Pastor's Pruning
Good Friday
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Well today is Good Friday. I do not know if one says, "Happy Good Friday?" Was that Good Friday, Happy. I believe not. If it was a Friday at all. Colossians 2:16,17 states the following,
Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Its not about the day but about the Savior. These festivals were to point us to Messiah. Never were the meant to be raised above Him.
We dress afresh for Easter. Many buying new clothes and even dressing to the hilt. What about the other 364. Some will even attempt to go to church. Make their nod to God. But is that what it is all about. I think not.
This brings me to what often begins the Easter weekend recognition. Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. First off I have to state what I do believe which is by Thursday of the Passion Christ was either on the cross or in the tomb. There are many choices as to when Christ was crucified. Was it Wednesday, Thursday or Friday? If as I lean to Thursday then therefore there is no Maundy Thursday or Good Friday.
So as to Maundy Thursday.
Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper. Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday.
First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17). Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples.
The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another. Should we observe Maundy Thursday? The Bible neither commands nor forbids it. It is a good thing to remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It is a good thing to remember the Lord’s example of humility. However, at the same time, we should avoid ritualistic observances of holidays unless they are truly focused on God and our relationship with Him.
In Closing, observing the Lord daily and Loving one another is truly the Biblical thing to do. How well are we doing at honoring the Lord not on a day but daily?? Just Thinking
Testimony
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Do I have a witness? This phrase is often used in a charismatic arena but I believe it still is very Biblical. The apostle John used it many times. It is the greek word, marture,w, martureo, by which we get our English word martyr. Many people who publically testified to their Savior found that it often cost them their lives. Yet today we oddly enough remain silent and do not testify. Not due to threat of death nor of even being a social outcast but I believe indifference, a lack of passion. Many talk a good game but look at church growth today.
Is it via evangelism? Are sheep begetting sheep? Or is it the new entertainment factor with little commitment. My challenge on how to testify is develop a conversational testimony. We live in a dynamic age of wonderful technologies. Tape yourself telling your story of how you found the Savior, about your faith and new life in Him. Post it to youtube and Facebook (Oh my, imagine future employers seeing this instead of that last party night). Do I have a witness?
Just Thinking
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This being my first installment in Pastor's Pruning I press to make it profound and stimulating. I will probably be neither. Many blogs come across as a rant, rave or the need of a bully pulpit. My direction of this blog is to try to review something I have taught, to think outloud about something I struggle with or to preview where we will be digging into in future classes at Southwood.
To Blog or not to Blog
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I know I know. I started with this idea of having a place to share with people entering our portal to our church but it is hard to find a subject to discuss. So let's talk about my favorite subject "Grace". One of the key verses on grace is Ephesions 2:8,9. Grace is the means by which can bestow salvation upon man, who is by his very nature in bad situation. Why? He can do nothing, not a thing to procure his own salvation. Man can in many instances better himself but he can not perfect himself. Add to this Romans 11:6 which in a nutshell states grace and works are mutually exclusive. Grace is means of salvation not works, none can be involved. This means past or present or even future works can do nothing to gain or lose this grace. Grace is God doing for man which he can in no way do for himself.This illustration may aid us in our understanding because God Himself gave it to Job. Job 38-40 where God instructs Job of his place in creation. He, Job, is mere creation not creator and in no way in control of any aspect of creation. Therefore to elevate anything we do to place of what only God can do makes us a creator. Which cannot happen. Man is mere spec in the scheme of things. A finite being. Helpless. Hopeless.
God enters and does what only can do, gives. That is grace,God gives.That is why salvation is so great, God gives to man what he could not earn nor could ever deserve.
Just Thinking....
Parenting
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Parenting. What can one say about one of the hardest responsibilities that God has given to man. It involves two liked minded individuals to rear children. Two very involved like-minded individuals. Yet most verses are addressed to the Father. And add to this many a household today have no father involved at all. Sin has made rearing of children that much harder. As we look ahead to our new series on parenting I pray many will gain some insights, set goals and be consistent in their individual situations. I find it interesting...