church have convinced ourselves that we are doing it right. "We are Biblical" we say. "We are relevant" we say. "We are making a difference" we say. But, I have to admit. The more I read Scripture the more I am uneasy with where we are at. Is there a chance that God looks at our church and says what He said above to the nation of Israel. Are we "Biblical" and "relevant" and "making a difference" and still missing the boat? Is that possible?

Matthew-Luke:
Let's take my last section and move it into a New Testament context? After reading so much about Jesus, what do you think Jesus think about Evangelicalism today? Would Jesus have hung out in our church services? Would Jesus have liked what He would see going on in our buildings? Would Jesus have had time to "go to church"? Would Jesus approve of our worship? Would He appreciate our sermons? What would He think of what we place in the offering plate (or have taken out of our checking account with our online giving option)? Would He like what we do with kids? What we do with teens? What would He think? Often, we don't think about what Jesus would think. I have a feeling that we would be shocked by what Jesus would say.

In Conclusion:
I want to close this post by a quote from the last book of the Old Testament. This comes from Micah 6:6-8.

6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Blogging through the Bible...Proverbs

2011-04-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

We are in day 46 of the B-90 challenge. I don't know about you, but Psalms and Proverbs are killing me. I love these books. There are some great psalms and some great proverbs. But, when I am reading 24 Psalms at a time, things start to run together. When I am reading 14 chapters chocked full of different proverbs, my brain swiftly becomes mush.

However, while reading through today's section in Proverbs, I came across two proverbs that stood out to me. The first is Proverbs 14:30, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." I tend to think a lot about what I want to buy next. My favorite website is Amazon.com. I keep my Amazon Wish List going year round so I can keep putting things on it that I would like to have at some point. I would say I am mostly content. And yet, I am always looking for something to make me discontent. It almost feels good when I am discontent. That isn't my goal. It is just the reality. This verse is a great reminder that I should be constantly seeking to be at peace in my heart. I need to be perfectly content with what I have - even if at some point I don't have as much. Understanding what I've been saved from, how could I ever be truly discontent again?

The second is Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." I believe that we are given the free will to choose many things in our lives. However, I also believe that God is completely in control and is sovereign over everything. Many people say that I need to believe either one or the other. Either I must believe that man has free will or that God is sovereign. However, I believe both. I think that we do determine much of our lives. We have free will. We choose. However, God's plan will happen exactly how God determines it to. This verse balances the two sides perfectly. We plan our course, but God determines our steps. We make plans, make choices, and God's will is carried out. How does God allow us choices and yet still is able to achieve His will in the end? It's an easy answer...He's God!

Blogging through the Bible...Prayer of David

2011-03-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

May we have the same attitude as that of David.

1 Chronicles 17:16-27, Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:

“Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

“What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.

“There is no one like you, LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.

“And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

“You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, LORD, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

Blogging Through the Bible...OT Grace

2011-03-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

For some reason, we in the church have created a false perception. It goes like this: "The NT God is a God of love and grace while the OT God is a God of wrath and judgment." Have you ever heard that, thought that, believed that, felt that? I don't know how you could not thanks to an overwhelming preference for the NT in today's churches. The OT seems unexplainable. It seems harsh. It seems messy & bloody. It goes against our sophisticated, western, idealism.

And yet, when I sit down and read the OT, not just picking and choosing stories but really reading it through, I can't help but walk away amazed at the grace of God. Is there wrath? Yes! Is it at times unexplainable, harsh, messy & bloody? Absolutely! However, look at what God had to work with!

Look at the major failures by even the good guys: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Gideon, Saul (good guy?), David, Solomon...and that is just to name a few! I don't have time to list all the "should be good guys gone bad," or the "always were very bad guys."

And yet, God continues to fulfill His promises. He continues to keep a remnant of the faithful even in the midst of the darkest of times. He sticks with families of rulers because of the covenants He made even when the families completely reject Him.

God is ALWAYS a God of love, grace, mercy, compassion. And yet, He is a God who takes care of sin (Ex. 34:6-7). As we continue through the depressing stories of failure and sin, watch for God's grace. It is there! Don't miss it!

Blogging through the Bible...Obedience vs. Sacrifice

2011-03-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Day 21. Has it really been three weeks already! I have to say, B90 has been awesome. We are right in the middle of some great stories! For today's post, I just want to bring up a simple verse that is not so simple to apply. 1 Samuel15:22 - But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

Let's set the context of the story. King Saul disobeys God. God had said for Saul to wipe everything out in a neighboring nation. However, Saul keeps the king alive and some choice selections from the livestock. When asked by Samuel why he didn't obey Saul answered that he had in fact obeyed. Not only did he just obey, he did better than obey. He kept all these great animals to sacrifice to the Lord.

The verse I quoted is God's reply through the prophet Samuel. How often do we disobey when we think we are obeying? How often do we dishonor the name of the Lord and we excuse it because we had "good intentions." People hate the church because the church is full of people who "have good intentions" and yet are so Christ-less in their lives at the same time. People hate the church and yet love Jesus. How can that be? It can be because we are falling into the trap of Saul. The Christian life is not difficult to understand. Jesus summed up all of the OT Law in two commands: Love God and love others. How often do we fail in one of these two areas all the while "having good intentions?"

Obedience is better than sacrifice! Just obey! Be like Jesus! Imagine how different the world would be today if the church were filled with Jesus followers instead of Christians!

Blogging through the Bible...God's Promises!

2011-03-16T15:17:00.001-07:00

Am I the only one who hit a road block in our B90 Challenge? I'm not going to lie, Leviticus through Deuteronomy was pretty killer for me. I got in one of those mental states where I was kind of numb to what I was reading. My eyes were seeing the words but my brain was not engaged. Have you been there yet?

This fog continued into some of the book of Joshua. Especially when they started carving up the land...BORING!!! But, then something awesome happened. I caught myself and woke up. Not literally, but figuratively. A verse then popped off the page at me that made all of this worth it. Joshua 21:45 says, "Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

Did you catch that. Not one promise of God failed! How often do we blame God, feel abandoned by God, ignored by God, insignificant to God. Yet, God fulfills His promises. God never changes. God doesn't fail. We may not always know what God is doing. But, God always is working out the details.

This makes promises like Romans 8:28 so special. All things work out! All things are for an ultimate good to be achieved. We may not always know why or understand, but that doesn't mean God isn't at work.

So take heart. And in this B90 journey, don't allow the fog to creep back in. You might miss pure gold like Joshua 21:45!

Leaping through Leviticus

2011-03-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

We have just finished the book of Leviticus in the Bible in 90 Day Challenge. Going in, I knew that the Leviticus/Numbers sections are tedious at best and downright boring at worst. However, reading them through at a fast rate has been a great experience! In the teaching section of our B90 Sunday School class, professor John Walton, OT professor at Wheaton, challenged us to look at Leviticus through the concept of God establishing a foothold in a fallen world.

When reading Leviticus in this way, I came away realizing just how holy the God we serve is. Mankind had to approach Him with fear and trembling because we are sinful and broken. The way to God was detailed and complicated. We are to honor and fear God, balanced of course with love. An amazing picture of this balance is found in the pages of C.S. Lewis' series The Chronicles of Narnia. Aslan, the great lion representing God in the story, is an animal that the children love. He wrestles with them, they hug and pet him, he protects them. However, he is also fearsome, powerful and violent. That is the God we serve.

The most amazing part of the story is that now we have open and unlimited access to this God through the person of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because of Jesus' death on the cross, we can approach our God, yes the God of Leviticus, with confidence. Let us not think that we need to fear God and love Jesus. While they are three persons they are also very much one being. We have a God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), who loves you and loves me! This God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) should also be feared and respected. The God of Leviticus is still very much the God we serve and love. Let us never loose our fear of God. Yet, let us also never lose our love for God. He is a God who is worth loving with everything we have and are!

Blogging Through the Bible...A Shining Star in a Dark Sky

2011-03-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

I love the story of Joseph. If you aren’t reading with us, or if by some chance you got behind and haven’t read about Joseph yet, stop and read Genesis 37-50.

What amazes me about this story is the faithfulness of Joseph. At first glance, it doesn’t seem that remarkable. I mean, isn’t this how a believer is supposed to act? Isn’t this the type of life demanded by God, talked about by Jesus and most recently brought to our attention in popular books such as Crazy Love?

However, what is truly remarkable is that of anyone up to this point, Joseph had the greatest reasons to disobey God and lose his faith. Every excuse we come up with was at Joseph’s disposal. He was betrayed by his older brothers. He felt abandoned by God. He was alone in a culture that wouldn’t have cared if he slept with his master’s wife and would encourage worshiping other gods. His father wasn’t exactly a pillar of moral living. His brothers had done much much worse. In fact, up to this point, had any of the “heroes of the faith,” many of whom had much more comfortable lives than Joseph, not fallen to some sort of sin? Why then shouldn’t Joseph be given a pass?

And yet, Joseph didn’t budge. He remained strong. He kept the faith. He didn’t give up! What excuses do you have for your sin? What reasons do you have for not being able to help but fall for a temptation? Joseph proves that there never is an excuse. This is validated in 1 Cor. 10:13-14 which says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Let each of us commit to be a Joseph!

Blogging through the Bible...Sex & Marriage???

2011-03-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

Day 3: Through Genesis 40:11

So for my first official post during this amazing Bible in 90 Days Challenge, I have to ask: What is with the Old Testament men's sex drives? I mean seriously. I feel at times like I am reading about an HBO special...no not the Sopranos - the Hebrews!

Did anyone just have one wife? Even with multiple wives these men still seem to shack up with quite a few ladies of ill repute (many of whom are close relatives???). And what did God say about it? Actually, not very much.

I could say that this is one of those weird, unexplainable phenomenons found in the Old Testament. I could use a popular explanation and say that we just can't explain the God of the Old Testament and thank goodness for the New Testament that makes everything ok.

Well, I'm not going to do that. Mainly because I don't think that the New Testament can fix the problems of the Old Testament. Otherwise, you have to say that there are problems with the Old Testament or with the Old Testament God. God is God. He always has been God and always will be God. God didn't change.

While there aren't specific words from God against the sexual failures of some of these men (the Law had yet to be given), there are obvious and drastic consequences. God warns mankind about sin. When sin happens, consequences happen. Sometimes there are natural consequences; such as the strife caused by having jealous wives (Gen. 29). Sometimes there are divine judgments; such as Sodom and Gomorrah being incinerated with burning sulfur from heaven (Gen. 19). Finally, just because there isn't a recorded condemnation from God doesn't mean there wasn't one. We don't know how much of the Law was given to individuals before Moses brought the official Law to the nation of Israel. We assume we have written down everything God ever said. Everything in the Bible is from God. I highly doubt everything from God is in the Bible. In fact, the life of Jesus (only 33 years worth) was recorded as a highlight reel (John 21:25).

As we take this journey though the Bible in 90 Days, remember that God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8)!

Blogging Through the Bible in 90 Days

2011-02-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

It has started! I am reading through the Bible in 90 Days along with my GCC community. For the next 3 months, I am going to be totally focused on the Lord through His Word! If you have never read the Bible all the way through before, it will be an amazing time to read parts of the Bible you never have before, to read other parts like it was for the first time, and to finally say that you read God's letter to you in its entirety.

Do you want to join us? Check out our webpage at: http://graceindallas.org/content.cfm?id=332

Here on the Pastor Pasta Blog, I will be posting my thoughts as I read over the next 90 days! Stay tuned and read with me! You can find the reading plan at: http://www.havenministries.com/schedule.pdf

Godly Men - Where Art Thou?

2011-02-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been really challenged? Like knock you out of your chair challenged? This video did that for me. We need men to step up in our churches. I hope the ministries of GCC (or wherever you attend church) are preparing men to lead their families, their churches, and in their communities!

The Focus of 2011

2011-01-05T11:58:00.000-08:00

Wow - we have made it to 2011. To be honest, I am a bit disappointed! Where are the hover boards from Back to the Future? Where are the space ships from 2010: The Year We made Contact? For that matter, where is the space ship from 2001: A Space Odyssey? We are WAY behind that film. Where are the computer systems from numerous other Sci-fi movies that came out a few decades ago?

However, as we move into 2011, I have come up with a resolution that challenges me to the core. It is actually pretty simple. Focus on people not on technology. I am a tech addict. I love techy things. The newer and cooler the better! I was blessed beyond belief this Christmas with techy things. I got a mini remote controlled helicopter. I got a bunch of DVD's and Blu-rays to add to my collection. I have recently been able to purchase a Droid Incredible phone (for work of course). Yet, I wanted more. I found myself on Amazon.com right after Christmas looking at other stuff I could buy (with gift cards...but still!).

Then I started reading two books that are rocking my world. They are both by Francis Chan. Crazy Love we are doing in all our Life Groups, as a Sunday School class as well as a Sermon Series. The Forgotten God we are reading through as a church staff. In both those books there is an emphasis on being different. If we are truly temples of the Holy Spirit, how can we look the same as everybody else? If the Spirit of Christ actually lives inside of us how can people not immediately know who we are and who we follow?

All around us there are people who are needy and hurting. What are we doing to meet those needs? If you are like me, you are sitting on Amazon.com looking at the next cool techy "need" that I have...completely oblivious to the needs around me. Or maybe, like me, you try to comfort yourself with the idea that you are oblivious to them, all the while you know exactly what needs are out there AND DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM!

Walk with me in 2011 as I think and pray about how to be more like Christ, more filled with the Spirit, more aware to needs and most importantly, willing to do something to meet those needs!

Back from Vacation

2010-12-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

Amy, Callie and I were able to head to Sunriver Oregon this last weekend for a time of rest, refreshment and time of fellowship with good friends. It is times like these that remind me of how we are designed. We were designed to need rest. We also were designed for relationship. Exodus 20:8-11 is where God mandates that we take time off. Jesus Himself looked for opportunities to be alone and rest from His public ministry. Mark 1:35 we see Jesus seeking opportunities to refresh with His Father. In Genesis 2:18 we see that we require relationships with other people. So often we get lost in the business of life that we don't allow time with God or time with other believers to refresh. Let me tell you, it is needed. It is not optional. If you don't you will burn out. Oh, and by the way, it is Biblical! So take your family and go refresh with other believers and especially with your Heavenly Father! God desires that and commanded that!

A New Holiday Tradition

2010-11-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

We all do Christmas Trees, listen to Christmas music eat the cookies, drink the cider and give gifts right? Ever wanted to do something more spiritual around the holidays? Check out this article on The Jesse Tree Tradition! http://www.crosswalk.com/11641703/

Election Day 2010

2010-11-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

This is a day that many Christians today face with fear and trepidation. However, I came across a passage today that puts the election into perspective. It is Psalm 2.

1Why dothe nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
³"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."

⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

⁷I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

The Great Gobbler Giveaway!

2010-10-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

This year our church is giving away Turkeys to families in our community who have financial needs. This is a huge help in our community and we have literally 100+ that we try and give to. However, we cannot do it without you're help. Please let us know if you can donate turkeys or give money towards turkeys ASAP! Make checks out to Grace Community Church and write Turkeys in the note section. You can mail checks to 598 E Ellendale Ave. Dallas, OR 97338 or drop them in the offering plate on Sundays leading up to Thanksgiving.

Remember the words of Jesus, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

How fleeting life is...

2010-10-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for the Tawney family. They recently lost their son Ian who was a Marine in Afghanistan. If you are available, there is a procession down Ellendale at around 2:30 on Friday as they bring the body back to the family. The funeral is at Faith at 11am on Saturday.

This is a harsh way to be reminded just how fleeting and fragile life is. James 4:14 says, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." 1 Peter 1:24 says, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall." We are so insignificant. Yet, to God we are very significant. Paul describes God as someone "who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Let us celebrate our God given significance while humbly realizing the reality of our insignificance! We have a God who loves us and cares for us more deeply than any of us can understand!

Verse of the Day...

2010-10-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

If you are like me, I cannot honestly say that I praise the Lord with "all my heart." What would that look like? I praise Him with some of my heart for sure! And then do I "tell of all Your wonders." What would that look like? Do I rejoice in Him? The only part of this passage I feel confident in is singing praise to His name. We do that each Sunday at Grace and I do it in the car to Lincoln Brewster worship albums. However, it seems I have a long way to go to capture the heart of these verses. How about you?

Awesome Giveaway from a Great Company

2010-09-28T07:41:00.001-07:00

Logos Bible Software is giving away thousands of dollars of prizes to celebrate the launch of Logos Bible Software 4 Mac on October 1. Prizes include an iMac, a MacBook Pro, an iPad, an iPod Touch, and more than 100 other prizes!

They’re also having a special limited-time sale on their Mac and PC base packages and upgrades. Check it out!

Giving Out Grace...

2010-09-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (Heb. 12:12-17)

I came across this passage this morning in my reading and was immediately struck by the phrase "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God..." How often do we go through life and fail to make use of opportunities to give away the grace of God? Of course, by ourselves we cannot do anything. However, that is not a reason to not share! If we are faithful in sharing, the Holy Spirit will be faithful in working! Isaiah 55:10-11 says,

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Let's make sure we are giving everyone a chance to hear of God's Grace!

Fall is here...

2010-09-20T09:57:00.001-07:00

This is what life in Oregon is all about. It is cold, rainy and gloomy. Many people seem depressed with the coming of the fall. Bad weather, back to the mundane routine of life. However, I love the fall. As soon as the first big rain comes, the first leaf starts to turn, the first dark dark night we experience signifies the coming out of hot apple cider, pumpkin spice lattes, reading a good book on the couch in a warm house and the countdown to Christmas!

This is the best time of year for me! And this year, I can live it all as if it were the first time thanks to our beautiful baby girl! Every experience for her will be the first time. So bring on the rain and the cold! Good stuff is ahead!

Verse of the Day...

2010-09-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Philippians 3:12 - I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But, I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. (NLT)

Verse of the day...

2010-08-26T19:25:00.001-07:00

In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Need I say more?

Faith vs. Works and a Musical Memory

2010-08-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

There was a band I used to love called "Plankeye." Looking back they were pretty good - at least I thought so then. However, their name is profound. Pastor Ben and I were chatting in my office earlier today about Lordship Salvation vs. Free Grace. The question is how much do works play into our salvation. The easy answer is "not at all, read Ephesians 2:8-9." However, then go and read the book of James. You cannot divorce works from salvation or works from faith according to that divinely inspired book.

I think the argument is misleading however. Because ultimately, what we are trying to do by defining the faith vs. works issue is to give us a standard by which we can judge people. How good do they have to be to get into heaven? Can I call them out for their mistakes? Did they pray the right prayer? All those are irrelevant questions. Jesus had a completely different take on this topic. In Matthew 7:3-5,

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

The issue isn't does faith save or works. According to Scripture the answer is a qualified "yes." Both are true to a certain extent. Faith and faith alone saves. But, faith that doesn't produce fruit isn't faith. According to Jesus, Christianity is all about self examination. How are we living? Do we have fruit? If I don't see evidence of fruit in my life maybe I need to start asking some tough questions. If I'm not living it, how can I claim it? If I'm not becoming more like Jesus - however slow a process it is - do I really love Jesus?

I love debating theology. I love the faith/works, Lordship Salvation/Free Grace issues. I hope that these discussions happen among believers as they wrestle with difficult questions. Let us not lose sight of what its all about though - you and Jesus. Did He rock your world like He did mine? Because after what He did for me, I want to make sure I do everything I can for Him!

Thoughts for the day...

2010-08-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

I read the book of Philemon this morning. It is the 3rd shortest book in the NT. It is a letter written by Paul to a wealthy Colossian man who hosted a church in his home. The verses that stuck out to me are verses 4-5 which say, "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints..."

Is that what Paul would write about us? Do we have such faith that people thank God for us? Do we have such love that people thank God for us? Is the world a better place because we are here?

I am humbled by the people who have gone before. May we live up to the standard that was set by the saints of old!

Grace CC Ministry Survey

2010-08-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

We at Grace CC desire our ministries to be as good as they can be at meeting the needs of our people and reaching out to those in our community. As we launch our fall ministries, we would like to hear from our church body how we can improve. Below is a link to a survey about our ministries. We ask every adult regular attender and member in our congregation to take about 10 minutes and honestly answer these questions so that we can accurately listen to our church family! Thank you for your help!

Click here to take the survey.

Making the Most of Our Time

2010-08-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

It seems that the word evaluation has been tainted over the years. We seem to feel that if we are being evaluated then people are looking for our faults, our mistakes, how they can elevate themselves at our expense.

However, a lack of evaluation can be a tragic thing. For instance, if we never evaluated anything at Grace Community Church (where I am a pastor), we could completely miss the boat and never know it. We must constantly ask ourselves, are we achieving our goals, are we reaching people, are we caring for people, how can we be better. Without evaluation we just stagnate.

Colossians 4:5 says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." We must make the most of our time. That takes constant evaluation. We will be soon be launching a evaluation survey at Grace to make sure we are doing the best job we can to minister to those God has entrusted us with. We hope all those who attend Grace will be a part of it as we strive to become a better church.

However, we must as the same questions as individuals. Am I doing all I can for the kingdom, for my neighbors, for my family, for the world? It may be time for some self-evaluation!

New Resolution

2010-08-11T14:19:00.001-07:00

I am committing here and now to regularly update my blog. Let's see how long that lasts!

Seminary Scholarship!

2010-08-05T10:21:00.001-07:00

Going to Seminary is expensive. On top of that, finding a scholarship can be really difficult. That's why I was so excited to find this Seminary Scholarship website today. Not only are they giving away a $1,000.00 scholarship and a digital theological library, all I had to do to apply was watch a short video and answer a few questions! It took less than 15 minutes. What is best of all is that if you're in seminary and apply for the Seminary Scholarship, and put my name as the person who referred you, if you win the scholarship, so do I! We could both get a $1,000.00 scholarship and digital theological library. So, do us both a favor and go apply for the Seminary Scholarship today.

Wheels up in 1 Day 19 Hours and BOOM

2010-07-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the phrase, it never rains it pours? Us Oregonians know exactly what that means in the literal and figurative sense. However, it is the figurative sense that I want to talk about right now.

Many of our adults are leaving families behind. Some of those families are beginning to get stressed all because of the little phrase we just mentioned. Sunday, we have the both sides of the family coming over to celebrate Callie's dedication and the 4th. Our dishwasher breaks! Not only do we have tons of dishes to wash by hand, but we have to buy and have installed a new dishwasher after a holiday weekend and before I leave.

At the Pearce household, their air conditioner just went out last night. So on the hottest day of summer this year, no AC and it won't be fixed until tomorrow. And yes, Kenny is leaving on Friday! To make matters worse, the allergies Kenny was experiencing - not allergies but rather a cold.

So, be praying for Amy/Callie, Jodie/Parker and the Andersons, Gollys, Potloffs who all have families without dads/husbands back home! Not to mention all the other families who's students will be gone to Alaska! Also pray for the Lanyons who are leaving Luke at home while they do the missions trip and then stay for a week of vacation!

We appreciate your prayers and would love you to check in on our families while we are gone!

Busyness....

2010-06-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Why is the mark of a good Christian that they are "busy"? I've noticed that we tend to pack our schedules with all these things we "need" to do that we really don't "need" to do. Then we proudly proclaim, when someone asks us how we are doing, "I am so busy!" We seem to think that makes us more worthy than someone who is relaxed.

Why then in Scripture does God make such a point out of rest? God rested after creating the earth. Jesus often left the crowds to go rest. If rest is good enough for God why isn't it good enough for us?

The reason this is on my mind is that I just realized how I haven't updated my blog in a long time. I was about to post how it was because of how busy I am! Maybe I should try and be more like Christ in my scheduling!

A Little Love Goes a Long Way!

2010-06-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Our Alaska Mission Team decided to pool their resources and support someone who is in need. We selected a young single mother in our church who is juggling going to school, raising a young daughter, worrying about child support issues and relying on insufficient financial aid.

Each student and adult donated $10.00 of their own money, even while trying to raise $1,200 for the missions trip. Because of that, we were able to give this struggling family a $150.00 gift card to Safeway and $150.00 gift card to Walmart. She was blown away by the gift. The next week she gave me a card that I would like to share with you.

The Card's message is: With Many Thanks - We can see God's love at work in the warmth of helping hands. In the comfort that a gentle word imparts, in the thoughtfulness that offers cheer, in love that understands...we can see God's love at work in caring hearts. God bless you for being so kind - it meant even more than you know.

She wrote in the card this message: I just wanted to tell you thank you so much for the gift cards that you gave me last week. My daughter's b-day is on June 20th and I've been stressed about being able to give her a party or presents. I have been struggling because I took 6 classes this term and financial aid didn't cover it all. This was really appreciated and perfect timing. I am very thankful! You guys are awesome!

$10.00 maybe didn't seem like a lot to give. However, when the body of Christ works together, God is able to touch lives in an amazing way!

Challenging Teens to Evangelize!

2010-05-22T15:45:00.002-07:00

One of the things we push often and hard at youth group is reaching out to friends. We try and teach evangelism at ever opportunity. Last weekend, we had out Mission: Alaska Spring Retreat. This retreat brought all the mission teams from Oregon and southern Washington together to train for the summer trips. Brian Aaby asked the youth pastors a very thought provoking question: "Are you modeling evangelism to your students?" Wow! What am I doing to fulfill the great commission? Am I simply "fulfilling" it by telling students how to do it? Or is the command to "go and make disciples" more specific?

What are we doing to reach the lost? Do we pray a lot? Do we tell our children to reach their friends? Do we live a good life and hope someone drops to their knees and accepts Christ because we are such great people? That is not enough! We need to once again see the lost for what they are, LOST! We may be the only thing standing in between them and an eternity separated from God. Let's get out there and work people!

You can pray for our neighbors Frank and Barbara. They are our missions field! Pray for opportunities as our schedules seldom seem to match up. Pray for boldness to take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves!

Who can we be praying for you for?

Youth Sunday Tomorrow!!!

2010-05-22T15:45:00.001-07:00

Our Alaska Team is in charge of our Sunday morning service! Come support our teens and our summer missions trip to Alaska! Service starts at 9:30am!

Port Chilkoot Bible Church

2010-05-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Yesterday, Pastor Ben and I had a fantastic conversation with Pastor Bill Diggins of Port Chilkoot Bible Church of Haines Alaska. This is the church we will be ministering with while in Alaska this summer.

The town of Haines is around 2,200 people. It is a stop on the route of some tour boats and so has a tourist section during the summer. However, there hasn't been a missions team in to this church in a number of years. Pastor Bill has been at the church for a year and a half and has attracted younger families to a more elderly congregation. They have a High School group of around 12 students and a J-High group of between 15-20 students.

They are excited about us coming and can't wait to partner with us in ministry. Be praying for the people of Haines, the Port Chilkoot Bible Church, and our team as we make preparations for this incredible trip.

The Great Emptying

2010-04-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Phil. 2:5-11,
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

What must this have been like for God? I cannot come up with an analogy that does justice to the humility required for the God who created everything, to make Himself nothing for the sake of His creation. Is it like us becoming a child? Not even close. Is it like us becoming an animal? No way. Is it like us becoming a hideous bug? Closer but not good enough. Is it like us becoming a germ? Much closer.

However, consider this: we could never created anything! We can't create a speck of dust let alone a germ that actually has life! Even comparing a germ to us is nothing close to comparing us to God - the God who CREATED us! Let us never forget the sacrifice of God becoming man. And after becoming a man allowing Himself to die at the hands of men! Praise the Lord we now serve a risen Savior who is our Creator! He is now where He is meant to be and we have been given the opportunity to live with our Creator where He is forever!

7 Reasons Why I Believe in a Pre-Trib Rapture!

2010-04-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

1. Because Paul is a Pre-tribber! Don't believe me? Just wait!

2. Because I want to be a pre-tribber!
Who really wants to be a post-tribber? I have heard many people say, “I am willing to suffer for my Lord!" I am willing too. But willing and want to are two different things! I would rather be willing to suffer AND be raptured!

3. If I’m wrong I have time to change my mind!
If post-tribbers are wrong they will be shocked out of their socks if you know what I mean! If I am wrong, I will change my mind :-)

4. Jesus’ coming is to be a surprise!
1 Thess. 5:1-3, Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Matthew 24:40-42, Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

I will grant you that the first passage is talking about the "Day of the Lord" and not the rapture. However, the day of the Lord comes when there is peace, a peace brought about by the Antichrist. Then the "Day of the Lord," the 3 1/2 years of judgment comes raining down upon his head. I really can't see Jesus' description of the rapture in Matt. 24 working well if bowls of God's Wrath are being poured out can you? Not to mention the fact that if we were in the middle of the wrath of God being poured out, Jesus' coming wouldn't be a surprise as described in Matt. 24. We would have a specific time-line to work from. That doesn't jive with how Jesus describes His coming to gather his people to Him.

5. Jesus took God’s wrath for us
1 Thess. 1:9-10 – They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Rev. 3:10 - Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

The word “from” is from the Greek word “ek” which means “out of.”

1 Thess. 5:9-10 - For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

If Jesus took our place on the cross, and took God's wrath on our behalf, why would some believers still have to endure it?

6. The rapture is to be a source of encouragement
1 Thess. 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

This passage is in the context of the rapture and the Day of the Lord. Why would we encourage each other if with the idea that we will suffer 3 1/2 years of God's wrath being poured out on us?

7. The rapture is essential to the rise of the Antichrist
2 Thess. 2:5-7 - Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

What or who has the power to hold back Satan? God is the only being I know of that has that sort of power. How is God in the world today? Through the Holy Spirit. How is the Holy Spirit dwelling in the world today? In the lives of believers. What has to be removed before the Antichrist comes? The Holy Spirit dwelling in the lives of believers!

Facts or Fettucine? That is the question!

2010-04-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

Blogging, Twitter, FaceSpace & MyBook :-),
Who came up with such a concept? Personal information that no one really cares about, put out there for everyone to see. If we are completely honest, we don't care that you dreamed of swimming in chocolate, that your colon needs cleansing, or that you broke up with your significant other/got together with your significant other, have complications with your significant other (you can tell I work with youth!!!) etc.

However, for some strange reason, it seems that we cannot get enough of the above mentioned news items! They have become more significant than the possibility that Iran is going to nuke the rest of the world, that the NASA Moon Missions have been canceled, or that there has been an alarming increase in earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and avalanches around the globe!

Because we suddenly care about these things, and blogs are so much more fun than newspapers, I am launching a new blog where we can talk about all the insignificant and significant topics that my Italian mind can come up with. It may be daily, weekly, monthly - who knows! So, be ready for the "Pasta" specials that will be coming your way!

Stay tuned because it's about to get good!