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It has started...The Passover, The Promise, The Pride...Matthew 26:17-35

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  It has started.  By the end of the day our roof will be all ice and shield and ready for shingles next week.  The goal is to be completed by next Friday.  We have raised so far $60,580.00 of the $110,000.00 project.  A huge thank you to all who have helped us with this.  Your contributions will add this building as a place to gather for worship for years to come! Our annual meeting is this Sunday where we map out the new year and look at what has happened in the last.  It has been a time for me to tie up loose ends like church insurance, financial reports and budgets, and the process forward with our constitution and bylaws.  I have been very busy while Stephanie has been away to Florida but soon home! On a sad but going home report, Stephanie's father, Harry passed on to glory on Thursday, June 4th.  Stephanie and her mom and sister were caring for him in his home until the end.  I am thankful to say that I had 2 dads.  I thought...

The Plot, the Passion and the Plan...Matthew 26:1-16

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 It is the time of mowing in Colorado.  It usually doesn't last long and for us it is taming the weeds and dandelions.  Another task of a small town pastor that I have done over the 40 years of ministry.  It has always been a great time to think through again the message coming up on Sunday.  June 1 is not only our 41st wedding anniversary but also our 40th anniversary of full-time ministry. Sometimes 40 years means covering for each other at times.  Stephanie is in Florida caring for her parents so I had the privilege of getting the Family Dinner Night ready.  It was wings' night along with potato salad and baked beans.  All things I could handle.  It is a time of grief for Steph.  We lost our dog of 11 years, Buddy, just recently to cancer and now she is sitting beside her father in his last stages of life.  The last words and last actions can be so vital to hear and see.  I am so thankful Stephanie is there as I was last yea...

The finishing of another sermon by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew...Matthew 25:31-46

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  One of the tomato plants for the deck this year.  The house is looking like a greenhouse lately as we get ready for the growing season window in this part of the country.  Stephanie has the green thumb and I'm the water boy. We finished up Jesus' 5th sermon, the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24 & 25, this Sunday.  It was great to go through this passage again with Jesus speaking directly about His 2nd coming.  He makes it clear that there are only 2 groups and 2 destinations.  This week we looked at His sheep on His right hand and the goats on the left.  One is judged to eternal life and the other to eternal punishment.   It was interesting to see how Jesus used possession when speaking about His sheep and left off the possession when He talked about the goats.  Jesus also went back to the theme of focusing more on the " how " rather than the " when " and " what ."  He focused on how the sheep were responding and how the goats w...