“He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb”. Rev 5: 7-8
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” Rev 5:11

Observation

When I pray or worship I often try to visualize God on his thrown in heaven with Jesus at his side. I sometimes get this feeling of awesome wonder and humility and maybe this is more normal than I think based on what John sees in heaven. I cry more than a man should, and feel like I can’t get low enough on the ground. I feel I am not worthy to even send up a prayer, whether it is for my own help or intersession for others.

Application

As I pray or worship I will just let it happen and not try to second guess the effects. If the tears come or the low feeling starts just continue and just realize that effects may be beyond my control and that’s OK.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the Biblical visions of heaven with all the falling down before the Lord Jesus. The visions of all the saints and souls in heaven reassure me if I overcome this world, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will someday be a part of this great crowd. Even though death still scares me some, I know there is life with you beyond this world. Help me to be worthy in your eyes. I pray this in the name of Jesus, your son, and my savior.

John Niehaus

Elder

2 Samuel 19:31-39

“Barzillai, the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there.  Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age.  He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”  But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?  I am now eighty years old.  Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not?  Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks?  Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers?  Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?  Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way?  Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother.  But here is your servant Kimham.  Let him cross over with my lord the king.  Do for him whatever pleases you.”  The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you.  And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”  So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over.  The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai returned to his home.

Observation

Barzillai could have taken advantage of David at this point and used David’s gratitude to further his own status and fortune.  David was returning to his kingdom after Absalom had been killed and was probably pretty generous with those who had supported him after he had been forced to flee.  This man was loyal and chose to live by Gods standards not mans.  He unselfishly refused glory when offered to him and lifted up his son to receive the fruits of his good deeds towards another.  In so doing, he led by example to be God serving, not self serving.

Application

As Christians we should remember that when we “do” for others we are not putting on a show so that someone will notice and maybe hopefully give us a big fat pat on the back and sing our praises.  Our whole goal and focus is OTHERS! We should be like Barzillai, lead by example, give God the glory for a job well done and live unselfishly.

Prayer

Father God, help me to not seek my glory but to glorify and praise You for all that You allow me to do.  Help me to give of myself without seeking anything in return and through my example Lord that others might see who You are and be led to know You more.  Amen

Trish Gladish

Volunteer

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
-John 21:15-19

Observation:

The thing that strikes me about this portion of Scripture in today’s reading is Jesus’ one on one conversation with Peter. Peter had denied Jesus three times, and here Jesus gives Peter three
opportunities to express his love for Him. But this conversation makes me wonder what would my response be to Jesus if we were to have this same conversation. It is easy to say the words but to have true meaning to them is altogether another matter. After affirming his love for Jesus, Jesus then tells Peter to follow Him – so he is telling Peter to show the love he has for HIm by serving and following Him.

Application:

Do I show my love by doing the same? It is far to easy to say the words “I love you” but it is quite something else to put those words into action. Like a verse in the old DC talk song “Love is a verb”. It must not just be the words and just hang there – to show true love to the Father and to our brothers and sisters there must be action and movement behind those words.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive me for my times of ‘inaction’ – help me to put hands and feet to my words In my declaration of love to you and for others – let my actions show my love. Just as I heard at the memorial service this past Saturday, Lord, “let me love the way I want to be loved”. Amen.

Mary Teresa Miller
Receptionist

¹Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ²The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.

⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." ⁵When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

⁶As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" 
      But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."

⁷The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."

⁸When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.¹⁰"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

¹¹Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

¹²From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."

¹³When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. 
      "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" 
      "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. 
      "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.

¹⁶Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

OBSERVATION

Even though he had "…no basis for a charge…" against Jesus, Pilate still had Him flogged in the first part of the passage.  Pilate seems to be battling with what his heart was telling him about this Jewish man.  Pilate wrestles with doing the right thing versus doing what everyone else wants/expects for him to do.  Ultimately he bends to the pressure of the Jews he governed and allows Jesus to be crucified.  Unlike the report in the Gospel of Matthew, John’s account does not mention that Pilate washed his hands and claimed that he was, "…innocent of this man’s blood."

APPLICATION

Here we have a man with a war going on inside… he knew in his heart what was right, but was not able to follow through with doing it.  EVERY time I read this passage I still find myself hoping that he’ll make the right choice, even though I already know what he is going to do.  I wonder how many times God has felt that way about me?  "Oh, Tony- you know what you need to do here.  Be brave enough to follow your heart!"  Then He sees me bend to others’ expectations, avoid uncomfortable confrontation, take the easy route, or continue some particular pattern of sin.

The old cliche’ says, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."  Pilate intended to do the right thing and to release Jesus.  But because of his fear of conflict and his need to please, an innocent man died.  Pilate washed his hands of his role in Christ’s death… but I believe he always knew he could have done more if he’d have just been brave enough to follow his heart.  Likewise- in our dealings with Christ- wanting to do the right thing is never enough.  God wants us to show resolve and to follow Him wherever He leads us… even if it is an extremely difficult path.  He promises to give us the strength we need and to bless our obedience.  Then our witness to the world echoes His integrity.

PRAYER

Father we pray that You would enable us to follow the convictions that You give us.  Help us to grow to trust You enough to do whatever you are asking us to do… whether it be standing up for someone, making larger sacrifices of time or resources, or serving in a way that may seem scary at first.  Don’t let us be like Pilate, who knew the right path but didn’t choose it.  Give us the strength and perseverance to do Your will… even when it seems like the whole world is against us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Tony Ruble

Children’s Ministry Pastor

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.  -John 18:37-38

Observation

This is right after Peter’s denials, when Jesus is being brought before Pilate because the high priests hoped that Pilate would order His execution. Pilate asked Jesus several questions, including “Are you the king of the Jews?” When Pilate realizes that Jesus is the King of the Jews, This dialogue happens.

Application

I have always wondered what Pilate meant here. Jesus says that anyone on the side of truth listens to Him. Then Pilate responds by asking “What is truth?” Was Pilate having a crisis of faith here? Did he realize that the man standing before him was not just an ordinary man. The lack of fear in Jesus’ eyes, His constant determination, His willingness to die… Those would have been things that Pilate would not have seen in the other prisoners that had been brought before him. I pray that Pilate in that moment realized that the thing that he was living for.. the empire, was not all that it was cracked up to be. That this man, born of humble begginings, was special, and that He should be paid attention to. I think that this is the moment when Pilate decided in his heart that he did not want tot have anything to do with Christ’s death. I think that in that moment, he glimpsed something that his roman brainwashing could not have explained.

I am glad that I know what truth is. I am glad that I am on his side. As I think about the situation between Jesus and Pilate, I can only hope that something within him changed that day. But I know that the man brought before Pilate  was not just a lowly carpenter. He was the true king, over the Jews, over the Romans, over me, and over all.

Prayer

Lord, I pray that in that moment you made a difference in Pilate’s life. He recognized that something was different about you. He knew that You were no normal man. I pray that I remember that always as well. I am so thankful that you died for me. I am so thankful that I will be on your side forever. Amen

Justin Phillips

Media Technician

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you – (John 16:7)

Observation:

Jesus is telling His disciples what will happen to them when He is gone. They asked Him where He was going, and they were full of grief about losing their Rabbi. Sensing that they were distraught about this, He tells them that it is better for them that He should leave, so that the Holy Spirit could come to them.

Application:

Jesus valued the role of the Holy Spirit. He told the disciples that it was for their good that he was going away and that the Holy Spirit would come. There is a difference between these two parts of God. Jesus was fulfilling His role, about to be killed for their sins, but the Holy Spirit is the one that would enable them to live under that newfound grace.

Prayer:

Lord, we see that the Holy Spirit is what enables us to come to you. The Holy Spirit helps us and reminds us about Your sacrifice. I pray that we will always remember the role He plays and always be willing to listen to His prompting. Amen

Justin Phillips

Media Technician

Jesus told him, (Thomas), “I am the Way-yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.” John 15:6

Observation

What a common verse that so many of us have memorized yet how unfortunate it is that so many people still do not apply this to their lives! If we do not put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, we will never make it to Heaven or to meet the Father. It is our job as Christian brothers & sisters to help the lost ones to learn and live by this verse.

Application

Jesus is our path to the Father, (the way), the reality of God’s promises, (the truth), and as the life, he joins his divine life to ours, now & forever!

Prayer

Dear God, I am so thankful for you giving us your son- that He is providing us with the path to eternal life with you! Thank you for your amazing gifts of love and please help us to remember to stay on the right path each and every day!

Rhonda Parsons

Office Administrator

Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (John 5:17)

Observation:

On this Sabbath day, Jesus healed a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years.  Instead of rejoicing, the Jewish religious leaders began to “persecute” Jesus.  They apparently thought it would be better if God took the Sabbath off.  (Of course, they were spiritually blind and couldn’t see that Jesus was the One sent from God. They were threatened by His authority.)

Application:

Someone recently sent me a link to a web site which maintains streaming video archives of major news events.  So, I just finished watching several hours of the television coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks.  As heart wrenching as these images are, I can’t seem to stop watching them. It seems I have a need to experience that swirling flood of emotions every once in a while.  I guess it’s because I NEVER want to forget that day.

After re-watching these videos tonight, my reading took me to John 5:17.  “Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.“  I am SO glad that my Savior is ALWAYS at work – even on days like September 11, 2001, when the hands of evil is are as active as they have ever been. He’s at work even when confusion, fear and death seem to reign.  He’s at work when our world doesn’t seem to make sense and everything appears to be spinning out of control. Our Heavenly Father is still working even when we’re in the darkest places. And, while the hands of evil try to destroy us with death, our Father is bringing ETERNAL life.  “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (vs. 24)

Prayer:

Father – May I never loose faith, even in my darkest days and deepest fears.  You are the only source of hope, joy, love and life. Remind me that you are always at work. You never rest. And, no matter how dark the darkness may become, it can NEVER overcome the light. You are the light.

Steve Gregory, Volunteer

After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

Observation

Jesus rarely showed anger. But when He saw the business that was going on, and people profiting from the sins of others. This was just something that He would not stand. His righteous anger flowed over, and He drove them out of the temple.

Application

Jesus’ zeal for His fathers house was overwhelming. His love for the church and what it should be caused Him to stand up for it when it was being abused. He knew what was right and drove out those that were taking advantage of others.

We should love the church in the same way. That we stand up for what it should be and protect it when it needs to be.

Prayer

Lord, please fill us with love for your house, and let us be willing to defend her from attacks for the outside and the inside.

Justin Phillips
Media Technician

It is normal to use a small section of scripture for a lifejournal, but I am going to use ALL of Isaiah 53, because it just has to go together. Isaiah 53

Observation

God has been revealing to Isaiah all the sins of Israel. Isaiah knows that something has to happen to relieve this tension between their sin and God’s holiness. The way that this is normally resolved is through punishment coming upon Israel, but God is giving Isaiah a vision of the true remedy, when Jesus will come to take away their sins. “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.” (Isa. 53:2 NLV) Jesus came without much fanfare, born humbly to humble parents in the lowly town of Bethlehem. The savior, the one who would take away Israel’s sin, and ours, was brought up “like a root in dry ground.”

The salvation story is played out in this chapter. We are like sheep, and have strayed, and Jesus was the one to take the pain, take the punishment for the things that we have done. There is nothing more beautiful to me than the see the love in our Savior’s eyes as He endures all that for us through His love.

Application

Israel was doomed without something to take away their sins. Mere sacrifices of animals was not enough any more. So it is with us. God had to step in and take our place, punishing Himself through His only son to set us free. We now get to live in that reality, knowing that we have been forgiven and that we are loved.

Prayer

Lord, may we never forget the pain that you went through. You voluntarily came to save us by taking our place. I pray that we always remember the price that was paid and thank you for that everyday. Thank you Lord for setting us free from our sins and providing us with a way to be with You.

Justin Phillips Media Technician