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The Words of Angels

12/18/2017

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This is Douglas County.  It's where we live.  Just suppose for a moment that there was an old fellow who lived here and said that he couldn't speak because of an angel, namely Gabriel.  It probably wouldn't matter much that he was a good practicing member of the church or that he might also be a deacon.  We would begin to give him long looks and wonder it he'd gone off his trolley.  He's an old guy and he goes on to say that this angel told him that his old lady was also going to have a son (they're way past child-bearing age).  The old boy didn't believe Gabriel and that was why he couldn't talk. This old doubter turns out to be the father of John the Baptist.
       Now just suppose this same angel, Gabriel, visits a young woman.  Gabriel tells her that she's going to have a child.  The young woman says, "How can that be?"  Gabriel says, "Don't worry about it.  We've got it covered."  We, here in Douglas County, would be giving both these folks long looks.  The fair young woman telling us why she's expecting.  She had been such a wonderful example of Christian values until this happened.  She turned out to be the mother of Jesus.  
     Both of these events happened within six months of each other.  They're recorded in the first chapter of Luke.  Of course, it wasn't Douglas County.  But it happened just the same.  Presenting the events in a place that we're familiar with gives one a good idea of what the locals of that time were probably thinking.  
     Christians of today still get some of the long looks of old time.  People have doubted down through the centuries that there is a real living God.  That His Son came to this earth to bear witness of God's willingness to sacrifice His own Son to redeem people from their sins.  Live long enough and you'll hear everything from, "If your God is so good, why does He let people die?" to "All religions have God so it doesn't make any difference which one I believe."
     Pastor Josh says, "Don't be surprised if you have the best news (the Good News) and they don't believe you."  Some time ago, he was called to the bedside of a man who thought he was dying.  He was in the hospital, called the Pastor, and told him that he wanted to "get right with the Lord" before he died.  By the time Pastor Josh got there, the man had improved and felt better.  The man no longer felt compelled to listen to the preacher.
     Taking a look at the sermon text, Luke 1:5-45, the only one who believed was Mary.  The others did eventually but not from the moment they were first told.  It makes one wonder why it's hard to deliver the message that there is victory beyond death, hell, and the grave.  That there's more to life than just winding up in a hole in the ground or ashes thrown on the wind.  It's called eternity.  And it's there for those who keep living and walking by faith.      ​
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God of Hope

12/14/2017

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"In this world, we're always trying to better ourselves.  Get more experience to get a better job.  Go to school, get a better education." said Pastor Josh.  It's a never-ending cycle.  The treadmill of life is rushing to meet the next goal.  Work harder, longer to get that boat, that house, that car.  Success is built on a blur of moving on to the next goal, building a better future, having it all.
     It's nice to know that spirituality isn't like that.  It doesn't wear you down. It builds you up.  The finish line isn't continually being moved out in front of us.  Just a little more and we'll have what we desire.  No, with spirituality there is one plan, one salvation, one way.  "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:)
     "Our hope is not in ourselves, it's in Christ." said Pastor Josh.  "And again, Isaiah says, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:12-13)
     Jesus is the root of Jesse, a descendant of David.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a descendant of David's through Nathan, his son. (Luke 3:23-31)  And Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, was a descendant of David's through Solomon, his son also.  God had planned it, Isaiah reported it.
     It's the promise that follows that verse that should give the work-a-day, weary hearts hope.  There is a better way.  The God of hope offers joy and peace in believing.  Believing that God will do what he says he's going to do.  That He will keep his word.  We know that God cannot lie.  Trust that and all the promises of the Bible leap off the pages just waiting for everyone to take ownership and claim the abiding hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  It's a simple plan.  
     Think about it.  Driving down the road anything can happen.  Lives end abruptly.  How much will it matter what's here on this earth.  Look farther over the steering wheel.  There's a better way up ahead.   Claim it and it's yours.  ​
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God is Faithful

12/6/2017

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​Jesus, sitting on the Mount of Olives, was asked by his disciples when the temple would fall? when he would come again? and when the end of the world would happen?  They can feel the end of Jesus' ministry.  Worry has begun to set in.  Will they have to wait a long time?  How long?  They're such a small group.  They need reassurance.
     Jesus knows this.  He also knows they'll go through much and have to endure much.  Matthew 24 gives testimony to this.  But Matthew 25:14-30 gives a clear idea of what they are to expect.  It's the parable of the talents.
     The master (Jesus) has gone away on a long trip.  While gone he leaves his servants (disciples) in charge.  To each one he gives a measure of his wealth (grace) for each of them to use while his is gone.  He was gone for a very long time.
     Upon his (Jesus) return he called each servant (disciple) in to see how they fared.  The first one who received much accomplished much.  (Grace has a way of doing that to you.  The more you drink it in, the more you want to give it out.)  The second one who did not have nearly as much still accomplished enough according to what he had received.  (Maybe he had barriers to overcome.  Sometimes life cripples us physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  Still, we believe and have a measure of grace to give back.)  The third one received a measure of wealth.  But, for one reason or another, he hid it.  (The world may have intimidated him so that fear set in.  Perhaps this third one was a procrastinator,  just lazy.  No one really knows except that he only had what he had been given.  He didn't do anything with it.)    
     The master blessed the first two.  The third lost all.  He was rejected and found himself in outer darkness.  This is a message for the disciples but it's also a message for us professing Christians in today's world.  Can we meet this world with the faith and grace that has been bestowed on us?  Can we share it with others?  
     It's a good message and one that bears repeating.  Pastor Josh spoke about the flood and how it washed that big bridge out.  The one that's on the other side of Dora.  "People go through life thinking there's going to be a bridge up ahead."  It's faith that makes you think it's there.  But traveling that road many times doesn't make the bridge there.  Same thing with faith.  People may look at you funny when you talk to them about Jesus Christ and his plan for redemption.  They may look at you funny when you tell them you're saved.
     If that happens, just remember to use what's been given you and pray for more.  Faith is your bridge.  Don't let it wash out.  Keep in mind the rich young man. (Mark 10:17)  He wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life.  As soon as he found out, he was sad and left.  He didn't want to part with his earthly wealth to have eternal life.  Just remember--God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  (I Corinthians 1:9)
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    Linda Johnson

    Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church.​ She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald. 

    Andrea Strong

    Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

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