Coming to the Still Waters

  The new flags are an attempt for make our building more visible to those traveling up and down US Highway 34 on their way to and from Grand Lake, CO.  We want them to make the connection that this building is connected to a body of gathered believers.  Matthew is doing the same in the opening chapters of his gospel.  He is trying to make connection points for his audience, the Jewish readers, who need to know that this one born King of the Jews as the wise men said is truly the long awaited Messiah. Matthew used a genealogy, a memorization tactic, references to the Old Testament scriptures, and now moves to talking about the 2 big events of the Israelite nation, the Exodus and the Exile.  Just as it was in the Exodus and just as it was in the Exile, so it is now with the coming of the Messiah.  Some of what the prophets wrote about had a dual purpose, not just for the now but also for the future. In this passage we see the continuing theme of Joseph's sim...

  Funny but true.  Honestly, sometimes it has come back to bite me.  I would like it to be that I am always looking for the good and not noticing so much the bad.  In Gaylord, Michigan, I gave out pineapples to people who I caught doing something that was kinda hidden from others but not from my eyes.  That was a pretty public acknowledgement of it but how we need to show appreciation on the private level like the guy behind the counter at the coffee shop who remembered my name.   This week we find ourselves focusing on Herod the Great, the religious leaders, and the wise men from the East.   Herod is antagonist toward this Baby born King of the Jews.   The religious leaders are apathetic to the Baby's birth as old news.  They already knew His birthplace, Bethlehem. The wise men from the East are in adoration to find the Baby.  A God-made star led them from the East to bow down and worship Him. We see these three today....

  I look for crosses everywhere.  I saw one on the side of a mountain the other day.  I should have taken a picture of that.  This cross is behind the church I am serving in Colorado.  I look forward to sitting beneath this cross and spending some time in prayer after a little more snow melts.  I will have to take a picture of what I see from that vantage point.  I can guarantee you there will be some mountains. Our study of the Gospel of Matthew will take us to the most important cross, the one Jesus hung on, the one that really matters.  We are at the start of that journey.  Jesus is coming in this passage by divine intervention, " of the Holy Spirit ."  Joseph accepts the explanation and fulfills the commands Father God gave to him through the angel who met him in the dream.  It is an important point that Joseph is described prior to this big news from the angel as a " just " man, a " righteous " man, " an observer of divine laws...

  Here is a chart hanging in the foyer/lobby/entrance of the Stillwater Community Chapel that I serve at as pastor.  It is a genealogy from God to Jesus and very detailed.   The bold statement of Matthew is of course, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  All of God's word is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16).  God is speaking through Matthew to let us know who His Son is.  The genealogy is only the start to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Chosen One, the Anointed One of God, and many other titles found in His word.  The genealogy starts this gospel off with a bang! Matthew doesn't erase or modify history but rather exposes and uses history to make the point that Jesus is the fulfiller of the Davidic and Abrahamic Covenants.  Jesus is the everlasting King of the line of David and also the Blessing to all the nations.  Matthew shows us Jesus' very messy family tree.   Point 1:  Our messes don't thwart God's...

  Resurrection Sunday has come and gone but it was a sweet day to be with the gathered saints of the Stillwater Community Chapel .  We are venturing through the Gospel of Matthew and this Sunday will take us back to Matthew 1.1 but last Sunday we were in Matthew 27.62-28.20.  It was a lot to cover so the white board was truly a help to keep me on track.  This year in my Resurrection Sunday message, I focused on the contrast of the cover-up story of the disciples stealing the body of Jesus fueled by a bride and the commission of speaking of a risen Lord fueled by boldness . After the service upstairs, we ventured downstairs to the lower level and had a great meal together.  The conversations around the tables allowed us to continue to talk about the passage of Scripture we covered upstairs.  Maybe this is a very informal picture of what happens at the  Waushara Community Church called the " Going Deeper " classes of the Come For More hour following t...