The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.  Some have said, "If Christ is not raised from the dead, we still have fought a good fight."  That view is not the one proposed by the Apostle Paul.  He says “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:19).   We base everything on the truth that Christ is alive.  God raised Him and He will raise us.   As Christians, we look forward to the resurrection.  Death has no power over us because Jesus Christ is living.  If Christ has not risen, brothers and sisters, there is no hope.

As we approach Resurrection Sunday, invite a friend to come and experience the good news of resurrection.  We have this hope in us, so let us share it with friends and neighbors who may not be experiencing the same hope.  People are very sensitive to spiritual matters around Easter.  The Holy Spirit will honor our effort in engaging our friends and family in coming to the Lord’s house.  May God bless you as you live out the hope of resurrection by bringing others with you.

In Christ,

Pastor Jason

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Have you ever thought about how much of our lives is pointing us to the resurrection? The more we focus on things down here, the more we see that they are not able to satisfy our true longings. In fact, when we turn our attention to God’s Word, we can know that they were never meant to satisfy us. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God “has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” We are meant for something different, something greater, something that lasts forever.

That is where we come to the glorious truth of the resurrection. Jesus has conquered the enemy on all fronts. He faced death head-on and came back the victor. Christ’s resurrection points us to our resurrection. I went to bed last night with my hip hurting. I woke up this morning with my hip hurting. What does that tell me? It tells me that I’m not meant for this world. The pains, sorrows of this present age are signs of things to come. One day we will walk with feet that do not tire and bodies that feel no pain. Whatever is troubling you this week, look to the comfort found in Christ and His glorious resurrection. Because He lives, we can know that one day we will too be raised with bodies like His. God bless you as you turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Serving you in Jesus,

Pastor Jason

The glory of God in the salvation of His people is the major theme of the Bible. We see this theme running through all of the stories of the Old Testament. I would like for us to see how the very living out of those stories was declaring God's glory throughout all of redemptive history.
God has been saving people since the fall of Adam and Eve. He clothed our first parents and showed His love to them, even though they chose to break fellowship with Him. God was pointing to the ultimate salvation in the life and death of Jesus His Son with the happenings recorded in the Old Testament. When we read the Old Testament in this way, in light of the cross of Christ, we are able to see God’s big picture, not only stories from a long time ago.

One example is Noah and the ark. Our minds immediately go to the seeming impossibility of the story itself. Even though many scientists agree that there was a time when the earth was covered with water, we tend to focus too much on the difficult nature of the story itself. We can miss what Peter points out in his first letter: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” He connects this truth to Noah and the ark.

What was God doing with the ark and the flood? The ark was protecting the few believers in God from the flood. We might compare being in the ark as being in Christ. When we are in Christ, He prevents evil from having ultimate victory over us. This victory was won by Christ on the cross--for all time. The main thing that we have victory over is the just, righteous, deserved wrath of God. God is right to punish sin. The flood was designed to punish sins. We will not go through the flood of God’s wrath if we are in Christ. And if we are secure from the most worrisome of things, we have no cause to worry about lesser things.

My dear brothers and sisters, God has truly said that we are secure and safe in the walls of His true ark, Jesus Christ. We have no reason to be afraid, to worry or ultimately even to be sad for very long. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b ESV) The beginning of that verse gives us our true comfort. If you are like me, you may not remember the first part, which is really the best part: “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.” (Psalm 30:5a ESV) Our comfort rests in the truth that God is for us, so no one else can succeed against us (Romans 8:31). It shows the glory of God to save His people. So take comfort, beloved, in the faithful narratives of the Old Testament. For in them we see our Savior. As God was saving them, He was pointing to His salvation for all of His people for all time. Be comforted in the glory of God.

In Christ, 

Jason

We talked Sunday about original sin. The idea is that we inherit sin from Adam. Monday Desiringgod.org posted a commentary regarding Jonathan Edwards Miscellanies # 18. What is it about you ask? God's continued act of sustaining and how that act relates to original sin. Check it out:

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2515_why_do_i_inherit_adams_guilt/

Having a good time at the beach. It is difficult to slow down even when you are in an environment designed to help you slow down.

Psalm 46
"Be still and know that I am God."

Here are the lyrics to Sunday's sermon introduction:

Render Your Heart Christafari Lyrics

(Chorus)
Life is short and soon it will be past
It's only what you've done for the Lord that will last.
Render your Heart and count up the cost.
It's only what you've done for the Lord that will last.

One life to live and soon it will be past.
It's only what you've don for Christ that will last.
An when you stand up at the great white throne, you're all alone, (I say) upon your own.
You've got one life to live, but one life to give,
You cannot rewind your sin, nor wheel and come again (bring it back and etart it again).
What's done is done under the sun, it may have been fun but the judgment come so.

(Chorus)

Man looks at the outward appearance but God judge the heart, it's only Jah* that knows your every single thought.
Render your heart and not your garment, yet you think that your days them will be sufficient.
It's by grace not by works through which you have been saved, but judgment it is another story.
And it really doesn't matter how righteous you behaved - what was your motive? Was it God's glory?

(Chorus)

It's only what you've done for the Lord that will last. Life is short, oh so short... Oh my Lord.

(Chorus)

You could lead someone to Christ and that is certain "for true" but with the wrong heart it doesn't count for anything "for you." Man was not made to be put upon one stage, neither was he made to have his face upon the front page of a magazine or even a video, unto the Almighty is where the glory must go. I am just one beggar showing another where to get some bread. So I'll try not to let the pride reach to my head.

(Chorus)

* Jah is the English for the Hebrew shorthand for the holy name of the LORD. Christafari later decided against using Jah in their songs to avoid confusion with the Rastafarian religion.

My first blog post is simply the lyrics to the wonderful song "All I have is Christ"

My prayer is that these words are true for you.

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin