Culture of Life

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Rom. 8:34)

And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.  (Luke 24:17 ESV)

But we had hoped that he was the one …. (Luke 24:21 ESV)

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Rom. 8:34)

For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.  (1 Cor. 15:19)

Facts: Fear or Faith?

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so fearful? Do you still have no faith?”  (Mark 4:40)

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Dan. 12:4)

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:37–38)

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so fearful? Do you still have no faith?”  (Mark 4:40)

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)

To Everything a Season

Bible verses in support of the sermon posted on Sunday March 29 2020

If you would prefer, you can download and print out these verses to follow along. Click here.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Eccl. 3:1–8)

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Gen. 8:22)

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, (Gen. 1:14)

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. (Prov. 20:4)

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (Prov. 10:5)

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matt. 10:16)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15–16)

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:12–13)

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14)

Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Heb. 11:33–34)

* Who through faith conquered pandemics, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of liars, quenched the power of fire, escaped the devastation of disease, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in spiritual warfare, put every enemy to flight.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)

* Here I changed a few words to reflect current conditions. This is not meant to improve on God’s word but to apply scripture to our lives.

God is Greater!

Bible verses in support of the sermon posted on Sunday March 22 2020

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (Psa. 147:5)

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.  (Psa. 125:2)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psa. 23:4)

Other verses on the presence of God that banishes fear:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6)

Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. (1 Chr. 28:20)

 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Is. 41:13)

God declares the end from the beginning:

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (Is. 46:10)

God commands the seas to dry up:

He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. (Nah. 1:4)

Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’; (Is. 44:27)

Jesus commands the wind to stop:

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)

Job lays his hand over his mouth – speechless after God declared His power:

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. (Job 40:4)

God’s arm brings salvation so let’s lean on his Mighty arms!

I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me. (Is. 63:5)

He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. (Is. 59:16)

Who are you O mountain to stand before my servant:

Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” (Zech. 4:7)

God takes our enemy by the scruff of the neck and sends him to the Abyss:

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. (Rev. 20:2–3)

Family News

Dear Church family,

I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do (Joshua 1:9)

I pray that you are all safe and healthy. I also pray that you have all you need. If not please let us know. I feel that we truly are a family - brothers and sisters. In the book of Acts, the church family shared all that they had with each other. Let's stay in contact with each other-and check on the well-being of all.

We have been strongly advised by the president to avoid gathering with more than 10 people. Since then the county judge for Gillespie County decreed the following on Thursday March 19th “this declaration hereby limits the size of gatherings to not more than 10 people and mandates the cancellation of all such gatherings of more than 10 people until further notice”. The scriptures teach us to submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13.1) so I believe we must comply. We must remember that by doing this we are loving our neighbors by not jeopardizing them as well as exposing ourselves and our families. The book of Proverbs reminds us that “the prudent sees danger and hides himself” (Pro. 22.3). I hate the thought of not coming together and worshipping, praying and hearing God with you but I feel in both compliance and prudence we must. We will evaluate this week by week.

I am preparing a message that I will post on the journeychurch.com website Sunday morning. I won't try live streaming for a couple of reasons. I'm not sure I can speak to a camera the same way I share the word with you. Plus, I have recently lost about 17 pounds and I don't relish the idea of adding 20 pounds instantly by being on video. ;) So look for a new message posted this Sunday morning. Also avail yourself of other messages you may have missed as I am currently caught up with the uploads,

One final note. A couple of you have already had the foresight to mail tithes and offerings to the church. I appreciate that. If you would like to do that the mailing address is P.O. Box 2167.

Blessings on you all and your households!

Michael

Shake the Dust!

This is the poem that Martin McCrory read at the end of his message on February 21. I hope you enjoy it.

SHAKE THE DUST

This is for all the pimple populated teens

For the fat girls and the flat girls

For the new kids at school that no one wants to know

For the schoolyard wimps and the bullies who torment them

Fro the 12 year olds too afraid to strip down in the change room showers

For the A-grades and the H-grades

For the sporting jocks and milky geeks

For the kid who is always late for class and forgets the combination to his locker

Shake the dust

This is for the trendy and for the cool

Those with the latest and the fastest at school

For those lost in the escapism of narcissistic likes

The brand-conscious flashing their Nikes

For those who let the numbers tell them that they are loved

Because they never had that from a daddy, not from one on this planet, and neither from above

For the posed, the poised, the noise, the boys!

For those lost in the virtual world of their palm toys

Shake the dust

This is for the kicked-outs

for the closed-group block outs

For the snubbed, and the cold-shouldered shut-outs

For those excluded and the excluders and the exclusive

For the superior and for the abusive

For those desperate to belong, but no one hears your song

Shake the dust

This is for the moms in a world where mom-hood is anathema

For the mothers who get asked what they do all day

Because their vocation is a vacation

For those who wipe noses and clean bums

Who converse in goo-goos, ga-gas and nursery rhyme hums

So that their sons and daughters don't become bums!

To those who sacrifice to be mums

Shake the dust

This is for the hardworking single mom

And for the disillusioned absent dad

For the abused and for the abusers

For the write-off and the society losers

For the abandoned and forsaken

Who feel that life has given less than it has taken

Those who cant make ends meet and exceed what they borrow

For those who see no way out, who try to drown their sorrow

For those who have to steady their hearts as the watch loved-ones depart

Shake the dust

This is for the lonely, for the depressed, for those desperate to be free

For the ones who said the world would be better without me

Shake the dust

This is for those who let the heat burn too close

For those who allowed their innocence get lost

This is for the pregnant teen who doesn't want to be seen

For the online porn addict who feels unclean

Shake the dust

This is for the guy just trying to pay the rent

For those watching their one life get spent and bent

Chasing the cars, the houses and never making a dent 

in the mounting debt wondering where all the years went

Wondering if that’s what God meant 

When he said “For this purpose I was sent.”

Shake the dust

This is for the sick. for the halt and those who will soon expire

For those who have watched their prayers backfire

At the end of intense and earnest desire

Those who have held on against the odds

Those who have chosen the only One God

Those who have waited for a dream to come true

Those who’ve had secrets that nobody knew

Shake the dust!

This is those who are too old to get married

those who have had too many marriages

For those who have betrayed their marriage

And for those who wish they were married

Shake the dust 

This is for those who tried to shed a few pounds

Who resolve the Monday diet but go around and around as they get round

This is for the procrastinator who will get around to it

To the wallflower gym member who swipes his card but never trains hard

This is for those who are trying to be somebody other than they already are

Shake the dust

IT”S A NEW DAY!

Paul writes in Philippians 3:13“… I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past (“experience”) and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on … “

For the hopers and the dreamers for the wide-eyed believers

Keep pressing on!

For the longings, for the desires, for the hopes and for the dreams

For those anticipating more than they could ever believe

For those Expecting good from a God who can only be good

For those Desiring promotion and provision while God is your vision

PRESS ON!

For those Believing for miracles and signs from the One Life who colours outside the lines

For those Trusting for loved ones to be saved, there is a way that His blood has paved

PRESS ON!

For those longing to be sent

There is a curtain that has been rent

His invitation is for you to come

Press in, press on, RUN!

Shake the dust, and keep pressing on!