As far back as Genesis 12 God said that he would make a great nation.  He as much as said so to Abraham who is referred to as the father of the Jewish nation.  Because of a great famine the people of God wound up being in bondage in Egypt for four hundred years.  God had told Abraham that this would happen. (Genesis 15:13)  
     The story of Moses and the pilgrimage from Egypt is a familiar one.  God has brought his people out of bondage.  He says as much in Exodus 20:2.  In fact, this is the very introduction to the Ten Commandments.  "I am the Lord thy God, which has brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
     God has redeemed his people and now they are returning to the promised land.  God must have looked at them and realized that some changes needed to take place.  The first thing that he asked for was some respect.  The first four statements he makes have to do with Him:  no other gods before Him, no graven images, no bowing down to them, and don't take the His name in vain.
     The last six have to do with how other people are to be treated:  honor your parents, don't kill or commit adultery, don't steal or bear false witness,   and don't covet your neighbor's possessions.  Those are the ten  commandments.
     Four hundred years they spent in bondage.  Four hundred years among pagan worshipers.  Four hundred years of mistreatment.  Is it any wonder that God wanted his people to write these commandments on their hearts so that they could have a better life than the one they had been in.    ​

​     Sometimes, trying to imagine the circumstances of a verse helps to bring it to life.  Luke 13:1 is just such a verse.  The setting is obviously an informal occasion that people are gathered around and just talking about the news of the day.  Probably much like today.  The news is that Pilate has sacrificed some Galileans in their synagogue and mingled their blood with the blood of their sacrifices.  It's not so much that these Galileans have been murdered but that Pilate was bold enough to desecrate their holy place where they carried out their own sacrifices.
     Jesus must have read something in their speech because he responds with a question that seems odd.  It's "Do you think those Galileans were the worst of the worst because of the way they suffered?"  It seems strange but the next verse straightens out the conundrum.  Jesus, aware that they may be trying to score some points by talking about mingling of the sacrifices, turns the occasion into one of reflecting on one's own repentance.  Verse 3, "If you don't all repent, you'll all perish."
     Pastor Josh went on to say, "Dying without God is an awful thing.  Repent.  Try Jesus, if you don't like him, I'm sure the devil will take you  back.  Hell is full of those with good intentions because none of us knows when the last second might be."
     Jesus goes on in verse 4 and cites another example.  There was another tragic event that he refers to.  The tower in Siloam fell and killed 18 people.  Jesus supposed again, "Do you think they were the most terrible people in Jerusalem because the tower fell on them?  Not hardly.  The same thing can happen to you.  Repent." (verse 5)  His concern was for those standing around sharing the news with him.  Not the ones already dead.
     There are no guarantees in this world.  We live on an earth that can be the scene of earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and disasters of all kinds--both natural and manmade.  "Boast not of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1)

     Once upon a time everyone knew who the Andy Griffith Show was and that Mayberry was the town that Andy was the sheriff of.  Reruns of the old episodes can still be watched even today.  Opie was the sheriff's young son.  Our pastor quotes from these episodes from time to time during his sermons.  He did so in this particular sermon.
     Andy told Opie, "Plain talk is easy understood."  "Let's get it straight," said Pastor Josh, "today, it's still the same."  That was the opening of the sermon from John 16:29-33.  
     The scripture takes place shortly before Jesus is apprehended and crucified.  These are his last moments with his beloved disciples.  He is preparing them for what is to come and in verse 29 they reply that what he has said is plain.  And they are convinced that he is who he said he is--the Messiah who came from God.
     His final warning is that they will be scattered and suffer many tribulations.  But, not to worry, his peace will be with them.  Jesus knew how important it was for his followers to understand that peace is not a result of no problems or tribulations.  It's a result of having faith that he will be with them in the midst of problems and tribulations.  His final words to them, "In the world you will have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."   ​

     "Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."  Words spoken by Jesus.  (Luke 13:24)  This was in response to someone in the crowd asking him if there are few that would be saved.  Now, Pastor Josh is a coach.  And, just naturally coaches know what a reverse play is in football.  For those of us not quite in the know, it's a play that is set up to throw the other team into thinking the ball is going one way when it's going the other.  This may not be a totally accurate definition but it's understandable.
     The text of the sermon was taken from Luke 13:25-30.  It's a sad passage about what will happen to those who will try to get into the Master's house once the door is shut.  Our pastor pointed out that society has pulled a reversal on us.  Present-day morals has been turned on its' head and what was wholesome and good is seen as evil and bad.  "Good and evil still exist.  There is a very real devil and a very real God.  It doesn't matter what society says is good or bad, stand for what is right." said Pastor Josh.
     Noah preached for one hundred years that the world was going to be destroyed.  The drought went on.  Preachers today are pleading with people that they should repent and believe.  "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:37)  Pastor Josh continued, "Hell is going to burn hot for those who don't believe."
     The day finally came and the Ark was complete.  All mankind needed to do was get on the boat.  They would be saved.  All they had to do was believe Noah's message.  They would be saved.  God shut Noah in. (Genesis 7:16)  The rain started.  Then people realized Noah's truth.  But it was too late.  The door was shut.
     Jesus warns the people in Luke 13:25-30.  There's a day coming when Christ will shut the door.  God will judge the world.  He will not let wrong be right and right be wrong. ​

​     Pastor Josh, he sees the heavenly message in the trials of life.  His sermons are littered with places he's been, things he's listened to, and his personal experiences.  This Sunday sermon was no exception.  The sermon opened with his recent trip to St. Louis.
    "If any of you have been to St. Louis, you'll understand what I'm talking about." the pastor begins.  "There's seven lanes of traffic going the same way.  Count them.  Seven.  Just trying to make sure you're in the right lane is a real challenge.  And, what if you're not?  How would you ever get into the right lane?  If you're in the far right lane and need to be in the far left lane, how're you ever going to get over there to turn?  Not only that, there are seven lanes going your direction and seven going the other direction.  That means that you have to do the same thing all over again when you leave St. Louis."
     The text for the sermon was Luke 13:23-24.  It's a short discourse Jesus has with someone who asked him if there would be few that would be saved.  Jesus told him to "strive to enter in at the straight gate."  Striving could mean trying to get into the right lane.  First of all, you have to know where you're going.  It's the same way in our spiritual life.  The world that you're trying to raise your kid in: there are many, many lanes in life to choose from.  But, there's only one lane that will get us to our destination.  Get into the right lane--the one to heaven.  God's not interested in anything but whether you're in the right lane.
     God made a way we can get into the right lane.  The road to heaven, it's an uneasy journey of life.  Fair has nothing to do with it.  Don't try other ways, it won't work.  "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)  Do the opposite of what the flesh wants to do.  Thomas asked Jesus, "Lord, we know not whether thou goest; and how can we know the way?  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way..." (John 14:5-6)  Jesus is the way.  Strive to make heaven your home.  

​     It's that time of year again.  School is out for the summer and Camp Joy is getting revved up and ready to go.  The first group gathers on July 8, the second on July 15 and the third on July 21.  The age groups are 7-9, 10-12, and 13-19.
     Van Kelly, who is the director of Camp Joy, visits our church and reports on how things are going there.  It's always a pleasure to see him again and interesting to hear what he has to say.  Van has a heart for this ministry and it shows through all that he does.  
     We saw a slide presentation of the camp from last year.  But, before he did the slide presentation, he talked to us about scars and used I Corinthians 6:20 as the verse for his talk.  But even before he began that, he told us a little story about Noah's Ark.  Some of you probably already know it but it was new to some of us and it may be to you, too.  Below is what Van told us about the Noah's Ark lesson.    
     "There's some things I learned from Noah's Ark and as I was driving over here this morning I thought it might be appropriate with all the rain we've been getting.  First of all, don't miss the boat and don't forget that we're all in the same boat.  Amen. 
     And plan ahead because it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.  And, also, stay fit because when you're 650-some years old someone might ask you to do something really big.  You never know.  Don't listen to critics.  Just get on with what has to be done.  Think about that.  If Noah had listened to the critics, all those people making fun of him.  If he had listened to them, he might have never finished the boat.  
     For safety's sake travel in pairs and two heads are better than one.  Right?  Also, build your future on high ground.  Speed isn't always an advantage.  After all, the snails were on there the same time the cheetahs were.  When you're stressed, float awhile.
     Remember that the Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals and we all know how that worked.  Last of all, remember that the woodpeckers were a larger threat inside than the storm was on the outside."