Pastor Joel demonstrates biblical dating principles using paper clips and a rock. Crazy? Yep...but maybe helpful too.
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Why Faith Matters....
Our culture has relegated faith to a nice option we tack-on to the really important things in life like job, family, entertainment, investment strategies, etc. We see faith kind of like we see shopping, some like Target, others the mall, and then there are those Walmart people--sheeeesh! So we shop for faith and some of us are eclectic--picking and choosing as if visiting a spiritual smorgasbord. We take a little Buddhism, a little Islam, a pinch of Christianity and poof--religious stew! And then we try to choose a church...let's see there are white ones, and black ones, and new age ones and some have Sunday School and some have chairs and rock bands or orchestras and organs...hmmm...so much to shop for and so little time!
Still, fundamentally, life IS all about faith isn't it? This morning I listened to an investment counselor at the Newington Chamber of Commerce breakfast. He said the first of his primary principles of investing was "faith." Interesting...a financial numbers-guy who starts with "faith." Could it be that every discipline and all segments of life require faith?
Of course!
Think about it--if you go to the gas station, you have faith that unseen gas will flow from the pump into your car when you push the right buttons and pull the right levers. You then have faith that the same unseen gas will run your car so you can drive home. If you didn't believe in what you don't see, you'd never give the attendant $50 for the honor of stopping at his station would you?!
EVERYTHING requires faith. Agnostics and Atheists who support traditional cosmological views like the "Big Bang" and natural evolution have TONS of faith. They believe that the entire universe just exploded into existence from nothing and ordered itself into systems and environments and hierarchies and food chains and microbiological labyrinths--all by accident with no intelligent design involved. Now THAT'S faith Baby! Too much faith I think--which is why despite the best efforts of our higher educational institutions and our public schools, 90% of Americans STILL believe in God--the existence of a higher intelligent power/designer.
So, the question isn't whether or not we need or have faith. The real question is regarding the OBJECT of our faith. Do you trust in God or in a pinpoint of gas that exploded to generate our world? Do you trust in God or in man for your needs? Do you trust in a God that makes you work to earn your salvation or in one that gave up everything to buy it for you? And, as for the religious smorgasbord approach, do you eat spiritual food that kills or that which gives life?
Jesus simply said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)." If He's right, then religious syncritism is dangerous and damning. If he's wrong, then why listen to him at all since he's at best ill informed and at worst, evil or crazy?
I believe the evidence of history and logic proves He's right. Thus, I've chosen to put my faith in him first and foremost...
How about you?
Still, fundamentally, life IS all about faith isn't it? This morning I listened to an investment counselor at the Newington Chamber of Commerce breakfast. He said the first of his primary principles of investing was "faith." Interesting...a financial numbers-guy who starts with "faith." Could it be that every discipline and all segments of life require faith?
Of course!
Think about it--if you go to the gas station, you have faith that unseen gas will flow from the pump into your car when you push the right buttons and pull the right levers. You then have faith that the same unseen gas will run your car so you can drive home. If you didn't believe in what you don't see, you'd never give the attendant $50 for the honor of stopping at his station would you?!
EVERYTHING requires faith. Agnostics and Atheists who support traditional cosmological views like the "Big Bang" and natural evolution have TONS of faith. They believe that the entire universe just exploded into existence from nothing and ordered itself into systems and environments and hierarchies and food chains and microbiological labyrinths--all by accident with no intelligent design involved. Now THAT'S faith Baby! Too much faith I think--which is why despite the best efforts of our higher educational institutions and our public schools, 90% of Americans STILL believe in God--the existence of a higher intelligent power/designer.
So, the question isn't whether or not we need or have faith. The real question is regarding the OBJECT of our faith. Do you trust in God or in a pinpoint of gas that exploded to generate our world? Do you trust in God or in man for your needs? Do you trust in a God that makes you work to earn your salvation or in one that gave up everything to buy it for you? And, as for the religious smorgasbord approach, do you eat spiritual food that kills or that which gives life?
Jesus simply said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)." If He's right, then religious syncritism is dangerous and damning. If he's wrong, then why listen to him at all since he's at best ill informed and at worst, evil or crazy?
I believe the evidence of history and logic proves He's right. Thus, I've chosen to put my faith in him first and foremost...
How about you?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
THE Key to true, healthy relationships...especially romantic ones!
Here's a video sneak peek at Sunday, April 19th's Sunday sermon. "THE Key to true, healthy relationships...especially romantic ones!"
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
As we approach Easter, give Jesus a few extra minutes
Hey Mill Ponders!
I'm pensive...as we approach Easter, it occurs to me that I've been soooo busy, I've forgotten to focus on time alone with God. Oh, I've done the cursory prayer and Bible reading...but my real connection time has suffered and I need to change that NOW. As we approach Easter, give Jesus a few extra minutes will you? I KNOW He'll love it--and you will too, especially as He produces fruit in your life.
Love you all,Pastor Joel
PS Check my latest Pastorpod for some Biblical teaching on this subject and some thoughts I hope will help prepare you for Easter Sunday.
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
I'm pensive...as we approach Easter, it occurs to me that I've been soooo busy, I've forgotten to focus on time alone with God. Oh, I've done the cursory prayer and Bible reading...but my real connection time has suffered and I need to change that NOW. As we approach Easter, give Jesus a few extra minutes will you? I KNOW He'll love it--and you will too, especially as He produces fruit in your life.
Love you all,Pastor Joel
PS Check my latest Pastorpod for some Biblical teaching on this subject and some thoughts I hope will help prepare you for Easter Sunday.
Find more videos like this on Pond Place
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Why try?
Ever feel that way? You make EVERY effort to help someone or pay off debt or please your boss or reconcile with a friend or--whatever--and it BLOWS UP IN YOUR FACE!
You end-up feeling that it was worthless and a waste of time. You resolve never to do THAT again (whatever "THAT" might be). But is it really worthless? Can the value of our efforts be measured by tangible results or evidences in this life alone? I hope not--and if I believe God's Word, I KNOW that the answer to this question is a resounding, "NO!"
For example, Paul wrote, 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen , nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." NKJV
It's not tangible--it's not physical, (only) and it is sometimes immeasurable.
So don't give up! Don't quit...don't measure the worth of your efforts by what you can see or hear. Instead, trust the one who is unseen and expect the best, if not in this life then for sure in the next.
God loves you--and so do I...
Blessings,
Pastor Joel
You end-up feeling that it was worthless and a waste of time. You resolve never to do THAT again (whatever "THAT" might be). But is it really worthless? Can the value of our efforts be measured by tangible results or evidences in this life alone? I hope not--and if I believe God's Word, I KNOW that the answer to this question is a resounding, "NO!"
For example, Paul wrote, 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen , nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." NKJV
It's not tangible--it's not physical, (only) and it is sometimes immeasurable.
So don't give up! Don't quit...don't measure the worth of your efforts by what you can see or hear. Instead, trust the one who is unseen and expect the best, if not in this life then for sure in the next.
God loves you--and so do I...
Blessings,
Pastor Joel
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