Hope Point Naz http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog Pastors Blog Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:27:39 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Living Hope http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/22/living-hope/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/22/living-hope/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:26:18 +0000 mvoudouris http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=68 How has knowing God changed you? Todays scripture from 2 Peter:1-11 points out that “His divine power has been given us everything we need for life through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Wow…. everything we need… everything. Do you believe that? Does your life bare testimony to that belief? As was pointed out this weekend, we often struggle with fully trusting God simply because we are too focused on our “stuff” and we really don’t know Him. Yes, we may have a general awareness a “good buddy” type of knowledge of Christ, but we really don’t know him in a close, personal way. What do you think prevents us from knowing him this way?

]]> http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/22/living-hope/feed/ 0 Living Stone http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/16/living-stone/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/16/living-stone/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:39:24 +0000 gmoore http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=62 What does it take to be a “living stone”? When we were on our first missionary assignment in Holland, we were invited to go sightseeing by one of the local people we were working with. We went to the city of Delft, which is a very interesting and picturesque city in Holland. One of the places we were to be taken was the “New Church” in Delft. When we arrived, we discovered that the church was built in the 1500′s! My first question is what constitutes the “old church”. As we spent more time in Europe, we visited any number of magnificent church buildings like the one in Delft. That church also served as a cemetery, but the cemetery was inside rather than outside. Some of those buried there were from the royal line of Orange, including the famous king, William of Orange. His statue was carved in stone and was, we were told, an exact replica of the king himself, exactly as he was buried underneath.

The last year we were in Holland, we lived in the city of Haarlem. The city was built in an ever-widening circle and at the center was the magnificent church, St. Bavo. Unfortunately, the church was closed to worshipers. The only activity was a tour for tourists. So, how did the church there that was so significant in the lives of the people become a church where the only stones were the cold, stark stones in the building walls and floors? How do we continue to be “living stones” that are being built into a “spiritual house”? According to Peter, we follow the one who has “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” In the light that is Jesus the “stones” continue to reflect the light that is Christ and as the old song says, “staying alive”. Good walking in the light.

God bless, Pastor Gary

]]> http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/16/living-stone/feed/ 0 How do we measure up? http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/02/how-do-we-measure-up/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/02/how-do-we-measure-up/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:14:50 +0000 bhannold http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=54 Wrapping up the “Good Measure” series this week…we are challenged to “use” what we receive.  Pastor Brent’s football illustration was helpful, asking, “Are you a player or are you a spectator?”  He mentioned that in a church our size it is easy to just come and take it all in and assume that “someone else will do it.”  We can always come up with excuses why not to be involved in ministry, but aren’t you glad that Jesus didn’t sit back and wait for “someone else to do it?”

Regarding our excuses… I have often been challenged by the statement that “God is not so much concerned with our ‘ability’ as with our availability.”

Pastor Gary keyed on the word “use” in Luke 6:36. “The measure you use…” The word “use” implies some action that needs to be taken, and the message of Luke 6:36 is for all believers. So what action am I taking to exercise my faith? From the passage in James, Pastor exposed the real issue that if there is no action (service, ministry) resulting from our faith, then there really is no faith there.

The scripture and application that got my attention was Galatians 5:6 , ”The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love…” …and He calls on us to be that expression. How should we respond to the call?

“I am one and only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought do. And what I ought do, by the grace of God, I will do.”
~ Anonymous

Sign me up!

]]> http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/11/02/how-do-we-measure-up/feed/ 0 The Measure of Love http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/11/the-measure-of-love/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/11/the-measure-of-love/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:02:30 +0000 ngossett http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=44 The words “Eros”, “Filia”, & “Agape” from the Greek text for love have always fascinated me. To think that we as English speaking people, and most of the world, for that matter, appear to have only one word to measure this deepest of our emotions is unfortunate. After hearing Pastor Sean’s message taken from Luke 6: 27-36, I was again challenged by the thought that we are to love those whom we perceive as being unlikeable; those who are crude and mistreat us, and those who are disagreeable in every way. I’m just glad I don’t receive back the same measure of love I have often given to those whom I have found to be unlikeable and disagreeable. The two phrases from Pastor Sean’s message that stick in my mind are: “Going beyond the measure of love that is required” and being “Redemptive in our concern for the needs of others”.  My prayer is that I will be more “redemptive” in every facet of my life, and go way beyond the measure of love that is simply acceptable.

]]> http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/11/the-measure-of-love/feed/ 0 The Measure of Love http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/10/the-measure-of-love-2/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/10/the-measure-of-love-2/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:02:57 +0000 jdavis http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=41 As I listened to Pastor Sean last weekend it occurred to me how subtle the enemy is in his ways and how easily we can slip into judgment of others as a result.  It’s almost an unconscious response on our part to judge others but it is, at the core, that old original sin of pride.

God gives us the remedy for pride, and that is love. Love is not proud. Love does not judge or is scornful or puffed up. Love God and love your neighbor and even love those who hate you and persecute you. How impossible this last seems. How truly unnatural it is. To be able to love your enemy is not natural. It requires a supernatural enabling by the Holy Spirit because all things are possible with God. As Christians, we are called to offer God’s love in Jesus’ name to every person we meet.

]]> http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/10/the-measure-of-love-2/feed/ 0 The Measure of a Church http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/04/the-measure-of-a-church/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/04/the-measure-of-a-church/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:03:25 +0000 mvoudouris http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=38 All of us have our own preconceived ideas of what church should look like.  Have you ever paused to consider that some of those ideas may not be from God?

God’s measure of the church is for it to bring His message of reconciliation and love to this broken and hurting world.  Sounds simple enough.  However, He has chosen to use us, you and me, to deliver that message. So how are you doing?  Are you loving God and loving your neighboor?

The word church translated from the ancient language means “the called out ones”….so are you living in your comfortable little “holy huddle” or are you making an impact for God in the sphere of influence in which He has placed you?

]]> http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/10/04/the-measure-of-a-church/feed/ 0 The Path: Intimacy http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/09/27/the-path-intimacy/ http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/2011/09/27/the-path-intimacy/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:38:49 +0000 mmorgan http://www.hopepointnaz.org/pastorsBlog/?p=30 Well, this is a first for me…I listened to the sermon online!  “The Powers that Be” had my name on the list this weekend to write a post for the blog…but, I was gone all weekend!  So…now there really is NO excuse to miss the teachings of God through our Hope Point Pastors…believe me, I tried to come up with an excuse like; “I will be 2,000 miles away!” or “In order to get the most out of the sermon, you need to be present and experience the fellowship and the communal sacrifice of drinking bad coffee together!”  Not only can you listen online, you can read everything that was in the bulletin on the website, make inquiries, and tithe online TOO!  So…why go to church at all?  We can experience church from the comfort of our recliners as we sit in our jammies.  Yeah, but who would drink all the bad coffee?  Your children couldn’t experience licking out the communion cup to get every last drop of that yummy grape juice we never splurge on at home!  Who would be there to shake the Pastor’s hand after the service?  Someone has to clap to keep Ray’s worship on the beat…plus, the Naz Cafe does have some awesome bagels on Sundays!  Right about now, I imagine “The Powers that Be” are really regretting asking me to write a post…so I better get to the good stuff.

As I listened to Pastor Moore’s sermon on “Intimacy”, I realized that attending church is part of knowing God and God knowing us.  Online is great when we can’t make it to church, but our corporate worship, the teachings of our Pastor, the fellowship, and coming to the altar are things that draw us near to our creator.  Pastor Moore taught on Psalm 139.  One of the parts of that passage that always amazes me is in verse 13…”For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  Picture yourself as a piece of clay.  God starts to mold you into shape with his hands.  Not just the outside…but forming inside working parts as well.  He lovingly forms a nose like no one else’s.  He gently places hairs in your head in a pattern that is only meant for you and he counts them as he puts them in!  No one else will have the same curves your ears have, the same length of eyelashes, the same shaped toes, or even the same pattern of small ridges he placed on your fingers.  He gave you a unique personality.  He is acquainted your thoughts, intentions, and ways.  Does He KNOW you or what?  But it doesn’t end there…he made you with the intention of having a relationship with you.  Spending time with you.  Having fun with you.  Knowing all your junk.  Being with you in every circumstance.

I have heard many times when people are having trouble in their marriage that “It takes two to tango.”  Well…it is true!  It takes two to have a relationship…or lack thereof.  God created us for a relationship with Him.  He is waiting with arms open to embrace us.  But, it is us…his creation…that has the final say.  He is always saying “Yes” to us, it is we who choose “No”.  So the challenging question is…What blocks our path to intamacy in our lives?  What keeps us from spending time with God?  What thoughts or offenses have we tried to hide?  When do we decide that this world has nothing to offer us that comes close to what God has for us?  He is waiting…waiting for you to run to him like my 2 year old runs to greet his father as he comes home from work…or like the cat runs under the bed to retreat from the afore mentioned 2 year old!  I think it is time for all of us to put on our running shoes.

P.S.  Please don’t write any nasty notes about my opinion of the coffee, grape juice, or Ray’s rythmic challenges.  The opinions expressed above are not those of the entire Pastoral staff and may not even be my own opinions…it is hard to tell as I have had an abundance of caffeine and write this in the middle of the night.  I sincerely hope that the only opinion you concern yourselves with, is that of your creator God and that you seek intamacy with Him in all areas of your life.

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