Good Morning folks,
Thanks for joining me today. Grab your Tea or better yet go grab some gogo juice (coffee), your bible, and come sit awhile with me and Jesus.

I've prayed already but you might want to stop now and talk with HIM, just sharing your thoughts and dreams and thanking HIM for giving you one more sunrise, one more pain to know for sure your alive, for giving you one more breath to experience His awesome love and creation. I've asked Him to show me what He wants me to learn and do today; what do you need to ask of Him?

I've been reading through the gospel of Mark and so I am going to meditate on the next passage I am reading. You may have a different way or system that you do your so go ahead and read your passage.

I have a bunch of questions I begin to review the passage I read with, so that I can understand it better and begin to apply the principles to my life that I have learned from that passage. You may have a study you are already doing, but if you do not you may try this. Review the passage you have read all the 6 questions words: What, Why, How, When, Who, Where. Keep a note book and record what you learn from this. You will be amazed after a week how much you will have learned from your reading that week.

This morning I have read :
21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.
22 "No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins." (Mar 2:21-22 NAU)

The greater context is Mark 2:13-22.

What was the reason for this statement? Jesus is spending time eating and enjoying himself with the friends of Matthew who were tax collectors and sinners.

Who is involved in this conversation? Jesus is the one who gives this answer to the question directing it at the Pharisees. The scribes of the pharisees who were scrutinizing and criticizing Jesus and his disciples for their completely unorthodox religious behavior.

Why did Jesus answer the question this way? Jesus answered the question this way because the Jewish spiritual leaders and law-setters had established rules and regulations that made it impossible for the average person, the sinner, and the extreme case of wickedness(the tax collector) to get forgiveness and have a relationship with God. Why did the scribes of the pharisees ask the disciples and Jesus this question? They asked this question because they had built a society of religious duty and pious behavior over the past 400 years since God had last spoken. Their religious traditions and status and life stile were being directly assaulted by Jesus behavior as a Rabbi. A Rabbi was a respected religious teacher of the law. A Rabbi was a member of the pharisees.

Not every time as your reading will you use each of the questions sometimes you will get very short specific answers such as:

When did this happen? The evening the Jesus called Matthew to be a disciple.

Where did this interaction take place? This all took place at Matthew's house. He threw a dinner party to have all of his friends meet this Jesus who changed his life.

Many times after going through the questions more questions are raised.

What difference did it make if one Rabbi didn't follow the traditions? It caused a great stir and much dissension because tradition and social order were all that held the pharisees world together. If someone bucked the system and you could get the teaching of the law and get to God another way then there really was no use for the pharisees at all and their life, livelihood, popularity, social order was crushed and destroyed. It scared them that they would lose everything.

How does this statement answer the pharisees question? Jesus explained that if you are going to fix a problem you don't make it worse by adding new laws. You create a whole new way of dealing with the problem.

What is the problem then? The problem was how do we get rid of sin and have a relationship with God? The pharisees would just make a new law or rule or regulation and the only thing that would do would be to cause people to just rip away from anything to do with God because they were already frustrated and alienated from HIM because of all the traditions the pharisees enforced. Jesus said this isn't working and I don't want to make it impossible and estroy any hope of people even trying to get forgiveness or having a relationship with Me and the Father. So Jesus made a complete new and different way that met these needs to accomplish what was supposed to be happening in the first place.

This brings me to where I begin to try to apply this to my life so that I can use it today and from now on. I ask the SO WHAT question. So what, what do I need to do with this information now that I know this?
#1 - Am I following any traditions that have nothing to do with what scripture tells me I need to do to get forgiveness and have a relationship with God?
#2 - Am I creating any traditions for other people to have to follow that are unscriptural?
#3 - Am I critical of other people, other churches because they are reaching people for Christ or seem to be growing and they don't do it MY WAY? But it is still scriptural.
#4 - Am I scared of obeying God and stepping out in faith because I'm afraid of what others might say to me or think of me?
#5 - Is God challenging me to begin to reevaluate how we DO church and asking me to make a new "wineskin" for a new generation so that others find forgiveness and a relationship with God without all the traditions my generation has built?

I usually spend some more time in prayer asking the Lord to help implement this information and these changes into my life because these are revolutionary and I do not have the ability or the power to do it.

I hope if you are reading this you do not just focus on the HOW TO of doing a quiet time. I pray that you actually are also wrestling with the text as I have this morning and are really asking that SO WHAT question. That you are reevaluating what the scriptures tells us is vitally important to forgiveness of sin and a relationship with God, and what is irrelevant. The praying to cut the waste and focus on the meat and heart of the matter. I am praying that you will join me and making a new "WINESKIN" to reach this generation for Christ and open the door for their healing, their forgiveness, their hope, and their relationship with God.

If you still have questions or thoughts you would like to share keep them positive and appropriate but ask and share away.

Praying for power and creativity through the Holy Spirit in you -

Pastor G

"Who Do You Love"-?"

Good morning -
I am sitting here this morning chuckling to myself. I am truly whacked in the head. I had a thought about what to share with you this morning and got the passage and then just started thinking about how best to relate it. This is where I am laughing at myself, not only am I dating myself I also am just amazed at what pops into my mind sometimes. Well any way here it is... Goerge Thorogood and the Destroyers - "Who Do You Love" . I'm sorry I am the source of that song being stuck in your head all day now; not really but anyway.
I've got a couple of questions for you today:
#1 - How do you best communicate love to those you care most about without using any words?
#2 - How would those closest to us feel if we never read anything they wrote to us, never listened to what they said, and never did any thing they requested of us?

21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." (Joh 14:21 NAU)

Jesus answers both of my questions in this passage. We say "I love you" the loudest and best with our actions and obedience to requests. And for the second we would have to say they would feel unloved and disrespected, ignored.

One of the most often questions or statements people make to me are I don't understand the Bible, Why should I read what doesn't make sense to me? That's a great point and really does impact our ability to communicate our love in ways those we care most about would understand.

#1 - There is nothing in life worth doing that doesn't require time. It is going to take a period of time to learn and practice; and you are going to have to set time aside to do what we will talk about.
#2 - Like time if it's worth doing it's worth the effort put into it. You will have to work not just half heartedly try.
#3 - Pray and ask God to help you by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is probably the most important step because this will directly impact the first 2 and everything else.
#4 - Plan - plan your work and work your plan. Without a plan of what to do you will give up frustrated and disgusted in short order.
Sooooo here is a plan that Martin Luther (of the reformation Luther) gave to his barber who asked something very similar to our  questions this morning.
   A - choose a bible reading plan - I will try to post several different ones a little later today.
   B - Rejoice - from the passage I have just read, ask yourself what can I rejoice about God from this passage?
   C - Repent - From this passage what has it revealed to me that I need to repent over?
   D - Recount - look at this passage and ask yourself how through the Gospel has Jesus made a way to do what the passage is asking of you?
   E - Request - Pray and ask God to help you do what it is you are learning in the power of the Holy Spirit.
   F - Rethink - Now ask yourself, how must I think, speak, and act differently because I know this now?
   G - Reflect - Stop and ask the Father to show you why HE is bringing this to your mind and life circumstances at this time in your life and not some other time? Why Now?

Practicing this will now help you understand the Bible so that you can obey the Bible; in so doing you will be practicing what Jesus told us... "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." (Joh 14:21 NAU).

If you have any questions or comments feel free to post or inquire -
Blessings -

Pastor G

I grew up listening to a song called "pour some sugar on me" by Def Leppard. I'm not sure why that was in my head today as I was reading except that if I were going to entitle this Thought today I would Call it "pour some Gravy on Me".

When have you spoken with your spouse last, your children, your parents, maybe your best friend? Important relationships demand time and communication. Those relationships that are most important are like frosting on a cake or gravy on your taters. They just add so much more that the staples. Their is the intangible blessings of just knowing someone is in your corner and loves you literally NO MATTER What. That's why I need prayer -

"A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love."Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Good morning, do I have your attention now!?

" 19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. (Joh 5:19 NAU)

23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. (MT 14:23)
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying
there. (MK 1:35)
12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (LK 6:12)
16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (LK 5:16)

Jesus priority was doing the Father's will - In fact it was not just the Father's will it was to do, act, and say, and think ...to BE just like the Father. I'm wondering this morning how many of us still view prayer as a mundane task of repetition? When our FATHER views it as pure joy just to talk and speak to us. To reassure us to encourage us, to prepare us for what is on His agenda for us today, to strengthen us for the unexpected or the unholy.

You see; how would your conversation change with the Father if you knew what Jesus knew about prayer - 20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. (Joh 5:20 NAU)

Now you know why Jesus "would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." It was great having my oldest daughter home for Christmas and just being able to talk about her hopes and dreams and future with her wonderful husband. It filled me with hope for the future, it moved me to action to see her living and then returning for advice and encouragement and funny as it may sound, just to make sure that her Dad hadn't lost his little girl. She is all grown up but still needed her daddy. No more to do for her but just for pure LOVE and affection and encouragement. That's gravy !!!!!
Have you spoken to your DADDY (Abba) today? Maybe you should HE's just waiting to poor GRAVY all over you.

May the giver of everything good and every perfect gift from above; the Father of lights, Bless you and poor gravy all over your life today as you just talk with HIM -

Pastor G

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 14:23). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mk 1:35). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Lk 6:12). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Lk 5:16). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

" 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice,
19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

(New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Php 1:18–21). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.)

Paul speaks here of a sure and certain sea of joy that wells up in his soul when Jesus is preached, teached, praised, adored, exalted, and at the very least even when someone is trying to extort or selfishly fulfill their desires Jesus is still proclaimed. Therefore he will find joy in that. Not only that Christ is preached but that the preaching of Christ's death resurrection according to the scriptures will lead to His ultimate freedom for he was taken in chains for preaching the gospel. Paul wasn't anticipating walking these earthly streets or eating a good meal or drinking a vintage wine Paul was relishing in the fact that even should the chains that bound him on this earth presently never be loosed these chains would never ultimately fill his soul with despair because even if he remains bound till death, He know because of the preaching of Jesus He will be free. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

We all love that last verse but I believe many of us do not understand the pain and suffering behind it. Paul is ready to die because it means ultimate freedom for him and peace, but if he must draw breath one more time on this side of eternity then it will be exhaled as a proclamation of the gospel of the one who owns his life, JESUS.

So folks, my take away from this passage today:
#1 - what is it that motivates me to breathe; if it is not Jesus is it really worthy of all the other breaths I breath? Then I need the gospel today because it really is the best thing about my day.
#2 - Am I enjoying life? Because Jesus lived and died so that I might have life and have it more abundantly. If not then I need the Gospel today; because the gospel really is the best thing about my life today.
#3 - have I become so focused on my life, pain, situation, etc. that I have missed the release and freedom found in Jesus? Have I really become so selfish that I am not even willing to let the ONE who has saved me use me to bring HIM glory and others to the same freedom I have been given? If so then I need the gospel today because that is the best thing about my day.

Is "for to you, to live is Christ and to die gain" ? Really.... think about that then live like the gospel has changed your life.

May God bless you and keep you today.

Pastor G

I am awestruck once again by my reading today. 

"Thirst is terrible, but Jesus can remove it. Though the soul were utterly famished, Jesus could restore it. 

Proclamation is made most freely, that every thirsty one is welcome. No other distinction is made but that of thirst. Whether it be the thirst of avarice, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest, he who suffers from it is invited. The thirst may be bad in itself, and be no sign of grace, but rather a mark of inordinate sin longing to be gratified with deeper draughts of lust; but it is not goodness in the creature which brings him the invitation, the Lord Jesus sends it freely, and without respect of persons.

No waiting or preparation is so much as hinted at. Drinking represents a reception for which no fitness is required. A fool, a thief, a harlot can drink; and so sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation to believe in Jesus. We want no golden cup, no bejewelled chalice, in which to convey the water to the thirsty; the mouth of poverty is welcome to stoop down and quaff the flowing flood. Blistered, leprous, filthy lips may touch the stream of divine love; they cannot pollute it, but shall themselves be purified. Jesus is the fount of hope. Dear reader, hear the dear Redeemer’s loving voice as he cries to each of us,

“IF ANY MAN THIRST,
LET HIM
COME UNTO ME
AND DRINK.”

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Both of these quotes come from "Morning and Evening" a devotional written by Spurgeon. The verse is from 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
(Joh 7:37-38 NAU)

Would you consider with me today and even maybe accept a challenge over the next month or year ? Am I being stingy with God's living water? After all it is not mine it is HIS and HE does say "ANYONE is thirsty" not just those with pretty blue eyes and great complexions. If you find yourself being stingy like myself then would you join me in thinking out-loud (here on FB), of how we can become outgoing and generous with this living water that dry weary, thirsty souls can be quenched with the love and grace of our eternal savior, JESUS.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink

Praying for you to be a drip today....
God Bless and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!
Pastor G

"You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. Cheer up, then, poor Christian. “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” (Ecc 7:8) " I was reading this this morning and I began to pray for you all and this is what the Holy Spirit laid on my heart to share with you all.....

Many a weary saint do I get to encourage along this narrow way who have been waylaid by the slogging and sloshing through the muck and swamp mire we call life on this Earth. If we were to just sit, soak, and sour in our salvation all we would have would be a ticket stub to a prom. We would never have entered, we would never have known the exilerations of heart thumping at seeing our future spouses, we would never known the heart wrenching crisis of rejection when spurned for our first request to dance. All we would be at the beginning is a cucumber sitting in the swill of briny sin waiting for something, or someone to be the catalyst in our change. Yet by God's amazing wonder and great love HE reaches down and takes us lumps of coal and places us in a canister that is the church; a rock tumbler of sorts. In this tumbling and bumbling and bumping and knocking together the rough and unattractive carbon is removed for it takes these hard knocks of life to remove carbon and reveal what is of greater value beneath. Still yet we think that that now a precious gem is revealed that this process long since begun is finished because a jewel has been shown forth. NOOOOOO, God is not finished yet!!!!! From that precious stone a majestic, one of a kind royal, stone must still be made. So it is that the master smith begins to study our hearts and attitudes, our thoughts, words, and actions. HE places us into the jewelers vice where we are squeezed till it hurts us from its pressure and then there is a sharp smack from the chisel and hammer; and what we thought would be unbearable to live with out the Master with one precise blow removes from our lives to reveal an even more stunning view of Jesus in us as HE fashions into a fitting jewel for HIS crown of Glory. It is not till all the rough pain of tumbling and chiseling has been completed that the precious is left to reveal the true treasure God has saved us for. So today as you wade through, as the slogging weighs you down, as the wet and cold wearies your soul and brings you to the brink of exhaustion and throwing in the towel. Remember... "the end is always better than the beginning... GOD has not finished revealing His glory through you yet, there is just a little more carbon left to knock off, one more chisel blow and the SON will shine through in such unmistakable beauty; it will dazzle all those you know and lead many to Jesus. God loves you just the way you are...He loves you so much He doesn't want to leave you that way... HE knows just how beautiful you are and is determined for the World to see that beauty also.

God Bless you -
Pastor G

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Great Joy

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Luk 2:8-14 NAU)

Remember Family this Christmas, That the Gospel (Good News) is For you personally even if you already have a life long personal relationship with Jesus. We need the Gospel re-infused into our lives everyday just to get through each day in fact the Gospel is the best thing about my day as I am reminded about how much Jesus loves me. That is when it becomes "Great Joy" (supersedes my attitudes, circumstances, feelings, and takes preeminence in my life), it changes my thinking feeling and doing for the day and I glorify God the Father because of it.

How is the Gospel going to bring you Great Joy today?

Merry Christmas~
With Great Love
Ris and Glen