Amazing Grace!

Be Blessed
Pastor Kitner

Ambassadors

2 Corinthians 5:16-21(KJV)
16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

When is an ambassador not an ambassador? The answer is that he is always an ambassador. It doesn't matter where he is or what he is doing, he is always an ambassador. As an ambassador he represents always the country for which he is an ambassador. He may not be in the country he represents but he is the country as far as others are concerned.
My Question is this: Why does the church have such a hard time realizing that it is always the church? - we are representing the kingdom of God no matter where we are or what we are doing. We are in the world but not of it. Our lives are not compartmentalized, that is to say what we do is always directly related to who we are as Christians. We represent Christ in the church place, in the shower, at the work place or wherever we are. There is never a time when we seperate what we do from who we are.
You can't continue to do what the church folk have done for so many years by saying worship is one thing and our "jobs" are not connected etc. The church is weak in the world because of this compromising mentallity. We must either be all in or we are all out. Which is for you today?

Be all in Today
Pastor Kitner

I Have Finished My Course

I Have Finished My Course

2 Timothy 4:6-8(KJV)
6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
In order to say that in our lives, several things have to happen.

1. You need to know what the course of your life is – purpose.
2. You need to know how to fight the good fight – warfare.
3. You need to keep the faith – know in whom you have believed.
4. You need to be steadfast – focused

So many people go through life with no goal or target to aim at. Bouncing around in the sea of life like a tiny bobber at the mercy of the currents. They are just tossed to and fro by the waves of life at will.
To finish our course with the idea of being successful in our life we must find our purpose, and know who we are to the degree that it becomes the driving force of our life and faith. This necessitates the giving ourselves to it to the fullest being steadfast, unwavering in our faithfulness to the calling and purpose of God for our life.

Be blessed
Pastor Kitner

Compassion and Greater Works

Matthew 14:14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

John 14:12(KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

A dictionary definition of compassion. - A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. (definition from Dictionary.com)

Does this describe the church today? Are we moved by compassion to do the same things Jesus did and more?

Blessings On Ya!
Pastor Kitner

Deer and Dog Playing Together - click here

Here is a Litany of FORGIVENESS:

Forgive me Lord!
Here is a Litany of FORGIVENESS:
This was done at the church that we had the last Lenten luncheon service at yesterday. It is worth considering and doing when and where appropriate in your life.

For each statement the answer back is FORGIVE ME LORD.

For the times I lacked compassion and concern for others, -- FML
For not sharing my resources of time, talent, and treasure, -- FML
For holding grudges and refusing to have a forgiving heart, -- FML
For the times I have criticized and gossiped, -- FML
For not reaching out to comfort and console others, -- FML
For not caring for myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually, -- FML
For the ways I misuse nature and damage the environment, -- FML
For those times when I talked more than I listened, -- FML
For my predjudices, biases, and deliberate acts of discrimination, -- FML
For being greedy, -- FML
For the misuse and abuse of the wonderful gift of spirituality, -- FML
For failing to see your face in the homeless and helpless, -- FML
For believing that I could save myself, -- FML
For not living fully for you, -- FML
For doubting that you love me with an everlasting love, -- FML

You may want to place a few more in this line up depending on your thoughts and deeds.

May God bless you richly,
Pastor Kitner

He is My Defense - Marty Goetz