September 26, 2011

I am moved by the lyrics of the new song we have been singing as a part of our “Something’s Coming” series.  I thought I would include them below for you to read and contemplate as a way to start your Monday morning.

Awakening
by Chris Tomlin

In our hearts Lord
In this nation
Awakening

Holy Spirit
We Desire
Awakening

For You and You alone
Awake my soul
Awake my soul and sing

For the world You love
Your will be done
Let Your will be done in me

In Your presence
In Your power
Awakening

For this moment
For this hour
Awakening

Like the rising sun that shines
From the darkness comes a light
I hear Your voice say
This is my awakening

Like the rising sun that shines
Awake my soul
Awake my soul to sing

From the darkness comes a light
Awake my soul
Awake my soul to sing

Only You can raise a life
Awake my soul
Awake my soul to sing

In our hearts Lord

In this nation

Awakening

 

God Bless!

Pastor Michael

 

September 19, 2011

Please click on the following link to hear Pastor Michael’s thoughts for today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_kMyOFpUlE

September 12, 2011

There has been thunder and lightning and rain at our house off and on all weekend…I guess summer is over.  I love living somewhere where there are four distinct seasons, but the change from summer to fall is my least favorite.

This summer has been significant in so many ways.  Our oldest son graduated from high school.  Our family experienced a wonderful long-planned and long-awaited two-week vacation in Hawaii.  We spent most Sunday afternoons at Brentwood Lake with friends and family.  I made homemade ice cream more times than I can remember.  We hosted several outdoor movie nights in our driveway.  We benefited greatly from the wonderful worship and teaching through the “Rejoice Always” series at church.  I committed to memorizing the book of Philippians and endeavored to run consistently 5 days a week sometimes 10 miles at a time.  We dropped our son off at college and gave thanks to God for the man he has become.  And, now it’s all over!

I have been very melancholy about what was once eagerly anticipated and now is just a memory!

What’s that?  Something’s coming?………..

Pastor Michael

August 29, 2011

I was recently told by somebody who doesn’t attend church that they didn’t think they needed to be a part of church to be in relationship with God.  I believe that this is the sentiment of many, and it saddens me.  The reality is that God has placed great value on the value of “together”—of coming together to worship, to pray, to fellowship, to learn from his word.  How could we possibly grow in our relationship with Him apart from the mysterious and awe-inspiring experience of gathering in His name with other sojourners?  Worshiping together with my brothers and sisters in the Lord on Sunday mornings is essential to me.  I am inspired by worship and music. I am encouraged by the testimony of other Christ-followers. I am challenged and convicted by the truth of His word.  I become more deeply rooted in Christ by one hour on Sunday morning.  My hope is that you too will be encouraged this fall to step into the value of “together” in a way that your life will be transformed.

Pastor Michael

 

August 22, 2011

In church yesterday, Pastor Mark continued teaching out of the book of Philippians as a part of our summer series called “Rejoice Always”.  I don’t want to over simplify what he said, because it was very meaningful.  It could have profound impact on our relationships with people and our testimony for the Lord.  It could remove the source of tension and conflict in our lives.  But, it could be so simple that it’s too hard to do. Too hard, if we don’t want to that is!  I don’t want to ramble on and on about his sermon.  You probably heard it; if not then listen to it.  But I do want to remind us about the challenge to live out our love for the Lord by living well in our relationships.

Maybe one of the verses from yesterday, rephrased, might help offer all of us some accountability in doing some “fence-mending” if necessary!   Pretend Paul’s words are written to you…

“I plead with (insert your name here”) and I plead with (insert their name here) to agree with each other in the Lord…

A joyful day to you!

Pastor Michael

August 15, 2011

Two wonderful weeks away…with family, relaxing, reading scripture, exploring God’s beautiful creation, and thanking God for all he has done in my life.  The word “epic,” though wildly overused, seems incredibly appropriate to describe our time away.  Yet coming home to worship with our church family yesterday was equally a blessing.  And, the challenge to press on in our spiritual maturity with the straining of an athlete in training is huge.  So my question to myself and to you today is, what does your spiritual workout look like?

Have a blessed week!

Pastor Michael

July 25, 2011

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say rejoice!”  We can do it, we really can…we really can rejoice…always. And we can show others how to find that joy too!

This summer at SBC, it’s all about connecting—connecting with God, connecting with each other and connecting with our community. We had a great group of people doing this last Saturday through our first ever Flash Mob.  A Flash Mob is a group of people who appear from out of nowhere to perform predetermined actions designed to amuse & inspire others…and that’s what we did!  We did it at Sonora High School, at the Farmer’s Market in Sonora, at the Courthouse Square Park, at Columbia State Park and in the produce section of Safeway!  Our group, made up of people of all ages, shapes & sizes, celebrated Jesus and brought smiles to the faces of untold numbers of people.  Our joy rose so high that when we were finished at Safeway an announcement came over the store public address system thanking us.  We were even invited to do it again in the deli section!

My thanks to all who participated for being “joy-givers”!

Pastor Michael

July 18, 2011

“I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned…
My Savior Lives, My Savior Loves, My Savior’s always there for me.”

I love the truth of these lyrics from Aaron Shust’s song, “My Savior, My God”.  I find myself asking God why this happened or why that didn’t.  I really do convince myself that I know best and that if God would just get with my program then my life and the world would be better!  It’s not true, but I really believe it to be at times.

In my heart of hearts, I know that God knows better and that he works in me to change my will and compel my actions to work according to his good purpose.  But sometimes there is a battle warring between my selfish desires and his perfect will.  Ultimately, I want him to win; but initially, I often lose sight of his greater perspective and power in my circumstances.

So, all that to say, perhaps we could join together today in surrender to the one who knows what’s best because he knows everything!

Happy rejoicing!

Pastor Michael

July 12, 2011

It seems that Paul’s truth in his circumstances and relationship with God 2000 years ago really rings true to us today.  There are many people who are examples of this.  “Rejoice always in the Lord” is what Paul said and did.  It’s also what Robert Ditler said and does! And, it’s what we can say and do as well.  There is nothing in the box of our circumstances that is stronger and more powerful than Christ.  He broke the chains that imprison us.  Surrendering to him doesn’t necessarily mean that our box will change, but our surrender allows him to use us and we get to see his purpose lived out through us.  It’s an ever-perpetuating truth that allows us to joy, over and over again!

Rejoice today…rejoice!

Pastor Michael

June 27, 2011

My experience with people who choose joy in Christ over succumbing to a pessimistic or bitter attitude has really convicted me in recent weeks.  I am blessed to know and connect in deep relationship with people who have very difficult circumstances: cancer, death of spouse, loss of house and job, loss of children, special needs children…and the list goes on.  What these people share in common in a greater way than just the depth of profound & soul-rattling difficulty is joy in Christ. The love and presence of Christ in their lives is so evident that it becomes manifest in their words of love and joyful countenance.

Me…what about me, you ask?  I think I have some learning to do both from the Lord and from these amazing people in regard to my “rejoice in the Lord always” attitude.  I know it takes surrender and humility, and I know it takes handling difficulties in ways that are different than I sometimes do, but I think it’s worth it.  Like my friends and like Job and Habakkuk, I want to be a “Yet will I praise Him” kind of person.

I hope you have a great day of rejoicing…pray that I do too!

Pastor Michael

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