youth group this Wednesday

Youth Group this week:

-free dinner at 5:45
-worship
-games
-quiz on music
-latest edition of the youth group newsletter will be released
-maybe more surprises

Whose Will?

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”

“He’s very strong willed.”

“She has the will to win.”

“I can and I will!”

“Will” is an interesting thing.  It has many definitions both as a verb and a noun.  A quick look on www.dictionary.com shows these definitions for the noun version:

-the faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action

-the power of control the mind has over its own actions

-power of choosing one’s own actions

-the act or process of using or asserting one’s choice

-wish or desire

-purpose or determination, often hearty or stubborn determination

-the wish or purpose as carried out or to be carried out

As I read John 16-18 this week I was impressed with the “will” of Jesus Christ.  Well, I was impressed that his will was to follow someone else’s will – no matter what!  That doesn’t happen very often, if ever. 

We want to do OUR will.  I want to do MY will.  But Jesus was different.  Throughout John 16 and 17 he talks with his disciples about the will of his father.

As Jesus was being arrested in John 18, Peter started to resist and fight back.  He wanted to do HIS will.  But Jesus was different.  In verse 11 he tells Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

When Jesus stood before Pilate he likely could have talked his way out of his arrest and sentencing.  Pilate was almost asking him to do so.  Pilate was looking for any reason to let Jesus go.  But Jesus was different.  When Pilate asked Jesus if he were a king he responded in verse 37, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.”

Jesus was bent on fulfilling the will and purpose that God had given him.  Nothing and no one was going stop him from doing that.

All too often I am bent on doing what I want to do, when I want to do it, to fulfill myself and MY will.  But Jesus was different.

Whose will are you living for today?

-PT

Youth Group tonight!

Join us for youth group tonight.  Dinner is served at 5:45.  Little Caesar's Pizza!

Worship starts at 6:30pm.  Testimony will be from our Ukraine mission team.

Quiz on famous quotes.

Bible study on faith found in Barak.

Games included...

See you tonight!

-PT

Why?

Most of us have asked the question, “why,” haven’t we?  I know I have.  I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard people ask several forms of “why,” especially in regards to how God works.

Why did this person get cancer?

Why did I lose my job?

Why would God allow this to happen in my life?

Why did my loved one have to die?

Why was this man born blind?

John 9:1-3

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ² And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”³ Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

The disciples assumed that someone must have sinned in order for this man to be born blind. 

As humans we try to find a reason for everything – and many times we think there has to be something or someone to blame for everything.  That’s what we naturally look for!  But Jesus was different.  Jesus had his eyes on something else.

“…but that the works of God might be displayed…”

Too often we get our eyes focused on the wrong thing.  In times like this we need to “look up!”  Many times when we are busy trying to find a reason, God is busy trying to show us His works.

Take a moment today to stop and ask “why?”  Instead of looking for a reason, “look up” for where God is showing you His works!

-Pastor Tom

Girls Tea in 1 week!

My Daily Quest

Recently Sarah and I were telling our boys about the historic events of September 11, 2001.  Our young children were amazed and intrigued with the details of a memorable day that happened long before they arrived in this world.  As expected it brought up several great questions and a conversation about evil.  Our 5-year old son, Josiah, paused for a moment as he pondered our discussion and all that happened on that famous day.  And then with great frustration he uttered, “Mom, I just wish Eve would never have eaten that apple!”

Genesis 3:5-7

“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

As we started reading in the books of John and Genesis this week, it got me thinking about sin.  We learn about the original sin in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.  This was when sin first entered our world. 

We live in a world full of evil.  From murders to robberies and terrorist attacks.  It can be frustrating to see the evil in our world and feel like we have no control over the horrible things that happen.  Many people blame God for the events and circumstances that unfold in our lifetime.  But the problem with evil is not God, the problem with evil is sin.  My 5-year old son grasped that truth last week.

But thanks be to God for sending His son Jesus Christ!  Even though the sin of human nature has brought about great evil in this world – God’s love still reigns!  As Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

Jesus has won the victory over sin AND evil.  And we do also when we put our faith in Him.  No evil in this world can overcome that!

-Pastor Tom

Youth Group this week

Come on out for youth group this week.

Free dinner at 5:45.

Worship at 6:30.

Plenty of news about what's going on in our youth group.

Bible study focuses on Gideon this week.

Quiz on famous quotes.

And some type of fun activity or game.  Depending on Mr. Cody!

See you Wednesday night!

-PT

Girls Night - tomorrow

Tomorrow - Saturday, February 21st - is our next GIRLS NIGHT!

All the fun starts at 5:30pm at Annie's house.  There will be pizza and games and so much more.

For more information please contact Annie or Pastor Tom.

Thanks!

Polar Bear Plunge?

This Saturday is the Polar Bear Plunge!  Who is going to take the challenge?  Who is going to take the plunge?

The cost is $25 and all the proceeds go to Minnesota Special Olympics.  You can even seek pledges to raise more money.

The event happens in Duluth and the jump is into Lake Superior.  Brrr...current forecasts say it will be about 14 degrees.

If you are interested we need to know by youth group on WEDNESDAY night.  Talk to Al or Pastor Tom!

Baptism

On January 25th we had a baptism at church.  Congrats to Abby who was one of the people who got baptized that day!

-PT