Video Blog 12-10-09

Advent Devotional: Cure for a Troubled Heart

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

As this first week of Advent winds downs, our congregation has been thinking about peace (We change up the traditional order of the weeks of advent). Real peace is a reality for so few people in the world. Our world is full of war, pain, and suffering. Only the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ can bring true and lasting peace.

This fact is true in the lives of individuals, thus we preach personal salvation. It is also true for our world, thus we proclaim salvation promised for the entire cosmos as taught in the word of God. God's peace is so different from the smoke and mirrors that politicians, false preachers, and false religions offer. It's real. God's peace lasts and God's peace drives away fear and drives away trouble.

Lord of Peace, through Jesus Christ help us to know, and live, and share your peace this Christmas and everyday of the year. Amen.

Video Blog 12-3-09

37 Years

I celebrated 37 years of life today. I like making lists, so I will list several things I have learned in these 37 years. I am sure this post will be eerily similar to last year's birthday post, but I've deleted my blog since then started over.

1) I am sure that I don't know as much as I thought I did last year. The older I get the more I know that I don't know that much. One truth I continue to take great joy and pleasure in is the fact that I serve a God who knows all and who is in control of all!

2) I am sure that I haven't gotten what I deserved. I deserve nothing but pain, death, and hell because I am an obstinate and rebellious sinner. Because of God's unbelievable grace I live. In Christ I live and move and have my being.

3) I am sure life's not about me. Enough said.

4) I am sure that I need to take more time to enjoy life and not be stressed out. I need to work on this one even though I am sure of it.

5) I am sure that anywhere I go (in the part of the world that is evangelized) that there are people who love the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him faithfully.

6) I am sure that there are a lot of troubled people in the world. I am one of them.

7) I am sure that I am one year closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ then I was last year!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!