Out of the mouths of babes!

Have you ever heard that phrase “out of the mouths of babes”? It is the Bible version of the old television show “Kids Say The Darndest Things”. Well, here is my story. I was taking my 7 year old grandson to school one morning. He can go from completely silent saying nothing at all to being so chatty I can’t keep up with the conversation. This one was a bombshell delivered by an angelic little face. “Granddad, what do you do with all the money you get on Sundays?” I stalled by saying “Pardon me, what did you say?” He repeated the question. Nope, it did not change at all: What do you do with all the money you get on Sunday’s? Ok, keep it simple, he is a seven year old. “Well, like in your home, we pay for electricity, water” and before I could finish with all the things “I” do with the money, the little inquisitor jumps in again… “You mean you just pay bills with it? Don’t you help the homeless?” I literally turned to look in my back seat to make sure it was my grandson and not some angelic manifestation of the Holy Spirit coming to speak to me. OK, I got him to wait until I could finish my answer. I told him of the money to Ukraine, to Romania, the Transition House, Connection Groups…but by now, the little messenger from Heaven had delivered his message and had gone back to whatever Pokémon character he was obsessed with.

I dropped my grandson off at school, but I carried his question with me for the rest of the week. I also carried my question with me: Was that the Holy Spirit speaking to me? What do I do with the money we get on Sunday or pay day or any day? Do I just pay bills? What if God asked me that very same question? In fact, I think He did.

My goal is to be a good manager of all God gives me. It is not mine but He has entrusted it to me. How do I spend the monies He gives me, whether we are talking JIBC offerings or the paychecks I receive? Of course we give tithes and offerings. That is our first step in acknowledging that all we have is from our Father in Heaven. Then we try to give generously. By God’s grace, we have been able to be out of debt for a while. Our only debt is Janie’s car. That frees us up to be generous givers above our tithes and offerings. Our old friend, Boyce Smith, helped teach us Biblical Financial Principles years ago. His investment of time has been blessed many times over in an untold number of lives. Thank you Boyce Smith and Dave Ramsey and Solomon and Jesus!

Pastor Tom

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “’From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

Matthew 21:16

OH WHAT AN AMAZING, GLORIOUS DAY

 

What a great Resurrection Sunday we enjoyed! I know it is hard to be objective, but this may have been one of the best Easter services we have had in my 37 years at JIBC. Here is a list of things that made it such a wonder full day.

First, it was Resurrection Sunday. Every Sunday reminds us of Resurrection Sunday. In fact, that seems to be why we switched from worshipping on the Sabbath (Sundown Friday to Sundown Saturday). Jesus arose on the Lord’s Day, Sunday. His early appearances all seem to be on Sundays. This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with great joy!

Second, the Praise Team and Production Team did an outstanding job. We are right at the end of the new installation of all kinds of upgraded equipment. I would have been pleased just to know they were making progress…but they raised the bar and burned the candle at both ends to introduce us to the new technology on Easter Sunday! Wow, Pastor David and David Jr., Thank you for your outstanding effort to get things ready for the biggest day of worship of the year.

Third, who doesn’t love a packed church? The devil that is who! Everyone else loves to see the church packed. Thank you for bringing family and friends; thnak you for the extra effort to attend; thank you, thank you and thank you. It was absolutely wonderful to see everyone gathered. I think the numbers were 150 at the 9:00 service, plus nursery and 250 at the 11:00 service, plus 21 at Children’s Church, plus nursery and 166 on-line viewers.

Fourth, but first in my heart…did I tell you I baptized my grandson, Wyatt Wilkins? Oh yeah, and I did it without tears of joy.

Thank you to all the staff, the group leaders, nursery volunteers, greeters, safety team, tech team, praise team, etc, etc. You made this an amazing, glorious day. I love you all.

He is risen…He is risen indeed.

Pastor Tom

RISEN!

RISEN! The one word that described the one event that changed the world. The one word that fulfilled biblical prophecy and fulfilled God’s plan to reach, redeem and restore a lost and broken world. The one word that describes conquering death and the grave, providing life abundant and life eternal. Risen! He is risen…He is risen indeed.

The name of our April teaching series is RISEN! It is the story of Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday, reflecting on Good Friday and celebrating on Resurrection Sunday! If Christ is not risen, then our hope is in vain. The old hymn helps us put our emotions into words: “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say, I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him He is always near. He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with me and He talks with me along life’s narrow ways. He lives, he lives salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives…He lives within my heart!” Amen and Hallelujah.

FLOWERING THE CROSS: This Sunday I hope you will plan to join us for our Easter Sunday worship experiences. We have two services, one at 9:00 and one at 11:00. We will be “flowering the cross”, so please feel free to bring flowers from your yard, or your neighbors, to put on the cross. My azaleas are just about all gone but my roses are making up for them! For those who are new to JIBC, we have a special cross made to hold flowers. The old rugged cross is transformed to a beautiful display reminding us of the new and beautiful life given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember that Christmas and Easter are two Sundays when our unchurched family and friends are likely to attend. They are twice as likely to attend if we invite them to be our guest and to join us for lunch afterwards. Oh what a glorious day!

See you Sunday, good Lord willing,

Pastor Tom

HOLY WEEK 2022

Holy Week has been called the 8 days of Easter you need to know. This year, Holy Week begins this Sunday, April 10 with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday, April 17. During this one week, many biblical prophesies were fulfilled. Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrecting on Easter Sunday. I like to refer to Easter Sunday as Resurrection Sunday! By enduring and defeating death sacrificially for us, He swung open the gates of heaven making a way for our sin to be forgiven and usher us into the presence of God.

This past Sunday, we began a new teaching series called “Risen”. A one word description of the most important even in history; a one word explanation of how Christianity began; and a one word account of how a small band of disciples could launch a world-wide movement that has lasted over 2000 years. Risen.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It celebrates the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem the week he was crucified. The people were excited and expectant about Jesus’ triumphal entry. He was welcomed as a victorious king. He surely was a King, but more of a king that they had imagined. As they joyfully welcomed Jesus, they had hope. They were hoping for something only God could do. No one expected God to do it this way!

The Good Friday Worship service is Friday, April 15 at 7:00 PM. This is a contemplative worship experience that focuses on the sacrifice and suffering of our Lord Jesus. Designed to help us remember just how much God did love the world and each one of us. Here is a powerful quote: He drained the cup of God's wrath bone dry, leaving not a drop for us to drink. I hope you will join us for this night of reflection, communion. We remember Good Friday is only good because of Resurrection Sunday!

And then, Resurrection Sunday, Easter! Risen Redeemer: Look What God Has Done! He is risen! He is risen indeed! I love the joyful celebration, the new outfits, the blooming flowers, the packed services…I love Resurrection Sunday and the message that it brings to us. Make plans to join us on Sunday, April 17 at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Spring shows what God can do with a dirty and drab world. Resurrection Sunday shows what God can do with our sin, our guilt, with death and the grave!

As one wonderful wit has said “Easter is not about the bunny…it is about the Lamb!” The Lamb of God was slain and now the Lamb of God is RISEN! He is risen indeed.

See you Sunday, good Lord willing,

Pastor Tom