Finding out what serving as a family means
This is a great quote that God had me “accidentally stumble across this evening…
“The job description of the preacher, in other words, is not to say many different things but to say the same thing over and over again in many different ways. We have one main message to declare: “Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).”
Tullian Tchividjian (Grandson of Billy Graham)
Casey
Romans 1:16
So every spare moment we have had this week has been spent getting our garden tilled, and planted. I havent measured it, but Hope estimates that it is roughly 10 ft by 30 ft. We are planting garlic, green onions, different herbs, lettuces, cucumbers, potatoes, and, because its me, hot peppers.
We have not been able to do a garden in previous years because of our apartments. Not that we were in apartments, but the one we were in did not receive direct sunlight and the few things we tried to plant did not work out (with the exception of rosemary, that did wonderful!).
This year, because of where we are the biggest problem is going to be making sure the deer dont eat it all before we do! I can not wait for it to grow and the fresh foods and the canning and all of it! Im sure we will be sharing pictures of it as it is coming along.
Casey
James 1:17
So Im am prepping to do my next sermon on May 18th and I will be preaching on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I will post the passage here from Luke 10:25-37. What do you take from this? I want to hear the obvious as well as the deeper, not so obvious…
Its the greatest time of year. Spring Training is over. The smell of freshly cut grass and hotdogs and peanuts are in the year. Every team has a chance, Its opening Day.
But withe baseball (FINALLY!!!!) back, I thought I would share some wonderful quotes (mostly the same as last year, but I hope to add some more throughout the day) and a video at the end that gives me goose bumps every time I watch it. Do you have nay great quotes to add? I’d love to hear them in the comments section below.
You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you.- Roy Campanella
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. ~A. Bartlett Giamatti, “The Green Fields of the Mind,” Yale Alumni Magazine, November 1977
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
“Character, Courage, Loyalty.”
Little League Motto
One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something- Nolan Ryan
Don’t tell me about the world. Not today. It’s springtime and they’re knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball. ~Pete Hamill
That’s the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball. ~Bill Veeck, 1976
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
Baseball is beautiful….the supreme performing art. It combines in perfect harmony the magnificent features of ballet, drama, art, and ingenuity.-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn
Casey
Proverbs 16:3
What Lent is and what it is not
There is a lot of confusion out there about what Lent is and what it is not. This is my attempt to clarify things. First, Lent is not mentioned in the Bible. It is an extra biblical tradition, and if done with the right heart, one of the best ones, in my opinion.
What it is not: Lent is not a time to change yourself, though it may have that effect. It is not a time to change the world, though we should be trying to do that. It is not a way to prove how good of a Christian or how disciplined you are. It is not a way to earn righteousness or favor with God.
What Lent is: Lent is primarily about remembering Jesus sacrifice for us. It combines two sacrifices he made, with one obviously infinitely more important than the other. Jesus, while preparing for his ministry, spent 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and praying. At the end of the 40 days, Jesus was able to refute the temptations that Satan provide him with. This is where we get the 40 days of Lent.
But Jesus also sacrificed his body and his life to defeat sin and death and so that we would have the opportunity for eternal salvation. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice. He died on Good Friday and was raised up on Easter Sunday. This date is the most important date in the history of the worlds and is one of joyous celebration for Christians around the world. We end the period of Lent on Easter Sunday as a celebration that Jesus sacrifices was completed and successful.
The reason to practice Lent: Lent is intended to be a way for us to remember how hard the sacrifice was that Jesus made. We have a tendency to take for granted the historical fact that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead. We forget just how much of an effect this has on us. Lent is a way for us to get closer to God, to align ourselves with God’s will and most importantly, to remember the ultimate sacrifice that was made on our behalf.
How to practice Lent: These are just going to be some principals on how to implement this so as not become legalistic. It is meant to give some ideas, not to be a rule book or a checklist. If you give up something that you purchase, such as Starbucks, or ice cream, use the money you would spend and donate it to a charity or to your church. When you give this money over, remember 2 things; first, it was not your money anyway. God gave it to you and now you are giving some back. Second, the money and the coffee you are sacrificing is nothing compared to the sacrifice that Jesus gave in our place. If you are giving up a hobby or a meal or something that takes time, take the time that you would be eating lunch and use it to study the Word, or pray.
Again, the point of Lent is to remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ, who is God, came down from heaven as a man, lived a perfect life, committed no sin, died on the cross to pay the price for our sin, and rose from the dead to defeat Satan, sin and death. Live this and celebrate this.
Casey
Hebrews 10:1-18
So here is the follow up to my sermon on Genesis 13. This ism y sermon on Genesis 14! Its names you can never pronounce, more than you ever thought you would hear about Melchizedek and learning that people cant change before they meet Jesus, they need Jesus in order to change.
Thanks ahead of time for the feedback!
Casey
Proverbs 8:1-11
So this past Sunday, February 23rd, I preached on Genesis 13, where Abram and Lot went there separate ways. Im pretty proud of the content, even though i can find many critiques about my delivery. What feedback do you all have?
Casey
Matthew 6:25-34
So when we moved up to the base of Mt St Helens, we were told to expect rain (more than the Portland Metro area), wind (east winds are strong here) and snow. We are at the base of the mountain after all. And in the month and a half that we have been up here, we have gotten a little bit.
The first week we got an inch that the kids were able to go out and have a blast in, so we were already getting more than we normally would back down in Portland.
After that we have gotten a few dustings, but this has been the driest winter on record up to this point.
Then this morning happened…
And we got it the wind with it too. Our car is parked completely under a carport and still looks like this…
The car ended the night with three inches of snow on it. Under the carport.
Now we are told to expect another round tomorrow night. The pastor here has pics of two or three winters ago where the snow is stacked so highyou cant see out of any of the windows in the church. Right now its beautful outside…
But the kids are gonna have a blast tomorrow, I can promise you that!
Oh, and Minnesotans, you are free to laugh at us right now, Hope is!
Casey
Psalm 148:8
So The passage from Ephesians about putting on the Armor of God has been coming up a lot in the last few weeks and so I went back to my old blog and adapted this post and revised it for current posting.
Ephesians 6:10-20
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
How often do we dress ourselves in the WHOLE armor of God. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with readiness and peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and prayer.
Look at those pieces;
Truth
Righteousness
Readiness
Peace
Faith
Salvation
The Word of God
Prayer.
These are the things that we need to dress ourselves with everyday. These will help us win our battle against the powers and principalities, the spiritual forces of darkness. How often do we believe the truth but not pray, or have peace about our salvation? Each of these things individually does not do a lot to help us. That is why we need the WHOLE armor of God.
Another thing to note when looking at these things is that all of them are defensive, protection items except for one, “The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” The sword is an offensive weapon. When Satan is tempting Jesus in the desert, Jesus attacks him and rebukes him with the Word of God. The single most important thing a Christian can do to stay walking with God is to stay immersed in his word.
Each day remember to focus on truth, righteousness, peace, readiness, faith, salvation, prayer and the Word of God.
Casey
Matthew 10:34