Pastor Tim Wood's Blog

The Garden Tomb - Empty!

2010-04-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of the Holy Land Tour is visiting the empty tomb in the Garden. I'm also including a link to a previous blog I wrote about the empty tomb.

Click here to read more about the empty tomb and the mercy seat.
http://www.evcsj.org/blogs/2009/04/mercy-seat-and-empty-tomb.html

Because He lives!
Pastor Tim

Mount of Olives (Palm Sunday)

2010-03-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

When you visit the Mount of Olives you realize that there is a 3,000 year old cemetery as you descend. That cemetery would have been there when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Bible says in Luke 19:39-40, Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
"I tell you", Jesus replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
What stones will cry out? The following video contains my answer to that question. Have a blessed Holy Week!

What language did Jesus speak?

2010-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

There were three languages prevalent in Jesus' time: Aramaic, Greek and Latin. We know Jesus spoke Aramaic, which was the Native language of His day. He probably spoke Greek and maybe some Latin as well. Actually, I believe Jesus could have spoken any language He wanted to. On our recent trip to Israel, I learned that there was an ancient language called Syriac Aramaic. The owner of the store we were visiting claims that this was the language that Jesus spoke. Many others have claimed this throughout the centuries as well. In this video, our host quotes the Lord's Prayer in Syriac Aramaic. Perhaps this is exactly the way Jesus would have spoke it.
The language that Jesus spoke may be controversial, but there is no disputing He understands every language.

The Way of Suffering

2010-03-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Via Dolorosa or "Way of Suffering", winds along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City. This is the traditional route that many believe Jesus followed bearing His cross from Pilate's Judgement Hall in the Antonia to Calvary Hill. There are 14 stations along this route. Some of them are not recorded in the Bible but come from Church tradition. This video does not show all 14 stations but hopefully it gives you a sense of this sacred route. We start at Ecce Homo Convent and end at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The stations include:
1)Jesus is condemned - John 18:28
2) Jesus takes up the cross - John 19:1,16
3)Jesus fall under the weight of the cross the first time (no Biblical reference)
4) Jesus meets His mother (no Biblical reference)
5) Simon, the Cyrene, forced to carry the cross - Mark 15:21
6)Veronica wipes Jesus face (no Biblical reference)
7)Jesus fall the second time (no Biblical reference)
8) Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem - Luke 23:28
9)Jesus falls a third time (no Biblical reference)
10)Jesus is stripped of his garments - John 19:23
11) Jesus is nailed to the cross - John 19:17
12)Jesus dies on the cross -Matthew 27:50
13) Jesus is taken down from the cross - Luke 25:53
14) Jesus is laid in a tomb - Matthew 27:59 (Stations 10 through 14 are all in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre).

On the Sea of Galilee

2010-03-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a video of the teaching I did on the Sea of Galilee. What a great spot to visit in Israel. I hope all of us can find rest even when we go through storms.

Streets of Old Jerusalem

2010-03-09T05:51:00.001-08:00

This video was shot while we were walking the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem. The Old City only covers 220 acres or 1 square kilometer. It has 11 gates, but only 7 are open: Jaffa, Lions (St. Stephens), Zion, Dung, Herod's, Damascus or Shechem and the New Gate. The Old City is divided into 4 quarters the Jewish, the Christian, the Armenian and the Muslim quarter. While we were walking the streets I couldn't help but remember how Jesus wept over this City. Jesus lamented,"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing" (Matthew 23:37).

The "Wailing" Wall

2010-03-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

The term "wailing" is actually a nickname for this sacred place in Jerusalem. Apparently, passers by would see the Jews praying at this wall with such intensity, that the term wailing best described what they saw. Actually, the "wailing wall" is the Western Wall. It's the part of the 2nd Temple (Herod's temple), that can seen above ground. It's one of the most visited spots in Jerusalem. People come from all around the world to pray here and to leave messages in the cracks of the wall.
I want to share two videos in this post. The first video is a reading from 2 Chronicles 6 when Solomon dedicates the Temple to God. The second video is an upclose look at the wall.
Finally, I'm so glad that we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb. 4:16). With Jesus Christ residing in the temple of our body, we can pray anywhere and have the confidence that God hears us!

Tunnel under the Western Wall

2010-03-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

The western wall has been exposed (above ground) for years. But now, you can go underneath the western wall and see the massive stones that Herod used to build the temple. Long sections of the southern wall of the Temple Mount and its southwestern corner were exposed during the 1970s, furnishing a comprehensive picture of the monumental Herodian walls surrounding the Temple Mount and the vast, planned areas of public construction outside of them.
The western wall of the Temple Mount, inside today's Old City of Jerusalem, is the longest - 485 meters. Most of its construction features, including the foundations and the four gates once located in it, are now known. Not far from the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount, the remains of "Robinson's Arch" can be seen projecting from the wall. This arch once supported a monumental staircase which gave access to the Temple Mount from the main street below it.
Today, you can see women and men praying in this tunnel which is thought to be the closest site near the "Holy of Holies". The "Western Stone" is an incredible site. This one stone is measured to be 13.5 meters long and 4.5 meters wide and weighs 570 tons. It's the largest contiguous stone along the western wall. Here's a quick video tour under the Temple Mount in Old Jerusalem.
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Beth Shean

2010-02-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Beth Shean is one of the Decapolis (deca=ten polis = cities). I always thought that these cities were located around the Sea of Galilee, but I was wrong. These cities are known for their strong Roman influence and you will be able to see (from the video) ruins that will remind you of Rome. Beth Shean is an ancient city rich in history. King Saul and his sons, who lost the battle against the Philistines at nearby Mount Gilboa, were hung from Beth Shean's city walls (1 Samuel 31). During the Byzantine period, Beth Shean served as the capital of Palestina Secunda. During the 8th century AD, the city was destroyed by a powerful earthquake. Beth Shean is one of Israel's most prominent archeological sites, with a Roman theater, the Roman Cardo (main street), giant columns, mosaics and many other impressive ruins. Parts of the movie, "Jesus Christ Superstar" were shot at this location.

One of the practical, spiritual applications for me, from this place, was how the mighty can fall. When people attempt to mix the living God and all kinds of other gods into their lives, it proves to be toxic. Beth Shean (House of Commotion) is a graphic reminder of that truth.

Caesarea Philippi

2010-02-22T11:38:00.000-08:00

13When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
15He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17-18Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. (Matthew 16:13-17 The Message)
This was one of the great sites we visted on our Holy Land tour. Named for the Greek god, Pan, Panias (or Banias in Arabic) was built as Caesarea Philippi by Philip, son of Herod, as one of the sources of the Jordan River. Today, this site is part of a national park full of loudly running tributaries and pistachio trees. It's a beautiful place to visit and full of Biblical significance. Niches are built into the massive rock for the gods of the Greek's. As you will see in this video, Jesus doesn't need a niche, He is the ROCK!

The power of a personal testimony

2010-02-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

We shot this video at Caesarea Maritima also known as Herod's harbor. This site was insignificant until Herod the Great began to develop it into a magnificent harbor befitting his kingdom. The harbor was built using materials that would allow the concrete to harden underwater. The forty-acre harbor would accommodate 300 ships, much larger than the modern harbor existing today. Caesarea is mentioned many times in the bible, especially in the book of Acts. Paul was sent here before he went to Rome. His testimony is what inspired this video.

What does it mean to be "BLESSED?"

2010-02-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

I was listening to a man interview Ozzie Osbourne this week. Ozzie has a new book out called, "I am Ozzie". His I am statement doesn't come close to Jesus' I Am statements. Anyway, the guy asked Ozzie, "Do you consider your life to be blessed or cursed?" Ozzie's reply was quite interesting. He basically said he considered his life to be blessed because he used to get high a lot and never got hurt. He used to drive drunk a lot and never crashed the car. He got to live out his dream of singing and playing before lots of people. Pretty sad. Ozzie thinks he is blessed because he hasn't crashed his car while driving high.
After that interview I wondered how people would define the word "blessed". We hear people say it all the time; especially at awards shows.
I believe Psalm 1 defines for us what it means to be blessed. Here it is in the NAS:

1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
This Psalm immediately draws us in with the words, "How Blessed". How can we be blessed? I believe the answer is to "delight in the law of the Lord". So, instead of finding his pleasure and satisfaction in the words and ways of the wicked, the blessed person delights in God's words and ways. And notice the benefits: We're fruitful - "yield fruit"; We're durable - "leaf doesn't wither" and we prosper. We should not confuse culture's definition of prosperity with God's. God's prosperity is eternal in scope.
So if someone asks you, "What does it mean to be blessed?" You can point them to Psalm 1. It means my life is planted in God's hands and He is making it fruitful, durable and prosperous. I hope Ozzie reads this.
BLESSED!
Pastor Tim

The Shepherd

2010-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

As I have been studying John 10 the past two weeks, my mind can't help but think of Psalm 23. A familiar Psalm to many people all over the world. A Psalm that is often quoted and reflected upon at the end of one's life. Children know this Psalm. It's easy to relate to young David's life out in the fields, watching over the flocks. No doubt, he reflected on the sheep and what it meant to be a shepherd. As he did, he composed this most magnificent piece of literature.
I believe it's more important to know the Shepherd of this Psalm than it is to know the Psalm. What does Psalm 23 teach us about the Shepherd?
1. That He provides for His flock. "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
2. That He directs His flock. "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake." Left to ourselves we are all wanderers. But God guides us so our lives can bring His name glory.
3. That He protects His flock. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." A valley was a place of danger because it afforded robbers and predators opportunities for ambush. Our Shepherd is with us, comforting us, so we don't have to fear any evil. God protects us in through the valley; we can't assume He will take us around the valley.
4. That He exalts His flock. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." God is a table setting God. He prepares His feast for us in the midst of the most trying circumstances. Instead of enemies pursuing us, we are now pursued by goodness and mercy. And if that's not enough; our Good Shepherd allows us to dwell in His house forever. Two worlds collide at the end of this Psalm. While on earth, God prepares a bountiful table for me, as a gracious host, He anoints my head with oil. My life is chased by goodness and mercy and finally, I get to live with Him forever.
Know the Psalm but more importantly, know the Shepherd. He's Good all the time.

Pastor Tim

When earthquakes will be no more

2010-01-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

With you, I am watching the news with a broken heart because of the devastation in Haiti. I know you are praying for God’s presence and peace on these suffering people. This Sunday, we are going to encourage you to give. As God leads you, bring an extra offering that will go to the relief effort in Haiti. Our staff is investigating the best places to invest these funds. Primarily, we will forward the financial gifts to Samaritan’s Purse. We give to this organization at Christmas time (Operation Christmas Child), and they have had a ministering presence in Haiti for years. So, please bring an extra offering, above your normal gifts, to help with this effort.
As I watch the devastation that an earthquake can bring, I long for the day when they earth won’t quake any more.
In Romans 8:18-21, the Bible says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Creation is subjected to frustration because of the curse of sin on this earth. Creation has become a sufferer and is endowed with decay and death. The animal world was invaded with fear and violence. The loveliest scenes in nature, while remaining beautiful, are also witness to bloody horrors. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, blights, avalanches, all stalk the earth. She is frustrated. This is why God will one day resurrect the earth. Someday earth will be delivered, earth will be liberated – that place will be new earth. Revelation 21:1 states, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. "
The New Earth will be devoid of any disasters, no diseases, no earthquakes and no need for relief funds because there is no need for relief. This place will be perfect.
When I see the groaning of this old earth, I long for the day when earthquakes will be no more.

Praying for God’s peace and presence for Haiti,
Pastor Tim

To learn more about Samaritan's Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

New Year's Resolutions for Men

2010-01-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

I’m not sure how I feel about New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps I need to resolve to be more decisive. I suppose my struggle is with the fact that change should be a regular part of our life, not a once a year part. We should strive to repent and move ahead throughout the year, not just once a year. I read an article by Steve Shaw (I don’t really know who this guy is), that listed his top ten New Year’s resolutions for men. I thought some his resolutions were really comical and many of them were temporal. I won’t comment on his entire list but for some I will offer a more eternal resolution.

#10 – Build a shelf. Huh? My first response was, “Do I have to?” Shaw’s point was that men should tackle a project, do something yourself. Build a shelf? That’s the best thing we can do? What am I supposed to put on the shelf? Men tend to shelf to many things as it is.
Here’s a more eternal resolution – Build a relationship with another godly man. Why not join the 12 men 12 weeks program at EVC?

#9 – Read a big book. I suppose Shaw believes that men only read little books – like a pocket book. His idea was to resolve to read, “War and Peace” or “Moby Dick”. He writes that this would improve our vocabulary.
A more eternal resolution – Read the Bible. It’s a really BIG BOOK and it will improve your life!

#8 – Make an appointment for a checkup. This is pretty solid advice. Why men don’t like to go the doctor is a real mystery.

#7- Go to a career conference. – Shaw points out that this is a great way to network with people and at many of these conferences you get great career advice.
A more eternal resolution – Bring your family to church every Sunday.

#6 – Devote some time to hobbies. I can’t really afford to play golf every day, can you?
A more eternal resolution – Devote some time to God every day. Like talking to Him (prayer), letting Him talk to you (Bible), and obeying what He tells you.

#5 – Do P90X. Yes you read that correctly. I have no idea. Is this code for put new tires on your truck?

#4 – Open a savings account. Maybe he should have wrote, “Get out of debt”. If you need help with money I’ve got two words for you – Dave Ramsey http://www.daveramsey.com/

#3 – Conquer a fear. This is a pretty solid resolution. A more eternal resolution – help someone find Christ as their Savior. I think most of us are a fearful to share our faith, but it’s one of the things the Bible asks us to do (Read Psalm 126: 5-6).

#2 – Help someone else. This was Shaw’s best resolution the one with the most eternal value to it. Like Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

#1 – Visit a new destination. I like to travel so this resolution that Shaw offered is pretty appealing. A more eternal resolution – “but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Is there a better destination than this prize? Is there a better resolution than pressing on for God? I don’t think so.

Happy New Year,
Pastor Tim

Reindeer games and Good News

2009-12-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

I found out some shocking news yesterday; Santa’s reindeer are all female. Can you believe that? I’m not sure I can celebrate Christmas now. I read an article that stated male and female reindeer both have antlers. I did not know that. The male reindeer shed their antlers in the winter. I did not know that. The female reindeer keep their antlers in the winter as a way to protect their young. I did not know that. So, most likely the reindeer guiding the sleigh are all female. This explains why Santa’s sleigh never gets lost; he’s being guided by females. I’m still going to celebrate Christmas even though the reindeer are female.
There are plenty of Christmas traditions that are not completely accurate. How about the tradition of celebrating Jesus birth on Dec. 25? Was Jesus born on Dec. 25? No one really knows, but it was most likely not December 25. The Bible says that there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8) and that would have been highly unlikely in the winter. Lambing (when sheep give birth), occurred in a short period of time between the middle of March to early April. Shepherds would “watch over” their flocks during this critical birthing season. This is most likely the time of Jesus’ birth. The “Lamb of God” was born when lambs are usually born.
It’s not when we celebrate Christ’s birth that’s important, it’s how. We celebrate because Jesus’ birth is the good news that God is providing for us salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s break down this good news the angels shared with the shepherds from Luke 2: 10-12.
1. Good news that means no fear – “Do not be afraid”
2. Good news that comes from God’s throne – “I bring you good news” This was unearthly good news.
3. Good news that brings great joy.
4. Good news that is global in scope – “for all people”
5. Good news that is current – “today”
6. Good news that is saving - “a Savior has been born”
7. Good news that is personal – “to you”
8. Good news that is Messianic – “He is Christ” which means the “Anointed One of God”.
9. Good news that is life changing – “the Lord” when we make Christ our Lord our lives are changed forever.
10. Good news that can be discovered – “you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”
11. Good news that allows us to worship – “Glory to God in the highest”
12. Good news that is to be shared – “they (shepherds) spread the word” verse 17.
Jesus’ birth is a celebration of Good News from God. We celebrate this all the time for all time. I don’t care if the reindeer are male or female – I’m still celebrating Christmas. It doesn’t matter to me when Jesus was born – what matters is why He was born. He was born to save me from my sin. That is reason to celebrate!

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Tim

Come, your hearts and voices raising

2009-12-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

A countless number of Christmas hymns have been composed throughout Christian history, but most of them have been lost to popular usage. "Come, your hearts and voices raising" probably doesn't make most top ten lists for Christmas carols, maybe not even a top 50 list. But this is a wonderful hymn of praise written by a little known hymnist named Paul Gerhardt. He was a prolific German hymn writer who gave Lutheranism some of its warmest songs of worship. Paul grew up in a village near Wittenberg, Germany, the son of the town mayor. This part of Germany was devastated during the Thirty Years’ War, and Paul’s childhood was marked by scenes of bloodshed and death. But he had a good mind and heart, and he was able to enroll at the University of Wittenberg at age 21.
After graduation, Paul found a job in Berlin tutoring children. During this time, encouraged by the choirmaster of Berlin’s St. Nicholas’ Church, he began writing hymns. In all, Gerhardt wrote 123 hymns, and his hymnody reflects the shift from the rugged theological hymns of Luther to the more subjective, devotional songs of the German Pietistic revival. Paul Gerhardt must have loved the Christmas season, for he wrote several beautiful nativity hymns. One of his most popular being Come, your hearts and voices raising. It begins:

Come, your hearts and voices raising,
Christ the Lord with gladness praising,
Loudly sing His love amazing,
Worthy folk of Christendom.

The idea of raising our hearts and voices in praise to the Lord at Christmas is about as biblical a theme as you can find. If you read through Luke 1 - 2, you will discover every person that was told of Jesus' birth to be praising God with their hearts and voices. Here are 7 examples:

1. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out with a loud voice. (1:39)
2. Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord. (1:46)
3. Zacharias said: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. (1:67)
4. The angels said: Glory to God in the highest. (2:13-14)
5. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God. (2:20)
6. Simeon held the Child in his arms and blessed God. (2:25)
7. Anna gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him. (2:36)

Seven times people were exposed to Christmas in Luke’s Gospel, and seven times they worshipped. Seven times their hearts were filled with praise and thanksgiving. Seven times they blessed the God of Israel and magnified the Lord.

And what about us? What is our response? Let's lift our hearts and voices to worship Christ our King!

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Tim

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

2009-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to Christmas music while driving in my car. KBAY plays Christmas songs 24/7. It seems like they play they same songs over and over. Are there only 40 or so Christmas songs? Perhaps there is only 40 good ones. I have the Jethro Tull Christmas album. You know, of Aqua Lung fame? It's quite different. KBAY does not play any Jehtro Tull Christmas songs. I've been told that writing new Christmas songs and having them become hits, is an almost impossible task. Why? Because people like the traditional carols at Christmas. Songs like: Silent Night, Joy to the World, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, Oh Holy Night etc...
There is an old, old, carol that you might not have heard of called, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" (KBAY doesn't play this one either). This sacred song dates back to the 14th Century, so it's very old. It's not one of the great theological carols but it has a great message. Here are the words:

Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella Bring a torch, come swiftly and run. Christ is born, tell the folk of the village, Jesus is sleeping in His cradle, Ah, ah, beautiful is the Mother, Ah, ah, beautiful is her Son.

Hasten now, good folk of the village, Hasten now, the Christ Child to see. You will find Him asleep in a manger, Quietly come and whisper softly, Hush, hush, peacefully now He slumbers, Hush, hush, peacefully now He sleeps.

The legend is that Jeanette and Isabella were two milkmaids who came upon the manger scene that first Christmas morning. They were so filled with excitement that they took their torches and ran to the village to spread the news that the newborn Christ was sleeping softly in the hay. The whole village, bearing torches, came to see the Christ-child. As I said, this isn’t one of our great theological Christmas carols, but it emphasizes two things—first that the great secret of that first Christmas wasn’t revealed to the theologians and clergymen and rabbis of the day, but to simple farming people—shepherds and milkmaids. And second, it speaks of the excitement we should feel as we come and see the newborn King and as we run to share the news with others.

The Bible says that after the shepherds saw baby Jesus they, "spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child" (Luke 2:17).

We, too, can be a witness of all the wonders that Christ brings into our lives. So, bring a torch and spread the news. "Today in the city of David a Savior has been born; He is Christ the Lord".

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Tim

Be good for goodness sake?

2009-12-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

The American Humanist Association came out with their 2009 Christmas advertising last week. The irony is this organization usually wages war against Christmas traditions. Things like manger scenes in public places, Christmas carols sung in schools etc...all under the banner of separation of church and state. As you can see, the AHA ad features a bunch of smiling revelers wearing Santa caps in a pitch that looks like just about every other holiday come-on, complete with red-and-green color scheme. But the giveaway is the jolly message broadcast in capital letters:"NO GOD?. . . NO PROBLEM!" The slogan is followed by a more traditional Christmas sentiment, "Be good for goodness sake," but with this kicker: "Humanism is the idea that you can be good without a belief in God."

Can you be good without a belief in God? Of course. Atheists can do good things based on what culture says is good. Compared to what others do I can do good things and look good. We usually compare our goodness with someone elses badness and that makes us look better, right? Goodness is not exclusive to Christianity. No religion has a monopoly on goodness.

But here's the thing the AHA is missing and maybe a lot of other people: Good people don't go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven. People who have had their sins washed away go to heaven. And isn't that exactly what Jesus, the Messiah, came to do? The angel told Joseph, "She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). In Mary's song (The Magnificat) she says, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46). What great messages, Jesus will save us from our sins; God is our Savior.
Christmas is not just about being good; it's about being forgiven by God's indescribable gift, Jesus Christ.

Be good for goodness sake? No. I'm good because God is gracious. I'm good with God through His Son Jesus, are you?

Being good with God makes me good for God's sake; all through the year!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Tim

PS - thanks Ginny for sending the article.

A Thanksgiving Psalm - 145

2009-11-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

I think Psalm 145 is a great Thanksgiving Psalm. This is a psalm of David. It’s an alphabetic acrostic. Each verse begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. It was a way for people to remember the Psalm. In this Psalm it is God who is brought to memory in thanksgiving praise. There are no requests in this psalm. There are no confessions. This psalm is full of praise for God and to God. David writes in verses 1 and 2:

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Notice the intention of David to gratefully praise God - "I Will". It is up to us to make a choice to praise God for His blessings. We should make this choice everyday. God is worthy of my praise to Him everyday; not just at Thanksgiving, or on Sunday. Not only is God worthy, but I need to praise God every day. It refocuses my attention. It sharpens my spiritual edge. C.S. Lewis wrote, “We praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes our enjoyment.” Thanking God completes my enjoyment in God.

I noticed 4 areas in Psalm 145 for which I can be grateful to God:

1. God is great! - verses 3-6
2. God is good! - verses 7 - 9
3. God's kingdom is glorious! - verses 11-13

4. God is gracious! - verses 14 - 16

I hope you will reflect on Psalm 145 this Thanksgiving. It's good to give thanks to the Lord.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Tim

No One knows the day or the hour...not even the Mayan's.

2009-11-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

I remember in August of 1988, after church one Sunday, several people came up to me with a little booklet in their hands. The 86 page booklet was distributed on cars in the parking lot during church ( all 12 of them. I had a really small church back then). The booklet was written by Edgar C. Whisenant and the title of it was, "88 Reasons Why the Rapture will take place in 1988." I later found out who distributed these booklets. His name was Apostle Doug. I had a few interesting conversations with him. I remember telling him, "Doug, Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour when the Son of Man shall appear. Not even the angels in heaven know. Jesus said that not even He knows the day or the hour, only the Father knows." I was loosely quoting Matthew 24: 36-41 to him. He replied to me, "We don't know the day or the hour but we do know the month and the year."
Apparently Apostle Doug and Mr. Whisenant didn't know the month or the year either. Interestingly, Edgar wrote another booklet in 1989. In this booklet he claimed that his math was off by one year, so 1989 would be the year of the rapture of the Church. Hmmmm. In 1988, 88 Reasons sold 4.5 million copies. I know Apostle Doug bought 12. Today, 88 reasons is not selling so well. In the 89 version, the one with the new, correct math, Mr. Whisenant made this statement, "Jesus is coming again. I will give a 50% chance that He will come again in 1989."
I would say that Edgar was half right, wouldn't you?
Jesus did say, "No one (human being), knows that day or hour"....and He was referring to heaven and earth passing away. No one includes Bible scholars who make time lines. No one includes people like Edgar Whisenant or Apostle Doug or Pastor Tim. No one includes Mayan people who have their own calendar. I can't believe the uproar about this movie, "2012", which is supposed to be an end times epic based on the Mayan calendar running out of days in 2012. I have one word for this movie - FICTION! Not even the Mayan people know when the end of time will be.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night..." One thing about thieves, they don't tell you when they are coming, they surprise you. They don't give you a timeline to let you know when to expect them, they come when you least expect it. In the Matthew 24 passage, Jesus said His coming would be like in the days before the flood. People were eating, drinking, marrying, up until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing about the flood until it came and took them away. People were simply living life without acknowledging God and the flood surprised them. Jesus said, "Therefore keep watch" (v. 42) and "you also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him" (verse 44).
Now that's wise - keep watch and be ready. I think I'm going to write this booklet, "88 Ways to Be Ready for the Lord's Return". #1 - Receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord.
You'll have to buy the book to learn the other ways. Or maybe I'll contact Apostle Doug and see if he can distribute some books for me.

Looking Up,
Pastor Tim

A Prayer for our Veterans

2009-11-11T15:42:00.001-08:00

Today is Veteran's Day and for Christian people it is a reminder to pray for our troops. We should faithfully pray for our best, brightest and bravest that are daily sacrificing for us. Here is my prayer for them and I hope you will be faithful to pray as well.

Father,
We pray Your blessing on the many soldiers who have served our Country and who are serving our Country.

We ask Your healing upon those who are scarred by battle. We ask for Your peace upon those who wake up at night in fear.

We ask for Your protection upon those who are currently serving on foreign soil. Shield them and protect them and bring them home.

We pray for peace in the land they are fighting. We ask for Your wisdom upon those who lead our soldiers. We pray that You would divinely guide them.

And finally, we long for the day when all wars will cease. We look forward to the day when "swords will be beat into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. When nations will not take up swords against nations, nor will they train for war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4).

In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray, the Prince of Peace,

Amen.

Why the Yankees won the World Series

2009-11-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

You might think it was their $210 million payroll. Or the fact that Galley prays for them everyday. Or that Hideki Matsui got really hot at that right time. Or the mystique of their pin-striped suits. None of these are the reason the Yankees won number 27. It's because their coach is such a nice guy. Here's what happened to Joe Girardi after game 6.

Just hours after guiding the Yankees to their 27th World Series title, Girardi stopped to help a woman who had lost control of her car on the Cross County Parkway and crashed into a wall, according to a report in the Westchester Journal.
"The guy wins the World Series, what does he do? He stops to help," said Westchester County police officer Kathleen Cristiano, who was among the first to arrive at the accident scene. "It was totally surreal."
According to the paper, Girardi had recently passed through a DUI checkpoint on the parkway, where he was congratulated by Cristiano, who was one of the officers working the checkpoint. A short time later, a 911 call came in about an accident just up the road, so the policemen at the checkpoint left to help. By the time they arrived on the scene, Girardi had already helped the woman out of her crashed vehicle.
"He was jumping up and down, trying to flag me down," Cristiano said. "You don't expect him standing by a car accident trying to help."
Girardi had to cross on foot the traffic-filled parkway from where he stopped his car and where the crash had occurred.
Once help arrived, Girardi told them he "had to get going," according to the paper.
Cristiano and the crash victim, Marie Henry, both thanked Girardi and watched as he ran across traffic again to reach his car.
"He could have gotten killed," county Sgt. Thomas McGurn said, adding that responding police units take extra precaution in that area because of the blind curve and speeding cars. "Traffic goes by at 80 mph."

Hey, even a Yankee can be a Good Samaritan. Way to go Joe and congratulations Yankees.

Next year, maybe the Giants will win. We all win when we stop and help.

Pastor Tim

Dressing up like Jesus - every day

2009-10-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

On Oct. 31, 2008, eighth grader Alex Woinski was sent home from school. School officials said that his Halloween costume was disrupting the other students at the Paramus, New Jersey middle school. Alex dressed up like Jesus. Alex was decked out in sandals, a robe a fake beard and a crown of thorns. Alex was joining 500 other students at his school’s Halloween celebration, and on this day, he was the chosen one to go home. Alex said he wore the costume because his friends told him his long hair makes him look like Jesus. The students that were interviewed said that they were not offended by his costume. School officials said that too many students were drawn to the costume and it became a distraction. One school official said, “The children were asking where is the boy who is Jesus Christ? It was disrupting the education process.” The school said the costume was a disruption and denies its religious nature had anything to do with Alex being sent home. Yeah, right. No witches, demons, ghosts or goblins were sent home, only Jesus.
I love that fact that the students were drawn to Jesus. There is something magnetic about His presence. There is something compelling about His character. Wouldn’t Jesus be a wonderful disruption to anyone’s day? I can think of hundreds of distractions that would be far worse, can’t you? Just picture children raising their hands in class and asking, “Can we see Jesus?”
This is a year old story, but it has a present day application. Shouldn’t we dress up like Jesus every day? Shouldn’t we clothe ourselves with His character? We don’t need to wear sandals and a fake beard, but we do need to clothe ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). These are character traits of Jesus that should shine through our lives so others can see Jesus in us. Every day is a perfect day to dress up like Jesus. What a great distraction Jesus is to an otherwise routine day.
By the way, Alex Woinski said he “resurrected” his costume on Friday night and received a whole bunch of candy.

Putting on Christ every day,
Pastor Tim

Better than Sominex

2009-10-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Suppose I asked you to name two or three of the greatest acts of faith in the Bible, what would you name? You might think of Abraham leaving his country to follow God to an unknown place. You might mention Noah building an ark in the middle of the desert. You might tell me of Elijah on Mt. Carmel against 450 prophets of Baal praying a simple but faith filled prayer to God. Or maybe you would think of Peter walking on the water or Paul filling Asia Minor with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But I would like to suggest that one of the greatest acts of faith in the Bible is David lying down and going to sleep at night. He's under tremendous pressure and in Psalm 3: 5-6 he journals this: "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side." Sometimes there is no greater act of faith than falling asleep. When our lives are filled with pressure and tension, it's faith in God's care that allows us to sleep. I often think of Jesus asleep on the boat in the middle of a huge storm. His disciples are fearfully awake and Jesus is peacefully asleep. What a picture of faith.

Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Navigators, would share four letters with those he was discipling: HWLW. It stood for His Word the Last Word. It was a reminder that before you go to sleep you should think about a verse in the Bible that God gave you that day. Trotman knew that the last dominant conscious thought in the human mind at the end of the day would inevitably simmer in the subconscious during sleep and help shape the attitude and personality of the heart. And he was right. If you want to hide God’s word in your heart, go to sleep while meditating on a verse of Scripture. It seeps into your subconscious mind and helps shape your soul. You’ll sleep better, and wake up the next morning more refreshed. Charles Spurgeon used to say that Bible verses make good pillows.

David expressed faith in God by being able to sleep through a stormy time in his life. In Psalm 4:8 he wrote, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

So tonight, before you go to sleep, HWLW.

Good night and God bless,

Pastor Tim