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"The Way We Do Things"

2/23/2017

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3Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. (Matthew 15:3-6 NLT)
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I often say, “We can’t get out of our own way when it comes to maintaining a relationship with Christ.” Part of what happens is that we start our own traditions – in our homes, in our lives, in our churches, that we begin to pay more attention to honoring them than we do the Word of God that informs us of His nature, His wisdom, His character, and the relationship that He desires to have with us through Jesus, the Christ. This teaching makes it clear that our own “way of doing things” has no bearing on the way of our salvation. “Our way of doing things,” if it helps us to be intentional in our relationship with Christ AND promotes the Truth of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, can be helpful – but if “our way of doing things” becomes THE WAY in our eyes – well, we’re in trouble. 
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What Do You "Require?" 

2/17/2017

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6Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened — burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. 8I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:6-8 (NIV)

“Here I am, I have come – It is written about me in the scroll.” What powerful testimony given by the king of Israel. I pray that I will give this testimony one day. I pray that you will also. Ultimately, all any of us can do is say to the Lord, “Here I am, I have come.” And we move from there to embracing His will for our lives. I do pray that the Lord God has opened your ears and opened your eyes and written His law upon your heart. 
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Turning On the Lights - Friday February 10

2/10/2017

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Legacy of The Living Gospel

2/9/2017

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13“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them byd the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. John 17:13-19 (NIV)
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These are words of Truth spoken by our savior as he faced torture and death on a cross. I challenge you, however, to read them and speak them as a father or a mother who is facing their own passing from this world and leaving behind a legacy of having lived the Gospel – passing it now into those whom he or she loved. Jesus gave His life to those He loved and wanted to inspire – will you? 
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Happy Candlemas!!!   What's That?

2/2/2017

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This is a lesson that I learned from my brother George Jenson – Pastor of the Enola First Church of God. This is his Facebook post from February 2, 2017,

"Every year on February 2 I give my Groundhog Day/Candlemas lesson. Here it is again this year with a few updates: Today, February 2 is Candlemas/Groudhog Day. Candlemas is a holiday that some “high” churches (those of a more liturgical nature) observe (currently, it is recognized more in other parts of the world; less so in the United States). It is a day that commemorates the biblical account where Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus to the Lord at the Temple in obedience to the Law of Moses (See Luke 2:22-40 and Leviticus 12). At the Temple, Simeon took Jesus into his arms and declared Him to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” Since Christians believe Jesus to be the Light of the world, some clergy in high churches that recognize Candlemas will bless candles and distribute them to their congregations. Candles are then lighted and placed in the windows of homes in honor of the "Light of the World" - Jesus Christ. Candlemas occurs on February 2 for this reason: The Luke 2 passage states that Jesus was presented at the Temple after the time of His mother Mary's purification. In reading Leviticus 12 we find that a mother's purification period upon giving birth to a male child was a total of 40 days starting with the day of his birth. Therefore, it can be safely assumed that Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple on the 40th day. The Christian church generally recognizes the birth of Jesus on December 25. If you begin counting on December 25, February 2 is the 40th day. Therefore, Candlemas is celebrated on February 2. Many people wonder if there is a link between Candlemas and Groundhog Day. Guess what? There is one and its roots can be found right here in Pennsylvania! To find that link, one needs to explore Pennsylvania German Folklore. Here's an example: James Morris, a storekeeper from Berks County, PA, kept a diary. In an entry from sometime in early February, 1841 it states, “Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate." So, Candlemas, a day that had been set aside to recognize our Lord as the Light of the World has been "overshadowed" by a weather-predicting rodent; and that would be Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog in the world. By the way, when I use the word, "overshadowed" in connection with Phil, the pun is definitely intended! I wish you all have a very Merry Candlemas and a Happy Groundhog Day too!” 
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    Pastor Brian is the senior pastor of Churchtown Church of God and regularly shares his thoughts & insight here - he invites you to join in the discussion of life & faith!

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