Pastor Roger's Blog

August 28, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
This Sunday, August 30th, we conclude our series on The End Times by looking at our Final Destiny.  This week we are studying God's Word regarding heaven, hell and the Kingdom of God.  Did you know there are three words used in the New Testament for hell?  Did you know that one of these words is used to refer to a place reserved for the fallen angels?  And heaven - is it a place or a state of being?  How long will it take to get there?  And what makes heaven so special?  And if we are there for eternity (and just how long is that?), what will we be doing for all of that time?
 
I hope you can join us.  Have a great weekend.
 
A friend,
Roger

August 21, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
One more summer swelter as the thermometer reaches triple digits!  Summer is winding down as classrooms are back in use once again.
 
This Sunday, August 23rd, we continue our series on the end times with a look at judgment.  Now that's a topic that makes everyone want to be sure to get to church to hear what the preacher has to say!  But ... if Jesus is coming again, and if we will all have to one day stand before His throne and give an account for our lives ... perhaps we should know what the final judgment is all about.  I promise this - no emotional, fear-driven manipulation.  No one loves us more than Jesus.  Let's just look at the Bible and see what Jesus says to us about that moment.  Hope to see you Sunday.
 
A friend,
Roger

July 31, 2009

Hi friends,
 
Did you hear about the seven year old boy in Utah who thought it was too hot to go to church last Sunday so he hopped in the family car and drove himself home?  Local police soon spotting him driving through stop signs. They followed the boy on a slow speed ten block chase, which ended as the boy pulled into his driveway.  He hopped out of the car and ran into his house to hide!
 
Too hot for church.  This week we begin our traditional August "Ask Pastor Roger" sermon series.  By popular demand, our sermons this month will be on "The End Times".  I find this to be quite interesting.  Here's why - since the death and ascension of Jesus every generation has been absolutely convinced that they lived in "the end times" and that Jesus was about to return at any time.
 
I also find it interesting that Jesus - as the Son of God - admitted that even He didn't know the time of His return.  Only God the Father knew.  Jesus said that it would come as a surprise - like a thief in the night.  Bottom line - Jesus said that we should live so that we are ready for whatever time He may return. 
 
I am looking forward to this series.  It should be great fun.  Hope you can join us.  We will have the air conditioning on so that it doesn't get too hot!  :)
 
A friend,
Roger 

July 24, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
Any one thirsty?  It's getting warm outside!  When we go out to eat, Ellen's favorite drink is an "Arnold Palmer".  No, it is not  a libation.  It is simply a mix of ice tea and lemonade.  It is a refreshing thirst quencher when in a tall glass chilled with ice cubes on these hot summer days.
 
Can you remember as a kid trying to get a drink on a hot sunny afternoon from the garden hose?  It turned out to be an adventure, especially if one of your brothers was holding the hose for you!  "Here, I'll help", he says!  You ended up with a face full of water so forceful that you could hardly swallow.  It never did much to quench your thirst, did it?
 
This Sunday, July 26th, we complete our series on "Approved" as we study 2 Timothy 4.  Verse 6 of this chapter talks about being poured out like a drink offering.  Sometimes my life feels as if it is being poured carefully, as if filling a glass of ice tea.  At other times my life has felt like it was being poured out as if through a fire hose.  Part of the problem is that I am seldom in control of how my life is being poured out.  Is there a way to live so that we might be poured out to the glory of God?
 
I hope to see you Sunday.  Come thirsty!
 
A friend,
Roger

July 17, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
I am thinking of starting a car dealership.  Not just any car dealership though.  Stop by this Sunday, July 19th, for worship to hear more.  We will have a special guest appearance by Matthew West (via YouTube).  Have you ever felt as if you were simply going through the motions?  You are not alone.  This Sunday we dig into 2 Timothy 3 as the Bible teaches us about the last days and the lives we should live.  And as a part of the message I am going to suggest that we cancel any further Bible studies.  At least until we change our approach to the Bible. The real question is can we handle the Truth (can you hear the echo of Nicholson in A Few Good Men)?
 
Worship this Sunday is going to be awesome.  And best of all, God promises to be with us.  Hope to see you then.
 
A friend,
Roger 

July 10, 2009

Hi Friends,

Whatever your taste in music, most will admit that Michael Jackson was a cultural phenomenon.  Grieving Jackson fans have been holding candlelight vigils at the Neverland Ranch while others were hoping for a ticket to his memorial service.  And we have endured almost non-stop live television coverage of it all.

Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic Monthly wrote this: “(Michael Jackson) was everything our culture worships; and yet he was desperately unhappy, tortured, afraid and alone”.  Jackson was a creature of our culture, which puts fame and celebrity at its core, with money as its driving force, without regard for the person caught up in it or the character he exhibits.  Jackson achieved the summit of what our culture values most – fame – and paid for it in many ways. 

This past week we read of the murder suicide of a retired star athlete and his girl friend.  Steve McNair was an All-Pro quarterback and MVP.  He was married with four sons.  McNair was highly respected in his community and across the NFL.  But in his death we discover that he had a dark side.  He leaves a grieving wife and four sons who are left to sort out their grief, not only at his loss, but at his secret life.

Life is filled with teaching moments.  What do we really want out of life?  If we are in pursuit of success, then how do we define success?  Whose approval are we seeking?  This Sunday we open our Bibles to 2 Timothy 2:1-7 to look at what is required to know approval in the eyes of God.  Do you know and are you walking the path to your potential in Jesus?

A friend,

Roger

July 3, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
Freedom!  As a veteran I join fellow Americans in celebrating our freedom as a nation.  The weekend will be filled with family and friends gathering for barbecues and firework displays.  This Sunday, July 6th, we will also celebrate our freedom in Jesus as we gather for worship.  We begin a new series called "Approved" as we study 2 Timothy.  This week we are considering the call of God's Word to live life so that we are not ashamed.  And after second service we will be enjoying an all church picnic with games and fun for the entire family.  Enjoy the weekend,
 
A friend,
Roger

June 26, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
This Sunday, June 28th, we complete our series on "Heroes" as we look at Job.  What a messed up story!  One day Job has everything life can offer and in one afternoon it is all taken away.  But as unbelievable as that seems, I am even more amazed at how Job responds.  I think I am more stunned at Job's response to all of the tragedy in his life than I am at the tragedies themselves.  As we study Job's story, we will also look at how the devil attacked him through these tragedies.  And then we have to ask God to show us how this may apply to real life, real time for each of us.  There continues to be bad stuff happening to good people all around us.  How are we responding?  And how are we holding up against the attacks of the enemy?  And what does all of this have to do with worship? 
 
See you Sunday.
 
A friend,
Roger

June 19, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
Happy Father's Day to the dads among us.  And as we celebrate our fathers, we also offer a heartfelt prayer for those who have recently lost their fathers, those who have absent fathers, and those who long to be a father. 
 
Every father has an opportunity to be a man of blessing.  This Sunday, June 21st, we continue our series on "Heroes" as we look at Isaac.  I find it interesting that Isaac was a man with so many flaws, yet a man who passed on blessing to his family.  I want us to carefully consider how that happened for him - and how it can happen for us today. 
 
As a part of our service we will celebrate Chelsie's story, share Father's Day poems from kids without dads, ponder a quote from Kurt Cobain (yeah - the grunge rocker), ask why the bear jumped off the bridge and consider a new support group that I am thinking about starting as a founding member.
 
On the journey to be a father of blessing ...   
 
A friend,
Roger

June 12, 2009

Hi Friends,
 
This Sunday, June 14th, we continue our series on Heroes as we consider Ruth's life of service.  What should we do when life doesn't turn out as we had hoped?  Rather than take care of family, some take it out on family.  Others, remarkably, begin loving and serving their community and neighbors even in the midst of their own loss and suffering.  This week we will look at the story of Ruth and ask God to show us biblical lessons that can make a difference in our lives when life doesn't turn out the way we expected.
 
A friend,

Roger