IN CELEBRATION OF MOTHERS, SOLDIERS AND FREEDOM

April showers bring May flowers.  At least that is how the saying goes.  Well I guess we are going to have plenty of flowers this May.  All the better to celebrate and decorate Mothers and those who have served our country in the Armed Forces.  The month of May will focus our attention upon the women who have blessed our lives, mothers, wives, grandmothers, and other special ladies.  Winston Churchill once said, “An ounce of Mother is worth a pound of preachers.”  Ouch!  But truthfully, he is more on target than I’d like to admit.  This Mother’s Day let us never forget those women who have helped shape our lives and point us toward God.  We also want to give thanks to those men and women who have served our country in the military.  Freedom is worth fighting and sacrificing for.  This Memorial Day, we will pause to give expression of our thanks to those who have served and died in keeping our nation free.  One of the reasons that mothers have had the freedom to shape our spiritual lives is because men and women in the military sacrificed to perpetuate that freedom.  God Bless America; God Bless our Mothers; and God bless those who paid the price to allow us to say God Bless America.                                           Pastor Mike

SPRING TIME AND THE TOMB EMPTIES INTO LIFE

 “Rain, rain, go away; come again some other day.”  Well we weren’t singing that song last year but what a difference a year makes.  I think someone else has been singing, “Baby the Rain Must Fall” or “Raindrops Keep Fallen on My Head.”  Read the rest of this entry »

VULNERABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE

               I do not like being sick.  Fortunately, illnesses have been few and far between for me.  But this Christmas both Diane and I encountered our worst virus in over 20 years.  Diane calls it a “devil virus.”  Probably so, since we both felt like h… well you know.  We are beginning to get back to normal after three weeks.

Episodes like this remind me of two words and I share these words with you as we begin a new year of life.  The words are vulnerability and accountability.  First that word vulnerability.  We are so fortunate to live in an era of incredible medical advancements.  But sometimes we are lulled into a false sense of security.  We know we won’t live forever but we tend to live our lives without any thought for eternity.  Something as simple as a virus can absolutely level us.  That should make us realize our vulnerability and how much our life is in the hands of the Lord.  As Solomon of old put it, Remember Him before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Eccles 12:6,7).

That leads me to be all the more attentive to that second word accountability. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Heb 9:27).  The Apostle Paul wrote, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad

(2 Cor 5:10). While this judgment (called the judgment seat of Christ) is not for sin but for appraising what has been done for Christ and what has been done for self, it reminds us that someday, Christ will ask, “What have you done with your life for the kingdom of God?” 

As we begin another year in God’s grace, let these two words, vulnerability and accountability cause you to live your life guided by the prayer of the Psalmist who wrote, Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Ps 90:12).  Each day is a gift.  Treat it with care, reverence, and a desire to use that day and every day to bring life and health to the soul of another person.  May God bless you in His service.  Pastor Mike

WHAT IS IN A WORD?

November is the month we usually associate with Thanksgiving.  But have you ever thought about how appropriate this word is for both November and December?  The word “Thanksgiving” carries within it two different words: Thanks and Giving.  On the fourth Thursday of November we observe a national day for giving thanks.  I read the other day that some stores are not going to be open this Thanksgiving.  Instead they will open extra early (some at 4:00 AM) the following day.  I would like to think that is because they recognize the importance of taking a day to offer thanks for God’s blessings.  At least that used to be the way America approached this day.  The second word, giving, reminds us of the meaning of Christmas.  December is the month in which we remember that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  December is also the month when we will give gifts as expressions of our love to our families and friends. Read the rest of this entry »

The Importance of Connecting

At Lincoln Hills Community Church (LHCC) we have ample opportunities for everyone to be involved in a small group ministry with visions of adding many more.  But, why is it important for us to connect? Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.  Acts 5:42 Read the rest of this entry »

DAYS OF DREAMING, PRAYING, AND STEPPING OUT IN FAITH

A few weeks ago our Elder team went apart for two days of praying and seeking to strategize for the future of LHCC.  Realizing that “apart from Jesus we can do nothing” (John 15:5), we have sought, with his guidance, to think through our present circumstances and plan for the future. We also acknowledge, in the words of Prov 29:18, “Without vision, the people perish.”  So let me share with you our vision. Read the rest of this entry »

LEARNING TO THINK TRUTHFULLY AND BIBLICALLY

If you are like me, you are at wits end over the state of our nation.  Faced with voter choices that, at best, require me to vote for the lesser of two evils, I ask myself, what has happened to a nation where we used to pledge ourselves as “one nation under God.”  Why has our nation sunk so low?  The British Atheist Philosopher, Bertrand Russell, once wrote, Christians would rather die than think.  While I would not agree with his view of right thinking, I regretfully agree with his sentiment.  Christians have allowed our times to become an age of secularism because we have refused to study, think, and articulate correctly God’s truth in the public arena. Read the rest of this entry »

Easter–Pursuing the Truth

The recent film, Risen, chronicles the aftermath of the resurrection of Jesus. In the film, a Roman Tribune, Clavius by name, is commissioned by Governor Pilate to investigate the disappearance of Jesus’ body.  The film depicts Clavius’ gradual journey of faith and encounter with the risen Christ.  In one scene, Clavius’ aide asks why he continues to pursue the dead man Jesus.  His answer is worth repeating:  “I have seen two things which I cannot reconcile: A man dead without question, and that same man alive again. I pursue Him, the Nazarene, to discover the truth.”  Read the rest of this entry »

A NEW YEAR: A GOODBYE AND A HELLO

              As we begin a new year, we say goodbye to a valued friend and staff member at LHCC.  Gene Kern is retiring from his role as our Associate Pastor.  His shoes and those of his wife Elenor will not be easy to fill.  However, our Elder Board is moving forward with plans and vision for the future.  Of immediate importance will be the hiring of a new staff person to serve as a Visitation Pastor.  To that end we want to introduce to you Rev. Ron Greeno and his wife Paullette.  Ron and Paullette have been attending LHCC for the past several months. Ron is already known by many of us.  He serves on the board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Lincoln Hills and is involved in a number of activities at Sun City Lincoln Hills.  Ron retired after 40 years of ministry with the Nazarene Church. He has served as a pastor most of those years and then as the District Superintendent for the Nazarene Church in NorCal for twelve years.  Ron’s responsibilities will be to visit those who are shut-in, or in hospital or care centers.  He will also help in our Sunday worship services.  We feel most fortunate to have Ron and Paullette with us and know they will be an excellent addition to our pastoral staff.  Our elders are also praying and discussing plans for hiring a full-time associate in the coming year.  That will involve a considerable step of faith but we feel that it will be important for our continued growth in the future.  Please take the time to read Ron’s more detailed bio in this newsletter.  You will want to get to know this very choice couple.