"Peace, be still"

Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash

Mark 4:35-41 “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jesus made a simple command, "Let us cross over to the other side." The disciples were asked to perform what was a typical part of their life, to take a boat across the Galilee. But this trip became more challenging than others. A response was required to the increasingly threatening conditions. They did all that was within their abilities and knowledge, yet it was futile and the boat was further taking on water. But as they panicked Jesus lay asleep at the rear of the sinking vessel.

"Do You not care that we are perishing? There is a defining contrast of perceptions and responses between the disciples and the teacher. These men, who had already witnessed the miracles performed by their teacher, are anticipating their demise by the conditions surrounding them. Jesus can raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out demons but not cannot change the conditions they now find themselves in.

"Peace, be still." Three words, one command and the sea ceased its disruption. But so did the disciples cease their panic. His command was as much for them to obey as it was for the storm. Jesus will speak the same to you today in whatever storm you are in if you would seek him. Rather than be in a panic over the conditions of your life or the world, rather than fearing for your life, look at your teacher, peaceful with his head on a pillow, at rest in your boat. Our seeking of the Lord's intervention is often an afterthought. A last ditch effort to respond to our storm. Why is this? We, like the disciples, don't grasp the totality of who Jesus is. In the eyes of the disciples he was a man, a rabbi, a teacher, a prophet, but short of who he truly was, the Christ and son of God. This can be our mistake as well. Cease your panic and ask the Lord to reveal himself to you. Look to him and learn from his restful disposition that he has the power to bring peace to your storm and peace to your heart.

Blessings

pBob

A LOOK AT PSALM 45 - EXALTING THE KING

About Psalm 45:

1. The title: A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. This is the last of a grouping written by the priestly family that were worshipers in the temple but were taken away as captives.

2. Jew and Gentile agree that this Psalm is prophetic of the Messiah.

3. It is recognized as prophetic of God the Father speaking to Jesus, God the Son by the author of Hebrews, vs.1:8-9

4. My Theme Title: Exalted King

Simple Outline

1. The King is excellent v.1-2

2. The King is victorious v.3-5

3. The King is God v.6-9

4. The King’s Bride v.8-15

5. The King’s Sons v.16-17

Primary Verses

Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7  You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

JESUS Doctrine Series

Jesus Doctrine - Listen Here

There are plenty of name dropping of Jesus these days from religious philosophers, personal opinions of celebs or the political candidates. Jesus is quoted at best but often referred to as their proponent in some agenda. But what did Jesus really say and what did he mean? Who was he speaking to and why? How does what he said relate to us today? What is wonderful is that his words were recorded for us to read and learn from. The vary purpose of this series is to learn from Jesus what is important to us and to lead s to cut away the fat of personal opinions and perspectives that do not align with him. Hope you are encouraged and built-up as you listen.

pastor Bob

In what is your identity?

1Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; “

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Ask yourself this question, “In what is your identity?”
Is it in an experience, a tragedy, an upbringing, a culture, the color of your skin or the community you are in? Is it in your achievements or your failures, your name or in your looks? Is your identity in a sports team or your school, a club or the car you drive? Is your identity in your hobby, your work, your friendships? Is your identity attached to your clothing or music style or if you are liked and accepted? Maybe it is one of these or many of these. 
I ask the question because God wants us to see ourselves as he does and identify ourselves as he does. All these earthly identities will vanish when the Lord returns for us or if we were to die before that. When you and I stand before the lord in his glorious presence we will not be dressed in that identifying clothing we wear so proudly nor be attached any more to that group or club or team. We will not enter boasting of our earthly accomplishments or achievements nor our failures and weaknesses we once were labeled as by others. 
No, none of these will be seen on us because none of them are who we are as believers and followers and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. So why are they so seriously held to while on the earth since they are as temporal as a passing cloud and hold no real value to life?  
Through Peter God has communicated that those who come to him (1Pet 2 vs. 4), are royal, holy, and special. Not because of us but because of him. 
Royal - as in kingly or regal because we have become the the adopted children of God 
Holy - as in set apart as he, our holy God, is from all things and not attached to Him. 
Special - here the Greek refers to that which is possessed or owned. Consider that which you own and how those things are special to you. We are God’s possessions therefore being special to Him. 
These all speak of a new identity attached to Him who saved us. They speak of transformation that is intended by God for us to see and live out. But the verse also communicates purpose and direction. We are royal, holy and his special possession so to proclaim Him and that he has delivered us from darkness, a life absent of his presence, to light, a life eternal with Him. 

So now ask the question again. What is your identity? 

Blessings 
pBob

The Mission Mind “Let this kind be in you...”

photo: Tim Marshall, https://unsplash.com/@timmarshall

A frequently remembered and quoted text is the apostle Paul’s encouragement to have the mind of Christ. But do we grasp the totality of his words? 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Likely when reading this verse you raise up praise for what he did to make possible your salvation.  This would be a just response.  However, the words are not written to induce praise but a change of mind following the servant character of Jesus.  

So the question must follow, “How did Jesus demonstrate what a servant is?  Paul answers, “...humbled himself (though equal to God) and became obedient (to God his Father), so much so that he was willing to sacrifice himself , even to the point of death.  Humility was the mind of Christ and the manifestation of this mind was his leaving his home in heaven and coming to this world as a man to give himself for the undeserving. Jesus the great missionary fulfilled the great commandment to love God and love others (Matt.  22:37-40). 

So to have his mind is to have his ministry of service to sacrifice for the spiritual benefit of others.  This is the foundation of all ministry and missions. Our life given for the lives of others.  You can’t have his mind without the other. 

I pray that you would give yourself to Paul’s encouragement to join our Lord in service and perpetuate his mission. 

Blessings 

Pastor Bob 

Mama Maggie - Living like Christ

Every once in a while I am surprisingly informed by secular radio programs.  Today I heard a doctor share about Mama Maggie on a KFI radio program.  The doctor was a surgeon that travel to Egypt with a medical team as he has done in many countries before.  There he met Mamma Maggie who has for many years ministered to the pour or the pour who live among the garbage. God is truly glorified by her testimony.  

Her ministry is called Stephen's Children. I'll let her speak for herself in the attached video from 2011. 

The following are interviews with Doctor Marty Makary, author of a book on Mama Maggie just broadcast today, 4/29/15.

Does the Church respond like Cable News?

Over the years I have seen the Church respond to the numerous natural disasters of tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes.  This, in itself, is not bad nor am I against the Church responding financially, materially or with sending volunteers.  However, has the Church become just as reactionary and temporary in its attention span as a CNN or FOX news? These news services focus and exploit these attention getting events for ratings, but once the event has lost its excitement or some other event is more extraordinary or disastrous then the interest ends and the story fades.  

The case in point is Japan the earthquake/tsunami of 2011.  We, with other ministries and churches, responded following the disaster.  We sent a team soon after to help in the area of Ishinomaki, north of Sendai.  The devastation and loss of life was horrible.  Teams and ministries from the US as well as others from or out of Japan flooded into all the areas most affected. But once the ministry of relief was no longer needed so was the influx of funds and volunteers. However, when the relief ends the real ministry actually begins for there are still lives that are shattered, in fear and without hope and most importantly people are still without Jesus.  This is why we have committed to continue our support to the ongoing mission work in the area and sending teams to come along side the missionaries to perpetuate the witness.  Consistency is where the real witness exists.  

In our last trip in July I was able to speak with many and there was reactions of surprise and then deep thankfulness when they heard of my returning five times since the tsunami.  Questions like, “Why do you come back?” or “Why did you care about us?” are presented to me.  Many times with tearful eyes.

There is one gentleman with his mom who own a stationary store that I met on my first trip.  They were busy scavenging through the pile and debris in their store.  They were not willing to do more than acknowledge my hello. On the 2nd and third trip the same or they were not at their store.  But in 2013 I was able to visit them the week they reopened their store. They didn’t remember me but as I shared my joy for their reopening their hearts opened to listen and hear God's love for Japan. They sat and share with me the horrible experience they had when the tsunami hit and the struggles they had with reopening their store.  Their thankful hearts were obvious when they insisted I accept a gift. Then this year I visited again and to my surprise the son remembered my name as soon as he saw me.  He and his mom again welcomed me into their store with my translator in tow.  The time was even more precious and personal for they asked deeper questions about my faith and listened intently as my translator shared her personal testimony.  Again the door of their hearts squeaked open a little more.  

So in a manner of speaking a relief effort still exists in Japan. It is no longer the delivering of food and resources to a battered community but the delivering of God’s living water to thirsty souls. The opportunity is turning white for harvest but the laborers are less than before so we will pray as the Lord of the harvest that he send more laborers.

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” Rom.10:14-15.

Blessings

pBob

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2014 Japan Mission Team #5

Emerson Fittapaldi Man of Faith & a Champion

You may or may not know that I am an auto racing enthusiast.  Primarily open wheel like Formula 1 or Indy Car.  Emerson Fittapaldi is a 2 times Formula 1 champion and a 2 time Indy 500 winner.  Incredible driver to watch.  But what I love and admire about the man is not his being a winner on the race track or his having what it takes to drive all out  but more his sincere faith in Jesus Christ.  Here is a wonderful video and encouraging words to believe and follow Jesus.

Be encourage.

pBob