"How do I get to heaven?" What is the answer to that question? Is it a place, a thing, or an idea? Jesus tells his disciples that the answer to that question is a person. Jesus himself is the way to heaven, he is the truth that we long for, and he is the life that our hope is in beyond the grave. Are there any other options? No, as Jesus makes clear, nobody is getting to the Father except through him.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
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
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
You have to do more.
The philosopher Edmund Burke wrote, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". It seems that in all of the explosion of coverage about Penn State this sentiment hits the nail right on the head. Evil doesn't take vacations, evil doesn't call in sick, evil doesn't turn a blind eye when good is at work. We live in a world where the lines of obligation have been blurred, where strangers can walk by a child dying in the streets and do nothing (as happened recently in China). You may think that this is a testament to the downfall of modern man, but remind yourself that Jesus spoke the parable of the Good Samaritan with this same theme in mind. In the parable (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus warns against those who feel that only a select part of humanity is their neighbor. He reminds us that we all are created in the image of our Father, and therefore it doesn't matter who is in need or in trouble, our obligation remains the same. We must act. We must do whatever we can to safeguard the weak, to protect the innocent, and yes, to save children from those who would prey on them.
It isn't a choice we have, it is a moral obligation. One of the students protesting the decision to fire Paterno mentioned that she was aware that he had violated "morality or whatever", but she didn't see what the big deal about that was. Why let something as uminportant as morality get in the way of football. There is money to be made, fans to satisfy, and entertainment to be produced. Why would anyone object on moral grounds? Sad, but true, and very un-Biblical. The reason we have a faith that can save us from our sins is because Jesus considered us all worth saving. We hadn't done anything to warrant God's love, in fact we were in rebellion against him, but Jesus came just the same.
In the end, you have to do more. I don't care about the legal obligations, they always fall short of our duty to others. I do care very much about our moral obligations. Everyone is your neighbor. Any child in danger is your business. You have to do more.
It isn't a choice we have, it is a moral obligation. One of the students protesting the decision to fire Paterno mentioned that she was aware that he had violated "morality or whatever", but she didn't see what the big deal about that was. Why let something as uminportant as morality get in the way of football. There is money to be made, fans to satisfy, and entertainment to be produced. Why would anyone object on moral grounds? Sad, but true, and very un-Biblical. The reason we have a faith that can save us from our sins is because Jesus considered us all worth saving. We hadn't done anything to warrant God's love, in fact we were in rebellion against him, but Jesus came just the same.
In the end, you have to do more. I don't care about the legal obligations, they always fall short of our duty to others. I do care very much about our moral obligations. Everyone is your neighbor. Any child in danger is your business. You have to do more.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sermon Video: "the word of Christ" Colossians 3:16-17
As Christians, we're supposed to "let the word of Christ dwell" in us "richly". What does this mean. Paul explains that in order to mature and grow in our faith we must be willing to teach each other and learn as well. In addition, we must embrace worship of God as a way of expressing our gratitude to God and ensuring that whatever we do will be done in the name of Jesus.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
A new ministry, a new beginning
On December 4th of this year, Nicole and I will be in Franlin PA where I will be preaching at the First Baptist Church of Franklin. After the service the members of the church will be voting on whether or not to call me as their next pastor. As many of you know, Nicole and I have been looking for a full-time ministry position for several years. I love my church at Palo, and have had a wonderful ministry experience there, but in the end, I need to be a full-time minister. For the past nine years I've been teaching alternative education in Porltand, but it is time to move on. Earlier this year it was hoped that I could become a reserve chaplain in the U.S. Army and stay with my current ministry. When that fell through, another path was needed. We've had several churches that I've talked to that seemed to be the proper fit, only to have them choose someone else. Finally, after speaking with members of the search committee in Franklin, and going down there to preach at a nearby church last weekend, it appears that our prayers (and those of many others to whom I owe a debt of gratitude) have been answered.
It is not a move without its challenges. It will pain us to leave the family and friends that we've found at First Baptist of Palo, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and here in Saranac as well. It will be difficult to be a sizeable distance away from our families, and I will certainly miss the weekly basketball game that has been a part of my life for the past twenty years (that leaves you, Russ, as the only one of us left from those youthful days). I will be accepting a major responsibility and a significant task in the ministry in Franklin, but for the first time in my life, I will be able to concentrate all of my working time and effort in one place. For that reason, and many others as well, it is time for me to move on to a new challenge in my calling as a minister of the Word of God.
This blog will continue, as will Nicole's, and we'll continue to return to Michigan on a regular basis for holidays and vacations. Our hearts will remain here, at least in part.
God bless you all for your support, it has meant so much to me when disappointments have wrecked so many of the plans I had hoped to lay out. In the end, God is good, he had a plan for us, and we will continue to serve him who saved us from darkness and brought us into his wonderful light.
It is not a move without its challenges. It will pain us to leave the family and friends that we've found at First Baptist of Palo, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and here in Saranac as well. It will be difficult to be a sizeable distance away from our families, and I will certainly miss the weekly basketball game that has been a part of my life for the past twenty years (that leaves you, Russ, as the only one of us left from those youthful days). I will be accepting a major responsibility and a significant task in the ministry in Franklin, but for the first time in my life, I will be able to concentrate all of my working time and effort in one place. For that reason, and many others as well, it is time for me to move on to a new challenge in my calling as a minister of the Word of God.
This blog will continue, as will Nicole's, and we'll continue to return to Michigan on a regular basis for holidays and vacations. Our hearts will remain here, at least in part.
God bless you all for your support, it has meant so much to me when disappointments have wrecked so many of the plans I had hoped to lay out. In the end, God is good, he had a plan for us, and we will continue to serve him who saved us from darkness and brought us into his wonderful light.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Sounds of Silence
As my students read quietly in class, (for that I have Andrew Peterson's Wingfather Saga to thank, they actually want to read it), it occurs to me that our world today rarely has any peace and quiet. From the moment we wake up, until our day ends, most of us are surrounded by noise. The proliferation of ipods and mp3 players has only made this trend more complete. If we want to, we can avoid silence altogether. This need for noise has advanced enough that some people cannot sleep when it is quiet, nor can they concentrate without background noise. (Some of my students listen to their ipod while reading, "I can't read, it's too quiet" has been said often enough).
How does this impact our ability to "listen" to what God has to say in our lives? If we don't take the time to stop and think, to ponder our lives, won't we miss out on that "still small voice" with which the Holy Spirit prods us? One of the reasons that I prefer to run in the wood is because the solitude and quiet are invigorating. In those moments, my mind is open, much more so than it can be when the TV is on, or simply the sounds of an industrialized world surround me.
Do yourself a favor, make the time in your busy schedule to get outside and enjoy God's Creation, or curl up with a good book and shut out life's distraction. You'll be amazed at what it does for your mood. Remeber, even God needed a rest on the 7th day.
How does this impact our ability to "listen" to what God has to say in our lives? If we don't take the time to stop and think, to ponder our lives, won't we miss out on that "still small voice" with which the Holy Spirit prods us? One of the reasons that I prefer to run in the wood is because the solitude and quiet are invigorating. In those moments, my mind is open, much more so than it can be when the TV is on, or simply the sounds of an industrialized world surround me.
Do yourself a favor, make the time in your busy schedule to get outside and enjoy God's Creation, or curl up with a good book and shut out life's distraction. You'll be amazed at what it does for your mood. Remeber, even God needed a rest on the 7th day.
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