Coming to the Still Waters

  Look who turned 60!  I know, she doesn't look it and the big joke was that she didn't light the candles so she could use them for 90!  What a joy to be married to this wonderful lady.  The common grace God gave us in being united in marriage is only surpassed by His saving grace provided by His Son Jesus Christ on the cross and the evidence of an empty tomb! This is part 3 and 4 because I was gone one Sunday and a good friend, Michael McKitterick filled in for me with a sermon relating to the Jesus' discipleship practices of the month from Colossians 2:4-6.  Here is the post of his message. I look for and am thankful and grateful for young men like Michael and Zach and Chris who hold tightly to God's word! This Sunday was lesson 4 and I went to Ephesians 2:11-22 for my text.  My main point was that God brings us to Jesus' cross and then places us into His community.  This is where discipleship happens.  Paul emphasizes the cross at least 3 ...

  Being an intentional interim pastor, I am always initiating relationships and striving to be in consistent community with the church body I am serving.  It puts me in contact with others serving the Lord like Aaron in this picture who has a heart for ministry.  His official role is worship director but you will find him working on the website and playing a big role in the life of the youth group at WCC.  We have walked through some growing times together as we continue to learn to love each other and others more as brothers in Christ.   Acts 10 has three main characters in this narrative account, Cornelius, Peter and Jesus.   Cornelius the centurion , soldier , Roman and a home and family in Caesarea ;  Peter the courier of the message, one saved , one ransomed , and a fishing business in Capernaum ;  and Jesus the Christ , the Savior , the Redeemer , and once on a cross .  The Jewish people had rules on top of the laws given by...

  This is a beautiful sunrise on a recent fishing trip with my friend from the church, Mike.  I try to not pass up these opportunities to be with those I shepherd in different environments than the four walls of the church.  It was a great day to be on the water.  A few fish to bring back home but some precious hours sharing life with someone God brought in my path to love and to be loved by.   This month we focus on the Jesus' discipleship practices of initiating relationships and being in consistent community.  We go to Jesus directly to see how He started forming a group with a specific purpose in mind.  He called His first disciples who were fishermen to " make them become " fishers of men.   7 principles or practices of Jesus I pulled from this passage: As Jesus walked beside ...the principle that as we go we initiate these relationships that bring us into community with one another. Without delay ...the principle is that we respond...

  I think I have always put up a picture on my blog of the study space provided for me and here is the newly one developed at the Waushara Community Church.  It will be a great space for the next pastor called here.  This study space and the pulpit are like my workbench with all my tools around me. We finished our month of passionate prayer and now move onto initiating relationships and being in consistent community.  In each of the prayers we looked at on Sunday mornings and also on the final Sunday evening we noticed that they were God-focused and also included the gospel.  I walk away from this time asking my Father to remind me to acknowledge Him early in the prayer and also to speak the gospel event as the will of God for my life. Psalm 91 is sometimes called the Soldier's Psalm/Prayer.  It is printed on bandanas and also on cards that are given to the soldiers before battle.  It is ironic but also appropriate that entering a dangerous situation ...