We have much to celebrate!!  It is good to recount our blessings and say THANK YOU to God!!  “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” That is the stanza that is repeated over and over in Psalm 136.  This is going to be a bit of a rewrite of Psalm 136 as we rejoice with one another at some of the ways God has blessed us over the last few months at the Church.   Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever; To him who brought us 7 new households for our online Connections, For his steadfast loves endures forever; And who has enabled us to stream our worship services live while meeting in person, For his steadfast love endures forever; And who let us have 22 households start a penzu journal and live out being a well, For his steadfast love endures forever; And who has kept our preschool open all year without any cases of covid, For his steadfast love endures forever; To the one who has blessed us with faithful families who return a tithe to worship God for all his good gifts and support our ministry, For his steadfast love endures forever; To him who has brought so many back to in person worship, For his steadfast love endures forever; To him who has kept lifeGroups meeting virtually and caring for one another and praying for each other, For his steadfast love endures forever; And the one who has taught and deepened the faith of our Higher Ground students, And brought 5 new babies into the family of God through the waters of baptism, For his steadfast love endures forever; And to the one who has sustained and supported those who are struggling and hurting and lonely and sick through His presence and through the love of the body of Christ, For his steadfast love endures forever and ever. Amen   Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!  We have many, many blessings to celebrate!! You can try this at home as well.  If you go to our website www.livelifetogether.com under Household WELL you can find a template for Psalm 136 for an individual and for a family.  Try it out!!  You could even post your example in your Penzu journal. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.” Psalm 92:1

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” - Matthew 7:13-14 The Christian church, especially in America, has been accused sometimes by those outside the church of being exclusive -- of being too narrow.  And as believers, we might ask: Why is it that people look at religion and discard this idea of narrowness? Why wouldn’t people choose the right door? Is it because it is morally inconvenient? Yes. It is morally inconvenient because it doesn’t fit our own preferences, and that makes us uncomfortable. We want to be accepted in the Kingdom. We want to be loved but we want it on our terms. We want it however we want to make it up. We like to think about the idea of going to heaven when we die based on whatever and however we want to enter in. We tend to ignore certain truths in the Scripture because it’s not convenient to the way we are currently living our lives. And we change it so that it fits. And yet, Jesus very clearly introduces us to two doors, which means there are no options. So, what’s behind these two doors? Behind Door No. 2 = Wide Door The wide door seems inclusive, loving. It seems free, but it leads to a different and dangerous place: DEATH. But why does it seem to be appealing, iInclusive, loving, and freeing? It’s because through the broad and wide door, we don’t have to make many choices when it comes to evil, things that are contrary to God’s holy will. Evil is all around us. We have but to let ourselves go to experience it and to get caught up in it. It’s easy to be swept up in it and through it. That’s how wide this door is. It is easily accessible. Sin and wickedness is very much available now to us. We’re very much surrounded by the temptations to do evil. This is one reason why there are times we find it easier to get anxious and be worried than to be patient and to trust. It’s more convenient to respond in anger rather than hold our tongues whenever we’re caught up in a swell of emotions. It’s sometimes easier to be affected by the news that we hear than to stay calm and keep ourselves in God’s truth. It is so wide we cannot miss it. We need to merely permit ourselves to go with the crowd and we’re caught up in it. Why is the wrong way broad? Because sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4) and if there is no law in sin, then it makes it easier for us to fall into. The wide variety of evil makes it appealing. It’s everyone turning to his own way. We are counseled today by the world to accept all that is on the wide path and count it as equal to the truth. But what if all the outside paths actually lead to death? And all the other doors actually lead to danger? Wouldn't it be wise to stay on the one right path?   Behind Door No. 1 = Narrow Door The door is narrow because there is only ONE way. And if there is only one way to experience this abundant life with God, why then would we question this door in favor of all the other options that we might discover? Why couldn’t we stop and say: “Lord, thank you for creating a door. Thank you for giving us a way out. Thank you for giving us a way into the streams of living water. Thank you for showing us a way where we can experience that!”? We need to remember that there is no other person in the history of mankind who has faced death and died and rose on His own power. There is no other one. There is no other one who fulfilled all of the prophecies in the Old Testament written and transcribed hundreds of years before His birth. There is no other one who effectively fulfilled all that Father commanded in the law and prophets, thus satisfying the holiness required to be perfect and holy. Only Jesus. (John 14:6) Jesus provided an open door for us. Because we can’t do it. We can’t fulfill all of it. The door cannot be opened by us because we all fall short ( Romans 3:23), and that’s why God had to do something about our predicament, so He sent Jesus to be the only door, the only way to the Kingdom of God. Think about Jesus. There is no other who perfectly loves the world and transforms the human heart than Jesus.  He opens the door from death to life. There is nothing more broad, more loving, and more inclusive than the Christian message, the message of the Gospel of Jesus that is for ALL people. It is not designated for a few. We can choose to celebrate that there is a door to receive the blessing of life that the Father longs to share with each of us, and as we think about Jesus who claims to be this door, let’s remember what He did on the cross for us and follow Him through the door that He opened. The truth is, while there is an infinite diversity of wrong ways, there is but one right way and that is JESUS. Today, once again, we are given our choice. Which door will you use?

We recently had a time for focussed prayer for the church, our community and the world. It was wonderful to know that we were praying together even though we were separate.  We have another opportunity to spend some time in focussed prayer - this time will be a little different.  You don’t need to sign up, and this time we would like you to be intentional about your prayer time as you go for a walk. May 22nd anytime during the day or evening, go for a walk as a family, by yourself or with a friend and take time to pray.  A “prayer walk” can be done a lot of different ways.  I would suggest praying out loud as you walk along (and with your eyes open so you don’t bump into anything or fall down LOL) in your neighborhood, or around the church or at a park, or at your school and let what you see guide how you pray.   Here are some examples of what you could pray based on what you might see:

• When you pass a business you could ask God to bless the business owner and help the business to thrive and be a blessing to the community.
• When you see a sign in the yard with a Senior in high school's name on it, pray for that student and that God would guide them as they start the next chapter in their life.
• If you see children’s toys out in the yard, you could pray that the children are healthy and growing in their understanding of how much Jesus loves them and that they listen to their parents and have peace in their home.
• You can thank God for the beauty that you see with the flowers and trees in bloom
• Pray for racial tensions to lessen and kindness and love to spread.
• When you pass a school - you can pray for teachers who are weary and in need of rest after this very difficult year that they would be encouraged and finish the year well. For students who are learning that they would do their best and stay safe and that those who are struggling with friendships or learning would be included and supported.
• Pray for any community worker you may see - postal service, road construction, firefighters, grocery store workers, police officers etc.
• As you pass a cemetery you can ask God to comfort those who are grieving and that he would be their refuge and sustain them with His perfect love.
• Ask God to bless those neighbors by name that you know - that there would be shalom in their homes and that marriages would be strengthened.
• As you hear the birds sing thank God for his creation and praise him for who he is. (Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Friend, Companion, Healer, Alpha and Omega, Able, Good Father)
• If you pass a church - pray for the Pastor and leaders that they would be grounded in the truth of God’s word and proclaim the gospel with love.
• Pray that God’s Kingdom would come and His will be done. (and any other part of the Lord’s prayer that comes to mind - lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil)

  Those are just a few of the ways that you can let what you see guide how you pray.  Take time to notice, and be aware. Ask God to guide your prayers before you begin, that you would listen as well as talk.  You could write a couple of scripture verses on a 3x5 card to take with you and pray those for the families that you pass.  (suggested verses on the prayer resource can be found on the Household WELL download page on our website, www.livelifetogether.com) As you are walking and you meet up with someone, you can certainly engage in a conversation and let them know you are praying as you walk and would be happy to pray for them as well if they had any concerns.  You could even offer to stop and pray right then if you would like to. There is no pressure to do this and not a requirement, but be open to what God might be wanting to do.  The amazing thing about prayer walking is that it can happen anytime, anywhere.  Certainly not just on May 22nd, but how fun to know many of us on that day will be walking and talking to our Heavenly Father asking him to help us love our neighbors and that they would know and love him as well. If you have any questions contact Amy at [email protected].  You can share stories with us and let us know how it goes. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

The relationship between God and Man is described all throughout the Bible as a “Shepherd-Sheep” relationship. In Psalm 23, we find David describing God as the Good Shepherd and what He does for us as His sheep. Too often, we, like sheep, wander away and go astray. But Jesus, our Good Shepherd, always leads us back to Him. And not only does He lead us, He also gives us so many good things as David enumerated in Psalm 23. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who acts and leads His sheep and provides us with all that we need. He makes sure that we never lack.  (Psalm 23:1) Here are 7 things that God as our Good Shepherd gives us:  

1. He gives us REST. (He lets me rest in green meadows...” - Psalm 23:2)

In such a restless age as this, there is perhaps no greater need for rest than now.  In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells His disciples, ”Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. And Jesus knew the importance of rest. He is not a slavedriver. Rather, He is a loving God who knows rest is a priority for His people.  Inasmuch as physically we must find time for sleep no matter how severe the pressure of work is, so too we must find time for rest spiritually. The Good Shepherd says, “I will give you rest.” The Master never expects us to always be on the go. He tells us to “rest awhile” and if we do not pay attention to this invitation, He Himself will call us out of the rush and into the hush of life. In what specific area of your life are you being called today to rest?  

2. He gives us REFRESHMENT. (He leads me beside peaceful streams...” - Psalm 23:2)

There is no thirst in the human spirit and there is no craving that is not satisfied in the refreshment of Jesus. In John 4, Jesus told the woman at the well that the one who drinks from Him shall never thirst again (John 4:14). Jesus is the refreshing stream, He is the living water. Think about that time in your life when you were so in need, you were so dry and you sat down and spent some time with Jesus and He refreshed your soul and spoke those Words that you needed to hear and melted away the grief, the anxiety, and the loss. And in just that one moment, you were refreshed. Jesus is always inviting us to this stream. Why don’t we go to that stream more often?  

3. He gives us RESTORATION . (He renews my strength.” - Psalm 23:3)

Did you know that this line from Psalm 23 literally means ”My Soul, He brings back”, or “my soul He returns”? This is what God does for us: He restores us by renewing our strength when we are worn down and by bringing us back after our wandering. No matter how many times we try to go astray and leave His presence, the Good Shepherd always finds us and brings us home, back to Him.  

4. He gives us GUIDANCE. (“He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” - Psalm 23:3)

This follows on the restoration that God provides for us. He not only brings us back, He also leads us and guides so that we won’t go astray again. Having recalled us from the wrong paths we’ve disobediently been through, the Good Shepherd always leads us back to the right way so that we can bring honor to His name. We can wander wide easily enough, but if we are to be kept in the right way, it can only be done through the Shepherd’s care. God guides us through His Word, through our circumstances, through His Spirit, and through the community of believers.  

5. He gives us a LIVING PRESENCE. “( “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” - Psalm 23:4) 

God is not just merely with us in the darkness. He is with us ALWAYS. He gives us the sunshine of the living presence of a Guide, a help, a friend, and a Savior. He is always on the believer’s path. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we would be able to always remember this? That in every circumstance, God is always with us. There is not a day that He isn’t. There isn’t a struggle that He can’t see. There isn’t a cry that He doesn’t hear. But our own constant forgetfulness or even unbelief hinders us from seeing this. If we would only realize that His presence goes with us whenever and wherever,  then we would “rejoice always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)  

6. He gives us DISCIPLINE. (“Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4)

The rod and staff are special emblems of the Shepherd’s care in tending and ruling the flock. In the same way, Jesus as our Good Shepherd chides us when we wander, and sometimes uses sharp measures as He brings us back. And this should comfort us! We must view God’s disciplinary dealings as one of His greatest mercies upon us. For after all, the Lord disciplines those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6).  

7. He gives us AMPLE PROVISIONS. (“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” - Psalm 23:5)

The riches of God’s love and life are the provisions on which we feed on daily. Our souls can grow and thrive because God supplies us with all that we need. We never lack. By God’s grace, we are being ministered to, even while our enemies prowl around. God treats us as His guests at the Father’s house and prepares for us an abundant banquet where we can feast on as long as we like. His provisions for us are so rich and so abundant that our cup always overflows. So today, why don’t we come to Jesus? He is inviting us to take His hand, to rest, to feast, and to allow Him to lead us. Can you hear His voice calling out to you?

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11  One problem people have with being a sheep needing a shepherd is trust issues. People find it hard to trust God. Truth is, we don’t want to find ourselves in a position of vulnerability. We don’t want to trust just any shepherd who will gather a bunch of sheep together and then leave us unprotected when it is too dangerous for them. We don’t want to find out that the person leading us is making decisions are bad for us, right? BUT... if we are going to treat and count ourselves all in as God’s sheep, we need to fully trust the Good Shepherd to lead us all throughout and not leave us when the going gets tough. Today, God wants to remind us of these truths that will help us trust Him as the Good Shepherd who will never lead us to harm and will never forsake us.   God Will Always Protect You Alongside the question of whether God will abandon us or not is our fear that if our Shepherd really knew us, there is no way He would still find or protect us from the dangers lurking around us. We have these negative thoughts that if God sees all our flaws, shortcomings, and misgivings, then He would no longer see us worthy of His protection and attention. Deep down, many of us have this fear of abandonment. We fear that if people really knew the real “us” or what we’ve done, then they would abandon us and will no longer want to be associated with us.  And so we find ourselves in the exact place we go to when we are afraid -- isolated and alone.  Because of this fear, we no longer follow our Shepherd, we don’t open up and become accountable with what’s really going on with us, and we hold back the parts of ourselves that we are ashamed of so they won’t be brought into the light. Instead, we end up keeping it all to ourselves. We cover up our struggles, sins, and weaknesses, just like what Adam and Eve did after The Fall. (Genesis 3:7) But Jesus, as our Good Shepherd, proves to us over and over that He is not the shepherd who would flee from danger, rather He is the kind of Shepherd who would lay down His life for the sheep. He is the Shepherd who’s willing to fight off any danger that may cause harm to the sheep and defend the sheep against enemies and predators. He is not just a hired hand who will abandon the sheep when the going gets tough, leaving the sheep alone, unprotected, and vulnerable to danger. The sheep matter to Him and He will not abandon them even when there’s a threat of danger that seems too great. He longs to have a relationship with us, His sheep. The Good Shepherd will never run away from us, rather He chooses to rescue us, protect us, and fight for us in order to keep us safe.    God Will Never Abandon You “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,“I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” - Hebrews 13:5-6 Redemption is seen in the Good Shepherd who will not abandon the sheep. Jesus did not abandon us, but rather died in our place.  Our Good Shepherd is the One who knows His sheep, and loves and protects us from all harm, including ensuring that we would never have to experience what He did on the cross when He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus did not want us to feel alone. This is why He promised that He will never leave nor forsake us and He sealed that promise when He died on the cross and made a way for us to be reconciled back to God again. He bore our sins, had the Father turn His face away from Him, and received the judgment that we and our sins deserved. He, being man and perfect God, took it all for us, yet He was raised on the third day. He didn’t stay dead forever. His death and resurrection did not separate us from Him, but rather brought us closer to Him. With Jesus’ resurrection, we now have this guarantee that when God said He will never leave us, that’s a promise that He keeps. His presence is now always with us. Through Jesus, we will never experience God forsaking us. He will not leave us as orphans. With the reassuring promise, there should be no more “what ifs” from us. Why? Because this thing forever holds true: God will never abandon us.

“I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!” - Ezekiel 34:16 Today, God wants us to remember: He pays attention to His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who always looks after us and searches for us each time we go astray. God comes looking after us no matter how many times we leave His presence and wander far from home. The Good Shepherd’s love for His sheep is relentless and unconditional. His heart is to see that His sheep are in good condition, never lack anything, and out of danger’s way. His grace and compassion are further displayed in His untiring love and unrelenting patience in the pursuit of the lost sheep. And He doesn’t stop until they are restored safely in His care.   Finding The Lost, Broken, Sick, and Driven Away “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live.” - Ezekiel 34:11-13 Getting lost doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time for the sheep to wander into the world and conform to it. But because we are living in a sinful world, Christians are struggling with not yielding to the offers of pleasures, temptations, and worldliness. This is why many Christians have become numb to God’s voice, insensitive to the Holy Spirit, and uninterested in the Divine Things. Nowadays, some would find it very difficult to distinguish Jesus’ followers from those who are following the world. Many sheep are also broken, sick (in the body and in the heart), and driven away. Some are "broken" by bitter disappointment; others by bereavement. And these aching hearts have wounds that are so sacred to be revealed that they chose to be left bleeding and desolate, refusing to be comforted. But God wants us to know: He is the Good Shepherd who knows the pains of His sheep. He is close to the broken-hearted. He will not only search for them, but He will search until He discovers them. And then He will bring them home. For the Good Shepherd, no situation is too hopeless. No sheep is too far gone. The Good Shepherd's love for us is undeterred by distance. For him, no distance is too great! His love is not lessened by difficulties or extreme challenges.  He won't be turned away even by our numbness to His voice. His desire for the Sheep is never put off by obstacles. Rather, He pursues us continuously. This is the Good Shepherd’s heart.   Bringing Justice and Restoring the Sheep “So I will rescue my flock, and they will no longer be abused. I will judge between one animal of the flock and another.  And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the LORD, have spoken!” - Ezekiel 34:22-24 During Israel’s time, God put an end to the tyranny and neglect of His people by His own supposed shepherds. But, because of man’s willful disobedience, sinful nature, greed, and pride, those God had put in place to attend to His people, to care for, lead, and feed them, had not only failed, but they also fed themselves at the expense of others. But the story is not finished since God stepped in to fix the problem Himself. He has now blessed His people with a Good Shepherd -- focused on them, and this Good Shepherd, unlike the men who failed before Him, will not and does not and cannot fail. Jesus restored our relationship so He is and will always be our God. We see Jesus sending more workers through the Great Commission into the harvest and many shepherds to seek the lost sheep. The Good Shepherd lived with, taught, and then laid down His life in our place so we could be with Him forever. We have so much attention given to us by God. We have the Good Shepherd who gave His all for us and He even had the whole Bible written for us. We have so much attention from Him that we have so many pastors, so many higher-ground leaders, so many life-groupers, so many church members, and so many family members and friends who God uses to bless us and shepherd us. And now, we have direct access to the Good Shepherd. We can have our own journey with God. and He calls us by name. We can recognize and hear His voice. We cannot afford to miss the voice of the Good Shepherd. Don’t let anything get in the way. Jesus is the One who will care for you, love you, teach you, guide you, and draw you back. This is why we always point people to Jesus. Keep your ears attuned to His voice. The Good Shepherd is always pursuing you and He wants to speak with you. Even right now. So talk to Him.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” - Luke 4:18-19 There are so many people right now who are going through tough times -- people who are oppressed, tormented, helpless, grieving, crying, struggling, and weak. People are suffering and are being pressed down, and for some, it seems like the torment never ends. During these dark times, some people tend to question God’s presence and God’s help. Where is God in the middle of all our trials? Does He really see our needs? Does He know our pains? Does God really care for us? Short answer: Yes. And while we may not always see and feel God’s presence working in our situation, we have to remember that God is ever present. He is always there with us, in every situation. He is working on our behalf. He never stops working. He never stops seeing. He never stops helping. He came to help and to deliver us out of captivity, oppression, and torment. Jesus came to set us free.   God Sees and Knows Everything “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrificed my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” - John 10:14-16 God does not turn a blind eye to our situations. He does not ignore our cries for help. He listens. God sees our situation and His heart aches for us. He knows exactly what’s going on in our lives. He knows His sheep inside and out. He cares about every little detail of our lives and wants to be involved in our daily lives -- even in our struggles. God aches for us when He sees us hurting. He is not just a bystander. He sees us. He hurts for us. He has compassion for us. Our Good Shepherd knows His sheep. He knows when we are hurting. It pains Him every time we are afflicted. Each time we cry out to Him for help, He sends help. Keep crying out to the God of the harvest. He is the God who heals, who provides, who delivers. Don’t stop asking God for help for He is the One who can do something about it. He’s our only hope. And through His power, anything is possible. Nothing is too difficult for Him. (Jeremiah 32:17)   God Sends Help by Using People Did you know that you are an answer to someone else’s prayer? God wants to use you to be a blessing to someone. Praying to God is not enough. We have to do something. Remember that faith without deeds is dead. We have to supplement our prayers with work. (James 2:14-26) God is actively working in our lives to make things right and we have to partner with Him because He wants to use us. Prayer and acting -- these two go together. Jesus did not just pray for the people. He did something to help them. When Jesus commissioned the 12 disciples, He sent them out by name. He gave them the authority to bring the Kingdom to earth-- to cast our demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, give as freely as they have received, and proclaim that the Kingdom of heaven is near. (Matthew 28:16-20). The authority is not ours. It’s God’s and it has been freely given to us so we need not hold it back. We have to give it as freely as we have received. And that’s why we are here. That’s what He sends us to do. He is constantly working for us. He comforts, He invigorates, He boosts, and not only that --  He also multiplies His work and the workers. He sends His followers out with His authority to continue His mission to seek and save the lost and that includes us. Jesus is sending us out to be the help to humanity. We are not here to provide for ourselves and save ourselves. We are here to help and provide for others in Jesus’ name and it’s all about giving back what God has given us. It’s not a burden or a weight on us. We have His authority on His behalf. We point people to Him, not to us. Today, remember that you are an answer to someone’s prayer. You are meant to give hope and light to this world. So go out, see the needs of others, and be the help that others need.

We wrapped up another school year! It was definitely a different kind of year but we heard lots of laughter and saw so much growth in all of our kiddos. We saw new friendships formed, sang lots of songs, read stories and learned how to follow Jesus. We are already looking forward to next year!  If you would like to join us, please contact Karen Hettenbach. Check out our end of the year video here: https://livelifetogether.com/preschool HELP WANTED : Preschool is looking to add a lead and assistant teacher for the 2021-22 school year.  If you enjoy spending time with preschoolers and helping them learn and grow and want to join our fun staff please email Karen Hettenbach at [email protected].  We will provide all necessary training.

• Jesus was a man.

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene....” - Acts 2:22 Here Jesus was described as Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man. Many in our society today think that Jesus is just an idea, or some kind of a philosophy or theology that is made up by man. The truth is and will always be this: Jesus was a human being who lived in the 1st century. He lived for around 33 years and did ministry publicly for 3 years. Jesus was a man -- in the flesh, a man who felt pain, emotions, hunger, and exhaustion, and was even tempted by the devil (yet, He did not give in to any temptation). He went through the normal day to day life of a human being and felt all the struggles of being in the flesh.

• Jesus has unchallenged credentials

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.” - Acts 2:22 Wherever Jesus went, signs and wonders broke out. Jesus performed countless, undeniable miracles that could not be challenged, questioned, nor disproved, even by the religious people. His credentials were unchallenged. He gave the lame man the power the stand and walk, He caused the blind men to see, dead people were raised from the grave, He multiplied food causing the five fish and two pieces of bread to feed a huge crowd of over 5,000 people with 12 basketfuls leftover, He walked on water, He caused the mute to speak, and even drove out demons.

• Jesus died.

“But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.” - Acts 2:23 During His time, people were debating whether Jesus really died or not. But the Word of God is our source of TRUTH. Jesus did actually die and in verse 23 in Peter’s sermon, Jesus’ suffering and death was a part of God’s plan all along. Jesus is NOT a man who was just caught up in some political problem back in the day and loved some people the wrong way. God knew what would happen. It was all planned. And God’s prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed, and with the help of lawless Gentiles, they nailed Him to a cross. Why would God do such a thing? To send His Son to die for sheep who would reject Him and go on their own way? Because Jesus’ suffering was all part of the plan.

• Jesus receives total victory over death.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.” - Acts 2:32 Death was not the end of God’s plan for Jesus because He received total victory over death and was glorified. Peter said in verse 32 “God raised Jesus from the dead.” There’s no tomb to visit. Jesus actually rose from the dead! Jesus is alive and He defeated death and the powers of hell forevermore! This is good news to every believer who receives Jesus.

• Jesus is God.

“Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.” -  Acts 2:33 Jesus of Nazareth was not just a man. He is also God. He’s a God-man! A true God and true man. In verse 36, Peter said, “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Jesus is not just a good teacher. He is not just a prophet. He is Lord and Messiah! What a powerful truth! This is the SIMPLE GOSPEL. These are the words that will equip us to share the Gospel message of Jesus to all. It is our prayer that as you read these five truths about Jesus, the simple Gospel will stand on its own and that you will let the Spirit of God work through it and through you. May the Holy Spirit empower you to share the Gospel in all its truth and simplicity so that others may come to know Jesus, our good and faithful Shepherd.

I have been away from the gym I work out at for over a year, last week I went back!  It was really great to see people that I haven’t seen for so long and to be encouraged in moving once again.  I am always amazed at the difference between exercising alone or in a group class. I sure work a lot harder when someone is leading and showing me what to do, and reminding me, I can do it!  I was thinking about the similarities between the reminders from the instructor and the reminders we have been sending out as a church to you. “Pull your belly in” -  “Tighten your core” - “Use your breath” - “You can do it” - “ 10 more seconds” - “Pull your belly in” - “Grab a drink” - etc. And these and more instructions, reminders, encouragements are repeated over and over.  Why?  Because, we forget!! “Write in your Penzu journal” - “Love your neighbor” - “Listen well” - “Give it a try” - “Write what you are thankful for” - “Read your Bible” - “Connect to lifeGroup” -  “God is with you” - “Welcome in Jesus” - “You are loved” - etc. Why so many instructions, reminders and encouragements repeated over and over?  Because, we forget!! We understand your lives are busy. There is a lot that you manage and you don’t want to have to do “one more thing”.  What if the “one more thing” helped you manage the other things?  Could it be that the spiritual disciplines of reading God’s Word, prayer, worship, being in community, living out the Gospel in your neighborhood would help the rest of the pieces of your life? The reminders are not intended to make you feel overwhelmed, or any kind of guilt or shame.  They are meant to remind you to look up and fix your eyes, thoughts, and mind on the one true God and know that He is with you and for you.  To just pause for a moment and be reminded that you are a child of God.  You have a purpose.  You matter.  God wants to use you to share His love with those around you. The goal is not the Penzu journal.  The goal is to have every Household know they are bringing living water to those around them by Welcoming in Jesus, Engaging with neighbors, Listening well, and Loving to try.  The journal is just a way for us to help encourage each other with stories of how it is going, what we are trying, and how we are struggling. To see that God is at work!  To be reminded it is a lot of fun to join Jesus in what He is already doing and writing it down is a way for us to remember as we look back at what God has done so we can give Him all the glory and praise.  The Penzu journal is just one way that we thought we could try. It is not too late to start a journal if you have not done that yet. (Did you know there is an app? You can write in your journal on your phone if that is easier for you)  You don’t have to write a lot, or even in complete sentences, just jot down some thoughts.  The June prompts are short and sweet. Even just put in a picture of what you are thankful for, or what you saw that reminded you of God, or a part of creation that made you be in awe of your Creator.   Try asking your kids to help you, or let them write in it themselves.  This process is meant to be a delight not a burden. Take a minute and read some of the stories. I think you will be inspired and know your brothers and sisters in Christ a little better and  even know how to pray for them.  All throughout scripture God reminded the Children of Israel to remember, to celebrate a festival so they wouldn’t forget all God had done for them.  We need reminders.  We need Jesus.  And, we need each other.

We tend to read miracles written in the Bible as stories told for our benefit. But truth be told, the Word is God is all about God, not about us. We tend to view miracles as to how it would help and encourage us but that’s just a small part of the Scripture. It is for us to believe in the One who is being introduced in the Word. In the story of Lazarus, people tend to see that it was for Lazarus’ benefit. That the story was all about Lazarus getting raised from the dead and how it must have been so cool for him to experience it. But no. This story WAS NOT for Lazarus’ benefit. It was only for Jesus’ and God’s glory! Here are 5 important words to remember that the Scripture ultimately aims to highlight Jesus and to glorify the Father.  

• DELAY

“So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. “ - John 11:5 Here we find the deliberate delay of Jesus upon hearing the news of Lazarus’ sickness and death. He decided to stay for 2 more days even after hearing what happened to Lazarus and even though He loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. How would you feel if you were sick and the person that you wanted to stay by your side to encourage you and pray for you decided to delay coming to you? Martha and Mary even told Jesus  that if only He had been there early, Lazarus would not have died (John 11:21, 32). But here, we see that Jesus’ delay was all part of the plan to once more confirm the prophecy of Jesus’ death and resurrection and to give God greater glory.  

• PROPHECY

“Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” - John 12:7 This was a prophecy that Jesus made to His disciples signifying that He would go away. In verses 23-28, we find Jesus again prophesying of this death and how it will bring glory to the Father. Jesus’ act of informing His disciples of His death and foretelling His resurrection around the context of this miracle shows that everything that happened in the story is all about Jesus’ resurrection from death to life.  

• WITNESSES

“You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” - John 11:42 The variety and multitude of witnesses who were present at the tombstone of Lazarus to watch what Jesus would do gives us an indication that it was more than just raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus wanted the people to see that He is the resurrection and the life -- that they would have no other option but to say “Oh! He backs up every Word He’s ever spoken! He must be the Messiah!”  More so, Jesus wanted the witnesses to believe. They assumed and thought that Mary would go to the tomb to weep over her brother, but God had a better plan. He wanted the people to witness firsthand who He really is so that they would believe that the Father sent Him.  

• BELIEF

“Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen…” - John 11:45 We find two groups of people who witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The first group is the believers --those who were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. These were the people who knew that the miracle was not just about Lazarus rising from the dead, but that it’s about someone greater. They needed no other proof before they believed for their eyes of faith were opened to the reality of the Messiah who was face to face with them.  

• UNBELIEF

“But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.” - John 11:46 There were also those who were full of unbelief and were afraid that many would turn to Jesus. They were offended and went away to report the incident to the high council. It was from that time on that they began to plot Jesus’ death (John 11:53). The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection was not enough to make them believe in Jesus. Instead, they tried to find fault in what happened. Rather than rejoicing in the revelation of the Messiah, they were hard-hearted and blinded to the truth.  There was great unbelief in their hearts. May we never be like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Ultimately, we see from these 5 words that the spotlight was not for Lazarus to begin with. It was all for Jesus. It was all for God. All for His glory. As we read the Scriptures, may we come to the knowledge that everything written in the Bible is to give glory to the One from whom all things come from and to whom all things return.