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Does a Valley Mean a Wrong Turn?

2/22/2015

Sermon: Does a Valley Mean a Wrong Turn?

Psalm 25: 1-10; 1 Peter 3: 18-22; Mark 1: 9-15

February 22, 2015

Last Sunday I talked about mountain-top experiences, those times when we feel especially close to God and to one another. Today we are going to look at valley experiences, those times when hardships hit; when there seems to be darkness all around, when you can't see a way around the roadblocks in front of you, when things look hopeless. That is walking through the valley and, as we walk with God, we are questioning just why this is happening to us. And too often our faith tradition has told us that if things are going badly, we are out of step with God. Today, we are going to look at why troubles may not mean we are out of God's will.

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A Facebook Moment

2/15/2015

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A Facebook Moment

Psalm 50: 1-6; 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6; Mark 9: 2-9

February 15, 2014

Transfiguration Sunday

We are recognizing tomorrow President's Day as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of our greatest presidents were born this month. Abe Lincoln was a man with a good sense of humor and a humble spirit. He said this about his appearance, “Sometimes I feel like the ugly man who met an old woman traveling through a forest. The Old woman said, 'you are the ugliest man I ever saw.'

'I can't help it,' the ugly man said.

'I guess not,' the woman admitted, 'but the least you could do is stay at home.'”

Every year we read the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. It is about the appearance of Jesus, the transfigured appearance of Jesus. The three Synoptic gospels (explain) all share this account. In every case, it tells us that Moses and Elijah joined Jesus and that Peter suggested putting up a dwelling for them. Peter was pretty good at saying things that weren't exactly brilliant. But he also was the one who first proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah...followed almost immediately by rebuking Jesus for saying he was going to suffer and die. We'd say today that Peter was impulsive. I think if the transfiguration happened today, Peter would have asked if he could take a “selfie” with them to post on facebook.

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The ABCs of

2/8/2015

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The ABC's of Thanksgiving

Psalm 147:1-12; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39

February 8, 2015

Week 5 of our series on prayers. There is so much God in the small prayer we've been using—Max Lucado's pocket prayer. “Father. You are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help.” That's what we've covered so far. I'm not going to review again today but get right into the next part of the prayer, a simple “thank you”. Giving thanks to our God is commanded in scripture, but that's not the only reason to give thanks. We do it out of grateful hearts. We should do it out of grateful hearts. But it you are like me it is very easy to compare what we have to others who have more. Then we don't come to God with a grateful heart, but with a covetous heart. Let's look at scripture's view on thanksgiving and see if, in our prayer life and in our lives, we can't improve our gratefulness.

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Just Do It--Prayer part 4

2/1/2015

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Just Do It

Psalm 111: 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13; Mark 1: 21-28

February 1, 2015

As I said in the children's message, it is now 6 years here as pastor. We had a celebration of 5 years a year ago. One take away from that party was that I tell a lot of jokes...for better or worse. In acknowledgment of my anniversary, here's a repeat: a man was out fishing. He was an older gentleman and as he cast, snagged his lure on low hanging branches. He moved his boat in near to shore and heard a voice, “Psst, Mr., down here on the rock.” There sat a frog. The Frog spoke, “Mister, I'm a beautiful princess under a spell. If you kiss me, I'll become a beautiful princess again and be yours forever.”

Well, the old man grabbed the frog and stuffed it in his pocket and went on fishing. Finally he's done fishing and as he's loading his boat the frog peaks out and says again, “All you have to do is kiss me and I’ll become your own beautiful princess.” The man just stuffed her back deeper into his pocket.

They arrive home and he puts his gear away and then puts the frog into an old aquarium. The frog can't understand this, “What are you doing? All you have to do is kiss me and I'll will be your own beautiful princess.” The old fisherman replied, “Look frog, I'm 78 years old, a widower. I get to fish whenever I like and at this point in my life I'd just as soon have a talking frog.”

In our epistle lesson, Paul tells his readers that no idol in the world really exists. Likewise we know that there are no magical frogs that turn into beautiful princesses. When we study the idea of prayer, we understand it is more than wish-making.

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Does a Valley Mean a Wrong Turn?

A Facebook Moment

The ABCs of

Just Do It--Prayer part 4

Pastor Gordy

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