Pastor Roger's Blog

February 27, 2009

Hi Friends,

 

                What’s under the hood?  A friend pulls up in a new sports car or a rebuilt hotrod.  My first question is to ask what is under the hood?  What size is the engine?  Horsepower?  Cubic inches?  I am not a mechanic at all, but I understand the basic measurements of an engine.  Imagine lifting the hood of a car only to find that there is no engine there at all.  Imagine a car that was only good for coasting downhill.  Great on mileage as long as your destination was always closer to sea level!  Other than that a total and frustrating waste of time.

 

                Now that I think about it, it does strike me as interesting that I seldom have conversations with friends where we talk about what is “under the hood’ spiritually.  Funny, isn’t it, that we have so few conversations with one another inquiring about our soul strength.  I wonder if we dare invite our closest friends to come to us at any time and simply ask, how is it with your soul?  How is your heart doing today?

 

                I have learned the hard way that I cannot be like Jesus in my own strength.  The Jesus life cannot be lived by our own might and power.  It can only be realized by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through our lives.  This Sunday, March 1^st, we begin a new four week series on “Understanding the Holy Spirit”.  It is my prayer that over these next four weeks we will have more than an intellectual understanding of the Holy Spirit.  I pray that we will know the power of the Holy Spirit daily filling our hearts and living within us.  This is what I desperately need for my own life.

 

                So to all of my friends who may actually read this, please feel free to walk up and ask me “what’s under my hood”?  Go ahead and ask me how my soul is doing.  I welcome the encouragement.  Oh, and don’t be surprised if I return the favor and ask about your heart as well.  Imagine the influence of the Holy Spirit at work in and through each of our lives together.  Wow – an Acts 2 church at Deer Flat!  Love you.

 

A friend,

Roger

The Healing of Our Nation - When God Hears

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February 20, 2009

Hi Friends,

 

This Sunday, February 22^nd, we will conclude our series from 2 Chronicles 7:14 on “The Healing of our Nation”.  This week we will celebrate the Good News of God’s promise of what happens when God hears our prayers.  As we – the people called by His name – humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways the Word of God tells us that God will hear our prayers.  He will forgive our sin.  And God will heal our land.

 

Imagine with me – our nation renewed by the Spirit of God.  Imagine with me – the Spirit of God reviving the soul of America.  Our lives can have an eternal influence.  As we learn to love God and to love others as Jesus loves us the Spirit of God will bless us with greater presence and power in our witness to a watching world.  Our lives together can offer living proof of a loving God to a watching world.  Our neighbors may be tired of church but they will be thrilled as they come to hear and know and love the voice of Jesus.

 

May Christ shine on you.

 

A friend,

Roger

The Healing of Our Nation - If We Turn from Our Wicked Ways

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February 13, 2009

Hi Friends,

 

                This Sunday, February 15^th, we continue our series on ‘The Healing of our Nation” as we go deeper into 2 Chronicles 7:14.  Our focus this week is to ask the Spirit of God what it means for the church – the people of God called by His Name – to turn from our wicked ways.  What do you think?  Does the church ever get it wrong?  There is great joy in being like Jesus and helping others be like Jesus.  And as a Deer Flat family we give God praise and thanks for all of the God things that we see happening all around us.  But what about those times and moments when the church doesn’t love like Jesus loved?  What about those times when I do not love like Jesus loved?  How should we respond?

 

                As you pray for our service this Sunday, I invite you to consider this focus:  Is the Spirit of God encouraging any of us to offer a prayer of personal confession and repentance for the moments and times when we have not loved like Jesus?  Is the Spirit of God encouraging any of us to offer a prayer confessing and repenting on behalf of the church for the moments and times when we as the people of God have not loved like Jesus?  Is the Spirit of God encouraging any of us to offer a prayer for those that have been hurt by the church in those moments and times when we have not loved like Jesus?

 

                I believe that God wants to unleash His Spirit in and through the church for the healing of our nation and the soul of America.  And I believe that God is watching and listening for the faithful and obedient response of the people called by His name – the church.

 

A friend,

Roger

 

 

The Healing of Our Nation - If We Seek the Face of God

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February 6, 2009

Hi Friends,

How is the soul of America?  What is the greatest social need of our nation?  There are many legitimate pressing and overwhelming social needs facing our beloved nation.  In my message this Sunday I will try to identify what I believe God would suggest is our greatest social need.

This Sunday we will be continuing our series on “Healing for our Nation” as we look at 2 Chronicles 7:14.  What happens if we seek the face of God?  I want us to understand what it means to seek the face of God together.  As a part of this message we will consider the promises in the Bible of what happens when we seek His face.  Have you ever stopped to ask if God ever withdraws His face from His people?  And if God might do this, what would cause Him to do this?  And what happens when God withdraws His face from us?

I am expectantly awaiting our worship time this Sunday morning.  I believe God has a Word for us about how He would have us seek His face.    I invite you to pray with me that God will prepare our hearts to hear His voice for His people as we meet together in praise and worship.

A friend,

Roger

The Healing of Our Nation - If We are God's People

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