Who do you say I am?

The Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Jesus was proclaiming this to his disciples.

Jesus was also talking about his coming suffering and death.

How was this possible? A paradox that could not be explained. So Peter challenges Jesus to focus on the things of men, rather than the things of God. The very same temptation that Jesus went thru in the wilderness was again upon him.

Jesus knew what was coming, so he gave comfort and strength to his disciples as they waited. Peter, James and John saw the transfiguration, and thus were reassured that Jesus was who he said he was, even tho the future events seemed to prove otherwise.

Who do you say the Son of Man is?
Is Jesus the foundation of your life, your church?
Is he the rock upon which your life is established?
While you wait for his coming, you can live with assurance because we have seen his glory.

In the paradoxes of life, one can live with confidence.

God bless,
Pastor Wayne

bad yeast

Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees.

Was this a random thought of Jesus to the disciples, or was it relating to what the disciples were talking about?

Jesus and the disciples had just completed a three day healing conference with a grand finale of feeding 4000 men plus. Just as they were departing, the Pharisees came with a demand for more signs, but Jesus just left them with a puzzle - the sign of Jonah. Perhaps because of this distraction, the disciples forgot the left-over bread. Now they were hungry, and arguing about it.

It is this return to legalism that Jesus is warning his disciples about, not the lack of bread. This thanksgiving, let us focus on the big picture, not "Who forgot the bread".

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

caring when it's inconvenient

What do you do when you are going thru a time of great loss, and exhaustion, and then you are confronted with needy people?

Often times we want to push them away, to do everything we can to break free and find a place to hide and rest. Jesus and the disciples just heard of the death of John the Baptist after a very full and tiring week. So they got into the boat, and went away.

The inconsiderate crowds followed, and demanded, and Jesus cared for them, healed them, and finally fed them.

May the example of Jesus during this trying time be a comfort and example to us in our busy lives.

Pastor Wayne

What to do with seeds

What does one do with seeds?

Usually the best thing to do with them is to sow them. Jesus talks about the sowing of seeds and the result. When the seeds did not produce, the fault was not of the seeds, but rather the soil where they landed. There was also the problem with bad seeds -- those planted by the enemy. What should one do with those seeds.

These seeds are "knowledge of the kingdom of Heaven". Small truths that grow into life-consuming realities. For those who are not the farmer types, Jesus also gave illustrations for bakers, business men and fishermen.

This, however is not just a cute parable, but rather an eternity shaping truth. What one chooses is not just a lifestyle choice, but rather a heaven/hell choice. Not everyone has ears to listen, so these stark differences are told in the form of parables to respect people's choices of wanting to listen or being not interested.

May the knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven grow in your life and become all encompassing for eternity.

Pastor Wayne