From The Pastor's Desk
Lazarus is Dead
-John 11:14
Change the name and you and I have said and have heard those words many times throughout our lifetime.
Naturally, those are some of the saddest words ever spoken. We are never really ready to hear them regardless of what we may say. Yes, sometimes there is a relief when someone who is sick passes, but we are never seriously ready.
In our text, the Lord Jesus would bring Lazarus back only to die again.
I have pondered that passage many times. Many would believe in the Lord because of Lazarus, but not everyone.
Why did Jesus weep at Lazarus' grave? (John 11:35) Some say because he related to the family and friends who were grieving. Some say because He groaned in the spirit which refers to sin and He saw what sin had done to His creation. Some believe it was because He would knowingly bring him back from Heaven to die again.
So we can only speculate as to the why. I certainly don't know. Like I said before, I have pondered this passage many times.
I am Johnie J. Logue, pastor of Grace Baptist Church and I pray for those who are struggling with grief and the trials of life.
The Lord bless.
Warsaw First Church Of The Nazarene
Good morning neighbor from Warsaw first Church of the Nazarene. Here we are after the holiday season full of family and friendship, I must ask you how's your neighbor doing? As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to have a burden for those around us focusing on them instead of ourselves. It seems to me that as a society we struggle with this as a whole to include both believers and unbelievers. Last week, I shared how God was always and has always sought to communicate with all his people. In summary, it is us that fail to see and hear the truth about God and ourselves. You know that communication is vital to being a good neighbor.
My wife and I were walking around at the Plaza in Kansas City saying hello to strangers passing us by on our adventure that day. The looks and responses were extremely disheartening. They varied from fear to ‘why are you bothering me’ to ‘I'm too busy for you’. Rarely was there a smile returned with a cheerful greeting in these simple exchanges of words. In that moment I could see that our society lacks trust. This lack of trust or faith has been going on since the fall of Adam and Eve. But we must realize that God loves strangers. If one of us is hurting, just one of us, we all are hurting. My God, your God, as a good neighbor to all, extends his love and grace with a promise of mercy and goodness for all people who seek to be his good neighbor. How do I know this to be true?
We all have or know the golden rule of loving your neighbor, but did you realize that it was first spoken or ‘communicated’ thousands of years ago in the Book of Deuteronomy? Deuteronomy 10:17-18 states “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. 18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing.” Our error is trusting agencies, government, and even plain luck (lottery) to fix our brokenness. The normal push back to this statement in the Bible is not applicable today. I want to encourage you to the possibility, yes trusting the scripture, that God is who he says he is and I can guarantee you that once you hear and see him you will realize the truth. Our God is a gentle person who loves strangers even when others will not. Think for just a moment how much different our society would look if we all extended a hand with love and grace not for ourselves, not for our benefit, but simply to help another person? Next week, I will address the question, who is your neighbor? Hint: widows and orphans.
Andy Lavender, Pastor
Warsaw First Church of
the Nazarene
(660) 641-2947
Unity Of The Lakes
Dr. Kristin Cherry will be speaking on Reverence: A deeper pathway to faith.
Are you living a life of reverence? Discover the profound joy and happiness that awaits you by embracing this powerful spiritual practice. Through the example of Jesus, we will unlock the secrets to living a reverent life and experiencing true nonresistance.
Dr. Kristin Cherry is a Professor of Communication at Central Methodist University.
Join us at Unity of the Lakes on January 26 at 11:00 AM and stay for fellowship and refreshments! We are 8 miles south of town at 34948 Hwy 65 South, Warsaw, MO.
Lincoln First Baptist Church
Hello everyone. It has been a couple of weeks since I have written my column. The weather was bad the last two week so we didn't have church service. Today we were in church and enjoying the fellowship that it brings. Our parking lot was slick with ice but no one fell and got hurt.
Many gathered for service today although it was very cold weather. Sonya celebrated a birthday and Debbie Smith celebrated a anniversary.
We observed Communion today. Pastor explained about it and read from the Bible about the first Lord's supper. Pastor Jesse's message was about meeting Jesus. Who was Jesus and what did he look like? From the information Pastor Jesse could find this is the information he found. Jesus was about 5'5" tall, around 150 to 160 lbs. He had olive skin, a common man, bold and humble. He wasn't noticed until He was around 30 years old.
Jesus made everything He used because He was a carpenter. What you look like doesn't make you a man. Saul was a mountain of a man. God gave people what they wanted in Saul. How good you look doesn't matter when serving the Lord. John demonstrated humbleness and obedience to God. Becoming a saved child you answer to a higher power. If you read the Bible you will demonstrate who Jesus is.
We should do kindness, forgiveness, endurance, submission and generous giving. This is what God wants from us.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME. GOD BLESS.
Hopewell Baptist Church
Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission, Jesus’ final instructions. Jesus’ eleven disciples went to Galilee and began worshipping Jesus, but some of them doubted. Jesus comes to them directly in their moment of doubt and assures them all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. The Bible is full of doubters because doubting is a natural human emotion. Jesus is ok with our doubts because He is bigger than our doubts. Jesus has conquered the grave, sin, and Satan forever. The keys to everything belong to Him. When we question, why God do these things happen to me, the answer is always, Jesus is still in control.
The most famous part, Jesus tells them to go into all the world and make more disciples. Tell people about Me and what I’ve done. Jesus’ desire is that every person would be saved. When we don’t emphasize the important parts, they don’t happen. Encourage people to share what God has done in their lives with other people, and one of those things is baptism, the public profession of faith. Christ crucified, and resurrected, washing away our sins. He finishes with telling them to teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Some of this makes us uncomfortable. It’s hard to tell others what Jesus commands when we don’t want to do what Jesus says.
Love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you. Do we believe He loved every single person? God loves us but not always our behavior. Is God’s grace not sufficient? What are we doing? The gospel says, love your neighbor as yourself. We were all bought with a price on the cross at Calvary. We must look at others the same way God looks at us, with grace and mercy, not judgement. Jesus knows it’s not easy. He lived it. He tells even His disciples, no matter how hard it gets, I am with you. No matter how hard, Jesus is with us forever and always. When we can’t keep going, He is still with us. When we feel like there is nothing left, He is still with us. He doesn’t change. What can we do in this new year to take the words of Jesus more serious?
Join us weekly for Sunday School at 10 a.m. and Worship at 11 a.m. with midweek Bible Study Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Warsaw Christian Church
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).
The word “triumph” suggests we are in a battle. Paul was certainly in a battle against many foes. Many Jews did not believe his message that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) promised to Israel. Paul’s struggle with unbelieving Jews was constant. He also spoke of fighting against unseen spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10-18). He spoke of the Christian life as fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12). He spoke of the Christian life as analogous to a soldier in battle (2 Timothy 2:3-4). The Christian is in a spiritual war. Paul certainly understood that, and we must also understand.
Despite the battle, our loyalty to Christ must remain unwavering. Our text uses the word “triumph.” The faithful Christian lives a life of continuous triumph. A defeated Christian is an oxymoron! We are never to succumb to defeat. We are to live a life of victory. Paul says we are more than conquerors in Romans 8:37. “More than conquerors” indicates that we are given more than enough strength to defeat whatever foe comes against us. Jesus gives us the strength to conquer. Are we using it? The text also suggests that our victory is not sporadic but continuous. We do not win today and lose tomorrow. We lead a victorious Christian life, always says Paul. Defeat is not in our vocabulary. Yes, we are in a battle, but we always emerge triumphantly from the battle.
