Weekly Announcements (12.20.10)

There are some really important things coming up in the life of our church. Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with everything...

• First Sunday of the New Year (Jan. 2nd) - The first Sunday of 2011 is a challenge Sunday. The staff has been praying for you and for God's work in the church and we're going to extend a challenge to each of you on the first Sunday of 2011. Don't miss it. This Sunday will also be tied together with our prayer week.

• Prayer Week (Jan. 3-7) - We're going to start our year off with a corporate prayer week. Prayer is such a privilege. Let's hit our knees together and beg God to do great things among us. Daily times of prayer at the church will be 7:00am, 12:00 noon, & 6:30pm. We would like everyone to try and make 1 of the 3 prayer times each day.

• GIVE. ME. FAITH. - Do you live by faith??? Have you lost faith??? What does the life of faith look like??? Can you really step out in bold faith and see God move in a mighty way??? GIVE. ME. FAITH. sermon series starts on January 9th, 2011. Be here for all 5 weeks of the series!!! "Without faith it is impossible to please God." - Hebrews 11:6

• Hot Topics - Do you have a question about a passage of Scripture? Not sure about what the Bible says on a certain topic. Pastor Mark is will answer you questions on Sunday nights starting in January. Use the "Hot Topics" box in the side lobby to ask your question or email Bro. Mark with your questions.
  

• Christmas Cards - There are hundreds (literally) of unloved and unclaimed Christmas cards sitting in the church mailboxes. Please pick them up asap. :)
  

Weekly Announcements (12.12.10)

We're retooling this blog to use on a weekly basis, primarily for announcements and to raise awareness about church events. In combination with our new facebook group (please join if you're on facebook), this will be a place we want you to check regularly to get your info about what's going on at church.

Important Things on the Horizon...

• First Sunday of the New Year - The first Sunday of 2011 is a challenge Sunday. The staff has been praying for you and for God's work in the church and we're going to extend a challenge to each of you on the first Sunday of 2011. Don't miss it. This Sunday will also be tied together with our prayer week.

• Prayer Week (Jan. 3-7) - We're going to start our year off with a corporate prayer week. Daily times of prayer at the church will be 7:00am, 12:00 noon, & 6:30pm. We would like everyone to try and make 1 of the 3 prayer times each day.

• New Year, New Sermon Series - Do you live by faith??? Have you lost faith??? What does the life of faith look like??? Can you really step out in bold faith and see God move in a mighty way??? Our first sermon series of 2011...

Sunday, January 9th - February 6th. Don't miss a single week of this series!!!

Friday in Quito

We came back to Quito as scheduled today. Delta is also scheduled to fly out tonight. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Blessings...

Bro. Mark

Quick Note

If you want to email me during this time while we wait please use this email

markbass01@hotmail.com

Blessings...

Thursday in Tambo

We have finished teaching our classes. Today was quite incredible. We gave the men a time to speak to us and tell us their hopes for the future of Christianity in the area of Tambo. Almost every man who spoke talked about how desperately they wanted to have a missionary in the area (there are no full-time, on-field missionaries in this part of Ecuador) who would lead a pastoral training center. One man who is in his mid 50´s said that in his 33 years of being a Christian this was the first time he had ever had anyone teach him the things he learned this week. Talk about breaking my heart as I listened. Let´s pray for them, church, that God would make their hopes and prayers come true.

Of other very important note, there has been major unrest in the capital city, Quito, today. The police (national police, different than in US) are striking against the president because he is cutting their wages. When they strike things get violent. The president is currently holed up in a hospital surrounded by the police. The Ecuadorian airforce has shut down the airports during this time.

So, we will not be able to leave until this mess is finished. So, pray for our time here while we wait. Pray for our safety. We are fine up in the mountains, and this is where we will wait until the airports reopen.

I love you church...

Bro. Mark

Wednesday in Tambo

Hey church...

I pray all is well with you. We had another great day on Wednesday. The men are very attentive from early in the morning until we finish in the early evening. We start about 9:00 am and finish about 6:30 pm (they have an hour long afternoon siesta after they eat lunch). There were 20 men here today. The need is great here. These pastors are often preaching in multiple churches because there are not enough men who are willing and able to do the job. We often take for granted the fact that we have solid biblical teaching everywhere around us. Take a moment today and pray for these men and thank God for the privilege of the abundance of his Word in your life.

I love you church...

Bro. Mark

Tuesday in Tambo

We had another great day teaching. Some new men were here today, and one man even brought his wife. There is a pastor in the group who is blind. When we told him yesterday that there was a Braile Spanish Bible being made for him, he was excited like a kid on Christmas day. You can imagine if you can´t read the Bible for yourself. He currently has a person who reads the Bible to him. He has huge amounts of Scripture memorized.

Thanks for your continued prayers...

Bro. Mark

Monday in Tambo, Ecuador

What a fantastic and heartbreaking day we had today. Mike taught the morning session. He´s covering doctrinal issues by walking the group church history. I taught the afternoon session. I´m covering the topic of cults, which is a huge deal. The Mormons and Jehovah´s Witnesses are very prevalent here as well as a few lesser known groups. The cults thrive on lack of knowledge of the orthodox, historic Christian faith because they present themselves as Christians, and for those who cannot discern right doctrine from wrong doctrine the cults are very persuasive. And lack of knowledge seems to be the norm. For example, we had one man (who is serving as a pastor of 2 churches) ask us if Jesus was baptized before or after he was crucified.

Everything went really well and the pastors were amazingly attentitive for being there all day long. There were 15 pastors in our classes today.

Thanks for your prayers and keep praying.

Bro. Mark

In Tambo

We arrived in Tambo about noon today. I preached in a worship service this afternoon. Tomorrow morning starts our teaching. Thanks for your prayers so far. The other man who is teaching is Mike Kessler and the translator is David Sills. Please pray for us as we start tomorrow.

Blessings...

Bro. Mark

Where in the World Is Tambo, Ecuador???

You can play around with this map (moving, zooming, satellite views, etc.)

Here's where we'll be...



View Larger Map

Praying and Preparing for Ecuador

I will be traveling on a mission trip to Tambo, Ecuador from September 25 - October 2. The purpose of this trip is to help lead in a pastor training institute. If you attend our Wednesday evening prayer meetings, you know that we pray thru a different country of the world each week. One of the prayer requests that shows up on almost every country is the need for pastors and leaders to be trained. This is a definite need in Ecuador. This blog lists some things that you can pray for with me as I prepare and as I travel and teach these pastors.

The content I'm teaching is "Cults". Cults are highly deceptive and very active in Latin America. Pray for clarity as I teach. Pray for the translators to translate well. Pray for understanding for the pastors. Pray for them to stand strong and be able to teach their people well. I will be traveling with two other men (pastors in U.S.) for this week. Pray for safety in our travels.

I will update the blog from Ecuador as I have access to the internet. If there's no updates, then I can't find internet.

Love you church...

Bro. Mark

Naco Mission Trip Day 5

Well our final day in Naco is coming to a close. There is so much to share and so much to praise God for. No words can express exactly what God has done on this trip. Our hearts have been moved in such a way, that we will never be the same. God has answered so many prayers, big and small. He is so faithful to us. God is able to do more then we could imagine or hope for.

The devil had tried many ways to discourage us from coming. We were told by so many people to not come to Naco. 'It's too dangerous' and 'There is so much violence there!' All of us were told these things. In the airport, a random lady told us that we were crazy for coming to Arizona. To alleviate the fears, the most dangerous thing we've come into contact with was probably a couple of jalapenos from Tim's garden. There was no violence, riots, gang wars, or even grumpy stares. We've been treated like family from everyone we've met. Even the border guards have been fun.

I don't say this to make people think there is nothing going on around the Mexico border. The El Paso border is rather violent currently. Be in prayer for the area. That is hundreds of miles away from here. Even eating in Mexico twice, it has been a wonderful experience.

I write that to say this: if we had not come. If we had not counted the cost, and came on faith anyway, despite fears, this week would never of happened. If this week had not happened we never would have made such wonderful friends. We would not have had some of the most intimate worship times in my memory. If we had not come, we never would have been blessed by these people. If we had not come, the children of the villages would not have come together to play. If we had not come, they the children would not have come. And if those children had not come, EIGHT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED. Eight children, now are part of the family of God. Eight children came to play soccer and toss a frisbee, now eight children will forever be with God.

What is that worth? How 'dangerous' is too dangerous when it comes to the souls of the lost? Blessedly, we did not have to struggle with those worries this trip. Yet it is the question all Christians must deal with. I love the comfort of my own home and life. It's safe. Yet God's command to go and make disciples must override my desire to be comfortable. If you find yourself reading this blog, would you be willing to go if you felt God leading you out of your comfort zone? I pray you would would desire to see all people come to know the One who loved us enough to die. I pray, I would love Him enough to die to myself.

Thank you for your prayers. Know that God has been so faithful.

Naco Mission Trip Day 4

I had been waiting for last night to happen all week. In fact we had been praying for last night for some weeks now. We discussed with Pastor Tim what he wanted us to do here in Naco, one of the main things he asked for was for us to do a service on Wednesday night. So we have been in prayer, hoping people would come out and that God would use our meager gifts to make a difference. Our prayers were heard.

While we worked hard yesterday, digging up bamboo, mowing, digging up weeds, etc. We were focused on what God might do at the service. At first it seemed that not too many people were going to show up, but we've also discovered time is a little more fluid down here, starting times don't exactly mean you start right then, but sometime around then. But the church ended up being full by the end of the service.

A group of young boys started off the service, they are from Cuahtamoc, and lead worship at the church there. It was only in Spanish, but it was so good! They played a couple songs we knew the English version of, and the last song they did was one where basically everyone did a dance. It was so fun and freeing, to not be too proud or embarrassed to dance for the Lord. Basically, all the people for Cuahtamoc went to the front of the church and led in the dance. When we get the video uploaded I'll post, as you do not want to miss it.

We then took a break, got our instruments set up. I (Brett), then moved to preach with Mario who translated for me into Spanish. I can honestly say, I was more nervous walking up to preach then I have ever been before. I so wanted to be used by God, but the last thing I wanted was the words to be of and from me. I preached out of Psalm 62:5-8, and asked them two question spaced through out the message: What do you hope in? And, why do you not trust God? I brought out Romans 8:37-39, nothing can separate you from God, so why trust in anything else?

I gave the invitation and our group moved up to lead in the invitation and more worship. Hannah sang Revelation Song and Hosanna, which if you know the songs and what they say about God, will break your heart if you mean what you sing. If you make those songs a prayer unto the Lord, you will feel God's presence, and we did. Jordan then took lead for From the Inside Out, How He Loves, and The Stand. God is always present, but God was moving in our midst powerfully. Some came to alter to pray, some people who mainly spoke Spanish were praising God despite not knowing what we were singing! They just knew God was working, so the only to do was to give Him praise for it.

We were touched and changed by God that night. I end with a section of the lyrics from one of the songs last night, I had been praying for these words to be true in us:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Naco Mission Trip Day 3

So I thought today I would upload some of my favorite pictures of the trip so far. We had an awesome day yet again. We learned some bible verses in Spanish, played soccer in the rain, ate some delicious pizza, got the van searched twice (wasn't a big deal if you've ever crossed the border), and finished with another time of worship and prayer. But please be in prayer today, the big service is tonight at 6:30, thats 8:30 central time. But till then here are some of my favorites.

Naco Mission Trip Day 2

My apologies for the late post. It is morning of our third day, and we are beginning to get up and prepare for our second day into Mexico.

Yesterday was by all accounts amazing, for a few different reasons. God answered a major prayer request with a passport issue. By God's grace and mercy, we have gotten it worked out, and our whole team got to go into Mexico (and come back) without issues.

Secondly, the rain. That's right, rain. In the desert. In July. It's actually something like monsoon season out here. And it POURS the rain, as often as it wants, and it wants to pour everywhere. Yesterday it rained all over the place, except the two villages we were at! At the second village we finished up and drove to the main road a few hundred yards away to find that it had rained so hard it had washed debris out onto the road and covered the road up with standing water. Yet barely a drop had fallen in the village.

The children were amazing at the villages of Cautahmec and Zaragoza (which I destroyed the spelling of). These children have already touched our hearts and we have such a burden to see God move and work in their lives. Please pray as we return to be Christ to them, loving them unconditionally. We sang with them, played games, and taught some Bible to them. We return to do it all over again today, in about 30 minutes actually.

Finally we have had some of the most moving and authentic times of prayer and worship together. Each night we gather together and have a devotional time. Each person leads it one night, and speak whatever is on their heart. Sunday night we ended up having worship for around an hour. Last night we each took time and genuinely prayed for each other. These times have been so sweet our to souls. God is alive and he is moving here in Naco. Please continue to pray for us, as we have far to go before this trip is through, and we cannot wait to see all God has in store.

In case you've been wanting some pictures follow these links:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=1509990018&aid=67121&s=0&hash=7811effb0ea2e4b8464cef431479dffd

Jordan has been taking and uploading pictures to Facebook for us.

Also here are some videos!

http://www.youtube.com/user/jdatnip21

Naco Mission Trip Day 1

Hello everyone back home,

we've successfully made our way to Naco, Arizona. We've survived full flights, the Houston airport, and the long drive to Naco. Allow me to say, it is breath taking out here. The hills, the mountains, colors, and even the distant rainstorm is a beautiful reminder of the creativity and work of our Lord. It's easy to forget how vastly different, yet wonderful, the places that God created.

I can also say with no exaggeration, we love it here. All of us. We already adore the people. So far we've made it to Naco, and this morning we had the privilege, and I do mean privilege, of worshipping with Naco Baptist Church. Our group hung out and taught the students during the bible study hour, and we played one song during church. Which was 'How He Loves'.

I was truly moved by the authentic worship, humble prayers, and fellowship that took place this morning. The presence of the Lord was tangible as we sang out in Spanish and English. During prayer time, the people lifted their prayers out loud. I was moved when I after the prayer time was over, and the next worship song had begun, I noticed multiple people still on their knees in prayer.

I believe this is the heart of the people of Naco, there are lost here. Many who need Christ. Many who are focused on fun and pleasing only themselves. There are hurting people. Lost people. But as we discovered, God is already at work here. Setting the hearts of his children ablaze with passion and love. We are honored and blessed to come along side the people of God here.

We ask that everyone would be in prayer for us this week, especially on Wednesday night. We are leading the service here, it's labeled a youth service, and I (Brett) will be preaching and we all will be leading in worship. We are asking God to do amazing things and change many lives that night.

Much more to come!

New Thru 30 - Day 24 - 1 & 2 Timothy

Paul seemed to think that the most important thing young Timothy could do as he settled into ministry was focus his time and energy on teaching the Word and maintaining the purity church's doctrine.

The words "teach/teaching" are used 16 times in these 2 letters.

There are 6 times where Paul talks about "doctrine/sound words".

What's Paul's reasoning for all of this?

2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Teaching is for the body of Christ so that we don't abandon the faith. I can resonate well with the 4th stanza of the hymn"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" as it says, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;"

Do you feel that tendency to leave God? One the safeguards God has in place the preaching and teaching of the Word on a regular basis. Make sure you're here every week to hear the Word of God!!!

New Thru 30 - Day 23 - 1 & 2 Thess, Titus

A Personal Request from Your Pastor

I have a prayer request to ask of you that comes out of today's reading. In 1 Thess. 1:5 Paul is writing about the time when the gospel first came to the Thessalonians. In that verse he says, "...our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

I think so much preaching is nothing but preaching in word only. The Bible is opened and some verses are read and the preacher speaks for 30 minutes telling the meaning of the text, throwing in some stories, etc.

But there's no power in the preaching, there's no Holy Spirit in the preaching, and there's no conviction in the preaching (either on behalf of the preacher or of the hearers).

So, here's my prayer request...Will you beg the mercies of God in my life as I prepare and preach, that the preaching of the Word here at First Baptist would never be only in word, but would always be with power and with the Spirit and with conviction?

Pray that for me and pray that with me as I pray it for myself, and may God be glorified in his church.

New Thru 30 - Day 22 - Eph & Col

The book of Ephesians is evenly divided into two parts: doctrinal (1-3) and practical (4-6)

In the doctrinal section Paul covers topics like predestination, salvation by grace alone, unity of the body of Christ, and the mystery of the gospel.

In the practical section Paul strings the metaphor of "walking" through his message.

In Eph. 4:1 (beginning of the practical section) Paul writes, "I...urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" and then he goes on to describe what that looks like in verses 2-3.

How else does Paul describe our walk?

In Eph. 4:17 he tells us that we are not to walk in the futility of the mind (you need to think right and fill your mind with the right things.)

In Eph. 5:2 he says that we are to walk in love...actually the same kind of love with which Christ loved us.

In Eph. 5:8 we are told to walk as children of light, meaning that the way we live is to be pleasing to God and to be open for all to see that we live with integrity.

In Eph. 5:15 Paul says that we should be careful to make sure that we walk in wisdom.

So, how's your walk with Christ?

• walking worthy of the gospel???
• thinking right???
• loving at all times???
• living a pleasing life before God with integrity???
• being wise???

It's a daunting list, but you can do it in Jesus. He gives the power. Trust him for your walk today!!!

New Thru 30 - Days 17-20 - I'm Out of Pocket

Hey folks...our baby is coming Wednesday morning/afternoon, so I won't be writing the blog for the rest of this week. I promise I'll be right there with you in reading the Scripture, but I won't have a blog for you.

See you back here on the blog on Monday, day 21 of NT30.

Blessings...

Pastor Mark

New Thru 30 - Day 16 - Romans 9-16

What an awesome section of Scripture you had for today's reading. Chapters 9-11 can be very difficult to interpret. Then, starting with chapter 12, you get the practical outworking of our justification in everyday life.

I want to key in on one verse...Romans 14:13, "Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."

This is the third time in chapter 14 that Paul has written about passing judgment on other people (verses 4, 10, 13). So, what's the point of verse 13? You could summarize it this way...

Quit looking at everybody else and make sure you're living right!!!

The first part of the verse talks about not passing judgment on others. Paul immediately follows that up by telling us to put the focus on ourselves in making sure that we are living the way we are supposed to.

Isn't this our age old problem??? We want to look at other people's mistakes and judge them while we completely ignore the way we're living. That's not acceptable. Our job is to tend to the way we live and let God take care of the way other people live.

New Thru 30 - Day 15 - Romans 1-8

If you're reading this post and you're up to date with your reading guide then you've made it halfway!!! Way to go; keep it up.

So we made it out of the narrative literature and into the epistles today.

John Piper title his sermon series on the book of Romans "The Greatest Letter Ever Written." I agree.

Buried in this treasure chest we call Romans is the following verse: "Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4)

I know I've written and spoken a lot about repentance lately, but I just feel the need for it personally as God is dealing with me. As I read the Bible more and more, I am seeing that repentance is a bigger and bigger theme. I don't want to ever come to the place where I presume on God's kindness and forbearance and patience.

Hasn't God been good to you??? I'm not talking about the fact that you have lots of money and live in a land of freedom, etc...

I mean hasn't he been good to you in that he hasn't destroyed you for your sin?

Look back at the verse. All of God's kindness, forbearance, and patience is designed for one thing in your life...

Repentance.

Come to him today and repent.

New Thru 30 - Day 13 - Acts 21-28

Today's reading really focused in on Paul as a person and though the reading spans over many years of his life, it all centers in on Paul's trial, imprisonment, journey to Rome, and ministry from the Roman prison.

As I read the end of Acts I was captured by Paul's passion to fulfill his God given mission.

In Acts 21:7-14 we see Paul and his companions as they have arrived in Caesarea. A prophet named Agabus comes and prophesies that the Jews will capture Paul when he goes to Jerusalem. (Paul, like Jesus, was often in conflict with the Jewish religious establishment)

I love the interchange in verses 12-14.

12 - Upon hearing this prophecy Paul's companions begged him not to go to Jerusalem.
13 - Paul proclaims his readiness to be killed for Jesus.
14 - Everybody sees his heart and says, "Let the will of the Lord be done."

Paul loved Jesus more than life itself because Jesus was his life.

New Thru 30 - Day 12 - Acts 11-20

Why do things happen as they do?

We have that question a lot don't we? I was struck by this question as I read today's section from Acts.

In Acts 12:1-5 Herod kills the apostle James and makes plans to kill Peter until the Lord does this miraculous work of sending an angel to rescue Peter from prison (12:6-18).

Peter. James. John. The 3 amigos. The inner circle of disciples. All 3 knew each other before they met Jesus because they were fishing partners, and all 3 received their call to follow Jesus as the same time (Luke 5:9-11).

James is killed by Herod. Peter is saved from Herod's sword by a miraculous intervention from God.

Why does God allow James to die and Peter to live?

Let me first confess I don't have all the answers to these type of questions, but I do get a good clue just one chapter later. In Luke 13 Paul is preaching. In verse 36 he makes this statement, "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers..."

It could be that James, like David, had finished his course and the purpose which God had laid out for him. So, God brought James into his presence.

If we only view these things thru the lens of a human lifespan then they look terrible. But when you add eternity in the presence of Almighty God, with blessings forevermore, then the picture changes.

Oh yeah...Peter's there now also, and has been for close to 2,000 years.

Serve the purpose of your God, trusting him, and then go live forever with him and receive your reward from him.

New Thru 30 - Day 11 - Acts 1-10

Witnesses to the Resurrection

1:22 - "one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
2:32 - "This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses."
3:15 - "you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses."
5:30, 32 - "The God of our fathers raised Jesus...And we are witnesses to these things"

Do you see a connection???

Are you being a witness to the resurrection of Jesus? If not, start today!

New Thru 30 - Day 10 - John 11-21

There's so much more than we know.

The last verse of the book of John (21:25) says, "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were everyone of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

Imagine all that Jesus did during his 3 year ministry. All we get are just a few brief snapshots. Paper was expensive. Writing was a laborious task. There were no printing presses, copy machines, computers, etc. What we have in the gospels is a truly remarkable treasure...but it doesn't even scratch the surface of everything Jesus did.

You truly have a great Savior...far greater than you can imagine.

New Thru 30 - Day 9 - John 1-10

The message that Jesus brought to first century Judaism was radical, and John really makes a point of bringing out the radical message of Jesus.

I love the words of Jesus in John 5:25-29 about the dead coming to life. Jesus says that the dead will hear his voice and come to life (25).

We've all been to a funeral and seen a dead person. Dead people don't hear anything. They're dead. People don't have life in themselves. Life is given to us and then we eventually lose it and we die.

God is different. God has life in himself (26). No one ever gave God life. He has just always existed, and he will never die. That's what it means to be God. In fact, he gives life to people.

Evidently the people were absolutely stunned by this because Jesus had to tell them not to marvel at his teaching about life (28), and then he reinforced the teaching that the time is coming when the dead will hear his voice.

If by his voice God spoke creation into existence, why is it so hard to believe that by his voice he will speak life into dead people? I believe it.

Jesus didn't come to make bad people good. Jesus came to make dead people alive.

New Thru 30 - Day 8 - Luke 15-24

Seeing Jesus

In today's reading we walked thru Luke's presentation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Luke puts a lot of emphasis on seeing or not seeing Jesus.

The death of Jesus is recorded in Luke 23:44-49. The centurion (47) and the crowds (48) both "saw" Jesus die. The acquaintances of Jesus (49) stood at a distance "watching" him die.

The burial of Jesus is recorded in Luke 23:50-56. The women (55) who watched him die "saw" the tomb and saw how his body was laid in the tomb.

The resurrection of Jesus is recorded in Luke 24:1-12. Peter ran to the tomb when the women told him that Jesus was risen. When he got to the tomb Peter (12) began "looking" in it and he "saw" that Jesus was not there.

The remainder of chapter 24 contains various post resurrection appearances of Jesus. In verse 39 he tells his disciples, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see."

The death of Jesus was real. The burial of Jesus was real. The resurrection of Jesus was real. The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus were real. We know this because people have seen it all with their eyes and recorded it for us.

Praise God that one day our faith will become sight.

New Thru 30 - Day 6 - Luke 5-14

Leaving Everything

In Luke 5 Jesus calls his first disciples. In 5:1-11 he calls the fisherman Peter, James, and John during one of their fishing trips. In 5:27-32 Jesus calls the tax collector, Levi.

These are ordinary people that Jesus used to do the extraordinary. So, how did it happen?

Check verse 11 and verse 28. They both say the same thing.

The fishermen and the tax collector left everything to follow Jesus. This is important. If our heart's desire is to build ourselves a nice kingdom here on earth and serve Jesus when we get a little spare time, then Jesus won't do much in us.

Jesus is demanding. He demands that we follow him wholeheartedly, not with one eye on him and one eye on maintaining our earthly kingdom.

Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus??? Leave everything. Follow him.

It's worth it.

New Thru 30 - Day 5 - Mark 11-16, Luke 1-4

AND PETER

Today, you read the crucifixion narrative as Mark presents it. One part of the narrative is Peter's denial of Jesus. Jesus had told Peter beforehand that it would happen (Mk. 14:26-31).

You can read the actual account of the denial in Mk. 14:66-72. As you read that passage you can feel the fear in Peter. The words of verse 71 are some of the most heart-breaking in the Bible, "But Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, 'I do not know this man of whom you speak.'"

To invoke a curse on yourself??? To swear??? To tell a boldfaced and shameful lie??? To deny Jesus???

Fast forward to resurrection day (Mark 16:1-8). In verse 7, the angel tells the women who come to the tomb, "But go, tell his disciples and Peter..." The emphasis was on specifically making sure that Peter heard the message b/c Peter needed it more than them all.

Jesus was all about restoring Peter, not beating Peter up. Do you need to hear that from God today? No matter your failures, the message from God is, "I love my children and you..."

Peter went on to be used in a mighty way by God. God can do the same in your life.

New Thru 30 - Day 4 - Mark 1-10

The message of repentance...who's it for???

In Mark 1:14-15, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee (northern area of Israel). His message is that the kingdom of God is at hand and that people need to repent and believe. Who is his audience? The people of Israel (God's people). The first thing Jesus does is to preach the message of repentance to those who have been "God's nation" for 2,000 years. Repentance is for God's people.

In Mark 6:7-12, Jesus sends out the apostles to preach. If you check the parallel passage in Matt 10:5-15 you will see that Jesus tells them to only go to the people of Israel. So, what is the message that the apostles preach? Mark 6:12, "So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent." Repentance is for God's people.

Of course, repentance is necessary for unbelievers to be saved, but here's our point for the day. Somewhere along the line, somebody developed this idea that repentance is a one-and-done thing. Says who??? Repentance is to be a major part (as in daily) of the life of a believer.

Repentance is for God's people.

New Thru 30 - Day 3 - Matt 21-28

In your reading today Jesus really cranks up the heat.

After entering Jerusalem at the beginning of the week he is to be crucified, Jesus has his authority challenged (21:23-27). After that incident, Jesus just absolutely nails the religious establishment (rest of 21, all of 22 & 23) for their hardened hearts. I want to check out with you today one of the things Jesus says was wrong with the religious establishment.

Look at Matthew 23:23-24.

Those who were part of the religious establishment were really good at tithing. They even tithed part of the mint leaves and other garden herbs (not required in the law). At the same time they had this strict observance of tithing, they neglected more important things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

WHY???

I think it comes down to the fact that it is easy to tithe. It's easy to give money. But it is difficult to have mercy on the poor. It's difficult to seek justice for the social outcasts. It is difficult to remain faithful to God on the inside.

Tithing is clean. Drop the money in the plate and you're done. Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are dirty. They will consume your life (not a bad thing).

Are you tithing while ignoring justice, mercy, and faithfulness??? Practice what's hard, not just what's easy.

May the mercy of God dwell richly in you today...

Pastor Mark

Google Video Problems

The posts below are currently not working. Google knows about the problem and is trying to fix it, but so far has not come up with anything. Looks like I'll be posting in text from now on...

Blessings.

New Thru 30 - Day 2 - Matt 11-20

Hey church...what a great reading we had for today. I hope that Jesus is soaking into your life thru this. Blessings...

New Thru 30 - Day 1 - Matt 1-10

Hey church...

I'm gonna blog everyday as we read thru the New Testament together. I'd love for you to leave some comments and interact with me as we do this. First time ever for me...I'm gonna try video blogging.