²⁶“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27

This is one of Jesus’ promises of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus calls the Spirit “the Advocate”, sometimes translated as “Helper.    In the Greek it is Paraclete, the One who Come Alongside. 

Being an advocate for someone means you come alongside them, you fight for them, look out for them, guide them and care for them.  This is part of what the Holy Spirit does for us. 

Isn’t this great?  God the Father loves us beyond belief.  God the Son promises to be with us forever.  God the Holy Spirit walks alongside of us, giving us guidance and care.

As you enter into this new week, take a moment to feel God’s presence all around.  Go out into the world without fear, for God is with you.  Go out into the world with peace, for God is with you.  Go out into the world with love, for God is with you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

²⁵ From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. ²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever! ²⁷ All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, ²⁸ for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. ²⁹ All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive.
³⁰ Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. ³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! Psalm 22:25-31

Psalm 22 begins with words we know well, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  These are the words Jesus says from the cross, as he was probably praying the psalm.

From those opening words, the Psalmist talks about all the bad that has happened to him, and wonders when his salvation will come.  But then it shifts in verse 25.  The Psalmist, deep in his issues and troubles, declares that all will proclaim God’s goodness.  The Psalmist has a deep, abiding faith that God will work it all out, even if we do not yet realize it.

We are all going through personal things, the world is certainly going through difficulties but we need to remember something.  God is still at work and even if we have not yet experienced the change we need right now, God has already done it.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

There was a commotion before worship on Sunday.  Many were walking in and looking up to the sky – there was a bald eagle flying around.

We spent a few minutes watching the eagle before heading into the sanctuary and began the service, which marked the beginning of a Stewardship sermon series.

I was able to relate the eagle to the series quite creatively.  The weather was wonderful and I was able to stress how stewardship is about caring for what God has given us.  We live in such a beautiful area with four solid seasons, and this day was absolutely stunning.

Watching the eagle soar around reminded me of the passage from Isaiah, that we will have our strength renewed (especially meaningful right now as I’m in the post-Easter energy drain). 

After worship we all looked around but our eagle had left the area. 

This is a good reminder for us all.  Seek out the beauty of nature.  Find those places around you where you feel renewed and refreshed.  Take a walk among the trees, listen for the birds, give yourself some downtime in nature, for it is God’s gift.  And it is good stewardship to take advantage of beautiful days and places for you will be renewed. 

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21

Last week we experienced an earthquake centered in New Jersey, with it felt out into Lancaster County, Delaware and other areas around us.  There was also a major earthquake in Taiwan last week.  While these things are concerning, and we should be praying for those affected, they are normal, natural events that happen often.

Yet a church couldn’t wait to put up a sign about earthquakes being a sign of the end times. 

The scriptures tell us that there will be wars and rumors of wars (which has happened throughout human history), earthquakes and all kinds of other things.  But we should not be afraid.

Looking for the “signs of the end times” is a waste.  Jesus did not tell us about the end times to scare us, rather to empower us.  He sends us on a mission that we must do.  It is an imperative, not because the end is nigh, but because His love is needed (whether we are speaking about the time Jesus walked the earth or today).

We have a choice.  We can be scared and hide behind the biblical prophecies, or we can embrace them going out boldly with the good news that God loves us, God forgives us and God strengthens us.

As you journey through this week, be bold and courageous.  Be filled with Christ’s love and do not be afraid. 

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Pastor Bill

³For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, ⁴and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

He is still risen.  While the world moves on from the Easter (buying) season and candy will be discounted at the rack, it is still Easter.  Liturgically speaking, the season lasts 50 days, until Pentecost.  Realistically, however, Easter, rather the resurrection is everlasting.

We tend to get highly invested in the holiest times in the church, but then let the message slip away.  Christmas brings the Incarnation – God coming as human, and Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection – which we are to witness daily in our lives.

The true resurrection power is not only about where we go after we die, but in living as resurrected people – people already redeemed by Jesus, going out into the world to share His love and forgiveness.

This Easter season live with the power and take it beyond Pentecost.

Peace,

Pastor Bill