Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
WARNING LIGHTS
Ever have one of those idiot lights come on in your car? You know, the annoying red (or sometimes yellow) light that tells you to "Check engine" or something stupid like that. I have one that comes on and off at will and whenever I've had a mechanic check he usually mumbles something about emissions or transmission problems or whatever. He then shrugs and says it's inconclusive.
So...I've taken the easy route out...I just ignore it!
My Dad used to do that with one of his old cars. In fact, I remember him taping a piece of cardboard on the dash to cover the light so you couldn't see that it was on. Awesome!
Now all the makeshift mechanics in the church will be email me saying, "NO--Pastor, you can't do that! That light can save your engine--you CAN'T ignore it!"
But here's my point--I DO ignore it and that precisely illustrates how many Christians treat DOZENS of warnings regarding their faith in the scriptures.Here are just a couple of examples of warning lights many of us ignore:
Heb 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are20crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case — things that accompany salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. NIV
This passage is unquestionably speaking to Christians. They are people who have been "enlightened" (Greek, photizo--"to be made to see"), have shared in (been given) the Holy Spirit, etc. The book of Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians--saved people. It is not a book for unchurched, unsaved Jews or Gentiles (notice the references to "we" in Heb. 4:3, 3:1, etc.). He CLEARLY says that if we "fall away," we are doomed. He CLEARLY says that maintaining faith and the fruits it naturally produces is CRITICAL. He warns against becoming, "lazy" in verse 12 so that we can truly inherit what's promised.
Yet, we skip church, ignore the need for Bible Study or prayer, refuse to give financially and think that because we prayed the sinners prayer "once upon a time" we're OK...(get out the cardboard and cover the light).... We even have doctrines and systematic theology books and seminaries who focus on ideas and constructs that take us off the hook by preaching what's called, "Eternal Security" such that we tell ourselves it's "impossible" to fall away in the manner Hebrews teaches. Ignoring the light? Nope, we smash the light the light and put it out--permanently!
Here's another warning...
Heb 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? NIV
James makes it clear as does John that true salvation leads to change and a rejection of sin once it's discovered (see James 2:18-19, I John 3:9, I John 5:18, etc.). Hebrews says that a saved person who by choice rejects Jesus and thus goes on sinning--consciously ignoring God's Word--is looking forward to Hell. That's what it says. There's no way to "sugar coat" this passage--it's tough! So if I'm a Christian and I know I shouldn't live with my girlfriend and be sexually active before marriage, cheat on my wife, lie to my boss, beat up my neighbor, steal from the government--WHATEVER--and I willfully, consistently do it anyway--I'M IN TROUBLE AND MAY BE IN DANGER OF HELL! Why? Because my faith is perhaps dying and if it does, and I thus reject Jesus, I'm done!
So what--is PJ just trying to scare everyone into submission? Nope--I'm trying to tell you the truth. The Bible has warnings, just like my dashboard has warning lights--to keep us from trouble. To avoid pain and loss. The answer if we're living in sinful patterns, avoiding church, refusing to give sacrificially, allowing evil or destructive thoughts to dominate our conscious mind--the answer is always faith! We increase it! We honestly assess it and then take steps needed to build it. We get in the word (Rom. 10:17) and we live-out what we read to PROVE that it's true! We experience God in every aspect of life and then cling to him with PASSION!
There are lots of steps to take--but it starts with a willingness to respond to the light--Jesus. As he said, "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 (John 8:12 NIV)." Don't ignore it folks--accept the cold, hard20reality of the warning--and do something about it--get back to Jesus and let him lead!
In His Amazing Love,
Pastor Joel
So...I've taken the easy route out...I just ignore it!
My Dad used to do that with one of his old cars. In fact, I remember him taping a piece of cardboard on the dash to cover the light so you couldn't see that it was on. Awesome!
Now all the makeshift mechanics in the church will be email me saying, "NO--Pastor, you can't do that! That light can save your engine--you CAN'T ignore it!"
But here's my point--I DO ignore it and that precisely illustrates how many Christians treat DOZENS of warnings regarding their faith in the scriptures.Here are just a couple of examples of warning lights many of us ignore:
Heb 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are20crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case — things that accompany salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. NIV
This passage is unquestionably speaking to Christians. They are people who have been "enlightened" (Greek, photizo--"to be made to see"), have shared in (been given) the Holy Spirit, etc. The book of Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians--saved people. It is not a book for unchurched, unsaved Jews or Gentiles (notice the references to "we" in Heb. 4:3, 3:1, etc.). He CLEARLY says that if we "fall away," we are doomed. He CLEARLY says that maintaining faith and the fruits it naturally produces is CRITICAL. He warns against becoming, "lazy" in verse 12 so that we can truly inherit what's promised.
Yet, we skip church, ignore the need for Bible Study or prayer, refuse to give financially and think that because we prayed the sinners prayer "once upon a time" we're OK...(get out the cardboard and cover the light).... We even have doctrines and systematic theology books and seminaries who focus on ideas and constructs that take us off the hook by preaching what's called, "Eternal Security" such that we tell ourselves it's "impossible" to fall away in the manner Hebrews teaches. Ignoring the light? Nope, we smash the light the light and put it out--permanently!
Here's another warning...
Heb 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? NIV
James makes it clear as does John that true salvation leads to change and a rejection of sin once it's discovered (see James 2:18-19, I John 3:9, I John 5:18, etc.). Hebrews says that a saved person who by choice rejects Jesus and thus goes on sinning--consciously ignoring God's Word--is looking forward to Hell. That's what it says. There's no way to "sugar coat" this passage--it's tough! So if I'm a Christian and I know I shouldn't live with my girlfriend and be sexually active before marriage, cheat on my wife, lie to my boss, beat up my neighbor, steal from the government--WHATEVER--and I willfully, consistently do it anyway--I'M IN TROUBLE AND MAY BE IN DANGER OF HELL! Why? Because my faith is perhaps dying and if it does, and I thus reject Jesus, I'm done!
So what--is PJ just trying to scare everyone into submission? Nope--I'm trying to tell you the truth. The Bible has warnings, just like my dashboard has warning lights--to keep us from trouble. To avoid pain and loss. The answer if we're living in sinful patterns, avoiding church, refusing to give sacrificially, allowing evil or destructive thoughts to dominate our conscious mind--the answer is always faith! We increase it! We honestly assess it and then take steps needed to build it. We get in the word (Rom. 10:17) and we live-out what we read to PROVE that it's true! We experience God in every aspect of life and then cling to him with PASSION!
There are lots of steps to take--but it starts with a willingness to respond to the light--Jesus. As he said, "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 (John 8:12 NIV)." Don't ignore it folks--accept the cold, hard20reality of the warning--and do something about it--get back to Jesus and let him lead!
In His Amazing Love,
Pastor Joel
Monday, August 3, 2009
Weekly Meetings and Small Groups
Here's a current list of weekly meetings and small groups available at Mill Pond Church. We'll update this list periodically as we add groups and gatherings...
Sundays
- Worship Service, 9:30 AM
(Hartford Saengerbund, 719 N Mountain Rd, Newington, CT)
- Small Group, 7:00 PM
(The Almarodes house at 181 Miami Ave, Newington, CT)
Monday
- Celebrate Recovery, 6:00 PM
(New Life Church, 92 Main St, South Meriden, CT)
Tuesday
- Small Group, 7:00 PM
(Pastor Patrick's house, 20 Gracewell Rd, Wethersfield, CT)
- Meriden/Wallingford Area Gathering, 7:00 PM
(The Turner's house, 704 Paddock Ave, Meriden, CT)
Wednesday
- First Principles Bible Study, 7:00 PM
(110 Tredeau St, Hartford, CT)
- Freedom hills Christian Center meetings, 7:00 PM
(Oleksiw's Home)
- Women God Could Use, 7:00 PM
(Gail's house, 165 Eagle Dr, Newington, CT)
- Youth Group, 7:00 PM
(Saengerbung, 719 N. Mountain Rd, Newington, CT)
Thursday
- Antioch Bible School, 7:00 PM
(705 N. Mountain Rd, Newington, CT)
Friday
- Small Group, 7:00 PM
(Pastor Dennis' house - 165 Eagle Dr, Newington, CT)
Sundays
- Worship Service, 9:30 AM
(Hartford Saengerbund, 719 N Mountain Rd, Newington, CT)
- Small Group, 7:00 PM
(The Almarodes house at 181 Miami Ave, Newington, CT)
Monday
- Celebrate Recovery, 6:00 PM
(New Life Church, 92 Main St, South Meriden, CT)
Tuesday
- Small Group, 7:00 PM
(Pastor Patrick's house, 20 Gracewell Rd, Wethersfield, CT)
- Meriden/Wallingford Area Gathering, 7:00 PM
(The Turner's house, 704 Paddock Ave, Meriden, CT)
Wednesday
- First Principles Bible Study, 7:00 PM
(110 Tredeau St, Hartford, CT)
- Freedom hills Christian Center meetings, 7:00 PM
(Oleksiw's Home)
- Women God Could Use, 7:00 PM
(Gail's house, 165 Eagle Dr, Newington, CT)
- Youth Group, 7:00 PM
(Saengerbung, 719 N. Mountain Rd, Newington, CT)
Thursday
- Antioch Bible School, 7:00 PM
(705 N. Mountain Rd, Newington, CT)
Friday
- Small Group, 7:00 PM
(Pastor Dennis' house - 165 Eagle Dr, Newington, CT)
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