Opening Day

I'm not a diehard baseball fan, but there is something about a Cubs broadcast in the background to give you a warm relaxed feeling. Especially after this long snowy winter, opening day at Wrigley Field is like the first robin of spring to let you know warm days are ahead.

For a little spiritual challenge early in the week, here's an interview of Pastor Randall Ross of Calvary Church in Naperville, IL.

HERE


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Scripture of the Day: Ezekiel 19:15 When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.

Quote of the Day: Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living. Alvin Dark

In the Pit

For our Family Night Out from church we played a mean game of Pit. I won for the night, but I like to think that my whole family really won. My wife was reminded how lucky she is to be married to me. My kids learned a valuable lesson on the hardships of life and persevering in loss. Everyone went to bed a winner and once again I have been able to bless my family:)

A good morning at church with missionaries Scott & Suzi Wiesrma. They are on their way to Albania as Missionary Associates. Any chance to be reminded of the heart of God is a good day.


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30:5-6 5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Scripture of the Day: Deuteronomy 8:11-14 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Quote of the Day: "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package." Uknown

Field of Dreams

This is just a piece of the 8-10 age area at the big Sycamore Easter Egg Hunt this morning. It was snowed out last week and the switch of days left about a 1/3 of the normal kids coming today. Elizabeth filled her basket, pockets, my pockets, and more and we still left candy on the ground. I almost felt guilty loading her down but the candy was everywhere and 1000's of pieces were left behind. Jeremiah is too old now but came in an advisory capacity. After a while he started loading up when it became obvious that much would be leftover. He didn't have a bag so he started to fill his coat. He looked pregnant and gave birth to 170 pieces of candy when he got home.



It's Saturday afternoon so I hope you're gearing up for worship tomorrow. Too often we don't receive because we never came expecting.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

Scripture of the Day: Revelation 4:9-11 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Quote of the Day: "Had I cared for the comments of people, I should never have been a missionary." C.T. Studd

Big Mama's

Our East St Louis work team stopped by Big Mama's on the way home a couple of weeks ago. I've been sitting on the picture till after Easter week since it seemed a little trivial. But you can only hold Big Mama back for so long. I had the Cuzin's Cooter's Comeback Sammich. Pulled pork open faced sandwich covered with fries, cheese, and chili sauce. I prefer straight meat at a BBQ, but I couldn't pass up the name. Good eatin'.


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26:24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.

Scripture of the Day: Philippians 3:7-9 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Quote of the Day: "If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility." Augustine

Happy Resurrection Day!

Happy Easter! I know it's Monday, but everyday is Resurrection Day for the believer. Our first Good Friday in Sycamore I preached at the Sycamore Good Friday service back when it was a variety of Sycamore churches. At our next Sycamore ministerial meeting one of the mainline pastors was concerned that we had rushed too fast past the cross. But then he said to me, "But I guess every day is Easter for you guys." It was a little shot at the Pentecostal/charismatic wing of the church, but I took it as a compliment. We eventually quit doing the Sycamore Good Friday service after one mainline pastor used an ancient African proverb as his text and another time one preached that, "The message of the cross is to follow your heart." A few of us pastors still refer to that as the Bad Friday Service.

But to all you Pentecostals out there, HAPPY EASTER!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 24:36-43 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Quote of the Day: "God's wrath is harder to bear than Christ's cross." Rieger

Resurrection Day!

Happy Easter!

I hope you had opportunity to gather with others today to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We looked at The Cross and the Resurrection today. The struggle of the 1st century is the struggle of the ages. The religious stumble over grace without works and the secular think it's foolishness. But to those who find hope in the cross and the empty tomb it is is the power of God for eternal life.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 23 "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Whose fool are you?

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23:19 19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 24:1-7 1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "

Quote of the Day: Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there. Clarence W. Hall

Holy Saturday

I can only imagine the grief of the Sabbath after Jesus had been placed in the grave. The unknown. The loss of their teacher. The crush of their hopes and dreams. From the great possibilities on the Palm Sunday procession to the cross in just a matter of days. We see a glimpse of the confusion that Resurrection morning when Jesus encounters a couple of his followers before they recognize Him.

Luke 17b-24 They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19"What things?" he [Jesus] asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

For us it's a day of solemn anticipation. We still feel the sting of the crucifixion but the Easter Resurrection celebration slowly is approaching. The joy of "He's Alive!" is close on our lips.

Are you ready?


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: 22:12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

Scripture of the Day:Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Quote of the Day: "His soul was crucified more than His body." Antony Farindon