“Make War”

(Steve Matson – Lead Pastor)

It was my high privilege to speak at Flower City Work Camp this year. The topic for my talks was Spiritual Warfare.  I chose the topic because I have grown weary of watching so many students exhibit a zeal for God while in our churches only to go off to college or the workplace and abandon their faith.  I believe that there are a number of reasons for this, but certainly one reason is that they are not prepared to wage spiritual battle in the context of The World, The Flesh, and The Devil. I think that they are guilty of what Paul speaks of in Romans 10:2, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Now, if I apply that thinking to a video about Spiritual Warfare by John Piper (which you will find below) I find myself asking what it is that attracts me to the preaching and writing of John Piper. I quickly realize that it is the amazing combination of zeal and knowledge.  I sense this in his preaching and in the Word of God. This tells me that victories in the spiritual battles of life require a substantial dose of both. I need to know what I am fighting and how to fight, AND I need to have a passion to fight and for the goal I am fighting to attain.

So what do we do with this? We must tend to both our hearts and the minds.  No long thoughts here on how to do that, just the observation itself. Maybe the best “next step” is to ask yourself, “In what areas am I strong and in what areas am I weak.  And you know what to do with that.

Now, a video with John Piper at the beginning followed by a rap. Enjoy whatever parts you can, but do notice in each the combination of heart (zeal) and mind (knowledge).

WATCHED

4:23

Remembering the Rainbow

The Israelites built altars;  they had "markers" to remind them of the  Work that Their Lord had done.  It was good for them to look at something and remember the mighty work of God.

Having "faith" can free us.  When we are walking through a tough time, if we keep our eyes fixed on God, His Promises, and what He has done for us, we will see things differently, and we will not have an urgency to "fix it" ourselves. 

I would love to tell you that I walk by faith all the time and I never get anxious, but at times I fall short.   I still try to "fix things". However, I can tell you that when I walk by faith, I am very blessed.  The Lord is always is very gracious and gentle with me.

There have been so many ways the Lord has been faithful to me, I would like to share one of the many ways He has been glorified, and I have been blessed.

Before each ministry begins for the year, I pray and lift it up to the Lord to see if this is His Will.  A number of years ago, I prayed about Vacation Bible School for that  year.  I felt that this is what The Lord would have for our church.  I remember saying that I was handing the entire week over to Him.  

There are two things I remember about that year.  The first was I had complete peace about all the details and the staffing.  I had faith that God would provide the people to serve.  That year there were more than usual last minute staff cancellation. Each time I heard it, I remember saying, "That is ok, God will provide angels for that week." And He did.  We were fully staffed!

The second way He blessed me will always be one of my markers.  Thursday night is our big outreach for Vacation Bible School.  For the Fun Fest, we have the lawn set up with games, and inflatables.   This year we had the games set up early and everything was ready to go... except all of a sudden there were black clouds that were not moving.  We were talking about options, and then I remember asking someone to pray with me.  We went to a room and prayed.. and prayed.   I prayed that The Lord would hold off the rain, and bring a rainbow.  When I finished I remember looking up to the person I was praying with, and saying " I am not sure why I prayed for a rainbow."

As the Fun Fest time was coming near, I remember having faith that The Lord would hold off the rain so that we could minister to the people He brought.  By the time we went outside, the sun was starting to shine through, and everyone was having a good time.

I remember telling someone how we had prayed, and that although I was very grateful that it was not raining, I was a little disappointed there was not a rainbow.  The person replied "Well in order for a rainbow, it would have to rain."  A couple minutes after that a very faint drizzle occurred, but the sun was out, so no one left.  It only drizzled for a couple minutes, and then it stopped.  When it stopped, the person pointed out to me a double rainbow in the sky. God not only blessed me with a rainbow, but He gave me two. God is good!

I am not sure what you are walking through, but remember your markers, remember what Your God has done for you.   As you walk through it with faith, your faith will grow, and so will your markers.  As you share what God has done, He will be glorified and you will be blessed.

 

Good Friday+Easter Poems

Hey everyone,
Now that we've gotten to celebrate Good Friday and Easter, I wanted to post the poems we used in the services so that we might be able to reflect further and continue in light of the inspiring reality of the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Enjoy...

Written from the perspective of Peter (One of Jesus' Disciples), beginning after Christ's burial:

He’s gone

How could this be?

What does this mean?

Have my eyes and heart been so deceived

Or has my mind drifted into insanity

Without any sign or symptom

But I know what I saw

This man came and called

Us lowly men of simple occupation

And spoke with authority his new revelation

His words left the Pharisees bumbling like fools

And his wisdom shamed the scholars

Surely he must have been more than a man

For none had seen works like that of his hand

I was there when Lazarus was raised from the dead

I watched the tempest cease when he said, “Be still”

I witnessed the five-thousand eat their fill

From a petty five loaves of two fish

And when he entered Jerusalem’s streets

The hearts of the masses were roused to believe

That He was the one who would finally defeat

The oppression of Rome

Reclaim David’s throne

And after centuries of waiting, restore our home

According to the words of the prophets

Have I gone mad? Was I wrong to assume

That this Jesus would dwell in a palace, not a tomb

He seemed so unshakable, like a rock was his will

But now all that stands is that cross on the hill

And the only rock left is the seal of his grave

I was so sure, my soul was convinced

But once Judas came with that treacherous kiss

I suppose the truth reared its ugly head

I guess I was wrong because Jesus is dead

Three Days Later...

He’s alive!

I can hardly believe

Do you know what this means?

Jesus really is the King of Kings

My soul can’t help but rise and sing

For the tomb is forever vacant

He is Lord!

The Messiah, he has proved to be

Fulfillment of every prophecy

His resurrection sets us free

Never to be bound again

I admit,

This is not how I thought redemption would be

To begin with a child so helpless and meek

But who can question the holes in his hands and feet

Or the wound in his side, not even I

Who when put to the test, denied him three times

This coward, has witnessed his glorious light

His reign now stands above reproach

And in His name shall I forever boast

Jesus, Savior, God in the flesh

Who swallowed up death by death

He is risen, He is risen!

Fill eternity with song

For I’ve never been so glad to be wrong

Forgive me Lord, for my little faith

For now I see

The eyes of my very soul are unveiled

And one Name above all is forever hailed

Jesus, Jesus, the Truth and the life

Who has rescued the wretch, and ransomed his bride

From now on He will be glorified

Every knee will bow, every tongue confess

That He is Holy, exalted, perfectly righteous

Mankind will cry out, the very earth attest

The songs of generations will rise and bless

The resurrected Lord

Who we worship and adore

How to get the most out of your Bible reading?

Barry Lawrence

We all know how important it is to read the Word and hear from God. Many of us are using a Bible reading program that guides us through the Bible for a year.  But how many of us can remember during the day what we have read that morning? And how many of us feel that we are really growing through the regular input of the Word through our Bible reading? 


And how many of us read the assigned passage for the day and check it off with little reflection and impact?

I came across a useful tool to help us go deeper in reflection and application in our Bible reading. I am not sure who developed it but I like it because it is simple yet can help us respond to the truth we are reading. This tool is easy to remember because each step begins with an "R".

REJOICE: Is there anything in this passage that I can praise God or give thanks to him?

REPENT: Is there any sin I need to confess? Is there any command I failed to obey?

REQUEST: Is there anything I need to ask of the Father that arises from this passage?

Let's apply this tool to a familiar passage. You have just completed reading Romans 8:28-30. Based on the above tool,  what might it look like responding to this passage?

REJOICE: "I am thankful that you are at work in my life so that all things will work together for my good. I am grateful that you care deeply about me so that what I experience is beneficial to my life."

REPENT: "Forgive me when I complain and even doubt your commitment to do good to me."

REQUEST: "Help me to see how you are conforming me to the likeness of your Son even in the difficult times. Make me more into the image of your Son through this difficulty with my boss at work."

The Fight for Joy

I don’t mean to steal a page from Captain Obvious’ log, but life is full of things that seek to rob people of joy.  Whether we’re out, meandering through the isles of the grocery store or at our workplace, chances are that you are going to witness some act of joyless-ness.  Whether it be someone complaining over 1st-world problems like the fact that we have to wait in line at the register, the bi-polar nature of Rochester weather, or just an overall disposition of bitterness, there is a predominantly negative and joyless atmosphere in our world.  It’s just an inescapable reality that the majority of things that operate in our world aggressively attack joy.  There are things constantly working to create discontentment, restlessness and anxiety in our day to day lives.

I know in my life personally, I have become very aware of that reality.  In the midst of that, as I have been trying to remain focused and cling to the promises of God’s Word, I started reading the book of Philippians.  When I got to chapter four, I was ready to get the usual “encouragement in suffering” that is usually the take away when you read Philippians four.  But, this time the Spirit prompted a different emphasis in this passage.  There is a thematic thread within Paul’s writing about joy.  Not so much what it is, but what it takes to hold on to it.  As I was reading verses four through nine specifically, I felt a tension in the text I had not noticed in my previous studies of this passage.  Paul is calling the Church to war.  To battle for the joy that is their’s in Christ.  And like when preparing for military battle, he instructs them in disciplines that are crucial to victory.

Right off the bat in verse four, you can sense the urgency that Paul has.  “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice.”  This time when I was reading it, I just imagined Paul saying these words over a walkie-talkie on the battlefield like, “Rejoice, I repeat, rejoice!”.  He’s trying to grab the attention of his audience.  Whenever you see repetition in the same sentence anywhere in scripture, you can trust that there is an implied emphasis on that point.  Paul’s point is, no matter who we are or what circumstance we are in, joy can and should be constant in our lives because the one who we rejoice in (the Lord) is constant.

Paul then identifies an opposing force we need to be aware of in verse six: anxiety.  Have you ever met someone who was joyful and anxious simultaneously? The answer is NO.  Joy is derived from a place of trust in God’s character and Word, as our focus is fixed on Him, our soul is fulfilled.  Anxiety is a direct result of unbelief, discontentment and a self-centered focus, where our problems or fears consume our focus.  Paul tells us how to overcome it: PRAY.  I imagine Paul with a squad of Christians huddled as he instructs them, “...in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  I instantly think of 1 Peter 5:7, when Peter encourages his people to “cast their cares on the Lord”.  When we are in those moments of fear and anxiety, we need to go to God with them, recite the things we have to be thankful for.  It’s obvious to see that in our anxiety, the last thing on our minds naturally is prayer, because we are so caught up in the problem that we have no room in our attention span for the real solution: God.  But that’s why Paul is pushing this, because that’s the only way we can fight through it, by turning our gaze back on the Lord.

            

Then skipping down to verse 8; I know this passage so often times has been used in sunday school and youth group lessons to tell folks to stop watching “bad” shows, listen to secular music or play violent video games, but we need to remember, CONTEXT IS KEY!  First thing to consider is that Paul is talking to the Church of Philippi.  At that time, the Church of Philippi was in an era of persecution.  So, they definitely understood that there was a war mentality implied in Paul’s letter to them.  With that in mind, the second context to consider is what Paul is talking about when he instructs the people to be mindful of what  they give attention to.  He’s talking specifically about maintaining joy in the midst of suffering.  So he’s not scolding them for poor life decisions he’s encouraging them that in the midst of the darkness of this battle, they need to focus on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure etc.  Just like for us when we are in times of hardship.  If we allow ourselves to focus on all that is broken and awful around us, we will fall into paralyzing depression because our eyes are fixed on the negative.  But if we fix our eyes on that which is all of those adjectives listed in verse eight, we can extract hope and joy.  However, Paul is not telling us to have a Sound of Music mentality, where we just think about a few of our favorite things and then we don’t feel so bad.  He’s implying that the one thing we should be focusing on, that fits the given description is CHRIST.

            

Jesus is our source of joy, he is our motivation, he is our hope and our strength. The Lord is both the end and the means in this war.  We can only fight by Him, and He alone is worth fighting for. So, brothers, sisters and even those of you who may not know Christ as your Lord and Savior; the battle for joy is real and vital.  But it is impossible to win it without Christ.  Specifically for Christians, this is a battle we need to win, because we have no excuse for defeat.  All we need is given to us.  All we need to do is apply it and we will have victory.  Especially in our present age where the world is joyless, and we as the Church all too often fail to show the world the joy that Christ gives, that all man-kind is desperately searching for.  Joy is attractive, contagious and one of the greatest ways we can evangelize to the world.  Also, isn't it so much better to be filled with joy instead of bitterness anyway.  It’s a win-win scenario for everyone touched by the overflowing joy of Jesus.  Let’s wage war together and spark revival where the Lord has stationed us in this world, by shining as joy-filled lights among the joyless darkness that is so unfortunately so common in this world.

"The Art of Marriage"

(Steve Matson - Lead Pastor)

 

Recently, at Journey, we have been discussing marriage and the roles of husbands and wives.  In the midst of such conversations we have options.  We can bemoan the attacks of marriage all around us (divorce, living together, same-sex marriage, etc.) or we can be proactive is strengthening our marriages.  "The Art of Marriage does just that as it presents a God-given vision for marriage and God-empowered resources for marriages.

Charlie and Chris Pilger will be presenting this video-based event on May 16-17 at Journey and I highly encourage you to attend. As a husband, I must say that I have found some marriage events in the past to be awkward at best, but this is just a great resource of dealing with the realities of marriage. Here are some comments that the Pilgers have had from past events.

  

"Every marriage WILL benefit from this.  Everyone should realize their spouse is worth 1 1/2 days" (Dean T)

"The whole experience was life-changing!!"  (Cathy M)

"It's realistic with real life testimonies we can relate to" (Anonymous)

"Felt like a breath of encouragement was breathed into us.  Provided new hope and encouragement after 15 years of marriage.  It's a huge encouragement for ANY season of marriage"   (Jaime F)

"Amazing to watch the Lord not only fix, but vastly improve, something that was broken and underachieving"   (Scott M)

"We've been separated 3 years; (this) will open the door to reconciliation."  (Mark G)

We have a recharged & renewed marriage relationship" (John Z)

"There is comfort knowing the struggle is not ours alone.  We needed the time together to focus on us. Fee paid was SO worth what we got out of it"   (Jill F) 

You can find out more about this event at JourneyOnTheWeb.org.

Below is a video that will give you a better understanding of “The Art of Marriage”.

WATCHED

2:33

 

More Things Are "Caught" than "Taught"

More Things Are Caught Than Taught

Years ago I remember when I heard  the phrase "More things are caught than taught".  These simple words made me re-visit past events in order to discern what my children may have "caught".  I have always tried to parent intentionally, but these words raised a sense of urgency in me.  I began to think about the Godly men and women I wanted my children to become and I had to ask myself if they were "catching" this Godly character from me, or if I was just trying to  "teach" it to them.  This was very convicting, uncomfortable and humbling.  I am being stretched in this area as I try to constantly evaluate what is being "caught" by my children.  I am a work in progress.

 As we raise our children in The Lord, there are so many things we want for them.  I want to share with you one resource that was helpful to me.  Proverbs 31 describes a women of Godly characteristics, which I would like to model for Jamie.  Scripture talks about modesty, and I found a resource Secret Keepers (http://secretkeepergirl.com/truth-or-bare) which gave me helpful insight on this issue.  I used this resource to evaluate my own behavior to make sure I am modeling the standards I want my daughter to adopt.

When our children "catch" us reading His Word or praying, this reinforces to them how much we value and treasure our relationship with God. 

There are many things that our children "catch" from us.  I just want to focus on one as I close: what we communicate to our children.

* If we are planning on going to a big event (vacation, birthday party or visiting family) how much do we talk about it, and how often do we talk about going to church on Sunday?

* If there is a scheduling conflict, has our  child heard "I can't because I have to go to church".  Do they feel they are missing out on something because of church?

* Do we put the same importance on talking to our children about what they learn in Sunday School and their quiet time, as we do when we talk to them about their school work?

* How much time is spent on spelling words, and how much time is spent on scripture memory?

These are just a few provoking questions and, hopefully, these will stir more in you.  As you think about what is "caught", it can be uncomfortable, but as we strive to live for The Lord, our children will be blessed by what they are "catching". 

I have a passion for parenting, and at times I feel I fall short.  Only by God's grace am I equipped and sustained.  Through prayer and His Word He directs me.

If we don't teach our children, the world will.

We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of The Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.  Psalm 78:4

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Your Word and the Guidance You give me.   Thank you for the privilege to raise up the next generation for Your Glory.  I pray that I would desire You more, and Your love and peace would continually flow from me and be a witness to my children and others, for Your Glory.

For His Glory,

Carol Nettleton

I LOVE YOU AND I LIKE YOU

I LOVE YOU AND I LIKE YOU

Jeff Pilger - Pastor of Student  Ministries

Life at the Pilger house gets kind of hectic sometimes.  After the chaos that is putting kids to bed, my wife and I like to throw our tired bodies on the couch and decompress a bit.  Because Asia loves to laugh, and I love to hear her laugh, we'll often fire up Netflix and find the comedies.  Our favorite, far and away, is PARKS AND RECREATION.  As somebody who doesn't gravitate towards comedies, this show has ruined every other comedy for me...It's soooooo good.  

NOTE: Please imagine that I shared a “pastoral-ly" thought about the state of entertainment and sitcom humor and it's use of language.  

In last years' Wedding Episodes on PARKS, I was really moved by the vows the characters Leslie and Ben spoke to each other.  I'm sure my vows would have rocked the attending congregation if they had been written by professional screen writers and script supervisors and a montage of our entire relationship played in black and white while I spoke them.

After Ben spoke his vows, Leslie expresses regret that in the spur of the moment wedding ceremony, her 70-pages of vows were unavailable, but simply speaks these words:

"The things that you have done for me to help me, support me, surprise me, to make me happy, go above and beyond what any person deserves. You’re all I need. I love you and I like you."

For the sake of this blog, please ignore the fact that she's not actually making any vows and that my parents ART OF MARRIAGE class would warn her not to substitute a spouse for God. 

It's the final seven words that speak volumes to me about my relationship with my wife, my children, my extended family and the church.

"I LOVE YOU AND I LIKE YOU"

It's such a simple group of words, but it seems to be completely foreign in my experiences of relationships.  People who love each other generally give the impression that they can hardly stand to be near each other.  I hear people say "I love you" all the time.  In reality though, the same husband who said "I love you" to his wife on the way out of town for the weekend ends up complaining about his wife to a co-worker.  He'd say "I love you" to her face, because that's part of the job description.  When he's talking with others about her, though, I expect to hear "I love her, but..."  

I'm sure I've complained about my children that way: "I love my kids, but I'm going to begin my blog post about how they're tough to settle down for the night".  Perhaps you've heard the pithy comment some people say about the church: "It would be great, if it wasn't for the people."  

Our culture is drenched in sarcasm, cynicism and negativity, and that affects how we relate to each other.  We give encouragement with aloofness.  We give unwarranted criticism without invitation, and we gossip and slander each other without ever giving it a second thought.  It's in this dark and claustrophobic atmosphere our love for each other grows and matures.  It's no wonder that, more often than not, our love comes with condition and only at times of convenience.  

My wife deserves more than begrudging commitment because of vows I spoke almost ten years ago.  My kids deserve more than token attention and affection before bed-time.  My parents and brothers deserve more than a moment of distracted conversation every few weeks, just to stay in touch.  My church deserves more than stubborn, rigid attendance out of obligation.  This so-called love is actually profanity.  “Profane” means to treat a holy place with disrespect or, to make common what is sacred.  To treat those who mean the most to us as if they are common or unwanted is the height of profanity.

I want to live in such a way that people know they are loved and liked.  I am eager to spend time: helping Asia make dinner, because I love her and like being around her and chatting and cooking together; playing Ninja Turtles and playing Hello Kitty! Uno with my kids, because I love them and like seeing their little personalities emerging through play; taking rides with my brother out to the Apple Store at Eastview, just to talk and laugh because I love him and like getting to know him as a friend; serving the pastors, staff and congregation at Journey, because I love them and I like seeing ministry dreams come true, and lives be transformed, and Jesus' grace proclaimed, and God glorified. 

So many people scoff at having 1 Corinthians 13 read at their wedding.  I've heard it called cliché.  If you're a believer, spend some time reminding yourself what that passage of scripture means to your relationships.  You've heard the old phrase before that the longest distance in the world is the space between our head and our heart.  A phrase like this helps to bridge that gap a bit.  It breaks out of the automatic and unemotional "I love you" most of us clinically distribute to those closest to us.  

If you've followed along with this random string of thoughts, thanks.  I love you and I like you.