This is the video of our Memorial Day observance at the Palo cemetery, including my message honoring the eight Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan.
To watch the video, click the links below:
Memorial Day Video
Memorial Day Video - Part 2
This blog serves as an outreach for Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, PA. Feel free to ask questions or send me an e-mail at pastorpowell@hotmail.com
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sermon Video: The Union of Doctrine and Devotion - Colossians 2:2-6
Paul writes to share his joy that the Church at Colassae is "encouraged in heart and united in love" as well as having an "orderly and firm faith". This combination of emotional and rational health helps the church remain true to the Gospel despite the temptations of "fine sounding arguments" which seek to lead it astray. As Christians, we have the same need, to be emotionally and intellectual involved in our faith so that we as individuals, and collectively as a Church, will not fall prey to ideas that would take us away from the Gospel.
To watch the sermon, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
To watch the sermon, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Remembrance
“Remember the Alamo!” We certainly do. “Remember Goliad!” Not so much. And yet, both were used as rallying cries by the forces that defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Why is the Alamo remembered to this day, its legend celebrated in movie and song, but Goliad is known only to the few who paid attention in U.S. history in high school. In the same vein, the defeat at Pearl Harbor became “A date which will live in infamy”, but the defeat of American forces in the Philippines which occurred later that same day has been forgotten. What is the purpose of remembering the tragedies of the past? Why will we all tell the next generation years from now about what it was like on Sept. 11th 2001, much as our parents told us about the day that JFK was assassinated?
We remember the past because it helps us to understand the present. The tragic past also inspires us to make choices today which we hope will prevent us from repeating it. As Americans, we honor and celebrate those who risked their lives in service to their country throughout our history each Memorial Day. We have parades, go to the cemetery, and listen to speeches, often including a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. We honor them because we know that our present freedoms were purchased with blood, and we honor them because we hope to avoid the wars that interrupted, and for too many ended, their lives.
As Christians we do the same thing. We celebrate Christmas and Easter every year to remember what Christ chose to do for us. Jesus chose to enter our world as a man, subject to the same pain that we feel. He chose to walk up to Jerusalem, knowing the Cross would be the ultimate destination, but also knowing that the empty grave awaited beyond it. We remember because it is “altogether fitting and proper” to honor Jesus for his sacrifice on our behalf. Likewise, we will always honor those who give the “last full measure of devotion” to America.
We remember the past because it helps us to understand the present. The tragic past also inspires us to make choices today which we hope will prevent us from repeating it. As Americans, we honor and celebrate those who risked their lives in service to their country throughout our history each Memorial Day. We have parades, go to the cemetery, and listen to speeches, often including a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. We honor them because we know that our present freedoms were purchased with blood, and we honor them because we hope to avoid the wars that interrupted, and for too many ended, their lives.
As Christians we do the same thing. We celebrate Christmas and Easter every year to remember what Christ chose to do for us. Jesus chose to enter our world as a man, subject to the same pain that we feel. He chose to walk up to Jerusalem, knowing the Cross would be the ultimate destination, but also knowing that the empty grave awaited beyond it. We remember because it is “altogether fitting and proper” to honor Jesus for his sacrifice on our behalf. Likewise, we will always honor those who give the “last full measure of devotion” to America.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Sermon Video: The Trouble with Strife, Proverbs 17:1,9,14
What's so bad about a little strife in life anyway? Why should Christians want to live in Peace? Proverbs offers us wisdom about the need for a peaceful existence, and also some tips and how to begin to find it. In the end, peace isn't simply found, it must be sought out and worked for.
To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sermon Video: "I will have nothing to do with evil" - Psalm 101
In this Psalm David explains the process of how a follower of God can proress and grow in the faith. The five steps related in the Psalm are this: (1) Know who God is, (2) Set the goal of being like God, (3) Stay away from bad influences, (4) Stay close to righteous people, and (5) Help purge evil from around you, beginning with your own family.
To watch the video, click on the links below
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
To watch the video, click on the links below
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
Monday, May 2, 2011
Osama Bin Laden and the Lord of the Flies
One of the world's most famous villians, a man who cared nothing for the murders of innocents and celebrated their deaths in his twisted vision of the future, is dead. Will terrorism die with him? Could the death of this one man put a stop to the global Jihad that has been declared against the West and Christianity?
The short answer is no. That isn't what everyone wants to hear, but it's the sad truth. There are still plenty of evil men (and some women) in our world eager to commit similar acts of sin against their fellow man. When Hitler envisioned the destruction of the Jewish people he would have been just another racist if there weren't millions of "good" Germans willingly joining in the killing. Remember, Hitler was elected by popular vote before he took power in Germany. Osama Bin Laden too was very popular among the millions of young Muslims who share his hatred.
How does any of this relate to William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies? In the book, the character Simon seeks to explain to the boys who have been stranded on the Pacific island with him that "mankind's essential illness" is what they have to fear. The boys on the island have been growing increasingly afraid of an imaginary "beast" whose existence they have tried to deny, but the fear of which continues to grow just the same. Simon explains that there is no external beast to fear, but rather "the beast is us". The only evil they have to fear is the evil within themselves. Humanity's essential flaw is that we are depraved. We are mired in sin and unable to live together in peace.
As shocking as it may sound, the evil in men like Osama Bin Laden and Adolf Hitler is not different in kind from the evil that resides in humanity as a whole. It is certainly different in degree; most people never approach such scale in the evil that they do, but as Romans reminds us, "all have sinned". We have all fallen short of perfection, we have all commited sins against ourselves, our neighbors, and our God. We have all taken steps down the path that leads to Hell.
Is it a good thing that Osama Bin Laden is dead? Certainly. Did he deserve to die because of his crimes? Absolutely. Will terrorism cease now or in the future? Sadly, no, this form of evil may be new, but the depravity that spawned it is not. So what should we do if the battle that we're fighting cannot be won? Even if we cannot win a battle against evil in our world, we must still support and honor those who try to protect the innocent and administer justice. We must all strive to instill virtue in the next generation, work to protect the innocent as best we can, and tell the world that the only cure for our self-destruction is the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The short answer is no. That isn't what everyone wants to hear, but it's the sad truth. There are still plenty of evil men (and some women) in our world eager to commit similar acts of sin against their fellow man. When Hitler envisioned the destruction of the Jewish people he would have been just another racist if there weren't millions of "good" Germans willingly joining in the killing. Remember, Hitler was elected by popular vote before he took power in Germany. Osama Bin Laden too was very popular among the millions of young Muslims who share his hatred.
How does any of this relate to William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies? In the book, the character Simon seeks to explain to the boys who have been stranded on the Pacific island with him that "mankind's essential illness" is what they have to fear. The boys on the island have been growing increasingly afraid of an imaginary "beast" whose existence they have tried to deny, but the fear of which continues to grow just the same. Simon explains that there is no external beast to fear, but rather "the beast is us". The only evil they have to fear is the evil within themselves. Humanity's essential flaw is that we are depraved. We are mired in sin and unable to live together in peace.
As shocking as it may sound, the evil in men like Osama Bin Laden and Adolf Hitler is not different in kind from the evil that resides in humanity as a whole. It is certainly different in degree; most people never approach such scale in the evil that they do, but as Romans reminds us, "all have sinned". We have all fallen short of perfection, we have all commited sins against ourselves, our neighbors, and our God. We have all taken steps down the path that leads to Hell.
Is it a good thing that Osama Bin Laden is dead? Certainly. Did he deserve to die because of his crimes? Absolutely. Will terrorism cease now or in the future? Sadly, no, this form of evil may be new, but the depravity that spawned it is not. So what should we do if the battle that we're fighting cannot be won? Even if we cannot win a battle against evil in our world, we must still support and honor those who try to protect the innocent and administer justice. We must all strive to instill virtue in the next generation, work to protect the innocent as best we can, and tell the world that the only cure for our self-destruction is the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sermon Video: "I am sending you" John 20:19-21
As the disciples huddle behind locked doors on the evening of the first Easter, Jesus suddenly appears in their midst and tells them, "Peace be with you." These words and the proof of Jesus' resurrection later form the basis for the remarkable willingless of ten out of eleven (all but John) of the disciples choosing martyrdom over abandonment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even today, Jesus offers his peace to any who are willing to accept him.
To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2
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