It's Friday but SUNDAY's coming!

Good Friday Random Thoughts (or left-over nuggets from sermon preparation!):

• God made us for relationship.  Up-close, one-on-one relationship. He wants to be known, not just known about. Through his son, Jesus, he invites us to follow him, not simply study him.
• God has been reaching out to each of us (whether we like it or admit it or not) -tirelessly pursuing you-not because God is fact or doctrine or a lofty idea, but because he is Love.
• We follow the living Jesus.

• We are called, not to just to try to imitate Christ, but to become "the presence of Christ," allowing Christ to live in and through us.

• When we follow the living Jesus, we learn how to love our enemies and relate to one another.

• God's over-arching desire is to enjoy an honest, open-access relationship with us.
• This relationship is a mystery and an adventure.  Jesus was made flesh not to deliver some fresh insights, or to recite a new law code, or to bring some new teachings. God does not come to us offering rules; Jesus never commanded us to learn the right things about him. . .just to follow him.
• Jesus was made flesh to deliver us from sin and death through the mysterious power of a love illustrated by a beaten human hanging on a cross.
• I believe God loves honest searching and questioning.  I don't believe, though, that truth is found in the solving of difficult theological riddles. Truth is found as we get lost in the mystery of getting to know Jesus in a real relationship.
• Jesus could have taken a completely different approach to his time here on earth. He could have stayed in the temple every day, setting up an office, reading Scripture and talking with those who already knew the right answers. He could have spent all his time discussing repentance, forgiveness, love, acceptance, and new life behind closed doors with the religious leaders there.
• But, instead, he took an approach to ministry that some people had a hard time understanding. Like all those miracles he performed-they weren't necessary to fulfill his task here on earth. Those miracles were just another example of Jesus' real love and care for those around him.
• Jesus reminded those who criticized him that he was sent for the lost: "'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Luke 5:30b-32).
• There were even times when the disciples wanted to send people away, and Jesus would have to remind them why he came.
• It's hard for us to understand the happenings of Holy Week and why Jesus had to die for our sins and redemption.
• I invite /remind you to join us Sunday morning for our resurrection Celebration Service at 10:45 as we grapple with the hard questions, and celebrate the answers, and share the hope of new beginnings in Christ!

I'll be looking for you Sunday!  (We'll have handbells, great music, multimedia, fellowship, message: You Can Begin Again, and more).

It's Friday.  But Sunday's coming!  (I just had to say that!)

Pastor Mike

 Bad Stuff Happens

Why God, why?

This may be the most repeated prayer in history. Most people have said it at one point or another, if only under their breath.

Why sickness? Why suffering? Why doesn't God respond to my prayers? Why do I struggle so much?

Honest questions like these deserve honest answers. During our
Bad Stuff Happens series, we'll explore these questions together, honestly, to find hope and meaning and victory in the midst of the bad stuff of life.  

Topics:

May 1     [Suffering] Happens

May 8     [Feeling Insignificant] Happens

May 15    [Unanswered Prayer] Happens

                                                May 22    [Sin] Happens

Old-Fashioned Picnic

Sunday, May 1 

Noon

Join us for a time of good food, fellowship and fun!

 We'll have lunch and then an assortment of activities as we emphasize stewardship and our ministry-action-budget. Make plans now to attend!