Jesus is God - Part 2

Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

 

John 8:46-59 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 

Jesus’ arguers could convict Him of committing a single sin, yet they would not believe the truth that He told. They did not have hears that hear the truth. They insultingly accuse Him of being a half-breed and demonic. But, Jesus states that all He intends to do is honor His heavenly Father and all they intend to do is dishonor Him. He explains that He is not seeking His own glory [that wasn’t the purpose that He came], but there is One [God] who seeks righteousness and judges all sin. Hell is the default for sin, but Jesus proclaim that He has the words to eternal life. The Jews counter because Jesus states whoever keeps His word shall never die, yet their patriarch Abraham and all them prophets of God died, asking: are you than them? Who do you think that you are? Jesus avows that it is their God who honors Him, but that they do not really know Him. But, Jesus knows Him and keeps God’s Word. 

 

Then Jesus declares that father Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus’ [Messianic, earthly] day, was shown it [in advance] and was elated to see it. The Jews know and state that because of His age, that Jesus could never have seen Abraham face to face. Then Jesus drops the big news that He could and did see Abraham because He is the eternal “I AM” [God of heaven] incarnate – in the flesh. The Jews immediately recognized Jesus claim to be Creator God and declared His proclamation as blasphemy. “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” The Truth, the Word, was standing right in from of them, but they rejected the Truth. They picked up rocks to kill the man, but the God-Man simply slipped from their sight, went through the midst of them and passed by. Don’t let Jesus pass by you. Jesus is God in the flesh, God with us. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Him.

 

In Christ, Brian

Jesus is God - Part 1

Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

 

My Wednesday evening Small Group Bible study are viewing a video lesson that deal this coming week with the Bible declaring that Jesus is God. Of course, the fallen secular world would take issue with such a statement, but I never knew that there was any issue among Christian Believers that Jesus is God incarnate. In talking to my 95 year old father, I was surprised that he thought that Jesus was the Son of God, but not God. It seems that many are confused and do not understand that Jesus is God with us.

 

In Exodus 3:14, the Hebrew word for “I AM” (which God states what is His name) is  “Hāyâ”, meaning to exist, be in existence. God is real. Let’s look at a couple passages in the Book of John and see what Jesus said about being God. John 1:1-4,14 in speaking of Jesus tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

In John 8:31-45 Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”

 

Jesus explains that the natural man in their fallen state is a slave and in bondage to their sin, by believing in Christ the Savior and obediently living in His teaching and command, they would then no the truth and be set free. The people thought that being the children of Abraham, they were born the people of God and never in bondage (even through they were once in bondage to Babylon and currently in bondage to Rome). They were adopted into the family of God, but Jesus was the only begotten Son of God and lives in the house of God, therefore had the power to forgive sin and set them free. But, they operated by a different authority.

 

In John 8:39-45 they answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.  

Abraham was their biological father bloodline, but they did not follow the family works of their father. They wanted Jesus dead for what He was saying. Then, the people changed and appealed that God was their Father. Jesus explains that if God was their Father then they’d love Him because was sent by God to them. But, their ears could not hear Jesus because their desires were aligned with the devils, the father of lies. They could not believe the truth or believe the Word. What do we see in the world still today?

Let's continue this vital message for this day and age about Jesus in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Major Sewer Line Breakage under House

 

A tough weekend as our cast iron drain pipe burst and flooded under the house. Having a 109 year old house means that things wear out and either break or stop functioning sometimes. 

A little time, effort and material and the issue was resolved, thanks largely to my oldest son's hard work in the crawl space. I am glad that I used to work on plumbing and drain pipes as a handyman job in High School.

The Blow Off

I remember years age, my late Pastor Ken Kreger sitting at a Coffee Shop late one night after one of our church Board of Directors meetings opening up to me in order to teach me a valuable lesson that he had learned from the Holy Spirit about the dangerous potential in Christian ministry to develop a double-standard that was contrary to the heart and core-purpose of Christ’s church.

 

It was a long day at the church office. There was articles, news and mail to read, bills to pay, schedules of upcoming events to think about and schedule, a sermon to prepare for the upcoming Sunday with research on this week’s passages and topic, building and ground issues to resolve, and ministry goals to evaluate and monitor. The last of the church office hours now whining down, when the church phone rang. It was a member of the church and he said that he was experiencing difficulties in his life and had some questions on the biblical response that he should use spiritually. The member expressed that he were extremely frustrated and needed to talk to him. He asked if he could explain the details of his situation for discussion, pastoral counseling and prayer. 

 

Pastor Kreger told the member that he had a long and very stressful day, that it was late and he was tired; that he was just closing up the church office and about to leave to go home for dinner. He asked if he could call the member back the next day because he was completely exhausted and the member graciously agreed to postpone the conversation and counseling, so hung up and continued to prepare to leave for the day.

 

Then, the church phone rang again. He picked up the phone and it was another member. He asked Pastor Kreger if had had time to discuss a significantly large contribution to the church, gets his ideas on ministry needs and hear where  the sizable funds could be best utilized. He sat and explained all the areas of the church campus that could be improved by such a generous monetary gift. There were many repairs that could be made, church school material that could be purchased for the children’s, Youth and Adult Sunday School, it would definitely help the church budget also which was currently in a deficit (in the Red), and could go towards the new Playground equipment that they were hoping to install in the near future. They discussed all the great things that could take place from the money and caught up on each other’s family, what they had been doing lately and vacation plans for the summer. They had a great conversation for over an hour and hung up excited about the call.

 

Then, that “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit spoke to him: “What did you just do Pastor? It was a stern rebuke from the Lord. The word “pastor” in defined as: A minister of the gospel who has the charge of a church and congregation, whose duty is to watch over the people of his charge, and instruct them in the sacred doctrines of the Christian religion. The Holy Spirit exposed how he failed as a pastor, refusing to take notice of, honor, or deal with the first member’s concerns and spiritual distress for expressed, lack of time, personal exhaustion from a long day, and dinner waiting at home, then completely abandoning every excuse that he just gave in order to talk to another member for over and hour on all sorts of topics because he was going to give an extremely large monetary gift to the church. Pastor Kreger was immediately convicted of his hypocrisy in ministry, putting money before the spiritual well-being of one of the church members under his care as a pastor. He had to stop and examine his pastoral priorities against the Word of God and his duty as an under-shepherd for Christ – the Good Shepherd. The trap of all pastors is the three temptations of (1) Buildings – an over-focus on church property improvements, (2) Money (an over-focus on church offerings and gifts), and (3) Attendance (an over-focus on increasing and maintaining church membership), because if not in balance and controlled, these element of church operation become distractions that can and will deprave the primary objective of Christ’s church – ministering to spiritual needs of the members and reaching the world for Christ with the Gospel. What did Jesus do?

 

It was a wonderful story, which was a lesson that I’ve never forgot in ministry. And I pray that it is a story that enlightens your own Christian walk and helps you avoid the pitfalls that we can stumble into if we do not stay aware. Keep the Main thing the main thing.

 

In God We Trust. 

In Christ, Brian

 

What Happened?

 

In the 1931 March 29, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an article, “A Nation Without Leaders or Political Parties; An Office-Seeking Class in Control” by Nicholas Murray Butler, which stated that: There Are Three Types of People: Those Who Make Things Happen, Those Who Watch Things Happen, and Those Who Wonder What Happened? A harsh statement? Not really. You cannot beware until you are first aware.

 

In Luke 21:8 Jesus said, “Keep watch! Be careful that you are not fooled.”

 

There is an old adage that says: “Ignorance is no excuse”. That saying is speaking to deliberate ignorance, whether by choice or the malicious deception by another. The idiom: You don’t know what you don’t know is a true statement also. We all start with a blank slate (so to speak), except for natural instincts. Experience by doing things and observing things in life, plus trial and error experiments where we learn from our mistakes, along with the teaching and training by others, gives us the information for beneficial learning, educating, understanding, progressing, growing in knowledge and wisdom. This data is necessary for being good and productive individual, a vital part of society as community contributors that allow families and societies to function at the maximum efficiency for prosperity, peace and joy. But, also to avoid the pitfalls, roadblocks, deceptions, distractions and dangers that exist in this fallen world by people without your best interest or the interest of their Maker in mind. Quite the opposite; The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. Don’t pretend that they are not there; we educate ourselves, be aware, anticipate, set up safe-guards, beware, and defend as needed.

 

Romans 16:17 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”

 

Another old maxim states: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Those with evil intentions may be able to trick you and I with mis-information, half-truths and outright lies as we trust others to act for the common good of all. But, once we discover the truth, we don’t get burned twice. As the Philosopher Peter Townshend proclaimed in 1971, “Then we get on our knees and pray. We don’t get fooled again.” We don’t look for trouble; trouble does a good enough job of popping up on its own. It is not a matter of “if”, but “when”. The Lord Jesus explained in John 3:19 that “the Light (the Way, the Truth and the Life in Christ) has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.”

 

Jesus instructed us in Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Shrewd, meaning a cautious character, intelligent, wise, prudent, and mindful. Ignorance is not bliss. There are just three kinds of people in the world. Which one are you? The few who make things happen; in the slightly larger group who observe them happening; or in the great majority who never even know what is going on around them and wonder: What happened? 

In Christ, Brian

Holy Ground

In Exodus 3:5 God said to Moses, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” The ground there was holy because God was there “in person”. The “Holy of holies” in the Tabernacle and Temple was holy ground because God was there “in person” between the cherubim on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. 

The Hebrew word for “holy” in Exodus 3;5 is “qōḏeš”, meaning set-apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness; a sacred place, sanctity:—consecrated, dedicated (thing), hallowed, most holy, sanctuary. The 1928 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “holy” as: Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God.

 

In Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus asked the 12 disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Christ’s church was born; the Christian church, centered on the Lord and Savior of the world. Every Christian church has a sanctuary where praise and worship, preaching and sacred ceremonies are performed in the presence of Christ, for Jesus proclaimed in

Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Therefore, the church of Jesus Christ is holy ground. There is reverence for the church in every community for it is the House of God. But, not by all.

Last Thursday night and into early Friday morning our little community church was targeted and burglarized by two individuals (caught on security cameras) who had no fear of God and no reverence for the holy ground of sacred worship, as they entered the locked and secured church campus, then specifically walked to one room in the Education Wing which housed the Band instruments for the Youth Ministry and the Audio/Video equipment for them and my Small Group Bible Study, stealing over $4000 in vital gear needed for ministry. When the holy ground of Christ church, the sacred house of worship for the Creator of heaven and earth is violated, you experience the reality that we live in a fallen in sin world with many that reject God, love the darkness of unbelief and blindly worship themselves.

 

The world needs repentance, redemption, and transformational rebirth in Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Salvation and changed hearts are found in no other. That is why the Lord Jesus commissioned all His followers in Matthew 28:19-20 to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. So get up and get out there. Give them the Gospel and give them heaven!

 

In God We Trust.

In Christ, Brian

 

A Long Fuse

 

Proverbs 14:29 says, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.”

 

There is a term “to get a rise out of someone”. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this term as: to cause (someone) to react in an angry way : to make someone angry or upset. There are those out there in the world that find joy in “ticking people off” (to make someone angry or indignant), get their jollies by “getting your goat” (to annoy someone, to make a person lose his or her temper), by “pushing your buttons” (to do things that create a very strong emotional reaction in one, especially anger, irritation, or exasperation), or by “getting under your skin” (to irritate or upset someone). It is a malicious act, usually a verbal assault done on purpose, based on pride and originating from “hate” of one’s fellow man. Back in the days of my early youth, such a transgression was not tolerated by society and reprimanded because such behavior was disrespectful, mean and designed to cause damage. Such evil was kept in check in the community by the common good. 

 

There always has been, and always will be vicious, malevolent individuals and groups that are vindictive and seek to cause anger in this fallen world. It is the nature of human darkness to disrupt the light of peace and tranquility. They get their kicks “disrupting the apple cart” (to create a difficulty that spoils carefully laid plans or disturbs the status quo) and ruining your joy. But, it is up to the moral majority and those with a biblical worldview to identify and standup against those who that malign the culture with lack of manners, unethical practices, no moral compass or have no boundaries.  

 

I remember just after the turn of the century, when my niece showed me her poster of “Happy Bunny”, a counter-culture cartoon ridiculing and “making fun of” ordinary, average good people. She thought that the posters were funny. Why? Because they challenged the norm in society. With statements like “Your anger makes me happy”, “ Don’t let this smile fool you. I really do hate you”, “I know right from wrong. Wrong is the fun one.” and many more. There is an outright frontal attack on our culture and the division is plainly seen. They hope that you have a short fuse and explode with emotion, as believe tht you cannot do anything to stop them. They do not desire to co-exist, but to throw civil society into the closet, lock it and throw way the key. Such assaults on our culture must be opposed in a non-heated manner. Wrong is wrong. They know it, but just don’t care. Disrupting the tranquil peace and loving joy is their goal. Be aware, then beware. Don’t let them get to you. Put your trust in God, not fallen humanity. Be the stable one, who stands on the solid foundation.  

 

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.”

 

You cannot help but be upset at evil, but have a long fuse, stand firm in the full armor of God and defend the faith, defend the standards of conduct, expect compliance to morals, manners and ethics and demand nothing less than God’s Word, Will and Way. Share the Gospel and go make disciples.

In God We Trust,

In Christ, Brian

Steadfast in Christ - Part 2

 

Michael continues: We are all constructing a building of our lives according to 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 … according to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Upon which foundation are you building your life? 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 answer this question from God’s perspective: “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” The question is, are you building the temple of your life as God’s dwelling place or are you building it to your own vain glory?

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 concludes: “Don’t you know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him (the vain defiling work) shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” What is worthy of praise? What are the worthy bricks we’re building upon the firm foundation? God has provided worthy bricks for constructing His building. These bricks include the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, salvation, Christ’s crucifixion (His atoning death in our stead), His resurrection to life, and eternal life unto Christ.

According to verse 14, whatever is not built for Jesus will burn. If it’s built to our own glory, it will burn up and turn to ashes. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust … it will become dust in the wind. It will amount to nothing. However, if done to God’s glory through the power of Christ in us, it will last into eternity. According to Isaiah 28:16, Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste. Judgment, also will I lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone. He is not only the stone that bears the weight as the primary structural support for the building, He is also the point of reference that squares the building according to God’s divine plumb line. Jesus Christ is the datum point of reference upon which the whole building is measured and aligned. May our prayer be: “Lord, bring to bear thy divine plumb line upon my life that we may live to the praise of the glory of thy grace! That my life may be aligned according to the heart of Christ in me and that my life may be prayer and praise unto you, a sweet smelling savor, fragrant unto you, an offering acceptable unto you that endures into eternity to your praise and honor and glory, through the power the Holy Spirit of Christ! Amen and Amen!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

 

Steadfast in Christ - Part 1

Michael writes: The Secular humanistic world thinks that patience is a curse and not a blessing. The fallen world values instant gratification. However, according to Romans 5, you cannot know either hope or the love of God except by patiently enduring tribulation. Therefore, glory in tribulation, for tribulation works patience, and patience experience (proven character) and experience hope, and hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. Patience is learned through the trial. Patience and steadfast love is the nature of God himself. His forbearance and perseverance will give us the ultimate victory because God is faithful to his word.  

According to 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord inasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” The god of this world motivates people by fear…. the fear of loss is one of the greatest motivators. A wise man said, mankind fears death like children fear the dark. The fear of death is man’s the greatest fear. The Bible says, it is appointed for all men once to die and then comes the judgement. The devil comes not but to steal, kill and to destroy but Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The devil reminds us that we are worthy of death, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The context of 1 Corinthians 15:58 is that through Jesus Christ and the sacrifice for sin He paid on our behalf, death shall be swallowed up in victory.  

According to Romans 8, The Old Testament Mosaic Law is the law of sin and death (not to be confused with God’s Moral Law). However the law of the spirit of life in Christ has made us free from the law of sin and death. For what the Mosaic Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. According to Galatians 5:18-21, “But if you are led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft (which is Drug Abuse), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, raveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

According to 1 John 2:16, “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are not of the Father but of the world.” Lust is the Greek word “epythumia” meaning ‘over desire.” Lust is anything we desire over our love for God. We desire what we love. According to Proverbs 3:5-6, trust in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” 

 

Let's continue Michael's message on steadfastness in the next post.

In Christ, Brian 

Why Lie?

 

Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. This is more commonly known as the Ninth of the Ten Commandments in the “Moral Law” of God written by the finger of the Almighty Creator  and given to Moses on stone tablets for the people of God. It is better known as “Thou Shalt not Lie”. In the term “false witness, the Hebrew word for “false” is “seqer”, meaning lie, deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one), falsehood, deceit, fraudulent, wrongful, an untruth; feigned. The Hebrew word for “witness” is “ēḏ” , meaning “witness, testimony or evidence of things.”  The instruction not to "bear false witness" in the Ten Commandments is put in the covenant context of not harming one's neighbor.

 

Psalm 120:2 “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.”

 

The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines he word “lie” as: a falsehood uttered for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth. To lie is contrary to the nature of God; God is truth and therefore, by definition lying a sin. The desire of a child of God, citizen of the kingdom and servant of the Lord is to live a trustworthy and faithful life that is pleasing in the sight of their sovereign heavenly Father. Devotion to God should lead us to speak the truth, to love the neighbor, to serve life. We live the truth not for its own sake, but for God's sake and for the neighbor's sake.

 

Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

 

The Bible condemns deception. That is the simple truth. Christianity Today states that when Rahab's story of lying when she said the spies had already departed is told in Joshua 2, and when she is celebrated for her faith in Hebrews 11:31 and for her works in James 2:25, the Bible—while not justifying her lie—does not condemn it. The same is true of the midwives' lie (Exodus 1:15-21) and Elisha's lie (2 Kings 6:19). The fact is, Scripture offers no subtle philosophical distinctions to justify or to excuse such lies.

 

Proverbs 21:6 “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.”

 

As Christians we make decisions, including decisions about our words, not simply as rule keepers, and surely not simply as utility calculators, but as people disposed to truthfulness, prepared to regret even the justifiable lie as a mark of the "not yet" character of our life in the Spirit of Truth. Honesty is always the best policy for us.

 

In Christ, Brian

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Day - 2023

Today, America celebrates Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. 

 

On October 14, 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. Reverent King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2003. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a holiday in cities and states throughout the United States beginning in 1971; the holiday was enacted at the federal level by legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

 

 

Below is a part of the transcript of his celebrated "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on Aug. 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It is a godly dream.

 

“Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today my friends -- so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father's died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!" And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi -- from every mountainside. Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring -- when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children -- black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics -- will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"”

May all the godly and peaceful work on racist equality of Rev. King not be forgotten, manipulated or politicized for racial division, for there is truly only one race – the human race and one nation under God.

 

In Christ, Brian 

Where is the World?

 

Where in the world have you been? Let weekend, my wife and I boarded a luxury Cruise ship destined for the Mexican Riviera on a tree year delayed week long vacation due to the world pandemic situation. We had been booking a cruise to Mexico each year in order to celebrate our wedding anniversary and were quite familiar with the voyage itinerary. But, little did I know that some things onboard; one being a change in the Cruise Lines Loyalty Program which allowed me a limited amount of free internet access to the Internet during the journey. It was always known that the ships WiFi system did not allow any communication outside of the vessel and Cellular Phone service aboard ship was captured by the ship's antenna that added massive roaming charges. 

So, to my surprised, I was held hostage to either pay an enormous charge for limited internet services through the ship's satellite connection or go "radio-silent" during the trip. As you can see, I chose the latter and enjoy an electronics-free vacation break. I am sorry to those who regularly read the Blog, but I had to "go with the flow" and push pause for awhile. For may years, I have posted some Christian message or Christian sermon, and now may be the time to start throttling back to a more manageable schedule.

I read an old classic book written in 1932 on the Cruise titled "Brave News World"by Huxley. This book used to be required reading in most American Public Schools as the Novel communicated a real threat of a totalitarian government which is true in every generation. If you have not read it, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do. The similarities to today's world are astoundingly shocking and bring appreciation to the liberties and freedoms in a Free Republic, where God is not in the safe and Ford is on the shelf (read the book to understand what that means).  

Blessings in Christ, Brian

Great Joy - Part 4

 

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 

Pastor Herk continues: “On earth peace” does not mean universal peace throughout the world unconditionally. Many have taken this declaration of the angels and tried to turn it into a promise of a world that is free from conflict. The day will come when “every knee shall bow”, but that happen at Jesus’ Second coming. There wasn’t peace in the entire world then or since. There is only peace with those in whom God is pleased. Peace with God by all of mankind would produce peace between all men and women on earth. Faith in Jesus Christ alone is the means for peace on earth between God and humanity. 

 

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The Greek word for faith is “pistis”, meaning conviction of the truth or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it. Relating to God: the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. Relating to Christ: a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God. Faith in Christ, faith in God, and faith in His Word [the Holy Scripture of the Bible]. The birth of Jesus is good news for all people, but only for those who by faith accept Him as their Savior and Lord sent by God out of love and grace. Ephesians 2:8 “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Got faith?

 

Luke 2:15-20 “So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” The shepherd found the Lord as the angels told them. 

 

When they had seen the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, they could not keep the good tiding of great joy for all people to themselves; they made what the angels told them widely known about the Christ child. These ordinary people in society had an extraordinary message to proclaim the Savior of the world. God still uses ordinary people to do the same proclamation of love, grace and mercy unto salvation by faith in Jesus today. It started on Christmas day. God incarnate is born into the world as a baby, lives a sinless life, then dies on a Cross and rises from the grave that you and I may be saved. redeemed, forgiven, reconciled and given eternal life. If we have the great joy that the shepherds experienced of this Good News, then that spreading the Gospel should be our natural joyful response. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen. Are we truly celebrating the birth of Christ and all that means at Christmas today?  What is our attitude? Are we truly glorifying and praising God for the amazing gift of the Savior of the world – God among us? Is it truly a holy night in God’s plan of Salvation for us? Romans 16:24 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” 

 

Have great Joy! 

In Christ, Brian

Great Joy - Part 3

Luke 2:7-14 And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son [Jesus], and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 

Pastor Herk continues: Another term that the angel of the Lord used was “is Christ”. Christ mis not Jesus’ last name, but a title. The Greek word for Christ is “Christos”, which literally means “anointed”. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary adds: Christ is an appellation given to the Savior of the World, and synonymous with the Hebrew Messiah. Christ was the coming king whom the Jews expected to be the Savior of their nation and the author of their highest felicity. Jesus, the Christ was [and is] the Messiah, the Son of God. This baby born in a manager and announced by the angels was the fulfillment of God’s long-standing to send a King in the line of David. It was all about love. 

 

Still another term used by the angel was “Lord”. The Greek word for “Lord” is “Kyrios”, meaning he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. This title is given to: God, the Messiah. Webster’s adds that, in Scripture, the word “Lord” is defined as the Supreme Being; Jehovah. When Lord, in the Old Testament, is printed in capitals, it is the translation of JEHOVAH, and so might, with more propriety, be rendered. The word is applied to Christ, Ps. 110. Col. 3. and to the Holy Spirit, 2 Thess. Jesus Christ is called the Lord of glory and Lord of lords. Acts 10:36 states, “This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” When we proclaim Jesus as Lord, we are saying that Jesus is God incarnate, God the Son of the Trinity in the flesh and that separates us from other religions. The arrival of Jesus on earth proclaimed by the angels is Good News because He is Savior, Christ and Lord together at the same time.   

 

Luke tells us, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Peace on earth, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ – the Prince of Peace, and so fearing nothing from God and content with their earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. The Savior of the world, who will pay an atoning redemption for the sins of mankind and make peace with God and eternal life has come into the world. The product is “goodwill towards men”, kindly intent, benevolence, delight, pleasure, satisfaction and giving glory to God in the highest. The shepherds were blessed with the good tiding of great joy that the Good Shepherd was here.

 

In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” God proven the way to redemption, salvation, reconciliation and eternal life in Christ. John 3:36 clarifies, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Jesus is the one and only way out of Hell and into Heaven. Either, Jesus pays for our sins or we do. It is possible for there to be peace among those who repent of sin and accept Christ as Savior and Lord. The Greek for the word “men” in the term “goodwill towards men” is “anthrōpos” with reference to the two-fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God. Romans 5:1-2 confirms, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” What God has done for us is glorious!

 

Let’s continue Pastor Herk’s message on the great joy of Jesus in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Great Joy - Part 2

 

Luke 2:7-14 And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son [Jesus], and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 

Pastor Herk continues: Jesus was given by our Creator Father God to all mankind as the Savior of the world. In Romans 3:22-24 the Apostle Paul explains to us, “the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” He came for all of us. Salvation is available to everybody, but many people fail to understand and refuse to respond to God’s offer of redemption and forgiveness through the Savior. They reject the great news of the gift of salvation by grace through faith. The Lord Jesus explained in John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” 

 

Another reason that the good news proclaimed to the shepherds was glad tidings of great joy was because of who Jesus is. The angel of the Lord uses first the term “a Savior”. This tells us that all people are in need of being saved from their sin. We sometimes attempt to “sell” Jesus with promises of prosperity and freedom from suffering or negative circumstances in your life. God can and does rescue His people sometimes from unfulfilled lives, help us overcome addictions and bad habits, relational issues, and other problems that arise, but that is not what Jesus Christ came to save us from. In Matthew 1:21 an angel of the Lord told Joseph that  Mary “will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” In Luke 1:30-32 the archangel Gabriel said to the virgin Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. The Greek word for Jesus is “Iēsous”, which means "Jehovah is salvation". 

 

In Romans 6:22-23 the Apostle Paul explains God’s plan of Salvation, “now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus came into this world to save mankind from their sin; sinless Christ was God’s solution to the issue every person born suffers from. All needed to be rescued from sin’s death sentence; it is the universal problem of mankind. So, God provided the way to salvation by sending His Son to die in our place to pay the price. Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation” and is the Savior of the world. This is the Gospel truth and good tidings of great joy.  

 

Let’s continue Pastor Herk’s message on the great joy of Jesus in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Great Joy - Part 1

 

Luke 2:7-14 And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 

Pastor Herk preached on the Joy of Christmas this Advent of Christ, Christ Emmanuel – God with us. In the visitation of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds on the fields, the Greek word for the phrase “I bring you good tidings” is “euangelizō”, meaning the good news and joyful tidings of God's kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings; the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation. To announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:—declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel of Jesus Christ). While we are to demonstrate the love of Jesus by the way that we live our born-again lives, we are to give verbal witness of the joy that is within us through Christ as the Holy Spirit has prepared their hearts in advance. 

 

The angel of the Lord in Israel was bringing good news of great joy which will be to all people. The term “of great joy” is made up first of the Greek word “megas”, meaning great things of God's preeminent blessings; of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, or derogatory to the majesty of God. Secondly of the Greek word “chara” meaning cheerfulness, calm delight: gladness of the soul, exceeding joy springing from faith and grace recognize. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines joy as the passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. The arrival of the “promised Messiah”, God incarnate [with skin on], the Savior who will atone for and take away the sins of the world; the gift of God given by grace and received by faith produces a glorious and triumphant state of great and lasting joy. Do you know Jesus Christ? Have you received Him as your Savior and Lord, experiencing the great joy of your salvation? 

 

Jesus Christ is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:9-14). 

 

Let’s continue Pastor Herk’s message on the great joy of Jesus in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

 

God's Sufficiency - Part 2

Michael continues: The Apostle Paul asked God three times to remove his painful “thorn in the flesh”. He said, Lord, I’ll serve you better without this constant suffering. The first two times God did not answer. The third time, God answered Paul’s prayer, but it was not the answer that Paul expected. However, this is one of the great lessons of life, learned only through suffering, pain and tribulation. God’s answer was, “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness. My grace is sufficient for thee.” God is blessed when we endure the pain, the hardship and the testing with a singing spirit. There is nothing in this life that God can’t handle. God is the God of grace… he alone is our sufficiency.

Jesus said, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Live in the present and all you have is now. Our joy is in the Lord. It’s not completely about the destination, it’s about the journey also. A Sabbath day’s journey was the distance you could walk in one day according to Jewish law. The Christian’s journey is walking with the Lord one step at a time and one day at a time. The concept of the “denarius” was a day’s wage. This was enough pay to keep a roof over your head, and to keep your family fed and clothed. It wasn’t enough to store up a “rainy day fund” for tomorrow. Jesus said, I’m your sufficiency for today. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of the things for tomorrow. Your responsibility is to live in today’s day-tight compartment. Walk with Jesus on today’s sabbath day’s journey. Christ is your sufficiency and your strength for today’s walk … todays Journey.

As Americans we are taught the pursuit of happiness. However, Jesus taught that joy in the Lord supersedes happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances; upon happenstance. However “Joy in the Lord” is everlasting for He said, “I shall never leave you nor forsake you.” Joy is not the absence of pain, rather, Joy is the presence of the Lord. According to Romans 8:35-39, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Jesus Christ we live and move and have our being. The Lord takes care of the sparrow and the lily of the field. Will He not therefore, also take care of you as children of our loving Heavenly Father? He is our sufficiency in all things that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

 

God's Sufficiency - Part 1

This first week in January  Michael writes: God’s revelation about living life is in the kingdom of the King of Kings. Life in Christ is diametrically opposed to the kingdom of this world. The kingdom and kingdoms of this world will soon come to naught … they are here today and gone tomorrow. However, life in the spirit of the living God lives and abides forever. The things of this world will soon be past, only that which is done in Christ shall last.  

In Matthew 6:24 and following Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Jesus said, you cannot serve worldly riches and God at the same time. The motto of the United States is “In God We Trust.” There is irony in this American motto inscribed on our coins and currency. The irony is that most Americans trust in Money as their god instead of the Lord God Jehovah; their Creator. The great American dream is to pursue money and the things money can buy instead of pursuing God. 

How do you worship God instead of material things? The pursuit of happiness is not in seeking the blessing, but in seeking the Blessor. Jesus continued in Matthew 6: 25-29: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

It’s easy to be distracted by the cares and the physical things of this life. Worry over the physical things that sustain our mortal bodies drive men and women to anxiety. Doubt, worry, and fear separate our hearts from the pursuit of the Lord. However, as Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. God is our sufficiency…. He is the one who provides all our needs. God has given us the resources of this world and has called us to steward the things with which He has entrusted us. We’re called to administer with our hands the material goods He has proved for us and then minister with a heart of love the relationships that He has called us to nurture. These things include: our work, our time, and our money. We serve with a heart of love our spouses, our families, and our brothers and sisters within the body of Christ.  

When our heart is set on the things of the world, when is enough going to be enough? Worldly things cannot satisfy permanently. There is a constant craving, an insatiable appetite and a continuous hunger for the material things that we cannot obtain. The materialistic world says, “He who dies with the most toys wins”. However, from God’s eternal perspective, He who dies with the most toys is dead. You can’t take it with you. Despite the cares and concerns of this life, Jesus knows our every weakness. He also knows what we really need. 

Let's continue Micheal's message on God's sufficiency for us in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Happy New Year 2023

Wishing you a happy and blessed new year. May God be glorified, the Gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed and the Kingdom of Heaven be advanced on earth. 

Our dear heavenly Father, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the earth and all that live and breathe. Please provide, protect and prosper your creation and your creatures in the year of our Lord 2023. Fill the hearts of all with love, joy and peace. And turn the hearts of all towards You with all glory, honor and praise. Amen