Posts Tagged ‘Peter’

Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings

August 23, 2014

In my role as preacher I hope to convey to each and every one who hears my sermons the message we see in the Lectionary reading from Matthew 16:13-20 for 8-24-14 where Jesus asks the question “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Of course we should all be able to answer that question with the same words Peter used when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Do you remember what it meant to you when you made your profession of faith before the congregation? I know that when I think or speak those words it gives me a chill. Those words mean something to me as well as they should to each and every one who sits in a Christian church whenever services are held. But more than just that weekly service that you attend, those words should mean something to your life lived as a Christian.

Everything we do and say should reflect that belief. When I speak to my friends, family, acquaintances or strangers I should reflect those words to them in my actions, thoughts and deeds. So should we all.

There are many who will deny that Jesus is the Son of God. Muslims will say that he was a prophet. Jews will say that He was a great teacher. Liberal protestants and religionists of various stripes will say “Exemplary man, yes, Divine, no!” Over a billion people out in the world will deny the divinity of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

For many reasons I refuse to be one of those people. Do you? The more we refuse to proclaim to people that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, the more people turn to other faiths. The more we deny Him through our actions and words people will turn to something else. This sounds like a heavy burden but when we feel that Holy Spirit leading us it becomes light and easy to carry. For all who say they just cannot get the words out remember the disciples. While Peter spoke up, he temporarily failed, as did the others. We can only run from our duty so long. Sooner or later we must profess our faith to someone.

Try something for me. Say to yourself three times, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Then turn to your spouse or another loved one and say to them three times, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

Now go out into the world and proclaim the way, the truth and the life to the world by showing and telling them that “Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God!”

Pastor Randy

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Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings

April 10, 2013

sunsetphoto8 Sunset on Canyon Lake last summer. Looking forward to this summer.

John 21:15-19

Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

There is a lot of speculation around what Jesus is actually trying to get across to Peter. I am going to bottom line it for you according to what I think. Jesus wants us to love God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then He wants us to follow His example. Loving the Holy Trinity is not an option. Living a life that does not show love for your neighbor is not an option. Not necessarily the meaning of asking three times but who knows? What we do know is that Jesus exampled His love for the Father in Heaven to His disciples and us. He fed the children physically and spiritually. He tended to His disciples and He fed them as well. Could He mean communion, The Last Supper or teaching and preaching. Perhaps all? Maybe Jesus was helping Peter forgive himself for denying Christ three times. Psychology 101?

Lots of questions and lots of answers. Theologians have plenty of thoughts but I am more interested in what you think. What are some answers you can come up with after a little meditation on the Word?

Let me know what you think by commenting below…and have a blessed day.

Pastor Randy

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Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings

December 30, 2011

Seagulls at MacArthur Shopping Center parking lot.

This is just a few of the Seagulls that hang out in the parking lot.  I am not sure why other than I did see someone feeding them the other day.  To say the least they are a little off course as far as the normal environment they usually inhabit.  There is not any natural food, you know fish, shrimp or salt water, so why do they hang out there.  They are there on sunny days, rainy days, cold days and cold rainy days.  But they are not there everyday.  I am sure there is some scientific explanation other than they just got tired and decided to rest.  Well maybe that is it, tired and resting.

Sometimes in our Christian lives we get a little lost, get tired and decide to just land somewhere and rest. Have you ever experienced feeling lost, tired and needing rest?  Me too!

One of the essentials that seagulls seem to need is salt.  They are hardly ever to0 far from saltwater. They depend upon it to provide the sustenance they need to survive in this world.  Just like the seagulls we need salt but the salt that can make the biggest difference in our lives is the salt found in the Word of God.  These few scriptures are very important to us and speak to us about how important it is for us to stay in His Word and keep it close to our hearts.  We need to keep this salt close to our hearts and let the Word nourish us and revive us.

Mat 5:13 “You are the salt of the world. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty again? It’s good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled on by people.”

Mar 9:50  “Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how can you restore its flavor? Keep on having salt among yourselves, and live in peace with one another.”

Go to the place that offers you nourishment often.  Live with those words close to your heart and revive your heart and soul. In our world today being salty may not be a compliment but being salty in the Word of God is never a wrong place to be.  Like the salt water the seagulls live in we are a people of the Water and Salt found in His Word.

Have a blessed New Year, be of the Water and the Word getting the nourishment you need from His salty water. It will revive and refresh you, 

Randy

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Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings

August 25, 2011

Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Have you ever wanted to say those “Get behind me, Satan” words? Has someone ever done or said things that have kept you from doing what is the right and good thing or tried to entice you into doing the wrong and evil thing? Jesus was speaking to His right hand man, Peter, who was wanting to keep Him from following through with His journey to Jerusalem, the Cross and the Resurrection. Jesus gives us a pattern for us to follow here. Not that we should start saying to people “Get behind me Satan”, but that we should set our face toward the heart of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Jesus was focused. Jesus expects us to be focused.

To the best of our ability we must develop our Spiritual Growth to the point we can resist the temptation to allow ourselves or others to distract us from moving forward to the goal Jesus sets individually for each of us. Through Spiritual Growth we can achieve the goal of carrying the message of Christ to the world.

What is the best way to promote our own Spiritual Growth? First we must commit to our church and it’s activities such as Sunday School, Church and Bible Studies. Then we should focus on tried and true traditions such as personal study, fasting, meditation and service.

Our words should reflect what we believe. Peter’s words said he believed he knew better than Jesus. How often do your words reflect Jesus Christ’s teachings in the Bible? How often do they truly reflect the level of your Spiritual Growth? Of course the answer to the last question is “always.”

Have a blessed day,

Randy

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