"Living Stones" Feb 12th

I Peter 2:5 ye also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.

Living stones. Interesting concept. And one I have never seen. So, what does it mean?

As a stone in the Temple of God, you are to be in place. As a living stone, you are to record and bolster those who are put around you.

We are the pillars of the Church of Christ. Performing the same duties as the priests of old, except all in the spiritual realm.

God has positioned you to fulfill His purpose in your position in the church. As a stone you don’t get to move around to any position you want, the builder places you Where He sees fit.

Peter gives the example of Jesus as the chief cornerstone that was rejected by men but chosen by God.

In the same way we might have been rejected by men, rejected by others in the church, but we have been chosen by God . Rejoice in that fact.

Rev 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God.

We are not lively because we are stones, We are lively stones because we are in the House of God.

Pastor Brent

"Peter" Feb 5th

I Peter 2

In verse 13 Peter asks us to gird up the loins of our minds. In ancient times, in the middle East, the men wore robes. Robes have a tendency to get caught on things unless these flowing things can be gathered together,

If you are simply relaxing no big deal—but if you are running, or engaged in a fight or battle, they need to be tied tightly so your hands and feet are free.

If we are not careful the trappings of the world and of the affairs of life become entanglements that interfere with the warfare we must wage.

There is warfare gong on all around us. Just unseen. It’s the battle for your mind and heart.

If we have the sense to understand our importance to God, the fact that He would choose us, we must also understand that the Devil wants to unchoose us.

If we are stable, we will not be swayed by the battle because we know of God’s incredible plan and the fact that He included us.

But, if we are not careful, our minds will take us places and make up things that can cause us to fear.

Jesus said, “Be not afraid or fear not” more than any other phrase. How important does that make it?

Accept the challenge of unencumbranceness (yes I made that up) but accept it, because it is necessary for our mind to function properly.

Pastor Brent

"Peter" Jan 29th

Peter

We are going to begin a study of Peter for the next bit of time.

He is someone that most of us can relate to because he speaks rashly, makes promises he can’t keep, says things just to fill in the spaces and then gives all of himself because he loves the Lord so much.

This letter is written as an open letter to the church in general. An exhortation from Peter meant to bring the church pause and give us encouragement to carry on. Meant, as well, to give us a sober look at who we are and what a responsibility we have to carry on faithfully.

In the introductory chapter he writes our resume in Christ, reminding us all of the lineage we came from and the honor we have in being chosen by God.

If anyone is qualified to remind us of this, it is Peter.

Having been rebuked, praised, reprimanded, scolded, and shamed because of his own behavior, he is one of the few who can know how to completely fail the Lord and then be lifted up by Jesus himself.

We can learn a great deal from Peter, and I pray we learn, not just from going through the same things; but from avoiding mistakes already made by him.

Praise the Lord that God looks out for all of us, and personally gives us a plan to find his mercy, grace, and redemption.

Let’s learn from Peter how to pass that on.

Pastor Brent

"Galatians Pt 6" Jan 22nd

You who are spiritual.

It’s a loaded phrase. Do you consider yourself to be spiritual? Does that make you conceited? Or confident?

And what does scripture say the spiritual do? Fast, pray, read, or some other spectacular feat that we accomplish on God’s behalf?

No! The answer is spiritual people restore people. We watch for those overcome in a trespass and, in a spirit of gentleness, we help them.

The verse ends with, “lest you also be overtaken with that, or some other, sin.”

Pure religion is this—visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and keep oneself unspotted from the world. In that order.

The people who passed the man who was beaten and left on the road were most definitely keeping themselves unspotted, but were nowhere on the scale of helping those in need. The Samaritan recognized the humanity of the man and helped him.

If we keep our priorities, we will be covered by and in the Spirit to fulfill the other.

You can’t do anything to make your own salvation any more secure. But there are many who need to see forgiveness for what it is.

Be that person,

Pastor Brent

"Galatians Pt5" Jan 15th

Gal 5:1 NIV It was for freedom that Christ has set you free.

And we are indeed free. But it is how we handle freedom that shows us who we really are.

Say, the speed limit is 55, how fast do you go? What if it’s 65, or 70, 75? You can hit all these speed limits as you drive through eastern Oregon and Washington into Idaho, and Montana.

But the question is, is anything enough? Are you qualified to drive over 90?

In Germany they have the autobahn. It is a stretch of the freeway that has no speed limit. But Germany ranks in the lower half of traffic deaths in Europe.

Surely more people would die if there were no speed limits here! Probably. But what if people knew they had to look out for others as well as themselves? In Germany it is known there is no speed limit and people have grown up learning about that responsibility.

We are a very selfish nation. And, if we are not careful we could become very selfish Christians, using our freedoms for the wrong things.

So, yes, we are set free. Now monitor, truthfully, what you do with your freedoms and see if you don’t need to go back to the basics to see what our freedoms are for.

Pastor Brent

"Galatians Pt4" Pastor Brent...Jan 8th

Galatians


Do you feel like a child, mature human being, or crotchety old person? Maybe there’s a fourth option?

We just witnessed the passing of Queen Elizabeth of England a few months back, and as I read these verses in Galatians 4 I can’t help but notice the parallels between her and what Paul is trying to convey.

When she was little she was raised and nurtured not unlike all babies were raised, albeit in a totally different atmosphere. But she didn’t know anything about what was to be expected of her.

We, as Christians, are the same. We get saved and are being taught what to do when we become mature Christians, but don’t know the first thing about following Christ.

But we learn. And if we will learn, then we will be taught how to behave as a child of the King.

But, most do not. They think the fire escape is all they need when glory lies just ahead of them. We abdicate our throne before we ever get the opportunity to know there is one for us to sit on.

We were raised for so much more than this (this being life on this earth), but if we don’t continue on in pursuit of God and His will, this is all that we will receive. Jesus says many times, “They have their reward.” But I want my reward to be His reward, because He sees so much more clearly.

Pastor Brent

"2023" Pastor Brent ...Jan 1st

2023 !!!

Well, here we are another year older and deeper in debt. Even if you personally are doing better in your finances our government spent about 6 trillion dollars to pay for ….. who knows what?

But, how about spiritually? Are you deeper in debt with promises you can’t keep, or have failed to keep? Do you feel like God is about ready to foreclose on His investment in you?

This year is a time to be bold, not reckless, but bold. We are on track to be the most diligent, most humble, most gentle, and kindest person we have ever been. But, it will take some resolve on our part.

Jesus has already done the hard work; fulfilling the demands of God and setting us free to do the things necessary to be an acceptable vessel in the house of the Lord.

And if we will be willing He will make us that vessel. Are you willing? Even if you are not willing, will you be able to say, “Lord I am willing to be made willing.”

Make 2023 the year that the testimony you have is one of glorious praise to Jesus our Lord and the Father God who gives us all things pertaining to godliness.

Wherever you are in your walk this morning, walk out of here with a different mindset and resolve to not fall for the same traps, walk in weakness to things we have been delivered from, and to stand in the face of opposition or temptation.

God is on your side mightily in 2023; let’s be on His side as well.

Pastor Brent

Merry Christmas! Dec 25th

Wish all of you the best of days and a prosperous week entering into the New Year.

Last week I said the theme for this year is “Challenge Accepted!”

We have been on hold or on cruise control for too long. It’s time to jump back into the fray.

We will need everyone to declare to those forces surrounding you that the fight is on and no longer will we be accepting anything not from God.

We are his sons and daughters, and as such, we rule and reign with Him.

So, we need to rise up and act like it. From our speech, to our actions, to our plans for the future, God is, and ever more will be on the throne and directing everything around us.

Dive into the New Year with a renewed mind and a rejuvenated soul and spirit.

See you next year,

Pastor Brent

"Galatians Pt3" Dec 18th

Where does righteousness come from? Is it intrinsically inside of you and comes out when you are squeezed hard enough?

Is it something you can obtain by training and trying hard and then you think entirely differently than you have your whole life?

No, to both of those lines of thought. Paul sums it up expressly in the last part of Galatians chapter 2. Don’t frustrate the grace of God by thinking righteousness came by any other way than the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (2:21).

Now you can begin your journey to complete your righteousness by not getting in God’s way . You are simply allowing the life of Christ to rule and reign in your body.

Speaking of that, how about an end of the year check-up on how you are doing? How is your behavior? Does it match up with your church behavior? How is your speech? Does it match up with your Sunday speech? How are the traits that most gave you trouble at the beginning of the year? Are they getting better or have you not allowed Jesus to rule and reign completely?

I think we should call the year 2023 “Challenge Accepted!”

There are things I want to be different in my life. How about you? Bring it on 2023, I have a big Savior and He wants to see me through. “Challenge Accepted.”

Pastor Brent