December 23, 2011

What a great season of services we have enjoyed each Sunday this Advent. Be sure and join us this Christmas weekend for one of our identical Christmas services on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. or Christmas morning at 10:30 a.m. See you then!

Pastor Mark

December 22, 2011

He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all.
And His shelter was a stable.
His cradle was a stall.
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
loved on earth, our Savior holy!

 Emmanuel, the promise kept.
It’s the longing of my heart for God in flesh.
Through this Child all earth is blessed.
Emmanuel

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Becky Howell &Family

December 20, 2011

Santa Claus may be coming to town, but Pastor Rick is leaving it!  He is off to Texas (Santa’s other home) for a time of refreshing and work.  While in Texas, he will be doing several meetings of the “Heaven Now” seminar.  Actually, this isn’t work but a labor of love, and I’m sure he would covet your prayers for the couples that will be attending.  Also, please pray that he will enjoy the time with his children and grandchildren and that he and Linda’s spirits will be renewed and refreshed.

As Christmas rapidly approaches, may you know the Love of God, the wondrous grace and mercy of Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit.  And, indeed, as the angels proclaimed, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)  Celebrate the Good News and experience the Joy!!!!

December 8, 2011

Merry Christmas SBC Friends!

Yes, the holiday season is here.  With that comes a long list of things to do and places to be.  We have been very busy here at Sierra Bible preparing for Christmas.  One of the privileges I have as Director of Children is the opportunity to teach the story of Jesus’ birth in a simple and loving way.  For me, hearing the story of Jesus’ birth brings back so many memories.  I pray that we at Sierra Bible will be creating an environment where wonderful memories are made and, more importantly, opportunities to know the Savior Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.

This year, our kids have been working very hard on a fun musical that we will present to the church on December 18^th.  The musical’s theme is centered around a group of kids who have taken over the Christmas program.  Everyone wants to be the most important character in the story, but what they find is that it’s all about Jesus.  It has been so fun watching the kids prepare.  They are singing with all of their heart, using their gifts and talents to present this gift of a musical to you and to Jesus.  As I listen to their banter and laughter, I am praying that warm, loving memories will be filling their hearts.

Don’t miss the kids on December 18^th at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m.

Because of Jesus,

Becky

 

December 7, 2011

Change…

Sunday marked the first official meeting of the new search team.  So we are actively searching now.  I, for one, am very excited to see what God does in the coming months.  I hope that we as a church are learning to ask the right questions, the hard questions, the questions that we know we need answers to but don’t have in the present.  Questions we are willing to live with and walk into.

Here is a very incomplete list of the questions in my head and heart…

• Just what are we searching for?
  • Change is happening…its happening in our world all around us and…it’s going to happen at SBC – that’s a good thing, is it a good time to rethink the what.
  • Are we searching for a ‘who’ that will lead us to a ‘what’ or is it the other way around?
    • How should our current struggles shape our future decisions?
    • Is our picture of church as close to what Jesus desires as we can envision it?
    • Do we already have the what and just need a who?
      • Are we simply looking to replace Senior Pastor Mark so that in five years we have 1000 people coming to a church that thinks and acts very closely to the church we currently attend and enjoy?
      • What should the church look like in 5 years?  10 years?  20 years?
      • How will the church in 10 years need to be different than the church today?

I’m so excited to see what Jesus has in mind for this church in 5, 10 and 20 years.  May we be quick to remember that we are His church, in need of His Power, living in His Grace!

Pastor Nate

December 6, 2011

What’s your favorite Christmas Carol?  Silent Night…O Come All Ye Faithful…Hark the Herald Angels Sing?  Do they have worship value to us as Christians, or are they just seasonal songs we love at first and by December 25^th we are tired of hearing them and singing them?

I personally love Christmas Carols.  I find if we sing them intentionally and pay close attention to the words, there is a great deal of value in them.  While some of the words are old English and the vernacular is not used today, there is still great truth packed in the words.  Take for example “Good Christian Men Rejoice,” an old German carol.  The last 2 verses are:

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye hear of endless bliss
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this
He hath ope’d the heav’nly door
And man is blessed evermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save
Call you one and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save

While old school, if you will, these lyrics still have value even today.  Indeed, Christ was born to save and that is the eternal good news that will ring down through the ages – regardless of how times change.  Worship value, maybe not in the traditional sense, but nonetheless worship value in the fact that the Good News is still being heard.  It’s up to us to pray the ears of non-believers are opened and the words of these familiar old carols have a new meaning and value to them so they can begin a lifetime of worshipping Christ.  Maybe even we believers can listen with new openness as well.

Blessed Christmas!

Pastor Rick

December 2, 2011

We are looking forward to our Sunday launch of our Christmas Season with the theme:  Good News of Great Joy for All People.  I don’t know how we could have written a more positive, hopeful, encouraging theme!  But we didn’t write it!  This is the message of Christmas proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds who were going to be one of the first people to get a glimpse of the Messiah.  It remains the message to any of us who will  respond as the shepherds did, “Let us go and see…”  We hope this Christmas will provide lots of opportunities for us to spend time with Jesus in a way that the reason for which He came will be our reality.  Hope to see you Sunday as we start the journey together.

Pastor Mark

November 30, 2011

When I hear people remembering the ‘good ol’ days,’ I often wonder.  Were they really that good?  In the middle of those moments, was life really all that different than it is right in this moment?  Imagine for a minute what it might be like to live without memories.  Occasionally, I will hear someone say how much they loved junior high – now I know they are delirious!  I work with JHers, and I know that this is one awkward time of life!  Sometimes, I think I can remember vacations or sporting events or gifts as far more treasured than they really were…why is that?  Sometimes, I think life is better remembered and looked forward to than actually lived…why is that?  What is so wrong with the moment we are in right now?

I remember Jesus’ words in John 10, ‘I came so that you could have life, and life to the full.’  Hmmm…life to the full.  Is there more fullness than we are often aware of?  Is there more favor than I usually look for?  Sometimes I think…

Pastor Nate

November 23, 2011

Give Thanks

It has been fun to try to get my mind around the command of God through Paul that I will be teaching this coming Sunday.  ‘Give thanks ALWAYS.’  I Thessalonians 5:18  Fitting thought for this week as well.  What does he mean?  Sounds at first like we need to eat more turkey!!  Seems to me there might be something more.

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I look at my life and find it hard to be too thankful always.  I’m sure you can watch what is happening in our world and find it tough to be thankful always.  Paul is inviting us into a new perspective.  If, as a believer and follower of Jesus, you cannot be happy, you are looking in the wrong place.  There is something more!

Paul wraps up his thoughts in verse 24 with these beautiful words that point us to a much greater reality, a something more.   ‘The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’ 

Pastor Nate

November 21, 2011

This Thanksgiving, let us be reminded of the many blessings we have been given.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
-Psalm 9:1

This Thanksgiving, let us look back on the year we have had and surrender all-knowing God is in control of the steps we take.

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
-Psalm 50:23

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
-Psalm 92:1

My God, I thank you for the good and the bad times knowing each season of life can draw me closer to you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
-Philippians 4:6

Today, no matter what my circumstances are, I say thank you for another day that I may draw a breath to praise you for what you have done.

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
-Psalm 105:1-2

I have held back long enough. I have made it about me. Not anymore. I step aside and want to catch a glimpse of your majesty; of your glory.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
-Psalm 100:4

I know that I would not be here if it wasn’t for the love of friends and your family and the kindness of strangers. I thank God for them!

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…
-1Corinthians 1:4

May we also remember and be thankful for the men and women who gave us our freedom.

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
-2 Thessalonians 1:3

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me. Bless His Holy Name.
-Psalm 103: 1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit;

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
-Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
-2 Chronicles 20:21

We are here, Heavenly Father, to give thanks to you as one body. To give thanks to you. To shout, “Your love endures forever!”

His Love Endures Forever!

His Love Endures Forever!

 

Pastor Michael

 

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