Deacon's Corner May 2008

Christ is Risen Alleluia, we heard that at the end of March on Easter Sunday. I hope that this dose not go away in our minds and hearts. We need to remember all the things that happened during the 4 days of Holy Week, Christ's suffering death and Resurrection. We need to remember why he died, He died for forgiveness for our sins. Even today this is true, maybe you forget this and can't really comprehend this in our today world but remember this, we need to be a resurrection people. As you know Christ said to love your brother and sister as you love yourself, can you look in the mirror and truly tell yourself that this is what you are doing. Christ died on the Cross for the sins of all the people of the world a death which was not the glamorous Hollywood depiction but a severe time in the end of his life. We as Christians need to be more like Christ and do unto others as we would like them to do to us does that happen in your life, I truly hope so. Even hanging on the Cross He was still doing the work of the Father forgiving those who were Crucifying Him. We need to look deep into our hearts and find that thing which bothers us. We need to forgive those who have not treated us in the way that we would like to be treated, turn the other cheek. If there is strife in your family try to mend the breach, the problem can't be as bad as you think. Sometimes we make mountains out of mole hills and years down the road we can't even remember what the thing was that we were upset about. So in this Easter season please see if you can forgive that someone and heal the wound if Jesus could do it you can to.

   Memorial Day is coming up and we need to pray for peace in the world so that we don't have to add more names to the list that we pray about every year. We need to remember those who gave their lives so that we might live free and safe. We need to remember those in Iraq and Afghanistan who are fighting for our freedom.  Pray for them and remember them on this day of the year. Pray for an end of violence and for peace and harmony, for our enemy the devil is at work in the world subverting and infiltrating the minds and hearts of our enemies. The devil is alive and well at work against us and we need the power of prayer to disable him from his journey. Truly I tell you that your prayers are a huge help in this mission and God listens to us. So I would like for you to pray for peace in the world today and for the end of all strife.

   The beginning on this month May 2,3 &4, I will be at Sharp Reservation with Abby Treibel, Brent and Patty Thompson, Pastor and other parents for the 7th and 8th Grade  retreat . This is a time to immerse the students into the Christian mind set and move from the noisy day to day diatribe of things that bombard us from this secular world. A time for learning, a time for fellowship and a time to spend with God. The students will come to the retreat and say that they wish they were elsewhere. But after they leave to go home they have a different view on the weekend. Most have changed their mind and enjoyed their time away. So please pray for us as we take on the task of training the youth for their confirmation.  The peace of God be with you all.
Your servant in Christ;
Deacon Rich